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I Can Talk: Corporate Moral Responsibility, Word-of-Mouth, and Shared Values
Get PDFThis study investigated how inconsistencies between corporate moral responsibility (CMR) messages and CMR actions undertaken by corporations impact consumers’ positive and negative word-of-mouth (PWOM and NWOM) intentions using the expectancy violation theory. It also investigated the moderation effect of different types of CMR issues and consumers’ shared values on the relation. Analyses of data collected from 1296 U.S. consumers revealed that participants’ word-of-mouth (WOM) intentions, both positive and negative, were impacted by inconsistencies between CMR initiatives and actions. When inconsistency was absent, highest PWOM intention was generated for issues related to workers and least for shareholders. Shared values significantly moderated the relation as well. When CMR message action was consistent, PWOM intention was higher for participants with high shared value (vs. low shared value). These findings add knowledge to the literature of CMR and guide corporate CMR-related communications
Evaluating the impact of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway and O-GlcNAcylation on glucose metabolism in bovine granulosa cells
Get PDFGranulosa cells (GCs) of ovarian follicles prefer glucose as a metabolic substrate for growth and maturation. Disruption of glucose utilization via the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) impairs O-linked N-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation) and inhibits proliferation of bovine GCs of both small (3–5 mm) and large (\u3e8.5 mm) antral follicles. Knowing that 2–5% of all glucose in cells is utilized via the HBP, the aim of this study was to characterize glucose metabolism in bovine GCs and determine the impact of the HBP and O-GlcNAcylation on metabolic activity. The GCs were initially cultured in serum-containing medium to confluency and then sub-cultured in serum-free medium in 96 well plates (n = 10 ovary pairs). The cells were exposed to vehicle and inhibitors of the HBP and O-GlcNAcylation for 24 h. Extracellular acidification rate (ECAR; an indicator of glycolysis) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR; an indicator of oxidative phosphorylation) of the GCs were measured using a Seahorse xFe96 Analyzer, including the implementation of glycolytic and mitochondrial stress tests. GCs from small antral follicles exhibited overall greater metabolic activity than GCs from large antral follicles as evidenced by increased ECAR and OCR. Inhibition of the HBP and O-GlcNAcylation had no effect on the metabolic activity of GCs from either type of follicle. The glycolytic stress test indicated that GCs from both types of follicles possessed additional glycolytic capacity; but again, inhibition of the HBP and O-GlcNAcylation did not affect this. Interestingly, inhibition of cellular respiration by 2-Deoxy-D-glucose impaired OCR only in GCs from small antral follicles, but exposure to the mitochondrial stress test had no effect. Conversely, in GCs from large antral follicles, oxidative metabolism was impaired by the mitochondrial stress test and was accompanied by a concomitant increase in glycolytic metabolism. Immunodetection of glycolytic enzymes revealed that phosphofructokinase expression is increased in GCs of small antral follicles compared to large follicles. Inhibition of O-GlcNAcylation impaired the expression of hexokinase only in GCs of small antral follicles. Inhibition of O-GlcNAcylation also impaired the expression of phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase and pyruvate dehydrogenase in GCs of both types of follicles, but had no effect on the expression of lactate dehydrogenase. The results indicate that GCs of small antral follicles possess greater aerobic glycolytic capacity than GCs from large antral follicles; but disruption of the HBP and O-GlcNAcylation has little to no impact on metabolic activity
Case-based Reasoning and Dynamic Choice Modeling
Get PDFEstimating discrete choices under uncertainty typically rely on assumptions of expected utility theory. We build on the dynamic choice modeling literature by using a nonlinear case-based reasoning approach based on cognitive processes and forms expectations by comparing the similarity between past problems and the current problem faced by a decision maker. This study provides a proof of concept of a behavioral model of location choice applied to recreational fishers’ location choice behavior in Connecticut. We find the case-based decision model does well in explaining the observed data and provides value in explaining the dynamic value of attributes
Cultural Factors Associated with Human Trafficking of Girls and Women in Northern Tanzania: The Case of Arusha Region
Get PDFHuman trafficking is persistent in many regions of Tanzania despite different efforts to reduce the practice by the Government and other stakeholders. Girls and young women are more affected by this practice in violation of their human rights than men and boys. This study explored the cultural factors attributing to the trafficking of girls and women in Northern Tanzania. The study involved 400 girls and young women for a quantitative and qualitative study on cultural determinants of human trafficking. The study found the following cultural practices pushed girls and women towards situations in which they could be trafficked: female genital mutilation (82%); son preference (78%); daughters not inheriting land and animals (77%); women not participating in decision making (70%); the workload for women and girls (88%); wife battering (87%); early marriage (82%); under estimating women and girls’ decision-making-making abilities (77%); and polygamy (76%)
Effects of expanding electric vehicle charging stations in California on the housing market
No full textVehicle electrification is critical to enabling countries to develop more sustainably. Wider electric vehicle (EV) adoption relies on the deployment of EV charging stations (EVCSs). However, the local benefits associated with offering more charging opportunities to nearby residents remain unexplored. Here we provide empirical evidence on the impacts of proximate EVCSs on housing prices in California. We apply a hedonic property value approach using the EVCS data combined with about 14 million housing transaction records during 1993–2021. Our results show that access to charging infrastructure can be capitalized into property values. The average price premium for houses with EVCSs within 1 km is about 3.3% (or US$17,212) compared with homes without proximate EVCSs. The largest effect is a 5.8% increase for houses with EVCSs within 0.4–0.5 km compared with houses without proximate EVCSs. We find different results across neighbourhoods with diverse socio-demographic characteristics. Proximity to EVCSs increases traffic flows by 0.3–0.5% and lowers particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions level by 1.3–2.2%. The increased property value after EVCS installation can incentivize the private real estate sector to expand the availability of charging services. More information on the housing price premium should be provided to facilitate the deployment of this sustainable infrastructure
Privileging Localism and Visualizing Nationhood in Anti-Consumption
Get PDFThe main aim of this research is to understand the genesis and nature of an anti-consumption movement in India and its emphasis on nationalism through localism. This research adopted a case study design, including in-depth interviews and discursive analysis. Through a historical analysis this research shows the influence of anarchist political philosophy in a contemporary anti-consumption movement. It demonstrates that anti-consumption is inflected with discourses of freedom, anti-authoritarianism, and anti-statism, which are central to the anarchist conception of localism. This research shows that anti-consumption movements in India use consumption objects to privilege local over both national and international. This helps to expand the framework of product-place-images and country-of-origin effects by showing how nationalism can become anti-nationalist in an anti-consumption discourse. It further helps to differentiate anti-consumption from consumer resistance as a deeper systemic challenge to consumerist lifestyle and consumer culture
Design Power and Potential Future of Global Organization of Life
Get PDFIn this essay I propose a definition of design to address its potential role in largely determining power relations in the future. Some foundational discussion of wealth, culturally constructed differently in different historical times, trends of corporatization in the contemporary world, and the birth of control society is presented to help understand the possibilities and difficulties of building future organizations of life. I invite discussions and dialogues to widen and deepen the concept of design power
The Superstition that Enslaves Virgin Girls in Ghana: An Exploration of the Origins, Evolution, and Practice of Trokosi
Get PDFTrokosi is a religious practice in some parts of West Africa where young virgin girls are sent to fetish shrines to become sex slaves as part of rituals meant to prevent a communal calamity supposedly provoked by the transgressions of members of the girls’ family. This study offers additional insight into the concept, origins, evolution, and practice of trokosi, highlighting the cultural, socio-economic, and legal contexts of this practice in Ghana. This goal is achieved by reviewing pertinent literature and interviewing 10 participants: academics; activists; traditional leaders; and ordinary community members. The study establishes that trokosi, which is viewed by adherents as a religious practice and crime prevention mechanism, is a severe violation of girls’ fundamental rights. It is the epitome of sexual violence against young females and the worst form of child enslavement, discrimination, oppression, and physical and psychological torture in the south-eastern part of Ghana. It notes that even though the practice has been outlawed, it still thrives due largely to illiteracy, ineffective enforcement mechanisms, and lack of political will on the part of the government. It suggests that the ills of the trokosi system can be suppressed not through legislative actions alone but through a multi-pronged approach
The influence of metallic particulate inclusions on the mechanical and thermal performance of 3D printable acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/thermoplastic polyurethane fused polymer blends
No full textAcrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) shows exceptional mechanical behavior, however, the application of ABS for manufacturing thin parts has been limited because of its significantly lower melt fluidity. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), on the other hand, has acceptable melt fluidity, but its mechanical performance is limited when compared to ABS. This paper combines these two polymers and incorporates elongated iron powder particulates as a reinforcing agent to manufacture a cost-effective yet performance-enhanced blended polymer filament for 3D printing. The melt-mixing approach was followed for blended polymer filament manufacturing. The thermal performance of the extruded filaments was evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The glass transition and melting temperatures were found to be slightly higher for the particulate-reinforced samples when compared to the control unreinforced ABS/TPU blend. This is attributable to the fact that the inclusions limit the mobility of the structure therefore it requires more energy to break down the molecular structure. The tensile strength of the filaments was obtained using a uniaxial tension experiment whereas the fracture toughness of the 3D printed parts was determined using the microindentation technique. The tensile strength and fracture toughness was found to be increasing with an increase in iron powder dosage by up to 5 %. The results reflect that appropriate dispersion of iron particulates is required to achieve the desired performance enhancement. Overall, the findings of this paper can potentially lead to various cost-effective and efficient means for performance enhancement in the manufacturing of 3D printable blended polymer composite filaments