The Effectiveness of Cause-Related Marketing:A Meta-Analysis on Consumer Responses

Cause-related marketing (CM), which links corporate donations to consumer purchases, has ongoing momentum in marketing. As the magnitude and direction of consumers’ response to CM are inconclusive, this meta-analysis synthesizes evidence on main and moderator effects from 237 studies. On average, the authors find a moderate effect for attitudinal response (d =.458) and a weak effect for behavioral response (d =.283; both ps &lt;.001), both with high underlying heterogeneity. A multivariate meta-regression on CM moderators grounded along four conceptual pillars—transparency, signals of sincerity, purchase context, and consumers’ emotional attachment to CM—shows that attitudinal effects hinge mostly on emotional attachment. Suboptimal execution and poor communication of the donation appeal in particular can even have detrimental effects on attitudes. In addition, various moderators from other pillars play a relevant role. For behavioral outcomes, both emotional attachment and signals of sincerity are equally important. The visual prominence of the donation is the most relevant individual moderator, with only a few others related to the two pillars following at some distance. Therefore, CM requires different priorities depending on corporate objectives. This research further compares the effects of CM with those of discounts and other corporate social responsibility marketing instruments, simulates practical examples, and provides avenues for further research.</p

Bamboo-like Chained Cavities and Other Halogen-Bonded Complexes from Tetrahaloethynyl Cavitands with Simple Ditopic Halogen Bond Acceptors

Halogen bonding provides a useful complement to hydrogen bonding and metal-coordination as a tool for organizing supramolecular systems. Resorcinarenes, tetrameric bowl-shaped cavitands, have been previously shown to function as efficient scaffolds for generating dimeric capsules in both solution and solid-phase, and complicated one-, two-, and three-dimensional frameworks in the solid phase. Tetrahaloethynyl resorcinarenes (bromide and iodide) position the halogen atoms in a very promising crown-like orientation for acting as organizing halogen-bond donors to help build capsules and higher-order networks. Symmetric divalent halogen bond acceptors including bipyridines, 1,4-dioxane, and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane are very promising halogen bond accepting partners for creating these systems. This report describes the complex structures arising from combining these various systems including self-included dimers, herringbone-packed architectures enclosing medium (186 Å3) cavities, and a very intriguing bamboo-like one-dimensional rod with large (683 Å3) cavities between adjacent dimeric units. These various structures, all organized through host-host, host-acceptor, and host-solvent interactions highlight the emergent complexity of these types of complexes. As halogen bonds are weaker than hydrogen-bonds, the resulting architectures are harder to predict, and these results provide additional insight into the parameters requiring consideration when designing crystalline supramolecular systems using halogen-bonds as the core organizing principle

Halogen-bonded solvates of tetrahaloethynyl cavitands

The formation and structures of halogen-bonded solvates of three different tetrahaloethynyl cavitands with acetone, chloroform, acetonitrile, DMF and DMSO were prepared and investigated. The inclusion and host-guest behaviour of the resorcinarene cavitands was found to be highly dependent on the flexibility of the ethylene-bridging unit

Host-guest complexes of C-propyl-2-bromoresorcinarene with aromatic N-oxides\u3csup\u3e*\u3c/sup\u3e

The host-guest complexes of C-propyl-2-bromoresorcinarene with pyridine N-oxide, 3-methylpyridine N-oxide, quinoline N-oxide and isoquinoline N-oxide are studied using single crystal X-ray crystallography and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The C-propyl-2-bromoresorcinarene forms endo-complexes with the aromatic N-oxides in the solid-state when crystallised from either methanol or acetone. In solution, the endo-complexes were observed only in methanol-d4. In DMSO the solvent itself is a good guest, and crystallisation provides only solvate endo-complexes. The C-propyl-2-bromoresorcinarene shows remarkable flexibility when crystallised from either methanol or acetone, and packs into one-dimensional self-included chains. Of special note, crystallising C-propyl-2-bromoresorcinarene with 3-methylpyridine N-oxide from acetone results in a 2:2 dimeric capsular assembly organised through both C−H···πhost and N−O···(H−O)host interactions

Aberrant levels of hematopoietic/neuronal growth and differentiation factors in euthyroid women at risk for autoimmune thyroid disease

Background Subjects at risk for major mood disorders have a higher risk to develop autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) and vice-versa, implying a shared pathogenesis. In mood disorder patients, an abnormal profile of hematopoietic/neuronal growth factors is observed, suggesting that growth/differentiation abnormalities of these cell lineages may predispose to mood disorders. The first objective of our study was to investigate whether an aberrant profile of these hematopoietic/neuronal growth factors is also detectable in subjects at risk for AITD. A second objective was to study the inter relationship of these factors with previously determined and published growth factors/cytokines in the same subjects. Methods We studied 64 TPO-Ab-negative females with at least 1 first-or second-degree relative with AITD, 32 of whom did and 32 who did not seroconvert to TPO-Ab positivity in 5-year follow-up. Subjects were compared with 32 healthy controls (HCs). We measured serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Stem Cell Factor (SCF), Insulin-like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 2 (IGFBP-2), Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and IL-7 at baseline. Results BDNF was significantly lower (8.2 vs 18.9 ng/ml, P<0.001), while EGF (506.9 vs 307.6 pg/ml, P = 0.003) and IGFBP-2 (388.3 vs 188.5 ng/ml, P = 0.028) were significantly higher in relatives than in HCs. Relatives who seroconverted in the next 5 years had significantly higher levels of SCF than non-seroconverters (26.5 vs 16.7 pg/ml, P = 0.017). In a cluster analysis with the previously published growth factors/cytokines SCF clustered together with IL-1β, IL-6 and CCL-3, of which high levels also prec

High-affinity and selective detection of pyrophosphate in water by a resorcinarene salt receptor

Pyrophosphate (PPi) is a byproduct of DNA and RNA synthesis, and abnormal levels are indicative of disease. We report the high-affinity binding of PPi in water by N-alkyl ammonium resorcinarene chloride receptors. Experimental analysis using 1H and 31P NMR, isothermal titration calorimetry, mass spectrometry, and UV-vis spectroscopy all support exceptional selectivity of these systems for PPi in water. The measured affinity of K1 = 1.60 × 107 M-1 for PPi is three orders of magnitude larger than that observed for binding to another phosphate, ATP. This exceptional anion-binding affinity in water is explored through a detailed density functional theory computational study. These systems provide a promising avenue for the development of future innovative medical diagnostic tools

High plasma arginine concentrations in critically ill patients suffering from hepatic failure

Objective: In physiological conditions, the liver plays an important role in the regulation of plasma arginine concentrations by taking up large amounts of arginine from the hepatic circulation. When hepatic failure is present, arginine metabolism may be disturbed. Therefore, we hypothesized high arginine plasma concentrations in critically ill patients suffering from hepatic failure. Design: We prospectively collected blood samples from a cross-section of intensive care unit patients. Setting: Surgical intensive care unit of a Dutch university medical center. Subjects: A total of 52 critically ill patients with clinical evidence of dysfunction of more than two organs were recruited. Measurements: Plasma arginine concentrations were determined by HPLC. We identified correlations of arginine concentrations with organ failure scores and laboratory variables by univariate and multiple regression analyses. Results: High plasma arginine concentrations were found in critically ill patients developing organ failure. Patients who were in the highest quartile of plasma arginine concentrations had significantly lower fibrinogen concentrations, higher lactic acid concentrations, and longer prothrombin time. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that concentrations of arginine were independently associated with the presence of hepatic failure (P = 0.03) and renal failure (P = 0.048). In addition, lactic acid proved to be an independent determinant of plasma arginine concentration (P = 0.014). Conclusions: Critically ill patients who suffer from hepatic failure have elevated plasma arginine concentrations. Additional arginine in the treatment of these patients can be harmful, and therefore should not be used as a standard nutritional regimen until further evaluation

Differentiation of COVID-19 Pneumonitis and ICI Induced Pneumonitis

mmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have become the standard of care treatment for several tumor types. ICI-induced pneumonitis is a serious complication seen with treatment with these agents. Cancer has been reported to be one of the risk factors for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), that has engulfed the world in the last couple of months. In patients with cancer treated with ICI who present at the emergency department with respiratory symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, correct diagnosis can be challenging. Symptoms and radiological features of ICI pneumonitis can be overlapping with those of COVID-19 related pneumonia. For the latter, dexamethasone and remdesivir have shown encouraging results, while vaccines are currently being evaluated in phase III trials. The mainstay of treatment in ICI pneumonitis is immunosuppressive therapy, as this is a potentially fatal adverse event. It has been speculated that immunosuppression may be associated with increased risk of progression to severe COVID-19, especially during the early stage of infection with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, distinction between these two entities is warranted. We summarize the clinical, radiological features as well as additional investigations of both entities, and suggest a diagnostic algorithm for distinctio

Maternal urinary iodine concentration in pregnancy and children's cognition: Results from a population-based birth cohort in an iodine-sufficient area

OBJECTIVE: Reports from populations with an insufficient iodine intake suggest that children of mothers with mild iodine deficiency during pregnancy are at risk for cognitive impairments. However, it is unknown whether, even in iodine-sufficient areas, low levels of iodine intake occur that influence cognitive development in the offspring. This study investigated the association between maternal low urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in pregnancy and children's cognition in a population-based sample from a country with an optimal iodine status (the Netherlands). SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: In 1525 mother–child pairs in a Dutch multiethnic birth cohort, we investigated the relation between maternal UIC<150 μg/g creatinine, assessed <18 weeks gestation and children's cognition. OUTCOMES MEASURES: Non-verbal IQ and language comprehension were assessed during a visit to the research centre using Dutch test batteries when the children were 6 years. RESULTS: In total, 188 (12.3%) pregnant women had UIC<150 μg/g creatinine, with a median UIC equal to 119.3 μg/g creatinine. The median UIC in the group with UIC>150 μg/g creatinine was 322.9 μg/g and in the whole sample 296.5 μg/g creatinine. There was a univariate association between maternal low UIC and children's suboptimum non-verbal IQ (unadjusted OR=1.44, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.02). However, after adjustment for confounders, maternal low UIC was not associated with children's non-verbal IQ (adjusted OR=1.33, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.93). There was no relation between maternal UIC in early pregnancy and children's language comprehension at 6 years. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of a clear association between maternal low UIC and children's cognition probably reflects that low levels of iodine were not frequent and severe enough to affect neurodevelopment. This may result from the Dutch iodine fortification policy, which allows iodised salt to be added to almost all processed food and emphasises the monitoring of iodine intake in the population