bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
FTIR and XPS study of the reaction of phenyl isocyanate and cellulose with different moisture contents
Authors: Gao Z.H. , Gu J.Y. , Wang X‐M. , Li Z.G. , Bai X.D. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo evaluate the competing reaction of isocyanate with cellulose and water which can provide direction for further studies on bonding and curing reactions of isocyanate with wood.Design/methodology/approachTwo modern analytical techniques, Fourier transform infra‐red (FTIR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), were used. The FTIR was used to identify the products of the reaction of phenyl isocyanate (PI) with alcohol, water, and cellulose; while the XPS was used to evaluate the proportions of isocyanate that reacted with water or cellulose when PI reacted with cellulose at different moisture contents (MCs), respectively.FindingsMethods for the IR identifications of reaction results of PI with n‐propanol, water, and cellulose, in which the reactions of PI with water and PI with cellulose resulted in N,N′‐diphenylurea and carbamate, respectively, were developed. It was discovered that the extent of reaction of isocyanate and cellulose decreased with increasing cellulose MC, and 92.98 per cent isocyanate reacted with water when 9.78 per cent MC was reached. It was confirmed that the products of the PI reaction were distributed mainly on the surface of the cellulose particles.Research limitations/implicationsThe study only focused on the reaction of PI. However, the industrial isocyanates, e.g. methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), polymerized methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (p‐MDI) that have complexities in chemical structures and components, make analyses with FTIR and XPS impossible.Practical implicationsThe paper provides some instructive information about the isocyanate reaction that will help understanding the characteristics of isocyanate and guiding the design of technology bonding isocyanate to fibre, wood, etc.Originality/valueThe application of FTIR and XPS for evaluating the reaction of isocyanate with cellulose having different MCs was novel and may be used as a reference for other relevant studies.
Synthesis, purification and curing properties of vinyl ester network
Authors: Behera D. , Satapathy H. , Banthia A.K. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo prepare and characterise vinyl ester (Bisphenol‐A‐glycidyldimethacrylate (BisGMA)) prepolymer via a new synthetic route involving the esterification of methacrylic acid and epoxy resin.Design/methodology/approachBisGMA prepolymer was synthesised from methacrylic acid and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol‐A‐type epoxy resin. The compound synthesised was then purified and characterised.FindingsBisGMA prepolymer was synthesised from methacrylic acid and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol‐A‐type epoxy resin using triphenylphosphine as a catalyst and hydroxy toluene as a stabiliser. The synthesised compound was then purified by normal phase liquid chromatography and was analysed by proton NMR and reverse phase HPLC. The cure kinetics of the purified resin was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) using NETZSCH thermo kinetics software.Research limitations/implicationsThe preparation, purification and kinetics study of the prepolymer described in the present investigation may be useful for preparation, purification and kinetics study of the other vinyl esters by a new synthetic route. Also, the polymer supports based on BisGMA have acceptable mechanical properties, chemical stability and are suitable for dental restoratives, fissure sealants, coatings, adhesives, moulding compounds, structural laminates, electrical applications and military/aerospace applications.Practical implicationsThe method for the preparation, purification and kinetics study of the prepolymer is simple and provides a simple and practical solution for some other vinyl esters.Originality/valueThis is a novel method for synthesis and purification of BisGMA and may be useful for the synthesis and purification of other vinyl esters.
How excessive restrictions on signage backfire
Authors: Taylor Charles R. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to explore the impact of efforts by some municipalities to place various restrictions on on‐premise signs and to examine the impact of strict regulations on local communities.Design/methodology/approachProvides examples of restrictive sign codes and reviews articles providing empirical evidence on public perceptions of signs as well as the impact of signs on businesses and communities.FindingsExcessive regulation of signs is counterproductive; contrary to the beliefs of proponents of harsh restrictions, signs are helpful to consumers and business, and they contribute to a community's economic vitality.Practical implicationsIn developing and implementing sign codes, municipalities should consider what research tells us about the value of on‐premise signs. Members of the general public who have an interest in municipal affairs should consider research findings when forming opinions about the regulation of signs as opposed to relying on a limited number of individuals who may ignore the marketing functions of signs in developing and implementing sign codes.Originality/valueDemonstrates the importance of signage to consumers, businesses, and local communities.
The three “big issues” for older supermarket shoppers
Authors: Pettigrew Simone , Mizerski Katherine , Donovan Robert 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe senior market is becoming more attractive as older consumers come to comprise a greater proportion of the population and control a greater proportion of national assets. The purpose of this study was to examine older shoppers' experiences in Australian supermarkets to identify the three issues of most concern to seniors and provide practical recommendations to managers.Design/methodology/approachSix focus groups yielded the three major issues which were then tested via a national telephone survey (n=505).FindingsThe major issues identified included the demeanour of supermarket employees, the functionality of shopping equipment (i.e. trolleys and baskets), and the appropriate placement of products on supermarket shelves. Respondents considered these issues to be personally relevant and important to seniors in general.Practical implicationsSupermarket managers should develop strategies to ensure staff are recruited and trained in such a fashion as to enable them to engage in satisfying interactions with older customers. Other areas requiring attention include thorough product stocking to prevent over‐reaching and the provision of well‐designed and functioning shopping aids in the form of trolleys and baskets. Further issues raised in the focus groups that are worthy of consideration by supermarket managers and other retailers are merchandise quality, adequate access to and within the store, in‐store amenities, home delivery options, seniors' discounts, and avoiding extended queuing. These service aspects appear to be of particular importance to older shoppers.Originality/valueThe findings support previous research that has highlighted the need for retailers to take seniors' needs into consideration in service provision.
Trust‐based commitment: multidimensional consumer‐brand relationships
Authors: Hess Jeff , Story John 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo propose and test a multi‐dimensional model of relationship commitment defined by personal and functional connections which are, in turn, driven by trust and satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachA model is proposed to define relationship constructs better within marketing practice and to evaluate the relationships between these constructs. Structural equation modeling was employed to validate the model using data from two case studies.FindingsSatisfaction is antecedent to trust, but primarily contributes to functional connections. Personal connections, on the other hand, stem from trust. The relative strengths of personal and functional connections determine the nature and outcomes of relationship commitment. This trust‐based model is statistically superior to previous models and explains customer‐brand relationships much more extensively.Research limitations/implicationsThe primary limitation of this research is that it explores only two product/service categories, potentially limiting the generalizability to other domains.Practical implicationsThese results have extensive implications for brand building, establishing customer relationships, and incorporating relationships into brand strategies.Originality/valueThese results improve our understanding of customers' relationships with brands and provide managers with guidance on developing, nurturing, and utilizing these relationships.
Purchasing pirated software: an initial examination of Chinese consumers
Authors: Wang Fang , Zhang Hongxia , Zang Hengjia , Ouyang Ming 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo analyze Chinese consumers in purchasing pirated software; to establish and empirically validate a model for analyzing consumers in software piracy; and to help software companies understand the software piracy issue in China and design anti‐piracy strategies.Design/methodology/approachA research model was established by extending a model used by Ang et al. in studying Singaporeans' purchasing pirated CD. A survey was conducted. Hypotheses were tested through stepwise regressions. An exploratory factor analysis was carried out to analyze Chinese consumers' attitude toward software piracy.FindingsFour personal and social factors were found important in influencing Chinese consumers' attitude toward software piracy, including value consciousness, normality susceptibility, novelty seeking, and collectivism. Five attitude measures, which were important in influencing consumer purchase intention, were identified as reliability of pirated software, recognized social benefits of piracy, functionality of pirated software, risks of purchasing, and perceived legality of purchasing. An exploratory study identified three attitude attributes.Research limitations/implicationsAs student samples were used, caution needs to be exercised when generalizing findings from this study. Regressions were used to test construct relationships in the model, and the model was not tested as a whole.Practical implicationsThis research provides an in‐depth understanding on Chinese consumers, and the research findings are useful in designing anti‐piracy strategies in China.Originality/valueThis research is one of the first to examine the Chinese market, which is a focus of piracy problems for the software industries. This research contributes to theory development in developing and testing a model and important constructs, and to industrial practice in providing understanding on Chinese consumers to help design anti‐piracy strategies.
Direct‐to‐consumer prescription drug advertising: concerns and evidence on consumers' benefit
Authors: Shin Jaeun , Moon Sangho 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the economic and clinical impacts of direct‐to‐consumer (DTC) advertising on consumers and physicians.Design/methodology/approachControversy around the benefits and concerns associated with DTC advertising are summarized. The sources are sorted based on their position toward DTC promotions: defending or opposing. Two recent works by Woloshin et al. and by Weisseman et al. are discussed in depth to provide the empirical evidence for the impacts of DTC promotions.FindingsNotwithstanding many concerns against DTC advertising, evidence‐based papers report that both consumers and physicians are potentially benefited from it. Consumers rate the health‐related information contained in DTC advertising as important. Physicians do not feel that they are pressured to prescribe inappropriate medications driven by DTC advertising. Physicians perceive improved communication and education among DTCA‐influenced patients. However, consumers tend to overestimate drug effectiveness when the ads vaguely convey the benefit information and subsequently, seek unnecessary treatments. DTC advertising needs to be required to demonstrate the benefit information using actual data. This will help consumers avoid overuse of drugs.Originality/valueThis paper recognizes DTC advertising as a positive force for the public health and at the same time identifies its potential negative effects on the economic and clinical aspects of the health care markets. This can offer practical help policymakers develop the effective regulations on DTC advertisings to reinforce the beneficial outcome while attenuating the potential harms that might take place.
Does DTC mean “direct to court”?
Authors: Cunningham Donna J. , Iyer Rajesh 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the changing legal landscape associated with the growth of advertising of prescription drugs directly to the consumer, and makes recommendations designed to assist advertisers in avoiding legal liability based on those advertisements.Design/methodology/approachThis study investigates the phenomenal growth of DTC advertising since 1997, when a profound change in the FDA regulations took effect. These changes permitted advertisers significantly more flexibility in providing information about the advertised drug directly to the consumer. Since then, however, DTC advertising has repeatedly come under attack. A review of the literature, changing law, and other factors, reveals the primary criticisms of DTC advertising, and its tendency to expose pharmaceutical advertisers to legal liability.FindingsThe paper recounts the development of the law concerning pharmaceutical advertising, and particularly, the application of the Learned Intermediary Rule. Previously, this Rule operated to shield pharmaceutical companies for liability by passing liability on to the physician who wrote the prescription for the drug. Now, that law is changing, with resulting liability for pharmaceutical advertisers.Practical implicationsThe study recounts the primary criticisms of DTC advertising, and provides a number of steps that can be taken to help avoid legal liability for pharmaceutical companies that engage in DTC advertising.Originality/valueThe study looks at DTC advertising from both a marketing and a legal perspective, and combines those disciplines to draw conclusions helpful to DTC advertisers.
Herbal product claims: boundaries of marketing and science
Authors: Crawford Stephanie Y. , Leventis Catherine 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to explore boundaries in marketing and science with respect to labeled claims of herbal products and other dietary supplements.Design/methodology/approachSupplement manufacturers are allowed to include claims on product labels without meeting an acceptable substantiation standard, as long as such claims are accompanied by an FDA disclaimer statement. While manufacturers are prohibited (though the regulation is often violated) from making specific claims about prevention or treatment of disease, the implied associated health benefits of using dietary supplement products are usually clear from marketed claims. A case example on themes expressed in labeled structure‐function claims for ginkgo biloba is presented to illustrate the issues.FindingsMarketing of product claims is controversial due to differing perspectives about the truthfulness of claimed health benefits and quality of information presented to consumers. Although dietary supplements could have pharmaceutical‐like properties, they are not required to demonstrate safety and efficacy before market availability. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can take action only if supplements are shown to be unsafe after market introduction.Practical implicationsThe need for consumer choice, meaningful information and free‐market access to dietary supplements must be balanced with the demands for truth‐in‐advertising and consumer protection from unreliable claims and adverse health events. Marketing and policy implications are described.Originality/valueThe outcome would help increase consumer confidence, while continuing to allow free‐market forces for the dietary supplement industry, to a large extent.
Look after me and I will look after you!
Authors: Rundle‐Thiele Sharyn 
Published: January 2007

PurposeLoyalty has been widely researched and while we know the ways that consumers demonstrate their loyalty and the factors that influence loyalty, research reporting consumer and marketer views of loyalty is scant. To date there has been no attempt to compare and contrast marketer's views on loyalty with their own consumers' views. The purpose of this paper is to report research that responds to this omission.Design/methodology/approachAn Australian beer category was selected for this research because beer is a category where consumer loyalty exists. A qualitative research approach was used to provide detailed marketer and consumer views about loyalty to gain strategic insight. Company documents were also used to gain additional insight and increase the validity of the research findings.FindingsA detailed view suggests that many marketing initiatives employed are eroding rather than contributing to consumer loyalty. Consumer views suggest that loyalty must be earned and that a consumers' loyalty cannot be bought.Research limitationsA single case study was used in this research to provide rich and detailed insight into consumer loyalty. Further research is needed to test the validity of the research findings by using a larger sample of consumers, but also in other beer categories and product and service categories.Practical implications/implicationsPractices where companies profit at the expense of their own consumers will diminish rather than build consumer loyalty. Marketers must consider loyalty as a reciprocal concept. This research suggests that to gain a consumers loyalty a company must adopt “a look after me and I will look after you” philosophy.
A strategic approach to building online customer loyalty: integrating customer profitability tiers
Authors: Pitta Dennis , Franzak Frank , Fowler Danielle 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a strategic framework to managing online loyalty.Design/methodology/approachThe paper integrates concepts including a range of recently published (1993‐2006) theoretical works in consumer loyalty and ongoing case developments in internet practice.FindingsProvides information and action approaches to consumer marketers that may increase the success providing want satisfying market offerings. Outlines the costs and benefits of some online customer loyalty building practices. By integrating the literature supporting lifetime customer value with the literature concerned with generating online customer relationships, it provides a pathway to profitable relationships. It also exposes the unintended problems that some online customer loyalty initiatives may create.Research limitations/implicationsThe theoretical concepts that form the foundation of the paper appear to have a significant application to consumer marketing but have not been tested empirically.Practical implicationsUncovers a previously unreported strategy for generating profitable online customer loyalty.Originality/valueThis paper describes the nature and application of customer value tiers to an important marketing process. It offers the potential of increasing marketing success by allowing firms to maximize the value of their scarce service resources by serving profitable customers.
Customer satisfaction and loyalty in a digital environment: an empirical test
Authors: Donio' Jean , Massari Paola , Passiante Giuseppina 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the links between customer loyalty attitude, customer loyalty behaviours (measured by customer purchase behaviours) and profitability. The aim is to define a conceptual framework within which to analyse the relationships between attitudes, behaviour, and profitability of the customers.Design/methodology/approachReference was made to earlier studies which argued that loyal customers constitute competitive asset of business organizations. Several authors noted that customers generally vary in terms of loyalty behaviours and attitudes and highlighted that differences about customers' loyalty levels affect a firm's profitability results. Customer loyalty, its antecedents and outcomes, and the links between customer satisfaction, customer loyalty and profitability have been analyzed at a customer level.FindingsThe results showed support for all but one of the five hypotheses, the exception being H2.Originality/valueThe results of the study provide evidence that a Loyalty Index can give managers an adequate support for market segmentation. This means that actual market segment strategies, based on geographical, demographical and/or psychographic variables, should take into account also loyalty measurement models.
Customer loyalty programs: are they fair to consumers?
Authors: Lacey Russell , Sneath Julie Z. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the fairness of loyalty programs to consumers regarding two emerging criticisms of loyalty programs: discriminating value proposition segmentation and potential exploitation of captured personal information.Design/methodology/approachEquity theory and exchange theory are the theoretical foundations used for evaluation of the aspects of loyalty program fairness.FindingsFirst, through the application of equity theory, firms can more effectively recognize and reward more valuable customers without alienating less valuable customers. Second, through the use of exchange theory, firms can secure authorization to collect and use individual customer information from customers in exchange for enhanced value proposition offerings via loyalty programs. Loyalty programs can induce customers to give up their personal information in exchange for benefits they would not otherwise receive. Marketers use the higher level of benefits available through loyalty programs as a form of compensation to customers for sharing personal information.Practical implicationsCustomer loyalty programs that are equitably administered and thoroughly communicated will be perceived favorably by consumers.Originality/valueThis paper marks the first study to examine the issue of consumer fairness as it relates to how firms use loyalty programs to collect proprietary information and differentiate value propositions among customer segments. The findings can be used by managers to strengthen the marketing position of the firm through a loyalty program without compromising on their customers' perceptions of fairness.