When Should Sellers Use Auctions?

A bidding process can be organized so that offers are submitted simultaneously or sequentially. In the latter case, potential buyers can condition their behavior on previous entrants' decisions. The relative performance of these mechanisms is investigated when entry is costly and selective, meaning that potential buyers with higher values are more likely to participate. A simple sequential mechanism can give both buyers and sellers significantly higher payoffs than the commonly used simultaneous bid auction. The findings are illustrated with parameters estimated from simultaneous entry USFS timber auctions where our estimates predict that the sequential mechanism would increase revenue and efficiency.

Idiotypic antibodies in myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease characterised by autoantibodies against acetylcholine receptor (AChR). The idiotypic properties of ten monoclonal anti-human AChR antibodies (mabs) have been investigated using anti-idiotypic antibodies. Using F(ab')2 fragents of each mab to inhibit the binding of intact mab to AChR, five partially overlapping binding regions of human AChR were defined. Polyclonal anti-idiotypic sera were raised in syngeneic mice against the anti-human AChR mabs. A total of 47 mice were immunised, of which 27 had anti-idiotypic antibodies against antigen binding site idiotopes, and four against non-antigen binding site idiotopes. Using the anti-idiotypic sera to inhibit the binding of heterologous mab to AChR, both private and cross-reactive idiotypes were detected within the antigen binding site. Three sets of anti-idiotypic sera inhibited the binding to AChR of just the immunising mab. Cross-reactive idiotypes were found in three pairs of mabs, but were always restricted to mabs that bound to the same region of AChR. A cross-reactive idiotype was found outside the antigen binding site, but again this was only shared by two mabs having the same specificity for AChR. No inhibition by the polyclonal anti-idiotypic sera of the binding of myasthenic antibodies to AChR was found. Seven IgM monoclonal anti-idiotypes against three different anti-human AChR mabs were produced by fusing the splenocytes of mice immunised with mab by direct intrasplenic injection. Anti-idiotypic activity was measured by direct binding to anti-human AChR mabs in an ELISA. The cross-reactive idiotypes detected by five of the seven monoclonal anti-idiotypes were less restricted than those found with the polyclonal anti-idiotypic sera. The specificity of the anti-idiotypes was confirmed by inhibition of binding by soluble idiotype. None of the seven monoclonal anti-idiotypes inhibited the binding of mab to AChR, but the small amount of binding to mab-AChR complexes sugggested that they were directed against idiotopes outside the antigen binding site of the anti-human AChR mabs

Biomechanical, muscle activation and clinical characteristics of chronic exertional compartment syndrome

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is a common problem within both military and athletic populations that can be difficult to diagnose. Furthermore, it is unclear what causes the development of CECS, particularly in the military population, as personnel undertake a variety of activities that can cause pain with CECS such as fast walking, marching and running. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome has been hypothesised to develop due to excessive muscle activity, foot pronation and abnormal biomechanics predominantly at the ankle. Treatment of CECS through running re-education to correct these abnormalities has been reported to improve symptoms. However no primary research has been carried out to investigate the biomechanical, muscle activation and clinical characteristics of military patients with CECS. The purpose of this thesis was to provide an original contribution to the knowledge through the exploration of these characteristics; and the development of insights into the development of CECS, with implications for prevention and treatment. Study one investigated the clinical characteristics of 93 service personnel with CECS. Plantar pressure variables, related to foot type and anterior compartment muscle activity, and ankle joint mobility were compared during walking between 70 cases and 70 controls in study two. Study three compared three-dimensional whole body kinematics, kinetics and lower limb muscle activity during walking and marching between 20 cases and 20 controls. Study four compared kinematics and lower limb muscle activity during running in a separate case-control cohort (n=40). Differences in electromyography (EMG) intensity during the gait cycle were compared in the frequency and time domain using wavelet analysis. All studies investigated subject anthropometry. Cases typically presented with bilateral, ‘tight’ or ‘burning’ pain in the anterior and lateral compartments of the lower leg that occurred within 10 minutes of exercise. This pain stopped all cases from exercising during marching and/or running. As such subsequent studies investigated the biomechanics of both ambulatory and running gaits. Cases in all case-control studies were 2-10 cm shorter; and were typically overweight resulting in a higher body mass index (BMI) than controls. There was strong evidence from study 3 that cases had greater relative stride lengths than controls during marching gait. This was achieved through an increase in ankle plantarflexion during late stance and a concomitant increase in the gastrocnemius medialis contraction intensity within the medium-high frequency wavelets. Given the differences in height observed, this may reflect ingrained alterations in gait resulting from military training; whereby all personnel are required to move at an even cadence and speed. These differences in stride length were also observed in walking and running gaits although to a lesser extent. There was no evidence from the EMG data that cases had greater tibialis anterior activation than controls during any activity tested, at any point in the gait cycle or in any frequency band. In agreement, there was also no evidence of differences between groups in plantar pressure derived measures of foot type, which modulate TA activity. Toe extensor - related plantar pressure variables also did not differ between groups. In summary, contrary to earlier theories, increased muscle activity of the anterior compartment musculature does not appear to be associated with CECS. The kinematic differences observed during running only partially matched the clinical observations previously described in the literature. Cases displayed less anterior trunk lean and less anterior pelvic tilt throughout the whole gait cycle and a more upright shank inclination angle during late swing (peak mean difference 3.5°, 4.1° and 7.3° respectively). However, no consistent differences were found at the ankle joint suggesting that running is unlikely to be the cause of CECS in the military; and that the reported success of biomechanical interventions may be due to reasons other than modifying pathological aspects of gait. In summary, the data presented in the thesis suggest that CECS is more likely to develop in subjects of shorter stature and that this is associated with marching at a constant speed and cadence. Biomechanical interventions for CECS, such as a change in foot strike or the use of foot orthotics, are unlikely to be efficacious for the military as personnel will continue to be required to march at prescribed speeds to satisfy occupational requirements. Preventative strategies that allow marching with a natural gait and/or at slower speeds may help reduce the incidence of CECS. The lack of association with foot type or muscle activity suggests that foot orthoses would not be a useful prevention strategy or treatment option for this condition.Headley Court Trustees - funding of student fee

Palmitoylation of Desmoglein 2 Is a Regulator of Assembly Dynamics and Protein Turnover.

Desmosomes are prominent adhesive junctions present between many epithelial cells as well as cardiomyocytes. The mechanisms controlling desmosome assembly and remodeling in epithelial and cardiac tissue are poorly understood. We recently identified protein palmitoylation as a mechanism regulating desmosome dynamics. In this study, we have focused on the palmitoylation of the desmosomal cadherin desmoglein-2 (Dsg2) and characterized the role that palmitoylation of Dsg2 plays in its localization and stability in cultured cells. We identified two cysteine residues in the juxtamembrane (intracellular anchor) domain of Dsg2 that, when mutated, eliminate its palmitoylation. These cysteine residues are conserved in all four desmoglein family members. Although mutant Dsg2 localizes to endogenous desmosomes, there is a significant delay in its incorporation into junctions, and the mutant is also present in a cytoplasmic pool. Triton X-100 solubility assays demonstrate that mutant Dsg2 is more soluble than wild-type protein. Interestingly, trafficking of the mutant Dsg2 to the cell surface was delayed, and a pool of the non-palmitoylated Dsg2 co-localized with lysosomal markers. Taken together, these data suggest that palmitoylation of Dsg2 regulates protein transport to the plasma membrane. Modulation of the palmitoylation status of desmosomal cadherins can affect desmosome dynamics

The Role of Models and Formulations in the Management of Behaviors that Challenge in Dementia

The British Psychological Society’s Briefing Paper for Behaviors that Challenge (BtC) in dementia states that psychological formulation helps in the development of effective and well targeted treatments [1]. While not explicitly using the term psychological formulation, the 2018 NICE UK Dementia Guidelines support the use of systematic problem-solving approaches in the management of BtC. The current paper gives an overview of the content of a number of formulation models developed in this area and contrasts two established models. This article looks at two different ways of understanding people’s agitation – one which emphasizes the reasons for their behaviour in terms of the person with dementia [2] and the other called DICE [3] which puts equal emphasis on the roles of both caregivers and the environment in explaining behaviors. We suggest that, while the Newcastle Model tacitly suggests a role for caregivers and the environment in BtC, the explicit emphasis in DICE encourages a more holistic understanding of agitation

Wetland hydrological monitoring: overview and Boxford Water Meadows case study

The aim of this report is to provide the reader with the information required to make informed decisions about the best and most appropriate way to monitor a wetland site. To achieve this aim, the report has the following objectives: 1. To outline the need and purpose for monitoring. 2. To summarise the methods used to identify and categorise wetland types. 3. To describe the broad types of monitoring that may be undertaken. 4. To give detailed information about the range of wetland monitoring techniques available. 5. To provide guidance on how to select the most appropriate monitoring techniques. 6. To illustrate, using the Boxford wetland as a case study, how the techniques described in this report can be applied, and what challenges and solutions are encountered

Alveolar soft part sarcoma of the uterine cervix

Alveolar soft part sarcoma is a histologically distinctive neoplasm of uncertain histogenesis. Since its initial description in 1952, more than 200 cases have been reported. The extremities are most often the sites of involvement; the tongue, bones, and the orbit have been less commonly involved. The present paper describes a case of alveolar soft part sarcoma which was present only within the uterine cervix of a 37-year-old woman. Histologically, the tumor cells were arranged in the characteristic alveolar pattern; diagnostic PAS-positive diastase-resistant needle-shaped crystals were observed within the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. After the initial biopsy, the patient underwent a radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. Although no residual tumor was found within the cervix, a microscopic focus of tumor was detected in an obturator lymph node. The patient is at present clinically free of disease.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25551/1/0000093.pd