Search

The conventional approach to treatment of patients with spondyloarthritis (SPA), particularly ankylosing spondylitis (AS), has serious limitations, adding a sense of urgency to the evaluation of new treatments for these [...]

This article summarizes the production and inventory management techniques in use today by Taiwanese manufacturers of auto body parts. The authors spent two weeks touring 11 factories to gather information about how extensively modern methods and technology are employed., This article provides some insight into the production and inventory management methods used by aftermarket auto body parts manufacturers in Taiwan, Republic of China. The information about these manufacturers was [...]

For some time now, customer service has been emerging as a competitive weapon for business firms. Chase and Garvin (1989) state that, 'it is becoming harder and harder to compete [...]

Firms using the just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing philosophy were surveyed to determine the role of quality circles on actual JIT implementations. The results showed that about half of the respondents utilize quality circles for JIT implementation. In addition, firms utilizing quality circles had larger gains in terms of cost reduction. These results indicate that firms planning JIT implementation will benefit from a practical quality circle program.

Businesses in the United States were surveyed about the financial effects of implementing Just-In-Time (JIT) inventory management. Seven effects of implementation were identified and related to return on investment, cost reduction and increased service as criteria for financial success. The firms, representing a wide range of manufacturing industry, measured considerable improvements following implementation of JIT and these correlate to better financial performance.

Application of the just-in-time (JIT) philosophy is crucial to the success of any business organization. An analysis of the elements affecting JIT users' relationships to their vendors revealed that aside from production elements, other vendor-related elements have a significant impact on JIT implementation. Furthermore, firms which utilize single sourcing can expect better relations with their vendors.

The theme of just-in-time (JIT) philosophy has been to eliminate waste. Studies have suggested that JIT is most applicable to large manufacturers with repetitive processes. Literature on the use of JIT in small firms is sparse. Most of the published writings on the subject are included here. The article addresses the usefulness of JIT for small firms, the benefits and investigates the possibility of an optimal implementation procedure.

A study of production and operations management (POM) textbooks used in US schools of business and engineering is conducted to determine their coverage of and orientation toward the concepts of quality and quality management. While the traditional view of quality is found to be dominant in the POM textbooks, a more balanced view of quality's operational and strategic facets is emerging.

Certification of suppliers has been seen as a necessity for manufacturers wishing to compete in a global marketplace. However, some firms are finding that while their vendors are shipping products that meet the required specifications, fitness for use is not realized. A quality certification program, therefore, needs to certify not only the product itself, but also the transformation process in order to achieve quality objectives.

Use of just in time (JIT) by manufacturing firms can lead to increased job stress. Problems can arise in areas of work pace, reduced inventory, reduction of setup time and cross training. Solutions to JIT stress can come from improved time management, social support systems, aerobic exercise programs and changing jobs if some workers cannot adapt to JIT.

Flexible Manufacturing Systems: Issues and Implementation Within the last two decades the conventional factory has been thrust into a role to which it is unaccustomed. Faced with shrinking markets and [...]

Lot-size reduction is purported to generate many production benefits. One benefit, improved quality, is the theme of this article. Specifically, the relationship between lot-size reduction and quality improvement is examined.

Numerous empirical analyses are conducted to explain the relationships between the different elements, applications and the organizational performance related to the theory of constraints (TOC). The results clearly demonstrate that the implementation of TOC leads to better unit performance of the organizations.

A study was conducted to investigate the carrying out of just-in-time (JIT) II strategy on production and marketing functions of manufacturing sector and the affect of market orientation on organizational performance. Findings suggest that market orientation fully intercede the relationship between JIT-II selling and organizational performance.

The inconsistencies related to the antecedent impact of organizational structure on a market orientation its influence on organizational performance are analyzed and the problems related to it are resolved.

A comparison of large and small manufacturing companies' use of group technology (GT) characteristics yielded statistically insignificant differences. Business enterprises of different sizes can equally achieve a successful implementation of GT and just-in-time principles. However, it cannot be proven that small companies have a greater tendency to implement GT characteristics. In addition, it cannot be shown that small firms can implement GT characteristics with increased ease., Just-in-time (JIT) and group technology (GT) have both received considerable attention in literature of the past decade. As domestic manufacturers strive to compete with foreign competition, especially the Japanese, JIT [...]

Practitioners are well aware of the potential benefits achieved from the proper implementation of the principles of Just-In-Time (JIT) philosophy. The utilization of JIT has been credited with such improvements [...]

ObjectiveThe prevalence of sacroiliac SI joint abnormalities in a primary low back pain population remains unresolved. The aims of our study were to define the prevalence of SI joint disease in this cohort, and to identify clinical features that might accurately predict radiographic changes in the SI joint and spine.MethodsLumbar spine and anteroposterior pelvis radiographs taken over a 3year period for the evaluation of back pain at a major chiropractic college were scored for the presence of inflammatory or degenerative features. Data were subsequently extracted by means of a predetermined template from the clinical notes. The outcomes were correlated using Spearmans correlation coefficients.ResultsWe identified 315 patients 173 men, 142 women, ages 18–60 years. Of these, 100 patients 31.7 demonstrated SI joint abnormalities: 75 23.8 degenerative, 25 7.9 inflammatory. Sex was strongly associated with type of SI joint pathology; degenerative disease was predominantly found in women 68, whereas inflammatory disease was predominantly found in men 63. In women there was no correlation between degenerative SI joint abnormalities and degenerative changes in the lumbar spine. Of the clinical descriptors evaluated, none were associated with the radiographic findings with the exception of buttock pain, which was associated with inflammatory sacroiliitis. Neither being overweight nor pregnancy history was associated with degenerative changes in the SI joint.ConclusionIn a primary back pain cohort, degenerative SI joint disease may be an underrecognized clinical entity. It is strongly influenced by sex but is unrelated to degenerative changes in the lumbar spine. Currently proposed clinical discriminators performed poorly in correlating with radiographic changes in the SI joint.

No abstract.

The term 'reactive arthritis' was first used in 1969 to describe the development of sterile inflammatory arthritis as a sequel to remote infection, often in the gastrointestinal or urogenital tract. The demonstration of antigenic material (e.g. Salmonella and Yersinia lipopolysaccharide), DNA and RNA, and, in occasional cases, evidence of metabolically active Chlamydia spp. in the joints has blurred the boundary between reactive and post-infectious forms of arthritis. No validated and generally agreed diagnostic criteria exist, but the diagnosis of reactive arthritis is mainly clinical based on acute oligoarticular arthritis of larger joints that develops within 2-4 weeks of the preceding infection. In about 25% of patients, the infection can be asymptomatic. Diagnosis of the triggering infection is very helpful for the diagnosis of reactive arthritis. This is mainly achieved by isolating the triggering infection (stools, urogenital tract) by cultures (stool cultures for enteric microbes) or ligase reaction (Chlamydia trachomatis). However, after the onset of arthritis, this is less likely to be possible. Therefore, the diagnosis must rely on various serological tests to demonstrate evidence of previous infection, but, these serological tests are unfortunately not standardized. Treatment with antibiotics to cure Chlamydia infection is important, but the use of either short or prolonged courses of antibiotics in established arthritis has not been found to be effective for the cure of arthritis. The long-term outcome of reactive arthritis is usually good; however, about 25-50% of patients, depending on the triggering infections and possible new infections, subsequently develop acute arthritis. About 25% of patients proceed to chronic spondyloarthritis of varying activity.

Objective. To study the linkage and association of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with genotypes for matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), a gene located at chromosome 11q22.3 and lying within the 101–124 cM region observed in a recent genome-wide scan as a region associated with AS susceptibility.Methods. MMP3 genotypes were examined in 229 pedigrees with AS, 131 sporadic AS cases and 87 Caucasian controls. Eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected and genotyped using Taqman. Non-parametric linkage (NPL) analysis was conducted between the eight MMP3 SNPs and AS using the NPL-all statistic and two-point parametric linkage analysis using GeneHunter Plus. Unrelated AS cases and controls were compared using χ2 statistics, and family-based controls using the transmission disequilibrium test and pedigree disequilibrium test.Results. None of the eight MMP3 SNPs were significantly associated with AS, either using the 131 sporadic cases alone or in analyses which combined these cases with the 226 unrelated affected AS patients derived from the pedigrees. Analysis of linkage disequilibrium (LD) demonstrated that seven of the eight SNPs studied were in strong LD except for rs626750, which is about 6 kb upstream of the 5′ end of the gene. No significant linkage was observed using NPL and LODs in the families. No association was seen of any of the MMP3 SNPs with disease severity (defined by patient functioning), as measured either by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index or the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire.Conclusion. These data suggest that MMP3 genotypes are not involved in AS susceptibility or severity.

Objective. Using humoral immune responses, Klebsiella pneumoniae has been implicated as a candidate microbial trigger in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by several investigators but refuted by others. The objective of this case–control study was to compare the cellular (T-cell proliferation) and humoral (IgG and IgA, by ELISA) immune responses of affected individuals in multiplex AS families with those of unaffected family members and normal healthy controls in order to find out whether affected individuals exhibit a predominant immune response to K. pneumoniae.Methods. Twenty-five families with two or more individuals affected with AS and 34 normal healthy controls matched with the affected family members for age, sex and ethnicity were enrolled in the study. All affected (n = 57) and unaffected (n = 37) family members had a detailed clinical evaluation. Peripheral blood was drawn to determine T-lymphocyte proliferation and the IgG and IgA (by ELISA analysis) immune responses to K. pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica and Chlamydia trachomatis. Immune responses to each of the four candidate organisms were compared in affected and unaffected individuals. Each individual was classified by the predominant antigenic immune response that they showed when comparison was made among the same concentrations of the four candidate microbial antigens. This stratification was then used (i) to compare immune responses in affected and unaffected family members and (ii) to compare clinical characteristics of affected family members.Results. There was no difference in mean stimulation indices or antibody responses between affected and unaffected family members for each of the candidate organisms. In terms of predominant cellular immune responses to these organisms, there was no difference between affected and unaffected family members with respect to K. pneumoniae, C. trachomatis or Y. enterocolitica. However, a higher percentage of affected family members (25.9%) exhibited a predominant response to S. typhimurium compared with unaffected family members (5.9%, P < 0.02). In assessing antibody titres, K. pneumoniae was the predominant amongst these four organisms, but there was no difference between affected family members, unaffected family members and normal healthy controls. There was no relationship between immune responses and clinical characteristics.Conclusion. Our analysis of affected and unaffected family members in familial AS demonstrated no significant differences with respect to cellular or humoral immune responses to K. pneumoniae and three control microbes. In addition, K. pneumoniae did not exhibit a predominant immune response in affected individuals. Thus we find no supportive evidence to implicate a causal role for K. pneumoniae in familial AS.

OBJECTIVES: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic disease leading to progressive spinal ankylosis and deformity. The aims of this study were to (1) determine whether infliximab is an effective treatment for AS patients who have failed conventional treatment; (2) identify any baseline clinical variables that can be associated with responsiveness to treatment; and (3) resolve whether the clinical response correlated with changes from baseline inflammatory changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Twenty-one patients who met the modified New York criteria for AS (M:F 18:3) were enrolled in this open labeled study. The mean age was 37.9+/-7.9 years and mean disease duration was 8.69+/-6.58 years. Patients received infliximab at a dose of 5 mg/kg by intravenous infusion over 2 hours at 0, 2, 6, weeks. Nine functional variables were measured [i.e., Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI) etc.], 6 clinimetrics (chest expansion, finger to floor, etc.), and inflammatory markers in the peripheral blood at baseline and each subsequent visit. Primary response to treatment was defined as a > 20% response in 5/9 functional variables. A subset of 9 consecutive patients was selected for MRI scans before and after infusions. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were available for assessment at week 14 having received 3 infusions (wks 0, 2, 6). There was > 60% improvement in functional variables, i.e., BASDAI, BASFI, Health Assessment Questionnaire, fatigue, and spinal and total body pain. Clinimetric scores selectively improved, e.g., chest expansion (p < 0.021) by 14 weeks. ESR, CRP and haptoglobin all showed significant improvement at 6 weeks and were maintained to the 14 week assessment point. Imaging studies showed improvement in all patients studied including those with advanced disease. Three patients developed headache during the infusions. Infliximab was effective in all, but degree of response varied. Very good responders were distinguished from good responders by shorter duration of disease and better baseline clinimetric scores. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab was an effective treatment for AS in a short term trial. Longterm control of symptoms and potential alteration in clinical course of disease will require longterm assessment.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has generally been regarded as a protective cytokine in host defense against bacterial infections. In the present study, we evaluated the role of TNF in the acute phase of infection by Yersinia enterocolitica by using mice rendered genetically deficient in TNF receptor p55 (TNFRp55(-/-)). Unexpectedly, TNFRp55(-/-) mice showed more effective resistance to the bacteria, reflected in enhanced bacterial clearance and less tissue damage, than did control C57BL/6 mice. C57BL/6 mice showed evidence of extensive apoptosis in the spleen accompanied by a selective decrease in the CD4(+)-T-cell population of splenocytes, whereas TNFRp55(-/-) mice were spared these changes. The splenocytes from TNFRp55(-/-) mice also maintained a robust gamma interferon IFN-gamma response to mitogenic stimulation, while the comparable response in C57BL/6 mice was impaired. In addition, splenocytes harvested from infected mice demonstrated lower production of interleukin-10 IL-10 in TNFRp55(-/-) mice than in C57BL/6 mice. These findings suggest that Yersinia can induce TNFRp55-mediated apoptosis of splenocytes in the acute phase of the infection and that alteration of T-cell-generated cytokines can dramatically alter the early events in host defense against this pathogen.

The Escherichia coli RecF protein possesses a weak ATP hydrolytic activity. ATP hydrolysis leads to RecF dissociation from double-stranded (ds)DNA. The RecF protein is subject to precipitation and an accompanying inactivation in vitro when not bound to DNA. A mutant RecF protein that can bind but cannot hydrolyze ATP (RecF K36R) does not readily dissociate from dsDNA in the presence of ATP. This is in contrast to the limited dsDNA binding observed for wild-type RecF protein in the presence of ATP but is similar to dsDNA binding by wild-type RecF binding in the presence of the nonhydrolyzable ATP analog, adenosine 5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate (ATPgammaS). In addition, wild-type RecF protein binds tightly to dsDNA in the presence of ATP at low pH where its ATPase activity is blocked. A transfer of RecF protein from labeled to unlabeled dsDNA is observed in the presence of ATP but not ATPgammaS. The transfer is slowed considerably when the RecR protein is also present. In competition experiments, RecF protein appears to bind at random locations on dsDNA and exhibits no special affinity for single strand/double strand junctions when bound to gapped DNA. Possible roles for the ATPase activity of RecF in the regulation of recombinational DNA repair are discussed.

Management consultants generally sell their services based on the premise that they can provide a service that the firm may not be able to obtain otherwise. Assistance with major project implementation is an example of a service many consultants wish to provide. Implementation of the Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing philosophy is one such major project. However, a number of manufacturing firms have successfully implemented the JIT philosophy without outside assistance. Therefore, the question arises as to what services consultants provide that are useful to JIT implementation? This paper uses literature review, and a survey of firms that have implemented JIT, to address this question.

Suggests easy, no-fuss ways to perk up any living space. Napkin valance; Presto pillows; Chair back pads.

A method is presented for measuring at a surface the localized plastic strains induced by fatigue within individual grains. The technique uses mica flakes distributed on a sample surface as reference gauges, relative to which strains in the surface can accurately be determined. An application of the method to the study of fatigue induced microplasticity in an Al 2219-T851 alloy is discussed. On an unfatigued specimen, subjected to applied stresses less than the yield strength, deformation is elastic over gauge lengths comparable with the grain size. After fully-reversed cyclic loading at a peak tensile stress of 75% of the yield strength for 20×103 cycles, the larger grains in the alloy exhibit a residual tensile strain after a tensile loading cycle. Neighbouring smaller grains are driven into elastic compression to accommodate this tensile plastic deformation. Peak localized tensile plastic strains may exceed 0.5% at the surface. This technique will be useful in evaluating models of fatigue crack initiation and surface damage accumulation.

Out-of-plane displacements caused by heating of a unidirectional P75S/1962-ERLX graphite-epoxy composite were measured on a surface cut normal to the fibres after thermal cycling. On heating to 44° C from room temperature, the epoxy confined within clusters of three fibres sank in a trough beneath the plane of the fibre ends by 50–120 nm. The sense of the deformation was the opposite of what one would expect from differential thermal expansion. The role of residual stresses in this deformation was studied by measuring the depth of the trough for several different thermal histories applied before the free surface was cut. When the maximum temperature achieved in the prior thermal cycles exceeded 100° C, the depth of the trough increased. However, if cycles exceeding 100° C were followed by thermal cycles of decreasing amplitude, chosen to induce interfacial stress relaxation, the depth of the trough decreased, as expected. The experiments illustrate the feasibility of deducing quantitative information about local deformation in the interior of a specimen from high spatial resolution strain measurements on cut surfaces.

RecA protein is unable to complete a DNA strand exchange reaction between a circular single-stranded DNA and a linear duplex DNA substrate with heterologous sequences of 375 base pairs at the distal end. Instead, it generates a branched intermediate in which strand exchange has proceeded up to the homology/heterology junction. Addition of the RuvA and RuvB proteins to these stalled intermediates leads to the rapid conversion of intermediates back to the original substrates. The reversal reaction is initiated at the branch, and the hybrid DNA is unwound in the direction opposite to that of the RecA reaction that created it. Under optimal conditions the rate of the reaction exhibits only a modest dependence on the length of hybrid DNA that must be unwound. Products of the reversal reaction are detected within minutes after addition of RuvAB, and appear with an apparent first order progress curve, exhibiting a t1/2 in the range of 6-12 min under optimal conditions. Few molecules that have undergone only partial reversal are detected. This suggests that the assembly or activation of RuvAB on the branched substrate is rate-limiting, while any migration of RuvAB on the DNA to effect unwinding of the hybrid DNA (and reformation of substrate DNA) is very fast. The results are discussed in context of the role of RuvA and RuvB proteins in recombinational DNA repair. We suggest that one function of the RuvAB proteins is to act as an antirecombinase, to eliminate intragenomic crossovers between homologous segments of the bacterial chromosome that might otherwise lead to deleterious inversions or deletions.

A RecA protein-generated triple-stranded DNA species can be observed by electron microscopy, within narrowly defined conditions. Three-stranded DNA is detected only when initiation of normal DNA strand exchange is precluded by heterologous sequences within the duplex DNA substrate, when ATP is hydrolyzed, and when the DNA is cross-linked with a psoralen derivative prior to removal of RecA filaments. When adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) is used, only the product hybrid duplex DNA can be cross-linked within the RecA filament. The third strand is either displaced or interwound in a conformation that does not permit cross-linking. When ATP is hydrolyzed by RecA, all three strands are cross-linked within the filament in a complex pattern that suggests a dynamic structure. This structure is altered when RecA protein is removed before cross-linking. Hsieh et al. (1990) and Rao et al. (1991, 1993) have proposed, on the basis of nuclease protection and chemical modification studies, that a stable triple-stranded DNA species can persist after removal of RecA protein. We have been unable to visualize these triple-stranded structures by the methods used in the present investigation. When RecA removal was followed immediately by interstrand cross-linking, only the two strands of the hybrid duplex DNA were cross-linked.

When the FLP recombination target (FRT) is cut in half so that only one FLP protein-binding site is present, FLP protein forms a complex in which two such sites are linked head to head. Although held together exclusively by noncovalent interactions, this complex survives electrophoresis in an agarose gel and exhibits a half-life that can be measured in hours. Characterization of this complex indicates that a very stable, asymmetric dimeric complex of FLP protein monomers bound to the FRT is a likely early intermediate in FLP-mediated site-specific recombination. The apparent asymmetry is a property of the protein components of the complex. Even though the DNA components form a perfect palindrome, only one of the two possible DNA cleavage steps takes place in the course of complex formation. Formation of this complex does not occur with half-FRT site DNA substrates that preclude head to head monomer contact or when a FLP mutant protein is used that binds the FRT site but cannot cleave it. Trimeric and tetrameric complexes are also observed, the latter at very low frequency. These results are discussed in terms of an expanded model for early events in FLP-mediated site-specific recombination.

Analytical methods have been implemented to measure levels of polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins, and polychlorodibenzofurans in pentachlorophenol solutions used in the Boulton wood treatment process. When normalized against the pentachlorophenol (PCP) content, the octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin level was 34% higher in the recirculating PCP solution than in the fresh PCP solution, and in the sludge it was 90% higher. A smaller concentration increase was observed for the heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in the recirculating solution, but a similar increase was observed in the sludge.

Holliday structures are formed and resolved by FLP protein during site-specific recombination. These structures have been isolated and are visualized in both native and partially denatured states by electron microscopy. No single-strand breaks are found within the junction, indicating that the structure results from a reciprocal exchange of strands. These structures have properties consistent with being reaction intermediates. Double-strand cleavage products and "Y structures" are also detected and appear to be by-products of the reaction. The Y structures are three-armed branched molecules with a covalently closed junction located at the FLP recombination target site. Models are discussed, suggesting that both of these novel structures are made by aberrant cleavages during formation and resolution of the Holliday intermediate.

Holliday structures are formed in the course of FLP protein-promoted site-specific recombination. Here, we demonstrate that Holliday structures are formed in reactions involving wild-type substrates and that they are kinetically competent with respect to the overall reaction rate. Together with a previous demonstration of chemical competence (L. Meyer-Leon, L.-C. Huang, S. W. Umlauf, M. M. Cox, and R. B. Inman, Mol. Cell. Biol. 8:3784-3796, 1988), Holliday structures therefore meet all criteria necessary to establish that they are obligate reaction intermediates in FLP-mediated site-specific recombination. In addition, kinetic evidence suggests that two distinct forms of the Holliday intermediate are present in the reaction pathway, interconverted in an isomerization process that is rate limiting at 0 degree C.

The longitudinal coefficient of thermal expansion (α1) of unidirectional T300/934 and AS/3501-5A graphite/epoxy (Gr/Ep) composite changes within a thousand thermal cycles at ranges greater than 210°C. A phenomenological model is developed to extrapolate α1 to a smaller thermal range (< 100°C) and longer duration (2×105 cycles) typical of service in low earth orbit. Factors affecting fiber/matrix interface cracking are considered, and the utility of calculating α1 from an “effective” fiber volume fraction, which excludes from the volume fiber segments disbonded from the matrix, is demonstrated. This analysis is used to estimate the effect of fiber volume on α1 of T300/934 Gr/Ep during thermal fatigue.

The properties of the fractionated Hae III fragments of pRZ2 DNA (Patient, R.K., Hardies, S.C., and Wells, R.D. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 5542-5547) were studied in an effort to determine why several of the fragments bind more tightly to RPC-5 than expected on the basis of their length. The purified fragments were analyzed for their nucleotide composition by direct determination of their constituent mononucleotides and by analytical CsCl and Cs2SO4 density gradient analyses. A-T-rich fragments elute at higher salt concentrations than fragments of equivalent size which are not A-T-rich. In addition, denaturation mapping studies by electron microscopy indicate that an A-T-rich run within an otherwise G-C-rich fragment can give rise to delayed elution. At least one other factor influences the separation of DNA restriction fragments by RPC-5 chromatography. Some of the fragments in this digest which elute later than predicted from their size either contain known genetic regulatory sites or bind regulatory proteins.