ALBERT

Notizen: Purpose - This research proposes studying how consumers' familiarity with products impacts the degree to which consumers are sensitive to a seller's violation of procedural fairness norms in pricing. Past research has either studied the role of familiarity or the role of fairness in influencing consumer behavior. However, it is unclear how familiarity and fairness combine to influence consumer behavior. The present research proposes filling this gap. Design/methodology/approach - An experiment is designed to manipulate consumers' perceptions of procedural fairness of a seller's pricing tactic, and consumers' levels of familiarity with a product. Each variable is manipulated to be either high or low. Thus, outcomes are observed for four purchase conditions. Findings - Results indicate that the degree to which consumers rely on procedural fairness to evaluate a product is related to consumers' level of familiarity with a product. Consumers who are less familiar with a product are more likely to rely on procedural fairness to form purchase intentions. Also, unlike their more knowledgeable counterparts, consumers who are less familiar with a product are more likely to equate procedural fairness with perceived quality. Research limitations/implications - The research stresses the need to differentiate between the roles played by procedural and distributive fairness in shaping consumer behavior. The authors study only procedural fairness, but a natural next step for future research is to study simultaneously the role of both facets of fairness. Practical implications - The results of our study underscore the importance of following procedural fairness norms especially for retailers who deal in product categories where the pace of innovation is so rapid that it creates a large dispersion in knowledge of product attributes among consumers. The study' findings suggest that in such situations, consumers may rely excessively on cues that signal a seller's adherence to or violation of social norms relevant to business practices. Thus, the authors encourage sellers to monitor keenly levels of product knowledge among their customer base. This would enable sellers to identify situations that merit an enhanced sensitivity to upholding social norms such as procedural fairness. Originality/value - The paper brings to attention the interaction between consumers' familiarity with a product and procedural fairness in pricing. Although an expectation of procedural fairness underlies all exchanges this research identifies consumers' familiarity as a variable that influences the degree to which procedural fairness is relied on in shaping consumer behavior.

Notizen: A chromium-silicon carbide electrodeposited composite coatings were obtained by suspending silicon carbide (SiC) particles in a trivalent chromium plating solution. This composite was improved by adding the synthesized 1-ethyl-1-cetyl-2-sulfonate-4(hydroxy ethyl)-piprazine (A16) as dispersing agent for SiC. The adsorption of A16 on SiC was determined. The relation between the zeta potential and codeposition of SiC was investigated by studying the effect of the additive (A16) concentration on mobility (dispersion) and the zeta potential of SiC. The results show that the zeta potential of SiC is more positive at critical micelle concentration of the additive and stimulation results from the adsorption of A16 on the SiC particles. Morphology resistance of the coating was determined and compared with free chromium deposits. These results were discussed according to the obtained adsorption isotherm of the additive.

Notizen: The metal working fluid industry accounts for approximately 5 per cent of the total world market for lubricant. Cutting fluids are formulated to fulfil one or more different functions. It is becoming increasingly apparent that to provide additions friendly for environment and low costs. This paper studies high performance mixture of anionic/nonionic polymeric surfactants as an additive for metal working fluid, thus the mixture has poly functions such as anticorrosion and emulsifier. The surface tensions of aqueous solutions of anionic/nonionic mixtures were measured as a function of nonionic concentration at 40°C with constant anionic concentration. The surface excesses concentrations, mole fractions, and interaction parameters of binary polymeric mixtures were calculated. Moreover, the critical micelle concentration and adsorption of ANO/ETH mixture on solutions and steel surface were determined. These parameters confirm the synergistic action of ANO/ETH polymeric surfactants for micellization and adsorption at different interfaces.

Notizen: This paper explores the impact of both the increase in foreign direct investment inflows and the increase in information and communication technology infrastructure investments on exporting in ASEAN nations (the trade bloc of which is known as AFTA) compared with two other major trade blocs: CEFTA and LAIA. The analyses are based on data from a cross section of countries (26 emerging markets from three trade blocs) over time (from 1995 to 2000). The results show that the increase of investments in ICT infrastructure yields positive and significant returns in the national exporting level only for the ASEAN/AFTA and CEFTA sample. Interestingly, the impact of the increase of FDI inflows on export is significant only in the CEFTA and LAIA samples. These results are discussed in the light of the different economic experiences of these trade blocs, noting that variations are typically present between individual countries. Overall, reflecting the results from this study, research concerned with the determinants of national exporting level should be conducted independently, along with regional and national characteristics.

Notizen: White pine wood was impregnated with a mixture of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and N-methacryloyloxyphthalimide and by other three mixtures prepared by mixing MMA and N-methacryloyloxytetrabromo-phthalimide. Water uptake of treated wood was found to be 54 per?cent after water-soaking test of 168?h and maximum antiswell efficiency was found to be 48 per?cent for treated wood samples with non-brominated comonomer mixture.

Notizen: Purpose - Multinational corporations (MNCs) occupy a central role within the process of globalisation as evidenced through global foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows valued at US$3.1 trillion by the end of 2000. The importance of regulation is evident through the significant growth in global regulatory changes throughout the 1990s.The influence of regulation on UK firms' international investment decisions is assessed. Design/methodology/approach - Econometric analysis measures the influence of regulation and political risk on 121 UK firms with international operations. Host countries are divided into developed and less developed regions based on the World Bank country classification. Data derive from questionnaires that cover the period 1994-1996 and include information on host country features of two economically and culturally different countries in which firms have ongoing overseas operations. Findings - The findings indicate that regulation is a statistically significant, and positive, factor influencing internationally mobile FDI. There are however, regional differences between less developed and developed economies. Proportionately smaller FDI inflows to less developed economies partially reflect MNCs' response to weak governance and the regional predisposition towards corrupt practices. Originality/value - Hitherto international business has been able to avoid the regulatory reach as one of the perks of being an international player. The prospect for long-term avoidance is of a more limited time-frame as sovereign status does not exempt a country from international intervention. As countries adopt a united approach to regulation, avoidance becomes less of an issue and may be replaced by more critical evaluation of different types of regulation.

Notizen: Describes a study designed to assess the health effect of the agricultural reuse of urban wastewater in a peri-urban area of Marrakesh, by evaluating the impact of this practice on the transmission of two pathogenic protozoan infections - giardiasis and amoebiasis. The study was carried out on two child populations (608 individuals). The exposed group (321 children) came from the wastewater spreading area, while the non-exposed group (287 children) came from a control peri-urban area where surface water is used in irrigation. Results showed that, of the exposed group, 67 per cent of the examined persons were infected by giardiasis and/or amoebiasis, versus 26 per cent in the control zone. Concludes that the risk of infection rate attributable to reuse of waste water is about 41 per cent. This excess of parasitic infestation in the spreading zone may be related to wastewater reuse in agriculture, which creates a polluted environment.

Notizen: Remote sensing data and GIS techniques have been used to create thematic maps for assessment and estimation of landslide hazards, in Pos Slim-Cameron Highlands area, Peninsula Malaysia. The Landsat TM5 scene was used to extract land use parameter of the study area. The digital elevation model (DEM) was generated from digitised topographic maps to produce slope risk map, aspect risk map and height risk map. From these data, a simple algorithm is created to classify the area into different risk zones. By overlaying all hazard maps, a final hazard map is produced. The integration of GIS with remotely sensed data might greatly facilitate classifying landslide areas to three categories; low risk, medium risk and high risk.