Who relies on mobile payment systems when they are on vacation? A segmentation analysis

Despite the growth of mobile phone use in travel planning, the number of tourists that adopt mobile payments (m-payments) is not high. As tourist trust in m-payment has been identified as an essential factor in m-transaction behaviour, this study contributes with a segmentation and a characterization of tourists based on their trust in m-payments. An online survey of Spanish tourists who use smartphones for travel purposes was conducted to collect the data. Utilizing cluster analysis, the data indicate that heterogeneity exists and that tourists can be classified into three segments depending on their trust in m-payments: tourists with high trust in m-payments, tourists with medium trust in m-payments and tourists with low trust in m-payments. Moreover, in terms of the characterization of these three segments, Pearson´s Chi-square found that they show different demographic characteristics. While tourists who travel for pleasure three or more times per year, men, tourists aged between 25 and 34 and the self-employed are overrepresented in users with high trust in m-payments, tourists who travel for pleasure once a year, women and users older than 45 years of age are overrepresented in users with low trust in m-payments. The segments identified will allow tourism companies to adapt their m-payment strategies

Tectonoelins, new norlignans from a bioactive extract of Tectona grandis

A phytochemical study on the most bioactive extract from Tectona grandis led to the isolation of two new norlignans, tectonoelin A and tectonoelin B, together with ten known compounds. The structures of the compounds were determined by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR techniques. This is the first time that this type of compound (C8–C80 linkage norlignans) has been isolated from a dicotyledon. The general bioactivities of the isolated compounds have been studied using etiolated wheat coleoptiles. The activities showed that the isolated lignans and norlignans should be part of the defence mechanisms of this plant

Hydrolysable Tannins and Biological Activities of Meriania hernandoi and Meriania nobilis (Melastomataceae)

A bio-guided study of leaf extracts allowed the isolation of two new macrobicyclic hydrolysable tannins, namely merianin A (1) and merianin B (2), and oct-1-en-3-yl b-xylopyranosyl-(1”-6’)-b-glucopyranoside (3) from Meriania hernandoi, in addition to 11 known compounds reported for the first time in the Meriania genus. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses including one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques and mass spectrometry. The bioactivities of the compounds were determined by measuring the DPPH radical scavenging activity and by carrying out antioxidant power assays (FRAP), etiolated wheat coleoptile assays and phytotoxicity assays on the standard target species Lycopersicum esculentum W. (tomato). Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited the best free radical scavenging activities, with FRS50 values of 2.0 and 1.9 M, respectively

Synthesis of (±)-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl- 4-methyloctanoate as a novel internal standard for capsinoid determination by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS(QTOF)

Capsinoids exhibit health-promoting properties and are therefore compounds of interest for medical and food sciences. They are minor compounds present in relatively high concentrations in only a few number of pepper cultivars. It is desirable to quantify capsinoids to provide selected cultivars with high capsinoid contents, which can then be employed as health food product. Quantifying low concentrations of capsinoids from pepper fruit requires a precise and selective analytical technique such as HPLC coupled to electrospray ionization - mass spectrometry, with development of an internal standard essential. In this work, the synthesis method of a novel compound analogue of capsinoids, the (±)-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl-4-methyloctanoate, which could be a suitable internal standard for capsinoid determination by electrospray ionization - mass spectrometry is described. (±)-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl-4-methyloctanoate was stable under the analysis conditions and exerted chemical and physical properties similar to those of capsinoids. This internal standard will provide an accurate capsinoid determination by electrospray ionization - mass spectrometry, thus facilitating the pepper breeding programs, screening pepper cultivars and a better understanding of capsinoid biosynthetic pathway

Evaluation of the phytotoxic and antifungal activity of C-17-sesquiterpenoids as potential biopesticides

BACKGROUND Natural products are a promising source for the development of new pesticides with alternative mechanisms of action. In this study, we evaluated the phytotoxic and antifungal activity of a novel family of natural C-17-sesquiterpenoids and performed a study of the effect caused by the elimination of the alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone system and its importance to their biological activity. RESULTS Many tested compounds exhibited a strong phytotoxic activity. Lappalone and pertyolide B were the most potent molecules from the tested group. Lappalone displayed a strong inhibition profile against selected weed species, reaching a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 5.0 mu m against Echinochloa crus-galli L. shoot and 5.7 mu m against the germination rate of Amaranthus viridis L., as well as a good stimulation of the germination of Phelipanche ramosa L. Pertyolide B demonstrated excellent inhibition against Amaranthus viridis L. (IC50: 56.7, 70.3 and 24.0 mu m against the root and shoot growth, and germination rate, respectively) and Allium cepa L. (representative of the Liliaceae family, with IC50 values of 25.3 and 64.4 mu m against root and shoot growth). Regarding the antifungal activity, pertyolide B presented significant activity against Colletotrichum fragareae and Fusarium oxysporum with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 6.6 mu g mu L-1. CONCLUSION The bioassays revealed that frequently the presence of the alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone system is not essential for the bioactivities of sesquiterpene lactones, and suggest that C-17-sesquiterpenoids may function through a different mechanism of action not related to the widely assumed Michael addition

Stability and pKa Modulation of Aminophenoxazinones and Their Disulfide Mimics by Host-Guest Interaction with Cucurbit[7]uril. Direct Applications in Agrochemical Wheat Models

Aqueous solubility and stability often limit the application of aminophenoxazinones and their sulfur mimics as promising agrochemicals in a sustainable agriculture inspired by allelopathy. This paper presents a solution to the problem using host-guest complexation with cucurbiturils (CBn). Computational studies show that CB7 is the most suitably sized homologue due to its strong affinity for guest molecules and its high water solubility. Complex formation has been studied by direct titrations monitored using UV-vis spectroscopy, finding a preferential interaction with protonated aminophenoxazinone species with high binding affinities (CB7 center dot APOH+ , Ka = (1.85 +/- 0.37) x 106 M-1; CB7 center dot DiS-NH3+ , Ka = (3.91 +/- 0.53) x 104 M-1; and DiS-(NH3+)2 , Ka= (1.27 +/- 0.42) x 105M-1). NMR characterization and stability analysis were also performed and revealed an interesting pKa modulation and stabilization by cucurbiturils (2-amino-3H-phenoxazin-3-one (APO), pKa = 2.94 +/- 0.30, and CB7 center dot APO, pKa = 4.12 +/- 0.15; 2,2 '-disulfanediyldianiline (DiS-NH2), pKa = 2.14 +/- 0.09, and CB7 center dot DiS-NH2 , pKa = 3.26 +/- 0.09), thus favoring applications in different kinds of crop soils. Kinetic studies have demonstrated the stability of the CB7 center dot APO complex at different pH media for more than 90 min. An in vitro bioassay with etiolated wheat coleoptiles showed that the bioactivity of APO and DiS-NH2 is enhanced upon complexation

Smart city communication via social media: analysing residents’ and visitors’ engagement

This research applies a unique conceptual model and methodology incorporating popularity, commitment, and virality to measure the social media engagement with residents and visitors of smart cities and how they communicate ‘smart’ elements and their brands. Digital content analysis was applied to a sample of ten Spanish smart cities (including Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Seville and Valencia, among others), with measurable and quantifiable elements of engagement (e.g., likes, shares and comments). The smart cities analysed achieved acceptable, but rudimentary, levels of engagement via social media using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. However, they displayed weaknesses related to their image and branding as well as the effectiveness with which they communicated their smart characteristics. The main implication of this research is that these Spanish smart cities have considerable scope to improve their use of social media to enhance their communications and branding. Greater emphasis is required on delivering emotional (affective) messages and a higher priority needs to be given to business and business event travellers and those visiting friends and relatives

The Joint Action of Sesquiterpene Lactones from Leaves as an Explanation for the Activity of Cynara cardunculus

The work described herein is a continuation of a previous study centered on the bioprospect of cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) leaf extracts through the isolation of secondary metabolites with phytotoxic activity. Chromatographic fractionations of the ethyl acetate extract and spectroscopic analysis showed that the majority of the components were sesquiterpene lactones. Of these compounds, aguerin B, grosheimin, and cynaropicrin were very active on etiolated wheat coleoptile, standard target species, and weed growth. The joint action of binary mixtures of these three active sesquiterpene lactones and one nonactive compound (11,13-dihydroxy-8-desoxygrosheimin) was studied. The activities of fixed-ratio mixtures were assessed on wheat coleoptile. The results can be interpreted with respect to a reference model by considering dose−response analyses and isobolograms with linear regression analyses. A total of 17 binary mixtures at different levels of inhibition (ED25, ED50, and ED75) were studied, and predominantly they responded additively (25). Deviations from additivity included seven synergistic responses and two antagonistic responses. The joint action of major sesquiterpene lactones isolated from C. cardunculus can explain the activities observed in extracts and fractions. The results reported here reiterate the utility of the wheat coleoptile bioassay as a quick tool to detect potential synergistic effects in binary mixtures

Synthesis, antibacterial and antifungal activities of naphthoquinone derivatives: a structure–activity relationship study

The synthesis of 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives is of great interest since these compounds exhibit strong activity as antimalarial, antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer agents. A series of 50 naphthoquinone derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis and Cryptococcus neoformans using the broth microdilution method. The Candida species were the most susceptible microorganisms. Halogen derivatives of 1,4-naphthoquinone presented strong activity, e.g., 2-bromo-5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, which exhibited inhibition at an MIC of 16 lg/ mL in S. aureus, and 2-chloro-5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, with an MIC of 2 lg/mL in C. krusei. These compounds showed higher activity against fungi, but the antibacterial activities were very low. The study of structure–activity relationships is very important in the search for new antimicrobial drugs due to the limited therapeutic arsenal

A cross validation of Consumer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE) with Private Labels in Spain

Molinillo,S., Ekinci, Y., Japutra, A. (2014)'A cross validation of Consumer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE) with Private Labels in Spain'. in Martínez-López, Gázquez-Abad, J.C. and Sethuraman, R. J.A. (eds.) Advances in National Brand and Private Label Marketing. Second International Conference, 2015. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics, pp. 113-125In recent years a number of Consumer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE) models and measurement scales have been introduced in the branding literature. However, examinations of brand equity in Private Labels (PL) are rather limited. This study aims to compare the validity of the two prominent CBBE models those introduced by Yoo and Donthu (2001) and Nam et al. (2011). In order to test the models and make this comparison, the study collected data from 236 respondents who rated private labels in Spain. A list of 30 different fashion and sportswear PL was introduced to respondents. These brands do not make any reference to the retail store in which they are sold. Research findings suggest that the extended CBBE model introduced by Nam et al. (2011) and Ciftci et al. (2014) is more reliable and valid than Yoo and Donthu’s model for assessing PL. Theoretical contributions and managerial implications are discussed.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech