Does traceability play a role in retailer’s strategies for private labels?

Traceability is helping retailers manage food safety risks and support product differentiation. This paper aims to investigate how traceability may be used to screen supplier for private labels dedicated provider pools. Retailers in the UK and Italy have several private label product lines and increasingly select dedicated suppliers. The choice of providers is a typical agency problem as retailers contract the production for their private labels, having incomplete information on types and effort of their suppliers. Different contracts must be designed for suppliers of private labels depending on position of the product line and its food safety risk. A case study, based on the second largest Italian retailer reveals that traceability and quality assurance schemes are used together to manage suppliers of private labelsTraceability, dedicated providers, food products, retailing, vertical coordination, Marketing, Q13, Q18, L81, L66, L15,

Involvement of the endogenous nitric oxide signalling system in bradykinin receptor activation in rat submandibular salivary gland

Biochemical signalling events coupled to the bradykinin B2-receptor subtype, related to nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 generation were studied in rat submandibular gland. Bradykinin stimulation of the B2-receptor triggered activation of phosphoinositide turnover, translocation of protein kinase C, stimulation of nitric oxide synthase activity, increased production of cGMP and release of prostaglandin E2. Bradykinin stimulation of nitric oxide synthase and cGMP production was blunted by agents able to interfere with calcium/calmodulin and phospholipase C activities, while a protein kinase C inhibitor was able to stimulate bradykinin action. Moreover, a specific B2-bradykinin antagonist of the reversible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor abrogated the bradykinin stimulation of nitric oxide synthase activity, cGMP accumulation and prostaglandin E2 generation. Furthermore, a specific inhibitor of phospholipase A2 blocked the bradykinin-induced prostaglandin E2 release. These results suggest that apart, from the direct effect of bradykinin as an inducer of vasopermeability, it also appears to be a vasoactive chemical mediator that triggers, through release of prostaglandin E2, a feedback mechanism that induces a protective adaptation of the gland, modulating the course of inflammation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.Fil: Genaro, Ana Maria. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Stranieri, Graciela M.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Borda, Enri Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Farmacología; Argentin

Impacts of blockchain technology in agrifood: exploring the interplay between transactions and firms’ strategic resources

Purpose: Despite the growing interest in blockchain technology (BCT) applications in the agri-food industry, evidence of their economic and strategic implications remains scarce. This study aims to contribute to filling this gap by jointly investigating how BCT adoption affects transactional relationships, and how it contributes to the firm’s strategic resources. Design/methodology/approach: An explanatory case study is conducted based on a theoretical framework grounded on transaction cost economics and the resource-based-dynamic capabilities view. Six BCT implementations by agri-food firms are studied. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Findings reveal that BCT benefits depend on how companies integrate technology across their supply chains. In fact, the results suggest that overall transaction efficiency within the supply chain is enhanced only for those firms prioritising stakeholder engagement during technology implementation and leveraging existing trust relationships with economic agents. Moreover, the results suggest that BCT is not yet perceived as a strategic resource, but rather that it has the potential to enhance firms’ operational-adaptive, absorptive and innovative capabilities. When all supply chain actors clearly understand blockchain’s functionality and value, the development of these capabilities becomes more pronounced. Practical implications: The study identifies two BCT adoption configurations. One primarily focuses on enhancing supply chain efficiency and transparency (dynamic BCT), while the other uses BCT mainly for marketing purposes (static BCT). These configurations lead to varied possibilities for leveraging BCT’s potential advantages. Furthermore, they show how a mismatch between a strategic approach and its chosen configuration could work against any positive impact and lead to disillusionment with the BCT. Thus, managers should assess carefully the impact of such different configuration choices on performance. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to attempt to analyse the economic implications of adopting BCT in the food sector from both a firm and supply chain perspective. Additionally, it shows how interpreting these impacts is contingent on the diverse modalities for embedding BCT into existing supply chains

EZETIMIBE PROTECTS THP-1 CELLS FROM ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION INJURY REDUCING OXIDATIVE STRESS AND UP-REGULATING NRF2/ ARE GENE EXPRESSION

Background and Aims: We demonstrated that physical training, characterized by repeated ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) episodes (ischemic conditioning, IC), protects circulating cells from peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients against ischemic harms by reducing oxidative stress (OS) and by up-regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway expression. Ezetimibe (Eze) has been shown to alleviate OS enhancing Nrf2 nuclear translocation in an AMPK/p62-dependent manner. In a cellular I-R and IC model, we aimed to investigate: 1) the effect of Eze on OS and Nrf2/ARE gene expression 2) whether Eze could have a synergistic effect on IC. Methods: THP-1 cells were treated with or without Eze (50mM) overnight, then subjected to 1 or 6 repetitive I-R cycles using EVOS FL Auto Imaging System. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation was evaluated with DCF in cytofluorimetry. Nrf2/ARE and p62 gene expression were evaluated by RT-PCR and western blotting. Results: When THP-1 cells were exposed to 1 I-R cycle, the preincubation with Eze significantly reduced ROS formation (p<0.01) and up-regulated Nrf2/ARE pathway expression and p62 phosphorylation (p<0.001). Multiple I-R cycles, acting as IC, significantly reduced ROS formation and upregulated Nrf2/ARE gene expression (p<0.001); in these conditions, Eze preincubation was able not only to almost abolish ROS formation (p<0.01) but also further up-regulate Nrf2/ARE expression. Conclusions: In our I-R model, Eze not only restores I-R-induced oxidative damages through Nrf2/ARE signaling up-regulation but also has a synergistic effect on IC. This new \u201cpleiotropic\u201d effect, if confirmed in vivo, may strengthen the use of Eze in PAD patien

Adopting environmentally-friendly certifications : Transaction cost and capabilities perspectives within the Italian wine supply chain

Purpose–Environmentally-friendly certifications have increased over the past decade within food supply chains. Although a large body of literaturehas explored the drivers leadingfirms to adopt such certifications, it has not closely examined the strategic motivations associated with theiradoption. This paper aims to investigate an environmentally-friendly certification, VIVA, examining its role as an alternative form of supply chaingovernance. The aim is to investigate the drivers affecting the adoption of VIVA and to assess managerial perceptions related to transaction-relatedcharacteristics and thefirm’s internal resources and capabilities. Design/methodology/approach–This study draws upon both an extended transaction cost economics perspective, which is based on transactionrisks and the resource-based view, which examines afirm’s internal resources. A survey was conducted via a structured questionnaire sent to all ofthe wine producers in charge of the decision regarding whether to adopt VIVA certification. A Hierarchal Bayesian Model was applied to analysequestionnaire responses. Such a model allows us to specify the probabilistic relationship between questions and latent constructs and to carry overuncertainty across modelling levels. Findings–The adoption of this environmentally-friendly certification is envisioned as a tool to curb internal risks, and thus to manage behaviouraluncertainty within the supply chain. A high level of exposure to exogenous transaction risks discouragesfirms from adopting VIVA certification. Thecertification system is not perceived as a promoter of operational capabilities. Managers are more likely to implement the certification when theyexpect that its adoption will leverage their potential knowledge of the supply chain or prompt new and better collaborations with the suppliers.Therefore, the certification can become a resource that interacts with the capabilities of thefirm, expressing complementarities that stimulate theformation of dynamic capabilities.Research limitations/implications–The identification of drivers from the two theoretical perspectives offers insights into the attributes that areperceived as important by managers and which, therefore, could be leveraged to foster the adoption of the environmental certification. The externalvalidity of the study could be improved by extending the sample to other certifications and supply chains. Originality/value–The study offers a different perspective on environmental certification. It demonstrates that considering the certification as analternative form of supply chain governance opens up a set of efficiency and strategic considerations that could be addressed to promote theeffectiveness of an environmental strategy within a supply cha

Carbon footprint information, prices, and restaurant wine choices by customers : A natural field experiment

Growing evidence suggests that consumers should be involved in the solutions to climate change. To test the responsiveness of wine consumers to carbon footprint stimuli we set a natural field experiment in a restaurant modifying the choice architecture of wine decisions. We modified wine cards to provide different information and price incentives to consumers to test the effects of two policy interventions for reducing CO2 emissions. Specifically, we test the provision of carbon footprint information and an additional price for carbon emissions. We randomly assigned subjects to four different wine cards. Results show that carbon footprint information alone is not enough to affect wine choices, but its effect becomes significant when combined with a price change. A card showing the carbon footprint of wine bottles and proportionally higher wine prices was associated with choices leading to lower carbon emissions. However, when information about the additional price to offset wine carbon emissions was made explicitly visible to consumers on another card, an opposite effect of an increase in the choice of wines with higher carbon-emitting production processes was observed. This finding indicates that how the price increase is presented can affect wine choices, highlighting the importance of careful information policy design

Ezetimibe prevents ischemia/reperfusion-induced oxidative stress and up-regulates Nrf2/ARE and UPR signaling pathways

BACKGROUND: While reperfusion is crucial for survival after an episode of ischemia, it also causes oxidative stress. Nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and unfolded protein response (UPR) are protective against oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Ezetimibe, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, has been shown to activate the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/Nrf2 pathway. In this study we evaluated whether Ezetimibe affects oxidative stress and Nrf2 and UPR gene expression in cellular models of ischemia-reperfusion (IR). METHODS: Cultured cells were subjected to simulated IR with or without Ezetimibe. RESULTS: IR significantly increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the percentage of apoptotic cells without the up-regulation of Nrf2, of the related antioxidant response element (ARE) gene expression or of the pro-survival UPR activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) gene, whereas it significantly increased the pro-apoptotic CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP). Ezetimibe significantly decreased the cellular ROS formation and apoptosis induced by IR. These effects were paralleled by the up-regulation of Nrf2/ARE and ATF6 gene expression and by a down-regulation of CHOP. We also found that Nrf2 activation was dependent on AMPK, since Compound C, a pan inhibitor of p-AMPK, blunted the activation of Nrf2. CONCLUSIONS: Ezetimibe counteracts IR-induced oxidative stress and induces Nrf2 and UPR pathway activation