The relation marketing through the era of digitalisation:social media and endorsement strategy

Abstract. Relation marketing might be one of the most important components of the marketing mix. However, the digitalization of advertisements and customers changed the way of brand-customer interactions. This new trend obliges brands to adjust their strategy. To do so, companies hire influencers (which are closer to their target audience) to promote their products and services in the hope it will be beneficial. In our research paper, we propose to analyze and update previous theories about endorsement and draw the future of relation marketing as an opening. To do so, we compiled previous theories in our research paper and we set five hypotheses representing the five main theories about endorsement. Those theories have been checked by a sample consisting of hundred people from all generations in a survey we conducted. Thanks to this survey, we found out that two of the previous theories remain currently correct, we also found out that one was partially correct and we refuted two theories which seem to not remain correct. Our findings provide updated theories. This is especially important for people who are questioning what they should do about an endorser and what kind of strategy to set to get a good relation marketing through the endorser parameters

Association of polygenic score and the involvement of cholinergic and glutamatergic pathways with lithium treatment response in patients with bipolar disorder

Lithium is regarded as the first-line treatment for bipolar disorder (BD), a severe and disabling mental health disorder that affects about 1% of the population worldwide. Nevertheless, lithium is not consistently effective, with only 30% of patients showing a favorable response to treatment. To provide personalized treatment options for bipolar patients, it is essential to identify prediction biomarkers such as polygenic scores. In this study, we developed a polygenic score for lithium treatment response (Li+PGS) in patients with BD. To gain further insights into lithium’s possible molecular mechanism of action, we performed a genome-wide gene-based analysis. Using polygenic score modeling, via methods incorporating Bayesian regression and continuous shrinkage priors, Li+PGS was developed in the International Consortium of Lithium Genetics cohort (ConLi+Gen: N = 2367) and replicated in the combined PsyCourse (N = 89) and BipoLife (N = 102) studies. The associations of Li+PGS and lithium treatment response — defined in a continuous ALDA scale and a categorical outcome (good response vs. poor response) were tested using regression models, each adjusted for the covariates: age, sex, and the first four genetic principal components. Statistical significance was determined at P < 0.05. Li+PGS was positively associated with lithium treatment response in the ConLi+Gen cohort, in both the categorical (P = 9.8 × 10−12, R2 = 1.9%) and continuous (P = 6.4 × 10−9, R2 = 2.6%) outcomes. Compared to bipolar patients in the 1st decile of the risk distribution, individuals in the 10th decile had 3.47-fold (95%CI: 2.22–5.47) higher odds of responding favorably to lithium. The results were replicated in the independent cohorts for the categorical treatment outcome (P = 3.9 × 10−4, R2 = 0.9%), but not for the continuous outcome (P = 0.13). Gene-based analyses revealed 36 candidate genes that are enriched in biological pathways controlled by glutamate and acetylcholine. Li+PGS may be useful in the development of pharmacogenomic testing strategies by enabling a classification of bipolar patients according to their response to treatment

Qualification of a precision pattern dispenser

In order to automate sample preparation processes, a precision pattern dispenser was designed to reproducibly dispense radioactive solutions at pre-defined positions. It is composed of an automatic liquid sample handling unit coupled to an XYZ table. Qualification tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of the instrument and to assess the compliance with the requirements, in particular trueness (< 2%) and repeatability (< 1%). The instrument allows preparing sources in different source holders and on air filters, in a fast and accurate way.JRC.G.2-Standards for Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguard

Differential effects of the ApoE4 genotype on brain structure and function

Item does not contain fulltextThe apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele is a well established genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease. It is associated with structural and functional brain changes in healthy young, middle-aged and elderly subjects. In the current study, we assessed the impact of the ApoE genotype on brain macro- and microstructure, cognitive functioning and brain activity in fifty healthy young subjects (25 ApoE epsilon4 (epsilon4+) carriers and 25 non-carriers (epsilon4-), mean age 26.4+/-4.6years). We used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and voxel based morphometry (VBM) to assess brain structure, an extensive neuropsychological battery to test cognitive functioning and event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to capture brain activity during episodic memory encoding and retrieval. ApoE epsilon4 carriers differed from non-carriers in fMRI activations but not in cognitive performance nor in brain micro- and macrostructure. These results suggest functional alterations in the episodic memory network that are modulated by the epsilon4 allele and might precede clinical or structural neurodegeneration

Formation of Skin Sensitizers from Fragrance Terpenes via Oxidative Activation Routes. Chemical analysis, Structure Elucidation and Experimental Sensitization Studies

The work presented in this thesis emphasizes the importance of considering oxidative activation in the toxicity assessment of fragrance chemicals. Compounds without contact allergenic properties can be activated either via autoxidation in contact with air or via cutaneous metabolism to reactive products which can cause contact allergy. It is important to prevent sensitization as the immunological memory formed in the development of contact allergy persists throughout life. The investigation of compounds susceptible to oxidative activation, thereby forming sensitizing compounds is important in the work of prevention of contact allergy. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate mechanisms of activation via autoxidation and metabolism of single fragrance compounds and essential oils, and to study the impact of this activation on the contact allergenic activity. The oxidative activation via autoxidation and cutaneous metabolism of the fragrance compounds geraniol and geranial was studied. It was shown that both compounds were susceptible to autoxidation, forming oxidation products with increased sensitizing capacity compared to the original compound. The oxidation products of geraniol were formed by two separate pathways, corresponding to autoxidation of each of the two double bonds in geraniol, respectively. Hydroperoxides, which previously have been identified as the most important sensitizers in the oxidation mixtures of air-exposed fragrance compounds could not be detected in air-exposed geranial. Instead, a sensitizing epoxide was detected. Geraniol and geranial were also activated metabolically. Many of the metabolites identified were also present in the autoxidation mixtures. The autoxidation of lavender oil was studied in order to investigate if essential oils possess a natural protection against autoxidation. The results were compared to the results from the autoxidation studies of linalyl acetate and linalool, the main components of lavender oil. It was found that the autoxidation proceeded in the same way in both the pure samples and the lavender oil, and that sensitizing oxidation products were formed in both cases. The most important sensitizers formed were hydroperoxides of linalool and linalyl acetate. This thesis adds important information on routes of autoxidation as well as on the relationship between metabolic and air induced activation of non- or weakly sensitizing compounds to sensitizers. The results presented here indicate that other fragrance terpenes could be susceptible to oxidative activation via autoxidation or cutaneous metabolism. This should be considered in the risk assessment of fragrance chemicals