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Firms increasingly use ubiquitous technology in marketing to interact with consumers, locate and identify them, push promotions, and gather detailed purchasing data. This increased connectivity through ubiquitous technology creates a new bond between consumers and firms. Although most consumers willingly accept this connection, some perceive it as unwanted proximity, qualify it as intrusive, and consequently refuse to engage with firms. This research is intended to support firms that are interested in implementing ubiquitous technology in their marketing activities. We propose a new consumer response model, confirm a good fit with the data, and its stability in the presence of socio-demographic moderators using structural equations and multi-group analyses. This model is a tool that accurately captures the optimal settings of ubiquitous technology use and enables firms to efficiently predict consumer reactions to this technology, handily design implementation, and provide an improved customer experience.

BACKGROUND Whipple's disease is a very rare disease needing a long-term treatment. The most frequent symptoms are recurrent arthralgia or arthritis, chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. OBJECTIVES In this article, we have highlighted the main clinical features and diagnostic procedures that lead to the diagnosis and comment on the clinical response, treatment, and the factors of relapse. METHODS Subjects were recruited from the Internal Medicine and Rheumatologic Departments of an University Hospital from November 1997 to January 2016. Overall, 12 subjects were finally diagnosed. RESULTS Mean age was 54.3 years (age range: 30-81), with more male patients (58.3%). Almost all patients had articular symptoms and impaired general condition (91.7%); and a majority had digestive symptoms (75%). Regardless of the symptoms, the most efficient diagnostic tools were the PCR screening on the gastrointestinal biopsies and saliva (83.3 and 72.7% positive results, respectively). More than half of the patients relapsed (55.6%). The relapsing patients were older [63.2 (44-81)] and mostly male with a majority (60%) of digestive symptoms and a delayed diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS In current practice, it is highly difficult to diagnose Whipple's disease. In order to decrease the delay between the first symptoms and the diagnosis, effective tools such as saliva and stools PCR should be used because higher delays of diagnosis lead to a higher number of relapses.

There is a strong interest among academics and practitioners in studying branding issues in the big data era. In this article, we examine the sentiments toward a brand, via brand authenticity, to identify the reasons for positive or negative sentiments on social media. Moreover, in order to increase precision, we investigate sentiment polarity on a five-point scale. From a database containing 2,282,912 English tweets with the keyword ‘Starbucks’, we use a set of 2204 coded tweets both for analyzing brand authenticity and sentiment polarity. First, we examine the tweets qualitatively to gain insights about brand authenticity sentiments. Then we analyze the data quantitatively to establish a framework in which we predict both the brand authenticity dimensions and their sentiment polarity. Through three qualitative studies, we discuss several tweets from the dataset that can be classified under the quality commitment, heritage, uniqueness, and symbolism categories. Using latent semantic analysis (LSA), we extract the common words in each category. We verify the robustness of previous findings with an in-lab experiment. Results from the support vector machine (SVM), as the quantitative research method, illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed procedure of brand authenticity sentiment analysis. It shows high accuracy for both the brand authenticity dimensions’ predictions and their sentiment polarity. We then discuss the theoretical and managerial implications of the studies.

Background Mastocytosis is characterized by the accumulation/proliferation of abnormal mast cells. The frequency of isolated cutaneous involvement in adults with mastocytosis has not been fully determined. The main objective of our study was to assess the frequency of isolated cutaneous mastocytosis (CM) in adults with mastocytosis skin lesions. The second objective was to compare the clinical, histological, biological and imaging features in patients with isolated CM and patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM). Methods We included all patients with histology-proven mastocytosis skin lesions between January 2009 and December 2017. The mastocytosis diagnosis was made according to the international diagnostic criteria. All data were collected from a dedicated specific case report. Results Among 160 patients with mastocytosis skin lesions, 25 patients had isolated CM (15.6%), 105 had SM and 30 (18.7%) patients had undetermined mastocytosis. Skin KIT mutation (OR: 51.9, 95% CI: 3.9-678, P = 0.001) and high bone marrow tryptase (OR: 97.4, 95% CI: 10.3-915, P = 0.001) were strong predictors of SM. The prevalence of osteoporosis was higher in the SM population than in the isolated CM population. Moreover, a decrease in bone mineral density over a short period of follow-up (1-2 years) was associated with SM. There were no differences between the two groups regarding the frequency of mast cell activation symptoms, the presentation of skin lesions, the number of mast cells in the dermis and the level of serum tryptase. We propose considering the KIT mutation status and bone marrow tryptase levels to aid the diagnosis of isolated CM in adult mastocytosis patients. Conclusion Only a small minority of adults with mastocytosis skin lesions has isolated cutaneous involvement. In 18.7% of mastocytosis cases, even complete workup does not allow for a precise classification of patients.

When consumers view a sales promotion in a store or online, they have the ability to disseminate it online and inform others. This dissemination may be beneficial to firms because promotion...

International audience; Little is known about osteoporosis in mast cell disorders (MCDs) not related to systemic mastocytosis. We described osteoporosis and fractures in MCDs and showed that systemic mastocytosis was the only studied MCDs associated with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Introduction : To describe osteoporosis (OP) and fragility fractures in mast cell disorders (MCDs). Methods : We retrospectively analyzed data concerning all successive patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM), cutaneous mastocytosis (CM), and mast cell activation syndromes (MCAS) diagnosed in our mastocytosis expert center between 2004 and 2015. We collected data concerning demographic profiles, clinical signs of MCD, osteoporosis, fractures, densitometry, and biological assessment of MCD. We compared CM and MCAS patients with SM patients with regard to the characteristics of OP and fragility fractures. Results : We assessed 89 SM patients, 20 CM patients, and 20 MCAS patients. Osteoporosis was less frequent in CM (15.0%) and MCAS (10.0%) than in SM (44.9%). Similarly, fractures were less frequent in non-SM MCDs, respectively 5.0%, 5.0%, and 28.1%. SM patients displayed high prevalence of vertebral fractures (22.5%), mostly multiple. Conversely, in non-SM patients, vertebral fractures appeared to be uncommon (5%) and more frequently associated with risk factors for osteoporosis. Conclusions : SM is associated with multiple vertebral osteoporotic fractures, whereas CM and MCAS do not appear to be associated with this phenotype.

Purpose The occurrence of multiple vertebral fractures was reported after denosumab discontinuation. The use of bisphosphonates following denosumab has been suggested to prevent this bone loss. The aim of our observational trial was to evaluate the ability of risedronate to prevent the bone loss related to denosumab discontinuation in post-menopausal osteoporosis. Methods Eighteen female patients, aged 69.8 years (56–79), were followed. All patients were prescribed 35 mg of risedronate per week for 3 months, starting when the next denosumab injection would have been administered. We measured BMD at denosumab initiation (T0), denosumab withdrawal (T1), and nine months after the discontinuation of risedronate (1 year post-denosumab: T2). Results 1 year after denosumab discontinuation, the mean bone loss at the spine was – 4.6 ± 5.2% for the total population, −0.3 ± 2.3% in patients with prior exposure to bisphosphonates, −6.3 ± 5.7% in patients with prior exposure to teriparatide, and − 7.6 ± 3.5% in naïve patients. Spine BMD loss after the risedronate bridging therapy (T2 vs. T1) was significantly lower in patients who experienced prior exposure to bisphosphonates, when compared to naïve patients (p = .0190) and to patients with prior teriparatide exposure (p = .0176). 1 year after denosumab discontinuation, the mean densitometric loss at the hip was −1.8 ± 3.4% in the total cohort, −0.6 ± 1.8% in the patients previously treated with bisphosphonates, −1.5 ± 4.7% in the patients previously treated with teriparatide, and − 4.2 ± 0.6 in naïve patients. The mean densitometric loss during the off-denosumab period was lower in patients with previous bisphosphonate exposure than in naïve patients (p = .043) and in patients with previous exposure to teriparatide (p = .05). Conclusions Three months of risedronate treatment does not prevent bone loss in patients who have not been treated with bisphosphonates before denosumab., Highlights • Three months of risedronate • Ineffectiveness • Bone loss • discontinuation of denosumab

Treatment with asfotase alfa has transformed the prognosis of hypophosphatasia in children and improves the bone and muscle signs in adults. The doses used in adults are the same as in children, whereas bone remodeling is different between them. We report on the cases of two patients treated with 1 mg/kg/day of asfotase alfa who developed spinal cord compression from spinal ossifications during treatment. The first patient, 50 years old, presented after 2 years of treatment with quadraparesis secondary to an increase in ossifications of the cervical vertebral ligaments. The neurological damage was resolved after laminectomy, and the patient was then treated for 18 months with doses of 80 mg per week, without recurrence of the bone and muscle signs. The second patient, 26 years old, 78 kg, developed pain and cervical stiffness with pyramidal tract irritation secondary to ossifications of the vertebral ligaments. This improved with a reduction of doses to 80 mg/week, which then, after 6 months of follow‐up, enabled maintained improvement of the bone and muscle pain that was initially obtained. To our knowledge, these are the first reported cases of increased spinal ligamentous ossifications with neurological complications. Biological monitoring in adults does not seem to enable asfotase alfa doses to be adjusted. The levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) while on the recommended treatment of 1 mg/kg/day are significantly supraphysiological (5000 to 20,000 IU) and the assays of pyrophosphate and pyridoxal phosphate are not correlated with clinical efficacy. In both of our patients, the treatment with 80 mg of asfotase alfa per week, which was proposed after the occurrence of spinal complications, seemed as effective, after a follow‐up of 18 months and 6 months, as the initial treatment for improving the bone and muscle signs, and could be provided as “attack” doses after healing of the pseudoarthroses. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research © 2020 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

While prior research shows that atmospheric cues such as visual design trigger customers' cognition and emotions, thus leading to approach-avoidance responses, this article proposes self-congruity as a mediator, paralleling cognitive evaluation (i.e., perceived quality). More specifically, this article, situated in the context of the coffee shop industry in China, investigates how perceived luxuriousness, reflected from the service provider's visual design, affects customers' willingness to pay a price premium (WTPP). The findings show that perceived luxuriousness leads to customers' inferences of high quality of the coffee and high self-congruity, thus increasing WTPP. Further, cosmopolitanism moderates the effect of perceived luxuriousness only via self-congruity, but not via perceived quality. This article contributes to the existing literature on atmospherics, self-congruity, brand equity, and cosmopolitanism. More importantly, this article provides managerial implications for global coffee/food brands that aim to set up their chain outlets and expand rapidly in China, one of the largest emerging markets.

Recent studies have shown that Dickkopf-related protein (DKK1) and sclerostin decrease when a complete response (CR) is obtained after chemotherapy in myeloma multiple (MM). To study variations in DKK1, sclerostin and P1NP in patients treated for MM, between complete response (CR) and relapse, we carried out a prospective study ancillary to the IFM 2009 protocol (IFM). The aim of IFM was to compare progression-free survival between patients treated with chemotherapy with or without transplantation. We selected 69 patients who reached CR and relapsed. We assayed by ELISA: DKK1, sclerostin and P1NP at 3 end points T1: CR, T2: 4 months before relapse and T3: relapse. There was a significant increase in DKK1 and sclerostin between T1, T2 and T3. (DKK1 medians (IQR): T1 = 30 pmol/l (20.4-41.1), T2 = 37.4 pmol/l (29.8-49.4), p 0.0001, T3 = 42 pmol/l (33.8-55.5), p 0.0001 sclerostin medians (IQR): T1 = 0.57 (0.47-0.69), T2 = 0.62 ng/ml (0.53-0.79), p 0.0001, T3 = n0.64 ng/ml (0.56-0.79), p = 0.005). No significant variation was detected in the levels of P1NP. No association was observed between the characteristics of the MM, or the treatment received and the variation between T1-T3 for DKK1, sclerostin or P1NP. A significant increase in DKK1 and sclerostin was observed four months before relapse.

The objective of our prospective study is to specify the variability of densitometric response to Denosumab, given in the second line, and to try to understand the reasons. All menopausal patients with primary osteoporosis, treated by Denosumab in our centre from 2014 to 2015, were included in this open prospective work. At T0, the patient's age, type of fracture, and previous treatments were collated. At T0 and T1, after 1 year of treatment by Dmab, a DXA of the spine and the hip and a determination of CTX were performed. Sixty-three patients aged 68.8 ± 8.3 years were included. The median number of treatments prescribed for osteoporosis before switch to Denosumab was 2.4. The median duration of these treatments was 7.2 years. At T1, CTX was less than 33 pg/ml (minimum threshold for our assay kit) in all patients. The median BMD in the spine increased by + 5.44% compared to T0. 14 patients in the upper quartile had a median BMD gain in the spine of + 11.07%. Fourteen patients in the lower quartile had a median BMD gain in the spine of + 0.6%. Only the duration of previous treatments, which was greater in the non-responder group, differed between these two groups. In the total cohort, the spinal densitometric gain was negatively correlated with the age of the patient at baseline (p = 0.04), the duration of previous treatment (p = 0.02), and positively with the CTX level (p = 0.05). The Dmab densitometric response is highly variable, partly explained by the duration of previous treatments and the level of bone resorption at initiation of treatment.

The rise of the sharing economy has allowed consumers to choose from hundreds of thousands of diverse accommodations. In this article, we explore the impact of price partitioning on demand. Our findings reveal that partitioning the price into different elements can have a positive impact on demand. We argue that when the price is partitioned into different fees, it draws attention to the rationale behind the fees – such as additional cleaning. While the presence of the fees acts as a signal, we draw upon prospect theory to argue that the amount of the fee is viewed as a loss and thus has a negative impact on demand. We test our arguments using data on Airbnb's across the whole United States and find that price partitioning positively impacts demand, but the costs themselves have a negative impact on demand.

A retrospective, multicentre study involving 52 patients was carried out to define the causes and characteristics of pregnancy-related osteoporosis. The mean number of vertebral fractures occurring during the last trimester of pregnancy or at the time of delivery was 3.8. This is often promoted by risk factors before or during pregnancy. In order to define the causes or predisposing factors of pregnancy-related osteoporosis and its clinical, radiological and bone density characteristics, laboratory findings, course and outcome, we carried out a retrospective multicentre study. The records of 52 women hospitalised over the last 10 years in the rheumatology departments of six French university hospitals and with a diagnosis of pregnancy-related osteoporosis were examined. The patients’ mean age at time of fracture was 32.1 years. In 10 patients, the fractures had occurred during the last trimester of pregnancy, and in 36 at the time of delivery or during the first 2 months post-partum. The mean number of vertebral fractures was 3.8 ± 2.0. Thirty three of the 52 patients had a risk factor of low bone mass before pregnancy. Twelve had disorders or treatments (heparin) that might promote osteoporosis during pregnancy, while 14 had no trigger factors before or during pregnancy. Overall, phosphate and calcium levels were normal, except for hyperphosphoraemia in lactating women (90%). On DXA scan, osteoporosis predominated in the trabecular bone (spinal T-score − 3.4, hip T-score − 2). Only 10 patients had a repeat fracture, and the increase in bone mineral density during follow-up was considerable, and improved by bisphosphonates (annual gain + 10% in the spine) or teriparatide (+ 15%). Pregnancy-related osteoporosis gives rise to multiple vertebral fractures. It is often promoted by risk factors before or during pregnancy. Its mechanism is still unknown. Treatment with bisphosphonates or teriparatide appears to improve the recovery of bone mineral density.

International audience; Osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease were long viewed as independent of each other. However, numerous epidemiological studies, which are discussed in the first part of this review, have provided incontrovertible evidence of a link. Thus, the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke is higher in patients with a history of osteoporotic fracture or low bone mineral density than in non-osteoporotic patients. In the other direction, patients with cardiovascular disease are at higher risk for bone loss and osteoporotic fracture. The link between osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease is due in part to shared conventional risk factors such as estrogen deprivation in women, smoking, low physical activity, and diabetes. In addition, atheroma plaque calcification involves cytokines and growth factors that also play a role in bone turnover, including proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNFα), osteoprotegerin, sclerostin, matrix GLA protein, and FGF-23. Several recent studies have provided support for these pathophysiological hypotheses. Thus, elevation of osteoprotegerin, sclerostin, or FGF-23 levels may explain and predict the occurrence of both osteoporotic fractures and cardiovascular events. The association between osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease found in most epidemiological and pathophysiological studies suggests a need for evaluating potential benefits from routine bone absorptiometry and osteoporotic fracture detection in patients with cardiovascular disease and from exercise testing and arterial Doppler imaging in patients with osteoporosis.

In recent years, counterfeiting has grown exponentially and has now become a grave economic problem. The acquisition of counterfeits poses an ethical dilemma as it benefits the buyer and illegal seller at the cost of the legitimate producer and with fewer taxes being paid throughout the supply chain. Previous research reveals inconsistent and sometimes inconclusive findings regarding whether materialism is associated, positively or negatively, with intentions to purchase counterfeits. The current research seeks to resolve these inconsistencies by investigating previously ignored interactions between three variables: risk of embarrassment, counterfeit detectability and product conspicuousness. First, risk of embarrassment mediates the relationship between materialism and counterfeit purchase intentions. Specifically, materialism negatively predicts counterfeit purchase intentions as mediated by risk of embarrassment. Second, this relationship only holds when the counterfeit can be easily detected. When it is not easily detected, materialism instead leads to positive purchase intentions. Third, these positive effects can be offset when the product is not highly visible. This research has important implications for marketers, manufacturers and academics and contributes to better understanding the antecedents of counterfeit purchases.

Osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases are epidemiologically associated. Calcification phenomena of atherosclerotic plaque involve cytokines and growth factors also involved in bone remodeling. Drugs given for either of these two conditions could act on these mechanisms. Can osteoporosis drugs have an influence on the occurrence of cardiovascular events? Conversely, can the treatment of hypertension alter the course of osteoporosis? It is possible that administration of high doses of calcium (1g/day) in patients who already have important dietary intake can increase the risk of myocardial infarction. Epidemiological studies show links between low serum vitamin D levels and cardiovascular disease but interventional studies show that vitamin D administration in moderately deficient subjects vitamin D does not prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular events. Cohort studies show a beneficial effect of beta-blockers and thiazides administered to hypertensive patients: they reduce by 20% risk of fracture of the proximal femur. Should we focus on these anti-hypertensive treatments for our patients with osteoporosis?

The phrase ‘sharing economy’ has grown to become an umbrella term for a wide range of nonownership forms of consumption activities such as swapping, bartering, trading, renting, sharing, and exchanging. In spite of such a wide spectrum of behaviors, there is limited practical knowledge about how individual sharing economy practices should be managed. Building on a framework that categorizes sharing economy practices based on their detailed characteristics, this article provides extensive recommendations to managers and practitioners. We argue that each practice is a hybrid of sharing and exchange, and provides several recommendations based on the nature of each practice's offering.

The mutual effects of drugs used in osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases are a point of interest. A literature review and meta-analysis were conducted to address the impact of PTH analogs and anti-Rank ligand on cardiovascular events and overall mortality in individuals with idiopathic osteoporosis; these treatments do not appear to have any effect. Two meta-analyses have been conducted to explore the cardiovascular effects of bisphosphonates. There is no review for other osteoporosis treatments. A literature review and meta-analysis were conducted to address the impact of PTH analogs and anti-Rank ligand on cardiovascular events and overall mortality in individuals with idiopathic osteoporosis. A systematic review was conducted in December 2017 in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases and updated on PubMed in July 2019, selecting trials with a treatment and a control group. We also conducted a search for abstracts of the French Rheumatology Society, American College of Rheumatology, and European League Against Rheumatism’s annual meetings over the past 4 years. The main endpoint was the occurrence of cardiovascular events; the secondary was mortality (all causes). Of the 2782 reports initially found, 16 articles were used for the meta-analysis (6 for the anti-Rank ligand and 10 for the PTH analog group). After meta-analysis, there was no significant difference between the placebo group and the anti-Rank ligand group for overall mortality (p = 0.13), the combined endpoint (overall mortality, coronary artery disease, and stroke; p 0.77), and the individual risk of coronary artery disease (p 0.53), arrhythmia (p 0.95), and stroke (p 0.62). After meta-analysis, there was no significant difference between the placebo group and the PTH analogs group for overall mortality (p 0.77), the combined endpoint (p = 0.95), and the individual risk of coronary artery disease (p = 0.74), arrhythmia (p = 0.28), and stroke (p = 0.61). The anti-Rank ligand and PTH analogs have no impact on cardiovascular risk and overall mortality in idiopathic osteoporosis. To better answer the question whether these treatments can reduce the long-term cardiovascular risk, further comparative studies with longer duration are required.

Due to the benefits of brand community initiatives and the potential advantages of social media, many marketing managers made significant investments in building brand communities based on social media. A noticeable issue is how to measure the success of such investments in ways that are understandable and comparable to other marketing initiatives. To address this issue, it is essential to understand how social media-based brand communities influence customers' perceptions and behaviors. The purpose of this article is to develop and estimate an extended model of how different aspects of customers' relationships with such communities influence their perceptions and behaviors. The paper describes a way a customer's identification with a brand influences relationships with brand community elements, brand community markers, and ultimately brand relationship quality and brand loyalty. Then using a large sample of brand community members in social media and structural equation modeling, the authors estimate how social media-based brand communities influence brand relationship quality and brand loyalty. Managerial implications are discussed.

In a control population, we filed the 24-hour urinary calcium to set normal values, based on weight, BMI and menopause. By assessing calcium intake, 25OHD, PTH, CTX, GFR, we wanted to study how these could influence calcium excretion. A total of 317 subjects of 55.82 ± 12.6 years were studied: 249 women (210 were postmenopausal) and 66 men. Mean urinary calcium 24h was 4.07 ± 2.53 mmol: 3.99 ± 2.89 in men, 3.54 ± 2.44 in premenopausal women, 4.18 ± 2.42 in postmenopausal women. 24-hour urine calcium was lower in overweight subjects whether they are men or women. It was positively correlated to 25OHD, CTX, GFR, serum calcium and negatively to PTH, BMI and weight. In conclusion, urinary calcium was lower in overweight subjects, it increases after menopause. Dietary calcium intake seems little involved in explaining variations in urinary calcium which depends essentially on bone remodeling (CTX), GFR, levels of vitamin D and PTH.

The sharing economy captures several different market practices such as “car sharing” or “house sharing.” Anecdotal and empirical evidence has found conflicting motivations for participating in the sharing economy due to a misuse of the concept and an absence of a framework. This article proposes a framework to classify sharing economy practices based on their relative weights of sharing and exchange characteristics. The argument is that each practice is dualistic in nature: having characteristics of both sharing and exchange. The essay suggests a way to situate practices within the framework by offering a method to quantitatively calculate the sharing score of a given practice. An augmented model of willingness to participate in the sharing economy is tested across five practices that support the framework’s validity and usefulness. The results resolve some of the mixed findings in the literature and the positive role that materialism plays in the likelihood to participate.

A number of medications promote the development of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPDD). We report 2 cases of acute CPDD after intravenous zoledronic acid therapy. Case #1: a 63-year-old female was admitted for vertebroplasty at the site of an osteoporotic fracture. She received an intravenous infusion of zoledronic acid 5 mg on the day after the procedure. Acute CPDD developed in her right knee 24 hours later. Findings from joint aspiration and standard radiography confirmed the diagnosis. Case #2: this 79-year-old woman had a history of CPDD was on glucocorticoid and hydroxychloroquine therapy for lupus. She was given an intravenous infusion of zoledronic acid 5 mg as prophylaxis of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Joint pain and a fever developed later on the same day. After 5 days, she had arthritis of the right wrist, laboratory evidence of systemic inflammation, and hypocalcemia. Radiographs showed evidence of CPDD. A Medline search identified 6 cases of bisphosphonate-related CPDD, including 2 due to pamidronate, 2 to etidronate, 1 to alendronic acid, and 1 to neridronic acid. The features were similar to those in our patients, with a short time to onset, systemic inflammation in many cases, a tendency toward hypocalcemia, and radiographs that often showed evidence of CPDD. Bisphosphonate-induced CPDD is a rare eventuality that should nevertheless be borne in mind by rheumatologists. Also, in patients with CPDD while taking bisphosphonate therapy, a role for the drug in the symptoms should be considered.

The concept of acculturation has been based on the assumption of an adaptation process, whereby immigrants lose aspects of their heritage cultures in favour of aspects of a host culture (i.e. assimilation). Past research has shown that acculturation preferences result in various possibilities and influence consumption behaviour. However, the impact of social media on consumer acculturation is underexplored, although the social purpose and information sharing online is utilized for a variety of social purposes. Recent studies have shown the transformation from an offline to an online context, in which social networks play an integral part in immigrants’ communications, relationships and connections. This study merges the views from a number of leading contributors to highlight significant opportunities and challenges for future consumer acculturation research influenced by social media. The research provides insights into the impact of social media on consumer acculturation.

International audience; There is no therapeutic agent approved in cutaneous mastocytosis and mast cell activation syndrome. We report the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in four patients with cutaneous mastocytosis (n = 2) and mast cell activation syndrome (n = 2). We show that this molecule reduces the long-term survival of primary human mast cells, interferes with lysosome function and leads to the accumulation of non-functional tryptase in the mast cell granules. Furthermore, hydroxychloroquine decreases the production of pro-inflammatory mediators.

Wireless technologies and smartphones revolutionize the way consumers use the internet. How do these technological advancements affect consumer well-being or life satisfaction? We hypothesize that mobile- as compared to regular only- internet use enhances consumers' perceptions of personal economic situation, which in turn, enhances life satisfaction. Ethnic status (majority vs. minority) and national wealth (richer vs. poorer countries) set up boundary conditions for these effects. We test our hypotheses using multi-level modeling and a large scale multinational dataset covering responses of > 26,000 consumers from 21 countries. The results show that perceived personal economic situation mediates the relationship between type of internet access (regular vs. mobile) and life satisfaction; the positive effect of mobile internet use is weaker for ethnic minority than for majority consumers and stronger in poorer than in richer countries. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications for marketing and public policy.

Social media has revolutionized marketing practices and created many opportunities for smart marketers to take advantage of its unique characteristics. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the concept of Social Media-Based Brand Communities to advertisers and show how they can use these communities to work for them in creating and distributing favorable communication messages to masses of consumers. The authors underscore that consumers in a brand community can be employed as unpaid volunteer ambassadors of the brand who diligently try to create favorable impressions about the brand in the external world. Social media has also empowered them to do so through participating in brand communities based in social media. These communities, however, are different from conventional brand communities on at least five dimensions: social context, structure, scale, storytelling, and myriad affiliated communities. Therefore, marketers should treat such communities differently. This chapter provides the essentials all marketers should know before facilitating brand communities in social media.

Right now, hundreds of thousands of data are generated and added to the accumulated data. This immense amount of real-time and retrospective data has helped change the previous paradigms and led to a new one: big data analytics. Social networks, blogs, social bookmarking, and review sites are considered very important in the big data era. Nowadays, there is strong interest among academics and practitioners in studying branding issues through analytics. In this article, given the necessity of monitoring the perceived value of brand authenticity, “to protect a popular brand against the heartbreak of genericide” (Walsh, 2013), we examine the sentiments toward a brand, via brand authenticity, to identify the reasons for positive or negative sentiments on social media. Moreover, to increase sentiment precision, we investigate sentiments polarity on a five-point scale. From a database containing 2,988,560 tweets with the keyword “Starbucks,” we use a set of 1857 coded tweets both for brand authenticity and sentiment polarity. We analyze the data to establish a framework in which we predict both the brand authenticity dimension and its sentiment polarity. Results from support vector machine (SVM) analyses illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed procedure of brand sentiment analysis. It shows high accuracy for both the brand authenticity dimensions’ prediction and its sentiment polarity. In summary, this research contributed both theoretically and managerially to the brand sentiment literature. The proposed procedure and the research findings on brand authenticity sentiment analysis could facilitate further inquiries into sentiment analysis for all other brand constructs and in several related domains, such as e-word-of-mouth studies. Practically speaking, this research could provide marketing practitioners with a reliable and valid instrument to evaluate the level of sentiments toward a brand more specifically and more accurately, which could lead to proposing appropriate strategies to strengthen their brand authenticity. This study has some limitations that offer opportunities for further research. First, we studied brand authenticity sentiments with 2Q cross-sectional data, while we acknowledge that customer sentiments could even change over a short period of time. Second, we did not consider the brand’s following-up interventions about the shared tweet, which could change upcoming sentiments. Third, as we collected the data in a real-time manner, we did not have the data about the amount of likes and retweets a post received, which could show the effectiveness of the tweet.

The effective role of experiential marketing in the differentiation of brands has been documented in both traditional and online services. The digital context of e-retailing makes it both a suitable platform for experiential consumption and an easily accessible shopping method across cultures. In spite of this, investigation of the impacts of cultural differences on the desire for experiential benefits has been very limited in the e-retailing literature. Using Hofstede's (2001) cultural dimensions, this article studies how two student samples of North American and Chinese customers react differently to the experiential values offered on the websites of e-retailing services. The findings support our hypotheses and suggest that offering experiential values on a company's website is more influential for North American than for Chinese customers. More specifically, the influences of experiential values on site involvement and customers' patronage intentions are stronger for North Americans than for Chinese vi...

Resume Introduction L’insuffisance en vitamine D peut-elle etre predite par l’interrogatoire ? Induit-elle une hyperparathyroidie secondaire potentiellement vectrice d’hyperresorption osseuse ? Cela chez des sujets non osteoporotiques de la cinquantaine chez qui cette hormone est frequemment dosee. Methodes Des patients hospitalises pour arthrose ou consultant pour bilan de menopause, non insuffisants renaux, non traites par vitamine D ont rempli un questionnaire sur l’ensoleillement et ont eu des dosages de calcemie, creatininemie, 25OH vitamine D, PTH et CTX serique. Resultats Cinq cent vingt-six sujets âges de 54,6 ans (71 % de femmes) ont ete explores tout au long des 12 mois de l’annee. La concentration de 25OH vitamine D etait correlee au score d’ensoleillement et variait selon les mois de l’annee, contrairement aux valeurs de PTH et de CTX. De novembre a mai, plus de 90 % de sujets avaient des concentrations de 25OH vitamine D 65 pg/mL associee a une augmentation des CTX. Conclusion L’insuffisance en vitamine D peut etre predite par l’interrogatoire et induit tres rarement une hyperparathyroidie secondaire.

Context Language intricately interweaves with culture. Acquiring another language provides the tools for interpreting that culture's values and rules guiding social engagement. Hundreds of millions of consumers are currently learning and using English as a second (or third, etc.) tongue. To what extent does this appropriation of English entail convergence towards the consumption values/behaviors of consumers living in the Anglo world? Objective This international study examines the impact of language, specifically multilingualism, as a conveyor of culture and shaper of consumer behavior. Method Over 2000 individual consumers were surveyed in eight countries (Sweden, Hungary, Greece, Mexico, Chile, Canada, Korea, and India). A quantitative questionnaire included an array of measures related to use of various languages, along with numerous items to tap each of the multifaceted cultural constructs and consumer dispositions, along with many food behaviors, and pertinent demographics. For each language (vernacular, English, and up to two others) two components (media, interpersonal) are linked to ethnic identity, global acculturation, consumer dispositions (cosmopolitanism, consumer ethnocentrism, and materialism), and the consumption of various foodstuffs. Results Subsequent to factor and reliability analyses, a series of comparisons were made on the construct interrelationships, between high- and low- context languages, as well as between bilingual and multilingual consumers. The findings demonstrated that acquiring English espouses numerous values and behaviors characterizing global consumer culture, including enhanced materialism and cosmopolitanism, and diminished levels of consumer ethnocentrism and communication in the vernacular. Consistent with cultural integration, however, English usage promoted the interpersonal expression in minority tongues. The various languages considered—in isolation and in tandem—were significantly linked to food consumption and several acculturation patterns were identified. Conclusion Asymmetries are present between monolingual Anglo-American marketers and their potentially bilingual/multilingual consumers. As consumer behavior becomes more global, its meaning remains partially embedded in local terms, even among English-fluent consumers.

This study investigates how the type of offer sold online (goods vs. services) moderates the relationships between perceived experiential values and customers' attitudes towards the website. A sample of 107 e-shoppers of services and 110 e-shoppers of physical goods responded to a survey on their most recent e-shopping experiences. Results support the majority of hypotheses. It was found that although offering experiential values on the site improves customers' attitudes for both physical goods and services websites, the impact is much stronger in the case of services. Theoretical and managerial contributions are discussed.

Objectives To update the recommendations on the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis issued in 2003 by the French National Authority for Health (HAS). This update was performed under the aegis of the Bone Section of the French Society for Rheumatology (SFR) and Osteoporosis Research and Information Group (GRIO), in collaboration with four French learned societies (primary-care, gastroenterology, internal medicine, and nephrology). Methods A task force composed of members of the medical specialties involved in managing patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis conducted a systematic literature review according to the method developed by the HAS then used the results to develop updated recommendations. Results These recommendations are intended for all physicians involved in the management of patients who are scheduled to start, or are taking, long-term glucocorticoid therapy (≥ 3 months) in any dose and for any reason. In postmenopausal women and men older than 50 years of age, treatment is warranted in the presence of any of the following risk factors for fracture: history of bone frailty fracture after 50 years of age, bone mineral density T-score ≤ −2.5 at one or more sites, age ≥ 70 years, and dosage ≥ 7.5 mg/d prednisone-equivalent for longer than 3 months. Bisphosphonates can be used in all these situations; teriparatide can be given as first-line therapy in patients at high fracture risk but is reimbursed by the French statutory health insurance system only in patients having two or more prevalent vertebral fractures. The fracture risk is lower in nonmenopausal women and in men younger than 50 years of age, in whom treatment decisions should rest on a case-by-case evaluation. Conclusion These recommendations are intended to clarify the pharmacological management of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

This special issue of the Journal of Business Research features nine articles selected from the papers presented during the ninth meeting of the Royal Bank International Research Seminar which took place in Montreal (Canada), September 26–28, 2013. They cover topics related to new developments in global consumer culture, online research, acculturation/socialization research, research methodology, and marketing strategy.

Background Whipple disease is a very rare disease needing a long term treatment. The most frequent symptoms are recurrent arthralgia or arthritis, chronic diarrhoea, abdominal pain and weight loss. Objectives In this work, we have highlighted the main clinical features and diagnostic procedures that lead to the diagnosis and comment on the clinical response, treatment, and the factors of relapse. Methods Subjects were recruited from the Internal Medicine and Rheumatologic Departments of an University Hospital from November 1997 to January 2016. Overall, 12 subjects were finally diagnosed. Results Mean age was 54.3 years (age range: 30–81), with more male patients (58.3%). Almost all patients had articular symptoms and impaired general condition (91.7%); and a majority had digestive symptoms (75%). Regardless of the symptoms, the most efficient diagnostic tools were the PCR screening on the gastrointestinal biopsies and saliva (83.3% and 72.7% positive results, respectively). More than half of the patients relapsed (55.6%). The relapsing patients were older (63.2 (44–81)) and mostly male with a majority (60%) of digestive symptoms and a delayed diagnosis. Conclusions In current practice, it is highly difficult to diagnose Whipple disease. In order to decrease the delay between the first symptoms and the diagnosis, effective tools such as saliva and stools PCR should be used since higher delays of diagnosis lead to a higher number of relapses. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Objectives Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is characterized by the accumulation of mast cells in tissues other than the skin. Bone involvement although frequent has not been thoroughly evaluated. Primary objective was to determine risk factors associated with fragility fractures (FF) in SM. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the ability of bone marrow tryptase (BMT) level to identify patients with FF, and to describe bone involvement in SM. Methods We analyzed retrospectively all consecutive patients seen in our expert center, with a diagnosis of SM according to the 2001 WHO criteria, and with complete bone assessment. We collected data about lifetime fractures, types of cutaneous manifestations, degranulation symptoms, blood and BMT levels, bone mineral density assessed by densitometry and KIT mutation. We performed a univariate analysis investigating the factors associated with FF and then a logistic multivariable regression analysis. We assessed the ability of bone marrow tryptase to identify patients with FF. Results Eighty-nine patients with SM were included. Thirty-six patients (40.4%) suffered from osteoporosis and twenty-five (28.1%) experienced lifetime FF. Univariate analysis identified age at diagnosis and disease onset, presence of telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans, digestive symptoms, mast cells activation symptoms, elevated BMT, low femoral and lumbar BMD, as associated with FF. Multivariate analysis identified elevated BMT, low femoral T score and older age at diagnosis as independently associated with FF. Conclusions Low femoral T-score, BMT level, and older age at diagnosis are markers associated with FF in SM. BMT may represent an important biomarker to predict FF in SM patients.

Culture is recognized as the most fundamental shaper of consumer behavior. Global forces inexorably penetrate the economic, political, and social realms. It is critical to understand the impact of globalization on the cultural makeup and subsequent behaviors of consumers worldwide. In the wake of globalization, and to attract and serve customers around the world, marketers need to understand where and when cultures and consumers are homogenizing, and the contexts under which diversity is likely to persist or even intensify.