Revisiting the Trust-performance Link in Strategic Alliances

• We extend research on the trust-performance link in strategic alliances (SAs) by arguing that the traditional focus of research on the influence of trust on performance of SAs needs to be complemented with a more explicit acknowledgment and analysis of the role that SA performance plays in the development of trust.
• Drawing on existing theoretical arguments and empirical findings related to the consequences and determinants of trust we argue for the existence of a bidirectional causal relationship between trust and performance in SAs. We empirically test this bilateral relationship using 3-stage least square regression models on data from 110 strategic alliances.
• Our results support the positive effect of SA performance on trust, but not the commonly stressed positive effect of trust on SA performance. We discuss the relevance of this finding for the theory of inter-firm collaboration. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings for practitioners and scholars interested in SAs.

     

Pathological findings in human autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome

The defects in lymphocyte apoptosis that underlie the autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) are usually attributable to inherited mutations of the CD95 (Fas) gene. In this report, we present the histopathological and immunophenotypic features seen in the lymph nodes (n = 16), peripheral blood (n = 10), bone marrow (n = 2), spleen (n = 3), and liver (n = 2) from 10 patients with ALPS. Lymph nodes showed marked paracortical hyperplasia. Interfollicular areas were expanded and populated by T cell receptor-alphabeta CD3+ CD4-CD8- (double-negative, DN) T cells that were negative for CD45RO. CD45RA+ T cells were increased in all cases studied. The paracortical infiltrate was a result of both reduced apoptosis and increased proliferation, as measured by in situ detection of DNA fragmentation and staining with MIB-1, respectively. The paracortical proliferation may be extensive enough to suggest a diagnosis of malignant lymphoma. Many of the paracortical lymphocytes expressed markers associated with cytotoxicity, such as perforin, TIA-1, and CD57. CD25 was negative. In addition, most lymph nodes exhibited florid follicular hyperplasia, often with focal progressive transformation of germinal centers; in some cases, follicular involution was seen. A polyclonal plasmacytosis also was present. The spleens were markedly enlarged, more than 10 times normal size. There was expansion of both white pulp and red pulp, with increased DN T cells. DN T cells also were observed in liver biopsies exhibiting portal triaditis. In the peripheral blood, the T cells showed increased expression of HLA-DR and CD57 but not CD25. CD45RA+ T cells were increased in the four cases studied. Polyclonal B cell lymphocytosis with expansion of CD5+ B cells was a characteristic finding. Taken together, the histopathological and immunophenotypic findings, particularly in lymph nodes and peripheral blood, are sufficiently distinctive to suggest a diagnosis of ALPS. Of note, two affected family members of one proband developed lymphoma (T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma and nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease, respectively).     

Screening for genetic risk of breast cancer

Approximately 10 to 15 percent of all breast cancers are thought to be familial and about one third of these cases are due to an inherited mutation in a BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer-susceptibility gene. The lifetime incidence of breast cancer in mutation carriers is above 50 percent, and carriers of BRCA1 mutation also have a substantially increased risk of ovarian cancer. BRCA1 and 2 mutations are associated with early-onset breast cancer, and some experts call for aggressive screening of affected persons. Monthly self-examination of the breasts beginning at age 18 and annual clinical examinations and mammography after age 25 have been recommended but are of unproven benefit. Prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy have been advocated by some authorities, but these interventions are disfiguring and for some carriers of the gene, they are unnecessary. The patient's decision to undergo genetic screening is complicated by the technical difficulty of the test, the substantial cost and the still incomplete understanding of the penetrance of disease in known mutation carriers.     

Spontaneous in vivo reversion to normal of an inherited mutation in a patient with adenosine deaminase deficiency

Somatic mosaicism in genetic disease generally results from a de novo deleterious mutation during embryogenesis. We now describe a somatic mosaicism due to the unusual mechanism of in vivo reversion to normal of an inherited mutation. The propositus was an adenosine deaminase-deficient (ADA-) child with progressive clinical improvement and unexpectedly mild biochemical and immunologic abnormalities. Mosaicism due to reversion was evidenced by absence of a maternally transmitted deleterious mutation in 13/15 authenticated B cell lines and in 17% of single alleles cloned from blood DNA, despite retention of a maternal 'private' ADA polymorphism linked to the mutation. Establishment of significant somatic mosaicism following reversion to normal could modify any disorder in which revertant cells have a selective advantage.     

Clincal, immunologic, and genetic features of an autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome associated with abnormal lymphocyte apoptosis

To examine the effect of elastic loading on variational activity of breathing, we studied 11 healthy subjects breathing at rest and with inspiratory elastic loads of 9 and 18 cm H2O/L, applied randomly for 1 h each. Compared with rest, a load of 18 cm H2O/L decreased gross variability, quantitated as standard deviation, of tidal volume (VT) and expiratory time (TE) (p < 0.01 in both instances) but increased that of inspiratory time (TI) (p < 0.03). The autocorrelation coefficients at a lag of 1 breath for each breath component were not altered by elastic loading, although the number of breath lags with significant serial correlations for TE tended to increase with a load of 18 cm H2O/L (p = 0.08). A load of 18 cm H2O/L decreased only the fraction of variational activity of VT and TE due to uncorrelated, random behavior (white noise), while it increased that fraction for TI (p < 0.05 in each instance); the correlated and oscillatory fractions did not change. Uncorrelated random behavior constituted > 87% of the variance of each breath component, correlated behavior represented 3 to 11%, and oscillatory behavior represented < 1.5% during both rest and loaded breathing. Elastic loading changed the gross variability of each primary breath component by altering the random fraction of variational activity; it had no significant effect on the structured, correlated fraction. We speculate that the observed changes in variational activity may reflect an attempt by the controller to compensate for the increased load while simultaneously minimizing load-induced dyspnea.     

Size-dependent electron transfer from PbSe quantum dots to SnO2 monitored by picosecond Terahertz spectroscopy

We report the direct and unambiguous determination of electron transfer rates and efficiencies from PbSe quantum dots (QDs) to mesoporous SnO2 films. We monitor the time-dependent electron density within the oxide with picosecond time resolution using Terahertz spectroscopy, following optical excitation of the QDs using a femtosecond laser pulse. QD-oxide electron transfer occurs with efficiencies of ～2% in our samples under 800 nm pumping with a marked dependence on QD size, ranging from ～100 ps injection times for the smallest, ～2 nm diameter QDs, to ～1 ns time scale for ～7 nm QDs. The size-dependent electron transfer rates are modeled within the framework of Marcus theory and the implications of the results for device design are discussed.     

Twelve new polymorphic microsatellites on human chromosome 22

An experimental investigation was conducted to determine if the operators trained by the comprehensive on-the-job operator training method can maintain the production output level on a continuous basis in a repetitive production task. The components of the training method included: Methods-Time-Measurement (MTM) analysis, operator instruction sheet, demonstration, practice session, feedback, and guidance. The operators were able to sustain the production quantity and quality output levels achieved at the end of the training period for the entire experimental work session. The use of the training method is recommended.