And then came Complex Project Management

The subject of management is renowned for its addiction to fads and fashions. Project Management is no exception. The issue of interest for this paper is the establishment of the 'College of Complex Project Managers' and their 'competency standard for complex project managers.' Both have generated significant interest in the Project Management community, and like any other human endeavour they should be subject to critical evaluation. The results of this evaluation show significant flaws in the definition of complex in this case, the process by which the College and its standard have emerged, and the content of the standard. However, there is a significant case for a portfolio of research that extends the existing bodies of knowledge into large-scale complicated (or major) projects that would be owned by the relevant practitioner communities, rather than focused on one organization. Research questions are proposed that would commence this stream of activity towards an intelligent synthesis of what is required to manage in both complicated and truly complex environments.

Synthesis, structure and magnetism of the oxalato-bridged chromium(III) complex [NBu4n](4)[Cr-2(ox)(5)]center dot 2CHCl(3)

The binuclear complex [NBu4n](4)[Cr-2(ox)(5)]. 2CHCl(3) has been prepared by an ion-exchange procedure employing Dowex 50WX2 cation-exchange resin in the n-butylammonium form and potassium tris(oxalato)chromate(III). The dimeric complex was characterised by a crystal structure determination: monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 29.241(7), b = 15.192(2), c = 22.026(5) Angstrom, beta = 94.07(1)degrees, Z = 4. The magnetic susceptibility (300-4.2 K) indicated that the chromium(III) sites were antiferromagnetically coupled (J = -3.1 cm(-1)).

Carrageenans with complex substitution patterns from red algae of the genus Erythroclonium

Extracellular polysaccharides from three Erythroclonium spp. were shown, by a combination of compositional, linkage analyses, and Fourier transform infrared and C-13-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, to be highly substituted carrageenans with at least five types of repeating disaccharide units. These are the carrabiose 2,4'-disulfate of iota-carrageenan, carrabiose 2-sulfate of alpha-carrageenan, the 6'-O-methylated counterparts of each of these repeating units, and 4',6'-O-(1-carboxyethylidene)carrabiose 2-sulfate. The polysaccharides also contain significant amounts of unsubstituted, 4-linked galactopyranose and small amounts of 4-linked 3-O-methylgalactopyranose and terminal glycosyl residues. The carrageenan preparations of the three species are similar, differing only in the proportions of some components. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.

A novel tricopper(II) complex of a polyamine alcohol

The trinuclear copper(II) complex of a new polyamino alcohol ligand has been isolated; it exhibits a structure similar to that found at the active site of ascorbate oxidase.

Lemon oil to beta-cyclodextrin ratio effect on the inclusion efficiency of beta-cyclodextrin and the retention of oil volatiles in the complex

Microencapsulation of lemon oil was undertaken with beta-cyclodextrin using a precipitation method at the five lemon oil to beta-cyclodextrin ratios of 3:97, 6:94, 9:91, 12:88, and 15:85 (w/w) in order to determine the effect of the ratio of lemon oil to beta-cyclodextrin on the inclusion efficiency of beta-cyclodextrin for encapsulating oil volatiles. The retention of lemon oil volatiles reached a maximum at the lemon oil to beta-cyclodextrin ratio of 6:94; however, the maximum inclusion capacity of beta-cyclodextrin and a maximum powder recovery were achieved at the ratio of 12:88, in which the beta-cyclodextrin complex contained 9.68% (w/w) lemon oil. The profile and proportion of selected flavor compounds in the beta-cyclodextrin complex and the starting lemon oil were not significantly different.

Targeting of a cholecystokinin-DNA complex to pancreatic cells in vitro and in vivo

The carboxy terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK8) is a hormone that binds high affinity receptors in a number of tissues including pancreas and pancreatic tumours. As part of our studies to develop effective gene therapy for the treatment of pancreatic cancers, we have investigated various gene delivery systems that depend on CCK8 receptor targeting. In this paper,we describe the synthesis of a CCK8-DNA complex designed to deliver foreign DNA to cholecystokinin receptor-positive cells. CCK8 was ligated to avidin and then complexed to linearis biotinylated DNA (pSV-CAT). The uptake of P-32-labelled CCK8-DNA complex by rat pancreatic acini was linear with time over 4 h with 65-70% of uptake inhibited by 100 nM CCK8. The complex appeared to be internalised since it could not be removed by acid wash. When administered intra-arterially, the complex was rapidly removed from the circulation with no evidence of targeted delivery to the pancreas, However, following a single intraperitoneal dose, the pancreas accumulated-5- 8% of the total administered complex by 24 h. These results suggest that peptide-dependent gene delivery to CCK receptor positive cells in vivo is feasible but, when administered directly into the circulation, diffusional barriers across the endothelium may limit distribution to peripheral tissues. Intraperitoneal administration therefore may be a useful alternative for targeting the pancreas.

Modeling ex vivo hematopoiesis using chemical engineering metaphors

Ex vivo hematopoiesis is increasingly used for clinical applications. Models of ex vivo hematopoiesis are required to better understand the complex dynamics and to optimize hematopoietic culture processes. A general mathematical modeling framework is developed which uses traditional chemical engineering metaphors to describe the complex hematopoietic dynamics. Tanks and tubular reactors are used to describe the (pseudo-) stochastic and deterministic elements of hematopoiesis, respectively. Cells at any point in the differentiation process can belong to either an immobilized, inert phase (quiescent cells) or a mobile, active phase (cycling cells). The model describes five processes: (1) flow (differentiation), (2) autocatalytic formation (growth),(3) degradation (death), (4) phase transition from immobilized to mobile phase (quiescent to cycling transition), and (5) phase transition from mobile to immobilized phase (cycling to quiescent transition). The modeling framework is illustrated with an example concerning the effect of TGF-beta 1 on erythropoiesis. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Arterial heparan sulfate proteoglycans inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and phenotype change in vitro and neointimal formation in vivo

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) from the normal arterial wall inhibit neointimal formation after injury in vivo and smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotype change and proliferation in vitro. Methods: Arterial HSPGs were extracted from rabbit aortae and separated by anion-exchange chromatography. The effect of HSPGs, applied in a periadventitial gel, on neointimal formation was assessed 14 days after balloon catheter injury of rabbit carotid arteries. Their effect on SMC phenotype and proliferation was measured by point-counting morphometry of the cytoplasmic volume fraction of myofilaments (Vvmyo) and H-3-thymidine incorporation in SMCs in culture. Results: Arterial HSPGs (680 mu g) reduced neointimal formation by 35% at 14 days after injury (P =.029), whereas 2000 mu g of the low-molecular-weight heparin Enoxaparin was ineffective. HSPGs at 34 mu g/mL maintained subconfluent primary cultured SMCs with the same high Vvmyo (52.1% +/- 13.8%) after 5 days in culture as did cells freshly isolated from the arterial wall (52.1% +/- 15.1%). In contrast, 100 mu g/mL Enoxaparin was ineffective in preventing phenotypic change over this time period (Vvmyo 38.9% +/- 14.6%, controls 35.9% +/- 12.8%). HSPGs also inhibited 3H-thymidine incorporation into primary cultured SMCs with an ID50 value of 0.4 mu g/mL compared with a value of 14 mu g/ml; for Enoxaparin (P

The relationship between hetero-oligomer formation and function of the topological specificity domain of the Escherichia coli MinE protein

MinE is an oligomeric protein that, in conjunction with other Min proteins, is required for the proper placement of the cell division site of Escherichia coli. We have examined the self-association properties of MinE by analytical ultracentrifugation and by studies of hetero-oligomer formation in non-denaturing polyacrylamide gets. The self-association properties of purified MinE predict that cytoplasmic MinE is likely to exist as a mixture of monomers and dimers. Consistent with this prediction, the C-terminal MinE(22-88) fragment forms hetero-oligomers with MinE(+) when the proteins are co-expressed. In contrast, the MinE(36-88) fragment does not form MinE(+)/MinE(36-88) hetero-oligomers, although MinE36-88 affects the topological specificity of septum placement as shown by its ability to induce minicell formation when co-expressed with MinE(+) in wild-type cells. Therefore, hetero-oligomer formation is not necessary for the induction of mini-celling by expression of MinE(36-88) in wild-type cells. The interference with normal septal placement is ascribed to competition between MinE(36-88),nd the corresponding domain in the complete MinE protein for a component required for the topological specificity of septal placement.

The metal directed assembly of a trinuclear macrocyclic copper(II) complex

A trinuclear macrocyclic complex is reported from the metal directed condensation between melamine, formaldehyde and the Cu-II complex of a linear tetraamine.

Rheological behaviour of the mushy zone and its effect on the formation of casting defects during solidification

A new conceptual framework has been developed which explains the formation of shear-related casting defects such as porosity, segregation and tears. The theory relates defect formation to the mechanical behaviour of the partially solidified microstructure when shear stresses are developed during the filling of a casting and by the subsequent feeding processes during solidification. Two transition points, the dendrite coherency point and the maximum packing solid fraction, divide the mushy zone into three regions of different mechanical and feeding behaviours. The response of the mush to shear is related to the presence of these zones during solidification of a casting. The resulting defects are rationalized by considering the governing local shear stress and shear rate, local strength and time available for fluid flow. The design of the casting, the casting process used and the alloy composition all influence the relative importance of shearing on defect formation. (C) 1998 Acta Metallurgica Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of grain refinement and silicon content on grain formation in hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys

The effect of increasing the amount of added grain refiner on grain size and morphology has been investigated for a range of hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys. The results show a transition in grain size at a silicon concentration of about 3 wt% in unrefined alloys; the grain size decreasing with silicon content before the transition, and increasing beyond the transition point. A change in morphology also occurs with increased silicon content. The addition of grain refiner leads to greater refinement for silicon contents below the transition point than for those contents above the transition point, while the transition point seems to remain unchanged. The slope of the grain size versus silicon content curve after the transition seems to be unaffected by the degree of grain refinement. The results are related to the competitive processes of nucleation and constitutional effects during growth and their impact on nucleation kinetics. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

The first structurally characterized discrete dinuclear mu-cyano hexacyanoferrate complex

Mixed valence complexes containing ferro- and ferricyanide have been known for almost 300 years, but no dinuclear, non-polymeric examples of these complexes have been structurally characterized. Here we report the first such example, comprising ferrocyanide coordinated to a pentaaminecobalt(III) complex. This Fe-II-Co-III complex may be reversibly oxidized to the Fe-III-Co-III analogue.