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As interests in air quality monitoring related to environmental pollution and industrial safety increase, demands for gas sensors are rapidly increasing. Among various gas sensor types, the semiconductor metal oxide (SMO)-type sensor has advantages of high sensitivity, low cost, mass production, and small size but suffers from poor selectivity. To solve this problem, electronic nose (e-nose) systems using a gas sensor array and pattern recognition are widely used. However, as the number of sensors in the e-nose system increases, total power consumption also increases. In this study, an ultra-low-power e-nose system was developed using ultraviolet (UV) micro-LED (μLED) gas sensors and a convolutional neural network (CNN). A monolithic photoactivated gas sensor was developed by depositing a nanocolumnar In

Omni-directional images are becoming more prevalent for understanding the scene of all directions around a camera, as they provide a much wider field-of-view (FoV) compared to conventional images. In this work, we present a novel approach to represent omni-directional images and suggest how to apply CNNs on the proposed image representation. The proposed image representation method utilizes a spherical polyhedron to reduce distortion introduced inevitably when sampling pixels on a non-Euclidean spherical surface around the camera center. To apply convolution operation on our representation of images, we stack the neighboring pixels on top of each pixel and multiply with trainable parameters. This approach enables us to apply the same CNN architectures used in conventional Euclidean 2D images on our proposed method in a straightforward manner. Compared to the previous work, we additionally compare different designs of kernels that can be applied to our proposed method. We also show that our method outperforms in monocular depth estimation task compared to other state-of-the-art representation methods of omni-directional images. In addition, we propose a novel method to fit bounding ellipses of arbitrary orientation using object detection networks and apply it to an omni-directional real-world human detection dataset.

PurposeRecently, the role of consumers in firms' innovation processes has increased. Prior literature asserts that qualitative aspects of consumers serve as crucial factors shaping the even competitiveness of a specific industry. This study focuses on measuring home demand conditions that enhance local firms' innovation.Design/methodology/approachThe present study describes the development of a 12-item measure to assess consumer sophistication in the food industry. The items assess the general knowledge, experience, skills and abilities needed to purchase a specific food category. A second-order construct with three distinct first-order constructs emerged, which were termed opinion formulation, sensitivity and exposure with variety. The reliability and validity of the scale were assessed with pilot survey data using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The developed measure was tested to investigate its effect on individuals' grocery buying behaviors using grocery receipt panel data from 723 consumers.FindingsThe results indicate that consumer sophistication has a positive effect on new and the variety of grocery purchases. The more sophisticated a consumer is, the more they buy new and a variety of products. The newly developed consumer sophistication measure has a variety of potential applications to predict consumers' variety-seeking and new product purchase behavior.Originality/valueThis study is the first to develop a measure for assessing demand quality, namely, consumer sophistication of a specific food product. This approach may offer insights to practitioners regarding the relevant consumer sophistication levels to target when launching a new product or service in the food industry.

Event-based cameras sense changes in light intensity, and asynchronously outputs event data. Compared with conventional cameras, event-based cameras have the advantages of low latency, high dynamic range, and low power consumption. Event cameras have been utilized for various vision tasks, such as depth estimation and object detection under severe illumination changes and dynamic motion. Fisheye or omnidirectional cameras, on the other hand, have much wider field-of-view (FoV) allowing a more compact system for omnidirectional vision in comparison with multiple normal-FoV camera setups. In this work, we propose a new multi-view stereo method, called EOMVS, to reconstruct a 3D scene with a wide view using the event data captured by omnidirectional event cameras. The proposed method has the advantages of both event and fisheye cameras. To validate our EOMVS method, we conducted experiments using both synthetic and real-world datasets, and evaluated the performance both qualitatively and quantitatively. The experiments show that the presented approach can accurately obtain wide-view 3D information.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of formulation categories (parent brand and extension product) and research and development (R&D) cooperation types on electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) volume for extension products.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses data from 109 extension products in the Korean dessert market whose formulations were changed between 1 February 2014 and 19 February 2019. The formulation categories and R&D cooperation types are transformed into dummy variables to conduct a linear regression.FindingsThe formulation categories and R&D cooperation types play key roles in proliferating eWOM for formulation change products. The most effective way to proliferate eWOM is through product extension by changing the formulation of ice cream, beverage and snack category products. Furthermore, vertical R&D cooperation positively affects the proliferation of products' eWOM.Originality/valueThese findings contribute to increasing the chance of successful food product development by providing information on the formulation changes that are effective at inducing consumers' interest.

Recent studies on agritourism share a common voice in that the economic benefit of agritourism to farms is significant but rather small. However, the majority of studies examine only the short-term economic impact of agritourism. This suggests that the potential long-run economic impacts of agritourism may not have been empirically investigated yet, leading to underestimation of its net impact. Meanwhile, theories on mere exposure and product familiarity suggest that agritourism may lead tourists to change their agriproduct purchasing patterns after the experience. Thus, this study examines the effect of agritourism experience on consumers' future grocery purchase patterns. Household-level consumer panel data on grocery expenditure is estimated through the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) approach. The results indicate that agritourism experience significantly alters consumers' expenditure patterns in the food categories of grain, vegetable, fruit, meat, and fish. Implications for research and practice are discussed along with the findings of the study.

Omni-directional images are becoming more prevalent for understanding the scene of all directions around a camera, as they provide a much wider field-of-view (FoV) compared to conventional images. In this work, we present a novel approach to represent omni-directional images and suggest how to apply CNNs on the proposed image representation. The proposed image representation method utilizes a spherical polyhedron to reduce distortion introduced inevitably when sampling pixels on a non-Euclidean spherical surface around the camera center. To apply convolution operation on our representation of images, we stack the neighboring pixels on top of each pixel and multiply with trainable parameters. This approach enables us to apply the same CNN architectures used in conventional euclidean 2D images on our proposed method in a straightforward manner. Compared to the previous work, we additionally compare different designs of kernels that can be applied to our proposed method. We also show that our method outperforms in monocular depth estimation task compared to other state-of-the-art representation methods of omni-directional images. In addition, we propose a novel method to fit bounding ellipses of arbitrary orientation using object detection networks and apply it to an omni-directional real-world human detection dataset.

Consumers have started to become aware of the negative aspects of conventional meat, including concerns about environmental issues, animal welfare, and consumer health. Alternative meats (i.e., cultured meat and plant-based meat alternatives) have been introduced recently to address these problems, and the rapid growth of the alternative meat market could pose a threat to the conventional meat market. It is necessary to identify the features of alternative meat that affect consumers&rsquo, purchasing intentions. Thus, we aimed to: (1) explore the positive and negative feelings toward alternative meat and (2) compare the differences in factors influencing alternative meat buying intentions. This study conducted an online survey with Korean participants in two separate sections (cultured meat: n = 513, plant-based meat alternatives: n = 504), and relationships between the variables and willingness to buy were analyzed using the partial least squares method. The results showed that sustainability and food neophobia are two of the different factors, and food curiosity, unnaturalness, and distrust of biotechnology are the common factors affecting consumers&rsquo, purchasing choice. The results of this study provide useful guidelines for effective promotional messages about cultured meat, plant-based meat alternatives, and conventional meat marketers focusing on the positive and negative aspects of significant factors.

Omni-directional cameras have many advantages overconventional cameras in that they have a much wider field-of-view (FOV). Accordingly, several approaches have beenproposed recently to apply convolutional neural networks(CNNs) to omni-directional images for various visual tasks.However, most of them use image representations defined inthe Euclidean space after transforming the omni-directionalviews originally formed in the non-Euclidean space. Thistransformation leads to shape distortion due to nonuniformspatial resolving power and the loss of continuity. Theseeffects make existing convolution kernels experience diffi-culties in extracting meaningful information. This paper presents a novel method to resolve such prob-lems of applying CNNs to omni-directional images. Theproposed method utilizes a spherical polyhedron to rep-resent omni-directional views. This method minimizes thevariance of the spatial resolving power on the sphere sur-face, and includes new convolution and pooling methodsfor the proposed representation. The proposed method canalso be adopted by any existing CNN-based methods. Thefeasibility of the proposed method is demonstrated throughclassification, detection, and semantic segmentation taskswith synthetic and real datasets.

Existing vital signmonitoring systems in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) requiremultiple wires connected to rigid sensors with strongly adherent interfaces to the skin.We introduce a pair of ultrathin, soft, skin-like electronic devices whose coordinated, wireless operation reproduces the functionality of these traditional technologies but bypasses their intrinsic limitations.The enabling advances in engineering science include designs that support wireless, battery-free operation; real-time, in-sensor data analytics; time-synchronized, continuous data streaming; soft mechanics and gentle adhesive interfaces to the skin; and compatibility with visual inspection and with medical imaging techniques used in the NICU. Preliminary studies on neonates admitted to operating NICUs demonstrate performance comparable to the most advanced clinical-standard monitoring systems. INTRODUCTION In neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), continuous monitoring of vital signs is essential, particularly in cases of severe prematurity. Currentmonitoring platforms requiremultiple hard-wired, rigid interfaces to a neonate’s fragile, underdeveloped skin and, in some cases, invasive lines inserted into their delicate arteries. These platforms and theirwired interfaces pose risks for iatrogenic skin injury, create physical barriers for skin-to-skin parental/neonate bonding, and frustrate even basic clinical tasks. Technologies that bypass these limitations and provide additional, advanced physiological monitoring capabilities would directly address an unmet clinical need for a highly vulnerable population. Wireless, skin-like systems for vital signs monitoring in neonatal intensive care. (A) Images and finite-element modeling results for ECG and PPG devices bent around glass cylinders. (B) A neonate with an ECG device on the chest. (C and D) A mother holding her infant with a PPG device on the foot and an ECG device on the chest (C) and on the back (D). RATIONALE It is now possible to fabricate wireless, battery-free vital signs monitoring systems based on ultrathin, “skin-like” measurement modules. These devices can gently and noninvasively interface onto the skin of neonateswith gestational ages down to the edge of viability. Four essential advances in engineering science serve as the foundations for this technology: (i) schemes for wireless power transfer, low-noise sensing, and high-speed data communications via a single radio-frequency linkwith negligible absorption in biological tissues; (ii) efficient algorithms for real-time data analytics, signal processing, and dynamic baseline modulation implemented on the sensor platforms themselves; (iii) strategies for time-synchronized streaming of wireless data from two separate devices; and (iv) designs that enable visual inspection of the skin interface while also allowing magnetic resonance imaging and x-ray imaging of the neonate. The resulting systems can be much smaller in size, lighter in weight, and less traumatic to the skin than any existing alternative. RESULTS We report the realization of this class ofNICU monitoring technology, embodied as a pair of devices that, when used in a timesynchronized fashion, can reconstruct full vital signs information with clinical-grade precision. One device mounts on the chest to capture electrocardiograms (ECGs); the other rests on the base of the foot to simultaneously record photoplethysmograms (PPGs). This binodal system captures and continuously transmits ECG, PPG, and (fromeach device) skin temperature data, yieldingmeasurements of heart rate, heart rate variability, respiration rate, blood oxygenation, and pulse arrival time as a surrogate of systolic blood pressure. Successful tests on neonates with gestational ages ranging from 28 weeks to full term demonstrate the full range of functions in two level III NICUs. The thin, lightweight, low-modulus characteristics of these wireless devices allow for interfaces to the skinmediated by forces that are nearly an order ofmagnitude smaller than those associated with adhesives used for conventional hardware in the NICU. This reduction greatly lowers the potential for iatrogenic injuries. CONCLUSION The advances outlined here serve as the basis for a skin-like technology that not only reproduces capabilities currently provided by invasive, wired systems as the standard of care, but also offers multipoint sensing of temperature and continuous tracking of blood pressure, all with substantially safer device-skin interfaces and compatibility with medical imaging. By eliminating wired connections, these platforms also facilitate therapeutic skin-to-skin contact between neonates and parents, which is known to stabilize vital signs, reduce morbidity, and promote parental bonding. Beyond use in advanced hospital settings, these systems also offer costeffective capabilities with potential relevance to global health.

Recently, the spun blend yarns with staple fibers and filaments are being developed in the spinning process using an air blowing and electrostatic spinning technology(cyclone) in order to enhance the soft feeling and the fine count spun blend yarn manufacturing competitiveness. In this study, the appropriate separation condition of polyester multifilament was examined according to the treatment condition of conductive agents and voltage on polyester multifilament in the newly developed cyclone spinning process. And it was investigated the physical properties and dyeability of the cyclone wool/polyester spun blend yarns and its wool composite fabrics in comparison with existing sirofil wool/polyester spun blend yarn and its fabrics. As the result, it is determined that the newly developed cyclone wool/polyester spun blend yarn applied fabrics has a superior quality level in terms of practicality.

This paper aims to identify studies concerning online purchase behavior research published after 2000 in the main management information systems (MIS) and electronic commerce journals. These are categorized as studies of website use and online purchase behavior respectively. The review presents a holistic picture of the domain for online consumer behavior. The paper provides an insight into the field of electronic commerce and online consumer behavior with further discussions on theoretical and practical implication of these studies.

This study introduces the transformation process of a company's non-market strategy from corporate social responsibility to creating shared value (CSV). The proposed framework depicts supplier relationship management (SRM) activity, through the case of a Korean bakery franchise, using non-market strategies as a tool for SRM. The analysis explains the backgrounds of the transformation and the ramifications of the changes on SRM actions, such as mutual firm foundations, long-term contracts, and temporal relations. A mutual firm is suggested as the representative form of CSV activity within a triple helix innovation that would create business and social value, ultimately achieving regional resilience.

The variety of socially responsible corporate activities employed in the agrifood industry has been broadening. An increasing number of agrifood companies have been employing strategic approaches to socially responsible activities, reinforced by Porter and Kramer's concept of creating shared value (CSV). This study compares the effects on corporate evaluations of two socially responsible corporate activities: philanthropic giving and CSV. Because prior studies concerning the effects of corporate prosocial behaviors on consumer responses have yielded mixed results, the present study examines the effects of a priori perceptions of companies by using corporate stereotypes as moderators. The results show that the type of socially responsible corporate activity (CSV vs. philanthropic giving) does not influence corporate evaluations. However, in cases of CSV (vs. philanthropic giving), consumers evaluate an unwarm but competent company more attractively and place higher value on an incompetent but warm company. This research is important not only for enriching existing literature, but also for providing guidelines to practitioners with respect to selecting appropriate corporate initiatives based on perceived consumer stereotypes.

The availability of and preference for eco-friendly products have increased; however, understanding of sustainable products is still insufficient because most studies have been focused only on organic products. The availability and understanding of organic products are high, but not complete. With regards to environmental protection, it is important to focus not only on the eco-friendly ingredients but also on the eco-friendly packaging because packaging has recently been found to be a primary cause of pollution. Through three studies, this article investigated the interaction between the effect of consumers’ willingness to buy (WTB), the price premium for eco-friendliness (internal: eco-friendly ingredients vs. external: eco-friendly packaging), and the product’s attributes. Three experimental studies were conducted to determine whether the consumers’ WTB and the price premium for sustainable products differ according to the eco-friendliness of the product and the product’s attributes. In Study 1 and Study 3, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted; and, in Study 2, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted. The results of Study 1 and Study 2 suggested that the consumers’ WTB for sustainable products can differ according to the product’s attribute. Moreover, results of Study 3 revealed that consumers’ WTB and satisfaction for sustainable products can differ according to level of packaging.

The main goal of this study is to show promising future food market of Northeast Asia countries, including China, Japan, and South Korea. Drinks market, including soft and alcoholic drinks is selected to show global food companies new opportunities for next strategic movements. Market Attractiveness Matrix is developed based on BCG matrix as a main framework for this study. CDI (Category Development Index) is also used. It is found that Asia-pacific has fast-growing markets and it has strong potential for future investment. Northeast Asia countries (China, Japan, and South Korea) turned out to be ones of the most attractive regional markets. However, European drinks market is saturated even though its size is still big. This study suggests that Northeast Asian market be considered a market for the next strategic movement and investment.

This study examined the impact of deceptive advertising on the abnormal stock returns of firms. Using an event study analysis with 101 cases from the FTC database over the period 1987–2005, the FTC rulings on deceptive advertising were found to have the negative effects on the abnormal stock returns of firms. Among the firm-specific factors examined in this study, the amount of advertising expenditures played a role in alleviating the impact of deceptive advertising on the abnormal stock returns, and the firms charged with consent agreements alone were found to lose less firm value than those charged with additional actions by the FTC. Results also showed that the negative effects on the abnormal stock returns created by the FTC actions did not quickly disappear afterwards. These results imply that marketing managers should exercise caution in designing advertising messages that may or may not intend to violate the FTC rules and regulations on deceptive advertising.

A parsimonious framework linking advertising expenditures and research and development expenditures to brand value, and brand value in turn to firm-level financial performance, was proposed and empirically investigated under four data conditions: data form, brand type, financial performance metric, and lag structure. Using pooled data from 125 firms (848 firm-year observations) over the period 1991–2007, 108 path analyses were conducted to compute five path model output metrics. Data on these metrics were then compared for each of the data conditions by means of analysis of variance. Although significant relationships were generally observed among framework variables, study results differed considerably across three of the four data conditions. The principal take-away from the study is that the impact of marketing activities on firm-level financial performance is likely to be in large part a function of the specific research purpose and methodology employed. As such, the take-away has implications when interpreting value-relevance findings, when constructing theories involving market-based assets, and when designing studies to investigate relationships between marketing and financial performance.

In the decades-long debates about whether standardised or adapted strategies are better for global brands, and whether centralised or decentralised international communications planning is more effective, little attention has been given to the perspective of local managers in the subsidiaries of global agencies. This paper reports on the experiences and opinions of account managers and creative directors in Korean subsidiaries, with regard to the international advertising policies of their agencies and clients. The authors find less centralisation than prior research has reported and yet more negative experiences with standardised global advertising. Creativity is a key consideration for the Korean managers, especially for products, be they consumer or industrial, that have universal demand. The perspective of subsidiary managers in multinational corporations should be considered in the advertising planning process in order to avoid conflict which could decrease the effectiveness of global campaigns.

Although previous works have established that mood can considerably influence consumer behavior (Vohs et al. 2007), they provided inconsistent results (Cohen et al. 2008). In particular, previous works only examined the willingness of consumers to regulate their mood and implicitly assumed that consumers have the control to regulate their mood states. Thus, this research intends to fill the current gap in the extant literatures by investigating whether consumer locus of control (CLOC) can act as a moderator for mood effects on consumers` likelihood to purchase. In an experiment, participants` CLOC was initially measured. Afterwards, they watched different video clips to induce different mood states. Finally, participants rated their likelihood to purchase after seeing an advertisement. The results suggest that, in the positive mood, CLOC tendencies do not impact consumers` likelihood to purchase. However, in the negative mood, internal CLOC consumers show a higher likelihood to purchase than external CLOC consumers. This phenomenon occurs because consumers with high internal CLOC tendencies have the motivation to regulate their negative mood. These findings extend the extant literatures in four aspects. First, this paper shows that the CLOC tendencies could influence consumers` motivation to regulate their negative mood. Second, this research examines the moderating effect of CLOC in the relationship between mood and consumers` likelihood to purchase. Third, the results add further evidence regarding the role of negative mood in the self-regulation process. Finally, this research also shows that mood can unconsciously influence consumer behavior. This paper provides two managerial implications. First, marketers should consider the mood states and consumers` control tendencies in creating advertisements. Second, firms in retail or service business should aim to evoke a positive mood on consumers so that their CLOC tendencies would not influence their behaviors.

Cross-ownership of brand-name agencies, spin-offs of functional areas, and incorporation of nontraditional marketing communications services are the structural foundations of the global network communications agency. Global capabilities are the new criteria for managing agency–client partnerships. In response, agencies differentiate themselves, increase input, and assure clients of uniform decision-making processes across their network by using “branded” decision tools and agency–client intranets. The core competencies expected from the global network communications agency include brand-planning skills, understanding of relevant consumers, decision aids that facilitate decision processes, information systems that maximize experiences and communications, and an ability to bridge cultures. These changes highlight the need to improve human resources management and the competitive appeal of service portfolios, as well as institutionalized knowledge sharing within networks.

The product life cycle (PLC) is a marketing concept that describes the way the revenues from the sale of a product behave over time. Typically, the PLC is drawn as a bell curve with the life cycle being divided into several stages. The PLC has four stages: (i) introduction – the slow sales growth that follows the introduction of a new product; (ii) growth – the rapid sales growth that accompanies product acceptance; (iii) maturity – the peak of sales growth when the product has been accepted by most potential buyers; and (iv) decline – the decline of sales that results as the product is replaced (by a substitute) or as it discontinues in the market. Keywords: product life cycle; introduction; growth; maturity; decline

Not only the types of strategic resources, but also the methods of sourcing resources are found to result in heterogeneous firm performances. Not all unrelated diversifications are same either. There are strong serial and cross-sectional dynamics about the execution of various practices of unrelated diversification. The definition of performance also dynamically changes across different business groups. The existing literature focuses on how corporate diversification creates value, using measures of relatedness as moderating variables. We contribute to the research by classifying diversification practices, investigating their performance and recommending how to undertake unrelated diversification.