bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Both proteasomes and lysosomes degrade the activated erythropoietin receptor
Authors: Walrafen Pierre , Verdier Frédérique , Kadri Zahra , Chrétien Stany , Lacombe Catherine , Mayeux Patrick
Published: September 2004

Activation of the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) after Epo binding is very transient because of the rapid activation of strong down-regulation mechanisms that quickly decrease Epo sensitivity of the cells. Among these down-regulation mechanisms, receptor internalization and degradation are probably the most efficient. Here, we show that the Epo receptor was rapidly ubiquitinated after ligand stimulation and that the C-terminal part of the Epo receptor was degraded by the proteasomes. Both ubiquitination and receptor degradation by the proteasomes occurred at the cell surface and required Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) activation. Moreover, Epo-EpoR complexes were rapidly internalized and targeted to the lysosomes for degradation. Neither Jak2 nor proteasome activities were required for internalization. In contrast, Jak2 activation was necessary for lysosome targeting of the Epo-EpoR complexes. Blocking Jak2 with the tyrphostin AG490 led to some recycling of internalized Epo-Epo receptor complexes to the cell surface. Thus, activated Epo receptors appear to be quickly degraded after ubiquitination by 2 proteolytic systems that proceed successively: the proteasomes remove part of the intracellular domain at the cell surface, and the lysosomes degrade the remaining part of the receptor-hormone complex. The efficiency of these processes probably explains the short duration of intracellular signaling activated by Epo.
The role of CCL21 in recruitment of T-precursor cells to fetal thymi
Authors: Liu Cunlan , Ueno Tomoo , Kuse Sachiyo , Saito Fumi , Nitta Takeshi , Piali Luca , Nakano Hideki , Kakiuchi Terutaka , Lipp Martin , Hollander Georg A. , Takahama Yousuke
Published: September 2004

During embryonic development, T-lymphoid precursor cells colonize the thymus. Chemoattraction by the fetal thymus is thought to mediate T-precursor cell colonization. However, the molecules that attract T-precursor cells to the thymus remain unclear. By devising time-lapse visualization in culture, the present results show that alymphoid fetal thymus lobes attract T-precursor cells from fetal liver or fetal blood. CD4–CD8–CD25–CD44+ fetal thymocytes retained the activity to specifically re-enter the thymus. The attraction was predominantly due to I-A–expressing thymic epithelial cells and was mediated by pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein signals. Among the chemokines produced by the fetal thymus, CCL21, CCL25, and CXCL12 could attract CD4–CD8–CD25–CD44+ fetal thymocytes. However, fetal thymus colonization was markedly diminished by neutralizing antibodies specific for CCL21 and CCL25, but not affected by anti-CXCL12 antibody. Fetal thymus colonization was partially defective in CCL21-deficient plt/plt mice and was further diminished by anti-CCL25 antibody. These results indicate that CCL21 is involved in the recruitment of T-cell precursors to the fetal thymus and suggest that the combination of CCL21 and CCL25 plays a major role in fetal thymus colonization.
Hmgb3 deficiency deregulates proliferation and differentiation of common lymphoid and myeloid progenitors
Authors: Nemeth Michael J. , Cline Amanda P. , Anderson Stacie M. , Garrett-Beal Lisa J. , Bodine David M.
Published: September 2004

Hmgb3 is an X-linked member of a family of chromatin-binding proteins that is expressed in primitive hematopoietic cells capable of long-term hematopoietic repopulation. To examine the role of Hmgb3 in adult hematopoiesis, we generated Hmgb3-deficient (Hmgb3–/Y) mice, which are viable but erythrocythemic. Hmgb3–/Y mice contain normal numbers of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which generate fewer than normal numbers of common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) and common myeloid progenitors (CMPs) and greater than normal numbers of more mature progenitors. Although fewer Hmgb3–/Y primitive progenitor cells are in the G2/M cell cycle phase, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation demonstrated enhanced proliferation compared with their wild-type counterparts. Hmgb3–/Y HSCs have increased levels of Gata-2 and c-myb mRNA. We propose that Hmgb3 deficiency leads to a failure of HSCs to expand into normal numbers of CLPs and CMPs. This defect is compensated for by the ability of Hmgb3–/Y progenitors to expand rapidly and differentiate into normal numbers of hematopoietic cells.
Comparison of Crocus sativus L. and imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: A pilot double-blind randomized trial [ISRCTN45683816]
Authors: Akhondzadeh Shahin , Fallah-Pour Hasan , Afkham Khosro , Jamshidi Amir-Hossein , Khalighi-Cigaroudi Farahnaz
Published: September 2004

Background

The morbidity and mortality associated with depression are considerable and continue to increase. Depression currently ranks fourth among the major causes of disability worldwide, after lower respiratory infections, prenatal conditions, and HIV/AIDS. Crocus sativus L. is used to treat depression. Many medicinal plants textbooks refer to this indication whereas there is no evidence-based document. Our objective was to compare the efficacy of stigmas of Crocus sativus (saffron) with imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression in a 6-week pilot double-blind randomized trial.

Methods

Thirty adult outpatients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition for major depression based on the structured clinical interview for DSM IV participated in the trial. Patients have a baseline Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score of at least 18. In this double-blind, single-center trial, patients were randomly assigned to receive capsule of saffron 30 mg/day (TDS) (Group 1) and capsule of imipramine 100 mg/day (TDS) (Group 2) for a 6-week study.

Results

Saffron at this dose was found to be effective similar to imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression (F = 2.91, d.f. = 1, P = 0.09). In the imipramine group anticholinergic effects such as dry mouth and also sedation were observed more often that was predictable.

Conclusion

The main overall finding from this study is that saffron may be of therapeutic benefit in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. To the best of our knowledge this is the first clinical trial that supports this indication for saffron. A large-scale trial with placebo control is warranted.
Garlic's ability to prevent in vitro Cu2+-induced lipoprotein oxidation in human serum is preserved in heated garlic: effect unrelated to Cu2+-chelation
Authors: Pedraza-Chaverrí José , Gil-Ortiz Mariana , Albarrán Gabriela , Barbachano-Esparza Laura , Menjívar Marta , Medina-Campos Omar N
Published: September 2004

Background

It has been shown that several extracts and compounds derived from garlic are able to inhibit Cu2+-induced low density lipoprotein oxidation. In this work we explored if the ability of aqueous garlic extract to prevent in vitro Cu2+-induced lipoprotein oxidation in human serum is affected by heating (a) aqueous garlic extracts or (b) garlic cloves. In the first case, aqueous extract of raw garlic and garlic powder were studied. In the second case, aqueous extract of boiled garlic cloves, microwave-treated garlic cloves, and pickled garlic were studied. It was also studied if the above mentioned preparations were able to chelate Cu2+.

Methods

Cu2+-induced lipoprotein oxidation in human serum was followed by the formation of conjugated dienes at 234 nm and 37°C by 240 min in a phosphate buffer 20 mM, pH 7.4. Blood serum and CuSO4 were added to a final concentration of 0.67% and 0.0125 mM, respectively. The lag time and the area under the curve from the oxidation curves were obtained. The Cu2+-chelating properties of garlic extracts were assessed using an approach based upon restoring the activity of xanthine oxidase inhibited in the presence of 0.050 mM Cu2+. The activity of xanthine oxidase was assessed by monitoring the production of superoxide anion at 560 nm and the formation of uric acid at 295 nm. Data were compared by parametric or non-parametric analysis of variance followed by a post hoc test.

Results

Extracts from garlic powder and raw garlic inhibited in a dose-dependent way Cu2+-induced lipoprotein oxidation. The heating of garlic extracts or garlic cloves was unable to alter significantly the increase in lag time and the decrease in the area under the curve observed with the unheated garlic extracts or raw garlic. In addition, it was found that the garlic extracts were unable to chelate Cu2+.

Conclusions

(a) the heating of aqueous extracts of raw garlic or garlic powder or the heating of garlic cloves by boiling, microwave or pickling do not affect garlic's ability to inhibit Cu2+-induced lipoprotein oxidation in human serum, and (b) this ability is not secondary to Cu2+-chelation.
Outcome of Patients with an Indeterminate Emergency Department First‐trimester Pelvic Ultrasound to Rule Out Ectopic Pregnancy
Authors: Tayal Vivek S. , Cohen Hillary , Norton H. James
Published: September 2004

Objectives: Pelvic ultrasound performed by emergency physicians can identify a definite diagnosis in the majority of symptomatic first‐trimester pregnant patients on the initial emergency department (ED) visit. However, a significant minority of such patients are diagnosed as having an indeterminate pregnancy state requiring further testing and consultation. The authors investigated the final outcome of patients with an initial indeterminate ED first‐trimester pelvic ultrasound examination in the setting of an interdepartmental protocol to rule out ectopic pregnancy. Methods:This was an observational prospective cohort study performed at a regional, urban ED with more than 100,000 patient visits over a 13‐month period. Pelvic ultrasound for first‐trimester patients was prospectively performed by emergency physicians with gynecologic consultation for lack of intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) ultrasound findings. IUP was defined as a fundal gestational sac with either a yolk sac or a fetal pole. Pelvic ultrasounds were classified into diagnostic categories including definite IUP, embryonic demise, molar pregnancy, definite ectopic pregnancy, and indeterminate. For all patients with indeterminate pelvic ultrasound findings, final diagnostic categories and patient outcome were established by the use of patient records, obstetric ultrasound reports, laboratory studies, operative reports, and pathology reports. All patients with ectopic pregnancy were followed for mode of treatment. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Results: A total of 1,490 ED first‐trimester pelvic ultrasound examinations were performed over 13 months establishing the following diagnostic rates for initial ED visit: IUP 1,037 (70%), demise 127 (8%), definite ectopic pregnancy 24 (2%), molar pregnancy 2 (< 1%), and indeterminate 300 (20%). The 300 indeterminate patients were classified using the above protocol into the following final diagnostic categories: embryonic demise 158 (53%), IUP 88 (29%), ectopic pregnancy 44 (15%), and unknown outcome 10 (3%). Indeterminate patients with ectopic pregnancy were treated with methotrexate in 25 of 44 cases (57%) and surgically in 16 of 44 cases (36%); there were no laparotomies. In contrast, ectopic pregnancy patients diagnosed on initial ED visit were treated surgically in 20 of 24 cases (83%), including four laparotomies. Conclusions: The outcome of symptomatic first‐trimester patients with indeterminate ED pelvic ultrasounds is poor, with significantly high rates of embryonic demise and ectopic pregnancy. However, those indeterminate patients with the eventual diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy have a higher rate of medical methotrexate treatment and a reduced rate of invasive surgical treatment compared with ectopic pregnancy patients diagnosed at initial ED visit.
Canonical Wnt Signaling Is Critical to Estrogen-Mediated Uterine Growth
Authors: Hou Xiaonan , Tan Yi , Li Meiling , Dey Sudhansu K. , Das Sanjoy K.
Published: September 2004

Major biological effects of estrogen in the uterus are thought to be primarily mediated by nuclear estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ. We show here that estrogen in an ER-independent manner rapidly up-regulates the expression of Wnt4 and Wnt5a of the Wnt family and frizzled-2 of the Wnt receptor family in the mouse uterus. One of the mechanisms by which Wnts mediate canonical signaling involves stabilization of intracellular β-catenin. We observed that estrogen treatment prompts nuclear localization of active β-catenin in the uterine epithelium. We also found that adenovirus mediated in vivo delivery of SFRP-2, a Wnt antagonist, down-regulates estrogen-dependent β-catenin activity without affecting some of the early effects (water imbibition and angiogenic markers) and inhibits uterine epithelial cell growth, suggesting that canonical Wnt signaling is critical to estrogen-induced uterine growth. Our present results provide evidence for a novel role of estrogen that targets early Wnt/β-catenin signaling in an ER-independent manner to regulate the late uterine growth response that is ER dependent.
Natural Bond Orbital Analysis of Pericyclic and Pseudopericyclic 1,5-Electrocyclizations of Conjugated Nitrileimines
Authors: Fukushima Kazuaki , Iwahashi Hideo
Published: September 2004

Ab initio and DFT studies have revealed that there are three mechanisms in 1,5-electrocyclizations of conjugated nitrileimines. The first one is a pericyclic 1,5-electrocyclization of vinyl or (Z)-imino nitrileimine. Interactions between π-orbitals at C1 and X5 lead to formation of σC1–X5 bonds. The second one is a typical pseudopericyclic 1,5-electrocyclization of formyl nitrileimine. Nucleophilic interaction of lone pair electrons at O5 to π*C1–N2(h) leads to formation of a σC1–O5 bond. The natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis for the reaction has shown that there are two disconnections of orbital interactions at C1 and O5 at the transition state because of the orthogonal array of the forming σC1–O5 bond and the other π-orbitals. The third one is an incomplete pseudopericyclic 1,5-electrocyclization of (E)-imino nitrileimine. Nucleophilic interactions of lone pair electrons at N5 to π*C1–N2(h) and π*C1–N2(v) lead to formation of a σC1–N5 bond. There is a single disconnection of orbital interactions at N5 at the transition state, because the forming σC1–N5 bond and the other π-orbitals are orthogonal at N5 but not at C1, owing to twisting in the nitrileimine moiety.
Novel Fluorene Based Host Compounds Designed to Probe Solid-State Fluorescence
Authors: Scott Janet L , Yamada Tomohiko , Tanaka Koichi
Published: September 2004

Two novel host compounds, 2,7-bis(3-hydroxy-3,3-diphenylprop-1-ynyl)fluorene and 2,7-bis[3,3-(biphenyl-2,2′-diyl)-3-hydroxyprop-1-ynyl]fluorene have been synthesized. Many inclusion complexes of these host compounds with common volatile guests show solid-state fluorescence, which is ascribed to the existence of rigid dimers in the crystal structures, allowing excimer formation. Differential intermolecular interactions about the fluorescent moiety result in various colored emissions.
A Choice Model with Conjunctive, Disjunctive, and Compensatory Screening Rules
Authors: Gilbride Timothy J. , Allenby Greg M.
Published: September 2004

Many theories of consumer behavior involve thresholds and discontinuities. In this paper, we investigate consumers' use of screening rules as part of a discrete-choice model. Alternatives that pass the screen are evaluated in a manner consistent with random utility theory; alternatives that do not pass the screen have a zero probability of being chosen. The proposed model accommodates conjunctive, disjunctive, and compensatory screening rules. We estimate a model that reflects a discontinuous decision process by employing the Bayesian technique of data augmentation and using Markov-chain Monte Carlo methods to integrate over the parameter space. The approach has minimal information requirements and can handle a large number of choice alternatives. The method is illustrated using a conjoint study of cameras. The results indicate that 92% of respondents screen alternatives on one or more attributes.
Who Benefits from Store Brand Entry?
Authors: Pauwels Koen , Srinivasan Shuba
Published: September 2004

Store brand entry has become a key issue in marketing as it may structurally change the performance of and the interactions among all market players. Based on their multivariate time-series analysis, the authors demonstrate permanent performance effects of store brand entry, typically benefiting the retailer, the consumers, and premium-brand manufacturers, while harming second-tier brand manufacturers. For the retailer, they consistently find two beneficial effects of store brand entry: high unit margins on the store brand itself and higher unit margins on the national brands. This increase in unit margins implies that the retailer strengthens its bargaining position vis-à-vis national brand manufacturers. However, store brand entry only rarely yields category expansion and does not create store traffic or revenue benefits. Second, consumers do not obtain lower prices on all national brands, only on some second-tier brands. However, they benefit from enlarged product assortment and intensified promotional activity that lowers average price paid for two out of four categories. For the manufacturers, store brand entry is typically beneficial for premium-price national brands, but not for second-tier national brands. Often, premium brands experience lower long-term price sensitivity and higher revenues, whereas second-tier brands experience higher long-term price sensitivity and lower revenues.
Technological Advances, Transaction Costs, and Consumer Welfare
Authors: Tyagi Rajeev K.
Published: September 2004

Consumers incur many transaction costs in purchasing and using most products. This paper examines the effects of a reduction in such consumer transaction costs caused by market-level technological advances. Using a model in which consumers are simultaneously heterogeneous in their transaction costs and in their marginal valuations of product quality, this paper highlights two mechanisms that can cause such reductions in consumer transaction costs to lower consumer surplus and reduce consumer share of the total social surplus. Specifically, market-level technological advances reduce different consumers' transaction costs by different amounts and increase their reservation prices by different amounts, which can lead to: (i) product design changes that many current consumers do not like and (ii) homogenization in consumer reservation prices that allows a seller to extract more surplus through its pricing policy. This paper also shows that consumers may be better off with seller-induced higher consumer transaction costs. Finally, the paper shows how, depending on the nature of the quality production process, such reductions in consumer transaction costs can either lower or raise product qualities and consumer prices.
Communication Strategies and Product Line Design
Authors: Villas-Boas J. Miguel
Published: September 2004

When selling a product line, a firm has to consider the costs of communicating about the different products to the consumers. This may affect the product line design in general, and which products or services are offered in particular. The problem is that firms have to communicate to consumers, possibly through advertising, to make them consider buying the products that firms are selling. This results in the firm offering a smaller number of products than is optimal when advertising has no costs. This effect is greater the extent of consumer confusion about the advertising messages, and is reduced by a greater ability to target advertising. When offering vertically differentiated products (second-degree price discrimination), under general conditions it is optimal to advertise so that one has a greater proportion of sales of a lower-quality product than if advertising had no cost. This situation also allows the firm to charge a lower price for the high-quality product and offer a higher quality of the low-quality product than it would if advertising were without cost.
The Effects of Free Sample Promotions on Incremental Brand Sales
Authors: Bawa Kapil , Shoemaker Robert
Published: September 2004

The authors present a model of free sample effects and evidence from two field experiments on free samples. The model incorporates three potential effects of free samples on sales: (1) an acceleration effect, whereby consumers begin repeat purchasing of the sampled brand earlier than they otherwise would; (2) a cannibalization effect, which reduces the number of paid trial purchases of the brand; and (3) an expansion effect, which induces purchasing by consumers who would not consider buying the brand without a free sample. The empirical findings suggest that, unlike other consumer promotions such as coupons, free samples can produce measurable long-term effects on sales that can be observed as much as 12 months after the promotion. The data also show that the effectiveness of free sample promotions can vary widely, even between brands in the same product category.

Application of the model to the data from the two experiments reveals that the magnitude of acceleration, cannibalization, and expansion effects varies substantially across the two free sample promotions. These and other findings suggest that the model can be a useful tool for obtaining insights into the nature of free sample promotions.
Costs and Benefits of Inducing Intrabrand Competition: The Role of Limited Liability
Authors: Desiraju Ramarao
Published: September 2004

When is inducing intrabrand competition (via nonexclusive distribution) an optimal strategy? To address this issue, a static model is developed to examine two settings. The manufacturer uses exclusive distributors in the first setting and nonexclusive distributors in the second. The analysis indicates that the choice of distribution rests critically on whether the manufacturer can effectively extract surplus from the distributors. Due to a variety of institutional reasons, the distributors' liability is often limited in performing on behalf of the manufacturer; such limited liability restricts how much of the distributors' surplus can be extracted. When the distributors' surplus cannot be fully extracted, the manufacturer may prefer nonexclusive distribution even when distributors can free-ride on each other's efforts.
Modeling Browsing Behavior at Multiple Websites
Authors: Park Young-Hoon , Fader Peter S.
Published: September 2004

While there is a growing literature on investigating the Internet clickstream data collected for a single site, such datasets are inherently incomplete because they generally do not capture shopping behavior across multiple websites. A customer's visit patterns at one or more other sites may provide relevant information about the timing and frequency of his or her future visit patterns at the site of interest.

We develop a stochastic timing model of cross-site visit behavior to understand how to leverage information from one site to help explain customer behavior at another. To this end, we incorporate two sources of association in browsing patterns: one for the observable outcomes (i.e., arrival times) of two timing processes and the other for the latent visit propensities across a set of competing sites. This proposed multivariate timing mixture model can be viewed as a generalization of the univariate exponential-gamma model.

In our empirical analysis, we show that a failure to account for both sources of association not only leads to poor fit and forecasts, but also generates systematically biased parameter estimates. We highlight the model's ability to make accurate statements about the future behavior of the “zero class” (i.e., previous nonvisitors to a given site) using summary information (i.e., recency and frequency) from past visit patterns at a competing site.
From Density to Destiny: Using Spatial Dimension of Sales Data for Early Prediction of New Product Success
Authors: Garber Tal , Goldenberg Jacob , Libai Barak , Muller Eitan
Published: September 2004

One of the main problems associated with early-period assessment of new product success is the lack of sufficient sales data to enable reliable predictions. We show that managers can use spatial dimension of sales data to obtain a predictive assessment of the success of a new product shortly after launch time.

Based on diffusion theory, we expect that for many innovative products, word of mouth and imitation play a significant role in the success of an innovation. Because word-of-mouth spread is often associated with some level of geographical proximity between the parties involved, one can expect “clusters” of adopters to begin to form. Alternatively, if the market reaction is widespread reluctance to adopt the new product, then the word-of-mouth effect is expected to be significantly smaller, leading to a more uniform pattern of sales (assuming that there are no external reasons for clustering). Hence, the less uniform a product's distribution, the higher its likelihood of generating a “contagion process” and therefore of being a success. This is also true if the underlying baseline distribution is nonuniform, as long as it is an empirical distribution known to the firm.

We use a spatial divergence approach based on cross-entropy divergence measures to determine the “distance” between two distribution functions. Using both simulated and real-life data, we find that this approach has been capable of predicting success in the beginning of the adoption process, correctly predicting 14 of 16 actual product introductions in two product categories. We also discuss the limitations of our approach, among them the possible confusion between natural formation of geodemographic clusters and word-of-mouth-based clusters.
Evolutionary Estimation of Macro-Level Diffusion Models Using Genetic Algorithms: An Alternative to Nonlinear Least Squares
Authors: Venkatesan Rajkumar , Krishnan Trichy V. , Kumar V.
Published: September 2004

In this paper, we provide theoretical arguments and empirical evidence for how Genetic Algorithms (GA) can be used for efficient estimation of macro-level diffusion models. Using simulations we find that GA and Sequential Search-Based-Nonlinear Least Squares (SSB-NLS) provide comparable parameter estimates when the data including peak sales are being used, for a range of error variances, and true parameter values commonly encountered in the literature. From empirical analyses we find that the forecasting performance of the GA estimates is better than that of SSB-NLS, Augmented Filter, Hierarchical Bayes, and Kalman Filter when only pre-peak sales data is available for estimation. When sales data until the peak time period are available for estimation, SSB-NLS is able to obtain parameter estimates when the starting values provided are the estimates from using GA. The estimates from GA are not biased and do not change in a systematic fashion when post-peak sales data are used, whereas the estimates from SSB-NLS are biased and change in a systematic fashion. Summarizing, we find that GA may be better suited for diffusion model estimation under the three conditions where SSB-NLS has been found to have problems.
Decomposing the Sales Promotion Bump with Store Data
Authors: van Heerde Harald J. , Leeflang Peter S. H. , Wittink Dick R.
Published: September 2004

Sales promotions generate substantial short-term sales increases. To determine whether the sales promotion bump is truly beneficial from a managerial perspective, we propose a system of store-level regression models that decomposes the sales promotion bump into three parts: cross-brand effects (secondary demand), cross-period effects (primary demand borrowed from other time periods), and category-expansion effects (remaining primary demand). Across four store-level scanner datasets, we find that each of these three parts contribute about one third on average. One extension we propose is the separation of the category-expansion effect into cross-store and market-expansion effects. Another one is to split the cross-item effect (total across all other items) into cannibalization and between-brand effects. We also allow for a flexible decomposition by allowing all effects to depend on the feature/display support condition and on the magnitude of the price discount. The latter dependence is achieved by local polynomial regression. We find that feature-supported price discounts are strongly associated with cross-period effects while display-only supported price discounts have especially strong category-expansion effects. While the role of the category-expansion effect tends to increase with higher price discounts, the roles of cross-brand and cross-period effects both tend to decrease.
Partial-Repeat-Bidding in the Name-Your-Own-Price Channel
Authors: Fay Scott
Published: September 2004

This paper presents an initial examination of an emerging business model, the Name-Your-Own-Price (NYOP) channel, as popularized by priceline.com. Focusing on how to optimally structure such market interactions, I ask whether it is more profitable to restrict individuals to a single bid, as is currently done by Priceline, or conversely, to allow consumers to continue bidding if the previous offer was rejected. I find that both market structures yield the same expected profit. In practice, a single-bid policy may not be perfectly enforceable, especially in the Internet environment, because a sophisticated user can circumvent such a policy by camouflaging one's identity or otherwise manipulating the bidding procedure. Thus, Priceline's single-bid restriction is likely to result in Partial-Repeat-Bidding, the case in which some consumers are limited to a single bid while other, sophisticated users may rebid. I ask whether such surreptitious bidding is detrimental to the NYOP firm and find that profits are lower than if such opportunistic behavior were absent. Surprisingly, I find that the impact of the number of repeat bidders on profits is not monotonic. Thus, if it is prohibitively costly or logistically infeasible for the NYOP firm to eliminate surreptitious rebidding behavior, the firm may, in fact, benefit from encouraging, rather than discouraging, users to rebid. The direction that increases profits depends on the percentage of sophisticated bidders.
Relational tendencies associated with broad personality dimensions
Authors: Caralis Dionyssios , Haslam Nick
Published: September 2004

Out‐patients (N = 76) completed measures of interpersonal motives and construals derived from relational models theory and a five‐factor model personality questionnaire. A broader range of associations between personality dimensions and relational tendencies was obtained than interpersonal circle theorists propose, with dimensions other than extraversion and agreeableness having distinctive relational correlates. The interpersonal domain of personality may therefore be somewhat broader than many mainstream personality theorists suppose.
Shame as a social phenomenon: A critical analysis of the concept of dispositional shame
Authors: Leeming Dawn , Boyle Mary
Published: September 2004

An increased clinical interest in shame has been reflected in the growing number of research studies in this area. However, clinically orientated empirical investigation has mostly been restricted to the investigation of individual differences in dispositional shame.

This study reviews recent work on dispositional shame but then argues that the primacy of this construct has been problematic in a number of ways. Most importantly, the notion of shame as a context‐free intrapsychic variable has distracted clinical researchers from investigating the management and repair of experiences of shame and shameful identities and has made the social constitution of shame less visible.

Several suggestions are made for alternative ways in which susceptibility to shame could be conceptualized, which consider how shame might arise in certain contexts and as a product of particular social encounters. For example, persistent difficulties with shame may relate to the salience of stigmatizing discourses within a particular social context, the roles or subject positions available to an individual, the establishment of a repertoire of context‐relevant shame avoidance strategies and the personal meaning of shamefulness.
Developing a rating scale for projected stories
Authors: Dent‐Brown Kim , Wang Michael
Published: September 2004

The Six‐part Story Method (6PSM) is a projective tool in wide use by dramatherapists in the UK, USA and Israel (Lahad & Ayalon, 1993). In contrast to projective tests used by psychotherapists and psychologists, the 6PSM has never been the subject of any validation or reliability studies. This study reports on the identification of scale items to describe the manifest content of six‐part stories. In all, 26 statements with acceptable inter‐rater reliability have been identified. These statements were used to rate stories produced by clinicians (N = 24) mainstream community mental health patients (N = 21) and patients with a borderline personality disorder (N = 19). Some features that were expected to be indicators of an author with a BPD diagnosis proved to be as common in stories from other authors. However, a scale of eight items was identified that differentiated well between authors with a BPD diagnosis and others, with adequate test — retest and inter‐rater reliability. Concurrent validity was tested against the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV Axis II (SCID‐II), the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure (CORE‐OM) and the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems—Short Form (IIP‐32).
Comparison of self‐rated and clinician‐rated measures of depressive symptoms: A naturalistic study
Authors: Dorz Stella , Borgherini Giuseppe , Conforti Donatella , Scarso Caterina , Magni Guido
Published: September 2004

In order to assess the concordance between self‐rating and clinician's assessment tools of depression, as well as factors involved in the differences between auto and hetero evaluation, 198 depressed in‐patients were assessed at admission and at discharge using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (10‐item version, MADRS) and the self‐rating scale Symptoms CheckList (90‐item version, SCL‐90). We found that about 18% of patients overestimated and about 15% underestimated their depressive symptomatology (SCL‐90 depression subscale) relative to the psychiatrist's assessment. Logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of personality disorders and previous history of psychiatric disorders predicted the overestimating group. Discriminant analysis showed that approximately 75% of participants were correctly classified when previous history of psychiatric disorders, presence of personality disorders and age were entered separately into the equation.
The credibility of psychodynamic, cognitive and cognitive‐behavioural psychotherapy in a randomly selected sample of the general public
Authors: Bragesjö Maria , Clinton David , Sandell Rolf
Published: September 2004

Purpose: To examine the credibility of psychodynamic, cognitive and cognitive‐behavioural psychotherapy in the general population.

Methods: A random sample (N = 121) of individuals from the county of Östergötland in Sweden between 20 and 60 years of age rated written descriptions of the three forms of psychotherapy.

Results: A clear majority of respondents rated cognitive and cognitive‐behavioural therapies as more credible than psychodynamic therapy, although the latter was rated as the most credible form of psychotherapy among those who had previous experience of treatment for psychological distress.

Conclusions: Each form of psychotherapy appears to have its own ‘market segment’ with a high degree of credibility to those within that segment.
The Reasons for Depression Questionnaire (RFD): UK Standardization for clinical and non‐clinical populations
Authors: Thwaites Richard , Dagnan Dave , Huey Dale , Addis Michael E.
Published: September 2004

Recent research into reason giving for depression has illustrated the importance of client beliefs about the cause of their depression. Reasons given have been found to be associated with level of depression, perceived credibility of treatments and therapy outcome. It has been suggested that giving reasons for depression is a form of rule‐governed behaviour and as such can cause the depression to be harder to treat (i.e. the reasons become functionally true for the individual).

This study investigates the reliability and validity of the Reasons for Depression Questionnaire (RFD; Addis, Truax, & Jacobson, 1995), a 48‐item self‐report measure developed to measure explanations for the causes of depression. The study provides preliminary normative data for both clinical (n = 123) and non‐clinical (n = 105) UK samples. The data indicate high reliability for all subscales including a further subscale (biological) added since the measure was initially developed. Certain subscales correlate significantly with level of depression and specific aspects of self‐esteem. This supports the validity of the measure and suggests that it is measuring a distinct concept rather than significantly overlapping with individuals' general beliefs about themselves.
Moderating variables in the relationship between social comparison and depression: An evolutionary perspective
Authors: Thwaites Richard , Dagnan Dave
Published: September 2004

This study investigated the relationship between social comparison and depression utilizing an evolutionary framework. It investigated the moderating effects on social comparison of the importance of comparison dimensions to the person, and of the perceived importance of the dimensions to other people. An adaptation of a measure of self‐esteem (Self Attributes Questionnaire; Pelham & Swann, 1989) was utilized. This consisted of 10‐point Likert scale ratings on 10 individual social comparison dimensions (e.g. intelligence, social skills, sense of humour). Questions were added to explore beliefs regarding the importance of social comparison dimensions. Data were collected from a combined clinical sample and non‐clinical sample of 174 people. The findings support the prediction that the relationship between social comparison on a particular dimension and depression is moderated by the perceived importance of that dimension in attracting the interest of others.
Becoming a self‐therapist: Using cognitivebehavioural therapy for recurrent depression and/or dysthymia after completing therapy
Authors: Glasman D. , Finlay W.M.L. , Brock D.
Published: September 2004

Objectives: To explore the ways in which people use cognitive‐behavioural therapy (CBT) for recurrent depression and/or dysthymia after leaving therapy.

Design: A qualitative interview was used in this study.

Method: Semi‐structured interviews were carried out with nine people who had completed a course of CBT at least three months previously. The interviews explored their use of CBT techniques or models outside of therapy and their everyday management of depression.

Results: Eight of the nine participants reported engaging in some self‐therapeutic activity, and identified depression, or the threat of depression, as a continuing presence in their lives. They used a range of techniques, either directly transferred from therapy or modified in some way, and identified a number of changes in the way they reacted to difficult situations or negative emotions. These included enactive responses such as leaving the room, making self‐efficacy statements, or remembering what the therapist had said to them. Participants also described situations in which they could not use the things they had learnt in CBT. Finally, a range of factors that influenced the ways in which participants became self‐therapists were identified.

Conclusions: A number of implications for clinical practice are described. An understanding of how people modify CBT and use it (or not) in their everyday lives is important to understanding and improving effectiveness.
GP views of their management and referral of psychological problems: A qualitative study
Authors: Sigel Paul , Leiper Rob
Published: September 2004

The ways that GPs manage and make referral decisions for psychological problems are crucial for the provision of mental health care, although the ways they undertake these tasks are not well understood. A long tradition of psychiatric research in the UK has identified significant shortcomings in detection rates, raising concerns that a large proportion of mental health problems go unrecognized and untreated. Other research has suggested that GPs have a different approach to psychological problems than their mental health colleagues, accounting for some of the particular conditions of primary care, although this approach may differ from the methods used by mental health specialists. The present study explored the views of 10 GPs in one geographic locality about managing and making referral decisions for psychological problems. Grounded theory analysis of interview data allowed for the development of a model made up of five components. This model described the ways that GPs explored psychological problems in the context of containing patients' health problems. Referral decisions were made when GPs felt they had reached the limits of their capabilities for treating a particular problem, taking account of the patient's suitability for psychological therapy and access to psychology services. These decisions were influenced by GPs' views of psychological problems and therapies as well as by their professional interactions with psychologists. The implications of the findings for understanding how GPs work with mental health problems and the ways that psychological services can help are discussed.
Parental loss before the age of 16 years: A comparative study of patients with personality disorder and patients with schizophrenia in a high secure hospital's population
Authors: Pert L. , Ferriter M. , Saul C.
Published: September 2004

There is a considerable body of literature supporting an association between separation from parent in childhood and later personality disorder. This study compares a 10‐year cohort of high secure hospital patients who had either a personality disorder or schizophrenia, but with no other significant psychiatric comorbidity. The information source was the Special Hospitals Case Register. The most important finding was a statistically significant difference in the rates of child — parent separation between the two groups. In the personality disorder group, 119/147 (81%) of the patients had been separated from one or both parents before the age of 16 compared to 178/289 (62%) in the schizophrenia group.
A Multistep Approach in the Cytologic Evaluation of Liver Biopsy Samples of Dogs with Hepatic Diseases
Authors: Stockhaus C. , Van Den Ingh T. , Rothuizen J. , Teske E.
Published: September 2004

Cytologic criteria were evaluated for their diagnostic value in liver disease in dogs. Therefore, histopathologic and cytologic examination was performed on liver biopsy samples of 73 dogs with liver diseases and 28 healthy dogs. Logistic regression analysis was used to select the measured parameters to be included in a multistep approach. With the logistic regression method, different characteristic cytologic parameters could be defined for each histopathologic diagnosis. In malignant lymphoma of the liver, the presence of large numbers of lymphoblasts with a minimum of 5% of all cells was found. Clusters of epithelial cells with several cytologic characteristics of malignancy intermixed with normal hepatocytes were indicative of metastatic carcinoma or cholangiocellular carcinoma. Liver cells in hepatocellular carcinoma were characterized by a high nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, large cell diameters, increased numbers of nucleoli per nuclei, small numbers of cytoplasmic vacuoles, and frequently, small numbers of lymphocytes. Extrahepatic cholestasis was characterized by excessive extracellular bile pigment in the form of biliary casts, an increased number of nucleoli within hepatocytes, decreased hepatic cell size, and low numbers of lymphocytes. In destructive cholangiolitis, increased numbers of neutrophils and a small mean nuclear size within hepatocytes were seen. Acute and nonspecific reactive hepatitis are diagnosed based on the presence of moderate reactive nuclear patterns, including more pronounced chromatin, prominent nucleoli, increased numbers of inflammatory cells, excluding lymphocytes, and the absence of increased numbers of bile duct cell clusters. Increased number of mast cells also was indicative of nonspecific reactive hepatitis. Important cytologic criteria for the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis, in addition to chronic hepatitis, are intracellular bile accumulation and increased numbers of bile duct cell clusters. In summary, the stepwise approach based on logistic regression presented in this study might be helpful in the objective cytologic diagnosis of hepatic diseases.
Features of Cell Degeneration and Death in Hepatic Failure and Systemic Lymphoid Depletion Characteristic of Porcine Circovirus-2–associated Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Disease
Authors: Krakowka S. , Ellis J. , McNeilly F. , Meehan B. , Oglesbee M. , Alldinger S. , Allan G.
Published: September 2004

Tissue section replicates from lymphoid tissues and livers of gnotobiotic swine were examined by immunohistochemistry for the colocalization of porcine circovirus-2 (PCV-2) nucleocapsid and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (Td T)-mediated incorporation of biotinylated nucleotides ( UTP) onto the 3′-exposed hydroxyl groups ( nick end labeling) nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid (TUNEL), a marker for apoptosis. Single- and dually stained replicates from uninfected controls, subclinically affected PCV-2-infected gnotobiotic pigs, PCV-2-infected piglets immunosuppressed with cyclosporine (Cys), and PCV-2-infected piglets with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) were evaluated. Thymuses were used as positive controls for apoptosis absent PCV-2, tissue sections from dogs given hyperthermic stress were examined as positive controls for induced TUNEL. Tissues from heat-stressed dogs contained TUNEL-positive cell nuclei in both lymphoid tissues and liver, TUNEL was greatest shortly after the delivery of the hyperthermic insult. In uninfected control and subclinically affected PCV-2-infected gnotobiotic pigs, rare hepatocytes and lymphoid cells were TUNEL positive, the frequency of these was similar to that seen in uninfected controls. In PMWS-affected and Cys-treated PCV-2 piglets, the only consistent strongly positive TUNEL signal was contained within the cytoplasm of virus-positive phagocytic mononuclear cells. In phagocytes, some PCV-2 inclusions were TUNEL positive. Collectively, these data indicate that apoptosis is not the primary mechanism of lymphoid depletion and hepatocyte loss in PMWS. Apoptosis associated with systemic viral diseases may be attributable to pyrexia rather than direct or indirect effects of viruses on target cells.