Consumption of counterfeit designer brands : reasons, practices and consequences

Cataloged from PDF version of article.This thesis examines the consumption reasons, practices and consequences of nondeceptive counterfeit designer brand clothing, which has been becoming rampant in Turkey as stressed by diverse resources. Utilizing qualitative research methods, the study was conducted through interviewing twenty counterfeit designer brand consumers nine of which additionally possessed the authentic items. Three consumers who solely consume the authentic items were also included in the sample. Findings suggest that consumers prefer counterfeit designer brand clothing not only for economic reasons, but also for symbolic reasons such as ardent desire, reference group influence, experiential fulfillment, nostalgic appeal as well as perceivably unfair prices of authentic items. Consumers selectively display the counterfeit items in different public domains and selectively disclose information about their consumption to avoid social anxiety and embarrassment. As a consequence, consumers authenticate an otherwise strange identity through such consumption practices. It is not only fantasy and real that commingle, but also fake and authentic, which mesh through a process of authentication as determined by the desires of the consumer. The study has implications for the literature on counterfeit consumption, price fairness, symbolic consumption as well as postmodernism and concludes with a discussion of limitations and opportunities future research.Akkoç, Ali UtkuM.S

Comparison of the development of mouse embryos manipulatedwith different biopsy techniques

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis is the detection of inherited diseases and the sex of embryos before implantation in the practice of human medicine as well as in veterinary medicine. The introduction of experimental animal embryo biopsy techniques has been a milestone in the developmental process of preimplantation genetic diagnosis techniques. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vivo and in vitro development of embryos after biopsy in an experimental mouse model and to perform comparisons across different biopsy techniques (blastomere biopsy and trophectoderm biopsy). At the end of the study, no significant difference was observed between the blastomere biopsy group and the control group in terms of in vitro development, embryo quality, and fetal development, whereas embryo quality and in vivo development were negatively affected in the trophectoderm biopsy group (P< 0.05)

Comparison of the development of mouse embryos manipulated with different biopsy techniques

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis is the detection of inherited diseases and the sex of embryos before implantation in the practice of human medicine as well as in veterinary medicine. The introduction of experimental animal embryo biopsy techniques has been a milestone in the developmental process of preimplantation genetic diagnosis techniques. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vivo and in vitro development of embryos after biopsy in an experimental mouse model and to perform comparisons across different biopsy techniques (blastomere biopsy and trophectoderm biopsy). At the end of the study, no significant difference was observed between the blastomere biopsy group and the control group in terms of in vitro development, embryo quality, and fetal development, whereas embryo quality and in vivo development were negatively affected in the trophectoderm biopsy group (P < 0.05)

Musculoskeletal manifestations in children with Behçet's syndrome: data from the AIDA Network Behçet's Syndrome Registry

This study aims to&nbsp;describe musculoskeletal manifestations (MSM) in children with Behçet's syndrome (BS), their association with other disease manifestations, response to therapy, and long-term prognosis. Data were retrieved from the AIDA Network Behçet's Syndrome Registry. Out of a total of 141 patients with juvenile BS, 37 had MSM at disease onset (26.2%). The median age at onset was 10.0&nbsp;years (IQR 7.7). The median follow-up duration was 21.8&nbsp;years (IQR 23.3). Recurrent oral (100%) and genital ulcers (67.6%) and pseudofolliculitis (56.8%) were the most common symptoms associated with MSM. At disease onset, 31 subjects had arthritis (83.8%), 33 arthralgia (89.2%), and 14 myalgia (37.8%). Arthritis was monoarticular in 9/31 cases (29%), oligoarticular in 10 (32.3%), polyarticular in 5 (16.1%), axial in 7 (22.6%). Over time, arthritis became chronic-recurrent in 67.7% of cases and 7/31 patients had joint erosions (22.6%). The median Behçet's Syndrome Overall Damage Index was 0 (range 0-4). Colchicine was inefficacious for MSM in 4/14 cases (28.6%), independently from the type of MSM (p = 0.46) or the concomitant therapy (p = 0.30 for cDMARDs, p = 1.00 for glucocorticoids); cDMARDs and bDMARDs were inefficacious for MSM in 6/19 (31.4%) and 5/12 (41.7%) cases. The presence of myalgia was associated with bDMARDs inefficacy (p = 0.014). To conclude,&nbsp;MSM in children with BS are frequently associated with recurrent ulcers and pseudofolliculitis. Arthritis is mostly mono- or oligoarticular, but sacroiliitis is not unusual. Prognosis of this subset of BS is overall favorable, though the presence of myalgia negatively affects response to biologic therapies. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05200715 (registered on December 18, 2021)

A patient-driven registry on Behçet’s disease: the AIDA for patients pilot project

IntroductionThis paper describes the creation and preliminary results of a patient-driven registry for the collection of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and patient-reported experiences (PREs) in Behçet’s disease (BD).MethodsThe project was coordinated by the University of Siena and the Italian patient advocacy organization SIMBA (Associazione Italiana Sindrome e Malattia di Behçet), in the context of the AIDA (AutoInflammatory Diseases Alliance) Network programme. Quality of life, fatigue, socioeconomic impact of the disease and therapeutic adherence were selected as core domains to include in the registry.ResultsRespondents were reached via SIMBA communication channels in 167 cases (83.5%) and the AIDA Network affiliated clinical centers in 33 cases (16.5%). The median value of the Behçet’s Disease Quality of Life (BDQoL) score was 14 (IQR 11, range 0–30), indicating a medium quality of life, and the median Global Fatigue Index (GFI) was 38.7 (IQR 10.9, range 1–50), expressing a significant level of fatigue. The mean Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) necessity-concern differential was 0.9 ± 1.1 (range – 1.8–4), showing that the registry participants prioritized necessity belief over concerns to a limited extent. As for the socioeconomic impact of BD, in 104 out of 187 cases (55.6%), patients had to pay from their own pocket for medical exams required to reach the diagnosis. The low family socioeconomic status (p &lt; 0.001), the presence of any major organ involvement (p &lt; 0.031), the presence of gastro-intestinal (p &lt; 0.001), neurological (p = 0.012) and musculoskeletal (p = 0.022) symptoms, recurrent fever (p = 0.002), and headache (p &lt; 0.001) were associated to a higher number of accesses to the healthcare system. Multiple linear regression showed that the BDQoL score could significantly predict the global socioeconomic impact of BD (F = 14.519, OR 1.162 [CI 0.557–1.766], p &lt; 0.001).DiscussionPreliminary results from the AIDA for Patients BD registry were consistent with data available in the literature, confirming that PROs and PREs could be easily provided by the patient remotely to integrate physician-driven registries with complementary and reliable information

Exploring preservice mathematics teachers' perception of the mathematics teacher through communities of practice

This research aimed to analyse the induction experiences of preservice mathematics teachers during their school placements through the lens of communities of practice. The main research question was concerned with how preservice mathematics teachers perceive what constitutes the practice of a professional community of mathematics teachers. A qualitative cross-sectional study was designed. Data collection tools consisted of face-to-face interviews and journals written by participants. Data was analysed using three modes of belonging in communities of practice framework: engagement, imagination and alignment. Findings indicated that participants had valuable observations with regard to professional relationships among mathematics teachers such as openness to exchange of ideas and collaboration. Data also revealed how preservice teachers align themselves with norms and values of university and school cultures. In most cases, preservice teachers endorsed norms of teacher education programs; e.g., they were critical about the traditional methods and the way technology was used in the partnership school. Their beliefs about the importance of confidence, strong subject knowledge and formative assessment were reinforced as a result of their observations in the partnership school

Bilateral Paraneoplastic Vitritis: Report of a Case

This report describes the case of a patient who presented with bilateral vitritis that led to a diagnosis of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). A 70-year-old man was examined due to bilateral gradual visual deterioration. Symmetrical vitritis was observed in both eyes with no evidence of other fundus pathology. The opthalmological diagnosis was bilateral paraneoplastic vitritis. The patient was an active smoker and had a short history of weight loss. A systemic evaluation resulted in a diagnosis of SCLC. The appropriate cancer treatment was provided, as well as a short-term oral steroid. The vitritis responded well to steroid treatment. Ocular manifestations can be an early sign of malignancy, and ophthalmologists should be aware of this possibility

In Vitro and in Vivo Development of Embryo Following Biopsy with Different Techniques in Mouse Embryos

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