Reconstruction of the Dark Energy equation of state from latest data: the impact of theoretical priors

We reconstruct the Equation of State of Dark Energy (EoS) from current data using a non-parametric approach where, rather than assuming a specific time evolution of this function, we bin it in time. We treat the transition between the bins with two different methods, i.e. a smoothed step function and a Gaussian Process reconstruction, investigating whether or not the two approaches lead to compatible results. Additionally, we include in the reconstruction procedure a correlation between the values of the EoS at different times in the form of a theoretical prior that takes into account a set of viability and stability requirements that one can impose on models alternative to $\Lambda$CDM. In such case, we necessarily specialize to broad, but specific classes of alternative models, i.e. Quintessence and Horndeski gravity. We use data coming from CMB, Supernovae and BAO surveys. We find an overall agreement between the different reconstruction methods used; with both approaches, we find a time dependence of the mean of the reconstruction, with different trends depending on the class of model studied. The constant EoS predicted by the $\Lambda$CDM model falls anyway within the $1\sigma$ bounds of our analysis.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures. Prepared for submission to JCA

Modelling soil-water interaction with the Material Point Method. Evaluation of single-point and double-point formulations

Many problems in geotechnical engineering involve large deformations and soil-water interactions, which pose challenging issues in computational geomechanics. In the last decade, the Material Point Method (MPM) has been successfully applied in a number of large-deformation geotechnical problems and multi-phase MPM formulations have been recently proposed. In particular, there exist two advanced coupled hy-dro-mechanical MPM approaches to model the interaction between solid grains and pore fluids: the single-point and the double-point formulation. The first discretizes the soil-water mixture with a single set of ma-terial points (MP) which moves according to the solid velocity field. The latter uses two sets of MP one for the fluid phase and the other for the solid phase and they move according to the respective velocity field. The aims of this work is to present and compare the two theories, to emphasize their limitations and poten-tialities, and to discuss their applicability in the geotechnical field. To this end, the results of two numerical examples carried out by using both formulations are presented: a 1D-consolidation problem and a saturated column collapse problem

Parafarmaci a marca commerciale? Sì, sono value conscious

Il contributo si posiziona nell’ambito dell’estensione della marca commerciale (MC) a categorie di prodotto extra-core da parte delle insegne grocery. Nello specifico, lo studio propone un modello in cui la value consciousness (VC) modera l’impatto che l’atteggiamento del cliente verso l’estensione (ATEX) ha sull’intenzione di acquistare il prodotto esteso (INTBEX). Viene inoltre indagata l’azione che diversi antecedenti quali FIT, preferenza verso il prodotto di marca industriale (NBP), risorse e competenze del retailer (R&C) e fiducia nell’insegna (TR) hanno sull’INTBEX attraverso l’effetto mediatore di ATEX. Il modello proposto, individuato mediante un sistema di equazioni strutturali (SEM), è stato testato sul parafarmaco a marca commerciale di un’insegna leader nazionale, intervistandone un campione di clienti. I risultati mostrano la bontà e l’adeguatezza del modello impiegato confermando tutte le ipotesi postulate e la loro direzione. Lo studio contribuisce alla letteratura sulla brand extension applicandola a un settore finora trascurato, il retail grocery, e a quella sulla marca commerciale. Inoltre si approfondisce l’impatto moderatore della value consciousness nel contesto di estensione della MC, oltre a quello diretto su ATEX di variabili poco indagate quali R&C e TR

Etica, attenzione alla salute, socializzazione e/o spiritualit\ue0? Le determinanti dell\u2019atteggiamento verso il consumo di prodotti vegani.

Il veganismo si pone oggi come un fenomeno di crescente importanza sia a livello sociale che economico. Particolarmente interessante per gli studi di consumer behavior e per le implicazioni manageriali che ne possono derivare \ue8 l\u2019analisi delle ragioni che portano a sviluppare un atteggiamento positivo verso il consumo di prodotti vegani. La letteratura sul tema ha in particolare identificato ragioni di tipo etico, salutistico, sociale e spirituale, indagandole spesso in modo autonomo e disgiunto. In questo contesto, l\u2019articolo esplora l\u2019impatto delle principali determinanti dell\u2019atteggiamento dei consumatori verso il consumo di prodotti vegani di tipo food tramite un modello che include tutti gli antecedenti sopra citati. Somministrando un questionario strutturato ad un campione di consumatori di prodotti vegani intercettati su pagine social dedicate al veganismo ed applicando poi un modello ad equazioni strutturali sui dati cos\uec raccolti, lo studio mostra come siano soprattutto determinanti di tipo etico, spirituale e sociale a consentire lo sviluppo di un atteggiamento positivo verso i prodotti vegani, mentre non significativa appare l\u2019attenzione alla salute. Alcune riflessioni sulle possibili implicazioni scientifiche e manageriali delle evidenze ottenute vengono sviluppate

Premium Private Labels Products: Drivers of Consumers’ Intention to Buy

In the last years, there has been a proliferation of Private Labels (PLs) and a strategic change in the way retailers conceive and manage this kind of tool. From an instrument devoted to underline the price convenience orientation of retailers, today PLs are articulated in different tiers (economy, standard and premium) and have become a tool to give a good quality option to customers, improving their loyalty and differentiating from competitors. In this context, the paper focuses on a specific PLs tier, Premium Private Labels (PPLs), given the high growth rates, current and perspective, they present. Specifically, the study aims at investigating the drivers of PPLs consumer buying intention. Results derived by the Structural Equation Model employed on a dataset of 211 questionnaires collected by administering a survey on a sample of actual buyers of PPL products show that perceived product quality, label consciousness and the PPL familiarity exert a positive impact on attitude towards PPL products. Conversely, retail customers do not choose a PPL product to conform to others. Moreover, although the increasing extension of the PPL assortment with Geographical Indications, no significant effect was found between the PPLs products branded with a PDO/PGI (Protected Designation of Origin/Protected Geographical Indication) label and attitude towards PPLs. Finally, findings show that the higher the level of consumer familiarity to the PPL, the higher the intention to buy PPL products. These results offer relevant implications from a marketing and strategical viewpoint, providing valuable insights for practitioners and scholars

Retail Brand Extension: From Theory to Practice. A Multi- Country Study of European Grocery Retailers

This chapter reviews the literature on brand extension, with particular reference to retail brand extension strategies performed by grocery retailers. Aims, advantages and disadvantages, as well as types of this strategy are described. Then, the results of a survey aimed at comparing the customers’ perceptions and buying behaviour when retailers extend their brands, in particular when this strategy is pursued in non-traditional businesses, are presented. The survey consisted in administering a structured questionnaire aimed at investigating the main antecedents of brand extension success to samples of retail customers interviewed in two different retail national contexts, namely, Italy and France. The extension product investigated is car fuel offered through a fuel station branded with the retailer’s brand name. Applying Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), the mediating role of attitude towards the extension (ATEX) in generating brand extension success (INTEX) and the key role of fit and of the perceived capability of the retailer to offer the extension product (R&C) as antecedents were verified in both national contexts. On the contrary, the impact of customers’ preference towards national brands (NBP) reported mixed results

Italian Restaurants in Danish Consumers’ Perceptions: A Multi-Cue Analysis in a Product Country Image Perspective

Studies on the country image topic in the services context are rare in comparison with the number of papers investigating the effect that the information on the country of origin exerts on consumer buying behavior when tangible products are concerned. To this regard, the current paper would contribute to the literature on the country-of-origin effect and consumer behavior, exploring the role played by Product Country Image (PCI) in shaping customers attitude when a service offer is concerned – namely: dining services. Specifically, this study tests a conceptual model developed in a multi-cue perspective, that is: evaluating not only the effect of the information on the origin of the service offer investigated, but also assessing consumers’ perceptions related to other service offer cues, such as service quality and perceived value, in this case. A specific national cuisine in the full-service restaurant setting is explored: the Italian one. From the methodological viewpoint, a survey was conducted among Danish customers of Italian restaurants in Copenhagen. The research method employed consisted in a structured questionnaire. Then, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied to the data collected. Results evidence that product country image influences the formation of a positive attitude towards ethnic restaurants even when a multi-cue approach is employed. Scientific and managerial implications are discussed

An enjoyable shopping experience enhances store loyalty

Il crescente numero di persone che viaggiano per affari e vacanza ha portato ad identificare un emergente ed interessante target di consumatori, definiti “On the Move”, i quali sono disposti ad effettuare gli acquisti nel contesto del viaggio. Questa nuova tendenza d’acquisto ha spinto i gestori delle aree di servizio autostradali ad estendere la loro offerta dal settore Food and Beverage (F&B) verso il retail grocery. Il principale contributo di questo lavoro è la concettualizzazione e validazione di un modello strutturale nel quale si definisce la Store Loyalty per mezzo dei suoi principali antecedenti quali Trust e Satisfaction, nonché mediante altri costrutti ad oggi meno indagati come Enjoyment e Convenience, quest’ultima nella doppia accezione di Ricerca e Transazione. Sono stati raccolti 606 questionari da un campione di consumatori “On the Move”. Il Modello di Equazioni Strutturali proposto, mostra buoni livelli di fit ed è in grado di spiegare circa il 66% della store loyalty. I risultati mostrano che un’esperienza di acquisto piacevole agisce positivamente sulla fedeltà all’Insegna. Inoltre, è emerso che la convenienza nella ricerca ha effetti positivi sulla fedeltà, mentre la convenienza nella transazione impatta negativamente sulla fedeltà. Infine, i risultati mostrano che l’effetto della soddisfazione sulla fedeltà è mediato della fiducia. I distributori nella ricerca di fidelizzare il cliente dovrebbero attuare strategie che rendano l’esperienza d’acquisto piacevole, facile e veloce. Inoltre, i clienti soddisfatti mostrano maggiore fiducia verso l’offerta generale del retailer impattando positivamente sulla loro fedeltà all’insegna