The value of a user-design strategy : the role of giving background information about the user-community and consumer characteristics

A growing number of companies are starting to empower their user community in order to develop new products which can be afterwards labeled as user-design to the whole market. Social Identity theory explains why observing consumers prefer to buy products from firms using those type of strategies. This experimental study aims to understand the influence of communicating that a firm relies on a community of users for developing new products. Moreover this study looks at a) the impact of giving background information about the usercommunity b) what type of consumers, depending on their type of chronically self-construal, this strategy is most suited to. Firstly results show that user-design strategy is preferred to the professional-design one, regardless how the community is described. Observing consumers report higher levels of identification with firms employing a user-design strategy which latter is translated in preference for user-design products. Secondly, results indicate that when the user-community is perceived as similar by the observing consumer, feelings of identification towards the firm increase. This effect mediates product choice. Lastly, results indicate that chronically interdependent self-construal individuals are more enthusiastic about user-design effect and show higher levels of product preference for firms using a user-design approach when compared with independent individuals. These findings provides insights that not all consumers have the same preference for a user-design strategy which is relevant for managers wanting to involve user communities in new product development.Um número crescente de empresas começa agora a dar importância as suas comunidades de consumidores para desenvolver novos produtos, que posteriormente podem ser comunicados ao mercado como “criados por um consumidor”. A teoria da identidade social explica o porquê dos restantes consumidores preferirem comprar produtos de empresas que utilizam este tipo de estratégia. Este estudo tem como objetivo perceber qual é a influência de comunicar que uma empresa utiliza a sua comunidade de consumidores aquando do desenvolvimento de um novo produto. Adicionalmente este estudo investiga a) o impacto de dar informação sobre a comunidade de consumidores b) em que tipo de consumidores, dependendo da sua escala crónica de auto-interpretação, é que esta estratégia é mais indicada. Primeiro os resultados mostram que o produto criado por utilizadores é preferido ao criado pelos profissionais, independentemente da descrição da comunidade que é feita. Os consumidores sentem níveis de identificação crescentes por empresas que usam esta estratégia o que posteriormente é traduzido na escolha do produto. Em segundo lugar, os resultados indicam que quando a comunidade é semelhante aos consumidores, sentimentos de identificação aumentam o que no fim acaba por mediar a escolha do produto. Finalmente, os resultados mostram que os indivíduos mais interdependentes mostram maior preferência por produtos destas empresas que indivíduos independentes. Isto mostra que nem todos os consumidores têm a mesma preferência por este tipo de estratégia o que é relevante para os gestores que tencionam envolver as suas comunidades de consumidores no desenvolvimento de novos produtos

The laboratory as a tool to qualify tuberculosis diagnostic

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis, clinical samples underwent culture, species identification and drug susceptibility testing (DST). METHODS: A total of 554 samples from 269 patients were tested for smear microscopy using Kinyoun stain. Culture was performed in Ogawa-Kudoh medium and species identification was performed using the IS6110 amplified region. DST for rifampicin, isoniazid (INH) and streptomycin were carried out using the Resazurin assay. RESULTS: Cultures augmented the number of cases diagnosed by 22.1%, IS6110 amplification identified all Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains thus isolated and DST detected three strains resistant to INH and one multidrug-resistant strain. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous use of different techniques enhanced culture yield, species identification and detection of drug resistance even in a laboratory with limited facilities.OBJECTIFS : Pour évaluer les performances du diagnostic de laboratoire de la tuberculose, des échantillons cliniques ont été soumis à la culture, à l’identification de l’espèce et aux tests de sensibilité (DST). MÉTHODES : 554 échantillons provenant de 269 patients ont été testés par examen microscopique des frottis après coloration de Kinyoun. Les cultures ont été faites sur milieu d’Ogawa-Kudoh et l’identification des espèces a utilisé la région amplifiée IS6110. Les tests de sensibilité à la rifampicine, l’isoniazide (INH) et la streptomycine ont été menés par la technique de Resazurine. RÉSULTATS : Les cultures ont augmenté le nombre de cas diagnostiqués de 22,1%, alors que l’amplification d’IS6110 a identifié chaque souche isolée de Mycobacterium tuberculosis et que les DST ont détecté trois souches résistantes à INH et une souche multirésistante. CONCLUSION : L’utilisation simultanée de différentes techniques a augmenté le rendement des cultures, l’identification des espèces et la détection de la résistance aux médicaments, même dans un laboratoire ayant des ressources limitées.OBJETIVOS : Con el propósito de evaluar la eficacia del diagnóstico de laboratorio de la tuberculosis, se sometió una serie de muestras clínicas a cultivo, identificación de especie y pruebas de sensibilidad a los medicamentos. MÉTODOS : Se analizaron 554 muestras provenientes de 269 pacientes mediante examen microscópico del esputo con coloración de Kinyoun, cultivos en medio OgawaKudoh e identificación de especies por amplificación de la región IS6110. Las pruebas de sensibilidad a rifampicina, isoniazida (INH) y estreptomicina se realizaron con el ensayo de azul de Alamar (Resazurin). RESULTADOS : Los cultivos aumentaron un 22,1% el número de casos diagnosticados y con la amplificación de la región IS6110 se identificaron todas las cepas de Mycobacterium tuberculosis así aisladas ; mediante las pruebas de sensibilidad se detectaron tres cepas resistentes a INH y una cepa multidrogorresistente. CONCLUSIÓN : La aplicación simultánea de diferentes técnicas aumentó la eficacia de los cultivos, la identificación de especies y las pruebas de farmacorresistencia, aún en un laboratorio con medios limitados

The laboratory as a tool to qualify tuberculosis diagnosis

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis, clinical samples underwent culture, species identification and drug susceptibility testing (DST). METHODS: A total of 554 samples from 269 patients were tested for smear microscopy using Kinyoun stain. Culture was performed in Ogawa-Kudoh medium and species identification was performed using the IS6110 amplified region. DST for rifampicin, isoniazid (INH) and streptomycin were carried out using the Resazurin assay. RESULTS: Cultures augmented the number of cases diagnosed by 22.1%, IS6110 amplification identified all Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains thus isolated and DST detected three strains resistant to INH and one multidrug-resistant strain. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous use of different techniques enhanced culture yield, species identification and detection of drug resistance even in a laboratory with limited facilities.OBJECTIFS : Pour évaluer les performances du diagnostic de laboratoire de la tuberculose, des échantillons cliniques ont été soumis à la culture, à l’identification de l’espèce et aux tests de sensibilité (DST). MÉTHODES : 554 échantillons provenant de 269 patients ont été testés par examen microscopique des frottis après coloration de Kinyoun. Les cultures ont été faites sur milieu d’Ogawa-Kudoh et l’identification des espèces a utilisé la région amplifiée IS6110. Les tests de sensibilité à la rifampicine, l’isoniazide (INH) et la streptomycine ont été menés par la technique de Resazurine. RÉSULTATS : Les cultures ont augmenté le nombre de cas diagnostiqués de 22,1%, alors que l’amplification d’IS6110 a identifié chaque souche isolée de Mycobacterium tuberculosis et que les DST ont détecté trois souches résistantes à INH et une souche multirésistante. CONCLUSION : L’utilisation simultanée de différentes techniques a augmenté le rendement des cultures, l’identification des espèces et la détection de la résistance aux médicaments, même dans un laboratoire ayant des ressources limitées.OBJETIVOS : Con el propósito de evaluar la eficacia del diagnóstico de laboratorio de la tuberculosis, se sometió una serie de muestras clínicas a cultivo, identificación de especie y pruebas de sensibilidad a los medicamentos. MÉTODOS : Se analizaron 554 muestras provenientes de 269 pacientes mediante examen microscópico del esputo con coloración de Kinyoun, cultivos en medio OgawaKudoh e identificación de especies por amplificación de la región IS6110. Las pruebas de sensibilidad a rifampicina, isoniazida (INH) y estreptomicina se realizaron con el ensayo de azul de Alamar (Resazurin). RESULTADOS : Los cultivos aumentaron un 22,1% el número de casos diagnosticados y con la amplificación de la región IS6110 se identificaron todas las cepas de Mycobacterium tuberculosis así aisladas ; mediante las pruebas de sensibilidad se detectaron tres cepas resistentes a INH y una cepa multidrogorresistente. CONCLUSIÓN : La aplicación simultánea de diferentes técnicas aumentó la eficacia de los cultivos, la identificación de especies y las pruebas de farmacorresistencia, aún en un laboratorio con medios limitados

Syndecan-4 is a maestro of gastric cancer cell invasion and communication that underscores poor survival

Gastric cancer is a dominating cause of cancer-associated mortality with limited therapeutic options. Here, we show that syndecan-4 (SDC4), a transmembrane pro-teoglycan, is highly expressed in intestinal subtype gastric tumors and that this sig -nature associates with patient poor survival. Further, we mechanistically demonstrate that SDC4 is a master regulator of gastric cancer cell motility and invasion. We also find that SDC4 decorated with heparan sulfate is efficiently sorted in extracellular vesicles (EVs). Interestingly, SDC4 in EVs regulates gastric cancer cell-derived EV organ distribution, uptake, and functional effects in recipient cells. Specifically, we show that SDC4 knockout disrupts the tropism of EVs for the common gastric cancer metastatic sites. Our findings set the basis for the molecular implications of SDC4 expression in gastric cancer cells and provide broader perspectives on the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the glycan-EV axis to limit tumor progression

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Núcleos de Ensino da Unesp: artigos 2008

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq