The Influence of Self-image Congruity on Perceived Value and Brand Loyalty Concerning Sportswear

Perceived value is important in determining brand loyalty. Although studies have shown that consumers’ perceived values change over time, understanding which values are influenced by self-image congruity is necessary, because the relationship consumers form with brands they favor will help marketers develop strategies that can motivate their brand loyalty. Therefore, this study sought to assess which perceived values consumers acquire from consumption of their favorite sportswear brand. It also examined the influence of self-image congruity on these values. The objectives of the study were to: identify the perceived value of sportswear brands of college students; investigate the effect of perceived value on brand loyalty; test the mediating effect of the self-concept in the relationship between perceived value and brand loyalty; and identify the relationship among perceived value, self-concept and brand loyalty. An online survey was administered to college students. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression. The results showed that participants were loyal to their favorite sportswear brands given key values. The study identified two clusters of participants based on their self-image congruity, those with high self-image congruency and those with low self-image congruency. High self-image congruency group considered price and quality value in their favorite sportswear brand. Thus, their brand loyalty was mainly as a result of the price and quality value they got from the brand. The low self-image congruency group considered emotional and price value in their favorite brand. Thus there brand loyalty was mainly due to the emotional value and price value they got from the brand. None of the groups were influenced by social value. Therefore, since the ‘self’ influences consumption, focusing on marketing strategies that enhance self-image congruity for each of the groups could help companies sustain brand loyalty among their customers given the competitiveness in this retail sector

Synthesis, antimalarial evaluation, Ç-hematin inhibition, and in silico and in vitro ADMET profiling of 4-aminoquinoline-hydroxypyridinone hybrids

Includes abstract.With the aim of designing appropriate hybrid molecules as a strategy to fight drug resistant malaria parasites, 4-aminoquinoline-3,4-hydroxypyridinone hybrids were designed and synthesized. Their hypothesized mode of action was studied with respect to inhibition of hemozoin formation

Collaboratively Designed Customized Ethnic Dress: An Exploration Of Consumption Motivation Of First And Second Generation African Immigrant Women In US

African immigrant women in the USA are wear their ethnic dress when attending social functions such as church, weddings, and parties. They work with a tailor to help them create and customize their ethnic dress. With this in mind, the study sought to explore the motivations to collaboratively customize and wear the ethnic dress among these women. A Means end chain, MEC theory (Gutman, 1997) was used as the theoretical model. To answer the research questions, a qualitative approach was utilized, using semi structure interviews with the soft laddering technique and photo elicitation methods. A convenience sample of 15 first and 9 second generation African immigrant women were purposively sampled for the study. Data was collected and analyzed. The results revealed fourteen attributes, eleven consequences and seven values that motivated consumption of collaboratively customized ethnic dress. There were strong links between the attributes, consequences and values that revealed dominant themes: functionality, self-expression, self-esteem, adaptability and versatility, aesthetics, emotional attachment and clothing longevity, and cultural identity. The study found that the women were motivated by both the process and the product of collaborative customization resulting into a proposed model of collaborative customization. The first-generation women were more emotionally attachment to their ethnic dress, developed personal relationships with the tailor and typically wore their ethnic dress more often with elaborate headgear, but the second generation preferred less elaborate headgear and wearing with jeans, contemporary blouses, and needed their mothers to approach the tailors. These findings supported previous studies on ethnic dress and acculturation. Collaborative customization enabled consumers to become proactive in the design process, thus contributing to sustainability. Consumer’s got emotionally attached to their dresses translating to long clothing life span and reducing quick disposal of clothing

Effects of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act of 2015 on the Financial Management of thes State Corporations in Kenya: A Case Study of Agriculture and Food Authority

The objectives of the study was to find out the effects of Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015 (PPADA) on financial management in Kenya\u27s State Corporations, a case study of the Agricultural and Food Authority (AFA). The specific objectives were: cost of goods and services procured transparency in the procurement processes, lead-time of procured goods, quality of goods procured affects the financial management of Agricultural and Food Authority. A descriptive study design was adopted for this study. Stratified sampling was employed in the study to pick out the management and other staff at AFA countrywide offices where a total population study of 186 respondents working under Administration, Finance, Transport, Research and Production Departments were drawn from the study population. The primary data was collected using structured questionnaires. The study findings revealed that cost of goods and services procured, transparency, lead-time of procured goods and the quality of goods procured in State Corporations affect their financial management. The study recommends that State Corporations should efficiently implement Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015 (PPADA) to improve their financial management

Cultural Influences on Clothing Preferences among African Immigrant Women in the US

African immigrants are a major growing consumer market that retailers cannot ignore. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of culture on the clothing preferences of African immigrant women in the US. Berry\u27s (1997) Acculturation framework was used for this study. A purposive sample of African immigrant women, participated in this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Chi Square. Results revealed that there is a relationship between the length of stay in the US with religious value, price value, social value, and preference for clothing style. In addition, the women would not buy provocative or revealing clothing. Results are useful to brand marketers and entrepreneurs targeting this consumer group, giving insight into clothing preferences and changes that occur over time while assimilating into a new culture

Demographic and socio-economic determinants of female migration in rural KwaZulu-Natal.

Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.Female migration in South Africa has been on the increase over the years. This thesis attempts to look at the demographic and socio-economic factors that drive this increase using data from the Africa Centre Demographic Information System (ACDIS) during the period 2001 and 2008. Using data that provides for timing of events such as migration and births, the study analyses the time it took females to migrate. Migration was defined as having out-migrated the Demographic Surveillance Area (DSA) and never coming back. Migration levels were found to be high with 28 per cent of the females between 15-49 years of age out-migrating from the DSA. Models were created to explore the demographic and socio-economic factors controlling for other known determinant of migration. In the logistic regression, odds ratios showed that parity and childbearing status were important predicators of female migration. Females with four children were less likely to out-migrate the DSA (a 61 per cent less chance of migrating compared to females without children). Furthermore, pregnant females were not likely to migrate (a 45 per cent less chance of migrating compared to females who are not pregnant or breastfeeding). In a survival analysis, determinants of timing of migration showed that females with high parities had a higher survivorships to out-migration, compared to females who were pregnant. Hazard ratios also showed that females with four children are not likely to migrate compared to females with four children (a 7 per cent less hazard of migrating compared to females with no children). Age, marital status and educational attainment were also found to be predictors of female migration. Older females were less likely to migrate compared to younger females (females in the 44-49 age group had a 70 per cent less hazard of migrating compared to females in the 15-19 age group). Currently married and cohabiting females had a 29 per cent less hazard of migrating compared to never married females. Females with high educational attainment were more likely to migrate compared to females without education (an 18 per cent higher hazard of migrating compared to females without education). The timing of migration showed that pregnant females migrate after five years into the start of their pregnancy (date of conception). In conclusion, females with many children and females who are pregnant or breastfeeding are not likely to migrate

Trends of HIV infection among infants born to HIV infected mothers on PMCT antiretroviral treatment in western Kenya.

Background : More than 365,000 of unborn children are at risk of getting HIV infection in the developing world through "vertical" transmission. Although, ARVs are being used to reduce maternal HIV transmission, limited information exists indicating their impact on the trend of HIV prevalence among infants born to HIV infected mothers. Objective : To determine the trend of HIV infection among infants born to HIV infected mothers in relation to specific ARVs administered to pregnant women and lactating mothers of 18 months and below infants. Methodology : Dried blood spot samples in the following quantities per year thus, in 2010, n = 4,210, in 2011, n=4,093, in 2012, n=4,686, in 2013, n=3,080 were collected from infants aged ≤18 months whose mothers were HIV positive. The samples were analyzed using Cobas Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay in early infant diagnosis laboratory at the Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Control Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). Results: Out of the total number of samples tested 2010, 409(9.7%) tested HIV positive. In 2011, 350(8.5%), in 2012, 368(7.9%) and in 2013, 221(7.2%) were HIV positive respectively. The trend of HIV in infants whose mothers had been put on various ARVs was as follows: AZT+3TC +EFV, in 2010, the number was 10.4%. In 2011, it moved to 9.1%, in 2012, to 6.3% and 2013, dropped to 6.0%. AZT+3TC+NVP, in 2010, the number was 7.1%, in 2011, moved to 6.1%, in 2012, falling to 4.7% and 2013 to3.9%. SdNVP, in 2010, the number was 10.3%. In 2011, moved to 7.4%, in 2012, dropping to 6.2% and in 2013, at 6.0%. Those mothers who had not been given any ARVs, their infants had HIV prevalence as follows: in 2010, the number was 11.2%. In 2011, it climbed to 12.6%, moving to 12.7% in 2012, and 12.9% in 2013. Conclusion: There was direct relationship between specific ARV administration and HIV infection among those infants. That was evident by the fact that, HIV appeared to decrease with sub-sequent years of provision of specific drugs. However, HAART (AZT+3TC+ EFV) seemed to provide greater impact in HIV prevention compared to other HAART (AZT+3TC+NVP) and SdNVP. The worst groups are those not on any ARVs. Single-dose Nevirapine commonly is used for prevention event-hough prior studies have shown exposure to it develop drug resistance, which can compromise the effective not only of itself, but also other non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) Recommendation : There is need for all HIV positive pregnant women to be put on ARVs and monitored for ARVs uptake to reduce the transmission of HIV from mother to child. Key words: HIV, ARVs, Infants, &nbsp

Antiplasmodial activity, in vivo pharmacokinetics and anti-malarial efficacy evaluation of hydroxypyridinone hybrids in a mouse model

BackgroundDuring the erythrocytic stage in humans, malaria parasites digest haemoglobin of the host cell, and the toxic haem moiety crystallizes into haemozoin. Chloroquine acts by forming toxic complexes with haem molecules and interfering with their crystallization. In chloroquine-resistant strains, the drug is excluded from the site of action, which causes the parasites to accumulate less chloroquine in their acid food vacuoles than chloroquine-sensitive parasites. 3-Hydroxylpyridin-4-ones are known to chelate iron; hydroxypyridone-chloroquine (HPO-CQ) hybrids were synthesized in order to determine whether they can inhibit parasites proliferation in the parasitic digestive vacuole by withholding iron from plasmodial parasite metabolic pathway.MethodsTwo HPO-CQ hybrids were tested against Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-sensitive (D10 and 3D7) and -resistant strains (Dd2 and K1). The pharmacokinetic properties of active compounds were determined using a mouse model and blood samples were collected at different time intervals and analysed using LC–MS/MS. For in vivo efficacy the mice were infected with Plasmodium berghei in a 4-day Peters’ test. The parasitaemia was determined from day 3 and the course of the infection was followed by microscopic examination of stained blood films every 2–3days until a rise in parasitaemia was observed in all test subjects.ResultsIC50 values of the two compounds for sensitive and resistant strains were 0.064 and 0.047µM (compound 1), 0.041 and 0.122µM (compound 2) and 0.505 and 0.463µM (compound 1), 0.089 and 0.076µM (compound 2), respectively. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of these compounds showed low oral bioavailability and this affected in vivo efficacy when compounds were dosed orally. However, when dosed intravenously compound 1 showed a clearance rate of 28ml/min/kg, an apparent volume of distribution of 20l/kg and a half-life of 4.3h. A reduction in parasitaemia was observed when compound 1 was dosed intravenously for four consecutive days in P. berghei-infected mice. However, a rise in parasitaemia levels was observed on day 6 and on day 9 for chloroquine-treated mice.ConclusionThe hybrid compounds that were tested were able to reduce parasitaemia levels in P. berghei-infected mice when dosed intravenously, but parasites recrudesced 24h after the administration of the least dose. Despite low oral bioavailability, the IV data obtained suggests that further structural modifications may lead to the identification of more HPO-CQ hybrids with improved pharmacokinetic properties and in vivo efficacy

MATERNAL IMMUNE RESPONSES AND RISK OF INFANT INFECTION WITH HIV-1 AFTER A SHORT COURSE ZIDOVUDINE IN A COHORT OF HIV-1 INFECTED PREGNANT WOMEN IN RURAL KENYA

Objective: To investigate the effects of short-course nucleoside reverse transcriptaseinhibitor (Zidovudine, ZDW/AZT) on maternal immune responses and risk of infantinfection with HIV-1 among rural-based mothers in western Kenya.Design: A prospective cohort study involving HIV-1 seropositive pregnant mothers andtheir infants.Subjects: One hundred and seven HIV-1 seropositive asymptomatic pregnant womenand their infants.Methods: After informed consent, the women were enrolled at gestation age between16-24 weeks. For cultural and economic reasons, all mothers were allowed to breastfeed their infants. Short-course antepartum regime of AZT was administered to allmothers starting at 36 weeks gestation until start of labour. Maternal absolute CD4+T cell subset assays were performed before 3rd trimester (about 36 weeks gestation)and after a 4-week therapy of AZT (at least one month post-nuptially). Infant HIV-1 status was determined by HIV-1 DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on samplessequentially taken at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 9 months and confirmed by serology at 18 monthsof age.Interventions: Antepartum short-course orally administered AZT: 300mg twice-dailystarting at 36 weeks gestation until start of labour, 300mg at labour onset and 300mgevery three hours during labour until delivery.Main Outcome Measures: Maternal CD4+ T cell counts before and after AZT treatment.Determination of infant HIV-1 infection status.Results: Among 107 women sampled, only 59 received full dose of AZT and thus qualifiedfor present analysis. Of these, 12 infected their children with HIV, while 47 did not.Comparison of CD4+ T cells before and after AZT treatment scored a significant risein all mothers (P = 0.01). This increase in CD4+ T cells was not significant amongmothers who infected their infants with HIV-1 (P = 0.474). However, a significant risein CD4+ T cells following AZT therapy was observed only in mothers who did nottransmit HIV-1 to their infants (P=0.014).Conclusion: These data suggest that a rise in the CD4+ T cell counts following shortAZT regimen, now widely in use in resource-weak countries, may be evidence of theactive suppression of the replication of HIV. However, further studies to examine themulti-factorial effect of CD4+ lymphocytes and pregnancy on MTCT of HIV need tobe carried out to help fully explain the effect of AZT on immune response and whetherthe CD4+T cell count can be used as a true test of immunological normalisation duringantiretroviral therapy