T2B Model-Experiencing the Successful Conversion of Traditional Enterprise to e-Business

Successful selling over the Internet involves organizing the entire value chain around the Internet and determines where they can exploit technology to add value. Such conversion in small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) is still at its enfant stage; knowing on the large enterprises’ experiences, this enlarges the non-empirical qualitative learning and possibilities for empirically testable theories to come up with a well-structured framework for such conversion. Based on theories from technological innovation literature, this paper presents an integrated model for T2E (Traditional to Electronic) business conversion for SME. Our novel T2E model makes use of a 3-layers hybrid approach: which unifies the technique of IDEF [Integrated Computer-Aided Manufacturing (ICAM) DEFfinition] to assist in business process design; the concept of Business Process Reengineering (BPR) for business structure re-organization; and Innovation Diffusion (ID) theory for progressive introduction of new e-business functions. Our model is intended to minimize the impact of operational and cultural changes on SMEs while taken the critical successful factors of e-business projects in consideration. The feasibility of our conceptual framework is testified by a case study SME - Valentino World Fashion (VW), Inc

A snoRNA modulates mRNA 3' end processing and regulates the expression of a subset of mRNAs.

mRNA 3' end processing is an essential step in gene expression. It is well established that canonical eukaryotic pre-mRNA 3' processing is carried out within a macromolecular machinery consisting of dozens of trans-acting proteins. However, it is unknown whether RNAs play any role in this process. Unexpectedly, we found that a subset of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are associated with the mammalian mRNA 3' processing complex. These snoRNAs primarily interact with Fip1, a component of cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF). We have functionally characterized one of these snoRNAs and our results demonstrated that the U/A-rich SNORD50A inhibits mRNA 3' processing by blocking the Fip1-poly(A) site (PAS) interaction. Consistently, SNORD50A depletion altered the Fip1-RNA interaction landscape and changed the alternative polyadenylation (APA) profiles and/or transcript levels of a subset of genes. Taken together, our data revealed a novel function for snoRNAs and provided the first evidence that non-coding RNAs may play an important role in regulating mRNA 3' processing

Numerical Investigation for the Bearing Performance of the Segmental Joint with Elastic Gasket

Detailed three-dimensional numerical models considering concrete indentation, bolts, elastic gasket (EG) and sealing gasket (SG) are established for the segmental joint with gaskets, and the load tests of the joints with EG and without EG are simulated and compared. The results reveal that the bearing performance of the joint with EG is very complex. In sagging moment scenarios, it can be divided into four stages by three key points “EG starts to open”, “joint external edge starts to contact” and “EG fully opened”. In hogging moment scenarios, it can be divided into three stages by two key points “SG opened” and “EG starts to open”. The EG has a significant effect on the joint bearing performance. It can soften the joint, which leads to the result that the average bending stiffness and ultimate bearing capacity of the joint with EG are evidently smaller and weaker than those of the joint without EG. With decreasing the joint axial force, this softening effect tends to be more obvious. Besides, for the two joints, the ultimate states of the joints subject to the bending moments are both that the concrete at the joint edges yields firstly, and it is necessary to protect or strengthen the corresponding concrete

Effects of polymer additives in the bulk of turbulent thermal convection

We present experimental evidence that a minute amount of polymer additives can significantly enhance heat transport in the bulk region of turbulent thermal convection. The effects of polymer additives are found to be the \textit{suppression} of turbulent background fluctuations that give rise to incoherent heat fluxes that make no net contribution to heat transport, and at the same time to \textit{increase} the coherency of temperature and velocity fields. The suppression of small-scale turbulent fluctuations leads to more coherent thermal plumes that result in the heat transport enhancement. The fact that polymer additives can increase the coherency of thermal plumes is supported by the measurements of a number of local quantities, such as the extracted plume amplitude and width, the velocity autocorrelation functions and the velocity-temperature cross-correlation coefficient. The results from local measurements also suggest the existence of a threshold value for the polymer concentration, only above which can significant modification of the plume coherent properties and enhancement of the local heat flux be observed. Estimation of the plume emission rate suggests that the second effect of polymer additives is to stabilize the thermal boundary layers.Comment: 8 figures, 11 page