Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brand Portfolio Strategy: Creating Relevance, Differentiation, Energy, Leverage, and Clarity

Contents Preface Acknowledgments Part I: What is Brand Portfolio Strategy? Chapter 1. Brand Portfolio Strategy The Intel Case What Is a Brand Portfolio Strategy? Dimensions of the Brand Portfolio Strategy Brand Portfolio Objectives Chapter 2. The Brand Relationship Spectrum The Disney Brand Family Master Brands, Endorsers, Subbrands, and Driver Roles Linking Brands -- The Brand Relationship Spectrum A House of Brands Endorsed Brands Subbrands A Branded House Selecting the Right Position in the Brand Relationship Spectrum Chapter 3. Inputs to Brand Portfolio Decisions Microsoft Citigroup Market Forces and Dynamics Business Strategy Brand Equities and Identities The Brand Portfolio Audit Managing the Brand Portfolio Part II. Creating Relevance, Differentiation, and Energy Chapter 4. Brand Relevance PowerBar What Is Relevance? Strategies to Create or Maintain Relevance Relevance vs. Stick to Your Knitting Chapter 5. Energizing and Differentiating the Brand Sony Differentiating and Energizing a Brand Branded Differentiators Branded Energizers Managing Branded Differentiators and Energizers Chapter 6. Accessing Strategic Assets: Brand Alliances Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition Co-Master Branded Offerings External Branded Differentiators External Branded Energizers Tactical Brand Alliances Developing Effective Brand Alliances Part III. Leveraging Brand Assets Chapter 7. Leveraging the Brand into New Product-Markets Dove Leveraging the Brand into New Offerings Will the Brand Enhance the Extension? Will the Extension Enhance the Brand? Is There a Compelling Need for a New Brand? Putting Extension Risks into Perspective Creating Range Brand Platforms Chapter 8. Participating in Upscale and Value Markets GE Appliances Marriott The Vertical Brand Extension Moving the Brand Down Moving a Brand Up Part IV. Bringing Focus and Clarity to the Brand Portfolio Chapter 9. Leveraging the Corporate Brand Dell United Parcel Service (UPS) The Corporate Brand Why Leverage the Corporate Brand? Challenges in Managing the Corporate Brand Endorser Role Changing the Corporate Brand Name Chapter 10. Toward Focus and Clarity Unilever Ford vs. BMW Too Many Brands? Too Many Product Variants: Decision Fatigue Strategic Brand Consolidation Epilogue: Brand Portfolio Strategy -- 20 Takeaways Notes Index
Rebonding effects in separation and surface-diffusion barrier energies of an adatom pair.

For Al adatom pairs on Al(100), first-principles calculations imply a small separation energy of 0.07 eV, resulting from Al-surface rebonding as adatom-adatom bonds break. Calculated barriers for Al-pair and single-Al diffusion are 0.66 and 0.80 eV. The pair barrier is lower because pairs reside farther above surfaces, where potential corrugation is weaker, and because an Al surmounting a barrier gains energy from its partner, whose bond to the surface strengthens.
Trade and Search: Social Capital, Sogo Shosha, and Spillovers

A network/search view of international trade in differentiated products is proposed. It is shown that this view can explain the importance of ethnic and extended family ties in trade, the success of diversified trading intermediaries such as Japan's sogo shosha, and the ubiquity of government export promotion policies such as subsidized trade missions.
The rubber hand illusion in children with autism spectrum disorders: delayed influence of combined tactile and visual input on proprioception

In the rubber hand illusion, perceived hand ownership can be transferred to a rubber hand after synchronous visual and tactile stimulation. Perceived body ownership and self–other relation are foundational for development of self-awareness, imitation, and empathy, which are all affected in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We examined the rubber hand illusion in children with and without ASD. Children with ASD were initially less susceptible to the illusion than the comparison group, yet showed the effects of the illusion after 6 minutes. Delayed susceptibility to the illusion may result from atypical multisensory temporal integration and/or an unusually strong reliance on proprioception. Children with ASD who displayed less empathy were significantly less likely to experience the illusion than those with more intact ability to express empathy. A better understanding of body representation in ASD may elucidate neural underpinnings of social deficits, thus informing future intervention approaches.
Human impacts and the global distribution of extinction risk

Understanding the global geographical distribution of extinction risk is a key challenge in conservation biology. It remains controversial, however, to what extent areas become threat hotspots simply because of high human impacts or due to predisposing ecological conditions. Limits to the taxonomic and geographical extent, resolution and quality of previously available data have precluded a full global assessment of the relative roles of these factors. Here, we use a new global database on the geographical distributions of birds on continents and continental islands to show that, after controlling for species richness, the best predictors of the global pattern of extinction risk are measures of human impact. Ecological gradients are of secondary importance at a global scale. The converse is true for individual biogeographic realms, within which variation in human impact is reduced and its influence on extinction risk globally is therefore underestimated. These results underline the importance of a global perspective on the mechanisms driving spatial patterns of extinction risk, and the key role of anthropogenic factors in driving the current extinction crisis.
Value Driven Intellectual Capital: How to Convert Intangible Corporate Assets Into Market Value

From the Publisher: Value-Driven Intellectual Capital is a corporate and financial executives' handbook to the new world of intangible assets - what they are and how to convert them into cash or strategic position. Value-Driven Intellectual Capital explains the new, boundary-expanding world of intellectual assets - where translating an innovative idea into bottom-line profits involves a tightly focused strategy with clear directives for making it happen. It is a blueprint for turning corporate knowledge, know-how, and intellectual property into a sustainable competitive weapon that will build a firm's reputation and market share. " "Value-Driven Intellectual Capital is for any corporate or financial executive, merger and acquisition partner or investor who understands how much future corporate survival and success depends on the simple enduring genius of a good idea and the need to convert those ideas into corporate value.
Home dialysis and the costs of uremia.

Two Special Articles in this issue focus on the federal program for the treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) — a subject that exemplifies almost all the kinds of problems we will have to solve if we are ever successfully to provide comprehensive national health insurance for catastrophic illness. Just before the 1972 elections, when Social Security benefits were being increased, the Senate abruptly voted to incorporate Section 2991 into Public Law 92–603 (originally known as "HR 1"), thus extending Medicare coverage for chronic renal failure to almost the entire population of the United States. Less than half an hour .
Intercellular transfer of antigen‐presenting cell determinants onto T cells: molecular mechanisms and biological significance

Upon physiological stimulation, receptors with tyrosine kinase activity (RTK) are rapidly internalized together with their soluble ligands. T cell activation is the consequence of recognition by the T cell receptor (TCR) of specific peptide‐major histocompatibility protein complexes (peptide‐MHC) present at the membrane of antigen‐presenting cells (APC). The TCR belongs to the RTK family and is known to be endocytosed upon ligand recognition. It differs from most other RTK in that its ligand, the peptide‐MHC complex, is membrane bound and the TCR‐ligand interaction is quite weak. Recent experiments have shown that the TCR ligand becomes internalized by T cells upon stimulation. Here we review current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms by which the membrane‐bound MHC molecules can be transferred onto T cells, and propose hypotheses on the role this phenomenon could play in physio‐pathological situations involving T cells. —Hudrisier, D. , Bongrand, P. Intercellular transfer of antigen‐presenting cell determinants onto T cells: molecular mechanisms and biological significance. FASEB J. 16, 477–486 (2002)
Expression of Phosphorylated KIT in Canine Mast Cell Tumor

Canine cutaneous mast cell tumor (MCT) is the most common canine skin tumor and exhibits variable biologic behavior. Signaling through the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase promotes cellular proliferation and survival and has been shown to play a role in MCT progression. Despite investigations into numerous biomarkers and the proposal of several grading schemas, no single marker or grading system can accurately predict outcome in canine MCT. The first aim of this study was to develop an immunohistochemical assay to measure phosphorylated KIT (pKIT) to investigate its association with 2 commonly used grading systems and other established prognostic markers for canine MCT. Thirty-four archived MCTs were evaluated for expression of pKIT and Ki-67, KIT localization, mitotic count, mutations in exons 8 and 11 in c-kit, and grading by the Patnaik and 2-tier systems. Expression of pKIT was significantly (P < .05) correlated with the 2-tier grading scheme and c-kit mutation. Correlation approached significance (P = .06) with Mitotic Index (MI) and Ki-67. An additional aim was to determine whether pKIT labeling provides a pharmacodynamic marker for predicting response to the receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor toceranib (TOC). MCTs from 4 of 7 patients demonstrated a partial response to TOC. pKIT expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in biopsies obtained before and 6 hours after the patients were treated with TOC. Reduced pKIT expression after TOC treatment was demonstrated in 3 of the 4 patients with a partial response compared to 1 of the 3 nonresponders. Collectively, these results demonstrate that immunohistochemical detection of pKIT may be a clinically relevant assay to evaluate the activation status of the major oncogenic pathway in canine MCT.
Scalable and energy-efficient reconfigurable accelerator for column-wise givens rotation

A new layered reconfigurable architecture is proposed which exploits modularity, scalability and flexibility to achieve high energy efficiency and memory bandwidth. Using two flavors of Column-wise Givens rotation, derived from traditional Fast Givens and Square root and Division Free Givens Rotation algorithms the architecture is thoroughly evaluated for scalability, speed, area and energy. Combining an efficient mapping strategy of the highly parallel algorithms capable of annihilation of multiple elements of a column of the input matrix and using the new features of the architecture, 9 architectural variants were explored achieving a clean trade-off of execution speed versus area, while keeping relatively constant energy.
The feed intake and heat production of the young black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus).

The feed intake, resting heat production, and growth rate of prepubertal black-tailed deer fawns of both sexes have been studied under captive conditions. Comparisons of these findings with those of other workers on domestic and other wild species are presented. The present results provide some explanation for the unusual growth behavior of this species when reared on a high plane of nutrition.
Development of a Vision-assisted Manometry Catheter for High-resolution Esophageal Manometry

High-resolution esophageal manometry is becoming a standard diagnostic method for esophageal motility disorders. High-resolution manometry catheters are inserted blindly, which sometimes results in coiling in the esophagus and failure to cross the crural diaphragm in patients with large hiatal hernias. The newly developed manometry catheter described in this report has an optical module in front of the catheter that provides forward images during insertion and prevents coiling and malplacement of the catheter. This case report describes the composition of a new manometry catheter with an optical module and shows that the new catheter functions well in both in vitro and in vivo settings. The new manometry catheter will help guide the right way and prevent coiling in the esophagus.
Culture and service quality expectations

Purpose – The main purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of individual‐level cultural dimensions on Generation Y consumers' expectations of service quality.Design/methodology/approach – Service quality and individual‐level cultural values were measured using existing scales from the literature. Factor analysis was conducted to verify the factor structures of both constructs while structural equation modeling was employed to examine the measures for cultural values and service quality dimensions.Findings – Four out of the five hypotheses are supported and the last one is partially confirmed in terms of directional support. Service quality expectations are positively related to uncertainty avoidance and long‐term orientation but negatively related to power distance. Masculinity and collectivism did not have a significant relationship. Service quality was found to be a three‐factor construct consisting of tangibles, reliability and responsiveness/empathy/assurance. Cultural values were confirmed .
To Die or Not To Die? A Review of Simulated Death

Summary Statement Simulation as an educational technique is increasingly used in health care to teach about managing critical events and life-threatening situations and, infrequently, to teach about death. There is considerable controversy over whether to allow the simulator to die during a session when death is not a predefined learning objective. Some educators never allow the simulator to die unless death is the objective of the scenario, and others allow the simulator to die unexpectedly during any scenario. We do not know whether such a fatal event may affect a student’s learning process and emotions, and no randomized trials have been conducted to determine the impact of simulated death. In this narrative review, we survey the literature on simulated death during health care training, present arguments for and against the broad incorporation of such training in curricula for health care providers, and outline recommendations for using death scenarios in health care simulation.
Asthma, Surgery, and General Anesthesia: A Review

Over 20 million Americans are affected with asthma. Many will require some type of surgical procedure during which their asthma management should be optimized. Preoperative assessment of asthma should include a specialized history and physical as well as pulmonary function testing. In many asthmatic patients, treatment with systemic corticosteroids and bronchodilators is indicated to prevent the inflammation and bronchoconstriction associated with endotracheal intubation. The use of corticosteroids has not been shown to adversely affect wound healing or increase the rate of infections postoperatively. Preoperative systemic corticosteroids may be used safely in the majority of patients to decrease asthma-related morbidity.
The Marketing and Sale of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) through Internet-Based Investment Bankers

Internet-based investment bankers provide companies with another sales channel for selling stock through initial public offerings (IPOs). The research issue that arises from this new process is to identify the differences between the traditional process and the new online process. Based on evidence from several investment banking firms that provide an electronic market for IPOs, we evaluate the new IPO sales process using transaction cost economics analysis. We find that the new online process typically results in benefits to the seller such as lower investment banker commissions and higher receipts from the sale, but also involves a higher level of risk when compared with the process that uses traditional investment bankers. Our overall conclusion is that the new process is a benefit to both IPO companies and investors because it provides an alternative online market that increases the level of competition for investment bankers and improves the overall efficiency of the market for IPOs.
Getting to the “Heart” of the Matter on Diabetic Cardiovascular Disease: “Thanks for the Memory”

Despite improved understanding of the pathogenesis of diabetes and the release of impressive new medications to control the condition, there remains a significant global diabetes burden. The latest International Diabetes Federation estimates indicate that 415 million (1 in 11 persons) have diabetes, and this will increase to 642 million or almost 10% of the general population by 2040 (1). Indeed, there are great individual, societal, and economic costs associated with diabetes. These costs clearly relate to the microvascular complications, which include retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, that have been attenuated by better glycemic control and macrovascular complications that are relatively abated by better lipid and blood pressure control. However, for individuals with diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the main problem. Diabetes and CVD are closely linked, and CVD remains the most prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality in both men and women with diabetes (2). Specifically, the relative risk for CVD morbidity and mortality in adults with diabetes ranges from 1 to 3 in men and from 2 to 5 in women compared with those without diabetes (3). Given the issues facing individuals with both diabetes and CVD, we urgently need effective evidence-based interventional strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk and improve outcomes. With the aim of advancing toward this challenging goal, our editorial team is featuring in the present issue of Diabetes Care a collection of articles that may help to clarify the mechanisms linking diabetes to CVD. These articles comment on the control of risk factors and biomarkers for CVD and provide new updates on outcomes of landmark studies. In addition, we have included commentaries on cardiovascular safety of newer diabetes drugs and provide insights on mechanisms of action for cardioprotection observed with some new agents (4–13). The need to control risk factors for CVD (lipids, blood …
A Nonradioactive High-Throughput/High-Content Assay for Measurement of the Human Serotonin Reuptake Transporter Function In Vitro

Both the tricyclic and specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor classes of antidepressants act primarily by inhibiting the reuptake of released serotonin by the human serotonin reuptake transporter (hSERT). In this article, the authors describe the use of a fluorescent substrate of the transporter (4-(4-(dimethylamino)-styrl)-N-methylpyridinium, ASP) to develop a microplate-based high-throughput screen for hSERT function. The assay is sensitive to known inhibitors of serotonin uptake, including fluoxetine (Prozac), with the correct rank order of potency and IC50 values close to those reported in the literature for tritiated serotonin uptake. The authors also describe the validation of the assay for natural product screening using a test set of 2400 pure phyto-chemicals and 80 plant extracts. The mean Ź of the screened plates was 0.53. Hit rates, confirmation rates, and validation of the hits in a “classical” assay for serotonin uptake are all reported. The assay can also be read in “high-content” mode using a subcellular imaging device, which allows direct detection of possible assay interference by acutely cytotoxic compounds. Among the compounds identified were several previously reported inhibitors of the hSERT, as well as compounds having structural similarity to the tricyclic antidepressant drugs.
The Influence of Receptor Occupation on Ca++ Influx‐ Mediated Vascular Smooth Muscle Contraction

A possible role of the agonist-induced intracellular calcium release process in mediating the utilization of the Ca++ ions which enter the smooth muscle cells during activation is proposed. The rate of refilling of the agonist-sensitive intracellularly bound calcium pool was found to be decreased when Ca++ influx was reduced by D-600 and increased when Ca++ influx was stimulated by KCl. Similarly, the rate of tension development in response to a stimulation of Ca++ influx by KCl was found to be slowed when the agonist-sensitive internal calcium pool had been depleted prior to addition of KCl and to be accelerated in the presence of an agonist capable of releasing this pool. These findings indicate that the agonist-sensitive internal Ca++ pool is capable of sequestering Ca++ which enters during the stimulation of Ca++ influx and that receptor occupation reduces the sequestration capacity of this pool. It is suggested that the agonist-induced internal calcium release process may play two roles in arterial smooth muscle activation: (1) the released Ca++ is directly involved in activation and (2) receptor occupation may reduce the ability of intracellular sites to sequester Ca++, thereby allowing more of the stimulated Ca++ influx to be utilized for activation.
Intestinal Microbiome and Lymphoma Development

AbstractThe intestinal microbiota and gut immune system must communicate to maintain a balance between tolerance and activation. Our immune system protects us from pathogenic microbes at the same time that our bodies are host to trillions of microbes, symbionts, mutualists, and some that are essential to human health. Since there is such a close interaction between the immune system and the intestinal microbiota, it is not surprising that some lymphomas such as mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma have been shown to be caused by the presence of certain bacteria. Animal models have played an important role in elucidating the causation and establishing the mechanism of bacteria-induced mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. In this review, we discuss different ways that animal models have been applied to investigate links between the gut microbiota and lymphoma and have helped to reveal the mechanisms of microbiota-induced lymphoma. Although there is a paucity of published studies demonstrating the interplay between the microbiota and lymphoma development, we believe that the connection is real and that it can be exploited in the future to enhance our understanding of causation and to improve the prognosis and treatment of lymphoma.