How effective are rewards programs in promoting payment card usage? Empirical evidence

Card issuers have mainly relied on rewards programs as their main strategic driver to increase electronic payments. However, there is scarce evidence on the effectiveness of rewards programs. This paper offers novel evidence on two key issues: i) it measures the impact of rewards programs on the use of payment cards; and ii) it quantifies their economic impact in terms of the cash substitution. The results show that rewards may significantly modify preferences for card payments, their economic impact vary significantly across types of rewards and merchant activities and rewards seem to be more effective on average for debit cardholders. JEL Classification: G20, D12, E41cardholders, merchants, payment cards, preferences, rewards

How effective are rewards programs in promoting payment card usage? Empirical evidence

Card issuers have mainly relied on rewards programs as their main strategic driver to increase electronic payments. However, there is scarce evidence on the effectiveness of rewards programs. This paper offers novel evidence on two key issues: i) it measures the impact of rewards programs on the use of payment cards; and ii) it quantifies their economic impact in terms of the cash substitution. The results show that rewards may significantly modify preferences for card payments, their economic impact vary significantly across types of rewards and merchant activities and rewards seem to be more effective on average for debit cardholders

Asset Management System through the design of a Jadex Agent System

In this paper we have designed an agent system using JADEX platform in order to facilitate the asset management of an institution with several types of assets with some unknown similarities, and a high number of operators. Such environment would justify the use of a recommendation system that would provide an useful plan to be applied over an asset generated from previous maintenance operations hold over other assets. Here we provide the full design of such agent system, including the ontology, beliefs, plans, protocols and goals. This design has been implemented within GAIA: an information & asset management solution developed by Altran

EFFECT OF ESTROGEN IN THE ELIMINATION OF SEXUAL ODOR IN BOARS

EFFECT OF ESTROGEN IN THE ELIMINATION OF SEXUAL ODOR IN BOAR

Electrocatalytic performance and stability of nanostructured Fe–Ni pyrite-type diphosphide catalyst supported on carbon paper

A simple and effective method to prepare an active and stable nanostructured working electrode for electrochemical water splitting is described. Specifically, mixed Fe–Ni diphosphide was prepared by sputtering a 200-nm-thick layer of Permalloy onto carbon paper gas diffusion layer followed by gas transport phosphorization reaction. The mass density of the resultant diphosphide phase was established to be 1.1 mg/cm2. Energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis shows that the actual elemental composition of the resultant ternary electrocatalyst is approximately Fe0.2Ni0.8P2, while the powder X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that the electrocatalyst crystallizes in NiP2 cubic pyrite-like structure. As a cathode for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic and alkaline electrolytes, this earth-abundant electrode has exchange current densities of 6.84103 and 3.16103 mA/cm2 and Tafel slopes of 55.3 and 72.2 mV/dec, respectively. As an anode for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline electrolyte, the electrode shows an exchange current density of 2.88104 mA/cm2 and Tafel slope of 49.3 mV/dec. The observed high activity of the electrode correlates well with its electronic structure, which was assessed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The stability of Fe0.2Ni0.8P2 electrocatalyst in HER and OER was evaluated by means of accelerated degradation test and chronopotentiometry. The results of these experiments elucidate partial dissolution and entire chemical transformation of Fe0.2Ni0.8P2 as the main mechanisms of the electrode degradation during HER and OER, respectively. Overall, our findings could facilitate the composition-based design of active, stable, and durable phosphide electrodes for electrochemical water splitting.We thank all members of the Nanomaterials Synthesis Unit at the INL for their fruitful scientific and technical input, as well as Dr. X. Wang for his help with the electrocatalytic data analysis. This investigation has benefited from the financial support provided by the European Union Horizon 2020 NMP programme through the CritCat project under grant agreement no. 686053, as well as ERDF funds through the Portuguese Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalization (COMPETE 2020), and National Funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), under the PrintPV project PTDC/CTM-ENE/5387/2014 (grant agreement no. 016663). J.D.C. thanks the FCT PhD grant SFRH/BD/79393/2011, while J.L.L. thanks Marie-Curie-ITN607904-SPINOGRAPH project for the PhD grant

Fertilización nitrogenada en olivo cv. Empeltre. II.- composición polifenólica de hojas y frutos y calidad del aceite

4 Pags.- 1 Tabl.- 3 Figs.El establecimiento de posibles relaciones entre el estado nutricional del olivo, la composición polifenólica de sus hojas y frutos y la calidad del aceite, sólo puede llevarse a cabo en experimentos de fertilización controlados, donde se estudie el efecto de un sólo elemento nutriente, manteniendo constantes todos los demás parámetros agronómicos. Este es el objetivo del presente trabajo. Realizar un estudio de este tipo, es tarea compleja, interdisciplinar, y exige un largo periodo de tiempo de observación y seguimiento. Nuestro equipo la ha abordado, aunque consciente de que no se puede llegar en corto plazo a resultados concluyentes. La reconocida calidad de los aceites de Aragón (GRACIA, 1991, 1996, 2001) y la peculiaridad de las principales variedades aquí implantadas, Empeltre y Arbequina, han motivado la puesta en marcha de dos experimentos de fertilización con árboles jóvenes (uno en cada variedad), que puedan contribuir a mejorar su conocimiento. En dos trabajos previos (MONGE et al., 2002 a y b) se da cuenta de los datos relativos a cada uno de los experimentos, así como de los primeros resultados del estudio de los suelos, del estado nutritivo de los árboles y del crecimiento de éstos. El presente trabajo sintetiza los primeros datos obtenidos en el ensayo de fertilización nitrogenada con la variedad Empeltre sobre el contenido de los polifenoles en hoja y fruto y sobre la calidad del aceite.Este trabajo ha sido subvencionado por el MAPA, Programa de Mejora de la Calidad de la Producción de Aceite de Oliva, proyecto CAO99-020-C2.Peer reviewe

Fertilización nitrogenada en olivo cv. Empeltre. I.- Contenido en nutrientes y crecimiento del árbol

4 Pags.- 2 Tabls.- 2 Figs.En este trabajo se estudia el efecto que produce el abonado nitrogenado sobre el contenido de nutrientes en hoja y la productividad en un olivar muy joven, aplicando tres dosis de nitrógeno durante tres campañas (1999-2001).Esta trabajo ha sido subvencionado por el MAPA dentro del Programa Mejora Producción Aceite, proyecto CAO99-020-C2 y por el Gobierno de Aragón con los Proyectos I+D con referencias P29/97 I.Peer reviewe

New Therapeutic Approaches for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a genetically heterogeneous haematopoietic neoplasm characterised by the accumulation of transformed immature blood progenitors in bone marrow. Since 1973, the backbone treatment has relied on the combination of cytarabine and an anthracycline, followed by allogeneic haematopoietic transplant if eligible. Therefore, the treatment decisions have largely revolved around chemotherapy drug intensity. Despite advances in our understanding of the underlying biology over the past decades, AML remains a therapeutic challenge as the overall survival is poor and treatment options are limited for relapsed/refractory AML or for unfit patients. After four decades without substantial changes, eight new noncytostatic drugs have been granted approval: vyxeos, enasidenib, gilteritinib, glasdegib, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, ivosidenib, midostaurin, and venetoclax. Despite promising preliminary results, some indications are based on early efficacy data, obtained in single-arm nonrandomised trials, highlighting the necessity for further validation in extended clinical trials. Interestingly, several druggable targets have been identified recently, associated with specific target-directed drugs. Based on the preclinical data available, great impact on clinical outcomes for patients with AML is expected, potentially increasing the therapeutic landscape for this disease

La acústica submarina y su desarrollo desde la creación del Instituto de Acústica

PACS: 43.30.Xm; 43.30.Yj; 43.30.Vh; 43.30.Nb; 43.30.Ma.-- Publicado en el Vol. XXXI, núm. 3-4, tercer y cuarto trimestre 2000 de la Revista de Acústica: Número especial dedicado al XXV Aniversario del Instituto de Acústica del C.S.I.C.[ES] La Acústica Submarina fue una de las líneas de la Acústica que se desarrollan en el Instituto desde los primeros tiempos. Este trabajo describe como se inició, cómo se desarrolló y el estado actual de este campo.[EN] Underwater Acoustics was one line of Acoustics first developped at the Instituto de Acústica. This paper presents a description of the activities in the underwater field, done since 1969, when the Underwater Tank was installed, up to the present times.Peer reviewe

Dual lysosomal-mitochondrial targeting by antihistamines to eradicate leukaemic cells

Altres ajuts: This work was funded by the Fundación Mutua Madrileña (RMR), CaixaImpulse the Josep Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation (RMR), l'Obra Social "La Caixa"-Fundació Bancària "La Caixa" (RMR), and CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya (IJC). RMR had full access to all the data in the study and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication. Funding sources provided economical support to the experimental work presented here.Background: Despite great efforts to identify druggable molecular targets for AML, there remains an unmet need for more effective therapies. Methods: An in silico screening was performed using Connectivity Maps to identify FDA-approved drugs that may revert an early leukaemic transformation gene signature. Hit compounds were validated in AML cell lines. Cytotoxic effects were assessed both in primary AML patient samples and healthy donor blood cells. Xenotransplantation assays were undertaken to determine the effect on engraftment of hit compounds. The mechanism of action responsible for the antileukaemic effect was studied focussing on lysosomes and mitochondria. Findings: We identified a group of antihistamines (termed ANHAs) with distinct physicochemical properties associated with their cationic-amphiphilic nature, that selectively killed leukaemic cells. ANHAs behaved as antileukaemic agents against primary AML samples ex vivo, sparing healthy cells. Moreover, ANHAs severely impaired the in vivo leukaemia regeneration capacity. ANHAs' cytotoxicity relied on simultaneous mitochondrial and lysosomal disruption and induction of autophagy and apoptosis. The pharmacological effect was exerted based on their physicochemical properties that permitted the passive targeting of both organelles, without the involvement of active molecular recognition. Interpretation: Dual targeting of lysosomes and mitochondria constitutes a new promising therapeutic approach for leukaemia treatment, supporting the further clinical development. Fund: This work was funded by the Fundación Mutua Madrileña (RMR), CaixaImpulse (RMR), the Spanish Ministry of Economy (RMR), the Josep Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation (RMR), l'Obra Social "La Caixa" (RMR), and Generalitat de Catalunya (IJC)