bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An efficient way to functionalize graphene sheets with presynthesized polymer via ATNRC chemistry
Authors: Deng Yan , Li Yongjun , Dai Jing , Lang Meidong , Huang Xiaoyu
Published: February 2011

Graphene nanosheets offer intriguing electronic, thermal and mechanical properties and are expected to find a variety of applications in high‐performance nanocomposite materials. The great challenge of exfoliating and dispersing pristine graphite or graphene sheets in various solvents or matrices can be achieved by facilely and properly chemical functionalization of the carbon nanosheets. Here we reported an efficient way to functionalize graphene sheets with presynthesized polymer via a combination of atom transfer nitroxide radical coupling chemistry with the grafting‐onto strategy, which enable us to functionalize graphene sheets with well‐defined polymer synthesized via living radical polymerization. A radical scavenger species, 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO), was firstly anchored onto COOH groups on graphene oxide (GO) to afford TEMPO‐functionalized graphene sheets (GS‐TEMPO), meanwhile, the GO sheets were thermally reduced. Next, GS‐TEMPO reacted with Br‐terminated well‐defined poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) homopolymer, which was presynthesized by SET‐LRP, in the presence of CuBr/N,N,N′,N′,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine to form PNIPAM‐graphene sheets (GS‐PNIPAM) nanocomposite in which the polymers were covalently linked onto the graphene via the alkoxyamine conjunction points. The PNIPAM‐modified graphene sheets are easily dispersible in organic solvents and water, and a temperature‐induced phase transition was founded in the water suspension of GS‐PNIPAM. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Manipulation of Lipase Activity by the Helium Radio‐Frequency, Atmospheric‐Pressure Glow Discharge Plasma Jet
Authors: Li He‐Ping , Wang Li‐Yan , Li Guo , Jin Li‐Hua , Le Pei‐Si , Zhao Hong‐Xin , Xing Xin‐Hui , Bao Cheng‐Yu
Published: February 2011

The sub‐lethal effects of the radio‐frequency, atmospheric‐pressure glow discharge plasma jet on the lipase are studied. The experimental measurements show that the activity of the lipase increases significantly after treated by the plasma jet within one minute. This enhancing effect is attributed to the changes of the structures of the lipase. The chemically reactive species in the plasma jet region play a major role to the alterations of the lipase secondary and tertiary structures, compared with heat, UV radiation, charged particles, intensified electric field and/or ozone.

magnified image
Crystal structure of a soluble form of human monoglyceride lipase in complex with an inhibitor at 1.35 Å resolution
Authors: Schalk‐Hihi Céline , Schubert Carsten , Alexander Richard , Bayoumy Shariff , Clemente Jose C. , Deckman Ingrid , DesJarlais Renee L. , Dzordzorme Keli C. , Flores Christopher M. , Grasberger Bruce , Kranz James K. , Lewandowski Frank , Liu Li , Ma Hongchang , Maguire Diane , Macielag Mark J. , McDonnell Mark E. , Mezzasalma Haarlander Tara , Miller Robyn , Milligan Cindy , Reynolds Charles , Kuo Lawrence C.
Published: February 2011

A high‐resolution structure of a ligand‐bound, soluble form of human monoglyceride lipase (MGL) is presented. The structure highlights a novel conformation of the regulatory lid‐domain present in the lipase family as well as the binding mode of a pharmaceutically relevant reversible inhibitor. Analysis of the structure lacking the inhibitor indicates that the closed conformation can accommodate the native substrate 2‐arachidonoyl glycerol. A model is proposed in which MGL undergoes conformational and electrostatic changes during the catalytic cycle ultimately resulting in its dissociation from the membrane upon completion of the cycle. In addition, the study outlines a successful approach to transform membrane associated proteins, which tend to aggregate upon purification, into a monomeric and soluble form.
Understanding the binding mode and function of BMS‐488043 against HIV‐1 viral entry
Authors: Da Lin‐Tai , Quan Jun‐Min , Wu Yun‐Dong
Published: February 2011

A recently discovered small‐molecule inhibitor, BMS‐488043 (BMS‐488), for the invasion of Human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 (HIV‐1), shows a high activity against the entry of diversified HIV‐1. Docking and molecular dynamic studies have been carried out to understand the binding mode of BMS‐488 to gp120 as well as the effect of the small molecule on the conformational change of gp120 induced by CD4 binding. The results indicate that BMS‐488 can accommodate in the CD4 binding pocket and interfere the CD4 binding in a noncompetitive mode. The piperazine group of BMS‐488 prevents the bridging sheet formation of gp120 induced by the CD4 binding mainly through blocking the rotation of the Trp112 located on the α1 helix of gp120. The bridging sheet formation cannot be blocked for the W112A mutant of gp120 due to the reduced steric hindrance, in agreement with its significant resistance to the BMS inhibitor. The aza‐indole ring is likely to interfere the exposure of gp41 by stacking within the β3‐β5 and LB loops to disrupt the close packing of Pro212‐His66‐Phe210. The mode of action of BMS‐488 also accommodates many mutagenesis results related to BMS‐488 activity. Proteins 2011; © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structure of an archaeal‐type phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase sensitive to inhibition by aspartate
Authors: Dharmarajan Lakshmi , Kraszewski Jessica L. , Mukhopadhyay Biswarup , Dunten Pete W.
Published: February 2011

The crystal structure of an archaeal‐type phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from Clostridium perfringens has been determined based on X‐ray data extending to 3 Å. The asymmetric unit of the structure includes two tetramers (each a dimer‐of‐dimers) of the enzyme. The precipitant, malonate, employed for the crystallization is itself a weak inhibitor of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and a malonate molecule is seen in the active‐site in the crystal structure. The allosteric binding sites for aspartate (an inhibitor) and glucose‐6‐phosphate (an activator) observed in the Escherichia coli and Zea mays phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase structures, respectively, are not conserved in the C. perfringens structure. Aspartate inhibits the C. perfringens enzyme competitively with respect to the substrate, Mg++. phosphoenolpyruvate. A mechanism for inhibition is proposed based on the structure and sequence comparisons with other archaeal‐type phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylases with differing sensitivity to inhibition by aspartate. Proteins 2011; © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Objective analysis of process safety audit data with microsoft access
Authors: Forest Jerry J.
Published: February 2011

In developing systems for process safety, compliance audits provide essential verification that practices and procedures are developed and are effective for compliance. Data collected during compliance audits is often subjective and findings are descriptive in nature. Therefore, it is difficult to complete objective analysis of audit data across standards/procedures to surface systemic management system gaps and to compare site performance across a company. Complete analysis of process safety audit data is analogous to incident investigation causal factor assignment, data analysis, and cause elimination.

This article describes a database solution that:

Provides a data collection method for compliance audits that allows for easy database input, thereby reducing overall data handling.

Structures process safety procedures by management system element so that these elements can be examined across various procedures.

Groups compliance audit findings by common types for Pareto analysis.

The benefits of objective analysis of process safety audit data include more effective future audits and continuous process safety performance improvement at the site level.

The presentation will include a brief review of the Microsoft Access database structure. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2011
DPP‐IV‐resistant, long‐acting oxyntomodulin derivatives
Authors: Santoprete Alessia , Capitò Elena , Carrington Paul E. , Pocai Alessandro , Finotto Marco , Langella Annunziata , Ingallinella Paolo , Zytko Karolina , Bufali Simone , Cianetti Simona , Veneziano Maria , Bonelli Fabio , Zhu Lan , Monteagudo Edith , Marsh Donald J. , SinhaRoy Ranabir , Bianchi Elisabetta , Pessi Antonello
Published: February 2011

Obesity is one of the major risk factors for type 2 diabetes, and the development of agents, that can simultaneously achieve glucose control and weight loss, is being actively pursued. Therapies based on peptide mimetics of the gut hormone glucagon‐like peptide 1 (GLP‐1) are rapidly gaining favor, due to their ability to increase insulin secretion in a strictly glucose‐dependent manner, with little or no risk of hypoglycemia, and to their additional benefit of causing a modest, but durable weight loss. Oxyntomodulin (OXM), a 37‐amino acid peptide hormone of the glucagon (GCG) family with dual agonistic activity on both the GLP‐1 (GLP1R) and the GCG (GCGR) receptors, has been shown to reduce food intake and body weight in humans, with a lower incidence of treatment‐associated nausea than GLP‐1 mimetics. As for other peptide hormones, its clinical application is limited by the short circulatory half‐life, a major component of which is cleavage by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP‐IV). SAR studies on OXM, described herein, led to the identification of molecules resistant to DPP‐IV degradation, with increased potency as compared to the natural hormone. Analogs derivatized with a cholesterol moiety display increased duration of action in vivo. Moreover, we identified a single substitution which can change the OXM pharmacological profile from a dual GLP1R/GCGR agonist to a selective GLP1R agonist. The latter finding enabled studies, described in detail in a separate study (Pocai A, Carrington PE, Adams JR, Wright M, Eiermann G, Zhu L, Du X, Petrov A, Lassman ME, Jiang G, Liu F, Miller C, Tota LM, Zhou G, Zhang X, Sountis MM, Santoprete A, Capitò E, Chicchi GG, Thornberry N, Bianchi E, Pessi A, Marsh DJ, SinhaRoy R. Glucagon‐like peptide 1/glucagon receptor dual agonism reverses obesity in mice. Diabetes 2009; 58: 2258–2266), which highlight the potential of GLP1R/GCGR dual agonists as a potentially superior class of therapeutics over the pure GLP1R agonists currently in clinical use. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scope and limitation of side‐chain assisted ligation
Authors: Spasser Liat , Ajish Kumar K. S. , Brik Ashraf
Published: February 2011

Side‐chain assisted ligation is an auxiliary‐mediated ligation strategy in which a thiol bearing cyclohexane or cyclopentane is attached to the side‐chain of Asp, Glu, Ser or Thr to function in a similar manner to Cys in a native chemical ligation. Following the ligation step, the auxiliary is removed, without product isolation, under alkaline conditions. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antiparasitic Activity of C‐Geranyl Flavonoids from Mimulus bigelovii
Authors: Salem Manar M. , Capers Jeffrey , Rito Shawn , Werbovetz Karl A.
Published: February 2011

Bioactivity‐directed fractionation of the MeOH fraction of the extract of Mimulus bigelovii by means of an axenic Leishmania amastigote assay and chromatographic techniques resulted in the isolation of four C‐geranyl flavanones, diplacone (1), 3′‐O‐methyldiplacone (2), 4′‐O‐methyldiplacone (3), 3′‐O‐methyldiplacol (4), together with a geranylated flavone, cannflavin A (5). These compounds were separated from M. bigelovii for the first time. All compounds showed moderate antileishmanial activity against axenic Leishmania donovani amastigotes with IC50 values ranging from 4.8 to 14.6 μg/mL. The compounds were also tested against the related kinetoplastid parasite Trypanosoma brucei brucei and they showed activity with IC50 values ranging from 1.4 to 7.2 μg/mL. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Wuzhi Tablet (Schisandra sphenanthera extract) on the Pharmacokinetics of Paclitaxel in Rats
Authors: Jin Jing , Bi Huichang , Hu Jinqing , Zeng Hang , Zhong Guoping , Zhao Lizi , Huang Zhiying , Huang Min
Published: February 2011

Wuzhi tablet (WZ, registration no. in China: Z20025766) is a preparation of an ethanol herb extract of Wuweizi (Schisandra sphenanthera) containing 7.5 mg Schisantherin A per tablet. It was reported recently that WZ could significantly increase the blood concentrations of tacrolimus, which might be due to the inhibitory effect of WZ and its ingredients on P‐gp and/or CYP450 activity. Paclitaxel is a substrate of the efflux transporter P‐gp, and is mainly metabolized by CYP450 enzymes in the liver. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether and how WZ affects the pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel in rats. After pretreatment with WZ, there were significant increases in the AUC0‐24h of oral paclitaxel (from 280.8 ± 97.3 to 543.5 ± 115.2 h ng/mL; p < 0.05) and Cmax (from 44.6 ± 16.4 to 86.8 ± 16.1 ng/mL; p < 0.05). The pharmacokinetic data for i.v. paclitaxel with WZ showed a relatively small (when compared against oral paclitaxel) but still significant increase in AUC0‐24h (from 163.6 ± 22.1 to 212.7 ± 17.7 h ng/mL; p < 0.05) and a decrease in clearance (from 3.2 ± 0.6 to 2.2 ± 0.3 L/h/kg; p < 0.05). Thus, the presence of WZ improved the systemic exposure of paclitaxel in rats. The herb–drug interaction between WZ and paclitaxel should be taken into consideration in clinical use. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaporation‐loss per month over drainage areas, III
Authors: Lloyd David
Published: February 2011

Evidence is brought forward of curvilinearity in the partial relation between evaporation‐loss and the period rainfall; this is shown by diagrams. The joint functional causation of rainfall and temperature is further advanced. It is inferred statistically that rain experienced in three previous months augments run‐off and influences the value of apparent loss to a small extent (amounts are stated), but not sufficiently to alter the relations of evaporation‐loss produced in the first and second papers.
Serial monthly values of mean temperature over the British isles, 1881–1940, and annual values 1866–1940
Authors: Glasspoole J. , Hogg W. H.
Published: February 2011

The paper includes the following information:—

Serial monthly values of mean temperature over the British Isles, 1881–1940;

Serial annual values over the British Isles, 1866–1940; and

Serial monthly and annual values for England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland separately, 1901–1940.

The values for the British Isles are discussed and a frequency table is given for values within specified limits for each month.
Subsidence and ascent of air as determined by means of the wet‐bulb potential temperature
Authors: Longley Richmond W.
Published: February 2011

This paper contains:—

A description of the use of the wet‐bulb potential temperature for determining changes in level of air in situations when all levels of the original air column have not the same trajectory;

A derivation of the amount of subsidence which takes place in air moving off the ridge of a high, amounting at times to 1.7 km. in 24 hours from the 3 km. level, and a demonstration of the subsidence of an inversion in the centre of a high of 300 m. in 24 hours;

A demonstration of the overrunning and uplift of a stream of warm air over another stream of colder air;

Some remarks on the divergence of the subsiding air as it moves off the high pressure region;

A discussion of the changes in moisture content which took place in the masses of air considered.
Abnormally high and low daily mean temperatures, Kilmarnock, 1902–1941
Authors: Dunbar William
Published: February 2011

The thermometric records at Kilmarnock are analysed over the period 1902 to 1941 on the same lines of investigation as were employed by Mr. E. L. Hawke in his analysis of similar records made at Greenwich (Q.J., 67, 1941, p. 247). Days with positive departures of at least 10°F. and 15°F. are classed as “warm” and “very warm,” and those with corresponding negative departures as “cold” and “very cold,” respectively. The numbers of days with abnormally high and low temperatures are given for seasons, for months and for pentads, and a comparison is made with the figures obtained for Greenwich. Tables are also presented giving the dates of days with very exceptional temperatures and the departures from the average.
Inter‐laboratory calibration of new silver orthophosphate comparison materials for the stable oxygen isotope analysis of phosphates
Authors: Halas Stanislaw , Skrzypek Grzegorz , Meier‐Augenstein Wolfram , Pelc Andrzej , Kemp Helen F.
Published: February 2011

Stable oxygen isotope compositions (δ18O values) of two commercial and one synthesized silver orthophosphate reagents have been determined on the VSMOW scale. The analyses were carried out in three different laboratories: lab (1) applying off‐line oxygen extraction in the form of CO2 which was analyzed on a dual inlet and triple collector isotope ratio mass spectrometer, while labs (2) and (3) employed an isotope ratio mass spectrometer coupled to a high‐temperature conversion/elemental analyzer (TC/EA) where Ag3PO4 samples were analyzed as CO in continuous flow mode.

The δ18O values for the proposed new comparison materials were linked to the generally accepted δ18O values for Vennemann's TU‐1 and TU‐2 standards as well as for Ag3PO4 extracted from NBS120c. The weighted average δ18OVSMOW values for the new comparison materials UMCS‐1, UMCS‐2 and AGPO‐SCRI were determined to be + 32.60 (± 0.12), + 19.40 (± 0.12) and + 14.58 (± 0.13)‰, respectively. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of bioactive eicosanoids in equine plasma by stable isotope dilution reversed‐phase liquid chromatography/multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry
Authors: Mangal Dipti , Uboh Cornelius E. , Soma Lawrence R.
Published: February 2011

Oxidative metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) are implicated in inflammation. Thus, we evaluated cycloxygenases (COXs) and lipoxygenases (LOs) mediated metabolism of AA to eicosanoids in equine plasma. Eicosanoids were extracted from plasma by two liquid‐liquid extraction (LLE) steps; first was by chloroform/isopropanol and second by methyl‐tert‐butyl ether. For identification and quantification of 25 eicosanoids, a highly specific, selective and sensitive stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography (LC) multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometric (MS) method was developed. To avoid artifact formation of eicosanoids, deferoxamine was added to plasma to chelate residual transition metal ions. The calibration curve showed excellent linearity within 0.1 to 10 ng/mL. Slopes of the calibration curves generated by adding known quantities of eicosanoids in plasma were higher than those prepared in methanol/mobile phase A. Addition of deferoxamine decreased the slope of calibration curves generated using plasma. Limit of detection (LOD) was 1–10 pg on‐column for 25 different eicosanoids. Inter‐day accuracy was 86–111%, whereas intra‐day accuracy was from 88–110%, and precision did not exceed 15% for all quality control (QC) samples. To evaluate the formation of eicosanoids, AA was exogenously added or endogenous AA was released from esterified lipids by calcium ionophore (CI) A23187 treatment of equine whole blood. Pre‐treatment of equine whole blood with dexamethasone (DEX) significantly inhibited AA or CI A23187‐ mediated formation of eicosanoids. The validated method is now employed in studies undertaken to better understand the mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of eicosanoids after administration of glucocorticoids to horses. This method is reliably reproducible. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural determination of cerebrosides isolated from Asterias amurensis starfish eggs using high‐energy collision‐induced dissociation of sodium‐adducted molecules
Authors: Park Taeseong , Park Young Seung , Rho Jung‐Rae , Kim Young Hwan
Published: February 2011

Six cerebrosides were isolated from the eggs of the starfish Asterias amurensis using solvent extraction, silica gel column chromatography, and reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. This study demonstrated that the structures of cerebrosides could be completely characterized, based on their sodium‐adducted molecules, using fast atom bombardment (FAB) tandem mass spectrometry. The high‐energy collision‐induced dissociation of the sodium‐adducted molecule, [M + Na]+, of each cerebroside molecular species generated abundant ions, providing information on the compositions of the 2‐hydroxy fatty acids and long‐chain sphingoid bases, as well as the sugar moiety polar head group. Each homologous ion series along the fatty acid and aliphatic chain of the sphingoid base was useful for locating the double‐bond positions of both chains and the methyl branching position of the long‐chain base. The N‐fatty acyl portions were primarily long‐chain saturated or monoenoic acids (C16 to C24) with an α‐hydroxy group. The sphingoid long‐chain base portions were aliphatic chains (C18 or C22) with two or three degrees of unsaturation and with or without methyl branching. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A method for analyzing the δ18O of resin‐extractable soil inorganic phosphate
Authors: Weiner Tal , Mazeh Shunit , Tamburini Federica , Frossard Emmanuel , Bernasconi Stefano M. , Chiti Tommaso , Angert Alon
Published: February 2011

Improved tools for tracing phosphate transformations in soils are much needed, and can lead to a better understanding of the terrestrial phosphorus cycle. The oxygen stable isotopes in soil phosphate are still not exploited in this regard. Here we present a method for measuring the oxygen stable isotopes in a fraction of the soil phosphate which is rapidly available to plants, the resin‐extractable P. This method is based on extracting available phosphate from the soil with anion‐exchange membranes, soil organic matter removal by a resin, purification by precipitation as cerium phosphate, and finally precipitation as silver phosphate. The purified silver phosphate samples are then measured by a high‐temperature elemental analyzer (HT‐EA) coupled in continuous flow mode to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Testing the method with Mediterranean and semi‐arid soils showed no artifacts, as well as good reproducibility in the same order as that of the HT‐EA analytical uncertainty (0.3‰). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Security enhancements for UDDI
Authors: O'Ree Alexander J. , Obaidat Mohammed S.
Published: February 2011

The universal description, discovery, and integration (UDDI) OASIS standard, was designed for storing, publishing, and advertising information about XML web services. Commonly used in service oriented architecture (SOA) infrastructures, the security of UDDI is often overlooked. Embedded within the specification are “optional” security measures that are commonly not implemented or enforced. In this paper we describe the UDDI security model, potential security related concerns, and mitigation strategies. Preliminary performance evaluation results are presented to show the merits of our proposed scheme. Finally, an example of the registry with additional security constraints is analyzed and evaluated for performance. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An information theoretic approach for feature selection
Authors: Kumar Gulshan , Kumar Krishan
Published: February 2011

Feature selection methods play a significant role during classification of data having high dimensions of features. The methods select most relevant subset of features that describe data appropriately. Mutual information (MI) based upon information theory is one of the metrics used for measuring relevance of features. This paper analyses various feature selection methods for (1) reduction in number of features; (2) performance of Naïve Bayes classification model trained on reduced set of features. Research gaps identified are: (1) computation of MI from the whole sample space instead of unclassified sample subspace; (2) consideration of relevance of features only or tradeoff between relevance and redundancy, but class conditional interaction of features is ignored.

In this paper, we propose a general evaluation function using MI for feature selection. The proposed evaluation function is implemented which use dynamically computed MI values from unclassified instances. Effectiveness of the proposed feature selection method is done empirically by comparing classification results using KDD 1999 benchmarked dataset of intrusion detection. The results indicate practicability and effectiveness of the proposed method for applications concerned with high accuracy and stability of predictions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An integrated approach for fusion of environmental and human health data for disease surveillance
Authors: Burkom Howard S. , Ramac‐Thomas Liane , Babin Steven , Holtry Rekha , Mnatsakanyan Zaruhi , Yund Cynthia
Published: February 2011

This paper describes the problem of public health monitoring for waterborne disease outbreaks using disparate evidence from health surveillance data streams and environmental sensors. We present a combined monitoring approach along with examples from a recent project at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The project objective was to build a module for the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community‐based Epidemics (ESSENCE) to include water quality data with health indicator data for the early detection of waterborne disease outbreaks. The basic question in the fused surveillance application is ‘What is the likelihood of the public health threat of interest given recent information from available sources of evidence?’ For a scientific perspective, we formulate this question in terms of the estimation of positive predictive value customary in classical epidemiology, and we present a solution framework using Bayesian Networks (BN). An overview of the BN approach presents advantages, disadvantages, and required adaptations needed for a fused surveillance capability that is scalable and robust relative to the practical data environment. In the BN project, we built a top‐level health/water‐quality fusion BN informed by separate waterborne‐disease‐related networks for the detection of water contamination and human health effects. Elements of the art of developing networks appropriate to this environment are discussed with examples. Results of applying these networks to a simulated contamination scenario are presented. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Test and power considerations for multiple endpoint analyses using sequentially rejective graphical procedures
Authors: Bretz Frank , Maurer Willi , Hommel Gerhard
Published: February 2011

A variety of powerful test procedures are available for the analysis of clinical trials addressing multiple objectives, such as comparing several treatments with a control, assessing the benefit of a new drug for more than one endpoint, etc. However, some of these procedures have reached a level of complexity that makes it difficult to communicate the underlying test strategies to clinical teams. Graphical approaches have been proposed instead that facilitate the derivation and communication of Bonferroni‐based closed test procedures. In this paper we give a coherent description of the methodology and illustrate it with a real clinical trial example. We further discuss suitable power measures for clinical trials with multiple primary and/or secondary objectives and use a generic example to illustrate our considerations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cybernetics in management thinking
Authors: Robb Fenton F.
Published: February 2011

Cybernetic concepts provide a bridge between the theories of management which have evolved so far. Homeostasis, the law of necessary variety, the relativity of time, the nature of growth, heuristics, holism, synergy and autopoiesis are a few of the ideas which assist managers to understand the nature of management. Applying general systems theoretic to managerial activities reveals opportunities for the development of intelligent machines; the automation of decision making and the advent, after wise systems, of systems which simulate ‘style’, apply common sense and evince emotionality. Only the present high costs of such machines inhibits their application. Large managerial systems are seen as autopoietic, as living systems: Perhaps with minds of their own using humans, only as a resource, to achieve their equifinality.
Equilibrium, entropy and homeostasis: A multidisciplinary legacy
Authors: Bailey Kenneth D.
Published: February 2011

While the concepts of equilibrium and homeostasis are familiar to sociologists, the companion concept of entropy has only recently received more than a passing glance. This paper reviews the usage of these three concepts in physics, biology, economics and sociology. Each discipline is evaluated according to four dimensions which have received particular attention in equilibrium analysis. These are the use of heuristics, open and closed systems, stable, static and moving equilibrium, and return to equilibrium. The paper concludes that the concept of equilibrium should be used very carefully if at all. Often equilibrium can be replaced by a term such as stability or balance. Homeostasis can be viable concept, as can entropy, which among other things has potential for aiding in the integration of theory and method.
A methodology for quality goal‐seeking and coordination, and the practical application
Authors: Furukawa O. , Ikeshoji H. , Ohmori A.
Published: February 2011

Japan has achieved a high level of the practice of quality control in industries. Characteristic to it is that it has successfully taken the form of company‐wide quality control activities. In order to coordinate diverse activities at a company, ‘quality‐evolution’, which is essentially a process of refinement of means‐end relationship, plays an important role. This paper discusses the basic recognition underlying the practice of quality‐evolution and presents on a conceptual level a general theory and methodology of goal expansion which is usefully applicable to any goal‐seeking activities under situations where the relevance of diverse activities to goals is not necessarily clear and schemes for goal‐oriented coordination of the activities are required. Such situations also often occur when better performance of systems are newly required.
Descriptive‐explanatory theoretical models of the socialist economy: Review of a research direction
Authors: Kornai János
Published: February 2011

The collection of works given in the Selected Bibliography forms a research direction in mathematical economics. The article is aimed at clarifying what is common in these works and what makes them different from other studies in related fields. The common main features are the following: The works (1) describe dynamic systems; (2) are modelling not only the real sphere but also the control sphere; (3) formalize behavioural regularities of the socialist economy; (4) suppose no optimizing behaviour, but only that the decision‐maker possesses some response function; (5) focus on non‐price signals; and (6) focus on non‐Walrasian states of the economy. They wish to contribute to the elaboration of a descriptive‐explanatory (positive) theory. They wish to explain what is in the socialist system and why, and not to tell what should be. These are researches made at the level of ‘pure theory’, therefore models are based on rather abstract assumptions. Finally, the article discusses research tasks.
Enlarging the systems paradigm: Historical view from 1973 until 1983
Authors: Krallmann Hermann
Published: February 2011

This paper provides an overview of the past 10 years, describing activities of enlarging the paradigm of System Dynamics (SD). Part I explains why this has been done. Part II is concerned with the optimization of SD models. The global optimization of SD models is realized by integration into a higher level feedback loop structure. The use of optimal variables in SD models is handled by Linear Programming (LP) models. In Part III the integration of SD and Input–Output models is applied to describe complex macroeconomic systems. The last part describes SD models as decision support systems based on model‐ and method‐based systems. The whole article documents the dynamic behavior of System Dynamics and its methodical environment. This history is not intended to be encyclopedic, but rather mainly to reflect the author's experience.
Systems research and the hierarchy of world systems: General systems in special chaos
Authors: Boulding Kenneth E.
Published: February 2011

The hierarchy of systems is described as parallel to the hierarchy of military titles: General systems as the universe; Major General Systems as the earth; the Major Systems of earth—physical, biological and social—each with its subsystems; ‘kernel’ systems, which try to describe the ‘core of the diverse major systems’ (these divide into ecological‐evolutionary systems which have the quality of being ‘resurgent’) and ‘corporal’ systems, such as organisms and organizations. Then there are the ‘private’ systems, which are the ‘minute particulars’ of the real world. Cutting across this hierarchy are the ideologies, which might well be called ‘lieutenant’ systems, as they are in place of images of the more complex systems of the real world. The General Systems movement might help ideologies to become more realistic; it is showing some ecological resurgence, and it has to sustain both its ‘special’ aspect as mathematical modelling and its more general, philosophical aspect. It must also be aware that systems emerge from a matrix of chaos, and that all reality is not systematic.
Systems thinking and management values in the microchip era: An action agenda for institutional transformation
Authors: Ericson Richard F.
Published: February 2011

This era of unprecedented acceleration in technological change is producing severe ‘institutional disarticulation’. The resulting turbulence in organizational environments generates seemingly intractable managerial problems, exacerbated by a growing cleavage between espoused and operative values. In the United States and elsewhere, the urgent need is for a comprehensive societal system design which will effectively integrate appropriate management values and practices with correspondingly optimal organization structures and processes, in a rearticulated (transformed) institutional framework. Microchip technologies are now providing potential for systemic implementation and cybernetic integration of such societal redesign. The crucial question is: Do we have the wit and the will to move toward realization of such a major and transforming undertaking?
Systems closure and enquiry
Authors: D'Arcy Brian G. , Jayaratna Nimal
Published: February 2011

As an emerging paradigm systems inquiry depends upon the credibility of those entities selected as ‘relevant’ and given the notation of ‘system’. The complexity of the subject of inquiry (the ‘real world’), the artificiality of the boundaries selectively imposed on some features of that ‘reality’ and the conditioned limitations of the imposer of such boundaries, combine to challenge, or at least call into question, the credibility of that paradigm. This paper discusses the significance of boundaries and their imposition as determining factors in specifying not just the quality of systems inquiries but, perhaps more importantly, the fundamental nature of such inquiries themselves. In addition, the conditioned limitations within which the inquirer seeks to identify and make manifest those understandings which are both systemic and relevant are examined together with the potential consequences of such limitations. The paper does not claim to exhaust the argument, merely expose it.
Reconstructability analysis: Aims, results, open problems
Authors: Klir George J. , Way Eileen C.
Published: February 2011

The term ‘reconstructability analysis’ has evolved as a generic term for all aspects of a methodology whose aim is to deal with problems associated with the relationship between systems perceived as wholes and their various subsystems (i.e. parts of the wholes). This article is a state‐of‐the‐art report on reconstructability analysis (RA). It contains a description of problems that are studied under RA, a summary of main results obtained within RA, an outline of some important issues associated with RA that require further research, and an up‐to‐date bibliography of RA.

After a general discussion of the issues associated with the whole/part relationship and an overview of the aims of RA, the article describes results obtained for two problems that are subjects of study in RA. One of the problems, called an identification problem, is concerned with inferences about an unknown overall system from a given set of its subsystems. A deductive inference from the given subsystems results in the set of all overall systems which yield those very subsystems; it is called a reconstruction family. The ability to identify the true overall system is measured by an identifiability quotient that is inversely proportional to the relative size of the reconstruction family. A selection of one overall system from the reconstruction family requires an inductive inference. It is argued that the selected system should be unbiased and a simple procedure for determining it (called a join procedure) is described.

The second problem, called a reconstruction problem, is concerned with the determination of such subsystems, as small as possible, from which the overall system can be reconstructed to an acceptable degree of approximation. The approximation is measured by an information distance between the given and reconstructed overall systems. The reconstruction problem involves a number of computational difficulties. Some approaches to overcoming these difficulties are discussed. The article also contains a description of simulation experiments which contributed toward the determination of some fundamental characteristics of RA for the reconstruction problem.
The national forum on nonindustrial private forest lands
Authors: Christakis Alexander N.
Published: February 2011

A National Forum for Nonindustrial Private Forest Landowners was convened by Secretary John B. Crowell, Jr. of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in St. Louis, Missouri from 31 October to 3 November 1983. Using the Interactive Management approach, an Agenda was designed, whereby the Forum would be conducted with the specific intent to achieve consensus on a wide variety of issues, and to ensure ample opportunity for the Participants to make their views heard. In view of the fact that there were 160 Participants, of whom about 20 were designated as Active Participants, the achievements of this Forum, reported in this paper, were remarkable. The Active Participants were engaged directly in the identification, structuring, and resolution of public policy issues confronting the Forestry Community, while the Supportive Participants were able to observe the facilitated discourse by means of TV monitors dispersed throughout the conference room. Numerous caucuses were held, whereby Supportive Participants gave their views to the Active Participants. One of the most positive and productive outcomes of the Forum was the engagement, for the first time, of the various segments of the Forestry Community in collecting ideas on problems and opportunities, developing options for realizing those opportunities, and deciding who should act on those opportunities.
Organizational influence on future information systems architecture
Authors: Beers L. W.(Roy)
Published: February 2011

The influence of an organizational structure on the structure of its information processing systems is considered in terms of the present status, current trends, and future directions in information systems; especially in the light of changing technology.

Current organizations are structured hierarchically, while information processing systems have little physical structure, and logically can be described as monolithic resources. The possible emergence of new types of information processing systems is evaluated. Technology advances will allow and invite very different forms of system architectures, all of which are likely to support distributed processing systems. Configurations of future distributed processing systems likely will mirror the configurations of the user organizations.
Distributed computation by graph reduction
Authors: Keller Robert M.
Published: February 2011

We describe the use and distributed implementation of a functional language based on the graph‐reduction concept. Attention is given to the issue of implementing higher‐order functions and concurrent evaluation. Prospects for optimization of this implementation are pointed out.
Applicative programming
Authors: Richards Hamilton
Published: February 2011

Applicative programming notations offer important advantages over conventional ones both for software development and for the full exploitation of multiprocessor computer systems. They simplify the software developer's tools and techniques, streamline his picture of the equipment on which his software will run, and provide him with powerful modularization facilities for coping with the complexity of application problems. Their simple and mathematically sound semantics support formal reasoning about programs and proofs of their correctness, and the absence of explicit sequencing in applicative programs facilitates their execution by systems of multiple concurrent processors.

A familiar—if limited—example of applicative programming is the ubiquitous dynamic spreadsheet. The commercial success of spreadsheet packages demonstrates the appeal of abstractness, and an examination of spreadsheets' “formula” facilities reveals why applicative programming and concurrent processing go so well together.

The primary obstacles to widespread adoption of applicative programming are the scarcity of efficient implementations and the novelty and immaturity of the software technology. Applicative programming's fundamental soundness and the leverage it offers in coping with two of contemporary computing's most urgent problems argue that in time these obstacles will be overcome.
Comments on “applicative programming” by hamilton richards: Complementary remarks on applicative systems
Authors: Kluge Werner E.
Published: February 2011

The paper on “Applicative Programming” by H. Richards is a highly recommendable text for those wishing to get acquainted with the idea of applicative programming and system concepts. However, it should also be read by those who still prefer to take the sledgehammer approach to correct and verifiable software engineering and to the problem of nonsequential programming and program execution.
Axiomatic foundations of vector accounting
Authors: Deguchi Hiroshi , Nakano Bunpei
Published: February 2011

In this paper we discuss the structural foundations of micro‐economic exchange. To treat various features of the exchange in a general form, we formulate an algebraic system to serve as an abstraction of a bookkeeping system. First, we introduce the concept of an algebraic system to describe the micro‐economic activities of economic units. Next, we formulate an axiomatic system to capture the essence of economic transactions. Finally, we explicate the bookkeeping system in terms of this axiomatic system and make clear various notions concerning the micro‐economic activities of economic units. In this paper we consider only basic properties of this algebraic system; these become the mathematical foundation for a theory of an economic system.
Comments on “letter to the editor” by philip f. henshaw
Authors: Rosen Robert
Published: February 2011

I think Mr Henshaw and I have little common ground, if indeed he thinks I say what I say because of “lack of attention to the problem”.
Response to comments by robert rosen
Authors: Henshaw Philip F.
Published: February 2011

That making one's references clear can be painfully difficult sometimes is well demonstrated to me by Dr Rosen's response to my letter. My introduction of the idea that there had been a lack of attention to the differences between our images and their subjects could have easily been misinterpreted. It was meant only to lead into the succeeding paragraph where the negligence was referred to as applying to the entire history of thought. That makes the subject especially difficult to deal with for all of us, and Dr Rosen's efforts to expand the tasks of science to include it, especially valuable. As he says, one of the main problems in scientific theory is that its congruence with nature is awful. Nature just does not happen in classes of things, but that is all that conventional theoretical science has even the remotest capability of handling.
Can systems theory generate testable hypotheses?: From talcott parsons to living systems theory
Authors: Miller James Grier
Published: February 2011

It is useful for systems theories to distinguish between abstracted and concrete systems. Parsons and his followers have emphasized the first sort; Miller and others have emphasized the second. Scientific work can be conducted in terms of either sort of system, but concrete systems theory has elicited more quantitative research. In addition it brings social science closer to the natural sciences. Abstracted and concrete theories also differ in their categorization of subsystem processes. Recognition of the similarity of subsystems at various biological and social levels of systems facilitates the development of cross‐level hypotheses and quantitative research to test the existence of formal identities across levels.

Few cross‐level formal identities have yet been investigated empirically, but such interdisciplinary fundamental research can confirm or disconfirm very powerful integrative systems principles. In recent years interest in such cross‐level research has been rising. Ten cross‐level studies are described.