With the growth of blockchain technology, the potential of NFTs is receiving significant attention across all industries. As NFTs emerge as a novel type of asset, they are drawing attention as a potentially important market, particularly for many luxury goods. This study aims to understand the concept of NFTs and their influence on e-WOM. This study develops a research model that facilitates an understanding of luxury brands’ NFT marketing activities and tests it with a consumer survey. Our analysis reveals important characteristics of perceived NFT marketing activities such as scarcity, resaleability, and authenticity. Furthermore, the impact of specific NFT marketing activities and their influence on e-WOM are discussed. This study contributes theoretical insights for researchers and has practical implications for practitioners who manage marketing activities for NFTs.

Objectives: Practitioners work with children presenting with sensory processing difficulties. There is limited evidence about the relationship between children’s sensory processing and their executive functioning. This study investigated the relationship between children’s sensory processing and executive functioning. Methods: Forty parents/guardians of typically developing children (M = 7.42 years [89.05 months; SD = 11.13]; 50% female) from Australia completed the Sensory Processing Measure (SPM) and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF2). Scores were analysed using Spearman rho correlations with bootstrapping. Results: Some SPM subscales were found to be significantly correlated with the four BRIEF2 composite scales: the Behavior Regulation Index (BRI; rs = .31 - .38, p < .05), Emotion Regulation Index (ERI; rs = .34 - .59, p < .05), Cognitive Regulation Index (CRI; rs = .32 - .45, p < .05) and Global Executive Composite (GEC; rs = .32 - .45; p < .05). The SPM subscales were also found to be predictive of the BRIEF2 composite scales: ERI regression model (Adj R 2 = .27, p < .005), CRI regression model (Adj R 2 = .34, p < .001) and GEC regression model (Adj R 2 = .37, p < .001). Discussion: This study provides preliminary evidence that children’s sensory processing factors impact their executive functioning since they appear to be significantly associated. This information can be used to inform occupational therapists’ goal setting and intervention provision with children and their families.

In terms of sustainability alone, consumers are faced with a staggering assortment of 463 different labels across 25 industry sectors, a number that is only expected to grow over time (Ecolabel Index 2016). Amid growing environmental concerns, research suggests that many consumers are unlikely to consider the consequences of their choices at the point of purchase, or if they attempt to do so, they generally do not have the information necessary to make more sustainable choices. Given the rise of ineffective green communication protocols and consumers’ concerns with environmental impacts associated with their purchases, this paper attempts to understand how the provision of sustainability labeling can influence comprehension and consumer decision-making. Utilizing the ambiguity theoretical framework (Einhorn and Hogarth 1985), we suggest that perceptions of sustainability will be influenced using an anchor comprising a plausible range based on consumers’ existing beliefs and internal points of reference (Broniarczyk and Alba 1994). That is, consumers revert to a pre-existing reference point, and the new information does not allow for much movement in perceptions. In an ambiguous situation in which consumers have limited knowledge of product sustainability, the perceived brand-based sustainability level is expected to allow consumers to establish an initial value of sustainability (Hogarth and Kunreuther 1992). Our findings suggest that providing environmental information can be a useful tool in assisting consumers in making sustainable decisions. Providing quantitative aggregated environmental impact information of products influences consumers’ perceived ambiguity, leading to evaluation of the brand. The perceived ambiguity derived from sustainability level provides an underlying mechanism in information processing. Given rising concerns about consumers ability to process sustainability information in an efficient manner, our findings suggest that one way to encourage consumers to better process the sustainability information is to mitigate perceived ambiguity. Enforcing disclosure initiatives that assess the environmental impact of products can provide benefit to firms—especially for product categories in which limited loyalty or differentiation exists. Sustainability disclosures appear to offer a mechanism that can help consumers make informed decisions. Furthermore, extrapolating the influence of disclosures on consumer evaluation and choice across the variety of product categories for which consumers routinely make purchases suggests the potential for dramatic increases in global sustainability.

This study examines how advertising can be used by premium private labels to develop perceived luxuriousness and, in turn, purchase intention. The findings suggest perceived image and quality relative to regular private labels and a leading national brand as well as store-brand image congruity as key factors and support the store-type effect. Introduction Private labels (PLs) are receiving increased attention in line with their significant growth (Schnittka, 2015). Braak, Geyskens, and Dekimpe (2014) pointed out the evolving trend of more PLs offering high quality at a high price in comparison to their low-quality, low-price heritage. Among multiple tiers of PLs, PPLs exclusively aim at a premium tier of the market and try to offer the value comparable to that of top-tier NBs (Jost 2014). Acknowledging differentiated natures of PPLs, this paper analyzes what advertising strategies make consumers perceive a PPL to be luxurious and in turn, increase purchase intention. Cue utilization theory and categorization theory are used as a basis for hypotheses. Our research is an effort to shed light on adequate design of the advertising message for the successful introduction of a PPL. Theoretical Background Premium Private Label and Perceived Luxuriousness For a PPL, being able to offer outstanding value as compared to top-tier NBs is a critical issue (Geyskens, Gielens & Gijsbrechts 2010). To investigate whether a PPL is successfully positioned, we suggest the construct of perceived luxuriousness as a key variable. We define a brand's luxuriousness as its ability to satisfy multifaceted needs of consumers with its products which is not limited to functional needs (Lee, Ko, Kee & Kim, 2015), through five value dimensions (Vigneron & Johnson, 2004). Consequently, we employ the brand luxury index (BLI) to measure perceived luxuriousness (Vigneron & Johnson, 2004). Cue Utilization Theory According to cue utilization theory, when making purchases, consumers use diverse extrinsic and intrinsic cues, and make the assumption that such cues will help them make the most reasonable purchase decision (Richardson, Dick & Jain, 1994). Referring to cues, consumers decide to buy the product only if it is perceived as a better choice than the alternatives in terms of overall value that it conveys. These cues are often displayed and reinforced via advertising (Yi, 1993). Categorization Theory According to categorization theory, when exposed to advertising messages for a new brand, consumers are expected to call up information available in memory that is classified into categories (Carrillat, Harris, & Lafferty, 2010). Punj & Moon (2002) demonstrated that a successful strategy for new brands is to associate itself with a successful existing brand to be included in the consideration set while differentiating itself from other brands. Hypotheses Development Image Similarity Perceived similarity between brands and products has been discussed at various levels and scopes. It has been illustrated that shared physical attributes (Aaker & Keller, 1990) and shared abstract image (Park, Milberg & Lawson, 1991) between product lines moderate the probability of being perceived as similar by consumers. Considering the disparate positions between PPLs and RPLs, we suggested that RPLs are useful as a disparate option that may in turn emphasize the premium position of a PPL (Palmeira & Thomas, 2011). H1a. Image similarity between a PPL and a RPL, as reinforced by advertising, will have a negative effect on the perceived luxuriousness of the PPL. If a PPL can associate itself with the experiential value of a high-positioned NB, it is more likely that the PPL will be perceived as luxurious by signaling comparability (Sayman et al., 2002). H1b. Image similarity between a PPL and a NB, as reinforced by advertising, will have a positive effect on the perceived luxuriousness of the PPL. If the different positions of a RPL and a PPL are not perceived by consumers, consumers might judge the PPL as simply a similar but expensive option and would not be willing to purchase it (Huang & Huddleston, 2009). H2a. Image similarity between a PPL and a RPL, as reinforced by advertising, will have a negative effect on the purchase intention for the PPL. Closer associations between a PPL and a top-tier NB built through advertising lead to enhanced familiarity with the PPL and perceptions of reduced risks (Erdem, Zhao & Valenzuela, 2004). H2b. Image similarity between a PPL and a NB, as reinforced by advertising, will have a positive effect on the purchase intention for the PPL. Quality Superiority Perceived quality is defined by Aaker (1991) as: “the customer’s perception of the overall quality or superiority of a product or service with respect to its intended purpose, relative to alternatives”. Consumers’ abstract beliefs regarding the product’s quality can be deduced from “credence quality attributes” (Ophuis & Trijp, 1995). The quality of products is evaluated relatively, compared with alternatives. Nueno and Quelch, (1998) pointed out that there are a few characteristics shared by premium brands, and excellent quality is one of them. H3a. Quality superiority of a PPL compared to RPL, as reinforced by advertising, will have a positive effect on the perceived luxuriousness of PPL. H3b. Quality superiority of a PPL compared to NB, as reinforced by advertising, will have a positive effect on the perceived luxuriousness of PPL. According to Sethuraman, Tellis, and Briesch (2011), consumer perceptions of quality of a PL are evaluated based on quality differentials and play a dominant role when consumers make purchase decisions. Indeed, the perceived quality differential between a PL and a NB has been found to influence the share of the PL (Erdem et al., 2004). H4a. Quality superiority of a PPL compared to a RPL, as reinforced by advertising, will have a positive effect on the purchase intention of the PPL. H4b. Quality superiority of a PPL compared to a NB, as reinforced by advertising, will have a positive effect on the purchase intention of the PPL. Image Congruity between a Store and a PPL At the individual level, a generalized store image is determined by each consumer’s beliefs about retailer-specific attributes (Lee & Hyman, 2008). If the positive store image can be transferred through a number of positive associations between the store image and a PL, it will help consumers evaluate a newly encountered PL more favorably (Collins-Dodd & Lindley, 2003). As Dubois, Laurent, and Czellar (2001) demonstrated, consistent value shared between a parent brand and an extension will further strengthen the luxurious position. H5a. Image congruity between a store and a PPL will have a positive effect on the perceived luxuriousness of the PPL. Furthermore, with congruity consumers will see a brand which maintains the standards and preserve its essence as authentic and are likely to form positive responses toward a brand (Choi, Ko, Kim & Mattila, 2015). Lee and Hyman (2008) illustrated that the congruity between beliefs about a store and a PL would lead to a relatively favorable attitude toward a PL product. H5b. Image congruity between a store and a PPL will have a positive effect on the purchase intention of the PPL. Perceived Luxuriousness and Purchase Intention Sethuraman et al. (2011) illustrated that both quality and non-quality values matter in purchase decisions of a PL. For a PPL aiming at signaling an outstanding position, representations of added value are critical to form purchase intentions (Fionda & Moore, 2008). Thus: H6. Perceived luxuriousness of a PPL will have a positive effect on the purchase intention of the PPL. Store type Effect Consumers evaluate retailers differently and their subjective evaluation of the retailer is also expected to affect evaluations of products sold in the retailer (Grace and O’cass, 2005; Pappu and Quester 2008). The more upscale image and positioning of department stores are regarded to allow products they sell to be perceived as luxurious through more diverse appeals. In turn, purchase intentions are to be facilitated with ease, relatively. Proposition 1: According to store type, relative perception of luxuriousness of a PPL will be different. Proposition 2: According to store type, relative purchase intention of a PPL will be different. Methods Experiments were conducted among undergraduate-level students (aged 20-29) at a large Korean university, as they have relatively common traits and increasing experience with private labels (Trendmonitor, 2015). A total of 339 self-administered questionnaires were distributed, out of which 324 were used for analysis: 166 for department stores, 158 for hypermarkets. A purchase scenario of a cashmere sweater as well as an advertisement of the PPL sweater with information about each brand’s product (i.e. the material, the manufacturer, the distributor, and the advertisement) was given. For robust results, the experiment was conducted via two media types, online and paper. Analysis and Results Structural Model Testing We used structural equation modeling (AMOS 21) to test the proposed theoretical framework and propositions (see Figure 1). All estimates indicate an acceptable fit. Individual Hypothesis Testing The results indicate that image similarity between a PPL and a RPL negatively influences the perceived luxuriousness of the PPL (supporting H1a), but image similarity between the PPL and a NB positively influences the perceived luxuriousness of the PPL (supporting H1b). Although image similarity between a PPL and a RPL has no direct influence on the purchase intention of the PPL (H2a is rejected), image similarity between the PPL and a NB positively influences the perceived luxuriousness of the PPL (supporting H2b). Quality superiority of the PPL compared to the RPL positively influences both the perceived luxuriousness and purchase intention of the PPL (supporting both H3a and H4a), but quality superiority of the PPL compared to the NB does not have a significant effect (H3b and H4b are rejected). Congruity between the PPL and store is found to influence the perceived luxuriousness of the PPL (supporting H5a) but has no direct influence on the purchase intention (H5b is rejected). Meanwhile, the hypothesized effect of the perceived luxuriousness of PPL on purchase intention is supported (H6). Proposition Testing The data for each store type, department store (n =166) and hypermarket (n=158), was analyzed separately via multi-group analysis to assess store type effects on the modeled relationships. The findings for department stores indicate that the effects of image similarity between a PPL and a RPL on perceived luxuriousness, image similarity between the PPL and a NB on the purchase intention, quality superiority of the PPL compared to the RPL on the perceived luxuriousness as well as the purchase intention, and image congruity between the PPL and the store on the perceived luxuriousness are significant. Meanwhile, the findings for hypermarkets represent that the effects of image similarity between the PPL and NB on perceived luxuriousness and quality superiority of the PPL compared to the RPL on the perceived luxuriousness of the PPL are significant. For both store types, overall perceived luxuriousness turned out to be positively related to purchase intention. Conclusion The findings of this study have implications for a PPL aiming at positioning itself in consumers’ minds as luxurious, vis-à-vis a RPL and a NB. In regard to the perceived brand images, using advertising, efforts to differentiate a PPL from a RPL and to equate a PPL with the top-tier NB appears to be a reasonable strategy. Moreover, using advertising to emphasize superior quality compared to the RPL is likely to be effective whereas to compare it to a NB will not. Also, image congruity between a store and a PPL would allow the PPL to be perceived as luxurious as it aims to be. Furthermore, the results lead to a rationale for disparate strategies between two store types. As a follow-up study, we are planning to examine how direct manipulation of the comparative advertising messages influences consumers’ perceived luxuriousness and purchase intentions of a PPL.

This essay is a reflection on the significance of U.S. accountability to the struggles of Jeju Islanders for reparations. Under international law, a strong case can be made for the United States’ obligation to acknowledge its role in the Jeju atrocities and to provide compensation to the victims.1 Addressing the United States’ responsibility for complicity in these actions will prove controversial, no doubt, for it has significant implications not for U.S. actions in other parts of the world but for all states engaged in military occupations or acting through surrogate governments. These legal and political ramifications diminish the likelihood of voluntary remedial action by the United States, and the international legal system is ill-suited to compel compliance. Nonetheless, even if Jeju Islanders are ultimately unable to obtain full satisfaction from the United States government for its role in the atrocities to which they have been subjected, I believe that recognition of the international legal obligations incurred by the U.S. in that process can reinforce the legitimacy of their claims, thereby aiding in the restoration of their dignity and supporting their on-going struggles for self-determination.

Premium private label brands (PPLBs) are receiving increased attention in line with their significant growth. Private label brands (PLBs) have been evolving from offering low quality at a low price to high quality at a higher price. Among multiple tiers of PLB, PPLBs are assumed to be in an exclusive tier and compete with top-tier national brands. In consumers’ minds, PPLBs are perceived and evaluated in reference to alternatives represented by regular private label brands (RPLBs) and top-tier national brands (NBs). Thus, for PPLBs, being able to provide outstanding value that is perceived in relation with competitive alternatives is a critical issue. In addition, related marketing entities such as a store type are assumed to affect consumers’ perceptions and evaluations. Based on cue utilization theory and categorization theory, this research aims to identify key relationships influencing the perceived luxuriousness and eventual purchase intention of PPLB products. This research analyzes what strategies make consumers perceive a PPLB to be luxurious and in turn, increase purchase intention. The empirical study consists of a survey conducted among college students in their 20s in Korea. The data were analyzed to test the theoretical framework using a confirmatory factor analysis and structural equations.

The potential of a scale to measure relationship authenticity in marketing is explored. A measure of this type is argued to be particular valuable when brands have a difficult time in partnering with charitable organizations. An exploratory study and a pilot study suggest that there is potential for development of a full scale.

Power asymmetry in highly concentrated retail markets is an unavoidable consequence within supplier-retailer relationships. This paper investigates the existence of power asymmetry in an Australian context and outlines the impacts on the industry. A documentary analysis was undertaken using documents from three major investigations into the grocery retail sector in recent years. These documents allowed us to gain insights into the industry using reports submissions and transcripts of public hearings. In addition in-depth interviews were carried out with suppliers of the two major supermarket chains. Combining these two approaches provided rich data. This paper contributes to the literature on power in supply channels. The findings support the existence of power asymmetry across many product categories but contrary to other studies find that the major supermarket chains are not averse to exerting coercive power for their own benefit. We find that the highly concentrated nature of the grocery retail market sees the power imbalance exaggerated in this context. We conclude that power asymmetry in the short-term is benefitting consumers but the long-term impacts on the supply chain may be detrimental to the food industry in Australia if nothing is done to curb the market power of the two major supermarkets chains.

This essay examines Jacques Callot’s Les Grandes Misères et Malheurs de la Guerre (1633) as a moral meditation on war as catastrophe. It also uses Callot’s Miseries to reflect on the nature of catastrophe as such, particularly as “An event producing a subversion of the order or system of things.” As such, catastrophe refers less to nature or the natural gone awry, than it does to the abnegation or suspension of moral aspects of human nature. More than a reflection on war as catastrophe, and catastrophe as fundamentally moral, Callot’s Miseries are a timeless meditation on aspects of the human condition; or on human beings in what amounts to state of nature―as evidenced in times of disaster. Such reflection, again, does not by itself imply that all war―even when catastrophic― is unnecessary, let alone necessarily unjust. But it does suggest that artistic engagement with war understood as catastrophic, may yield insights into human nature that are as important to human self-understanding as those represented in artistic subject matter that is more quotidian.

Female ticks require a blood meal for vitellogenesis to occur. Vitellogenin (Vg), a precursor of yolk protein, is essential for egg development and Vg synthesis appears to be regulated by ecdysteroids in ticks. To better understand the regulation of Vg synthesis in ticks, the Vg gene was identified from Orinthodoros moubata. OmVg is composed of 5,502 bp encoding a 1,834 aa protein with Vg specific characteristics. OmVg gene showed the highest homology with the hard tick Dermacentor variabilis and was included in the same clade of a phylogenetic tree as the hard tick and crustacean Vg genes. OmVg gene expression was observed in females but not in nymphal stages and during molting. Both mated and virgin females showed OmVg expression approximately 3 days after engorgement. However, as time passed, mated females showed significant increases in OmVg expression whereas virgin females didn’t. OmVg expression is thought to be regulated by ecdysteroids functioning through a complex with an ecdysteroid receptor (EcR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR). EcR and RXR expression increased in both mated and virgin females soon after engorgement. However, ecdysteroid titer only increased in mated females indicating a high titer of ecdysteroids in mated females up-regulates OmVg expression. The OmVg gene was expressed in the fat body and midgut of O. moubata. Further studies are underway to determine other factors that may explain differences between mated and virgin O. moubata females. Understanding the regulation of reproduction in ticks may lead to the development of better mechanisms for controlling ticks and preventing the spread of tick vectored diseases.

This paper compares the effect of using different types of iron powders for the preparation of by calciothermic reduction-diffusion (CRD). Three types of iron powder were used: carbonyl, sponge and water atomized. The results show that, when immediately nitrogenated after the CRD process, prepared from sponge and water atomized iron powders yield -magnets with a high degree of texture. However, after a suitable treatment with hydrogen followed by nitrogenation, -powders made from Carbonyl iron produce magnets with the best quality regarding coercivity, remanence and degree of texture.

Construction of the 'Two-degree Field' (2dF) instrument on the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) is now virtually complete and commissioning is well underway. The key components are described. Several recent milestones are reported, including the first scientific results. Future prospects and plans are discussed.

The film coated snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seeds with five different coating materials treated with 3% increase in seed weight were planted at sandy loam soil controlled moisture content of 18, 19, 20 and 21 %. The oxygen diffusion rate (ODR) was calculated from the different moisture content soil. The number of normal seedlings, seedling vigor, and seedling capability in field (seed vigor x dry matter weight) were observed at 9 days after planting and compared to the changes of ODR. The germination rate and ODR were sharply decreased simultaneously in the seeds planted at 21 % soil moisture content. Seedling emergence did not occur at all as the soil moisture content increased above 22 %. Hence this value should be considered as the threshold of soil moisture content for seedling emergence. An ODR value under 20% did not influence the percent emergence significantly. The certain difference observing in the emergence at the same ODR was not related clearly to the condition of soil. So it can be assumed that the limit of soil moisture content for the emergence of snap bean was approximately 20%. The value of 18% soil moisture content may be considered as the optimum for snap bean emergence. There was close relationship between the mean value of ODR in different soil moisture contents and the emergence. The germination rates of the seeds coated with the different materials were quite different when the seeds were planted at 21 % soil moisture. Dry weight of the seedlings from film coated seeds was decreased slightly, but the germination rates were not much different from the non-treated control under relatively higher soil moisture content (21 %). Major factor lowering emergence rate was oxygen stress while film coating act as a minor constraint for snap bean sown in excess soil moisture condition.

Spatial patterns of soil temperature on sloping lands are related to the amount of solar irradiance at the surface. Since soil temperature is a critical determinant of many biological processes occurring in the soil, an accurate prediction of soil temperature distribution could be beneficial to agricultural and environmental management. However, at least two problems are identified in soil temperature prediction over natural sloped surfaces. One is the complexity of converting solar irradiances to corresponding soil temperatures, and the other, if the first problem could be solved, is the difficulty in handling large volumes of geo-spatial data. Recent developments in geographic information systems (GIS) provide the opportunity and tools to spatially organize and effectively manage data for modeling. In this paper, a simple model for conversion of solar irradiance to soil temperature is developed within a GIS environment. The irradiance-temperature conversion model is based on a geophysical variable consisting of daily short- and long-wave radiation components calculated for any slope. The short-wave component is scaled to accommodate a simplified surface energy balance expression. Linear regression equations are derived for 10 and 50 cm soil temperatures by using this variable as a single determinant and based on a long term observation data set from a horizontal location. Extendability of these equations to sloped surfaces is tested by comparing the calculated data with the monthly mean soil temperature data observed in Iowa and at 12 locations near the Tennessee - Kentucky border with various slope and aspect factors. Calculated soil temperature variations agreed well with the observed data. Finally, this method is applied to a simulation study of daily mean soil temperatures over sloped corn fields on a 30 m by 30 m resolution. The outputs reveal potential effects of topography including shading by neighboring terrain as well as the slope and aspect of the land itself on the soil temperature.

두께가 서로 다른 C3 식물의 잎은 단위엽면적당 광합성 능력에 있어서도 차이가 나는 바 잎의 내부구조와 기체교환 사이의 관계를 바탕으로 그 원인을 구명하였다. 광합성의 2대 제한요인으로 기체확산과 생화학적 과정의 상대적인 중요도를 결정하기 위해 중엽세포의 표면은 기체확산 저항의, 그리고 세포의 체적은 탄소고정 능력의 지표로 가정하였다. 즉 세포의 표면적이 증가하면 이산화탄소의 액상확산 저항이 감소하며 체적이 증대되면 carboxylation, oxygenation, 그리고 dark respiration 반응속도가 증가한다고 간주하였다. 이러한 개념을 함축하는 광합성 모형을 작성하고 이 가설의 검증을 위해 대두 품종 Amsoy잎을 이용한 실험을 수행하였다. 생장조절실내에서 200, 400, 600u mol photons m2 s1 PAR을 공급하여 서로 다른 두께의 잎을 준비하였으며 제3 및 4본엽에 대해 1,000 u mol photons m2 s1 PAR 및 28 기온 환경하에서 이산화탄소 흡수속도를 측정한 결과 세포의 체적과 표면적의 영향을 동시에 고려한 광합성 모형이 세포 표면적만을 고려한 경우 보다 실측치에 가까운 예측치를 산출하였다. 이로 미루어 세포의 표면적과 체적은 잎의 두께 및 그에 따른 광합성 능력의 예측에 적절한 변수로 간주된다.