bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lon Protease Degrades Transfer-Messenger RNA-Tagged Proteins
Authors: Choy Jennifer S. , Aung Latt Latt , Karzai A. Wali 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

Bacterial
trans
translation is activated when translating ribosomes are unable to elongate or terminate properly. Small protein B (SmpB) and transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA) are the two known factors required for and dedicated to
trans
translation. tmRNA, encoded by the
ssrA
gene, is a bifunctional molecule that acts both as a tRNA and as an mRNA during
trans
translation. The functions of tmRNA ensure that stalled ribosomes are rescued, the causative defective mRNAs are degraded, and the incomplete polypeptides are marked for targeted proteolysis. We present in vivo and in vitro evidence that demonstrates a direct role for the Lon ATP-dependent protease in the degradation of tmRNA-tagged proteins. In an endogenous protein tagging assay,
lon
mutants accumulated excessive levels of tmRNA-tagged proteins. In a reporter protein tagging assay with λ-CI-N, the protein product of a nonstop mRNA construct designed to activate
trans
translation,
lon
mutant cells efficiently tagged the reporter protein, but the tagged protein exhibited increased stability. Similarly, a green fluorescent protein (GFP) construct containing a hard-coded C-terminal tmRNA tag (GFP-SsrA) exhibited increased stability in
lon
mutant cells. Most significantly, highly purified Lon preferentially degraded the tmRNA-tagged forms of proteins compared to the untagged forms. Based on these results, we conclude that Lon protease participates directly in the degradation of tmRNA-tagged proteins.
The accuracy of extrapolation (time series) methods: Results of a forecasting competition
Authors: Makridakis S. , Andersen A. , Carbone R. , Fildes R. , Hibon M. , Lewandowski R. , Newton J. , Parzen E. , Winkler R. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn the last few decades many methods have become available for forecasting. As always, when alternatives exist, choices need to be made so that an appropriate forecasting method can be selected and used for the specific situation being considered. This paper reports the results of a forecasting competition that provides information to facilitate such choice. Seven experts in each of the 24 methods forecasted up to 1001 series for six up to eighteen time horizons. The results of the competition are presented in this paper whose purpose is to provide empirical evidence aboutdifferencesfound to exist among the various extrapolative (time series) methods used in the competition.
Practitioners' forum. Sales forecasting by forsys
Authors: Lewandowski Rudolf 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper describes a sales forecasting system widely used by European companies. The system, known as FORSYS, includes several unique characteristics which increase its use and applicability among practitioners. FORSYS is simple to use; its underlying rationale is clear to the user; it is adaptive, and it allows the incorporation of special events into the model in order to determine their influence on forecasting.
Forecasting Time Series with Trading Day Variation
Authors: Hillmer S. C. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractSome levels of economic activity change over the days of the week. Also, the composition of the calendar changes over the years so that a particular month contains a different configuration of days of the week each year. The effects of the changing composition of the calendar upon a monthly time series is called trading day variation. This paper discusses one way to model trading day variation in monthly time series and how this model can be used to obtain improved forecasts over univariate ARIMA models. The ideas are illustrated on an actual data set.
Automatic monitoring of forecast errors
Authors: Gardner Everette S. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper evaluates a variety of automatic monitoring schemes to detect biased forecast errors. Backward cumulative sum (cusum) tracking signals have been recommended in previous research to monitor exponential smoothing models. This research shows that identical performance can be had with much simpler tracking signals. The smoothed‐error signal is recommended for α = 0.1, although its performance deteriorates badly as α is increased. For higher α values, the simple cusum signal is recommended. A tracking signal based on the autocorrelation in errors is recommended for forecasting models other than exponential smoothing, with one exception. If the time series has a constant variance, the backward cusum should give better results.
Time series forecasting models involving power transformations
Authors: Hopwood W. S. , McKeown J. C. , Newbold P. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn this paper we discuss procedures for overcoming some of the problems involved in fitting autoregressive integrated moving average forecasting models to time series data, when the possibility of incorporating an instantaneous power transformation of the data into the analysis is contemplated. The procedures are illustrated using series of quarterly observations on corporate earnings per share.
Waiting for privatization in developing countries: Towards the integration of economic and non‐economic explanations
Authors: Cook Paul , Minogue Martin 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe intention of this paper is to examine the political and administrative limits on the effective implementation of privatization in developing countries and so to present a challenge to the view that slow progress is primarily attributable to economic constraints. After examining these economic aspects, the paper provides an explanatory framework which incorporates those political and administrative processes central to an understanding of what happens to state economic policies in practice. The significance of these processes is demonstrated by drawing on research material from India, Pakistan, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. The conclusion drawn is that responses to pressures for economic reform will be determined, not so much by economic criteria as by the political and bureaucratic resources available to decision makers. Since policy processes in developing countries show considerable variety it is likely that there will be substantial variations in the practical achievement of privatization objectives.
A Policy Delphi study in the socialist Middle East
Authors: Smit Jac , Mason Antony 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe Delphi Method has been applied to a wide variety of predictive and consensus building problems in the West. It has achieved mixed success in its ‘native’ environment. This paper reports on the successful use of the Delphi by an interdisciplinary, international team of English‐speaking consultants in an Arabic‐speaking country, politically dominated by a centralist regime. In the sixth year of the Iran‐Iraq war, a group of international consultants proceeded with the development of a master plan for the development of the City of Baghdad, the Greater Baghdad Area and Central Iraq. Work on the plan had begun in 1982 but had been slowed by the war and its effect on the Iraqi economy, a lack of consensus on the part of the Iraqi government and a substantial degree of uncertainty in the government's confidence in the consulting team's perceptions. An accelerated form of the Delphi was structured and applied over a period of three weeks, employing high ranking members of the Iraqi technocracy. The results indicated a good degree of consensus on a number of material issues. The consultants obtained a clearer picture of the client's desires, and the client was left with greater confidence in the consultant's perceptions of the planning problems and solutions. There was a notable reduction in the level of uncertainty and disagreement among both Iraqi and expatriate members of the planning team. Finally, there was an increased acceptance of the resulting master plan due to the demonstrable participation of senior government officials in its formulation and the credibility they attached to the process of the Delphi. At the time of writing, the plan has been accepted by the government of Iraq.
Sustaining third world infrastructure investments: Decentralization and alternative strategies
Authors: Wunsch James S. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe paper assesses the effectiveness of two institutional strategies, one centralized and the other decentralized, for sustaining infrastructure investments in the Third World and the organizations that have developed from them. It argues that each has been flawed. Institutional over‐centralization, involving a centrally directed and hierarchical bureaucracy is widely found to have been ineffective in undertaking complex tasks of rural development under conditions of uncertainty and severely limited resources. It has failed to secure beneficiary participation, adequate maintenance and utilization of infrastructure, administrative co‐ordination, responsiveness to local needs, as well as flexibility and adaptability. But decentralization has not been a widely successful solution. Decentralized planning, attempts to increase the role of beneficiaries in development projects, and localized training and organizational developments efforts have all produced disappointing results. There is a lack of theoretical understanding in this area. Human behaviour and relationships within organizations have been neglected. An alternative strategy, using the individual as the unit of analysis, is suggested. It requires ‘institutional analysis’ of the incentives and disincentives involved in getting people to perform specific tasks relating to specific goals.
Corruption in public policy and its impact on development: The case of Uganda since 1979
Authors: Ouma Stephen O. A. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper argues that corruption is a product of self‐aggrandizement; of unrealistically low remuneration which makes it impossible for public servants to live within their legitimate means; and of a closed political system which inevitably tends to exclude aggregated interests'. Corruption leads to loss of much needed revenue and human talent for development, distorts priorities for public policy, and shifts scarce resources away from the public interest. The mutual distrust that results among the different sections of society, and the growth of despondency in the general public, are incompatible with the requirements for successful public policy. The main theme running through the paper is that political instability, corruption and underdevelopment are mutually reinforcing. The paper finally outlines certain measures that need to be taken in order to clear the path for sustained growth and development.
How ‘integrated’ is integrated rural development? The case of the Pompengan Integrated Area Development Project (PIADP), Luwu district, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: Roth Dik 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIntegrated rural development is often presented as an effective strategy against rural poverty in Indonesia. In this article the author discusses the case of the Pompengan Integrated Area Development Project (PIADP) in Luwu, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, where a programme for land reform was part of the ‘integrated’ approach. In explaining the outcome of PIADP, the author analyses two properties of intervention itself in relation to the context in which it took place: first, land reform as a donor development priority which was planned and implemented as a purely technical and administrative operation; and, second, the production‐oriented character of planning, which further isolated land reform from its local context. It is concluded that PIADP was characterized by fragmentation, competition and conflict rather than ‘integratedness’. Therefore, rather than taking such policy language for granted and accepting the policy instruments it represents as ‘models for development’, we should critically analyse the sphere of policy implementation. In the case of rural development in Indonesia, the depoliticized character of land policy and its reduction to a technical‐administrative routine is a major issue to be addressed before land reform and integrated rural development can make a significant contribution to the eradication of rural poverty in Indonesia.
Building sustainable capacity in the public sector: What can be done?
Authors: Grindle Merilee S. , Hilderbrand Mary E. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractEffective government performance is central to the creation of market‐oriented economies, secure and productive populations, and democratic political systems in developing countries. Capacity building to improve public sector performance is thus an important focus of development initiatives. Several implicit assumptions underlie most such efforts: that organizations or training activities are the logical site for capacity‐building interventions; that administrative structures and monetary rewards determine organizational and individual performance; that organizations work well when structures and control mechanisms are in place; and that individual performance improves as a result of skill and technology transfer through training activities. Each of these assumptions is called into question by the findings of research carried out in six developing countries and reported in this article. Our studies indicate designing interventions that most constructively address sources of poor performance must follow from an assessment of a relatively broad set of variables, including the action environment in which all such activities take place. We also found that effective public sector performance is more often driven by strong organizational cultures, good management practices, and effective communication networks than it is by rules and regulations or procedures and pay scales. Our case studies further indicate that individual performance is more affected by opportunities for meaningful work, shared professional norms, teamwork, and promotion based on performance rather than it is by training in specific skills. In this article, we describe a framework or conceptual map that emphasizes that training activities, organizational performance and administrative structures are embedded within complex environments that significantly constrain their success and that often account for training or organizational failure. When it was applied in the six case study countries, the framework proved useful in identifying capacity gaps and providing a tool for the strategic design of interventions that are sensitive to the roots of performance deficits. This allows us to conclude that the assumptions underlying many capacity‐building initiatives may focus attention on interventions that do not generate the highest payoffs in terms of improved performance.
Das Stromrauschen bei Feldemission und sein Zusammenhang mit Adsorptionserscheinungen
Authors: Kleint Christian , Gasse Hans‐Joachim 
Published: July 2007

AbstractEs wird über Untersuchungen des Stromrauschens bei kalter Emission berichtet. Die Experimente wurden in Feldelektronenmikroskop‐Röhren unter Ultrahochvakuumbedinungen durchgeführt. Experimentelle Anordnung, Ergebnisse und theoretische Deutung werden für Spektralfunktion, Amplitudenverteilung, Stromabhängigkeit, Temperatur‐ und Zeitabhängigkeit besprochen. Während das Schrotrauschen nur bei Spitzen ohne Adsorptionserscheinungen hervorgerufen. Die theoretische Deutung kann sich auf die experimentelle Beobachtung eines Elementarvorganges des Rauschens und seiner Abhängigkeit von der Temperatur stützen.
On Distinguishing between Peripheral and Central High Energy Collisions
Authors: Michejda L. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe idea of peripheral or central high‐energy collisions is expressed in terms of partial inelastic cross sections s̀l corresponding to the initial particles being in the angular momentum state l. Various attempts to determine the total angular momentum J of the many‐body states and hence also of the cross sections s̀l via the overlap function are discussed. It is shown that for the 8 GeV/c π+p interactions neither the uncorrelated jet model nor the multi‐Regge‐exchange model yield the angular momenta which would satisfy the unitarity condition of the S‐matrix, unless the variable phase of the wave function is introduced. From the fact that most of the anisotropy required by the high values of J expected from the data on elastic scattering is hidden in a phase dependence, and from a study of models with variable phase, we conclude that at the moment it is not possible to solve the question of distinguishing between peripheral and central collisions.
The Monodromy Rings of the Necklace Graphs
Authors: Regge Tullio , Speer Eugene R. , Westwater Michael J. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractA necklace graph is a Feynman graph obtained from a single loop graph by replacing each internal line by a multiplet (i.e. a set of one or more internal lines joining the same two vertices). In this paper the monodromy rings of the necklace graphs are determined.
Quasiclassical Approach to Collective Nuclear Phenomena
Authors: Kleinert H. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe point out that large‐amplitude collective excitations, tunneling phenomena, condensation of higher particle clusters, and excitation spectra beyond Landau's theory of Fermi liquid are most conveniently described in terms of successive effective actions. These are functionals depending explicitly on two‐particle, four‐particle, etc. correlations which have a simple quasi‐classical expansion. Their extrema account for the above described phenomena. Contrary to the path integral approach to collective phenomena, the lowest approximation contains exchange and pairing effects and is therefore suited for systems in which the time‐dependent Hartree‐Fock‐Bogoljubov equations are required for a proper understanding of the phenomena.
Renormalization of Path Ordered Phase Factors and Related Hadron Operators in Gauge Field Theories
Authors: Dorn H. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe give a review of the renormalization and short distance properties of path ordered phase factors in nonabelian gauge field theories. It includes nonlocal gauge invariant meson, baryon and gluonium operators constructed with the help of such phase factors. Furthermore, the renormalization properties of functional derivatives of phase factors as they are needed in dynamical equations are considered. The discussion is based on an one dimensional auxiliary field formalism which enables the application of the usual language of local Green's functions.
New methods for specification and determination of component reliability characteristics
Authors: Møltoft Jørgen 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn the last two decades it has become clear that component lifetime distributions are seldom exponential. Early failures due to flaws have been of major concern. Various models to cater for this observation have been suggested. The models have been developed from a component rather from a system point of view. Furthermore, no substitute for the heavily criticized MIL‐HDBK‐217‐type prediction handbooks has been offered.This paper describes a recently developed methodology to arrive at realistic component reliability characteristics, which take into account the non‐exponential component lifetime distributions. These characteristics are developed from a system's point of view, which makes it easier for the system manufacturer to assess the reliability of their systems in the field.The methodology is based on six years of research in field performance of electronic systems. The research has been carried out in close co‐operation with industrial companies.
Detection of process upsets—sample autocorrelation control chart and group autocorrelation control chart applications
Authors: Yourstone Steven A. , Montgomery Douglas C. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper presents an application of the sample autocorrelation function to statistical process control where the process data are serially correlated. Two innovative control charts are illustrated: the sample autocorrelation control chart and the group autocorrelation control chart. The important feature is that these control charts will detect shifts in the autocorrelative structure as well as shifts in the mean of the process. The sample autocorrelation function is typically used to identify an appropriate ARIMA model for a time series. The sample autocorrelation function may also be used as the basis of control charts to detect process upsets. Two unique features distingush this application of the sample autocorrelation function to statistical process control. First, the sample autocorrelations are exponentially smoothed estimates. This allows the user to control the sensitivity of the sample autocorrelation control chart. Secondly, the sample autocorrelation control chart is applied to a continuous stream of data—rather than to a static set of data that has been used to fit an ARIMA model.
Application of weibull proportional hazards modelling to bad‐as‐old failure data
Authors: Love C. E. , Guo R. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn this paper, an analysis is conducted of the equipment failure regime known as bad‐as‐old. In such a regime, the repair of the machine after an unexpected emergency breakdown does not reset the hazard rate. Only a planned overhaul refreshes the hazard rate. This bad‐as‐old regime is modelled as a non‐homogeneous Poisson process. The structure is comprised of a base‐line hazard rate, here assumed to be Weibull, plus a covariate structure, since such (covariate) factors are found to influence equipment failure times. The results are compared to similar results1when the underlying failure regime is assumed to be good‐as‐new. The analysis performed here is also compared to a previous analysis2in which the base‐line hazard rate was of a non‐parametric form. Several tests are presented as well as an examination of the residuals in order to verify the appropriateness of the model chosen.
Process capability indices—an overview of theory and practice
Authors: Porter Leslie J. , Oakland John S. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractA range of process capability indices is widely used to measure process performance. The simplicity of the formulae for these capability indices is both a strength and a weakness. The underlying assumptions behind capability indices are frequently overlooked. Capability studies usually result in single point estimates which may result in misleading assessments of process performance. Point estimates ignore sampling error, and safer estimates can be obtained by constructing confidence intervals. The construction of confidence intervals is considered in some detail. Testing or measurement variability give rise to additional uncertainty in process capability assessments. Inaccurate assessments of process performance can result if the basic assumptions and sources of uncertainty are overlooked.
The physical basis for the roller‐coaster hazard rate curve for electronics
Authors: Wong Kam L. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis is the final installment of a series of three articles under the general topic ‘Off the bathtub onto the roller‐coaster curve’. A short version was presented at the 1988 Annual Reliability and Maintainability Symposium in the U.S.A. The first article was entitled ‘The bathtub does not hold water any more’, and the second was entitled ‘The roller‐coaster curve is in’. The three articles provide detailed discussions of the findings leading to the conclusions on the roller‐coaster characteristics for the hazard rate curve for electronics. The first article discussed the problems with the bathtub and the second explored the shape of the hazard rate curve in view of some recent observations. This article suggests some plausible physical reasons for the formation of the roller‐coaster shape. The generation of the shape starts with the basic failure mechanisms, which leads to the generally decreasing hazard rate. The humps could be caused by changing hazard conditions, wear‐out failure distribution of flawed items, distribution of flaw sizes or residue small size flaws left in the equipment because of test and inspection limitations.