bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unlocking the potential of advanced manufacturing technologies
Authors: Boyer Kenneth K. , Leong G.Keong , Ward Peter T. , Krajewski Lee J. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThis research examines whether investments in advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs) such as flexible manufacturing systems (FMS), computer aided design (CAD), computer aided manufacturing (CAM), robotics, etc., are more likely to lead to improved performance if they are supported by improvements in the manufacturing infrastructure of the company. This question is evaluated using data gathered from 202 manufacturing plants chosen from industries generally considered to have relatively high investments in technology.Multiple item scales are developed and adapted from sources in the literature to measure investments in technology, infrastructure, and the performance of the plant. Evidence supporting the reliability and validity of these scales is provided. Hierarchical regression is used to analyze the relationship between technology, infrastructure, and performance. The results suggest that there is an important interaction between the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies and investments in infrastructure. Firms that invest in both AMTs and infrastructure perform better than firms which only invest in one or the other. Separate analyses on sub‐samples of firms with the highest and lowest investments in AMTs show that infrastructural investments have a stronger relationship with performance in the high investment group. Thus, the data indicate that infrastructural investments provide a key to unlocking the potential of advanced manufacturing technologies.
Alternative methods of learning and process improvement in manufacturing
Authors: Upton David M. , Kim Bowon 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThis exploratory paper examines one class of decision related to learning and operations improvement: how and where to develop new manufacturing technologies as part of a program of continuous improvement. We examine the reasons for both the selection and the relative effectiveness of two methods for manufacturing improvement: learning by doing (in‐process learning) on the shop floor and learning by development and experimentation away from the shop floor (off‐line learning). We then explore how the development strategy selected affects the subsequent decision‐making process, and how strongly initial choices about improvement methods affect later ones. Empirical data are presented from two Korean shipbuilding companies. While the structural characteristics of a plant, such as its layout and equipment, do appear to influence the improvement method it selects, we find that other factors, such as corporate philosophy and plant history also play an important role in the initial selection of improvement method. However, these determining factors fade in importance sharply over time, as the plant develops its ability to improve using that particular method. The fact the plant has practised improvement by one method (and, therefore, has often become relatively better at that mode of learning), begins to dominate the selection of future improvement techniques. Although this process is quite rational at each planning step, it can result in improvement processes in which small changes in initial circumstances and managerial choices cause large changes in the overall improvement path. The results also suggest that when managers choose any improvement methodology, they are not only learning about their manufacturing systems—they are choosing how their operation will learn, and indeed may lock themselves into that mode of learning for a longer duration than that of the current set of improvement projects.
Macroeconomic influences on optimal asset allocation
Authors: Flavin T.J. , Wickens M.R. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWe develop a tactical asset allocation strategy that incorporates the effects of macroeconomic variables. The joint distribution of financial asset returns and the macroeconomic variables is modelled using a VAR with a multivariate GARCH (M‐GARCH) error structure. As a result, the portfolio frontier is time varying and subject to contagion from the macroeconomic variable. Optimal asset allocation requires that this be taken into account. We illustrate how to do this using three risky UK assets and inflation as a macroeconomic factor. Taking account of inflation generates portfolio frontiers that lie closer to the origin and offers investors superior risk–return combinations.
Ligand‐induced changes in dynamics in the RT loop of the C‐terminal SH3 domain of Sem‐5 indicate cooperative conformational coupling
Authors: Ferreon Josephine C. , Hilser Vincent J. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWe report the effects of peptide binding on the15N relaxation rates and chemical shifts of the C‐SH3 of Sem‐5.15N spin‐lattice relaxation time (T1), spin‐spin relaxation time (T2), and {1H}‐15N NOE were obtained from heteronuclear 2D NMR experiments. These parameters were then analyzed using the Lipari‐Szabo model free formalism to obtain parameters that describe the internal motions of the protein. High‐order parameters (S2> 0.8) are found in elements of regular secondary structure, whereas some residues in the loop regions show relatively low‐order parameters, notably the RT loop. Peptide binding is characterized by a significant decrease in the15N relaxation in the RT loop. Concomitant with the change in dynamics is a cooperative change in chemical shifts. The agreement between the binding constants calculated from chemical shift differences and that obtained from ITC indicates that the binding of Sem‐5 C‐SH3 to its putative peptide ligand is coupled to a cooperative conformational change in which a portion of the binding site undergoes a significant reduction in conformational heterogeneity.
Inhibition of Experimental Choroidal Neovascularization by Irsogladine, an Anti-Gastric Ulcer Agent
Authors: Kuroki Akiko Mera , Kitaoka Takashi , Matsuo Yoko , Amemiya Tsugio 
Published: April 2003

<i>Purpose:</i> To determine whether irsogladine inhibits experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) induced by laser photocoagulation in pigmented rats. <i>Methods:</i> Focal laser photocoagulation (argon green 50 mW, 0.04 s, 200 µm) was applied to the retinochoroid of normal Brown Norway rats. Oral administration of irsogladine (5 mg/kg/day or 50 mg/kg/day) was started 1 week before and continued for 2 weeks after laser photocoagulation. Choroidal vascular casts were made 2 weeks after laser photocoagulation and were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). CNV formation was classified according to three grades and evaluated. <i>Results:</i> Laser-induced CNV formation was significantly reduced in rats given 5 mg/kg/day (p < 0.01) or 50 mg/kg/day of irsogladine (p < 0.001). Administration of 50 mg/kg/day of irsogladine was more effective in preventing CNV formation than 5 mg/kg/day (p < 0.001). The development of the vascular bud was especially inhibited by 50 mg/kg/day of irsogladine (p < 0.001). CNVs in rats treated with 50 mg/kg/day of irsogladine looked less well developed than those in controls. There was no significant side effect of irsogladine. <i>Conclusions:</i> Irsogladine inhibits the development of experimental CNV induced by photocoagulation in pigmented rats.
Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 5 Activation Is Sufficient to Drive Transcriptional Induction of Cyclin D2 Gene and Proliferation of Rat Pancreatic β-Cells
Authors: Friedrichsen Birgitte N. , Richter Henrijette E. , Hansen Johnny A. , Rhodes Christopher J. , Nielsen Jens H. , Billestrup Nils , Møldrup Annette 
Published: April 2003

AbstractSignal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) activation plays a central role in GH- and prolactin-mediated signal transduction in the pancreatic β-cells. In previous experiments we demonstrated that STAT5 activation is necessary for human (h)GH-stimulated proliferation of INS-1 cells and hGH-induced increase of mRNA-levels of the cell cycle regulator cyclin D2. In this study we have further characterized the role of STAT5 in the regulation of cyclin D expression and β-cell proliferation by hGH. Cyclin D2 mRNA and protein levels (but not cyclin D1 and D3) were induced in a time-dependent manner by hGH in INS-1 cells. Inhibition of protein synthesis by coincubation with cycloheximide did not affect the hGH-induced increase of cyclin D2 mRNA levels at 4 h. Expression of a dominant negative STAT5 mutant, STAT5aΔ749, partially inhibited cyclin D2 protein levels. INS-1 cells transiently transfected with a cyclin D2 promoter-reporter construct revealed a 3- to 5-fold increase of transcriptional activity in response to hGH stimulation. Furthermore, coexpression of a constitutive active STAT5 mutant (either CA-STAT5a or CA-STAT5b) was sufficient to drive transactivation of the promoter. CA-STAT5b was stably expressed in INS-1 cells under the control of a doxycycline-inducible promoter. Gel retardation experiments using a probe representing a putative STAT5 binding site in the cyclin D2 promoter revealed binding of the doxycycline-induced CA-STAT5b. Furthermore, induction of CA-STAT5b stimulated transcriptional activation of the cyclin D2 promoter and induced hGH-independent proliferation in these cells. In primary β-cells, adenovirus-mediated expression of CA-STAT5b profoundly stimulated DNA-synthesis (5.3-fold over control) in the absence of hGH. Our studies indicate that STAT5 activation is sufficient to drive proliferation of the β-cells and that cyclin D2 may be a critical target gene for STAT5 in this process.
Temporal growth and vertical propagation of perturbations in the winter atmosphere
Authors: Christiansen Bo 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWe present a general‐circulation model study of the temporal growth and vertical propagation of perturbations following transient, vertically confined forcings. Five ensembles of perturbation experiments are performed, each with eight different initial conditions and with the perturbations enforced at ten different vertical levels from the lower troposphere to the upper stratosphere. The motivation for the study is the recent recognition of downward propagation of anomalies from the stratosphere to the troposphere and its implications both for medium‐range forecasts and for a possible physical mechanism for stratospheric impacts on weather and climate.The perturbations grow in an initial period after which they saturate to a level comparable to the natural variability. In the initial period the growth of the perturbations is quadratic in time. This power‐law growth suggests a predictability time which converges towards a finite value in the limit of small perturbations. In the troposphere the predictability time, defined as when perturbations reach a size of 50% of the natural variability, is 20–30 days. In the stratosphere the response is delayed and a predictability time of 30–40 days is observed.In the initial period of growth, the vertical spread of perturbations seems decoupled from the background vacillations in the sense that no vertical propagation of perturbations with the time‐scale of the vacillations is observed. Forcings confined to the stratosphere result instantaneously in perturbations of the troposphere and vice versa. Thus, stratospheric vacillations seem to have no active role in the propagation of perturbations from the stratosphere to the troposphere: stratospheric vacillations are not a vehicle for transient perturbations in the stratosphere to be transported to the troposphere. The disconnected nature of the stratospheric vacillations and the growth of perturbations is further substantiated in experiments with a time‐independent troposphere. In these experiments the periodic stratospheric vacillations are shown not to support the growth of perturbations. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society
Regional climate‐model predictions of extreme rainfall for a changing climate
Authors: Huntingford C. , Jones R.G. , Prudhomme C. , Lamb R. , Gash J. H. C. , Jones D. A. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractMajor floods occurred in the United Kingdom during autumn 2000. These were caused by a rapid sequence of heavy rainfall events that occurred over a period of many weeks leading to record‐breaking monthly‐to‐seasonal rainfall totals. The question was raised as to whether such rainfall events may be related to human‐induced climate change.Climate‐model predictions of future changes in mean precipitation behaviour are well established. However, to understand flooding requires an examination of predictions of extreme rainfall behaviour at a relatively small spatial scale. For three areas within the United Kingdom, output from a Hadley Centre regional climate model, ‘nested’ within one of its general‐circulation models, is compared with raingauge data averaged over these areas for the period 1961–1990. This shows that the modelling system is good at predicting the statistical likelihood of extreme rainfall events seen in historical data. This result holds for extreme rainfall totals over daily to monthly timescales.When the modelling system is used to predict changes in these extreme events resulting from atmospheric CO2 concentrations that may be representative of the period 2080–2100, significant reductions in the return periods of such events are seen. For example, 30‐day rainfall totals, which happened in the recent past on average once in 20 years, are predicted to happen once in 3–5 years. An interpolation method based upon climate‐model output and incorporating raingauge data is used to estimate how rainfall extremes may have changed between the middle of the 19th century, and for a period centred on the year 2000. This also predicts that increased greenhouse gases have led to reduced return periods of extreme rainfall events for three sites of interest, though in this case the changes are not statistically significant. © Royal Meteorological Society, 2003. R. G. Jones's contribution is Crown copyright
Geographical and organisational variation in the structure of primary care services: implications for study design
Authors: Adams Geoffrey , Gulliford Martin , Ukoumunne Obioha , Chinn Susan , Campbell Michael 
Published: April 2003

Aims: To evaluate the extent to which structural variation between English general practices is accounted for at higher organisational levels in the National Health Service (NHS). Methods: We analysed data for 11 structural characteristics of all general practices in England. These included characteristics of general practitioners (GPs), the practice list and the services provided by practices. A four-level random effects model was used for analysis and components of variance were estimated at the levels of practice, primary care group (PCG), health authority and region. Results: The proportion of single-handed practices ranged from 0% to 74% at PCG level and from 14% to 43% in different regions. The proportion of practices providing diabetes services ranged from 0% to 100% at PCG level and from 71% to 96% in different regions. The list size per GP ranged from 1314 to 2704 patients per GP at PCG level and from 1721 to 2225 at regional level. Across the 11 variables analysed, components of variance at general practice level accounted for between 43% and 95% of the total variance. The PCG level accounted for between 1% and 29%, the health authority level for between 2% and 15% and the regional level for between 0% and 13% of the total variance. Adjusting for an index of deprivation and the supply of GPs gave a median 8% decrease in the sum of variance components. Conclusion: Geographical and organisational variation in the structure of primary care services should be considered in designing studies in health systems such as the English NHS. Stratified designs may be used to increase study efficiency, but variation between areas may sometimes compromise generalisability.
Novel moisture‐curable epoxy resins and their characterization
Authors: Okuhira Hiroyuki , Kii Tomoya , Ochi Mitsukazu , Takeyama Hidekazu 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe shelf‐life stability and curability of a moisture‐curable epoxy resin system were evaluated with ketimines, which were used as moisture‐latent hardeners and were derived from different kinds of ketones as protective groups. Both the shelf‐life stability and curability of the compounds were mainly influenced by the steric hindrance of the ketimines. The theoretical results calculated by MOPAC showed good agreement with the experimental results. Methyl i‐propyl ketone and methyl t‐butyl ketone, having a narrow space (<4.2 Å) around ketimine N and a wide space (>3.7 Å) around ketimine C, were demonstrated to be the optimum ketones for the ketimines. The lap shear strength, with respect to the adhesive properties of the ketimines, was higher with a large‐volume ketone than with a small‐volume ketone as the protective group. This was due to the higher reaction conversion of the epoxide for the system. In addition, the large plasticizing effect of the large ketone volume could lead to a large relaxation of the stress generated at the bonding interface. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 91–95, 2003
Electrically conducting polyaniline‐PBMA composite films obtained by extrusion
Authors: Castillo‐Ortega M. M. , Castillo‐Castro T. Del , Encinas J. C. , Perez‐Tello M. , De Paoli Marco‐A. , Olayo R. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractPoly(n‐butyl methacrylate) (PBMA)–polyaniline (PANI) composite films were obtained by extrusion by use of two methods: the first method consisted of polymerizing a thin layer of PANI, with Cl− as dopant, on the extruded film of PBMA; the second method was based on blends of PBMA and PANI produced by the extrusion of the two polymers by using dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) as dopant. The thermal properties, electrical conductivity, and morphology of the composite films obtained were measured. The sensitivity of the composites films as detectors of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia was evaluated. The change in the electrical resistance on exposure to different aqueous solutions of these components shows a linear behavior. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 179–183, 2003
Fine‐needle aspiration cytology in lesions related to ornamental body procedures (skin tattooing, intraoral piercing) and recreational use of drugs (intranasal route)
Authors: Zaharopoulos Paul 
Published: April 2003

AbstractBody adornment through tattooing and body piercing and the use of recreational drugs are on the increase, producing a variety of secondary lesions, the etiology of which often remains undetected, as the medical community is not yet aware of the extent of the morbidity of such procedures and practices. Three cases are presented, which underscore the problem and also the role that fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) can play in clarifying the etiology of such lesions. Two of these cases were lymphadenopathies, one secondary to tattooing and the other to tongue piercing, while the third was a deep intranasal lesion, which in all probability had resulted from intranasal use of recreational drugs. Although the clinical diagnosis of these lesions was problematic, the FNA performed by a pathologist, by associating the cytologic findings with the corresponding clinical setting, was quite indicative of their relation to the aforementioned procedures or practices. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2003;28:258–263. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
New amidino‐benzimidazolyl thiophenes: Synthesis and photochemical synthesis
Authors: Starčević Kristina , Boykin David W. , Karminski‐Zamola Grace 
Published: April 2003

AbstractNew amidino‐benzimidazolyl‐substituted bis‐1,2‐(2‐thienyl)ethenes (4, 5, and 6) and benzo[1,2‐ b:4,3‐ b′]dithiophenes (8, 9, and 10) were prepared by the condensation of amidino‐substituted o‐phenylene diamines with corresponding dialdehydes (3 and 7). All prepared amidino‐benzimidazolyl‐substituted compounds are of particular interest, because they can serve as intercalators or groove binders on DNA in anticancer therapy. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:218–222, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10126
Reaction of nitrile oxides with vinylphosphonate: A facile, regioselective approach to 5‐phosphonyl‐4, 5‐dihydroisoxazoles
Authors: Ye Yong , Zheng Yu , Xu Guo‐Yan , Liu Lun‐Zu 
Published: April 2003

AbstractA series of 5‐phosphonyl‐4,5‐dihydroisoxazoles was synthesized from nitrile oxides and diethylvinylphosphonate under very mild conditions in good yields. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:254–257, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10136
C‐phosphorylated pyrrolylcarbaldehydes
Authors: Ivonin Sergey P. , Tolmachev Andrew A. , Terikovska Tatyana E. , Anishchenko Andrew A. , Chaikovskaya Alexandra A. , Pinchuk Alexander M. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractApplication of N,N‐dimethylhydrazone protective group for synthesis of C‐phosphorylated aldehydes of the pyrrole series was studied. Removal of the hydrazone protection in monophosphorylated pyrrolylcarbaldehyde hydrazones occurs smoothly, while in biphosphorylated derivatives it results in nitrile formation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:258–261, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10137
Asymmetric borane reduction of prochiral ketones catalyzed by phosphinamides prepared from L‐serine
Authors: Li Kang‐Ying , Zhou Zheng‐Hong , Wang Li‐Xin , Zhao Guo‐Feng , Choi Michael C. K. , Zhou Qi‐Lin , Tang Chu‐Chi 
Published: April 2003

AbstractSynthesis of several new chiral phosphinamide catalysts with a proximal hydroxyl group from L‐serine was described. These compounds have been successfully used in the asymmetric catalytic borane reduction of prochiral ketones. The optically active secondary alcohols were obtained with an enantiomeric excess (ee) up to 81% and excellent yields. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:288–291, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10145
Effects of unilateral pallidotomy on voluntary movement, and simple and choice reaction times in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Hayashi Ryoichi , Hashimoto Takao , Tada Tsuyoshi , Ikeda Shu‐ichi 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWe studied the effects of unilateral pallidotomy on motor execution and reaction times in patients with moderately advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Twelve consecutive patients (7 men, 5 women; all right‐handed) underwent left‐side microelectrode‐guided pallidotomy. In addition to clinical rating, reaction time (RT) tests and repetitive movements of the contralesional hand/arm were carried out at baseline and 2 to 3 months after surgery while patients were on optimal medical regimens (on period). The initiation time in both simple reaction time (SRT) and choice reaction time (CRT) improved significantly after pallidotomy (P < 0.05), whereas no effect was observed on the choice processing time, which was calculated by subtracting the mean value of the onset of SRT from that of CRT. Pallidotomy resulted in significant improvement of repetitive movements such as hand pronation/supination and finger‐tapping (P < 0.002, P < 0.005, respectively). Improvements in RT tests and repetitive movements suggest that pallidotomy may enhance attention and motor function. These effects are probably mediated through the pallido‐thalamic‐cortical neural circuitry. © 2003 Movement Disorder Society