New social actors have emerged with the social media. Among them, we highlightedthe digital influencers, people who have millions of online followers, andinduce them in favor or against products and brands to be consumed. Therefore,we aimed to analyze this endorsement process carried out by digital influencers intheir online profiles, having as research field the fitness market that encouragespeople to evaluate and work tirelessly in their bodies. We used the Semiotic ImageAnalysis to investigate the postings of three Brazilian digital fitness influencersand identified four categories that configure the post format: body exposure, bodyextension, interaction between influencer and brand/product, and interaction betweeninfluencer and followers. By means of these categories, we identified thatthese influencers act as brand avatars, creating an intense link with these products,exposing their bodies in advertisements and extending the meanings of theirgood shape to endorsed goods and services.
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The impact of perceived trustworthiness on love for news media brands needs further understanding, given that brand love brings significant business benefits. This article argues that perceived trustworthiness influences brand love for news media brands. More specifically, we explored the following: how much of the variance in brand love can be explained by the factors of perceived trustworthiness of a brand (integrity, benevolence, and ability), whether perceived trustworthiness relates differently to brand love in countries with different levels of trust in the media, and what is the relationship between political leaning and the perception of specific news media brands’ trustworthiness. The data were collected through an online survey in the Netherlands (N = 292) and Brazil (N = 239). Among the main findings, data indicated that brand love is influenced by perceived trustworthiness, and integrity is its best predictor. This study provides evidence of the importance of each factor of perceived trustworthiness for brand love, confirms the relation between political leaning and trust, and reveals the differences between these two countries.
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As Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication technologies gain prominence, ensuring human safety from radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) becomes paramount. This study critically examines human RF exposure in the context of ITS-5.9 GHz V2X connectivity, employing a combination of numerical dosimetry simulations and targeted experimental measurements. The focus extends across Road-Side Units (RSUs), On-Board Units (OBUs), and, notably, the advanced vehicular technologies within a Tesla Model S, which includes Bluetooth, Long Term Evolution (LTE) modules, and millimeter-wave (mmWave) radar systems. Key findings indicate that RF exposure levels for RSUs and OBUs, as well as from Tesla’s integrated technologies, consistently remain below the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) exposure guidelines by a significant margin. Specifically, the maximum exposure level around RSUs was observed to be 10 times lower than ICNIRP reference level, and Tesla’s mmWave radar exposure did not exceed 0.29 W/m2, well below the threshold of 10 W/m2 set for the general public. This comprehensive analysis not only corroborates the effectiveness of numerical dosimetry in accurately predicting RF exposure but also underscores the compliance of current V2X communication technologies with exposure guidelines, thereby facilitating the protective advancement of intelligent transportation systems against potential health risks.
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