Behavioral Assumptions Underlying Business Models of Retail E-Commerce Ventures

This paper focuses on two research questions: (1) What assumptions regarding changes in online consumer behavior are implicit in the business models of retail ecommerce ventures? (2) Based on potential match between a business model’s assumptions and anticipated consumer response, what generalizations can be made about the potential success of retail e-commerce ventures? An interpretive framework that helps answer these questions is presented

Needle in the Cyberstack: Consumer Search For Information in the Web-Based Marketspace

With a few simple clicks, consumers can navigate the World Wide Web, move from site to site, access and examine vast amounts of information unconstrained by time and place which have traditionally restricted consumer behavior in the physical marketplace. At least, that is according to theory. Information search on the Internet should, therefore, increase since search costs are reduced. But empirical evidence seems to suggest otherwise. Why aren=t consumers searching for more information? Although the Internet reduces the cost of physical effort in moving from store to store, it may not reduce the cognitive cost of moving from site to site. Further, if consumers\u27 motivation to shop online is to reduce effort and save time, why should one expect consumers to search for more information even if the search costs are relatively lower

Highly Sensitive Luminescent Bioassay Using Recombinant Escherichia coli Biosensor for Rapid Detection of Low Cr(VI) Concentration in Environmental Water

In this study, we constructed a recombinant Escherichia coli strain with different promoters inserted between the chromate-sensing regulator chrB and the reporter gene luxAB to sense low hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) concentrations (<0.05 mg/L); subsequently, its biosensor characteristics (sensitivity, selectivity, and specificity) for measuring Cr(VI) in various water bodies were evaluated. The luminescence intensity of each biosensor depended on pH, temperature, detection time, coexisting carbon source, coexisting ion, Cr(VI) oxyanion form, Cr(VI) concentration, cell type, and type of medium. Recombinant lux-expressing E. coli with the T7 promoter (T7-lux-E. coli, limit of detection (LOD) = 0.0005 mg/L) had the highest luminescence intensity or was the most sensitive for Cr(VI) detection, followed by E. coli with the T3 promoter (T3-lux-E. coli, LOD = 0.001 mg/L) and that with the SP6 promoter (SP6-lux-E. coli, LOD = 0.005 mg/L). All biosensors could be used to determine whether the Cr(VI) standard was met in terms of water quality, even when using thawing frozen cells as biosensors after 90-day cryogenic storage. The SP6-lux-E. coli biosensor had the shortest detection time (0.5 h) and the highest adaptability to environmental interference. The T7-lux-E. coli biosensor—with the optimal LOD, a wide measurement range (0.0005–0.5 mg/L), and low deviation (−5.0–7.9%) in detecting Cr(VI) from industrial effluents, domestic effluents, and surface water—is an efficient Cr(VI) biosensor. This unprecedented study is to evaluate recombinant lux E. coli with dissimilar promoters for their possible practice in Cr(VI) measurement in water bodies, and the biosensor performance is clearly superior to that of past systems in terms of detection time, LOD, and detection deviation for real water samples

Protective effect of nerolidol on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury through the inhibition of NF-kappa B activation by the reduction of p38 MAPK and JNK phosphorylation

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe syndrome, and there are no effective therapeutic appropriate medicines. Nerolidol, which exists in the essential oils of aromatic plants and flowers, exhibits antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study evaluated the potential protective effect of nerolidol in ALI and the related mechanism in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice. Here, nerolidol inhibited the LPS-induced neutrophil and other leukocyte infiltration of the alveolar space. LPS increased cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules, and proinflammatory protein production was inhibited by nerolidol. LPS-induced phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, p38 MAPK, JNK, ERK were inhibited by nerolidol. The inhibitory concentration of nerolidol for the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and its upstream factors, p38 MAPK and JNK, was similar to the inflammatory responses of ALI. In conclusion, nerolidol is a potential protective agent in ALI via the inhibition of NF-κB activation and its upstream factors phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and JNK

Fast growth of large-grain and continuous MoS2 films through a self-capping vapor-liquid-solid method

Here, the authors develop a self-capping vapour-liquid-solid reaction to fabricate large-grain continuous MoS2 films, whereby an intermediate liquid phase-Na2Mo2O7 is formed through a eutectic reaction of MoO3 and NaF, followed by sulphurisation into MoS2

Developing a Prognostic Gene Panel of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Patients by a Machine Learning Model

Epithelial ovarian cancer patients usually relapse after primary management. We utilized the support vector machine algorithm to develop a model for the chemo-response using the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and validated the model in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the GSE9891 dataset. Finally, we evaluated the feasibility of the model using ovarian cancer patients from our institute. The 10-gene predictive model demonstrated that the high response group had a longer recurrence-free survival (RFS) (log-rank test, p = 0.015 for TCGA, p = 0.013 for GSE9891 and p = 0.039 for NTUH) and overall survival (OS) (log-rank test, p = 0.002 for TCGA and p = 0.016 for NTUH). In a multivariate Cox hazard regression model, the predictive model (HR: 0.644, 95% CI: 0.436⁻0.952, p = 0.027) and residual tumor size < 1 cm (HR: 0.312, 95% CI: 0.170⁻0.573, p < 0.001) were significant factors for recurrence. The predictive model (HR: 0.511, 95% CI: 0.334⁻0.783, p = 0.002) and residual tumor size < 1 cm (HR: 0.252, 95% CI: 0.128⁻0.496, p < 0.001) were still significant factors for death. In conclusion, the patients of high response group stratified by the model had good response and favourable prognosis, whereas for the patients of medium to low response groups, introduction of other drugs or clinical trials might be beneficial

A DNA Damage Response Gene Panel for Different Histologic Types of Epithelial Ovarian Carcinomas and Their Outcomes

DNA damage response (DDR) is important for maintaining genomic integrity of the cell. Aberrant DDR pathways lead to accumulation of DNA damage, genomic instability and malignant transformations. Gene mutations have been proven to be associated with epithelial ovarian cancer, and the majority of the literature has focused on BRCA. In this study, we investigated the somatic mutation of DNA damage response genes in epithelial ovarian cancer patients using a multiple-gene panel with next-generation sequencing. In all, 69 serous, 39 endometrioid and 64 clear cell carcinoma patients were enrolled. Serous carcinoma patients (69.6%) had higher percentages of DDR gene mutations compared with patients with endometrioid (33.3%) and clear cell carcinoma (26.6%) (p < 0.001, chi-squared test). The percentages of DDR gene mutations in patients with recurrence (53.9 vs. 32.9% p = 0.006, chi-squared test) or cancer-related death (59.2 vs. 34.4% p = 0.001, chi-squared test) were higher than those without recurrence or living patients. In endometrioid carcinoma, patients with ≥2 DDR gene mutations had shorter PFS (p = 0.0035, log-rank test) and OS (p = 0.015, log-rank test) than those with one mutation or none. In clear cell carcinoma, patients with ≥2 DDR gene mutations had significantly shorter PFS (p = 0.0056, log-rank test) and OS (p = 0.0046, log-rank test) than those with 1 DDR mutation or none. In the EOC patients, somatic DDR gene mutations were associated with advanced-stage tumor recurrence and tumor-related death. Type I EOC patients with DDR mutations had an unfavorable prognosis, especially for clear cell carcinoma

Associations of polyunsaturated fatty acids with residual depression or anxiety in older people with major depression

BACKGROUNDS: Depression in late life often follows a chronic course with residual depressive and anxiety symptoms. Levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been found to be depleted in people with major depression in the acute stage. Additionally, lower omega-3 PUFA levels have been suggested to be associated with anxiety. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PUFAs levels (omega-3 or omega-6) are correlated with residual depressive or anxiety symptoms in older people with previous depression. METHODS: Participants aged 60 years or over with previous major depression in remission were enrolled from outpatient psychiatric services of four hospitals. Participants with residual depressive symptoms were defined as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores>5, and those with anxiety were defined as sum of scores for the two anxiety subscale of HDRS≧2. The levels of fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes and in plasma were measured separately by gas chromatography. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty two older people with previous major depression (mean age of 68 years, range 60-86 years) were analyzed. Erythrocyte membrane linoleic acid levels had a curvilinear association with depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms. Plasma linoleic acid levels were found to have a negative linear relationship with depressive symptoms. No significant associations were found between any omega-3 fatty acid level and depressive or anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSION: Linoleic acid levels may be a possible biomarker for residual depression and anxiety in older people with previous depression. Possible clinical applications need further investigation