Procurement Auctions in E-Commerce

Robert T. Barrett is associate dean and professor of management, School of Business, Francis Marion University, Florence, SC 29501-0547. Robert E. Pugh is Eugene A. Fallon Jr., professor of management and associate professor, School of Business, Francis Marion University, Florence, SC 29501-0547

A Measure of the Factors Impacting the Effectiveness and Efficiency of eBay in the Supply Chain of Online Firms

This research investigates the auction properties that influence eBay\u27s effectiveness (ability to attract bidders) and efficiency (ability to maximize price and profit) as the distribution link of the supply chain. The research extends the literature pioneered by Lucking-Reiley (2000) on eBay auctions. We found that the effectiveness of using eBay is influenced by the item description in the auction heading, the initial price, the timing of the auction and the operating condition of the item, in our case an inexpensive, functional HP 12-C financial calculator. The efficiency of eBay, on the other hand, is influenced by the ability to attract bidders, the pricing factors set up by the seller, the product\u27s description, its operating condition, the timing of the auction, and the method of payment options available to the buyer

Recent establishments and extinctions of Northern Gannet Morus bassanus colonies in North Norway, 1995-2008

Since the last published review of the development of the Northern Gannet Morus bassanus population in Norway (Barrett & Folkestad 1996), there has been a general increase in numbers breeding in North Norway from ca. 2200 occupied nests in 1995 to ca. 2700 in 2008. In Lofoten and Vesterålen, however, numbers have decreased from 1500 occupied nests in 1989 to 500 in 2008, and what were the two largest colonies on Skarvklakken and Hovsflesa have been abandoned. Small colonies have, in the meantime, been established in the region, but these are all characteristically unstable. A new colony established in Troms in 2001 increased to 400 occupied sites in 2007, but the population dropped to 326 in 2008. Harassment by White-tailed eagles Haliaeetus albicilla is mooted as the main cause of the decline in Lofoten and Vesterålen

The diet, growth and survival of Razorbill Alca torda chicks in the southern Barents Sea

Over 32 years (1981–2013), Razorbills Alca torda breeding at Hornøya, NE Norway fed their chicks on capelin Mallotus villosus, sandeels Ammodytes spp. and, sometimes, I-group herring Clupea harengus. It seems that Razorbills are opportunistic and feed their chicks the youngest stages of herring in years when the latter are numerous in the southern Barents Sea. Increasing sea temperatures and resulting shifts in fish distribution may result in fewer capelin and more herring and sandeels in the chick diet

Recent decline in body condition of departing Common Guillemots Uria aalge at Hornøya, North Norway

Since 1980, there has been large variation and a recent decline in the mass and body condition of Common Guillemot Uria aalge chicks departing from the nest site in NE Norway. This may be related to deterioration in the feeding conditions off the colony and is alarming considering the critically endangered status of the species in Norway. To measure body condition, earlier studies have caught, weighed and measured guillemot chicks either while still on the breeding site or as they leave the colony. This study emphasises the importance of choosing and defining which method to use as they give different results

Recent establishments and extinctions of Northern Gannet Morus bassanus colonies in North Norway, 1995-2008

Since the last published review of the development of the Northern Gannet Morus bassanus population in Norway (Barrett & Folkestad 1996), there has been a general increase in numbers breeding in North Norway from ca. 2200 occupied nests in 1995 to ca. 2700 in 2008. In Lofoten and Vesterålen, however, numbers have decreased from 1500 occupied nests in 1989 to 500 in 2008, and what were the two largest colonies on Skarvklakken and Hovsflesa have been abandoned. Small colonies have, in the meantime, been established in the region, but these are all characteristically unstable. A new colony established in Troms in 2001 increased to 400 occupied sites in 2007, but the population dropped to 326 in 2008. Harassment by White-tailed eagles Haliaeetus albicilla is mooted as the main cause of the decline in Lofoten and Vesterålen

Book Reviews

Book reviews by Edward F. Barrett, Alfred L. Scanlan, Robert T. Molloy, Aaron I. Abell, and Robert E. Sullivan

Book Reviews

Book reviews by Edward F. Barrett, James P. Kelly, Robert T. Molloy, R. W. Mulligan, and William F. Roemer

Disentangling the nature of the nicotine stimulus

Learning involving interoceptive stimuli likely plays an important role in many diseases and psychopathologies. Within this area, there has been extensive research investigating the interoceptive stimulus effects of abused drugs. In this pursuit, behavioral pharmacologists have taken advantage of what is known about learning processes and adapted the techniques to investigate the behavioral and receptor mechanisms of drug stimuli. Of particular interest is the nicotine stimulus and the use of the two-lever operant drug discrimination task and the Pavlovian drug discriminated goal-tracking task. There is strong concordance between the two methods when using “standard” testing protocols that minimize learning on test days. For example, ABT-418, nornicotine, and varenicline all fully evoked nicotine-appropriate responding. Notably, research from our laboratory with the discriminated goal-tracking task has used an alternative testing protocol. This protocol assesses stimulus substitution based on how well extinction learning using a non-nicotine ligand transfers back to the nicotine stimulus. These findings challenge conclusions based on more “standard” testing procedures (e.g., ABT-418 is not nicotinelike). As a starting point, we propose Thurstone scaling as a quantitative method for more precisely comparing transfer of extinction across doses, experiments, and investigators. We close with a discussion of future research directions and potential implications of the research for understanding interoceptive stimuli