Brand Preferences, Social Influences and the Stated Needs of the Adolescent Shopper: An Insider's Perspective

The subject of adolescent consumer behaviour is explored in the present study, by concentrating on a segment of the total market, specifically the affluent adolescents; students of private schools in Athens, Greece. The research brings together issues of adolescent consumer behaviour, brand preferences, brand relationships, susceptibility to interpersonal influences, reference groups and impulse purchases. Current knowledge has not focused on the variable of socioeconomic background, and does not provide sufficient understanding of how the issues mentioned above are perceived to interact. Moreover, current knowledge is based largely on old researches and the social evolution of this age group might have had an impact on consumer behaviour. Middle-upper class adolescents are an important segment as they have greater spending power and shopping involvement. An insider's account is needed create a profile of the market segment. By conducting a qualitative interpretative research, the subject is explored inclusively, and valuable theoretical contribution is achieved. Twenty informants were interviewed and the material was analysed thematically. Findings indicate that shopping is a complex yet joyful activity for adolescents, who appear to be keen on information searching. Experiential knowledge and anticonformity (Lin et al., 2007) are the primary drivers of brand relationships, which were few and weak, and the criteria for their brand repertoire (Ehrenberg, 2000) preferences. Price is an important concluding criterion, whereas likeness and quality is the initial one, influencing the need's intensity. Middle upper class adolescents are market mavens (Goldsmith et al., 2003) displaying utilitarian and hedonic shopping orientation simultaneously. Normative reference groups are found to be reprehensible and avoided as they are endangering the individual's uniqueness. Adolescent's viewpoint of consumption is believed to differ from the adults cost-effective thinking (Ahava et al., 2004), but this study suggests it is even more advanced in some cases, being benefit-effective, not as superficial as described in the literature. Three concepts are defined, contributing insights to consumer behaviour theory. The current literature is enriched by the differentiation of economic and recreational shoppers' (Bellenger et al., 1980), who in the present research are described as logical and spontaneous due to their special characteristics and versatile behaviour. Also, a theoretical contribution of this study is the creation of the stated needs dimensions conceptualised to place needs in four major categories according to how they are described and assist in predicting consumer action. Finally, a new type of reference group is defined, individualistic reference group which benefits its members psychologically in a similar way similarly to how utilitarian and value-expressive reference groups do; however members don't have the tendency to comply with any consumption or behavioural rules. Research limitations, implications and further research areas are also analysed

COAGULAÇÃO INTRAVASCULAR DISSEMINADA DEVIDO A UM HEMATOMA INTRATORÁCICO DE GRANDES PROPORÇÕES – UM RELATO DE CASO

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a coagulopathy derived from the massive consumption of platelets and coagulation factors, and it is linked to any factor that alters drastically the hemostasy. This is the case of a patient with chronic renal failure (CRF) that suffered a punction accident after the placing of a Schiller catether, generating a great size intrathoracic hematoma and which result was a coagulopathy setting. Although it was a possible etiology to DIVC, it’s not common to see great hematomas listed as etiology to DIC in the conventional medical literature or even in articles of bibliographic revision. In this report, a relationship between a non-resolution of a intrathoracic hematoma and a appearance of a DIC setting in this patient will be evinced.A coagulação intravascular disseminada (CIVD) é uma coagulopatia derivada do consumo massivo de plaquetas e fatores da coagulação, e está ligada a qualquer fator que altere drasticamente a hemostasia. O caso apresentado se refere a um paciente com insuficiência renal crônica (IRC) que sofreu um acidente de punção após a colocação de um cateter de Schiller, gerando um hematoma intratorácico de grandes proporções e cujo desfecho foi um quadro de coagulopatia. Embora seja uma possível etiologia de CIVD, não é comum ver grandes hematomas listados como etiologia de CIVD na literatura médica convencional ou mesmo em artigos de revisão bibliográfica. Neste relato, evidencia-se a relação entre a não-resolução de um hematoma intratorácico e o surgimento do quadro de CIVD no referido paciente

On the use of reanalysis data for downscaling

In this study, a worldwide overview on the expected sensitivity of downscaling studies to reanalysis choice is provided. To this end, the similarity of middle-tropospheric variables—which are important for the development of both dynamical and statistical downscaling schemes—from 40-yr European Centre for Medium- Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40) and NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data on a daily time scale is assessed. For estimating the distributional similarity, two comparable scores are used: the twosample Kolmogorov–Smirnov statistic and the probability density function (PDF) score. In addition, the similarity of the day-to-day sequences is evaluated with the Pearson correlation coefficient. As the most important results demonstrated, the PDF score is found to be inappropriate if the underlying data follow a mixed distribution. By providing global similarity maps for each variable under study, regions where reanalysis data should not assumed to be ‘‘perfect’’ are detected. In contrast to the geopotential and temperature, significant distributional dissimilarities for specific humidity are found in almost every region of the world. Moreover, for the latter these differences not only occur in the mean, but also in higher-order moments. However, when considering standardized anomalies, distributional and serial dissimilarities are negligible overmost extratropical land areas. Since transformed reanalysis data are not appropriate for regional climate models—in opposition to statistical approaches—their results are expected to be more sensitive to reanalysis choice

Diagnóstico e tratamento de infecção de corrente sanguínea relacionada ao cateter de hemodiálise : protocolo clínico

Os cateteres venosos para hemodiálise estão associados a uma série de complicações infecciosas e, em particular, à infecção de corrente sanguínea relacionada ao cateter a qual acarreta morbidade, mortalidade e custos de saúde tendo incidência aproximada de um a dois episódios de bacteremia por cateter-ano. O objetivo deste trabalho é elaborar um protocolo de atendimento para os pacientes com infecção de corrente sanguínea relacionada ao cateter de hemodiálise, com estabelecimento de critérios para diagnóstico e uniformizar a abordagem, incluindo escolha de antibioticoterapia empírica, antibioticoterapia guiada por antibiograma e as indicações de remoção ou preservação do cateter

Sensitivity of the Statistical DownScaling Model (SDSM) to reanalysis products

To produce accurate daily predictions of future climate variables at the regional scale, the Statistical DownScaling Model (SDSM) identifies relationships between large-scale 'predictors' and local-scale 'predictands, ' using a multiple linear regression model. In this study, separate downscaled precipitation and temperature scenarios were generated using the SDSM with the calibrations and validations derived from two different reanalyses for a climate station in southwestern Ontario. From these comparisons, we have identified statistically significant differences between the two downscaled and observed time-series. Furthermore, the separate downscaled scenarios were used as the climatic inputs into the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrologic model to statistically identify significant differences between simulated and observed daily discharge from the Fairchild Creek watershed. These comparisons indicated that the choice of the reanalysis used to calibrate the SDSM can significantly impact the downscaled scenarios used for various hydrologic applications over the region evaluated in southwestern Ontario

Brand Preferences, Social Influences and the Stated Needs of the Adolescent Shopper: An Insider's Perspective

The subject of adolescent consumer behaviour is explored in the present study, by concentrating on a segment of the total market, specifically the affluent adolescents; students of private schools in Athens, Greece. The research brings together issues of adolescent consumer behaviour, brand preferences, brand relationships, susceptibility to interpersonal influences, reference groups and impulse purchases. Current knowledge has not focused on the variable of socioeconomic background, and does not provide sufficient understanding of how the issues mentioned above are perceived to interact. Moreover, current knowledge is based largely on old researches and the social evolution of this age group might have had an impact on consumer behaviour. Middle-upper class adolescents are an important segment as they have greater spending power and shopping involvement. An insider's account is needed create a profile of the market segment. By conducting a qualitative interpretative research, the subject is explored inclusively, and valuable theoretical contribution is achieved. Twenty informants were interviewed and the material was analysed thematically. Findings indicate that shopping is a complex yet joyful activity for adolescents, who appear to be keen on information searching. Experiential knowledge and anticonformity (Lin et al., 2007) are the primary drivers of brand relationships, which were few and weak, and the criteria for their brand repertoire (Ehrenberg, 2000) preferences. Price is an important concluding criterion, whereas likeness and quality is the initial one, influencing the need's intensity. Middle upper class adolescents are market mavens (Goldsmith et al., 2003) displaying utilitarian and hedonic shopping orientation simultaneously. Normative reference groups are found to be reprehensible and avoided as they are endangering the individual's uniqueness. Adolescent's viewpoint of consumption is believed to differ from the adults cost-effective thinking (Ahava et al., 2004), but this study suggests it is even more advanced in some cases, being benefit-effective, not as superficial as described in the literature. Three concepts are defined, contributing insights to consumer behaviour theory. The current literature is enriched by the differentiation of economic and recreational shoppers' (Bellenger et al., 1980), who in the present research are described as logical and spontaneous due to their special characteristics and versatile behaviour. Also, a theoretical contribution of this study is the creation of the stated needs dimensions conceptualised to place needs in four major categories according to how they are described and assist in predicting consumer action. Finally, a new type of reference group is defined, individualistic reference group which benefits its members psychologically in a similar way similarly to how utilitarian and value-expressive reference groups do; however members don't have the tendency to comply with any consumption or behavioural rules. Research limitations, implications and further research areas are also analysed

Η διερεύνηση της επίδρασης της εβδομαδιαίας επιβάρυνσης στη λειτουργική κατάσταση των παλαιστών

Το άθλημα της πάλης ανήκει στα δυναμικά αθλήματα απαιτώντας υψηλά επίπεδα τεχνικής και φυσικής κατάστασης. Ο ορθός και σωστά δομημένος προγραμματισμός αποτελεί τον πλέον σημαντικό παράγοντα για υψηλές επιδόσεις. Σκοπός της παρούσας έρευνας ήταν να εξετάσει ποιο πρότυπο εβδομαδιαίας επιβάρυνσης έχει την καταλληλότερη επίδραση στην λειτουργική ικανότητα των παλαιστών υψηλού επιπέδου ,ανάλογα με τη συχνότητά των προπονήσεων μέσα στην εβδομάδα. Στη μελέτη έλαβαν μέρος 18 αθλητές πάλης υψηλών επιδόσεων οι οποίοι χωρίστηκαν σε 3 ομάδες 7,6 και 5 ατόμων. Η κάθε ομάδα ακολούθησε ένα διαφορετικό εβδομαδιαίο πλάνο προπόνησης και υποβαλλόταν σε μετρήσεις στην αρχή και στο τέλος του πειράματος με ιατροπαιδαγωγικά τεστ και ιατρο-παιδαγωγική παρατήρηση. Η διεξαγωγή της έρευνας διήρκησε 3 εβδομάδες. Βασίστηκε στην επίκληση της αυθεντίας, σε βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση και αναζήτηση ηλεκτρονικών άρθρων από το Google Scholar. Η διεξαγωγή του πειράματος ήταν ο πυρήνας της έρευνας και τέλος πραγματοποιήθηκε η στατιστική ανάλυση των δεδομένων. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι το μοντέλο, το οποίο είχε την βέλτιστη επίδραση στην λειτουργική κατάσταση των παλαιστών ήταν το 2ο στο οποίο οι προπονήσεις ήταν οκτώ φορές την εβδομάδα (Δευτέρα, Τρίτη πρωί και βράδυ, Πέμπτη, Παρασκευή πρωί και βράδυ, τρείς ημέρες ανάπαυση). Η πρακτική σημασία της έρευνας έγκειται στο ότι τα αποτελέσματά της μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν γενικότερα στα προγράμματα προπόνησης συλλόγων και εθνικών ομάδων, επίσης για την ανάπτυξη της οργανωτικής δομής της καθοδήγησης της προπόνησης σε αθλητές επιδόσεων που επιθυμούν να ενταχθούν στην εθνική ομάδα και τέλος για την περαιτέρω διερεύνηση της ορθολογικοποίησης των μεθόδων και άλλων παραμέτρων της προπόνησης των παλαιστών. Καταλήγοντας στα συμπεράσματά της έρευνας διαπιστώνουμε ότι κάθε εξωτερική επιβάρυνση προκαλεί μια συγκεκριμένη λειτουργική αντίδραση. Η χρησιμοποίηση τριήμερης διάρκειας μικρόκυκλων στον προπονητικό σχεδιασμό φαίνεται να βελτιώνει σημαντικά την λειτουργική κατάσταση των παλαιστών. Αποδείξαμε ότι η οργάνωση της εβδομαδιαίας προπονητικής διαδικασίας σε οκτώ προπονητικές μονάδες έχει την βέλτιστη επίδραση στην λειτουργική κατάσταση παλαιστών υψηλών επιδόσεων και ότι οι 14000 μονάδες επιβάρυνσης αποτελούν το βέλτιστο προπονητικό ερέθισμα .Καταλήγοντας, η προπονητική επιβάρυνση μετά από κάποιο όριο δεν επιφέρει πρόσθετα οφέλη στην λειτουργική κατάσταση των παλαιστών. Λέξεις κλειδιά: Ελληνορωμαϊκή Πάλη, συχνότητα προπόνησης, πρόγραμμα προπόνησης.The sport of wrestling belongs to the dynamic sports requiring high levels of technical and physical condition. Proper and well-structured programming is the most important factor for high performance. The purpose of this study was to examine which weekly load pattern has the most appropriate effect on the functional ability of high level wrestlers, depending on the frequency of training during the week. The study involved 18 high-performance wrestlers who were divided into 3 groups of 7.6 and 5 people. Each group followed a different weekly training plan and underwent measurements at the beginning and end of the experiment with medical pedagogical tests and medical pedagogical observation. The investigation lasted 3 weeks. It is based on the invocation of authority, on bibliographic review and search of electronic articles by Google Scholar. The experiment was the core of the research and finally the statistical analysis of the data was performed. The results showed that the model, which had the best effect on the functional condition of the wrestlers was the 2nd in which the trainings were eight times a week (Monday, Tuesday morning and evening, Thursday, Friday morning and evening, three days rest). The practical importance of the research lies in the fact that its results can be used more generally in the training programs of clubs and national teams, also for the development of the organizational structure of coaching training for performance athletes wishing to join the national team and finally for further investigation. the rationalization of methods and other parameters of wrestler training. Concluding the findings of the research we find that each external load causes a specific functional reaction. The use of three-day microcycles in the training design seems to significantly improve the functional condition of the wrestlers. We have shown that the organization of the weekly training process in eight training units has the best effect on the functional state of high-performance wrestlers and that the 14000 load units are the optimal training stimulus. In conclusion, the training load after a certain limit does not bring additional benefits to the functional condition of the wrestlers. Keywords: Greco-Roman Wrestling, training frequency, training program

Protective Effects of Systiva^® Seed Treatment Fungicide for the Control of Winter Wheat Foliar Diseases Caused at Early Stages Due to Climate Change

Foliar fungal diseases are a serious threat to winter wheat production and climate change appears to favor pathogens associated with leaf blotch and tan spot symptoms in the Mediterranean area. The present work aimed to highlight these risks and propose appropriate disease management strategies by evaluating the seed treatment with the Systiva® (BASF) fungicide as a means to protect the crop against foliar fungal infections during the early growing stages. Towards that aim, plant tissue symptoms affected by the pathogens Pyrenophora tritici-repentis and Septoria spp. were systematically recorded in a study field in the region of Larissa, central Greece for three years (2016–2018), and the findings were associated with the monthly weather anomalies. Consequently, for the growing period of 2021–2022, a field experiment was established in the same disease prone field, comparing different doses of the seed treatment with Systiva® fungicide against leaf blotch and tan spot diseases. The evaluation was made by visual disease assessments, remote sensing with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and metagenomics analysis. Parallel measurements on straw residues were also made to characterize the plant residues perithecia (pseudothecia). Visual leaf disease assessments and UAV remote sensing data showed that Systiva® treatments at doses of 125 cc and 150 cc per 100 kg of wheat seed can reduce the percentage of infected wheat plants caused by foliar fungal pathogens at wheat growth stages GS23-25 and GS30-31. Moreover, the metagenomics analyses performed on the microbial communities revealed that Systiva® can decrease the degree of infection by P. tritici-repentis and Z. tritici but do not provide sufficient protection against P. nodorum. Foliar diseases were influenced by the soil surface area covered with straw residue with a high proportion of natural inoculum (pseudothecia/ascospores)