Branded Versus Non-Branded: Differences in Consumer Preferences

Although brands can signal reputation and serve as proxies for trust, consumer preferences for attributes may differ for branded and non-branded products. The authors of this paper test this hypothesis using data from a particular experiment conducted with Italian jeans’ consumers. The results indicate that consumers appear uncertain when there is an absence of a brand; non-brand-oriented consumers ascribe greater importance to the attributes of a product, with emphasis on those that relate to the product model (fit, comfort, design). Price is important for both types of consumers. Factor and cluster analyses permit identification of elements for the positioning strategies of brand and non-branded products. For marketing managers, it is important to know the consumer’s perception of the product’s characteristics and, accordingly, adopt specific communication and positioning strategie

The role of geological origin of smectites and of their physico-chemical properties on aflatoxin adsorption

Since 2013, bentonite in the form of dioctahedral smectite is an additive authorised in the EU as a substance for the reduction of the contamination of feed by aflatoxins. Several studies indicate a big difference in the effectiveness of smectites in sequestering aflatoxins. A clear correlation between mineralogical and physico-chemical properties of smectites and aflatoxin adsorption has not been well established. In the effort to identify the most critical mineralogical, chemical, and physical properties that affect aflatoxin adsorption by smectites, 29 samples of bentonites obtained from different sources around the world were evaluated. “As received” samples were divided into two main groups, i.e. hydrothermal (n=14) and sedimentary (n=15) bentonites depending on their geological origin. The characterization studies showed that all samples contained dioctahedral smectite as major mineral; a moderate CEC value (60-116 cmol/kg); the presence of iron; a small organic matter content; a near-neutral pH; and a fine and uniform particle size (<45μm). They differed substantially in their sodium, calcium and magnesium contents, and in the swelling properties depending on the geological origin. Several in vitro adsorption studies showed that they also differed in a significant manner in adsorbing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). A correlation between geological origin and AFB1 adsorption capacity was found (p<0.001), being sedimentary smectites significantly more effective than hydrothermal ones in adsorbing the toxin at different pH values. The extent of AFB1 adsorption by all samples was negatively and linearly correlated to the extent of desorption, and sedimentary smectites were significantly more effective than hydrothermal smectites in keeping bound the adsorbed fraction of the toxin (p < 0.001). In addition, correlation studies using the Pearson statistical method showed a significant relationship among some physico-chemical properties of smectites and the amounts of adsorbed toxin. In particular, AFB1 adsorption by smectites correlated positively with sodium content and swell index, but negatively with d001-value, magnesium and calcium contents. In conclusion, it seems that the geological origin of smectite is a useful guide for the selection of bentonites for AFB1 detoxification. Sedimentary bentonites containing sodium/swelling-smectite should be preferred to hydrothermal samples as potential aflatoxin binders. Taking into account the geographical origin of our samples, this approach should be applicable to bentonites worldwide

Pediatric admissions to emergency departments of North-Western Italy during COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective observational study

COVID-19 pandemic caused huge decrease of pediatric admissions to Emergency Department (ED), arising concerns about possible delays in diagnosis and treatment of severe disorders

Serum Albumin Is Inversely Associated With Portal Vein Thrombosis in Cirrhosis

We analyzed whether serum albumin is independently associated with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in liver cirrhosis (LC) and if a biologic plausibility exists. This study was divided into three parts. In part 1 (retrospective analysis), 753 consecutive patients with LC with ultrasound-detected PVT were retrospectively analyzed. In part 2, 112 patients with LC and 56 matched controls were entered in the cross-sectional study. In part 3, 5 patients with cirrhosis were entered in the in vivo study and 4 healthy subjects (HSs) were entered in the in vitro study to explore if albumin may affect platelet activation by modulating oxidative stress. In the 753 patients with LC, the prevalence of PVT was 16.7%; logistic analysis showed that only age (odds ratio [OR], 1.024; P = 0.012) and serum albumin (OR, -0.422; P = 0.0001) significantly predicted patients with PVT. Analyzing the 112 patients with LC and controls, soluble clusters of differentiation (CD)40-ligand (P = 0.0238), soluble Nox2-derived peptide (sNox2-dp; P &lt; 0.0001), and urinary excretion of isoprostanes (P = 0.0078) were higher in patients with LC. In LC, albumin was correlated with sCD4OL (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient [r(s)], -0.33; P &lt; 0.001), sNox2-dp (r(s), -0.57; P &lt; 0.0001), and urinary excretion of isoprostanes (r(s), -0.48; P &lt; 0.0001) levels. The in vivo study showed a progressive decrease in platelet aggregation, sNox2-dp, and urinary 8-iso prostaglandin F2 alpha-III formation 2 hours and 3 days after albumin infusion. Finally, platelet aggregation, sNox2-dp, and isoprostane formation significantly decreased in platelets from HSs incubated with scalar concentrations of albumin. Conclusion: Low serum albumin in LC is associated with PVT, suggesting that albumin could be a modulator of the hemostatic system through interference with mechanisms regulating platelet activation

Digital Innovation and Business Management

New digital technology and the internet have resulted in significant changes for management: attention and analysis are shifting from “value creation in individual firms” to “value creation in networks”. In the context of an interconnected global economy, in which value is generated on a shared basis by various operators and partners, a key issue for business management is how to maximise value acquisition while minimising risk exposure, considering the interests not only of shareholders, but also of all the other stakeholders, who are exerting ever greater pressure on firms

BRAND DEVOTED VS. NOT BRAND DEVOTED: DIFFERENCE IN CONSUMER PREFERENCES

The objective of the study is to assess the perception of a product’s attributes by two categories of consumers: brand-oriented and non-brand-oriented. The work thus concerns the choice of positioning strategies, which vary precisely in relation to the existence or otherwise of a brand. This was conducted with reference to the Jeans sector, given both its intrinsic characteristics (variety of production, orientation to differentiation, growth in consumption) and the frequent and specific attention paid to it by the managerial literature dealing with consumer purchasing processes. The above-mentioned objectives were pursued in accordance with a mixed-method research approach, divided into the following steps: a) an on-desk survey of the managerial literature on the sector in question and an in-depth qualitative investigation (by means of the so-called “laddering” interview technique), both aimed at identifying the purchase attributes of the jeans product; b) compilation of a questionnaire (with a pilot test conducted on 20 consumers) by 600 consumers (nonprobabilistic sample) who regularly buy jeans. The data was processed by descriptive and multivariate statistical techniques (using SPSS software) in order to assess the role of the various purchase attributes with reference to the two types of consumer identified

Digital Innovation and Business Management

New digital technology and the internet have resulted in significant changes for management: attention and analysis are shifting from “value creation in individual firms” to “value creation in networks”. In the context of an interconnected global economy, in which value is generated on a shared basis by various operators and partners, a key issue for business management is how to maximise value acquisition while minimising risk exposure, considering the interests not only of shareholders, but also of all the other stakeholders, who are exerting ever greater pressure on firms

Microsatellite Laser Altimeter Feasibility Study

This paper presents a feasibility study of a laser altimeter conceived as an auxiliary device of an imaging camera to perform stereo pairs correction by high accuracy range measurements. System configuration is compliant to microsatellite constraints and is integrated to a high resolution imaging sensor. System performance analysis is carried out by means of analytical models and computer codes and plots are presented to select key parameters allowing definition of a preliminary laser altimeter configuration