published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

Spontaneous activity in neuronal networks in vitro is common and has been well documented. However, alteration of spontaneous activity in such networks via conditioning electrical stimulation has received much less experimental attention. Two different patterns of electrical stimulation were used to enhance or depress the level of spontaneous activity in spinal cord cultures. High-frequency stimulation (HFS), a method routinely shown to increase the efficacy of synaptic transmission, was employed to augment spontaneous activity. Low-frequency stimulation (LFS), the technique often applied to depress synaptic efficacy, was employed to decrease spontaneous activity. In addition, LFS was used to reverse the effect of HFS on spontaneous activity. Likewise, HFS was applied to counter the effect of LFS. Because these networks were grown on multi-microelectrode plates (MMEPs), this allowed the simultaneous stimulation of any combination of the 64 electrodes in the array. Thus, the possible differences in response to single versus multi-electrode stimulation were also addressed. Finally, test-pulses were delivered before and after the conditioning stimulation on the same stimulation electrode(s) in order to assess the change in mean evoked action potentials (MEAPs). Dissociated spinal tissue from embryonic mice was allowed to mature into self-organized networks that exhibited spontaneous bursting activity after two weeks of incubation. Spontaneous activity was monitored from up to 14 recording channels simultaneously. Although uniform responses to stimulation across all recording electrodes were rarely observed, a large majority of the recording channels had similar responses. Spontaneous activity was increased in 52% of 89 HFS trials, whereas activity was decreased in 35% of 75 LFS trials. The duration of most of these increases was less than 5 minutes. When there were substantial and long-term (> 15 min) changes in spontaneous activity, the opposing stimulation pattern successfully reversed the effect of the previous stimulation. The percent change in MEAPs following conditioning stimulation suggested that synaptic modification had taken place in 75% of all test-pulse stimulation trials.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia in the elderly; it is characterized by early deficits in learning and memory formation and ultimately leads to a generalised loss of higher cognitive functions. While amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau are traditionally associated with the development of Alzheimer disease, recent studies suggest that other factors, like the intracellular domain (APP-ICD) of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), could play a role. In this study, we investigated whether APP-ICD could affect synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, which is involved in learning and memory processes. Our results indicated that overexpression of APP-ICD in hippocampal CA1 neurons leads to a decrease in evoked AMPA-receptor and NMDA-receptor dependent synaptic transmission. Our study demonstrated that this effect is specific for APP-ICD since its closest homologue APLP2-ICD did not reproduce this effect. In addition, APP-ICD blocks the induction of long term potentiation (LTP) and leads to increased of expression and facilitated induction of long term depression (LTD), while APLP2-ICD shows neither of these effects. Our study showed that this difference observed in synaptic transmission and plasticity between the two intracellular domains resides in the difference of one alanine in the APP-ICD versus a proline in the APLP2-ICD. Exchanging this critical amino-acid through point-mutation, we observed that APP(PAV)-ICD had no longer an effect on synaptic plasticity. We also demonstrated that APLP2(AAV)-ICD mimic the effect of APP-ICD in regards of facilitated LTD. Next we showed that the full length APP-APLP2-APP (APP with a substitution of the Aβ component for its homologous APLP2 part) had no effect on synaptic transmission or synaptic plasticity when compared to the APP-ICD. However, by activating caspase cleavage prior to induction of LTD or LTP, we observed an LTD facilitation and a block of LTP with APP-APLP2-APP, effects that were not seen with the full length APLP2 protein. APP is phosphorylated at threonine 668 (Thr668), which is localized directly after the aforementioned critical alanine and the caspase cleavage site in APP-APLP2-APP. Mutating this Thr668 for an alanine abolishes the effects on LTD and restores LTP induction. Finally, we showed that the facilitation of LTD with APP-APLP2-APP involves ryanodine receptor dependent calcium release from intracellular stores. Taken together, we propose the emergence of a new APP intracellular domain, which plays a critical role in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and by extension, could play a role in the development of memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease. / La maladie d’Alzheimer est la forme la plus commune de démence liée au vieillissement ; elle est caractérisée par des déficits précoces d’apprentissage et de mémorisation et entraîne à terme une perte généralisée des fonctions cognitives supérieures. Alors que l’amyloïde-bêta (Aβ) et la protéine tau sont traditionnellement associées au développement de la maladie d’Alzheimer, des études récentes suggèrent que d’autres facteurs, tels que le domaine intracellulaire (APP-ICD) du précurseur de la protéine amyloïde (APP), pourraient jouer un rôle. Dans notre étude, nous avons testé si l’APP-ICD pourrait affecter les mécanismes de transmission ou de plasticité synaptique dans l’hippocampe, qui sous-tendent les processus d’apprentissage et de mémorisation. Nos résultats ont indiqué que la surexpression de l’APP-ICD dans des neurones du CA1 de l’hippocampe entraînait une diminution de la transmission synaptique dépendante des récepteurs AMPA et NMDA. Notre étude a montré que cet effet était spécifique de l’APP-ICD puisque son plus proche homologue l’APLP2-ICD n’a pas eu cet effet. De plus, l’APP-ICD entraînait un blocage de la potentialisation à long terme (LTP), une augmentation de l’expression et une facilitation de l’induction de la dépression à long terme (LTD), mais l’APLP2-ICD n’a eu aucun de ces effets. Notre étude a montré que cette différence observée en transmission et en plasticité synaptique entre les deux peptides réside dans le changement d’une seule alanine dans l’APP-ICD pour une proline dans l’APLP2-ICD, et que l’APP(PAV)-ICD n’avait pas d’effet sur la plasticité synaptique. Nous avons aussi démontré que l’APLP2(AAV)-ICD mimait l’effet de l’APP-ICD pour la facilitation de la LTD. Ensuite nous avons montré que la longue forme APP-APLP2-APP (APP avec un changement de la séquence de l’Aβ pour celle homologue de l’APLP2) ne montrait pas d’effet en comparaison avec l’APP-ICD, ni sur la transmission synaptique ni sur la plasticité synaptique. Cependant, en activant le clivage par les caspases préalablement à l’induction de la LTD ou la LTP, nous avons observé une facilitation de la LTD et un iii blocage de la LTP avec l’APP-APLP2-APP, des effets que nous n’avons pas reproduit avec la longue forme APLP2. La thréonine 668 phosphorylable se trouve immédiatement après l’alanine et le site de clivage par les caspases dans l’APP-APLP2-APP. La mutation de la Thr668 pour une alanine a aboli son effet sur la LTD et restauré la LTP. Finalement, nous avons montré que la facilitation de la LTD par l’APP-APLP2-APP dépendait de la libération de calcium intracellulaire par les récepteurs ryanodines. En conséquence, nous proposons l’émergence d’un nouveau domaine de l’APP jouant un rôle critique, en plus de l’Aβ, dans les processus à la base de l’apprentissage et qui en conséquence pourrait jouer un rôle dans le développement de la maladie d’Alzheimer.

A project report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg, 1996. / This research project is an investigation into the effectiveness of an inspect and rework system called dynamic section control which has the purpose of improving the assembly quality of the BMW-3 series manufacturing in the Rosslyn Plant just outside Pretoria in South Africa, The system was introduced into the assembly plant in February 1995 to improve the assembly quality of the vehicles as quickly as possible. The main motivation behind the need for this system was to bring the quality onto the same level as the German plants in order to become recognised in the international network of BMW's manufacturing plants along with the new manufacturing plant in the USA The origins of the dynamic section control system come from the Munich 3-series plant as well as being based on the principles of poka yoke, a quality philosophy devised by the quality expert from Toyota in Japan, Shigeo Shingo, Defects found on the assembly plant's line, identified by the quality auditor and information from the marketing department regarding warranty claims are entered onto a checklist which is used by reworkers in the plant to inspect and make good the defects that have been found. The checklist is updated on a weekly basis, hence its name: dynamic section control. Seven rework stations, in which the dynamic section control reworkers work, have been strategically positioned in the assembly plant which trims the painted bodies it receives from the paint shop, The effectiveness of the system has been measured by analysing the information from the daily audits as well as investigating the trend of vehicles If rving the assembly plant still requiring rework and repairs off-line. The analyses were divided into three distinct periods. The first being approximately 4 months before the introduction of :he dynamic section control system, and the second and third periods after the introduction of the system. The results show that the dynamic section control system have a positive influence in improving the assembly quality of the vehicles, especially reducing the number of recurring defects. The number of defects that have only occurred once in each of the periods has remained reasonably constant indicating that the system has no impact in reducing the random occurrence of "one-off" defects. Another significant finding was. the increase in the number of vehicles requiring Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand repair off-line, attributable to the assembly plant, after the vehicle has left the assembly line. This increase is probably the result of an increased quality awareness within the assembly plant, resulting in reworkers identifying an increasing number of defects for repair off-line. Other factors such as clearer identification of production goals, training and development of a proportion of the assembly plant's workers in the German plants lor three weeks, reorganizing of support. staff by installing "the right people in the right place" and reducing the number of model derivatives in the plant have also contributed to the enormous quality improvement achieved. Further development of the. dynamic section control system is recommended by installing a rework station within each team area, and including the actions of dynamic section control in the work content of that team. Currently, the system uses external workers which are not part of individual teams as the current sections overlap team areas. Finally, it is recommended that the work of the dynandc section control reworker be incorporated as a noma! function within the team and be rotated amongst the team members. / AC2017

by Chiu Wing-cheong, Lui Shu-tim. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1990. / Bibliography: leaves 68-69. / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS --- p.vi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.viii / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Growth of Freight Industry --- p.1 / Objectives of the Project --- p.2 / Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited --- p.3 / Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation --- p.4 / Impact of Changes in China --- p.8 / Chapter II. --- PROJECT PLANNING MODELS --- p.11 / Management of Project --- p.11 / Project Life Cycle Model --- p.12 / Project Management Functions --- p.15 / Input-Output System Model --- p.16 / Chapter III. --- RESEARCH METHODS --- p.20 / Chapter IV. --- PROJECT PLANNING SYSTEMS --- p.22 / Definition and Classification of Projects --- p.22 / Project Conception and Budgeting --- p.24 / Organising for Project Planning --- p.27 / Procedures for Project Approval and Authorisation --- p.35 / Implementation and Control of Authorised Projects --- p.39 / Applicability of Theory and Model --- p.42 / Chapter V. --- EVALUATION OF THE TWO PROJECT PLANNING SYSTEMS --- p.50 / Strengths and Weaknesses --- p.50 / Internal and External Limitations --- p.53 / Chapter VI. --- CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION --- p.58 / Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited --- p.58 / Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation --- p.60 / Overall Conclusion --- p.63 / APPENDIX --- p.64 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.68

by Ip Hak-shiu. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1991. / Bibliography: leaves 54-55. / PROLOGUE --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Development of the TV Industry --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- History of ATV --- p.8 / Chapter II. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.10 / Chapter 2.1 --- Analytical Framework for Marketing --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2 --- Background to Warfare: Positioning --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3 --- Marketing as Warfare --- p.15 / Bibliography --- p.19 / Chapter III. --- ATV'S APRIL 1990 LAUNCH --- p.20 / Chapter 3.1 --- Basis for the Launch --- p.20 / Chapter 3.2 --- Assessment of the Market --- p.22 / Chapter 3.3 --- Launch Strategy --- p.25 / Chapter 3.4 --- Anticipation of Competitor's Moves --- p.28 / Chapter 3.5 --- Intrinsic Weaknesses --- p.29 / Chapter 3.6 --- TVB's Moves --- p.31 / Chapter 3.7 --- Results of ATV's Launch --- p.32 / Chapter IV. --- EVALUATION OF ATV'S APRIL 1990 LAUNCH --- p.35 / Chapter 4.1 --- Theoretical Options for ATV's Attack --- p.35 / Chapter 4.2 --- Corresponding Response to TVB's Moves --- p.39 / Chapter 4.3 --- Applications of Marketing Warfare Theory --- p.41 / Chapter 4.4 --- ATV's New Direction: Looking for a way to Survive ？ --- p.44 / EPILOGUE --- p.46 / APPENDICES --- p.47

by Chan Lung Anthony, Ho Shun-Wah Montgomery. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references. / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.i / CHAPTERS / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter II. --- METHOD --- p.5 / Chapter III. --- MARKET PROFILE --- p.7 / Chapter IV. --- PRODUCT PROFILE --- p.12 / Chapter V. --- CUSTOMER PROFILE --- p.16 / Chapter VI. --- COMPANY PROFILE --- p.20 / Chapter VII. --- PRODUCT POSITIONING AND TARGET MARKET SELECTION --- p.22 / Chapter VIII. --- COMPANY'S MISSION AND GOALS --- p.27 / Chapter IX. --- MARKETING OBJECTIVES --- p.28 / Chapter X. --- PRODUCT OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES --- p.29 / Chapter XI. --- PRICE OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES --- p.33 / Chapter XII. --- PROMOTION OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES --- p.36 / Chapter XIII. --- SALES FORCE OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES --- p.40 / Chapter XIV. --- DISTRIBUTION OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES --- p.43 / Chapter XV. --- CONTROL --- p.47 / Chapter XVI. --- ADVERTISING PLAN --- p.48 / APPENDIX / Chapter 1. --- FINDINGS OF QUESTIONNAIRE ON TARGET GROUP --- p.53 / Chapter 2. --- QUESTIONNAIRE --- p.56 / Chapter 3. --- SUMMARY OF INTERVIEW WITH HENRY DUONG --- p.63 / Chapter 4. --- EFFECTIVE COMPARISON AMONG MEDIA --- p.64 / Chapter 5. --- EFFECTIVENESS COMPARISON AMONG NEWSPAPERS --- p.65 / Chapter 6. --- EFFECTIVENESS COMPARISON AMONG MEDIA PRODUCT --- p.66 / Chapter 7. --- SPECIALISED/VERTICAL PUBLICATION --- p.67 / Chapter 8. --- READERSHIP PROFILE --- p.68 / Chapter 9. --- FIELD SURVEY OF PRICES OF WATCHES IN HONG KONG --- p.71 / BIBLIOGAPHY --- p.72

by Ha Fu-Lam. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1989. / Bibliography: leaves 61-63.

by Lye, Eugene, Ma Chun Fu, Siu Pui Pui. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-134). / Questionnaires in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF TABLES & FIGURES --- p.vi / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.viii / CHAPTER / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Emerging market --- p.1 / Issues --- p.2 / Chapter II. --- THE COMPANY --- p.4 / History --- p.4 / Management Structure --- p.5 / Board of Directors --- p.5 / Innovation & Growth --- p.8 / Diversification --- p.11 / Global Expansion --- p.12 / Organizational Structure --- p.14 / Products --- p.15 / Quality Control --- p.15 / Financial Information --- p.16 / Chapter III. --- SWOT ANALYSIS --- p.18 / Strengths --- p.18 / Weaknesses --- p.18 / Opportunities --- p.19 / Threats --- p.19 / Chapter IV. --- MARKETING STRATEGY IN THE PRC --- p.21 / Product Offering --- p.21 / Product Positioning --- p.22 / Packaging Strategy --- p.23 / Distribution Strategy --- p.23 / Pricing Strategy --- p.24 / Promotion Strategy --- p.24 / Chapter V. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.26 / The Branding Revolution in China --- p.26 / Beverage Brand Study --- p.29 / Categories of Beverage Consumers --- p.31 / Intention of Brand Equity --- p.32 / Extension of Brand Equity --- p.33 / Summary of Findings --- p.34 / A Case Study of New Brand Launch --- p.35 / Chapter VI. --- MARKET OVERVIEW OF CHINA BEVERAGE MARKET --- p.39 / Market Size --- p.40 / Consumer Behaviors --- p.41 / The Dairy Product Market --- p.42 / Overview --- p.42 / The Customers --- p.43 / The Industry --- p.43 / The Juice Market --- p.44 / Overview --- p.44 / The Customers --- p.44 / The Industry --- p.45 / The Soybean Milk Market --- p.45 / Overview --- p.45 / The Customers --- p.46 / The Industry --- p.46 / Chapter VII. --- THE BEVERAGE MARKET IN GUANGZHOU --- p.48 / Yogurt Drink Market in Guangzhou --- p.48 / Product Usage and Packaging --- p.48 / Consumer Psychology --- p.48 / Competitive Information --- p.49 / Packaged Milk Market in Guangzhou --- p.50 / Product Usage --- p.50 / Consumer Psychology --- p.50 / Competitive Information: --- p.51 / Juice Market in Guangzhou --- p.51 / Product Usage and Packaging --- p.51 / Consumer Psychology --- p.52 / Competitive Information --- p.52 / Soybean Milk Market in Guangzhou --- p.53 / Product Usage and Package --- p.53 / Consumer Psychology --- p.53 / Competitive Information --- p.53 / Chapter VIII. --- METHODOLOGY --- p.54 / Research Objective --- p.54 / Research Methodology for Focus Group --- p.54 / Research Methodology for Survey --- p.55 / Limitations & Constraints --- p.57 / Chapter IX. --- FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS --- p.59 / Focus Group Research Findings & Analysis --- p.59 / Survey Findings & Analysis --- p.65 / Analysis of Brand Recognition --- p.67 / Analysis of Brand Extension & Association --- p.68 / Analysis of Attributes for Children Beverages --- p.70 / Analysis of Packaging Issues --- p.71 / Analysis of Toys Placement --- p.78 / Analysis of Taste Preference --- p.79 / Analysis of Brand Preference --- p.80 / Analysis of 19-25 year old Female Segment --- p.83 / Chapter X. --- RECOMMENDATIONS --- p.85 / Strengths --- p.85 / Weaknesses --- p.87 / Opportunities --- p.90 / Threats --- p.93 / APPENDIX --- p.98 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.133

by Chan She Kei. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-86). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.vi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vii / LIST OF CHARTS --- p.viii / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter II. --- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY --- p.4 / Basic Scope of the Study --- p.4 / Basic Approach --- p.5 / Confidentiality --- p.6 / Chapter III. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.7 / Organisational Development --- p.7 / Emerge of Business Process Re-engineering --- p.8 / Principles and Basic Steps for Re-engineering Business Process --- p.10 / Obstacles for BPR --- p.15 / Organisational Culture and BPR in Chinese Community --- p.17 / Lessons Learnt from Experience --- p.19 / Chapter IV. --- THE BPR CASE --- p.22 / Background of Asset Creation Team --- p.22 / Urgency for Changes --- p.23 / Objectives --- p.24 / Approach --- p.25 / Issues --- p.25 / Benchmarking --- p.26 / Recommendation --- p.27 / Organisational Change --- p.28 / Implementation --- p.29 / Chapter V. --- DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS --- p.31 / Top Management Commitment --- p.31 / BPR Team Member --- p.32 / BPR Project Process --- p.33 / The Proposed Change --- p.35 / Human Aspects of BPR --- p.42 / Chapter VI. --- EMPLOYEE SURVEY --- p.46 / Objectives --- p.46 / Survey Responses --- p.47 / Discussion on Survey Findings --- p.49 / Corporate Change Strategies --- p.49 / Corporate and Personal Culture --- p.52 / Work Organisation and Operating Efficiency --- p.56 / Impact on Employee due to the Change --- p.58 / Chapter VII. --- SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT --- p.61 / Suggestions for Future BPR Project --- p.61 / Suggestions for Improving Effectiveness of the New Organisation --- p.63 / Chapter VIII. --- CONCLUSION --- p.67 / APPENDICES --- p.73 / Chapter Appendix 1 : --- The Previous Organisational Chart for Design Department --- p.73 / Chapter Appendix 2 : --- The Previous Organisational Chart for Network Development Department --- p.74 / Chapter Appendix 3 : --- The Organisational Chart for New Asset Creation Process --- p.75 / Chapter Appendix 4 : --- The Previous Work Process For Asset Creation --- p.76 / Chapter Appendix 5 : --- The New Work Process For Asset Creation --- p.77 / Chapter Appendix 6 : --- The Implementation Plan --- p.78 / Chapter Appendix 7 : --- The Sample Questionnaire --- p.79 / Chapter Appendix 8 : --- The Survey Summary --- p.83 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.85 / Books --- p.85 / Periodicals --- p.86