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This article is based on the 2022 Earle F. Zeigler Lecture Award that I presented in Atlanta, Georgia. For this paper, I reflect upon my career as a qualitative sport management researcher, with a specific focus on the mistakes I have made. I have two objectives with this paper. One objective is to advocate for continued learning about and rethinking how we conduct qualitative research. The second objective is to highlight ways in which we, as a field, can improve our qualitative research literacy. In the paper, I discuss eight learnings on the topics of ontologies and epistemologies, research designs, themes, pseudonyms, rigor, generalizability, positionality, and the publisher SAGE. In learning from my mistakes, we can be better consumers, producers, and evaluators of qualitative research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the historical roots of metalworking to the forefront of modern nanotechnology, functional materials have played a pivotal role in transforming societies, and their influence is poised to persist into the future. Encompassing a wide array of solid‐state materials, spanning semiconductors to polymers, molecular crystals to nanoparticles, functional materials find application in critical sectors such as electronics, computers, information, communication, biotechnology, aerospace, defense, environment, energy, medicine and consumer products. This feature article delves into diverse instances of functional materials, exploring their structures, their properties and the underlying mechanisms that contribute to their outstanding performance across fields like batteries, photovoltaics, magnetics and heterogeneous catalysts. The field of structural sciences serves as the cornerstone for unraveling the intricate relationship between structure, dynamics and function. Acting as a bridge, it connects the fundamental understanding of materials to their practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) for skin sensitization is used to derive safe use levels of sensitising fragrance ingredients in products. Post‐marketing surveillance of the prevalence of contact allergy to these ingredients provides relevant data to help evaluate the performance of these measures. Objectives: To determine a suitable patch test concentration for five fragrance materials that had hitherto not been tested on a regular basis. These concentrations are then to be used in a surveillance study with patch testing consecutive patients over an extended monitoring period. Materials and Methods: Furaneol, CAS.3658‐77‐3; trans‐2‐hexenal, CAS.6728‐26‐3; 4,8‐dimethyl‐4,9‐decadienal, CAS.71077‐31‐1; longifolene, CAS.475‐20‐7; benzaldehyde, CAS.10052‐7, were patch tested with other fragrance allergens in four clinics. Patch testing was conducted in three rounds, starting with the lowest concentrations of the five ingredients. The doses were increased in the subsequent rounds if no late‐appearing positive reactions and virtually no irritant reactions were reported. Results: Overall, 373 patients were tested. No positive allergic reaction was reported to the five ingredients. Patch test results of other fragrance allergens are reported. Conclusions: The highest test concentrations are each considered safe for patch testing consecutive patients. Further surveillance based on these preparations will evaluate the hypothesis that QRA‐driven consumer product levels of these fragrances can prevent sensitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We vary greatly in our perception of risk, not just because of differences between risks themselves, but also because of individual, contextual and cultural differences too. To better understand and predict responses to risk, we need to (a) integrate these components, combining approaches from different psychological disciplines and (b) also consider risk tolerance – how individuals trade-off between risks and benefits. We therefore developed an ICONS (individual, contextual, cognitive, social) framework; using it across two empirical studies (n = 4228) to examine how individuals perceive and respond to the quotidian risks associated with consumer products. Three dimensions underlined risk perceptions: benefits, dread and individual responsibility. Risk tolerance was typically predicted by interactions between individual (demographic, cultural worldview, personality) and contextual (product type/category, harm information) factors. In turn, perceived dread, benefits and individual differences shaped how likely participants were to communicate risk information. Our results demonstrate for the first time how the interaction between individual, cognitive (risk tolerance, intensity), contextual, and social (risk communication) factors is key to understanding and predicting risk perceptions. Together, our findings help explain why societal responses to risks are often difficult to predict and have implications for the spread, and amplification, of risk information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child impeding packs are difficult for children to open so protect them from unintended access to hazardous contents inside the pack. However, if packs are difficult for adults to open, in normal usage scenarios, this may result in a higher occurrence of packs being left open. This research explores differences in ease of usage and closure compliance between two types of child impeding packs of liquid laundry detergent capsules. The two packs, "Pinch & Lift" and "Press & Lift", had different opening and closing mechanisms. "Press & Lift" also included an audible "click" signal to confirm complete closure to the user. The research was performed across two studies. In both studies, the packs were used in participants' homes according to their usual storage and usage practices as replacements to their current liquid laundry detergent capsule pack. All participants had small children living with them in their household. In Study 1, self-reported closure and ease of use data was collected from 99 adult participants in Germany. They used each package in their home for 10 days. Study 2 extended Study 1 by measuring closure rates with an objective assessment using in pack sensors for a 10-day period for each pack. Self-reported closure and ease of use data were also collected. Study 2 was conducted with 87 participants in the United Kingdom. Results across both studies showed "Press & Lift" with the audible "Click" close signal to be rated by participants to be significantly easier to open and close and have a higher self-reported closure rate than "Pinch & Lift". In addition, Study 2 results demonstrated higher closure rates using "Press & Lift" based on the sensor-measured closure compliance. Together, the results suggest transition to a pack with a mechanism that is child impeding and easier for an adult to use with an audible closure signal, like the "Press & Lift" system, has potential to reduce child access to a capsule from a pack by reducing the likelihood of the pack being left open by the adult user. Ultimately, such packs could protect children from potential poisoning injury across a range of consumer products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DINP) and di-iso-decyl phthalate (DIDP) have been employed increasingly as plasticizers to replace di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a hormonal disruptor. Through this systematic review, we reviewed their (1) contamination levels in the environmental media, foods, and consumer products, (2) human exposure levels in national biomonitoring studies, and (3) associations with human sex and thyroid hormone disruption. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched and eligible studies were identified. DINP and DIDP were found at higher concentrations in indoor environments, especially with high human activity and PVC use. In foods, contamination levels vary by production methods and tend to be higher in fatty foods. In children's products, both plasticizers were more highly detected in samples measured before 2010. National biomonitoring data from several countries demonstrated that urinary levels of DINP and DIDP metabolites were relatively lower than those of DEHP. However, exposure to DINP has been associated with anti-androgenic potential in male offspring and adults and decreased thyroid hormones in mother–child pairs. In conclusion, existing literatures demonstrated widespread occurrence of DINP and DIDP in the indoor environment, diet, and children's products, and in the human populations worldwide. At the current levels of exposure, DINP exhibited endocrine disruption potentials similar to those of DEHP, especially among males and pregnant women. Knowledge gaps in DIDP exposure among the human population were identified and should be considered for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the right to repair and its potential effects on the circular economy. Other topics include how the right to repair movement create challenges for producers and designers of consumer products, as well as the responses made by companies to class action lawsuits, changing consumer demands, and the adoption and growth of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.

As e‐commerce emerges as a central mechanism through which customers make purchases, so does the diversity of products they choose to purchase online. One of the fastest‐growing product categories is that of large and oversized items, often referred to as "big and bulky" items. This trend is particularly pronounced in the United States, with the online appliance and furniture markets experiencing substantial growth. Significant growth is also observed in the last‐mile delivery services sector for these large items. This presents a plethora of opportunities for industry stakeholders. Capitalizing on these opportunities and achieving service differentiation requires significant strategic investments in specialized equipment and capabilities by retailers and logistics service providers. These capabilities differ significantly from those typically required to deliver standard consumer products. This shift in operational context requires a deep understanding of customer preferences regarding big and bulky item delivery services. In this study, we determine customer preferences for big and bulky item delivery service features and quantify the effect of customer psychographic traits on those preferences. We accomplish this by conducting a choice‐based conjoint experiment. Our findings indicate significant effects that bear both research and managerial implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic and linear siloxanes are compounds synthesized from silicon consisting of alternating atoms of silicone and oxygen [Si-O] units with organic side chains. The most common cyclic siloxanes are octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5), and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6), while the most common linear siloxanes are high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) and low molecular weight volatile linear siloxanes known as hexamethyldisiloxane (L2), octamethyltrisiloxane (L3), decamethyltetrasiloxane (L4), dodecamethylpentasiloxane (L5). These compounds (1) exhibit low dermal toxicity, (2) are generally inert and non-reactive, and (3) are compatible with a wide range of chemicals offering beneficial chemical properties which include the following: wash-off or transfer resistance from the skin, sun protection factor (SPF) enhancement, emolliency in cleaning products). Because of these properties, these compounds are incorporated into multiple consumer products for use on the skin, such as cosmetics and health-care products, with over 300,000 tons annually sold into the personal care and consumer products sector. Because of their widespread use in consumer products and potential for human dermal exposure, a comprehensive understanding of the dermal absorption and overall fate of siloxanes following dermal exposure is important. This review summarizes available data associated with the dermal absorption/penetration as well as fate of the most commonly used siloxane substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-phthalate plasticizers are being increasingly used in commercial and consumer products, to replace phthalates. Among major non-phthalate plasticizer groups, we chose five alternative plasticizers of DEHA, DINCH, DEHTP, ATBC, and TOTM, and conducted a systematic literature review for current knowledge on their use and occurrences in major sources, and their exposure and endocrine outcomes in humans. Relevant articles published between January 2000 and December 2022 were identified from PubMed and Scopus search and analyzed. For occurrence, biomonitoring, and endocrine-related outcomes, 79, 73, and 14 studies were finally identified, respectively. The alternative plasticizers were widely used in food packaging, children's products, hygiene products, medical devices, and construction materials, and frequently detected in indoor dust. Food packaging materials and children's products were major sources of direct exposure to humans. Human exposure to alternative plasticizers is reported mostly via biomonitoring of urine. Urinary levels of DEHTP and DINCH metabolites were higher among infants, children, and pregnant women than in general adults. In humans, DEHTP, DINCH, or ATBC exposure were associated with sex hormone disruption and reproductive outcomes, but these associations varied by sex and age. This review showed that the use of and exposure to these alternative plasticizers have increased over time. Their potential health implications, especially among susceptible humans, warrant greater attention and further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Using eye tracking technology, this study sought to determine if differences in hazard statement (HS) compliance based on design elements are attributable to attention maintenance (AM). Background: Recent empirical work has demonstrated counter-intuitive findings for HS designs embedded in procedures. Specifically, prevalent HS designs in procedures were associated with lower compliance. Method: The current study utilized eye tracking technology to determine whether participants are attending to HSs differently based on the inclusion or absence of visually distinct HS design elements typically used for consumer products. We used two different designs that previously yielded the largest gap in HS compliance. In a fully-crossed design, 33 participants completed four rounds of tasks using four procedures with embedded HSs. To assess AM, eye tracking was used to measure gaze and fixation duration. Results: The results indicated there are differences in AM between the two designs. The HSs that included elements traditionally considered effective in the consumer products literature elicited lower fixation duration times, and were associated with lower compliance. However, AM did not mediate the design effect on compliance. Conclusions: The study results suggest the design of HSs are impacting individuals as early as the AM stage of the C-HIP model. The absence of HS design-AM-compliance mediation suggests other C-HIP elements more directly explain the HS design-compliance effects. Application: These results provide more evidence that the communication of Health, Environment, and Safety information in procedures may need to be different from those on consumer products, suggesting design efficacy may be task dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Contamination of everyday goods with heavy metals such as nickel, cadmium, and lead known to be hazardous to the health of customers is an ongoing problem. Method: Here, a mass spectrometric screening method based on reactive desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) is presented for the analysis of metals in consumer goods such as jewelry, tableware, and paintings. The method detects oxidized species of lead, nickel, cadmium, copper, and iron from the surface of objects without sample preparation. Positively charged metal ions form singly and doubly negatively charged complexes with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid added to the DESI solvent, which are analyzed by a mass spectrometer. Results: Qualitative and quantitative performance of the method was elucidated with metal salt standards. Subsequently, authentic samples were analyzed qualitatively. Reactive DESI‐MS was able to detect lead and cadmium in eight out of nine consumer goods. For tableware, these heavy metals were found to be localized in the print as determined by reactive DESI imaging. In addition, mockup paintings generated from modern and historical pigments of Pb, Cu, Cd, and Fe in various media (acrylic binder, egg tempera, and linseed oil) were measured to show the suitability of the method for art authentication and conservation. Conclusion: The developed method expands the range of analytes accessible by DESI‐MS to metal ions. Hence, DESI becomes a suitable ionization technique for an increasing number of analyte classes, which are of interest in chemical screening of consumer goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: While consumers are increasingly used to purchasing online, virtual reality (VR) is well acknowledged to enhance consumer experience via immersive and interaction systems. In our research, we recruited 160 participants (80 per experiment) to compare their consumer experiences of choosing Fast‐Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) in a virtual store (via VR) and on an online webpage. Specifically, each participant was asked to choose four FMCGs (foods in Experiment 1 and non‐foods in Experiment 2) for the next 4 weeks, and they filled out the Positive and Negative Affect Scale before and after completing choice tasks. Results of the anova showed that there was a significant decrease in negative affect scores following both food and non‐food choices (Mbefore = 1.3 vs. Mafter = 1.2). Positive affect ratings were significantly higher for food choices in VR than online (MVR = 2.5 vs. Monline = 2.1), with no significant difference for non‐food choices. This highlights the impact of VR on food choice and its potential to transform human–food interactions. The study reveals that VR can narrow the gap between consumers' expectations and actual perceptions by creating an immersive and interactive shopping experience, thus significantly influencing consumer behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible polyurethane foams (PUF) are used in many consumer products. PUF may contain trace levels of aromatic diamine impurities that could represent a potential health risk. The risk associated with sleeping on a PUF mattress was evaluated. Toxicity benchmarks for sensitization and non-cancer endpoints were derived from the respective points-of-departure using standard assessment factors. For the cancer endpoints, toxicity benchmarks were derived from the 25th-percentile values of animal studies. Recently published emission and migration data allowed to link exposure with the CertiPURTM voluntary quality limits of ≤5 mg.kg−1 for 2,4-toluene diamine and 4,4'-methylene dianiline in PUF. Using conservative exposure scenarios, lifetime-average daily internal doses from the combined inhalation and dermal exposures were calculated. Margins of safety for non-cancer and sensitization endpoints were >104. The theoretical excess cancer risk was ≤1.5 × 10−7. It is concluded that sleeping on a mattress that satisfies the CertiPUR limit value does not pose undue risk to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We combine nonparametric price response modeling and dynamic pricing. In particular, we model sales response for fast-moving consumer goods sold by a physical retailer using a Bayesian semiparametric approach and incorporate the price of the previous period as well as further time-dependent covariates. All nonlinear effects including the one-period lagged price dynamics are modeled via P-splines, and embedding the semiparametric model into a Hierarchical Bayesian framework enables the estimation of nonlinear heterogeneous (i.e., store-specific) immediate and lagged price effects. The nonlinear heterogeneous model specification is used for price optimization and allows the derivation of optimal price paths of brands for individual stores of retailers. In an empirical study, we demonstrate that our proposed model can provide higher expected profits compared to competing benchmark models, while at the same time not seriously suffering from boundary problems for optimized prices and sales quantities. Optimal price policies for brands are determined by a discrete dynamic programming algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background When detecting Salmonella spp. in food samples, unlike with culture-based procedures where there are solid standards, PCR techniques are generally dominated by commercial solutions, often backed by the conformity of reference organizations, and based on rigorous validation studies. The few independent standards that exist are not subject to revision and improvement to the same extent as the manufacturer's methods. Moreover, since commercial networks do not promote them, they are implemented less in everyday practice. The German standard DIN 10135 is an example of this. In this method, before PCR detection, a primary enrichment (16–20 h) followed by a secondary selective enrichment of at least 6 h is needed. Nevertheless, it allows the possibility of only applying the first step if evidence of their correct operation is provided. Objective To evaluate how necessary is the secondary enrichment for DIN 10135 standard. Methods Short and complete enrichment steps were compared in the context of the evaluation of the limit of detection for 11 types of food. Additionally, a blind assay was performed with 75 food samples. Results The data show that a simple primary enrichment may be sufficient and that the second selective enrichment with the tested matrixes would not be strictly essential. The blind study obtained a 98.6% of trueness and precision of 100%. Conclusions At least for the end consumer products, a secondary enrichment of 6 h is not necessary for all the products tested. Highlights In the context of the DIN 10135 standard, the primary enrichment (16–20 h, 37 ± 1°C) can be enough for detecting Salmonella spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core objective of a successful product supply strategy is to determine the mechanism through which consumers' psychological effects influence customer demand. As stated in the theory of supply and demand, a higher level of dynamic equilibrium should be formed in which demand drives supply and supply creates demand. There is a lack of systematic research in the literature on the identification of consumer goods demand attributes and the formation of influencing factors in consumer goods supply chains. In this paper, we use the literature on demand functions and product pricing functions to establish three mathematical models to study the factors that influence retailers in designing and planning product supply strategies for different customers under nonessential demand patterns and to solve the profit maximization problem. The results of numerical examples validate the validity of the model. The research results can help retailers develop different supply strategies according to different types of customers and different demand patterns, thereby improving business performance. The theoretical contribution of this study is the construction of value ranges and a demand function diagram for identifying consumer product demand attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current calls for deep societal transformation stress the need to go beyond green consumption and aim for the reduction of material consumption. Such a shift is enacted by grassroots initiatives around reuse, repair and sharing. However, the possibility of postconsumerist perspectives and practices to reach a broader audience is affected by discursive opportunity structures (DOS) formed in public debate. To understand the DOS it is relevant to pay attention both to the continuous normalisation of consumption and to the ways in which alternatives are represented. To develop new analytical tools for examining what postconsumerist initiatives are up against, we introduce the concept of banal consumerism : mundane, habitual expressions that reproduce consumer culture. Through an empirical study of Swedish daily newspapers, we construct the basis for a typology of different expressions of banal consumerism. We find several expressions, of which the massive advertising of consumer goods is the most common but editorial material also plays an important role. This largely disabling DOS is then put in relation to the potentially enabling opportunities entailed in the existing media coverage of postconsumerist initiatives, practices and perspectives. The results show that postconsumerist initiatives and practices are newsworthy and presented as commendable. The fact that high levels of material consumption negatively impact the environment and life on the planet is widely accepted. To argue for degrowth or criticise consumerism is, however, controversial. Thus, support for postconsumerist practices coexist with massive expressions of banal consumerism, creating a complex set of DOS for the postconsumerist initiatives to navigate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After a disaster, the population undertakes a series of actions aimed at saving and rescuing other people who may be in danger, as well as the gathering of goods considered indispensable to ensure their safety. Numerous studies have indicated that gender is one of the factors that conditions the lived experience of a disaster and, therefore, the actions that people undertake during the emergency. However, previous studies addressing the issue of gender in this respect have focused on how people are evacuated from the danger area, rather than on the rescue of goods. With the aim of contributing to filling this gap, the current article studies the patterns of the reproduction of/alteration in gender roles in the rescue of material goods following the earthquake in Lorca (Spain) in 2011 through the analysis of raw data collected from four focus groups comprising people who survived this catastrophic event. The results demonstrate that during the rescue actions in the disaster the men and women studied behaved to a great extent in line with traditional gender roles, although there were certain actions undertaken that involved a degree of alteration to these roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted to determine the influence of managerial ownership, audit committee, profitability and tax avoidance on company value in manufacturing companies in the consumer goods sector for the 2018-2022 period. This research uses a purposive sampling model and the population in this research is manufacturing companies in the consumer goods sector, totaling 16 companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI) for the 2018-2022 period that meet the criteria. The data analysis model used is panel data regression analysis. The research results in this study show that simultaneously the variables Managerial Ownership, Audit Committee, Profitability and Tax Avoidance have no influence on Company Value. However, partially the variables Managerial Ownership, Audit Committee, and Tax Avoidance do not have a significant influence on Company Value. Meanwhile, Profitability (ROA) has a significant influence on Company Value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to examine how competent the impact of capital structure and intangible assets is to company value which is moderated by managerial ownership. The views in this research use secondary data sourced from annual reports of companies in the consumer goods industry sector for 2018 - 2022 with a sample size of 110 company data which will then be examined using the eviews 12 statistical test. The results of the data testing state that capital structure have a negative effect on company value. Intangible assets has no effect on company value. Managerial ownership does not moderate capital structure on firm value. Managerial ownership does not moderate intangible assets on company value. Capital structure and intangible assets influance company value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomaterials are integrated within consumer products to enhance specific properties of interest. Their release throughout the lifecycle of nano-enabled products raises concerns; specifically, mechanical strains can lead to the generation of fragmented materials containing nanomaterials. We investigated the potential release of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs—brand TUBALL™) from epoxy composite materials. A pin-on-disk-type tribometer was used for the accelerated mechanical aging of the nanocomposites. A pristine nanocomposite material, abraded material and debris obtained from the abrasion in the tribometer were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. The airborne-produced particles were captured using particle collectors. Stat Peel's Identifier C2 system was used to monitor the SWCNT content of respirable particles produced during the abrasion test. The SWCNT amounts found were below the LoQ. The Raman spectra conducted on the Stat Peel filters helped identify the presence of free SWCNTs released from the epoxy matrix, although they were notably scarce. Raman spectroscopy has been proved to be a crucial technique for the identification, characterization and assessment of structural changes and degradation in SWCNTs that occurred during the abrasion experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmacists and pharmacies are key drivers in the American marketplace. They serve as an endpoint of the pharmaceutical supply chain and are the dispensers of a range of consumer goods, some nonthreatening and others potentially harmful to public health. In adding pharmacies to the roster of consumerist locales in the postwar period, scholars might draw even deeper connections about the transformation of health, corporate medicine, and American economic power. To understand the interface of consumerism, corporatism, and health in postwar America, this article holds the postwar pharmacy as a key site of commodity exchange and business and positions it within the larger American firmament, paying attention to the design of pharmacies. In particular, the article will add to the knowledge about the tangible ways that medical and health care spaces are constructed, organized, and designed to best generate profits. Besides prescription medications, alcohol, tobacco, and sugar-rich products were also vital elements of the postwar pharmacy and will be featured in this article. What is more, this article focuses on a central debate between pharmacists during the postwar period about how pharmacies were shifting from the role of healer to that of a retailer — from a "conscientious guardian" to a "commercialized jungle" — in order to highlight how the public health role of pharmacies was undermined by industry pressures for profit. Based on unused corporate guides and manuals, company records, photographs, and management documents, this article will spotlight the underexplored interiority of pharmacies – the store's insides, processes of organization, and design features related to potentially habit-changing substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, we introduce 'career hubs' as an alternative to interlocking directorates and propose to study transnational corporate elite networks with this new concept. Career hubs, the most frequent common career organizations, put emphasis on knowledge brokering and allow us to study a larger variety of organizations to understand the form and the spread of elite networks. We use a sample of 1366 firms on the Forbes 2000 list of 2018 and investigate the careers of 16,500 top executives by linking these data to the BoardEx database. We find three types of career hubs: global audit and consulting firms, financial firms participating in a transatlantic banking alliance and large US consumer goods conglomerates – and highlight the mechanisms through which they shape the spatial structures of finance led capitalism. In the conclusion, we consider the implication of our results for the literature on corporate networks and propose a series of future research avenues in the career hub perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the versatility of fossil-based polymers has led them to become one of the most used materials for the production of several consumer goods. The destiny of post-consumer plastics is crucial for environmental sustainability. Two are the alternatives to landfilling: (i) energy recovery, i.e., replacement of traditional fuel with plastic litter, and (ii) recycling, i.e., processing of plastic wastes to produce secondary raw materials that may substitute primary raw materials. This work presents the investigation of a device for the hydraulic separation of heterogeneous plastic wastes, which, when properly upscaled, may be efficiently used within recycling plants. This apparatus is suitable for the separation of granules or flakes of plastics with a density higher than 1000 Kg/m3 and may replace existing technologies for mechanical recycling. The purpose of the device is to separate the useful fraction from a mixture of plastics and water introduced inside. The separation procedure efficacy relies on the difference in density, dimension, and shape of the processed plastic particles and on the flow features within the device. Experiments were carried out to test the efficacy of the device as a function of those factors. To increase the range of variation in the key parameters influencing the apparatus's working principles, Computational Fluid Dynamics was employed to build a numerical model of the device. The validated numerical model suitable to fully characterize the apparatus performance features a hybrid grid with an inner mesh of 3·10−3 m size, a careful modeling of the near-wall region, and the k-ω SST turbulent model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes may be associated with a wide range of criminal and terrorist activity as physical evidence. In this study, a carbon powder suspension formulation for the detection of latent fingermarks on the adhesive side of tapes was modified by using consumer products as alternative surfactant sources. The modified formulations were used to successfully develop latent fingermarks deposited on transparent adhesive tape. This project ultimately intends to establish the performance windows of the modified techniques to allow evidence-based decision-making during technical exploitation in contested and austere environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes may be associated with a wide range of criminal and terrorist activity as physical evidence. In this study, a carbon powder suspension formulation for the detection of latent fingermarks on the adhesive side of tapes was modified by using consumer products as alternative surfactant sources. The modified formulations were used to successfully develop latent fingermarks deposited on transparent adhesive tape. This project ultimately intends to establish the performance windows of the modified techniques to allow evidence-based decision-making during technical exploitation in contested and austere environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nephrotoxicity is a significant concern during the development of new drugs or when assessing the safety of chemicals in consumer products. Traditional methods for testing nephrotoxicity involve animal models or 2D in vitro cell cultures, the latter of which lack the complexity and functionality of the human kidney. 3D in vitro models are created by culturing human primary kidney cells derived from urine in a 3D microenvironment that mimics the fluid shear stresses of the kidney. Thus, 3D in vitro models provide more accurate and reliable predictions of human nephrotoxicity compared to existing 2D models. In this review, we focus on precision nephrotoxicity testing using 3D in vitro models with human autologous urine-derived kidney cells as a promising approach for evaluating drug safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles (NPs) can be found throughout our direct environment as well as in a large range of consumer products. However, there is a lack of data on abundances and properties, which requires dedicated methods to identify and characterise NP entities. Single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SP ICP-MS) is becoming one of the most relevant methods for counting NPs and studying NP composition and properties. Especially time-of-flight (TOF) technology for ICP-MS holds the key to study single particle composition and to perform non-target particle screening. This is achieved through the unique detection paradigm in TOF acquiring all isotopes across the periodic table at 35 kHz and faster. Nevertheless, non-targeted screening methods face limitations due to two factors. First, large data sets challenge data processing units and require substantial time, and second, for each isotope/element, a decision limit to distinguish between random noise and a SP signal has to be established. Here, we propose a novel lognormal approximation method to rapidly model background levels and decision limits. This method was integrated in a pre-analysis tool which detected SP data signatures of all m/z recorded via SP ICP-TOF-MS. Within seconds, particulate elements could be pinpointed in large data files and selected for more dedicated characterisation steps. In a proof of concept, we used this non-target screening method to identify inorganic NPs in selected samples of whisky, vodka, gin, and liqueur. Following qualitative analyses, number concentrations, compositions, masses, and size distributions were investigated. Besides Mn, Fe and Cu as expected NP entities, Ti, Ag, Au and Sn-based particles were found in investigated samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose diacetate (CDA) is a bio-based plastic widely used in consumer products. CDA is a promising alternative to conventional thermoplastics due to its susceptibility to biodegradation in various environments. Despite widespread evidence for the degradation of CDA, relatively little is known about the microorganisms that drive degradation, particularly in the ocean. Recently, we documented the biodegradation of CDA-based materials (i.e., fabric, film, and foam) in a continuous-flow natural seawater mesocosm on the timescales of months, as indicated by mass loss, enzyme activity, and respiration to carbon dioxide. These findings paved the way for the present study aimed at identifying key microbial taxa implicated in CDA degradation. Analysis based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of bacteria and archaea revealed that material type, incubation time, material morphology (e.g., fabric vs film), and plasticizer content significantly influenced the microbial community structure. Differential abundance analysis revealed that bacterial taxa affiliated with the families of Arenicellaceae, Cellvibrionaceae, Methyloligellaceae, Micavibrionaceae, Puniceicoccaceae, Spirosomaceae, and Thermoanaerobaculaceae, and the order of Pseudomonadales potentially initiated the degradation (i.e., deacetylation) of CDA fabric and film. These taxa were notably distinct from CDA-degrading microbes reported in non-seawater environments. Collectively, the findings lend further support for CDA as a promising next-generation, high-utility, and low-environmental persistence bioplastic material. IMPORTANCE Cellulose diacetate (CDA) is a promising alternative to conventional plastics due to its versatility in manufacturing and low environmental persistence. Previously, our group demonstrated that CDA is susceptible to biodegradation in the ocean on timescales of months. In this study, we report the composition of microorganisms driving CDA degradation in the coastal ocean. We found that the coastal ocean harbors distinct bacterial taxa implicated in CDA degradation and these taxa have not been previously identified in prior CDA degradation studies, indicating an unexplored diversity of CDA-degrading bacteria in the ocean. Moreover, the shape of the plastic article (e.g., a fabric, film, or foam) and plasticizer in the plastic matrix selected for different microbial communities. Our findings pave the way for future studies to identify the specific species and enzymes that drive CDA degradation in the marine environment, ultimately yielding a more predictive understanding of CDA biodegradation across space and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual tracking and attribute estimation related to age or gender information of multiple person entities in a scene are mature research topics with the advent of deep learning techniques. However, when it comes to indoor images such as video sequences of retail consumers, data are not always adequate or accurate enough to essentially train effective models for consumer detection and tracking under various adverse factors. This in turn affects the quality of recognizing age or gender for those detected instances. In this work, we introduce two novel datasets: Consumers comprises 145 video sequences compliant to personal information regulations as far as facial images are concerned and BID is a set of cropped body images from each sequence that can be used for numerous computer vision tasks. We also propose an end-to-end framework which comprises CNNs as object detectors, LSTMs for motion forecasting of the tracklet association component in a sequence, along with a multi-attribute classification model for apparent demographic estimation of the detected outputs, aiming to capture useful metadata of consumer product preferences. Obtained results on tracking and age/gender prediction are promising with respect to reference systems while they indicate the proposed model's potential for practical consumer metadata extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, online user-generated data have emerged as a valuable source for consumer product research. However, most studies have neglected the brand effect, although it is a significant factor in conventional market research. This paper demonstrates the importance of brands in data-driven design using online reviews. Specifically, this study utilizes game theory and suggests a game setting representing market competition. Elements of the game are determined based on online data analysis. The proposed approach consists of four stages. The first stage divides online customers into different segments and analyzes them to extract the feature importance of each brand in each segment. The importance is based on the positive term frequency of features, and it becomes the customer's partial utility for each feature. The second stage defines the specification of product candidates and calculates their costs. This study refers to real market datasets (bill of materials) available online. At this point, the game is all set. The third stage finds the Nash equilibrium of the designed game, and the final stage compares the optimal strategy for a product portfolio with and without brand consideration. The suggested approach was tested on smartphone reviews from Amazon. The result shows that the lack of brand consideration leads a company to choose a non-optimal product strategy, illustrating the significance of the brand factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We present a methodology for relating traded products to aggregate country indicators. • We identify imported and exported products that correlate with growth and income per capita. • Catching-up economies characterized by frugality in consumer demand and the prominence of mass-production industries. • Mature economies distinguished by the importance of consumer demand and the export of knowledge-intensive goods. Using a novel methodology to relate traded products to aggregate country indicators, this paper identifies imported and exported goods that correlate with growth and income per capita, and based upon that, determines the productive and demand structure of mature and catching-up economies. The methodology in question first uses Principal Component Analysis on the products that countries specialize in importing and exporting, to reduce the number of variables that will, later, be linearly related to income and growth using Canonical Correlation Analysis. It is shown that fast growing or catching-up economies are characterized by the export of mass-produced manufactured goods, and the import of capital and intermediates – but not consumer goods. Frugality in consumption demand and congruence between exports and imports explain the high growth rates of catching-up or transitioning economies. In contrast, high income and slow growth mature economies are characterized by the export of goods whose production requires advanced technological capabilities. Their demand structure is characterized by the prominence of consumption rather than means of production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Article addresses whether Congress intended for consumers to bring implied warranty claims on consumer products under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act in all instances or only when a defective product is covered by a written warranty. The question, unresolved almost fifty years after the Act’s passage, is of great practical importance because consumers who bring claims under the Act are eligible for attorneys’ fees and other potential advantages not available to plaintiffs bringing warranty claims under state law. This Article analyzes the two current approaches courts have taken to address the issue: a broad approach where consumers can bring a claim for any implied warranty, and a narrow approach where courts only permit an implied warranty claim under the Act where a written warranty is offered. This Article concludes that neither is consistent with the Act’s language and purposes, and proposes a different approach. Courts should permit implied warranty claims under the Act only for consumer products covered by written warranties but should do so without regard to which supplier in the distribution chain gave the warranty. This approach would provide more consumer protection than the current predominant approach while also respecting the central importance of written warranties to the Act. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding of how injuries occur plays an effective role in accident learning and prevention. Existing frameworks focus on crucial information but ignore their causal relationships, which can lead to an incomplete understanding of the injury process. In this study, the descriptive framework of injury data (DFID) is expanded and combined with accident causation models used to elaborate on the causality of each injury factor. Subsequently, the injury process description ontology (IPD-Onto) based on DFID (extension) is established through a seven-step method developed by Stanford University. The IPD-Onto divides injury cases into five unified classes and constructs the injury process through the object properties. The ontology-based description of the injury process (with causal relationships) provides additional description and interpretation capabilities that are understandable by human experts or computers. The results of the Protégé DL query show that the ontology-based method enables the machine to interpret the injury process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic cigarettes mimic cigarettes' nicotine aerosol without burning tobacco. The assumption has been that electronic cigarettes are substantially safer than cigarettes because they avoid combustion. This assumption, combined with assumptions that electronic cigarettes are effective for cigarette cessation and do not appeal to youth, led many to argue electronic cigarettes are harm reduction. By 2023, evidence revealed higher risks than assumed, that electronic cigarettes as consumer products do not help smokers quit, and that electronic cigarettes have addicted millions of youth to nicotine. Dual use (using both electronic cigarettes and cigarettes) is more harmful than just smoking cigarettes. The failure of electronic cigarettes as consumer products to help people stop smoking makes their relative toxicity compared to cigarettes a moot point. Electronic cigarettes have also played a role in the multinational tobacco companies' efforts to reposition themselves as socially responsible, which helps protect their financial and political interests. Countries, including Turkey, that have prohibited the import and avoided the sale of electronic cigarettes have done better overall at controlling the electronic cigarette epidemic than countries, including the United States and England, that have adopted more laissez-faire policies toward electronic cigarettes. Turkey should maintain and ensure effective enforcement of its current policies to continue to protect its population from electronic cigarettes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound widely used in industrial applications, has raised concerns due to its environmental impact. As a key component in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins used in many consumer products, concerns about potential harm to human health and the environment are unavoidable. This study seeks to address these concerns by evaluating a range of potential BPA alternatives, focusing on their ecotoxicological properties. The research examines 76 bisphenols, including BPA derivatives, using a variety of in silico ecotoxicological models, although it should be noted that these models were not developed exclusively for this particular class of compounds. Consequently, interpretations should be made with caution. The results of this study highlight specific compounds of potential environmental concern and underscore the need to develop more specific models for BPA alternatives that will allow for more accurate and reliable assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterprises desiring to be competitive have to continuously improve and react to the current trends. It is important, therefore, to know consumers' opinions and needs to remain competitive, especially as consumers' behaviour arises from a range of factors and conditions, both macroand microeconomic. Revenue and the prices of consumer goods, undoubtedly the key determinants that have a direct impact on consumer conduct, decide the market demand, and supply determines the real framework of consumption. Geographical, natural, civilisational, and cultural conditions are among the factors affecting consumers' decisions, influencing consumers' cultural preferences on the one hand and having an impact on consumer behaviour, on the other hand. This paper identifies the factors of enterprise competitiveness in the opinions of Czech, Slovak and Polish consumers. Specialist literature is reviewed, and descriptive statistical methods and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) are applied. The results are analysed on the basis of a survey of a consumer group using STATISTICA 13.0 software. The survey questionnaire relates to an assessment of significance of competitiveness factors used by enterprises. The research carried out can influence the development of theories of business competitiveness, and the results obtained can provide guidance to managers on the selection of key factors of enterprise competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfumery has evolved from a handcraft activity, marking supreme aristocratic luxury in the Renaissance, to a global industry powering scent experiences for present‐day consumers through the use of a myriad of consumer packaged goods. This contribution reviews major breakthroughs in the field, including landmark fragrance ingredients, technological advances in scent delivery, and key innovations in consumer products which created the demand for scientific and technological advancements in the scent domain. These innovations are presented chronologically, relying solely on information drawn from public written sources, spanning a time period of 150 years (1870–2020). We hope with this contribution to generate interest in the readership for this fascinating field, while celebrating 150 years of innovation for scented mass‐market products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable waste management is becoming a common goal in most countries. The national legal framework largely determines the waste management practices, the socio-demographic characteristics, and the economic level of the country and, in the case of businesses, the type of business, the industry in which it operates, and the sector-specific regulations to which it is subject. This paper aims to examine the importance that firms worldwide place on waste management by analyzing the evolution over time of waste management practices used by firms and how this evolution has varied across countries and sectors. The X-STATIS technique is applied to conduct a multivariate analysis using data from seven-hundred and eighty firms from twenty-eight countries and eight sectors from 2016 to 2020 (3900 observations). The results show that waste management has become more important worldwide over time. In terms of waste management practices, the management of the impacts of generated waste occupies the first place in the ranking, performed by 97.5% of the sampled firms in 2020; this is followed by the methods of the disposal of non-hazardous waste (66%) while waste prevention policies occupy the last place in the ranking (30.6%). At the country level, the most committed countries are Taiwan (74.3%) and Finland (70.6%), followed by France, Spain, Russia, Italy, and the United States (60.0–66.9%); meanwhile, the least committed countries are the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland (35–36%). At the sector level, consumer goods (63.7%) and oil and gas (63.0%) lead the ranking while the least committed sectors are technology and telecommunications (50.0%) and real estate services (49.3%). The evolution of companies' commitment to waste management is gradual in all sectors, with oil and gas at the top, with a percentage variation of 21.4%, and consumer goods at the bottom, with 5.2%. In addition, our results suggest that the sector influences waste management practices more than the country of origin of the firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the consumer goods supply chain, there are three different modes of demand: real, false, and semireal. It is an interesting topic to discuss the optimal profit of enterprises according to these three demand patterns. This paper develops three mathematical models that can be used to investigate the factors that affect retailers with respect to the design of product supply strategies for individual customers under a semireal demand pattern and thereby addresses the problem of retailers' maximum profitability. The results of the present study show that these models may effectively help retailers develop appropriate supply strategies for individual customers under a semireal demand pattern; in turn, this may help retailers improve operational performance. The main contribution of the current study lies in the construction of mathematical models of product supply strategies for the individual customer in the off-invoice mode, the scan-back mode, and the unsold-item processing mode under the semireal demand pattern. The effectiveness of the models has been verified through numerical calculations. In concrete management practice, the mathematical model given in this paper can be used to effectively adjust the quantity of goods purchased, correct retail prices, and optimize sales discounts to maximize profits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the potential costs and consequences of a war between the United States and China over Taiwan. It highlights the economic disruptions that would occur, including trade disruptions, shortages of consumer goods, and rising prices. The authors also discuss the risks of escalation, including the possibility of China targeting the continental United States with nuclear or conventional weapons. They caution against underestimating the potential costs and risks involved in a war between great powers. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: The objective of these studies was to identify hazard statement (HS) design elements in procedures that affected whether both workers and lab participants performed the associated hazard mitigation. Background: Many of the incidents in high-risk industries are the result of issues with procedures (e.g., standard operating procedures; SOPs) workers use to support their performance. HSs in these procedures are meant to communicate potential work hazards and methods of mitigating those hazards. However, there is little empirical research regarding whether current hazard design guidelines for consumer products translate to procedures. Method: Two experimental studies—(1) a laboratory study and (2) a high-fidelity simulation—manipulated the HS design elements present in procedures participants used while performing tasks. Participants' adherence to the mitigation of the hazard was compared for the HS designs. Results: The guidelines for HSs from consumer products did not translate to procedures. Specifically, the presence of an alert icon, a box around the statement, and highlighting the statement did not improve adherence to HSs. Indeed, the only consistent finding was for the Icon, with its presence reliably predicting nonadherence in both studies. Additionally, the total number of design elements did not have a positive effect on adherence. Conclusion: These findings indicate that more fundamental procedure HSs research is needed to identify effective designs as well as to understand the potential attentional mechanisms associated with these findings. Application: The findings from these studies indicate that current regulations and guidelines should be revisited regarding hazard presentation in procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently in the beauty and personal care markets there is a megatrend of the natural and clean. Consumers relate a product's clear appearance to being cleaner and potentially more natural regardless of the ingredients therein. Formulators continue to look for additives that can be incorporated into clear shampoos to provide superior conditioning. Traditional silicone conditioning agents can cause haze in these formulations. Formulators have attempted to remove silicones, resulting in a challenge to meet consumer needs especially for colored, permed, or damaged hair. In this paper, we have studied the performance of amodimethicone and silicone polyquaternium-18 microemulsion in transparent shampoos. The benefits evaluated were reduction in combing force and controlling flyaway while maintaining the shampoo's transparency. In addition, hair breakage tests, tensile strength tests, digital microscope observations, and silicone deposition tests were conducted. The apparent hair damage repair was quantified for the amodimethicone and silicone polyquaternium-18 microemulsions in shampoo. We have found a good correlation between the silicone deposition data and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]