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The increased awareness about the presence of social effects in consumer networks has inspired marketers to better understand and address the needs of their consumers through network analyses. In this chapter we consider network analyses as a set of techniques which allows researchers to analyze how the social structure of relationships around consumers affects their attitudes and behavior, and vice versa, how attitudes and behavior may affect the social structure. We focus on the types of network analyses that are currently most prominent within the field of marketing. We provide basic network theory and notation with references to key publications in the field. We also provide suggestions for software (packages) and useful functions including code snippets to support researchers and practitioners in setting up their first social network analyses. At the end of the chapter we discuss several more advanced network analysis methods and list several resources that might be useful to the interested reader.

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In 1985, external quality assurance was initiated in the Netherlands to reduce the between-laboratory variability of leukemia/lymphoma immunophenotyping and to improve diagnostic conclusions. This program consisted of regular distributions of test samples followed by biannual plenary participant meetings in which results were presented and discussed. A scoring system was developed in which the quality of results was rated by systematically reviewing the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical assay stages using three scores, i.e., correct (A), minor fault (B), and major fault (C). Here, we report on 90 consecutive samples distributed to 40-61 participating laboratories between 1998 and 2012. Most samples contained >20% aberrant cells, mainly selected from mature lymphoid malignancies (B or T cell) and acute leukemias (myeloid or lymphoblastic). In 2002, minimally required monoclonal antibody (mAb) panels were introduced, whilst methodological guidelines for all three assay stages were implemented. Retrospectively, we divided the study into subsequent periods of 4 ("initial"), 4 ("learning"), and 7 years ("consolidation") to detect "learning effects." Uni- and multivariate models showed that analytical performance declined since 2002, but that post-analytical performance improved during the entire period. These results emphasized the need to improve technical aspects of the assay, and reflected improved interpretational skills of the participants. A strong effect of participant affiliation in all three assay stages was observed: laboratories in academic and large peripheral hospitals performed significantly better than those in small hospitals. (C) 2015 International Clinical Cytometry Society

Flow cytometry (FC) is recognized as an important tool in the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) especially when standard criteria fail. A working group within the Dutch Society of Cytometry aimed to implement FC in the diagnostic work-up of MDS. Hereto, guidelines for data acquisition, analysis and interpretation were formulated. Based on discussions on analyses of list mode data files and fresh MDS bone marrow samples and recent literature, the guidelines were modified. Over the years (2005-2011), the concordance between the participating centers increased indicating that the proposed guidelines contributed to a more objective, standardized FC analysis, thereby ratifying the implementation of FC in MDS. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background Allergic disease is the result of an interplay of many different cell types, including basophils and mast cells, in combination with various inflammatory lipid mediators, such as platelet-activating factor (PAF) and leukotrienes (LT). LTC4 synthesis by human basophils has been studied quite extensively. However, not much is known about the synthesis of PAF by human basophils. Objective In this study, we have made a comprehensive comparison between the kinetics of PAF and LTC4 synthesis, in highly purified basophils, activated with different stimuli or with combinations of stimuli. Methods Synthesis of PAF and LTC4 by human basophils was determined with commercially available assay kits. The basophils were activated with C5a, fMLP, PMA, allergen or anti-IgE, in the absence and presence of IL-3 and/or in combination with elevation of cytosolic free Ca2+ by the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin. Results Most stimuli were found to induce both PAF and LTC4 synthesis. PAF synthesis and LTC4 release were enhanced by preincubation of the basophils with IL-3 or by elevation of cytosolic free Ca2+ by thapsigargin. Incubation of human basophils with IL-3 alone or thapsigargin alone did not result in detectable synthesis of PAF and LTC4, whereas the combination of the two resulted in high amounts of PAF and LTC4 synthesis. Depending on the stimulus used, LTC4 release was 5-100-fold higher than PAF synthesis. In addition, PAF, but not LTC4, was transiently detected, probably due to PAF degradation. LTC4 and PAF synthesis was strongly blocked by inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A(2), indicating that this enzyme is involved in PAF and LTC4 synthesis by activated human basophils. Conclusion This study provides a first comprehensive comparison of PAF and LTC4 synthesis in highly purified human basophils, stimulated with a variety of stimuli

There is evidence in business practice that customer service is gaining increasing importance as a competitive parameter in manufacturing industries. A possible explanation for this phenomenon is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to create sustainable competitive advantage on the basis of superior products Additional evidence for the increasing importance of services is the idea that markets tend to evoke through different stages with shifting dominant sources of competitive advantage According to this idea, the sequence of sources of competitive advantage is technology, costs, quality, and services.

Many firms have recognized that all sources of innovation do not occur within their companies boundaries. By working closely with suppliers, customers, and competitors, learning organizations are leveraging their own skills and competencies with those of other companies. Together, these "learning partnerships" have as one of their primary objectives learning about a customer, market, technology or business process. This knowledge can then be leveraged to develop new and improved products, identify sources of cost savings, increased efficiency, uses for new technology and new products.

The effect of wortmannin on IgG-receptor (FcyR)-mediated stimulation of human neutrophils was investigated. The Ca^(2+) influx induced by clustering of both Fcy receptors was inhibited by wortmannin, as was the release of Ca^(2+) from intracellular stores. Wortmannin also inhibited, with the same efficacy, the accumulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 observed after FcyR stimulation, but did not affect the increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 induced by the chemotactic peptide, formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine. Because wortmannin is, in the concentrations used here, an inhibitor of PtdIns 3-kinase, these results suggested a role for PtdIns 3-kinase upstream of Ca^(2+) signalling, induced by FcyR cross-linking. Support for this notion was obtained by investigating the effect of another inhibitor of PtdIns 3-kinase, LY 294002, and by studying the kinetics of PtdIns 3-kinase activation. We found translocation of PtdIns 3-kinase to the plasma membrane and increased PtdIns 3-kinase activity in the membrane as soon as 5 s after FccR cross-linking, even before the onset of the Ca^(2+) response. Moreover, the translocation of PtdIns 3-kinase to the plasma membrane was inhibited by cocross- linking of either FcyRIIa and FcyRIIIb with the tyrosine phosphatase, CD45, indicating a requirement for protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the recruitment of PtdIns 3-kinase to the plasma membrane. Taken together, our results suggest a role for PtdIns 3-kinase in early signal transduction events after FcyR cross-linking in human neutrophils.

Increasingly, buyers and suppliers are building more collaborative relationships. One of the primary objectives of increased collaboration is to increase efficiency and lower "total" costs. Yet relatively little is known about how aspects of supplier behavior and buyer-supplier interaction might help to lower these costs and enhance value (Anderson 1995; Hakansson and Snehota 1995; Kalwani and Narayandas 1995; Wilson 1995). The purpose of this study is to better understand how collaborative buyer-supplier relationships can lower total customer costs and to understand how this leads to growth in the customer's purchases from the supplier.