Slogans With Negations’ Effect on Sustainable Luxury Brand

The integration of sustainability within luxury brands is of increasing concern to practitioners and academics alike. Thus, it is important to consider how brands can develop effective communication strategies to promote sustainable luxury brands, particularly among an increasingly skeptical consumer base. This research thus investigates the impact of advertising slogans with negations (vs. affirmations) in this regard. Three experimental studies show that advertising slogans with negations (vs. affirmations) increase brand trustworthiness (Studies 1 and 3) and favorable brand attitudes (Studies 1 and 2) among consumers with high levels of skepticism. Notably, this effect is driven by an increased cognitive flexibility (Study 3). The findings of this research can assist sustainable luxury brand managers in developing effective communication strategies to increase favorable consumer responses to sustainable luxury brands

Do male engagement and couples’ communication influence maternal health care-seeking? Findings from a household survey in Mozambique

Background: This study explored effects of couples’ communication and male participation in birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) on delivery in a health facility (“institutional delivery”). A cross-sectional, baseline household survey was conducted in November 2016 prior to an integrated maternal and child health project in Nampula and Sofala Provinces in Mozambique. Methods: The study used the Knowledge, Practices and Coverage survey tool, a condensed version of the Demographic and Health Survey and other tools. The sample included 1422 women. Multivariable logit regression models tested the association of institutional delivery with couples’ communication and four elements of BPCR both with and without male partners: 1) saving money, 2) arranging transport, 3) choosing a birth companion, and 4) choosing a delivery site; controlling for partners’ attendance in antenatal care and social and demographic determinants (education, wealth, urban/rural location, and province). Results: The odds that women would deliver in a health facility were 46% greater (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02–2.10, p = 0.04) amongst women who discussed family planning with their partners than those who did not. Approximately half of this effect was mediated through BPCR. When a woman arranged transport on her own, there was no significant increase in institutional delivery, but with partner involvement, there was a larger, significant association (aOR = 4.31, 2.64–7.02). Similarly, when a woman chose a delivery site on her own, there was no significant association with institutional delivery (aOR 1.52,0.81–2.83), but with her partner, there was a larger and significant association (aOR 1.98, 1.16–3.36). Neither saving money nor choosing a birth companion showed a significant association with institutional delivery—with or without partner involvement. The odds of delivering in a facility were 28% less amongst poor women whose partners did not participate in BPCR than wealthy women, but when partners helped choose a place of delivery and arrange transport, this gap was nearly eliminated. Conclusions: Our findings add to growing global evidence that men play an important role in improving maternal and newborn health, particularly through BPCR, and that couples’ communication is a key approach for promoting high-impact health behaviors

Erratum to: Estimation of country-specific and global prevalence of male circumcision.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s12963-016-0073-5.]

Prosumers in times of crisis: definition, archetypes and implications

Purpose: This paper defines prosumers in light of the COVID-19 crisis and other contexts. It addresses how prosumers helped overcome challenges caused by COVID-19 and is the first paper to develop a taxonomy of prosumers, their differentiating characteristics and the degree to which they are useful in overcoming the challenges of COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach: We conducted a literature search of the prosumer literature using the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Findings: This study solves a definitional dilemma of prosumers and develops six prosumer archetypes displaying the nuances of prosumers. The study shows that the six prosumer archetypes vary in their usefulness in addressing challenges caused by COVID-19. The findings demonstrate the micro (individual), meso (organizational) and macro (societal) benefits offered by prosumers in times of crises. Research limitations/implications: This study has some clear implications for the prosumer literature, the services literature and the crisis literature by clarifying the role of prosumers in times of crisis. Practical implications: This paper offers several implications at the micro (individual), meso (organizational), and macro (societal) levels that are offered by prosumers in times of crises. The benefits of prosumers afford individuals, service practitioners and other organizations ways to remain resilient and strong in the face of significant crises such as COVID-19. Originality/value: This paper makes three specific contributions. First, it contributes to the service literature by highlighting the role and value of prosumers in crises, an area currently under-researched. Secondly, it developed six prosumer archetypes displaying the nuances of prosumers, contributing to the prosumer literature by sharpening the focus of this versatile phenomenon and demonstrating the differential value of each type of prosumer in times of crises. Lastly, the study advances the prosumer literature by resolving the definitional dilemma of prosumers and by providing a broad, yet specific definition of prosumers that captures the different perspectives evident in the prosumer literature

Why do consumers become providers? Self-determination in the sharing economy

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore why and how sharing economy users switch from consumer (e.g. Airbnb guest) to provider (e.g. Airbnb host), and how this helps enrich self-determination theory. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted an exploratory study with users who had been consumers (i.e. Airbnb guests) and had switched to being providers (i.e. Airbnb hosts). Findings: Consumers switch to being providers across four phases: “catalysts”, “enablers”, “drivers” and “glue”. The authors identify various extrinsic and intrinsic motivations unique to the switch and map these against motivators postulated by self-determination theory. Research limitations/implications: The authors propose a four-phase process through which consumers become providers. The present study enriches self-determination theory by showing how users' psychosocial needs are addressed through a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that are unique to the role switch. The authors further show how the importance of the three key psychosocial self-determination needs varies through the switch process, thus providing a more nuanced understanding of users' drive for self-determination. Practical implications: This study offers several recommendations to help sharing economy platforms improve their processes and communication to encourage a greater number of consumers to switch roles and become providers. These recommendations address two aspects: (1) encouraging consumers to switch roles and become providers (i.e. acquisition) and following this (2) encouraging providers to continue to perform that role (i.e. retention). Originality/value: Much research has investigated why users become consumers (e.g. Airbnb guests) or providers (e.g. Airbnb hosts) in the sharing economy. However, research to date has not fully embraced the two-sided nature of the sharing economy. Therefore, this is the first paper to explore why and how consumers switch roles and become providers in the sharing economy, and how this helps enrich self-determination theory

Genetic algorithms for optimal placement of phasor measurement units in electrical networks.

A genetic algorithm-based procedure for solving the optimal phasor measurement units (PMUs) placement problem is presented. It determines the minimal number of PMUs and their geographic distribution making the network observable, and it shows the relationship between the number of current phasors that must be measured on each PMU and the necessary number of PMUs for a given network. Introduction: Current energy management systems (EMSs) need to accurately monitor in real time the power system state variables, i.e. the voltage phasors (voltages in module and phase) of each bus. The fundamental tool is the state estimation that constitutes the core of all the control operations. A minimum number of appropriately distributed PMUs is needed in order to carry out its state estimation. When these measurements are available, we say the system is observable. The formulation of the observability analysis can be performed by means of measurement assignments to branches with topological algorithms (topological or graphical observability) [1, 2], or as a numerical approach of the measurement and network loop equations (numerical or floating-point observability) When a new state estimation is put into service, or upgrades an existing one, the problem of minimising the number of PMUs and their well-distribution (measurement placement) that provides the maximum reliability for the smallest cost possible arises. In this Letter, we face the problem of finding, using genetic algorithms (GA

Estimation of country-specific and global prevalence of male circumcision.

BACKGROUND: Male circumcision (MC) status and genital infection risk are interlinked and MC is now part of HIV prevention programs worldwide. Current MC prevalence is not known for all countries globally. Our aim was to provide estimates for country-specific and global MC prevalence. METHODS: MC prevalence data were obtained by searches in PubMed, Demographic and Health Surveys, AIDS Indicator Surveys, and Behavioural Surveillance Surveys. Male age was ≥15 years in most surveys. Where no data were available, the population proportion whose religious faith or culture requires MC was used. The total number of circumcised males in each country and territory was calculated using figures for total males from (i) 2015 US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) data for sex ratio and total population in all 237 countries and territories globally and (ii) 2015 United Nations (UN) figures for males aged 15-64 years. RESULTS: The estimated percentage of circumcised males in each country and territory varies considerably. Based on (i) and (ii) above, global MC prevalence was 38.7 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 33.4, 43.9) and 36.7 % (95 % CI: 31.4, 42.0). Approximately half of circumcisions were for religious and cultural reasons. For countries lacking data we assumed 99.9 % of Muslims and Jews were circumcised. If actual prevalence in religious groups was lower, then MC prevalence in those countries would be lower. On the other hand, we assumed a minimum prevalence of 0.1 % related to MC for medical reasons. This may be too low, thereby underestimating MC prevalence in some countries. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides the most accurate estimate to date of MC prevalence in each country and territory in the world. We estimate that 37-39 % of men globally are circumcised. Considering the health benefits of MC, these data may help guide efforts aimed at the use of voluntary, safe medical MC in disease prevention programs in various countries

Prospecciones durante la campaña 2013 revelaron la ausencia de la roya naranja de la caña de azúcar en la Argentina

La roya naranja de la caña de azúcar, causada por el hongo Puccinia kuehnii E.J. Butler, afecta el follaje de la planta limitando su desarrollo y provocando pérdidas de rendimiento en cultivares susceptibles. En el año 2000, esta enfermedad afectó a la principal variedad cultivada en Australia, Q124, provocando disminuciones estimadas entre un 30% y 40% en el rendimiento cultural; esto resultó en la pérdida económica más importante en la historia de la industria azucarera de ese país (Ángel Sánchez et al., 2010; Díaz et al., 2010).Fil: Henriquez, Diego Daniel.Fil: Pérez Gémez, Sergio G.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Bertani, Romina Priscila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Funes, Claudia.Fil: Díaz, Edmundo Federico.Fil: Joya, Constanza María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: González, Victoria.Fil: Cuenya, María Inés. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ploper, Leonardo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estacion Exp.agroindustr. "obispo Colombres"(p). Seccion Fitopatologia; Argentin

Hair analysis following chronic smoked-drugs-of-abuse exposure in adults and their toddler: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Over the past two decades, the study of chronic cocaine and crack cocaine exposure in the pediatric population has been focused on the potential adverse effects, especially in the prenatal period and early childhood. Non-invasive biological matrices have become an essential tool for the assessment of a long-term history of drug of abuse exposure.</p> <p>Case report</p> <p>We analyze the significance of different biomarker values in hair after chronic crack exposure in a two-year-old Caucasian girl and her parents, who are self-reported crack smokers. The level of benzoylecgonine, the principal metabolite of cocaine, was determined in segmented hair samples (0 cm to 3 cm from the scalp, and > 3 cm from the scalp) following washing to exclude external contamination. Benzoylecgonine was detectable in high concentrations in the child's hair, at 1.9 ng/mg and 7.04 ng/mg, respectively. Benzoylecgonine was also present in the maternal and paternal hair samples at 7.88 ng/mg and 6.39 ng/mg, and 13.06 ng/mg and 12.97 ng/mg, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Based on the data from this case and from previously published poisoning cases, as well as on the experience of our research group, we conclude that, using similar matrices for the study of chronic drug exposure, children present with a higher cocaine concentration in hair and they experience more serious deleterious acute effects, probably due to a different and slower cocaine metabolism. Consequently, children must be not exposed to secondhand crack smoke under any circumstance.</p