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Several studies have explored the association between fish consumption during pregnancy and favorable neonatal outcomes, although some yield conflicting results. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends two to three servings of low-mercury fish per week for pregnant or breastfeeding women. However, fish can be a source of pollutants, like methylmercury, impacting neurological development. Conflicting studies on docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation exist in the literature, possibly due to varied supplement dosages. This survey, involving 501 women, investigated fish consumption and DHA supplement intake concerning gestational and neonatal outcomes. Notably, 92.1% of participants consumed fish weekly, with significant differences observed in gestational weight gain, birth weight, and length for those eating fish ≥3 times weekly compared to non-consumers. This study supports the recommendation for pregnant women to include fish in their diet while limiting exposure to environmental pollutants. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements are suggested to attain nutritional benefits without mercury risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractOwing to the mainstream interpretation of classical economics as being supply-side, studies examining the analytical role of demand and consumption have been scarce. In this paper, I bring together such passages in Cantillon, Steuart, Smith and Ricardo and forge an analytical link between social tastes and consumption—an attempt at reconstructing a classical theory of taste formation. A classical theory of taste formation has as its foundation methodological holism—viewing social classes as the fundamental unit of analysis. Through a discussion of necessaries and luxuries in the above classical economists, the social division of commodities is highlighted. By drawing on social classes and the social division of commodities, it is seen that taste plays a critical role in the determination of economic growth by influencing consumption expenditure. Finally, it is demonstrated that taste is both a cause and consequence of foreign trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of nutrition in promoting health and reducing the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is vital, yet both inadequate and excessive food consumption can be detrimental. Moreover, excessive smoking and alcohol consumption contribute to higher mortality rates. Countries have implemented policies, strategies, and awareness campaigns to combat NCD‐related deaths. Within this context, the study aims to assess the relative efficiency of Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) countries in preventing chronic NCDs by considering nutritional supply and smoking and alcohol consumption as inputs. It also seeks to identify countries' best policies and strategies to reduce regular NCD‐related death rates, emphasizing the importance of selecting and implementing adaptive strategies locally. This study employs slack‐based measurement (SBM) data envelopment analysis (SBM‐DEA). The mean efficiency score across the countries is 0.95, with a standard deviation of 0.09, indicating a generally high‐efficiency level. Twenty‐nine countries with an efficiency score of 1 are deemed relatively efficient. Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Korea, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, and the United States did not achieve relative efficiency in NCD management. The findings highlight the importance of considering the unique context of each country when designing and implementing NCD prevention and management strategies. The study emphasizes the need for regular evaluation and appropriate measurement methods to assess the achievement of targets and address implementation challenges. Furthermore, it highlights the significance of adopting a comprehensive, coordinated approach to ensure the effectiveness of NCD policies and underscores the need for flexibility and adaptability in addressing NCDs. Key points: The research paper emphasizes, The critical role of nutrition in promoting health and reducing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), highlighting the detrimental effects of both inadequate and excessive food consumption, as well as excessive smoking and alcohol consumption, on population health outcomes.The necessity for regular evaluation, appropriate measurement methods, and a comprehensive, coordinated approach to address NCDs effectively, highlighting the importance of adapting NCD prevention and management strategies to the unique context of each country.The importance of data‐driven decision‐making and a comprehensive approach spanning macro and micro levels to enhance the effectiveness of NCD policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores youth eco-literacy and its role in addressing the climate crisis, consumption, and socio-political challenges. Eco-literacy involves environmental understanding, skills, and critical perspectives, enabling active engagement and informed decision-making. Through geo-social lenses, I examine how Turkish youth participate politically, both online and offline, in climate change and consumerism dialogues, considering local, global, and planetary perspectives. The analysis focuses on young people's interpretive agency, creatively expressing environmental ideologies and shaping values with a political stance characterized by reflexivity, agency, and commitment to daily activism and eco-friendly lifestyles. Qualitative data collection included discussions on daily environmental practices and essays on environmental citizenship, covering eco-literacy sources, responsible actors, and ecological awareness strategies. Findings illustrate how young participants address opportunities and disparities, utilizing the research environment for collective learning and action. The study further investigates young people's showcase of their eco-literacies and advocacy for a public (eco) pedagogy beyond traditional education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Silver Generation, the population made up of older adults, in countries like Spain and those in its immediate surroundings, represents a demographic segment in constant growth, as a consequence of the increase in life expectancy, and with an increasingly greater percentage weight on the total population, due to the decrease in the birth rate. The main objective of this work is to know and analyze the characteristics and behaviors of this diverse and heterogeneous demographic profile, which is gradually adapting to the use of new technologies, including their preferences regarding the different channels or media they use, the way they relate to the offering companies and their products and services, as well as their assessment of the effectiveness of current marketing strategies aimed at older people. A quantitative methodology has been used, based on a primary source, a survey carried out on people over 55 years of age residing in Spain. The results reflect the existence of significant discontent regarding advertising campaigns directed towards that generation, since they estimate that they do not use the most appropriate channels and coherent strategies, and they are not developed with respect to their way of being and thinking. It is concluded that personalization in treatment, the generation of trust and improving accessibility to new purchasing systems should allow for solid and lasting commercial relationships between companies and this generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alcohol‐free drinks are suggested as healthy alternatives for alcohol consumption. To achieve benefits, alcohol‐free beverages must be consumed as a substitute for alcoholic beverages, not in addition. This study examined in a student sample (i) the frequency/quantity of alcohol(‐free) consumption; (ii) the relationship between alcohol‐free and alcohol consumption; (iii) alcohol‐free drinks as substitution or in addition to alcoholic drinks; and (iv) possible gender differences. Methods: Survey data regarding alcohol(‐free) consumption (May–June 2022) of Dutch university students (N = 4.318, females 70.2%; males 28.5%, average age 22.6 years [SD = 2.4]). Results: (i) A total of 42.8% of the students indicated they had never consumed alcohol‐free versus 10.1% who never consumed alcoholic beverages; (ii) the group who recently consumed alcohol‐free also most often recently consumed alcoholic beverages (42.7%). The group that had never consumed alcohol‐free drank on average more alcoholic beverages (M = 3.98 on a drinking day) compared to past and recent alcohol‐free drinkers (respectively, M = 3.44 and M = 3.59). (iii) Most students (54.9%) reported drinking alcohol‐free beverages in addition to alcohol, 17.4% indicated using it as a substitution. Students who consumed alcohol‐free as 'substitution' were older, more often living alone or with a partner, less often living with parents and more often involved in a steady relationship compared to students who consumed in 'addition'. (iv) No prominent gender differences were found. Discussion and Conclusions: The majority of students remained consuming the same number of alcoholic beverages since they started consuming alcohol‐free beverages, pointing to an addition effect. A small group did use alcohol‐free beverages as a substitute for their alcohol consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our paper presents the first optimal analytical solution for an investor maximizing both consumption and terminal wealth within expected utility theory in the realm of GARCH models. Working in a general family of affine GARCH models, we derive an affine GARCH optimal wealth process, providing analytical representations for optimal allocation, consumption and value functions. In particular, the optimal consumption ratio avoids the undesirable scenario of investors consuming all wealth prior to maturity. Our numerical study highlights the importance of formally accounting for consumption as it disrupts the level of optimal risky allocations. It also shows a larger impact of stochastic conditional variance (heteroscedasticity) on risky allocations in comparison to the impact of non-Gaussianity. We find, in a numerical study based on S&P 500 index data over a 5-years horizon, that an investor following a Gaussian GARCH strategy can achieve 10% more total consumption and at the same time 8% more terminal wealth than another investor following a constant variance (homoscedastic) strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sociological analyses of class mobility focus on enduring class movement. How might we reconceptualize class mobility to capture more shifting experiences of class? I propose a new way to theorize class mobility that is oriented toward the analysis of short-term class mobility. Class experience mobility (CEM) is a form of class mobility in which people temporarily access a class lifestyle that does not correspond to their class position, tasting another life before returning to their own. In this theory-building article, I first conceptualize CEM, situating it relative to mainstream class analysis. I then describe six class experience processes that enable temporary upward class mobility through consumption, work, and relationships. Finally, I show how the processes by which people engage in CEM can serve as mechanisms shaping long-term class mobility and people's classed self-understandings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the 1960s, breeding activities carried out on many crops, including wheat, and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, saw increased criticism of the negative consequences in terms of nutrition, social, and environmental impacts. There is a current re-emphasis upon changing the methods of flour and bread production technologies, and wheat landrace varieties have made a resurgence. Wheat landrace varieties have become widespread and create the demand for their consumption as an alternative to industrial wheat. Producers have come together to form collectives of different structures and seek ways to expand production of wheat landraces. As a result, alternative food consumption communities have become established in which consumers can access wheat landrace products. The factors related to the development of wheat, flour, bulgur, bread, etc. should be put forward to consumers and producers. The fieldwork of this research is based on five community supported food groups formed by consumers in the İzmir province of Turkey, and associations/groups that produce wheat varieties in Çanakkale, Balıkesir and Kars provinces. The aim of the research is to identify common problems that reduce the separation between wheat production and consumption and how to increase the use of wheat landraces and their products by using participatory action research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying art from a psychoanalytic perspective remains relevant because it expresses the link between subjects and their desire and how they relate to objects in general. This article focuses on analyzing minimalism and the latent fantasy of the artistic movement. We question the narrative of the minimalist as something clean and empty and explain why, despite its efforts, instead of slowing down consumption, it ends up accelerating its rate and making the subject's alienation to capitalism even stronger, creating a lot more suffering. We present the argument by linking the libidinal and political economies with Jacques Lacan and Karl Marx's thoughts. The article concludes by reflecting on the suffering of the capitalist subject and the limits of its ethical behavior within a capitalist economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass finds are a common feature of archaeological excavations in the context of World War One (WWI). In spite of this, only little attention is paid to this material category. The main aim of this article is therefore to explore the type of information that can be gained from the study of glass and to emphasise the importance and added value of well-developed research into material finds at WWI sites. The study itself is based on a traditional material culture study of the British Army's use of glass in the Ypres Salient, Belgium, during WWI. As a foundation for the study, 5 different archaeological glass finds were examined and statistically analysed. Combined with data from commercial archaeological research, this provided insights into the glass containers used and their contents, the spatial distribution of these objects and the chronological trends in their use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Over the past decade, there has been growing research into the consumption of environmentally friendly products, driven by heightened environmental concerns and a shift towards more conscientious purchasing. Despite generally favorable attitudes towards green products, actual purchase rates remain low, creating a gap between attitudes and behavior. Existing studies present a mixed picture, with some findings conflicting and others consistent, underscoring the need for a thorough review of the literature on green consumption. This study aims to assess the existing literature on green consumption by examining major theoretical frameworks, socio-demographic characteristics, and geographic contexts of green consumers, as well as the most studied product categories. It also explores the antecedents and consequences of green product purchases, the mediators and moderators affecting these relationships, and the methodologies used by scholars in this field. Methods: Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) and TCCM (Theory-Context-Characteristics-Methodology) frameworks, the study systematically searches, selects, and synthesizes relevant data, providing a comprehensive mapping of research. This approach allows for a critical evaluation of theoretical foundations, diverse contexts of green consumption, key variables, and the methodologies employed in previous studies. Results and discussion: The findings indicate that social psychology theories are prevalent in green consumption research and highlight the need to expand the field's theoretical base. By identifying underexplored product categories, socio-demographic groups, and geographic regions, marketers can more effectively target new segments. The review also identifies major enablers and barriers to green product purchases and suggests further investigation into underexplored variables to develop more effective marketing strategies. To advance the study of consumer behavior regarding green products, the review advocates for the use of mixed-method and qualitative approaches. This comprehensive approach is essential for gaining a deeper understanding of consumer behavior and improving strategies to promote green purchasing and enhance market penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sigmae is the property of Universidade Federal de Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Gumushane Universty Electronic Journal of the Faculty of Communication / Gümüshane Üniversitesi Iletisim Fakültesi Elektronik Dergisi is the property of Gumushane Universitesi Iletisim Fakultesi Elektronik Dergisi (e-GIFDER) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nietzsche invites us to turn our focus to how subjects seek out what is average rather than what is authentically independent. For marketing theory, this means recognising that while the desire for autonomy and self-determination functions as a seductive and collective narrative for consumer culture generally, it inevitably becomes denatured and delimited to what each individual consumer finds to be most convenient, credible, and practical. Using a Nietzschean toolbox, this paper diagnoses a contemporary malaise in the process of 'commodified self-overcoming', whereby subjects are fed the mass-mediated fantasy that they can overcome the symbolic similitude of the majority while remaining comfortably part of the social 'herd'. We discuss this process using three illustrative archetypes: the inhuman 'BIG Zombie', the transhuman 'Cyborg', and the all-too-human 'Slacktivist'. These archetypes reveal how the prospect of overcoming the self and all of its human trappings functions as a core fantasy for consumers, albeit one that is paradoxically produced and supplied by market mechanisms that perpetuate a lasting humanism. We explore the notion of ante -humanism and conclude with implications for the nascent tradition of Terminal Marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although death is a primary motivator of behavior, it is not widely studied in marketing. Focus of the Article: Through case analysis, integration of literature, and in-depth interviews of terminally ill patients, we explore the factors that change the consumption of medical treatment and the social issues that arise between themselves and other key stakeholders. Research Question: What variables impact the decision-making process of terminally ill patients who choose to use an illegal treatment option? Program Design/Approach: We explore the factors influencing consumption practices at the end of life through case analysis, literature integration, and in-depth interviews of terminally ill patients. Importance to Social Marketing Field: This research gives social marketers a rare glimpse into the mind of the consumer at a pivotal moment of consumption end-of-life. Our exploration shows that when the conventional medical system fails, medical consumers engage in creative consumption patterns. Understanding these patterns allows social marketers to better understand and engage with terminally or chronically ill consumers. Methods: This is a qualitative study using in-depth interviews. Results: This study found that having an intimate relationship with mortality eliminates or weakens the constraints of cultural institutions and social groups as a part of the decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that the material dimensions of secrecy, which have been neglected within academic research into consumption and into material culture, are ripe for sociological analysis and attention. We draw on two empirical projects – one using qualitative interviews to talk to women about their sex toys and the other ethnographically informed research into things people keep but are no longer using - to explore secret things within the home. By taking a facet methodology approach, we consider secret objects in relation to each other and interrogate how secrets are made (in)visible through strategies and practices around objects within the home and how the potency of secret objects is managed. We make two key arguments: first, considering the relationship between secrecy and intimacy, we argue that there are three dimensions of secrecy (which do not always coalesce): what is known about, what is verbalised, and what is materialised. Second, we redirect the idea of relational work to material things, looking at where things are kept, who they are revealed to and the silences around things, and argue that these practices are part of the work of everyday relationships and intimacies. The article demonstrates that objects are vital in understanding how secrecy, intimacy and everyday relationships are lived and forms part of a wider argument for the sociology of culture to centre the unnoticed and mundane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista CES Psicologia is the property of Universidad CES and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study examined knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of sustainable fashion consumption among young adults in Ile-Ife, Osun State. Survey design was adopted for the study. The sample for the study was made up of 250 respondents who were selected using purposive and convenience sampling technique. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Findings show that respondents have good knowledge and a positive attitude towards sustainable fashion. They revealed that sustainable fashion supports consumers to wear and maintain their clothing (85.2%) and that second-hand clothes are more sustainable (64.8%). They selected apparel that they could wear over a longer term (x̄= 4.16) and bought products packaged in recycled materials (x̄= 3.56). Some young adults choose materials that quickly go out of style, indicating a gap between knowledge and practice. There was a significant relationship between knowledge and practice of sustainable fashion. This study contributes to the growing body of research on sustainable fashion consumption and provides valuable insights for policymakers, businesses, and consumers. The study concludes that there is a need for more public enlightenment programs on sustainable fashion to reinforce young adults’ shift towards eco-friendly practices. It is recommended that fashion associations should align fashion businesses with sustainable goals and products. Consumers should leverage social influence to promote eco-friendly materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional foods and drinks benefit human health beyond adequate nutritional effects. The rising popularity of functional beverages (FBs) is associated, among others, with their convenience and capacity to meet consumer needs. This research study aimed to explore the predictors of consumers' intentions toward functional beverages FBs and develop guidelines for how producers and retailers could develop adequate strategies regarding the products. The online questionnaire survey examined consumers' willingness to purchase (WTP) FBs in three categories: (i) yogurts, kefirs; (ii) isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic drinks; (iii) smoothie drinks, and fruit/vegetable cocktails. The questionnaire considered consumers' values, attitudes, and intentions toward FBs. A four-stage hierarchical multiple regression was undertaken. Predictors of WTP products from the selected groups differed. Women were more willing to buy fruit and vegetable-based FBs than men. Reward from using functional foods was the strongest predictor of consumers' WTP dairy FBs and sports drinks. We suggest conducting an experimental study in the future, which should allow us to best determine cause-and-effect relationships between values and attitudes and WTP FBs. Food habits are essential determinants of consumer intentions toward FBs; hence, we suggest promoting healthy nutrition habits within public–private partnerships. Retailers that offer health foods and employ societal retailing may disclose this information in sustainability reporting. The originality of this study resides in designing a model for assessing consumers' attitudes and intentions toward FBs belonging to three selected categories. Previous studies were usually focused on the functional food market in Asian countries. We examined consumers' WTP FBs in a European country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media live streaming, in the form of live video and user stories, is widely used by influencers, organisations and individuals to connect with their audiences. Its popularity is well-established in a range of theoretical and managerial contexts. However, there is a lack of scholarship on the role of this phenomenon on consumer decision-making. Filling this gap in the research is essential due to the importance of consumer decision-making in marketing and brand strategy development in organisations. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore and outline the nature of the influence of live stream on the consumer decision-making. The study was part of a 12-month Netnography consisting of participant observation and social media monitoring of brand pages and branded hashtags on social media platforms, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. A thematic analysis revealed five main themes and a conceptual model is proposed which outlines the social media live stream's influence on consumer decision-making at each stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: While multiple studies have investigated antibiotic consumption rates, there are few studies on the consumption of systemic antifungals and antiprotozoals. This study aims to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive analysis of nationwide consumption trends in Kazakhstan over a seven-year period (2017–2023). Methods: Defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day were calculated for systemic antifungals (J02 code of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (ATC)) and antiprotozoals (P01 code of the ATC). Time series analyses were applied to examine historical trends, evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and make future projections until 2030. Results: The total consumption increased over the study period, with an average annual percent change of 1.11% for antifungals and 5.48% for antiprotozoals. Fluconazole was the most consumed antifungal agent, whereas metronidazole was the most consumed antiprotozoal agent. The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive but insignificant effect on the consumption of antifungals and a negative and also insignificant effect on the consumption of antiprotozoals. Forecast modeling indicates that the future trends in antifungal and antiprotozoal consumption until 2030 will largely remain stable, with the exception of antiprotozoal consumption in the hospital sector, which is projected to decline. Conclusions: These findings offer valuable insights into the development and implementation of targeted antimicrobial stewardship programs in Kazakhstan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The younger generations are exerting a profound influence on the future of the media. The current crisis of reputation facing traditional media is compelling those involved in the creation, production, and distribution of content to rethink the logic underpinning these processes. The consumption of entertainment and information via smartphones is becoming increasingly concentrated in screen devices and social platforms. In light of the particularities of a convergence of media and the characteristics of the digital sphere of users, it is necessary to investigate the information consumption habits and preferences of young university students towards conventional and digital media platforms, as well as social networks within the digital sphere. The objective of this research was to ascertain the news consumption habits of young university students in the context of the new digital landscape, characterised by the pervasiveness of connectivity and the ascendency of smartphones as the primary gateway to the internet. A survey of 1300 students was conducted in October 2023 to investigate their adoption, use, and consumption of traditional and digital media, as well as the devices they use and the importance of podcasts. The results, viewed through the lens of a specific ecosystem, such as that of Colombia, challenge prevailing stereotypes and suggest that younger generations continue to value traditional journalistic brands, potentially due to familial influence. The majority of content is accessed through screen devices and social media platforms. Despite the existence of prejudices, young people supplement their musical preferences with informational content and leisure and entertainment products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The racialized gendered body in consumer culture invokes the construction of identities and representation of beauty through embodiment practices. As companies hone in on consumer racial marker distinctions to enhance uniqueness as otherness for profit, an analysis of hair products marketed for Black hair textures provides an opportunity to analyze how products use these at the intersection of race, gender, and beauty. This study uses constructivist grounded theory to analyze the product names and long descriptions for 124 shampoos marketed for Black hair textures on the websites of two major retailers to answer the following questions: What message does the discourse of shampoo product descriptions marketed to Black hair textures communicate about beauty? What message does the discourse of shampoo product descriptions marketed to Black hair textures communicate about Blackness? How does this discourse define the embodiment of Black beauty through hair? The results reveal that the racialized gendered body in consumer culture invokes the construction of identities and representations of beauty through embodiment practices. Through advertisements and product descriptions, beauty companies create ideal images of the lived experiences achieved through consuming beauty products. By constructing visual interpretations of racial signifiers through text, marketing strategies encourage the consumption of otherness, creating a racialized space for Blackness consumption. Combining the five senses with the descriptions of shampoo products marketed for Black hair textures helps us see how beauty embodiment practices reinforce racialized and gendered practices to subjugate the Black body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ballet industry has long been criticized for using excessively thin and exclusively Anglo-looking ballerinas. The statement that they fit the "look" or comments such as this in the 2015 New York Daily Post: "A lot of people feel ballerinas should all be the same color" (Keivom, 2015) have been used to exclude Black and Brown ballerinas. This chapter describes the relationship between race, gender, and beauty within the ballet industry. It describes the challenges that Black women experience and the anti-Blackness that takes place within ballet due to Eurocentric beauty standards. Through a focus on the emphasis on hair texture, flesh-tone tights, and pointe shoes, and on the racist history of America and ballet, this chapter demonstrates how ballet continues to discriminate against and marginalize Black women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Credibly representing category-of-goods mental accounting in an intertemporal optimisation framework is notoriously difficult, as this modelling approach imposes interrelations between the demand for different categories through first-order conditions. This breaks the principle of nonfungibility, contrary to the rationale of mental-accounting theory. Proofs that using intertemporal optimisation is futile in modelling this kind of behaviour are provided, and an alternative is developed: a procedural-behavioural merger of mental accounting and categorisation theories. The merger is necessary to enhance mental-accounting theory, which by itself does not inform about how mental budgets are formed, what they include and how money is spent from various accounts. A classification of six basic consumer types was devised, basing on the differences between their mental-accounting systems and variations of changes of expenditure in response to fluctuations of net disposable income and other possible stimuli. Representing the consumer problem as a behavioural procedure including spending on nondurable and frequently-bought durable goods as well as decisions whether or not to purchase very expensive durable goods, such as houses and flats, allows to model real-world features such as infrequent purchases and rare debt-taking. The devised working-life cycle models of consumer behaviour are consistent with microeconomic evidence on consumption, including those features that are not accounted for by various versions of the permanent income or buffer-stock models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the mathematical dynamics of consumer spending during a financial crisis using opponent process theory (OPT). Traditionally applied in psychology, OPT explains how initial emotional responses are followed by counteracting reactions to restore equilibrium. This study models the short-term boost in consumer spending and subsequent economic adjustments. Utilizing differential equations to represent these processes, this paper provides insights into the interplay between immediate policy effects and longer-term economic consequences. We focus on the United States (US) response to the 2008 Global Financial Crisis in this study. Results show evidence of diminishing response from prolonged stimuli due to demand saturation, resource allocation inefficiencies, and agent adaptation. Monetary stimuli may inflate debt/prices, outweighing benefits, and structural issues persist despite stimuli. Confidence and expectations impact response because perceived ineffectiveness weakens impact over time. Thus, while stimuli can initially boost activity, their sustained impact demands careful consideration of economic dynamics and agents' responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary, neoliberal contexts, individuals are compelled to display competent and 'enterprising' selves, to get ahead in 'hustle culture' and to prioritise their personal health/wellbeing and futures. Dominant drinking cultures that normalise binge drinking and 'living in the moment' sit at odds with such values, yet these tensions can be navigated through 'responsible' consumption, whereby consumers can continue to buy into dominant drinking cultures yet show restraint by drinking in moderation and/or participating in periods of abstinence. In recent years, an expanding market of 'no-and low-alcohol' (NoLo) drinks also presents increasing opportunities to negotiate new kinds of moderate drinking identities, take breaks from consumption or reconfigure relationships with alcohol entirely. Drawing on data from 15 interviews with regular NoLo drinkers, this article highlights the ways in which NoLo consumption is entangled with notions of the enterprising self in relation to health, choice/responsibility, productivity and the future. Using the consumption of NoLo drinks as a case study, the article contributes more widely to our understandings of how identities are negotiated and displayed through particular (non)consumption practices that take place in the present – but also construct the future self – in the face of neoliberal imperatives to be healthy and productive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the effect of transfer programs on the allocation of resources among household members. Based on a collective household model and data from Ecuador, I find important intra-household inequalities, but the transfer produces resource redistribution among household members. Unlike existing approaches, I also employ a framework that accounts for other household structures, finding that transfers impact resource allocation in extended households with children. I validate the main findings using experimental data and document that in-kind transfers are comparable to cash transfers in improving the within-household redistribution of resources. I further examine the potential implications of this reallocation of resources in several domains and find that transfers increase women's control of resources and reduce women's poverty. I also show that changes in women's control of resources driven by the transfer affect the household's consumption patterns and how households react to unexpected shocks. These results contribute to understanding better the redistributive and behavioral effects of income support programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While Switzerland has made some progress over the past few decades in treating men and women more equally, this study intends to find out whether Swiss men and women's food consumption patterns also converged between 1990 and 2017. After analysing 1.8 million observations of one-member households' food baskets, we found that gender gaps are increasing significantly for 16 of 70 studied foods, decreasing significantly for another 16 of 70 studied foods and not changing significantly for more than half of the studied foods. On average, the gender gap in food consumption in Switzerland has increased over time. We conclude that behavioural differences between genders and culturally induced gender differences (e.g., unequal career chances) are largely unrelated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance and excessive antibiotic usage are a growing public health concern. Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) aim to optimize antibiotic use and curb resistance. This retro-respective study evaluated the impact of an ASP at Madinat Zayed Hospital, Abu Dhabi (January 2021-December 2022). It analyzed electronic health records to assess the ASP's impact on antibiotic consumption, resistance patterns, and economic outcomes. Patients from intensive care units, medical wards, and outpatient settings were included, though patients admitted to obstetrics/gynaecology, paediatrics, neonatal intensive care, and surgical wards were excluded. The primary objective of this study was to report on the ASP experience and measure the prescribing appropriateness percentage of empirical antibiotic therapy along with the de-escalation of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, after ASP implementation at Madinat Zayed Hospital in Al Dhafra Region, United Arab Emirates. The secondary objectives were to reflect on the rate of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs), total utilization using defined daily dose, and the total direct cost of antibiotics. Descriptive analysis, proportions, mean values, and percentage changes were employed for data analysis. The ASP achieved high compliance rates with restricted antibiotics (>90%) and approved guidelines (inpatient 97-100%, outpatient 93-98%). Antibiotic de-escalation rates were also high (>80%). Significant reductions in use were observed for cefixime (91.3%), levofloxacin (46.3%), and several others. Notably, cefepime use increased (1137.5%). Direct antibiotic expenditure decreased by 2% (saving Dhs2.6 million), and resistance decreased in some bacteria. However, a concerning rise in ceftazidime resistance against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was identified. This study concluded that the implementation of a new Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Madinat Zayed Hospital demonstrated effectiveness in promoting responsible antibiotic use. The program achieved high compliance with restricted antibiotic use and approved guidelines, leading to significant reductions in overall antibiotic consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global surveys show that young people are concerned about sustainability and climate change and how it will affect their future. Education for Sustainability is seen as a key approach that can equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to act for climate justice. Despite much policy attention on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), this paper argues that current educational approaches inadequately prepare young people to understand and engage with climate change and sustainability issues. Drawing on a unique survey of 1655 young people in England, this study identifies significant knowledge gaps in understandings of sustainability concepts and a strong demand for educational reforms. Quantitative data reveal variations in sustainability understandings across age, gender, and income, while qualitative insights uncover young people's feelings about the gaps in their education, exposing their fears, anger, powerlessness, and hopes for change. This study highlights the dominance of consumer choice in young people's perceptions of sustainability, emphasizing the need to shift from individualistic to collective actions. This paper concludes with a call to integrate sustainability education into the English National Curriculum to promote holistic and action-oriented learning and create opportunities for nurturing hope through transformative education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rise of forced displacement, attention has turned to the economic impact of refugees. However, few studies investigate long-term impacts. We use data for Tanzania for the period 1985–2015 to examine the effect of camps on urbanisation and local development, exploiting a unique satellite-derived dataset of high spatial resolution and temporal frequency. We show a modest but significant effect of refugee camps on built-up area up to a 100 km distance. We then match camp locations to regional gross domestic product, local consumption spending and employment patterns. Output in areas with camps grew at a faster rate during camp operation, but closure of camps was associated with change in economic activity. Activity induced by camps is largely in non-tradeable goods and services rather than inducing longer run structural transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Universitas, Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas is the property of Universidad Politecnica Salesiana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of WISTA Wirtschaft und Statistik is the property of Statistisches Bundesamt and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Jaguars are endangered in Mexico, with negative interactions with livestock producers being one of the main threats to their populations. We collared three jaguars with search Global Positioning System (GPS) clusters to document prey species eaten by them in the Sierra del Abra-Tanchipa Biosphere Reserve (RBSAT) and surrounding agrolandscape, in northeastern Mexico, to determine the relative use of natural prey and livestock. We detected, through examination of the carcasses (scavenging and predation events), 35 individual prey at feeding sites, primarily collared peccary (40% of sites), cattle (23%), and white-tailed deer (20%). Cattle comprised 64% and wild ungulates provided 34% of the estimated biomass in jaguar diets (biomass was calculated based on the estimated mass consumed and the assumption of an edible portion), with cattle consumed only during the dry season. Seasonal use apparently reflected increased encounters between jaguars and livestock during the dry season, probably due to the presence of limited permanent water sources concentrating livestock (and natural prey) along with jaguars taking advantage of the increased vulnerability of livestock during the dry season (either through predation or scavenging). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their high nutritional value, milk and dairy products should be a permanent element of a properly balanced diet for children and adolescents. The study aimed to identify (i) the frequency of milk and dairy product consumption by children aged 10–12 years in the opinion of children and their parents and (ii) the determinants related to the consumption of these products (including lifestyle, nutrition knowledge, and the nutritional status of children's as well as parents' nutrition knowledge). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 12,643 primary school students aged 10–12 and 7363 parents. Dietary data were collected using the Food Frequency Consumption and Nutritional Knowledge Questionnaire (SF-FFQ4PolishChildren® and KomPAN®). Anthropometric measurements were taken and body mass index (BMI) and waist/height ratios (WHtR) were calculated. A logistic regression model was used to assess the likelihood of the frequent consumption of dairy products in the opinion of both the children and their parents, and the quality of the obtained models was assessed using model fit statistics and the Hosmer and Lemeshow test. The frequency of consuming milk and milk products (every day and more) was low in the opinion of children aged 10–12 years (29.6%). According to their parents, the frequency of the consumption of dairy products was slightly higher (44.8%). Six factors associated with the frequency of milk and dairy product consumption were identified independently. These included schoolchildren and their parents' nutrition knowledge, physical activity, sleep, gender, and place of residence. More of these products were consumed by children with greater nutrition knowledge—both their own and their parents'—higher physical activity, longer sleep duration, males, and those living in the city. Family eating habits, particularly eating meals together, also played an important role in the consumption of milk and dairy products. According to the parents, the children in older grades were less likely to consume dairy products more frequently. The obtained results suggest an insufficient consumption of milk and dairy products. The identification of modifiable factors, such as nutrition knowledge, physical activity, sleep duration, and eating meals with the family, suggests the need to improve the existing strategies, including activities encouraging nutritional education for both schoolchildren and their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The escalating use of opioids contributes to social, health, and economic crises. In Spain, a notable surge in the medical prescription of opioids in recent years has been observed. The aim of this work was to assess the consumption rate of fentanyl, categorised by the different administration routes, in Primary Care in the province of Salamanca (Spain) spanning the years 2011 to 2022, and to compare it with the national trend and with data from the US. (2) Methods: Doses per inhabitant per day (DHD) were calculated, and interannual variations, as well as consumption rates, were subject to thorough analysis. (3) Results: The prevalence of fentanyl use in Salamanca has doubled from 1.21 DHD in 2011 to 2.56 DHD in 2022, with the transdermal system (TD) as the predominant administration route. This upward trajectory mirrors the national trend, yet the rise in fentanyl use is markedly lower than the reported data in the US. This finding may be attributed to an ageing population and potentially inappropriate fentanyl prescriptions, i.e., for the management of chronic non-cancer pain and other off-label prescriptions. (4) Conclusions: The use of fentanyl in Salamanca, particularly through transdermal systems, doubled from 2011 to 2022, aligning with the national trend. Preventive measures are imperative to prevent fentanyl misuse and moderate the observed escalation in consumption rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We bring remote enculturation, the process of learning about one's heritage culture from afar, to the consumption literature. Past research has predominantly explored acculturation, the psychological change as a result of cultural contact, finding that possessions take on important roles as tangible artifacts of cultural experience or identity from heritage or host cultures, without acknowledging the enculturation process. We present a case study exploring the remote enculturation process for transracial international adoptees from Korea, a group of immigrants without access to traditional cultural socialization who have experienced cultural loss. To learn about their heritage culture, they can actively engage in the remote enculturation process. Through interviews, we identify five avenues of remote enculturation and explore how heritage culture possessions contribute to those experiences. The reciprocal relationship between the avenues of remote enculturation and heritage culture possessions reflects these material items as both results and tools that either signify or empower individuals to reclaim their ethnic identity. Examining remote cultural socialization processes and the positive role of possessions in reculturation broadens our understanding of consumption, acculturation, and ethnic identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the growing popularity of collaborations between virtual influencers as a visibility, exposure and engagement strategy for organizations. With the advantage of a certain control of the narrative over what they “say and do”, virtual influencers have been chosen as a way to transmit their brands’ values and key messages. However, it is always worth an ethical, critical and reflective look at the transparency of who these figures are. The basic methodology of the text is bibliographical research, but also exploratory and essayistic. The exploration exercise proposed here allowed us to construct hypotheses so that considerations could be made about the relationships between digital transformations and consumption, advantages and points of attention of collaborations between virtual and real influencers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedonic overconsumption (e.g., overconsumption of gratifying behaviors, e.g., eating, gaming) is common in daily life and often problematic, pointing to the need for adequate behavioral models. In this article, we develop a self-regulatory framework proposing that when an actual consumption experience falls short of hedonic expectations—such as when being distracted—people will want to consume more to compensate for the shortfall. In a preliminary meta-analysis, a small-scale field experiment on distraction during lunch and subsequent afternoon snacking (Study 1), and a preregistered experience sampling study (Study 2) involving more than 6,000 consumption episodes in everyday life across multiple consumption domains, we investigated the predictions from our hedonic compensation model. There was clear and consistent evidence across studies and analyses for the prediction that distraction during consumption compromises the actual enjoyment of a given consumption experience. Both empirical studies yielded consistent evidence for a positive association between actual enjoyment and consumption satisfaction but inconsistent and weaker evidence for the expected role of actual-expected enjoyment discrepancies for this part of the model. There was also consistent evidence for the expected negative association between consumption satisfaction and the need for further gratification. Finally, there was moderate and inconsistent support linking the need for further gratification to subsequent consumption across Study 1 (amount and frequency of snacking in the afternoon) and Study 2 (shorter duration to subsequent consumption). Taken together, the present framework provides initial support for the proposed link among compromising consumption contexts, consumption enjoyment, and subsequent hedonic compensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: On 1 May 2018, Scotland introduced minimum unit pricing (MUP), a strength‐based floor price below which alcohol cannot be sold, throughout all alcoholic beverages. The legislation necessitates an evaluation of its impact across a range of outcomes that will inform whether MUP will continue beyond its sixth year. We measured the impact of MUP on per‐adult alcohol sales (as a proxy for consumption) after 3 years of implementation. Design, setting and participants: Controlled interrupted time‐series regression was used to assess the impact of MUP on alcohol sales in Scotland after 3 years of implementation, with England and Wales (EW) being the control group. In adjusted analyses, we included household disposable income, on‐trade alcohol sales (in off‐trade analyses) and substitution between drink categories (in drink category analyses) as covariates. Measurements: Weekly data were assessed on the volume of pure alcohol sold in Scotland and EW between January 2013 and May 2021, expressed as litres of pure alcohol per adult. The impact of MUP on total (on‐ and off‐trade combined), off‐trade and on‐trade alcohol sales was assessed separately. Results: The introduction of MUP in Scotland was associated with a 3.0% (95% confidence interval = 1.8−4.2%) net reduction in total alcohol sales per adult after adjustment for the best available geographical control, disposable income and substitution. This reflects a 1.1% fall in Scotland in contrast to a 2.4% increase in EW. The reduction in total alcohol sales in Scotland was driven by reduced sales of beer, spirits, cider and perry. The reduction in total sales was due to reductions in sales of alcohol through the off‐trade. There was no evidence of any change in on‐trade alcohol sales. Conclusion: Minimum unit pricing has been effective in reducing population‐level alcohol sales in Scotland in the 3 years since implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While food security in Vietnam has significantly improved in recent decades, many urbanites still rely on private food charities. Meanwhile, growing food safety concerns have been studied with a strong focus on emerging middle classes, whereas socio-economic precarity connected to food safety has attracted less attention. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in food charities in Ho Chi Minh City, this article examines how symbolic and spatial boundaries perpetuate power imbalances within charities and affect patrons' food safety practices. It challenges the narrative that caring about food safety is limited to affluent consumers, instead highlighting the structural constraints that prevent people in urban poverty from acting upon food safety concerns, including (1) power imbalances within food charities and (2) lack of overall food security. The research shows the limitations of food charities in establishing long-term food security for socio-economically marginalised citizens and of a governmental food safety approach emphasising consumer 'choice'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose an intertemporal consumption-saving model by exploring the implications of the Law of Small Numbers (LSN), a belief heuristic stating that any sample realization of a population should be representative of the population. First, the existence of the LSN reduces the precautionary savings demand. More importantly, we show that the LSN belief structure provides an alternative explanation for two fundamental anomalies in consumption theory: (1) excess sensitivity by showing that past changes in income predict future changes in consumption; and (2) excess smoothness by lowering consumption volatility and generating the empirical magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prison scholars have long noted prisoners' improvisation with materials and resources at hand (or bricolage) in ways that defy the prison regime. Yet longstanding scholarly perspectives which cite such bricolage as evidence for themes like "prison culture" or "resistance" have often distracted scholars from accounting for the specific features of organizational materials and operations that prisoners leverage in their bricolage, and distracted from the rather mundane nature of the practices—like grooming, cleaning, and eating—they thus serve. Drawing from interviews with de-incarcerated persons from a U.S. state prison system, and from documents memorializing the disruption of prison routines during COVID-19 pandemic in that same state, this article investigates the specific resources prisoners enlist in bricolage projects related to making and sharing meals. Those resources, I argue, are the material and organizational products and byproducts of the complex prison undertaking. The practices prisoners achieve are precarious, with low degrees of equifinality –there are only so many ways to accomplish them in contexts of comprehensive restriction. The COVID-19 pandemic threatened those delicate arrangements not only through problems in the acquisition of raw food materials, but also through disrupted institutional routines which offer the resources necessary to coordinate, assemble, and transform those materials into meals. This pattern comes into focus when the "prison food system" is approached as a consumption system like any other, though one which operates in a strictly regulated context with minimal materials and deeply curtailed choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Historia Agraria is the property of Historia Agraria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Selcuk University Social Sciences Institute / Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi is the property of Journal of Selcuk University Social Sciences Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study is not to define mass art or its relationship to high art in the context of contemporary art, but rather to reflect on the mechanisms that operate the relationships between the masses and art today. How can contemporary art be made as accessible as possible to the masses, and how can a larger “audience” be involved in the world of art? The study primarily focuses on the efforts of art institutions, specifically museums, galleries, and art events, to engage the general public with 126 European art, which has existed in the modern sense for more or less 200 years, and the aftermath of these efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socioeconomic aspects mainly drive fish consumption preferences among consumers. A study was carried out to assess the fish preference, quantity of fish consumed, frequency and socioeconomic characteristics of consumers in Mpwapwa District in 2023. Factors affecting fish consumption by the residents of Mpwapwa District were also explored. A sample size of 150 individuals from various villages of Mpwapwa District was randomly selected to ensure representation across diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. An openended structured questionnaire was employed in data collection. Results indicated that 44.00% of the respondents favoured eating tilapia, 37.33% preferred catfish and 18.67% ate other fishes. Most respondents ate fish once per week (41.00%), while few ate fish more than once per week (23.00%). A significant (p<0.05) positive correlation between fish consumption frequency and income and education level was observed. Fish consumption among age groups, marital status, gender, education level and season were observed to vary significantly (p<0.05). The amount and frequency of fish consumption in Mpwapwa District is below that of Tanzania and the worldwide average, particularly for lower socioeconomic groups. Fish consumption in Mpwapwa can be increased by providing education and training to the community on the importance of fish consumption and improved sanitation in the fish marketplace. Concurrently, fish availability and consumption should be dispersed throughout the year instead of being consumed seasonally. This study provides useful information for increasing fish consumption in Mpwapwa District. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]