bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Managing the risks that go with high‐impact strategies in uncertain markets
Authors: Leavy Brian 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe author offers a perspective on the complex new concepts of Michael Raynor and others on managing strategic risk.Design/methodology/approachThe author explains Raynor's theories of strategic paradox, strategic options, requisite uncertainty and strategic flexibility, all of which have special meanings in the Raynor vocabulary.FindingsThe strategy paradox arises from “the collision of commitment and uncertainty.” Since the mark of high impact strategies requires making clear commitments in the face of future uncertainty, the key question is, how can the risks involved best be mitigated? One option is to shy away from making clear strategic commitments. This is the route to mediocrity.Practical implicationsThe management of “strategic uncertainty” and “strategic options” employs a four‐phase methodology: Anticipate (build scenarios of the future). Formulate (create optimal strategies for each of those alternative futures, distinguishing between core and contingent elements). Accumulate (determine what strategic options are required to cover the contingent elements). Operate (manage the portfolio of options, exercising or abandoning them, as the future unfolds).Originality/valueLeavy provides an explanation of Raynor's unconventional wisdom that corporate leaders will find helpful.
Strategy in the media
Authors: Henry Craig 
Published: July 2007

PurposeOver a two‐month period, the editor of this media review has searched worldwide for the most interesting and useful articles, blogs and books on the topic of strategic management.Design/methodology/approachIn addition to his own finds, the editor sorted through suggestions by a team of veteran top managers and senior academics.FindingsThe result is a surprisingly diverse set of media articles about strategy and leadership on such topics as brand bruising, executive compensation at Detroit automakers, walled garden idea, Russian high‐tech boom, botnets threat, new LBO worker/management model, downsizing as restoration, four principles of luxury brands, growing economic ties between Asia and the Middle East, Indian automaker confront deregulation, addressing and adapting to global warming, commoditizing the Starbucks brand, Silicon Valley's geographical advantage, collaborative networks, new pricing strategies, dollar's reserve‐currency status.Practical implicationsURL links and references have been provided for the articles so that managers can easily follow up this quick scan of the media by reading the articles in full.Originality/valueProvides a snapshot of what managers are reading and a guide to trends and fresh thinking.
Approaches to quality management in the UK: survey evidence and implications
Authors: Soltani Ebrahim , Lai Pei‐Chun 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to shift the focus to the implications of various quality management systems, as a pervasive feature of modern organisational life, for business excellence.Design/methodology/approachA mail‐based survey is conducted among a total of 150 UK‐based European Foundation for Quality Management‐affiliated organisations. This quantitative methodology sounds appropriate, given that there is a relative dearth of evidence regarding the nature of quality management systems as quality‐driven organisations pursue continuous improvement through such systems.FindingsTogether, International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) series and other total quality management (TQM) models were seen as helping organisations in the journey towards business excellence. Despite the apparently high level of interest in various forms of quality management systems, however, a major discrepancy was found between the rhetoric of these systems and the reality of their practice. For example, little evidence was found that the surveyed organisations were developing a more strategic approach to managing soft aspects of quality management. The results also highlighted the fact that the approach emerging in many organisations seems to be relatively the antithesis of that of the TQM‐driven organisations.Research limitations/implicationsA fundamental limitation of this study relates to its research method and the fact that it draws its data from only a mail‐based survey. Therefore, additional follow‐up research in the form of case studies – qualitative methodology – should be conducted in order to examine more deeply and validate the survey results.Practical implicationsSpecifically, despite being viewed as potentially a threat to quality management initiatives, indeed, the paper is in many respects a spirited defence of the distinctive contribution and value of ISO 9000 as a basis and stepping‐stone for TQM success.Originality/valueThis paper updates the earlier work and significantly highlights the move to broaden the aims and process of quality management systems by using international‐wide quality management frameworks.
Best practices in achieving a customer‐focused culture
Authors: Bartley Bronwen , Gomibuchi Seishi , Mann Robin 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThis paper aims: to provide practical insights into how organisations can become more customer‐focussed; to share with researchers and organisations a framework that can be used to research “customer focus culture” and assess an organisation's level of customer focus; to describe how New Zealand's first consortium approach to benchmarking was managed so that others interested in planning a consortium study can learn from this experience.Design/methodology/approachThe benchmarking study was conducted by member organisations of the New Zealand Benchmarking Club and facilitated by a doctoral student from Massey University's Centre for Organisational Excellence Research. The methodology involved conducting an extensive literature review to identify national and international best practices in customer focus, developing a survey that was completed by 32 potential best practice organisations, and selecting seven of these organisations for a best practice visit.FindingsA framework for the examination of customer‐focused culture was developed and the findings from the study reveal practical “new” insights into best practices in customer focus.Research limitations/implicationsBenefits would have been gained from extending the study to include a larger international group seeking further examples of good‐to‐best practices.Practical implicationsInsights into how organisations can become customer‐focused; a framework that can be used by researchers to research “customer focus culture” and by organisations to assess their level of customer focus; insights into how to run a benchmarking study.Originality/valueThis paper reports on the first consortium approach to benchmarking that has been used within New Zealand; it shares some of the latest best practices in customer focus; a customer focus culture framework has been developed – the first of which the authors are aware.
Ergonomic solutions for an aging workforce
Authors: Roper Kathy O. , Yeh Daniel C. 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on obstacles faced by older workers in the workplace and provide three main ergonomic solutions designed to mitigate and prevent age‐related injuries.Design/methodology/approachResearch methodology includes a comprehensive literature review to identify issues, best practices, and improvements for ergonomic conditions in the workplace, especially those impacting aging workers.FindingsSolutions presented include strategies for reducing extreme joint movement, reducing extreme pressure, and reducing repetitive tasks. Examples of engineering improvements, administrative improvements, and safety equipment additions are also presented.Practical implicationsThis paper provides ergonomic solutions and examines the importance of providing effective workplace ergonomics for the older worker. The examples demonstrated can be directly applied by facility planners and managers who wish to create safe and productive working environments.Originality/valueWith an increasing percentage of older workers compromising that workforce, it is critical that companies and workplace managers make effective workplace ergonomics a top priority. The paper focuses on the role of the facility manager in implementing ergonomic solutions.
Factors affecting the adsorption of Lactobacillus plantarum bacteriocin bacST8KF to Enterococcus faecalis and Listeria innocua
Authors: TODOROV SVETOSLAV D , POWELL JILLIAN E , MEINCKEN MARTINA , WITTHUHN R CORLI , DICKS LEON M T 
Published: July 2007

Bacteriocin ST8KF (bacST8KF), produced by Lactobacillus plantarum ST8KF isolated from kefir, inhibits the growth of Enterococcus faecalis E88, Lactobacillus casei LHS, Lactobacillus curvatus DF38, Lactobacillus sakei DSM 20017T, Lactobacillus salivarius 241 and Listeria innocua LMG 13568. Eighty per cent of bacST8KF adsorbed to La. casei LHS and La. sakei DSM 20017T. However, the same level of adsorption was recorded to bacST8KF‐resistant Lactobacillus paraplantarum ATCC 700211T and Streptococcus caprinus ATCC 700066, suggesting that adherence to the cell surface occurs at random and not always at specific receptor sites. Adsorption of bacST8KF is affected by inorganic salts, acids, surfactants, alcohols, temperature and pH, as observed for E. faecalis E88 and Li. innocua LMG 13568. The target of bacST8KF is the cytoplasmic membrane, as indicated by changes in cell morphology and leakage of DNA and β‐galactosidase from cells of E. faecalis E88 and Li. innocua LMG 13568 treated with bacST8KF. However, the mode of activity against E. faecalis E88 and Li. innocua LMG 13568 is bacteriostatic, as concluded from slight increases in optical density levels after a few hours in the presence of bacST8KF. Activity of bacST8KF doubled (from 12 800 AU mL−1 to 25 600 AU mL−1) when strain ST8KF was grown in the presence of Li. innocua LMG 13568, which may indicate some sort of quorum sensing.
Construction and Characterization of Shuttle Vectors for Succinic Acid-Producing Rumen Bacteria
Authors: Jang Yu-Sin , Jung Young Ryul , Lee Sang Yup , Kim Ji Mahn , Lee Jeong Wook , Oh Doo-Byoung , Kang Hyun Ah , Kwon Ohsuk , Jang Seh Hee , Song Hyohak , Lee Sang Jun , Kang Kyu Young 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

Shuttle vectors carrying the origins of replication that function in
Escherichia coli
and two capnophilic rumen bacteria,
Mannheimia succiniciproducens
and
Actinobacillus succinogenes
, were constructed. These vectors were found to be present at ca. 10 copies per cell. They were found to be stably maintained in rumen bacteria during the serial subcultures in the absence of antibiotic pressure for 216 generations. By optimizing the electroporation condition, the transformation efficiencies of 3.0 × 10
6
and 7.1 × 10
6
transformants/μg DNA were obtained with
M. succiniciproducens
and
A. succinogenes
, respectively. A 1.7-kb minimal replicon was identified that consists of the
rep
gene, four iterons, A+T-rich regions, and a
dnaA
box. It was found that the shuttle vector replicates via the theta mode, which was confirmed by sequence analysis and Southern hybridization. These shuttle vectors were found to be suitable as expression vectors as the homologous
fumC
gene encoding fumarase and the heterologous genes encoding green fluorescence protein and red fluorescence protein could be expressed successfully. Thus, the shuttle vectors developed in this study should be useful for genetic and metabolic engineering of succinic acid-producing rumen bacteria.
Artificial Control of Nitrate Respiration through the
lac
Promoter Permits the Assessment of Oxygen-Mediated Posttranslational Regulation of the
nar
Operon in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Noriega Chris E. , Sharma Vandana , Rowe John J. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

In this study, oxygen and nitrate regulation of transcription and subsequent protein expression of the unique
narK1K2GHJI
respiratory operon of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
were investigated. Under the control of P
LAC
,
P. aeruginosa
was able to transcribe
nar
and subsequently express methyl viologen-linked nitrate reductase activity under aerobic conditions without nitrate. Modulation of P
LAC
through the LacI repressor enabled us to assess both transcriptional and posttranslational regulation by oxygen during physiological whole-cell nitrate reduction.
The Serine Protease HhoA from
Synechocystis
sp. Strain PCC 6803: Substrate Specificity and Formation of a Hexameric Complex Are Regulated by the PDZ Domain
Authors: Huesgen Pitter F. , Scholz Philipp , Adamska Iwona 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

Enzymes of the ATP-independent Deg serine endopeptidase family are very flexible with regard to their substrate specificity. Some family members cleave only one substrate, while others act as general proteases on unfolded substrates. The proteolytic activity of Deg proteases is regulated by PDZ protein interaction domains. Here we characterized the HhoA protease from
Synechocystis
sp. strain PCC 6803 in vitro using several recombinant protein constructs. The proteolytic activity of HhoA was found to increase with temperature and basic pH and was stimulated by the addition of Mg
2+
or Ca
2+
. We found that the single PDZ domain of HhoA played a critical role in regulating protease activity and in the assembly of a hexameric complex. Deletion of the PDZ domain strongly reduced proteolysis of a sterically challenging resorufin-labeled casein substrate, but unlabeled β-casein was still degraded. Reconstitution of the purified HhoA with total membrane proteins isolated from
Synechocystis
sp. wild-type strain PCC 6803 and a Δ
hhoA
mutant resulted in specific degradation of selected proteins at elevated temperatures. We concluded that a single PDZ domain of HhoA plays a critical role in defining the protease activity and oligomerization state, combining the functions that are attributed to two PDZ domains in the homologous DegP protease from
Escherichia coli
. Based on this first enzymatic study of a Deg protease from cyanobacteria, we propose a general role for HhoA in the quality control of extracytoplasmic proteins, including membrane proteins, in
Synechocystis
sp. strain PCC 6803.
Contact: Tact and Caress
Authors: Lingis Alphonso 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThrough words and gestures we communicate with one another about the outlying environment, and we also form representations of one another. But we also make contact with one another. Through tact we make contact with the anxieties, rage, shame, shyness, and secrecy of another. In caresses we make contact with the pleasure of the other. Our caresses are moved by the other, by the spasms of torment and pleasure in the other.
Inference of transcription modification in long-live yeast strains from their expression profiles
Authors: Cheng Chao , Fabrizio Paola , Ge Huanying , Longo Valter D , Li Lei M 
Published: July 2007

Abstract

Background
Three kinases: Sch9, PKA and TOR, are suggested to be involved in both the replicative and chronological ageing in yeast. They function in pathways whose down-regulation leads to life span extension. Several stress response proteins, including two transcription factors Msn2 and Msn4, mediate the longevity extension phenotype associated with decreased activity of either Sch9, PKA, or TOR. However, the mechanisms of longevity, especially the underlying transcription program have not been fully understood.

Results
We measured the gene expression profiles in wild type yeast and three long-lived mutants: sch9 Δ, ras2 Δ, and tor1 Δ. To elucidate the transcription program that may account for the longevity extension, we identified the transcription factors that are systematically and significantly associated with the expression differentiation in these mutants with respect to wild type by integrating microarray expression data with motif and ChIP-chip data, respectively. Our analysis suggests that three stress response transcription factors, Msn2, Msn4 and Gis1, are activated in all the three mutants. We also identify some other transcription factors such as Fhl1 and Hsf1, which may also be involved in the transcriptional modification in the long-lived mutants.

Conclusion
Combining microarray expression data with other data sources such as motif and ChIP-chip data provides biological insights into the transcription modification that leads to life span extension. In the chronologically long-lived mutant: sch9 Δ, ras2 Δ, and tor1 Δ, several common stress response transcription factors are activated compared with the wild type according to our systematic transcription inference.
Transferrin-conjugated solid lipid nanoparticles for enhanced delivery of quinine dihydrochloride to the brain
Authors: Gupta Yashwant , Jain Anekant , Jain Sanjay K 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
Transferrin (Tf)-conjugated solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were investigated for their ability to deliver quinine dihydrochloride to the brain, for the management of cerebral malaria. SLNs were prepared by an ethanol injection method using hydrogenated soya phosphatidyl choline (HSPC), triolein, cholesterol and distearylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE). Coupling of SLNs with Tf was achieved by incubation of Tf with quinine-loaded SLNs in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) hydrochloride in phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.4) as a cross-linker. SLNs were characterized for shape, particle size, polydispersity and percentage drug entrapment. The SLNs were 108–126 nm in size, and maximum drug entrapment was 38.4–42.7%. Average size increased on coupling with Tf but percentage drug entrapment was reduced. The in-vitro release profile was determined using a dialysis technique; non-conjugated SLNs released comparatively more drug than Tf-SLNs. Fluorescence studies revealed enhanced uptake of Tf-SLNs in brain tissue compared with unconjugated SLNs. In in-vivo performance studies, quinine plasma level and tissue distribution after intravenous administration of drug-loaded Tf-SLNs and unconjugated SLNs was compared with that of free drug. Intravenous administration of quinine dihydrochloride solution resulted in much higher concentrations of drug in the serum than with SLNs. Conjugation of SLNs with Tf significantly enhanced the brain uptake of quinine which was shown by the recovery of a higher percentage of the dose from the brain following administration of Tf-coupled SLNs compared with unconjugated SLNs or drug solution.
Pharmacokinetics of DA-7218, a new oxazolidinone, and its active metabolite, DA-7157, after intravenous and oral administration of DA-7218 and DA-7157 to rats
Authors: Bae Soo K , Yang Si H , Shin Karen N , Rhee Jae K , Yoo Moohi , Lee Myung G 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
DA-7218 (a prodrug of DA-7157), a new oxazolidinone, was hydrolysed via phosphatase to form its active metabolite, DA-7157, in rats. The pharmacokinetic parameters of DA-7218 and DA-7157 were evaluated after intravenous (5, 10 and 20 mg kg−1) and oral (20, 50 and 100 mg kg−1) administration of DA-7218 to rats. DA-7218 and DA-7157 exhibited dose-proportional pharmacokinetics after both intravenous and oral administration of DA-7218 to rats. The stability of DA-7218 and DA-7157, blood partition of DA-7157, and the plasma protein binding of DA-7157 were also evaluated. DA-7218 was unstable in rat blood, plasma, bile and liver homogenates, but DA-7157 was stable, suggesting that DA-7218 is hydrolysed via phosphatase. DA-7157 rapidly reached equilibrium between plasma and blood cells, and the mean equilibrium plasma-to-blood cells ratio was 3.18, indicating that binding of DA-7157 to blood cells was not considerable. The protein binding of DA-7157 in fresh rat plasma was 93.4%.
CJY, an isoflavone, reverses P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug-resistance in doxorubicin-resistant human myelogenous leukaemia (K562/DOX) cells
Authors: Ji Bian-Sheng , He Ling 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
In an effort to develop safe and effective multidrug-resistance (MDR) reversing agents, the effect of CJY, an isoflavone, on the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) function and P-gp-mediated MDR was evaluated in doxorubicin-resistant human myelogenous leukaemia (K562/DOX) cells. The results showed that CJY caused a marked increase in accumulation and a notable decrease in efflux of rhodamine 123 (Rh123). The inhibitory effect of the agent on P-gp function persisted for at least 120 min after removal of 2.5 μM CJY from the incubation medium. The doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity, apoptosis and cell cycle perturbations were significantly potentiated by CJY. The intracellular accumulation of doxorubicin was also enhanced. The compound exhibited potent effects in-vitro on the reversal of P-gp-mediated MDR, suggesting that it could become a candidate as an effective MDR reversing agent in cancer chemotherapy.
Characteristics of fibre-core wire rope
Authors: Raoof M , Kraincanic I 
Published: July 2007

The theoretical analysis of a large-diameter stranded wire rope with fibre core, using results from a previously reported orthotropic sheet model for analysing the behaviour of its constituent helical strands, is reported. The present model is (unlike previously available theories for stranded wire ropes) capable of catering for the effects of interwire friction and contact deformations. The proposed theory provides a fairly simple means of obtaining the upper (no-slip) and lower (full-slip) bounds to rope effective stiffness coefficients under axial/torsional coupling with encouraging correlations found between the theoretical predictions for the axial stiffness under full-slip conditions and experimental data for some realistic stranded wire ropes with fibre cores.
A Graphene Composite Film Based Wearable Far‐Infrared Therapy Apparatus (GRAFT) for Effective Prevention of Postoperative Peritoneal Adhesion
Authors: Lu Xiaohuan , Xu Luming , Song Yu , Yu Xiangnan , Li Qilin , Liu Feng , Li Xiaoqiong , Xi Jiangbo , Wang Shuai , Wang Lin , Wang Zheng 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPostoperative peritoneal adhesion (PPA) is the most frequent complication after abdominal surgery. Current anti‐adhesion strategies largely rely on the use of physical separating barriers creating an interface blocking peritoneal adhesion, which cannot reduce inflammation and suffers from limited anti‐adhesion efficacy with unwanted side effects. Here, by exploiting the alternative activated macrophages to alleviate inflammation in adhesion development, a flexible graphene‐composite‐film (F‐GCF) generating far‐infrared (FIR) irradiation that effectively modulates the macrophage phenotype toward the anti‐inflammatory M2 type, resulting in reduced PPA formation, is designed. The anti‐adhesion effect of the FIR generated by F‐GCF is determined in the rat abdominal wall abrasion‐cecum defect models, which exhibit reduced incidence and area of PPA by 67.0% and 92.1% after FIR treatment without skin damage, significantly superior to the clinically used chitosan hydrogel. Notably, within peritoneal macrophages, FIR reduces inflammation reaction and promotes tissue plasminogen activator (t‐PA) level via the polarization of peritoneal macrophages through upregulating Nr4a2 expression. To facilitate clinical use, a wirelessly controlled, wearable, F‐GCF‐based FIR therapy apparatus (GRAFT) is further developed and its remarkable anti‐adhesion ability in the porcine PPA model is revealed. Collectively, the physical, biochemical, and in vivo preclinical data provide compelling evidence demonstrating the clinical‐translational value of FIR in PPA prevention.