Showing papers by "University of Auckland published in 1994"
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The involvement of mismatch repair deficiency in the premalignant stage of tumorigenesis in HNPCC cases is suggested, and it is suggested that mismatch repair genes (MSH2 or others) are defective in the germline of nearly all these patients.
Abstract: A replication error (RER) phenotype has been documented both in sporadic colorectal tumors and in tumors from patients with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). In the current study 8 of 49 (16%) sporadic colorectal cancers (CRCs) and 25 of 29 (86%) CRCs from HNPCC patients were found to be RER+. All 9 (100%) CRCs from HNPCC patients with germline mutations of the mismatch repair gene MSH2 were found to be RER+, while 16 of 20 CRCs from HNPCC kindreds unlinked or not studied for linkage to MSH2 were RER+. Corresponding analysis in colorectal adenomas revealed that only 1 of 33 (3%) sporadic tumors but 8 of 14 (57%) HNPCC tumors were RER+. Moreover, RER was found in all 6 extracolonic cancers (endometrium, 2; kidney, 1; stomach, 1; duodenum, 1; and ovary, 1) derived from members of HNPCC families. These data suggest the involvement of mismatch repair deficiency in the premalignant stage of tumorigenesis in HNPCC cases, and suggest that mismatch repair genes (MSH2 or others) are defective in the germline of nearly all these patients.
647 citations
TL;DR: The glucocorticoids, cortisol and corticosterone, have a unique function in the fetus in inducing a wide range of enzymes before birth that have little or no function during fetal life but on which survival after birth is dependent.
Abstract: The glucocorticoids, cortisol and corticosterone, have a unique function in the fetus in inducing a wide range of enzymes before birth that have little or no function during fetal life but on which survival after birth is dependent. The loss of the placenta at birth deprives the fetus of a source of oxygen, glucose and heat (among many other things) for which alternatives must be available immediately if survival is to be assured. In anticipation of these needs several organs undergo maturational changes in late pregnancy aimed at meeting these requirements. The lungs mature structurally and functionally, becoming distensible and capable of coping with high surface tension when air enters the alveoli with the first breath. In the liver, glycogen accumulates and gluconeogenesis is initiated to meet the demands for glucose until feeding begins. There is an increase in the production of tri-iodothyronine and catecholamines in preparation for the sharp increase in metabolic rate and thermogenesis associated with breathing and the cold environment. All these dramatic maturational events are regulated by cortisol as are numerous others in most organ systems that contribute to neonatal well-being but on which survival is less dependent. Pharmacological manipulation of these systems before birth has made a substantial contribution to improving human health.
446 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a mathematical model describing the oblique reflexion and penetration of ocean waves into shore fast sea ice is presented, where all velocity potentials occurring in the open water region to be matched precisely to their counterparts in the ice covered region.
Abstract: A mathematical model is reported describing the oblique reflexion and penetration of ocean waves into shore fast sea ice. The arbitrary depth model allows all velocity potentials occurring in the open water region to be matched precisely to their counterparts in the ice-covered region. Matching is done using a preconditioned conjugate gradient technique which allows the complete solution to be found to a predefined precision. The model enables the reflexion and transmission coefficients at the ice edge to be found, and examples are reported for ice plates of different thicknesses. A critical angle is predicted beyond which no travelling wave penetrates the ice sheet; in this case the deflexion of the ice is due only to evanescent modes. Critical angle curves are provided for various ice thicknesses on deep, intermediate and shallow water. The strain field which is set up within the ice sheet due to the incoming waves is also discussed; principal strains are provided as are the strains normal to the ice edge. Finally the spreading function within the ice cover, and some consequences of this function to unimodal seas with realistic open water spreading functions, are reported with the aim of generalizing the work to model the effect of shore fast ice on an incoming directional wave spectrum of specified structure.
314 citations
26 Oct 1994
TL;DR: In this article, a novel inductively coupled power transmission (IPT) system that is clean and spark-free, is robust to dust and water, and has very low maintenance is presented.
Abstract: Electric vehicles are used throughout the materials handling industry because they are low cost, reliable, inoffensive, and simple to control compared to alternative forms of motive power. But conventional methods of power transfer to the vehicle such as electrified tracks and batteries have remained less than ideal; that is until the recent development of a novel inductively coupled power transmission (IPT) system that is clean and spark-free, is robust to dust and water, and has very low maintenance. Load power in an IPT system is sourced at 10 kHz from tuned pick-up coils mounted adjacent to, but not touching, a sealed track conductor driven by a resonant power electronic converter. Power transfer of several kilowatts is possible from a single pick-up coil, and multiple pick-ups can be powered from the same track. The paper describes the IPT concept and presents practical control solutions to some important problems.
300 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated microclimate and vegetation edge effects in five podocarp-broadleaf forest fragments in the North Island of New Zealand and found that some species-specific edge/interior differences could be related to timing of critical life history stages relative to the temporal stability of edge microclimate regimes.
299 citations
TL;DR: Amylin is the major protein in islet amyloid, extracellular accumulation of which occurs in most patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and increases in extent with duration in this disease.
Abstract: ISLETβ-cells play a central role in the regulation of most cells in the body through secretion of insulin. These cells are now known to secrete a second hormone-like protein, amylin, also known as islet or insulinoma amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) (1–4) as well as numerous other compounds (5) in response to stimuli that elicit insulin release (6–9). Amylin is structurally similar to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) (1, 2), a widely distributed neuropeptide (10) and potent vasodilator (11–13). It is the major protein in islet amyloid (1, 3), extracellular accumulation of which occurs in most patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) (14) and increases in extent with duration in this disease (15). Amylin and CGRP produce similar biological effects in many tissues. Their actions in skeletal muscle and liver stimulate glycogen breakdown and oppose the actions of insulin (16–22), perhaps through evoked alterations in the activity of enzymes including glycogen phosphorylase (23–25) and gly...
292 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated how quality factors were related to their respective encounters and how cumulative satisfaction levels impact on each other and over time, and found that there was a clear trend in the cumulative satisfaction results.
Abstract: Prior studies of how service quality evolves during the service delivery process have used aggregate case data in retrospect or have not obtained objective measures of the actual dimensions of the service encounter on an individual basis. Reports on a study of an actual hotel service delivery process partitioned into five distinct service encounters; check‐in, the room, the restaurant, the breakfast and check‐out. The aim was to investigate how quality factors were related to their respective encounters and how cumulative satisfaction levels impact on each other and over time. Average satisfaction levels for each of the five encounters were found to be significantly different. Moreover, there was a clear trend in the cumulative satisfaction results. Check‐in resulted in high satisfaction, the room was not so satisfying and the restaurant rated the worst. Satisfaction scores rose after the breakfast experience and rose again after check‐out. A factor analysis of all the questions, for a hypothesized five‐f...
273 citations
TL;DR: If antimutagenic effects are to have any impact on human disease, it is essential that they are specifically directed against the most common mutagens in daily life, so that combinations of antimutagens will probably be necessary.
Abstract: It has been suggested that the use of antimutagens and anticarcinogens in everyday life will be the most effective procedure for preventing human cancer and genetic disease. There are several ways in which mutagenesis can be reduced or prevented. Chemicals which act to interfere with DNA repair or with mutagen metabolism can be effective antimutagens: however such compounds may also increase the probability of mutations by different chemicals or at different sites. In contrast, mutagen scavengers may be less prone to increase mutations by other chemicals. Selected examples illustrate that antimutagenic effects are often specific to certain classes of mutagen and/or certain test systems. Thus, if antimutagens are to have any impact on human disease, it is essential that they are specifically directed against the most common mutagens in daily life. On our current understanding, these are quite diverse in nature, so that combinations of antimutagens will probably be necessary. Two groups of mutagen scavengers (porphyrins and some types of dietary fibre) show some selectivity for large planar and hydrophobic types of carcinogen, which appear to be common in a normal Western diet. Increasing consumption of vitamins C and E, either through increased consumption of fruit and vegetables or through dietary supplementation might reduce formation of N-nitroso compounds, another common class of mutagens. Similarly, carotenoids and related compounds, already present at high quantities in some fruits and vegetables, have excellent antioxidant properties and should be able to counteract effects of endogenous metabolism and other events which generate oxidising species and free radicals. Still other types of antimutagen might be necessary to act against smaller non-planar carcinogens, but there is some question as to the importance of this type of carcinogen in a normal Western diet. It may be necessary to adjust the selection of antimutagens for different population groups, or as our understanding of mutagens in the diet develops further. Current assays for cancer chemoprevention in animals are unlikely to detect some important types of antimutagens, such as mutagen scavengers. A structured testing strategy is suggested, progressing from in vitro to in vivo antimutagenicity tests against a selected range of mutagens. Optimal use of antimutagens might be as a dietary supplement, additional to practical advice on increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables.
264 citations
TL;DR: The New Zealand Education Department attempted to implement a centralized payroll system in 1989 and the difficulties that the department experienced were broadcast on national radio and television and publicised on the front page of The New Zealand Herald as discussed by the authors.
239 citations
TL;DR: No differences existed between women with PCO and normal ovaries with respect to uterine size, body mass index, luteinizing hormone levels, serum hormone binding globulin levels and fertility status, but hirsutism, elevated testosterone levels and irregular menstrual cycles were significantly more frequent amongst women withPCO.
Abstract: Polycystic ovaries (PCO) diagnosed by ultrasound have been commonly reported amongst healthy women. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of PCO in a population of women from the community, and to relate it to clinical and endocrinological data. Twelve hundred women chosen randomly from electoral rolls were invited to take part in the study. Two hundred and fifty five women (21%) who met eligibility criteria greed to participate and 183 women 916%) finally completed the study. Seventy two women did not attend. An ultrasound scan and blood tests were taken on day 5-9 of their menstrual cycles. Data about their menstrual periods and reproductive history was collected. The prevalence of PCO was 21% (39 of 183). No differences existed between women with PCO and normal ovaries with respect to uterine size, body mass index, luteinizing hormone levels, serum hormone binding globulin levels and fertility status. Hirsutism (Ferriman Gallwey score > 7), elevated testosterone levels and irregular menstrual cycles were significantly more frequent amongst women with PCO. Mean ovarian volume was larger in women with PCO irrespective of the use of hormonal contraception. Fifty nine per cent of women with PCO had irregular menstrual cycles or elevated Ferriman Gallwey scores or both. There was no detectable effect of PCO on parity or miscarriage although only 70% of women with PCO had evidence of an adequate ovulation compared to 95% of women with normal ovaries.
238 citations
TL;DR: Estimates of carotid artery distensibility and cross-sectional compliance derived from M-mode ultrasound recordings are moderately repeatable and may provide useful additional end points for trials of atherosclerotic progression.
Abstract: Arterial stiffness may indicate early vascular changes that predispose to the development of major vascular disease. The repeatability of a variety of indices of arterial stiffness calculated from a standard carotid arterial M-mode ultrasound image was investigated.Twenty-six asymptomatic normal subjects were imaged and had blood pressure recordings on each of two separate occasions at least 1 day apart. Using a computer-assisted method, the maximum and minimum internal diameter and average wall thickness of the right common carotid artery were measured over several cardiac cycles, and the following indices of arterial stiffness and distensibility (compliance) were derived: the pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep), Young's modulus (E), cross-sectional compliance (CC), and the distensibility coefficient (DC).The repeatability of these measures, expressed as coefficients of variation, was as follows: Ep, 18%; E, 24%; CC, 14%; and DC, 13%. In another group of 20 subjects, the coefficient of variation for rep...
TL;DR: The strain designated Tp8T 6331 is differentiated from thermophilic cellulolytic clostridia on the basis of physiological characteristics and phylogenetic position within the Bacillus/Clostridium subphylum of the Gram-positive bacteria.
Abstract: A new obligately anaerobic, extremely thermophilic, cellulolytic bacterium is described. The strain designated Tp8T 6331 is differentiated from thermophilic cellulolytic clostridia on the basis of physiological characteristics and phylogenetic position within the Bacillus/Clostridium subphylum of the Gram-positive bacteria. Strain Tp8T 6331 is assigned to a new genus Caldicellulosiruptor, as Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus gen., nov., sp. nov.
TL;DR: The general estimation methods of Kalbfleisch and Lawless are applied to panel data in which individuals are viewed over only a portion of their life history and complete information about transition times between states is unavailable to assess goodness-of-fit.
Abstract: Multi-state Markov models can be useful in analysing disease history data. We apply the general estimation methods of Kalbfleisch and Lawless to panel data in which individuals are viewed over only a portion of their life history and complete information about transition times between states is unavailable. Methods to assess goodness-of-fit are proposed. To illustrate the methods, we consider models of HIV disease relating important immunological marker measurements to the onset of AIDS.
TL;DR: C-Jun showed a prolonged expression in neurons undergoing delayed, but not necrotic, cell death suggesting that they may be involved in the biochemical cascade that causes selective delayed neuronal death.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors apply standard convex optimization techniques to the analysis of interval censored data and provide easily verifiable conditions for the selfconsistent estimator proposed by Turnbull (1976) to be a maximum likelihood estimator and for checking whether the maximum likelihood estimate is unique.
Abstract: SUMMARY Standard convex optimization techniques are applied to the analysis of interval censored data. These methods provide easily verifiable conditions for the self-consistent estimator proposed by Turnbull (1976) to be a maximum likelihood estimator and for checking whether the maximum likelihood estimate is unique. A sufficient condition is given for the almost sure convergence of the maximum likelihood estimator to the true underlying distribution function.
TL;DR: It is reported that an adaptive filter in the medullary nuclei of both senses suppresses self-stimulation in fish and a model is proposed for how the adaptive filter is realized by the cerebellar-like circuits of the hindbrain nuclei in these senses.
TL;DR: In this article, a review of the different kinds of temporal variability, the different ways in which it can be measured, the design of appropriate sampling schemes, methods of analysing variability, and patterns in temporal variability are presented.
Abstract: From first principles, the temporal variability of a time series of abundances can be defined as the average deviation of values from a mean value on a proportional scale. In this paper we review: (i) the different kinds of temporal variability; (ii) the different ways in which it can be measured; (iii) the design of appropriate sampling schemes; (iv) methods of analysing variability; and (v) patterns in temporal variability. We emphasize that some commonly applied measures are not appropriate, that several do not measure the desired feature of time series, and the importance of considerations of trend and sampling error. A number of suggestions are made for the improvement of the basis for comparative analyses of levels of variability, and some of the potential pitfalls are identified. Given the serious faults in many previous analyses of ecological patterns in the temporal variability of animal abundances, emphasis is laid on the theoretical basis for different patterns, and hence a set of hypotheses for testing is generated.
TL;DR: The binary indexed tree is faster, using more compact data and simpler code, and makes the new method particularly suitable for large symbol alphabets.
Abstract: A new method (the ‘binary indexed tree’) is presented for maintaining the cumulative frequencies which are needed to support dynamic arithmetic data compression. It is based on a decomposition of the cumulative frequencies into portions which parallel the binary representation of the index of the table element (or symbol). The operations to traverse the data structure are based on the binary coding of the index. In comparison with previous methods, the binary indexed tree is faster, using more compact data and simpler code. The access time for all operations is either constant or proportional to the logarithm of the table size. In conjunction with the compact data structure, this makes the new method particularly suitable for large symbol alphabets.
TL;DR: There was a consistent positive relationship such that those who had recalled more alcohol advertisements at age 15 years drank larger quantities of beer at age 18 years, but young women who had watched more hours of television drank more wine/spirits.
Abstract: Data from a longitudinal study carried out in Dunedin, New Zealand, were used to investigate associations between alcohol consumption at age 18 years and alcohol-related mass media communications recalled at ages 13 and 15 years. The respondents' recall of alcohol-related mass media material were categorized as: commercial alcohol advertising, alcohol moderation messages or the portrayal of alcohol in entertainment. An additional media variable was the number of hours spent watching television. Non-media variables, such as peer approval of drinking, living situation and occupation (all at age 18 years) were also included in the analyses. The period between the interviews at ages 13 and 15 years saw an increase in the broadcast of commercial alcohol advertisements on television in New Zealand and this was reflected in an increase in the proportion of the mass media material recalled which was categorized as commercial advertising. At age 15 years television advertising, mostly for beer companies, was the predominant material recalled. No relationships were found between the commercial advertising and wine and spirits consumption, among either men or women, but young women who had watched more hours of television drank more wine/spirits. Among women there were two unexpected negative relationships between recall of alcohol in the media at age 13 years and beer consumption. However, among men there was a consistent positive relationship such that those who had recalled more alcohol advertisements at age 15 years drank larger quantities of beer at age 18 years.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Pathological characteristics of colorectal cancers and adenomas developing in 140 members of 34 Hereditary Non-Polyposis ColorectAL Cancer (HNPCC) families are described in this paper.
Abstract: Pathological characteristics of colorectal cancers and adenomas developing in 140 members of 34 Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC) families are described. In addition the pathological features of six cancers and 47 adenomas obtained from 216 at risk subjects in colonoscopic surveillance programmes are given. Survival rates for Dukes A, B and C cancers were 90%, 76% and 50% respectively, but only 32% of cancers were Dukes C. This would support the view that HNPCC malignancies are relatively non-aggressive, despite there being an excess of poorly differentiated and mucinous tumours. There is circumstantial evidence that evolution of malignancy occurs through the adenoma - carcinoma sequence.
24 Jul 1994
TL;DR: The paper gives an overview of the system with emphasis on the graphical modelling techniques and a computationally efficient framework for representing anatomical details of the eye and for finite element analysis of the mechanical properties.
Abstract: An anatomically detailed 3-D computer graphic model of the eye and surrounding face within a virtual environment has been implemented for use in a surgical simulator. The simulator forms part of a teleoperated micro-surgical robotic system being developed for eye surgery. The model has been designed to both visually and mechanically simulate features of the human eye by coupling computer graphic realism with finite element analysis.The paper gives an overview of the system with emphasis on the graphical modelling techniques and a computationally efficient framework for representing anatomical details of the eye and for finite element analysis of the mechanical properties. Examples of realistic images coupled to large deformation finite element model of the cornea are presented. These images can be rendered sufficiently fast for the virtual reality application.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored changes in New Zealand adolescents' perceptions of their attachment relationships with their mothers, fathers, and friends and found that females had higher quality of affect toward friends than males regardless of age, but both males and females increased their utilization of friends for support and proximity over age.
Abstract: This study explored changes in New Zealand adolescents' perceptions of their attachment relationships with their mothers, fathers, and friends. The main findings revealed that from early to late adolescence: Males and females remained stable in their quality of affect toward their mothers. With increasing age, females utilized their mothers for support and proximity more, whereas males utilized their mothers for support and proximity less. With increasing age, males and females rated their quality of affect toward their fathers as lower and utilized their fathers for support and proximity less. Females had a higher quality of affect toward friends than males regardless of age, but both males and females increased their utilization of friends for support and proximity over age. Further analyses revealed that Pacific Island adolescents utilized their mothers less for support and proximity than European/Pakeha adolescents. Adolescents from one-parent families utilized their fathers less for support and proximity and had a lower quality of affect toward him than adolescents from two-parent families. These findings suggested that substantial changes take place in attachment relationships from early to late adolescence and highlighted the need for research to differentiate between the sex of adolescent and sex of parent dyads in order to examine adolescents' affective relationships effectively.
TL;DR: The proportion of infants sleeping in a prone position has decreased from 43% to less than 5%.
Abstract: Mortality from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS, or cot death) in New Zealand has been high by international standards (4/1000 live births). Within New Zealand the rate is higher in Maori than in non-Maori (predominantly European infants) and higher in South Island than in North Island. The National Cot Death Prevention Programme aims to reduce the prevalence of four modifiable risk factors for SIDS, namely infants sleeping prone, maternal smoking, lack of breast feeding, and infants sharing a bed with another person. The aim of this study is to describe the total postneonatal and total SIDS mortality in New Zealand from 1986 to 1992. Official publications from 1986 to 1990 and preliminary death notifications for 1991 and 1992 were examined. Deaths from all causes in the postneonatal age group (28 days to 1 year) and the total number of deaths from SIDS irrespective of age decreased markedly in 1990 and has continued to decrease. This decrease occurred particularly in non-Maori groups, in South Island, and in the winter months. The proportion of infants sleeping in a prone position has decreased from 43% to less than 5%. This suggests that the prone position is causally related to SIDS. The mechanism appears to be related directly or indirectly to environmental temperature.
TL;DR: In this paper, the dependence of short-period radar rainfall accumulations on periodic sampling of the rainfield is investigated, and it is shown that errors due to sampling can be greater than all the other errors combined if accumulations are improperly computed.
TL;DR: Determination of DNA, diaminopimelic acid (DAPA) and the digestibilities of pectin, hemicellulose and cellulose in human subjects indicated that some microbial colonization had occurred at the terminal ileum after formation of an ileostomy; however, this was not as extensive as in the large intestine.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to determine if there is a difference between ileal and faecal assays for determining amino acid and N digestibilities in adult human subjects. Comparison of true ileal amino acid and N digestibilities was also made between adult human subjects and growing pigs to establish the usefulness of the pig as a model animal. Five subjects with established ileostomies and six subjects with intact large bowels consumed a constant diet consisting of meat, vegetables, fruit, bread and dairy products for 7 d with collection of ileostomy contents or faeces respectively over the last 4 d. The study was repeated using 25 kg body weight ileostomized and intact pigs. Apparent amino acid and N digestibility coefficients were determined. For human subjects the faecal digestibility values were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the ileal values for Arg, Asp, Gly, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr and Trp. The faecal digestibility of Met was significantly lower than the ileal value. Determination of DNA, diaminopimelic acid (DAPA) and the digestibilities of pectin, hemicellulose and cellulose in human subjects indicated that some microbial colonization had occurred at the terminal ileum after formation of an ileostomy; however, this was not as extensive as in the large intestine. True ileum amino acid and N digestibilities were calculated after correcting for the endogenous contribution of amino acids at the terminal ileum determined using a protein-free diet. There were no significant differences between adult human subjects and pigs for true ileal dietary amino acid digestibility except for Thr, Phe, Cys and Met. There were no significant differences between adult humans and pigs for the ileal digestibility of dry matter and the faecal digestibility of gross energy.
TL;DR: It is concluded that baseline bone density, fat mass, and renal calcium handling are important factors influencing bone loss in normal postmenopausal women.
Abstract: Despite a large number of studies assessing relationships between putative risk factors and bone density, it is not known which factors influence the rate of axial bone loss in normal postmenopausal women. We have examined the relationships between the rate of bone loss (delta BMD) and variables related to calcium metabolism, lifestyle, diet (calcium, sodium, caffeine, and protein), body composition, muscle strength, sex hormones, and spinal osteophytosis in 122 normal postmenopausal women participating in a 2-yr prospective randomized placebo-controlled trial of calcium supplementation. Univariate correlation coefficients indicated that delta BMD at most sites was inversely related to baseline BMD and positively related to rate of change in body weight (0.10 < r < 0.36) and fat mass (0.11 < r < 0.42) during the study. Lean mass and its rate of change showed no consistent relationship to delta BMD. There was no correlation between delta BMD and any of the lifestyle, muscle strength, dietary, or hormonal indices or with the severity of spinal osteophytosis. Multiple regression analysis indicated that delta BMD in the total body was directly related to fat mass (P < 0.0001), the rate of change in fat mass (P < 0.0001), the renal tubular reabsorption of calcium (P < 0.01), and calcium treatment (P < 0.01) and inversely to the initial BMD (P < 0.0001; r2 = 0.42; P < 0.0001). Similar effects were seen throughout the skeleton, although the fraction of the variance accounted for was less in the subregions, consistent with the lower precision of measurement of regional bone density. It is concluded that baseline bone density, fat mass, and renal calcium handling are important factors influencing bone loss in normal postmenopausal women.
TL;DR: The results demonstrate that inspiratory VRG neurons in the rat have some features which have not been previously described in the cat, including frequent bilateral spinal projection and projection to the nucleus of the solitary tract, and intracellular labeling with neurobiotin offers an effective way of tracing long axonal projections.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate the operational and strategic impact of improved process quality and describe the construction of a model of process quality in manufacturing using empirical data, and perform a micro assessment of the impact of quality on operations performance.
Abstract: Despite a strong research output in quality in recent years, the literature is still scant in empirical studies of commonly held quality theories. Empirically investigates the operational and strategic impact of improved process quality and describes the construction of a model of process quality and its correlates in manufacturing. Using empirical data, the study performs a micro assessment of the impact of quality on operations performance. Implications for the business unit as a whole are also considered. Since the research domain of the study is manufacturing industry, the conformance dimension of quality has been adopted as a more precise and measurable definition than those followed in other research. Structural equation modelling (SEM) is used for analysing the magnitude and direction of hypothesized relationships, a rigorous and reliable way of testing multivariate data and path models. Research findings generally support the consensus view that there is a favourable impact of enhanced quality in ...
TL;DR: Differential induction of IEGs by HAL and CLOZ was also observed in the lateral septal nucleus and the islands of Calleja complex of the rat brain, which may be related to the different clinical profiles of the two drugs.
TL;DR: It is concluded that the AL/CR ratio can provide information concerning the extent to which the lens has emmetropized by reducing its power concurrent with axial elongation.
Abstract: The purpose of our study was to investigate the extent to which the ratio between axial length and corneal radius (the AL/CR ratio) determines the refractive state of the human eye. Subjects for the study were 194 young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 years, whose spherical equivalent refraction ranged from +7.91 to -13.32 D. For each subject, manifest objective refraction, corneal radii, and axial ocular distances were measured. Lens power was determined using a formula proposed by Bennett and Rabbetts. The AL/CR ratio was found to be approximately 3.00 for emmetropic eyes, ranging from 2.60 for the most highly hyperopic eye to 4.10 for the most highly myopic eye. The coefficient of determination of linear regression for the AL/CR ratio as a function of spherical equivalent refraction was 0.84, suggesting that 84% of the variance in refraction could be accounted for by variance of the AL/CR ratio. The results of the study suggest that for a given amount of ametropia, an eye having a relatively high AL/CR ratio would tend to have a low-powered lens (indicating that the lens had "emmetropized"), whereas an eye having a relatively low AL/CR ratio would tend to have a high-powered lens. We conclude that the AL/CR ratio can provide information concerning the extent to which the lens has emmetropized by reducing its power concurrent with axial elongation.