Search

This study reviews 1,406 research articles published between 2016 and 2020 in the European Journal of Social Work (EJSW), the British Journal of Social Work (BJSW) and Research on Social Work Practice (RSWP). It assesses the proportion and complexity of quantitative research designs amongst published articles and investigates differences between the journals. Furthermore, the review investigates the complexity of the statistical methods employed and identifies the most frequently addressed topics. From the 1,406 articles, 504 (35.8 percent) used a qualitative methodology, 389 (27.7 percent) used a quantitative methodology, 85 (6 percent) used the mixed methods (6 percent), 253 (18 percent) articles were theoretical in nature, 148 (10.5 percent) conducted reviews and 27 (1.9 percent) gave project overviews. The proportion of quantitative research articles was higher in RSWP (55.4 percent) than in the EJSW (14.1 percent) and the BJSW (20.5 percent). The topic analysis could identify at least forty different topics addressed by the articles. Although the proportion of quantitative research is rather small in social work research, the review could not find evidence that it is of low sophistication. Finally, this study concludes that future research would benefit from making explicit why a certain methodology was chosen.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) post‐transcriptionally repress almost all genes in mammals and thereby form an additional layer of gene regulation. As such, miRNAs impact on nearly every physiological process and have also been associated with cancer. Prominent examples of such miRNAs can be found in the miR‐15 family, composed of the bicistronic clusters miR‐15a/16‐1, miR‐15b/16‐2, and miR‐497/195. In particular, the miR‐15a/16‐1 cluster is deleted in almost two thirds of all chronic B lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cases, a phenotype that is also recapitulated by miR‐15a/16‐1‐deficient as well as miR‐15b/16‐2‐deficient mice. Under physiological conditions, those two clusters have been implicated in T‐cell function, and B‐cell and natural killer (NK) cell development; however, it is unclear whether miR‐497 and miR‐195 confer similar roles in health and disease. Here, we have generated a conditional mouse model for tissue‐specific deletion of miR‐497 and miR‐195. While mice lacking miR‐15a/16‐1 in the hematopoietic compartment developed clear signs of CLL over time, aging mice deficient for miR‐497/195 did not show such a phenotype. Likewise, loss of miR‐15a/16‐1 impaired NK and early B‐cell development, whereas miR‐497/195 was dispensable for these processes. In fact, a detailed analysis of miR‐497/195‐deficient mice did not reveal any effect on steady‐state hematopoiesis or immune cell function. Unexpectedly, even whole‐body deletion of the cluster was well‐tolerated and had no obvious impact on embryonic development or healthy life span. Therefore, we postulate that the miR‐497/195 cluster is redundant to its paralog clusters or that its functional relevance is restricted to certain physiological and pathological conditions., The miR‐15a/16‐1 and miR‐15b/16‐2 clusters regulate hematopoiesis and are key tumor suppressors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. However, little is known about the third cluster of the miR‐15 family, miR‐497/195. Here, we show that miR‐497/195 is dispensable for immune cell development and function, and that its loss does not provoke any overt malignancies. This suggests a redundant role for miR‐497/195 or that its functional relevance is restricted to certain conditions.

MiRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that promote the sequence-specific repression of their respective target genes, thereby regulating diverse physiological as well as pathological processes. Here, we identify a novel role of the miR-26 family in early B cell development. We show that enhanced expression of miR-26 family members potently blocks the pre-B to immature B cell transition, promotes pre-B cell expansion and eventually enables growth factor independency. Mechanistically, this is at least partially mediated by direct repression of the tumor-suppressor Pten, which consequently enhances PI3K-AKT signaling. Conversely, limiting miR-26 activity in a more physiological loss-of-function approach counteracts proliferation and enhances pre-B cell differentiation in vitro as well as in vivo. We therefore postulate a rheostat-like role for the miR-26 family in progenitor B cells, with an increase in mature miR-26 levels signaling cell expansion, and facilitating pre-B to the immature B cell progression when reduced.

SummaryMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that post-transcriptionally silence most protein-coding genes in mammals. They are generated from primary transcripts containing single or multiple clustered stem-loop structures that are thought to be recognized and cleaved by the DGCR8/DROSHA Microprocessor complex as independent units. Contrasting this view, we here report an unexpected mode of processing of a bicistronic cluster of the miR-15 family, miR-15a-16-1. We find that the primary miR-15a stem-loop is a poor Microprocessor substrate and is consequently not processed on its own, but that the presence of the neighboring primary miR-16-1 stem-loop on the same transcript can compensate for this deficiency in cis. Using a CRISPR/Cas9 screen, we identify SAFB2 (scaffold attachment factor B2) as an essential co-factor in this miR-16-1-assisted pri-miR-15 cleavage, and describe SAFB2 as a novel accessory protein of DROSHA. Notably, SAFB2-mediated cluster assistance expands to other clustered pri-miRNAs including miR-15b, miR-92a and miR-181b, indicating a general mechanism. Together, our study reveals an unrecognized function of SAFB2 in miRNA processing and suggests a scenario in which SAFB2 enables the binding and processing of suboptimal DGCR8/DROSHA substrates in clustered primary miRNA transcripts.Highlightsthe primary miR-15a stem-loop structure per se is a poor Microprocessor substratecleavage of pri-miR-15a requires the processing of an additional miRNA stem-loop on the same RNAsequential pri-miRNA processing or “cluster assistance” is mediated by SAFB proteinsSAFB2 associates with the Microprocessor

The call for business practices that create benefits for companies, customers, and society is getting louder. This article analyzes a new implementation of such a win–win–win approach: the carrotmob. Activists and managers jointly organize a shopping flashmob in which consumers collectively purchase the products of a target company to reward its intent to act more socially responsible. Given that carrotmobs are only efficient if they are supported by a critical mass of consumers, a survey study of 337 young consumers explores the critical drivers of carrotmob participation. Accordingly, object-oriented, personal, and social motives jointly determine carrotmob participation with social motives having the strongest impact.

Many microRNAs (miRNAs) are generated from primary transcripts containing multiple clustered stem-loop structures that are thought to be recognized and cleaved by the Microprocessor complex as independent units. Here, we uncover an unexpected mode of processing of the bicistronic miR-15a-16-1 cluster. We find that the primary miR-15a stem-loop is not processed on its own but that the presence of the neighboring primary miR-16-1 stem-loop on the same transcript can compensate for this deficiency in cis. Using a CRISPR/Cas9 screen, we identify SAFB2 (scaffold attachment factor B2) as an essential co-factor in this miR-16-1-assisted pri-miR-15 cleavage and describe SAFB2 as an accessory protein of the Microprocessor. Notably, SAFB2-mediated cleavage expands to other clustered pri-miRNAs, indicating a general mechanism. Together, our study reveals an unrecognized function of SAFB2 in miRNA processing and suggests a scenario in which SAFB2 enables the binding and processing of suboptimal Microprocessor substrates in clustered primary miRNA transcripts.

Recent meta-analytical findings in advertising research contradict the assumption of gender-specific humor evaluations. This article suggests an interaction effect of gender and humor type to resolve the contradiction. An online experiment with 266 respondents examines how gender moderates the influence of different humor types in print ads on advertising effectiveness. The study reveals gender-free as well as gender-specific effects. Both men and women favor comic wit over sentimental comedy and satire. However, male respondents evaluate satire humor more positively than female respondents, whereas women prefer sentimental comedy more than men do. Based on the results, implications for practitioners and researchers are derived.

Ambient advertising is a creative, innovative form of outdoor advertising that explicitly intends to surprise consumers by placing unexpected advertisements at unusual locations. The rising relevance of ambient advertising is not mirrored in the marketing literature yet. No study has empirically considered the key elements of location and execution of ambient advertising. This paper uses a mixed-method approach to (1) identify the locational and executional elements used in ambient advertising practice and to (2) analyze the effectiveness of ambient advertising. Study 1 (n = 340) applying a content analysis reveals that ambient advertising mainly uses unconventional 2D elements often combined with unexpected visual elements such as optical illusion. Study 2 (n = 234) using ANOVAs examines that unconventional advertisements have a stronger impact on consumer perception (e.g., attention, attitude toward the ad) than on conventional outdoor advertising. The paper provides contributions for marketing managers...

Humor preferences depend on the cultural background of the respondents. Designers of international advertising campaigns thus need to know how to adapt ads to the target market. The present paper runs two studies to test (1) whether marketers actually adapt the type of humor to the culture of the target market and (2) whether different types of humor elicit different effects in different cultures. Both studies use the example of Germany and Spain for cross-cultural comparisons. Study 1 analyzes 418 Spanish and 748 German print advertisements. The results indicate that marketers apply humor in Spain more frequently than in Germany. The type of humor differs across the two countries: Comic wit which builds on incongruent elements is more frequent in Germany (low-context, individualistic, masculine culture) than in Spain (high-context, collectivistic, feminine culture) while Spanish ads contain more sentimental humor. This humor type transports warmly messages without including incongruent messages. Study 2 examines whether the cultural dimensions of individualism and femininity affect attitude towards sentimental humor ads and sentimental comedy ads. The latter type of humor combines warm elements with the principle of incongruity- resolution. The study shows that Spanish respondents rate sentimental humor significantly more positive than German respondents. In contrast, German subjects evaluate sentimental comedy most positive. Implications for managers and future research are derived.

Ambient media evoke surprise with the aim of gaining the attention of consumers who are overexposed to traditional types of advertising. No study has yet considered the effects of unanticipated ambient media. To bridge this gap, the present article reports a field experiment entailing the manipulation of three types of ambient media that create different levels of surprise. The analysis combines observation data for 2,464 passersby, survey data from 305 respondents, and sales figures for 730 days. The results show that surprising ambient media draw attention, promote positive attitudes toward the ad, and stimulate word of mouth. Most importantly, ambient media increase purchase intention and sales revenue. Robustness checks ensure that the model is stable across several conditions, such as time of day or weather conditions. Follow-up studies further reveal that surprise elicits positive effects via two processes; the amplification of accompanying evaluations and the interplay of attention and incongruence resolution. The paper provides guidance for retailers wishing to design surprising ambient media that improve consumer attitudes and profitability.

One major characteristic of skin-related cancers is the loss of skin-resident dendritic cell populations. In the tg(Grm1)EPv mouse model, ectopic expression of the metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 in melanocytes leads to a highly proliferative and antiapoptotic phenotype, resulting in melanoma formation within the dermis. The slow progression of these tumors allows for the in depth analysis of the immune infiltrate in growing tumors. We here show that total DCs (CD11c+ cells) are gradually lost as the tumor progresses. Mainly the dermal CD11b+ DCs are affected, whereas epidermal Langerhans cells remain unchanged. We hypothesized that extrinsic cell death of the DCs may be induced within the growing tumor. Indeed, the tumor tissue upregulated the expression of Fas ligand (FasL) that can induce extrinsic apoptosis in immature DCs that express Fas (CD95). Fas-mediated apoptosis depends on the activation of caspase-8 and mice in which the autoproteolytic cleavage site D387 is mutated to alanine (casp8D387A/casp8D387A) show strong resistance to Fas-mediated death. We compared the apoptosis induction in the different DC subsets in casp8WT/casp8WT and in casp8D387A/casp8D387A upon intradermal administration of an agonistic anti-CD95 antibody and we found that, indeed, CD11b+ DCs in WT mice are susceptible to apoptosis via CD95. In order to retrieve the intratumoral DCs, we treated tg(Grm1)EPv mice carrying tumor lesions with Flt3L and the percentages of the CD11b+ subset could be restored back to the levels of tumor-free mice. At the same time, T-cells from both the tumor and the tumor-draining lymph node were able to produce more cytotoxic cytokines. Our data thus indicate that the loss of DCs in melanoma depends on induction of apoptosis within the tumor; rescue of skin DCs may be a promising strategy in order to enhance the efficacy of existing immunotherapeutic strategies against skin-related cancers. Citation Format: Anastasia Prokopi, Christoph H. Tripp, Bart Tummers, Kerstin Komenda, Katharina Hutter, Giuseppe Cappellano, Lydia Bellmann, Mirjana Efremova, Zlatko Trajanoski, Suzie Chen, Bjorn E. Clausen, Douglas R. Green, Patrizia Stoitzner. Rescue of lost skin dendritic cells in melanoma is key for the resuscitation of antitumor T-cell responses [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; Sept 30-Oct 3, 2018; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2019;7(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A102.

The carrotmob—often defined as an inverse boycott—is a new, fast-diffusing form of pro-environmental consumption focusing on societal issues. Organized by activists, consumers swarm a predefined store and collectively buy its products. In return, the company engages in pro-environmental actions. This is the first study that empirically analyzes consumer attitudes toward carrotmob and participation intention. The article compares the drivers of carrotmob and anti-consumption (e.g., ecological consumer boycotts). Both forms of consumer activism are triggered by ecological concern. However, carrotmobbing differs because participants do not have to sacrifice their preferred consumption patterns. Study 1 ( n = 437) demonstrates that willingness to make sacrifices moderates the impact of ecological concern on attitudes toward the carrotmob. Study 2 ( n = 153) establishes external validity by modifying the carrotmob target. As expected, the carrotmob is an alternative consumption option attractive for consumers unwilling to make sacrifices in expressing their environmental concerns.

A new form of ethical consumption has recently evolved: The carrotmob. As in a flashmob, consumers collectively swarm a specific store and purchase its goods in order to reward corporate socially responsible behaviour. The present paper introduces a conceptionalization of carrotmobs that takes into account the perspective of the three relevant parties: activists, companies, and consumers. First, the paper considers activists’ objectives in initiating such a social movement. It describes how they use guerrilla tactics to foster the participation of companies and consumers. Second, the paper considers the perspective of the target company, stressing the role of corporate social responsibility and describing how companies compete in an auction to become the carrotmob target. Third, the paper highlights the consumer perspective, discussing different views on consumer power and the motivation to participate in a carrotmob. The paper also points out directions for further empirical research for each of these three perspectives.

Guerilla-Marketing gilt fur Werbepraktiker als innovative Kommunikationsstrategie, die immer haufiger genutzt wird. Derzeit liegen jedoch keine fundierten Aufarbeitungen vor, weshalb sowohl Praktiker als auch Werbeforscher ein diffuses Verstandnis davon haben, was Guerilla-Marketing ausmacht. Vor diesem Hintergrund systematisiert dieser Beitrag verschiedene Auffassungen des Guerilla-Konzeptes und beschreibt den Bedeutungswandel von der David-gegen-Goliath-Methode kleiner Unternehmen zur integrativen strategischen Marketingkonzeption fur Unternehmen jeder Grose. Es werden einzelne Instrumente des Guerilla-Marketing (Moskito-, Ambush-, Viral-, Buzz-, Ambient- und Sensation-Marketing) anhand ihrer zentralen Methode (Trittbrettfahrer-, Empfehlungs- und Lebensumfeld-Marketing) beschrieben sowie der Nutzen von Guerilla-PR als flankierende Masnahme aufgezeigt. Ferner wird deutlich, welche Masnahmen als Guerilla-Marketing angesehen werden konnen, welche Anwendungsfelder bestehen und welche Erfolgsfaktoren bei der Umsetzung beachtet werden sollten. Der Beitrag schlagt eine Berechnungsvorschrift vor, anhand derer der Guerilla-Effekt vor der Implementierung eingeschatzt oder im Nachhinein bewertet werden kann. Auf Basis dieser Formel wird im Rahmen einer Expertenbefragung der Effekt beispielhafter Guerilla-Masnahmen abgeschatzt. Eine Sensitivitatsanalyse stellt zudem die Spannbreite moglicher Guerilla-Effekte fur verschiedene Instrumente vergleichend dar. Der Beitrag bietet sowohl eine Planungshilfe fur Praktiker als auch einen Strukturierungsansatz fur die kunftige Werbewirkungsforschung.

die Besonderheiten des Ambient-Marketing erkennen. die Entstehung von Uberraschung erklaren. und unkonventionelle Ambient-Masnahmen planen, die das Markenimage verbessern und zum Kauf anregen.

die Problematik der sinkenden Werbeeffizienz nachvollziehen. das Reaktanz-Konzept verstehen. die Notwendigkeit innovativer Marketing-Methoden erkennen.

das LSD-Modell des Guerilla-Marketing erlautern. Uberraschung als zentrales Element von Guerilla-Kampagnen verstehen. die Reichweite von Werbebotschaften durch Diffusionseffekte erhohen. kostengunstige, wirkungsvolle Masnahmen planen.

eine Best-Practice-Studie, die aufzeigt, wie der Fusballclub BVB zum Champions- League-Finale 2013 in London mit Guerilla-Aktionen uberrascht.

die Prinzipien des Guerilla-Marketing verstehen. verschiedene Instrumente des Guerilla-Marketing abgrenzen. Guerilla-PR als flankierende Masnahme einsetzen.

Moglichkeiten des Einsatzes von Guerilla Marketing im Vertrieb erkennen. Beispiele der Guerilla-Distribution aus der Unternehmenspraxis benennen. Guerilla-Stores, Pop-up-Stores und Nomaden-Stores voneinander abgrenzen. wie Sie kunstliche Knappheit und Produktinszenierung als Guerilla-Elemente einsetzen.

Motive zur Nutzung von Guerilla-Masnahmen aus Unternehmersicht erkennen. Motive zur Nutzung von Guerilla-Masnahmen aus Agentursicht benennen. die unterschiedlichen Sichtweisen von Unternehmen und Agenturen auf das Guerilla-Marketing vergleichen.

juristische Aspekte des Ambush-Marketing bewerten. ethische Aspekte des Buzz-Marketing diskutieren. nicht-intendierte Effekte auf das Image vermeiden.

Nach der Lekture dieses Kapitels konnen Sie verstehen, wann und warum Konsumenten die Werbebotschaft eines Unternehmens weitererzahlen, den Ablauf einer Buzz-Marketing-Kampagne planen und Motive der Buzz-Agenten erkennen.

einen uberblick uber Input- und Output-Grosen der Werbeeffizienzmessung geben. Werbewirkung und Werbeerfolg von Marketing-Masnahmen abgrenzen. Methoden zur Messung der Effizienz an Guerilla-Masnahmen anpassen.

nachvollziehen, wie und warum Ambush-Marketing entstand. erlautern, was unter Ambush-Marketing zu verstehen ist. verschiedene Formen des Ambush-Marketing voneinanderabgrenzen. legale Formen des Ambush-Marketing zielgerichtet einsetzen.

Nutzen und Einsatzgebiete des Emotional Mapping erkennen. Emotional Mapping fur Ambient-Masnahmen anwenden und interpretieren. Ambient-Media anhand menschlicher Emotionen kategorisieren.

das Konzept des Carrotmob als inversen Boykott verstehen. Motivatoren und Inhibitoren der Carrotmob-Partizipation erkennen. einen Carrotmob so planen, dass er auf das Interesse von Konsumenten und Presse stost.

Das Marketing ist eine vergleichsweise junge Forschungsdisziplin. Erst Ende der 1960er Jahre entstanden in Deutschland erste Lehrstuhle und Forschungsinstitute (vgl. Gelbrich et al. 2008). Die erste umfassende Definition des Marketing-Begriffs legte Meffert (1977) vor. Demnach ist unter Marketing die Planung, Koordination und Kontrolle aller marktorien-tierten Unternehmensaktivitaten zu verstehen, mit denen die Bedurfnisse der Kunden befriedigt und Unternehmensziele verwirklicht werden sollen.