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ABSTRACT Background and Aims Methods Results Conclusion Portal hypertension is the main pathophysiological driver of decompensation in patients with liver cirrhosis. Epithelial cell death markers, m30 and m65, correlate with hepatic injury and predict outcomes across various stages of liver disease. We aim (i) to evaluate whether portal hypertension itself contributes to liver outcome‐relevant epithelial injury, and (ii) to analyse the capacity of m30/m65 to predict outcome in patients receiving a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for refractory ascites.Sixty‐six patients undergoing TIPS placement for refractory ascites and 20 patients with compensated cirrhosis as controls were prospectively enrolled in this monocentric cohort study. Epithelial cell death markers were analysed pre‐TIPS, as well as 1–3 and 6–9 months post‐TIPS. The capacity of baseline levels of m30/m65 in predicting six‐month transplant‐free survival rates was analysed by multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression.Levels of m30 and m65 were higher in patients with decompensated cirrhosis (pre‐TIPS) compared with compensated cirrhosis (controls). Following correction of portal hypertension by TIPS and recompensation, both markers decreased over time, reaching levels comparable to patients with compensated cirrhosis. On multivariable analysis, pre‐TIPS baseline levels of m30 and m65 were not predictive for six‐month survival.Correction of portal hypertension via TIPS reduces levels of epithelial cell death markers, indicating that portal hypertension is a driver of outcome‐relevant, hepatic cell death in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Baseline m30/m65 values do not affect six‐month survival rates, which suggests that TIPS placement overcomes the unfavourable spontaneous prognosis otherwise indicated by elevated baseline m30/65 levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: With rapidly changing marketing landscape, nowadays, the formulation of various marketing strategies is increasingly focused on how consumers tend to make decisions. To meet the highly demanding consumer expectations, market segmentation can be used as an important marketing strategy. Due to gender marketing concept familiarity in the contemporary world, gender difference is one of the reference features in the process of market segmentation for marketers. This research is aimed to examine various determining factors that foster consumer purchase decision-making and the differences between consumers of different genders while making shopping and purchase decisions with special reference to an emerging economy, i.e. Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach: Based on a cross-sectional sample of 367 consumers, the study adapted Sproles and Kendall's (1986) Consumer Style Inventory (CSI) to scrutinize the decision-making of both genders in Pakistan. For data analysis, the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis in addition to the structural equation modeling has been used. Findings: The study emphasized that, with the exception of quality awareness, brand consciousness, fashion consciousness, option overload and price consciousness greatly affect buying decisions. In addition, when it comes to consumer purchase decision-making, significant gender variations were discovered for both fashion consciousness and price consciousness. Originality/value: Drawing upon the distinctive cultural characteristics of Pakistan and its people, in-depth research was conducted on purchasing behaviors of Pakistani consumers and the decision-making characteristics of customers of different genders were summarized. The outcomes are expected to make a significant contribution to the field of gender marketing by organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of entrepreneurial marketing (EM) strategies to the sustainability of profit and non-profit making ventures has drawn critics from practitioners and academic domains. Many have argued that EM dimensions are designed for profit marking ventures and not for profit venture. This informed the need to examine the effect of EM on the survival of social enterprises (SEs) in Nigeria. The study selected SEs staff in Anambra State, Nigeria using a quantitative research approach. Data were collected from 387 SE staff using a structured questionnaire. Hypotheses were tested using International Business Machine Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS) and International Business Machine -Statistical Package for the Social Sciences - Analysis of Moment Structures (IBM-SPSS-AMOS) version 27 that runs exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings revealed that all the EM dimensions, except market sensing, have significant and positive effect on the survival of SEs in Nigeria. Therefore, the study concluded that EM has significant effect on the survival of SEs in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study recommended that practitioners should adopt and implement EM dimensions as the basic enablers that would sustain the existence of SEs in both Nigeria and beyond.

This study proposes greenwashing as a paradigm for altering consumer attitudes toward environmental challenges in emerging countries. This technique uses greenwashing as a planned obsolescence strategy to shift consumer attitudes toward environmental issues and eventually transition to a true green marketing approach. Despite the adverse perceptions connected with greenwashing, the study contends that it can play an important role in raising awareness about environmental concerns and promoting more responsible behaviour. It is important to be aware that greenwashing should not be considered to be a long-term solution. Government intervention is required to regulate and enforce acceptable practices in order to accomplish real change. The primary goal of this study is to provide a clear understanding of greenwashing’s function in influencing consumer views.

While extensive research studies exist on the influence of AI solutions on organizations as a whole, there is a paucity of comprehensive studies examining the adoption of these solutions in product development and subsequent management processes. This article presents an exploratory investigation of the applications, challenges, and determinants of success associated with artificial intelligence (AI) solutions employed in the product development and management processes. To this end, a qualitative thematic analysis is conducted based on twelve in-depth interviews with experts proficient in AI engineering and product management, representing twelve distinct organizations within the Polish IT sector. This article offers insights into four potential applications and expounds on various factors impacting the challenges and success of deployed AI solutions, generating two additional emergent themes. This article delineates practical implications for organizations and product managers and proposes intriguing directions for future research exploring topical areas of study.

AbstractThe study aims to investigate the relationship between service failure recovery, customer recovery satisfaction, and attitude loyalty for airline industry. The author propose an experimentally determined model of service recovery based on the function of brand authenticity as a moderator in this study. On a sample of 250 customers in Vietnam, the current study aims to determine the connections between service recovery strategy, service recovery satisfaction, and attitudinal loyalty. This study found that apologies, politeness, and recovery speed all have a substantial impact on service recovery satisfaction, with only recovery speed having a positive relationship with attitudinal loyalty. Brand authenticity has a moderator influence on the relationship between attitudinal loyalty and service recovery satisfaction, which is an unique trait of this study. This study contributes insights into how seven service recovery strategies influenced customer loyalty and service recovery satisfaction in terms of attitudinal characteristics. Managers could strive to improve service failure at their airlines in order to increase brand authenticity now that they are aware of the recovery strategies for service failure. Furthermore, for the aggrieved clients, service providers should give sufficient recovery efforts for resolving problems caused by other customers.

This study investigates how the discrete emotions expressed by travel influencers on YouTube influence viewer engagement, distinguishing between macro- and micro- influencers. Using text mining and machine learning techniques, 6,061 travel-related videos were analyzed. The results indicate that high-arousal negative emotions such as anger and disgust enhance engagement for macro-influencers but reduce engagement for micro- influencers. Conversely, low-arousal negative emotions, such as fear and sadness, increase engagement levels for micro-influencers, while decreasing them for macro-influencers. Positive emotions enhance engagement, particularly among micro-influencers. These insights can inform emotional strategies in influencer marketing.

Customer relationship management (CRM) plays an increasingly crucial role in ensuring organizational performance, including marketing results (MR), in today's highly dynamic and competitive business environment. Simultaneously, CRM can be influenced by various factors involving innovations in all fields. However, the linkage between innovative work behavior and CRM, along with its impact on MR, remains an unexplored area of interest in the academic and business worlds. This research aimed to analyze the relationship between the two forms of innovative work behavior (IWB) (individual and organizational IWB) and the dimensions of CRM (customer orientation, CRM organization, knowledge management, and technology-based CRM), as well as the consequential MR. The data collected from employees in Romania were analyzed using structural equation modeling methodology. The main findings revealed that individual IWB (IIWB) does not influence CRM dimensions, while organizational IWB (OIWB) positively impacts CRM. In other words, the collective capability to create and implement new ideas, complemented by organizational cultures and managers that support team innovative behaviors, positively influences the development of CRM dimensions rather than generating and promoting new ideas at an individual level. Additionally, the study reconfirmed that most CRM dimensions are positively linked to good MR and play a mediating role in the relationship between OIWB and MR. The effects of these discoveries suggest that companies should emphasize fostering OIWB to improve CRM and enhance their competitiveness.

The study focuses on analyzing factors that influence the Millennial generation's intention to choose spiritual tourism and determining the mediating role of attitude and motivation in this relationship. Based on the theory of planned behavior, theories of motivation and basic human value theory, the study has identified 3 factors: Tourism destination image, spiritual belief and reference groups influence the Millennial generation's intention to choose spiritual tourism. A survey based on a sample of 287 domestic and international tourists of the Millennial generation participating in travel experiences at spiritual tourist destinations in Vietnam. After collecting data, SmartPLS software is used to test the relationships of the research model. Research results show that all three factors influence the Millennial generation's intention to travel spiritually and confirm the mediating role of attitude and motivation in this relationship.

This study investigates the transformative impact of digital service offers on consumer practices, utilizing the Theory of Social Practice (TSP) as a theoretical framework. Focusing on the use of public transportation and short-term car rental (“carsharing”) services, it explores how digital innovations reshape consumer behaviors and interactions. Through an empirical analysis of commuter practices, the research identifies how consumers use digital service offers from providers to create and adapt new practices. Key findings include the emergence of distinctive commuting behaviors, such as the use of fully electric rental cars in bus lanes during rush hours, contrasted with the use of non-electric rental cars in regular traffic lanes during off-peak times. These observations underscore a dynamic shift from established consumer practices, revealing a process where consumers actively innovate and redefine their daily routines in response to digital service offerings. The study not only highlights the fluidity of consumer practices but also suggests a research strategy focused on understanding these emerging patterns rather than on studying predefined practice modalities.

Abstract Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) has become the leading cause of chronic liver disease. Liver biopsy, as the diagnostic gold standard, is invasive and has sampling bias, making it particularly important to search for sensitive and specific biomarkers for diagnosis. Cytokeratin 18 (CK18) M30 and M65 are products of liver cell apoptosis and necrosis, respectively, and liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP-2) is a related indicator of glucose and lipid metabolism. Correlation studies have found that all three indicators positively correlate with the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Through comparison of diagnostic values, it was found that CK18 M65 can better distinguish between healthy individuals and MAFLD; LEAP-2 can effectively distinguish MAFLD from other liver diseases, especially ALD.

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) has become the leading cause of chronic liver disease. Liver biopsy, as the diagnostic gold standard, is invasive and has sampling bias, making it particularly important to search for sensitive and specific biomarkers for diagnosis. Cytokeratin 18 (CK18) M30 and M65 are products of liver cell apoptosis and necrosis, respectively, and liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP-2) is a related indicator of glucose and lipid metabolism. Correlation studies have found that all three indicators positively correlate with the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Through comparison of diagnostic values, it was found that CK18 M65 can better distinguish between healthy individuals and MAFLD; LEAP-2 can effectively distinguish MAFLD from other liver diseases, especially ALD. Highlights: CK18 M30, M65, and LEAP-2 positively correlate with the liver enzymes ALT and AST. CK18 M65 is recommended for distinguishing MAFLD patients from healthy controls. LEAP-2 is recommended for distinguishing other liver diseases from MAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Official online stores and online marketplaces present distinct challenges and opportunities for retail brands, impacting their control over the customer experience, pricing, and brand presentation. Understanding consumer intentions in online channel selection is crucial, especially given the rise of online shopping and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer behavior. This study explores the factors influencing channel selection intention within official online stores and online marketplaces, focusing on customers who have purchased Apple electronics. A quantitative questionnaire facilitated data collection, resulting in responses from 490 individuals and 606 samples. Those who shopped through both channels were requested to complete the questionnaire twice. The respondents were divided into two groups based on their purchasing experience, and structural equation modeling was employed for hypothesis testing. In official online stores, cross-channel searching negatively impacts channel selection intention, whereas brand loyalty and channel pricing advantage have positive effects. In contrast, no significant relationships between these variables were observed in online marketplaces. Channel satisfaction was found to positively influence channel selection intention across official online stores and online marketplaces, while perceived risk demonstrated a negative impact. Based on these findings, several recommendations are proposed to aid in developing effective sales channel strategies.

In this study, the parameters that directly impact purchase intentions were analysed, such as electronic word of mouth, customer engagement, brand awareness, and customer retention.

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate how the number, perceived intensity, and frequency of sensory involvement in the consumer-brand relationship, impact brand perception. The research was conducted on a sample of 189 respondents from the Republic of Croatia. To test the hypotheses factor and regression analyses were used. The main findings of this research are: a) involvement of multiple senses in the consumer-brand relationship has a positive effect on brand perception; b) the greater the frequency of involving multiple senses in the consumer-brand relationship, the more positive effect it has on brand perception; and c) the higher intensity of sensory involvement in the consumer-brand relationship does not have a significant effect on brand perception. This research contributes to marketing and brand management literature by investigating importance of sensory marketing, more specifically number, perceived intensity, and frequency of sensory involvement on brand perception.

In light of the growing adoption of green products in emerging markets, there's a need to delve deeper into the green purchase behavior GPB of millennials in this context. Using the theory of planned behavior as a foundation, this study aims to improve clarity by developing and testing a theoretical model that establishes the effect of various factors on millennials' GPB. Motivated by this need and recognizing the importance of justifying the theoretical gap, a survey was conducted with 1094 students from the School of Business at King Faisal University, and data were analyzed using SmartPLS-3.3.2 The results reveal that green behavioral control, green environmental awareness, and green product value have positive and significant effects on GPB. In contrast, green product trust, green price sensitivity, and green perceived quality have no significant effect on GPB. The results highlight the significance of these factors in shaping millennials' GPB, providing valuable insights for researchers, marketers, and policymakers. In the future, a cross-sectional study should be conducted using an extensive approach to increase this study's generalizability. This study has theoretical, managerial, and policy implications for the promotion of green products.

Abstract Spirulina is a good source of protein, and its acceptance could contribute to addressing the health and environmental problems associated with meat consumption. Because of its nutraceutical nature, spirulina is commercially available as tablets or as a food ingredient, which looks like a spiral flake in its natural state. This study uses the appearance of spirulina (flake and tablet) to evaluate consumers’ perceptions of two benefits (nutritiousness and naturalness) to influence expected tastiness. A between-group experiment evaluates the effect of the spirulina flake/tablet on tastiness, mediated by nutritiousness and naturalness. The analysis is conducted using a sequential regression method (PROCESS for SPSS). The results show that spirulina flakes are perceived to be more nutritious than tablets. Next, perceived nutritiousness positively predicts naturalness, improving expected tastiness. The discussion advocates communicating expected tastiness by emphasizing algae’s naturalness and ecological contributions to advance its consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research purpose. Currently, the Internet is used by almost 5 billion users worldwide, of which 80% actively use at least one of the social networks. And marketing managers are well aware of this fact, as they had to switch to a new way of attracting potential customers. One of these methods is also influencer marketing as a form of marketing communication. In influencer marketing, the emphasis is placed on influencers with a significant impact on the community on which marketing activities and campaigns can be oriented. It is a method of non-violent and natural promotion of a product or brand, which acts on the consumer as a natural part of the space in which it is located. Especially one generation of consumers, Generation Z, is considered to be the target segment for influencer marketing due to their digital skills and inclination to social networks. The main aim of the article is to determine the impact of influencer marketing on the decision-making process of Generation Z. This also includes providing the theoretical background and analysis of influencer marketing from the viewpoint of Slovak and foreign authors.

Research purpose. The purpose of the research project was to evaluate the status of place branding as a scientific discipline and to check whether this concept has been concretised during exploration and articulation. An additional objective was to check the theoretical status of place brands.

Research purpose. During the last decades, e-commerce sales have been rocketing, and this tendency is expected to increase over the following years. Due to the digital nature of e-commerce, one actual item can be sold on various e-commerce platforms, which leads to the exponential growth of the number of propositions. At the same time, the title and description of this item might differ. All these facts make more complicated for customers the process of searching on online platforms and change business approaches to the development of competitive strategy by e-commerce companies. The research question is how we can apply a machine learning algorithm to detect, based on the product information such as title and description, whether the items are actually relevant to the same product.

‘Word of mouth’ (WOM) as a communication tool has evolved quite significantly over the last few decades. Originally, word-of-mouth communication was limited to local coverage, i.e. it was restricted only to the closest people in the circle of the sender of the message. Technological developments over the past 30 years, particularly in computer and mobile technologies, have brought about significant changes in this form of communication. The information provided has become global; the consumer can communicate directly with the entrepreneur. Examples of bibliographic analyses of only electronic word of mouth (eWOM) without consideration of traditional WOM can be found in the literature. It therefore seems important to try to analyse the literature collection on both WOM and eWOM. The article aims to identify and present the most frequently cited works (along with their authors), as well as the publications most frequently referred to by authors publishing works related to WOM. Citation analysis and co-citation analysis were used to realise the stated aim. The basis for the analyses is a collection of publications from the WoS database. The results obtained made it possible to identify and create a list of the most frequently cited and co-cited publications.

The evolution of technologies nowadays gives a higher impact on all sectors, including accounting. With rapidly growing volumes of data available, coding can be a valuable skillset for accountants to derive insight and value for organizations from accounting data.

Despite widespread agreement that corporate social responsibility (CSR) should not be motivated only by a desire to increase corporate financial performance (CFP), marketers are aware of the possible links between CSR and CFP. Surprisingly, after decades of empirical investigation, the evidence on whether and how CSR affects CFP has still not reached a consensus. One possible reason for the conflicting results is the complex and multifaceted nature of the CSR-CFP link. Consequently, this paper takes a more fine-grained approach by looking at the relationship between CSR news and stock prices to understand the boundary conditions in which CSR news affects CFP. Our systematic literature review covers six decades and reveals that the first CSR news and stock price research dates back to 1996. Analyzing the extant body of research, we offer state-of-the-art insights on the CSR-CFP relationship and an agenda for future research on this important topic.

Aim/purpose – Not only have micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) been regarded as a driving force of the national economy, but they have also become important in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. In general, today’s MSMEs face problems, such as high business costs, insufficient innovation, and inadequate management capabilities, that have all forced the digital transformation of MSMEs. However, in existing studies, the impact of digital transformation on performance is controversial, and the subjects are generally listed companies. In this paper, we have decided to use micro business survey data and analyze them from a spatial perspective to explore how MSMEs’ digital transformation plays a role in influencing performance and the path of its effect.