Identifying supply chain strategies of firms with best supply chain performance

Thesis (S.M. in System Design and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references.The Global Business Climate has been rapidly changing and has become more competitive. Enterprise now not only needs to operate at a lower cost to compete, it must also develop its own core competencies to distinguish itself from competitors and stand out in the market. The focus has now moved towards improving operational efficiency to stay competitive. Supply Chain is one of the important areas which almost every company is currently working to improve their operation efficiency. Improving operational efficiency in supply chain has three aspects including improving supply chain strategies, following better supply chain management practices, and aligning supply chain strategy with overall business strategy. Our thesis research objective is to understand what policies, capabilities, and strategies of an enterprises leads to best supply chain management. The research is cross industry, across all supply chain management domain and will shed light on what makes companies "best performer" by identifying and exploring the distinctive capabilities required in five key supply chain domains that contribute to high performance in the relevant operational metrics. The domains studied in our research are supply chain planning, fulfillment, service management, product lifecycle management, and, manufacturing. Another objective of our thesis is to relate domain performance of the firm with the firm's value proposition. The three value propositions considered in the thesis are product leadership/innovation, cost competitiveness, and customer service.by Nitin Gulati & Amar Sharma.S.M.in System Design and Managemen

An Analysis of Various Methods to Identify Web Based Applications Vulnerabilities

Recently Web based applications takes a noteworthy palace in people’s daily routine furthermore as in progress of nation’s different domains as well. Web based applications have undergone a reasonably express improvement within the last few decades and their appreciation is moving faster than that was predictable few years ago. Presently, huge volumes of transactions are prepared online using various Web based applications. Even though these Webs based applications are utilized by a lot of people, in some cases the defense level is vulnerable, and that compiles them prone to obtain negotiation. In most of the eventualities, a client has to be recognized previous to any contact is set upped with the backend data. A precipitate client shouldn't be permitted entrée to the scheme without legal credentials. However, a crafted injection query provides illegal entrée to illegal clients. This is regularly accomplished via SQL Injection input. In spite of the occurrence of dissimilar procedures to discover and avoid SQL injection, still there stays a shocking threat into Web based applications. While working on this paper, we studied and did analysis on various manners of SQL Injection vulnerabilities, different types of assaults, and their recognition and avoidance techniques. Flanking we present our assessment of this analysis. We also clarified future research direction for probabilities and possible expansion of challenge proceedings against different web application attacks. Keywords: Vulnerability, SQL injection, XSS, Web based application, WWW, ID

Tobacco Prevention Interventions in Adolescents

Tobacco use is a major public health problem in our society. Tobacco addiction begins in adolescence and majority of smokers start using tobacco in the age group between 11-13 years. There are a number of tobacco prevention strategies targeted towards the youth such as school-based educational interventions, community-based interventions, advertising restrictions on tobacco use, youth access restrictions and public health education. The purpose of this article is to review smoking prevention educational interventions in adolescents conducted either in the school or community setting. In order to collect the materials for the study, a search of CINAHL, MEDLINE and ERIC databases was conducted for the time period 1985-2006. A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Eight out of the 15 interventions were targeted towards students in grades 6-7 which makes sense as majority of the adolescents start using tobacco in the age group 11-13 years. Nine out of 15 interventions reviewed did not use any behavioral theory. The six articles that used theory used social learning theory, community organizing theory, transactional and systems theory of environmental change and some constructs from transtheoretical model. There is need to explicitly reify behavioral theories by tobacco prevention interventions. Characteristics of the length of the intervention, personnel conducting the intervention, types of activities included in the interventions, and process evaluation results are discussed in the article. Recommendations for developing future educational interventions for preventing tobacco use in adolescents are discussed

Developing A Scale for Measuring Perfection Quotient (PQ) to Predict Readiness to Health Behavior Change

The concept of perfection quotient (PQ) that imbibes the basics of intelligence quotient (IQ), emotional quotient (EQ), X quotient (XQ) and spiritual dimension has been proposed to measure readiness for individual-level health behavior change. PQ can be defined as a sum total of combined cognitive capacity, balanced emotions, desirable personality traits, and spiritual awareness to meet the best possible success of life goals. The present article reifies this concept into a practical scale that includes the concept of IQ implicitly by developing the scale at less than seventh-grade level. It explicitly operationalizes the concept of EQ through three constructs namely self-awareness, mood management, and self-motivation into a health emotional quotient (HEQ). It also operationalizes the concept of health X quotient (HXQ) through the constructs of cautiousness, independence, and competition with self.  Finally, it operationalizes the concept of health spiritual quotient (HSQ) through the constructs of self-love and love for others around oneself. The summation of HEQ, HXQ, and HSQ yields the PQ score which can range from 0-100 units. It is proposed that score of 0-25 units indicates needing improvement low perfection score; a score of 26-50 units indicates needing improvement small perfection score; a score of 51-75 units indicates moderate perfection score that can be better; a score of 76-100 units indicates high perfection score on the continuum and high readiness for health behavior change. The scale can be freely used by health behavior researchers while providing due credit

Vitamin D Deficiency—A Clinical Spectrum: Is There a Symptomatic Nonosteomalacic State?

Vitamin D deficiency is not uncommon even in the sunny land of India. Lack of sun exposure and inadequate oral intake are both responsible for vitamin D deficiency. This article provides a retrospective, examining the effects of Vitamin D deficiency in 71 patients. The study's inclusion criterion was low vitamin D level combined with musculoskeletal symptoms but without the presence of osteomalacia. All patients in this study were suspected to have vitamin D deficiency. The data were retrieved from the case-charts of patients seen between 1996 and 2001 at the rheumatology services of Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, India. This study found no correlation between Vitamin D levels and symptoms, or between the severity of Vitamin D deficiency and the number of symptoms displayed. Subclinical vitamin D deficiency or preosteomalacic state was the term coined for individuals with vitamin D deficiency producing nonspecific musculoskeletal symptoms in the absence of clinical osteomalacia

Claudin Family of Proteins and Cancer: An Overview

Tight junctions are the apical cell-cell adhesion that regulate paracellular permeability and are critical for epithelial cell polarity. Molecular architecture of tight junction has been studied extensively, which has confirmed that claudin family of proteins is integral component of tight junction. Loss of cell-cell adhesion is central to the cellular transformation and acquisition of metastatic potential; however, the role of claudin family of proteins play in a series of pathophysiological events, including human carcinoma development, is only now beginning to be understood. Several claudin mouse knockout models have been generated and the diversity of phenotypes observed clearly demonstrates their important roles in the maintenance of tissue integrity in various organs and suggest that claudins also participate in cellular contexts other than tight junctions. The mechanisms of claudin regulation and their exact roles in normal physiology and disease are being elucidated, but much work remains to be done. In this review, we have discussed the conceptual framework concerning claudins and their potential implication in cancer. We predict that next several years will likely witness a boom in our understanding of the potential role of claudins in the regulation of tumorigenesis, which may, in turn, provide new approaches for the targeted therapy

Cell wall metabolite levels as a function of the growth phase in Staphylococcus aureus and library screening for synergistic combinations of FDA approved drugs against methicillin resistant S. aureus

Title from PDF of title page, viewed August 25, 2022Dissertation advisor: William GutheilVitaIncludes bibliographical references (pages 140-159)Dissertation (Ph.D)--Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2022Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based methods for quantifying cell wall biosynthesis intermediates. These include LC-MS/MS methods for quantifying cytoplasmic UDP-linked peptidoglycan biosynthesis intermediates. Retention and separation of these polar intermediates on C18 media were significantly improved using N, N-dimethylhexylamine as an ion-pairing agent. We also have developed Marfey’s reagent-based LC-MS/MS methods to stereospecifically resolve D- and L- amino acids and the key D-alanine-D-alanine intermediate involved in CWB on a reverse-phase analytical column. In the first part of this study, we examined how CWB intermediates and energy-rich nucleotide (ATP, etc.) levels change over the whole growth curve of S. aureus, from senescence to logarithmic growth and back to senescence. We first extended our established ion-pairing agent-based LC-MS/MS method for detecting UDP-linked intermediates, including energy-rich nucleotides (ATP, etc.) (unpublished). In this study, a culture of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) American Type Culture Collection (ATCC 43300) is grown to senescence for 48 hours in Muller Hinton (MH) broth. From senescence to the exponential phase, the levels of UDP-linked intermediates increase significantly, and the levels of energy-rich nucleotides are low during these phases of the growth curve. Hence, UDP-linked intermediates appear to be the high-priority biomolecules required for maintaining bacterial physiology, where nucleotides with high energy are rapidly assimilated by UDP-linked intermediates. Additionally, the accumulation of energy-rich nucleotides coincided with the decline in cell growth rates, suggesting a concomitant reduction in their utilization. Retention and separation of glucosamine-1-phosphate (GlcN-1-P) and glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN-6-P) on a reverse-phase column is not feasible due to their high polarity. The second part of this study tested and demonstrated several derivatization procedures to improve the retention of GlcN-1-P and GlcN-6-P on a reverse-phase column. Derivatization with isobutyric anhydride, hexanoic anhydride, octanoic anhydride, and decanoic anhydride combined with multichannel LC-MS/MS detection demonstrated resolution and quantification of these three analytes. MRSA, vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE), and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VSE) extracts were prepared and derivatized in this study. The LC-MS/MS analysis of these samples demonstrated peaks of GlcN-1-P and alpha and beta anomers of GlcN-6-P that were clearly resolved on a reverse-phase analytical column. Therefore, we performed a high-throughput screening of FDA-approved compounds in the presence and absence of ceftobiprole, identifying intrinsically active agents and synergistic combinations with ceftobiprole. A checkerboard analysis was then performed on potential ceftobiprole synergistic agents. Strongly synergistic agents included β-lactamase resistant β-lactams (cloxacillin, dicloxacillin, flucloxacillin, oxacillin, nafcillin, and cefotaxime). There was also evidence of synergy between ceftobiprole and both meropenem and imipenem. Vancomycin, balofloxacin, and floxuridine showed weak synergy. A similar antagonistic effect of mupirocin on ceftobiprole was also observed in other studies showing that it led to β-lactam resistance. We also performed a high-throughput library screening of FDA-approved drugs in the presence and absence of floxuridine against MRSA with the aim of surveying the full scope of floxuridine antibacterial synergy. This study examined joint MIC determination of the FDA library hits in combination with floxuridine, a high-resolution method to depict the fractional inhibitory concentration of √2. This way, several strong synergistic compounds (FICmin ≤ 0.5) like imipenem and biapenem were identified. Moreover, many agents showed weak synergy (0.5 < FICmin ≤ 0.75), such as nafcillin, doripenem, meropenem, and moxalactam.Cell wall metabolite levels as a function of growth phase in S. aureus -- Perform LC-MS/MS-based method development and quantification of Glucosamine-1-Phosphate (GlcN-1-P) and Glucosamine 6-Phosphate (GlcN-6-P) which are involved in the early steps of cell wall biosynthesis -- Library screening for synergistic combinations of FDA-approved drugs with Ceftobiprole against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus -- A high-throughput library screening of FDA-approved drugs with Floxuridine against MRSA -- General conclusio

Molecular cloning and characterization of glucose transporter 1 (glut1) and citrate synthase cDNA in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Glucose transporter type-1 (glut1) and citrate synthase plays crucial role in glucose transport and regulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) cycle in mammalian energy metabolism. The present study was aimed to clone and characterize glut1 and citrate synthase cDNA in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Total of 90 cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were used for mRNA isolation and reverse transcribed to cDNA, which was further used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of glut1 and citrate synthase. PCR products of glut1 and citrate synthase were cloned by T/A cloning using pGEM-T easy vector and further  sequenced. Gene sequence analysis of glut1 and citrate synthase revealed that they have open reading frame of 1479 (encoding 492 aa) and 1401 bp (encoding 466 aa), respectively. Further phylogenic analysis of gene and deduced amino acid sequences suggests that bubaline glut1 shares ∼ 89 to 98% and ∼ 97 to 99% similarity at nucleotide and amino acid level respectively  whereas citrate synthase shared ∼ 89 to 99% at nucleotide and ∼ 96 to 99% at amino acid level respectively with other domestic species and human. Predicted protein structures of buffalo glut1 protein accentuate the presence of crucial amino acids involved in glucose transport moreover the essential catalytic residues are highly conserved in buffalo citrate synthase.Keywords: Buffalo, cloning, characterization, Glut1, citrate synthase

Development and validation of novel method for simultaneous estimation of Atovaquone and Mefloquine hydrochloride in bulk drug using RP-HPLC

Atovaquone and Mefloquine hydrochloride are well known anti-malarial drugs. Literature survey reveals that there was no method available for the selected drug combination. In this way, here an endeavour has been made to develop simple, precise, fast method for simultaneous estimation of atovaquone and mefloquine hydrochloride in bulk drug by using RP-HPLC method. The method was carried out by using gradient HPLC on C18 column using Shimadzu prominence LC 20 AD and mobile phase comprised of Methanol:ACN:Water in the ratio of 85:7.5:7.5 (pH 2.9 was adjusted with OPA). The method was performed with 10µl injection volume. The UV detection was done at 231nm.The retention times of atovaquone and mefloquine hydrochloride were 7.6 and 2.6 min respectively.  The proposed method was validated according to ICH guidelines. The validation parameters were linearity, accuracy, precision (inter-day, intra-day and repeatability) and robustness etc. Linearity was in the range of 80-120µg/ml for atovaquone and 40-60µg/ml for mefloquine hydrochloride. The percent recoveries of both drugs were 99.99-100% and 92.05-99.09%. This method is suitable for the routine analysis of atovaquone and mefloquine hydrochloride in bulk drugs either individually or in mixtur

The enterolith causing jejunal obstruction, an unusual presentation: A case report

Enteroliths are a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. Patients can present with repeated episodes of intestinal obstruction as long as an enterolith is able to pass through the gut and then suddenly, they get stuck at the terminal ileum or present with the perforation peritonitis, as may happen in case of a diverticular disease. Here, we report the case of a young male presented to the emergency room with acute intestinal obstruction. During the explorative laparotomy, an enterolith was found stuck inside the proximal jejunum which was removed through an enterotomy. This was an interesting case, as the patient did not have any predisposing factors nor did we find any evidence of other pathologies intraoperatively. Moreover, the enterolith was stuck in jejunum, contrary to the belief that terminal part of the ileum is a most common site for the enteroliths to get stuck