bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of workload control (WLC) on performance in make‐to‐order companies
Authors: Hendry L.C. , Kingsman B.G. , Cheung P. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWorkload control (WLC) concepts are a new group of production planning and control methods designed to control queues in a job shop manufacturing environment. Their importance lies in the need to maintain this type of flexible manufacturing environment in make‐to‐order (MTO) companies, which manufacture different products for different customers. There have been several well‐developed WLC concepts presented in the literature that address two major decision levels in MTO firms, the job entry level and the job release level. At the job entry level, customer enquiries are processed, and delivery dates (DDs) and prices are quoted to customers. At the job release level, decisions are made regarding which jobs should be released to the shop floor so that processing can commence. The effectiveness of WLC concepts at these two decision levels has been explored in the literature but is still inconclusive, especially in terms of the ability of the job entry level to address one of the most important objectives of WLC ‐ the control of manufacturing lead times. This paper presents a simulation model designed to test the effectiveness of one of the most comprehensive WLC concepts presented in the literature. The model enables the effect of various control parameters within this WLC concept to be explored, including those used at the job entry level to control manufacturing lead times. Experimental results are presented, indicating that this particular concept can lead to lower manufacturing lead times when compared with an environment of no control, even when the same total workload is processed by the shop.
5‐Hydroxytryptamine7 (5‐HT7) receptor immunoreactivity‐positive ‘stigmoid body’‐like structure in developing rat brains
Authors: Muneoka Katsumasa T. , Takigawa Morikuni 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWe examined the expression of 5‐hydroxytryptamine7 (5‐HT7) receptor protein in developing and adult rats with immunohistochemical technique. In adult male rats, 5‐HT7 receptor immunoreactivity was detected in the septum, striatum, indusium griseum, tenia tecta, thalamus, hippocampus and hypothalamus in the forebrain as well as the pons and cerebellum. In brains of 1, 7, 15 and 21 days old male rats but not of adult ones, 5‐HT7 receptor immunoreactivity‐positive dot‐like structures were detected. The dot‐like structures were visualized in hypothalamus, hippocampus, frontal cortex, brainstem and cerebellum at 1 day old male rats. In 7 days old male rats, the dot‐like structures were found in the hypothalamus, medial preoptic area (MPA), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), amygdaloid nucleus and brainstem reticular formation. In 15 and 21 days old male and female rats, 5‐HT7 receptor immunoreactive dots were most clearly detected in MPA, hypothalamus, raphe pallidus, raphe magnus and brainstem reticular formation. The 5‐HT7 receptor immunoreactivity‐positive dot‐like structures were shown in the cytoplasm and they were less than 1 μm in diameter in 1 and 7 days old rats and became larger to 1–3 μm in 15 and 21 days old rats. From the distribution and morphologic features, the 5‐HT7 receptor immunoreactivity‐positive dot‐like structure found in developing rat brains is considered to be identical to a cytoplasmic inclusion named ‘stigmoid body’.
GVS‐111 prevents oxidative damage and apoptosis in normal and Down's syndrome human cortical neurons
Authors: Pelsman Alejandra , Hoyo‐Vadillo Carlos , Gudasheva Tatiana A. , Seredenin Sergei B. , Ostrovskaya Rita U. , Busciglio Jorge 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe neuroprotective activity of a novel N‐acylprolyl‐containing dipeptide analog of the nootropic 2‐oxo‐1‐pyrrolidine acetamide (Piracetam) designated as GVS‐111 (DVD‐111/Noopept) was tested in two in vitro models of neuronal degeneration mediated by oxidative stress: normal human cortical neurons treated with H2O2, and Down's syndrome (DS) cortical neurons. Incubation of normal cortical neurons with 50 μM H2O2 for 1 h resulted in morphological and structural changes consistent with neuronal apoptosis and in the degeneration of more than 60% of the neurons present in the culture. GVS‐111 significantly increased neuronal survival after H2O2‐treatment displaying a dose‐dependent neuroprotective activity from 10 nM to 100 μM, and an IC50 value of 1.21±0.07 μM. GVS‐111 inhibited the accumulation of intracellular free radicals and lipid peroxidation damage in neurons treated with H2O2 or FeSO4, suggesting an antioxidant mechanism of action. GVS‐111 exhibited significantly higher neuroprotection compared to the standard cognition enhancer Piracetam, or to the antioxidants Vitamin E, propyl gallate and N‐tert‐butyl‐2‐sulpho‐phenylnitrone (s‐PBN). In DS cortical cultures, chronic treatment with GVS‐111 significantly reduced the appearance of degenerative changes and enhanced neuronal survival. The results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of GVS‐111 against oxidative damage and its potential nootropic activity may present a valuable therapeutic combination for the treatment of mental retardation and chronic neurodegenerative disorders.
Sexual behavior and sexual problems among patients with severe chronic psychoses
Authors: Raja Michele , Azzoni Antonella 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to investigate sexual behavior in a population of psychiatric patients affected by schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder by means of an ad hoc questionnaire designed to explore the three phases of the sexual response: desire (or interest), arousal, and performance. The study assessed patients’ attitude toward sexuality, several aspects of their sexual behavior, including patients’ awareness of the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), contraceptive strategy preferred by patients, and sexual effects of psychotropic medication. Patients reported a high frequency of sexual dysfunction, in particular, hyposexuality. Schizophrenia diagnosis and female gender were associated with lower levels of sexual performance. The impact of psychotropic drugs on patients’ sexuality was significant, with both positive and negative effects. Although 65.8% of patients reported to be concerned about the risk of contracting infections during sexual intercourse, most of them engaged in sexual behavior at high risk for acquisition and transmission of STD. Patients’ compliance with contraceptive measures was poor.
Food and nutrient intakes among pregnant women in rural Tamil Nadu, South India
Authors: Andersen Lena Theilgaard , Thilsted Shakuntala Haraksingh , Nielsen Birgitte Bruun , Rangasamy Suguna 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectives:To study pregnant women's diet at food and nutrient levels and how these match recommendations; to describe how factors such as education level, economy and folk dietetics influence the women's food choice; and to give suggestions for the improvement of nutrition education in the existing antenatal care systems.Design and subjects:Thirty pregnant women in the last trimester were interviewed three times using a 24-hour dietary recall with weighing of foods and recipes of dishes. Interviews regarding health, nutrition and socio-economic status, and measurements of weight and height of the women, were conducted.Setting:Rural parts of Salem District, Tamil Nadu, South India.Results and conclusion:The women's diet (without supplements) was insufficient in energy and all nutrients except fat, compared with the Indian recommendations. Aggravating low intakes of micronutrients were found which were reflected in low intakes of foods other than rice. Eating customs and economy appeared to influence the women's food choice negatively in relation to recommendations while factors such as education level, family type, pregnancy number and folk dietetics did not seem to have a negative effect. The amounts of foods recommended, especially green leafy vegetables, must be shown to the women. The nutrition advice given by all levels of health providers must be the same and based on cheap, local, commonly consumed foods.
Physical activity, diet and cardiovascular disease risks in Chinese women
Authors: Ma, Jing , Liu, Zhaomin , Ling Wenhua 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjective:To investigate the relationship between different types and levels of physical activity and cardiovascular disease risk factors, including oxidative stress, blood lipids and insulin resistance, in a healthy female population in China.Method:Healthy women (n= 761) aged 35 to 65 years participated in this study. The habitual physical activity was evaluated by self-administered questionnaire (MOSPA). The dietary intakes of nutrients were calculated from 3-day recall records. Anthropometric data of each subject were measured, fasting blood samples were taken, and erythrocytes and serum were prepared for the measurement of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity, serum malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, insulin, glucose and lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein AI (apo A) and apolipoprotein B (apo B)) concentrations.Results:Low level of physical activity was related to a lower concentration of serum apo B, and higher energy expenditure from household physical activity had a reverse relationship with serum apo B and triglyceride levels. In the group with moderate occupational energy expenditure, the concentration of serum triglycerides was lower, but that of high-density lipoprotein was higher. Moderate energy expenditure (less than 1700 kcal day−1) from leisure-time physical activity was positively related to total antioxidant capacity and insulin sensitivity. However, heavy occupational physical activity may be not beneficial for the cardiovascular system.Conclusion:This study indicates that leisure-time, moderate occupational and household physical activity levels decreased risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Validation of a food-frequency questionnaire for cohort studies in rural Japan
Authors: Ogawa Keiko , Tsubono Yoshitaka , Nishino Yoshikazu , Watanabe Yoko , Ohkubo Takayoshi , Watanabe Takao , Nakatsuka Haruo , Takahashi Nobuko , Kawamura Mieko , Tsuji Ichiro , Hisamichi Shigeru 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectives:To examine the validity and reproducibility of a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) used for two cohort studies in Japan.Design:Cross-sectional study.Setting:Two rural towns in the Miyagi Prefecture, in north-eastern Japan.Subjects:Fifty-five men and 58 women.Results:A 40-item FFQ was administered twice, 1 year apart. In the mean time, four 3-day diet records (DRs) were collected in four seasons within the year. We calculated daily consumption of total energy and 15 nutrients, 40 food items and nine food groups from the FFQs and the DRs. We computed Spearman correlation coefficients between the FFQs and the DRs. With adjustment for age, total energy and deattenuation for measurement error with the DRs, the correlation coefficients for nutrient intakes ranged from 0.25 to 0.58 in men and from 0.30 to 0.69 in women, with median of 0.43 and 0.43, respectively. Median (range) of the correlation coefficients was 0.35 (−0.30 to 0.72) in men and 0.34 (−0.06 to 0.75) in women for food items and 0.60 (−0.10 to 0.76) and 0.51 (0.28–0.70) for food groups, respectively. Median (range) of the correlation coefficients for the two FFQs administered 1 year apart was 0.49 (0.31–0.71) in men and 0.50 (0.40–0.64) in women for nutrients, 0.43 (0.14–0.76) and 0.45 (0.06–0.74) respectively for food items, and 0.50 (0.30–0.70) and 0.57 (0.39–0.66) respectively for food groups. Relatively higher agreement percentages for intakes of nutrients and food groups with high validity were obtained together with lower complete disagreement percentages.Conclusions:The FFQ has a high reproducibility and a reasonably good validity, and is useful in assessing the usual intakes of nutrients, foods and food groups among a rural Japanese population.
Low-income consumers' attitudes and behaviour towards access, availability and motivation to eat fruit and vegetables
Authors: Dibsdall LA , Lambert N , Bobbin RF , Frewer LJ 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjective:To determine low-income consumers' attitudes and behaviour towards fruit and vegetables, in particular issues of access to, affordability of and motivation to eat fruit and vegetables.Design and setting:Questionnaire survey mailed to homes owned by a large UK housing association.Participants:Participants were 680 low-income men and women, aged 17–100 years.Results:Age, employment, gender, smoking and marital status all affected attitudes towards access, affordability and motivation to eat fruit and vegetables. Few (7%) participants experienced difficulty in visiting a supermarket at least once a week, despite nearly half having no access to a car for shopping. Fruit and vegetables were affordable to this low-income group in the amounts they habitually bought; purchasing additional fruits and vegetables was seen as prohibitively expensive. Less than 5% felt they had a problem with eating healthily and yet only 18% claimed to eat the recommended 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables every day.Conclusions:Supported by research, current UK Government policy is driven by the belief that low-income groups have difficulties in access to and affordability of fruit and vegetables. Findings from this particular group suggest that, of the three potential barriers, access and affordability were only a small part of the ‘problem’ surrounding low fruit and vegetable consumption. Thus, other possible determinants of greater consequence need to be identified. We suggest focusing attention on motivation to eat fruit and vegetables, since no dietary improvement can be achieved if people do not recognise there is a problem.
Impact evaluation of efforts to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders in Nigeria
Authors: Egbuta John , Onyezili Frank , Vanormelingen Koen 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjective:The objective of the present review is to assess the impact of universal salt iodisation in Nigeria during the last five years, with reference to some of the sentinel sites studied previously during a 1995 multi-centre study.Design, setting and subjects:The method of goitre classification by palpation was employed using the new internationally accepted method in which the classification is simply graded as 0, 1 or 2. The multistage random sampling method was used and states and local government areas were already selected by virtue of their known status for iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Schools were randomly chosen in each local government area and children aged 8–12 years in each school were determined. A percentage of the children was then included in the study to give a sample size greater than the minimum number allotted to the school. A total of 2372 schoolchildren (1420 males and 952 females) in 11 local government areas were examined; urine samples were collected from 537 children and analysed for urinary excretion of iodine. The method known as the Sandell–Kolthoff reaction was adopted, in which the iodide in the urine samples catalyses the reduction of ceric ammonium sulphate (yellow colour) to the cerous form (colourless) in the presence of arsenious acid. The degree of reduction in colour intensity of the yellow ceric ammonium sulphate is proportional to the iodine content in the urine sample.Results:The results from this study show that the median urinary iodine excretion for this sampled population in Nigeria, drawn mostly from IDD-endemic areas, is 14.65 μg dl−1 with a mean value of 13.39 μg dl−1.Conclusion:This finding would suggest that Nigeria, in general terms, has achieved the goal of universal salt iodisation and should now focus its attention on constant monitoring in order to sustain this iodisation level.
The influence of dietary intake on the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system across three ethnic groups: a population-based study
Authors: Heald AH , Cade JE , Cruickshank JK , Anderson S , White A , Gibson JM 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjective:The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system has been implicated in the aetiopathogenesis of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Since dietary factors and ethnicity are considered contributory to the development of these diseases, we examined the IGF system in relation to nutritional intake by ethnic group.Design, subjects and setting:Dietary intake in 257 subjects of White European, African-Caribbean and Pakistani ethnic origin living in Manchester, UK was assessed using ethnic-group-specific food-frequency questionnaires to assess habitual nutrient intake over the previous 12 months. Fasting IGF-I, IGF-II and IGF-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) concentrations were determined and their relationship to specific dietary constituents was analysed.Results:Analysis by quintiles of nutrient intake showed a significant increase in circulating IGF-I concentration with increasing dietary fat intake (F for trend = 3.9, P < 0.01), saturated fat intake (F = 3.3, P = 0.01) and for protein intake (F = 4.2, P < 0.01). There was also a significant increase in IGF-II by quintiles of dietary protein intake (F = 2.7, P < 0.05). There was a trend for increasing IGF-I with increasing energy intake. The relationships between circulating concentration of IGFBP-1, an acute regulator of IGF action, and fat/protein intake were opposite to those for IGF-I and IGF-II. Multiple linear regression modelling showed that people of Pakistani origin and older subjects had lower levels of IGF-I (Pakistani origin vs. others, P < 0.001) (age, P < 0.001 for both). There was an independent inverse relationship between IGF-I and dietary carbohydrate intake (P = 0.036).Conclusions:This study provides evidence for a dietary contribution to regulation of the IGF system, although the effects of ethnicity on circulating IGF levels remain dominant. We propose that the IGF system's influences on cancer risk in specific ethnic groups are potentially modifiable by dietary intervention.
The socio-economic patterning of survey participation and non-response error in a multilevel study of food purchasing behaviour: area- and individual-level characteristics
Authors: Turrell Gavin , Patterson Carla , Oldenburg Brian , Gould Trish , Roy Marie-Andree 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjective:To undertake an assessment of survey participation and non-response error in a population-based study that examined the relationship between socio-economic position and food purchasing behaviour.Design and setting:The study was conducted in Brisbane City (Australia) in 2000. The sample was selected using a stratified two-stage cluster design. Respondents were recruited using a range of strategies that attempted to maximise the involvement of persons from disadvantaged backgrounds: respondents were contacted by personal visit and data were collected using home-based face-to-face interviews; multiple call-backs on different days and at different times were used; and a financial gratuity was provided.Participants:Non-institutionalised residents of private dwellings (n= 1003), located in 50 small areas that differed in their socio-economic characteristics.Results:Rates of survey participation – measured by non-contacts, exclusions, dropped cases, response rates and completions – were similar across areas, suggesting that residents of socio-economically advantaged and disadvantaged areas were equally likely to be recruited. Individual-level analysis, however, showed that respondents and non-respondents differed significantly in their sociodemographic and food purchasing characteristics: non-respondents were older, less educated and exhibited different purchasing behaviours. Misclassification bias probably accounted for the inconsistent pattern of association between the area- and individual-level results. Estimates of bias due to non-response indicated that although respondents and non-respondents were qualitatively different, the magnitude of error associated with this differential was minimal.Conclusions:Socio-economic position measured at the individual level is a strong and consistent predictor of survey non-participation. Future studies that set out to examine the relationship between socio-economic position and diet need to adopt sampling strategies and data collection methods that maximise the likelihood of recruiting participants from all points on the socio-economic spectrum, and particularly persons from disadvantaged backgrounds. Study designs that are not sensitive to the difficulties associated with recruiting a socio-economically representative sample are likely to produce biased estimates (underestimates) of socio-economic differences in the dietary outcome being investigated.
Measuring socio-economic position in dietary research: is choice of socio-economic indicator important?
Authors: Turrell Gavin , Hewitt Belinda , Patterson Carla , Oldenburg Brian 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectives:To examine the association between socio-economic position (SEP) and diet, by assessing the unadjusted and simultaneously adjusted (independent) contributions of education, occupation and household income to food purchasing behaviourDesign:The sample was randomly selected using a stratified two-stage cluster design, and the response rate was 66.4%. Data were collected by face-to-face interview. Food purchasing was examined on the basis of three composite indices that reflected a household's choice of grocery items (including meat and chicken), fruit and vegetablesSetting:Brisbane City, Australia, 2000Participants:Non-institutionalised residents of private dwellings (n= 1003), located in 50 small areas (Census Collectors Districts)Results:When shopping, respondents in lower socio-economic groups were less likely to purchase grocery foods that were high in fibre and low in fat, salt and sugar. Disadvantaged groups purchased fewer types of fresh fruits and vegetables, and less often, than their counterparts from more advantaged backgrounds. When the relationship between SEP and food purchasing was examined using each indicator separately, education and household income made an unadjusted contribution to purchasing behaviour for all three food indices; however, occupation was significantly related only with the purchase of grocery foods. When education and occupation were simultaneously adjusted for each other, the socio-economic patterning with food purchase remained largely unchanged, although the strength of the associations was attenuated. When household income was introduced into the analysis, the association between education, occupation and food purchasing behaviour was diminished or became non-significant; income, however, showed a strong, graded association with food choiceConclusions:The food purchasing behaviours of socio-economically disadvantaged groups were least in accord with dietary guideline recommendations, and hence are more consistent with greater risk for the development of diet-related disease. The use of separate indicators for education, occupation and household income each adds something unique to our understanding of how socio-economic position is related to diet: each indicator reflects a different underlying social process and hence they are not interchangeable, and do not serve as adequate proxies for one another