ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many brands to stop using cosmetic testers to avoid the risk of spreading the infection, jeopardising the future of cosmetic testing. Consequently, consumers must find alternative methods to conduct their information searches and, more importantly, the prospects of shopping online without going to the store to test the product. With the enormous prospects of social media cosmetic electronic word of mouth (eWOM), it is imperative to examine the influence of cosmetic eWOM on social media and for cosmetic marketers to understand the antecedents that result in cosmetic consumers making a purchase. The adapted information adoption model was validated through structural equation modelling based on 341 eligible surveys. The results confirmed that information quality, source credibility, information usefulness, and information adoption are the key antecedents in eWOM on Instagram when investigating purchase intentions in the colour cosmetic industry. This study is one of the pioneers in empirically testing the relationship between information quality and source credibility on information usefulness and, subsequently, the relationship between information usefulness, information adoption, and purchase intentions in a western market based on the cosmetic industry. These new insights provide practical implications for a cosmetic marketer, suggesting the key variables leading to purchase intentions in cosmetic eWOM, which can be utilised in marketing techniques.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: We aimed to demonstrate the difference between the premenopausal and postmenopausal women in respect of the clinical course and outcome of the Covid-19 disease. In addition, we investigated the epidemiological and hormonal factors which may have an influence on the progression, severity and mortality of the disease. Study design: A cross-sectional study. Main Outcome Measure(s): Our primary outcome was to demonstrate the poor clinical course and outcome of the Covid-19 disease in the postmenopausal women. Our secondary outcome was to establish the contribution of the hormonal status of the patients to the clinical course of the Covid-19 disease. Result(s): In our cohort, 86 women had mild, 128 women had moderate and 53 women had severe Covid-19 disease. 101 women were at premenopausal state while 152 women were at postmenopausal state. There was a statistically significant difference between the patients with mild, moderate and severe Covid-19 disease with respect to age, BMI, gravidity, parity, smoking, co-morbidities, being in pre-menopausal period, O2 saturation, diastolic blood pressure, parameters of complete blood count, biochemical tests, LH, FSH, E2, DHEA-S, length of hospital stay, body temperature, and the percentage of patients with dyspnea. In the total group, being one year younger decreased the odds of having severe Covid-19 disease 0.338 fold relative to the mild disease (CI: 0.164-0.697, p=0.003). Even though statistically less significant, younger age has a positive impact for the postmenopausal group (OR: 0.378, CI: 0.157-0.910, p=0.030). In the total group, the decrease in the serum DHEA-S level was associated with a 2.604 fold increase in the odds of having severe Covid-19 disease relative to the mild disease (CI:1.254-5.410, p=0.010). For the pre-menopausal group of patients, the decrease in serum DHEA-S level increased the odds of having severe disease by 3.864 fold (CI: 1.269-11.764, p=0.017). In the total group, 1 unit increase in the level of serum LH increased the odds of having mild disease compared to severe disease by 2.821 fold (CI:1.002-5.410, p=0.050). Conclusion(s): The prognosis of Covid-19 disease is more favorable in the premenopausal women with higher serum E2 levels compared to the postmenopausal women. The age and serum levels of DHEA-S and LH are important predictors of the severity of Covid-19 infection for women.Copyright © 2023
ABSTRACT
The pandemic caused people to spend more time in quarantine spaces (living spaces) than ever before and continuously interact with that space. With the emphasis that architectural designs affect subjective human experiences, it has been revealed by scientific studies that people need spaces that are intertwined with nature with gardens and terraces during periods like this. While these studies refer to the spatial configurations that will make individuals feel good psychologically, they also mention the buildings’ features such as their location, size, space quality, and comfort content. The main aim of running this paper is to identify the emotional state changes that occur in individuals during the quarantine period and to use these determinations in designs within the framework of the concept of “pandemic space,” a concept that emerged after the pandemic started. Seven hypotheses have been developed in this context. As method, a questionnaire consisting of 39 items designed to measure individuals’ emotional state changes was chosen. The meaningfulness of the hypotheses was questioned using the statistical values obtained as a result of the data analysis of the data collected from 1500 people. As a result of the study, several design approaches to pandemic spaces were put forward by trying to interpret this meaningfulness in terms of space. © International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development.