Identifying the Benefits of Knowledge Management in the Department of Defense: A Delphi Study

Knowledge Management (KM) has been identified as one of several enablers of the current Transformation effort in the Department of Defense (DoD). Knowledge management is the attempt to recognize what is essentially a human asset buried in the minds of individuals, and leverage it into an organizational asset that can be accessed and used by a broader set of individuals on whose decisions the firm depends (Davenport & Prusak, 1998). The ultimate goal of KM is to take advantage of this knowledge asset in order to provide some level of benefit to the organization (Davenport & Prusak, 1998; Nonaka, 1996). However, many in both the military and civilian information resource management communities believe that KM provides nothing beyond what is already accomplished with information management. Given that serious resources are already being committed to KM in the DoD, it follows that identifying the benefits derived from KM from a DoD perspective is highly desirable. Several organizations within the DoD have started using KM and are now interested in identifying and, subsequently, measuring its benefits to gauge success. While many studies have been undertaken to identify the benefits of KM in the commercial sector, similar efforts to investigate the benefits in a DoD context are lacking. Using a Delphi study involving key DoD KM experts, this research aims to identify the major benefits associated with KM practice from a strictly DoD perspective. (27 tables, 8 figures, 45 refs.

Downskilling: Changes in Employer Skill Requirements Over the Business Cycle

Using a novel database of 82.5 million online job postings, we show that employer skill requirements fell as the labor market improved from 2010 to 2014. We find that a 1 percentage point reduction in the local unemployment rate is associated with a roughly 0.27 percentage point reduction in the fraction of jobs requiring at least a bachelor's degree and a roughly 0.23 percentage point reduction in the fraction requiring five or more years of experience. This pattern is established using multiple measures of labor availability, is bolstered by similar trends along heretofore unmeasured dimensions of skill, and even occurs within firm-job title pairs. We further confirm the causal effect of labor market tightening on skill requirements using a natural experiment based on the fracking boom in the United States as an exogenous shock to the local labor supply in tradable, non-fracking industries. These industries are not plausibly affected by local demand shocks or natural gas extraction technology, but still show fewer skill requirements in response to tighter labor markets. Our results imply this labor market-induced downskilling reversed much of the cyclical increase in education and experience requirements that occurred during the Great Recession

Daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone versus lenalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: updated analysis of POLLUX.

In the POLLUX study, daratumumab plus lenalidomide/dexamethasone significantly reduced risk of progression/death versus lenalidomide/dexamethasone alone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. We provide one additional year of follow up and include the effect on minimal residual disease and in clinically relevant subgroups. After 25.4 months of follow up, daratumumab plus lenalidomide/dexamethasone prolonged progression-free survival versus lenalidomide/dexamethasone alone (median not reached vs 17.5 months; hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.31-0.53; P<0.0001). The overall response rate was 92.9% versus 76.4%, and 51.2% versus 21.0% achieved a complete response or better, respectively (both P<0.0001). At the 10-5 sensitivity threshold, 26.2% versus 6.4% were minimal residual disease-negative, respectively (P<0.0001). Post hoc analyses of clinically relevant patient subgroups demonstrated that progression-free survival was significantly prolonged for daratumumab plus lenalidomide/dexamethasone versus lenalidomide/dexamethasone regardless of number of prior lines of therapy. Patients previously treated with lenalidomide or thalidomide and those refractory to bortezomib received similar benefits (all P<0.01). Treatment benefit with daratumumab plus lenalidomide/dexamethasone was maintained in high-risk patients (median progression-free survival 22.6 vs 10.2 months; hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-1.13; P=0.0921) and patients with treatment-free intervals of >12 and ≤12 months and >6 and ≤6 months. No new safety signals were observed. In relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients, daratumumab plus lenalidomide/dexamethasone continued to improve progression-free survival and deepen responses versus lenalidomide/dexamethasone. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 02076009

Arabidopsis leucine-rich repeat receptor–like kinase NILR1 is required for induction of innate immunity to parasitic nematodes

Plant-parasitic nematodes are destructive pests causing losses of billions of dollars annually. An effective plant defence against pathogens relies on the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by surface-localised receptors leading to the activation of PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI). Extensive studies have been conducted to characterise the role of PTI in various models of plant-pathogen interactions. However, far less is known about the role of PTI in roots in general and in plant-nematode interactions in particular. Here we show that nematode-derived proteinaceous elicitor/s is/are capable of inducing PTI in Arabidopsis in a manner dependent on the common immune co-receptor BAK1. Consistent with the role played by BAK1, we identified a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase, termed NILR1 that is specifically regulated upon infection by nematodes. We show that NILR1 is essential for PTI responses initiated by nematodes and nilr1 loss-of-function mutants are hypersusceptible to a broad category of nematodes. To our knowledge, NILR1 is the first example of an immune receptor that is involved in induction of basal immunity (PTI) in plants or in animals in response to nematodes. Manipulation of NILR1 will provide new options for nematode control in crop plants in future

Streptomyces aridus sp. nov., isolated from a high altitude Atacama Desert soil and emended description of Streptomyces noboritoensis Isono et al. 1957.

A polyphasic study was undertaken to determine the taxonomic status of a Streptomyces strain which had been isolated from a high altitude Atacama Desert soil and shown to have bioactive properties. The strain, isolate H9(T), was found to have chemotaxonomic, cultural and morphological properties that place it in the genus Streptomyces. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that the isolate forms a distinct branch at the periphery of a well-delineated subclade in the Streptomyces 16S rRNA gene tree together with the type strains of Streptomyces crystallinus, Streptomyces melanogenes and Streptomyces noboritoensis. Multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) based on five house-keeping gene alleles showed that isolate H9(T) is closely related to the latter two type strains and to Streptomyces polyantibioticus NRRL B-24448(T). The isolate was distinguished readily from the type strains of S. melanogenes, S. noboritoensis and S. polyantibioticus using a combination of phenotypic properties. Consequently, the isolate is considered to represent a new species of Streptomyces for which the name Streptomyces aridus sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is H9(T) (=NCIMB 14965(T)=NRRL B65268(T)). In addition, the MLSA and phenotypic data show that the S. melanogenes and S. noboritoensis type strains belong to a single species, it is proposed that S. melanogenes be recognised as a heterotypic synonym of S. noboritoensis for which an emended description is given. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10482-017-0838-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

A genomic storm in critically injured humans

Critical injury in humans induces a genomic storm with simultaneous changes in expression of innate and adaptive immunity genes

The global impact of non-communicable diseases on macro-economic productivity: a systematic review

© 2015, The Author(s). Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have large economic impact at multiple levels. To systematically review the literature investigating the economic impact of NCDs [including coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), cancer (lung, colon, cervical and breast), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD)] on macro-economic productivity. Systematic search, up to November 6th 2014, of medical databases (Medline, Embase and Google Scholar) without language restrictions. To identify additional publications, we searched the reference lists of retrieved studies and contacted authors in the field. Randomized controlled trials, cohort, case–control, cross-sectional, ecological studies and modelling studies carried out in adults (>18 years old) were included. Two independent reviewers performed all abstract and full text selection. Disagreements were resolved through consensus or consulting a third reviewer. Two independent reviewers extracted data using a predesigned data collection form. Main outcome measure was the impact of the selected NCDs on productivity, measured in DALYs, productivity costs, and labor market participation, including unemployment, return to work and sick leave. From 4542 references, 126 studies met the inclusion criteria, many of which focused on the impact of more than one NCD on productivity. Breast cancer was the most common (n = 45), followed by stroke (n = 31), COPD (n = 24), colon cancer (n = 24), DM (n = 22), lung cancer (n = 16), CVD (n = 15), cervical cancer (n = 7) and CKD (n = 2). Four studies were from the WHO African Region, 52 from the European Region, 53 from the Region of the Americas and 16 from the Western Pacific Region, one from the Eastern Mediterranean Region and none from South East Asia. We found large regional differences in DALYs attributable to NCDs but especially for cervical and lung cancer. Productivity losses in the USA ranged from 88 million US dollars (USD) for COPD to 20.9 billion USD for colon cancer. CHD costs the Australian economy 13.2 billion USD per year. People with DM, COPD and survivors of breast and especially lung cancer are at a higher risk of reduced labor market participation. Overall NCDs generate a large impact on macro-economic productivity in most WHO regions irrespective of continent and income. The absolute global impact in terms of dollars and DALYs remains an elusive challenge due to the wide heterogeneity in the included studies as well as limited information from low- and middle-income countries.WHO; Nestle´ Nutrition (Nestec Ltd.); Metagenics Inc.; and AX

Diastereoselective and Reversible Metallacycle Formation by Attack of a Pt-PR₂OH Group on a Coordinated Nitrile in Pt-Catalyzed Hydration

Kinetic resolution of the racemic nitrile CH(Et)(CN)(cyclo-N(CH2)3C(O)–) by catalytic asymmetric hydration to form the amide CH(Et)(C(O)NH2)(cyclo-N(CH2)3C(O)–) (Levetiracetam, Keppra) is an industrial biocatalytic process. To develop analogous procedures using chiral metal complexes as catalyst precursors, we investigated the mechanism and selectivity of the individual steps. Treatment of Pt(diphos)Cl2 with AgOTf and secondary phosphine oxides (SPOs) gave the cations [Pt(diphos)(PR'2OH)(Cl)][OTf] 1–6 containing either a chiral diphos ((R,R)-FerroLANE derivatives or (S,S)-Et-FerroTANE) or a chiral SPO tautomer ((R)-DMB-SPOPine). A second equiv of AgOTf yielded dicationic [Pt(diphos)(PR'2OH)][OTf]2 (9–12 and 14), with Fe–Pt interactions, or [Pt((S,S)-Et-FerroTANE)(PMe2OH)(OTf)][OTf] (13). Pt complexes 9 and 11–14 catalyzed hydration of the Keppra nitrile to the amide under mild conditions, with increased activity for smaller FerroLANE substituents. With water as the limiting reagent and an excess of racemic nitrile, no enantioselectivity in kinetic resolution by catalytic nitrile hydration was observed. Reaction of [Pt(R,R)-Me-FerroLANE)(PMe2OH)][OTf]2 (9) with enantiomerically enriched or racemic Keppra nitrile resulted in diastereoselective and reversible metallacycle formation to give [Pt((R,R)-Me-FerroLANE)(PMe2OC(R*)NH][OTf]2 (15, R* = CH(Et)(cyclo-N(CH2)3C(O)–)). Similar processes occurred with dications 10–11 and 13–14 with rac-Keppra nitrile, or with 9 and rac-PhCH(R)(CN) (R = Me, Et, i-Pr, Cy) or with racemic cyclo-Ph2CCH2CH(CN) to generate metallacycles 16–24. Metallacycle 15 reacted with water by attack at the PMe2O group, demonstrated by 18O-labeling studies, to yield the Keppra amide via an intermediate iminol complex [Pt((R,R)-Me-FerroLANE)(PMe2OH)(NHC(R*)(OH))][OTf]2 (25)

Diastereoselective and Reversible Metallacycle Formation by Attack of a Pt-PR₂OH Group on a Coordinated Nitrile in Pt-Catalyzed Hydration

Kinetic resolution of the racemic nitrile CH(Et)(CN)(cyclo-N(CH2)3C(O)–) by catalytic asymmetric hydration to form the amide CH(Et)(C(O)NH2)(cyclo-N(CH2)3C(O)–) (Levetiracetam, Keppra) is an industrial biocatalytic process. To develop analogous procedures using chiral metal complexes as catalyst precursors, we investigated the mechanism and selectivity of the individual steps. Treatment of Pt(diphos)Cl2 with AgOTf and secondary phosphine oxides (SPOs) gave the cations [Pt(diphos)(PR'2OH)(Cl)][OTf] 1–6 containing either a chiral diphos ((R,R)-FerroLANE derivatives or (S,S)-Et-FerroTANE) or a chiral SPO tautomer ((R)-DMB-SPOPine). A second equiv of AgOTf yielded dicationic [Pt(diphos)(PR'2OH)][OTf]2 (9–12 and 14), with Fe–Pt interactions, or [Pt((S,S)-Et-FerroTANE)(PMe2OH)(OTf)][OTf] (13). Pt complexes 9 and 11–14 catalyzed hydration of the Keppra nitrile to the amide under mild conditions, with increased activity for smaller FerroLANE substituents. With water as the limiting reagent and an excess of racemic nitrile, no enantioselectivity in kinetic resolution by catalytic nitrile hydration was observed. Reaction of [Pt(R,R)-Me-FerroLANE)(PMe2OH)][OTf]2 (9) with enantiomerically enriched or racemic Keppra nitrile resulted in diastereoselective and reversible metallacycle formation to give [Pt((R,R)-Me-FerroLANE)(PMe2OC(R*)NH][OTf]2 (15, R* = CH(Et)(cyclo-N(CH2)3C(O)–)). Similar processes occurred with dications 10–11 and 13–14 with rac-Keppra nitrile, or with 9 and rac-PhCH(R)(CN) (R = Me, Et, i-Pr, Cy) or with racemic cyclo-Ph2CCH2CH(CN) to generate metallacycles 16–24. Metallacycle 15 reacted with water by attack at the PMe2O group, demonstrated by 18O-labeling studies, to yield the Keppra amide via an intermediate iminol complex [Pt((R,R)-Me-FerroLANE)(PMe2OH)(NHC(R*)(OH))][OTf]2 (25)