An ensemble evolutionary constraint-based approach to understand the emergence of metabolic phenotypes

Constraint-based modeling is largely used in computational studies of metabolism. We propose here a novel approach that aims to identify ensembles of flux distributions that comply with one or more target phenotype(s). The methodology has been tested on a small-scale model of yeast energy metabolism. The target phenotypes describe the differential pattern of ethanol production and O₂ consumption observed in “Crabtree-positive” and “Crabtree-negative” yeasts in changing environment (i.e., when the upper limit of glucose uptake is varied). The ensembles were obtained either by selection among sampled flux distributions or by means of a search heuristic (genetic algorithm). The former approach provided indication about the probability to observe a given phenotype, but the resulting ensembles could not be unambiguously partitioned into “Crabtree-positive” and “Crabtree-negative” clusters. On the contrary well-separated clusters were obtained with the latter method. The cluster analysis further allowed identification of distinct groups within each target phenotype. The method may thus prove useful in characterizing the design principles underlying metabolic plasticity arising from evolving physio-pathological or developmental constraints.     

An empirical investigation of Technology Readiness among medical staff based in Greek hospitals

Technology readiness (TR) represents an individual’s mental readiness to accept new technologies. Although the TR scale has been used in many studies, its application in the healthcare context is limited. This paper focuses on identifying the TR profiles of medical staff and to model preference TR variations with respect to computer use, computer knowledge and computer feature demands. The study reports results from a nationwide study conducted in Greece, during a three-year period, which sampled responses from 604 physicians and nurses working in 14 Greek hospitals. Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling analysis is used in order to confirm the structure of the Technology Readiness Index. The results confirm the five groups of the TR taxonomy. Statistical differences were found between classes in information and communication technology (ICT) knowledge, ICT feature demands, hours of use per week as well as ICT use performance, but not in the general use of ICT. The results facilitate comprehension of the factors, which influence the use of ICT by medical staff and, in addition, they convey important policy and managerial implications. In conclusion, medical staff should be treated according to its TR taxonomy classes in order to expedite the acceptance and use of an ICT system.     

The longitudinal impact of enterprise system users’ pre-adoption expectations and organizational support on post-adoption proficient usage

Although enterprise systems (ES) are ubiquitous, many firms report less than stellar payoffs from these costly investments, with underutilization often attributed to failures in the implementation process. Unfortunately, research has not provided sufficient insights into these failures, in part because it has focused on actual usage, as opposed to proficient usage, as the benchmark for successful implementation. Moreover, research has not generally examined how the adoption process unfolds over time, thus overlooking potential underlying mechanisms that may help explain how adopters achieve proficiency. To begin addressing these shortcomings, we study how adopters’ pre-adoption expectations, enacted over time, can influence their post-adoption proficiency, by shaping how and why they spend time using the system during the adoption period. We analyzed time-lagged survey data from 153 financial analysts, required to adopt new ES-based software, at a multinational bank. We found that adopters who hold pre-adoption expectations reflecting greater internal and external motives to adopt the system as well as systematically integrate it into their work routines are more apt to use the system in ways that enhance their cumulative knowledge of it, and subsequently develop higher levels of proficiency post-adoption. Moreover, greater organizational support enhanced the impact of adopters’ expectations on proficiency, except when their actual use is low in which case organizational support had an adverse effect.     

IT capability and organizational performance: the roles of business process agility and environmental factors

The business value of information technology (IT) has been one of the top concerns of both practitioners and scholars for decades. Numerous studies have documented the positive effects of IT capability on organizational performance but our knowledge of the processes through which such gains are achieved remains limited due to a lack of focus on the business environment. Such a linkage therefore remains the subject of debate in the information systems literature. In this study, we fill this gap by investigating the mediating role of business process agility and the moderating roles of environmental factors. On the basis of matched survey data obtained from 214 IT and business executives from manufacturing firms in China, our analyses show that even though firm-wide IT capability presents the characteristics of rarity, appropriability, non-reproducibility, and non-substitutability, its impact on organizational performance is fully mediated by business process agility. Our results also show that the impact of the environment is multifaceted and nuanced. In particular, environmental hostility weakens the effect of IT capability on business process agility, while environmental complexity strengthens it. The theoretical and practical implications of this study, and its limitations, are also discussed.     

Integrated clinical pathway management for medical quality improvement – based on a semiotically inspired systems architecture

Clinical pathway is an approach to standardise care processes to support the implementations of clinical guidelines and protocols. It is designed to support the management of treatment processes including clinical and non-clinical activities, resources and also financial aspects. It provides detailed guidance for each stage in the management of a patient with the aim of improving the continuity and coordination of care across different disciplines and sectors. However, in the practical treatment process, the lack of knowledge sharing and information accuracy of paper-based clinical pathways burden health-care staff with a large amount of paper work. This will often result in medical errors, inefficient treatment process and thus poor quality medical services. This paper first presents a theoretical underpinning and a co-design research methodology for integrated pathway management by drawing input from organisational semiotics. An approach to integrated clinical pathway management is then proposed, which aims to embed pathway knowledge into treatment processes and existing hospital information systems. The capability of this approach has been demonstrated through the case study in one of the largest hospitals in China. The outcome reveals that medical quality can be improved significantly by the classified clinical pathway knowledge and seamless integration with hospital information systems.     

Synthesis and Morphology of TiO2 Nanotube Arrays by Anodic Oxidation Using Modified Glycerol-Based Electrolytes

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanotube arrays were prepared by electrochemical anodization of titanium sheets in the glycerol 176 mL/H₂O 44 mL/NH₄F 0.5 wt% electrolytes modified with H₂SO₄ and NaAc addition. The surface morphologies, average inner diameter, and the length of the nanotube arrays changed with the solution pH in the range from 5.6 to 4.0 by adding H₂SO₄. A uniform surface morphology of the nanotubes with average inner diameter of ∼80 nm and a length of ∼1000 nm was obtained when the solution pH was 5.0. The growth rates of the nanotubes were remarkably enhanced by NaAc addition in the range of 0.04–0.14 M . With NaAc addition of 0.10 M , the length of the nanotube arrays reached 4.16 μm after an 8-h anodization, increasing 3.23 μm compared with no NaAc addition. The relationship between solution pH and growth of TiO₂ nanotubes was analyzed by current–time curves, solution electrical conductivities, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the role of NaAc was also discussed based on SEM and solution electrical conductivities.     

Carbon molecular sieve films produced by dc sputtering

This paper reports adsorption measurements that show molecular sieve effects in amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C : H) films deposited by d.c. magnetron discharge decomposition of acetylene. Adsorption of organic gases on the films is studied by using a quartz crystal microbalance technique. The sieve effect in this material depends on both deposition and annealing conditions. Films having significant molecular sieve effects are found to be typically microporous and to have a very small characteristic micropore dimension. It is suggested that the d.c. sputtered a-C : H film may be useful as a molecular sieve material in selective adsorption and gas permeation studies.     

一种由WiFi智能插座构成的智能家届

本文首先叙述了智能家居的基本概念以及分析了智能家居中的通信技术,分析了WiFi技术在智能家居中的应用优势。接着讨论了串口WiFi的功能,以WiFi插座为例,描述了串口WiFi在智能家居中的具体应用。最后叙述了基于WiFi技术的智能家居系统。     

基于STM32的步行者航位推算装置设计

基于便携性与实用性考虑,提出一种新的步行者航位推算装置设计。使用三维加速度计与电子罗盘集成芯片LSM303DLHC和陀螺仪集成芯片MPU3050对步行者的实时运动信息进行采集,采用具有ARM Cortex-M3内核的STM32F103RBT6单片机收集传感器数据并对数据进行航位推算处理,将步行者航迹信息显示于TFTLCD上。实验证明,该装置具有较高的推算精度,能满足实际应用需求。     

SPCE061A与AD9851的低频可控信号发生器

基于DDS直接数字频率合成技术原理,采用凌阳SPCE061A单片机作为人机界面控制单元和参数形成处理单元,首先以一片AD9851芯片为核心产生频率在10Hz~30 MHz可调、幅度稳定的正弦波、方波和三角波信号,然后通过一路可控模拟开关(使用AD7502芯片)选择波形输出。再通过外接键盘按键控制输出频率及频率步进,并通过LCD显示输出波类型、频率及电压幅度。该系统除具有基本函数信号发生器的主要功能外,还可控制输出频率在10Hz~1MHz之间变化的波型信号,同时还能够保障输出电平满足Vpp=(0~5V)±0.1V。在输出为50Ω负载的条件下,可实现频率在10Hz~1kHz范围内步进10Hz,在10kHz~1MHz范围内步进1kHz。在实验教学、生产等应用中,有一定的使用和推广价值。