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In mammals, a larger number of neurons in V1 are devoted to cardinal (horizontal and vertical) orientations than to oblique orientations. However, electrophysiological results from the macaque monkey visual cortex are controversial. Both isotropic and anisotropic orientation distributions have been reported. It is also unclear whether different visual areas along the visual hierarchy have different orientation anisotropies. We analyzed orientation maps in a large set of intrinsic signal optical imaging data and found that both V1 and V4 exhibited significant orientation anisotropies. However, their overrepresented orientations were very different: in V1, both cardinal and radial orientations were overrepresented, while in V4, only cardinal bias was presented. These findings suggest that different cortical areas have evolved to emphasize different features that are suitable for their functional purposes, a factor that needs to be considered when efforts are made to explain the relationships between the visual environment and the cortical representation and between the cortical representation and visual perception.

Growing evidence indicates that migratory animals exploit the magnetic field of the Earth for navigation, both as a compass to determine direction and as a map to determine geographical position 1 . It has long been proposed that, to navigate using a magnetic map, animals must learn the magnetic coordinates of the destination 2 , 3 , yet the pivotal hypothesis that animals can learn magnetic signatures of geographical areas has, to our knowledge, yet to be tested. Here we report that an iconic navigating species, the loggerhead turtle ( Caretta caretta ), can learn such information. When fed repeatedly in magnetic fields replicating those that exist in particular oceanic locations, juvenile turtles learned to distinguish magnetic fields in which they encountered food from magnetic fields that exist elsewhere, an ability that might underlie foraging site fidelity. Conditioned responses in this new magnetic map assay were unaffected by radiofrequency oscillating magnetic fields, a treatment expected to disrupt radical-pair-based chemical magnetoreception 4 , 5 – 6 , suggesting that the magnetic map sense of the turtle does not rely on this mechanism. By contrast, orientation behaviour that required use of the magnetic compass was disrupted by radiofrequency oscillating magnetic fields. The findings provide evidence that two different mechanisms of magnetoreception underlie the magnetic map and magnetic compass in sea turtles. Loggerhead sea turtles, which undergo long-distance migrations, can learn magnetic signatures associated with different geographic areas and have two different magnetic senses, each based on a different underlying mechanism.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between strategic orientations as well as the role played by them to impact the performance of industrial firms.Design/methodology/approachThe paper formulates some hypotheses from the literature review. These hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling with data collected from 292 randomly selected firms operating in several industrial sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.FindingsThe findings of this study showed the importance of these strategic orientations in enhancing the performance of Saudi industrial firms and emphasized the mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation in the relationships of market orientation and technology orientation to new product development performance and firm performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe study discusses the findings and advances certain limitations and research and managerial implications for future research avenues. It proposes some recommendations to help Saudi firms to choose more than one orientation simultaneously and adopt an appropriate configuration of orientations. Future research has to consider the interplay between these strategic orientations and the impacts of environmental turbulence in terms of market and technology turbulence on strategic orientations – performance relationship.Practical implicationsThe study suggests that managers of Saudi industrial firms should utilize a mix of aspects from several strategic orientations such as market and technology through entrepreneurial capabilities and resources that enhance higher levels of performance.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on entrepreneurship and strategic management by showing the reliability of scales used and the confirmatory of the factor structure. It also contributes to business practices by showing the importance for Saudi firms to combine different strategic orientations and provide more attention to the interplay of these orientations in order to perform better in such a transitional context.

In Henry James and Queer Modernity, first published in 2003, Eric Haralson examines far-reaching changes in gender politics and the emergence of modern male homosexuality as depicted in the writings of Henry James and three authors who were greatly influenced by him: Willa Cather, Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway. Haralson places emphasis on American masculinity as portrayed in fiction between 1875 and 1935, but the book also treats events in England, such as the Oscar Wilde trials, that had a major effect on American literature. He traces James's engagement with sexual politics from his first novels of the 1870s to his 'major phase' at the turn of the century. The second section of this study measures James's extraordinary impact on Cather's representation of 'queer' characters, Stein's theories of writing and authorship as a mode of resistance to modern sexual regulation, and Hemingway's very self-constitution as a manly American author.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between three variables of strategic orientation (market orientation, technology orientation entrepreneurial orientation) and organizational performance in the Jordanian pharmaceutical sector. Design/methodology/approach This study employed a quantitative research design where 252 questionnaires were collected form respondents operating in various pharmaceutical companies in Jordan to obtain necessary data to test the hypotheses developed for the study. Multiple regressions were used to analyze the research data. Findings The results of the analysis revealed that strategic orientations were positively and significantly related to organizational performance. The findings also showed that market orientation contributed the most to the enhancement of organizational development followed by technology orientation and finally entrepreneurship orientation. Practical implications These findings contribute to the understanding of the importance of employing multiple strategic orientations in order to enhance organizational performance, particularly in pharmaceutical companies Originality/value This is the first study which adequately covers the relationship between three variables of strategic orientation (market orientation, technology orientation, entrepreneurial orientation) and organizational performance in the Jordanian pharmaceutical sector.

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how the interplay of multiple strategic orientations influences the growth-based performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The authors have specifically examined the direct and complementary effects of multiple strategic orientations [i.e. entrepreneurial orientation (EO), market orientation (MO) and sustainability orientation (SO)] on firm performance.Design/methodology/approachThe data have been collected from 410 SMEs operating in Pakistan.FindingsThe results revealed that the multiple strategic orientations (EO, SO and MO) have positive direct as well as complementary effects on SMEs' growth-based performance. Specifically, the joint effects of EO and MO were shown higher than other combinations and complementarities. Moreover, the direct effect of SO is found far lesser than the joint implementation of SO with either EO or MO.Originality/valueThis study provides key insights into corporate sustainability, strategic orientations and SME performance literature. The implications for theory, practice, policy and future research are discussed.

Since February 2020, it's been estimated that 20% of healthcare workers have left their positions, and approximately 24% of nurses will leave their position within a year (NSI, 2022). In our ambulatory infusion center, we had approximately 60% turnover in staff between 2020-2021 due to retirements, transfers, or transitions into other positions within the organization. Concurrently we created more 24 and 32-hour positions for staff satisfaction and retention. Due to the ongoing nursing shortage and challenges recruiting experienced oncology nurses, we recognized there was an opportunity to adapt our orientation process, based on our current staff (who had limited experience in mentoring new nurses), and each new hire's level of oncology nursing experience. The objectives for this project were to 1) review and critique our past orientation process; 2) create a standardized, yet individualized, process for onboarding of staff based on experience; and 3) provide tools for mentors. Intervention: While the oncology CNS took the lead in this project, feedback was solicited from various stakeholders (e.g., director, manager, charge nurses) as well as staff that were hired just prior to this process. Components that were developed included a competency self-evaluation tool, orientation checklist, revised RN job specific initial skills competency assessment for Oncology/Infusion, milestone map, mentoring responsibilities, and a binder to include pertinent general information (e.g., policies and procedures, oncology practice care, and workflows) with additional training materials for nurses new to oncology. This process allowed us to clarify pertinent training needs, and to set expectations for continuous learning ~ with specific milestones for the initial three months. Information gained from training nurses with limited or no oncology experience, then soliciting their feedback involving additional strategies for supporting novice nurses ~ was invaluable. Engaging our staff in building basic expectations, sharing new documents, and apportioning mentoring responsibilities has had many positive outcomes. Creating ideal assignments for learning in ever-changing schedules was challenging but has enhanced communication amongst staff. Less-experienced nurses in the department also joined in the process by identifying opportunities for specific learning experiences. As a result, the commitment to new employees' success and enhanced teambuilding has been strengthened. Summary: While a standardized approach to onboarding in the ambulatory oncology setting is crucial, it is still imperative to adapt the orientation to each individual's experience level and needs.

Bayesian models of behavior suggest that organisms represent uncertainty associated with sensory variables. However, the neural code of uncertainty remains elusive. A central hypothesis is that uncertainty is encoded in the population activity of cortical neurons in the form of likelihood functions. We tested this hypothesis by simultaneously recording population activity from primate visual cortex during a visual categorization task in which trial-to-trial uncertainty about stimulus orientation was relevant for the decision. We decoded the likelihood function from the trial-to-trial population activity and found that it predicted decisions better than a point estimate of orientation. This remained true when we conditioned on the true orientation, suggesting that internal fluctuations in neural activity drive behaviorally meaningful variations in the likelihood function. Our results establish the role of population-encoded likelihood functions in mediating behavior and provide a neural underpinning for Bayesian models of perception.

Significance & Background: According to the World Health Organization, there will be a shortage of 5.7 million nurses by 2030 contributing to increased demand for nurses. Ambulatory nurse leaders are increasingly exploring options to sustain and grow staffing, including employment of new graduate nurses. Undergraduate nursing students often have minimal exposure to ambulatory settings and additional resources and comprehensive education are beneficial to support their transition to practice. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop a pathway to onboard new graduate nurses into ambulatory oncology infusion. Interventions: In the fall of 2022, oncology nurse leaders at a National Cancer Institute (NCI) comprehensive cancer center developed a pathway to onboard new graduate nurses. The goal was to integrate a novice nurse into an ambulatory hematology oncology infusion clinic. The plan included an extended unit orientation over six months with a primary and secondary preceptor. Oncology specialty and general nursing orientation classes, a new nurse residency program, and shadow experiences across oncology departments were incorporated into the orientation pathway. Leadership check-ins were performed bi-weekly to support communication between new graduate, preceptor, unit manager, and the unit clinical nurse specialist. At the end of formal orientation, patient acuity and assignment volumes were gradually increased over eight weeks to allow the new nurse to develop time management skills and confidence. Results: Thus far, one new graduate nurse has been successfully onboarded into ambulatory infusion and has been employed for 18 months. The new graduate has since transitioned into precepting new hires and orienting to the charge nurse role. Preceptor and leadership support and an extended orientation played a major role in the successful transition to practice. Of note, the new graduate nurse had exposure to outpatient oncology infusion through undergraduate nursing clinicals, which supported both commitment and interest in the oncology specialty. Discussion: Comprehensive oncology orientation programs are important to support the successful transition of new graduate nurses to ambulatory infusion. Exposure to oncology during undergraduate nursing studies may serve as a valuable clinic rotation for recruitment and retention of ambulatory oncology staff. The pathway will be used as a foundational tool for the onboarding of additional new graduates into ambulatory infusion.