企业柔性:基于集成的观点

从集成的思想出发分析了柔性的内涵，认为企业柔性的目标是提高企业在动态环境条件下的整体竞争优势，柔性的基础是在更大范围内的协调优化与有效集成；从系统的角度将企业柔性分为市场柔性，研发柔性，制造柔性与组织柔性四个维度，对每个维度所包括的具体内容进行了分析；建立了企业柔性的概念模型，从整体的角度出发对企业的柔性的形式与作用机制进行了描述。     

金刚石薄膜异质外延的研究进展

主要介绍金刚石薄膜在Si上异质外延的研究状况。综述了外延金刚石薄膜的偏压形核 ,SiC过渡层的影响及一些实验参数对外延薄膜质量的影响等 ,并论述了发展方向     

The Effect of the Charge Fluctuation of Dust Parti-cles on Ion-acoustic Wave Excited Through Ionization Instability

The effect of the charge fluctuation of dust particles on ion acoustic wave (IAW) excited through ionization instability was investigated. The hydrodynamic equations and linear time-dependent perturbation theory served as the starting point of theory, by which the dispersion relation and growth rate of the IAW were given. By comparing the results with the case of constant dust charges, it was found that the charge fluctuation of dust particles reduces the instability of the wave mode.     

The development of pre- and post-natal veins

There is little information on the metabolic response to ingested fructose in patients with cirrhosis. Glucose kinetics, plasma lipid and blood lactate levels, whole body substrate oxidation rates and energy expenditure were measured following ingestion of 75 g fructose, in 8 cirrhotic patients and 6 controls. Fasting plasma glucose levels and rates of glucose appearance (Ra) and disappearance (Rd) were similar. The basal rate of lipolysis was higher in cirrhotic patients (P < 0.05), but whole body lipid and carbohydrate oxidation rates and energy expenditure were similar. After fructose ingestion, plasma fructose levels were much higher in cirrhotic patients (P < 0.001) and the incremental area under the plasma glucose curve was twice that of controls (P < 0.05). The increase in glucose in patients with cirrhosis was due to an increase in glucose Ra and an initial reduction in glucose Rd. Plasma non-esterified fatty acid levels fell to similar low levels in both groups. Glycerol levels fell in controls (P < 0.05) but not in cirrhotic patients. Blood lactate levels, fasting and after oral fructose, were similar in cirrhotics and controls. The time course of suppression of lipid oxidation and stimulation of carbohydrate oxidation was more closely related to fructose levels than to serum fatty acid levels in both groups. The percent suppression and total quantity of lipid oxidized in 4 h after fructose were not significantly different, but the suppressed lipid oxidation rates and elevated carbohydrate oxidation rates were sustained for longer in the cirrhotics. The data suggest that fructose uptake and metabolism inhibits oxidation of intracellular lipid. There was a smaller increase in energy expenditure after fructose in cirrhotics (P < 0.001), but normal overall storage of fructose; the likely explanation is reduced first pass hepatic fructose uptake in cirrhotics making more fructose available to the periphery for incorporation into muscle glycogen. The energy cost of storing fructose as muscle glycogen is less than that of storing it as liver glycogen. Preferential incorporation of fructose carbon into muscle glycogen, with lower rates of hepatic glycogen and triglyceride synthesis, would therefore result in less energy expenditure after a fructose load in cirrhotics.     

Association of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene I/D polymorphism with change in left ventricular mass in response to physical training

PURPOSE: To determine the radiologic characteristics of cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall and chronic pancreatitis underwent ultrasonography (US) (n = 10), computed tomography (CT) (n = 10), endoscopic US (n = 5), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (n = 9). Cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall was classified as either cystic or solid. The imaging findings were retrospectively analyzed and compared with findings at pancreatoduodenectomy (n = 10). RESULTS: The more frequent cystic type (n = 7) of cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall was characterized by the presence of easily recognizable cystic lesions (diameter, more than 1 cm), located within the thickened wall of the second portion of the duodenum. The solid type (n = 3) of cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall demonstrated fibrous thickening of the duodenal wall within which small cysts (diameter, less than 1 cm) were present. The intraduodenal cysts were usually elongated or bilobate with a thick wall. The thickening of the duodenal wall appeared as a solid layer between the duodenal lumen and the pancreas, hypoechoic at US, isoattenuating at unenhanced CT, and hypoattenuating in the early phase (after initiation of infusion of contrast material) and isoattenuating in the late phase (after completion of infusion) at contrast material-enhanced CT. Findings at retrospective analysis of CT and endoscopic US images were characteristic. CONCLUSION: Imaging modalities, notably CT and endoscopic US, helped establish the diagnosis of cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall.     

Qualitative approach: a contribution to nursing

This paper focus on some characteristics of the qualitative methodology. Some of these methods are explored such as: participatory research, phenomenology, grounded theory and ethnography critical theory Perspectives of their utilization in nursing research are examined.     

Serum amyloid P component scintigraphy and turnover studies for diagnosis and quantitative monitoring of AA amyloidosis in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate aspects of the natural history of AA amyloidosis complicating juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), and its response to therapy with chlorambucil. METHODS: Scintigraphy and 7-day turnover studies were performed in JRA patients with histologically proven (n = 35) or clinically suspected (n = 30) AA amyloidosis, following intravenous injection of 123I and 125I-labeled serum amyloid P component (SAP). Prospective monitoring studies were performed over 2-3 years in 20 patients with amyloidosis. All but 2 amyloidosis patients were treated with chlorambucil. RESULTS: Positive scanning results were obtained in all patients in whom imaging was performed within 12 years of positive biopsy findings of amyloid and in 5 patients with clinically suspected amyloidosis. Negative scanning results with normal SAP metabolism, indicating regression of amyloid, were obtained in 4 patients whose amyloidosis had been in full clinical remission for more than 12 years. Prospective monitoring studies in patients whose JRA-associated inflammatory activity was in remission demonstrated regression of amyloid in 8 patients and no substantial changes in 8 others; however, in 4 further patients with active inflammation, there was accumulation of amyloid. There was a very poor correlation between the amount of amyloid present at a particular site and the resultant organ dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Radiolabeled SAP scintigraphy and turnover studies are useful complementary tools in the diagnosis, screening, and quantitative monitoring of type AA amyloidosis in JRA. The amyloid deposits may progress and/or regress at different rates in different anatomic sites over short periods.     

Dexamethasone inhibition of interferon-alpha 2-induced stimulation of cortisol and growth hormone secretion in chronic myeloproliferative syndrome

This study investigated the acute effects of interferon-alpha 2 (IFN-alpha 2) on hormonal secretion in adult patients affected by a chronic myeloproliferative syndrome and tried to shed some light on the mechanism by which IFN-alpha 2 stimulates cortisol and GH secretion in humans. We compared the pattern of IFN-alpha 2-induced cortisol and GH release with that elicited after the same challenge given subsequent to pretreatment with dexamethasone (Dex). We studied eight patients affected by a chronic myeloproliferative syndrome (thrombocythemia) who had been selected for treatment with IFN-alpha 2. Four sets of experiments were performed: 1) 2 mL iv saline was given at 0800 h in eight cases; 2) 3 x 10(6) IU iv IFN-alpha 2 was given at 0800 h in eight cases; 3) 3 x 10(6) IU iv IFN-alpha 2 was given at 0800 h after pretreatment with 1.5 mg Dex (1 mg at midnight the previous night and 0.5 mg at 0700 h on the day of the test) in six cases; and 4) 2 mL iv saline was given at 0800 h after the same Dex pretreatment in four cases. Cortisol and GH were measured in plasma samples drawn at 30-min intervals between 0800 and 1300 h. Acute iv administration of IFN-alpha 2 stimulated the release of both cortisol and GH in each patient with a significant increment vs. control values, as assessed by areas under the curve. The administration of Dex significantly decreased basal plasma cortisol secretion and abolished cortisol response to IFN-alpha 2 administration. These data suggest that the stimulatory action of IFN-alpha 2 on cortisol release is mediated via a modulation of the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis rather than through a direct effect at the level of the adrenal cortex. After Dex plus saline administration, no significant effect was observed on plasma GH levels, which remained low. Dex administration significantly decreased GH response to IFN-alpha 2. These data suggest that a hypothalamic or pituitary stimulation (or both) is involved in the mechanism of IFN-alpha 2-induced GH secretion. It remains to be established whether IFN-alpha 2 directly stimulates pituitary somatotropic cells or whether the cytokine exerts a stimulatory action on GH secretion by indirectly modulating the hypothalamic or pituitary activity. In conclusion, acute iv administration of IFN-alpha 2 represents a potent stimulus for cortisol and GH secretion in adult human subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)