A study of affecting factors on the degree of university students loyalty to the brand of nike

There are different factors which affect the way people select and continue their attitudes towards products of certain brands. The main objective of the present study was investigating factors affecting the degree of University students’ loyalty  to Nike brand. This research is functional in regard with objective and descriptive-temporary in terms of kind; it was conducted among BA, MA, and PhD student of Physical Education in Tehran University with a sample size of 248 subjects. Researcher-constructed questionnaire, which examined three influential factors (trust, purchase intent, brand image), on the loyalty of University Students, was used to collect data. Research data was analyzed using EM algorithm and Spss software and stepwise multiple regression was applied to investigate the impact of variables on students’ loyalty. Significant regression model showed that all three variables of trust, purchase intent, and brand image had significant effects. Brand trust was the most influential variable with regression coefficient of   0.740 (p<0.001).Based on the results of the present study, the hierarchical priority of three variables, according to students’ replies, was brand trust, purchase intent, and brand image. The results showed that brand trust had the first priority among variables and that Nike brand has managed, on the basis of quality, to satisfy various needs, intentions, and tasks of larger number of university students.Key words: Nike brand, brand trusts, brand image, loyalty, purchase inten

Joint Source and Relay Optimization for Parallel MIMO Relay Networks

In this article, we study the optimal structure of the source precoding matrix and the relay amplifying matrices for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) relay communication systems with parallel relay nodes. Two types of receivers are considered at the destination node: (1) The linear minimal mean-squared error (MMSE) receiver; (2) The nonlinear decision feedback equalizer based on the minimal MSE criterion. We show that for both receiver schemes, the optimal source precoding matrix and the optimal relay amplifying matrices have a beamforming structure. Using such optimal structure, joint source and relay power loading algorithms are developed to minimize the MSE of the signal waveform estimation at the destination. Compared with existing algorithms for parallel MIMO relay networks, the proposed joint source and relay beamforming algorithms have significant improvement in the system bit-error-rate performance

Joint source and relay design for MIMO multi-relay systems using projected gradient approach

In this paper, we develop the optimal source precoding matrix and relay amplifying matrices for non-regenerative multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) relay communication systems with parallel relay nodes using the projected gradient (PG) approach. We show that the optimal relay amplifying matrices have a beamforming structure. Exploiting the structure of relay matrices, an iterative joint source and relay matrices optimization algorithm is developed to minimize the mean-squared error (MSE) of the signal waveform estimation at the destination using the PG approach. The performance of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated through numerical simulations

Male Mating Competitiveness of a Wolbachia-Introgressed Aedes polynesiensis Strain under Semi-Field Conditions

Aedes polynesiensis is the primary mosquito vector of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in the island nations of the South Pacific. Control of LF in this region of the world is difficult due to the unique biology of the mosquito vector. A proposed method to control LF in the Pacific is through the release of male mosquitoes that are effectively sterile. In order for this approach to be successful, it is critical that the modified male mosquitoes be able to compete with wild type male mosquitoes for female mates. In this study the authors examined the mating competitiveness of modified males under semi-field conditions. Modified males were released into field cages holding field-collected, virgin females and field collected wild type males. The resulting proportion of eggs that hatched was inversely related to the number of modified males released into the cage, which is consistent with the hypothesized competitiveness of modified males against indigenous males. The outcome indicates that mass release of modified A. polynesiensis mosquitoes could result in the suppression of A. polynesiensis populations and supports the continued development of applied strategies for suppression of this important disease vector

Early Myeloid Dendritic Cell Dysregulation is Predictive of Disease Progression in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) are lost from blood in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection but the mechanism for this loss and its relationship to disease progression are not known. We studied the mDC response in blood and lymph nodes of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaques with different disease outcomes. Early changes in blood mDC number were inversely correlated with virus load and reflective of eventual disease outcome, as animals with stable infection that remained disease-free for more than one year had average increases in blood mDC of 200% over preinfection levels at virus set-point, whereas animals that progressed rapidly to AIDS had significant loss of mDC at this time. Short term antiretroviral therapy (ART) transiently reversed mDC loss in progressor animals, whereas discontinuation of ART resulted in a 3.5-fold increase in mDC over preinfection levels only in stable animals, approaching 10-fold in some cases. Progressive SIV infection was associated with increased CCR7 expression on blood mDC and an 8-fold increase in expression of CCL19 mRNA in lymph nodes, consistent with increased mDC recruitment. Paradoxically, lymph node mDC did not accumulate in progressive infection but rather died from caspase-8-dependent apoptosis that was reduced by ART, indicating that increased recruitment is offset by increased death. Lymph node mDC from both stable and progressor animals remained responsive to exogenous stimulation with a TLR7/8 agonist. These data suggest that mDC are mobilized in SIV infection but that an increase in the CCR7-CCL19 chemokine axis associated with high virus burden in progressive infection promotes exodus of activated mDC from blood into lymph nodes where they die from apoptosis. We suggest that inflamed lymph nodes serve as a sink for mDC through recruitment, activation and death that contributes to AIDS pathogenesis

An Antimicrobial Peptide Regulates Tumor-Associated Macrophage Trafficking via the Chemokine Receptor CCR2, a Model for Tumorigenesis

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute a significant part of infiltrating inflammatory cells that are frequently correlated with progression and poor prognosis of a variety of cancers. Tumor cell-produced human β-defensin-3 (hBD-3) has been associated with TAM trafficking in oral cancer; however, its involvement in tumor-related inflammatory processes remains largely unknown., applying a cross-desensitization strategy of CCR2 and its pharmacological inhibitor (RS102895), respectively, was also carried out. outcome and demonstrates the importance of the innate immune system in the development of tumors

Increasing frailty is associated with higher prevalence and reduced recognition of delirium in older hospitalised inpatients: results of a multi-centre study

Purpose Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder delineated by an acute change in cognition, attention, and consciousness. It is common, particularly in older adults, but poorly recognised. Frailty is the accumulation of deficits conferring an increased risk of adverse outcomes. We set out to determine how severity of frailty, as measured using the CFS, affected delirium rates, and recognition in hospitalised older people in the United Kingdom. Methods Adults over 65 years were included in an observational multi-centre audit across UK hospitals, two prospective rounds, and one retrospective note review. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), delirium status, and 30-day outcomes were recorded. Results The overall prevalence of delirium was 16.3% (483). Patients with delirium were more frail than patients without delirium (median CFS 6 vs 4). The risk of delirium was greater with increasing frailty [OR 2.9 (1.8–4.6) in CFS 4 vs 1–3; OR 12.4 (6.2–24.5) in CFS 8 vs 1–3]. Higher CFS was associated with reduced recognition of delirium (OR of 0.7 (0.3–1.9) in CFS 4 compared to 0.2 (0.1–0.7) in CFS 8). These risks were both independent of age and dementia. Conclusion We have demonstrated an incremental increase in risk of delirium with increasing frailty. This has important clinical implications, suggesting that frailty may provide a more nuanced measure of vulnerability to delirium and poor outcomes. However, the most frail patients are least likely to have their delirium diagnosed and there is a significant lack of research into the underlying pathophysiology of both of these common geriatric syndromes

Decentralized estimation under correlated noise

In this paper, we consider distributed estimation of an unknown random scalar by using wireless sensors and a fusion center (FC). We adopt a linear model for distributed estimation of a scalar source where both observation models and sensor operations are linear, and the multiple access channel (MAC) is coherent. We consider a fusion center with multiple antennas and single antenna. In order to estimate the source, best linear unbiased estimation (BLUE) is adopted. Two cases are considered: Minimization of the mean square error (MSE) of the BLUE estimator subject to network power constraint, and minimization of the network power subject to the quality of service (QOS). For a fusion center with multiple antennas, iterative solutions are provided and it is shown that the proposed algorithms always converge. For a fusion center with single antenna, closed-form solutions are provided, and it is shown that the iterative solutions will reduce to the closed-form solutions. Furthermore, the effect of noise correlation at the sensors and fusion center is investigated. It is shown that knowledge of noise correlation at the sensors will help to improve the system performance. Moreover, if correlation exists and not factored in, the system performance might improve depending on the correlation structure. We also show, by simulations, that when noise at the fusion center is correlated, even with knowing the correlation structure, the system performance degrades. Finally, simulations are provided to verify the analysis and present the performance of the proposed schemes

High SNR linear estimation of vector sources

In this letter, we extend our prior work and consider decentralized estimation of unknown random vectors under high observation signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). A linear model is considered for decentralized estimation of vector sources. Observation models and sensor operations are both linear. Furthermore, the channel between the wireless sensors and fusion center (FC) is a coherent multiple access channel (MAC). Each sensor observes a different vector source. Sensors are designed to minimize the total mean square error (MSE) at the FC subject to the individual transmit power constraints at the sensors. We first provide the solution for scalar sources under high observation SNR regime. Then, we use the provided solution for scalar sources and extend it to the case of vector sources