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Exploring the impact of loyalty program on consumption in the Spanish beauty industry
Full text linkThis research aims to explore the impact of loyalty programs on consumer behavior within the
Spanish beauty industry, focusing on how different types of loyalty programs and their specific
benefits influence consumer spending. Utilizing a mixed-method approach combining qualitative
and quantitative data, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of consumer preferences and
behaviors associated with loyalty programs. The study begins with a detailed literature review,
examining existing research on loyalty programs, their structures, and their perceived benefits. The
literature highlights the significance of loyalty programs in fostering repeat purchases and enhancing
customer retention. Various types of loyalty programs, including point systems, tier systems, and
non-monetary programs, are discussed, along with their respective utilitarian, hedonic, and symbolic
benefits. The research methodology includes a survey conducted with 291 respondents, of which
187 were valid and used for analysis. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses are
employed to interpret the data and identify significant trends and relationships.
Key findings indicate that while consumers value point and tier system loyalty programs, these do
not necessarily drive higher value in consumption. Instead, non-monetary loyalty programs, which
focus on exclusive experiences and personalized rewards, are more effective in increasing consumer
spending. Utilitarian benefits, such as saving money through loyalty programs, are highly valued
but tend to decrease the overall monetary value spent, as indicated by a negative coefficient in the
model. Hedonic benefits, including discovering new products and redeeming points, show a positive
correlation with consumer spending. The study also reveals that symbolic benefits, while appreciated
by consumers, do not significantly drive sales or consumption. The high sentiment of program
loyalty among respondents, particularly in the beauty sector, is a critical factor influencing
consumption. These insights underscore the importance of designing loyalty programs that blend
monetary and non-monetary rewards to cater to diverse consumer preferences.
Practical implications for companies in the beauty industry include the need to develop well-rounded
loyalty programs that offer a mix of point-based rewards, tiered benefits, and personalized
experiences. Companies should also consider targeting higher-income consumers with premium
offerings and exclusive events to enhance revenue and build a loyal customer base. Strategies aimed
at increasing purchase frequency, such as regular promotions and reminders about loyalty program
benefits, can also drive overall spending and foster long-term consumer habits.
This study contributes to the existing literature by providing a nuanced understanding of how
different loyalty program structures and benefits impact consumer behavior in the Spanish beauty industry. Future research should explore the long-term effects of loyalty programs and consider
cultural differences in consumer preferences and behaviors. This research offers valuable insights
for businesses looking to optimize their loyalty programs to enhance customer satisfaction and drive
sustainable growth
Elastin and collagen fibres in cutaneous wound healing
Full text linkSkin forms the outer barrier of the body. Upon injury, successful wound healing in normal skin restores tissue damage and counteracts the loss of extracellular matrix (ECM)
proteins and cells. Collagens and elastin are the most abundant structural proteins
of the ECM. In homeostasis, collagen type I is the prevalent form, but it is replaced
by type III collagen upon wounding, and only later remodelled. In turn, unsuccessful
healing results in scars, which tend to be inflexible and inelastic as compared to normal elastic dermis. Scar inelasticity may be due to the absence of mature elastin fibre
formation and cross-linking. In this review, the available information on the process
of formation of new collagen and elastic fibres during wound healing is analysed. The
distinct roles of elastin and collagen proteins during healing are revisited and future
research directions proposed which may help improve clinical management of open
wounds and scars
Review and meta-analysis of the genetic Minimal Cut Set approach for gene essentiality prediction in cancer metabolism
No full textCancer metabolism is a marvellously complex topic, in part, due to the reprogramming of its pathways to self-sustain the malignant
phenotype in the disease, to the detriment of its healthy counterpart. Understanding these adjustments can provide novel targeted
therapies that could disrupt and impair proliferation of cancerous cells. For this very purpose, genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs)
have been developed, with Human1 being the most recent reconstruction of the human metabolism. Based on GEMs, we introduced the
genetic Minimal Cut Set (gMCS) approach, an uncontextualized methodology that exploits the concepts of synthetic lethality to predict
metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer. gMCSs define a set of genes whose knockout would render the cell unviable by disrupting an
essential metabolic task in GEMs, thus, making cellular proliferation impossible. Here, we summarize the gMCS approach and review
the current state of the methodology by performing a systematic meta-analysis based on two datasets of gene essentiality in cancer.
First, we assess several thresholds and distinct methodologies for discerning highly and lowly expressed genes. Then, we address the
premise that gMCSs of distinct length should have the same predictive power. Finally, we question the importance of a gene partaking
in multiple gMCSs and analyze the importance of all the essential metabolic tasks defined in Human1. Our meta-analysis resulted in
parameter evaluation to increase the predictive power for the gMCS approach, as well as a significant reduction of computation times
by only selecting the crucial gMCS lengths, proposing the pertinency of particular parameters for the peak processing of gMCS
Ácido úrico y daño renal agudo en pacientes con alto riesgo de desarrollar daño renal agudo sometidos a cirugía cardiaca: cohorte prospectiva multicéntrica
No full textObjetivo: No está claro si la elevación de ácido úrico sérico (AUS) preoperatorio puede desempeñar un papel en el desarrollo de daño renal agudo (DRA) asociado a cirugía cardiaca (DRA-CS). Se realizó un estudio de cohortes para evaluar la influencia de la hiperuricemia en el DRA en pacientes de alto riesgo para desarrollar DRA-CS.
Diseño: Estudio de cohortes prospectivo multicéntrico.
Entorno: Catorce hospitales universitarios en España y en Reino Unido.
Participantes: Se estudiaron a 261 pacientes consecutivos con alto riesgo de desarrollar DRA-CS, según una puntuación de Cleveland ≥ 4 puntos, de julio a diciembre de 2017.
Intervenciones: Ninguna. Mediciones y resultados principales: Se utilizaron los criterios AKIN para la definición de DRA. Para determinar la asociación ajustada entre hiperuricemia (> = 7 mg/dL) e DRA se utilizaron modelos de regresión logística multivariable y análisis de pares emparejados por puntuaje de propensión. El AUS preoperatorio elevado (> = 7 mg/dL) estaba presente en 190 pacientes (72,8%), mientras que la DRA-CS se produjo en 145 pacientes (55,5%). En los modelos de regresión logística multivariable, la hiperuricemia no se asoció con un aumento significativo del riesgo de DRA (Odds Ratio [OR] ajustado: 1,58; intervalo de confianza [IC] 95%: 0,81-3; p = 0,17). En el análisis de emparejamiento por puntaje de propensión de 140 pacientes, el grupo de hiperuricemia experimentó probabilidades ajustadas similares de DRA (OR 1,05; IC 95%: 0,93-1,19; p = 0,37).
Conclusiones: La hiperuricemia no se asoció con un mayor riesgo de DRA en esta cohorte de pacientes con alto riesgo de desarrollar DRA-CS.Purpose: It is unclear whether preoperative serum uric acid (SUA) elevation may play a role in the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) associated with cardiac surgery (CSA-AKI). We conducted a cohort study to evaluate the influence of preoperative hyperuricemia on AKI in patients at high risk for developing SC-AKI.
Design: Multicenter prospective international cohort study. Setting: Fourteen university hospitals in Spain and the United Kingdom.
Participants: We studied 261 consecutive patients at high risk of developing CSA-AKI, according to a Cleveland score ≥4 points, from July to December 2017.
Interventions: None.
Measurements and Main Results: AKIN criteria were used for the definition of AKI. Multivariable logistic regression models and propensity score-matched pairwise analysis were used to determine the adjusted association between preoperative hyperuricemia (> = 7 mg/dL) and AKI. Elevated preoperative AUS (> = 7 mg/dL) was present in 190 patients (72.8%), whereas CSA-AKI occurred in 145 patients (55.5%). In multivariable logistic regression models, hyperuricemia was not associated with a significantly increased risk of AKI (adjusted Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.81-3; p = 0.17). In propensity score-matched analysis of 140 patients, the hyperuricemia group experienced similar adjusted odds of AKI (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.93-1.19, p = 0.37).
Conclusions: Hyperuricemia was not associated with an increased risk of AKI in this cohort of patients undergoing cardiac surgery at high risk of developing CSA-AKI
Evaluating the yield curve effects of central bank asset purchases under a forward-looking supply factor
No full textThe theoretical literature on term structure models emphasizes the importance of the expected absorption of duration risk during the residual life of term bonds in order to understand the yield curve effect of central banks’ government bond purchases. Motivated by this, we develop a forward-looking, long-horizon measure of euro area government bond supply net of Eurosystem holdings, and use it to estimate the impact of the ECB’s asset purchase programs in the context of a no-arbitrage affine term structure model. We find that an asset purchase shock equivalent to 10% of euro area GDP lowers the 10-year average yield of the euro area big-four by 59 basis points (bp) and the associated term premium by 50 bp. Applying the model to the risk-free (OIS) yield curve, the same shock lowers the 10-year rate and term premium by 35 and 26 bp, respectively
Experiencias y necesidades de la familia cuidadora de un paciente con Demencia por Cuerpos de Lewy
No full textIntroducción: La Demencia por Cuerpos de Lewy (DCL) plantea desafíos para los pacientes y sus
familias.
Objetivo: Explorar las experiencias y necesidades de las familias que proporcionan cuidados a
pacientes con DCL.
Metodología: La revisión literaria se realizó mediante la selección de artículos buscados en las bases
de datos PubMed, PsycINFO y CINAHL.
Resultados: Se identificaron cinco temas: conociendo la enfermedad y enfrentándonos al diagnóstico;
afrontando los síntomas conductuales y psiquiátricos; el cuidado del día a día; la carga del cuidador; y
el último capítulo: al final de la vida. Estos resultados abarcan desde la complejidad de los síntomas
hasta la carga emocional y física asociada al cuidado.
Conclusiones: Destaca la importancia de comprender las experiencias y necesidades de familias
cuidadoras de pacientes con DCL. Se requiere un enfoque integral en la atención sanitaria que
considere necesidades tanto del paciente como del cuidador familiar para mejorar la calidad del cuidado
y la experiencia general.Introduction: Lewy body dementia (LBD) poses challenges for patients and their families. This review
seeks to understand the experiences and needs of families caring for loved ones with LBD.
Objective: To explore the experiences and needs of families providing care to patients with LBD.
Methodology: The literature review was conducted by selecting articles searched in the PubMed,
PsycINFO and CINAHL databases.
Results: Five themes were identified: understanding the disease and facing the diagnosis; coping with
behavioral and psychiatric symptoms; day-to-day care; caregiver burden; and the final chapter: end of
life. These results range from the complexity of symptoms to the emotional and physical burden
associated with caregiving.
Conclusions: Emphasizes the importance of understanding the experiences and needs of caregiving
families of patients with LBD. An integrated approach to healthcare is required, considering the needs
of both the patient and the family caregiver to improve the quality of care and the overall experience
High pre‐Delta and early‐Omicron SARS‐CoV‐2 seroprevalence detected in dried blood samples from Kinshasa (D.R. Congo)
No full textStudies on the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic in sub‐Saharan Africa have
yielded varying results, although authors universally agree the real burden
surpasses reported cases. The primary objective of this study was to determine
SARS‐CoV‐2 seroprevalence among patients attending Monkole Hospital in
Kinshasa (D.R. Congo). The secondary objective was to evaluate the analytic
performance of two chemiluminescence platforms: Elecsys® (Roche) and
VirClia® (Vircell) on dried blood spot samples (DBS). The study population
(N = 373) was recruited in two stages: a mid‐2021 blood donor cohort (15.5%
women) and a mid‐2022 women cohort. Crude global seroprevalence was 61%
(53.9%–67.8%) pre‐Delta in 2021 and 90.2% (84.7%–94.2%) post‐Omicron in
2022. Anti‐spike (S) antibody levels significantly increased from 53.1
(31.8–131.3) U/mL in 2021 to 436.5 (219.3–950.5) U/mL in 2022 and were
significantly higher above 45 years old in the 2022 population. Both platforms
showed good analytic performance on DBS samples: sensitivity was 96.8% for
IgG (antiN/S) (93.9%–98.5%) and 96.0% (93.0%–98.0%) for anti‐S quantification.
These results provide additional support for the notion that exposure to SARS‐CoV‐2 is more widespread than indicated by case‐based surveillance and will be
able to guide the pandemic response and strategy moving forward. Likewise, this
study contributes evidence to the reliability of DBS as a tool for serological
testing and diagnosis in resource‐limited settings
Organizational scaling, scalability, and scale-up: Definitional harmonization and a research agenda
No full textThe concepts of ‘scaling,’ ‘scalability,’ and ‘scale-up’ are increasingly used in business research and practice. However, the literature reveals a range of definitions for each, and often, their meanings are only implied. This diminishes the ability to build cumulative and meaningful insight - and conduct research - on each concept. In this editorial, we offer a systematic review that assesses and harmonizes prior definitions of these important concepts. This allows us to define and differentiate between (a) scaling as an organizational process, (b) scalability as an ordinary organizational capability, and (c) scale-up as a phase of organizational development. Complementing and extending existing scholarly work, we develop a rich agenda for scaling-related research in entrepreneurship
The Pneumopathic Genesis of Human Enhancement
No full textThe philosopher Byung-Chul Han affirms that the present age reduces the human being to a performance-machine, and that, because of this reduction, the type of disease that characterizes it this age is neuronal. In the present article, I argue that Han’s analysis is correct but incomplete. Behind this reductionism, which leads to neuropathologies of different types, lies another type of pathology that the philosopher Eric Voegelin calls ‘pneumopathology’—disease of the spirit. The transhumanist view of human enhancement deepens this reduction and shows that the pneumopathology that blights today’s society is in a process of unprecedented chronification. To justify this thesis, I first explain the connection between human enhancement and the achievement imperative denounced by Han; I then analyze the Voegelian category of pneumopathology to show its value for an ontological-historical understanding of human enhancement
El caso Birkenstock: La evolución de un calzado funcional a una tendencia de moda
No full textEl presente estudio examina cómo la marca alemana Birkenstock, que
comenzó como una empresa familiar, se ha convertido en una marca de
moda. Anteriormente, Birkenstock era principalmente conocida por su
calzado funcional y técnico. Sin embargo, una serie de factores externos
provocaron cambios en la estrategia e identidad corporativa de la compañía
alemana.
Para empezar, la investigación pretende explorar los 250 años de historia de
Birkenstock. Posteriormente, se recurre a la Teoría del Equilibrio Puntuado
como una de las principales teorías sobre identidad y evolución de marca.
Seguidamente, se emplea su enseñanza con el fin de estudiar la evolución de
la empresa alemana. Por esta razón, por un lado, se estudian los factores
externos a la compañía que han sido importantes para esta evolución. Por
otro lado, se analizan los cambios estratégicos que llevó a cabo Birkenstock,
redefiniendo su identidad de marca. Para ello, se realiza una investigación
documental cualitativa basada en fuentes secundarias.
Finalmente, al acabar el desarrollo de la investigación se presentan las
conclusiones. Debido a una variedad de factores externos y las adaptaciones
internas realizadas por parte de la empresa, la compañía alemana ha
evolucionado. Hoy en día, se trata de una marca de calzado funcional y de
moda con presencia internacional.This study examines how the German brand Birkenstock, which started as a
family business, has become a fashion brand. Previously, Birkenstock was
mainly known for its functional and technical footwear. However, a number of
external factors led to changes in the German company's corporate strategy
and identity.
To begin with, the research aims to explore Birkenstock's 250-year history.
Subsequently, the Punctuated Equilibrium Theory is used as one of the main
theories of brand identity and brand evolution. Its teaching is then used to
study the evolution of the German company. For this reason, on the one hand,
the factors external to the company that have been important for this evolution
are studied. On the other hand, we analyse the strategic changes that
Birkenstock carried out, redefining its brand identity. For this purpose,
qualitative documentary research based on secondary sources is carried out.
Finally, at the end of the research, conclusions are presented. Due to a variety
of external factors and internal adaptations made by the company, the
German company has evolved. Today, it is a functional and fashionable
footwear brand with an international presenc