Leveraging online selling through social media influencers

Shuqair, S., Filieri, R., Viglia, G., Mattila, A. S., & Pinto, D. C. (2024). Leveraging online selling through social media influencers. Journal of Business Research, 171(January), 1-10. [114391]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114391While prior research suggests that facial expression influences consumer behavior, it remains unclear under which conditions specific emotional expressions on social media drive sales performance and customer engagement. Drawing on the facial feedback hypothesis and the emotional congruence framework, two pre-registered experimental studies (N = 995) demonstrate that the fit between facial expressions (broad vs. slight smile) and endorsement type (hedonic vs. utilitarian) influence engagement and consumers’ purchase intents. Findings indicate that broad (vs. slight) smiles are more likely to enhance consumer responses when paired with hedonic endorsements driven by emotional contagion. Conversely, slight smiles are equally suited for both types of endorsements and do not foster emotional contagion. The findings offer actionable insights for maximizing consumer engagement and purchase intents within social media marketing efforts.publishersversionepub_ahead_of_prin

Rose bengal uptake by E. faecalis and F. nucleatum and light-mediated antibacterial activity measured by flow cytometry

Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) using rose bengal (RB) and blue-light kills bacteria through the production of reactive oxygen derivates. However, the interaction mechanism of RB with bacterial cells remains unclear. This study investigated the uptake efficiency and the antibacterial activity of blue light-activated RB against Enterococcus faecalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Spectrophotometry and epifluorescence microscopy were used to evaluate binding of RB to bacteria. The antibacterial activity of RB after various irradiation times was assessed by flow cytometry in combination with cell sorting. Uptake of RB increased in a concentration dependent manner in both strains although E. faecalis displayed higher uptake values. RB appeared to bind specific sites located at the cellular poles of E. faecalis and at regular intervals along F. nucleatum. Blue-light irradiation of samples incubated with RB significantly reduced bacterial viability. After incubation with 10μM RB and 240s irradiation, only 0.01% (±0.01%) of E. faecalis cells and 0.03% (±0.03%) of F. nucleatum survived after treatment. This study indicated that RB can bind to E. faecalis and F. nucleatum in a sufficient amount to elicit effective aPDT. Epifluorescence microscopy showed a yet-unreported property of RB binding to bacterial membranes. Flow cytometry allowed the detection of bacteria with damaged membranes that were unable to form colonies on agars after cell sorting

TiNOx coatings increase human primary osteoblasts proliferation independently of the substrate: a short report

Introduction: When applied onto SLA titanium, Titanium Nitride Oxide (TiNOx) coatings are known for their stimulating effect on osteoblast proliferation while maintaining a high degree of differentiation. Objective: To determine whether the stimulating effect of TiNOx coatings is or is not dependent of the metal substrate.Methods: A TiNOx coating was deposited on roughened stainless steel (SS-SLA-TiNOx). The proliferation and differentiation of human primary osteoblasts were determined and compared to that observed on standard SLA titanium. To this end, cell proliferation and gene expression were monitored for a time course of 3 weeks, with or without additional stimulation by 100 nM 1.25(OH)2 vitamin D3. Results: A 1.5 fold increase in the proliferation rate of cells grown on SS-SLA-TiNOx as compared to Ti-SLA surfaces was observed. A high level of differentiation was also noted. Conclusion: TiNOx coatings yield similar proliferation and differentiation rates when applied onto roughened Ti and SS. This might translate into a more effective osseointegration of endosseous implants made of stronger metals than Ti

Flow cytometric assessment of Streptococcus mutans viability after exposure to blue light-activated curcumin

Streptococcus mutans biofilms are considered as primary causative agents of dental caries. Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) has been recently proposed as a strategy for inactivating dental biofilms. This study aimed to investigate the effect of blue light-activated curcumin on S. mutans viability and to explore its potential as a new anti-caries therapeutic agent. The effect of different concentrations and incubation times of photo-activated curcumin on the survival of S. mutans in planktonic and biofilm models of growth was assessed by flow cytometr

Repeated exposures to blue light-activated eosin Y enhance inactivation of E. faecalis biofilms, in vitro

In dentistry, antibacterial photodynamic therapy (a-PDT) has shown promising results for inactivating bacterial biofilms causing carious, endodontic and periodontal diseases. In the current study, we assessed the ability of eosin Y exposed to 3 irradiation protocols at inactivating Enterococcus faecalis biofilms, in vitro

TiNOx coatings on roughened titanium and CoCr alloy accelerate early osseointegration of dental implants in minipigs

Titanium nitride oxide (TiNOx) coatings are known for their biocompatibility, hardness and high resistance to corrosion and wear. Further, they can be applied by plasma vapor deposition onto a wide variety of metallic, mineral, or organic substrates. In cell cultures, TiNOx coatings applied onto SLA (sandblasted, large grit, acid etched)-roughened titanium surfaces increased human primary osteoblast proliferation by 1.5 times in the first 2 weeks after seeding, while maintaining a high degree of cell differentiation. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were (i) to determine whether these findings would translate into the enhanced osseointegration of TiNOx-coated implants in vivo and (ii) to compare the osseointegration of Ti-SLA (titanium-SLA) and CoCr-SLA (cobalt-chromium-SLA) implants coated with TiNOx

Antimicrobial Activity and Cytotoxicity of 3 Photosensitizers Activated with Blue Light

Pulp repair is less likely to occur when dentin or pulpal tissue remains infected after caries excavation. Yet there are currently few options to kill residual bacteria without damaging resident cells. The current study has evaluated the effect of 3 blue light-activated chemicals on the viability of lactobacilli, odontoblast-like cells (MDPC-23), undifferentiated pulp cells (OD21), and human embryonic stem cells (hESC H1)

Genetic counselling and testing of susceptibility genes for therapeutic decision-making in breast cancer-an European consensus statement and expert recommendations

An international panel of experts representing 17 European countries and Israel convened to discuss current needs and future developments in BRCA testing and counselling and to issue consensus recommendations. The experts agreed that, with the increasing availability of high-throughput testing platforms and the registration of poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase inhibitors, the need for genetic counselling and testing will rapidly increase in the near future. Consequently, the already existing shortage of genetic counsellors is expected to worsen and to compromise the quality of care particularly in individuals and families with suspected or proven hereditary breast or ovarian cancer. Increasing educational efforts within the breast cancer caregiver community may alleviate this limitation by enabling all involved specialities to perform genetic counselling. In the therapeutic setting, for patients with a clinical suspicion of genetic susceptibility and if the results may have an immediate impact on the therapeutic strategy, the majority voted that BRCA1/2 testing should be performed after histological diagnosis of breast cancer, regardless of oestrogen receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status. Experts also agreed that, in the predictive and therapeutic setting, genetic testing should be limited to individuals with a personal or family history suggestive of a BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant and should also include high-risk actionable genes beyond BRCA1/2. Of high-risk actionable genes, all pathological variants (i.e. class IV and V) should be reported; class III variants of unknown significance, should be reported provided that the current lack of clinical utility of the variant is expressly stated. Genetic counselling should always address the possibility that already tested individuals might be re-contacted in case new information on a particular variant results in a re-classification.status: publishe