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CONTEXT: Pancreatic beta-cell glucose sensitivity is the slope of the plasma glucose-insulin secretion relationship and is a key predictor of deteriorating glucose tolerance and development of type 2 diabetes. However, there are no large-scale studies looking at the genetic determinants of beta-cell glucose sensitivity. OBJECTIVE: To understand the genetic determinants of pancreatic beta-cell gluc
Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), the buildingSMART open standard for BIM, is underused with respect to its promising potential, since, according to the experience of practitioners and researchers working with BIM, issues in the standard’s implementation and use prevent its effective use. Nevertheless, a systematic investigation of these issues has never been carried out, and there is thus insuff
Many cell functions rely on the ability of microtubules to self-organize as complex networks. In plants, cortical microtubules are essential to determine cell shape as they guide the deposition of cellulose microfibrils, and thus control mechanical anisotropy in the cell wall. Here we analyze how, in turn, cell shape may influence microtubule behavior. Using a computational model of microtubules e
The plant shoot apical meristem holds a stem cell niche from which all aerial organs originate. Using a computational approach we show that a mixture of monomers and heterodimers of the transcription factors WUSCHEL and HAIRY MERISTEM is sufficient to pattern the stem cell niche, and predict that immobile heterodimers form a regulatory ‘pocket’ surrounding the stem cells. The model achieves to rep
Processes in individual and mass production are governed by certain principles which need to be taken into account as early as the conceptual design phase. A comprehensive analysis of processes in tool production has shown that production also needs to be considered in remodeling or the introduction ofconcurrent engineering. The paper discusses the principles of the manufacturing process which aff
Many small companies ask themselves how and when to begin participating in the information revolution, and what changes this may bring to their business operation. Five typical models of product data integration were designed to help users to create a comprehensive view of the problems of technical information systems in companies. It was found that setting up an information system is a dynamic pr
The management system presented in the paper allows the generation and control of documentation flow throughout the whole manufacturing process, from all design levels to manufacturing. Using the method of quality assurance, a useful management system has been developed that covers cooperative work between different departments, clear responsibilities, the description of procedures for documentati
When re-engineering a company's information system, one must have a thorough knowledge of the work process. In this article, the methodology of analysis of information creation and information flow is presented. The most important requirements are identified, and concrete solutions are given for the creation of an appropriate information system. As an illustration, a virtual toolmaking factory is
A rich understanding of the productivity, carbon and nutrient cycling of terrestrial ecosystems is essential in the context of understanding, modelling and managing the future response of the biosphere to global change. This need is particularly acute in tropical ecosystems, home to over 60% of global terrestrial productivity, over half of planetary biodiversity, and hotspots of anthropogenic pres
The paper presents application of lean engineering methods at design process re-engineering. Lean principles are harder to implement in an one-of-a-kind production environment rather than in an environment of a serial production, where there are almost no changes during production process. There are considerable differences in value-added activities that characterize lean production on one hand an
Application of concurrent engineering (CE) to product development process (PDP) has to consider the type of production (individual, serial, mass), product complexity and level of design: original, innovative, variation and adaptive. Systematic analyses of product development processes, workflows, data and project management, in various companies, has shown that specific criteria have to be fulfill
Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Organizations (MRO) have to be competitive and attractive for the existing and new customers. Aircraft ground time at the MRO has to be as short as possible as well as cost efficient without reducing the quality of the accomplished work. Application of lean methods into aircraft maintenance processes means continuous improvement process and elimination of non-value-
