Search Results (78)

Sustainability has become a key focus in the hospitality industry, with travelers increasingly seeking accommodations with strong environmental commitments. As part of this trend, many hotels are adopting green marketing strategies to improve their brand image and appeal to eco-conscious consumers. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that these strategies are perceived as genuine rather than as “greenwashing,” which undermines their effectiveness and harms the brand’s credibility. This study examines the impact of green marketing strategies on the brand image of 5-star hotels in Lima, Peru. A survey of 206 hotel clients reveals that the implementation of green marketing positively influences the perceived benefits, corporate image, trust, and loyalty associated with these establishments. The results highlight that younger generations, particularly Millennials and Generation Z, are more likely to value sustainability initiatives, making them an important target for hotels seeking to enhance their brand image through eco-friendly practices. The findings suggest that effective communication of sustainable practices and transparency are essential to avoid greenwashing and build customer loyalty. This research contributes to the limited knowledge on green marketing in the Peruvian hotel sector and provides insights for both hotel managers and researchers on the importance of integrating genuine sustainability efforts into their marketing strategies. Full article

This paper examines the strategic decisions of fashion brands to develop and sell non-fungible tokens (NFTs) within the metaverse. We construct two operational models based on whether NFTs are adopted: the traditional fashion model without NFT (Scenario T) and the digital fashion model with NFT (Scenario D). By comparing the equilibrium outcomes of fashion brands in Scenarios T and D, we derive valuable insights into the implementation of digital strategies in the fashion industry. Our analysis reveals three key findings. First and foremost, the proportion of fashion customers to conventional customers, as well as the digital value and cost of NFTs, are direct factors influencing the adoption of digital strategies by fashion brands. Secondly, opportunistic pricing by manufacturers is an indirect factor influencing fashion brands’ strategic choices, and a fixed production price contract can effectively avoid this case. Finally, we find that personalized pricing and a free NFT strategy are effective tools to boost fashion brands’ digital revenues. Full article

Cultures of primary human nasal epithelial cells (hNECs) differentiated at the air–liquid interface (ALI) represent a sophisticated and widely used model of the human upper respiratory epithelium. Despite the availability of various cell culture insert types and the well-established understanding that different culture media influence the cell culture characteristics, the possible impact of the insert brand remains rather underexplored. We cultured hNECs from nineteen healthy adult donors on three distinct brands of commercially available inserts—Corning^® Transwell^®, CELLTREAT^®, and ThinCert^®—and compared the ciliary activity and cellular composition of the cultures using high-speed video microscopy and flow cytometry, respectively. Additionally, we employed an alternative method of hNEC culture setup—the inverted condition—wherein the hNECs were seeded on the basal side of the insert with the idea to avoid mucus accumulation. Our results show that ciliary activity and cell type composition did not differ between insert types for both culture conditions. However, we found a higher ciliary beat frequency and a lower active (ciliated) area in the inverted setup compared to the conventional setup across all three insert brands. These findings indicate that all three mentioned insert types yield comparable cell cultures. Full article

Although the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is well underway and expected to continue in global car markets, most vehicles on the world’s roads will be powered by internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) and fossil fuels for the foreseeable future, possibly well past 2050. Thus, good environmental performance and effective emission control of ICE vehicles will continue to be of paramount importance if the world is to achieve the stated air and climate pollution reduction goals. In this study, we review 228 publications and identify four main issues confronting these objectives: (1) cheating by vehicle manufacturers, (2) tampering by vehicle owners, (3) malfunctioning emission control systems, and (4) inadequate in-service emission programs. With progressively more stringent vehicle emission and fuel quality standards being implemented in all major markets, engine designs and emission control systems have become increasingly complex and sophisticated, creating opportunities for cheating and tampering. This is not a new phenomenon, with the first cases reported in the 1970s and continuing to happen today. Cheating appears not to be restricted to specific manufacturers or vehicle types. Suspicious real-world emissions behavior suggests that the use of defeat devices may be widespread. Defeat devices are primarily a concern with diesel vehicles, where emission control deactivation in real-world driving can lower manufacturing costs, improve fuel economy, reduce engine noise, improve vehicle performance, and extend refill intervals for diesel exhaust fluid, if present. Despite the financial penalties, undesired global attention, damage to brand reputation, a temporary drop in sales and stock value, and forced recalls, cheating may continue. Private vehicle owners resort to tampering to (1) improve performance and fuel efficiency; (2) avoid operating costs, including repairs; (3) increase the resale value of the vehicle (i.e., odometer tampering); or (4) simply to rebel against established norms. Tampering and cheating in the commercial freight sector also mean undercutting law-abiding operators, gaining unfair economic advantage, and posing excess harm to the environment and public health. At the individual vehicle level, the impacts of cheating, tampering, or malfunctioning emission control systems can be substantial. The removal or deactivation of emission control systems increases emissions—for instance, typically 70% (NO_x and EGR), a factor of 3 or more (NO_x and SCR), and a factor of 25–100 (PM and DPF). Our analysis shows significant uncertainty and (geographic) variability regarding the occurrence of cheating and tampering by vehicle owners. The available evidence suggests that fleet-wide impacts of cheating and tampering on emissions are undeniable, substantial, and cannot be ignored. The presence of a relatively small fraction of high-emitters, due to either cheating, tampering, or malfunctioning, causes excess pollution that must be tackled by environmental authorities around the world, in particular in emerging economies, where millions of used ICE vehicles from the US and EU end up. Modernized in-service emission programs designed to efficiently identify and fix large faults are needed to ensure that the benefits of modern vehicle technologies are not lost. Effective programs should address malfunctions, engine problems, incorrect repairs, a lack of servicing and maintenance, poorly retrofitted fuel and emission control systems, the use of improper or low-quality fuels and tampering. Periodic Test and Repair (PTR) is a common in-service program. We estimate that PTR generally reduces emissions by 11% (8–14%), 11% (7–15%), and 4% (−1–10%) for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and oxides of nitrogen (NO_x), respectively. This is based on the grand mean effect and the associated 95% confidence interval. PTR effectiveness could be significantly higher, but we find that it critically depends on various design factors, including (1) comprehensive fleet coverage, (2) a suitable test procedure, (3) compliance and enforcement, (4) proper technician training, (5) quality control and quality assurance, (6) periodic program evaluation, and (7) minimization of waivers and exemptions. Now that both particulate matter (PM, i.e., DPF) and NO_x (i.e., SCR) emission controls are common in all modern new diesel vehicles, and commonly the focus of cheating and tampering, robust measurement approaches for assessing in-use emissions performance are urgently needed to modernize PTR programs. To increase (cost) effectiveness, a modern approach could include screening methods, such as remote sensing and plume chasing. We conclude this study with recommendations and suggestions for future improvements and research, listing a range of potential solutions for the issues identified in new and in-service vehicles. Full article

As environmental issues are of worldwide concern and consumers grow more concerned about the environment, green investments have emerged as a key factor in attracting consumers. To enhance consumer trust in enterprise investments in green and sustainable practices, blockchain technology, with its tamper-resistant and traceable characteristics, is being adopted by an increasing number of enterprises. However, the resulting spillover effect may lead to adverse consequences in a co-opetitive supply chain. This study examines a green supply chain comprising Brand O, a high brand value entity, and a contract manufacturer (CM) with lower brand value. The two parties collaborate through outsourced production while competing in the retail market. Three decision-making models were constructed, namely, without blockchain, Brand O adopting blockchain, and the CM adopting blockchain, and equilibrium solutions were derived to facilitate analysis. We find that Brand O tends not to introduce blockchain in order to avoid the loss of brand value and the spillover of consumer trust. The CM tends to introduce blockchain to enhance its products’ environmental impact and gain an exclusive competitive advantage, targeting the high-end market. These findings guide managers and practitioners in a co-opetitive green supply chain: high brand value retailers should cautiously evaluate blockchain’s impact, staying alert to risks hidden beneath benefits; upstream manufacturers can prioritize blockchain adoption for competitive advantage. Full article

The increasing avoidance of international fast-food chains is a widespread phenomenon influenced by economic, social, and political factors. This study examines the risks and implications of restaurant boycotts, focusing on their role in social justice movements and economic shifts. The authors employed the qualitative approach; using an exploratory case study and a critical discourse analysis, we investigated consumer motivations for avoidance, the financial and reputational risks businesses face, and how corporate responses shape brand perception. By integrating political consumerism and social justice theory, we provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the psychological, ethical, and economic drivers of boycotts. The findings highlight that boycott behavior significantly impacted declining sales and profits for McDonald’s and Starbucks and forced the closure of outlets, as well as leading to the loss of consumer trust and long-term brand loyalty. Thus, it forced companies to create strategies for protecting their reputation. Consumer activism, which draws from social justice and ethical consumerism, demonstrates its capability to affect corporate policy choices and business practices in sensitive political situations to fight injustices. This research offers valuable insights for business leaders navigating consumer activism, emphasizing the need for proactive corporate responsibility strategies to mitigate the risks of reputational damage and declining consumer trust. Full article

In the context of globalization, cross-cultural research is essential for understanding behaviors and values across different cultural backgrounds. The way audiences from diverse cultures interpret and accept film content significantly impacts the international dissemination and market performance of films. This study, grounded in Hofstede’s six cultural dimensions—power distance index (PDI), individualism vs. collectivism (IDV), uncertainty avoidance (UAI), masculinity vs. femininity (MAS), long-term vs. short-term orientation (LTO), and indulgence vs. restraint (IVR)—incorporates additional variables such as visual aesthetic appeal (VAA), narrative complexity (NCI), viewing motivation (VM), behavioral intentions (BIs), and brand loyalty (BL) to construct a multidimensional research framework. This framework aims to comprehensively examine the acceptance of American animated films among Chinese audiences and the cultural differences influencing such acceptance. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), this study analyzed the interrelationships between variables based on a sample of 507 participants with prior viewing experience. The findings reveal that different cultural dimensions significantly impact VM. PDI, UAI, and IDV exert significant negative influences on VM, with PDI being the most influential. Conversely, LTO and IVR do not demonstrate significant negative effects. In contrast, MAS, VAA, and NCI exhibit significant positive impacts on VM. Additionally, VM strongly influences audience acceptance, which, in turn, promotes the formation of BIs and repeated VM. This study extends the application of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions to the domain of cross-cultural media consumption, enriching the theoretical framework with additional dimensions and offering a novel perspective for cross-cultural research. Furthermore, the study uncovers the intricate interactions between cultural context and film content, proposing strategies to enhance the acceptance of cross-cultural films. These findings not only provide valuable insights for the production and marketing of animated films but also offer strategic guidance for filmmakers in diverse markets. Full article

Firms show their environmental efforts on social media in order to influence the green purchase decisions of environmentally conscious consumers. However, consumers remain suspicious of firms’ environmental claims. This study aims to assess the impact of green social media influence, greenwashing perception, and green authenticity perception on green purchase decisions. In addition, greenwashing perception and green authenticity perception mediate the relationship between green social media influence and green purchase decisions. Data on fashion clothing brands were collected from 413 respondents in Guangzhou, China. These data were analyzed through SPSS version 23 and Smartpls version 4.0.8 software. The findings of this study show that the relationship between green social media influence, greenwashing perception, and green authenticity perception remains significant. Similarly, the mediating relationship of green authenticity perception between green social media influence and green purchase decisions remains significant. However, the mediating relationship of greenwashing perception between green social media influence and green purchase decisions remains non-significant. The results of this study will be beneficial for fashion clothing brands, marketers, policymakers, and researchers. Moreover, this study provides practical guidance for stakeholders to gain maximum benefits from social media and avoid the harmful effects caused by greenwashing perception. Full article

Rapid prototyping techniques offer significant advantages in terms of fabrication speed, accessibility, and low cost. This study explores the use of low-cost stereolithographic resins to produce prototypes intended for underwater conditions. The objective is to evaluate the feasibility of different low-cost resin brands by identifying their water absorption percentage and their response in terms of appearance and deformation after prolonged exposure to an underwater environment. Through three different tests, the suitability of the resins and possible coatings is evaluated, allowing for obtaining data not disclosed by commercial manufacturers and indicating that there are low-cost brands that offer water absorption levels suitable for underwater use. The coefficients for water absorption at saturation begin at 3.3% in saltwater and increase for chlorinated water. Additionally, significant insights are gained regarding the use of coatings. It is found that coatings commonly applied to filament-printed prototypes are generally less suitable for parts produced through stereolithography intended for underwater applications. The most effective strategy is to avoid using coatings altogether. Full article

Currently, research on peg-in-hole (PiH) compliant assembly is predominantly limited to circular pegs and holes, with insufficient exploration of various complex-shaped PiH tasks. Furthermore, the degree of freedom for rotation about the axis of the circular peg cannot be constrained after assembly, and few studies have covered the complete process from autonomous hole-searching to insertion. Based on the above problems, a novel cross-shaped peg and hole design has been devised. The center coordinates of the cross-hole are obtained during the hole-searching process using the three-dimensional reconstruction theory of a binocular stereo vision camera. During the insertion process, 26 contact states of the cross-peg and the cross-hole were classified, and the mapping relationship between the force-moment sensor and relative errors was established based on a backpropagation (BP) neural network, thus completing the task of autonomous PiH assembly. This system avoids hand-guiding, completely realizes the autonomous assembly task from hole-searching to insertion, and can be replaced by other structures of pegs and holes for repeated assembly after obtaining the accurate relative pose between two assembly platforms, which provides a brand-new and unified solution for complex-shaped PiH assembly. Full article

In contemporary society, the growing attention paid to environmental protection and sustainable development has led to an increasing demand for green products. To meet this demand, companies have widely adopt green marketing strategies aimed at attracting consumers through environmental attributes. However, the phenomenon of “greenwashing”, where companies exaggerate or mislead the public about their environmental actions, undermines consumer trust and damages brand reputation. This study explores the impact of brands’ green marketing strategies on consumers’ perception of greenwashing and green brand image through in-depth interviews and surveys. Initially, four key dimensions of brand green marketing were identified through interviews with 40 experts and industry stakeholders: products and services, communication, relationships and interaction, and commitment and values. Subsequently, data from 325 valid survey responses were collected online, and the hypotheses were tested using factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The results indicate that communication, relationships and interaction, and commitment and values effectively reduce greenwashing perception and, through this mediation, influence green brand image. This finding underscores the importance of brands avoiding false advertising in green marketing and ensuring the authenticity of their environmental information to maintain and enhance their green image. Full article

This paper addresses the challenge of objectively determining a website’s personality by developing a methodology based on automated quantitative analysis, thus avoiding the biases inherent in human surveys. Utilizing a database of 3000 websites, data extraction tools gather relevant data, which are then analyzed using Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, including machine learning (ML) and natural language processing. Four ML algorithms—K-means, Expectation Maximization, Hierarchical Agglomerative Clustering, and DBSCAN—are implemented to assess and classify website personality traits. Each algorithm’s strengths and weaknesses are evaluated in terms of data organization, cluster flexibility, and handling of outliers. A software tool is developed to facilitate the research process, from database creation and data extraction to ML application and results analysis. Experimental validation, conducted with identical training and testing datasets, achieves a success rate of up to 94% (with an Error of $\le 50\%$) in accurately identifying website personality, which is validated by subsequent surveys. The research highlights significant relationships between website attributes and personality traits, offering practical applications for website developers. For instance, developers can use these insights to design websites that align with business goals, enhance customer engagement, and foster brand loyalty. Additionally, the methodology can be applied to creating culturally resonant websites, thus supporting New Zealand’s cultural initiatives and promoting cross-cultural understanding. This research lays the groundwork for future studies and has broad applicability across various domains, demonstrating the potential for automated, unbiased website personality classification. Full article

This article draws on the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) model to understand the role of negative emotions in the anti-brand behaviors of online users who consume snow sports brands. To this end, both the online social influence and the mediating effect of symbolic incongruence (stimulus) on the generation of negative emotions (anger, stress, frustration, fear, boredom and sadness) (organism), and how these influence the formation of negative customer brand engagement (nCBE) (response), are analyzed. The study also analyses the moderating effects of “level of expertise”, this makes it possible to capture differences in behaviors based on the profile of the users in each of the proposed relationships. Questionnaire responses of 400 ski and snowboard users over 18 years of age were analyzed using a quantitative methodology. The results obtained have important theoretical and practical implications, since they confirm that online social influences have both a direct and indirect (mediating) effect on negative emotions, which positively affects the nCBE of online users of snow sports brands. Significant differences in behavior based on experience level (moderation effect) were also found. The study proposes useful practical recommendations applicable in online environments that the extreme sports industry could use to neutralize/avoid highly detrimental consequences. Full article

As information technology continues to evolve, cloud data centres have become increasingly prominent as the preferred infrastructure for data storage and processing. However, this shift has introduced a new array of security challenges, necessitating innovative approaches distinct from traditional network security architectures. In response, the Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) has emerged as a promising solution, with micro-segmentation identified as a crucial component for enabling continuous auditing and stringent security controls. VxLAN technology is widely utilized in data centres for tenant isolation and virtual machine interconnection within tenant environments. Despite its prevalent use, limited research has focused on its application in micro-segmentation scenarios. To address this gap, we propose a method that leverages VLAN and VxLAN many-to-one mapping, requiring that all internal data centre traffic routes through the VxLAN gateway. This method can be implemented cost-effectively, without necessitating business modifications or causing service disruptions, thereby overcoming the challenges associated with micro-segmentation deployment. Importantly, this approach is based on standard public protocols, making it independent of specific product brands and enabling a network-centric framework that avoids software compatibility issues. To assess the effectiveness of our micro-segmentation approach, we provide a comprehensive evaluation that includes network aggregation and traffic visualization. Building on the implementation of micro-segmentation, we also introduce an enhanced asset behaviour algorithm. This algorithm constructs behavioural profiles based on the historical traffic of internal network assets, enabling the rapid identification of abnormal behaviours and facilitating timely defensive actions. Empirical results demonstrate that our algorithm is highly effective in detecting anomalous behaviour in intranet assets, making it a powerful tool for enhancing security in cloud data centres. In summary, the proposed approach offers a robust and efficient solution to the challenges of micro-segmentation in cloud data centres, contributing to the advancement of secure and reliable cloud infrastructure. Full article

Objectives: Using toothpaste with activated carbon might increase the decay of orthodontic elastomeric chains’ (ECs) tensile strength, thereby compromising orthodontic treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of activated charcoal toothpaste on orthodontic ECs. Materials and Methods: A total sample of 180 EC segments from 3M Unitek^®, Ormco^® and Ortho Classic^® brands were equally divided into 12 groups, each comprising 15 specimens. These pieces were kept in artificial saliva at 37 °C and brushed twice daily for 28 days, with three distinct types of toothpaste: Colgate^® Total, Colgate^® Max White, and Dr Organic^® Extra Whitening Charcoal Toothpaste. The latter two toothpastes contain activated charcoal. Tensile strength, resistance to rupture and colour variation were evaluated at time zero and day 28. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests were performed at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Toothpaste with and without activated carbon significantly reduced the tensile strength and resistance to rupture of the ECs, and altered EC colour (p < 0.0001). There was inconsistency in the effect of the activated carbon on EC characteristics, most probably due to the different compositions of the ECs and percentages of whitening agents in the toothpastes. Conclusions: The material composition of ECs contributes to their tensile strength decay, resistance to rupture and colour change over time. The variable percentage of activated carbon in a toothpaste likely underlies the different effects observed, depending on the EC brand. Clinical Relevance: It might be reasonable to advise patients wearing ECs to avoid using toothpaste with activated carbon until further evidence becomes available. Full article