• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1-32
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• 2011

I. Introduction: In Chinese electronics industry, the local wholesalers are still dominant but power is rapidly swifting from wholesalers to retailers because in recent foreign big retailers and local mass merchandisers are growing fast. During such transient period, conflicts among channel members emerge important issues. For example, when wholesalers who have more power exercise influence strategies to maintain status, conflicts among manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer will be intensified. Korean electronics companies in China need differentiated channel strategies by dealing with wholesalers and retailers simultaneously to sell more Korean products in competition with foreign firms. For example, Korean electronics firms should utilize 'guanxi' or relational quality to form long-term relationships with whloesalers instead of power and conflict issues. The major purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of conflict, dependency, and influence strategies between local Korean-products-selling retailers and wholesalers on performance in Chinese electronics distribution channels. In particular, this paper proposes effective distribution strategies for Korean electronics companies in China by analyzing moderating effects of 'Guanxi'. II. Literature Review and Hypotheses: The specific purposes of this study are as follows. First, causes of conflicts between local Korean-products-selling retailers and wholesalers are examined from the perspectives of goal incongruence and role ambiguity and then effects of these causes are found out on perceived conflicts of local retailers. Second, the effects of dependency of local retailers upon wholesalers are investigated on local retailers' perceived conflicts. Third, the effects of non-coercive influence strategies such as information exchange and recommendation and coercive strategies such as threats and legalistic pleas exercised by wholesalers are explored on perceived conflicts by local retailers. Fourth, the effects of level of conflicts perceived by local retailers are verified on local retailers' financial performance and satisfaction. Fifth, moderating effects of relational qualities, say, 'quanxi' between wholesalers and retailers are analyzed on the impact of wholesalers' influence strategies on retailers' performances. Finally, moderating effects of relational qualities are examined on the relationship between conflicts and performance. To accomplish above-mentioned research objectives, Figure 1 and the following research hypotheses are proposed and verified. III. Measurement and Data Analysis: To verify the proposed research model and hypotheses, data were collected from 97 retailers who are selling Korean electronic products located around Central and Southern regions in China. Covariance analysis and moderated regression analysis were employed to validate hypotheses. IV. Conclusion: The following results were drawn using structural equation modeling and hierarchical moderated regression. First, goal incongruence perceived by local retailers significantly affected conflict but role ambiguity did not. Second, consistent with conflict spiral theory, the level of conflict decreased when retailers' dependency increased toward wholesalers. Third, noncoercive influence strategies such as information exchange and recommendation implemented by wholesalers had significant effects on retailers' performance such as sales and satisfaction without conflict. On the other hand, coercive influence strategies such as threat and legalistic plea had insignificant effects on performance in spite of increasing the level of conflict. Fourth, 'guanxi', namely, relational quality between local retailers and wholesalers showed unique effects on performance. In case of noncoercive influence strategies, 'guanxi' did not play a role of moderator. Rather, relational quality and noncoercive influence strategies can serve as independent variables to enhance performance. On the other hand, when 'guanxi' was well built due to mutual trust and commitment, relational quality as a moderator can positively function to improve performance even though hostile, coercive influence strategies were implemented. Fifth, 'guanxi' significantly moderated the effects of conflict on performance. Even if conflict arises, local retailers who form solid relational quality can increase performance by dealing with dysfunctional conflict synergistically compared with low 'quanxi' retailers. In conclusion, this study verified the importance of relational quality via 'quanxi' between local retailers and wholesalers in Chinese electronic industry because relational quality could cross out the adverse effects of coercive influence strategies and conflict on performance.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.199-207
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• 2010

For us, there is virtually no distinction between being a responsible citizen and a successful business... they are one and the same for Wal-Mart today." ~ Lee Scott, al-Mart CEO after the 2005 Katrina disaster; cited in Green to Gold (Esty and Winston 2006). Lee Scott's statement signaled a new era in sustainability as manufacturers and retailers around the globe watched the world's largest mass merchandiser confirm its intentions with respect to sustainability. For decades, the environmental movement has grown, slowly bleeding over into the corporate world. Companies have been born, products have been created, academic journals have been launched, and government initiatives have been undertaken - all in the pursuit of sustainability (Peattie and Crane 2005). While progress has been admittedly slower than some may desire, the emergence and entrance of environmentally concerned mass merchandisers has done much to help with sustainable efforts. To better understand this movement, we incorporate the perspectives of both executives and consumers involved in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. This research relies on three underlying themes: (1) Conceptual and anecdotal evidence suggests that companies undertake sustainability initiatives for a plethora of reasons, (2) The number of sustainability initiatives continues to increase in the consumer packaged goods industries, and (3) That it is, therefore, necessary to explore the role that sustainability plays in the minds of consumers. In light of these themes, surveys were administered to and completed by 143 college students and 101 business executives to assess a number of variables in regards to sustainability including willingness-to-pay, behavioral intentions, attitudes, willingness-to-pay, and preferences. Survey results indicate that the top three reasons why executives believe sustainability to be important include (1) the opportunity for profitability, (2) the fulfillment of an obligation to the environment, and (3) a responsibility to customers and shareholders. College students identified the top three reasons as (1) a responsibility to the environment, (2) an indebtedness to future generations, and (3) an effective management of resources. While the rationale for supporting sustainability efforts differed between college students and executives, the executives and consumers reported similar responses for the majority of the remaining sustainability issues. Furthermore, when we asked consumers to assess the importance of six key issues (healthcare, economy, education, crime, government spending, and environment) previously identified as important to consumers by Gallup Poll, protecting the environment only ranked fourth out of the six (Carlson 2005). While all six of these issues were identified as important, the top three that emerged as most important were (1) improvements in education, (2) the economy, and (3) health care. As the pursuit and incorporation of sustainability continues to evolve, so too will the expected outcomes. New definitions of performance that reflect the social/business benefits as well as the lengthened implementation period are relevant and warranted (Ehrenfeld 2005; Hitchcock and Willard 2006). We identified three primary categories of outcomes based on a literature review of both anecdotal and conceptual expectations of sustainability: (1) improvements in constituent satisfaction, (2) differentiation opportunities, and (3) financial rewards. Within each of these categories, several specific outcomes were identified resulting in eleven different outcomes arising from sustainability initiatives. Our survey results indicate that the top five most likely outcomes for companies that pursue sustainability are: (1) green consumers will be more satisfied, (2) company image will be better, (3) corporate responsibility will be enhanced, (4) energy costs will be reduced, and (5) products will be more innovative. Additionally, to better understand the interesting intersection between the environmental "identity" of a consumer and the willingness to manifest that identity with marketplace purchases, we extended prior research developed by Experian Research (2008). Accordingly, respondents were categorized as one of four types of green consumers (Behavioral Greens, Think Greens, Potential Greens, or True Browns) to garner a better understanding of the green consumer in addition to assisting with a more effective interpretation of results. We assessed these consumers' willingness to engage in eco-friendly behavior by evaluating three options: (1) shopping at retailers that support environmental initiatives, (2) paying more for products that protect the environment, and (3) paying higher taxes so the government can support environmental initiatives. Think Greens expressed the greatest willingness to change, followed by Behavioral Greens, Potential Greens, and True Browns. These differences were all significant at p<.01. Further Conclusions and Implications We have undertaken a descriptive study which seeks to enhance our understanding of the strategic domain of sustainability. Specifically, this research fills a gap in the literature by comparing and contrasting the sustainability views of business executives and consumers with specific regard to preferences, intentions, willingness-to-pay, behavior, and attitudes. For practitioners, much can be gained from a strategic standpoint. In addition to the many results already reported, respondents also reported than willing to pay more for products that protect the environment. Other specific results indicate that female respondents consistently communicate a stronger willingness than males to pay more for these products and to shop at eco-friendly retailers. Knowing this additional information, practitioners can now have a more specific market in which to target and communicate their sustainability efforts. While this research is only an initial step towards understanding similarities and differences among practitioners and consumers regarding sustainability, it presents original findings that contribute to both practice and research. Future research should be directed toward examining other variables affecting this relationship, as well as other specific industries.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.179-196
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• 2015

Because of our aging population, there is increasing concern about the impact of dementia and age-related cognitive decline. Intense research efforts on effective dietary interventions for the prevention or amelioration of dementia and age-related cognitive decline have indicated that dairy products affect physiological health and potentially healthy brain function during aging. Milk is a rich source of proteins and peptides with nutritional and immunotropic activities. The preparation of biologically active proteins and peptides generally requires enzymatic degradation, chemical modification, or the addition of specific co-factors. Milk-derived preparations are widely available in the food industry in the form of hygiene products and infant formulas. However, milk-derived products could also be applied as preventive or therapeutic measures for a wide-range of pathological conditions not only in neonates and infants but also in adults, including the elderly. Because they have no adverse side effects, milk-derived proteins and peptides could be used as a supplementary treatment for dementia and age-related cognitive decline.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.205-217
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• 2014

As Mt. Backdu is expected to erupt, the social and economic impacts of the eruption on the Korean peninsula as well as on the world become a research topic of interest. If the volcano erupts, South Korea can be directly impacted by volcanic ash, which will bring out secondary damages in various ways. Given that the direct damage is a basis to estimate indirect and secondary damages, this paper was to review a method to estimate direct damages, called catastrophe risk models, and estimate the direct damages of available eruption scenarios of Mt. Baekdu. Based on the results, the damages by volcanic ash will occur mostly around Gangwon province if the Mt. Backdu erupts. Thus the inventory lists and their damage functions of Gangwon provinces were collected. In particular agricultural and forestry products were surveyed based on the land use. Direct damages were estimated using volcanic ash distribution of eruption scenarios, inventory information and their damage functions. In result, a scenario in winter caused the damage of 299.8 billion KRW (20.4% of total agricultural production in 2010) and 28.9 billion KRW (9.0% of total forestry production in 2010) in agriculture and forestry, respectively. The damages in agriculture was larger, and it is due to the damage functions which show the agricultural products are more vulnerable to volcanic ash than forestry products. Also the agricultural production (1,471.7 billion KRW in 2010) are more than 4.5 times the forestry production (322.3 billion KRW in 2010) in Gangwon province. Inje and Gangnung had the most damages in the scenario in winter. Inje had the most damage due to the thick ash deposit (8.5 mm in average) despite the low production. On the other hand, Goseong had a low damage compared to the ash thickness larger than 20mm, owing to the low production. The direct damage estimated through this process can be used to estimate indirect damages.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.44
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• pp.333-361
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• 2016

In general, content business companies include animation industry can have benefits, which they have higher incomes when they obtain wider markets. Therefore, they pursue to have diverse windows for content distribution or to reach the foreign markets for dealing their content products with potential customers. It have the greatest value. They can re-invest the incomes to produce their new products, and they can enhance the international competitiveness of their next products. As the results, the companies can have more incomes and wider markets in next business, and it will be the effectiveness of the good cycle of the animation industry. Animation industry has being undergone of its structure changes, more economical chances and viewers' attitudes changes through the all over the industry because of the acceptance of new digital technology. To response the changes or have the new chances from the changes, they should to review the existing system and the law concerned with the animation business as well as having the diverse new plans for supporting the industry like a construction of the online marketplace of Korean animation. It would make the Korean animation companies to meet foreign customers easily by making lower the entrance barrier of the foreign markets. Current Korean government needs to estimate the value of the Korean animation accurately and objectively by concerning its surroundings to support efficiently. However, it is very difficult to estimate the value of the content rightly because of its' intangible and subjective matter. For this, they should analyze the all the data of the information of the Korean animation content by accumulate, open to the public and manage. So if the government makes online marketplace for the Korean animation, which all the Korean animation companies get in, it would be a solution of estimating the value of the Korean animation rightly. In addition, it will be used as the role of archive of the government to lead the industry successfully. As a point of the small size of the Korean animation companies, they are government dependable because of its low budget, so they strongly expect the government to do the right role as the unique knowledge distributor. Therefore, the Korean animation online marketplace would make not only big companies, but also small companies to have the chances to increase the value of their content in the global markets by themselves without economic burdens.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.331-339
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• 2014

This study is aimed to provide the primary data about safety of cosmetics products using indirect preference of korean cosmetics customer and numerical comparison of applied area. For this study, we collected 9,879 cosmetics products which were inspected in cosmetics research team from January, 2010 to December, 2012. The domestic cosmetics was 645 cases (6.5%) and Imported cosmetics was 9,234 cases (93.5%). As manufacturing country, the France has 4,342 cases (44.0%) and the next ranking were like those, Germany 1,637 cases (16.6%), U.S.A 1,476 cases (14.9%), Republic of Korea 645 cases (6.5%), Italy 557 cases (5.6%), and etc 1,222 cases (12.4%). By the year, the cases of test cosmetics have decreased from 3,784 cases (2010), 3,394 cases (2011) to 2,701 cases (2012), the relative ratio of common cosmetics part was drop in but the other group (functional cosmetics and hair dye related products) was increased. The largest market share product was Skin care 5,470 cases (55.4%) and the next order was like those, Make up 1,908 cases (19.3%), Hand & Foot 1,026 cases (10.4%), Hair Care 616 cases (6.2%), Bath 361 cases (3.7%), and etc 498 cases (5.0%). In domestic cosmetics, the greatest proportion was Skin care and the others were Hair Care > Makeup > Hand & Foot > Bath, but the proportion was evidently changed in imported cosmetics, Skin care > Makeup > Hand & Foot > Hair Care > Bath. It is necessary to set the priority of the international quality standards to identify trends from domestic consumers directly or indirectly. Compare the ratio of category and human application parts from domestic and imported cosmetics, we utilize leverage as the basis for future-oriented cosmetic safety.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.185-212
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• 2014

This study investigated the base of marine leisure facilities and studied the future vision for development of marine industry by conducting a systematic analysis on the category of marine leisure products for development of design and specialization of southeast area of Korea. If the age of $20,000 of per capita national income is called 'the age of my car', $20,000 of per capita national income is called 'the age of my boat'. According to the report of UK-based Marine South East, the scale of world's small boat and personal waterborne equipment reached 277 trillion won in 2010 and domestic market scale is expected to be 11 trillion won. Marine leisure facilities are the new growth engine industry that the government should promote as a nation's strategic and core industry, and the government is pushing ahead with promotion of marine industry actively by announcing Marine Leisure Equipment Industry Activation Plan(June 2009, Ministry of Knowledge Economy), Marine Leisure Activation Plan(July 2010, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport), The 1st General Plan for Marina Port(January 2010, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) etc. The purpose of marine design lies in seeking the status of the country and qualitative value in human life through functional, artistic, industrial and cultural development of design elements for all marine activities made around the sea. Related to all activities made in the ocean and cost, marine design is a sphere of design that includes special conditions centering around water. Considering the condition that 3 sides of land are facing the sea, this study systematically analyzed present condition of equipment possessed by each area, type of facilities, operational status, current status of sectoral use of marine leisure facilities and future prospect of marine leisure products that become the basis of value to raise the statue as an advanced marine power in 2010s through development of the qualitative level of the people, establishment of the direction of national strategy, convergence of industry and culture and specialization of area focusing on the actual condition survey of marine leisure facilities. Especially, this study will be predicting the basis of strategy for strengthening marketability and competitiveness by suggesting role and process of design in developing a promising marine leisure product through an actual condition survey of marine leisure products of southeast area.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.59-158
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• 2005

When a military aircraft suffers damages due to the defects in its design, manufacturing or notification, all of which are generally understood as products liability defects, the obvious compensation is sought as it would in other consumer good case. However, there exist clear yet unappreciated difference between general consumer goods and military aircraft, as far as products liability law is concerned - some sort of recovery should be obtained even when there exist only defects, not damages, to the aircraft because of the implication of defective parts is much grave than what can be expected in a consumer goods case. While certain anticipatory measures do exist in manual or at negotiation stages for the safety of military aircraft, such measures are ineffective, if not ambiguous, in recovery effort in the post-accident stage In another word, the standardized military procurement contract manuals and boilerplate forms do not appreciate the unique and dangerous military nature of military aircraft. There are many unique legal issues which can arise when trying to prevent defective aircraft or parts, or to recover compensations for accident due to such defects. At two-level, the government should establish legal system (or countermeasures if you'd like) for purchasing safer military aircraft. First, one should be able to work with legal ground and policy that allows selecting and purchasing safer goods - the purpose of such contract is not litigious, but rather in acquiring what are most reliable. Second, in case the defects do arise and lead to damages, solid legal principles and instructions should be established for effectively pursuing appropriate company, (usually a aerospace industry giant with much experience) for products liability - the purpose of such pursuit is inevitable for a public official, since he or she is no private business man with much flexibilities, even to the point of waiving such compensatory right for future business purposes. This article tries to identify problems in methods of procuring military aircraft or parts - after reviewing on how the military can improve on legal and policy grounds for procuring what will be the focus of future military strength, it will offer some of the ways to effectively handling and resolving a liability issues.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.129-154
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• 2014

We are making products and services that we didn't easily think or even imagine when young and living using them. Consumer needs become more diversified, markets and technologies are being constantly changed, and corporate global competitiveness is getting intensified. Now, companies that don't change nor create new values cannot survive. The cycle of new products is faster, and therefore corporations should improve previous products continuously or create new values according to such a trend. This era requires 'creativity' for companies to overcome uncertainty and survive. Corporate creativity is not easily activated as financial and physical compensation unlike the work ability or performance. When there is an environment that people with various abilities, experiences and backgrounds can express their opinions freely, it becomes possible. Despite the importance, the studies have focused on creativity education so far instead of the viewpoint of corporate business administration. In addition, most studies have dealt with job characteristics and employees' personality factors rather than the process that is connected to actual performance. In other words, the studies on environmental factors that can lead motivation as situational characteristics of the employee's company in a current non-monetary and non-physical way are very insufficient. Therefore, this study aims to comprehensively examine the process of creating creative performance in the environment inside the company that the employee could approach most closely from the corporate deinstitutional perspective. As the major variables, job characteristics and supervisor's ethical leadership were selected, and the process that is connected to the creative performance was explained by means of motivation necessary to understand creativity of the organization and creative process engagement(CPE). The summary of the verification results is following. First, job characteristics and supervisor's attitude(ethical leadership) had positive effects on intrinsic motivation and creativity process engagement. Second, intrinsic motivation and creativity process engagement had positive effects on creative performance. Third, intrinsic motivation and creativity process engagement had mediated the relationship between job characteristics, supervisor's attitude and intrinsic motivation, creativity process engagement

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.1-31
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• 2017

Modern businesses are adopting new technologies to serve their markets better as well as to improve efficiency and productivity. The advertising industry has continuously experienced disruptions from the traditional channels (radio, television and print media) to new complex ones including internet, social media and mobile-based advertising. This case study focuses on proposing intelligent advertising business model in Seoul's metro network. Seoul has one of the world's busiest metro network and transports a huge number of travelers on a daily basis. The high number of travelers coupled with a well-planned metro network creates a platform where marketers can initiate engagement and interact with both customers and potential customers. In the current advertising model, advertising is on illuminated and framed posters in the stations and in-car, non-illuminated posters, and digital screens that show scheduled arrivals and departures of metros. Some stations have digital screens that show adverts but they do not have location capability. Most of the current advertising media have one key limitation: space. For posters whether illuminated or not, one space can host only one advert at a time. Empirical literatures show that there is room for improving this advertising model and eliminate the space limitation by replacing the poster adverts with digital advertising platform. This new model will not only be digital, but will also provide intelligent advertising platform that is driven by data. The digital platform will incorporate location sensing, e-commerce, and mobile platform to create new value to all stakeholders. Travel cards used in the metro will be registered and the card scanners will have a capability to capture traveler's data when travelers tap their cards. This data once analyzed will make it possible to identify different customer groups. Advertisers and marketers will then be able to target specific customer groups, customize adverts based on the targeted consumer group, and offer a wide variety of advertising formats. Format includes video, cinemagraphs, moving pictures, and animation. Different advert formats create different emotions in the customer's mind and the goal should be to use format or combination of formats that arouse the expected emotion and lead to an engagement. Combination of different formats will be more effective and this can only work in a digital platform. Adverts will be location based, ensuring that adverts will show more frequently when the metro is near the premises of an advertiser. The advertising platform will automatically detect the next station and screens inside the metro will prioritize adverts in the station where the metro will be stopping. In the mobile platform, customers who opt to receive notifications will receive them when they approach the business premises of advertiser. The mobile platform will have indoor navigation for the underground shopping malls that will allow customers to search for facilities within the mall, products they may want to buy as well as deals going on in the underground mall. To create an end-to-end solution, the mobile solution will have a capability to allow customers purchase products through their phones, get coupons for deals, and review products and shops where they have bought a product. The indoor navigation will host intelligent mobile-based advertisement and a recommendation system. The indoor navigation will have adverts such that when a customer is searching for information, the recommendation system shows adverts that are near the place traveler is searching or in the direction that the traveler is moving. These adverts will be linked to the e-commerce platform such that if a customer clicks on an advert, it leads them to the product description page. The whole system will have multi-language as well as text-to-speech capability such that both locals and tourists have no language barrier. The implications of implementing this model are varied including support for small and medium businesses operating in the underground malls, improved customer experience, new job opportunities, additional revenue to business model operator, and flexibility in advertising. The new value created will benefit all the stakeholders.