Interaction Dynamics in AEC Global Teamwork

Architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) global project teamwork is communication intensive and relies heavily on synchronous and asynchronous information and collaboration technologies (ICT). We explore in this paper how an asynchronous ICT, called ThinkTank, reshaped the work practice of design-construction global teams, and how the interaction with this ICT reshaped the purpose and benefits of its use. ThinkTank is a web-based asynchronous collaboration and discussion forum. We introduce the influence diffusion model (IDM) that formalizes the process of identifying the influence of people, messages, and terms mathematically. Discovering who the influence leaders in project teams are can be beneficial and critical from a corporate management perspective, since they can guide or motivate the team towards successful actions and outcomes. We present the ThinkTank-IDM integrated system and its validation with a testbed of 53 AEC global team project archived in ThinkTank over 8 years.     

Spezielle Überlebensbedingungen für isolierte Netzhäute verschiedener Warmblüter

Summary The isolated perfused retina of the rabbit produces a normal electroretinogram only if the perfusion fluid contains blood plasma and is kept at 30°C. At a temperature of 20°C, the electroretinogram consists mainly of a negative component (P III) which is greatly diminished in absence of plasma in the perfusion fluid.     

Chymotrypsin C (CTRC) variants that diminish activity or secretion are associated with chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis is a persistent inflammatory disease of the pancreas, in which the digestive protease trypsin has a fundamental pathogenetic role. Here we have analyzed the gene encoding the trypsin-degrading enzyme chymotrypsin C (CTRC) in German subjects with idiopathic or hereditary chronic pancreatitis. Two alterations in this gene, p.R254W and p.K247_R254del, were significantly overrepresented in the pancreatitis group, being present in 30 of 901 (3.3%) affected individuals but only 21 of 2,804 (0.7%) controls (odds ratio (OR) = 4.6; confidence interval (CI) = 2.6-8.0; P = 1.3 x 10(-7)). A replication study identified these two variants in 10 of 348 (2.9%) individuals with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis but only 3 of 432 (0.7%) subjects with alcoholic liver disease (OR = 4.2; CI = 1.2-15.5; P = 0.02). CTRC variants were also found in 10 of 71 (14.1%) Indian subjects with tropical pancreatitis but only 1 of 84 (1.2%) healthy controls (OR = 13.6; CI = 1.7-109.2; P = 0.0028). Functional analysis of the CTRC variants showed impaired activity and/or reduced secretion. The results indicate that loss-of-function alterations in CTRC predispose to pancreatitis by diminishing its protective trypsin-degrading activity.     

Der Einfluss von Barbituraten auf das ERG der isolierten Froschnetzhaut

Summary The influence of barbiturates on the electroretinogram was studied in the isolated perfused retina of the frog; a-, b-, and d-waves were altered differently. The effect (increase or decrease in amplitude) depended on the concentration as well as on the duration of application.     

Der Nachweis des Barbiturateffektes an der isolierten Warmblüternetzhaut

Summary Barbiturates cause an increase of the ERG amplitude in the isolated perfused retina of the rabbit as well as in the eye of the intact animal. Therefore, this effect cannot be transmitted by centrifugal fibres in the optic nerve.