1,606 research outputs found
Analyzing the boundaries of balance theory in evaluating cause-related marketing compatibility
The phenomenon of brands partnering with causes is referred to as cause-related marketing (CRM). This dissertation provides numerous steps forward within the realm of CRM research, as well as balance theory research. Some CRM partnerships may seem less compatible than others, but the level of perceived compatibility (also referred to as âfitâ) differs from consumer to consumer. I analyzed CRM compatibility through the lens of balance theory both via a survey-based approach, as well as a social media analytics approach. My contributions to CRM and balance theory are as follows: I found that a consumerâs attitude towards a brand, along with their attitude towards a cause, predicts their perceptions of CRM compatibility. I also show that adding continuous measures of attitude and attitude strength enabled the prediction of balanced and unbalanced consumer evaluations of perceived CRM compatibility. This is the first time that attitude strength has been incorporated into balance theory. I found evidence that a consumerâs attitude towards a brand (or towards a cause), and the strength of that attitude, can spill from one organization to another when brands and causes enter into CRM partnerships. Methodologically, I present a novel way to indirectly measure the strength of attitudes towards brands and towards causes through analyzing perceived conversation topic similarity via a self-reported survey measure, but I was not able to provide evidence that attitude strength could be measured via a social media analytics approach to conversation topic similarity. To dig deeper into this lack of social media analytics results, I provide some considerations with regards to research conducted using a hybridization of a survey-based approach tied to a social media analytics approach. Practically, I share recommendations as to how to choose CRM partners for future CRM partnerships, which should prove beneficial to CRM researchers, practitioners, and advertisers
CRLX101 nanoparticles localize in human tumors and not in adjacent, nonneoplastic tissue after intravenous dosing
Nanoparticle-based therapeutics are being used to treat patients with solid tumors. Whereas nanoparticles have been shown to preferentially accumulate in solid tumors of animal models, there is little evidence to prove that intact nanoparticles localize to solid tumors of humans when systemically administered. Here, tumor and adjacent, nonneoplastic tissue biopsies are obtained through endoscopic capture from patients with gastric, gastroesophageal, or esophageal cancer who are administered the nanoparticle CRLX101. Both the pre- and postdosing tissue samples adjacent to tumors show no definitive evidence of either the nanoparticle or its drug payload (camptothecin, CPT) contained within the nanoparticle. Similar results are obtained from the predosing tumor samples. However, in nine of nine patients that were evaluated, CPT is detected in the tumor tissue collected 24â48 h after CRLX101 administration. For five of these patients, evidence of the intact deposition of CRLX101 nanoparticles in the tumor tissue is obtained. Indications of CPT pharmacodynamics from tumor biomarkers such as carbonic anhydrase IX and topoisomerase I by immunohistochemistry show clear evidence of biological activity from the delivered CPT in the posttreatment tumors
The Nature of the faint far-infrared extragalactic source population: Optical/NIR and radio follow-up observations of ISOPHOT deep-field sources using Keck, Subaru, and VLA telescopes
We report on optical and near-infrared (NIR) follow-up spectroscopy of faint
far-infrared (FIR) sources found in our deep FIR survey by Kawara et al.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure. To appear in the proceedings of "AGN Surveys" (IAU
Colloquium 184
Spitzer IRS Spectral Mapping of the Toomre Sequence: Spatial Variations of PAH, Gas, and Dust Properties in Nearby Major Mergers
We have mapped the key mid-IR diagnostics in eight major merger systems of
the Toomre Sequence (NGC4676, NGC7592, NGC6621, NGC2623, NGC6240, NGC520,
NGC3921, and NGC7252) using the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS). With these
maps, we explore the variation of the ionized-gas, PAH, and warm-gas (H_2)
properties across the sequence and within the galaxies. While the global PAH
interband strength and ionized gas flux ratios ([Ne III]/[Ne II]) are similar
to those of normal star forming galaxies, the distribution of the spatially
resolved PAH and fine structure line flux ratios is significant different from
one system to the other. Rather than a constant H_2/PAH flux ratio, we find
that the relation between the H_2 and PAH fluxes is characterized by a power
law with a roughly constant exponent (0.61+/-0.05) over all merger components
and spatial scales. While following the same power law on local scales, three
galaxies have a factor of ten larger integrated (i.e. global) H_2/PAH flux
ratio than the rest of the sample, even larger than what it is in most nearby
AGNs. These findings suggest a common dominant excitation mechanism for H_2
emission over a large range of global H_2/PAH flux ratios in major mergers.
Early merger systems show a different distribution between the cold (CO J=1-0)
and warm (H_2) molecular gas component, which is likely due to the merger
interaction. Strong evidence for buried star formation in the overlap region of
the merging galaxies is found in two merger systems (NGC6621 and NGC7592) as
seen in the PAH, [Ne II], [Ne III], and warm gas line emission, but with no
apparent corresponding CO (J=1-0) emission. Our findings also demonstrate that
the variations of the physical conditions within a merger are much larger than
any systematic trends along the Toomre Sequence.Comment: 35 pages, accepted for publication in ApJ
Recommended from our members
ENIGMA and global neuroscience: A decade of large-scale studies of the brain in health and disease across more than 40 countries.
This review summarizes the last decade of work by the ENIGMA (Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta Analysis) Consortium, a global alliance of over 1400 scientists across 43 countries, studying the human brain in health and disease. Building on large-scale genetic studies that discovered the first robustly replicated genetic loci associated with brain metrics, ENIGMA has diversified into over 50 working groups (WGs), pooling worldwide data and expertise to answer fundamental questions in neuroscience, psychiatry, neurology, and genetics. Most ENIGMA WGs focus on specific psychiatric and neurological conditions, other WGs study normal variation due to sex and gender differences, or development and aging; still other WGs develop methodological pipelines and tools to facilitate harmonized analyses of "big data" (i.e., genetic and epigenetic data, multimodal MRI, and electroencephalography data). These international efforts have yielded the largest neuroimaging studies to date in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. More recent ENIGMA WGs have formed to study anxiety disorders, suicidal thoughts and behavior, sleep and insomnia, eating disorders, irritability, brain injury, antisocial personality and conduct disorder, and dissociative identity disorder. Here, we summarize the first decade of ENIGMA's activities and ongoing projects, and describe the successes and challenges encountered along the way. We highlight the advantages of collaborative large-scale coordinated data analyses for testing reproducibility and robustness of findings, offering the opportunity to identify brain systems involved in clinical syndromes across diverse samples and associated genetic, environmental, demographic, cognitive, and psychosocial factors
MerTK expressing hepatic macrophages promote the resolution of inflammation in acute liver failure.
OBJECTIVE: Acute liver failure (ALF) is characterised by overwhelming hepatocyte death and liver inflammation with massive infiltration of myeloid cells in necrotic areas. The mechanisms underlying resolution of acute hepatic inflammation are largely unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the impact of Mer tyrosine kinase (MerTK) during ALF and also examine how the microenvironmental mediator, secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), governs this response. DESIGN: Flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, confocal imaging and gene expression analyses determined the phenotype, functional/transcriptomic profile and tissue topography of MerTK+ monocytes/macrophages in ALF, healthy and disease controls. The temporal evolution of macrophage MerTK expression and its impact on resolution was examined in APAP-induced acute liver injury using wild-type (WT) and Mer-deficient (Mer-/-) mice. SLPI effects on hepatic myeloid cells were determined in vitro and in vivo using APAP-treated WT mice. RESULTS: We demonstrate a significant expansion of resolution-like MerTK+HLA-DRhigh cells in circulatory and tissue compartments of patients with ALF. Compared with WT mice which show an increase of MerTK+MHCIIhigh macrophages during the resolution phase in ALF, APAP-treated Mer-/- mice exhibit persistent liver injury and inflammation, characterised by a decreased proportion of resident Kupffer cells and increased number of neutrophils. Both in vitro and in APAP-treated mice, SLPI reprogrammes myeloid cells towards resolution responses through induction of a MerTK+HLA-DRhigh phenotype which promotes neutrophil apoptosis and their subsequent clearance. CONCLUSIONS: We identify a hepatoprotective, MerTK+, macrophage phenotype that evolves during the resolution phase following ALF and represents a novel immunotherapeutic target to promote resolution responses following acute liver injury
Exclusive Photoproduction of the Cascade (Xi) Hyperons
We report on the first measurement of exclusive Xi-(1321) hyperon
photoproduction in gamma p --> K+ K+ Xi- for 3.2 < E(gamma) < 3.9 GeV. The
final state is identified by the missing mass in p(gamma,K+ K+)X measured with
the CLAS detector at Jefferson Laboratory. We have detected a significant
number of the ground-state Xi-(1321)1/2+, and have estimated the total cross
section for its production. We have also observed the first excited state
Xi-(1530)3/2+. Photoproduction provides a copious source of Xi's. We discuss
the possibilities of a search for the recently proposed Xi5-- and Xi5+
pentaquarks.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev.
LSST Science Book, Version 2.0
A survey that can cover the sky in optical bands over wide fields to faint
magnitudes with a fast cadence will enable many of the exciting science
opportunities of the next decade. The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST)
will have an effective aperture of 6.7 meters and an imaging camera with field
of view of 9.6 deg^2, and will be devoted to a ten-year imaging survey over
20,000 deg^2 south of +15 deg. Each pointing will be imaged 2000 times with
fifteen second exposures in six broad bands from 0.35 to 1.1 microns, to a
total point-source depth of r~27.5. The LSST Science Book describes the basic
parameters of the LSST hardware, software, and observing plans. The book
discusses educational and outreach opportunities, then goes on to describe a
broad range of science that LSST will revolutionize: mapping the inner and
outer Solar System, stellar populations in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies,
the structure of the Milky Way disk and halo and other objects in the Local
Volume, transient and variable objects both at low and high redshift, and the
properties of normal and active galaxies at low and high redshift. It then
turns to far-field cosmological topics, exploring properties of supernovae to
z~1, strong and weak lensing, the large-scale distribution of galaxies and
baryon oscillations, and how these different probes may be combined to
constrain cosmological models and the physics of dark energy.Comment: 596 pages. Also available at full resolution at
http://www.lsst.org/lsst/sciboo
MicroRNA-296 is enriched in cancer cells and downregulates p21WAF1 mRNA expression via interaction with its 3âČ untranslated region
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of noncoding small RNAs that act as negative regulators of gene expression. To identify miRNAs that may regulate human cell immortalization and carcinogenesis, we performed comparative miRNA array profiling of human normal and SV40-T antigen immortalized cells. We found that miR-296 was upregulated in immortalized cells that also had activation of telomerase. By an independent experiment on genomic analysis of cancer cells we found that chromosome region (20q13.32), where miR-296 is located, was amplified in 28/36 cell lines, and most of these showed enriched miR-296 expression. Overexpression of miR-296 in human cancer cells, with and without telomerase activity, had no effect on their telomerase function. Instead, it suppressed p53 function that is frequently downregulated during human cell immortalization and carcinogenesis. By monitoring the activity of a luciferase reporter connected to p53 and p21WAF1 (p21) untranslated regions (UTRs), we demonstrate that miR-296 interacts with the p21-3âČUTR, and the Hu binding site of p21-3âČUTR was identified as a potential miR-296 target site. We demonstrate for the first time that miR-296 is frequently upregulated during immortalization of human cells and contributes to carcinogenesis by downregulation of p53-p21WAF1 pathway
Correlating preclinical animal studies and human clinical trials of a multifunctional, polymeric nanoparticle
Nanoparticles are currently being investigated in a number of human clinical trials. As information on how nanoparticles function in humans is difficult to obtain, animal studies that can be correlative to human behavior are needed to provide guidance for human clinical trials. Here, we report correlative studies on animals and humans for CRLX101, a 20- to 30-nm-diameter, multifunctional, polymeric nanoparticle containing camptothecin (CPT). CRLX101 is currently in phase 2 clinical trials, and human data from several of the clinical investigations are compared with results from multispecies animal studies. The pharmacokinetics of polymer-conjugated CPT (indicative of the CRLX101 nanoparticles) in mice, rats, dogs, and humans reveal that the area under the curve scales linearly with milligrams of CPT per square meter for all species. Plasma concentrations of unconjugated CPT released from CRLX101 in animals and humans are consistent with each other after accounting for differences in serum albumin binding of CPT. Urinary excretion of polymer-conjugated CPT occurs primarily within the initial 24 h after dosing in animals and humans. The urinary excretion dynamics of polymer-conjugated and unconjugated CPT appear similar between animals and humans. CRLX101 accumulates into solid tumors and releases CPT over a period of several days to give inhibition of its target in animal xenograft models of cancer and in the tumors of humans. Taken in total, the evidence provided from animal models on the CRLX101 mechanism of action suggests that the behavior of CRLX101 in animals is translatable to humans
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