Acquisition Program Research Articles

The Well-Balanced DDA: Access, Ownership, and the Impact of Campus Closure on a Multidisciplinary Demand-Driven Acquisition Program

In 2019, Pollak Library at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) reviewed their long-standing Ebook Central demand-driven acquisition (DDA) program, focusing on manipulating administrative settings to balance access and ownership. Shortly after the review, the COVID pandemic led to a seventeen-month campus closure, expected to result in increased DDA expenditures. In 2022, the review was readministered to determine the impact that settings and campus closure had on DDA with regard to ownership and expenditure. The reviews explored changes in ebook costs and eligibility, the impact of preferred access model and automatic upgrades (auto-upgrades), and a scenario analysis of short-term loans (STLs).

Effects of Apocynin, a NADPH Oxidase Inhibitor, in the Protection of the Heart from Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.

Ischemia and perfusion (I/R) induce inflammation and oxidative stress, which play a notable role in tissue damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of an NADPH oxidase inhibitor (apocynin) in the protection of the heart from I/R injury. Hearts isolated from Wistar rats (n = 8 per group) were perfused with a modified Langendorff preparation. Left ventricular (LV) contractility and cardiovascular hemodynamics were evaluated by a data acquisition program, and infarct size was evaluated by 2,3,5-Triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Furthermore, the effect of apocynin on the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) was evaluated using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hearts were subjected to 30 min of regional ischemia, produced by ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, followed by 30 min of reperfusion. Hearts were infused with apocynin before ischemia, during ischemia or at reperfusion. To understand the potential pathways of apocynin protection of the heart, a nitric oxide donor (S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, SNAP), nitric oxide blocker (N (gamma)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, L-Name), nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) inhibiter (Ned-K), cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose (cADPR) agonist, or CD38 blocker (Thiazoloquin (az)olin (on)e compound, 78c) was infused with apocynin. Antioxidants were evaluated by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity. Apocynin infusion before ischemia or at reperfusion protected the heart by normalizing cardiac hemodynamics and decreasing the infarct size. Apocynin treatment resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and a significant increase (p < 0.05) in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant levels. Apocynin infusion protected the heart by improving LV hemodynamics and coronary vascular dynamics. This treatment decreased the infarct size and inflammatory cytokine levels and increased anti-inflammatory cytokine and antioxidant levels. This protection follows a pathway involving CD38, nitric oxide and acidic stores.

Shoreline Temporal Variability Inferred from Satellite Images at Mar del Plata, Argentina

Sandy beaches are fragile and dynamic coastal areas exposed to numerous environmental forcings. Systematic long-term data acquisition programs and exhaustive data series analyses are fundamental for a comprehensive understanding of the coastal processes. The software CoastSat was implemented to detect the shoreline position at beaches located to the south of Mar del Plata city (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina), by means of satellite images (period: 1986–2020). Tides in this area are mixed semidiurnal with a mean range of 1.74 m. The most frequent waves are characterized by significant wave heights from 0.5 to 2 m and periods of around 8 s propagating mainly from SSE. Seasonal and interannual variability and long-term trends of the shoreline position were investigated at Punta Mogotes (PM) bay, Faro Norte (FN) bay, and Ensenada Mogotes (EM). Seasonal cycles were noticed in the beach width variation series. In general, maximum accumulation was observed in summer and maximum erosion in winter. Exceptions were appreciated at southern PM bay (maximum accretion in autumn and maximum erosion in spring) and at FN bay (beach rotation on a seasonal scale). The drivers of seasonal variation are likely seasonal variations in the significant wave height and direction. PM bay showed a strong interannual variability with a clear alternating pattern between the northern and southern sectors of the bay, in an 8 ± 1.2 years period. Long-term trends showed a generalized erosion along 9 of the 12 km of the analyzed coast.

Neoliberal agenda and the dismantling of socially-efficient public food procurement programs: An emblematic case

Public food procurement (PFP) programs have been increasingly implemented worldwide as an instrument for helping countries meet their commitments to the SDGs. Conversely, governments committed to a neoliberal agenda can hinder the development of PFP-based programs due to their advocacy for fiscal austerity and the efficiency of the free market. The Brazilian experience in implementing and dismantling PFP programs can provide important lessons for researchers and policy-makers interested in the issue. Based on secondary data analysis, we investigate the dismantling of the Food Acquisition Program (PAA – Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos), a PFP-based program, to understand the strategies used by neoliberal governments to dismantle PFPs programs. Our results unveil the different ways governments with a neoliberal agenda can use to dismantle a PFP program and point to the risks that policies based on public procurement face under neoliberal governments.

Industry consolidation as a strategy: an acquisition program perspective

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to enlighten the intriguing process of industry asset consolidation. It is critical for firms to manage their business acquisitions strategically for survival in this industry life cycle process, which develops through multiple company mergers. The companies extensively acquiring industry assets have utilized acquisition programs consisting of both pre-acquisition strategizing and post-acquisition integration; however, the existing literature on acquisition programs focuses on post-acquisition integration activities. This study aims to bridge this gap.Design/methodology/approachThis study focuses on pre-acquisition strategizing of acquisition programs and proposes a model in which an acquiring company could manage its acquisitions for industry asset consolidation over the industry evolution.FindingsEmpirically, in the multi-case study of telecommunications infrastructure companies, the authors collect an extensive set of archival records accumulated over the whole industry life-cycle, spanning more than 30 years, and they apply a qualitative data analysis to reveal strategic actions within the companies.Research limitations/implicationsThe discoveries elaborate on activities comprising the acquisition process model: social legitimacy, strategic alignment, resource fulfillment, consolidation pursuit and merging.Practical implicationsThe counterintuitive findings are that the companies strived to ensure legitimacy early in the telecommunication infrastructure markets before they reached strategic alignment with their owners.Originality/valueThe results extend the understanding of industry asset consolidation as an organization-level phenomenon and show how contextual factors connected to industry life-cycle phases, such as regulatory regimes and financial cycles and industry evolution, influence the attributions of an acquisition program.

Promoting Quality Apprenticeship and Skills Acquisition for Sustainable National Development in Nigeria

The purpose of this Study was to investigate the apprenticeship and skills acquisition programmes for sustainable national development in Nigeria and how they can be promoted. To facilitate generation of data, the Study explored the following: Vocational skills obtainable at the Skills Acquisition Centers, availability of equipment and facilities, the impact of skills acquisition on national development and the operational challenges of skills acquisition in Nigeria. This study is a descriptive survey. For the purpose of this study, six skills acquisition centers in Benin City, Edo State were used. Target population of the Study consisted of all the apprentices at skills acquisition centers in Edo State while 60 respondents were randomly selected from the skill acquisition centers. Four research questions were formulated to guide the study. The main instrument used was the questionnaire. The instrument was designed, developed and validated. Data gathered were analyzed using the mean statistics. Findings showed that prominent skills are being acquired by the youths which have significantly helped them in reducing poverty and therefore reduce some societal vices; making the youths self-employed and self-reliant. The study also revealed that the facilities and equipment needed for effective and efficient training at the centers are not adequate while skills acquisition has been found to have significant role in national development which includes job creation, wealth creation, and reduction in human trafficking, youth empowerment, amongst others. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that more skills acquisition centers be opened to accommodate more trainees, stipends should be given to trainees as motivation; government should provide equipment and facilities for the training centers amongst others.

A Concept for Set‐based Design of Verification Strategies

ABSTRACTIn current practice, a verification strategy is defined at the beginning of an acquisition program and is agreed upon by customer and contractor at contract signature. Hence, the resources necessary to execute verification activities at various stages of the system development are allocated and committed at the beginning, when a small amount of knowledge about the system is available. However, contractually committing to a fixed verification strategy at the beginning of an acquisition program fundamentally leads to suboptimal acquisition performance. Essentially, the uncertain nature of system development will make verification activities that were not previously planned necessary and will make some of the planned ones unnecessary. To cope with these challenges, this paper presents an approach to apply set‐based design to the design of verification activities to enable the execution of dynamic contracts for verification strategies, ultimately resulting in more valuable verification strategies than current practice.

Systematic noise removal from analytical ultracentrifugation data with UltraScan.

A method for removing time- and radially invariant noise from sedimentation velocity and sedimentation equilibrium experiments performed in an analytical ultracentrifuge is presented. The method averages repeat radial incident light measurements as a function of the photomultiplier response at different wavelengths to remove the majority of the time-invariant noise contributions from intensity data measurements. The results of this method are compared to traditional absorbance data generated with a buffer reference and the Beckman Optima AUC data acquisition program, and with the standard UltraScan refinement workflow. The method avoids the amplification of stochastic noise inherent in the absorbance scan subtraction traditionally employed in sedimentation velocity and equilibrium data. In addition, the collection of intensity data frees up the reference channel for additional samples, doubling the capacity of the instrument. In comparison to absorbance data, the residual mean square deviation of a fitted sedimentation velocity experiment without additional noise correction by UltraScan was improved by a factor of 4.5 when using the new method. This improvement benefits sedimentation equilibrium experiments as well as analytical buoyant density equilibrium experiments where routine time-invariant noise correction calculations cannot be performed.

P175 Burden of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Mexico: RISE-MX, a Multi-center, Retrospective, 3-Year Data Study

Abstract Background The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has increased significantly in the last decade in Mexico. This work describes the burden of disease in terms of healthcare resources utilization and costs (direct and indirect) related to the management of patients (pts) diagnosed with moderate/severe ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), over 3 years. Methods This multicenter, retrospective, non-interventional study enrolled 335 IBD pts. Upon written consent for eligible pts, data regarding disease activity, treatment patterns and burden of disease were collected (Fig 1). Direct costs calculation was obtained by a micro-cost analysis and cross-sectional indirect costs (human capital/income) by proportional hours of absence/productivity, based on Work Productivity and Activity Impairment score. Unitary costs were taken from institutional data: Groups Related to the Diagnosis (GRD-IMSS) 2017 updated with the INEGI explosion factor in the middle of the year 2022 and IMSS Unit Costs 2022, the price of the drugs used was from the Annual Acquisitions, Leasing and Services Program updated to September 2022. Direct costs were obtained by multiplying resource use with relevant unit costs. Unit costs for each resource items were collected in Mexican reliable administrative databases or other sources. All data were descriptively analyzed. Results There were 335 pts enrolled and 326 eligible. 95 (29.1%) had CD and 231 (70.9%) had UC. In the CD group, 52 pts had remission/mild activity and 43 had moderate/severe activity. A total of 26.3% (25/95) disease–related hospitalizations were reported in CD pts and 15.6% (36/231) for UC pts. The mean of hospitalization duration was 11.7 days for pts with moderate/severe CD and 8.5 days for pts with moderate/severe UC. The absenteeism in CD pts was 19.9% for moderate/severe and 17.3% for remission/mild activity, while in UC pts was 9.8% for moderate/severe and 10.6% for remission/mild activity. Considering comorbidities, extraintestinal manifestations, previous treatments, medical appointments, hospitalizations and other medical procedures, the annual direct costs per-patient impact in CD was US$19,026 (moderate/severe) and US$12,126 (remission/mild). Furthermore, in pts with UC, the cost was US$11,516 (moderate/severe) and US$8,952 (remission/mild). The indirect costs represent US$1,191 for CD and US$376 for UC (Fig 1F). Conclusion The disability rate of CD is 25% [20-34%], this study reports 18.4%. CD was associated with higher rates of hospitalization and increase in cost of health care resources, compared to UC patients.

Effect of Opportunity Recognition Competence on Youth Empowerment in Selected States in Northeast Nigeria

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of opportunity recognition competence on youth empowerment in Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe states in Northeast, Nigeria. Some researches have reported that many youths in Northeast, Nigeria do not engage in entrepreneurship practice and are at the fore front of those carrying out most of the deadly attacks and committing social vices that have rocked the Northeast zone for many years. The population consisted of 1,694 indigenous youth from Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe states who participated in training at the skill upgrading and vocational training center from 2017-2021. A sample size of 322 was determined using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size determination table. Given the heterogeneity of the population for each state, Bowley’s sample allocation formula was applied for the determination of proportionate sample size for each state while stratified and simple random sampling techniques were adopted for selecting the study participants. The quantitative data were collected through standardized questionnaire adapted from previous related studies and analysed through descriptive statistics and path analysis. All measurement items on the adapted questionnaire were carefully reworded then subjected to the criticisms of experts in the field for content and face validity. The construct reliability and internal consistency of the instrument was determined through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Out of 322 copies of questionnaire administered, 305 representing 94.72 percent were returned. However, out of this number, only 289 copies of questionnaire representing 89.75% were correctly filled and thus suitable for data analysis. The results showed that opportunity recognition skill had a significant effect on youth empowerment (β=-0.307, P&gt;.001) in selected states in the Northeast, Nigeria. The paper recommends that Northeast state governments of Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe and community leaders should engage in vigorous media literacy to mobilize greater youth participation in skill acquisition programmes and also establish well-funded vocational training centers along with industrial parks in each state. Successful indigenous entrepreneurs should be encouraged with tax holidays in exchange for providing apprenticeship training to interested indigenous youths over a stipulated time frame. Keywords: Opportunity recognition, Skill acquisition, Youth empowerment, Northeast Nigeria

Food Purchase from Family Farming in Public Institutions in the Northeast of Brazil: A Tool to Reach Sustainable Development Goals

The purchase of food from family farming in public institutions in Brazil was boosted by the implementation of the public call modality. The National School Feeding Program—PNAE— and the Food Acquisition Program—PAA— are world references in terms of purchasing food from family farming. However, hindrances are still observed regarding the participation of small farmers in public purchase of food, reducing their participation and scope of the food products available. Using a cross-sectional approach, this study analyzed food from family farming purchased by federal institutes of education located at the northeast region of Brazil to characterize the profile of family farmers participating on public calls, identify the food required and verify the processing level of food present into these documents. The data obtained indicate that family farmers supply mainly in natura or minimally processed foods, especially fruits. Meat and meat products were not present and processed foods, such as cheese, were not purchased extensively from family farmers by federal institutes, even when farmers were grouped into cooperatives and associations. Failure to comply with sanitary requirements required in the public call process was the main reason for the non-homologation of some food from family farming. The data found in this study show that despite the advances that allowed the purchase of food from family farming in public educational institutions, it is necessary to find ways to increase the diversity of food. Investing in improving structural conditions would be a way to increase the quality and diversity of food provided by family farming in public institutions, contributing to the environmental, social, and health dimensions of sustainability.

Miniaturized methane detection system based on photoacoustic spectroscopy

AbstractAs an important means of trace gas detection, photoacoustic spectroscopy mainly detects gas concentration indirectly through the thermal effect of light. Methane detection system based on photoacoustic spectrum has great application prospect in environmental pollution detection and industrial production. As a container for loading methane, the shape and quality of the photoacoustic cell will have a huge impact on the final detection results. To improve the operability of the photoacoustic spectrum technology in practical application, this system improves the traditional photoacoustic cell. The integrated micro photoacoustic cell designed with 3D printing technology has a volume of 9 cm3 and a theoretical resonance frequency of 11 000 Hz. Based on LabVIEW platform, a frequency sweep program and a concentration acquisition program were set up in the experiment. The frequency sweep experiment was carried out in an environment filled with methane in the photoacoustic cell. Based on the theoretical knowledge of photoacoustic spectroscopy, it can be known that the sound pressure detected by microphones is proportional to the concentration of methane in the photoacoustic cell. Methane with gradient concentration is passed into the photoacoustic cell for concentration calibration experiment, and the second harmonic peak detected at different concentrations is linearly fitted, and the line R2 = 0.99919. By calculating Allan variance, it can be obtained that the minimum detection of the system can reach 6.89 ppm when the integration time is 49 s.

SonicPy: a suite of programs for ultrasound pulse-echo data acquisition and analysis

ABSTRACT Sound speed and elastic constants measurements in solids and liquids are commonly performed using the ultrasound pulse-echo technique. Recent advances have expanded the use of this technique at numerous high pressure synchrotron beamlines and offline laboratories. However, the increased experimental throughput has revealed many limitations in existing software for handling the rapid measurement and the subsequent data-reduction. We report the development of a collection of computer programs for sound speed measurements using the ultrasound pulse-echo technique, compatible with stepped multi-frequency, as well as broadband-pulse, couplant-corrected methods. The programs provide a highly interactive graphical interface, enable efficient measurement, exploration and near real-time analysis of the ultrasound data, and contain features useful for working with samples under high pressure and/or high temperature. The included analysis programs can alleviate the time required for data reduction from hours to less than a minute, allowing users to make timely and informed decisions regarding the appropriate experimental parameters.

Energy efficient indoor wireless communication techniques based on BLE technology

The paper presents the design of a wireless communication system for short-range, high-speed, and multi-node information acquisition based on BLE5.0 technology, targeting indoor wearable applications. The system employs the Nordic nRF52832 microcontroller, which integrates BLE5.0 transceivers, as the core, and includes designs for master-slave node communication, data acquisition, hardware circuitry, embedded and upper computer programs. The system is validated through upper computer software for device networking, multi-node data acquisition, and communication speed. The power consumption and communication distance of the devices are tested using a measurement device. The designed multi-node BLE5.0 communication system in this paper provides a technical foundation for the design of relevant short-range IoT applications and has broad application prospects.

Case Study of IT Basic Skills Acquisition Program in Recurrent Education

Case Study of IT Basic Skills Acquisition Program in Recurrent Education

Problems of the Relocation Scheme in Pegi -Kuje Area of the Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T) Abuja.

This paper examines the problems of the relocation scheme at pegi in Kuje area council of the FCT, Nigeria. The study elicited data from 100 respondents who were selected from houses built by government and individuals. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire using cluster sampling technique to give equal representation of relocatees both in government constructed quarters and owner constructed quarters, where 50 questionnaires were administered to each quarters to form a sample frame and statistically analysed to test for differences in the housing quality, access to public services, occupational structure and income level using Independent sample t test, custom table and chi-square, so as to ascertain the degree of accomplishment of the resettlement committee’s recommendation to the effect that the exercise should bring about improvement in the people’s living through provision of basic amenities in their new domain. It was observed that relocation of the people of Idu-Karmo to Pegi has influenced their occupations negatively and has caused a general decline in their income level and has also worsened their access to quality public services, but has brought about better housing and also proximity to school and clinic but these public facilities are substandard . It was recommended among others, that government should engage affected persons in skills acquisition program and also grant them soft loans to boost their businesses alongside ensuring proper monitoring in order to build their human capacity and self-reliance. It is also imperative that government provides them with better health and educational facilities to utilize services at a subsidized rate which will prevent relocatees from plunging into poverty if they needed to rely solely on out of pocket financing to meet these needs.

Rationale and processes of residential buyout programs: A review on buyout regulations and consequences in Japan and the U.S.

AbstractGovernment acquisition of residential land has played a growing role in the reconstruction of housing in safer places and reduction of water‐related risks. This paper explores how the rationales and processes of residential buyouts may result in different consequences for coastal recovery, mitigation, and residents' wellbeing referring to government documents and existing literature, we explored the characteristics of buyout programs in Japan and the U.S., identified consequences of mitigation and recovery, and deduced the effects of community buyouts. Our study revealed buyout programs could reduce risk exposure, enhance sustainable and resilient coastal rewilding, housing recovery, and building of community resilience. However, they could also contribute to limiting homeowners' opportunities to make their own choices to stay or relocate, the distribution of residents into unfamiliar communities, creation of checkerboard patterns of acquired properties, and un‐utilized vast vacant lands. These results suggest that planners and disaster managers need careful consideration to redesign and manage property acquisition programs that not only increase regional resilience, but also are equitable for affected residents and utilization of acquired lands.

Teaching a Child with Autism to Identify 2D Objects to Increase Receptive Language

Receptive language was targeted in a skill acquisition program to teach a six-year-old boy with autism to receptively identify 2D objects. The program involved teaching a set target list with various objects categorized under various everyday functions in the child’s life. The child was taught to identify objects in an array of three presented in front of the student. The program was run daily; generally, the trials were broken up into two sessions over the course of the morning. Once the child mastered the set of three objects, he would move to the next set of three objects. Mastered target objects were put onto maintenance schedules. The results demonstrate data from baseline, pretesting of a set of targets and skill acquisition over several weeks.

Three-part Harmony for Program Managers Who Just Don't Get It, Yet

This article examines three tools in the system acquisitions toolbox that can work to expedite development and procurement while mitigating programmatic risk: OSS, open standards, and the Agile/Scrum software development processes are all powerful additions to the DoD acquisition program management toolbox.

Development plan based on analyzing the actual conditions of Korea's defense base area

This study aims to derive a customized development plan for the defense base area centered on the Gyeongsangnam-do and Changwon special cities, which are representative bases in the domestic defense industry. The areas account for more than 40% of the defense sales and the number of employees based on domestic defense companies. Their status and importance increased as they were selected as the first defense innovation cluster pilot project in Korea by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. For the research method, management performance (sales, R&amp;D investment, number of employees, exports) and difficulties factors were analyzed by targeting 490 defense companies located in Gyeongnam from 2018 to 2021. Based on the results, considerable strengths and opportunity factors were derived in the fields of industry composition, defense supply chain, parts localization, workforce training, and cooperation networks, and the creation of a favorable management environment for defense SMEs was suggested. In the future, to facilitate the localization of defense materials and parts through the defense innovation cluster project, and to establish an effective mid- to long-term defense industry promotion strategy, an accurate analysis of the current situation and competitiveness of defense companies in the Gyeongnam region is required.