bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring the Price Knowledge Shoppers Bring to the Store
Authors: Vanhuele Marc , Drèze Xavier
Published: November 2003

Reference price research suggests that consumers memorize and recall price information when selecting brands for frequently purchased products. Previous price-knowledge surveys, however, indicate that memory for prices is lower than expected. In this study, the authors show that these price-knowledge surveys provide imperfect estimates of price knowledge, because they focus only on recall and short-term memory. The authors propose, instead, to use a combination of price recall, price recognition, and deal recognition to measure the degree to which consumers use auditory verbal, visual Arabic, or analogue magnitude representations to memorize prices. The authors show how the combination of these three measures provides a much richer understanding of consumers' knowledge of prices. The results suggest that the price knowledge involved in reference prices may often not be accessible to recall but shows up in price recognition and deal recognition. In addition, the authors identify consumer and product characteristics that explain the variations in price knowledge. They find, for example, that frequent promotions increase consumers' ability to remember regular prices and that store switchers do not possess better price knowledge than other shoppers.
A Configuration Theory Assessment of Marketing Organization Fit with Business Strategy and Its Relationship with Marketing Performance
Authors: Vorhies Douglas W. , Morgan Neil A.
Published: November 2003

Theory posits that organizing marketing activities in ways that fit the implementation requirements of a business's strategy enhances performance. However, conceptual and methodological problems make it difficult to empirically assess this proposition in the holistic way that it is theoretically framed. Drawing on configuration theory approaches in management, the authors address these problems by assessing marketing organization fit with business strategy as the degree to which a business's marketing organization differs from that of an empirically derived ideal profile that achieves superior performance by arranging marketing activities in a way that enables the implementation of a given strategy type. The authors suggest that marketing organization fit with strategic type is associated with marketing effectiveness in prospector, defender, and analyzer strategic types and with marketing efficiency in prospector and defender strategic types. The study demonstrates the utility of profile deviation approaches for strategic marketing theory development and testing.
Marketing Literature Review
Authors: Leonard Myron
Published: November 2003

This section is based on a selection of article abstracts from a comprehensive business literature database. Marketing-related abstracts from more than 125 journals (both academic and trade) are reviewed by JM staff. Descriptors for each entry are assigned by JM staff. Each issue of this section represents three months of entries into the database.

Each entry has an identifying number. Cross-references appear immediately under each subject heading.
Psychological Implications of Customer Participation in Co-Production
Authors: Bendapudi Neeli , Leone Robert P.
Published: November 2003

Customer participation in the production of goods and services appears to be growing. The marketing literature has largely focused on the economic implications of this trend and has not addressed customers’ potential psychological responses to participation. The authors draw on the social psychological literature on the self-serving bias and conduct two studies to examine the effects of participation on customer satisfaction. Study 1 shows that consistent with the self-serving bias, given an identical outcome, customer satisfaction with a firm differs depending on whether a customer participates in production. Study 2 shows that providing customers a choice in whether to participate mitigates the self-serving bias when the outcome is worse than expected. The authors present theoretical and practical implications and provide directions for further research.
Reciprocal Spillover Effects: A Strategic Benefit of Brand Extensions
Authors: Balachander Subramanian , Ghose Sanjoy
Published: November 2003

A commonly advanced rationale for the proliferation of brand extensions is companies’ motivation to leverage the equity in established brands, thereby developing profitable products relatively easily. A more interesting strategic argument for brand extensions that has been advanced is that extensions would favorably affect the image of the parent brand and thereby influence its choice. In this research, the authors investigate the existence of such reciprocal spillover effects emanating from the advertising of a brand extension. The authors use scanner panel data and study spillover effects of advertising on brand choice. They develop implications for brand and product line management.
Trading off between Value Creation and Value Appropriation: The Financial Implications of Shifts in Strategic Emphasis
Authors: Mizik Natalie , Jacobson Robert
Published: November 2003

Firms allocate their limited resources between two fundamental processes of creating value (i.e., innovating, producing, and delivering products to the market) and appropriating value (i.e., extracting profits in the marketplace). Although both value creation and value appropriation are required for achieving sustained competitive advantage, a firm has significant latitude in deciding the extent to which it emphasizes one over the other. What effect does strategic emphasis (i.e., emphasis on value creation versus value appropriation) have on firm's financial performance? The authors address this issue by examining the effect that shifts in strategic emphasis have on stock return. They find that the stock market reacts favorably when a firm increases its emphasis on value appropriation relative to value creation. This effect, however, is moderated by firm and industry characteristics, in particular, financial performance, the past level of strategic emphasis of the firm, and the technological environment in which the firm operates. These results do not negate the importance of value creation capabilities, but rather highlight the importance of isolating mechanisms that enable the firm to appropriate some of the value it has created.
The Impact of Customer Relationship Characteristics on Profitable Lifetime Duration
Authors: Reinartz Werner J. , Kumar V.
Published: November 2003

The authors develop a framework that incorporates projected profitability of customers in the computation of lifetime duration. Furthermore, the authors identify factors under a manager's control that explain the variation in the profitable lifetime duration. They also compare other frameworks with the traditional methods such as the recency, frequency, and monetary value framework and past customer value and illustrate the superiority of the proposed framework. Finally, the authors develop several key implications that can be of value to decision makers in managing customer relationships.
Corporate Environmentalism: Antecedents and Influence of Industry Type
Authors: Banerjee Subhabrata Bobby , Iyer Easwar S. , Kashyap Rajiv K.
Published: November 2003

How does a business firm manage its relationship with the natural environment? What are the factors that influence the choice of such strategies? Does industry type matter? The authors introduce and operationalize the concept of corporate environmentalism in an effort to answer these questions. Using stakeholder theory, the authors identify four important antecedents to corporate environmentalism, namely, public concern, regulatory forces, competitive advantage, and top management commitment. The authors then use a political–economic framework to develop testable hypotheses. To test the hypotheses, the authors perform multigroup path analysis on data gathered from more than 240 firms. They find that corporate environmentalism is related to all hypothesized antecedents and that industry type moderates several of those relationships. In the high environmental impact sector, public concern has the greatest impact on corporate environmentalism, followed by regulatory forces. In the moderate environmental impact sector, competitive advantage has the greatest impact on corporate environmentalism, followed by regulatory forces. There are strong direct and mediating influences from top management commitment, which is the antecedent with the greatest impact on both industry groups. The influences of regulatory forces, public concern, and competitive advantage are all significantly mediated by top management commitment and moderated by industry type. The empirical findings and the ensuing discussion will be of interest to managers and public policy officials.
The Structural Influence of Marketing Journals: A Citation Analysis of the Discipline and its Subareas over Time
Authors: Baumgartner Hans , Pieters Rik
Published: November 2003

The authors investigate the overall and subarea influence of a comprehensive set of marketing and marketing-related journals at three points in time during a 30-year period using a citation-based measure of structural influence. The results show that a few journals wield a disproportionate amount of influence in the marketing journal network as a whole and that influential journals tend to derive their influence from many different journals. Different journals are most influential in different subareas of marketing; general business and managerially oriented journals have lost influence, whereas more specialized marketing journals have gained in influence over time. The Journal of Marketing emerges as the most influential marketing journal in the final period (1996–97) and as the journal with the broadest span of influence across all subareas. Yet the Journal of Marketing is notably influential among applied marketing journals, which themselves are of lesser influence. The index of structural influence is significantly correlated with other objective and subjective measures of influence but least so with the impact factors reported in the Social Sciences Citation Index. Overall, the findings demonstrate the rapid maturation of the marketing discipline and the changing role of key journals in the process.
To have and to Hold: The Influence of Haptic Information on Product Judgments
Authors: Peck Joann , Childers Terry L.
Published: November 2003

Haptic information, or information attained through touch by the hands, is important for the evaluation of products that vary in terms of material properties related to texture, hardness, temperature, and weight. The authors develop and propose a conceptual framework to illustrate that salience of haptic information differs significantly across products, consumers, and situations. The authors use two experiments to assess how these factors interact to impair or enhance the acquisition and use of haptic information. Barriers to touch, such as a retail display case, can inhibit the use of haptic information and consequently decrease confidence in product evaluations and increase the frustration level of consumers who are more motivated to touch products. In addition, written descriptions and visual depictions of products can partially enhance acquisition of certain types of touch information. The authors synthesize the results of these studies and discuss implications for the effect of haptic information for Internet and other nonstore retailing as well as for traditional retailers.
The Identity Salience Model of Relationship Marketing Success: The Case of Nonprofit Marketing
Authors: Arnett Dennis B. , German Steve D. , Hunt Shelby D.
Published: November 2003

Researchers suggest that developing long-term relationships with key stakeholders is an important strategy in today's intensely competitive business environment. Many organizations have embraced this concept, which is referred to as relationship marketing. Much of the research on relationship marketing success has examined relationships that (1) are primarily economic in nature, (2) involve business-to-business marketing, and (3) involve for-profit firms. However, the authors argue that relationship marketing is a viable strategy in such contexts as those involving high levels of social exchange, business-to-consumer marketing, and nonprofit marketing. In these contexts, relationship marketing success may require different relationship characteristics from those identified in previous research. The authors develop “the identity salience model of relationship marketing success,” which they posit is useful for explaining relationship marketing success in exchange relationships that (1) involve individuals and (2) are based primarily on social exchange. The authors further develop and test the model in the context of nonprofit higher education marketing. The results provide support for the model.
Micellar Nanoreactors—Preparation and Characterization of Hexagonally Ordered Arrays of Metallic Nanodots
Authors: Kästle G. , Boyen H.‐G. , Weigl F. , Lengl G. , Herzog T. , Ziemann P. , Riethmüller S. , Mayer O. , Hartmann C. , Spatz J.P. , Möller M. , Ozawa M. , Banhart F. , Garnier M.G. , Oelhafen P.
Published: November 2003

The preparation of hexagonally ordered metallic nanodots was studied in detail with emphasis on the chemical state of the resulting particles. To obtain these dots, in a first step micellar structures were formed from diblock copolymers in solution. The reverse micelles themselves are capable of ligating defined amounts of a metal salt within their cores, acting as nanoreactors. After transfer of the metal‐loaded reverse micelles onto a substrate, the polymer was removed by means of different plasmas (oxygen and/or hydrogen), which also allow the metal salt to be reduced to the metallic state. In this way, ordered arrays of metallic nanodots can be prepared on various substrates. By adjusting the appropriate parameters, the separation and the size of the dots can be varied and controlled. To determine their purity, chemical state, and surface cleanliness—all of which are crucial for subsequent experiments since nanoscale structures are intrinsically surface dominated—in‐situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ex‐situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied, also giving information on the formation of the nanodots.
Anomalous Spin Transition Observed in Bis(2,6‐bis(pyrazol‐3‐yl)pyridine)iron(II) Thiocyanate Dihydrate
Authors: Bhattacharjee A. , Ksenofontov V. , Sugiyarto K.H. , Goodwin H.A. , Gütlich P.
Published: November 2003

Bis(2,6‐bis(pyrazol‐3‐yl)pyridine)iron(II) thiocyanate dihydrate undergoes a two‐step singlet (1A1) ⇄ quintet (5T2) transition in which both steps are associated with thermal hysteresis. Thermal cycling of the sample results in its conversion to a second phase which displays a single‐step transition with a very narrow hysteresis loop. This second phase slowly reverts to the initial phase on standing at 300 K. The interconversions are completely reversible. The spin state changes have been monitored by measurement of magnetism and Mössbauer spectra and by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies.
Solid‐State Photovoltaic Thin Films using TiO2, Organic Dyes, and Layer‐by‐Layer Polyelectrolyte Nanocomposites
Authors: Tokuhisa H. , Hammond P.T.
Published: November 2003

We report photovoltaic devices consisting of patterned TiO2, porphyrin dyes, and layer‐by‐layer (LBL) polyelectrolyte multilayer/oligoethylene glycol dicarboxylic acid (OEGDA) composite films. A composite polyelectrolyte LBL/OEGDA film was fabricated by formation of an alternating multilayer of linear polyethyleneimine (LPEI) and polyacrylic acid (PAA), followed by immersion of the LBL film into an OEGDA aqueous solution. The ionic conductivity attained in this LBL LPEI/PAA and OEGDA composite film was approximately 10–5 S cm–1 at room temperature and humidity. Investigations of dye‐sensitized photovoltaic devices constructed with the LBL (LPEI/PAA)/OEGDA composite films, TiO2, and four types of porphyrin dyes resulted in optimization of the dye molecule and its orientation at the interface with the ionically conductive composite. The photocurrent value of photovoltaic devices constructed with the composite LBL/OEGDA film from illumination of a xenon white light source exhibited a nearly 1.5 times enhancement over the device without OEGDA. This enhancement of the photocurrent was due to the high room‐temperature ionic conductivity of the multilayer composite film. Further marked improvements of the photovoltaic performance were achieved by patterning the TiO2 electrode using polymer stamping as a template for TiO2 deposition. The device with patterned TiO2 electrodes exhibited almost 10 times larger conversion efficiencies than a similar device without patterning.
Long‐Range, Entangled Carbon Nanotube Networks in Polycarbonate
Authors: Singh S. , Pei Y. , Miller R. , Sundararajan P.R.
Published: November 2003

A method is presented for dispersing ropes or bundles of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (RCNTs) in a polycarbonate (PC) matrix. Films of PC/RCNT composites are produced, with thicknesses ranging from 10 to 60 μm, and containing small concentrations (0.06–0.25 wt.‐%) of RCNT. Our process is based on a unique method of hot casting, annealing, and drying from dichlorobenzene solution. A wet annealing prior to complete drying yields a uniform and transparent film. Despite the low RCNT loading, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the films after fracture reveals that the RCNTs form an entangled network throughout the film, which is a key requirement for enhanced properties. An increase of up to 30 % in the Young's modulus, as compared to PC, results with this method of composite fabrication.
Atomic Layer Deposition of TiO2 Thin Films on Mixed Self‐Assembled Monolayers Studied as a Function of Surface Free Energy
Authors: Lee J.P. , Jang Y.J. , Sung M.M.
Published: November 2003

Mixed self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) with different ratios of –OH to –CH3 groups were used to modify the surface free energies of the Si substrates from 64 to 29 mN m–1. The TiO2 thin films were grown on the mixed SAM‐coated Si substrates by atomic layer deposition (ALD) from titanium isopropoxide and water. A two‐dimensional growth mode is observed on the SAMs‐coated substrates possessing high surface free energies. As the surface free energy decreases, a three‐dimensional growth mode begins to dominate. These observations indicate that the mixed SAMs can control the growth modes of the atomic layer deposition by modifying of the surface free energies of the substrates.
Anthracene‐Containing Binaphthol Chromophores for Light‐Emitting Diode (LED) Fabrication
Authors: Benmansour H. , Shioya T. , Sato Y. , Bazan G.C.
Published: November 2003

Non‐crystalline anthracene‐containing binaphthol chromophores were synthesized, characterized, and used in the fabrication of organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). Specifically, the target molecules were 2,2′‐dihexyloxy‐1,1′‐binaphthol‐6,6′‐bisanthracene (BA1) and 2,2′‐dimethoxyy‐1,1′‐binaphthol‐6,6′‐bisanthracene (BA2). Molecules BA1 and BA2 provide amorphous solids, as determined by their glass‐transition temperature (Tg) measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Efficient multilayer OLEDs containing BA1 and BA2 were fabricated by evaporation techniques. Differences in the electroluminescence frequencies of these devices suggests that the degree of alkoxide substitution controls the mobility within the binaphthol material, and therefore the recombination region in the device. Compound BA2 can also be used to dope CBP ((4,4′‐bis(carbazol‐9‐yl)biphenyl)) in the fabrication of highly efficient OLEDs.
Positively Thermo‐Sensitive Monodisperse Core–Shell Microspheres
Authors: Xiao X.‐C. , Chu L.‐Y. , Chen W.‐M. , Wang S. , Li Y.
Published: November 2003

In this paper, we report on a novel family of monodisperse thermo‐sensitive core–shell hydrogel microspheres that is featured with high monodispersity and positively thermo‐responsive volume phase transition characteristics with tunable swelling kinetics, i.e., the particle swelling is induced by an increase rather than a decrease in temperature. The microspheres were fabricated in a three‐step process. In the first step, monodisperse poly(acrylamide‐co‐styrene) seeds were prepared by emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization. In the second step, poly(acrylamide) or poly[acrylamide‐co‐(butyl methacrylate)] shells were fabricated on the microsphere seeds by free radical polymerization. In the third step, the core–shell microspheres with poly‐ (acrylamide)/poly(acrylic acid) based interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) shells were finished by a method of sequential IPN synthesis. The proposed monodisperse core–shell microspheres provide a new mode of the phase transition behavior for thermo‐sensitive “smart” or “intelligent” monodisperse micro‐actuators that is highly attractive for targeting drug delivery systems, chemical separations, sensors, and so on.
Unique Single‐Crystalline Beta Carbon Nitride Nanorods
Authors: Yin L.‐W. , Bando Y. , Li M.‐S. , Liu Y.‐X. , Qi Y.‐X.
Published: November 2003

Growth of single crystal beta carbon nitride (β‐C3N4) nanorods (see Figure) has been achieved for the first time through thermal annealing of nanosized carbon nitrides induced by high‐energy ball milling under a streaming flow of NH3. Most of the nanorods grow along the [001] direction, and the surfaces are defined by (011) and (010) specific crystallographic planes. A possible growth mechanism of the β‐C3N4 nanorods is discussed.
Alignment of Long DNA Molecules on Templates Generated via Dip‐Pen Nanolithography
Authors: Nyamjav D. , Ivanisevic A.
Published: November 2003

A methodology to place and stretch long DNA molecules by coupling dip‐pen Nanolithography with molecular combing is presented. Templates were fabricated on SiOx surfaces using a positively charged polymer, poly(allylamine hydrochloride). Upon molecular combing, DNA molecules elongate on the surface (for example, see Figure) and are localized by the presence of the charged lithographically defined structures.
Colloidal PbS Nanocrystals with Size‐Tunable Near‐Infrared Emission: Observation of Post‐Synthesis Self‐Narrowing of the Particle Size Distribution
Authors: Hines M.A. , Scholes G.D.
Published: November 2003

The synthesis of nanocrystalline PbS quantum dots using organometallic precursors is reported. The samples exhibit tunable, strong near‐infrared photoluminescence. A remarkable spontaneous self‐directed narrowing of the particle size distribution is shown to occur after the particles are synthesized and dispersed in organic solvent. The Figure shows the tuning of band‐edge exciton absorption features through the near‐infrared spectral region according to particle size.
Highly Transparent γ‐Fe2O3/Vycor‐Glass Magnetic Nanocomposites Exhibiting Faraday Rotation
Authors: Zayat M. , del Monte F. , Morales M.P. , Rosa G. , Guerrero H. , Serna C.J. , Levy D.
Published: November 2003

The preparation and characterization of highly transparent (see Figure) and magnetic nanocomposites exhibiting Faraday rotation is reported. Superparamagnetic behavior results from the confinement of the γ‐Fe2O3 nanoparticles within the pores of a Vycor glass. The remarkable Faraday rotation exhibited by the resulting composites opens their application to a wide range of magneto‐optical devices.
Titelbild: Designing Permeable Molecular Crystals That React with External Agents To Give Crystalline Products (Angew. Chem. 43/2003)
Authors: Brunet Philippe , Demers Eric , Maris Thierry , Enright Gary D. , Wuest James D.
Published: November 2003

Permeable molekulare Kristalle sind gezielt herstellbar und ermöglichen die spezifische Aufnahme von Substraten, deren Reaktion in den Poren unter Erhaltung der ursprünglichen Kristallarchitektur zu neuen Einkristallen führt (siehe Bild). Solche topotaktischen Prozesse können zur kovalenten Vernetzung von Molekülkristallen genutzt werden, wobei temporäre supramolekulare Aggregate als permanente kristalline Replika von Makromolekülen fixiert werden. J. D. Wuest et al. zeigen dies in ihrer Zuschrift auf S. 5461 ff. am Beispiel der Reaktion von Dithiolen mit exponierten Allylfunktionen.
Cranial allometry, phylogeography, and systematics of large‐bodied papionins (primates: Cercopithecinae) inferred from geometric morphometric analysis of landmark data
Authors: Frost Stephen R. , Marcus Leslie F. , Bookstein Fred L. , Reddy David P. , Delson Eric
Published: November 2003

The cranial morphology of the African Old World monkeys Mandrillus, Papio, and Theropithecus (i.e., baboons) has been the subject of a number of studies investigating their systematic relationships, patterns of scaling, and growth. In this study, we use landmark‐based geometric morphometrics and multivariate analysis to assess the effects of size, sex, taxonomy, and geographic location on cranial shape. Forty‐five landmarks were digitized in three dimensions on 452 baboon crania and subjected to generalized Procrustes analysis (GPA), which standardizes geometric size but leaves scaling‐based shape differences in the data. The resulting shape coordinates were submitted to regression analysis, principal components analysis (PCA), partial least‐squares (PLS) analysis, and various clustering techniques. Scaling (shape differences correlated with size) was the largest single factor explaining cranial shape variation. For instance, most (but not all) of the shape differences between the sexes were explained by size dimorphism. However, central tendencies of shape clearly varied by taxon (both specific and subspecific) even after variations in size and sex were adjusted out. Within Papio, about 60% of the size‐ and sex‐adjusted shape variations were explained by the geographic coordinates of the specimen's provenance, revealing a stepped cline in cranial morphology, with the greatest separation between northern and southern populations. Based on evidence from genetic studies, and the presence of at least two major hybrid/interbreeding zones, we interpret the phylogeographic pattern of cranial variation as indicating that these populations are best ranked as subspecies of a single species, rather than as two or more distinct biological species. This objective approach can be applied to other vertebrate species or species groups to help determine the taxonomic rank of problematic taxa. Anat Rec Part A 275A:1048–1072, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bone's mechanostat: A 2003 update
Authors: Frost Harold M.
Published: November 2003

The still‐evolving mechanostat hypothesis for bones inserts tissue‐level realities into the former knowledge gap between bone's organ‐level and cell‐level realities. It concerns load‐bearing bones in postnatal free‐living bony vertebrates, physiologic bone loading, and how bones adapt their strength to the mechanical loads on them. Voluntary mechanical usage determines most of the postnatal strength of healthy bones in ways that minimize nontraumatic fractures and create a bone‐strength safety factor. The mechanostat hypothesis predicts 32 things that occur, including the gross anatomical bone abnormalities in osteogenesis imperfecta; it distinguishes postnatal situations from baseline conditions at birth; it distinguishes bones that carry typical voluntary loads from bones that have other chief functions; and it distinguishes traumatic from nontraumatic fractures. It provides functional definitions of mechanical bone competence, bone quality, osteopenias, and osteoporoses. It includes permissive hormonal and other effects on bones, a marrow mediator mechanism, some limitations of clinical densitometry, a cause of bone “mass” plateaus during treatment, an “adaptational lag” in some children, and some vibration effects on bones. The mechanostat hypothesis may have analogs in nonosseous skeletal organs as well. Anat Rec Part A 275A:1081–1101, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of FACIT collagens XII and XIV during bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice
Authors: Tzortzaki Eleni G. , Tischfield Jay A. , Sahota Amrik , Siafakas Nikolaos M. , Gordon Marion K. , Gerecke Donald R.
Published: November 2003

Collagens XII and XIV are members of a subfamily of fibril‐associated collagens with interrupted triple‐helices (FACITs) that facilitate the interactions of adjacent collagen fibrils. Using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, we analyzed the spatial and temporal expression pattern of collagens XII and XIV during bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis. C57Bl mice were treated with bleomycin (1 U, i.p., every other day for 8 days) or saline (control), and lung tissue samples were analyzed 2–12 weeks later. Collagen I protein expression was increased in the lung 2 weeks post bleomycin treatment and persisted for at least 12 weeks. In contrast, collagen XII and XIV expression was low until 4 weeks after bleomycin treatment. Whereas collagen XII expression was greatest between 4 weeks and 8 weeks, expression of collagen XIV persisted from 4 to 12 weeks, which suggests that these two proteins may play distinct roles in the fibrotic process. The mRNA for lysyl oxidase (LOX), an enzyme for cross‐linking of collagens, had a delayed increase in the lung after bleomycin administration. It reached a maximum after 8 weeks, and persisted throughout the 12 weeks of the study. These data support the hypothesis that fibrosis is a multistep process that involves both collagen accumulation and changes in the molecules that modulate the biomechanical properties of fibrils. Anat Rec Part A 275A:1073–1080, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Localization of neurons projecting into the extrinsic penile smooth musculature of the pig: An experimental study on the retractor penis muscle
Authors: Panu Rino , Bo Minelli Luisa , Botti Maddalena , Gazza Ferdinando , Acone Franca , Ragionieri Luisa , Palmieri Giovanni
Published: November 2003

The aim of this study was to locate in male pigs the sensory and autonomic ganglia innervating the retractor penis muscle (RPM), which was taken as an experimental model of the genital smooth musculature. The retrograde neuronal tracers horseradish peroxidase (HRP), Fast Blue (FB), and diamidino yellow (DY) were injected into the bulbopenile portion of the left RPM. The tracers highlighted a different affinity for the neuronal structures, although labelled cells supplying the RPM were generally found in bilateral dorsal root ganglia (DRGs, S1–S3), in bilateral paravertebral ganglia (PaGs, L2–S3), and in the left and right caudal mesenteric ganglia (CMGs). The mean number of labelled FB cells was 795 (range, 645–952) in DRGs, 16046.25 (range, 10226–18742) in PaGs, and 635.25 (range, 333–786) in CMGs. The mean diameter of pseudounipolar DRG cells was 60–75 μm, while the multipolar neurons of PaGs and CMGs had dimensions varying between 20–50 μm and 20–30 μm, respectively. Anat Rec Part A 275A:1102–1108, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Collagen type VI expression during cardiac development and in human fetuses with trisomy 21
Authors: Gittenberger‐De Groot Adriana C. , Bartram Ulrike , Oosthoek Petra W. , Bartelings Margot M. , Hogers Bianca , Poelmann Robert E. , Jongewaard Ian N. , Klewer Scott E.
Published: November 2003

The role played by specific extracellular matrix molecules in normal endocardial cushion differentiation into valves and septa remains to be established. In this respect, type collagen VI is of particular interest because genes encoding the α1 and α2 chains are located on chromosome 21, and defects involving the atrioventricular (AV) cushions are frequent in trisomy 21. Collagen VI expression was studied in normal human embryonic and fetal hearts (5–18 weeks of development) and compared by immunohistochemistry with results from fetuses (10–16 weeks of development) with trisomy 21. During normal endocardial cushion differentiation (5–8 weeks) there was marked collagen VI expression in the AV cushions, whereas only minor expression was seen in the outflow tract cushions. In the normal fetuses (10–18 weeks), collagen VI in the AV cushions had condensed into a marked zone on the atrial side of the leaflets, as well as subendocardially in other regions of high shear stress. Morphological defects involving the endocardial cushion‐derived structures were present in all trisomy 21 cases. An abnormally large membranous septum was observed in three cases. An AV septal defect (AVSD) was present in two, while one had a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Two cases presented with a secondary atrial septal defect (ASDII), and one had an AVSD. Mild to moderate valve dysmorphia was found in all cases. Collagen VI staining in trisomy 21 was more intense than in the normal subjects; however, there were no differences in the spatial expression patterns. We conclude that collagen VI is expressed in the AV cushions and persists during valve differentiation. Collagen VI is more prominent in fetal trisomy 21 hearts than in normal hearts. We hypothesise that collagen VI has a role in the development of heart defects involving endocardial cushion differentiation—specifically in the AV canal, the most common site of malformations affecting children with trisomy 21. Anat Rec Part A 275A:1109–1116, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reduction of job loss in persons with rheumatic diseases receiving vocational rehabilitation: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Allaire Saralynn H. , Li Wei , LaValley Michael P.
Published: November 2003

Objective

Job loss is a major consequence of rheumatic diseases, and clinicians may refer patients to vocational rehabilitation for help. When provided after job loss, the impact of vocational rehabilitation is short term. This randomized controlled trial with 48 months of followup was undertaken to determine the efficacy of vocational rehabilitation provided to persons with rheumatic diseases while they are still employed, but at risk for job loss.

Methods

A total of 242 patients with rheumatic diseases residing in Massachusetts were recruited through their rheumatologists for study. Participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 122) or the control group (n = 120). Subjects in the experimental group received two 1.5‐hour sessions of vocational rehabilitation; those in the control group received print materials about disability employment issues and resources by mail. The main outcome assessed was the time to first job loss. Job losses were defined as permanent disability, premature retirement, or a period of unemployment. All analyses were conducted on an intent‐to‐treat basis.

Results

Job loss was delayed in the experimental group compared with the control group (P = 0.03 by log rank test). After adjustment for confounders, participation in the experimental group was found to be protective against job loss (odds ratio 0.58 [95% confidence interval 0.34–0.99], P = 0.05 by pooled logistic regression).

Conclusion

Vocational rehabilitation delivered to patients at risk for job loss, but while they were still employed, delayed job loss. Such an intervention has the potential to reduce the high indirect costs, as well as the personal impact, of rheumatic diseases.
Prognostic factors in a large cohort of patients with early undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis after application of a structured management protocol
Authors: Quinn Mark A. , Green Michael J. , Marzo‐Ortega Helena , Proudman Susanna , Karim Zunaid , Wakefield Richard J. , Conaghan Philip G. , Emery Paul
Published: November 2003

Objective

Inflammatory arthritis of the hands is a frequent clinical presentation with a variable outcome. Patients not satisfying the classification criteria for recognized arthritides are described as having undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis, for which there are no accepted therapeutic algorithms. This study assessed the clinical outcome of patients with undifferentiated arthritis of the hands after use of a treatment algorithm, and evaluated the prognostic features in these patients.

Methods

One hundred consecutive patients with undifferentiated arthritis of the hands were assessed following use of a pragmatic treatment algorithm that was based on clinical presentation and response to treatment. The following standard step‐up treatment protocol was used: 1) nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), 2) a single dose of corticosteroid administered by either intramuscular or intraarticular injection, and 3) disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Patients with specific rheumatologic diagnoses were excluded. The primary outcome was persistence of synovitis at 12 months.

Results

Seventy‐eight percent of patients received NSAIDs, 72% received corticosteroids, and 30% received DMARD therapy. Among patients who had synovitis at 12 months, the prevalence of rheumatoid factor (RF) seropositivity, swollen joints, and synovitis at baseline was greater than in those without persistent synovitis. Logistic regression analysis showed baseline investigations to be poor predictors of subsequent DMARD use, with the best predictor being persistence of synovitis at 12 weeks. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) developed in 14 patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that significant predictors of RA were RF seropositivity and the painful joint count at baseline. No patient who experienced resolution of synovitis by 12 weeks had persistent synovitis that subsequently required DMARD therapy. Only 13% of patients entered remission. Early resolution of synovitis was associated with an excellent prognosis.

Conclusion

Undifferentiated arthritis of the hands is not a benign condition, with 30% of patients receiving DMARD therapy by 12 months and low remission rates. Results of the clinical assessment at 12 weeks is the single best predictor of future therapy. This study provides background data for use in determining future therapeutic interventions.
Use of positron emission tomography with methyl‐11C‐choline and 2‐18F‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of inflammatory proliferation of synovium
Authors: Roivainen Anne , Parkkola Riitta , Yli‐Kerttula Timo , Lehikoinen Pertti , Viljanen Tapio , Möttönen Timo , Nuutila Pirjo , Minn Heikki
Published: November 2003

Objective

To compare positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of inflammatory proliferation of synovium.

Methods

Ten patients (mean ± SD age 36 ± 13 years) with inflammatory joint disease and with clinical signs of inflammation of the joint were studied. A new tracer for cellular proliferation, methyl‐11C‐choline (11C‐choline), and a widely used tracer for the detection of inflammation and cancer, 2‐18F‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose (18F‐FDG), were applied for PET imaging, and the results were compared with the findings from gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid–enhanced MR images. The uptake of 11C‐choline and 18F‐FDG in the inflamed synovium was measured and expressed as the standardized uptake value (SUV) and the kinetic influx constant (Ki) obtained from graphic analysis, and these values were compared with quantitative values on MRI. Synovial volumes were measured on the coronal contrast‐enhanced T1‐weighted MR images using the standard software of the MR imager.

Results

All patients showed high accumulation of both 11C‐choline and 18F‐FDG at the site of arthritic changes, where quantification of the tracer uptake was performed. The SUV of 11C‐choline was 1.5 ± 0.9 gm/ml (mean ± SD; n = 10) and the SUV of 18F‐FDG was 1.9 ± 0.9 gm/ml (n = 10) (P = 0.017). The Ki of 11C‐choline (mean ± SD 0.048 ± 0.042 minute−1) was 8‐fold higher than the Ki of 18F‐FDG (0.006 ± 0.003 minute−1) (P = 0.009). Both the uptake of 11C‐choline and the uptake of 18F‐FDG correlated highly with the volume of synovium; the highest correlation was observed with the Ki of 11C‐choline (r = 0.954, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

In the use of PET scans,11C‐choline can be regarded as a promising tracer for quantitative imaging of proliferative arthritis changes. Nevertheless, subsequent prospective studies with larger numbers of patients are necessary to further characterize the relationship between the findings on PET imaging and the clinical and functional measures of inflammation.
Association between etanercept use and employment outcomes among patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Yelin Edward , Trupin Laura , Katz Patricia , Lubeck Deborah , Rush Stephanie , Wanke Lee
Published: November 2003

Objective

To assess the association between use of etanercept and employment outcomes among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

In 1999, 497 RA patients of working ages (18–64 years) reported their employment status in the year of diagnosis and as of the study year, in structured telephone interviews. Of these, 238 had been in clinical trials of etanercept and were currently taking that medication, while 259 were members of an observational study and were not taking etanercept. We used regression techniques to estimate whether employment outcomes in 1999 (employed versus not and, among the employed, hours of work per week, weeks of work per year, and hours of work per year) among the 379 of the 497 patients who were employed at the time of diagnosis were associated with etanercept use, with and without adjustment for demographic characteristics, RA status, overall health status, and the nature of the job held at the time of diagnosis.

Results

At the time of diagnosis, 75% of RA patients from the observational study who did not take etanercept and 77% of those who did take the medication were employed. By 1999, among those employed at diagnosis, 55% of the former group and 71% of the latter were employed (difference 16 percentage points). After adjustment for demographics, overall health status, duration of RA, RA status, and occupation and industry, the difference widened to 20 percentage points. Among all who were employed at the time of diagnosis, those from the etanercept clinical trials worked an average of 5.4 more hours per week in 1999; after adjustment, the etanercept group worked 7.4 more hours per week.

Conclusion

Among all persons who were employed at the time of RA diagnosis, having been in the etanercept clinical trials was associated with higher employment rates in 1999 and a greater number of hours per week of work in that year, suggesting that a randomized trial to establish the relationship between treatment and employment outcomes is now warranted.
Tumor necrosis factor α, its soluble receptor I, and –308 gene promoter polymorphism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with or without amyloidosis: Implications for the pathogenesis of nephropathy and anemia of chronic disease in reactive amyloidosis
Authors: Maury C. P. J. , Liljeström M. , Laiho K. , Tiitinen S. , Kaarela K. , Hurme M.
Published: November 2003

Objective

To study tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) –308 gene promoter polymorphism and circulating levels of TNFα and soluble TNF receptor type I (sTNFRI) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with and without reactive amyloidosis.

Methods

In a retrospective study, we examined 55 RA patients with biopsy‐proven reactive amyloidosis and 55 control RA patients without amyloidosis (matched for age, sex, rheumatoid factor titer, and RA duration). Inflammatory activity was assessed by measuring the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C‐reactive protein level. TNFα gene promoter polymorphism was studied using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Cytokine and receptor levels were measured by enzyme‐linked immunoassays.

Results

Patients with RA and amyloidosis had significantly higher TNFα and sTNFRI levels than did the control RA patients. The increased circulating levels of TNFα correlated with interleukin‐18 levels, but not with the serum amyloid A protein levels or with TNFα –308 gene promoter polymorphism (reported to be associated with high TNFα levels and certain disease susceptibilities). In the patients with RA and amyloidosis, those with anemia had significantly higher TNFα and sTNFRI levels than did those without anemia, and circulating TNFα and sTNFRI levels correlated negatively with hemoglobin concentrations. In the patients with RA and amyloidosis, those with nephropathy had significantly higher TNFα and sTNFRI levels than did those without nephropathy; in patients with isolated proteinuria (but no creatinine elevation) the TNFα level was also significantly increased, indicating that the TNFα elevation was not merely a consequence of impaired renal function.

Conclusion

This study shows that circulating levels of TNFα and sTNFRI are significantly increased in RA patients with amyloidosis as compared with control RA patients without amyloidosis and that the increased levels may be implicated in the pathogenesis of certain disease manifestations, including anemia of chronic disease and renal pathology in reactive amyloidosis.
Rheumatoid arthritis synovial fluid macrophages express decreased tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis‐inducing ligand R2 and increased decoy receptor tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis‐inducing ligand R3
Authors: Perlman Harris , Nguyen Nadine , Liu Hongtao , Eslick Joy , Esser Sybille , Walsh Kenneth , Moore Terry L. , Pope Richard M.
Published: November 2003

Objective

To characterize the expression pattern of tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its cognate receptors (TRAIL R1, R2, R3, and R4) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial fluid (SF) lymphocytes and monocyte/macrophages and on cultured RA synovial fibroblasts.

Methods

The expression of TRAIL and TRAIL receptors on RA SF lymphocytes and monocyte/macrophages, normal macrophages, and RA synovial fibroblasts was examined by flow cytometry with previously characterized monoclonal antibodies. The ability of adenoviral‐mediated delivery of TRAIL to induce macrophage or RA synovial fibroblast apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry.

Results

By flow cytometry, neither TRAIL nor its cognate receptors was detectable on RA SF lymphocytes or RA synovial fibroblasts. In contrast, RA SF macrophages expressed TRAIL R3, a decoy receptor (P < 0.01 versus isotype control), but not TRAIL, or TRAIL R1, R2, or R4. Normal peripheral blood–derived monocyte‐differentiated macrophages expressed TRAIL R2 (P < 0.01), but not TRAIL or the other TRAIL receptors. Adenoviral‐mediated delivery of TRAIL had no effect on the survival of normal macrophages or RA synovial fibroblasts but readily induced apoptosis in the prostate cancer cell line (PC‐3) that expressed TRAIL R1 and R2.

Conclusion

TRAIL R1 and R2, which are required for signal transmission by TRAIL, were not detected on RA SF lymphocytes, macrophages, or synovial fibroblasts. These observations do not support a potential therapeutic role for TRAIL in RA.