Impediments to information technology utilization in a developing nation m Africa

With an increasing awareness of the role of information technology (IT) in improving internal efficiency and conducting business in the emerging global economy, organizations in the developing nations, like their counterparts in the developed countries, are taking a keen interest in IT-based solutions to their problems. Yet they face unique problems that impede their ability to adopt FT. This research identifies these problems in Zimbabwe - a developing nation in Southern Africa. The results are based on a two-stage study consisting of interviews with 12 MIS managers, and responses to a questiormaire instrument by 88 middle- and upperlevel managers in Zimbabwe. While some of the problems rnentioned are similar to those faced by the U. S. firms - lack of knowledge about the potential of IT on the part of top management and resistance to change by users - others are somewhat unique to Zimbabwe (or most developing countries). These include: the firm\u27s inability to acquire modem IT (because of the high cost of hardware/software and/or the lack of foreign currency to import this equipment), and the lack of expertise in the areas of systems analysis, system design, information management, and computer training

Critical Success Factors for the Implementation of Business-To- Business Electronic Procurement

This article investigates the critical success factors of e-procurement—the purchase of goods and services for organizations, which usually represents one of the largest expense items in a firm\u27s cost structure. Data was gathered using the survey method and a random sample drawn from the membership of the Institute for Supply Management and the Council of Logistics Management. Data was analyzed from 74 firms that implemented e-procurement. Factor analysis resulted in a four-factor solution: (1) factor one suggests the rationalization of the firm\u27s management of its suppliers; (2) factor two calls for redesigning affected business processes and influencing end-user/employee procurement-related behaviors; (3) factor three refers to carefully orchestrating an e-procurement technology planning process with one\u27s suppliers and using intelligence in designing the software and mining the data it produces; and (4) factor four relates to selecting an e-procurement solution and/or simultaneously participating in a number of electronic environments supporting e-procurement

A molecular dynamics simulation of DNA damage induction by ionizing radiation

We present a multi-scale simulation of early stage of DNA damages by the indirect action of hydroxyl ($^\bullet$OH) free radicals generated by electrons and protons. The computational method comprises of interfacing the Geant4-DNA Monte Carlo with the ReaxFF molecular dynamics software. A clustering method was employed to map the coordinates of $^\bullet$OH-radicals extracted from the ionization track-structures onto nano-meter simulation voxels filled with DNA and water molecules. The molecular dynamics simulation provides the time evolution and chemical reactions in individual simulation voxels as well as the energy-landscape accounted for the DNA-$^\bullet$OH chemical reaction that is essential for the first principle enumeration of hydrogen abstractions, chemical bond breaks, and DNA-lesions induced by collection of ions in clusters less than the critical dimension which is approximately 2-3 \AA. We show that the formation of broken bonds leads to DNA base and backbone damages that collectively propagate to DNA single and double strand breaks. For illustration of the methodology, we focused on particles with initial energy of 1 MeV. Our studies reveal a qualitative difference in DNA damage induced by low energy electrons and protons. Electrons mainly generate small pockets of $^\bullet$OH-radicals, randomly dispersed in the cell volume. In contrast, protons generate larger clusters along a straight-line parallel to the direction of the particle. The ratio of the total DNA double strand breaks induced by a single proton and electron track is determined to be $\approx$ 4 in the linear scaling limit. The tool developed in this work can be used in the future to investigate the relative biological effectiveness of light and heavy ions that are used in radiotherapy.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Physics in Medicine and Biolog

An empirical investigation of the level of electronic data interchange (EDI) implementation and its ability to predict EDI system success measures and EDI implementation factors

Electronic data interchange (EDI) is a critical technology used in supply chain management systems involving logistics functions. This study explores the construct of “level of EDI implementation” in order to establish its relationship with system success and the criticality of selected implementation factors. Using the survey method that employed a pair of questionnaires for a customer‐supplier dyad engaged in EDI, the final data set consists of 128 firms constituting 64 dyads. Level of EDI implementation is positively related to one out of four EDI system success measures and is associated with the criticality of the following implementation factors: use of cross‐functional EDI teams, the conduct of pilot projects, the inclusion of security and auditing controls, the conduct of training for end users, maintenance of trading partner relationships, use of value‐added network services, and guidelines for digital signatures

Consumer-Oriented Electronic Commerce on the World Wide Web: A Comparison of the U.S. and Japanese Practices

Internet’s World Wide Web (WWW) is viewed as a strategic information technology with the potential to change the rules by which organizations conduct business as it provides new means of advertisement, sales, customer services, logistics, and business communications. Another important network application phenomenon is electronic commerce (EC). Although WWW is a worldwide application by definition, little is known about the profiles of EC activities on the WWW around the world. In this environment, this study attempts to shed light on understanding EC and the WWW and conducts research, as an example of phenomena surrounding them, on consumer-oriented EC on the WWW comparing the U.S. and Japanese practices

Nitric Oxide-Releasing Aspirin Suppresses NF-κB Signaling in Estrogen Receptor Negative Breast Cancer Cells in Vitro and in Vivo

Estrogen receptor negative (ER(−)) breast cancer is aggressive, responds poorly to current treatments and has a poor prognosis. The NF-κB signaling pathway is implicated in ER(−) tumorigenesis. Aspirin (ASA) is chemopreventive against ER(+) but not for ER(−) breast cancers. Nitric oxide-releasing aspirin (NO-ASA) is a safer ASA where ASA is linked to an NO-releasing moiety through a spacer. In vitro, we investigated anti-proliferation effects of NO-ASA (para- and meta-isomers) against ER(−) breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-23, effects on NF-κB signaling, and reactive oxygen species by standard techniques. In vivo, effects of NO-ASA were evaluated in a mouse xenograft model using MDA-MB-231 cells. p-NO-ASA inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 cells at 24 h, the respective IC50s were 13 ± 2 and 17 ± 2 μM; ASA had an IC50 of \u3e3000 μM in both cell lines. The IC50s for m-NO-ASA in MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 were 173 ± 15 and 185 ± 12 μM, respectively, therefore, implying p-NO-ASA as a stronger inhibitor of growth p-NO-ASA reduced cell growth by inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis and causing G0/G1 cell cycle block. Activation of NF-κB was inhibited by both isomers as demonstrated by decreases in NF-κB-DNA binding and luciferase activity at 24 h, However, m-NO-ASA produced transient effects at 3 h such as increased NF-κB-DNA-binding, increased levels of nuclear p50, even though both isomers inhibited IκB degradation. Increase in nuclear p50 by m-NO-ASA was associated with translocation of p50 in to the nucleus as observed by immunoflouresence at 3 h. NO-ASA induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) as evidenced by overall increases in both H2DCFDA (2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein) and DHE (dihydroethidium)-derived fluorescence. Inhibition of ROS by N-acetyl-cysteine reversed the m-NO-ASA-mediated translocation of p50 in to the nucleus. In xenografts, p-NO-ASA inhibited tumor growth by inhibiting proliferation (PCNA and tumor volume), inducing apoptosis (TUNEL positive cells) and reducing NF-κB expression. Both isomers inhibit cancer cells, inhibit NF-κB pathway and induce ROS, and have potential as anticancer compounds

Edible Mushrooms: A Comprehensive Review on Bioactive Compounds with Health Benefits and Processing Aspects

Mushrooms are well-known functional foods due to the presence of a huge quantity of nutraceutical components. These are well recognized for their nutritional importance such as high protein, low fat, and low energy contents. These are rich in minerals such as iron, phosphorus, as well as in vitamins like riboflavin, thiamine, ergosterol, niacin, and ascorbic acid. They also contain bioactive constituents like secondary metabolites (terpenoids, acids, alkaloids, sesquiterpenes, polyphenolic compounds, lactones, sterols, nucleotide analogues, vitamins, and metal chelating agents) and polysaccharides chiefly β-glucans and glycoproteins. Due to the occurrence of biologically active substances, mushrooms can serve as hepatoprotective, immune-potentiating, anti-cancer, anti-viral, and hypocholesterolemic agents. They have great potential to prevent cardiovascular diseases due to their low fat and high fiber contents, as well as being foremost sources of natural antioxidants useful in reducing oxidative damages. However, mushrooms remained underutilized, despite their wide nutritional and bioactive potential. Novel green techniques are being explored for the extraction of bioactive components from edible mushrooms. The current review is intended to deliberate the nutraceutical potential of mushrooms, therapeutic properties, bioactive compounds, health benefits, and processing aspects of edible mushrooms for maintenance, and promotion of a healthy lifestyle.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hydrogen sulfide-releasing naproxen suppresses colon cancer cell growth and inhibits NF-κB signaling

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death due to cancer and the third most common cancer in men and women in the USA. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is known to be activated in CRC and is strongly implicated in its development and progression. Therefore, activated NF-κB constitutes a bona fide target for drug development in this type of malignancy. Many epidemiological and interventional studies have established nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as a viable chemopreventive strategy against CRC. Our previous studies have shown that several novel hydrogen sulfide-releasing NSAIDs are promising anticancer agents and are safer derivatives of NSAIDs. In this study, we examined the growth inhibitory effect of a novel H2S-releasing naproxen (HS-NAP), which has a repertoire as a cardiovascular-safe NSAID, for its effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle phase transitions, and apoptosis using HT-29 human colon cancer cells. We also investigated its effect as a chemo-preventive agent in a xenograft mouse model. HS-NAP suppressed the growth of HT-29 cells by induction of G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis and downregulated NF-κB. Tumor xenografts in mice were significantly reduced in volume. The decrease in tumor mass was associated with a reduction of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and decreases in NF-κB levels in vivo. Therefore, HS-NAP demonstrates strong anticancer potential in CRC

In vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Tumor Protease Activity

Increased expression of cathepsins has diagnostic as well as prognostic value in several types of cancer. Here, we demonstrate a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method, which uses poly-L-glutamate (PLG) as an MRI probe to map cathepsin expression in vivo, in a rat brain tumor model. This noninvasive, high-resolution and non-radioactive method exploits the differences in the CEST signals of PLG in the native form and cathepsin mediated cleaved form. The method was validated in phantoms with known physiological concentrations, in tumor cells and in an animal model of brain tumor along with immunohistochemical analysis. Potential applications in tumor diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic response are outlined

A Note on Testing for Skewness Persistence

This paper shows that the tests of skewness persistence considered by Muralidhar (Muralidhar, K. 1993. The bootstrap approach for testing skewness persistence. Management Sci. 39 487--491.) far exceed the true Type I error. That is, the probabilities of detecting an increase (decrease) in skewness from one time period to another when in fact there is no change are inflated. Consequently, higher power achieved by these tests comes at the cost of a higher than specified level of Type I error. We propose a new test which maintains the specified Type I error levels. Additionally, the power of this test for lognormal distributions is reported.Bootstrap method, skewness estimation, distribution of stock returns