Characteristics of brands and place branding on the Internet

This study aims to clarify the concepts of brand and branding in the new Internet environment, as complex processes that can be applied anywhere: to a physical good, a service, a store, an organization, an idea or a place. Assuming that brands have deeper meanings for consumers than the basic characteristics of the product or service being offered, the branding process is also defined in the context of places, in an effort to build a relationship with the customer and make emotional connections. Place branding perspectives are discussed, as it does not involve tourism only. It also involves the economic and socio-political sector as well as the historical perspective of the place

Ultrastructural analysis of submandibular salivary calculus in combination with X-ray microanalysis

Introduction: Sialolithiasis is one of the common diseases of the salivary glands. It was speculated that, in the process of calculi formation, degenerative substances are emitted by saliva and calcification occurs around these substances, and finally calculi are formed. However, the exact mechanism of the formation of calculi is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study: To analyze seven stones ultrastructurally to determine their development mechanism in the submandibular salivary glands. Matherials and methods: To study the morphology (the central and peripheral parts of the submandibular sialolithiasis - n=7) we used a VEGA TESCAN TS 5130MM scanning electron microscope equipped with an Oxford Instruments energy-dispersive x-ray (EDS) system. Results: The study revealed the presence of numerous microstructures of different shapes (nodular, laminar, reticular, microgranular, and multinodular) and variable size arranged in a haphazard fashion. X-ray microanalysis disclosed the component elements in the calculi to be C, Ca, P, Mg, S, Na. The main constituents were Ca and P - in central vs. peripheral parts: 2.5 ± 0.9 vs. 0.8 ± 0.2 (p=0.028) and 2.2 ± 0.7 vs. 0.63 ±0.15 (p=0.02). The major crystals were whitlockite and brushite in central parts of submandibular salivary stone and hydroxyapatite in the peripheral parts. Conclusions: The diverse microstructures encountered strongly suggest that different mechanisms of mineralization occur during growth and development of the sialoliths. High calcium and phosphorous content in the food may be attributed to one of the reasons for the formation of sialoliths