Past, present, and future research on self-service merchandising: A co-word and text mining approach

Purpose This study aims to discern emerging trends and provide a longitudinal perspective on merchandising research by identifying relationships between merchandising-related subdomains/themes. Design/methodology/approach This study sourced 657 merchandising-related articles published since 1960, from the Scopus database and 425 from Web of Science. After processing and normalizing the data, this study performed co-word and thematic network analyses. Taking a text mining approach, this study used topic modeling to identify a set of coherent topics characterized by the keywords of the articles. Findings This study identified the following merchandising-related themes: branding, retail, consumer, behavior, modeling, textile and clothing industry and visual merchandising. Although visual merchandising was the first type of merchandising to be used in-store, only recently has it become an emerging topic in the academic literature. There has been a further trend over the past decade to understand the adoption of simulation technology, such as computer-aided design, particularly in supply chain management in the clothing industry. These and other findings contribute to the discussion of the merchandising concept, approached from an evolutionary perspective. Research limitations/implications The conclusions of this study hold implications at the intersection of merchandising, sectors, new technologies, research methodologies and merchandising-practitioner education. Research trends suggest that, in the future, virtual reality and augmented reality using neuroscientific methods will be applied to the e-merchandising context. Practical implications The different dimensions of merchandising can be used to leverage store managers’ decision-making process toward an integrated store-management strategy. In particular, by adopting loyalty merchandising tactics, the store can generate emotional attachment among consumers, who will perceive its value and services as unique, thanks to merchandising items designed specifically with that aim in mind. The stimulation of unplanned purchases, the strategic location of products and duration of each merchandising activity in the store, the digitalization of merchandising and the application of findings from neuroscience studies are some of the most relevant practical applications. Originality/value This study provides the first-ever longitudinal review of the state of the art in merchandising research, taking a holistic perspective of this field of knowledge spanning a 60-year period. The work makes a valuable contribution to the development of the marketing discipline.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Has cupper ion any effect on Sinorhizobium Melitoili bacteria?

Proceedings of the I Congress PIIISA celebrado en la Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Granada, el 26 de abril de 2012.Sinorhizobium meliloti is a soil bacterium that in symbiosis with Alfalfa leguminous plants fixes N2 to ammonia. This process occurs after an intimate communication between host and microsimbiont in the rhizosphere niche. This soil bacterium may suffer biotic and abiotic stresses in this complex environment. Resistance to any of this stresses can be an advantage for this type of bacteria. In this work we test the effects of Cupper ion in the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. We found an effect on pigmentation and this effect is specific of each isolate (i.e. it is very pronounced for the isolate AK83 from Aral sea in Russia). On the other hand, comparison of Cupper ion resistance phenotype between isolates 1021 and GR4 suggests that the resistance of GR4 could be due to a set of 10 genes found in the cryptic plasmid pRmeGR4a of this strain. However, this resistance phenotype also appears in other isolates, and it could be explained by an alternative phenotype as Exopolysaccaride production (EPS+).It was supported mainly by research project MICINN Consolider‐Ingenio 2010. CSD2009‐00006; Scientific research by Young Students in Science (PIIISA2012; http://emc2astronomy.blogspot.com/).Peer reviewe

Design and development of novel screen-printed microelectrode and microbiosensor arrays fabricated using ultrafast pulsed laser ablation

© 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. A new generic platform for the development of microbiosensors combining screen-printing and ultrafast pulsed laser technologies has been developed, characterised and evaluated. This new platform consists of a layer of screen-printed carbon ink containing the enzyme and mediator, covered with an insulating layer formed from a dielectric screen printed ink. Microholes were drilled through the insulated layer by ultrafast pulsed laser ablation to generate the microbiosensor array. The geometry of the microelectrode array was evaluated by optical microscopy, white light surface profiling and scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical behaviour of the microelectrode array was characterised by cyclic voltammetry and compared with macroelectrodes. The analytical performance of the microbiosensor array was evaluated with external counter and reference electrodes for hydrogen peroxide and glucose determination showing linearity up to 4 mmol L-1 and 20 mmol L-1 (360 mg dL-1) respectively. The full screen printed three-electrode configuration shows linearity for glucose determination up to 20 mmol L-1 (360 mg dL-1). This study provides a new fabrication method for microelectrode and microbiosensor arrays capable for the first time to retain the activity of the enzymatic system after processing by pulse laser ablation

Morpho-structural and thermo-mechanical characterization of recycled polypropylene and polystyrene from mixed post-consumer plastic waste

In this work, a complete sorting and characterization of dirty non-recyclable mixed plastic (plasmix fraction) from municipal solid waste was performed. The procedure comprised a visual inspection and identification of the materials presented in the mixed plastic bales, and subsequent moisture and dirt content determination. Afterwards, both polypropylene and polystyrene fractions obtained from the sorting process were recycled and physico-mechanically and thermally characterized for the assessment of recycled material quality. The dirty nonrecyclable mixed plastic from municipal solid waste was composed of polypropylene (28.89 %), polyethylene terephthalate (22.02 %), polystyrene (9.65 %) and rigid polyethylene (4.68 %). Regarding the moisture and dirt content of the mixed plastic fraction, the results were highly variable, mainly due to the heterogeneity of the material, its origin, atmospheric conditions, etc. The average sum of both parameters (moisture and dirt) was around 15 %. The mechanical properties were within the expected range for each type of polymer, noting that polystyrene recycled materials are more brittle than recycled polypropylene. The recycling of non-food polypropylene wastes yielded a material with higher impact resistance (70 kJ/m2) and Young´s modulus (1934 MPa) as compared to that obtained from the recycling of food packages. Concerning the polystyrene recyclates, it is worth mentioning that recycled materials obtained from foamed residues (expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene showed approximately twice the tensile strength with respect to the recycled materials from high impact polystyrene and general-purpose polystyrene residues. In some cases, infrared and thermal analyses revealed cross-contamination with traces of other polymers

Positive psychology of Malaysian students: impacts of engagement, motivation, self-compassion and wellbeing on mental health

Malaysia plays a key role in education of the Asia Pacific, expanding its scholarly output rapidly. However, mental health of Malaysian students is challenging, and their help-seeking is low because of stigma. This study explored the relationships between mental health and positive psychological constructs (academic engagement, motivation, self-compassion, and wellbeing), and evaluated the relative contribution of each positive psychological construct to mental health in Malaysian students. An opportunity sample of 153 students completed the measures regarding these constructs. Correlation, regression, and mediation analyses were conducted. Engagement, amotivation, self-compassion, and wellbeing were associated with, and predicted large variance in mental health. Self-compassion was the strongest independent predictor of mental health among all the positive psychological constructs. Findings can imply the strong links between mental health and positive psychology, especially selfcompassion. Moreover, intervention studies to examine the effects of self-compassion training on mental health of Malaysian students appear to be warranted.N/

The global threat of antimicrobial resistance: science for intervention

In the last decade we have witnessed a dramatic increase in the proportion and absolute number of bacterial pathogens resistant to multiple antibacterial agents. Multidrug-resistant bacteria are currently considered as an emergent global disease and a major public health problem. The B-Debate meeting brought together renowned experts representing the main stakeholders (i.e. policy makers, public health authorities, regulatory agencies, pharmaceutical companies and the scientific community at large) to review the global threat of antibiotic resistance and come up with a coordinated set of strategies to fight antimicrobial resistance in a multifaceted approach. We summarize the views of the B-Debate participants regarding the current situation of antimicrobial resistance in animals and the food chain, within the community and the healthcare setting as well as the role of the environment and the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, providing expert recommendations to tackle the global threat of antimicrobial resistance

MANUEL À L’USAGE DES OBSERVATEURS SCIENTIFIQUES À BORD DES BATEAUX MERLUTIÈRS DANS LES EAUX D’AFRIQUE OCCIDENTALE

Ce manuel a été développé dans le cadre du projet « Study on improvement for the analysis and exploitation of observer reports in EU fisheries from NW African waters », Specific Contract No 12 dans le Framework Contract EASME/EMFF/2016/008, et consolidé par toutes les institutions impliquées lors de l’« Atelier sur la normalisation des méthodes d’observateurs au bord » qui s’est tenu à Santa Cruz de Tenerife du 27 au31 janvier 2020.Centro Oceanográfico de Málag

Cardiogenic shock following administration of propofol and fentanyl in a healthy woman: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Cardiogenic shock is very uncommon in healthy people. The differential diagnosis for patients with acute heart failure in previously healthy hearts includes acute myocardial infarction and myocarditis. However, many drugs can also depress myocardial function. Propofol and fentanyl are frequently used during different medical procedures. The cardiovascular depressive effect of both drugs has been well established, but the development of cardiogenic shock is very rare when these agents are used.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>After a minor surgical intervention, a 32-year-old Caucasian woman with no significant medical history went into sudden hemodynamic deterioration due to acute heart failure. An urgent echocardiogram showed severe biventricular dysfunction and an estimated left ventricular ejection fraction of 20%. Extracorporeal life support and mechanical ventilation were required. Five days later her ventricular function had fully recovered, which allowed the progressive withdrawal of medical treatment. Prior to her hospital discharge, cardiac MRI showed neither edema nor pathological deposits on the delayed contrast enhancement sequences. At her six-month follow-up examination, the patient was asymptomatic and did not require treatment.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although there are many causes of cardiogenic shock, the presence of abrupt hemodynamic deterioration and the absence of a clear cause could be related to the use of propofol and fentanyl.</p

Depressive Dysfunctional Attitudes and Post-Traumatic Stress in Victims of Terrorist Attacks

Background: The DSM-5's new conception of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) includes, as a diagnostic criterion, the presence of persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs, thoughts, or expectations about oneself, others, the world, and one's guilt. These symptoms increase the symptomatic similarity with major depressive disorder (MDD) and with the negative cognitive triad of Beck's cognitive theory of depression and allow us to assume that the dysfunctional attitudes that this theory proposes as a vulnerability factor for MDD could also refer to PTSD. Objective: This study aims to examine the relationship between depressive dysfunctional attitudes and the symptoms and diagnosis of PTSD. Methods: A sample of 378 adult victims of terrorism completed measures of depressive dysfunctional attitudes (DAS-A), DSM-IV post-traumatic stress symptoms (PCL-S), depressive symptoms (BDI-II), and DSM-IV diagnosis of emotional disorders (SCID-I CV). Results: A significant relationship was found between depressive dysfunctional attitudes and PTSD symptomatology, even after controlling for the effect of depression, sex, age, education level, anxiety, and previous depressive episodes. It was also found that victims with PTSD, with or without MDD, had more depressive dysfunctional attitudes than those without emotional disorders and more achievement-perfectionism attitudes than victims with emotional disorders other than PTSD or MDD. Conclusions: The results suggest that depressive dysfunctional attitudes could be a vulnerability factor for PTSD. The results also suggest the need to refine Beck's cognitive theory proposals about dysfunctional attitudes common and specific to each emotional disorder and identify potential therapeutic targets of cognitive therapies for these disorders