Investigatory study into the supply chain voids of Welsh industrial sectors

This study explores 'immediate' and 'potential' supply chain voids (SCVs) in capability within three Welsh priority sectors and is sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG). The research design employs a multiple case study strategy targeting Biosciences, Financial and Unmanned Systems utilising instruments such as secondary data, semi-structured and telephone interviews. The findings from this study demonstrate that SCVs are contingent upon different sectors, supplier search and the behaviour of searchers, organisational size and structure, technology, markets and the nature of supply and demand at the macro level, the lack of suitable suppliers, poor quality standards and high prices. The moderate development of Pare Aberporth and Unmanned Systems operations is impeding progress in the Welsh SME base owing to the lack of locally based customers with 'home base' capabilities, the early life-cycle position of the cluster, motivations of companies to move to the area, a deficiency of competition and the efficacy of economic development methods. The key contribution is the development and pilot testing of a 'Hoshin Kanri' policy deployment framework for operation by the WAG (and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)) whilst investigating 'immediate' and 'potential' SCVs across different sectors and firms. The study was limited to the deployment of WAG strategies and companies operating in Wales therefore, in order to position it within a wider United Kingdom (UK) context, other RDAs were consulted. In addition, the literature was used to compare Wales to other regions in the UK and elsewhere. Policy recommendations for the sponsors are identified and the findings are likely to be of interest to RDAs, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and UK Trade and Investment. The results have interest in relation to the framework and its application through aligning regional strategies to target SCVs using sustainable development and regional embeddedness criteria.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Investigatory study into the supply chain voids of Welsh industrial sectors

This study explores 'immediate' and 'potential' supply chain voids (SCVs) in capability within three Welsh priority sectors and is sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG). The research design employs a multiple case study strategy targeting Biosciences, Financial and Unmanned Systems utilising instruments such as secondary data, semi-structured and telephone interviews. The findings from this study demonstrate that SCVs are contingent upon different sectors, supplier search and the behaviour of searchers, organisational size and structure, technology, markets and the nature of supply and demand at the macro level, the lack of suitable suppliers, poor quality standards and high prices. The moderate development of Pare Aberporth and Unmanned Systems operations is impeding progress in the Welsh SME base owing to the lack of locally based customers with 'home base' capabilities, the early life-cycle position of the cluster, motivations of companies to move to the area, a deficiency of competition and the efficacy of economic development methods. The key contribution is the development and pilot testing of a 'Hoshin Kanri' policy deployment framework for operation by the WAG (and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)) whilst investigating 'immediate' and 'potential' SCVs across different sectors and firms. The study was limited to the deployment of WAG strategies and companies operating in Wales therefore, in order to position it within a wider United Kingdom (UK) context, other RDAs were consulted. In addition, the literature was used to compare Wales to other regions in the UK and elsewhere. Policy recommendations for the sponsors are identified and the findings are likely to be of interest to RDAs, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and UK Trade and Investment. The results have interest in relation to the framework and its application through aligning regional strategies to target SCVs using sustainable development and regional embeddedness criteria.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Investigatory study into the supply chain voids of Welsh industrial sectors.

This study explores 'immediate' and 'potential' supply chain voids (SCVs) in capability within three Welsh priority sectors and is sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG). The research design employs a multiple case study strategy targeting Biosciences, Financial and Unmanned Systems utilising instruments such as secondary data, semi-structured and telephone interviews. The findings from this study demonstrate that SCVs are contingent upon different sectors, supplier search and the behaviour of searchers, organisational size and structure, technology, markets and the nature of supply and demand at the macro level, the lack of suitable suppliers, poor quality standards and high prices. The moderate development of Pare Aberporth and Unmanned Systems operations is impeding progress in the Welsh SME base owing to the lack of locally based customers with 'home base' capabilities, the early life-cycle position of the cluster, motivations of companies to move to the area, a deficiency of competition and the efficacy of economic development methods. The key contribution is the development and pilot testing of a 'Hoshin Kanri' policy deployment framework for operation by the WAG (and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)) whilst investigating 'immediate' and 'potential' SCVs across different sectors and firms. The study was limited to the deployment of WAG strategies and companies operating in Wales therefore, in order to position it within a wider United Kingdom (UK) context, other RDAs were consulted. In addition, the literature was used to compare Wales to other regions in the UK and elsewhere. Policy recommendations for the sponsors are identified and the findings are likely to be of interest to RDAs, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and UK Trade and Investment. The results have interest in relation to the framework and its application through aligning regional strategies to target SCVs using sustainable development and regional embeddedness criteria

Exploratory research into supply chain voids within Welsh priority business sectors

The paper reports the findings resulting from the initial stages of an exploratory investigation into Supply Chain Voids (SCV) in Wales. The research forms the foundations of a PhD thesis which is framed within the sectors designated as important by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) and indicates local supplier capability voids within their supply chains. This paper covers the stages of initial data gathering, analysis and results identified between June 2006 and April 2007, whilst addressing the first of four research questions. Finally, the approach to address future research is identified in order to explain how the PhD is to progress

Exploring Metabolic Pathway Reconstruction and Genome-Wide Expression Profiling in Lactobacillus reuteri to Define Functional Probiotic Features

The genomes of four Lactobacillus reuteri strains isolated from human breast milk and the gastrointestinal tract have been recently sequenced as part of the Human Microbiome Project. Preliminary genome comparisons suggested that these strains belong to two different clades, previously shown to differ with respect to antimicrobial production, biofilm formation, and immunomodulation. To explain possible mechanisms of survival in the host and probiosis, we completed a detailed genomic comparison of two breast milk–derived isolates representative of each group: an established probiotic strain (L. reuteri ATCC 55730) and a strain with promising probiotic features (L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475). Transcriptomes of L. reuteri strains in different growth phases were monitored using strain-specific microarrays, and compared using a pan-metabolic model representing all known metabolic reactions present in these strains. Both strains contained candidate genes involved in the survival and persistence in the gut such as mucus-binding proteins and enzymes scavenging reactive oxygen species. A large operon predicted to encode the synthesis of an exopolysaccharide was identified in strain 55730. Both strains were predicted to produce health-promoting factors, including antimicrobial agents and vitamins (folate, vitamin B12). Additionally, a complete pathway for thiamine biosynthesis was predicted in strain 55730 for the first time in this species. Candidate genes responsible for immunomodulatory properties of each strain were identified by transcriptomic comparisons. The production of bioactive metabolites by human-derived probiotics may be predicted using metabolic modeling and transcriptomics. Such strategies may facilitate selection and optimization of probiotics for health promotion, disease prevention and amelioration

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Genomic Dissection of Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia, Including 28 Subphenotypes

publisher: Elsevier articletitle: Genomic Dissection of Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia, Including 28 Subphenotypes journaltitle: Cell articlelink: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2018.05.046 content_type: article copyright: © 2018 Elsevier Inc

Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, ventilation management, and outcomes in invasively ventilated intensive care unit patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pooled analysis of four observational studies

Background: Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, the practice of ventilation, and outcome in invasively ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain unexplored. In this analysis we aim to address these gaps using individual patient data of four large observational studies. Methods: In this pooled analysis we harmonised individual patient data from the ERICC, LUNG SAFE, PRoVENT, and PRoVENT-iMiC prospective observational studies, which were conducted from June, 2011, to December, 2018, in 534 ICUs in 54 countries. We used the 2016 World Bank classification to define two geoeconomic regions: middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs). ARDS was defined according to the Berlin criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patients in MICs versus HICs. The primary outcome was the use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) for the first 3 days of mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were key ventilation parameters (tidal volume size, positive end-expiratory pressure, fraction of inspired oxygen, peak pressure, plateau pressure, driving pressure, and respiratory rate), patient characteristics, the risk for and actual development of acute respiratory distress syndrome after the first day of ventilation, duration of ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality. Findings: Of the 7608 patients included in the original studies, this analysis included 3852 patients without ARDS, of whom 2345 were from MICs and 1507 were from HICs. Patients in MICs were younger, shorter and with a slightly lower body-mass index, more often had diabetes and active cancer, but less often chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure than patients from HICs. Sequential organ failure assessment scores were similar in MICs and HICs. Use of LTVV in MICs and HICs was comparable (42·4% vs 44·2%; absolute difference -1·69 [-9·58 to 6·11] p=0·67; data available in 3174 [82%] of 3852 patients). The median applied positive end expiratory pressure was lower in MICs than in HICs (5 [IQR 5-8] vs 6 [5-8] cm H2O; p=0·0011). ICU mortality was higher in MICs than in HICs (30·5% vs 19·9%; p=0·0004; adjusted effect 16·41% [95% CI 9·52-23·52]; p<0·0001) and was inversely associated with gross domestic product (adjusted odds ratio for a US$10 000 increase per capita 0·80 [95% CI 0·75-0·86]; p<0·0001). Interpretation: Despite similar disease severity and ventilation management, ICU mortality in patients without ARDS is higher in MICs than in HICs, with a strong association with country-level economic status