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Purpose -This paper aims to test whether an antecedent/consequence brand equity model developed with Americans holds up with Chinese, and to examine whether brand equity's functional (utilitarian) and experiential (emotive) facets have (dis)similar significance in a cross-cultural setting. Design/methodology/approach -The survey was administered to US and Chinese samples, with data analyzed using structural equation modeling to test hypotheses developed from literatures. Findings -The study found evidence that the model does hold up in a cross-cultural setting, and that some of brand equity's functional and experiential antecedents and components have dissimilar significance with the two sample groups.Research limitations/implications -Only one brand was employed; the survey was completed with volunteer US and Chinese university students vs a broader range of age groups; and the dissimilar nuances of the English and Chinese languages may lead to divergent understandings of the measures. Practicable implications -The study provides a foundation for future cross-cultural brand equity research and sheds empirical insight that, contrary to social sciences literatures' suggestions, the similar significance of brand equity and its antecedents are such that firms may benefit from employing standardized marketing strategies in cross-cultural settings. Originality/value -The study is a benchmark comparative cross-cultural brand equity study with the vastly disparate US and Chinese consumers.

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -Owing to the increasing market presence and financial success of retail brands, this study seeks to examine the comparative influence of manufacturer brands and retail brands on customers' purchase behaviors. Design/methodology/approach -The survey was administered to 1,120 samples (of which 200 were returned), with data analyzed using structural equation modeling to test the study's hypotheses. Findings -The study revealed that customers' loyalty to retail brand(s) has greater influence on their purchase behavior than manufacturer brand(s). It also revealed that attitude toward store brands directly influences one's propensity to switch to retail brands, and mediates relationships between loyalty to manufacturer/retail brands and one's propensity to switch to retail brand(s). Research limitations/implications -Only one type of retailer was employed in the study. The samples are individuals that have either purchased an item(s) from the retailer, or have at least visited one of their retail sites. The samples had relatively high disposable incomes. Practicable implications -The study found that retailers may need dissimilar marketing strategies for customers loyal to manufacturer brands and customers loyal to retail brands. Originality/value -The study provides new and empirical insight into the ongoing debate of the comparative importance of manufacturer and retail brands.

Nitroaromatic compounds, including 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, RDX, HMX, tetryl, and associated degradation products, are released into the environment during the manufacturing, loading, packing, and assembling of munitions at U.S. Army Ammunition Plants. With the exception of 2A46DNT, nitroaromatic compounds are more toxic to fresh-water fishes (LC50s ranging from 0.4–32 mg/L) than to freshwater invertebrates (EC50s ranging from 3–100 mg/L). Rainbow trout are the most sensitive test species with LC50 values ranging from 0.43 to 6.4 mg/L for TNT, RDX, and HMX. These compounds produce negative effects on reproductive endpoints in terrestrial mammals at doses >1 mg/kg/day. Limited data indicate that nitroaromatics are not toxic to terrestrial plants (LOECs ranging from 25–100 νg/g in soil) and soil invertebrates (LOEC of 200 νg/g). Additional studies need to be undertaken to completely characterize the toxicity of these compounds; however, the criteria and screening benchmarks presented in this paper can be used to assess the risks to indigenous flora and fauna at Army Superfund sites.

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