Tell me which perfume you wear, I'll tell you how old you are: Modeling the Impact of Consumer age on Product choice

Perfumes introduced decades ago continue to compete against recently introduced perfumes. In this high involvement category, using a large survey and a conditional logit model, the authors show that the probability of choosing a long-established perfume, rather than a recently introduced one, increases enormously with consumer age. Furthermore, by comparing three possible underlying mechanisms, they demonstrate that an attachment model based on a consumer’s exposure to a perfume (preferences depend linearly on the length of time the consumer has known the perfume and can be developed at any age) fits better than an innovativeness model (younger people prefer recently introduced perfumes) or a nostalgia model (preferences are developed only during an early “sensitive period” of life). The authors draw managerial and research implications from their findings.Consumer choice; elderly; older consumer; age; perfume; nostalgia; innovativeness; attachment; conditional logit

Age-induced decision shrinkage, another avenue to repeat purchase: the example of new automobiles

The literature from psychology and gerontology suggests that older persons have reduced cognitive abilities, and an increased risk aversion. On this basis, we predict that their decision process will be shrunk, in three manners: a smaller consideration set, a focus on the previous brand (leading to repeat purchases), a privileged status given to other ancient brands. In a survey approach, we test these predictions on a large sample of recent buyers of new automobiles. The results confirm the prediction: A shrinkage of the decision process appears after sixty, and is markedly stronger after seventy-five, two limits suggested by the literature.age; consumer behavior; purchase process; brand loyalty; cautiousness

Analyse multivariable de la performance des PME familiales. Une lecture par la théorie positive de l’agence

Les PME familiales sont analysées sous l’angle de la théorie positive de l’agence. L’originalité de cette contribution est de combiner les fonctions de propriété et de management, en appliquant d’une part pour la première fois sur un échantillon d’entreprises européennes les approches internationales récentes distinguant dirigeant familial et dirigeant extérieur dans les entreprises familiales [Burkart et ali 2003], et en testant d’autre part l’intensité du contrôle familial selon le modèle proposé par Neubauer et Lank [1998]. Les résultats empiriques suggèrent que les entreprises familiales qui séparent les fonctions de propriété et de management sont les plus performantes.Familial SMEs are studied in the framework of the Positive Agency Theory. The originality of this contribution comes from the distinction between two main characteristics within the governance of familial SMEs namely, ownership and management. An empirical test was carried out for the first time on a European sample of enterprises distinguishing between familial and non familial managers in familial structures [Burgart and ali 2003], and testing the intensity of familial control procedures according to Neubauer and Lank [1998]. Our results suggest that financial performance increases when enterprises clearly separate functions of ownership and management.Se analizan a las PYMES familiares desde el punto de vista de la teoría positiva de la agencia. La originalidad de ésta contribución reside en la de combinar las funciones de propiedad con las de dirección de empresas, reside también por una parte y por primera vez en aplicar los enfoques internacionales recientes a una muestra de empresas europeas distinguiendo el dirigente familiar del dirigente exterior de las empresas familiares (Burkart et ali 2003) y comprobando por otra parte la intensidad del contról familiar según el modelo propuesto por Neubauer y Lank (1998). Los resultados empíricos sugieren que las empresas familiares que llevan separando las funciones de propiedad y de gestión de empresas son las más eficientes

In vitro 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose uptake: practical considerations

In oncology 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose ([F-18]-FDG), a glucose analogue, is the most used positron emission tomography (PET) tracer. There are however some limitations due to low metabolic activity or high surrounding physiological uptake in several tumors or regions. Investigating new tracers or methods is expensive and elaborative when animal experiments or phase I clinical trials are used. In vitro experiments can overcome these limitations. We analyzed the influence of incubation time, cell medium conditions, administered activity, and cell density on [F-18]-FDG uptake in six different cell cultures. Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1)- and hexokinase 2 (HK2)-expression at high and low cell density was analyzed using immunocytochemistry. FDG-uptake increases over time and absence of glucose in the incubation medium increases uptake. By increasing the administered activity, uptake per protein also increases and tracer uptake per protein is lower at higher cell densities. Immunocytochemical analysis reveals a lower expression of both GLUT1 and HK2 at higher cell concentrations. All investigated parameters influenced FDG uptake and therefore we can conclude it is of utmost importance to keep administered activity, incubation medium, and time constant and to correct uptake when cell density changes due to environmental conditions, such as therapy

Spécificités cognitives des conseils d’administration et performance des entreprises : Etude empirique sur les entreprises du CAC 40.

L’approche contractuelle de la gouvernance a largement été le support des études menées sur le conseil d’administration (CA). Les résultats de ces recherches sont en général contradictoires et peu concluants. Malgré son apport pour expliquer les limites de l’approche dominante, peu d’études ont été réalisées pour analyser l’efficacité du CA par l’approche cognitive. L’objectif de notre étude est d’analyser l’impact des spécificités cognitives des CA des grandes entreprises françaises sur la performance. Les tests* menés sur un échantillon de vingt entreprises du CAC 40 montrent que les entreprises caractérisées par la diversité des spécificités de leurs conseils sont les plus performantes..Approche cognitive de la gouvernance, Conseil d’administration, Performance, Diversité cognitive.

Scaling properties of work fluctuations after quenches at quantum transitions

We study the scaling properties of the statistics of the work done on a generic many-body system at a quantum phase transition of any order and type, arising from quenches of a driving control parameter. For this purpose we exploit a dynamic finite-size scaling framework. Namely, we put forward the existence of a nontrivial finite-size scaling limit for the work distribution, defined as the large-size limit when appropriate scaling variables are kept fixed. The corresponding scaling behaviors are thoroughly verified by means of analytical and numerical calculations in two paradigmatic many-body systems as the quantum Ising model and the Bose-Hubbard model.Comment: 30 pages, 6 figures. Revised versio

Transcriptional regulation of apolipoprotein A-I expression in Hep G2 cells by phorbol ester

AbstractThe regulation of apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) gene expression by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) was investigated in the human hepatoma cell line Hep G2. TPA treatment decreased apo A-I mRNA levels in a time-dependent manner, by up to 50% versus control cells within 24 h. Nuclear run-on transcription assays demonstrated a transcriptional effect of TPA. Using transfection analysis with a plasmid construct containing the −1378/+11 apo A-I promoter fused to the secreted placental alkaline phosphatase (SPAP) reporter gene, we showed that the SPAP activity was decreased to 50% when Hep G2 cells were incubated in the presence of TPA. The inhibitory effect of TPA was still maintained when fragment −253 to −4 of apo A-I promoter was linked to the CAT reporter gene. These data indicate that transcriptional modulation of apolipoprotein A-I gene expression following phorbol ester treatment is transduced by gene elements located between −253 and −4 of the apo A-I promoter

Adiposity Blunts the Positive Relationship of Thyrotropin with Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin-Kexin Type 9 Levels in Euthyroid Subjects

BACKGROUND: Effects of thyroid function status on lipoprotein metabolism may extend into the euthyroid range. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism is governed by proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9), which down-regulates LDL receptor expression, resulting in higher LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). Here, we tested whether plasma PCSK9 correlates with thyroid function in nonobese and obese euthyroid subjects. METHODS: We assessed the extent to which plasma PCSK9 is determined by thyrotropin (TSH) in 74 euthyroid subjects (31 women; TSH between 0.5 and 4.0 mU/L and free thyroxine [FT4] between 11.0 and 19.5 pM) with varying degrees of obesity (body mass index [BMI] ranging from 20.2 to 40.4 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: TSH, FT4, PCSK9, non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), LDL-C, and apolipoprotein B (apoB) levels were not different between 64 nonobese subjects (BMI<30 kg/m(2)) and 10 obese subjects (BMI≥30 kg/m(2); p>0.20 for each). PCSK9 correlated positively with TSH in nonobese subjects (r=0.285, p=0.023). In contrast, PCSK9 was not associated positively with TSH in obese subjects (r=−0.249, p=0.49). The relationship of PCSK9 with TSH was different between nonobese and obese subjects when taking age, sex, FT4, and the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies into account (multiple linear regression analysis: β=−0.320, p=0.012 for the interaction term between the presence of obesity and TSH on PCSK9), and was also modified by BMI as a continuous trait (β=−0.241, p=0.062 for the interaction term between BMI and TSH on PCSK9). Non-HDL-C, LDL-C, and apoB levels were dependent on PCSK9 in nonobese subjects (p≤0.01 for each), but not in obese subjects (p>0.50), Accordingly, BMI interacted negatively with PCSK9 on non-HDL-C (p=0.028) and apoB (p=0.071). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that circulating PCSK9 levels correlate with thyroid function even in the normal range. This relationship appears to be blunted by obesity. Thyroid functional status may influence cholesterol metabolism through the PCSK9 pathway

Greffe éptithélio-conjonctive ou greffe de tissu conjonctif enfoui ?

editorial reviewedLes récessions gingivales, fréquentes au niveau des incisives inférieures, affectent près de 50 % de la population. Leur prise en charge chirurgicale peut être envisagée en utilisant différentes techniques, la greffe épithélio-conjonctive et la greffe de tissu conjonctif enfoui étant les mieux décrites. La première permet, entre autres, un gain considérable de gencive kératinisée ainsi que l’approfondissement du vestibule. En revanche, elle est peu prédictible en termes de recouvrement. La greffe de tissu conjonctif enfoui avec déplacement coronaire est quant à elle plus prédictible en termes de recouvrement et plus esthétique. Cependant, elle ne permet que peu de gain de gencive kératinisée et demande une plus grande expérience clinique. Cet article décrit les procédures chirurgicales de ces deux techniques, en exposant leurs avantages et inconvénients afin de guider les praticiens vers la technique qui conviendra le mieux à la situation et à la demande de leur patient