A Research Survey of Electronic Commerce Innovation: Evidence from the Literature

The development of technology has ignited many innovations in business management, especially in the electronic commerce area. The essential example, that is, online stores and online shopping, is a critical evolution and innovation from traditional brick-and-mortar stores to clicks and mortar. Following previous research (Van Oorschot et al.), this present study adopted bibliometric and keyword analysis to review the main characteristics of electronic commerce innovations. Focused on the academic sources, the research data used in this study were searched for and collected from the Web of Science (WoS), a renowned academic database which covers the most influential research journals in electronic commerce. Based on a combination of several keywords related to “innovation” and “electronic commerce,” the keyword search in the WoS was conducted in May 2019. As a result, a total of 334 research articles related to electronic commerce innovations were collected. Derived from the bibliometric analysis, some keywords that were seldom used in the earlier decade (2000-2009), but which rapidly grew in use in the recent decade (2010-2018) were found, including m-commerce, platforms, social commerce, online review, and co-creation. In addition, the top 10 influential articles listed in each of the two decades were identified. The results show some of the research trajectories in EC innovations. In the first decade (2000-2009), the top 10 papers focused on traditional IT adoption, such as self-service technology, enterprise resource planning systems, and the adoption of general attitude-intention theories such as the technology acceptance model. In the recent decade (2010-2018), researchers have shown more diverse interest in innovative EC applications, such as RFID applications, cloud computing, crowdsourcing, etc. Accompanying these EC innovation contexts, in addition to general attitude-intention theories, more theories such as signaling theory, have been adopted

Genome evolution driven by host adaptations results in a more virulent and antimicrobial-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 14

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Streptococcus pneumoniae </it>serotype 14 is one of the most common pneumococcal serotypes that cause invasive pneumococcal diseases worldwide. Serotype 14 often expresses resistance to a variety of antimicrobial agents, resulting in difficulties in treatment. To gain insight into the evolution of virulence and antimicrobial resistance traits in <it>S. pneumoniae </it>from the genome level, we sequenced the entire genome of a serotype 14 isolate (CGSP14), and carried out comprehensive comparison with other pneumococcal genomes. Multiple serotype 14 clinical isolates were also genotyped by multilocus sequence typing (MLST).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the CGSP14 acquired a number of new genes by horizontal gene transfer (HGT), most of which were associated with virulence and antimicrobial resistance and clustered in mobile genetic elements. The most remarkable feature is the acquisition of two conjugative transposons and one resistance island encoding eight resistance genes. Results of MLST suggested that the major driving force for the genome evolution is the environmental drug pressure.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The genome sequence of <it>S. pneumoniae </it>serotype 14 shows a bacterium with rapid adaptations to its lifecycle in human community. These include a versatile genome content, with a wide range of mobile elements, and chromosomal rearrangement; the latter re-balanced the genome after events of HGT.</p

Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 Contribute to Sonic Hedgehog-Induced In Vitro Cerebral Angiogenesis

The molecular mechanisms underlying cerebral angiogenesis have not been fully investigated. Using primary mouse brain endothelial cells (MBECs) and a capillary-like tube formation assay, we investigated whether the sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is coupled with the plasminogen/plasmin system in mediating cerebral angiogenesis. We found that incubation of MBECs with recombinant human Shh (rhShh) substantially increased the tube formation in naïve MBECs. This was associated with increases in tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) activation and reduction of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1). Blockage of the Shh pathway with cyclopamine abolished the induction of tube formation and the effect of rhShh on tPA and PAI-1. Addition of PAI-1 reduced rhShh-augmented tube formation. Genetic ablation of tPA in MBECs impaired tube formation and downregulated of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin 1 (Ang1). Addition of rhShh to tPA−/− MBECs only partially restored the tube formation and upregulated Ang1, but not VEGF, although rhShh increased VEGF and Ang1 expression on wild-type MBECs. Complete restoration of tube formation in tPA−/− MBECs was observed only when both exogenous Shh and tPA were added. The present study provides evidence that tPA and PAI-1 contribute to Shh-induced in vitro cerebral angiogenesis

Association of Caucasian-identified variants with colorectal cancer risk in Singapore Chinese

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in Caucasians have identified fourteen index single nucleotide polymorphisms (iSNPs) that influence colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. Methods: We investigated the role of eleven iSNPs or surrogate SNPs (sSNPs), in high linkage disequilibrium (LD, r2≥0.8) and within 100 kb vicinity of iSNPs, in 2,000 age- and gender-matched Singapore Chinese (SCH) cases and controls. Results: Only iSNP rs6983267 at 8q24.21 and sSNPs rs6695584, rs11986063, rs3087967, rs2059254, and rs7226855 at 1q41, 8q23.3, 11q23.1, 16q22.1 and 18q21.1 respectively showed evidence of association with CRC risk, with odds ratios (OR) ranging from 1.13 to 1.40. sSNP rs827401 at 10p14 was associated with rectal cancer risk (OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.63-0.88) but not disease prognosis (OR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.69-1.20). Interestingly, sSNP rs3087967 at 11q23.1 was associated with CRC risk in men (OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.14-1.58) but not women (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.88-1.29), suggesting a gender-specific role. Half of the Caucasian-identified variants, including the recently fine-mapped BMP pathway loci, BMP4, GREM1, BMP2 and LAMA 5, did not show any evidence for association with CRC in SCH (OR ~1; p-value >0.1). Comparing the results of this study with that of the Northern and Hong Kong Chinese, only variants at chromosomes 8q24.21, 10p14, 11q23.1 and 18q21.1 were replicated in at least two out of the three Chinese studies. Conclusions: The contrasting results between Caucasians and Chinese could be due to different LD patterns and allelic frequencies or genetic heterogeneity. The results suggest that additional common variants contributing to CRC predisposition remained to be identified. © 2012 Thean et al

The effect of adding a home program to weekly institutional-based therapy for children with undefined developmental delay: A pilot randomized clinical trial

AbstractBackgroundEarly rehabilitation for children with developmental delay without a defined etiology have included home and clinic programs, but no comparisons have been made and efficacy is uncertain. We compared a weekly visit for institutional-based therapy (IT) to IT plus a structured home activity program (HAP).MethodsSeventy children who were diagnosed with motor or global developmental delay (ages 6-48 months and mean developmental age 12.5 months) without defined etiology were recruited (including 45 males and 23 females). The outcomes included the comprehensive developmental inventory for infants and toddlers test and the pediatric evaluation of disability inventory.ResultsChildren who received only IT improved in developmental level by 2.11 months compared with 3.11 months for those who received a combination of IT and HAP (p = 0.000). On all domains of the comprehensive developmental inventory for infants and toddlers test, except for self-help, children who participated in HAP showed greater improvements, including in cognition (p = 0.015), language (p = 0.010), motor (p = 0.000), and social (p = 0.038) domains. Except on the subdomain of self-care with caregiver assistance, the HAP group showed greater improvement in all the pediatric evaluation of disability inventory subdomains (p < 0.05).ConclusionEarly intervention programs are helpful for these children, and the addition of structured home activity programs may augment the effects on developmental progression

Europium-doped amorphous calcium phosphate porous nanospheres: preparation and application as luminescent drug carriers

Calcium phosphate is the most important inorganic constituent of biological tissues, and synthetic calcium phosphate has been widely used as biomaterials. In this study, a facile method has been developed for the fabrication of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP)/polylactide-block-monomethoxy(polyethyleneglycol) hybrid nanoparticles and ACP porous nanospheres. Europium-doping is performed to enable photoluminescence (PL) function of ACP porous nanospheres. A high specific surface area of the europium-doped ACP (Eu3+:ACP) porous nanospheres is achieved (126.7 m2/g). PL properties of Eu3+:ACP porous nanospheres are investigated, and the most intense peak at 612 nm is observed at 5 mol% Eu3+ doping. In vitro cytotoxicity experiments indicate that the as-prepared Eu3+:ACP porous nanospheres are biocompatible. In vitro drug release experiments indicate that the ibuprofen-loaded Eu3+:ACP porous nanospheres show a slow and sustained drug release in simulated body fluid. We have found that the cumulative amount of released drug has a linear relationship with the natural logarithm of release time (ln(t)). The Eu3+:ACP porous nanospheres are bioactive, and can transform to hydroxyapatite during drug release. The PL properties of drug-loaded nanocarriers before and after drug release are also investigated

Effects of Tai Chi on telomerase activity and gerotranscendence in middle aged and elderly adults in Chinese society

AbstractIntroductionTelomeres are DNA protein structures at the end of chromosomes and are linked to the physical aging process. The improvement of quality of life is closely associated with aerobic exercise, and the dynamic effects of exercise on physiology and psychology are evident with aging. Tai Chi is popularly practiced in China. However, findings on the effects of Tai Chi on telomerase activity (TA) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and gerotranscendence (GT), as well as the association of TA and GT with Tai Chi, have been inconsistent.PurposeThis study aims to assess TA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, GT, and the associations between them. The associations among these variables are determined during six months of Tai Chi intervention among Chinese middle aged and elderly adults.MethodsTA assessment was obtained by TE-ELISA (human telomerase–enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), and GT was measured at the baseline level after six months of Tai Chi intervention.ResultsTA increased significantly in the Tai Chi group from 23.75 ± 3.78 u/mmol (pre-intervention) to 26.31 ± 2.93 u/mmol (after 6 months) (p < 0.05). Compared with the TA in the control group, the TA in the intervention group was statistically significant after six months (p < 0.05). Compared with the GT in the control group, the GT in the intervention group improved significantly after six months (p < 0.05). TA and GT had a positive correlation (r = 0.325, p < 0.01).ConclusionOur data illustrated that Tai Chi had a protective effect on TA and might improve the GT in Chinese middle aged and elderly adults. The TA increased with the increasing GT in Chinese middle aged and elderly adults

Tensile behaviour of carbon fabric reinforced cementitious matrix composites as both strengthening and anode materials

Recently, a promising solution to corroded steel reinforced concrete structures was proposed in which a dual-functional carbon-fabric reinforced cementitious matrix (carbon-FRCM) composite is used for impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) and structural strengthening (SS); this method is referred to as ICCP-SS. The tensile behaviour of carbon-FRCM must be understood for design purposes. In this study, the tensile characteristics of carbon-FRCM composites with different fabric reinforcement ratios were assessed to determine the strengthening capability of the materials. Then, using the composite as an anode material, the tensile behaviour of carbon-FRCM specimens subjected to anodic polarization in ICCP was evaluated. Direct tensile tests were conducted to obtain the tensile stress-strain behaviour of the carbon-FRCM specimens. By comparing the results from each case, the influences of different parameters on the tensile behaviour of the carbon-FRCM composites were evaluated, and useful information regarding the application of these materials in ICCP-SS was obtained

Refined mapping of loss of heterozygosity in Chinese sporadic gastric carcinoma

The aim of this study is to explore precise deleted regions where the candidate tumor suppressor genes might be located in Chinese sporadic gastric carcinoma. By searching in Genothon, NCBI and GDB databases, 145 polymorphic microsatellite markers were chosen, at a mean density of approximately one marker every 2 - 4 cM, covering 15 chromosomes. These polymorphic microsatellite markers in gastric carcinoma and adjacent tissue were analyzed via PCR. PCR products were submitted to electrophoresis on an ABI 3730 DNA sequencer. Genemapper3.2 software was used for LOH (Loss of Heterozygosity) scanning and analysis. Comparison between LOH frequency and clinicopathological factors was performed by Fisher’s exact test. 26 refined regions were mapped as candidate regions for TSGs (Tumor suppression genes) in Chinese sporadic gastric cancer. Associations between LOH and clinical information indicated that 6 loci was associated with pTNM stage, 5 with Lauren's type, 4 with lymph nodes metastasis and another 2 with distant metastasis. Through refined deletion mapping, 26 candidate regions, where TSGs may be located, were found and 17 loci were proposed to be used as clinical markers in Chinese sporadic gastric cancer.Keywords: Gastric carcinoma, refined mapping, loss of heterozygosity (LOH), tumor suppressor genes (TSGs), tumor markersAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(35), pp. 5754-5761, 30 August, 201