3,155 research outputs found
Modeling the Antecedents of Compulsive Buying.
Interest in dysfunctional consumption behaviors, such as compulsive buying, is a fairly recent development in the marketing literature. The purpose of this dissertation was to develop and test a theoretical model of the structural relationships among potential antecedents of compulsive buying behavior. In this dissertation, an extensive literature review identified several key constructs in the development of compulsive buying. These constructs include a family environment factor (parental influence), obsessive-compulsive trait, trait self-esteem, generalized anxiety, impulsive behavior, and anxiety reduction through shopping motivations. Seven studies were performed, including pretest and final studies with national non-student samples. Using LISREL, a structural model was estimated. The results indicated the obsessive-compulsive trait and self-esteem were strong predictors of anxiety which, in turn, predicted compulsive buying directly and via impulsive behavior and shopping motivations. The parental influence construct was found to be a direct predictor of compulsive buying, as well as an indirect predictor through the shopping motivations construct. Shopping motivations and impulsive behavior were also strong predictors of compulsive buying. These results suggest that individuals who experience anxiety may be at risk for developing compulsive buying behaviors if they view shopping as a means to reducing that anxiety
Cognitive and Psychodynamic Mechanisms of Change in Treated and Untreated Depression
Two patient-level mechanisms of change, defenses, and cognition were tested over 3 time points in 65 depressed adults, approximately half receiving treatment. Early changes in automatic thoughts and immature defenses were associated with symptom change from time-one to time-three. The directionality of early automatic thought change predicting symptom change was partially supported, but immature defense change occurs simultaneously with, or after, symptom change. Given the convergent evidence of cognitive change as a mediator of depression reduction, all depression therapies should consider how they address depressive cognition. To build a more complete understanding of how to ameliorate depression, future studies should continue to include constructs from multiple theories and have measures of therapy process in addition to patient level mechanisms
The Effects of Infections by \u3ci\u3ePyrenophora Teres\u3c/i\u3e and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus on the Freezing Hardiness of Winter Barley
Single and mixed infections by Pyrenophora teres and two isolates of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) were evaluated for their effects on the resistance to freezing stress of crowns of the winter barley cultivar Pennrad. Plants received one of several treatments: P. teres; either the RMV-NY or PAV-NY isolate of BYDV; RMV + P. teres; PAV + P. teres; or infestation with either nonviruliferous Rhopalosiphum maidis or R. padi. After the treatments, foliage and roots were harvested from 4-wk-old plants to evaluate the effects of infection(s) on top and root growth before freezing. The crowns were subjected to a controlled freezing regime, and resistance to freezing stress was evaluated by assessing retardation of shoot and root regrowth after freezing (crown injury). The treatment combinations resulted in decreased plant growth before freezing and in increased crown injury, relative to control plants. Infection by P. teres did not reduce top and root growth, or lead to crown injury, to the extent of the other treatments. Feeding by viruliferous aphid species, in comparison to feeding by nonviruliferous aphid species, led to decreased top and root growth and to further crown injury. Infections by PAV + P. teres or R MV + P. teres did not reduce top and root growth, but led to increased crown injury relative to plants exposed only to viruliferous aphids
Leptin-dependent Phosphorylation of PTEN Mediates Actin Restructuring and Activation of ATP-sensitive K+ Channels
Leptin activates multiple signaling pathways in cells, including the
phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway, indicating a degree of cross-talk with
insulin signaling. The exact mechanisms by which leptin alters this signaling
pathway and how it relates to functional outputs are unclear at present. A
previous study has established that leptin inhibits the activity of the
phosphatase PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10), an
important tumor suppressor and modifier of phosphoinositide signaling. In this
study we demonstrate that leptin phosphorylates multiple sites on the
C-terminal tail of PTEN in hypothalamic and pancreatic β-cells, an action
not replicated by insulin. Inhibitors of the protein kinases CK2 and glycogen
synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) block leptin-mediated PTEN phosphorylation. PTEN
phosphorylation mutants reveal the critical role these sites play in
transmission of the leptin signal to F-actin depolymerization. CK2 and GSK3
inhibitors also prevent leptin-mediated F-actin depolymerization and
consequent ATP-sensitive K+ channel opening. GSK3 kinase activity
is inhibited by insulin but not leptin in hypothalamic cells. Both hormones
increase N-terminal GSK3 serine phosphorylation, but in hypothalamic cells
this action of leptin is transient. Leptin, not insulin, increases GSK3
tyrosine phosphorylation in both cell types. These results demonstrate a
significant role for PTEN in leptin signal transmission and identify GSK3 as a
potential important signaling node contributing to divergent outputs for these
hormones
Using Cluster Analysis to Explore Associations between Cardiovascular Risk and Lifestyle Factors in a Workplace Wellness Program
Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death in the United States with risk factors including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, age, genetics, and unhealthy diets. A university-based workplace wellness program (WWP) consisting of an annual biometric screening assessment with targeted, individualized health coaching was implemented in an effort to reduce these risk factors while encouraging and nurturing ideal cardiovascular health.Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine and describe the prevalence of single and combined, or multiple, CVD risk factors within a workplace wellness dataset.Methods: Cluster analysis was used to determine CVD risk factors within biometric screening data (BMI, waist circumference, LDL, total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, blood glucose age, ethnicity, and gender) collected during WWP interventions.Results: The cluster analysis provided visualizations of the distributions of participants having specific CVD risk factors. Of the 8,802 participants, 1,967 (22.4%) had no CVD risk factor, 1,497 (17%) had a single risk factor, and 5,529 (60.5%) had two or more risk factors. The majority of sample members are described as having more than one CVD risk factor with 78% having multiple.Conclusion: Cluster analysis demonstrated utility and efficacy in categorizing participant data based on their CVD risk factors. A baseline analysis of data was captured and provided understanding and awareness into employee health and CVD risk. This process and analysis facilitated WWP planning to target and focus on education to promote ideal cardiovascular health
Dimethylsulfoxide exposure modulates HL-60 cell rolling interaction
Human leukaemic HL-60 cells are widely used for studying interactions involving adhesion molecules [e.g. P-selectin and PSGL-1 (P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1)] since their rolling behaviour has been shown to mimic the dynamics of leucocyte rolling in vitro. HL-60 cells are neutrophilic promyelocytes that can undergo granulocytic differentiation upon exposure to compounds such as DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide). Using a parallel plate flow chamber functionalized with recombinant P-selectin–Fc chimaera, undifferentiated and DMSO-induced (48, 72 and 96 h) HL-60 cells were assayed for rolling behaviour. We found that depending on P-selectin incubation concentration, undifferentiated cells incurred up to a 6-fold increase in rolling velocity while subjected to an approximately 10-fold increase in biologically relevant shear stress. HL-60 cells exposed to DMSO for up to 72 h incurred up to a 3-fold increase in rolling velocity over the same shear stress range. Significantly, cells exposed for up to 96 h incurred up to a 9-fold decrease in rolling velocity, compared with undifferentiated HL-60 cells. Although cell surface and nuclear morphological changes were evident upon exposure to DMSO, flow cytometric analysis revealed that PSGL-1 expression was unchanged, irrespective of treatment duration. The results suggest that DMSO-treated HL-60 cells may be problematic as a substitute for neutrophils for trafficking studies during advanced stages of the LAC (leucocyte adhesion cascade). We suggest that remodelling of the cell surface during differentiation may affect rolling behaviour and that DMSO-treated HL-60 cells would behave differently from the normal leucocytes during inflammatory response in vivo
Non-linear Evolution of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations from Improved Perturbation Theory in Real and Redshift Spaces
We study the non-linear evolution of baryon acoustic oscillations in the
matter power spectrum and correlation function from the improved perturbation
theory (PT). Based on the framework of renormalized PT, we apply the {\it
closure approximation} that truncates the infinite series of loop contributions
at one-loop order, and obtain a closed set of integral equations for power
spectrum and non-linear propagator. The resultant integral expressions keep
important non-perturbative properties which can dramatically improve the
prediction of non-linear power spectrum. Employing the Born approximation, we
then derive the analytic expressions for non-linear power spectrum and the
predictions are made for non-linear evolution of baryon acoustic oscillations
in power spectrum and correlation function. A detailed comparison between
improved PT results and N-body simulations shows that a percent-level agreement
is achieved in a certain range in power spectrum and in a rather wider range in
correlation function. Combining a model of non-linear redshift-space
distortion, we also evaluate the power spectrum and correlation function in
correlation function. In contrast to the results in real space, the agreement
between N-body simulations and improved PT predictions tends to be worse, and a
more elaborate modeling for redshift-space distortion needs to be developed.
Nevertheless, with currently existing model, we find that the prediction of
correlation function has a sufficient accuracy compared with the
cosmic-variance errors for future galaxy surveys with volume of a few (Gpc/h)^3
at z>=0.5.Comment: 25 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.
What makes you not a Sikh? : a preliminary mapping of values
This study sets out to establish which Sikh values contrasted with or were shared by non-Sikh adolescents. A survey of attitude toward a variety of Sikh values was fielded in a sample of 364 non-Sikh schoolchildren aged between 13 and 15 in London. Values where attitudes were least positive concerned Sikh duties/code of conduct, festivals, rituals, prayer Gurdwara attendance, listening to scripture recitation, the amrit initiation. Sikh values empathized with by non-Sikhs concerned family pride, charity, easy access to ordination and Gurdwaras, maintaining the five Ks, seeing God in all things, abstaining from meat and alcohol and belief in the stories of Guru Nanak. Further significant differences of attitude toward Sikhism were found in comparisons by sex, age and religious affiliation. Findings are applied to teaching Sikhism to pupils of no faith adherence. The study recommends the extension of values mapping to specifically Sikh populations
Dance Experience Affects Tempo Perception
In music, the word “tempo” refers to the speed or pace of the music (the number of beats per minute, for example). Tempo is surprisingly subjective, given that beat perception depends on age and cultural experience. Other factors besides beat (like the density of events per unit time) might influence how fast or slow people dance to music. Certain styles of music afford different speeds of dance, even when their tempos are the same.https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/durep_posters/1134/thumbnail.jp
- …