NMR and dielectric studies of hydrated collagen and elastin: Evidence for a delocalized secondary relaxation

Using a combination of dielectric spectroscopy and solid-state deuteron NMR, the hydration water dynamics of connective tissue proteins is studied at sub-ambient temperatures. In this range, the water dynamics follows an Arrhenius law. A scaling analysis of dielectric losses, 'two-phase' NMR spectra, and spin-lattice relaxation times consistently yield evidence for a Gaussian distribution of energy barriers. With the dielectric data as input, random-walk simulations of a large-angle, quasi-isotropic water reorientation provide an approximate description of stimulated-echo data on hydrated elastin. This secondary process takes place in an essentially rigid energy landscape, but in contrast to typical {\beta}-relaxations it is quasi-isotropic and delocalized. The delocalization is inferred from previous NMR diffusometry experiments. To emphasize the distinction from conventional {\beta}-processes, for aqueous systems such a matrix-decoupled relaxation was termed a {\nu}-process. It is emphasized that the phenomenology of this time-honored, 'new' process is shared by many non-aqueous binary glasses in which the constituent components exhibit a sufficient dynamical contrast

Positioning under strategic uncertainty

The purpose of this study is lo contribute to the knowledge of positioning by discussing and developing a conceptual framework suitable for describing and analyzing positioning in a strategically uncertain, rapidly changing environment which is significant in, for example, new, emerging industries. In this type of environment there isa great uncertainty about future strategic values.  In current theory, positioning is usually defined as a process to establish, maintain or develop a position for a product or organization by relating it to other products or organizations in an arena; through development, establishment and/or maintenance of attributes (values) so that the target audience perceives the product or company as the best. During the last three decades the approach has mostly been on conventional, established companies in mature industries. These theories and models do not discuss positioning and driving-forces in a strategically uncertain environment.  The unit of analysis is an industrial community where a focal firm, called a sponsor, holds a proprietary interest in a specific product design. The environment of the case is a new, rapidly growing, emerging industry: the Swedish personal computer industry in its first decade. The study is based on a longitudinal, reconstructed case study of the company Luxor Datorer and its relations to other actors in the environment (the new personal computer industry). The case comprises the period from 1978 to 1986 (and an epilog).  The major result of this study is a mode! of positioning in a strategically uncertain environment. In this type of environment positioning consists of three major, parallel part-processes, base-, key- and community-positioning, where the mix of these part-processes changes with time. Each part-process is dominating apart of the development from a very uncertain environment lo a less uncertain environment and by these changes one can identify three phases. The positioning is strongly influenced by internal and externa) driving-forces, in this study analyzed as two major driving-forces, competence development and rules of the "game" in the arena. The interna! driving-forces are changing from broadening competences to rendering competence more effective and the external driving-forces are changing from rules of the community to rules of the industry. In the first part (phase) of the new, emerging industry internal driving-forces have stronger influence than the external forces. In the last part (phase) the externa! forces are stronger.

Linköping University Post Print Value-added strategies and forward integration in the Swedish sawmill industry: positioning and profitability in the high-volume segment Value Added Strategies and Forward Integration in the Swedish Sawmill Industry -Positi

This is an electronic version of an article published in: Staffan Brege, Tomas Nord, Roland Sjöström and Lars Stehn, Value-added strategies and forward integration in the Swedish sawmill industry: positioning and profitability in the highvolume segment, 2010, SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH, There were no strong or significant correlations between size and profitability, playing down the importance of economies of scale (among these already large companies). An interesting result is the much higher profitability of the buying sawmill companies compared to the forest corporations, stressing the importance of both a long-term strategy when investing in value added activities and ultimately the priorities of ownership

Value-added strategies and forward integration in the Swedish sawmill industry: positioning and profitability in the high-volume segment

The changing market conditions for the Swedish sawmill industry place a focus on a better understanding of the pros and cons of value-added and forward integration strategies. The purpose of this article is to describe and explain recent value-added strategies in the Swedish sawmill industry. The study includes strategies from 13 of the 15 largest sawmill companies for the period between 2002 and 2005, describing a differentiation between value added in primary sawmill production and forward integration into secondary production. It also aims to relate some basic conditions, such as company size, company growth and corporate strategy, to value added and forward integration to profitability. The results show strong positive and significant correlations between forward integration, value added in primary production (somewhat weaker) and unit revenue, and profitability measured as return on investment. There were no strong or significant correlations between size and profitability, playing down the importance of economies of scale (among these already large companies). An interesting result is the much higher profitability of the buying sawmill companies compared with the forest corporations, stressing the importance of both a long-term strategy when investing in value-added activities and ultimately the priorities of ownership.This is an electronic version of an article published in: Staffan Brege, Tomas Nord, Roland Sjöström and Lars Stehn, Value-added strategies and forward integration in the Swedish sawmill industry: positioning and profitability in the high-volume segment, 2010, SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH, (25), 5, 482-493. SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH is available online at informaworldTM: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02827581.2010.496738 Copyright: Taylor &amp; Francis http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/default.asp</p

The Swedish furniture industry - a study of strategic groups and performance

The scope of this article is a longitudinal strategic group study with a special focus on the strategic group-performance relationship. The empirical context is the Swedish Furniture Industry, a very heterogeneous industry well suited for this type of "middle-ground study" between industry and firm levels. The research questions are finding suitable strategic dimensions to use when in a next step splitting up into different strategic groups followed by an analysis of the strategic group-performance relationship. Finally, an explanatory approach is taken with the purpose of increasing our understanding of performance differences between strategic groups. The empirical investigation is a total population study of 143 companies (micro companies excluded) and the period of analysis is 2004 up to 2017. Empirical data consist of yearly income statements, public statistics, results from two questionnaires and multiple (firm) case descriptions. The explanatory part is of a qualitative nature and points out the major differences between the strategic groups regarding environmental forces and competitive advantage. Nine strategic groups are identified and stable performance differences between groups are noted which are mainly related to different demand conditions between three customer sectors - household, institutional and B2B - but also to the mix of micro product/customer segments within these sectors.Funding Agencies|VINNOVAVinnova; Swedish Wood/Arbio</p

The Swedish wood manufacturing sector : findings from a contextually adapted structure-conduct-performance model

The scope of this article is an inter-industry study of the Swedish Wood Manufacturing Sector (WMS), examined from the perspective of the Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP) paradigm in the theoretical field of Industrial Organization. The four research questions are: (1) identify the industries within the sector, (2) construct a contextually adapted SCP model and form the basis for hypotheses of relationships between the different variables in the model, (3) establish quantitative correlations between the variables, and finally (4) present a basically qualitative, explanatory interpretive analysis. The empirical investigation is a total population study of 311 firms. Nine industries are identified, and an SCP model is presented including four explanatory variables - exposure to international competition, value-added scope, domestic demand growth potential and (domestic industry) seller concentration - and two performance variables - industry profitability (ROA) and industry growth. The combined qualitative and quantitative explanatory analysis identifies some important relationships in the SCP model. The most prominent findings are the strong negative relationships between exposure to international competition and industry profitability and industry growth. Another finding is that strong positive relationships are found between the degree of value-added scope and industry profitability and industry growth.Funding Agencies|VINNOVAVinnova</p

CT and 3 Tesla MRI in the TN Staging of Colon Cancer: A Prospective, Blind Study

(1) Background: Computer tomography (CT) scanning is currently the standard method for staging of colon cancer; however, the CT based preoperative local staging is far from optimal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared to CT in the T- and N-staging of colon cancer. (2) Methods: Patients underwent a standard contrast-enhanced CT examination. For the abdominal MRI scan, a 3 Tesla unit was used, including diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). Experienced radiologists reported the CT and MRI scans blinded to each other and the endpoint of the pathological report. (3) Results: From 2018 to 2021, 134 patients received CT and MRI scans. CT identified 118 of the 134 tumors, whereas MRI identified all tumors. For discriminating between stage T3ab and T3cd, the sensitivity of CT was 51.1% and of MRI 80.0% (p = 0.02). CT and MRI showed a sensitivity of 21.4% and 46.4% in detecting pT4 tumors and a specificity of 79.0% and 85.0%, respectively. (4) Conclusion: Compared to CT, the sensitivity of MRI was statistically significantly higher in staging advanced T3cd and T4 tumors. MRI has the potential to be used in the treatment planning of colon cancer