bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systemic versus Nonsystemic Approaches To Quality Improvement
Authors: Roth William , Capuano Terry 
Published: November 2004

AbstractDespite the best of intentions, most quality improvement processes are not producing the desired results. This is frequently because those shaping the process do not understand that the quality improvement movement is simply the latest version of the systems approach, which has been around for about 40 years. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
PSS World Medical: Opening the Books Boosts Commitment and Performance
Authors: O'Reilly III Charles A. , Pfeffer Jeffrey 
Published: November 2004

AbstractRunning an open company, giving people authority and accountability, sharing the wealth, and having lots of leaders, not managers—these are the four central ideas behind the surprising success of PSS World Medical. Despite having been built on acquisitions and being in a low‐margin and extremely competitive industry, the company—a distributor of medical supplies—has thrived, with a strict customer focus defined and applied down to the smallest detail. © 2000 President and Fellows of Harvard College.
Pharmacovigilance‐related topics at the level of the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH)
Authors: Bahri Priya , Tsintis Panos 
Published: November 2004

AbstractMarketing authorisations for medicines need to be based on the universal criteria quality, safety and efficacy, whilst taking into account local public health needs. With view to using resources efficiently and avoiding delay in access to medicines, scientific standards for investigating quality, safety and efficacy should be universal too. A major step to achieve this was taken in 1990 when the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) was established between authorities and industry in the European Union (EU), Japan and the United States. Since then more than 50 ICH Guidelines have been published, out of which six are specific to pharmacovigilance. They refer to management and expedited reporting of individual adverse drug reaction (ADR) cases, including electronic formats, periodic reporting of worldwide data and planning of pharmacovigilance. Their development has to be seen in the context of initiatives taken in the three ICH Regions to strengthen pharmacovigilance. Most recently this involves making use of risk management concepts, reflecting new thinking of proactivity in pharmacovigilance. Moreover, consideration is given to regional and international cooperation beyond the ICH Regions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In‐situ ultrasonic compatibilization of unvulcanized and dynamically vulcanized PP/EPDM blends
Authors: Feng Wenlai , Isayev A. I. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractDynamically vulcanized PP/EPDM blends were treated by high‐intensity ultrasonic waves during extrusion. These blends were compared with unvulcanized PP/EPDM blends that were treated by ultrasound during extrusion and then dynamically vulcanized. Die pressure and power consumption were measured. The effects of different gap sizes, ratio of components, and number of ultrasonic horns were investigated. The rheological properties, morphology and mechanical properties of the blends with and without ultrasonic treatment were compared. The results obtained indicated that ultrasonic treatment induced thermo‐mechanical degradation, causing enhanced molecular transport and chemical reactions at the interfaces, thus leading to in‐situ compatibilization, which is evident by the morphological and mechanical property studies. Processing conditions were established for enhanced in‐situ compatibilization of the PP/EPDM blends that were either originally dynamically vulcanized and then ultrasonically treated or first treated and then dynamically vulcanized. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:2019–2028, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Electroactive polymer patterns with metal incorporation on a polymeric substrate
Authors: Zhao Luping , Wang Jinggong , Neoh K. G. , Kang E. T. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractElectroactive polymer patterns on a polymeric substrate were fabricated using either a UV lithographic approach or plasma polymerization method. For the lithographic patterning technique, photosensitive thin films comprising polyaniline (PANI) coatings on viologen‐grafted low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) substrates were first prepared. The composite film was subsequently exposed to UV irradiation through a mask. Under UV irradiation, reactions between PANI and viologen occurred, resulting in the conversion of the PANI to a doped state. The PANI micropatterns were developed by using N‐methylpyrrolidinone (NMP) to dissolve the soluble‐unexposed (and hence undoped) parts. The use of Ar plasma treatment of the composite film instead of UV irradiation was not successful in inducing the doping reaction between PANI and viologen. On the other hand, plasma polymerization was shown to be another convenient way for the selective surface deposition of aniline polymer on the surface of the LDPE substrate through a mask. The further incorporation of metal/metal ions in both the PANI‐viologen and plasma polymerized aniline system was successfully carried out on the micropatterns. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:2061–2069, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
The structure and properties of PA6/MMT nanocomposites prepared by melt compounding
Authors: Shishan Wu , Dingjun Jiang , Xiaodong Ouyang , Fen Wu , Jian Shen 
Published: November 2004

AbstractPolyamide 6 (PA6)/organo‐montmorillonite nanocomposites prepared by melt compounding using a co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder were intercalated nanocomposites. The modulus, bending strength and heat distortion temperature of these nanocomposites increased with increasing clay content, and tensile strength increased up to 4.3 wt% and then decreased with further increases in montmorillonite content. The notched Izod impact strength decreased slightly with montmorillonite content. Nanocomposites based on the higher‐molecular‐weight PA6 yielded higher moduli, tensile strengths, and heat distortion temperatures at the same montmorillonite content. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:2070–2074, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Effects of oxidation and particle shape on critical volume fractions of silver‐coated copper powders in conductive adhesives for microelectronic applications
Authors: Lin Yung‐Sen , Chiu Sheng‐Shiang 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe effects of oxidation and particle shape on critical volume fractions of silver‐coated copper powders in conductive adhesives are investigated. Silver‐coated copper powders with spherical and flake‐shaped particles were oxidized at temperatures of 30°C, 175°C and 240°C for two hours and dispersed in an epoxy matrix. As silver‐coated copper powders are oxidized at 30°C and 175°C, the critical volume fractions of the conductive adhesives are slightly affected by oxidation and particle shape at these temperatures. As the oxidation temperature approaches 240°C, the critical volume fractions of the conductive adhesives are strongly affected by oxidation temperature and particle shape, owing to the formation of oxides such as Cu2O on the surface of silver‐coated copper powder—Cu diffuses from the interior to the surface of silver‐coated copper powder and reacts with the oxygen in the air. Silver‐coated copper powder with flake‐shaped particles shows lower critical volume fractions in conductive adhesives than silver‐coated copper powder with spherically shaped particles. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:2075–2082, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Strain hardening in polypropylenes and its role in extrusion foaming
Authors: Spitael Pieter , Macosko Christopher W. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractExtensional viscosity of several polypropylene polymers and their blends was measured and the foam processing of these blends using carbon dioxide blowing agent was studied. Foaming was carried out on a co‐rotating twin‐screw extrusion line, with a gear pump to build pressure. A linear isotactic polypropylene and two branched polypropylenes were considered. The uniaxial extensional viscosity was quantified and the foam characterized based on bulk density, cell size, and cell concentration. The linear polymer exhibits no strain hardening, while both branched polymers show pronounced strain hardening. Blends of low concentrations of branched polymer in the linear polypropylene show significant strain hardening down to 10‐wt% branched polypropylene. Strain hardening is expected to prevent cell coalescence and lead to higher cell concentrations. The branched polymers were found to have a lower cell concentration than the linear polymer. Yet blends of linear and branched polypropylenes attained a cell concentration higher than either of the neat polymers. This suggests that even small amounts of branched polypropylene blended in linear polypropylene can improve the foaming process. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:2090–2100, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Characteristics of antiplasticized thermosets: Effects of network architecture and additive chemistry on mechanical fortification
Authors: Zerda Adam S. , Lesser Alan J. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractA new class of molecular additives is investigated for epoxy‐based crosslinked polymers. These additives are shown to increase modulus and yield stress in the cured networks. In order to elucidate the mechanisms for reinforcement of epoxy thermosets, the effects of additive chemistry and network architecture are considered. Both model and commercial epoxy networks are studied, thereby probing the effect of molecular weight between crosslinks, Mc, on reinforcement. Additionally, the family of phosphates being studied ranges in molecular weight, solubility parameter and density. These parameters are demonstrated to strongly influence the degree of reinforcement and correlate with the ability of the additive to reduce mobility of the polymer network. Mechanisms of reinforcement are discussed. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:2125–2133, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Structure development in melt‐spinning syndiotactic polystyrene and comparison to atactic polystyrene
Authors: Hong Myeong‐Ho , White James L. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractSyndiotactic polystyrene (s‐PS) and atactic polystyrene (a‐PS) were melt‐spun into filaments. The s‐PS filaments exhibited increasing amounts of crystallinity and orientation with increasing drawdown ratio and spinline stress. The a‐PS filaments were amorphous but exhibited birefringence. The birefringence and Hermans orientation factors for a‐PS were proportional to this spinline stress. In ice water and at low drawdown ratios, the s‐PS is glassy or mesomorphic. At higher drawdown ratios and spinline stresses, it crystallized. The crystalline form was the zigzag TTTT hexagonal α‐form. The birefringence and orientation factors of the s‐PS filaments were higher than those of the a‐PS filaments and the difference of the birefringence increased with increasing spinline stress. Mechanical testing results showed that the Young's modulus and tensile strength generally increased with increasing spinline drawdown ratio for both a‐PS and s‐PS filaments. The elongation to break was enhanced for both materials by increased chain orientation. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:2141–2147, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Origin of directional tear in blown films of ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymers and ionomers
Authors: Lee Li‐Bong W. , Register Richard A. , Dean David M. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBlown films of ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymers and ionomers can exhibit pronounced directional tear, meaning that a tear can propagate with much less resistance in a particular direction. However, films blown from the same resin can exhibit different preferred tear directions, which depend on the process conditions. Through wide‐ and small‐angle X‐ray scattering, we demonstrate that this directional tear behavior is a direct result of the orientation of the lamellar polyethylene crystallites in these films; tears propagate more readily between lamellae than through lamellae, as previously recognized for low‐density polyethylene homopolymer. Unlike polyethylene homopolymer, however, an increase in the blowup ratio during the film processing of ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymers and ionomers leads to a 90° rotation of the lamellae that form upon subsequent crystallization. The lamellar rotation arises from a change in the orientation of the row nuclei that form after the melt is inflated and produces a consequent rotation of the preferred tear direction. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 97–106, 2005
Critical strains in tensile deformed polyamide 6 and 6/66 copolymer
Authors: Men Yongfeng , Rieger Jens , Hong Ke 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe recovery properties of dry and water saturated polyamide 6 (PA6) and its copolymer PA6/66 (ratio 4:1 by mol) were studied at elevated temperatures above the glass‐transition temperature in uniaxial tensile tests. The data yield critical points along the true stress–strain curves at which the differential compliance and the recovery property change. These critical points include the onset of the plastic deformation (point A), the yield point (B), and the point where the elasticity of the samples reaches a plateau value (C). The strains at points A and B remain constant, whereas the strain at point C varies with temperature. The invariance of the critical strains at points A and B is assumed to be the result of the homogeneous strain distribution in the system and the general activation of the intralamellar block slip mechanism at low deformations. The strain at point C, being related to the properties of the entangled network, varies because the effective entanglement density of the network changes due to the change in the hydrogen bond number with temperature. With the Gaussian model of Haward and Thackray, we calculated the network moduli. From these data, we derived that the network stress remains constant at point C. At point C, the deformation mechanism starts to change from the block slip mechanism to a stress‐induced melting–recrystallization process. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 87–96, 2005
Binding of glutamine to glutamine‐binding protein from Escherichia coli induces changes in protein structure and increases protein stability
Authors: D'Auria Sabato , Scirè Andrea , Varriale Antonio , Scognamiglio Viviana , Staiano Maria , Ausili Alessio , Marabotti Anna , Rossi Mosè , Tanfani Fabio 
Published: November 2004

AbstractGlutamine‐binding protein (GlnBP) from Escherichia coli is a monomeric protein localized in the periplasmic space of the bacterium. It is responsible for the first step in the active transport of L‐glutamine across the cytoplasmic membrane. The protein consists of two similar globular domains linked by two peptide hinges, and X‐ray crystallographic data indicate that the two domains undergo large movements upon ligand binding. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyze the structure and thermal stability of the protein in detail. The data indicate that glutamine binding induces small changes in the secondary structure of the protein and that it renders the structure more thermostable and less flexible. Detailed analyses of IR spectra show a lower thermal sensitivity of α‐helices than β‐sheets in the protein both in the absence and in the presence of glutamine. Generalized two‐dimensional (2D) analyses of IR spectra reveal the same sequence of unfolding events in the protein in the absence and in the presence of glutamine, indicating that the amino acid does not affect the unfolding pathway of the protein. The data give new insight into the structural characteristics of GlnBP that are useful for both basic knowledge and biotechnological applications. Proteins 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fragmentation study of short‐chain products derived from oxidation of diacylphosphatidylcholines by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry: identification of novel short‐chain products
Authors: Reis A. , Domingues P. , Ferrer‐Correia A. J. V. , Domingues M. R. M. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractLineloyl‐palmitoyl (PLPC) and arachidonoyl‐palmitoyl (PAPC) phosphatidylcholine were oxidized under Fenton reaction conditions (H2O2 and Fe2+), and the short‐chain products formed were identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS). The short‐chain products resulted from β‐cleavage of oxygen‐centered radicals and comprised aldehydes, hydroxyaldehydes and dicarboxylic acids that yielded both [MH]+ and [MNa]+ ions. The fragmentation of the [MH]+ and [MNa]+ ions of the peroxidation products was studied by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The MS/MS spectra of both ions showed ions resulting from characteristic losses of glycerophosphatidylcholine. Other product ions, resulting from CC cleavages occurring in the vicinity of the functional group, and fragmentations involving the hydroxy groups, were the most informative since they allowed us to obtain structural information relating to the sn‐2 acyl residue. Both fragmentation pathways are due to charge‐remote fragmentation occurring by a 1,4‐hydrogen elimination mechanism and/or by homolytic cleavage. Furthermore, the fragmentation pathway of some ions observed in the ESI‐MS spectrum was not consistent with the fragmentation behavior expected for some of the short‐chain species identified in the literature and allowed the reassignment of the ions as different structures. Isobaric ions were observed in the ESI‐MS spectra of both oxidized phospholipids, and were differentiated based on distinct fragmentation. The detailed knowledge of lipid peroxidation degradation products is of major importance and should be very valuable in providing new markers for oxidative stress signaling and for disease states monitoring. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stable carbon and oxygen isotopic determination of sub‐microgram quantities of CaCO3 to analyze individual foraminiferal shells
Authors: Ishimura Toyoho , Tsunogai Urumu , Gamo Toshitaka 
Published: November 2004

AbstractWe have developed an analytical system to determine stable isotopic compositions (δ13C and δ18O) of sub‐microgram quantities of CaCO3 for the purpose of analyzing individual foraminiferal shells, using continuous‐flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF‐IRMS). The system consists of a micro‐volume CaCO3 decomposition tube, stainless steel CO2 purification vacuum line with a quantity‐regulating unit, helium‐purged CO2 purification line, gas chromatograph, and a CF‐IRMS system. By using this system, we can determine stable carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions as low as 0.2 μg of CaCO3, with standard deviations of ±0.10‰ for δ13C and ±0.18‰ for δ18O within a 4‐h reaction time and 30‐min analysis period. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A software test process stochastic control model based on CMM characterization
Authors: Cangussu João W. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe state variable model of the software test process has shown to be a promising approach for the control of the system test phase of the software test process. However, the presence of unforeseen perturbations and noise in the data collection process impacts the accuracy of the predictions of the model and motivates the application of a stochastic control approach.This article explores a stochastic model construct upon the deterministic state variable model of the software test process. The Capability Maturity Model is used to identify levels of disturbance and noise that can be associated with the maturity level of processes. Simulation results are presented as an indication of the applicability of the stochastic state model. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Guided support for collaborative modeling, enactment and simulation of software development processes
Authors: Fernández Alejandro , Garzaldeen Badie , Grützner Ines , Münch Jürgen 
Published: November 2004

AbstractRecently, the awareness of the importance of distributed software development has been growing in the software engineering community. Economic constraints, more and more outsourcing of development activities, and the increasing geographical distribution of companies come along with challenges of how to organize distributed development.In this article, we reason that a common process understanding is mandatory for successful distributed development. Integrated process planning, guidance and enactment are seen as enabling technologies for achieving a unique process view.We present an overview of the software process modeling environment SPEARMINT and the XCHIPS system for web‐based process support. SPEARMINT offers extensive capabilities for multi‐view modeling and analysis of software development processes. XCHIPS provides capabilities for distributed modeling and offers enactment and simulation functionalities. This article describes the integration of both approaches. The resulting environment provides planners and developers with collaborative planning and enactment support and advanced process guidance via electronic process guides (EPGs). Additionally, experience with the integrated environment is described. We describe, in particular, the usage of this integrated environment in the context of a case study for the development of a learning system. Finally, an overview of related work is given and future research directions are sketched. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phenotypical variation in a toxic strain of the phytoplankter, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (nostocales, cyanophyceae) during batch culture
Authors: Hawkins Peter R. , Putt Elizabeth , Falconer Ian , Humpage Andrew 
Published: November 2004

AbstractA nonaxenic strain of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii Woloszynska (AWT 205) was grown in batch culture, with and without nitrate as the primary N source. Rapid log‐phase growth with nitrate was 1.0 doubling/day versus 0.3 doubling/day without nitrate. Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) production was measured by HPLC. The rate of intracellular CYN production matched cell division rate for both the diazotrophies at cell densities less than 107 cell/ml. At cell density >107 cell/ml, additional resource limitation in batch culture slowed log‐phase growth to 0.04 division/day and cell division and CYN production decoupled. Intracellular CYN concentration increased at a rate of 0.08 doubling/day, twice the cell division rate.Extracellular CYN as a proportion of the total CYN increased from 20% during the rapid growth phase, to 50% during the slow growth phase. The total CYN yield from cultures grown out to stationary phase (55 days) exceeded 2 mg CYN/l.C. raciborskii cells in log‐phase growth, exposed to 1 ppm copper (as copper sulphate), lysed within 24 hours. After copper treatment, all CYN was in the filterable fraction. These findings imply that in naturally occurring blooms of C. raciborskii, the movement of intracellular CYN into solution will be the greatest during stationary phase, when intracellular concentrations are highest and cell lysis is more frequent. The application of algicides that promote cell lysis will exacerbate this effect. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 16: 460–467, 2001