Consumer interpretations of digital ownership in the book market

Technological advances in electronic markets, particularly product digitization, have transformed customer-product interactions. For example, altered ownership perceptions in the digital domain affect product acquisition, usage and disposition. This study’s goal is to explore how consumers conceptualize ownership of digital possessions in order to help marketers develop tailored positioning and commercialization strategies. Comparing physical books and e-books, we contribute to the literature on electronic markets, which neglects a consumer-focused perspective on digital possessions. Using focus groups with U.S. consumers, we identify six themes surrounding perceptions of psychological digital ownership, which mainly portray a constricted sense of ownership, limiting usage experience, and value perceptions. However, we also find that ease of disposition favors e-book usage. Typical assumptions about younger consumers’ preference for digital products were not supported. Based on our findings, we offer two managerial approaches: (1) enhancing the digital product experience or (2) emancipating digital products from their physical correlates.     

CeF<Subscript>3</Subscript>-ZnO scintillating nanocomposite for self-lighted photodynamic therapy of cancer

We report on the synthesis and characterization of a composite nanostructure based on the coupling of cerium fluoride (CeF₃) and zinc oxide (ZnO) for applications in self-lighted photodynamic therapy. Self-lighted photodynamic therapy is a novel approach for the treatment of deep cancers by low doses of X-rays. CeF₃ is an efficient scintillator: when illuminated by X-rays it emits UV light by fluorescence at 325?nm. In this work, we simulate this effect by exciting directly CeF₃ fluorescence by UV radiation. ZnO is photo-activated in cascade, to produce reactive oxygen species. This effect was recently demonstrated in a physical mixture of distinct nanoparticles of CeF₃ and ZnO [Radiat. Meas. (2013) 59:139–143]. Oxide surface provides a platform for rational functionalization, e.g., by targeting molecules for specific tumors. Our composite nanostructure is stable in aqueous media with excellent optical coupling between the two components; we characterize its uptake and its good cell viability, with very low intrinsic cytotoxicity in dark.     

Combined effects of Lactobacillus casei inoculum, modified atmosphere packaging and storage temperature in controlling Aeromonas hydrophila in ready-to-use vegetables

Carbon dioxide concentration, Lactobacillus casei inoculum size and storage temperature were varied according to a Central Composite Design in order to assess the effects of these variables and their interactions on the growth of Aeromonas hydrophila and lactic acid bacteria in ready-to-use mixed salad vegetables packaged under modified atmosphere. The growth curve parameters, modelled according to the Gompertz equation, were analysed to generate polynomial equations. The model obtained emphasized the role of L. casei inoculum size in controlling A. hydrophila and permitted identification of appropriate combinations of the selected variables to reduce A. hydrophila survival. The use of these hurdles may increase the shelf-life and the microbiological safety of ready-to-use vegetables.     

Effect of sub-inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on the hemolytic activity of Legionella

An in vitro test for the antiproliferative effect of human leukocyte interferon (IFN-alpha) was performed in primary cultures of tumor cells obtained from 32 patients with either malignant melanoma (13), renal carcinoma (4) or bladder carcinoma (15). Our results demonstrated activity of IFN in all three groups of solid tumors. However, appreciable differences in sensitivity to antiproliferative effect of IFN between individual tumors of the same type were found. The potential of this antiproliferative test for prediction of treatment response in IFN-therapy is discussed.     

Covalent binding of a selective agonist irreversibly activates guinea pig coronary artery A2 adenosine receptors

Experiments employing guinea pig heart Langendorff preparations compared the coronary vasoactivity of a functionalized congener of adenosine, 2-[(2-aminoethyl-aminocarbonylethyl)phenylethylamino]-5'-N-e thyl- carboxamidoadenosine, APEC, with the vasoactivity of the product of the reaction of APEC with 1,4-phenylene-diisothiocyanate, 4-isothiocyanatophenylaminothiocarbonyl-APEC (DITC-APEC). Previous experiments showed that whereas APEC binds reversibly to the A2A adenosine receptor of brain striatum, DITC-APEC binds irreversibly. APEC caused concentration-dependent coronary vasodilation that persisted unchanged when agonist administration continued for up to 165 min, but promptly faded when the agent was withdrawn. The unselective adenosine receptor antagonist 8-(4-sulfophenyl)theophyline (8-SPT) antagonized the vasoactivity of APEC. By contrast, DITC-APEC (0.125-1.0 nM) caused progressive, concentration-independent vasodilation that persisted unchanged for as long as 120 min after the agent was stopped and that was insensitive to antagonism by subsequently applied 8-SPT. However, perfusion of the heart with buffer containing 0.1 mM 8-SPT strongly antagonized the coronary vasodilatory action of DITC-APEC given subsequently. Such observations indicate that the covalent binding of DITC-APEC causes irreversible activation of the guinea pig coronary artery A2A adenosine receptor. Neither APEC nor DITC-APEC appeared to desensitize the coronary adenosine receptor during two or more hours of exposure to either agonist.