The Impact of I.T. on the Degree of Outsourcing, the Number of Suppliers, and the Duration of Contracts

It has long been accepted within theinformation technology (IT) researchcommunity that IT should have a profoundimpact on industrial organization. However,there has been as yet on the changes to be expected in the design of firms or industries; rather, there is an apparently inconsistent collection of conjectures and analyses. We are now able to offer an integrative framework for describing the impacts of IT on an industrial organization. Our analyses generally support the "move to the middle" hypothesis that states that the impact of IT on the organization of economic activity is to lead to a greater degree of outsourcing where this increased outsourcing is done from fewer suppliers with whom the buyer has long-term relationships.

Biological effects of power frequency magnetic fields: Neurochemical and toxicological changes in developing chick embryos

BACKGROUND: There are several reports that indicate a linkage between exposure to power frequency (50 – 60 Hz) magnetic fields with abnormalities in the early embryonic development of the chicken. The present study was designed to understand whether power frequency electromagnetic fields could act as an environmental insult and invoke any neurochemical or toxicological changes in developing chick embryo model. METHODS: Fertilized chicken eggs were subjected to continuous exposure to magnetic fields (50 Hz) of varying intensities (5, 50 or 100 μT) for a period of up to 15 days. The embryos were taken out of the eggs on day 5, day 10 and day 15. Neurochemical (norepinephrine and 5-hydroxytryptamine) and amino acid (tyrosine, glutamine and tryptophan) contents were measured, along with an assay of the enzyme glutamine synthetase in the brain. Preliminary toxicological investigations were carried out based on aminotransferases (AST and ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase activities in the whole embryo as well as in the liver. RESULTS: The study revealed that there was a significant increase (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001) in the level of norepinephrine accompanied by a significant decrease (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001) in the tyrosine content in the brain on day 15 following exposure to 5, 50 and 100 μT magnetic fields. There was a significant increase (p < 0.001) in glutamine synthetase activity resulting in the significantly enhanced (p < 0.001) level of glutamine in the brain on day 15 (for 100 μT only). The possible mechanisms for these alterations are discussed. Further, magnetic fields had no effect on the levels of tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptamine in the brain. Similarly, there was no effect on the activity of either aminotransferases or lactate dehydrogenase in the whole embryo or liver due to magnetic field exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these studies we conclude that magnetic field-induced changes in norepinephrine levels might help explain alterations in the circadian rhythm, observed during magnetic field stress. Also, the enhanced level of glutamine can act as a contributing factor for developmental abnormalities

A comparison of 2 distal attachment mucosal exposure devices: a noninferiority randomized controlled trial

Background and Aims Endocuff and Endocuff Vision are effective mucosal exposure devices for improving polyp detection during colonoscopy. AmplifEYE is a knock-off device that appears similar to the Endocuff devices but has received minimal clinical testing. Methods We performed a randomized controlled clinical trial using a noninferiority design to compare Endocuff Vision with AmplifEYE. Results The primary endpoint of adenomas per colonoscopy was similar in AmplifEYE at 1.63 (2.83) versus 1.51 (2.29) with Endocuff Vision; p=0.535. The 95% lower confidence limit was 0.88 for ratio of means, establishing noninferiority of AmplifEYE (p=0.008). There was no difference between the arms in mean insertion time, and mean inspection time (withdrawal time minus polypectomy time and time for washing and suctioning) was shorter with AmplifEYE (6.8 minutes vs 6.9 minutes, p=0.042). Conclusions AmplifEYE is noninferior to Endocuff Vision for adenoma detection. The decision of which device to use can be based on cost. Additional comparisons of AmplifEYE to Endocuff by other investigators are warranted

Impact of a ring fitted cap on insertion time and adenoma detection: a randomized controlled trial

Background and Aims: Devices for flattening colon folds can improve polyp detection at colonoscopy. However, there are few data on the endoscopic ring fitted cap (EndoRings, EndoAid, Caesarea, Israel). We sought to compare adenoma detection with EndoRings with that of standard high-definition colonoscopy. Methods: A single-center randomized controlled trial of 562 patients (284 randomized to EndoRings and 278 to standard colonoscopy) at 2 outpatient endoscopy units in the Indiana University Hospital system. Adenoma detection was the primary outcome measured as adenoma detection rate (ADR) and adenomas per colonoscopy (APC). We also compared sessile serrated polyp detection rate (SSPDR), insertion times, withdrawal times, and ease of passage through the sigmoid colon. Results: EndoRings was superior to standard colonoscopy in terms of APC (1.46 vs 1.06, p=0.025) but there were no statistically significant differences in ADR or SSPDR. Mean withdrawal time (in patients with no polyps) was shorter and insertion time (all patients) was longer in the EndoRings arm by 1.8 minutes and 0.75 minutes, respectively. One provider had significantly higher detection with EndoRings and contributed substantially to the overall results. Conclusions: EndoRings can increase adenoma detection without significant increase in procedure time, but the effect varies between operators. EndoRings slows colonoscope insertion

CCN2 Is Required for the TGF-β Induced Activation of Smad1 - Erk1/2 Signaling Network

Connective tissue growth factor (CCN2) is a multifunctional matricellular protein, which is frequently overexpressed during organ fibrosis. CCN2 is a mediator of the pro-fibrotic effects of TGF-β in cultured cells, but the specific function of CCN2 in the fibrotic process has not been elucidated. In this study we characterized the CCN2-dependent signaling pathways that are required for the TGF-β induced fibrogenic response. By depleting endogenous CCN2 we show that CCN2 is indispensable for the TGF-β-induced phosphorylation of Smad1 and Erk1/2, but it is unnecessary for the activation of Smad3. TGF-β stimulation triggered formation of the CCN2/β3 integrin protein complexes and activation of Src signaling. Furthermore, we demonstrated that signaling through the αvβ3 integrin receptor and Src was required for the TGF-β induced Smad1 phosphorylation. Recombinant CCN2 activated Src and Erk1/2 signaling, and induced phosphorylation of Fli1, but was unable to stimulate Smad1 or Smad3 phosphorylation. Additional experiments were performed to investigate the role of CCN2 in collagen production. Consistent with the previous studies, blockade of CCN2 abrogated TGF-β-induced collagen mRNA and protein levels. Recombinant CCN2 potently stimulated collagen mRNA levels and upregulated activity of the COL1A2 promoter, however CCN2 was a weak inducer of collagen protein levels. CCN2 stimulation of collagen was dose-dependent with the lower doses (<50 ng/ml) having a stimulatory effect and higher doses having an inhibitory effect on collagen gene expression. In conclusion, our study defines a novel CCN2/αvβ3 integrin/Src/Smad1 axis that contributes to the pro-fibrotic TGF-β signaling and suggests that blockade of this pathway may be beneficial for the treatment of fibrosis

Grapevine rootstocks shape underground bacterial microbiome and networking but not potential functionality

BackgroundThe plant compartments of Vitis vinifera, including the rhizosphere, rhizoplane, root endosphere, phyllosphere and carposphere, provide unique niches that drive specific bacterial microbiome associations. The majority of phyllosphere endophytes originate from the soil and migrate up to the aerial compartments through the root endosphere. Thus, the soil and root endosphere partially define the aerial endosphere in the leaves and berries, contributing to the terroir of the fruit. However, V. vinifera cultivars are invariably grafted onto the rootstocks of other Vitis species and hybrids. It has been hypothesized that the plant species determines the microbiome of the root endosphere and, as a consequence, the aerial endosphere. In this work, we test the first part of this hypothesis. We investigate whether different rootstocks influence the bacteria selected from the surrounding soil, affecting the bacterial diversity and potential functionality of the rhizosphere and root endosphere.MethodsBacterial microbiomes from both the root tissues and the rhizosphere of Barbera cultivars, both ungrafted and grafted on four different rootstocks, cultivated in the same soil from the same vineyard, were characterized by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. To assess the influence of the root genotype on the bacterial communities’ recruitment in the root system, (i) the phylogenetic diversity coupled with the predicted functional profiles and (ii) the co-occurrence bacterial networks were determined. Cultivation-dependent approaches were used to reveal the plant-growth promoting (PGP) potential associated with the grafted and ungrafted root systems.ResultsRichness, diversity and bacterial community networking in the root compartments were significantly influenced by the rootstocks. Complementary to a shared bacterial microbiome, different subsets of soil bacteria, including those endowed with PGP traits, were selected by the root system compartments of different rootstocks. The interaction between the root compartments and the rootstock exerted a unique selective pressure that enhanced niche differentiation, but rootstock-specific bacterial communities were still recruited with conserved PGP traits.ConclusionWhile the rootstock significantly influences the taxonomy, structure and network properties of the bacterial community in grapevine roots, a homeostatic effect on the distribution of the predicted and potential functional PGP traits was found

Bioremediation of industrial toxic metals with gum kondagogu (<i>Cochlospermum gossypium</i>): A natural carbohydrate biopolymer

113-120The ability of gum kondagogu [Cochlospermum gossypium (L.) DC.], a natural carbohydrate biopolymer, was investigated for adsorptive removal of toxic metal ions Cd2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Pb2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Hg2+ and total Cr present in industrial effluents. Various physico-chemical parameters, such as, pH, temperature, equilibrium contact time, % biosorption and adsorption capacity, were investigated. Metal biosorption (%) and adsorption capacity of the biopolymer was determined by ICP-MS. Gum kondagogu was capable of competitively biosorb 8 toxic metal ions from the samples of industrial effluents tested. The adsorption capacity was observed to be in the following order, Cd2+ > Cu2+ > Fe2+ > Pb2+ > Hg2+ > total Cr > Ni2+ > Zn2+. The maximum adsorption capacity of metals by gum kondagogu varied in the range of 31-37 mg g-1 for Fe2+ and minimum of 5.5-9.3 mg g-1 for Hg2+ in the effluent samples tested. The equilibrium adsorption data were fitted to Langmuir isotherm models for all the metal ions adsorbed. FT-IR studies were carried out to understand the type of functional groups in gum kondagogu responsible for metal biosorption process. Desorption studies on biosorbed metal ions showed that HCl was a good eluant for all metals tested. The re-adsorption capacity of the recycled gum kondagogu biopolymer sustained its biosorption property at 90% level, even after 3 cycle of desorption. Gum kondagogu biopolymer has the potential to be used as an effective, non-toxic, economical and an efficient biosorbent clean-up matrix for removal of toxic metals from industrial effluents

<smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"><smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"> Surface morphology, chemical and structural assignment of gum Kondagogu (<i style="">Cochlospermum gossypium</i> DC.): An exudate tree gum of India </smarttagtype></smarttagtype>

181-192 Indian forests are a major source of large number of non-wood forest products. One such product is an exudate tree gum, regionally called as gum Kondagogu (Cochlospermum gossypium DC.), belonging to the family Bixaceae. This gum is collected by tribals in the state of Andhra Pradesh and marketed by Girijan Cooperative Society, Andhra Pradesh, India. Experimental work carried out in our laboratory on this gum has resulted in assigning a separate identity to this gum as compared to the well established and commercially exploited gum Karaya. Gum kondagogu has unique physiochemical properties as compared to other tree gums. Proximate analysis of the gum indicates that it has high volatile acidity and water-binding capacity. Elemental composition of gum kondagogu was determined by Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF). Surface morphological studies based on SEM analysis showed irregular shape with sharp edges in the native gum, while the deacetylated gum showed a fibrilar and porous structure. AFM analysis indicated that native gum was visualized as spherical lumps, suggesting an inter- or intra-molecular aggregation. TEM image of native gum kondagogu showed that the polymer was an extending linear chain with branch points. FT-IR spectrum of native gum indicated the predominant presence of acetyl group (12%w/w). Analytical data on gum kondagogu indicated that the major neutral sugars were arabinose, mannose, a-D-glucose, b-D-glucose, rhamnose and galactose, whereas uronic acids (D-Glucuronic acid, b-D-galacturonic acid and a-D-galacturonic acid) were the major acidic sugars. Structural assignment was carried out using acid hydrolysis, Smith degradation and NMR studies [1H, 13C, 2-D NMR (TOCSY and NOESY)]. Smith degradation analysis indicated that the back bone structure of gum kondagogu was that of a-D-GalpA-(1®4)-a-L-Rhap and can be grouped under rhamnogalacturonan type of gum. The experimental work provides enough evidence to exploit this natural biopolymer in food, textile and pharmaceutical industry. </smarttagtype