Practitioner perspectives on supply chain management and logistics:a study from Poland and Switzerland

Purpose: The focus of this paper is the evolution of supply chain management (SCM) and logistics and the relationship between these concepts. Its purpose is to generate deep insights into practice, particularly in relation to the fundamental issue of how practitioners from different industrial and geographical contexts define the supply chain, SCM and logistics. Design/methodology/approach: The paper adopts an inductive research approach. Qualitative empirical data was collected through in-depth interviews among managers from four third-party logistics providers, four retailers and four manufacturers based in Poland and Switzerland. The semi-structured interview guide is based on a previous study by Lummus et al. (2001). The data collected during the interviews is contrasted with insights from existing research about the supply chain, SCM and logistics. Findings : The findings suggest that there are context-dependent differences between practitioners’ understanding of the supply chain, SCM and logistics. This variation mirrors to some extent the plethora of orientations and emphases evident in the academic definitions of these terms, which have been proposed in recent decades. Research limitations/implications: The authors use the concept of refined replication in operations management research. This allows us to build upon previous research in order to test the current understanding of SCM theory among professionals. The sample is limited to Poland and Switzerland. Practical implications: Practitioners benefit from differentiated insights into the contemporary understanding of and linkages between the terms supply chain, SCM and logistics. Moreover, they are sensitized for context-specific variations in the meaning of these concepts

Quinolones and their N-oxides as inhibitors of mitochondrial complexes I and III

Abstract4(1H)-quinolones (2-alkyl- (1), 2-alkyl-3-methyl- (2), 2-methyl-3-alkyl- (3), 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-alkyl- (4) and 1-hydroxy-2-alkyl- (5)) with n-alkyl side chains varying from C5 to C17 have been synthesized and tested for biological activity in mitochondrial complexes. Whereas all quinolones were efficient inhibitors of electron transport in the cytochrome b/c1-complex from either beef heart or Rhodospirillum rubrum, in complex I from beef heart quinolones 1 and 2 only were highly active. In a Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) inhibitory activity in the cytochrome b/c1-complexes could be correlated to the physicochemical parameters lipophilicity π and/or to STERIMOL L. Maximal inhibitory potency was achieved at a carbon chain length of 12–14 Å. Oxidant-induced reduction of cytochrome b established that some quinolones are inhibitors of the Qp rather than the Qn site

2,3-Bis(2-chloro­benz­yl)naphthalene-1,4-dione

The title disubstituted naphthalene-1,4-dione, C24H16Cl2O2, has the two chloro­benzyl substituents related by a non-crystallographic twofold rotation axis, generating a chiral conformation; both enantiomers are present. The two chlorobenzene rings are nearly perpendicular to the fused ring system, making angles of 88.8 (1) and 77.5 (1)° with it

4-Meth­oxy-N-phenyl­aniline

In the mol­ecule of the title compound, C13H13NO, the two benzene rings are oriented at a dihedral angle of 59.9 (2)°. In the crystal structure, the benzene rings of neighbouring mol­ecules are oriented nearly parallel or perpendicular, making dihedral angles of 2.8 (2) and 79.5 (2)°, respectively. The crystal structure is stabilized by a network of C—H⋯π and N—H⋯π inter­actions

Origin and evolution of water oxidation before the last common ancestor of the Cyanobacteria

Photosystem II, the water oxidizing enzyme, altered the course of evolution by filling the atmosphere with oxygen. Here, we reconstruct the origin and evolution of water oxidation at an unprecedented level of detail by studying the phylogeny of all D1 subunits, the main protein coordinating the water oxidizing cluster (Mn4CaO5) of Photosystem II. We show that D1 exists in several forms making well-defined clades, some of which could have evolved before the origin of water oxidation and presenting many atypical characteristics. The most ancient form is found in the genome of Gloeobacter kilaueensis JS-1 and this has a C-terminus with a higher sequence identity to D2 than to any other D1. Two other groups of early evolving D1 correspond to those expressed under prolonged far-red illumination and in darkness. These atypical D1 forms are characterized by a dramatically different Mn4CaO5 binding site and a Photosystem II containing such a site may assemble an unconventional metal cluster. The first D1 forms with a full set of ligands to the Mn4CaO5 cluster are grouped with D1 proteins expressed only under low oxygen concentrations and the latest evolving form is the dominant type of D1 found in all cyanobacteria and plastids. In addition, we show that the plastid ancestor had a D1 more similar to those in early branching Synechococcus. We suggest each one of these forms of D1 originated from transitional forms at different stages towards the innovation and optimization of water oxidation before the last common ancestor of all known cyanobacteria

The azido[\u3csup\u3e14\u3c/sup\u3eC]atrazine photoaffinity technique labels a 34-kDa protein in Scenedesmus which functions on the oxidizing side of photosystem II

We have used azido[14C]atrazine to photoaffinity label thylakoids from wild-type (WT) Scenedesmus and a mutant, LF-1, which is blocked on the oxidizing side of photosystem II (PS II). One protein is labeled in each case, at 34 kDa in the WT and 36 kDa in LF-1. Previous comparison of the WT with LF-1 had been used to assign a PS II donor side function to the 34-kDa protein. These results suggest that this photoaffinity technique does not label the herbicide-binding protein involved in electron transfer on the reducing side of PS II. © 1985

Molecular changes in articular cartilage and subchondral bone in the rat anterior cruciate ligament transection and meniscectomized models of osteoarthritis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating, progressive joint disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Similar to the disease progression in humans, sequential events of early cartilage degradation, subchondral osteopenia followed by sclerosis, and late osteophyte formation were demonstrated in the anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) or ACLT with partial medial meniscectomy (ACLT + MMx) rat OA models. We describe a reliable and consistent method to examine the time dependent changes in the gene expression profiles in articular cartilage and subchondral bone.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Local regulation of matrix degradation markers was demonstrated by a significant increase in mRNA levels of aggrecanase-1 and MMP-13 as early as the first week post-surgery, and expression remained elevated throughout the 10 week study. Immunohistochemistry confirmed MMP-13 expression in differentiated chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts at week-2 and cells within osteophytes at week-10 in the surgically-modified-joints. Concomitant increases in chondrocyte differentiation markers, Col IIA and Sox 9, and vascular invasion markers, VEGF and CD31, peaked around week-2 to -4, and returned to Sham levels at later time points in both models. Indeed, VEGF-positive cells were found in the deep articular chondrocytes adjacent to subchondral bone. Osteoclastic bone resorption markers, cathepsin K and TRAP, were also elevated at week-2. Confirming bone resorption is an early local event in OA progression, cathepsin K positive osteoclasts were found invading the articular cartilage from the subchondral region at week 2. This was followed by late disease events, including subchondral sclerosis and osteophyte formation, as demonstrated by the upregulation of the osteoanabolic markers runx2 and osterix, toward week-4 to 6 post-surgery.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In summary, this study demonstrated the temporal and cohesive gene expression changes in articular cartilage and subchondral bone using known markers of OA progression. The findings here support genome-wide profiling efforts to elucidate the sequential and complex regulation of the disease.</p

Modes of Action of Microbially-Produced Phytotoxins

Some of the most potent phytotoxins are synthesized by microbes. A few of these share molecular target sites with some synthetic herbicides, but many microbial toxins have unique target sites with potential for exploitation by the herbicide industry. Compounds from both non-pathogenic and pathogenic microbes are discussed. Microbial phytotoxins with modes of action the same as those of commercial herbicides and those with novel modes of action of action are covered. Examples of the compounds discussed are tentoxin, AAL-toxin, auscaulitoxin aglycone, hydantocidin, thaxtomin, and tabtoxin