Global information technology infrastructure for a global non-profit organisation : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology at Massey University

Page 103 missing from vault and scanned copyWith the recent worldwide growth of the Internet, computers are becoming interconnected in a global communications network. Most people view the Internet as a universal communications medium that can replace telephone, television, and radio. Historically, for organisations and enterprises that could afford to do so, expensive telecommunication lines and Wide Area Network technologies were used for global communications, which allowed computers to communicate using proprietary protocols. For non-profit organisations in particular, the Internet has made it possible to connect offices and individuals, using open standard protocols, at a fraction of the cost of other alternatives. This study focuses on the investigation and development of a global communication system and information technology (IT) infrastructure that uses the Internet as its communication platform for a particular non-profit organisation, OMF International. Without a clear understanding of the limitations of the technologies involved, the development of an IT project is likely to be flawed or fail. (Standish Group, 1995) The findings from this investigation revealed that a global communication system and IT infrastructure, suitable for OMF International, needed to overcome limitations in the use and access of the Internet, the unreliability of different email systems to deliver email messages, and financial and human resource constraints. The study found that methods used in 'for-profit' organisations for the development of an IT infrastructure, were applicable to this non-profit organisation, resulting in the successful implementation of a global communication system and IT infrastructure. The choice of IT solutions and technologies within OMF was often based on functionality rather than feasibility, and its global IT infrastructure requirements were overlooked. The study found that by comparison Lotus Notes' client/server IT infrastructure requirements were considerably less than that of Microsoft Exchange client/server, however, alternative low-cost open standard messaging options were more affordable. Conclusively, open standard IT solutions for global communications are better suited that for this non-profit organisation, than proprietary solutions. The study also highlighted the need for an IT architecture, that would provide a plan and strategic context for future IT development within OMF International, which would overcome problems with concurrent IT projects using different technologies

Panel 3 Acquiring and Implementing ERP: The View from Business and Academia

Since the early days of computing, organizations have aspired to integrated, enterprise-wide information systems architectures. Through the years, these aspirations have been reflected in the quest for integrated MIS, enterprise-wide data models, and integrated databases. In recent years, with the increasing demand for process integration both within and across organizational and industry boundaries, this quest has gained further momentum. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, such as SAP, BaaN, Peoplesoft, and Oracle, are a recent business response to this quest. By providing integrated packaged solutions, not only do they provide an integrated system architecture for the organizations’ information processing needs, they also claim to provide ready-made “best-of-the-breed” solutions for particular lines of businesses. Furthermore, given their enterprise-wide scope and extensive impact on organizational and interorganizational business practices, the acquisition and implementation of these systems substantially affects both the organization and the nature of corporate IS practices and the responsibilities of corporate IS departments. While a number of high profile organizations such as Boeing, Mercedes-Benz, ABB, and Levi have recently adopted ERP as an integrated replacement for their enterprise-wide information infrastructure, recent press reports outline a number of issues with the adoption and implementation of ERP systems. Moreover, the adoption of so-called “best-of-breed” applications raises a number of questions about the appropriateness and value of cookie-cutter solutions to diverse organizational requirements

Good results with cemented total hip arthroplasty in patients between 40 and 50 years of age: 168 hips followed for 2–19 years

Background and purpose Total hip arthroplasties in young patients have lower long-term survival rates than in older patients. We evaluated the use of a unique treatment protocol in patients aged between 40 and 50 years. In all cases we used a cemented THA, and for acetabular deficiencies we also used impacted bone grafts together with a cemented cup

Pap smear rates among Australian lesbian and bisexual women: some good news but disparities persist

ACO

Intraosseous Schwannoma (Neurilemmoma) of the Cervical Spine

Purpose: To report on an extremely rare tumour located in the cervical spine, its treatment and result. Review of the literature

Tissue engineering for total meniscal substitution : Animal study in sheep model

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the use of a novel hyaluronic acid/polycaprolactone material for meniscal tissue engineering and to evaluate the tissue regeneration after the augmentation of the implant with expanded autologous chondrocytes. Two different surgical implantation techniques in a sheep model were evaluated. Methods: Twenty-four skeletally mature sheep were treated with total medial meniscus replacements, while two meniscectomies served as empty controls. The animals were divided into two groups: cell-free scaffold and scaffold seeded with autologous chondrocytes. Two different surgical techniques were compared: in 12 animals, the implant was sutured to the capsule and to the meniscal ligament; in the other 12 animals, also a transtibial fixation of the horns was used. The animals were euthanized after 4 months. The specimens were assessed by gross inspection and histology. Results: All implants showed excellent capsular ingrowth at the periphery. Macroscopically, no difference was observed between cell-seeded and cell-free groups. Better implant appearance and integrity was observed in the group without transosseous horns fixation. Using the latter implantation technique, lower joint degeneration was observed in the cell-seeded group with respect to cell-free implants. The histological analysis indicated cellular infiltration and vascularization throughout the implanted constructs. Cartilaginous tissue formation was significantly more frequent in the cell-seeded constructs. Conclusion: The current study supports the potential of a novel HYAFF/polycaprolactone scaffold for total meniscal substitution. Seeding of the scaffolds with autologous chondrocytes provides some benefit in the extent of fibrocartilaginous tissue repair

Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation of Osteoid Osteomas with Use of Real-Time Needle Guidance for Accurate Needle Placement: A Pilot Study

Contains fulltext : 97211.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy and technical success of positioning a radiofrequency ablation (RFA) electrode in osteoid osteomas by use of a new real-time needle guidance technology combining cone-beam computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Percutaneous RFA of osteoid osteomas was performed in five patients (median age 18 years), under general anesthesia, with the use of cone-beam CT and fluoroscopic guidance for electrode positioning. The outcome parameters were technical success, meaning correct needle placement in the nidus; accuracy defined as the deviation (in mm) from the center of the nidus; and clinical outcome at follow-up. RESULTS: In all five cases, positioning was possible within 3 mm of the determined target location (median nidus size 6.8 mm; range 5-10.2 mm). All procedures were technically successful. All patients were free of pain at clinical follow-up. No complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Real-time fluoroscopy needle guidance based on cone-beam CT is a useful tool to accurately position radiofrequency needles for minimally invasive treatment of osteoid osteomas

Transcriptome analysis reveals the contribution of oligodendrocyte and radial glia-derived cues for maintenance of microglia identity

Microglia are increasingly being recognized as druggable targets in neurodegenerative disorders, and good in vitro models are crucial to address cell biological questions. Major challenges are to recapitulate the complex microglial morphology and their in vivo transcriptome. We have therefore exposed primary microglia from adult rhesus macaques to a variety of different culture conditions including exposure to soluble factors as M-CSF, IL-34, and TGF-β as well as serum replacement approaches, and compared their morphologies and transcriptomes to those of mature, homeostatic in vivo microglia. This enabled us to develop a new, partially serum-free, monoculture protocol, that yields high numbers of ramified cells. We also demonstrate that exposure of adult microglia to M-CSF or IL-34 induces similar transcriptomes, and that exposure to TGF-β has much less pronounced effects than it does on rodent microglia. However, regardless of culture conditions, the transcriptomes of in vitro and in vivo microglia remained substantially different. Analysis of differentially expressed genes inspired us to perform 3D-spherical coculture experiments of microglia with oligodendrocytes and radial glia. In such spheres, microglia signature genes were strongly induced, even in the absence of neurons and astrocytes. These data reveal a novel role for oligodendrocyte and radial glia-derived cues in the maintenance of microglial identity, providing new anchor points to study microglia in health and disease