IMPACT OF CUSTOMER BRAND RELATIONSHIP THROUGH FACEBOOK ON THE LEVEL OF CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT

In the last few years customer engagement has received asignificant attention of researchers and marketers’ because there is arise in the awareness of customers as value recipient to value cocreator.Two hypotheses were developed i.e. 1) Customer BrandRelationship through facebook impacts on the level of customerengagement. 2) There is a gender difference on the variable ofcustomer engagement on facebook. A survey was designed by takingten different brands of cloths that have their web pages on onlinesocial media. A sample of 211 individuals was approached to measurethe engagement status of 10 clothing brands through online socialmedia. Customer Engagement Scale (CES; Justina Malciute, 2012)was used to measure the impact of customer brand relationshipthrough Facebook on the level of Customer Engagement. Regressionanalysis was performed to measure the results. The results of thestudy suggest that customer brand relationship through facebookwill impact the level of customer engagement. Moreover, no genderdifference was found on the variable of customer engagement onfacebook

DEVELOPMENT OF THE GENERAL EMOTIONAL LABOR SCALE – URDU (GELS – U)

The purpose of the current research is to develop a scale thatmeasures Emotional Labor in Urdu and the study describes theprocedure followed to develop the General Emotional Labor Scale– Urdu (GELS – U). The process of scale development was brokenup into different phases. The first phase of scale construction dealtwith item generation and the second involved conducting a pilotstudy. The sample for the pilot study consisted of 308 individuals.Based on the results of the pilot study the items of the scale werereduced from 49 to 30 using factor analysis and item-totalcorrelations. The last phase of the study entailed normsdevelopment and establishing the reliability of GELS – U. For thispurpose, the sample consisted of 505 individuals. The internalconsistency of GELS – U was found to be 0.810, and the test-retestreliability was 0.871. Thus, the General Emotional Labor Scale –Urdu was developed as a measure of emotional labor in the nationallanguage of Pakistan – i.e. Urdu. Such a scale can be useful fornot just researchers but for organizations in the service sector aswell. This will help understanding in the performance of emotionallabor, its effects on employees and the possibility of trainingemployees who might need to perform such labor

Surveillance of molecular markers of antimalarial drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA), Pakistan

This molecular epidemiological study was designed to determine the antimalarial drug resistance pattern, and the genetic diversity of malaria isolates collected from a war-altered Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA), in Pakistan. Clinical isolates were collected from Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai and Kurram agencies of FATA region between May 2017 and May 2018, and they underwent DNA extraction and amplification. The investigation of gene polymorphisms in drug resistance genes (dhfr, dhps, crt, and mdr1) of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax was carried out by pyrosequencing and Sanger sequencing, respectively. Out of 679 PCR-confirmed malaria samples, 523 (77%) were P. vivax, 121 (18%) P. falciparum, and 35 (5%) had mixed-species infections. All P. falciparum isolates had pfdhfr double mutants (C59R+S108N), while pfdhfr/pfdhps triple mutants (C59R+S108N+A437G) were detected in 11.5% of the samples. About 97.4% of P. falciparum isolates contained pfcrt K76T mutation, while pfmdr1 N86Y and Y184F mutations were present in 18.2% and 10.2% of the samples. P. vivax pvdhfr S58R mutation was present in 24.9% of isolates and the S117N mutation in 36.2%, while no mutation in the pvdhps gene was found. Pvmdr1 F1076L mutation was found in nearly all samples, as it was observed in 98.9% of isolates. No significant anti-folate and chloroquine resistance was observed in P. vivax; however, mutations associated with antifolate-resistance were found, and the chloroquine-resistant gene has been observed in 100% of P. falciparum isolates. Chloroquine and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance were found to be high in P. falciparum and low in P. vivax. Chloroquine could still be used for P. vivax infection but need to be tested in vivo, whereas a replacement of the artemisinin combination therapy for P. falciparum appears to be justified

Materialist and Post-Materialist Concerns and the Wish for a Strong Leader in 27 Countries

There is evidence that democracies are under threat around the world while the quest for strong leaders is increasing. Although the causes of these developments are complex and multifaceted, here we focus on one factor: the extent to which citizens express materialist and post-materialist concerns. We explore whether objective higher levels of democracy are differentially associated with materialist and post-materialist concerns and, in turn, whether this is related to the wish for a strong leader. Testing this hypothesis across 27 countries (N = 5,741) demonstrated a direct negative effect of democracies' development on the wish for a strong leader. Further, multi-level mediation analysis showed that the relation between the Democracy Index and the wish for a strong leader was mediated by materialist concerns. This pattern of results suggests that lower levels of democracy are associated with enhanced concerns about basic needs and this is linked to greater support for strong leaders.Peer reviewe

Materialist and Post-Materialist Concerns and the Wish for a Strong Leader in 27 Countries

There is evidence that democracies are under threat around the world while the quest for strong leaders is increasing. Although the causes of these developments are complex and multifaceted, here we focus on one factor: the extent to which citizens express materialist and post-materialist concerns. We explore whether objective higher levels of democracy are differentially associated with materialist and post-materialist concerns and, in turn, whether this is related to the wish for a strong leader. Testing this hypothesis across 27 countries (N = 5,741) demonstrated a direct negative effect of democracies' development on the wish for a strong leader. Further, multi-level mediation analysis showed that the relation between the Democracy Index and the wish for a strong leader was mediated by materialist concerns. This pattern of results suggests that lower levels of democracy are associated with enhanced concerns about basic needs and this is linked to greater support for strong leaders.Peer reviewe

Introductory programming: a systematic literature review

As computing becomes a mainstream discipline embedded in the school curriculum and acts as an enabler for an increasing range of academic disciplines in higher education, the literature on introductory programming is growing. Although there have been several reviews that focus on specific aspects of introductory programming, there has been no broad overview of the literature exploring recent trends across the breadth of introductory programming. This paper is the report of an ITiCSE working group that conducted a systematic review in order to gain an overview of the introductory programming literature. Partitioning the literature into papers addressing the student, teaching, the curriculum, and assessment, we explore trends, highlight advances in knowledge over the past 15 years, and indicate possible directions for future research

Revisiting the Measurement of Anomie

Peer reviewe

Cultural Values Moderate the Impact of Relative Deprivation

Relative deprivation (RD) is the judgment that one or one’s ingroup is worse off compared with some relevant standard coupled with feelings of dissatisfaction, anger, and resentment. RD predicts a wide range of outcomes, but it is unclear whether this relationship is moderated by national cultural differences. Therefore, in the first study, we used national assessments of individual-collectivism and power distance to code 303 effect sizes from 31 different countries with 200,578 participants. RD predicted outcomes ranging from life satisfaction to collective action more strongly within individualistic nations. A second survey of 6,112 undergraduate university students from 28 different countries confirmed the predictive value of RD. Again, the relationship between individual RD and different outcomes was stronger for students who lived in more individualistic countries. Group-based RD also predicted political trust more strongly for students who lived in countries marked by lower power distance. RD effects, although consistent predictors, are culturally bounded. In particular, RD is more likely to motivate reactions within individualistic countries that emphasize individual agency and achievement as a source of self-worth

Bi-allelic Loss-of-Function CACNA1B Mutations in Progressive Epilepsy-Dyskinesia.

The occurrence of non-epileptic hyperkinetic movements in the context of developmental epileptic encephalopathies is an increasingly recognized phenomenon. Identification of causative mutations provides an important insight into common pathogenic mechanisms that cause both seizures and abnormal motor control. We report bi-allelic loss-of-function CACNA1B variants in six children from three unrelated families whose affected members present with a complex and progressive neurological syndrome. All affected individuals presented with epileptic encephalopathy, severe neurodevelopmental delay (often with regression), and a hyperkinetic movement disorder. Additional neurological features included postnatal microcephaly and hypotonia. Five children died in childhood or adolescence (mean age of death: 9 years), mainly as a result of secondary respiratory complications. CACNA1B encodes the pore-forming subunit of the pre-synaptic neuronal voltage-gated calcium channel Cav2.2/N-type, crucial for SNARE-mediated neurotransmission, particularly in the early postnatal period. Bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in CACNA1B are predicted to cause disruption of Ca2+ influx, leading to impaired synaptic neurotransmission. The resultant effect on neuronal function is likely to be important in the development of involuntary movements and epilepsy. Overall, our findings provide further evidence for the key role of Cav2.2 in normal human neurodevelopment.MAK is funded by an NIHR Research Professorship and receives funding from the Wellcome Trust, Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital Charity, and Rosetrees Trust. E.M. received funding from the Rosetrees Trust (CD-A53) and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. K.G. received funding from Temple Street Foundation. A.M. is funded by Great Ormond Street Hospital, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and Biomedical Research Centre. F.L.R. and D.G. are funded by Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. K.C. and A.S.J. are funded by NIHR Bioresource for Rare Diseases. The DDD Study presents independent research commissioned by the Health Innovation Challenge Fund (grant number HICF-1009-003), a parallel funding partnership between the Wellcome Trust and the Department of Health, and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (grant number WT098051). We acknowledge support from the UK Department of Health via the NIHR comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre award to Guy's and St. Thomas' National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust in partnership with King's College London. This research was also supported by the NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre. J.H.C. is in receipt of an NIHR Senior Investigator Award. The research team acknowledges the support of the NIHR through the Comprehensive Clinical Research Network. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, Department of Health, or Wellcome Trust. E.R.M. acknowledges support from NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, an NIHR Senior Investigator Award, and the University of Cambridge has received salary support in respect of E.R.M. from the NHS in the East of England through the Clinical Academic Reserve. I.E.S. is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (Program Grant and Practitioner Fellowship)

UV LED curing formulation for polyacrylamide hydrogels

Current studies showed that UV LED system is a green technology and highly efficient as compared to UV Mercury (UV Hg) system. In this study, the UV LED curing formulations of polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels were developed. The formulations consisted of acrylamide (AAm) as a main monomer, N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker and photoinitiator. UV LED emits monochromatic light sources only (365 nm or 385 nm). Thus, in order to developed formulation of UV LED curable hydrogels, a suitable water soluble photoinitiator (i.e. λ ~ 365 nm) has to be employed. A commercially available photoinitiator Oligo [2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-[4-(1-methylvinyl) phenyl] propanone] under the trade name Chivacure 300 (λ ~ 330 nm) was chosen in the first formulations. However, due to limited solubility in water, addition of tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 9.5:0.5 ratio of water/THF was required for Chivacure 300. We also synthesized a photoinitiator based on 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenyl acetophenone (DMPA) and methylated-ß-cyclodextrin (MßCD) to be used in the second formulation. The complexation of DMPA and MßCD resulted in transparent and water-soluble supramolecular-structured photoinitiator (SSPI) (λ ~ 330 nm). Both formulations were irradiated using UV LED system (Hoenle AG, Germany, 365 nm) for 15 min. Synthesis of PAAm hydrogels with both photoinitiators has yielded almost complete conversion of hydrogels (> 80 %). Clearly, this study has revealed that enhanced formulation of UV LED curable hydrogels are due to appropriate choice of excellent water-solubility photoinitiators (Chivacure 300 and modified DMPA). We concluded that UV LED is an important tool for curing hydrogel formulations of various acrylate water-based monomers