Unpacking the difference between digital transformation and IT-enabled organizational transformation

Although digital transformation offers a number of opportunities for today’s organizations, information systems scholars and practitioners struggle to grasp what digital transformation really is, particularly in terms of how it differs from the well-established concept of information technology (IT)-enabled organizational transformation. By integrating literature from organization science and information systems research with two longitudinal case studies—one on digital transformation, the other on IT-enabled organizational transformation—we develop an empirically grounded conceptualization that sets these two phenomena apart. We find that there are two distinctive differences: (1) digital transformation activities leverage digital technology in (re)defining an organization’s value proposition, while IT-enabled organizational transformation activities leverage digital technology in supporting the value proposition, and (2) digital transformation involves the emergence of a new organizational identity, whereas IT-enabled organizational transformation involves the enhancement of an existing organizational identity. We synthesize these arguments in a process model to distinguish the different types of transformations and propose directions for future research

Ascorbate depletion increases growth and metastasis of melanoma cells in vitamin C deficient mice

Aim: Our main objective was to determine the effect of ascorbate supplementation in mice unable to synthesize ascorbic acid (gulo KO) when challenged with murine B16FO cancer cells. Methods: Gulo KO female mice 36–40 weeks of age were deprived of or maintained on ascorbate in food and water for 4 weeks prior to subcutaneous injection of 2.5×106 B16FO murine melanoma cells in the right flank of mice. A control group of wild type mice were also injected with the melanoma cells and maintained on a regular murine diet. Mice were continued on their respective diets for another 2 weeks after injection. The mice were then sacrificed, blood was drawn and their tumors were measured, excised and processed for histology. Results: Mean weight of animals decreased significantly (30%, p < 0.0001) in the ascorbate-restricted group but increased slightly, but insignificantly, in the ascorbate-supplemented group. The mean tumor weight in ascorbate supplemented mice was significantly reduced (by 64%, p = 0.004) compared to tumor weight in ascorbate-deprived gulo mice. The mean tumor weight of wild type mice did not differ significantly from the ascorbate-supplemented mice. Gulo KO mice supplemented with ascorbate developed smaller tumors with more collagen encapsulation and fibrous capsule interdigitation, while gulo KO mice deprived of ascorbate hosted large tumors with poorly defined borders, showing more necrosis and mitosis. Ascorbate supplementation of gulo KO mice resulted in profoundly decreased serum inflammatory cytokine IL-6 (90% decrease, p = 0.04) and IL-1β (62% decrease) compared to the levels in gulo KO mice deprived of ascorbate. Conclusion: Ascorbate supplementation modulated tumor growth and inflammatory cytokine secretion as well as enhanced encapsulation of tumors in scorbutic mice

Phase Transitions in the Two-Dimensional XY Model with Random Phases: a Monte Carlo Study

We study the two-dimensional XY model with quenched random phases by Monte Carlo simulation and finite-size scaling analysis. We determine the phase diagram of the model and study its critical behavior as a function of disorder and temperature. If the strength of the randomness is less than a critical value, $\sigma_{c}$, the system has a Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) phase transition from the paramagnetic phase to a state with quasi-long-range order. Our data suggest that the latter exists down to T=0 in contradiction with theories that predict the appearance of a low-temperature reentrant phase. At the critical disorder $T_{KT}\rightarrow 0$ and for $\sigma > \sigma_{c}$ there is no quasi-ordered phase. At zero temperature there is a phase transition between two different glassy states at $\sigma_{c}$. The functional dependence of the correlation length on $\sigma$ suggests that this transition corresponds to the disorder-driven unbinding of vortex pairs.Comment: LaTex file and 18 figure

An implicit method for radiative transfer with the diffusion approximation in SPH

An implicit method for radiative transfer in SPH is described. The diffusion approximation is used, and the hydrodynamic calculations are performed by a fully three--dimensional SPH code. Instead of the energy equation of state for an ideal gas, various energy states and the dissociation of hydrogen molecules are considered in the energy calculation for a more realistic temperature and pressure determination. In order to test the implicit code, we have performed non--isothermal collapse simulations of a centrally condensed cloud, and have compared our results with those of finite difference calculations performed by MB93. The results produced by the two completely different numerical methods agree well with each other.Comment: 25 pages, 9 figure

Moving Wigner Glasses and Smectics: Dynamics of Disordered Wigner Crystals

We examine the dynamics of driven classical Wigner solids interacting with quenched disorder from charged impurities. For strong disorder, the initial motion is plastic -- in the form of crossing winding channels. For increasing drive, the disordered Wigner glass can reorder to a moving Wigner smectic -- with the electrons moving in non-crossing 1D channels. These different dynamic phases can be related to the conduction noise and I(V) curves. For strong disorder, we show criticality in the voltage onset just above depinning. We also obtain the dynamic phase diagram for driven Wigner solids and prove that there is a finite threshold for transverse sliding, recently found experimentally.Comment: 4 pages, 4 postscript figure

Domain regime in two-dimensional disordered vortex matter

A detailed numerical study of the real space configuration of vortices in disordered superconductors using 2D London-Langevin model is presented. The magnetic field $B$ is varied between 0 and $B_{c2}$ for various pinning strengths $\Delta$. For weak pinning, an inhomogeneous disordered vortex matter is observed, in which the topologically ordered vortex lattice survives in large domains. The majority of the dislocations in this state are confined to the grain boundaries/domain walls. Such quasi-ordered configurations are observed in the intermediate fields, and we refer it as the domain regime (DR). The DR is distinct from the low-field and the high-fields amorphous regimes which are characterized by a homogeneous distribution of defects over the entire system. Analysis of the real space configuration suggests domain wall roughening as a possible mechanism for the crossover from the DR to the high-field amorphous regime. The DR also shows a sharp crossover to the high temperature vortex liquid phase. The domain size distribution and the roughness exponent of the lattice in the DR are also calculated. The results are compared with some of the recent Bitter decoration experiments.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure

Phase diagram of a Disordered Boson Hubbard Model in Two Dimensions

We study the zero-temperature phase transition of a two-dimensional disordered boson Hubbard model. The phase diagram of this model is constructed in terms of the disorder strength and the chemical potential. Via quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we find a multicritical line separating the weak-disorder regime, where a random potential is irrelevant, from the strong-disorder regime. In the weak-disorder regime, the Mott-insulator-to-superfluid transition occurs, while, in the strong-disorder regime, the Bose-glass-to-superfluid transition occurs. On the multicritical line, the insulator-to-superfluid transition has the dynamical critical exponent $z=1.35 \pm 0.05$ and the correlation length critical exponent $\nu=0.67 \pm 0.03$, that are different from the values for the transitions off the line. We suggest that the proliferation of the particle-hole pairs screens out the weak disorder effects.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to be published in PR

Wafer-scale fabrication of 2D nanostructures via thermomechanical nanomolding

With shrinking dimensions in integrated circuits, sensors, and functional devices, there is a pressing need to develop nanofabrication techniques with simultaneous control of morphology, microstructure, and material composition over wafer length scales. Current techniques are largely unable to meet all these conditions, suffering from poor control of morphology and defect structure or requiring extensive optimization or post-processing to achieve desired nanostructures. Recently, thermomechanical nanomolding (TMNM) has been shown to yield single-crystalline, high aspect ratio nanowires of metals, alloys, and intermetallics over wafer-scale distances. Here, we extend TMNM for wafer-scale fabrication of 2D nanostructures. Using Cu, we successfully nanomold Cu nanoribbons with widths < 50 nm, depths ~ 0.5-1 microns and lengths ~ 7 mm into Si trenches at conditions compatible with back end of line processing. Through SEM cross-section imaging and 4D-STEM grain orientation maps, we show that the grain size of the bulk feedstock is transferred to the nanomolded structures up to and including single crystal Cu. Based on the retained microstructures of molded 2D Cu, we discuss the deformation mechanism during molding for 2D TMNM.Comment: 4 figure

Deformation and Depinning of Superconducting Vortices from Artificial Defects: A Ginzburg-Landau Study

Using Ginzburg-Landau theory, we have performed detailed studies of vortices in the presence of artificial defect arrays, for a thin film geometry. We show that when a vortex approaches the vicinity of a defect, an abrupt transition occurs in which the vortex core develops a ``string'' extending to the defect boundary, while simultaneously the supercurrents and associated magnetic flux spread out and engulf the defect. Current induced depinning of vortices is shown to be dominated by the core string distortion in typical experimental situations. Experimental consequences of this unusual depinning behavior are discussed.Comment: 10 pages,9 figure

Synthesis, Characterisation and 3D Printing of an Isosorbide Based, Light Curable, Degradable Polymer for Potential Application in Maxillofacial Reconstruction

Although emergence of bone tissue engineering techniques has revolutionised the field of maxillofacial reconstruction, the successful translation of such products, especially concerning larger sized defects, still remains a significant challenge. Light curable methacrylate based polymers have ideal properties for bone repair. These materials are also suitable for 3D printing which can be applicable for restoration of both function and aesthetics. The main objective of this research was to synthesise a mechanically stable and biologically functional polymer for reconstruction of complex craniofacial defects. The experimental work initially involved synthesis of (((3R,3aR,6S,6aR)-hexahydrofuro[3,2-b]furan-3,6-diyl)bis(oxy))bis(ethane-2,1-diyl) bis((4-methyl-3-oxopent-4-en-1-yl)carbamate), CSMA-1, and ((((((((((((3R,3aR,6S,6aR)-hexahydrofuro[3,2-b]furan-3,6-diyl)bis(oxy))bis(ethane-2,1 diyl))bis(oxy))bis(carbonyl))bis(azanediyl))bis(methylene))bis(3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane-5,1-diyl))bis(azanediyl))bis(carbonyl))bis(oxy))bis(ethane-2,1-diyl) bis(2-methylacrylate), CSMA-2; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis confirmed formation of the monomers and composite samples were fabricated respectively by exposing 11 mm diameter discs to blue light. Modulus of the tensile elasticity was tested using a biaxial flexural test and the values were found to be between 1 and 3 GPa in CMA-1, CSMA-2 and their composites. In vitro cell culture, using human Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSCs), confirmed non-toxicity of the samples and finally 3D printing allowed direct extrusion and setting of the bio ink into a mesh-like construct