Strength In Numbers Research Articles

Strength in Numbers: A Giant NIR‐II AIEgen with One‐for‐All Phototheranostic Features for Exceptional Orthotopic Bladder Cancer Treatment

One‐for‐all phototheranostics that allows the simultaneous implementations of multiple optical imaging and therapeutic modalities by utilizing a single component, is growing into a sparkling frontier in cancer treatment. Of particular interest is phototheranostic agent with emission in the second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) window. Nevertheless, the practical uses of those conventional NIR‐II agents are severely impeded by their unsatisfactory features including insufficient stability, low synthetic yield, to be extended absorption/ emission wavelengths, and inefficient phototheranostic outcomes. Developing exceptional phototheranostic agents is thus highly desirable yet remains formidably challenging. Herein, we synthesized two novel N‐heteroacenes‐based NIR‐II luminogens, namely 2TT‐PPT and 4TT‐PBPT, by respectively employing pyrene‐fused phenaziothiadiazoles and pyrene‐fused bisphenaziothiadiazoles as acceptor skeletons. There is strength in numbers by increasing the fusing rings in N‐heteroacenes moieties and numbers of appended donors. Compared to less ring‐fused 2TT‐PPT, the giant molecule 4TT‐PBPT shows improved photophysical characteristics, such as enhanced light absorbance, red‐shifted wavelengths, higher brightness, favorable reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and elevated photothermal conversion efficiency, which render 4TT‐PBPT nanoparticles excellent fluorescence‐photoacoustic‐photothermal trimodal imaging guided photodynamic‐photothermal synergistic therapy for orthotopic bladder cancer.

Strength in Numbers: A Giant NIR-II AIEgen with One-for-All Phototheranostic Features for Exceptional Orthotopic Bladder Cancer Treatment.

One-for-all phototheranostics that allows the simultaneous implementations of multiple optical imaging and therapeutic modalities by utilizing a single component, is growing into a sparkling frontier in cancer treatment. Of particular interest is phototheranostic agent with emission in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window. Nevertheless, the practical uses of those conventional NIR-II agents are severely impeded by their unsatisfactory features including insufficient stability, low synthetic yield, to be extended absorption/ emission wavelengths, and inefficient phototheranostic outcomes. Developing exceptional phototheranostic agents is thus highly desirable yet remains formidably challenging. Herein, we synthesized two novel N-heteroacenes-based NIR-II luminogens, namely 2TT-PPT and 4TT-PBPT, by respectively employing pyrene-fused phenaziothiadiazoles and pyrene-fused bisphenaziothiadiazoles as acceptor skeletons. There is strength in numbers by increasing the fusing rings in N-heteroacenes moieties and numbers of appended donors. Compared to less ring-fused 2TT-PPT, the giant molecule 4TT-PBPT shows improved photophysical characteristics, such as enhanced light absorbance, red-shifted wavelengths, higher brightness, favorable reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and elevated photothermal conversion efficiency, which render 4TT-PBPT nanoparticles excellent fluorescence-photoacoustic-photothermal trimodal imaging guided photodynamic-photothermal synergistic therapy for orthotopic bladder cancer.

Strength in Numbers - Identifying a Significant Association Between High Serum Ferritin Levels and Newly diagnosed Malignancy in a Large Health Organization Cohort.

Ferritin, an iron storage protein and acute phase reactant, has been implicated in various aspects of human health and disease, including cancer. Previous studies have identified elevated serum ferritin (SF) levels in several cancer types, but a comprehensive examination across different malignancies remains lacking. This study aims to fill this gap by utilizing anonymized data from Maccabi Health Services (MHS), one of Israel's largest health organizations, to explore the association between elevated SF levels and the diagnosis of different malignancies. An extensive dataset from MHS, comprising 2.7 million members, including 1.3 million individuals who underwent SF level testing, was analyzed. Odds Ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to assess the association between high SF levels and cancer diagnosis. Subgroup analysis was conducted to investigate variations across different malignancies. The analysis revealed a significant association between elevated SF levels and cancer diagnosis among MHS members, with an OR of 1.9 (95% CI 1.71-2.15). Sub- group analysis unveiled differences in the association across malignancy types, with hematological, hepatobiliary and respiratory malignancies more strongly associated with high SF levels. This study provides further support for the link between elevated SF levels and malignancy, leveraging a vast dataset from MHS, underscoring potential utilities of elevated SF levels as a potential indicator for cancer with a variable role among different malignancy types. The identification of elevated SF levels as a potential indicator for underlying malignancy for seemingly-healthy individuals.

Strength in Numbers? Gender Composition, Leadership, and Women’s Influence in Teams

Strength in Numbers? Gender Composition, Leadership, and Women’s Influence in Teams

Strength in numbers: Scale, scope, and performance in multipartner alliances

The general assumption is that multipartner alliances are increasingly favored by firms as means of creating larger pools of shared resources and capabilities. Yet, extant literature has hardly moved beyond anecdotal evidence to systematically address the mechanisms driving their configuration and performance. This study is a step toward clarifying important unknowns about multipartner alliances by proposing and testing a model of multipartner alliance performance that involves two key mediating mechanisms, i.e., alliance scale and scope, that may explain how higher performance is achieved in these increasingly popular forms of organizing interorganizational efforts. The empirical context of the study is the motion picture industry where multipartner alliances have become exceedingly popular in recent decades. Empirical results partially support our proposed theory by demonstrating that alliance scale but not alliance scope mediates the relationship between the number of partners and alliance performance. Our results hold important implications for the growing literature on multipartner alliances.

Strength in numbers: A multiphase wind model with multiple cloud populations

ABSTRACT Galactic outflows have a multiphase nature making them challenging to model analytically. Many previous studies have tried to produce models that come closer to reality. In this work, we continue these efforts and describe the interaction of the hot wind fluid with multiple cold cloud populations, with their number density determined by different probability density functions. To do so, we introduced realistic cloud-wind interaction source terms and a time varying cooling area. We find that the model reproduces well results from small-scale hydrodynamic simulations, but exhibits a general destructive behaviour both for a single cloud population as well as multiple ones. We show that including multiple cloud populations can alter the evolution of the wind drastically. We also compare our model to observations and show that the differential acceleration of multiple clouds can lead to a non-negligible velocity ‘dispersion’ relevant for down-the-barrel studies. Furthermore, we compute the emitted cooling surface brightness and find it generally too faint to explain observed Lyman α haloes.

Military culture: Understanding deeper dynamics through the warrior archetype

This paper proposes a new psycho-sociological approach to understanding military culture change, built on the notion of warrior archetype, in line with psychiatrist Carl Jung’s concept of archetype. It contends that military culture and its related institutional forms fundamentally seek to mobilize on an ongoing basis human energy produced through the activation of the warrior archetype. The archetype is built on enhancing feelings of strength in numbers, and empowerment through socially sanctioned actions and potential use of violence. It uses the example of the Canadian Armed Forces culture change effort to illustrate that any such planned organizational culture change will fail if it does not remain consistent with activating the warrior archetype, as its central dynamic and purpose.

Strength in numbers: Unleashing the potential of trans-scale scope AMATERAS for massive cell quantification.

Singularity biology is a scientific field that targets drastic state changes in multicellular systems, aiming to discover the key cells that induce the state change and investigate the mechanisms behind them. To achieve this goal, we developed a trans-scale optical imaging system (trans-scale scope), that is capable of capturing both macroscale changes across the entire system and the micro-scale behavior of individual cells, surpassing the cell observation capabilities of traditional microscopes. We developed two units of the trans-scale scope, named AMATERAS-1 and -2, which demonstrated the ability to observe multicellular systems consisting of over one million cells in a single field of view with sub-cellular resolution. This flagship instrument has been used to observe the dynamics of various cell species, with the advantage of being able to observe a large number of cells, allowing the detection and analysis of rare events and cells such as leader cells in multicellular pattern formation and cells that spontaneously initiate calcium waves. In this paper, we present the design concept of AMATERAS, the optical configuration, and several examples of observations, and demonstrate how the strength-in-numbers works in life sciences.

¬The Development of Student Collaboration Competency in Learning National Defense Path of the Vietnamese Communist Party

Cooperation competency is not only one of the many vital capabilities for people living in the modern day society, but also assists the formulation of an energetic, creative, communicative and adaptive personality. There has been ample evidence on the fact that studying with continuous cooperative work can promote the growth of working skills, which in turn creates opportunities for mutual learning and the discovery of personal abilities. Furthermore, cooperation also helps enhance the sense of responsibility, autonomy and social activeness. Through group work, people can take advantage of their strength in numbers to resolve complicated matters and achieve significant results. This proves the essential role of cooperation competency in creating an all-round personality and developing such traits in the contemporary society - this is the basis for academic achievement. This article defines the framework of students’ cooperation competency in learning National Defense and Security (NDS), investigates the ongoing situation of teaching National Defense Path of the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) and suggests several solutions to further boost this characteristic while studying these subjects in accordance with current requirements on reforming the education system of Vietnam.

Strength in Numbers: A SWOT Analysis of Plastic Surgery.

Plastic surgeons comprise the minority of practicing surgeons, with an even smaller minority practicing in an academic setting. As the practice of medicine and the systems in which we operate continue to evolve, it is essential that plastic surgeons have a say in the changing landscape. This study conducted a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of plastic surgery to identify unifying strengths and common threats. An electronic survey was distributed to American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons' Winter Meeting attendees on three separate occasions preceding the meeting. Respondents were asked to provide demographic information and to identify the top three strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) for the specialty. Subgroup analyses were performed based on demographic characteristics. A total of 187 responses were received from meeting attendees, representing an 89.0% response rate. Most respondents were non-Hispanic (78.6%), White (66.8%), women (59.5%), and faculty/independent physicians (65.8%). The most identified strength in plastic surgery was our problem-solving abilities (62.0%). The most identified weakness was poor public perception of plastic surgery (54.0%). The most identified opportunity was demonstration of value to health systems (67.9%), and the most identified threat was scope of practice creep by other specialties (78.1%). The SWOT analysis identified lack of surgeon diversity as a key weakness, improvement of surgeon diversity as a key opportunity, and lack of diversity among plastic surgeons as a key threat to the specialty. Only through a diverse but united front can we effectively use our strengths to face our threats and employ opportunities to overcome our weaknesses.

Quantitative methods III: Strength in numbers?

In this third and final report on quantitative methods, I focus on academic community: what we do, what we call ourselves, and why this is a matter of importance for the entire discipline of geography, but especially quantitative human geographers. I first highlight the increasingly diverse ways in which quantitative methods community is produced and manifested, before turning to the shifting, ever-expanding, and overlapping names and labels used to define this group. I argue that, although there is ample evidence that the quantitative methods community is thriving, there is also a growing disconnect from the sub-discipline of quantitative human geography.

Strength in numbers: collaborative procurement and competitiveness of craft breweries

PurposeThis article aims to investigate collaborative procurement as a sourcing strategy amongst competing small enterprises in an effort to reduce their material supply costs through increased efficiencies, bargaining power and economies of scale.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach is applied to a network of breweries that are regionally clustered. Interview data from producers, suppliers and industry experts is inductively interpreted to understand the viability, organisational impact and benefits/limitations of joint procurement activities.FindingsThe craft brewing industry follows a market place strategy of differentiation to achieve competitive advantage. This has supply chain implications that promote raw material diversity, which is in conflict with standardisation – a necessary factor for collective buying. Competition impacts information sharing and governance mechanism, while the structural factors of size asymmetry along and across the supply chain influence returns. These issues impact the potential economic benefits of collaborative procurement.Research limitations/implicationsThe research propositions have been developed in a specific industry but are generalisable to other companies with a differentiation strategy, especially in the consumer packaged goods sector.Practical implicationsEnabling conditions and constraints are captured in a framework and capability matrix, which can be used by practitioners to assess industry and product feasibility for collaborative procurement.Originality/valuePrevious studies of collaborative procurement have been in the public sector amongst large organisations. This work focusses on coopetition in the context of small businesses to identify the viability and cost-benefit of this strategy.

Strength in numbers: robust mechanisms for public goods with many agents

Strength in numbers: robust mechanisms for public goods with many agents

Imperial power, anti-imperial resistance, and the shaping of international hierarchies: Lessons from 1930s Persia

AbstractThis article explores how relations of both domination and resistance have been involved in the constitution of international hierarchies. Focusing on events arising from the Persian government’s 1932 cancellation of the D’Arcy oil concession, it argues that while Western-dominated international hierarchies have proved resilient, some aspects of these hierarchical relationships have been altered by episodes of resistance such as the one under examination in this article. The case study has been chosen because of its ability to highlight the interwar years as an important period of transition to a new world order, as well as the significance of Persia as one of the few non-Western countries that remained uncolonised at that time. The article revisits detailed historical documents from the BP Archives and the National Archives to show how the events of the 1930s oil dispute contributed to the emergence of shifts in the material, legal, and social hierarchies of the interwar period, while nevertheless reinforcing the existence of hierarchies overall. It shows how multilateral diplomacy replaced overt military intimidation, the framework of international law broadened, and peripheral countries found strength in numbers. Finally, the article considers the longer-term resilience of the hierarchical international system.

Strength in numbers: Utilization of an innovative electronic audit to enhance the completion of central line maintenance audits

Healthcare systems use auditing processes to monitor compliance with evidence-based practices. The auditing process for a bundle targeting central line-associated bloodstream infectionprevention at a large children's hospital was suboptimal. The purpose of this project was to implement a revised audit and feedback data collection process. The specific aims of the project were to evaluate(1) the number of completed audits and, (2) central line maintenance bundle compliance rates before and after implementing a new process. An innovative, electronic audit process was developed to allow data entry in real-time as central line-associated bloodstream infection prevention champions conducted audits. Data were fed into a robust electronic dashboard, allowing units to readily visualize their performance. Data was analyzed over a 52-month period (26 months pre- and post-implementation). The number of central line maintenance bundle audits significantly increased post-implementation from an average of 36 to 64 per month, P=.001. Central line maintenance bundle compliance scores also increased from an average compliance score of 76.3% to 89.3%, P=.001. Special cause variation was also noted in the statistical process control charts. This project demonstrated the effectiveness of using an electronic process to capture audit data to assist with quality improvement efforts. Other institutions may consider implementing a similar electronic audit process to capture infection prevention compliance data.

Strength in numbers: Optimal and scalable combination of LHC new-physics searches

To gain a comprehensive view of what the LHC tells us about physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM), it is crucial that different BSM-sensitive analyses can be combined. But in general search-analyses are not statistically orthogonal, so performing comprehensive combinations requires knowledge of the extent to which the same events co-populate multiple analyses’ signal regions. We present a novel, stochastic method to determine this degree of overlap, and a graph algorithm to efficiently find the combination of signal regions with no mutual overlap that optimises expected upper limits on BSM-model cross-sections. The gain in exclusion power relative to single-analysis limits is demonstrated with models with varying degrees of complexity, ranging from simplified models to a 19-dimensional supersymmetric model.

Strength in numbers: Minority shareholders' participation and executives' pay-performance sensitivity

This study investigates the effects of minority shareholders' participation in annual general meetings (AGMs) on executives' pay–performance sensitivity (PPS) in a Chinese stock market. Using a novel dataset of minority shareholders' attendance of AGMs, we find that the number of attendees is significantly and positively associated with PPS. The results are robust to the instrumental variable approach, placebo tests, excluding the effect of shareholdings, and using alternative measures of attendance and PPS. We also examine two possible channels and find that the positive effect of minority shareholders' attendance on PPS is mainly driven by the compensation contracting channel, that is, by incorporating more voices from retail investors and independent directors into the compensation contract design, than by the compensation justification channel. Extended analyses show that the impact of minority shareholders' attendance is more pronounced in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and in regions with good investor protection than in non-SOEs and regions with poor investor protection. Additional analyses also find higher minority shareholders' attendance leads to lower executive perk consumption. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of minority shareholders' participation in AGMs and their governance role in the design of executive compensation contracts.

Molecular diagnostics sees strength in numbers

Several recent billion-dollar merger and acquisition deals have expanded the range of services provided by leading molecular diagnostics companies. Several recent billion-dollar merger and acquisition deals have expanded the range of services provided by leading molecular diagnostics companies.

Women build strength in numbers

Women build strength in numbers

Strength in Numbers: Density-Dependent Volatile-Induced Antimicrobial Activity by Xanthomonas perforans.

For most of the 20th century, Xanthomonas euvesicatoria was the only known bacterium associated with bacterial spot of tomato in Florida. X. perforans quickly replaced X. euvesicatoria, mainly because of production of three bacteriocins (BCNs) against X. euvesicatoria; however, X. perforans outcompeted X. euvesicatoria even when the three known BCNs were deleted. Surprisingly, we observed antimicrobial activity against X. euvesicatoria in the BCN triple mutant when the triple mutant was grown in Petri plates containing multiple spots but not in Petri plates containing only one spot. We determined that changes in the headspace composition (i.e., volatiles) rather than a diffusible signal in the agar were required for induction of the antimicrobial activity. Other Xanthomonas species also produced volatile-induced antimicrobial compounds against X.euvesicatoria and elicited antimicrobial activity by X. perforans. A wide range of plant pathogenic bacteria, including Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, Pantoea stewartii, and Pseudomonas cichorii, also elicited antimicrobial activity by X. perforans when multiple spots of the species were present. To identify potential antimicrobial compounds, we performed liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry of the agar surrounding the spot in the high cell density Petri plates where the antimicrobial activity was present compared with agar surrounding the spot in Petri plates with one spot where antimicrobial activity was not observed. Among the compounds identified in the zone of inhibition were N-butanoyl-L-homoserine lactone and N-(3-hydroxy-butanoyl)-homoserine lactone, which are known quorum-sensing metabolites in other bacteria.