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PurposeThis study explores the causes and effects of technology usefulness on shopping behavior of consumers in Mexico by measuring inter-relationships between the constructs of shopping with new-normal following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) business shutdown and online retail technology.Design/methodology/approachThis study has been conducted in six online retail stores with the online survey of 342 buyers in Mexico. Data have been analyzed using two regression models with dependent variables, perceived usefulness of technology and buying decision of customers. Multiple correlations across the variables were computed.FindingsResults of this study reveal that as customers found higher ease of use of online shopping, they perceived higher usefulness of online retailing technology. The perceived quality of retailing website positively influences impulsive buying behavior of customers. The study observed that increase in coupon promotions has positively enhanced the perceived buying impulsiveness of consumers in online stores. The perceived usefulness of online redemption of coupons has also positively benefited the attitude of customers toward buying.Research limitations/implicationsOnline shopping has attracted a large section of customers during the COVID-19 business shutdown, and peer interactions have motivated them to experience the retailing technology of virtual stores. This study offers important insights for managers working in the retailing industries. Online strategies of retailers with unified customer experiences during the pandemic and business shutdown has provided extensive online retail space.Practical implicationsManagers of virtual retail stores need to build their business on customer-centric propositions, encourage 3D visions of products, develop “do-it-yourself” kiosks with augmented reality technology and enhance the value-based online business model. Online retailers need to prioritize developing an easy to navigate and quality website with comprehensive product information and instant messaging facilities over the sales promotion strategies. Online retailers need to establish quick response (QR) technology to improve the ease of use for navigation.Originality/valueThis study finds out the perceived usefulness in using online retail technology, and how customers have experienced it as a single wide option during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Darwinian fitness in the global marketplace discusses how global business competition is undergoing a dynamic shift consistent with the Darwinian theory of evolution. Globalisation has allowed free entry and exit for firms in the marketplace that has caused congestion of firms at vertical (products- and services-led) and horizontal (geographic) business platforms. Thus, small firms struggle for their existence in the marketplace, while firms that demonstrate strength for survival stay as the fittest among the competing firms. This volume discusses new concepts related to the efficiency and effectiveness of competitive strategies required by firms to survive in the global marketplace. The discussions in this book are built around the competitive frameworks based on systems thinking and delineate insights analysing the extensive survey of literature on the subject. The author provides an in-depth analysis of a broad spectrum of important topics on competitive strategies and tactics that will interest students and working managers.

Purpose The principal purpose of this study is to analyze the consumer emotions on virtual merchandising in the context of social consumption ecosystem driven by value and lifestyle across the big middle consumer segment. Design/methodology/approach The qualitative information has been collected from 114 respondents selected through snowballing technique within the metropolitan area of Mexico City. A semi-structured research instrument was used to conduct the in-depth interviews online. Findings The results of the study indicate that technology-led virtual merchandising stimulates arousal and merriment among consumers, which converges the self-image congruence and appearance similarity. The subjects of the study have endorsed that visual stimulus leading to self-image and body image congruence develop consistent arousal and merriment, which lead to positive purchase intentions and buying decisions and inculcate the perception as seeing is experiencing. Research limitations/implications The samples drawn for this study may also limit the possibilities of generalization of the study results and map the consumer behavior in a predetermined pattern. Practical implications This study is founded on the theoretical maxims of theory of visual perceptions, cognitive theory of reasoning, theory of appearance and reality and Heider’s balance theory and contributes to these theories by explaining the relationship between the social self-concept and self-image congruence. Social implications Firms retailing online fashion apparel should also be engaged in developing user-generated contents through communications on social media encouraging experiential videos, slogans and reviews. Originality/value This paper significantly contributes to theoretical and practical implications on virtual shopping, emotions and beliefs and consumption culture.

We study the Unruh effect in doubly special relativity (DSR) framework by generalising the Doppler-shift method to DSR. For both the scalar and Dirac particles, we observe a deviation in the power spectrum of Unruh radiation from the standard Bose–Einstein and Fermi–Dirac distributions, respectively, due to the presence of the frame independent length scale of DSR. We further show that this deviation results in the modification of Unruh temperature which then depends non-linearly on the proper acceleration in DSR.

Key Points Seven-transmembrane receptors (7TMRs), also known as G protein-couple receptors, are the largest class of transmembrane receptors and a common target for therapeutics. Initially thought to signal only through heterotrimeric G proteins, it is now recognized that they also signal through the multifunctional adapter proteins β-arrestin 1 and β-arrestin 2. β-arrestin-mediated signalling can have distinct functional consequences from G protein-mediated signalling. G protein-mediated signalling is usually accomplished via the generation of second messengers that signal to downstream partners. By contrast, β-arrestin-mediated signalling usually results in the formation of signalling complexes scaffolded by β-arrestins that lead to activation of kinases and other downstream targets. Biased agonists are capable of signalling through only a restricted subset of all of the pathways usually available to the receptor. β-arrestin-biased agonists act as agonists for β-arrestin-mediated signalling and as weak partial agonists or antagonists of G protein-mediated signalling. In many systems, receptor activation by β-arrestin-biased agonists results in functionally distinct responses from activation by non-biased agonists. For example, a β-arrestin-biased agonist of the parathyroid hormone receptor is capable of stimulating trabecular bone growth in mice without increasing bone resorption, whereas an unbiased full agonist stimulates both bone growth and resorption. Cell-based assays used to facilitate the discovery of β-arrestin-biased agonists may be based on redistribution of labelled receptor or β-arrestin; proximity between receptor and β-arrestin; conformation of receptor or β-arrestin; or activation of downstream signalling pathways known to be regulated selectively by β-arrestins. Most of these assays have been adapted for high-throughput screening. As we learn more about β-arrestin-mediated signalling at other 7TMRs, new targets for the development of β-arrestin-biased agonists will undoubtedly arise. Thus, it is important that we continue to focus on studying the physiological impact of β-arrestin-mediated signaling in cell-based and animal studies. In this Review, the authors discuss recent advances in the characterization of β-arrestin-mediated signalling and biased agonism at seven-transmembrane receptors, and address the implications of these for drug discovery involving this ubiquitous superfamily of receptors. Seven-transmembrane receptors (7TMRs; also known as G protein-coupled receptors) are the largest class of receptors in the human genome and are common targets for therapeutics. Originally identified as mediators of 7TMR desensitization, β-arrestins (arrestin 2 and arrestin 3) are now recognized as true adaptor proteins that transduce signals to multiple effector pathways. Signalling that is mediated by β-arrestins has distinct biochemical and functional consequences from those mediated by G proteins, and several biased ligands and receptors have been identified that preferentially signal through either G protein- or β-arrestin-mediated pathways. These ligands are not only useful tools for investigating the biochemistry of 7TMR signalling, they also have the potential to be developed into new classes of therapeutics.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have immense potential for cell-based therapy of acute and chronic pathological conditions. MSC transplantation for cell-based therapy requires a substantial number of cells in the range of 0.5–2.5 × 10 6 cells/kg body weight of an individual. A prolific source of MSCs followed by in vitro propagation is therefore an absolute prerequisite for clinical applications. Umbilical cord tissue (UCT) is an abundantly available prolific source of MSC that are fetal in nature and have higher potential for ex-vivo expansion. However, the ex-vivo expansion of MSCs using a xenogeneic supplement such as fetal bovine serum (FBS) carries the risk of transmission of zoonotic infections and immunological reactions. We used platelet lysate (PL) as a xeno-free, allogeneic replacement for FBS and compared the biological and functional characteristics of MSC processed and expanded with PL and FBS by explant and enzymatic method. UCT-MSCs expanded using PL displayed typical immunophenotype, plasticity, immunomodulatory property and chromosomal stability. PL supplementation also showed 2-fold increase in MSC yield from explant culture with improved immunomodulatory activity as compared to enzymatically dissociated cultures. In conclusion, PL from expired platelets is a viable alternative to FBS for generating clinically relevant numbers of MSC from explant cultures over enzymatic method.