ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF ECR ON FINANCIAL AND OPERATING PERFORMANCE

A debate has emerged in the literature and trade press whether the adoption of Efficient Consumer Response (ECR), the supply chain management initiatives for the food industry, leads to improved inventory and financial performance. Using regression analysis, the financial performance for adopters of ECR is about 3 to 4% higher than for non-adopters. However, the growth in profit does not appear to come from improved performance for traditional inventory measures (such as inventory turnover, inventory-to-sales, or inventory-to-assets). The driving force behind these improved financial measures can be attributed to changes leading to a shorter cash conversion cycle. In addition, size matters; ECR is more effective due to economies of scale, information technology, and buying power.Industrial Organization,

THE FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF ECR

Agribusiness,

Global Analysis of Fragmentation Functions for Eta Mesons

Fragmentation functions for eta mesons are extracted at next-to-leading order accuracy of QCD in a global analysis of data taken in electron-positron annihilation and proton-proton scattering experiments. The obtained parametrization is in good agreement with all data sets analyzed and can be utilized, for instance, in future studies of double-spin asymmetries for single-inclusive eta production. The Lagrange multiplier technique is used to estimate the uncertainties of the fragmentation functions and to assess the role of the different data sets in constraining them.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, updated reference

Bedrock and Surficial Geologic Map of the Red Rock 7.5’ Quadrangle, Beaverhead County, Southwestern Montana

The Red Rock 7.5 minute quadrangle, located in Beaverhead County, southwestern Montana, spans the Red Rock River Valley, an extensional graben formed between the Tendoy mountain front and the western flank of the Blacktail-Snowcrest uplift (Fig. 1). Notable landmarks within the quadrangle include the Clark Canyon Reservoir (Bureau of Reclamation dam number MT00569) located in the northwest area of the quadrangle and Interstate 15 which runs northwest-southeast through the quadrangle. The highest elevations in the map area are located within the Tendoy Mountains and the Red Rock Hills and are underlain by Paleozoic and Cenozoic bedrock. From these points, broad alluvial fans grade down to the Red Rock River Valley. The quadrangle contains about 3,000 ft of relief. Mapping of the Red Rock quadrangle was done at a scale of 1:12,000 and was compiled at a scale of 1:24,000. Field work was completed in the summer of 2005 in collaboration with the mapping of the adjacent Briggs Ranch and Kidd quadrangles (Figs. 1 and 2). This strategy allowed for the comparison of structure and stratigraphy across quadrangle boundaries and provided a regional context for the mapping of each quadrangle. This new mapping complements previous mapping of the Monument Hill quadrangle (Newton and others, 2005), Dixon Mountain quadrangle (Harkins and others, 2004b), Caboose Canyon quadrangle (Harkins and others, 2004a), and Dell quadrangle (Aschoff and Schmitt, 2005) and collectively provides new detailed mapping and analysis of a portion of the Red Rock River Valley from Lima to the Clark Canyon Dam (Figs. 1 and 2). This report includes a map and cross section for the Red Rock quadrangle as well as a discussion of the stratigraphy and structure of the map area

Editorial: From Pedagogic Research to Embedded E-Learning

This Special Issue of Reflecting Education arises from the work of the PREEL project (From Pedagogic Research to Embedded e-Learning) at the Institute of Education from 2006-2008. This project was one of nine HEA/JISC (Higher Education Academy and Joint Information Systems Committee) Pilot Pathfinder Projects and followed on from our involvement in the Pilot Benchmarking of e-Learning Programme. In the benchmarking exercise we identified a lack of coordination between research and practice in e-learning at the IoE as one of our crucial weaknesses, and so our Pilot Pathfinder project concentrated on this theme of building links between e-learning research and practice

Analysis of the Effect of a Sunscreen Agent on the Suppression of Natural Killer Cell Activity Induced in Human Subjects by Radiation from Solarium Lamps

Previous studies in rodents have shown that ultraviolet radiation (UVR) may have direct effects on the immune system in the skin and at higher doses may induce systemic suppression of immune responses. We have previously shown that UVR from sun or solarium beds may induce systemic effects in human subjects. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether these systemic effects in human subjects could be prevented by use of commercially available sunscreen agents. Groups of 12 normal subjects were exposed to radiation from solarium lamps after application of a sunscreen agent or the base used in its preparation. Twelve half-hourly exposures induced a depression of natural killer (NK) cell activity against a melanoma and the K562 target cell which was not prevented by use of the sunscreen agent. Changes in functional activity were accompanied by a reduction in NK cell numbers assessed by Leu-11 monoclonal antibodies against the labile Fc receptor. Application of the sunscreen agent also did not protect against effects of solarium exposure on recall antigen skin tests and immunoglobulin production in vitro in pokeweed mitogen-stimulated cultures of B and T cells. These results suggest that further evaluation of the wavelength spectrum of UVR and the effectiveness of sunscreen agents in prevention of UVR-induced effects on the immune system is needed

NAC and DTT promote TGF-β1 monomer formation: demonstration of competitive binding

TGF-β plays an important role in the genesis and progression of pulmonary fibrosis. We sought to determine the role of mononuclear phagocytes in the activation of TGF-β and found that freshly isolated peripheral blood monocytes spontaneously released TGF-β. Stimulating these monocytes with GM-CSF or LPS, but not MCSF, augmented the activation of TGF-β. In human monocytes, the free thiol compounds DTT and NAC decreased the activity of TGF-β, without affecting TGF-β mRNA transcription. Both NAC and DTT lessened the biological activity of recombinant active TGF-β in a cell-free system. We found that NAC and DTT reduced dimeric active TGF-β from a 25 kDa protein to 12.5 kDa inactive monomer. This conversion was reversed using the oxidizing agent diamide. Diamide also restored biological activity to NAC or DTT-treated TGF-β. Reduction of TGF-β to monomers could competitively inhibit active dimeric TGF-β and block intracellular signaling events. Our observations suggest that modulation of the oxidative state of TGF-β may be a novel therapeutic approach for patients with pulmonary fibrosis

Exploring Terrestrial Planet Formation in the TW Hydrae Association

Spitzer Space Telescope infrared measurements are presented for 24 members of the TW Hydrae association (TWA). High signal-to-noise 24-micron (um) photometry is presented for all of these stars, including 20 stars that were not detected by IRAS. Among these 20 stars, only a single object, TWA 7, shows excess emission at 24um and at the level of only 40% above the star's photosphere. TWA 7 also exhibits a strong 70um excess that is a factor of 40 brighter than the stellar photosphere at this wavelength. At 70um, an excess of similar magnitude is detected for TWA 13, though no 24um excess was detected for this binary. For the 18 stars that failed to show measurable IR excesses, the sensitivity of the current 70um observations does not rule out substantial cool excesses at levels 10-40x above their stellar continua. Measurements of two T Tauri stars, TW Hya and Hen 6-300, confirm that their spectacular IR spectral energy distributions (SEDs) do not turn over even by 160um, consistent with the expectation for their active accretion disks. In contrast, the Spitzer data for the luminous planetary debris systems in the TWA, HD 98800B and HR 4796A, are consistent with single-temperature blackbody SEDs. The major new result of this study is the dramatic bimodal distribution found for the association in the form of excess emission at a wavelength of 24um, indicating negligible amounts of warm (>100 K) dust and debris around 20 of 24 stars in this group of very young stars. This bimodal distribution is especially striking given that the four stars in the association with strong IR excesses are >100x brighter at 24um than their photospheres

Enhancing predicted fluoride varnish efficacy and post-treatment compliance by means of calcium-containing gummy bears

Objectives This study determined whether consumption of calcium-containing gummies prior to fluoride varnish application enhances plaque fluoride retention and compliance with post-varnish application instructions. Methods The present study followed a multi-center, parallel, randomized, and laboratory analyst-blind design. Following IRB approval, parent consent and child assent, 44 subjects (7–12 years), were randomized to either gummy or no-gummy study groups. A baseline plaque sample was obtained after a wash-out period. Fluoride varnish (5% NaF) was applied; subjects in the gummy group received two calcium-containing gummies prior to varnish application. Subjects were given two questionnaires to complete (subject and parent) to investigate adherence to post-treatment instructions. Three days later, a second plaque sample was obtained. Plaque was analyzed for plaque fluid and solid fluoride concentrations. Fluoride data were analyzed using Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests, questionnaire data using Pearson chi-square tests. Results Plaque fluid fluoride did not change pre- to post-treatment in the gummy group (mean ± sd: 8.8 ± 5.7 μmol/l vs. 10.0 ± 6.3 μmol/l; p = 0.265) or in the no-gummy group (8.1 ± 4.4 μmol/l vs. 16.1 ± 20.0 μmol/l; p = 0.058). Groups were not different for plaque fluid fluoride pre-treatment (p = 1.000), post-treatment (p = 0.904), or change (p = 0.904). Plaque solid fluoride did not change pre- to post-treatment in the gummy group (0.89 ± 1.10 μmol/g vs. 1.37 ± 1.77 μmol/g; p = 0.073) or in the no-gummy group (0.68 ± 0.77 μmol/g vs. 2.01 ± 5.00 μmol/g; p = 0.190). Groups were not different for plaque solid fluoride pre-treatment (p = 1.000), post-treatment (p = 0.466), or change (p = 0.874). No significant differences were found between groups for questionnaire responses. Conclusion This study failed to demonstrate an effect of calcium-containing gummies in enhancing plaque fluoride retention