Satisfaction and Interpersonal Closeness as Determinants of Relationship Commitment in Business-to-Business Relationships

The theory of embedded markets states that economic transactions are embedded in social relationships, and economic actors are influenced by both marketing variables and relationship properties. That is, within an exchange relationship actors derive utility from the attributes of a focal product and from interpersonal relationships. We investigate the different roles of satisfaction with a focal product and closeness between boundary personnel in a business-to-business relationship. We demonstrate that these constructs are distinct and differ with respect to antecedents and consequences in a larger nomological network with relationship commitment as the focal dependent variable. --Satisfaction,Closeness,Embeddedness

Finite-Frequency SKS Splitting: Measurement and Sensitivity Kernels

Splitting of SKS waves caused by anisotropy may be analyzed by measuring the splitting intensity, i.e., the amplitude of the transverse signal relative to the radial signal in the SKS time window. This quantity is simply related to structural parameters. Extending the widely used cross-correlation method for measuring travel-time anomalies to anisotropic problems, we propose to measure the SKS-splitting intensity by a robust cross-correlation method that can be automated to build large high-quality datasets. For weak anisotropy, the SKS-splitting intensity is retrieved by cross-correlating the radial signal with the sum of the radial and transverse signals. The cross-correlation method is validated based upon a set of Californian seismograms. We investigate the sensitivity of the SKS-splitting intensity to general anisotropy in the mantle based upon a numerical technique (the adjoint spectral-element method) considering the full physics of wave propagation. The computations reveal a sensitivity remarkably focused on a small number of elastic parameters and on a small region of the upper mantle. These fundamental properties and the practical advantages of the measurement make the cross-correlation SKS-splitting intensity particularly well adapted for finite-frequency imaging of upper-mantle anisotropy

Integrating latent variables in discrete choice models – How higher-order values and attitudes determine consumer choice

Integrated choice and latent variable (ICLV) models represent a promising new class of models which merge classic choice models with the structural equation approach (SEM) for latent variables. Despite their conceptual appeal, to date applications of ICLV models in marketing are still rare. The present study on travel mode choice clearly demonstrates the value of ICLV models to enhance understanding of choice processes. In addition to the usually studied directly observable variables such as travel time, we show how abstract motivations such as power and hedonisms as well as attitudes such as a desire for flexibility impact on travel mode choice. Further, we can show that it is possible to estimate ICLV models with the widely available structural equation modeling package Mplus. This finding is likely to encourage wider usage of this appealing model class in the marketing field.Hybrid choice models; Mode choice; Values; Value-attitude hierarchy; Mplus

Inner core structure behind the PKP core phase triplication

The structure of the Earth's inner core is not well known between depths of ∼100–200 km beneath the inner core boundary. This is a result of the PKP core phase triplication and the existence of strong precursors to PKP phases, which hinder the measurement of inner core compressional PKIKP waves at epicentral distances between roughly 143 and 148°. Consequently, interpretation of the detailed structure of deeper regions also remains difficult. To overcome these issues we stack seismograms in slowness and time, separating the PKP and PKIKP phases which arrive simultaneously but with different slowness. We apply this method to study the inner core's Western hemisphere beneath South and Central America using paths travelling in the quasi-polar direction between 140 and 150° epicentral distance, which enables us to measure PKiKP–PKIKP differential traveltimes up to greater epicentral distance than has previously been done. The resulting PKiKP–PKIKP differential traveltime residuals increase with epicentral distance, which indicates a marked increase in seismic velocity for polar paths at depths greater than 100 km compared to reference model AK135. Assuming a homogeneous outer core, these findings can be explained by either (i) inner core heterogeneity due to an increase in isotropic velocity or (ii) increase in anisotropy over the studied depth range. Although this study only samples a small region of the inner core and the current data cannot distinguish between the two alternatives, we prefer the latter interpretation in the light of previous work

New array monitors seismic activity near the Gulf of California in Mexico

The Gulf of California rift forms a geologically young and active plate boundary that links the San Andreas strike‐slip fault system in California to the oceanic spreading system of the East Pacific Rise. Although this is a classical example of a transform‐rift plate boundary, the tectonic evolution of the Gulf of California and surrounding regions is complex and poorly understood due to a lack of geological and geophysical data. In 2002, the Network of Autonomously Recording Seismographs(NARS)‐Baja network was installed.lt consists of 19 broadband seismic stations deployed in the Baja‐California and Sonora provinces of Mexico (Figure 1). Since NARS‐Baja surrounds the Gulf of California rift system, it is ideal for constraining earthquake faulting processes and the crust‐mantle structure of the region. Moreover, NARS‐Baja, in combination with permanent Mexican and U.S. arrays, forms a unique linear array in excess of 4000 km that should lend itself ideally to seismological studies of the North American‐Pacific plate boundary on a larger scale. NARS‐Baja is planned to operate for at least 5 years. To promote involvement from the entire research community the data collected from the stations will be made available immediately following routine data quality checks

Solute-induced shift of phase transition temperature in Di-saturated PC liposomes: adoption of ripple phase creates osmotic stress

AbstractWe have examined the calorimetric behavior of large liposomes consisting of symmetric saturated chain phosphatidylcholines. Most notably, for systems made in solutions containing solute (e.g., NaCl, glucose, etc.) there was an additional major endotherm just below the main phase transition temperature. The new endotherm was found to represent a population of lipid whose main phase transition was shifted to lower temperature due to an induced osmotic stress across the membrane. Absent for isoosmotic systems, the osmotic stress was created when the liposome internal volume decreased, a consequence of the Lβ′ (gel) to Pβ′ (rippled) phase transition. That is, rippling of the membrane caused vesicle volume to decrease (≥28%) and because the free flow of water outward was restricted by solute, an osmotic gradient was created where none had existed before. The distribution of enthalpy between the new shifted Tm and the expected Tm correlated with the percent of lipid in the outer bilayer and it was concluded that only the outer bilayer sensed the induced stress. Internalized liposome structures were shielded, thus explaining the persistence of the expected Tm in preparations made in solute. The shift in Tm (ΔTm) was discrete and linearly dependent upon lipid chain length for the PC series di-17:0 (ΔTm≈1.4°C) through di-20:0 (ΔTm≈0.6°C), suggesting a structural change (i.e., lipid packing/orientation) was involved. Although freeze-fracture electron microscopy of stressed and unstressed bilayers revealed no differences in ripple periodicity there were differences in surface features and in vesicle shape. The fact that this phenomenon has gone unnoticed for MLVs is probably due to the fact that these systems are known to exclude solute and thus exist under osmotic compression

Axillary web syndrome after treatment for breast cancer: An exploration of imaging evidence of fascial changes and its relationship to clinical variables

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and surgery remains the primary treatment. Evaluation of tumour spread is done by axillary lymph node assessment by surgical excision. Such invasive treatments, in conjunction with adjuvant therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy, may alter patient healing patterns giving rise to complications such as axillary web syndrome (AWS). AWS presents as a puckering web of axillary skin overlying a cord of tissue that tightens with shoulder abduction. It is painful, limits shoulder range of movement (ROM) and reduces the quality of life of the patients. The syndrome is elusive, does not occur in everyone and is thought to be self-limiting in nature with spontaneous cord resolution. Evidence, however, is pointing towards long-term morbidity in some patients. The cord itself has been hypothesised to be lymphatic or vascular in origin and damage during axillary surgery gives rise to the structure. Anatomically, the vascular structures are bound by the connective tissue network of fascia. The adhesive and puckering appearance of the cord on clinical examination and in limited biopsy studies could imply a possible role of damaged fascia in the syndrome. The fascia, as a three-dimensional body-wide network, has been shown to be a functional unit with the musculoskeletal system and is important in coordinating movement. Furthermore, the fascia contains numerous receptors imperative for proprioceptive and nociceptive functioning. The fibroblast cells and fibres that it comprises are involved in tissue healing and scar tissue formation. Chronic inflammation upon fascial damage can lead to tissue adhesions and fibrosis, rendering a non-functional scar. Ultrasonography (US) has been able to visualise fascial differences and has been used to examine fascial abnormalities including scars and adhesions. Physiotherapy treatment has been shown to aid in remobilising scar tissue and in being able to help improve morbidity in AWS patients. The authors therefore hypothesised that damaged fascia contributes to the symptomology of AWS. The present study set out to evaluate whether altered fascia plays a role in the syndrome using fascial explanations for risk factors in the AWS literature and US in patients with AWS to observe anatomical changes. Furthermore, the authors hypothesised that myofascial physiotherapy could aid in cord resolution and symptom improvement and that it would reflect in fascial changes on US. The current descriptive, observational, pilot, proof-of-concept case-series study focused on fascial changes before and after myofascial release physiotherapy in women presenting with AWS following breast cancer treatment (n = 11). At the time points, US in the area of interest (the axilla) and MRI scans of a single patient were done pre-physiotherapy. Furthermore, patient variables of ROM, pain and disability using the SPADI questionnaire, and quality of life using the FACT-B questionnaire, were evaluated to relate to any fascial differences between affected and unaffected arms on US and compared to findings after physiotherapy to determine trends. To observe fascial continuity, alignment of US scans was attempted. The results from the case studies and overall trends indicated thickened fascia, reduced continuity, decreased gliding potential and increased adherence between the different fascial layers on US in the majority of patients on the affected arm in the area of interest suggesting that they are changes resulting from the treatment. The findings related to the external cord appearance. On MRI, a fibrous band of tissue was observed connecting to muscles and skin. The findings were found to descriptively show a trend with reduced ROM and increased SPADI scores. No descriptive relationship with FACT-B was noted. Several patients (n = 6) continued with physiotherapy for six treatments. The treatment proved beneficial for all patients, who improved on ROM and SPADI scores. However, not all their symptoms were completely resolved. The findings corroborate observations on US showing improved gliding, more regular and organised fascia, and less adhesions post-physiotherapy. Cord resolution or reduction occurred in half of the patients. Risk factors for AWS as identified in the literature and related to the patients, such as more invasive treatments and (neo)adjuvant therapies, were explained to cause more fibrosis and possibly contributed to the symptoms seen but could not be verified in the study due to the small, varied sample. Furthermore, due to the difficulty of finding suitable patients and the low sample size, the current study could not statistically corroborate many correlations and hence was limited to descriptive trend description. Using the fascial literature, restricted fascia and adhesions could be explained to lead to biomechanical limitations, explaining reduced ROM and nociceptor activation as seen in pain reported in the study. A fibrosed vessel damaged during axillary surgery as well as surrounding fascial changes, which occurred as the result of the healing response, could explain the varying appearances of the cord. The author concluded that the trends seen suggest a link for morbidity resulting from fascial damage and adds weight to the evidence of fascial involvement in AWS. Wider fascial involvement on US and MRI descriptively related to the presence of cording, limited shoulder ROM and pain before and improvements and changes in the domains after physiotherapy, supported the hypotheses. The present study highlighted that myofascial release can be beneficial for patients suffering from AWS and suggests that US may be a feasible outcome measure to aid in evaluating fascia and fibrosis subsequent to physiotherapy, guide it and determine its efficacy. Furthermore, risk factors need to be identified to implement an early warning system for the sequelae of breast cancer so that patients at risk are identified timeously and receive the help they need to minimise the effect of the syndrome on their wellbeing in order to improve their quality of life

Historiebevissthet: Erfaringsnært, men teorifjernt: En undersøkelse av undervisningsorienteringen til et utvalg historielærere i videregående skoler i Sør-Trøndelag

Med innføringen av ny læreplan for historiefaget med Kunnskapsløftet 2006 fikk historiefaget i videregående skole en formålsformulering som fordrer et utvidet fagdidaktisk utgangspunkt for undervisning i faget. Historiebevissthet blir da et omdreiningspunkt i historiefaget, som representerer en måte å tenke om og bruke historie på som skaper en horisont over faget. For å ivareta formålet med faget, slik det er nedfelt i læreplanen, undersøker denne oppgaven hvorvidt historielærere orienterer undervisningen sin mot å utvikle historiebevissthet. Hensikten med oppgaven er dermed å gi kunnskap om hvorvidt lærernes didaktiske idealer gjenspeiler historieundervisning slik den foreskrives gjennomført av læreplanen for faget. Oppgaven retter seg i så måte spesifikt mot historiefaget. For å skaffe kunnskap om lærernes didaktiske idealer er det nødvendig å komme i nyansert og beskrivende dialog med lærerne selv - som til daglig operasjonaliserer læreplanen i historiefaget. Oppgaven har derfor utgangspunkt i dybdeintervjuer med 10 historielærere i videregående skole. Den kvalitative forskningsdesignen er bygget rundt at jeg søker å beskrive informantenes perspektiver på, begrunnelser for og erfaringer med undervisning i historiefaget, og å videre knytte dette til om læreplanens bruk av historiebevissthet gjenspeiles i lærernes undervisningsperspektiver. For å kunne gjennomføre en analyse av sammenhenger mellom informantenes undervisningsorientering og læreplanen, er sistnevnte analysert og eksemplifisert i lys av hvordan den kan operasjonalisere historiebevissthetens funksjoner. Det synliggjøres gjennom resultatkapitlet at informantenes begrunnelser for, perspektiver på og erfaringer med egen undervisning i historiefaget reflekterer tydelige aspekter av historiebevissthetsutviklende undervisning. Resultatene viser videre at i den grad historiebevissthet er et begrep informantene har bekjentskap med, har begrepet et innhold som majoriteten i utvalget uttrykker et begrenset kjennskap til. Derfor utgjør det et særlig sentralt funn, som synliggjøres gradvis gjennom fremstillingen, at informantenes undervisningsorientering sikter mot å utvikle funksjoner ved historiebevissthet i større grad enn informantene selv synes klar over. Med andre ord fremstår historiebevissthet som et begrep som for informantene er erfaringsnært, men samtidig teorifjernt. I et konkluderende perspektiv synes det at hensikten med undersøkelsen samsvarer med resultatene den har gitt. Resultatene bekrefter at det har vært nødvendig å rette undersøkelsen bredt, slik at den har tilnærmet seg informantenes undervisningsorientering helhetlig. Dette har gitt et godt utgangspunkt for å drøfte informantenes undervisningsorientering opp mot historiebevissthet som fagdidaktisk begrep, og som autoritativt læreplanbegrep