An anthropocentric approach to knowledge-based preventive maintenance

It is common knowledge today that application of sound manufacturing concepts and techniques will only provide cost-effective, long-term return when manufacturing functions are totally integrated with the operators, maintenance engineers and other associated personnel. This paper presents a human-centred methodology and its associated knowledge-based tool, to utilize equipment failure information for the purpose of machine down-time minimization. Based upon a structured and rigorous assessment of each breakdown, and combined with total employee participation, continuous improvement of maintenance function and operational effectiveness of equipment can be made a reality.     

Decision-making in the treatment of subfoveal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration. An analysis from the patient''s perspective

The human mineralocorticoid receptor of the steroid receptor family contains a modular structure with domain E which is considered to be a hormone binding domain. Recombinant protein approaches enabled us to clearly determine that this domain is also able to interact with F-actin (Kd about 2 microM) and G-actin. Moreover, it was revealed that this mineralocorticoid receptor domain/actin interaction was modulated by specific mineralocorticoid ligands. Agonist (aldosterone) steroid binding almost totally (91%) abolished the interaction with F-actin, while antagonist (progesterone) binding allowed more than 30% of this binding. Steroid modulation of the interaction between domain E and actin indicated that this actin binding is specific and could be essential for cellular mineralocorticoid receptor activity.     

Assessing and managing the benefits of enterprise systems: the business manager's perspective

This paper focuses on the benefits that organizations may achieve from their investment in enterprise systems (ES). It proposes an ES benefit framework for summarizing benefits in the years after ES implementation. Based on an analysis of the features of enterprise systems, on the literature on information technology (IT) value, on data from 233 enterprise systems vendor‐reported stories published on the Web and on interviews with managers of 34 organizations using ES, the framework provides a detailed list of benefits that have reportedly been acquired through ES implementation. This list of benefits is consolidated into five benefits dimensions: operational, managerial, strategic, IT infrastructure and organizational, and illustrated using perceived net benefit flow (PNBF) graphs. In a detailed example, the paper shows how the framework has been applied to the identification of benefits in a longitudinal case study of four organizations.     

Infrared radiance and temperature measurements on the mesa side of Gunn diodes

Radiance and temperature profiles for the first time have been measured along the mesa side of Gunn diode samples, using an infrared microscope with a spatial resolution of 2.5 mum. Bulk heat generation occurs in the transit region, but measurements have shown a small amount of additional ohmic heating in the substrate layer, which will influence the maximum temperature of the device. The presented thermal measurements have been used to improve the existing thermal finite-element model of the diode. The measurements also represent an alternative method to obtain a more accurate temperature of the diode top contact without coating the sample with a high emissivity layer.     

National curriculum in Australia? A matter of politics, powerful knowledge and the regulation of learning

This article maps the contentious question of 'national curriculum' in Australia. It explains both why there is no national (i.e. Australian) curriculum, and analyses the history of curriculum formation with a view to documenting the changing significance and status of 'national' (i.e. nation-building) curriculum. The analysis is informed by an historical sociology perspective which begins by considering curriculum in relation to the national question in Australia and then moves on to examine the role of curriculum in the contemporary re-design of education as a social institution and a regulatory device within the Australian national jurisdiction.     

Effects of Oxide Content on the Glass-Forming Ability of the Ga2S3-Na2S System

Gallium–sodium–sulfide glasses have been shown to be the most promising host for the 1.3 μm fiber optic amplifier so far. However, the current study has revealed that the formation of stable glasses in this system relies on the existence of a certain amount of oxide in the composition. A glass-forming region was identified when 3 mol% Ga₂O₃ was introduced into the melts. Both bulk crystallization and surface crystallization can take place in this system. The thermal behavior of the glasses obtained was studied by DTA and characteristic infrared and UV/visible transmission spectra are presented. The current results are discussed and compared with those previously reported.     

Crystallization of Gallium Lanthanum Sulfide Glasses

The crystallization of gallium lanthanum sulfide (GLS) glasses of composition (100 - x )Ga₂S₃ x La₂S₃ (mol%) has been analyzed using X-ray diffraction, and optical and transmission electron microscopy. The major crystalline phase, X, was found to be different from the La_3.33Ga₆S₁₄ phase reported previously in similar compositions. X was the primary phase present and was observed in all samples, forming on quenching as well as on subsequent heat treatment. The phase occurred as spherulites composed of lamellae, approximately 1 µm wide and all of the same orientation. A small quantity of crystals of Ga₂S₃ (20 nm) were observed to grow discontinuously between the lamellae. Electron diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray analysis suggested that phase X was monoclinic and had approximately a 2:1 Ga₂S₃:La₂S₃ ratio.