Showing papers by "University of Bath published in 1996"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify and discuss various definitions of supply chain management, summarizes the associated bodies of knowledge and connects them using a systems approach, identifying the internal supply chain, the dyadic relationship, the external supply chain and the inter-business network.
Abstract: The term supply chain management is used to represent a variety of different meanings, some related to management processes, others to structural organization of businesses. This paper identifies and discusses various definitions of supply chain management, summarizes the associated bodies of knowledge and connects them using a systems approach. Systems levels of supply chain management are identified as the internal supply chain, the dyadic relationship, the external supply chain and the inter-business network.
Empirical research on behavioural aspects of relationships, chains and networks in the European automotive aftermarket is discussed, identifying gaps in perceptions of requirements and performance held by customers and suppliers in the areas of quality, delivery, service, range and price. A combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis demonstrates substantial differences between approaches to supply chain management, though performance in relationships, chains and networks in the territories examined does not differ significantly.
Customer dissatisfaction in relationships is shown to increase upstream in the supply chains examined, extending the applicability of the industrial dynamics ‘Forrester effect’ to softer, behavioural aspects of performance. Conclusions are drawn supporting the suggestions of operations strategists that position in the supply chain is an important strategic variable which, to date, have not been comprehensively proven empirically.
1,105 citations
TL;DR: Inorganic materials with complex form can be chemically synthesized by pattern replication of self-organized organic assemblies, such as micelles, vesicles and foams as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Recent developments in inorganic materials chemistry suggest that concepts such as morphogenesis, replication, self-organization and metamorphosis could be useful for devising new synthetic strategies. Inorganic materials with complex form can be chemically synthesized by pattern replication of self-organized organic assemblies, such as micelles, vesicles and foams.
1,093 citations
TL;DR: The authors reviewed the research work and conceptual development of the International Marketing and Purchasing (IMP) group into the nature of buyer-seller relationships which has evolved during the past 20 years.
Abstract: Reviews the research work and conceptual development of the International Marketing and Purchasing (IMP) group into the nature of buyer‐seller relationships which has evolved during the past 20 years. The themes of interaction, relationships and networks encapsulate the major research thrusts of this group and underlie much of the contemporary academic research in Europe. Addresses these themes, which represent the major phases of challenging conceptual and empirical research with which the IMP group has been concerned since its inception in 1976. Aims to show the development process of the IMP research and to integrate some of its various themes and findings.
620 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the issues for purchasing and supply chain managers in the context of environmentally sound management are investigated, and parallels are drawn between established practice and new imperatives that require innovative solutions from managers.
Abstract: This paper investigates the issues for purchasing and supply chain managers in the context of environmentally-sound management.
The discussion begins with an analysis of relevant consumer attitudes, legislation and concepts in environmentally-sound management (life-cycle analysis, waste management, product stewardship, etc.), linking them to supply-chain management practices such as vendor assessment, total quality management, lean supply and collaborative supply strategies. In each case, parallels are drawn between established practice and new imperatives that require innovative solutions from managers.
The paper then explores the results of fresh field research with five major UK companies, identifying the different ways in which the challenges introduced above are being faced, and adding some extra perspectives to the debate already covered. The discussion concludes with a projection of common issues and ideas for areas of supply chain management that might profit from better environmentally-sound approaches.
522 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The first two melanocortin receptors were identified in the mouse and the first two were the melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor (MSH-R) and adrenocorticotropin receptor (ACTH-R), respectively.
Abstract: Molecular cloning experiments have led to the identification and characterization of a family of five receptors for the melanocortin (melanotropic and adrenocorticotropic) peptides. The first two members of the family cloned were the well-characterized melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor (MSH-R) and adrenocorticotropin receptor (ACTH-R). The three new melanocortin receptors have been termed the MC3-R, MC4-R, and MC5-R, according to the order of their discovery, and little is known at this point concerning their function. Agouti and extension are two genetic loci known to control the amounts of eumelanin (brown-black) and phaeomelanin (yellow-red) pigments. Chromosomal mapping demonstrated that the MSH-R, now termed MCI-R, mapped to extension. Extension was shown to encode the MCI-R, and mutations in the MCI-R are responsible for the different pigmentation phenotypes caused by this locus. Functional variants of the MCI-R, originally characterized in the mouse, have now also been identified in the guinea pig and cow. Dominant constitutive mutants of the MCI-R are responsible for causing dark black coat colors while recessive alleles result in yellow or red coat colors. Agouti, a secreted 108 amino acid peptide produced within the hair follicle, acts on follicular melanocytes to inhibit alpha-MSH-induced eumelanin production. Experiments demonstrate that agouti is a high-affinity antagonist, acting at the MCI-R to block alpha-MSH stimulation of adenylyl cyclase, the effector through which alpha-MSH induces eumelanin synthesis. The MCI-R is thus a unique bifunctionally controlled receptor, activated by alpha-MSH and antagonized by agouti, both contributing to the variability seen in mammalian coat colors. The variable tan and black coat color patterns seen in the German Shepherd, for example, can now be understood on the molecular level as the interaction of a number of extension and agouti alleles encoding variably functioning receptors and a differentially expressed antagonist of the receptor, respectively.
518 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared the techniques which constitute lean supply with those contained in supply chain management, partnership sourcing, and strategic purchasing, focusing on automotive and electronics industries in the UK, Italy, Scandinavia, the USA and Japan.
Abstract: Lean supply ‐ the system of purchasing and supply chain management required to underpin lean production ‐ has been characterized as “beyond partnership”. Re‐examines this idea, comparing the techniques which constitute lean supply with those contained in supply chain management, partnership sourcing, and strategic purchasing. The observations and conclusions are based on research principally in the automotive and electronics industries in the UK, Italy, Scandinavia, the USA and Japan.
500 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a qualitative study of managers in four UK industries (supermarkets, automotives, power and chemicals) was conducted to examine the effect of a small number of stakeholders on industrial greening.
Abstract: This paper argues that industrial responses to ‘green’ pressures may fruitfully be explored using a stakeholder framework. However, the common view of an objective configuration of stakeholders is replaced with one that favours an interpretive perspective. Managers are viewed as crucial mediators of stakeholder influence; how they identify, define and construct stakeholders is an important feature of the meaning of greening and an industry's subsequent response. A qualitative study of managers in four UK industries - supermarkets, automotives, power and chemicals - is reported. the effect of a small number of stakeholders - campaigners and regulators - is examined in some detail, distinguished differentially according to their perceived legitimacy and the threat they pose to industry. Also examined is the large group of traditionally powerful stakeholders - customers, creditors and employees - who fail markedly to impact on industry's greening. the implications of the findings for pro-environmental change and stakeholder theory are discussed.
428 citations
TL;DR: Understanding the mechanisms of pathogenesis have parallels with those of some plant-pathogenic fungi, particularly in the areas of formation of an infection structure, entry into the host and toxin-mediated host death, will provide a rational basis for strain selection and improvement.
401 citations
TL;DR: The applications of these materials in drug delivery are likely to depend on the formulation of suitable blends with other biocompatible polymers, and there is considerable potential for design and bioengineering of other PHAs for applications indrug delivery.
365 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a cross-evaluation matrix as the summary of a self- and peer-rating process in which the candidates seek to interpret the voters preferences as favourably for themselves, relative to the other candidates, as possible.
322 citations
TL;DR: The biological activity of eFGF, together with its expression in the posterior of the embryo, make it a good candidate to fulfil the role of the 'transforming' activity proposed by Nieuwkoop in his 'activation and transformation' model for neural patterning.
Abstract: Classical embryological experiments suggest that a posterior signal is required for patterning the developing anteroposterior axis. In this paper, we investigate a potential role for FGF signalling in this process. During normal development, embryonic fibroblast growth factor (eFGF) is expressed in the posterior of the Xenopus embryo. We have previously shown that overexpression of eFGF from the start of gastrulation results in a posteriorised phenotype of reduced head and enlarged proctodaeum. We have now determined the molecular basis of this phenotype and we propose a role for eFGF in normal anteroposterior patterning. In this study, we show that the overexpression of eFGF causes the up-regulation of a number of posteriorly expressed genes, and prominent among these are Xcad3, a caudal homologue, and the Hox genes, in particular HoxA7. There is both an increase of expression within the normal domains and an extension of expression towards the anterior. Application of eFGF-loaded beads to specific regions of gastrulae reveals that anterior truncations arise from an effect on the developing dorsal axis. Similar anterior truncations are caused by the dorsal overexpression of Xcad3 or HoxA7. This suggests that this aspect of the eFGF overexpression phenotype is caused by the ectopic activation of posterior genes in anterior regions. Further results using the dominant negative FGF receptor show that the normal expression of posterior Hox genes is dependent on FGF signalling and that this regulation is likely mediated by the activation of Xcad3. The biological activity of eFGF, together with its expression in the posterior of the embryo, make it a good candidate to fulfil the role of the ‘transforming’ activity proposed by Nieuwkoop in his ‘activation and transformation’ model for neural patterning. SUMMARY
TL;DR: The distinction between education and training remains crucial if we see the Dual System as integral to a political economy based on'stakeholder' values and practices as discussed by the authors, as implied by their recent joint publication, and what the Third Way means in practice has always been difficult to define.
Abstract: Since this paper was conceived the Modernising Blair government has come into power in the United Kingdom and Gerhard Schroder has been elected to lead an SPD coalition in Germany. Initially it appeared that both were singing from the same hymn sheet extolling the virtues of a Third Way, as implied by their recent joint publication. However, what the Third Way means in practice has always been difficult to define. Tony Blair extols the virtue of shareholder capitalism, Schroder appears to remain wedded to a politics of social partnership. In relation to education and training the distinction between the two remains crucial if we see the Dual System as integral to a political economy based on ‘stakeholder’ values and practices. The fact is that, although the Dual System is confronted with a set of important challenges, training levels are still far superior in Germany to those of the UK. Moreover, from our research in Germany, it seems that the multinational German corporations also appear committed to the Dual System. In our view if nations are to thrive in the twenty-first century it will be through the skills and understandings of the population, what we call ‘collective intelligence’ in a book to be published soon (Brown/Lauder 2000). But the Third Way as defined by New Labour in Britain precludes such a possibility. The tolerance of extremes of wealth and poverty, flexible labour markets which ensure that profits can be made out of cheap unskilled labour, and the reduction in elfare provision which has led to the democratisation of insecurity and fear throughout much of society, cannot be the way forward.
TL;DR: This paper will present several mathematical models which deal with the various stages of growth and development of solid tumours.
TL;DR: A mathematical model is presented to describe the evolution of an avascular solid tumour in response to an externally-supplied nutrient and suggests that if the energy needed to preserve the bonds of adhesion is large then the radially-symmetric configuration is stable with respect to all asymmetric perturbations, and the tumour maintains a Radially-Symmetric structure.
TL;DR: The structure-based design of a potent inhibitor of the influenza-virus neuraminidase (sialidase) is one of the outstanding successes of rational drug design and perhaps the knowledge and expertise gained can be used in the design of other drugs, given that they all share certain structural features.
TL;DR: In this paper, the interaction of all-fiber acousto-optic devices based on the null fused taper coupler has been extensively analyzed under a set of approximations that are valid in most cases.
Abstract: All-fiber acousto-optic devices based on the null fused taper coupler have been successfully demonstrated as frequency shifters, variable splitters, switches and tunable filters. In this paper, the interaction upon which these devices are based has been extensively analyzed under a set of approximations that are valid in most cases. Simple analytical expressions for the important properties are derived, which provide a set of design rules for such devices.
TL;DR: LA's proposed interaction site for the catalytic component of the lactose synthase complex is primarily located in the flexible C-terminal portion of the molecule, which implies that conformational adjustments may be important for the formation and function of lactOSE synthase.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide an additional data set and also undertake new analyses at the brand level on both it and Sunde and Brodie's (1993) data set, in order to extend their understanding of the area.
TL;DR: A role is proposed for PI 3-kinase in T-cell activation and costimulation following CD28 ligation and Stephen Ward and colleagues integrate the available data and proposed role is integrated.
TL;DR: In this article, a quasiharmonic approximation of the temperature dependence of elastic constants and structural features of calcite, CaCO3, has been used to calculate the thermal expansion coefficients.
Abstract: A computational method, based on the quasiharmonic approximation, has been computer-coded to calculate the temperature dependence of elastic constants and structural features of crystals. The model is applied to calcite, CaCO3; an interatomic potential based on a C-O Morse function and Ca-O and O-O Borntype interactions, including a shell model for O, has been used. Equilibrations in the range 300–800 K reproduce the experimental unit-cell edges and bond lengths within 1%. The simulated thermal expansion coefficients are 22.3 (//c) and 2.6 (⊥ c), against 25.5 and-3.7×10−6K−1 experimental values, respectively. The thermal coefficients of elastic constants tend to be underestimated; for the bulk modulus, -2.3 against-3.7×10−4K−1 is obtained.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the view that pro-environmental organizational changes depend on the emotional meanings that managers attribute to greening and find little evidence to support the emotional basis of 'true' ethically green organiza tional cultures, although managerially engineered commitment of 'belonging' to a socially responsible culture can serve some aspects of greening in a rela tively stable manner.
Abstract: This paper explores the view that pro-environmental organizational changes depend on the emotional meanings that managers attribute to greening. It is theoretically rooted in recent literatures on the strategic role of emotions and green organizational transformation. A comparative, qualitative study of senior managers in six U.K. supermarkets, of differing degrees of greenness, is reported. Four emotionally significant subtexts are identified: enacting green commitment, contesting green boundaries, defending autonomy and avoiding embarrassment. These are related to the way different green pressures are received, developed and culturally incorporated — or rejected. The study finds little evidence to support the emotional basis of 'true' ethically green organiza tional cultures, although managerially engineered commitment of 'belonging' to a socially responsible culture can serve some aspects of greening in a rela tively stable manner. The less-green companies are instrumental in their responses, have few ...
TL;DR: A new method to improve refolding yields and to increase the concentration of refolded proteins in a single operation has been developed that uses size‐exclusion chromatography matrices to perform buffer exchange, aggregate removal, and the folding reaction.
Abstract: A new method to improve refolding yields and to increase the concentration of refolded proteins in a single operation has been developed. The method uses size-exclusion chromatography matrices to perform buffer exchange, aggregate removal, and the folding reaction. The reduced diffusion of proteins in gel-filtration media has been shown to suppress the nonspecific interactions of partially folded molecules, thus reducing aggregation. Hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) and bovine carbonic anhydrase (CAB) were successfully refolded from initial protein concentrations of up to 80 mg/mL using Sephacryl S-100 (HR). The aggregation reaction for lysozyme was reduced and was only detected at the highest protein concentration used. The average recovery of lysozyme was 63%, with an average specific activity of 104%. Carbonic anhydrase experiments also showed that aggregation was suppressed and the average protein recovery from the column was 56%, with a specific activity of 81%. This process enables refolding and the purification of active species to be achieved in a single step.
TL;DR: In this article, the thermodynamic definitions of work of adhesion and of surface energy are discussed and their influence on practical adhesion is emphasized and discussed via contact mechanics experiments often using the surface forces apparatus, the results of which are analysed using the JKR or DMT equations.
TL;DR: In this paper, it was shown that there is a unique (up to translation) homoclinic solution of the reversible Hamiltonian system, that solution is even, and on the zero-energy surface its orbit coincides with the transverse intersection of the global stable and unstable manifolds.
Abstract: This is a further study of the set of homoclinic solutions (i.e., nonzero solutions asymptotic to 0 as ¦x¦→∞) of the reversible Hamiltonian systemuiv +Pu″ +u−u2=0. The present contribution is in three parts. First, rigorously for P≤ −2, it is proved that there is a unique (up to translation) homoclinic solution of the above system, that solution is even, and on the zero-energy surface its orbit coincides with the transverse intersection of the global stable and unstable manifolds. WhenP=−2 the origin is a node on its local stable and unstable manifolds, and whenP∈(−2,2) it is a focus. Therefore we can infer, rigorously, from the discovery by Devaney of a Smale horseshoe in the dynamics on the zero energy set, there are infinitely many distinct infinite families of homoclinic solutions forP∈(−2, −2+e) for somee>0. Buffoni has shown globally that there are infinitely many homoclinic solutions for allP∈(−2,0], based on a different approach due to Champneys and Toland. Second, numerically, the development of the set of symmetric homoclinic solutions is monitored asP increases fromP=−2. It is observed that two branches extend fromP=−2 toP=+2 where their amplitudes are found to converge to 0 asP ↗ 2. All other symmetric solution branches are in the form of closed loops with a turning point betweenP=−2 andP=+2. Numerically it is observed that each such turning point is accompanied by, though not coincident with, the bifurcation of a branch of nonsymmetrical homoclinic orbits, which can, in turn, be followed back toP=−2. Finally, heuristic explanations of the numerically observed phenomena are offered in the language of geometric dynamical systems theory. One idea involves a natural ordering of homoclinic orbits on the stable and unstable manifolds, given by the Horseshoe dynamics, and goes some way to accounting for the observed order (in terms ofP-values) of the occurrence of turning points. The near-coincidence of turning and asymmetric bifurcation points is explained in terms of the nontransversality of the intersection of the stable and unstable manifolds in the zero energy set on the one hand, and the nontransversality of the intersection of the same manifolds with the symmetric section in ℝ4 on the other. Some conjectures based on present understanding are recorded.
TL;DR: An experimental paradigm is introduced to study the disruptive nature of pain and the importance of the experimental investigation of the role of attention in pain processing.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors considered the Blasius boundary-layer flow of a micropolar fluid over a flat plate, and the resulting nonsimilar equations were solved using the Keller-box method and solutions for a range of parameters were presented.
TL;DR: Interestingly, acute cholinergic agonists including nicotine did improve working memory performance in the aged rats and previous chronic nicotine infusion was beneficial during the period of acute chinese agonist challenge, suggesting that nicotinic treatment may be of use for treating age associated memory impairments but that special dosing regimens may be required.
Abstract: Acute and chronic nicotine administration has been repeatedly been found in our laboratory to improve working memory performance of normal adult rats in the radial-arm maze. The current study was conducted to determine if acute or chronic nicotine administration would improve working memory performance in aged rats. Sixteen young adult (3–7 months) and 32 aged (24–28 months) male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained on an eight-arm radial maze. A significant age-related choice deficit was seen during the 21 sessions of training. After training, half of the rats in each age group were implanted with nicotine-containing osmotic minipumps and the other half implanted with vehicle-containing pumps. Consistent with previous work, the young adult rats given chronic nicotine (approximately 5 mg/kg per day as measured as nicotine base) showed a significant improvement in working memory performance. In contrast, the aged rats did not show a significant effect of this dose of chronic nicotine. After a 2 week withdrawal period the remaining rats underwent a series of acute drug challenges with nicotinic and muscarinic agonists and antagonists as well as the dopaminergic antagonist haloperidol. Mecamylamine and haloperidol impaired the memory performance of the young adult rats, whereas the aged rats showed no effect. In contrast, scopolamine impaired performance of both young adult and aged rats in a similar manner. Both pilocarpine and nicotine improved the memory performance of the aged rats, but did not improve the young adult rats, possibly due to a ceiling effect on performance. During the cholinergic agonist drug phase, the aged rats which had previously been given chronic nicotine infusions showed better performance than those which had not. The resistance of the aged rats to chronic nicotine-induced working memory improvements and acute mecamylamine-induced working memory deficits may have resulted from the decline in nicotinic receptors seen with aging. Chronic co-administration of the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine in a previous study was found to abolish the chronic nicotine-induced working memory improvement. The aged rats were resistant to haloperidol-induced deficits which may have resulted from the decrease in dopaminergic receptors seen with aging. Interestingly, acute cholinergic agonists including nicotine did improve working memory performance in the aged rats and previous chronic nicotine infusion was beneficial during the period of acute cholinergic agonist challenge. This suggests that nicotinic treatment may be of use for treating age associated memory impairments but that special dosing regimens may be required.
TL;DR: The structure and expression of the CD28 and B7 families, the functional outcomes of CD28 ligation and the signalling events that are thought to mediate these functions are described.
Abstract: CD28 and the related molecule cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated molecule-4 (CTLA-4), together with their natural ligands B7.1 and B7.2, have been implicated in the differential regulation of several immune responses. CD28 provides signals during T cell activation which are required for the production of interleukin 2 and other cytokines and chemokines, and it has also been implicated in the regulation of T cell anergy and programmed T cell death. The biochemical signals provided by CD28 are cyclosporin A-resistant and complement those provided by the T cell antigen receptor to allow full activation of T cells. Multiple signalling cascades which may be independent of, or dependent on, protein tyrosine kinase activation have been demonstrated to be activated by CD28, including activation of phospholipase C, p21ran, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, sphingomyelinase/ceramide and 5-lipoxygenase. The relative contributions of these cascades to overall CD28 signalling are still unknown, but probably depend on the state of activation of the T cell and the level of CD28 activation. The importance of these signalling cascades (in particular the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-mediated cascade) to functional indications of CD28 activation, such as interleukin 2 gene regulation, has been investigated using pharmacological and genetic manipulations. These approaches have demonstrated that CD28-activated signalling cascades regulate several transcription factors involved in interleukin 2 transcriptional activation. This review describes in detail the structure and expression of the CD28 and B7 families, the functional outcomes of CD28 ligation and the signalling events that are thought to mediate these functions.
TL;DR: Molecular analysis of paromomycin-resistant embryogenic calli and of plants regenerated from these calli, confirmed the stable integration of bombarded DNA into the cassava genome.
Abstract: A protocol was established for the introduction of DNA into embryogenic suspension-derived tissues of cassava via microparticle bombardment, for the selection of genetically transformed cells, and for the regeneration of fully transgenic plants from these cells. The plasmid DNA used for bombardment contained a gene encoding neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) and a gene encoding beta-glucuronidase (uidA). Selection of bombarded tissue with paromomycin resulted in the establishment of putative transgenic embryogenic calli. In most of these calli, beta-glucuronidase was detected histochemically. Molecular analysis of paromomycin-resistant embryogenic calli and of plants regenerated from these calli, confirmed the stable integration of bombarded DNA into the cassava genome.