Enhancing Customer Purchase Intentions through Service Brand Credibility

Purpose – The basic aim of present study was to test the construct of brand credibility and its impact on purchase intentions with moderation effect of brand image in service sector of Pakistan.Design/methodology/approach – for the sake of data collection, A questionnaire was used from the customers of fast food users from the city of Lahore Pakistan.  Regression and correlation analysis along with others were used for data analysis and hypothesis testing.  Findings – Based of the statistical evidences of present study it is found that brand credibility and purchase intentions are positively related whereas brand image moderates this relationship.Practical implications – This study will help survey marketers and mangers to understand the importance of brand credibility for enhancing customer purchase intentions, furthermore it will guide them to incorporate the brand image in crafting different marketing and branding strategies to increase brand royalty.Originality/value – According to researcher, this is a pioneer study to propose the impact of service-brand-credibility and its impact on customer purchase intentions with moderating effect of brand image in the context of Pakistan. Keywords: Brand credibility, Purchase intentions, Brand image, Brands, Pakistan. Paper type: Research pape

Carbapenem Resistance: Mechanisms and Drivers of Global Menace

The emergence of carbapenem-resistant bacterial pathogens is a significant and mounting health concern across the globe. At present, carbapenem resistance (CR) is considered as one of the most concerning resistance mechanisms and mainly found in gram-negative bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family. Although carbapenem resistance has been recognized in Enterobacteriaceae from last 20 years or so, recently it emerged as a global health issue as CR clonal dissemination of various Enterobacteriaceae members especially E. coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae are reported from across the globe at an alarming rate. Phenotypically, carbapenems resistance is in due to the two key mechanisms, like structural mutation coupled with β-lactamase production and the ability of the pathogen to produce carbapenemases which ultimately hydrolyze the carbapenem. Additionally, penicillin-binding protein modification and efflux pumps are also responsible for the development of carbapenem resistance. Carbapenemases are classified into different classes which include Ambler classes A, B, and D. Several mobile genetic elements (MGEs) have their potential role in carbapenem resistance like Tn4401, Class I integrons, IncFIIK2, IncF1A, and IncI2. Taking together, resistance against carbapenems is continuously evolving and posing a significant health threat to the community. Variable mechanisms that are associated with carbapenem resistance, different MGEs, and supplementary mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in association with virulence factors are expanding day by day. Timely demonstration of this global health concern by using molecular tools, epidemiological investigations, and screening may permit the suitable measures to control this public health menace

Beneficial and pathogenic plant-microbe interactions:A review

Just like animals and human beings, plants also accommodate a countless number of microorganisms as hosts. Microorganisms enjoy this hospitality by developing an interaction with the plants either in a synergistic way benefiting each other or in an antagonistic manner damaging their hosts. Such types of mutualistic and pathogenic interactions also take place among microbial community. Proteins, metabolites and certain molecular mechanisms determine whether the intruder is a symbiotic or pathogenic microorganism. Various bacteria and fungi interact symbiotically and play significant role in plant growth promotion. Certain species of fungi, oomycetes, bacteria and nematodes are also pathogenic in nature and cause impact on soil and plant. Soil serves as a big substrate for microbial community, which are important in a number of ways owing to their role in mineralization, nutrient availability and are sources of industrial products such as enzymes, hormones, antibiotics, vitamins etc. This review will improve our understanding about relationships between plants and their microbial friends and foes. The mechanisms adopted by soil microbes to contribute in the betterment of soil leading towards enhanced plant growth as well as pathogenicity caused by these microbes have also been discussed. Recent advances to recognize the molecular mechanisms involved in such interactions have also been discussed. Recent advances made in this field and the areas needing further research have also been mentioned

Evaluation of Rhizospheric-Pseudomonas spp. for the management of Meloidogyne incognita in tomato

Root knot nematodes are commercially important plant parasites of many vegetable crops in Pakistan. This study investigate antagonistic effect of Pseudomonas spp. against M. incognita on tomato crop. Ten tomato cultivars were screened against RKN infection. Roma was found the most resistant against infection of M. incognita while money maker was found the most susceptible. Gall or egg mass number/indices are more resistant to RKN. Pseudomonas strains inoculated in the infected tomato plants reduced galling index and also improved the growth of the plant. So, it was obvious that bio-control agents also act as PGPR by stimulating plant growth and inducing resistance through the increase of total phenolic contents and salicylic acid. Tomato cv. Roma showed the greatest increase of total phenol contents and salicylic acid exhibiting tolerance against M. incognita infestation. Tomato cv. Roma showed significantly resistant response against root-knot nematode diseases. Pseudomonas showed significant antagonistic potential against M. incognita in tomato plant

Integrated Nutrient Management Enhances Soil Quality and Crop Productivity in Maize-Based Cropping System

Soil quality deterioration, especially in intensive cropping systems, has become a serious problem for crop productivity; consequently, strategies for sustainable crop production and soil health are urgently required. Experiments on fields were organized to investigate the impact of organic manures on crop productivity, soil physiochemical properties and soil water availability in a maize-based cropping system. The experiment consisted of five treatments, including organic manures (OM) and inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizers applied separately and in combinations: NPK = 250-150-125 Kg/ha (recommended rate), farmyard manure (FYM) = 16 t/ha, poultry manure (PM) = 13 t/ha, NPK + FYM = 150-85-50 Kg/ha + 8.5 t/ha and NPK + PM = 150-85-50 Kg/ha + 7.0 t/ha. The results showed that the combination of OM with mineral fertilizers increased crop productivity, fertilizer use efficiency and yield sustainability indices over the treatments amended with sole application of mineral fertilizers and OM. The analysis of undisturbed soil samples during different crop growth stages revealed that the addition of OM decreased the bulk density and increased the pore volume of soil at the beds of 0–20 and 20–40 cm. The application of OM to the soil not only increased saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil but also improved total available and readily available water contents to the plants, especially when FYM was included at 16 t ha−1. Soil-water retention properties recorded over the entire seven-day monitoring period following irrigation in the OM-amended treatments were consistently higher than the sole mineral NPK application treatments. When testing the soil nutrient status during different crop growth stages, it was noted that by adding OM into the soil not only the status of the organic carbon of soil, extractable N and K and available P contents is increased, but the duration of their availability to the plants are also enhanced. The results of the study show that organic manures addition is of major significance for maintaining soil quality and crop production sustainably, and should be advocated in the nutrient management strategies of intensive water- and nutrient-demanding cropping systems

Morphogenetic characterization of Xanthomonas citri pv. citri and its management

Background: Pakistan’s economy largely depends on citrus cultivation, and citrus fruits generate significant foreign exchange. Xanthomonas citri pv. citri (Xcc) is the primary cause of citrus canker (CC), which poses a significant threat to the industry. The management of disease is made more difficult by the lack of resistant variants against different Xcc races. Understanding and addressing Xcc are critical for maintaining the industry given the economic reliance on citrus. Methods: In order to isolate Xcc in a lab, a thorough survey was conducted in the districts of Bahawalpur, Multan, and Dera Ghazi Khan to collect samples showing canker symptoms. Gram-negative bacteria were identified in the isolates by biochemical analysis, and Koch’s postulates confirmed Xcc as the CC causing agent. DNA extraction and sequencing were used in the molecular characterization, which confirmed the phylogenetic relationship with Xcc. Using the disc sensitivity method, nine antibiotics were tested at 300, 500, and 700 ppm concentrations to evaluate CC management. Amoxicillin was found to be highly effective in inhibiting the growth of Xcc colonies. Results: The study provided morphogenetic insights and established Xcc as the causal agent of CC. All strains matched Xcc in molecular characterization, but antibiotic sensitivity testing revealed inconsistent efficacy. Amoxicillin proved to be very effective at stopping the growth of Xcc colonies at every tested dosage. Conclusion: This study makes an important contribution to our understanding of XCC and helps the citrus industry develop better disease control plans. Future interventions against citrus canker can benefit greatly from the understanding provided by morphogenetic characterization and antibiotic sensitivity profiles. The discovery of amoxicillin’s high efficacy highlights the drug’s potential for treating diseases linked to Xcc. These results help to protect citrus growing, maintaining the viability of an important industry in Pakistan’s agricultural landscape

How does self-direction within learning operate to affect idea generation in small-medium enterprise contexts?

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Wiley via the DOI in this record.Extant literature draws numerous links between aspects of human resource development (HRD) activity and organisational creativity/innovation, noting that investments in learning positively impact creative output. Within this research base, studies suggest that the ability to self-direct learning activity can influence creative performance, but we do not yet understand how such processes operate, particularly in small-medium enterprise (SME) contexts. Given the positive economic and social impacts generated by SMEs, themselves often being sources of breakthrough product or service innovation, this is an important research problem which requires our collective attention. This paper argues that while the ability to self-direct learning activity does contribute to the generation of ideas in SME contexts, the presence of multiple stakeholder voices in the learning conversation suggests that learning is better conceptualised as co- rather than self-directed. This study finds that co-directed approaches to learning operate through a mechanism termed ‘participative dialogue’, whereby both employees and managers contribute to learning conversations. It also highlights the role of employee critical self-appraisal in driving self-directedness and contributing to the generation of ideas. Findings ultimately suggest that co-direction of learning benefits idea generation because such approaches facilitate the emergence of unexpected patterns of thinking, which drive the divergence that creativity depends upon