Fundamentals of Retail: Measuring the Effect on Brand Value

Retail is important for every company. Some fundamentals commonly identified with respect to retail management are availability, visibility, shelf share management, category management, trade endorsement, and out of the box activities. These fundamentals are very important and a company should take care of them as the brand value of products is at stake. The objective of this research is to see whether the brand value is affected or altered by the fundamentals of retail. From the survey and analysis, it was concluded that trade endorsement and shelf-share are not likely to be the inhibitors of brand value. Keywords: Retail, Fundamentals, Brand Valu

What Makes Student’s Click: An Investigation on Student Consumer Decisions from Karachi.

In Pakistan’s most sectors of the economy, it can be seen that companies, FMCG’s and other conglomerates are now in the gradual generalization of their brands and are now even more reluctant to use them in the local context while planning on growing to other frontiers. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of market reputation, brand value, promotions and customer reviews on purchase decisions of students when they are opting for a brand on the basis of its image, attributes, likeability Information was collected from students of 5 universities in Karachi via the use of Quota sampling. Utilizing this approach, a Questionnaires based on likert scale (1-5) was floated. After conducting exploratory factor analysis for validity, Cronbach’s alpha for reliability of the constructs, multiple linear regression and partial correlation was used to test the stated hypotheses, it was seen that mainstream concept of marketing and advertising, Customer reviews and a brand’s market reputation  purchasing a brand have now become a significant predictor on the purchase of the brand.  Since marketing and promotions are now regular techniques, customers are now aware of this and tend to go for brands they consider are higher in value to them rather than cheap promotions to sell a product. Keywords: Brand Value, Materialism, Regret, Skepticism towards Advertising, Purchase Decision

A COMPARISON OF PACING STRATEGY BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL AND PAKISTANI 100-M SWIMMERS

The purpose of this study was to determine, based on the stroking time recorded in a 100-m swimming competition, whether elite international 100-m swimmers have the same pacing strategy as the Pakistani swimmers or not. Based on a video data, three different levels of performance were analyzed i.e. Finalists (G1, n=32) from the European Championship, 2012; Medalists (G2, n=12) and Non-medalists (G3, n=20) from the Pakistan National Swimming Championship, 2014. For the current analysis each stroking distance was divided into two sections (i.e. before and after the 25m mark). The average speed of each section (ST1, ST2, ST3 and ST4) was quantified in order to depict pacing strategy. Results showed even-positive pacing (1.75 ± 0.17 m/s) towards the end of the race in G1; whereas, variable speed pacing was observed in both G2 (1.42 ± 0.26 m/s) and G3 (1.21 ± 0.28 m/s). Based on these findings it is proposed to encourage an efficient pace strategy for 100-m swimmers

Pediatric Posterior Fossa Brain Tumor Surgical Outcome

Objective:  The study analyzed the complications and satisfactory surgical outcomes of posterior fossa brain tumor surgery in Lahore Medical City Lahore. Materials and Methods:  A prospective study was conducted and included 40 children who were diagnosed with posterior fossa brain tumors by history, physical examination, and later radiologically were admitted and operated on at the Pediatric Neurosurgery Department in Lahore medical City Lahore between the period of March 2021 and March 2022. Results:  There were 26 (65%) male and 14 (35% females) individuals among the 40 patients. The average age was 12.5 years. This study found that great surgical outcomes were observed in 10 instances (25 percent), good outcomes in 20 cases (50%), and bad outcomes in 10 cases (25%). The most frequent clinical manifestations were headache (38%), vomiting (30%), ataxia (10%), blurred vision (10%), and cranial nerve palsy (12.5%). The best prognosis is shown in children with Pilocytic astrocytoma, followed by ependymoma, while the poorest outcome is seen in children with medulloblastoma. Conclusion:  Pediatric neurosurgeons continue to face particular difficulty in the surgical treatment of posterior fossa brain tumors. Our study compares the outcomes, complications, and surgical outcomes to prior clinical investigations

Comparison of Low – Versus Medium-Pressure Shunts in Pediatric Hydrocephalus – A Study of the Children Hospitals, Lahore

Objective:  This prospective cross-sectional study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of low-pressure vs. medium-pressure shunts in children with hydrocephalus. Material and Methods: 52 children with different types of hydrocephalus were admitted through OPD and Surgical emergency at The Children Hospital, Lahore. All Children were gone through Ultrasonography and CT Brain plain after admission. The pediatric hydrocephalus was resolved into two groups. All patients treated with Chhabra differential pressure VP (ventriculoperitoneal) shunt in either low pressure or medium pressure. CT scans were used to assess the postoperative clinical and radiological outcomes to monitor the ventricle hemispheric ratio (VHR). Results:  A low-pressure shunt was implanted in 26 individuals, whereas a medium-pressure shunt was implanted in 26 individuals. Patients varied in age from one day to thirteen years old. In group A, the average VHR was 57.58% preoperatively, but it dropped to 42.88% after surgery. Similarly, in group B, the pre-and postoperative VHR was 59.35% and 42.81%, respectively, which was statistically significant. In both groups, the incidence of shunt complications and redo shunt operation were not statistically significant. Conclusion:  In this study, individuals with pediatric hydrocephalus who had a low-pressure shunt or a medium-pressure shunt had similar outcomes

Immunological Evaluation of Two Local Isolates of Eimeria tenella Gametocytes against Coccidiosis in Poultry

Two local isolates of Eimeria tenella gametocytes against coccidiosis were immunologically evaluated in chickens. Cell mediated immune response was detected by modified splenic cell migration inhibition assay (MSCMIA) and data were expressed in terms of per cent migration index. No significant difference in per cent migration index was detected for the chickens immunized either with Vaccine-I (local isolate-I) or with Vaccine-II (local isolate-II); however per cent migration index was comparatively lower in chickens immunized with Vaccine-II as compared to Vaccine-I; indicating a somewhat higher cell mediated immune (CMI) response. Humoral immune response was monitored by ELISA in vaccinated and control chickens. Significantly elevated (P<0.05) antibody titer (IgG) in chickens immunized with Vaccine-II as compared to Vaccine-I was detected. Significantly higher protection (67%) in chickens immunized with Vaccine-II followed by vaccine-I (49%) was recorded. Further, oocyst count was significantly lower (P<0.05) in chickens immunized with Vaccine-II as compared to those immunized with Vaccine-I. It was concluded that vaccinal strain (Vaccine-II) contained additional protein of high molecular weight (49.23 kDa) in its gametocytes provided cross protection and can be used to prepare commercial vaccine against coccidiosis in poultry

Single nucleotide polymorphism and phylogenetic analysis of the exon 2 of leptin gene in Lohi sheep

Background: Leptin hormone, encoded by leptin (LEP) gene is involved in many biological and physiological processes in the body. Polymorphism in LEP gene has been observed and correlated with a variety of reproductive and productive traits in several sheep breeds worldwide, but its role has not been much studied in local sheep breeds of Pakistan. The present study was conducted to analyze polymorphism in LEP gene in Lohi breed of sheep.Methods: Subsequent to statistical analysis (generalized linear model), 18 animals were selected randomly from the flock for blood samples collection followed by DNA extraction, amplification using PCR prior to sequencing. The amplified product of exon 2 and partial intron 2 regions of LEP gene was 268bp.Results: Molecular analysis showed a heterozygous condition i.e. C>Y at position 15 and 18 in exon 2. The data on average daily weight gain (ADG) from birthday to 90 days were used for association study, while environmental effects were minimized by means of generalized linear model. Association of polymorphisms in LEP gene with ADG did not yield any significant results.Conclusion: In conclusion, analysis of LEP gene sequence verified the existence of genetic changes in Lohi sheep. Further investigations are needed to find variations that might be linked with traits of economic importance for upcoming breeding program sand marker-assisted selection.Keywords: DNA; Exon 2; LEP; PCR; Loh

Carrot and Stick Approach: The Exploitative Leadership and Absenteeism in Education Sector

Utilizing the conservation of resources theory, this study investigates serial mediation of facades of conformity and depression between exploitative leadership and absenteeism. A total of 211 education sector employees using the convenient sampling technique took part in the survey with data collected in a time-lagged research design. Findings of the study reveal that facades of conformity and depression mediate the independent paths and play a serial mediating role between EL and absenteeism path. This study suggests that EL works as a workplace stressor, under which employees try to protect their valuable resources from further loss in the form of facades of conformity, in doing so, it leads to depression; thus, employees ultimately use absenteeism as an active coping strategy to cope with workplace stressors