The Impact on the Brazilian Economy of the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro in 2016

Purpose: This study aims to examine the influence of channel power and influence strategy, in terms of non-coercive strategies, on sanitary equipment manufacturers' relationships with channel members and channel performance.   Theoretical framework: The study is based on the literature on channel relationships, which suggests that using an influence strategy can contribute to managing the relationship with the channel members and benefit organization performance.   Design/Methodology/Approach:  In this study, we sampled from a sanitary equipment manufacturer's channel strategy. We used survey data to examine the effect of channel management strategies from sanitary equipment manufacturers on distributors.   Findings: The finding indicates that a supplier using economic power tends to adopt non-coercive strategies. In addition, economic power and non-coercive strategies positively affect the continuity of the relationship with distributors. Relationship continuity between manufacturers and distributors positively impacts whole channel performance.   Originality/Value: This study sampled the distributors in the sanitary equipment industry, a market in which the consumers are not knowledgeable about the products. Most consumers base their purchase decisions heavily on the channel member’s recommendations. Therefore, how to manage the relationship with the channel members is critical to understand.   Research, Practical & Social implications: Distributors are regarded as an extension of the company's sales capabilities. Channels have always held an essential position in the industry. Maintaining relationships between distributors and improving channel performance is a critical question in distribution management

Examining the online reading behavior and performance of fifth-graders: evidence from eye-movement data

Online reading is developing at an increasingly rapid rate, but the debate concerning whether learning is more effective when using hypertexts than when using traditional linear texts is still persistent. In addition, several researchers stated that online reading comprehension always starts with a question, but little empirical evidence has been gathered to investigate this claim. This study used eye-tracking technology and retrospective think aloud technique to examine online reading behaviors of fifth-graders (N = 50). The participants were asked to read four texts on the website. The present study employed a three-way mixed design: 2 (reading ability: high vs. low) 2 (reading goals: with vs. without) 2 (text types: hypertext vs. linear text). The dependent variables were eye-movement indices and the frequencies of using online reading strategy. The results show that fifth-graders, irrespective of their reading ability, found it difficult to navigate the nonlinear structure of hypertexts when searching for and integrating information. When they read with goals, they adjusted their reading speed and the focus of their attention. Their offline reading ability also influenced their online reading performance. These results suggest that online reading skills and strategies have to be taught in order to enhance the online reading abilities of elementary-school students

The efficiency of endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan for pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Oral bosentan has been widely applied in pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD). A systemic review and meta-analysis was conducted for a therapeutic evaluation of oral bosentan in both adult and pediatric patients with PAH-CHD. The acute responses and a long-term effect were respectively assessed in a comparison with baseline characteristics, and the improvement of exercise tolerance was analyzed. METHODS: PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of clinical controlled trails or observational studies have been searched for a recording of bosentan effects on the PAH-CHD participants. For mortality and rate of adverse events (AEs), it was described in detail. Randomized-effects model or fixed-effects model was used to calculate different effective values with a sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were pooled in this review, and 3 studies enrolled the pediatric patients. Among all studies, 456 patients were diagnosed with PAH-CHD, and 91.7% were treated with oral bosentan. With a term less than 6 months of bosentan therapy, there existed a significant improvement in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and the World Health Organization functional class (WHO-FC), but no such differences in Borg dyspnea index scores (BDIs) and the resting oxygen saturation (SpO2). Although with a prolonged treatment, not only 6MWD and FC, but also the resting SpO2 and heart rate were changed for a better exercise capability. Additionally, compared with the basic cardiopulmonary hemodynamics, it showed a statistically significant difference in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRi). Although a limitation of pooled studies with comparative outcomes of different terms, outcomes presented a lower WHO-FC which contributes to a success in a prolonged treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Bosentan in PAH-CHD is well established and still requires clinical trials for an identification of its efficiency on CHD patients for an optimized period lessening a serious complication and the common AEs

Social housing residents\u27 community participation under the impact of lease period restrictions

Community participation is the foundation of a community’s healthy environment and sustainable development. Social housing can provide people without their own homes and underprivileged groups with more secure conditions to live and work and thereby realize housing justice and reduce social vulnerability. In terms of community management, residents’ engagement in community affairs can dramatically reduce the subsequent burden of environmental maintenance and community management, which encourage residents in the community to actively pass on the habit of maintenance and to collectively create resilient and sustainable communities. However, lease term restrictions in Taiwan’s social housing policy stipulates that ordinary tenants can only rent the house for 6 years at a maximum and tenants with special conditions for 12. This study attempts to understand whether lease term restrictions affect residents’ willingness to participate in community affairs. In addition, we also try to find out how to motivate residents to participate in community construction under the existence of lease term restrictions. The scope of this study focuses on citizens who qualified to rent social housing in the Greater Taipei area (including Taipei City and New Taipei). We designed a questionnaire for our target audience, tested its reliability and validity and picked random-selected samples to finish the questionnaire. Analyzing from the perspective of Egoism, we find out that the result of this research shows that residents do not commonly avoid participation in community affairs. Although lease term restrictions do have some effects on residents\u27 willingness to participate, they are still willing to participate since issues of safety and environmental quality have a direct impact on their lives. However, the residents’ chief consideration is how time spent in participation affects one’s time. Also, though substantial returning benefit is not the main consideration when deciding whether to participate, it does effectively boost residents’ willingness. Furthermore, community member relations is found to have a positive correlation with their willingness to participate

Enhancement of Cancer Immunotherapy Using Immune Modulating Peptides

poster abstractImmune Peptide Therapeutics (IPT) LLC, an Indiana-based small business and its research partner Indiana University previously identified a novel property of lunasin as a distinct class of immune modulating agent that enhances anti-tumor immunity, which may promote disease-free survival by limiting tumor progression, and thus prolong lives of cancer patients. Lunasin, a synthetic 43-amino acid peptide, was originally isolated from soybeans. Our studies have demonstrated that lunasin exerts robust synergistic effects with cytokines on augmenting IFNγ and granzyme B expression by Natural Killer (NK) cells, which is associated with increased tumoricidal activity of NK cells. In addition, this combination regimen is capable of rescuing IFNγ production ex vivo by NK cells from chemotherapy-treated Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) patients who are immunocompromised with acquired immune deficiency. The long-term goal is to develop an efficacious immunotherapy which will impact the treatment and improve the clinical outcomes for NHL patients. The dose-response study indicates the optimum concentration of lunasin is at the range of μM, which would undermine its use in clinical studies. To enhance the medicinal value lunasin must be optimized for in vitro and in vivo efficacy. The objective is to develop a second generation of lunasin, which will increase its potency to improve the performance. In this study we have implemented several strategies to design and modify the prototype. The newly developed peptide called IPT.103 has 15 amino acids that are in the D-isoform configuration. Activity of IPT.103 has been tested in vitro with EC50 of 0.78 μM as compared to 4.54 μM for lunasin. IPT.103 also has in vivo activity on enhancing the serum levels of IFNγ production using a mouse model. Taken together, we have developed a peptide derivative (IPT.103) that deviates from its parental type lunasin to increase intellectual merit for commercialization as well as support clinical application

Lasing on nonlinear localized waves in curved geometry

The use of geometrical constraints opens many new perspectives in photonics and in fundamental studies of nonlinear waves. By implementing surface structures in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers as manifolds for curved space, we experimentally study the impacts of geometrical constraints on nonlinear wave localization. We observe localized waves pinned to the maximal curvature in an elliptical-ring, and confirm the reduction in the localization length of waves by measuring near and far field patterns, as well as the corresponding dispersion relation. Theoretically, analyses based on a dissipative model with a parabola curve give good agreement remarkably to experimental measurement on the transition from delocalized to localized waves. The introduction of curved geometry allows to control and design lasing modes in the nonlinear regime.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Modulating NK-mediated Immunity by Lunakine

poster abstractDespite the plethora of immune modulating agents available in cancer treatment, their effectiveness relies on a functional immune system. However, the adverse side effects by chemotherapy impede the therapeutic benefits from immunotherapy. It remains a major challenge to prevent relapse for cancer patients who have already undergone rigorous chemotherapy. Lunasin, a 43-amino acid peptide, was originally isolated from soybeans. Our team has recently discovered a novel function of lunasin as an immune modulating agent that exerts robust synergistic effects imposed by several therapeutic cytokines. Such synergism strongly augments IFNγ and granzyme B expression by Natural Killer (NK) cells, which is associated with increased tumoricidal activity. The combination regimen with lunasin and cytokine is capable of restoring NK activation from lymphoma patients with chemotherapy-induced immune dysfunction. Our results support the potential application of lunasin to improve the therapeutic effects of existing cytokine treatment that has been used to eliminate residual tumors cells from lymphoma patients after chemotherapy. We designate lunakine as new formulation by combing lunasin and selected cytokine (filed for US Patent Cooperation Treat). In working with Indiana University and Technology Corporation (IURTC), we have started a startup company, Immune Peptide Therapeutics (IPT), LLC. Our mission is to develop a more efficacious immunotherapy that prevents relapse and confers progression-free survival for cancer patients. With the support from FORCES, our team has successfully developed a second generation of lunasin called IPT.103 that deviates from its parental type. Activity of IPT.103 has been tested in vitro with EC50 of 0.78 μM as compared to 4.54 μM for lunasin, indicating an improved potency to induce IFNγ production by NK cells. The newly developed peptide IPT.103 is expected to strengthen the intellectual property (IP) position for commercialization. We are currently working on tumor models for preclinical assessment of IPT’s regimens in immunotherapy for lymphoma

Anisotropic g factors of the tetragonal Cu²⁺ monomer in Tl-2223 superconductor

The gyromagnetic factors of the Cu²⁺ monomer in Tl-2223 superconductor are quantitatively investigated from the perturbation formulas of these factors for a 3d⁹ ion in a tetragonally elongated octahedron. The local tetragonal distortion of the system is attributable to the axial elongation along c axis, corresponding to the five-fold coordinated Cu²⁺(2) site with almost 30% longer Cu–O bond length for the apical oxygen as compared to the four planar ones. The significant anisotropic behaviors of the EPR spectra perpendicular to and parallel with the ab (CuO₂) layers are analyzed on the basis of the local tetragonal elongation

catena-Poly[[[diaqua­cadmium(II)]-bis­[μ-3,5-bis­(isonicotinamido)benzoato]] tetra­hydrate]

The title compound, {[Cd(C19H13N4O4)2(H2O)2]·4H2O}n or {[Cd(BBA)2(H2O)2]·4H2O}n, where BBA is 3,5-bis­(iso­nicotin­amido)­benzoate, is isotypic with its Mn isologue [Chen et al. (2009 ▶). J. Coord. Chem. 62, 2421–2428]. The cation sits on a twofold axis and is six-coordinated in a slightly distorted octa­hedral geometry; the polyhedra are linked into zigzag chains, which are further connected by N—H⋯O, O—H⋯O and O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds as well as π–π inter­actions [centroid-centroid distance of 3.639 (2) Å], giving a three-dimensional supra­molecular framework