Introduction to the AIS Code of Research Conduct

In this paper, we discuss the AIS Code of Research Conduct approved by AIS Council at its December 2003 meeting. . We explain the purpose of the Code, its focus, who developed the code, and indicate the participation of many leading scholars in our community. We discuss how the Code may be used as an instrument to assist in maintaining the integrity of our journals and conference proceedings. We identify processes by which scholars who were victimized may seek redress. The adoption of this code of research conduct is as an important step in the maturing of our IS community

The Effect of Download Time on Consumer Attitude Toward the Retailer in eCommerce

Download time has been recognized as one of the most important technological impediments to electronic commerce (EC). Unfortunately, the exact consequences of this impediment are currently ill-defined. The goal of this study is to extend the work of Rose and Straub (1999) to identify how this technology impacts the success or failure of EC initiatives. Using marketing and systems response time theories, three hypotheses are proposed. First, that download time in a retailer\u27s Web application has a negative impact on consumer attitude toward that Web retailer. Second, that those effects increase in intensity as consumers attribute more of the cause for delay to the Web application. And third, that attitudes formed about a retailer predict consumer patronage intentions. A laboratory experiment is being undertaken to test these hypotheses

Public IT Policies in Less Developed Countries: A Critical Assessment of the Literature and a Reference Framework for Future Work

How well do extant diffusion models originating in developed countries explain adoption of information technologies in less developed countries? m a t is the current status of the literature with respect to public IT policies? The authors explore the literature on public IT policies to answer these questions. Findings indicate that, due to differences in environmental factors, existing models may not be readily applicable to less developed countries without careful consideration of the structural differences between developed countries -where most models originated- and less developed countries. Within extant studies of public IT policies, this article identifies typical research characteristics - e.g., case study methodologies, single country selection, single project scope, and little theory development. Finally, an integrative framework for the rationalization of existing models is proposed

Pheophorbide a identified in an Eupatorium perfoliatum extract is a novel lymphatic vascular activator

The lymphatic vascular system is crucial for maintaining tissue fluid homeostasis and immune surveillance. Promoting lymphatic function represents a new strategy to treat several diseases including lymphedema, chronic inflammation and impaired wound healing. By screening a plant extract library, a petroleum ether extract from the aerial parts of Eupatorium perfoliatum (E. perfoliatum) was found to possess lymphangiogenic properties. With the aid of HPLC activity profiling the active compound was identified as pheophorbide a. Both plant extract and pheophorbide a induced the sprouting and tube formation of human primary lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). The proliferation of the LECs was increased upon treatment with pheophorbide a but not the E. perfoliatum extract. Treatment with the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 reduced the LEC sprouting activity, indicating a potential mechanism of action. These studies suggest that pheophorbide a could represent novel natural therapeutic agent to treat human lymphatic vascular insufficiencies

An Important Role of Blood and Lymphatic Vessels in Inflammation and Allergy

Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, the growth of new vessels from preexisting ones, have received increasing interest due to their role in tumor growth and metastatic spread. However, vascular remodeling, associated with vascular hyperpermeability, is also a key feature of many chronic inflammatory diseases including asthma, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The major drivers of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are vascular endothelial growth factor- (VEGF-)A and VEGF-C, activating specific VEGF receptors on the lymphatic and blood vascular endothelium. Recent experimental studies found potent anti-inflammatory responses after targeted inhibition of activated blood vessels in models of chronic inflammatory diseases. Importantly, our recent results indicate that specific activation of lymphatic vessels reduces both acute and chronic skin inflammation. Thus, antiangiogenic and prolymphangiogenic therapies might represent a new approach to treat chronic inflammatory disorders, including those due to chronic allergic inflammation

If Practice Makes Perfect, Where do we Stand?

Practitioners have played an important role in the information system (IS) field’s development since its beginnings. In the 1970s, IS researchers’ integration with practitioners was high with Society for Information Management members receiving copies of the MIS Quarterly, practitioners funding the ICIS Doctoral Consortium, and submissions receiving at least one practitioner review. Today, however, the integration between practitioners and researchers appears more distant. Given that almost 50 years have passed since the field’s development, we believe that we need to reflect on the past, present, and future relationship between IS research and IS practice. Has the distance between academics and practitioners become too great? Is our relevance too low to expect practitioners to join AIS and attend our conferences? How might we increase the integration? At a panel at ICIS 2018, several panelists provided position statements about those issues

Feasibility of quality of life assessment in patients with upper gastrointestinal tract cancer

Quality of life (QOL) is an important outcome after treatment for upper gastrointestinal tract cancer but few studies report good accrual and subsequent attrition is usually high. This study investigated the feasibility of a nurse-led service to obtain longitudinal QOL assessments and explored how clinical and sociodemographic factors influence patients' need for help to complete questionnaires. Fully informed patients were invited into the study. Baseline hospital assessments were scheduled by telephone and thereafter by post unless patients' health indicated the need for a home visit. In all, 128 out of 140 (91%) baseline QOL assessments were performed. Follow-up questionnaire completion was good, with 114 patients (89%) completing all but one of the expected assessments. At baseline, 41 (32%) patients required a lot of help to complete questionnaires. Patients requiring help were more likely to be undergoing palliative treatment than treatment aimed at cure (68 vs 33%; odds ratio 3.48, P < 0.01). Patients' with advanced stage cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract receiving palliative treatment require dedicated staff to ensure good compliance with longitudinal QOL data collection. It is essential to budget for this in clinical trails. © 2003 Cancer Research UK

Vascular Permeability Factor/Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Induces Lymphangiogenesis as well as Angiogenesis

Vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (VPF/VEGF, VEGF-A) is a multifunctional cytokine with important roles in pathological angiogenesis. Using an adenoviral vector engineered to express murine VEGF-A164, we previously investigated the steps and mechanisms by which this cytokine induced the formation of new blood vessels in adult immunodeficient mice and demonstrated that the newly formed blood vessels closely resembled those found in VEGF-A–expressing tumors. We now report that, in addition to inducing angiogenesis, VEGF-A164 also induces a strong lymphangiogenic response. This finding was unanticipated because lymphangiogenesis has been thought to be mediated by other members of the VPF/VEGF family, namely, VEGF-C and VEGF-D. The new “giant” lymphatics generated by VEGF-A164 were structurally and functionally abnormal: greatly enlarged with incompetent valves, sluggish flow, and delayed lymph clearance. They closely resembled the large lymphatics found in lymphangiomas/lymphatic malformations, perhaps implicating VEGF-A in the pathogenesis of these lesions. Whereas the angiogenic response was maintained only as long as VEGF-A was expressed, giant lymphatics, once formed, became VEGF-A independent and persisted indefinitely, long after VEGF-A expression ceased. These findings raise the possibility that similar, abnormal lymphatics develop in other pathologies in which VEGF-A is overexpressed, e.g., malignant tumors and chronic inflammation

The Attitudes and Intention to Participate in Hemoglobinopathy Carrier Screening in The Netherlands among Individuals from Turkish, Moroccan, and Surinamese Descent

Objective. To explore factors that influence intention to participate in hemoglobinopathy (HbP) carrier screening under Dutch subjects at risk, since HbP became more common in The Netherlands. Method. Structured interviews with 301 subjects from Turkish, Moroccan, or Surinamese ethnicity. Results. Half of the participants were familiar with HbP, 27% with carrier screening. Only 55% correctly answered basic knowledge items. After balanced information, 83% percent of subjects express intention to participate in HbP carrier screening. Intention to participate was correlated with (1) anticipated negative feelings, (2) valuing a physician's advice, and (3) beliefs on significance of carrier screening. Risk perception was a significant determinant, while respondents were unaware of HbP as endemic in their country of birth. Respondents preferred screening before pregnancy and at cost < 50€. Conclusion. These findings show the importance of informing those at risk by tailored health education. We propose easy access at no costs for those willing to participate in HbP carrier screening