Showing papers by "University of Colorado Colorado Springs published in 2005"

Antecedents and Consequences of Customer – Company Identification: Expanding the Role of Relationship Marketing

Abstract: This article presents an empirical test of organizational identification in the context of customer–company (C-C) relationships. It investigates whether customers identify with companies and what the antecedents and consequences of such identification are. The model posits that perceived company characteristics, construed external image, and the perception of the company’s boundary-spanning agent lead to C-C identification. In turn, such identification is expected to impact both in-role behavior (i.e., product utilization) as well as extra-role behavior (i.e., citizenship). The model was tested in a consultative selling context of pharmaceutical sales reps calling on physicians. Results from the empirical test indicated that customers do indeed identify with organizations and that C-C identification positively impacts both product utilization behavior and extra-role behavior even when the effect of brand perception is accounted for. Second, the study found that the organization’s characteristics as well as the salesperson’s characteristics contributed to the development of C-C identification.

The Performance Implications of Fit among Business Strategy, Marketing Organization Structure, and Strategic Behavior:

Abstract: Adopting a contingency perspective, the authors present and test a fit-as-moderation model that posits that overall firm performance is influenced by how well the marketing organization's structural characteristics (i.e., formalization, centralization, and specialization) and strategic behavioral emphases (i.e., customer, competitor, innovation, and cost control) complement alternative business strategies (i.e., prospector, analyzer, low-cost defender, and differentiated defender). Responses from 228 senior marketing managers provide support for the model and demonstrate that each strategy type requires different combinations of marketing organization structures and strategic behaviors for success.

Antecedents and consequences of customer-company identification: expanding the role of relationship marketing.

Abstract: This article presents an empirical test of organizational identification in the context of customer-company (C-C) relationships It investigates whether customers identify with companies and what the antecedents and consequences of such identification are The model posits that perceived company characteristics, construed external image, and the perception of the company's boundary-spanning agent lead to C-C identification In turn, such identification is expected to impact both in-role behavior (ie, product utilization) as well as extra-role behavior (ie, citizenship) The model was tested in a consultative selling context of pharmaceutical sales reps calling on physicians Results from the empirical test indicated that customers do indeed identify with organizations and that C-C identification positively impacts both product utilization behavior and extra-role behavior even when the effect of brand perception is accounted for Second, the study found that the organization's characteristics as well as the salesperson's characteristics contributed to the development of C-C identification

Working Memory, its Executive Functions, and the Emergence of Modern Thinking

Abstract: This article examines the possible origins of modern thinking by evaluating the cognitive models of working memory, executive functions and their interrelationship. We propose that a genetic mutation affected neural networks in the prefrontal cortex approximately 60,000 to 130,000 years ago. Our review of cognitive and archaeological evidence yields two possibilities: either it was non-domain specific, affecting general working memory capacity and its executive functions, or the mutation was domain-specific, affecting phonological storage capacity. We discuss the sequelae of these possibilities for modernity, including language enhancement, greater reasoning, planning, and modelling abilities, and increases in fluid/general intelligence.

Discovering the Impact of Community Policing: The Broken Windows Thesis, Collective Efficacy, and Citizens’ Judgment

Abstract: The main purpose of the present study is to demonstrate the structure, mechanisms, and efficacy of community policing and its impact on perceived disorder, crime, quality of life in the community, citizens’ fear, and satisfaction with the police. It compares traditional and community policing paradigms on three dimensions: goal, measurement of outcome, and approach to crime. It concludes that community policing has a comprehensive, community-oriented goal, targets both disorder and crime, and emphasizes both organizational and community measures in police evaluation. It also addresses the criticisms of community policing and tests the heatedly debated relationships concerning community policing, disorder, crime, citizen’s fear, and collective efficacy. The major findings of the study include (1) Harcourt’s falsification of Skogan’s findings is invalid because of the methodological flaws, and therefore does not negate the disorder-crime nexus; (2) Sampson and Raudenbush unintentionally demonstrate, through...

Older adults as adaptive decision makers: evidence from the Iowa Gambling Task.

Abstract: Older adults process emotional information differently than younger adults and may demonstrate less of a negativity bias on cognitive tasks. The Iowa Gambling Task designed by A. Bechara, H. Damasio, D. Tranel, and A. R. Damasio (1997) has been used to examine the integration of emotion and cognition in a risky-choice decision task and may give insight into differences in the decision-making strategies in younger and older adults. Eighty-eight younger adults (18-34 years) and 67 older adults (65-88 years) completed the Iowa Gambling Task. Using a theoretical decomposition of the task designed by J. R. Busemeyer and J. C. Stout (2002), the authors found that both groups were successful at solving the task but used very different strategies that reflected each group's strength. For younger adults, that strength was learning and memory. For older adults, that strength was an accurate representation of wins and losses (valence).

Objective monitoring of nasal patency and nasal physiology in rhinitis

Abstract: Nasal obstruction can be monitored objectively by measurement of nasal airflow, as evaluated by nasal peak flow, or as airways resistance/conductance as evaluated by rhinomanometry. Peak flow can be measured during inspiration or expiration. Of these measurements, nasal inspiratory peak flow is the best validated technique for home monitoring in clinical trials. The equipment is portable, relatively inexpensive, and simple to use. One disadvantage, however, is that nasal inspiratory peak flow is influenced by lower airway as well as upper airway function. Rhinomanometry is a more sensitive technique that is specific for nasal measurements. The equipment, however, requires an operator, is more expensive, and is not portable. Thus, it is applicable only for clinic visit measures in clinical trials. Measurements require patient cooperation and coordination, and not all can achieve repeatable results. Thus, this objective measure is best suited to laboratory challenge studies involving smaller numbers of selected volunteers. A nonphysiological measure of nasal patency is acoustic rhinometry. This sonic echo technique measures internal nasal luminal volume and the minimum cross-sectional area. The derivation of these measures from the reflected sound waves requires complex mathematical transformation and makes several theoretical assumptions. Despite this, however, such measures correlate well with the nasal physiological measures, and the nasal volume measures have been shown to relate well to results obtained by imaging techniques such as computed tomography scanning or magnetic resonance imaging. Like rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry is not suitable for home monitoring and can be applied only to clinic visit measures or for laboratory nasal challenge monitoring. It has advantages in being easy to use, in requiring little patient cooperation, and in providing repeatable results. In addition to nasal obstruction, allergic rhinitis is recognized to be associated with impaired mucociliary clearance and altered nasal responsiveness. Measures exist for the monitoring of these aspects of nasal dysfunction. Although measures of mucociliary clearance are simple to perform, they have a poor record of reproducibility. Their incorporation into clinical trials is thus questionable, although positive outcomes from therapeutic intervention have been reported. Measures of nasal responsiveness are at present largely confined to research studies investigating disease mechanisms in allergic and nonallergic rhinitis. The techniques are insufficiently standardized to be applied to multicenter clinical trials but could be used in limited-center studies to gain insight into the regulatory effects of different therapeutic modalities.

Beliefs about mental illness and willingness to seek help: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract: Evidence indicates that older adults underutilize mental health services, but little is known empirically about the perceptions older adults have about mental illness and their attitudes about seeking professional help for psychological problems. The present study examined beliefs about mental illness and willingness to seek professional help among younger (n=96; M age=20.6 years; range=17-26 years) and older (n=79; M age=75.1 years; range=60-95 years) persons. Participants completed the Beliefs Toward Mental Illness Scale and the Willingness to Seek Help Questionnaire. Older adults had generally similar perceptions of mental illness as younger adults except that older adults were more likely to perceive the mentally ill as being embarrassing and having poor social skills. Older adults also did not report a lower willingness to seek psychological help. Correlational analyses showed that, among older adults, increases in negative attitudes about mental illness (specifically, the view that the mentally ill have poor interpersonal skills) are associated with decreases in willingness to seek psychological services. An implication is that negative stereotypes about mental illness held by some older adults could play a role in their underutilization of mental health services. Other barriers to mental health care are also discussed.

The effect of estradiol and progesterone on knee and ankle joint laxity.

Abstract: BackgroundFemale athletes suffer a higher incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries compared to their male counterparts, and they appear to be at increased risk for these injuries when they have increased anterior-posterior knee laxity and at specific phases of the menstrual cycle. Although the mechanism by which these factors combine to increase injury risk is unclear, studies suggest that cyclic variations in joint laxity produced by hormone fluctuation during the menstrual cycle pre-dispose an athlete to increased risk of ligamentous injury. Little is known about whether joint laxity varies cyclically during the menstrual cycle and if so, whether it is modulated by cyclic variations of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4).HypothesisIncreased serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels are associated with increased ankle and knee joint laxity.Study DesignCohort study. Level of evidence, 2.MethodsAnkle laxity, anterior-posterior knee laxity, and serum concentrations of estradiol (E2) and pro...

Perceived Racist Discrimination, Coping, Stress, and Life Satisfaction.

Abstract: In this study, avoidance coping and problem-solving coping (inversely) predicted stress, and stress and avoidance coping inversely predicted life satisfaction among 114 African American students. Coping did not moderate racial discrimination stress or stress-life satisfaction relationships. Fostering problem solving and reducing avoidance may help to alleviate racism-related stress and foster well-being. En este estudio, evitar sobrellevar y sobrellevar la resolucion de problemas (a lo inverso) de estres predicho, estres, y el evitar sobrellevar a la inversa predicha de la satisfaccion de vida, entre 114 estudiantes Afro-Americanos. El sobrellevar no modero el estres de la discriminacion racial ni relaciones de satisfaccion en el estres de vida. Fomentar la resolucion del problema y reducir el evitar puede ayudar a aliviar el estres relacionado al racismo y fomentar el bienestar.

Relationship of maximum strength to weightlifting performance.

Abstract: STONE, M. H., W. A. SANDS, K. C. PIERCE, J. CARLOCK, M. CARDINALE, and R. U. NEWTON. Relationship of Maximum Strength to Weightlifting Performance. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 37, No. 6, pp. 1037–1043, 2005. Purpose: The primary objective was to assess the relationship of maximum strength to weightlifting ability using established scaling methods. The secondary objective was to compare men and women weightlifters on strength and weightlifting ability. Methods: Two correlational observations were carried out using Pearson’s r. In the first observation (N 65) the relationship of dynamic maximum strength (one-repetition maximum (1RM) squat) was compared with weightlifting ability; in the second observation (N 16), isometric maximum strength (midthigh pull) was studied. Scaling methods for equating maximum strength and weightlifting results were used (load · (Ht 2.16 ) 1 ,l oad ·k g 1 , load · lbm 1 , allometric, and Sinclair formula) to assess the association between measures of maximum strength and weightlifting performance. Results: Using scaled values; correlations between maximum strength and weightlifting results were generally strong in both observations (e.g., using allometric scaling for the 1RM squat vs the 1RM snatch: r 0.84, N 65). Men were stronger than women (e.g., 1RM squat, N 65: men 188.1 48.6 kg; women 126.7 28.3 kg); differences generally held when scaling was applied (e.g., 1RM squat scaled with the Sinclair formula: men 224.7 36.5 kg; women 144.2 25.4 kg). Conclusions: When collectively considering scaling methods, maximum strength is strongly related to weightlifting performance independent of body mass and height differences. Furthermore, men are stronger than women even when body mass and height are obviated by scaling methods.

How e-communities extend the concept of exchange in marketing: An application of the motivation, opportunity, ability (MOA) theory

Abstract: Customer-to-customer (C2C) know-how exchanges occur in a variety of contexts, including virtual environments of Internet mediated communities. Exchange of know-how that takes place among the custom...

American Roulette: The Effect of Reminders of Death on Support for George W. Bush in the 2004 Presidential Election

Abstract: An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of a subtle reminder of death on voting intentions for the 2004 U.S. presidential election. On the basis of terror management theory and previous research, we hypothesized that a mortality salience induction would increase support for President George W. Bush and decrease support for Senator John Kerry. In late September 2004, following a mortality salience or control induction, registered voters were asked which candidate they intended to vote for. In accord with predictions, Senator John Kerry received substantially more votes than George Bush in the control condition, but Bush was favored over Kerry following a reminder of death, suggesting that President Bush's re-election may have been facilitated by nonconscious concerns about mortality in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.

Barriers and Bridges to Prevention and Control of Dengue: The Need for a Social–Ecological Approach

Abstract: This article critically examines how programs for the prevention and control of dengue fever have been conducted in the absence of an integrated approach, and considers the social and ecological factors influencing their effectiveness. Despite recognition of dengue fever as the most important arboviral disease affecting humans, and in spite of a greater emphasis on community-based control approaches, the burden placed on the communities, countries, and regions affected by this disease continues to rise. In considering historical experience in the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the global forces that are exerting new pressures, the important elements of successful control programs are identified as community ownership, partnership with government, leadership, scalability, and control of immature mosquitoes. The key barriers to the exchange of knowledge and the transdisciplinary cooperation necessary for sustainable dengue control are rooted in differences in values among policy-makers, citizens, and scientists and are repeatedly expressed in technical, economic, cultural, geographic, and political dimensions. Through consideration of case studies in Cuba, Guatemala, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, the limitations of control approaches that fail to take into account the complexities of ecological and social systems are presented. Bridges to effective control are identified as the basis for adaptability, both of control programs to the mosquito vector’s changing behavior and of education programs to public, regional and local particularities, as well as transdisciplinarity, community empowerment, the ability to scale local experiences up to the macro-level, and the capacity to learn from experience to achieve sustainability.

Thrombectomy and soft debris removal device

Abstract: A device suitable for removing material from a living being is provided, featuring an infusate pump, and an aspiration pump, both powered by a motor. The aspiration pump and infusate pump preferably feature a helical pumping mechanism, and operate at a high rate of rotation, thereby ensuring adequate pumping performance and flexibility. Additionally, a narrow crossing profile is maintained, ensuring that the device may reach more tortuous regions of the vasculature.

Autocrine transforming growth factor-beta regulation of hematopoiesis: many outcomes that depend on the context.

Abstract: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a pleiotropic regulator of all stages of hematopoieis. The three mammalian isoforms (TGF-beta1, 2 and 3) have distinct but overlapping effects on hematopoiesis. Depending on the differentiation stage of the target cell, the local environment and the concentration and isoform of TGF-beta, in vivo or in vitro, TGF-beta can be pro- or antiproliferative, pro- or antiapoptotic, pro- or antidifferentiative and can inhibit or increase terminally differentiated cell function. TGF-beta is a major regulator of stem cell quiescence, at least in vitro. TGF-beta can act directly or indirectly through effects on the bone marrow microenvironment. In addition, paracrine and autocrine actions of TGF-beta have overlapping but distinct regulatory effects on hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Since TGF-beta can act in numerous steps in the hematopoietic cascade, loss of function mutations in hematopoeitic stem cells (HSC) have different effects on hematopoiesis than transient blockade of autocrine TGF-beta1. Transient neutralization of autocrine TGF-beta in HSC has therapeutic potential. In myeloid and erythroid leukemic cells, autocrine TGF-beta1 and/or its Smad signals controls the ability of these cells to respond to various differentiation inducers, suggesting that this pathway plays a role in determining the cell fate of leukemic cells.

Statistical process control for radiotherapy quality assurance.

Abstract: Every quality assurance process uncovers random and systematic errors. These errors typically consist of many small random errors and a very few number of large errors that dominate the result. Quality assurance practices in radiotherapy do not adequately differentiate between these two sources of error. The ability to separate these types of errors would allow the dominant source(s) of error to be efficiently detected and addressed. In this work, statistical process control is applied to quality assurance in radiotherapy for the purpose of setting action thresholds that differentiate between random and systematic errors. The theoretical development and implementation of process behavior charts are described. We report on a pilot project is which these techniques are applied to daily output and flatness/symmetry quality assurance for a 10 MV photon beam in our department. This clinical case was followed over 52 days. As part of our investigation, we found that action thresholds set using process behavior charts were able to identify systematic changes in our daily quality assurance process. This is in contrast to action thresholds set using the standard deviation, which did not identify the same systematic changes in the process. The process behavior thresholds calculated from a subset of the data detected a 2% change in the process whereas with a standard deviation calculation, no change was detected. Medical physicists must make decisions on quality assurance data as it is acquired. Process behavior charts help decide when to take action and when to acquire more data before making a change in the process.

PICO: Privacy through Invertible Cryptographic Obscuration

Abstract: Signifiicant research progress has been made in intelligent imaging systems, surveillance and biometrics improving robustness, increasing performance and decreasing cost. As a result, deployment of surveillance and intelligent video systems is booming and increasing the impact of these on privacy. For many, networked intelligent video systems, especially video surveillance and biometrics, epitomize the invasion of privacy by an Orwellian "big brother:. While tens of millions in government funding have been spent on research improving video surveillance, virtually none has been invested in technologies to enhance privacy or effectively balance privacy and security. This paper presents an example that demonstrates how using and adapting cryptographic ideas and combining them with intelligent video processing, technological pproaches can provide for solutions addressing these critical trade-offs, potentially improving both security and privacy. After reviewing previous research in privacy improving technology in video systems, the paper then presents cryptographically invertible obscuration. This is an application of encryption techniques to improve the privacy aspects while allowing general surveillance to continue and allowing full access (i.e. violation ofprivacy) only with use of a decryption key, maintained by a court or other thirdparty.

Understanding personal narratives: an approach to practice.

Abstract: Understanding personal narratives: an approach to practice Aim. This paper explores the need for and nature of personal narratives and their relevance to nursing practice. It proposes that the co-creative aesthetic process can be used to understand and co-create personal narratives through an emphasis on self-defining memories and metaphor. Background. Many authors in nursing and other human sciences have recognized the need for and importance of personal narrative, its relationship to aesthetic knowing and its value in qualitative research and in practice. The role of memory and metaphor in the creation of meaning in personal narratives, however, has not been sufficiently explored in nursing literature. Discussion. The nature of personal narrative is explored, focusing on the way meaning is created from self-defining memories using metaphor. Then, the importance of personal narratives in nursing practice is considered, followed by discussion about how meaning in personal narratives may be co-created between clients and nurses using an aesthetic process developed by the author. Conclusion. The co-creative aesthetic process is an example of nursing as art and can be used to co-create personal narratives in practice. The experience of co-creating a self story with a nurse can be healing, as the self story is heard by a caring person, memories are understood in new ways, and the self story is both confirmed and recreated.

A Numerical Implementation of Spherical Object Collision Probability

Abstract: Collision probability analysis for spherical objects exhibiting linear relative motion is accomplished by combining covariances and physical object dimensions at the point of closest approach. The resulting covariance ellipsoid and hardbody can be projected onto the plane perpendicular to relative velocity when the relative motion is assumed linear. Collision potential is determined from the object footprint on the projected, two-dimensional, co-variance ellipse. The resulting double integral can be reduced to a single integral by various methods. This work addresses the numerical computation of this single integral using Simpson’s one-third rule to achieve at least two significant figures of accuracy over a wide range of parameters.

Making virtual teams more effective: improving relational links

Abstract: Purpose – To report on a study testing training methods to improve communications among virtual team members.Design/methodology/approach – Training methods for improving virtual team communications were developed and administered to 12 virtual teams. Surveys tracking cohesiveness, perceptions of the process and satisfaction with the outcomes were administered before, during and after teams working on a series of projects. These results were compared with similar teams working on the same projects who did not receive training.Findings – Results indicated that teams receiving training showed more cohesiveness, perceptions of the process and satisfaction. These factors have been shown to increase team members' ability to exchange information and to positively affect the group's performance.Practical implications – Relational link training seems beneficial for virtual teams as the teams in this study that had relational link training showed higher levels of group cohesiveness, satisfaction with their group's ...

Leuprolide Acetate Suppresses Pedophilic Urges and Arousability

Abstract: Cognitive–behavioral psychotherapy was compared with cognitive–behavioral psychotherapy augmented by leuprolide acetate (LA) for suppression of pedophilic behavior. Five male pedophiles (M age, 50 years; range, 36–58) were administered LA by Depo injection for 12 months, followed by saline placebo for 12 months. Testosterone levels, sexual interest preference by visual reaction time (Abel Assessment), penile tumescence (Monarch Penile Plethysmography, PPG), as well as strong sexual urges toward children and masturbatory frequency involving thoughts of children (polygraph), were measured every 3 months. On LA, testosterone decreased to castrate levels. Penile tumescence was significantly suppressed compared with baseline, but sufficient response remained to detect pedophilic interest. Pedophilic interest was also detected by visual reaction times. When asked about having pedophilic urges and masturbating to thoughts of children, all subjects self-reported a decrease. Polygraph responses indicated subjects were not deceptive. On placebo, testosterone and physiologic arousal eventually rose to baseline. As noted by polygraph, at baseline and on placebo, subjects were deceptive regarding increased pedophilic urges and masturbatory frequency. Interest preference, as measured by Abel Assessment and Monarch PPG, was generally unchanged throughout the study. Cognitive–behavioral psychotherapy augmented with LA significantly reduced pedophilic fantasies, urges, and masturbation; however, pedophilic interest did not change during 1 year of therapy. Deceptive responses by polygraph suggested that self-report was unreliable. Follow-up utilizing objective measures is essential for monitoring efficacy of treatment in pedophilia. Our study supports the premise that suppression of pedophilic behavior is possible. LA may augment cognitive–behavioral psychotherapy and help break the sequence leading to a re-offense.

Relating Position Uncertainty to Maximum Conjunction Probability

Abstract: The effects of positional uncertainty on the Gaussian probability computation for orbit conjunction are examined and an upper bound determined. Relative motion between two objects is assumed linear for a given encounter with time-invariant position covariance. A method is developed to assess the maximum probability for various satellite sizes, encounter geometries, and covariance sizes and shapes. The associated standard deviation then defines the boundary of probability dilution. The assertion is made that orbit positions should be sufficiently accurate to avoid this dilution region. This work shows how to calculate the upper bounds of probability by assuming worst-case covariance orientation and size. Power series approximations are developed for aspect ratios ranging from 1 to 50 to capture 99% of all conjunction possibilities. An analytical approximation is also given for an infinite aspect ratio to capture all possibilities. These expressions can be used as a simple pre-filter or to determine worst-case scenarios. Although desired, the actual covariances are not needed. What is needed is the ratio of major-to-minor axes of the projected combined covariance ellipse, the object sizes, and the relative distance at the point of closest approach.