Search

Celebrity endorsement is a common advertising strategy, yet, as well-known scandals show, it is not without risk. Studies at the marketing–finance interface investigate how negative publicity surrounding a celebrity endorser affects firm value, though without determining how such events might spill over to the sponsor firms' competitors and their stock prices. To address this research gap, the authors assess the impact of celebrity endorser scandals on competitor stock returns with an event study approach. The unique sample of 121 celebrity scandals over a 35-year period reveals a contagion effect, such that competitor firms experience negative stock returns on average, though not to the same extent. According to univariate and regression analyses, the more negative the event affects the sponsor company and the more homogeneous the industry, the stronger the negative spillover effect from a scandal. These findings show that a contagion effect is a likely scenario and offer recommendations for managers regarding how they should adapt their risk management processes and communicate with their boards and shareholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-profit organisations are increasingly collaborating with celebrities to increase charitable donations. Consequently, choosing the right endorser to promote charitable giving is central to the communication strategy. The present research investigates how the attractiveness and credibility of celebrities, as well as cause-endorser matchup and meaning transfer, influence people's donations. This research provides evidence of serial and parallel mediation effects by measuring and manipulating the four constructs in four separate studies. We demonstrate that credibility mediates the effect of attractiveness on generosity. Additionally, we highlight two legitimation pathways to explain how attractive endorsers become perceived as more credible cause promoters. This study provides a comprehensive model that illustrates, through an affective-cognitive-conative sequence, how attractiveness, congruence and meaning, and then credibility leads to charitable donations. Accordingly, we provide non-profit organisations with concrete and actionable recommendations for selecting celebrity endorsers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research provides a socio-historical analysis of the emergence of celebrity culture in Iran, covering the period from 1817 to 1961. The historical period is divided into four periods: During the first period (1817–1925), communication technologies were introduced to the country mainly through the Qajar kings' intermediation. In the second period (1925–1941), Reza Shah improved the infrastructure of the country and initiated institutionalisation and legislation processes. In the third period (1941–1951), which coincided with Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi's reign, the first Iranian celebrities emerged. The fourth period (1951–1961) witnessed a significant increase in cultural intermediaries and certain social changes, leading to the emergence of Iranian celebrity culture in the mid-1950s. While Iranian celebrity culture was influenced by global trends such as population growth, urbanisation, economic growth, inequality, commodification, and consumerism, the impact of local patterns and perceptions cannot be ignored. In contrast to Western societies, the rise of celebrity culture in Iran was facilitated by an anti-democratic coup in 1953, and the secularisation process in this country was not the result of gradual changes in societal values, beliefs, or attitudes. Rather, it was a political project imposed from the top down by a military ruler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on Acun Ilıcalı, the adapter of global formats Fear Factor, The Voice, and Got Talent (among others) since the mid-2000s, one of the most trusted celebrities, and the owner of the only entertainment-themed television channel (TV8, 2013, later adding TV8,5) in Turkey. Now an international producer in 13 countries and a local streaming platform owner, he has essentially been understudied as a media personality and an enterprise. This article aims to fill this gap by reflecting on the discursive identification of him and his enterprise mutually, constructed mainly through/around Survivor, through his roles as the presenter/producer/broadcaster and media owner. Drawing on Bourdieu's concepts of social capital, symbolic capital, and 'celebrity capital', 'media meta-capital' inspired by field theory, I aim to account for the ways his different kinds of capital are accumulated and recognised. I apply to the journalistic interviews and his on-screen performance within/on Survivor. I first identify his practices of accumulating celebrity capital through enduring visibility and symbolic capital through Do What You Love (DWYL) narrative. Then I move on to the ways his various kinds of capital are enhanced, recognised, and work within Survivor by discussing how the programme became a staple for his authenticity performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the ways in which three women poets of the long nineteenth-century – Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861), Emily Brontë (1818–1848) and Charlotte Mew (1869–1928) – represent fame in their work in terms of a tense sexualised dynamic of attraction and repulsion, variously modelled as femme-fatale-like seduction, repressed lust and the activity in, and consequences of, what Mew terms the "tossed bed" ("Fame", l. 19). The focusing of fame through the ideas of sexuality and embodiment enables these writers to reflect, explicitly or implicitly, upon the gendered nature of literary creation, public voice and visibility, and thereby to negotiate, at least in part, the complex legacies of the "poetess". In deploying innovative experiments with structure, form and language, Barrett Browning, Brontë and Mew repeatedly reveal fame's double-edged nature, as something which may be alluring and enthralling in terms of desire, yet simultaneously silencing and threatening to the intellectual and creative life of the poet. The poems examined here consequently demonstrate that succumbing to fame is something which must be resisted at all costs in order to maintain personal and poetic integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising global energy demand, alongside concerns regarding environmental deterioration due to the use of fossil fuels, has spurred extensive investigation into renewable energy alternatives. Biomass-derived biodiesel, especially from lesser-known oil sources, emerges as a promising option. This research focuses on analyzing the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) derived from Kariya (Hildegardia barteri (Mast.) Kosterm) seed oil through basic catalytic transesterification using gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC–FID) analysis, assessing its potential as a biodiesel feedstock. Oil extraction from Kariya seeds was carried out using three solvents (n-hexane, ethanol, and a 1:1 blend of hexane and ethanol), followed by transesterification with methanol. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and GC–FID analyses were utilized to identify and quantify FAMEs in the resulting biodiesel. The results revealed various FAMEs, including methyl myristate, methyl palmitate, methyl stearate, methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, and methyl linolenate. Significant differences in FAME composition were observed among the samples, with hexane–ethanol Kariya oil biodiesel (HE-KOB) showing the highest FAME content (76.1%). This combination of solvents exhibited synergistic effects on the composition of HE-KOB, suggesting potential optimization strategies for biodiesel production. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) provided additional insights into the molecular composition of the biodiesel samples, confirming their biodiesel nature through the identified functional groups such as methyl, methylene, hydrocarbon, ester, aldehyde, and alkene. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for thermal decomposition also gave an insight into FAME composition and its contribution to the degree of conversion of biodiesel to energy. These findings highlight the feasibility of utilizing Kariya seed oil as a biodiesel feedstock, emphasizing the importance of solvent selection and transesterification conditions in optimizing FAME yield and composition. This research contributes to the exploration of underutilized oil sources for sustainable biodiesel production, aligning with the global shift towards cleaner and renewable energy sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study examined whether intense personal feelings toward celebrities are positively correlated with women’s consideration of cosmetic surgery, and whether body dissatisfaction and body shame serve as possible mediators of this relationship. A sample of 605 Chinese female undergraduates completed questionnaires on celebrity worship, consideration of cosmetic surgery, body dissatisfaction, and body shame. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between intense personal feelings toward celebrities and the consideration of cosmetic surgery. Moreover, this association was mediated both independently by body shame and sequentially by body dissatisfaction and body shame. These findings provide new insights into the relationship between celebrity worship and the consideration of cosmetic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media optimization studies for the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica NCIM 3589 grown on waste cooking oil (WCO) were undertaken to increase its lipid content for biodiesel production. Physico-chemical properties of varied WCO batches and their effect on lipid accumulation by the yeast were studied and found to lie between 25 and 35% of biomass. Different methods for lipid extraction from the yeast were evaluated for maximal yields and a modified acid hydrolysis method with 42% yield was employed. Lipid accumulation media (LAM) components were initially chosen for a first level of statistical optimization by Plackett–Burman design (PBD) of experiments using glucose or WCO as carbon sources. The WCO media gave significant increase (5.25-fold) in lipid accumulation when compared to glucose. The most significant factors identified in the media by PBD were Na2HPO4, NH4Cl, and yeast extract and chosen for a second level of optimization studies with a Box-Behnken design (BBD). Response surface analysis and ANOVA were used to obtain the best-fit quadratic model and brought out the nature of the interactions among the three variables. Validation experiments of the model showed that lipid content in 120 h increased from 45.1% in the pre-optimized to 64.5% in optimized media containing WCO, yeast extract, NH4Cl, Na2HPO4.12H2O, KH2PO4, MgSO4.7H2O, CaCl2.2H2O, ZnSO4.7H2O, FeCl3.6H2O, salt solution, and an inoculum size of 3 × 109 cells. The FAME profile and fuel properties, namely, density, saponification number, iodine value, free fatty acid content, kinematic viscosity, and higher heating value of the biodiesel, were evaluated and found to be in accordance with international standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fans' relationships with celebrities are termed "para-social." Such one-way relationships with celebrities, often based on social media, might have a special impact on people's behavior, including travel activities. Scholars have not yet explored the decision-making and behavior of pop culture tourists from the perspective of para-social relationships. In this study, informed by self-construal theory, in-depth interview and questionnaire-based survey were used to explore the impact of different self-construal on fans' perceptions of the nature of their "fan-celebrity" para-social relationship and their pop culture tourism decision-making. Results indicate that fans whose self-construal is "independent" prefer idols' habitual residential environment and placed-mediated experiences, while "interdependent" fans prefer interactive experiences, are celebrity oriented, and go where their favorite celebrity was gone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research note we examine the effect of Taylor Swift's hypothetical endorsement of a Public policy position. We examine this in the context of the expanding literature on the effects of celebrity endorsements. Through a post-test only experimental survey design we test Swift's hypothetical endorsement of a policy position. We begin and conclude with analysis of why Swift's value as an endorser, as well as the value of other similarly situated endorsers may be particularly high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to develop a comprehensive scale to determine individuals' motivations for using social media. In this context, the Social Media Usage Motivation Scale (SMUM Scale) was developed to determine individuals' motivations for using social media. Five different scale development processes suggested in the literature were followed in the scale development process. A pool of statements was created with a literature review and in-depth interviews in the first and second steps. In the third step, EFA analyses, in the fourth step, EFA and CFA analyses, and in the fifth step, validity and reliability processes were examined. As a result of the research, a comprehensive scale covering internal, external and environmental dimensions for social media usage motivations was proposed. The following sub-dimensions were suggested for the intrinsic dimension; advice-giving, effectiveness, conscious approval, hedonic and belonging; for the extrinsic dimension; gaining fame attracting attention, catching business environment, creating business environment; and for the environmental dimension; social support, a sense of responsibility and benefit to society. This research contributes to the literature and practitioners with a comprehensive scale suggested for social media usage motivations and the information to be obtained from other research results using the scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article posits that Enrique Vila-Matas's novel Bartleby y compañía. constitutes a rewriting of the moral message that emerges from "Exemplo xxxii" of El Conde Lucanor. The proposal establishes an intertextual dialogue that draws on elements of the history of traditional literary exemplarity, as the literary topos (in this case, Mundus vult decipi), and of contemporary literary exemplarity, as reception theory. Likewise, this dialogue is strengthened by the coincidences that both literary texts share with a long-standing narrative scheme (the mystifying scheme), and the principle of social conformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What type of media content resonates most for viewers when it comes to the stigma surrounding mental health treatment: (1) fictional narrative or (2) celebrity issue advocacy? Analyzing experimental data from a June 2023 study (N = 322), the research examines the differential impact of exposure to entertainment content from Ted Lasso vs. celebrity issue advocacy efforts by cast members at the White House in March 2023 on perceptions of source liking and source credibility. The results suggest that Ted Lasso viewers have higher levels of source liking for entertainment content while those who have had social contact with someone seeking mental health treatment are more receptive to celebrity issue advocacy efforts. The implications of the findings and their impact on strategic messaging surrounding the issue of mental health treatment and the reduction of stigma are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture may hold the key to a sustainable future. By efficiently capturing atmospheric CO2, we can simultaneously produce food, feed, biomass, and biofuels. For more eco-friendly soil processing practices, biofuels can replace diesel in agricultural machinery, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of crop production. Thus, biofuel production can be a sustainable solution for a future with a decreasing carbon footprint. This paper examines the possibility of replacing petroleum-based fuels with 100% biofuels to continue powering heavy-duty vehicles, where the use of electric vehicles is not the optimal solution. This study particularly focused on the operating scenario of heavy-duty engines under medium to high loads, typical of transport or soil processing in agriculture. Diesel was used as a benchmark, and each alternative, such as vegetable oil, methyl ester (B100), and methyl ester–ethanol blends (90B10E, 80B20E, and 70B30E), was tested individually. To find a sustainable fuel substitute, the goal was to identify a biofuel with a kinematic viscosity similar to that of diesel for a comparable spray process. Experimental results showed that an 80% methyl ester and 20% ethanol blend had a kinematic viscosity close to that of diesel. In addition to diesel, this blend resulted in a 48.6% reduction in exhaust gas opacity and a 6.54% lower specific fuel consumption (BSEC). The main aim of the tests was to find a 100% biofuel substitute without modifying the fuel injection systems of existing engines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Doxa Comunicación is the property of Fundacion Universitaria San Pablo - CEU 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 of the process of lexicalization of concepts is relevant in connection with the need to systematize knowledge about the development of language, taking into account the transformation and renewal of culturally specific concepts. This article aims to clarify the available data on the semantic field of the concept popularity in the given context. Achieving this goal requires, firstly, to establish a range of concepts that form the basis of the semantic field of popularity; secondly, turning to the history of the formation of the semantic certainty of this range of concepts; thirdly, analyzing the lexical meanings of these concepts using quantitative and qualitative methods, including the methods of corpus linguistics; fourthly, establishing the semantic relationships between these concepts, as well as the specifics of their ability to reflect the changes in the world of culture. The semantic specificity of concepts related to popularity in the prism of personal success is examined using specific examples related to the development of the Russian language. The materials of this study were original and translated works containing the lexical units in question. The authors (writers, scientists and philosophers) were selected due to their influence on the development of the concept of popularity in Russian culture. Special attention is given to the data from the National Corpus of the Russian Language. Using the methods of comparative analysis and contextual definition, as well as the analysis of dictionary definitions and contexts of their use. Concepts such as praise, admiration, reputation, fame, glory, celebrity and popularity were all considered. From the linguacultural point of view, a connection between such concepts as popularity and fame is established. A deeper linguistic analysis of the group of concepts under study reveals their characteristic semantic relations. In particular, vector semantic models confirm the close connections between the lemmas success, demand and recognition. In most cases, quasi-synonyms for popularity are fame and success. It is shown how the commercial aspects of these concepts are actualized in the journalistic field (using the example of the news corpus). As a result, it is suggested that the concept of popularity be considered as a complex name of this semantic field. This term names the cultural phenomenon of interest of a wide group of the population to an individual, who is in demand in a specific historical period. The authors conclude that in the information society, this phenomenon acquires features of manipulativeness, which opens up new facets of the concept of popularity.

High ratio biodiesel blend fuel has become mandatory for all sectors including road and non-road vehicles since 2016. All stakeholders of biofuel in Indonesia had conducted a specified investigation through road tests 40,000 km to evaluate the high biodiesel effect on performance, emissions, and engine components. An improvement in fuel properties of biodiesel FAME has also been stated in the new fuel standard. Moreover, the recommendation for proper high biodiesel ratio handling and storage also socialized to all stakeholders. However, shorter fuel filter mileage and fuel degradation for long storing still remain issues for the implementation of biodiesel in Indonesia. An assessment of biodiesel in a locomotive in Indonesia was conducted through a rail test conducted for 6 months with a coal train in Sumatera Island with a blend ratio of 20% by volume (B20) and pure diesel fuel (B0) as a reference. The purpose of this rail test was to investigate the effect of B20 on various factors at railway application. This paper is presented a detailed analysis of the deposits formed in the used main and used twin filters of the locomotive for one maintenance period. An analysis of morphology, elemental analysis, and its physical and chemical properties was done by using a digital microscope, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. An analysis showed that B20 had more deposits on the main filter compared with B0, while it had fewer deposits on the twin filter. Deposit in both of main and twin filters for B20 was identified mostly from hydrocarbons and fatty acid methyl esters. Analysis results also recommended that the fuel filter mileage of B20 was still possible to be prolonged with the current fuel filter standard by considering to deposit formation for both B0 and B20 still under tolerance level.

The aim of this research is to investigate the environmental emission effects and combustion properties of burning different types of FAME biodiesel fuels in an industrial oil burner. These burner heads are used in many areas of industry for heating various boilers and tube furnaces. The fuels used, the area of use, the emission norm values, and the climatic conditions are key factors in this investigation. In this research, two plant-based oils are examined, the properties of which have been compared to standard commercial heating oil. The raw material of the two tested bio-based components was rapeseed. The main gas emission parameters CO, THC, CO2, O2, HC, water content, and consumption data were measured. The measurements were performed in an AVL engine brake platform infrastructure, where gas emissions were measured with an AVL AMA i60 FTIR emission gas analyzer, fuel consumption was meticulously gauged using a fuel flow meter, fuel temperature was monitored using an AVL 745 fuel temperature conditioning system, and air consumption was measured with an AVL Flowsonix intake air flow meter. The measurement results showed that both tested biofuels can be burned stably in industrial oil burners, have favorable properties in terms of ignition and flame extinction tendencies, and there is no significant difference in emission parameters compared to standard fuel oil.

Research Summary: We explore misconduct scandalization's antecedents by focusing on the rational and emotional bases underlying reputation and celebrity, and considering how they can enhance or reduce the likelihood misconduct is scandalized as a function of the misconduct's objective and perceived severity. Specifically, we argue the quantifiable nature of objective misconduct severity enhances reputation's rational influence, but attenuates celebrity's emotion‐based appeal. Conversely, perceived misconduct severity reduces reputation's influence, while enhancing the media‐driven interest in celebrity firms' behaviors. Our findings based on corporate data breaches confirm that objective severity amplifies reputation's effect and attenuates celebrity's effect, while perceived severity amplifies celebrity's effect and attenuates reputation's effect. Our findings highlight the importance of social evaluations' sociocognitive content in understanding why only some misconduct becomes scandalized. Managerial Summary: Committing misconduct is costly; having it scandalized is devastating. Yet little is known about how social evaluations influence why only some firms' misconduct is scandalized, beyond the vague notion that prominent firms' misconduct attracts media attention. We find that the rational and emotional bases of firms' evaluations matter. High reputation, based on the rational assessment of firms' capabilities, increases the likelihood of scandalization for objectively severe misconduct, and the influence of celebrity—originating from audiences' emotional resonance with firms' unconventional traits and behaviors—weakens as objective severity increases. Conversely, reputation's influence weakens, and celebrity's influence strengthens, as media "availability cascades" grow and increase perceived severity. In addition to providing a more realistic portrayal of media behavior, we offer insights into post‐misconduct communications and remedial actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most commonly used homogeneous catalyst for fatty acid esterification is a corrosive sulphuric acid. However, this requires costly investment in non-corrosive equipment, presents a safety risk, is time consuming, and increases effluent generation. In this study, inorganic 3D heteroborane cluster strong acids are employed for the first time as homogeneous catalysts. Three novel isomeric tetrachlorido and tetrabromido derivatives of 3,3′-commo-bis[undecahydrido-closo-1,2-dicarba-3-cobaltadodecaborate](1−) [1−] were synthesised and fully characterised using a range of analytical techniques, including NMR, TLC, HPLC, MS, UV-Vis, melting point (MP), CHN analyses, and XRD. Ultimately, H3O[8,8′-Cl2-1−] was identified as the most efficient, reusable, and non-corrosive homogeneous catalyst for the esterification of four fatty acids. The reactions are conducted in an excess of alcohol at reflux. The effective absorption of water vapour provided by the molecular sieves maximises acid conversion. The hydrophobic dye Sudan black B was employed as an acid-base indicator to facilitate a comparison of the H0 acidity function of sulphuric acid and halogenated heteroboranoic acids when dissolved together in methanol. The 23Na NMR analysis demonstrated that the application of dry methanol resulted in the displacement of Na+ ions from zeolite, which subsequently exchanged the H3O+ ions of the acid. This process led to a gradual reduction in the efficiency of the catalysts, particularly with repeated use. The solution to this issue is to regenerate the catalyst on the ion exchanger following each reaction. In contrast to the published methods, our new approach meets 10 of 12 green chemistry principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for cleaner and sustainable energy sources is crucial, considering the current scenario of a steep rise in energy consumption and the fuel crisis, exacerbated by diminishing fossil fuel reserves and rising pollutants. In particular, the bioaccumulation of hazardous substances like trivalent chromium has not only disrupted the fragile equilibrium of the ecological system but also poses significant health hazards to humans. Microalgae emerged as a promising solution for achieving sustainability due to their ability to remediate contaminants and produce greener alternatives such as biofuels. This integrated approach provides an ambitious strategy to address global concerns pertaining to economic stability, environmental degradation, and the energy crisis. This study investigates the intricate defense mechanisms deployed by freshwater microalgae Chlorella minutissima in response to Cr (III) toxicity. The microalga achieved an impressive 92% removal efficiency with an IC50 value of 200 ppm, illustrating its extraordinary resilience towards chromium-induced stress. Furthermore, this research embarked on thorough explorations encompassing morphological, pigment-centric, and biochemical analyses, aimed at revealing the adaptive strategies associated with Cr (III) resilience, as well as the dynamics of carbon pool flow that contribute to enhanced lipid and extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) synthesis. The FAME profile of the biodiesel produced complies with the benchmark established by American and European fuel regulations, emphasizing its suitability as a high-quality vehicular fuel. Elevated levels of ROS, TBARS, and osmolytes (such as glycine-betaine), along with the increased activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GR, and SOD), reveal the activation of robust defense mechanisms against oxidative stress caused by Cr (III). The finding of this investigation presents an effective framework for an algal-based biorefinery approach, integrating pollutant detoxification with the generation of vehicular-quality biodiesel and additional value-added compounds vital for achieving sustainability under the concept of a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright is not often thought of as something that engages in the concept of "fame." Other areas of IP do: trademark and right of publicity, for sure. This Article argues that fame and the relationship to fans creating works should be part of the conversation. The Article argues that much of copyright law already recognizes the fame component, including fair use and the owner's control over § 106 rights. But as copyrighted works have become more commodified and fans have become more engaged in very public discourses surrounding copyrighted works, it might be time to adopt the Rogers test as part of the analysis of what is allowable expression and what is moving into the economic and source identifier sphere for the copyright owner. The piece uses examples from contemporary fan communities, musicals, and crafting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celebrity parents and parents of celebrities are registering their children's names as federal trademarks with growing frequency. When an applicant applies to register a trademark that includes the name, signature, or portrait of a living individual, the Lanham Act requires that the individual's consent be made of record. If the individual is a minor, their parent or guardian must consent on their behalf. But what happens when the minor grows up and realizes she does not want to be the face of a brand of baked goods, or he does not want his parents profiting off a line of apparel that shares his name—without sharing their profits? No mechanism currently exists for an individual to terminate or revoke consent to the registration of a trademark that includes their name or image. This Article calls for reform and proposes several ways the law could enable minors to assert control over the registration of their name or likeness in order to better protect their autonomy, privacy, and rights of publicity while serving the goals of trademark law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae have gained attention due to their higher reproduction rate and lipid productivity. In particular, various stress conditions lead to an overproduction of lipids in microalgae cells. The study investigated the influence of additional CO2 introduced with air into the reactor during biomass growth of Chlorella sp. Additionally, increased phosphorus concentration in the medium under stress cultivation (low nitrogen concentration) was examined. The partial pressure of CO2 and its increased availability to Chlorella sp. in the cultivation medium increased biomass growth (1.4 times) and chlorophyll content (2.5 times) in microalgae cells. A high phosphorus fertilizer significantly increased lipid production under stress conditions with CO2 supply to 85.2 mg/g (2.6 times) and without CO2 to 73.8 mg/g (2.2 times). A high concentration of phosphorus in the culture medium stimulated the synthesis of C16:0 (about 38–45%) and C18:1 CIS9 (about 24–30%). The results confirm that the fertilizers can be used as a culture medium to induce stress and stimulate lipid production. Adjusting the composition of the fertilizers and controlling the additional CO2 supply could prove beneficial to increase the content of the desired fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to investigate the environmental emission effects and combustion properties of burning different types of FAME biodiesel fuels in an industrial oil burner. These burner heads are used in many areas of industry for heating various boilers and tube furnaces. The fuels used, the area of use, the emission norm values, and the climatic conditions are key factors in this investigation. In this research, two plant-based oils are examined, the properties of which have been compared to standard commercial heating oil. The raw material of the two tested bio-based components was rapeseed. The main gas emission parameters CO, THC, CO2, O2, HC, water content, and consumption data were measured. The measurements were performed in an AVL engine brake platform infrastructure, where gas emissions were measured with an AVL AMA i60 FTIR emission gas analyzer, fuel consumption was meticulously gauged using a fuel flow meter, fuel temperature was monitored using an AVL 745 fuel temperature conditioning system, and air consumption was measured with an AVL Flowsonix intake air flow meter. The measurement results showed that both tested biofuels can be burned stably in industrial oil burners, have favorable properties in terms of ignition and flame extinction tendencies, and there is no significant difference in emission parameters compared to standard fuel oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mitteilungen des Deutschen Germanistenverbandes is the property of Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG 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.)

Conchita Wurst rose to fame as the bearded drag queen who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014. Through Conchita, the artist Thomas Neuwirth found greater success in his career than he had achieved performing under his own name and non-drag image. Despite this, the specific image and persona of Conchita quickly became limiting for his own artistic expression and growth, leading Neuwirth to introduce a second persona, WURST. This article explores the construction and function of these personas for Neuwirth, arguing that the introduction of WURST has allowed Neuwirth to reconstruct 'Conchita Wurst' as a more versatile performance identity and artistic brand than achievable via the Conchita or WURST personas. It demonstrates how persona can be used strategically to disrupt and transform artistic careers, and how the celebrity of a persona can be leveraged into a form of brand recognition even after that persona is discarded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines personal narratives of reality TV stars and introduces the term reality memoir to describe their unique features and purposes. The reality memoir as discussed here in relation to four texts follows a trajectory different from traditional memoir, being, paradoxically, less about revealing new information than about managing that which is already out there. By doing so, reality memoir effectively becomes an extension of the reality persona. The four memoirs examined are Kris Jenner... and All Things Kardashian (2012) written by Kris Jenner in collaboration with Mark Seal, The Secrets of My Life (2018) by Caitlyn Jenner with Buzz Bissinger, Love Me as I Am (2022) by Garcelle Beauvais together with Nicole E. Smith and Make It Nice (2021) by Dorinda Medley. All four writers are famous for appearing on the reality shows Keeping Up with the Kardashians (2007–21) and the Real Housewives franchise (2006–present). The memoirs indicate that self-promotion remains a central part of the narrative and works to reinforce the image of the persona portrayed on TV. The memoirs also testify to the fact that reality memoir can hardly be defined as a 'tell-all', revealing little that is not known to an intended audience familiar with the TV shows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High ratio biodiesel blend fuel has become mandatory for all sectors including road and non-road vehicles since 2016. All stakeholders of biofuel in Indonesia had conducted a specified investigation through road tests 40,000 km to evaluate the high biodiesel effect on performance, emissions, and engine components. An improvement in fuel properties of biodiesel FAME has also been stated in the new fuel standard. Moreover, the recommendation for proper high biodiesel ratio handling and storage also socialized to all stakeholders. However, shorter fuel filter mileage and fuel degradation for long storing still remain issues for the implementation of biodiesel in Indonesia. An assessment of biodiesel in a locomotive in Indonesia was conducted through a rail test conducted for 6 months with a coal train in Sumatera Island with a blend ratio of 20% by volume (B20) and pure diesel fuel (B0) as a reference. The purpose of this rail test was to investigate the effect of B20 on various factors at railway application. This paper is presented a detailed analysis of the deposits formed in the used main and used twin filters of the locomotive for one maintenance period. An analysis of morphology, elemental analysis, and its physical and chemical properties was done by using a digital microscope, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. An analysis showed that B20 had more deposits on the main filter compared with B0, while it had fewer deposits on the twin filter. Deposit in both of main and twin filters for B20 was identified mostly from hydrocarbons and fatty acid methyl esters. Analysis results also recommended that the fuel filter mileage of B20 was still possible to be prolonged with the current fuel filter standard by considering to deposit formation for both B0 and B20 still under tolerance level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comparative case study analysis of three fame seeking mass shootings that arose in Eastern Europe. It draws on commonly assessed correlates, especially those stemming to Cumulative Strain Theory, to investigate whether there are differences or similarities inherent to the fame seeking phenomenon in this under-studied context. The inquiry reveals that the fame seeking phenomenon in Eastern Europe is not necessarily statistically rarer than in the U.S. in relation to the total universe of all mass shootings. Fame seekers in this context experienced similar forms of strains and adverse experiences as their American counterparts stemming to family issues, bullying, and isolation. Fame seekers also meticulously planned their attacks and two of the three cases featured offenders detonating homemade bombs. Ideationally, fame seeking appears to be heavily reliant on information that offenders obtain through the internet and mass media outlets about previous attacks, which entails that fame seeking has become a globalized phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "27 Club" refers to the widespread legend that notable people, particularly musicians, are unusually likely to die at age 27. A 2011 inquiry in The BMJ showed this is not the case, dismissing the 27 Club as a myth. We expand on this discourse by demonstrating that although the existence of the phenomenon cannot be empirically validated, it is real in its consequences. Using Wikipedia data, we show that while age 27 does not hold greater risk of mortality for notable persons, those who died at 27 are as a group exceptionally notable compared to those who died at other young ages. The 27 Club legend originated from a statistically improbable event circa 1970, wherein four superstar musicians died within the span of 2 y all at age 27. This coincidence captured the public imagination such that our fascination with the 27 Club brought itself into being, producing greater interest in those who died at age 27 than would have been otherwise. This demonstrates path dependence in cultural evolution, whereby an effectively random event evolves into a narrative that shapes otherwise unrelated events and thus the way we make and interpret history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been suggested that caricaturing enhances esthetic appeal, by making an image more strongly stimulate those areas of the brain encoding the subject's distinctive features than does the subject itself. However, some experimental work suggests that people prefer faces with proportions closer to average, or closer to a particular template. It might be that familiarity with the face is important if caricaturing is to increase the esthetic appeal of a likeness. Here we examined how automated caricaturing of photographs of nominal celebrities influenced judgments of esthetic appeal, and how familiarity with the celebrities affected these. Caricaturing monotonically decreased the esthetic appeal of the celebrity photographs, with subjects' familiarity with the celebrity not influencing this relationship. The degree to which caricaturing influenced esthetic appeal was not correlated with judgments of relative spatial dimensions for a simple shape, either in a discrimination threshold experiment or a peak-shift experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The testimonies of celebrities affect the lives of their many followers who pay attention to what they say. This gives celebrities a high degree of epistemic power, which has come under scrutiny during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper investigates the duties that arise from this power. We argue that celebrities have a negative duty of testimonial justice not to undermine trust in authoritative sources by spreading misinformation or directing attention to untrustworthy sources. Moreover, celebrities have a general imperfect duty to try to correct for an unjust distribution of attention by redirecting it to those who deserve it. During a pandemic this may become a perfect one, due to the harm that could be prevented if people follow the advice of experts. Relatedly, we argue that celebrities have an imperfect duty to promote behavior that will reduce the spread of a pandemic. We outline three ways they might do so: they might take on the position of a role model, they may act as a salience magnet or they can direct people's attention towards others who have taken on these roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eyewitness identifications from lineups are prone to error. More indirect identification procedures, such as the reaction-time based Concealed Information Test (RT-CIT) could be a viable alternative to lineups. The RT-CIT uses response times to assess facial familiarity. Theory and initial evidence with autobiographical stimuli suggests that the accuracy of RT-CIT can be augmented when participants' reliance on familiarity-based responding increases. We tested this assumption in two pre-registered experiments with 173 participants. Participants witnessed a mock crime. In the subsequent RT-CIT protocol, participants reacted to probe faces from the mock crime video, to irrelevant faces, and to target faces that required a unique response. Targets were either unknown people or were well-known celebrities (e.g., Taylor Swift). As expected, reaction times were longer to probes than to irrelevants in all conditions, indicating a CIT effect. Contrasting our pre-registered predictions, the CIT effect was not larger in the familiar condition (Experiment 1: unfamiliar targets: d = 0.77 vs. celebrity targets: d = 0.24; Experiment 2: unfamiliar targets: d = 1.09 vs. celebrity targets: d = 0.79). This suggests that familiar targets did not increase the validity of the RT-CIT in diagnosing concealed face recognition. A potential lack of saliency of the familiar targets might explain these unexpected findings. Of note, we did find medium to large effect sizes overall, speaking to the potential of diagnosing face recognition with the RT-CIT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work on footballing stardom has struggled with positioning on-field performance within the image of notable players. This is mainly born out of early scholarship that positioned the topic primarily within a celebrity studies framework, leading to a far greater concentration on footballers' private lives away from the field of play.1 This paper argues that the closely related, but meaningfully different, star studies framework (traditionally applied to analyse film stardom) provides a more appropriate model for interpreting footballing fame. Unlike celebrity studies, which does not separate the on-screen (or on-field) from the off-screen (or off-field) image, star studies positions the relationship between the two identities as more central to forming the overall star persona. This article develops this approach based upon a case study analysis of Welsh footballer Gareth Bale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ballet Giselle owes its present international fame to a production mounted in Paris exactly one hundred years ago by Nikolai Sergeyev and starring Olga Spessivtseva. The circumstances behind this influential production have long been misunderstood but new documents and a re-examination of the history now lead to the discovery of a revealingly different sequence of events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Estudios de Teoría Literaria is the property of Estudios de Teoria Literaria 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.)

Celebrity endorsements via live streaming continue to draw attention in the tourism industry. This research examines the effects of such endorsements on tourism live streaming. We specifically compared celebrity streamers to key opinion leader streamers and brand streamers across two types of live streaming (travel live streaming vs. tourism e-commerce live streaming). Drawing on the flow theory, we developed a theoretical framework to explain why and how celebrity streamers can inspire travel intention more effectively than key opinion leader streamers and brand streamers. Results indicate that celebrity streamers' endorsements enhance travel intention via informativity, entertainment, and interactivity, compared with endorsements from key opinion leaders and brand streamers. This effect is further amplified during travel live streaming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Etudes Romanes de Brno is the property of Masaryk University, Faculty of Arts 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.)