Examining the Effect of Decision Style on the Use of a Project Management Tool

A software development project is frequently a challenging undertaking. Managing and coordinating software development efforts can be critical to successful project completion. The literature is replete with examples of software development projects gone awry, many times as a direct result of an inability to manage the project. Effective project management is crucial to successful software development and key to effective project management is management’s ability to track and control the progress of the project (Rook, 1986; Zmud, 1980). Furthermore, detailed information is required to effectively track and control the potential thousands of tasks and interdependencies of a project. What this implies is the need for, and reliance upon, computerized tools to aid in the project manager’s tasks

AMCIS 2002 Panels and Workshops III: How Will Media Technology Evolve as an Academic Discipline?

Media Technology (MT) is a new, multidisciplinary field that integrates the knowledge, expertise, resources, and creativity of diverse, established, fertile artistic disciplines (visual design, art, music, radio, television) with new technological disciplines (digital media, information systems, information technology, computer science, network engineering) through rapidly-evolving technologies. Its application in electronic commerce into what will become a full synthesis of information technology and sensory interaction will be made possible by approaches to presenting and exchanging information visually, aurally--and eventually in combination with all of the senses. This article reports on a panel held at AMCIS 2002 in Dallas TX. The panel discussed the need to develop a literacy and understanding in the IT discipline of the MT and its importance in keeping IT research relevant. The panel also discussed strategies for attaining MT literacy, integrating MT into the IT curriculum, and discussed two universities where it is being done

Crystal structure of rhodopsin bound to arrestin by femtosecond X-ray laser.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) signal primarily through G proteins or arrestins. Arrestin binding to GPCRs blocks G protein interaction and redirects signalling to numerous G-protein-independent pathways. Here we report the crystal structure of a constitutively active form of human rhodopsin bound to a pre-activated form of the mouse visual arrestin, determined by serial femtosecond X-ray laser crystallography. Together with extensive biochemical and mutagenesis data, the structure reveals an overall architecture of the rhodopsin-arrestin assembly in which rhodopsin uses distinct structural elements, including transmembrane helix 7 and helix 8, to recruit arrestin. Correspondingly, arrestin adopts the pre-activated conformation, with a ∼20° rotation between the amino and carboxy domains, which opens up a cleft in arrestin to accommodate a short helix formed by the second intracellular loop of rhodopsin. This structure provides a basis for understanding GPCR-mediated arrestin-biased signalling and demonstrates the power of X-ray lasers for advancing the frontiers of structural biology

Estrogenic botanical supplements, health-related quality of life, fatigue, and hormone-related symptoms in breast cancer survivors: a HEAL study report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It remains unclear whether estrogenic botanical supplement (EBS) use influences breast cancer survivors' health-related outcomes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We examined the associations of EBS use with health-related quality of life (HRQOL), with fatigue, and with 15 hormone-related symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats among 767 breast cancer survivors participating in the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study. HRQOL was measured by the Medical Outcomes Study short form-36 physical and mental component scale summary score. Fatigue was measured by the Revised-Piper Fatigue Scale score.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Neither overall EBS use nor the number of EBS types used was associated with HRQOL, fatigue, or hormone-related symptoms. However, comparisons of those using each specific type of EBS with non-EBS users revealed the following associations. Soy supplements users were more likely to have a better physical health summary score (odds ratio [OR] = 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-2.70). Flaxseed oil users were more likely to have a better mental health summary score (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.05-2.94). Ginseng users were more likely to report severe fatigue and several hormone-related symptoms (all ORs ≥ 1.7 and all 95% CIs exclude 1). Red clover users were less likely to report weight gain, night sweats, and difficulty concentrating (all OR approximately 0.4 and all 95% CIs exclude 1). Alfalfa users were less likely to experience sleep interruption (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.12-0.68). Dehydroepiandrosterone users were less likely to have hot flashes (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.14-0.82).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings indicate that several specific types of EBS might have important influences on a woman's various aspects of quality of life, but further verification is necessary.</p