Significant Number Of Consumers Research Articles

A novel development of h-CSLQFL controller for optimal sizing and economic pricing of battery in electric vehicle system

This paper proposes a novel design of h-CSLQFL controller for reducing the battery size (kWh) and battery cost (US$/kWh) of electric vehicle (EV) system. The h-CSLQFL controller is a hybrid controller which is formed by the combination of Cuckoo search optimization (CSO), linear quadratic regulator (LQR), and fuzzy logic controller (FLC). The higher battery cost is one of the biggest challenges with EV due to which a significant number of consumers cannot afford to purchase it. The replacement of conventional vehicles with EV creates ecofriendly and sustainable solutions. For attaining the optimal reduced cost of battery, a strategy has been demonstrated by framing a multi-objective function which is controlled with h-CSLQFL controller. It commences with the design of mathematical model of EV in which supply voltage and current are the input parameters whereas the speed and torque are the output parameters. Thereafter, LQR controller was designed and implemented for analyzing the performance parameter of EV. Afterwards, CSO controller in support with LQR controller has been formulated in closed loop manner. At the end, the multi-objective function is controlled with LQR based CSO and LQR controller. It is observed that the least optimal economic cost and size of EV battery have been attained with h-CSLQFL controller in comparison to the LQR based CSO and LQR controller. In addition to this, the least risk factor and reduced sensitivity have been also attained with the proposed approach. The validation of the proposed h-CSLQFL controller has been done on a hardware set up.

3D edible scaffolds with yeast protein: A novel alternative protein scaffold for the production of high-quality cell-cultured meat

The purpose of this study was to develop a novel edible scaffold by utilizing yeast proteins, which could partially replace collagen and produce hypoallergenic, odorless, and highly nutritious cell-cultured meat that meets the demands of a more significant number of consumers. The scaffold comprised proanthocyanidins, dialdehyde chitosan, collagen, and different proportions of yeast proteins (YP). The results indicated that the scaffold possessed excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility, and supported cell proliferation and myogenic differentiation. Additionally, we evaluated the texture characteristics of the cultured meat models and traditional beef and discovered that the YP30 cultured meat model had similar springiness and chewiness as beef. Subsequently, further analyzed the similarity between the cultured meat models and traditional beef in appearance, taste, and nutrition. Further results illustrated that the yeast protein cultured meat model exhibited a complete model structure and comparable color and taste to beef after frying. Moreover, it was concluded that the protein content of the YP30 cultured meat model was closer to that of beef. These findings suggested that the edible scaffold using yeast proteins has enormous potential to facilitate the sustainable development of the cell-cultured meat industry.

In-store shopping trip predictions and impact factors during COVID-19 emergencies

ABSTRACT Despite the rapid growth of online shopping during COVID-19, a significant number of consumers still prefer in-store shopping. This study leverages two years (i.e. pre-pandemic and pandemic) of smartphone location data to develop machine learning (ML) models, specifically Random Forest (RF) and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), for predicting community (e.g. block group (BG)) level in-store shopping trips for department stores, shopping malls, supermarkets, and wholesale stores. This study identifies that temperature, accessibility to stores, and the number of online shopping last-mile delivery are the three most important factors influencing shopping trips; specifically, the extent of online shopping is a critical determinant for supermarkets and wholesale store trip-makings before and during the pandemic. The models developed and important determinants of shopping trips will provide useful insight for shopping trip demand forecasting as well as impact assessments of relevant policies on in-store shopping demand during emergencies.

Seeds of Industry Sustainability: Consumer Attitudes towards Indoor Agriculture Benefits versus Its Advanced Technology

Indoor agriculture (IA) mitigates, to some extent, global problems such as increasing demand for food and limited natural resources. Though the potential benefits of IA as a sustainable agricultural production method are widely discussed, the success of the industry depends on consumer acceptance of IA innovative technology and their willingness to consume leafy greens produced under this technology. Using cluster analysis, four distinct groups of U.S. leafy green consumers were identified: “IA Skeptics”, “IA Open”, “IA Supportive”, and “IA Engaged”. A strong positive consumer cluster emerged with no evidence of an existing cluster of consumers who could be referred as “Knowledgeable Rejectors”, often found from the studies of consumer acceptance for novel food technologies. We concluded that, overall, U.S. leafy green consumers are ready to accept IA produce, but a significant number of consumers are yet to clearly decide on their attitude towards IA technology. Based on the evidence found from this study, we identified market opportunities for the IA industry with consumers of leafy greens given their broad willingness to consume IA produce and suggest marketing strategies to expand consumer awareness and acceptance of IA produce.

Genetic-based personalized nutrition in Hungary – is there a viable business model?

A move from population-based nutrition guidance toward personalized nutrition may offer a more effective strategy than before to improve dietary habits of citizens worldwide. However, a significant number of consumers are not willing to adopt the highest level of personalization, i.e., gene-based personalized nutrition. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether there is a viable business model for genetically based personalized nutrition services in Hungary, and what business model would promote a higher level of consumer acceptance of the new technology. As a first step, a systematic Internet search was conducted to gather personalized nutrition counselling services that meet four criteria: they are related to nutrition; show some level of personalization; offer a product or service; and use some kind of consumer information to personalize a product or service. The second step was an expert content analysis of the service providers’ websites to identify the nine elements of the Business Model Canvas, based in which business model archetypes were identified. We can conclude that the vast majority of services available in the Hungarian market are based on phenotypic information; gene-based personalized nutrition is only rarely found. Our results suggest that business models of the Hungarian market differ significantly from the models identified by previous research. Of the eight identified business model archetypes, the “All in one place” model would promote a higher level of consumer acceptance of nutrigenomics-based services. JEL code: I12, M31

Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 on Grocery Retail in Ukraine

The coronavirus crisis affected the development of the global financial system: for some industries, the impact was extremely negative, reducing the market value of specific companies by more than 50%. However, the effect of the crisis on non-cyclical industries such as retail is not easy to assess. The resilience of companies strongly depends on the flexibility and multi-format qualities of the business model and the ability to innovate. For specific market players, the crisis period has become a window of opportunity to increase market share. For grocery retail in Ukraine, enormous challenges driven by COVID-19 influenced the acceleration of the transition from traditional sales channels to online shopping and led to an unexpected sharp growth of convenience and hard-discount store sectors. Consumers had to learn to live with the new reality that changed their shopping behaviors; a large proportion of them started to shop for groceries via online channels that they had never used before. A significant number of consumers are going to stick to online channels even after the reopening of brick-and-mortar stores. The objective of this research was to explore how COVID-19 affected the dynamics of the grocery retail market using economic-mathematical modeling. In employing Machine Learning methods, the authors offered an approach to assess the effects of the restrictions that the Ukrainian government imposed to localize the spread of COVID-19. The effects on consumer behavior metrics were modeled and interpreted according to local retailers’ business models, the location qualities of brickand-mortar stores, and potential shifts towards digital sales channels in specific regions.
 Keywords: COVID-19 economic effect, grocery retail, consumer behavior, digital transformation

Authenticity of brands in the marketing commodity policy of the enterprise

The article analyzes the change in consumer priorities. The latest trends in the development of values of target audiences of enterprises are studied. The impact of the new generation Z's expectations on society and business is analyzed. The main differences between millennials and generation Z and past generations X and boomers in terms of purchasing behavior are revealed. The era of consumption, which was part of the lives of a significant number of consumers around the world, is gradually giving up. The paradigm of responsible consumption is being replaced. It is investigated that modern target audiences are increasingly concerned about the social responsibility of business, its ethics. Consumers are already demanding not only a reduction in the impact of production on the environment, but concrete action by them to solve society's problems. The essence of brand authenticity is determined. Honesty and sincerity, social responsibility, consistency of the principles of socially responsible production, consumers refer to the authenticity of the brand along with its unique characteristics and uniqueness. The study found that they are willing to buy those brands that share similar principles with consumers. It is determined that for consumers those brands are more valuable, for which the welfare of society, its employees, the environment is in the first place, rather than obtaining high financial indicators at any cost. This is especially important for Generation Z. It is expected that this trend will only develop and manifest itself more deeply. After all, the time is approaching when the new generation will become the bulk of buyers. The article identifies the principles of doing business, which should be supported by enterprises for the successful development and support of their brands in today's conditions and in the long run.

Factors Affecting Customer Satisfaction and Repurchase Intention: A Study of Full-Service Trendy Restaurants in Vietnam

“Trendy restaurants” have emerged in the food and beverage industry as the popularity of social media arose rapidly. For consumers enjoy sharing pictures or videos taken in restaurants, providing trendy space turned out to be an effective way of customer engagement. A growing number of consumers all over the world are always sharing their experiences as well as using these platforms to discover food and beverage trends. Among different parts of the world, Vietnam has a significant number of consumers, especially younger age, are considering social media platforms as a powerful medium in their decision-making. In order to explore the factors behind customer satisfaction at trendy restaurants, this study investigates narcissism personality together with food/drink and service quality as potential predictors to satisfaction and repurchase intention in Vietnamese full-service trendy restaurants. Samples of 213 Vietnamese guests from trendy restaurants were surveyed. SPSS was used to analyze collected data and the findings point out that, in general, food quality, service quality and narcissism personality traits have significant impacts on customer satisfaction and repurchase intention. Customer satisfaction mediates the relationships between predictors and repurchase intention. The implications of these findings, limitations of the study and future research suggestions are also discussed

GMO Turfgrass Introduction to the Market: Acceptance and Market Simulations for Connecticut Consumers

Using conjoint analysis and market simulations, the impact of the introduction of certified genetically modified organism (GMO)-free; GMO-free, not certified; and nonlabeled turfgrass was examined for Connecticut consumers. We categorized consumers into five distinct segments according to their preferences. The largest segment consisted of 38% of respondents (multifaceted), whereas the smallest consisted of 8% of respondents (extremely price sensitive). For most consumers GMO labeling was not a major driver for purchasing decisions, accounting for only 11% of purchasing decisions. However, holding all factors constant except GMO labeling and price, 66% of the market preferred a noncertified GMO-free label, with a significant number of consumers willing to pay for the certified GMO-free label. Based on market simulations, the noncertified GMO-free-labeled seed would maximize revenue at a 60% premium whereas the certified GMO-free label maximizes revenue when there is no premium.

Factors Affecting Consumers’ Purchase Decision of Over-The-Counter (OTC) Medicines: Empirical Evidences from Community Pharmacies in Ethiopia

Purpose: the aim of this study was to examine factors affecting consumers’ purchase decision of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines from community pharmacies in Ethiopia. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research design was used to test the effect of various factors on consumer purchase decision of OTC medicines. Descriptive and explanatory research approaches were used to describe and investigate the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Both primary and secondary data were collected using self-administered questionnaire and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 was used to analyze the data. Findings: the researchers found that, pharmacist’s recommendation, price, and country of origin of OTC medicines have positive and significant effect on consumers’ purchase decision of OTC medicines. Even though, previous experience and families' and friends' recommendation have positive effect on consumers’ purchase decision of OTC medicines, is not statistically significant. Originality/value: Few studies have been conducted on OTC medicines from pharmacy practice perspective and their result showed that there are significant numbers of consumers using OTC medicines. In the best of authors’ knowledge, however; no research has been conducted on OTC medicines from consumer behavior perspectives, especially, purchase decision in Ethiopia. Keywords: Community Pharmacy, OTC Medicine, and Purchase Decision DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/65-02 Publication date: April 30 th 2020

Toward an integrated model of consumer reactance: a literature analysis

Psychological reactance gained scholarly attention and is continued to be explored across various disciplines ever since Brehm proposed reactance theory in 1966. Proliferation of intrusive marketing and promotion efforts across communication channels induce negative reactions from significant number of consumers. Little effort has been made in reviewing and consolidating the results of previous literature in the context of consumer reactance. To address this research gap the current study systematically reviewed the existing literature and has attempted to classify consumer reactance variables by using the stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) framework. A conceptual framework was then built to explain the interrelationships between these three key S–O–R elements of consumer reactance. Lastly the implications for practitioners’ and researchers’ have been discussed. Propositions for future research are put forward.

Perceptions on the use of bottled water in restaurants in Harare's Central Business District (CBD)

Bottled water use continues to expand worldwide and in the last two decades, a significant number of consumers have shifted from tap water to bottled water due to Cryptosporidium outbreaks. Bottled water consumption has increased in Harare due to erratic tap water supplies. Since 2011, forty bottled water brands have been banned because of failure to meet safety and quality standards due to contamination, unsuitable packaging, and wrong labelling. Nevertheless, the bottled water industry continues to thrive as local authorities fail to adequately purify municipal water. The study assessed the perceptions on drinking bottled water in restaurants within Harare's CBD. Demographic and social factors associated with bottled water users were established and the role and influence of stakeholders in bottling and distribution of water documented. A field survey through the administration of questionnaires to fifty restaurant users was carried out to assess the perceptions of people on the use of bottled water in terms of its safety and potential health benefits. Key informant interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview with ten local water bottling companies as well as representatives from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. Standard descriptive statistics were generated, with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Consumers used bottled water as their primary drinking water source when they perceived that tap water was not safe. Perceptions of purity of water, bottled water convenience, and tap water unavailability seemed to determine consumption patterns among users. Females in the 18–48 age groups were more likely to think that bottled water was cleaner, safer, tasted better and was more convenient than tap water. Consumers regularly purchased bottled water for drinking and used bottled water as their primary drinking water source regardless of cost implications. Government and local authorities need to ensure that pure and clean water is availed in Harare. In addition, the public must be engaged in recognizing the relationships that exist between water quality and the capacity of local authorities to maintain taste and safety standards.

Pattern of Self Prescribed Analgesic Use in a Rural Area of Delhi: Exploring the Potential Role of Internet.

Analgesics are the most common self prescribed drugs. Although considered to be relatively safe, side effects are often seen when these drugs are used for prolonged period, in high doses or used where contraindicated. Majority of the consumers are not aware of the side effects. These days ample amount of information is available on web, it is important to explore its role in educating the population regarding the safe use of self prescribed analgesics. To explore pattern of analgesic use, to identify population at risk of developing side effects related to analgesic use, awareness of side effects and potential role of internet to bring awareness about safe use of self prescribed analgesic drugs in a rural area of Delhi. A cross-sectional survey based study was done on 500 adults in the age group of 18-65 years of Madanpur Khadar area of South Delhi, India. Data collection was done by conducting visits to pharmacy shops from the people who were buying drugs without prescription and taking face to face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive tests with Microsoft office excel 2007. Results of our study showed that among all the self prescribed analgesics paracetamol (57%) was used most frequently followed by aspirin and other NSAIDs. It was found that 9.6% of the consumers were having associated co-morbid illness, 11.4% were simultaneously taking other drugs and 15.2% were alcoholics. Majority (65.4%) of the buyers were not aware about any kind of side effects of the analgesics. Internet friendly consumers were found to be 44%. Ability to use internet and education level were found to be directly related (r=0.802). The pattern of analgesic consumption in the rural population of Delhi shows that a large number of consumers may be at risk of developing side effects of self prescribed analgesics. The awareness about the side effects is limited. A significant number of consumers are internet friendly. Hence, we recommend use of website/mobile apps as potential source of information in educating the population regarding the use of self prescribed analgesics.

Nitrite in processed meat products in Khartoum, Sudan and dietary intake

ABSTRACTNitrite intake from locally processed meat in Khartoum, Sudan was estimated and compared to established safety levels. For this purpose, 90 locally processed meat samples were collected randomly from retail outlets and analysed for nitrite levels according to the British standard 1992 protocol and 350 purchasers at retail outlets were questioned about their consumption pattern. Nitrite concentrations in all samples were below the Sudanese maximum limit (ML) of 100 mg kg−1 for nitrite in meat products. Dietary exposure to nitrite for adults and children was estimated to be in the range of 0.026–0.128 and 0.107–0.511 mg kg−1 bw day−1, respectively. This implies that nitrite intake for a significant number of consumers, especially children, are likely to exceed the established acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0–0.07 mg kg−1 bw/day of JECFA, in spite the fact that meat samples collected complied with the current ML.

Consumer Perceptions of 100% Pure Olive Oil

The purpose of this study is to understand what American consumers believe is 100% pure olive oil. The study is an extension to previous work done but includes the analysis of the perceptions of pomace olive oil and 100% Pure Olive Oil. This research includes a survey of 200 consumers on a national basis. The results indicate that consumers have little understanding of olive oil in general but they specifically believe that 100% olive oil must be made only from olives by can be made from any parts of the olive fruit. A significant number of consumers believed that olive oil from pomace is 100% sure olive oil.

Do we need innovative trust intermediaries in the digital economy?

Even almost 20 years after the launch of online shopping (B2C E-Commerce) as an important pillar of the digital economy, a significant number of consumers are still reluctant to buy goods and services via a website due to lack of trust. Study after study has shown that this lack of trust is due to privacy issues, IT security and performance risks. As a consequence, a few years after the advent of the digital economy trust marks began to be introduced which vendors can display on their websites in the hope of remedying this lack of trust. Several studies exploring the effectiveness of trust marks showed low awareness and an inadequate understanding of such certification. The aim of this repeat study is to explore whether awareness and understanding of German trust marks have changed from 2007 to 2012 through increased Internet experience and online purchasing activity as well as through the wider proliferation of Internet trust marks. The results show that the problems associated with lack of awareness of Internet trust marks identified earlier still persist and do not appear to have diminished over time.

온라인 상품 카테고리 내 주요 가격대 식별

In recent, many consumers visit the online shopping malls or price comparison sites to collect the information on the product category that they are interested in. However, the volumes of the data provided by such web sites are often too enormous, and significant number of consumers have trouble in making purchase decision based on the plethora of products and sellers. In this context, modern online shopping agents need to process the retrieved information in more intelligent way before providing them to the users. This paper proposes a novel approach for identifying the main price ranges hidden in a single product category. To this end, the price of an item in the category is represented as a row vector and k-means clustering analysis is applied to the price vectors to produce the clusters that consists of the product items with similar price vectors. Then, the main price ranges of the product category can be identified from the result of clustering analysis. In general, the price is one of the most important factors in the consumers` purchase decision, and the identified main price ranges will be helpful for the online shoppers to find appropriate items effectively.

Global brand positioning and perceptions

Global consumer culture is recognised as a collection of common signs and symbols (e.g. brands) that are understood by significant numbers of consumers in urban markets around the world. International advertising is a powerful driving force of this evolving phenomenon. However, scholars have suggested that more comprehensive theoretical frameworks are needed to better understand international advertising in the global environment. Global consumer culture positioning (GCCP) and perceived brand globalness (PBG) represent two important constructs for studying international advertising in the context of global consumer culture. This review of GCCP and PBG highlights their past application and future potential for advancing international advertising theory, research and practice. It also sheds light on the long-standing standardisation versus adaptation debate.

Australian primary mental health care: improving access and outcomes

The progressive achievements over time of the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) component of the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care program are examined using a web-based, purpose-designed minimum dataset that collects provider-, consumer- and session-level data on the projects. Findings indicate that the ATAPS projects have established themselves over time as a cornerstone of mental health service provision in Australia. Despite the more recent introduction of the complementary Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule program, the ATAPS projects have continued, since 2001, to attract substantial numbers of general practitioners and allied health professionals and deliver services to significant numbers of consumers. The profile of consumers being referred to the projects is now very consistent, with the majority being women with high prevalence disorders who may have had difficulty accessing mental health care in the past. The nature of sessions being delivered through the projects has also reached a point of consistency, with the majority being individual-level, cognitive behavioural therapy-based sessions of around 1 h in length. The only variation in session delivery is related to the charging of a co-payment. There is good evidence that the projects are achieving positive outcomes for consumers.

Potential Impact on Cardiovascular Public Health of Over-the-Counter Statin Availability

Over-the-counter (OTC) statin availability has been hypothesized to represent a strategy for treating consumers at moderate risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) who are currently not receiving drug therapy. The viability of this strategy has been questioned, particularly with respect to the public health benefit that can be obtained in an unsupervised treatment environment. The previously reported Consumer Use Study of Over-the-Counter Lovastatin (CUSTOM) examined consumer behavior in a simulated OTC setting in which 20 mg lovastatin could be purchased. Framingham CHD risk scores were calculated for 981 self-selected consumers who used OTC lovastatin in CUSTOM. Overall, this group had a median 10-year CHD risk of 10%, but with significant numbers of consumers with estimated risks of <5% and >20%. According to the risk profile of CUSTOM consumers, the use of 20 mg lovastatin for 10 years would be expected to prevent approximately 33,100 CHD events per 1 million users. This represents a 10-year number needed to treat of 30 consumers. This optimal benefit may be reduced because some higher risk consumers in CUSTOM used lovastatin rather than appropriate, more aggressive supervised care. On the basis of the frequencies of diversion from optimal care observed in CUSTOM, the number of events prevented might be reduced to 23,000 (number needed to treat 43 consumers). Sensitivity analyses have demonstrated that these estimates are robust and that the predicted public health benefit likely falls in the range of 23,000 to 33,000 CHD events prevented per 1 million treated for 10 years. In conclusion, on a population basis, OTC statin availability is likely to result in clinically meaningful reductions in CHD morbidity and mortality. The analyses also identified opportunities for optimizing the use of OTC statins in the marketplace.