Integrating business-to-business customers in original equipment manufacturers’ supply chains through information systems integration

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are increasingly being urged to integrate their business-to-business customers into their supply chain. This involves integrating the information systems of the OEM’s supply chain with those of the customers. However, the literature has little to say about what it takes to integrate the information systems of OEMs’ supply chain and business customers. This paper develops a framework that identifies different levels of integration of business customers’ information systems with those of the OEM’s supply chain. It then discusses how this integration affects market performance and strategic gains that accrue to the chain. However, if such systems are integrated without appropriate conditions within and outside the OEM’s supply chain, it may not be possible to actualise the potential of such integration. Therefore, we also identify and examine how a variety of contextual factors moderate the effectiveness of customers’ systems integration in a supply chain.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comparative Analysis of Molecular Structure, Function and Expression of Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Toll-Like Receptor 9

Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) has been characterized as a receptor that recognizes unmethylated CpG motif and triggers a pro-inflammatory cytokine response that influences both innate and adaptive immunity. Buffalo is an economically important livestock species in many Asian and Mediterranean countries, but there is little information available on its TLR9 structure and response to stimulation with its agonist CpG-ODNs. Hence in this study, we report the analysis of newly sequenced buffalo TLR9 gene fragment. In this study, buffalo TLR9 amino acid sequence revealed close association of TLR9 proteins within other bovines and small ruminants; but high divergence from other species. Multiple alignment of deduced amino acid sequence of Bubalus bubalis TLR9 with other species showed that 156/201 (74.28%) amino acids were conserved in all species. Leucine rich repeat (LRR) motifs in the ectodomain of TLR9 are responsible for molecular recognition of its agonist. The LRR pattern of Bubalus bubalis TLR9 protein was predicted towards N-terminal sequence and was found to be conserved among all species except Rattus norvegicus and Equus caballus. Blast analysis of buffalo TLR9 sequence with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) database revealed 13 SNPs out of which 7 were cds-synonymous and 6 were of the functional significance. Furthermore, kinetics of TLR9 and proinflammatory IL-beta and TNF-alpha cytokine expression by buffalo PBMCs influenced by CpG-ODN is also discussed

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Not AvailableMicrobes excreted in the semen of infected or carrier bulls can be disseminated to susceptible animals through artificial insemination. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been employed successfully to detect infectious agents in tissues and body fluids. PCR inhibitors present in the semen pose serious problems in detection of microorganisms by inhibiting the amplification of the target DNA template. These inhibitors need to be removed completely during DNA extraction to amplify the target sequences in semen by PCR. DNA was extracted using seven different protocols from semen of buffalo bulls, and the quantity and quality was evaluated spectrophotometrically. Chelex-100 and Qiagen modified methods for extraction of DNA from semen were found to be superior qualitatively as compared to the other methods. In the Qiagen modified protocol, the semen was treated with two extra buffers containing EDTA to chelate the metals. Additional treatment of semen with proteinase K was included to completely degrade cellular proteins. DNA extracted by the phenol-chloroform and CTAB methods yielded high value of residual RNA and other contaminants. The chelex-100 method has the potential advantage of requiring a smaller volume of semen to extract good quality of DNA.Not Availabl

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[2] Principle: In isocratic HPLC the analyte is forced through a column of the stationary phase (usually a tube packed with small round particles with a certain surface chemistry) by pumping a liquid (mobile phase) at high pressure through the column. The sample to be analyzed is introduced in a small volume to the stream of mobile phase and is retarded by specific chemical or physical interactions with the stationary phase as it traverses the length of the column. Nature of the analyte, stationary phase and mobile phase composition accounts for the retardation. The time at which a specific analyte elutes (comes out of the end of the column) is called the retention time and is considered a reasonably unique identifying characteristic of a given analyte. Pressure increases the linear velocity (speed) of the component providing it less time to diffuse within the column, which leads to improved resolution in the resulting chromatogram. Any miscible combinations of water or various organic liquids (the most common are methanol and acetonitrile) serves as the solvent system. Water may contain buffers or salts to assist in the separation of the analyte components, or compounds such as Trifluoroacetic acid which acts as an ion pairing agent In spite of being considered somewhat mature, new developments in HPLC still continue. There have been improvements in column construction, packing material design, bonded phase chemistry and formats. In addition to this, new phases have extended the pH range (high and low), providing it more versatility. [3] Instrumentation: The heart of a HPLC system is the column. The column contains the particle that contains the Stationary phase. Pump forces the mobile phase to pass through the column and injector injects the mixture to be separated into the flowing mobile phase. Molecules that are adsorbed maximum by stationary phase are eluted slowest through the column, whereas the molecules which are High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is a highly improved form of column chromatography in which instead of a solvent being allowed to drip through a column under gravity, it is forced through under high pressures of up to 400 atmospheres(500-5000 p.s.i). The sensitivity and range of the technique depends on the choice of column and on the efficiency of the overall system. Column technology has seen great developments over the years. The transition from large porous particles and pellicular materials to small porous particles occurred in the early 1970s, when micro particulate silica gel (10 -mm dp) came into light and appropriate packing methods were developed. Monolithic columns are a promising alternative to packed columns in the future but much of the research is yet to be done. The use of CAPILLARY COLUMNS (4 mm) has increased in recent years, in part because small-diameter columns use much less solvent and provide higher sensitivity. While speaking of the future of packaging development, silica gel with chemically bonded phases will be around for a long time. The field is a promising one with great scope for research and development

Correction: Lack of Effect of Oral Sulforaphane Administration on Nrf2 Expression in COPD: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163716.]

Lack of Effect of Oral Sulforaphane Administration on Nrf2 Expression in COPD: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial.

COPD patients have high pulmonary and systemic oxidative stress that correlates with severity of disease. Sulforaphane has been shown to induce expression of antioxidant genes via activation of a transcription factor, nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2).This parallel, placebo-controlled, phase 2, randomized trial was conducted at three US academic medical centers. Patients who met GOLD criteria for COPD and were able to tolerate bronchoscopies were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive placebo, 25 μmoles, or 150 μmoles sulforaphane daily by mouth for four weeks. The primary outcomes were changes in Nrf2 target gene expression (NQ01, HO1, AKR1C1 and AKR1C3) in alveolar macrophages and bronchial epithelial cells. Secondary outcomes included measures of oxidative stress and airway inflammation, and pulmonary function tests.Between July 2011 and May 2013, 89 patients were enrolled and randomized. Sulforaphane was absorbed in the patients as evident from their plasma metabolite levels. Changes in Nrf2 target gene expression relative to baseline ranged from 0.79 to 1.45 and there was no consistent pattern among the three groups; the changes were not statistically significantly different from baseline. Changes in measures of inflammation and pulmonary function tests were not different among the groups. Sulforaphane was well tolerated at both dose levels.Sulforaphane administered for four weeks at doses of 25 μmoles and 150 μmoles to patients with COPD did not stimulate the expression of Nrf2 target genes or have an effect on levels of other anti-oxidants or markers of inflammation.Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01335971