Extending the technology acceptance model and empirically testing the conceptualised consumer goods acceptance model.

The technology acceptance model (TAM) has not been applied beyond the technological context, despite its widespread applications. This study extends the TAM to consumer goods and validates the conceptualised consumer goods acceptance model (CGAM) using tea-to-go as a proxy for consumer goods. An exploratory research approach based on a quota sample is used to adjust and test the CGAM, showing that the adjusted CGAM and its measures are reliable and valid, thus supporting the hypothesis that extending the TAM to a non-technological context is possible. The results are discussed in light of the data collection, which is based on a cross-sectional setting, assuming consumers' knowledge of the good and forcing answers based on assumptions. The results show that despite major changes to the exogenous variables, the difference in variance levels between perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU) is in accordance with TAM 3. Thus, PU is the strongest predictor of behavioural intention (BI), supporting the choice of constructs influencing PU. This also indicates that usefulness outweighs ease of use. The findings demonstrate that each variable category has a favourable influence on PU and PEOU. Specifically, cognitive instrumental processes (CIP) and value-related aspects (VRA) are significant predictors of PU, whereas CIP is the most critical driver, highlighting that consumer actions are driven by factors correlated with lifestyle, trends, and price. VRA_1 had the strongest impact on PU, accentuating the high potential of functional ingredients, such as vitamins. Furthermore, the results show that the anchor variables have a stronger impact on PEOU than the adjustment variables, emphasising the importance of enjoyment and indulgence in consumer goods, especially tea-to-go. These findings show that the empirically tested and adjusted CGAM provides a solid basis for measuring the acceptance of consumer goods and identifying key drivers.

Quantification of two urinary metabolites of organophosphorus flame retardants by solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Trialkyl esters of phosphoric acid are widely used as flame retardants. The corresponding dialkylphosphates are formed as the main metabolites in animal experiments. We extended a previously published method for the determination of four organophosphorus flame retardant metabolites [bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, diphenyl phosphate, di-m-cresyl phosphate and di-p-cresyl phosphate] to be able to determine di-n-butyl phosphate (DBP) and bis(2-chloropropyl) phosphate (BCPP) in human urine samples additionally in one run. After solid-phase extraction, derivatization with pentafluorobenzyl bromide and further solid-phase cleanup, the extracts were analysed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The limits of detection were 0.25 microg/l for both analytes. Interday imprecisions were 2-6%. To show the applicability of the method, the internal burden of 25 persons of the population was determined. Twelve percent of the urine samples analysed tested positive for BCPP at concentrations from below the limit of detection to 0.85 microg/l; one sample contained 0.26 microg/l DBP.

Determination of human urinary organophosphate flame retardant metabolites by solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFR), phosphorus triesters, are widely used chemicals with a high share of the worldwide flame retardant market. In animal experiments, dialkyl- and diarylphosphates are the main metabolites of OPFR. Therefore we elaborated a GC-MS/MS-method for the detection of OPFR-metabolites in human urine after solid phase extraction and derivatization with pentafluorobenzylbromide. The limits of detection range from 0.1 to 1 microg/l. Interday imprecision were 2-8%. The applicability of the method is shown by determination of the internal burden of 30 persons of the German general population. OPFR-metabolite concentrations range from

Elevated inflammatory laboratory parameters in spontaneous cervical artery dissection as compared to traumatic dissection: a retrospective case-control study.

Several studies have reported infection as a possible risk factor for cervical artery dissection (CAD). We retrospectively analyzed several inflammatory parameters of CAD patients with the aim of detecting differences between spontaneous (n = 25) and traumatic (n = 18) CAD. In this case-control study, we observed significantly higher absolute leucocyte values (10.3 versus 8.1 G/L; p = 0.02) as well as an elevated frequency of leucocytosis (64% versus 28%; p = 0.02) and elevated CRP (60% versus 28%; p = 0.04) in patients without a history of trauma ("spontaneous" CAD) compared with patients with trauma-related CAD. As the elevated inflammatory laboratory parameters were not associated with an elevated infection rate, these findings imply a role of an acute inflammation as a pathogenetic factor in spontaneous CAD. The cause and mechanism of the inflammatory process remain unknown.