When sports sponsorship incurs brand risk: the roles of team performance, brand familiarity and team identification

PurposeThis study investigated the potential negative effects of a sponsored team's losing performance on audiences' trust and purchase intention toward the sponsoring brand. Shedding light on the moderating role of sponsoring brand familiarity among audiences and audience team identification regarding such negative effects, the study establishes when sports sponsorship may incur risk to a sponsoring brand.Design/methodology/approachThree experimental designs (audience as stimulus of a team's losing vs control condition) were used to indicate whether and when losing performance influences participants' trust and purchase intention toward the sponsoring brand.FindingsThe participants in the losing condition report lower brand trust and purchase intention. Brand trust mediates the relationship between losing results and decreased purchase intention. The negative effects of losing on brand trust and purchase intention only appear when the sponsoring brand has low familiarity among audiences and only for audiences with low identification.Practical implicationsThe strategy of a brand with low familiarity sponsoring a team that frequently loses has risks and is not worth advocating. However, if an unknown brand has already sponsored a team that often loses, the efforts to cultivate audiences' identification with the team can reduce the potential risks.Originality/valueThe affirmed negative effects of losing performance on brand trust and purchase intention have value for firm sponsorship decisions. This study contributes to the sponsorship literature by revealing two boundary conditions (sponsoring brand familiarity and audiences' team identification) for those negative effects.

Effects of Application of Pig Manure on the Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Rice

Pig manure (PM) is often highly enriched in heavy metals, such as Cu and Zn, due to the wide use of feed additives. To study the potential risks of heavy metal accumulation in the soil and rice grains by the application of PM and other organic manure, a four-year field experiment was conducted in the suburb of Shanghai, southeast China. The contents of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in the soils and rice plants by the treatments of PM and fungal culturing residues (FCR) show a trend of annual increase. Those in the soils and rice by the PM treatment are raised even more significantly. Cu and Zn contents in the soil and rice roots by the PM are significantly higher than those by the non-fertilizer control (CK) during the four years, and Pb and Cd also significantly higher than CK in the latter two years. Heavy metals taken up by the rice plants are mostly retained in the roots. Cu and Zn contents in the rice plants are in the decreasing order of roots > grains > stems > leaves, and Pb and Cd in the order of roots > stems > leaves > grains. Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd contents in the soils by the PM treatment increase by 73%, 32%, 106%, and 127% on annual average, and those in the brown rice by 104%, 98%, 275%, and 199%, respectively. The contents of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in the brown rice of the treatments are significantly correlated with those in the soils and rice roots (p < 0.05), suggesting the heavy metals accumulated in the rice grains come from the application of PM and FCR. Though the contents of heavy metals in the brown rice during the four experimental years are still within the safe levels, the risks of their accumulative increments, especially by long-term application of PM, can never be neglected.

Apple microbial communities and differences between two main Chinese producing regions

Microbes on fresh apples are closely associated with fruit disease, preservation and quality control. Investigation into the microbial communities on apples from different producing regions could reveal the microbial specificity and help disease prevention and quality control. In this paper, the apple surface microbes of forty-four samples from two main Chinese apple-producing regions, Bohai Bay (BHB) and the Loess Plateau (LP), were investigated by sequencing fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and bacterial 16S rRNA hypervariable sequences. BHB and LP apples contained significantly different bacterial and fungal communities. BHB apples had a higher fungal diversity than LP apples. A total of 102 different fungal and bacterial taxonomies were obtained between apples from the two regions, in which 24 genera were predominant. BHB apples had higher phytopathogenic fungal genera, such as Tilletiopsis, Acremonium, Candida and Phoma, indicating the higher phytopathogenic risks of apples from the humid climate of the BHB region. LP apples contained more bacterial genera identified as gut microbes, indicating the potential risks of contaminating apples with foodborne pathogens in the arid environment of the LP. This study highlighted the environment-oriented microbial specificity on apples from two main apple-producing regions, and provided a basis for further investigation.

PET microplastics affect human gut microbiota communities during simulated gastrointestinal digestion, first evidence of plausible polymer biodegradation during human digestion

Microplastics (MPs) are a widely recognized global problem due to their prevalence in natural environments and the food chain. However, the impact of microplastics on human microbiota and their possible biotransformation in the gastrointestinal tract have not been well reported. To evaluate the potential risks of microplastics at the digestive level, completely passing a single dose of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) through the gastrointestinal tract was simulated by combining a harmonized static model and the dynamic gastrointestinal simgi model, which recreates the different regions of the digestive tract in physiological conditions. PET MPs started several biotransformations in the gastrointestinal tract and, at the colon, appeared to be structurally different from the original particles. We report that the feeding with microplastics alters human microbial colonic community composition and hypothesize that some members of the colonic microbiota could adhere to MPs surface promoting the formation of biofilms. The work presented here indicates that microplastics are indeed capable of digestive-level health effects. Considering this evidence and the increasing exposure to microplastics in consumer foods and beverages, the impact of plastics on the functionality of the gut microbiome and their potential biodegradation through digestion and intestinal bacteria merits critical investigation.

Trial of Labor and Vaginal Birth after Three Previous Cesarean Sections: Report of Two Special Cases

Background Natural childbirth could represent a deeply rooted need for many women, even in exceptional situations such as after 3 previous caesarean sections. Case presentation The first patient, a 28-year-old 6th gravida and 3rd para, first presented in the 40+3 week of pregnancy desiring a vaginal birth, after all the other hospitals in the area had refused her request. A detailed explanation of potential risks was given and, when 2 days later contractions started, she gave birth to a newborn of 4450 g spontaneously, without complications. A month later, a second woman, 42 years old, 5th gravida, 3rd para, read about the above-mentioned case on social media and decided to attempt a natural delivery after 3 caesarean sections at our hospital as well. She presented herself for the first time in the 41+1 week of pregnancy in our delivery room with an onset of labor after rupture of the membranes and gave birth on the same day, spontaneously without complications, to a 4150 g heavy healthy newborn. Conclusions The wish to attempt a spontaneous birth after 3 previous caesarean sections can be deeply anchored and should be professionally approached by obstetricians, even if counseling and management can be challenging.

Multi-criteria decision model for risk prioritisation involving multiple decision-makers: an application of composition of probabilistic preferences combined with FMEA in the supply chain

PurposeThe paper aims to propose a multi-criteria model for risk prioritisation associated to supply chain management involving multiple decision-makers.Design/methodology/approachThe model integrates the composition of probabilistic preferences (CPP) on the failure modes analysis and its effects (FMEA) criteria. First, the authors carried out a probabilistic transformation of the numerical evaluations of the multiple decision-makers on the FMEA criteria regarding the internal risks that affect the chain of clothing pole in the Agreste region of Pernambuco. Then, the authors proposed the use of the Kendall's concordance coefficient W to aggregate these evaluations.FindingsContrary to expectations, the two main risks to be investigated as a model suggestion was related to the context of supply chain suppliers and not related to the raw material costs. Besides, a simulation with the traditional FMEA was carried out, and comparing with the model result, the simulation is worth highlighting seven consistent differences along the two rankings.Research limitations/implicationsThe focus was restricted to the use of only internal chain risks.Practical implicationsThe proposed model can contribute to the improvement of the decisions within organisations that make up the chains, thus guaranteeing a better quality in risk management.Originality/valueEstablishing a more effective representation of uncertain information related to traditional FMEA treatment involving multiple decision-makers means identifying in advance the potential risks, providing a better supply chain control.

Attempt TCP ACK-Storm Based Virtual Network Attacks and Defence Solutions

The rapid development of the digital age has been pushing people to access a mobile working environment when handsets are becoming more diverse and convenient with the help of Virtualization Technology. The speed and usability of Virtualization Technology are astounding for saving initial investment costs and optimizing IT infrastructure. Such Virtualization Technology is what businesses are interested in and makes the virtual server market growing strongly, especially for businesses that have many branches. However, virtual systems (hypervisors) are more vulnerable than traditional servers according due to many network attacks from curious users. Therefore, it's necessary to prepare for the worst circumstances, understand clearly, and research for new threats that can break down the virtual system. In this paper, we attempt to demonstrate the TCP ACK storm based DoS (Denial of Service) attack on virtual and Docker networks to show the threats that easily are happen on services deploying on virtual networks. Based on such consequence, we propose some solutions to prevent our virtual system from potential risks.

Advantages and Functions of Clinical and Decision Support Systems

Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs) signify the framework shift in the medical sector in the modern age. CDSSs are utilized in augmenting healthcare facilities in the process of making complex clinical decisions. Since the first application of CDSSs in the 80s, the framework has witnessed significant transformation. The frameworks are now administered through electronic healthcare records with complex capacities. Irrespective of these complex advancements, there are existing questions concerning the impacts of CDSSs on service providers, healthcare costs, and patients’ records. There are many published texts concerning the success stories of CDSSs, but significant setbacks have proved that CDSSs are not without any potential risks. In this research, we provide critical analysis on the application of CDSSs in clinical setting, integrating various forms, present application cases with proven effectiveness, potential harms and common pitfalls. We therefore conclude with evidence-centered recommendation for mitigating the issues of CDSSs maintainability, evaluation, implementation and designing.

The Effects of Physical Exercise on Saliva Composition. A Comprehensive Review

Saliva consists of organic and inorganic constituents. During exercise, analysis of the saliva can provide valuable information regarding training stress, adaptation and exercise performance. The objective of the present article was to review the effect of physical exercise on saliva composition. The shift in the composition of the saliva, during and after a workout, reflects the benefits of exercise, its potential risks and the capability of the saliva to serve as a health indicator. The type and the frequency of training, the physical condition and the athletes’ general health influence the hormones, immunoglobulins and saliva enzymes. The correlation between saliva and physical exercise has to be further investigated and the available knowledge to be applied for the benefit of the athletes during sports activities.