Synergy In Production Research Articles

Water resources and land use planning systems in Portugal—Exploring better synergies through Ria de Aveiro

The paper discusses the relevance of a stronger articulation between land use and water resources systems to enhance the success of the Water Framework Directive. Using article 11 of the WFD, this paper assess (i) how the Spatial Planning and Urban Development Law as well as the Portuguese Water Law converge to promote better integration of water resources into spatial planning, (ii) how their prospects are developed at the regional basis, namely through the Regional Spatial Development Plan and River Basin Management Plan, and (iii) how these are prepared to inform other planning instruments at the local level. It shows through a spatial analysis of the regional land-use plan and the river basin plan as applied over the Ria de Aveiro estuary area, the conflicts and opportunities for stronger synergies. The paper concludes with a critical analysis of the integration of the spatial planning and water resources planning systems in Portugal, and reveals new insights and challenges for more productive synergies between these systems.

Effect of peanut and foxtail millet intercropping on crop photosynthetic response and fluorescence parameters

Peanut and foxtail millet intercropping can produce a better production increase and synergy, but there is not any research report on the photosynthetic response characteristics of the intercropping system. In this test, a research was conducted on the variation characteristics of leaf photosynthetic response and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters under the intercropping conditions of peanut and foxtail millet. The increase in Fo (dark level fluorescence) of intercropping foxtail millet leaves can reduce the reversible inactivation of hard light on foxtail millet leaves; increase in Fm (maximum fluorescence) and Fv/Fm (maximum quantum yield of photosystem II) of intercropping peanut can improve conversion efficiency of the PS II (photosystem II) original light energy of peanut. Meanwhile, dark respiration rate and light compensation point of crops in the intercropping system decreased and the apparent quantum efficiency and light saturation point increased, which can show that the peanut and foxtail millet intercropping can improve the light energy utilization efficiency of them.

Activation of human basophils by combined toll‐like receptor‐ and FcεRI‐triggering can promote Th2 skewing of naive T helper cells

Basophils are mostly known for their involvement in allergic reactions. Recent studies in mice indicate a role for basophils in the induction of adaptive immunity, especially T helper 2 (Th2) responses. Therefore, it would be highly important to understand how basophils respond to pathogen-associated molecules, such as ligands for toll-like receptors (TLRs), and if the basophils could promote Th2 responses via these stimuli. To this end, the activation of basophils via TLRs in combination with activation via IgE was studied, as well as its effect on T helper cell skewing. Using quantitative PCR, we demonstrated the presence of mRNA for TLRs 1-8 in human basophils. Basophils responded to TLR triggering with differential cytokine production, but not with degranulation. Simultaneous triggering of TLRs and IgE led to synergy in production of IL-4, IL-8, IL-13, and RANTES. Furthermore, the synergistic effects on basophils mediated by IgE and TLR-4 triggering allowed robust Th2 skewing upon activation of naïve human CD4⁺ T cells. Our data show that human basophils respond to TLR ligands in synergy with IgE-mediated activation and that the cytokines produced can promote Th2 differentiation. These results indicate a role for basophils in the regulation of T-cell responses in humans.

The synergy in cytokine production through MyD88‐TRIF pathways is co‐ordinated with ERK phosphorylation in macrophages

Although specific single Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands are known to drive the development of Th1 or Th2 immunity, the outcome of different combinations of TLR ligands on innate immunity is not well defined. Spatiotemporal dynamics are critical in determining the specificity of the immune response, but the mechanisms underlying combinatorial TLR stimulation remain unclear. Here, we tested pairwise combinations of TLR ligands separated by different time intervals for their effect on cytokine production in macrophages. We observed that stimulation via a combination of MyD88- and TRIF-utilizing adaptors leads to a highly synergistic cytokine response. On a timescale of 4-24 h, macrophages pretreated with poly(I:C) (TLR3 ligand) are cross-primed to a second stimulation with R848 (TLR7 ligand) and vice versa, and each condition exhibits different optimal time windows of synergistic response for each cytokine. We show that the synergy resulting from combinatorial stimuli (poly(I:C) and R848 is also regulated by the order and dosage of the TLR agonists. Secondary response genes, which depend on new protein synthesis for transcription, show greater synergy than primary response genes, and such enhancement is abolished when new protein synthesis is inhibited. Synergistic cytokine production appears concordant with sustained ERK phosphorylation, suggesting that the de novo factors act via inhibition of ERK dephosphorylation, for example, by the downregulation of dual specificity phosphatase 6. Taken together, our findings illustrate a checkpoint in the innate immune system, where the synchronization of timing of both MyD88 and TRIF pathways is required for a maximal cytokine response and potential memory effect in macrophages.

Returns to scope: a metric for production synergies demonstrated for hospital production

Knowledge of the production function’s scope properties can provide insights for firms choosing their operating strategy, policy-makers considering industry structure, and analysts determining appropriate tools. We introduce a new property, returns to scope, which is distinct from scale properties and does not rely on price information. Based on desirable characteristics of an estimator of returns to scope, we propose two methods for assessment. We present examples using simulated data and hospital production data from the 2008 National Inpatient Sample of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. We find that hospitals experience negative returns to scope (productivity losses) from the joint production of minor and major diagnostic procedures. Based upon our results we conclude that the new returns to scope property allows sharper insights than classic economies of scope approaches.

Formative Use of Summative Tests: Using Test Preparation to Promote Performance and Self-Regulation

The study aims to investigate teachers’ and students’ perspectives of how “the formative use of summative test” (i.e., test preparation) may impact student's performance in internal school tests and develop self-regulated learning. It also examines the relationship between formative and summative assessment, especially how they could create productive synergies. Two teachers and 14 Grades 2 and 3 students were interviewed before and after the use of test preparation strategies. Classroom observations were conducted to understand how these strategies helped students to monitor their own learning before the internal school tests. Relevant pre-test instructional materials were also analyzed. Findings suggest that the reported test preparation strategies could enhance student performance and promote modest self-regulated learning. Implications for teachers to adopt pre-test preparation strategies are discussed.

Production synergies in the current biofuel industry: opportunities for development

Background: With criticism about the economic viability and environmental performance of biofuels, the use of byproducts and integration with external industries could be achieved to improve their performance and provide further use for byproducts and wastes. Methodology: A review of potential byproduct and utility exchanges between biofuel and external industries has been documented in this article through a literature review and brainstorming workshop, and results have been classified based on their interactions. Results: It has been found that byproduct exchanges, especially those between biofuel industries, and exchanges between the biofuel industries and the food, feed, agriculture and energy industries, offer many potential exchanges. Conclusion: The identified synergies offer possibilities for potential collaboration partners in symbiotic exchanges with the biofuel industry.

New therapeutic targets in dermatoporosis.

Dermatoporosis is a novel term proposed to describe the chronic cutaneous insufficiency/fragility syndrome characterized by an extreme skin atrophy. Dermatoporosis is principally due to chronological aging and long-term and unprotected sun exposure, but it may also result from the chronic use of topical and systemic corticosteroids. We have recently proposed a membrane organelle, hyalurosome, composed of molecules involved in hyaluronate (HA) metabolism and cell signaling in the keratinocytes, such as principal HA receptor CD44, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), HB-EGF receptor erbB1 and HA synthase 3 (HAS3), which is functionally defective in dermatoporosis and may be a target for intervention. Several lines of evidence suggest that hyalurosome is located in keratinocyte filopodia, thin, actin-rich plasma membrane protrusions implicated in cell motility. We have recently shown that keratinocyte filopodia are downregulated by corticosteroids in vitro. Intermediate size HA fragments (HAFi) inhibited the downregulation of filopodia induced by corticosteroids. Topical HAFi prevented the skin atrophy induced by topical corticosteroids in mice without interfering with their anti-inflammatory effect. Topical treatment with HAFi 1% of atrophic forearm skin of dermatoporosis patients for 1 month resulted in a significant clinical improvement and induced the expression of hyalurosome molecules. Topical retinaldehyde (RAL) and HAFi showed a synergy in HA production and pro-HB-EGF expression in mouse skin and in the correction of skin atrophy in dermatoporosis patients. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms implicating hyalurosome seems to be crucial to better understand the pathogenesis of dermatoporosis and to develop new therapeutic strategies.

Enhanced interleukin-1β production of PBMCs from patients with gout after stimulation with Toll-like receptor-2 ligands and urate crystals

IntroductionMonosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals synergize with various toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands to induce cytokine production via activation of the NOD-like receptor (NLR) family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLPR3) inflammasome. This has been demonstrated in vitro using human cell lines or monocytes of healthy volunteers. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of MSU crystals and of their combination with TLR ligands in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with gout.MethodsPBMCs from 18 patients with primary gout and 12 healthy donors were exposed to MSU crystals in the presence or absence of saturated fatty acid C18:0 (free fatty acid, TLR2 ligand), palmitoyl-3-cystein (Pam3Cys, TLR1/2 ligand) and fibroblast stimulating factor-1 (FSL-1, TLR 2/6 ligand). Production of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) was determined by ELISA. mRNA transcripts of IL-1β were measured by real-time PCR.ResultsMSU crystals alone failed to induce IL-1β, IL-6 or TNFα in both patients and control groups, but a stronger synergy between MSU/Pam3Cys and MSU/C18:0 for the induction of IL-1β was found in patients with gout compared to healthy controls. IL-6, but not IL-8, followed the kinetics of IL-1β. No production of the neutrophil-recruiting IL-17 was detectable after stimulation of the patients' PBMCs with MSU in both the presence or absence of TLR ligands. No change of gene transcripts of IL-1β after stimulation with MSU and Pam3Cys or with MSU and C18:0 was found. A positive correlation was found between synergy in IL-1β production from PBMCs of patients between C18:0 and MSU crystals, as well as the annual number of attacks of acute gouty arthritis (rs: +0.649, P: 0.022).ConclusionsThe synergy between MSU crystals and TLR-2 ligands is more prominent in patients with gout than in controls. This is likely mediated by the enhanced maturation of pro-IL-1β into IL-1β.

Primary TQM practices and their effects on engineering performance in a Malaysian semiconductor firm

This study aims to identify the key components of TQM practices in a Malaysian semiconductor manufacturing firm and determine their effects on the firm’s engineering performance. A review was first conducted on the components of TQM practices. Surveys were then distributed to the engineers of the firm. After collecting 226 survey responses, data reduction was conducted using reliability and factor analysis. The components were reduced to four underlying components. The relationship between these components and engineering performance was tested using correlations and multiple linear regression analysis. It was found that all components have a positive and significant relationship with engineering performance, with organisational continuous improvement having the strongest correlation. The major success of TQM practices in this firm came from productive teamwork, synergy and support from all engineers. This study provides an exemplary guideline for most Malaysian semiconductor firms to refine their focus in TQM practices for improved engineering performance.

Integrated macroalgae production for sustainable bioethanol, aquaculture and agriculture in Pacific island nations

AbstractThe Philippine Biofuels Act of 2006 mandates domestic gasoline blending with bioethanol at a rate of 5% by 2009 and 2010, and 10% by 2011 (by volume). Akin to most biofuel policies, the Act aims to increase fuel supply security, reduce emissions, and stimulate regional development. However, the majority of biofuels blended are imported due to conventional food market demand for biofuel feedstocks, and limited domestic biofuel production capacity. A promising alternative domestic bioethanol feedstock is macroalgae (seaweed) species, of which the Philippines is already a major global commercial producer. The advantages of using particular non‐food macroalgae as a bioethanol feedstock include zero competition with agricultural food production, no freshwater requirement, high yields per area, zero fertilizer applications, and the pre‐existing markets for bioethanol macroalgae wastes. Adaptation of existing macroalgae farming methods, customized to high‐yielding non‐food bioethanol precursor species, can enable rapid expansion into industrial‐scale biofuel production, far exceeding terrestrial bioethanol yields in terms of per unit area. This work identifies the regional availability and supply of appropriate macroalgae species suitable for bioethanol production, and explores integrated production synergies and challenges for an environmentally sustainable macroalgae bioethanol industry suitable for a number of Pacific island nations. © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Mobilisation du bois énergie sous forme de plaquettes forestières

This article reviews various harvesting scenarios for the production of wood chips intended as fuel, taking into consideration the types of forest resources and the desirable features of the end product. Two main markets need to be supplied: small collective central heating facilities that require graded chips with a 25% moisture content; and industrial heating facilities that can handle fuel of far more variable size with a moisture content of 35-40 %. There is a very broad range of chipping equipment on offer, from three point hitch chippers on tractors to heavy duty equipment that is taken to logging sites or operates from a permanent position on a platform. Reconstruction of costs for all the operations involved — felling, hauling, shredding and transportation — yields very wide ranging cost prices. An analysis of the parameters that influence productivities shows how important it is to rely on production synergies between forest biomass for energy and other product categories (workable timber, industrial timber).

Open-Source Science Makes Headway

Open-source science is gaining ground as scientists explore the benefits of working together without copyright and patent constraints in virtual forums. Like Wikipedia, these “wiki-style” forums enable them to reuse, build on, and extend the work and resources of fellow researchers. In the past 5–10 years, more than a dozen websites have emerged that are dedicated to creating open access to many of the necessary ingredients for drug discovery, including data, information technology and analytic tools, biospecimens, and disease models (see sidebar). Many advocates for open-source science claim that it can counter investigative redundancy and the squandering of biomedical research resources. They also say it will create a productive synergy that will speed up our understanding and treatment of complex diseases such as cancer. But both advocates and critics point out challenges to this approach, such as countering the cultural and economic norms that limit sharing, creating compatible datasets, ensuring high-quality data, and finding sustained financial backing. Despite those challenges, open-source science is making substantial headway in the biomedical arena. The amount and quality of information available in the public domain has grown dramatically, according to Thinh Nguyen, counsel for Science Commons, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to make sharing scientific data and materials among scientists easier. “These changes mean that what is available in the commons is starting to be almost as good as what companies can develop themselves internally—it's starting to get a place at the table when you are doing serious drug development research,” Nguyen said at a presentation at an Institute of Medicine (IOM) conference on precompetitive collaboration last February. The participation of big-name players—such as the National Cancer Institute, Merck, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, several universities and foundations, and patient advocacy groups—is boosting the reputation of open-source science. So are some websites’ impressive gains. The Open-Source Drug Discovery (OSDD), which is dedicated to discovering treatments for diseases that plague the developing world, surprised many when more than 400 of its volunteer researchers reannotated the tuberculosis bacterium genome, wiki style, in just 4 months—record time for such an endeavor, according to Eli Lilly's Bernard Munos.

Synergy in food, fuels and materials production from biomass

Sugar cane was introduced in Brazil for sugar production but it was later developed as a major source of fuel ethanol, chemicals, materials and electricity. While food sugar continues to be the leading income source for plantations, synergy between food, fuel and materials production is possible as opposed to simple arithmetic reasoning that exacerbates the conflict in land use for different kinds of products. Cane plantations now occupy a small fraction of agricultural land in Brazil and the recent zoning laws allow a manifold expansion but only on currently under-used pasture land, while prohibiting expansion in any area covered by native vegetation, rain forests, flood plains and central savannas. The same positive results obtained in Brazil can be extended to many other countries in the world and to many other plants, like the eucalyptus, currently used in Brazil to make charcoal for smelting. The large emissions of waste carbon compounds from this process could be converted into valuable by-products for chemicals and energy production. Other synergies are described and new possibilities for land use and agriculture products are discussed, considering also environmental issues.

Lifelong Resiliency Learning: A Strength-Based Synergy for Gerontological Social Work

The significance of the synergy between promoting resiliency and the strengths-based perspective is well established in gerontological social work. This article reports on qualitative research that suggests another potentially productive synergy, one that can result from the interaction between the capacities for resiliency and lifelong learning. These findings emerged from a qualitative study involving 12 older women (ages 64–72) participating in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Southern Maine. Lifelong learning is defined as a cognitive process by which individuals continue to develop their knowledge, skills and attitudes over their lifetime. The implications of the data are considered from a multidisciplinary perspective that includes gerontological social work, educational gerontology, and adult learning. Specific social work research and practice initiatives that could confirm and operationalize this synergy are suggested.

The emergence of selection rules and their encounter with group theory, 1913–1927

In today's quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, the observable signature of a symmetry is often sought in the form of a selection rule: a missing radiation frequency, a particle that does not decay in another one, a scattering process which fails to take place. The connection between selection rules and symmetries is effected thanks to the mathematical discipline of group theory. In the present paper, I will offer an overview of how the productive synergy between selection rules and group theory came to be. The first half of the work will be devoted to the emergence of the idea of spectroscopic selection rules in the context of the old quantum theory, showing how this notion was linked with an interpretive scheme of theoretical nature which, once combined with group theory, would bear many fruits. In the second part of the paper, I will focus on the actual encounter between selection rules and group theory, and on the person largely responsible for it: Eugene Wigner. I will attempt to reconstruct the path which led Wigner, of all people, to be the agent effecting this connection.

Evolution of the petrochemical industry in Singapore

This paper examines the historical development of the petrochemical industry in Singapore. While it had its origins in an earlier political economy, the petrochemical industry emerged only during the industrialization of Singapore. In addition, throughout the ensuing post-industrialization process, the enterprise was at the forefront of the endeavours of the state at maintaining a viable manufacturing sector. In its development, the Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore (PCS) was crucial at encouraging investments and integration throughout the oil, petrochemical and chemical industries on Jurong Island. Consequently, the leading companies were able to garner the benefits of infrastructural and production synergies from this cluster.

Myeloid-Related Proteins Rapidly Modulate Macrophage Nitric Oxide Production during Innate Immune Response

S100A8 and S100A9 are intracellular calcium-binding proteins produced by myeloid cells that promote neutrophil/monocyte recruitment at inflamed tissues by enhancing attachment to endothelial cells. Although the intracellular functions of these proteins, i.e., myeloid-related proteins (MRP)-8 and MRP-14, are not completely understood, these proteins exhibit prominent extracellular cytokine-like functions and are considered reliable markers of inflammation in diverse diseases. As S100A8 and S100A9 have been reported to be rapidly released in response to components derived from infectious agents, we hypothesized that they play an important role in the modulation of key microbicidal phagocyte functions. In this study, we report for the first time that MRPs are powerful inducers of NO production by murine macrophages (Mphi). This increase in NO production was linked to an increased inducible NO synthase expression both at gene and protein level. This induction was concomitant with an important phosphorylation of SAPK/JNK, but also of MEK and ERK kinases. Upon stimulation with MRPs, NF-kappaB was rapidly translocated to the nucleus (30 min). When Mphi were treated concomitantly with IFN-gamma, another activator of Mphi functions, we observed a strong synergy in NO production, synergy that resulted from the engagement of exclusive signaling pathways: SAPK/JNK, ERK and NF-kappaB were involved in signaling of MRPs, whereas IFN-gamma uses the JAK/STAT pathway. This suggests that the synergy results from interactions of transcription factors in the promoter region. Finally, we observed this effect to be dependent on TLR4. Collectively, our study unravels the importance of MRPs as potent new inducers of Mphi NO production.

Differentiation and Synergies in Rural Tourism: Estimation and Simulation of the Israeli Market

AbstractThis article applies a discrete‐choice equilibrium model with product differentiation to study the rural tourism industry in Israel and to jointly estimate the effect of lodging and farm characteristics on consumer preferences and firms' costs. The model accounts for heterogeneity in tastes and technologies and allows for unobservable product characteristics. We find evidence for technological synergy in the joint production of agricultural goods and rural tourism services, but none in the demand. The differentiation in the industry is the major contributor to the price‐cost margin, which averages 62%. An additional minor cause is government regulations, which restrict supply. Simulation results demonstrate the growth potential of the industry and show that the government can play an important role in catalyzing growth via investment subsidization, deregulation of supply and information distribution.

Selective synergy in anti-inflammatory cytokine production upon cooperated signaling via TLR4 and TLR2 in murine conventional dendritic cells

Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands, i.e. lipopolysaccharide (LPS), induce dendritic cell (DC) production of both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-10. The balance of inflammatory versus anti-inflammatory cytokines appears to be crucial to control immune homeostasis. In the present study, we investigated TLR-mediated regulation of inflammatory versus anti-inflammatory cytokine production using murine bone marrow derived conventional DCs. Standard LPS (sLPS) that contains lipoprotein, a TLR2 ligand, induced vigorous production of both IL-10 and IL-12 p40 by DCs. Highly purified LPS (ultra-pure LPS, upLPS) also induced vigorous production of IL-12 p40, but markedly low IL-10 production. Thus, signal deficiency through TLR2 appeared to result in marked reduction in DC production of IL-10 but not IL-12 p40 upon stimulation with upLPS. To examine this possibility, DCs were stimulated with Pam3CSK4, a synthetic ligand of TLR2, in addition to stimulation with upLPS. It was shown that Pam3CSK4 alone failed to induce IL-10 production. However, Pam3CSK4 synergistically enhanced upLPS-induced DC production of IL-10 but neither IL-12 p40 nor TNF-α. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)1/2 in DCs were significantly activated by upLPS stimulation. The upLPS-induced activities of these MAPKs were considerably enhanced by additional stimulation with Pam3CSK4. Blocking either p38 MAPK or JNK1/2 pathway completely inhibited the synergistic enhancement of the IL-10 production by DCs upon upLPS and Pam3CSK4 stimulation. Thus, cooperated stimulation of these MAPKs via TLR4 and TLR2 appeared to induce selective synergy in anti-inflammatory cytokine production by murine conventional DCs.