DYSFUNCTIONAL CUSTOMER BEHAVIOR – A REVIEW OF RESEARCH FINDINGS

Market changes in consumer behavior can take a desirable, positive form and be accepted by other market participants, or they can be contrary to accepted social norms. According to Fullerton and Punj [1998] such behavior is the great paradox of modern consumer culture. Dysfunctional consumer behavior has become an inherent part of modern consumer behavior. The purpose of this paper is to review the results of research on dysfunctional consumer behavior based on selected scientific publications. The presentation of research topics and results will be made in two separate parts. The first part concerns the dysfunctional behaviors of customers, i.e. the way they are presented in the literature and the factors determining such behavior. The second part includes a review of research results concerning the broadly understood consequences of dysfunctional customer behavior.

Targeting CREB in Cancer Therapy: A Key Candidate or One of Many? An Update

Intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) is considered the major disorienting factor in cancer treatment. As a result of stochastic genetic and epigenetic alterations, the appearance of a branched evolutionary shape confers tumor plasticity, causing relapse and unfavorable clinical prognosis. The growing evidence in cancer discovery presents to us “the great paradox” consisting of countless potential targets constantly discovered and a small number of candidates being effective in human patients. Among these, cyclic-AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) has been proposed as proto-oncogene supporting tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. Overexpression and hyperactivation of CREB are frequently observed in cancer, whereas genetic and pharmacological CREB downregulation affects proliferation and apoptosis. Notably, the present review is designed to investigate the feasibility of targeting CREB in cancer therapy. In particular, starting with the latest CREB evidence in cancer pathophysiology, we evaluate the advancement state of CREB inhibitor design, including the histone lysine demethylases JMJD3/UTX inhibitor GSKJ4 that we newly identified as a promising CREB modulator in leukemia cells. Moreover, an accurate analysis of strengths and weaknesses is also conducted to figure out whether CREB can actually represent a therapeutic candidate or just one of the innumerable preclinical cancer targets.

Embracing Paradox: Maimonides and Kierkegaard on Divine Transcendence and Immanence

Negotiating the relation between divine transcendence and divine immanence lies at the heart of Maimonides' Guide of the Perplexed and of Kierkegaard's philosophical works. The purpose of the paper is to explore the manners in which they do so. I argue that despite various differences between them, both engage with the tension between divine transcendence and immanence by turning away from objectivity to subjectivity and, moreover, by placing paradox, riddle and secret at the heart of their philosophical works. In other words, I argue that they do not attempt to solve or dissolve the great paradox of God's immanent transcendence but to present it in its most acute forms as the paradox within which the religious life is lived.

The epistemological structure of mobilities

Purpose This paper aims to revolve around two problems which, though imagined as different, can be addressed altogether. On one hand, the advance of terrorism as a major threat to the tourism industry, while – on the other – we discuss the ontological nature of tourism as a rite of passage, which is vital to keep the political legitimacy of officialdom. At the time, paradoxically, social scientists shrug off tourism as a naïve commercial activity, while the main tourist destinations are being attacked by jihadism. This suggests the disinterest of ones associates to the interests of others. Design/methodology/approach The author holds the thesis that tourism derives from ancient institutions, which illuminated in the growth of Occident and the formation of hospitality. Capitalism hides the importance of tourism as a mere trivialization as a bit-player. However, a closer look reminds precisely the opposite. The recent attacks perpetrated at main destinations reveal tourism as an exemplary (symbolic) center of the West, a source of authority and power for the existing hierarchal order. Findings The issue captivates the attention of scholars, officials and policymakers, and at the same time, epistemologists of tourism receive a fresh novel debate regarding the origins of tourism. Originality/value It is a great paradox that tourism would be selected as a target for jihadism but at the same time a naïve activity for social scientists or at the least by the French tradition. Despite the partisan criticism exerted on tourism as an alienatory force, this work showed two important aspects, which merits to be discussed. At a closer look, tourism should be understood as “a rite of passage” whose function associates to the revitalization of those glitches happened during the cycles of production. Second, and most important, tourism accommodates those frustrations to prevent acts of separatism or the rise of extreme conflict among classes.

Materiales e innovación en arquitectura sanitaria: cobre, barrera antibacteriana para espacios sanitarios = Materials and innovation in sanitary architecture: copper, antibacterial barrier for sanitary spaces

La inclusión del cobre como material antibacteriano en la arquitectura sanitaria ayuda a resolver la gran paradoja que existe en los servicios asistenciales; entrar a servicios de salud para sanarse de una enfermedad puntual y adquirir enfermedades de riesgo de muerte. Esta investigación demuestra la eficacia del cobre en formato laminar en vez de sólido, haciendo mediciones de con luminometría, abriendo un camino factible para el cobre como revestimiento antibacteriano y dotando de su propiedad antibacteriana superficial a costos reducidos, sin necesidad de cambios de mobiliario ni obrasAbstractThe inclusion of copper as an antibacterial material in health architecture helps to solve the great paradox that exists in healthcare services; enter health services to heal from a specific illness and acquire life-threatening diseases. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of copper in laminar format instead of solid, making measurements of ATP with luminometry, opening a feasible way for copper as an antibacterial coating and endowing its superficial antibacterial property at reduced costs, without the need for furniture changes or works.