The effect of social network marketing on online purchase intention: a model in the health market

Background: This study aimed to investigate the role of social network marketing on the intention of online shopping in the health market. Methods: This study was a descriptive survey. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire and its validity was confirmed by university professors and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha test. Students of Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah Branch were statistical population and sample selected with random sampling.  Considering that students are active and knowledgeable groups in the field of social networks, therefore, the effect of social network marketing on brand awareness and perceived security on the willingness to buy online in this group of social was investigated. SPSS software, One-Sample T-Test, and the Friedman test were used to rank the variables. AMOS was used to rate the importance of each component. Results: The men’s groups were up 57% of the population, and the age group of 18 to 22 years was the largest. The correlation coefficient of brand awareness, Perceived security component, advertising component, promotion component, Information sharing, and creating friendship groups were 0.76, 0.74, 0.59, 0.55, 0.49, and 0.47, respectively. Data analysis showed that the significance differences of advertising, advertising, creating friendship groups, information sharing, brand awareness, and perceived security were 0.12, 0.16, 0.39, 0.24, 0.25 and 0.17, respectively. A significant difference was between the total observed variables and the latent variable in the proposed model all correlation coefficients have a significant difference. Conclusion: It is necessary to use new digital marketing strategies in health marketing to maximize the efficiency of marketing costs and create a higher rate of return

Are Brain-Computer Interfaces Feasible withIntegrated Photonic Chips?

The present paper examines the viability of a radically novel idea for brain-computer interface (BCI), which could lead to novel technological, experimental and clinical applications. BCIs are computer-based systems that enable either one-way or two-way communication between a living brain and an external machine. BCIs read-out brain signals and transduce them into task commands, which are performed by a machine. In closed-loop the machine can stimulate the brain with appropriate signals. In recent years, it has been shown that there is some ultraweak light emission from neurons within or close to the visible and near-infrared parts of the optical spectrum. Such ultraweak photon emission (UPE) reflects the cellular (and body) oxidative status, and compelling pieces of evidence are beginning to emerge that UPE may well play an informational role in neuronal functions. In fact, several experiments point to a direct correlation between UPE intensity and neural activity, oxidative reactions, EEG activity, cerebral blood flow, cerebral energy metabolism, and release of glutamate. Therefore, we propose a novel skull implant BCI that uses UPE. We suggest that a photonic integrated chip installed on the interior surface of the skull may enable a new form of extraction of the relevant features from the UPE signals. In the current technology landsacepe, photonic technologies are advancing rapidly and poised to overtake many electrical technologies, due to their unique advantages, such as miniaturization, high speed, low thermal effects, and large integration capacity that allow for high yield, volume manufacturing, and lower cost. For our proposed BCI, we are making some very major conjectures, which need to be experimentally verified, and therefore we discuss the controversial parts, feasibility of technology and limitations, and potential impact of this envisaged technology if successfully implemented in the future.BERC.2018-2021 Severo Ochoa.SEV-2017-071

Current knowledge on functionality and potential therapeutic uses of donkey milk

The increase of knowledge on the composition of donkey milk has revealed marked similarities to human milk, which led to a growing number of investigations focused on testing the potential effects of donkey milk in vitro and in vivo. This paper examines the scientific evidence regarding the beneficial effects of donkey milk on human health. Most clinical studies report a tolerability of donkey milk in 82.6–98.5% of infants with cow milk protein allergies. The average protein content of donkey milk is about 18 g/L. Caseins, which are main allergenic components of milk, are less represented compared to cow milk (56% of the total protein in donkey vs. 80% in cow milk). Donkey milk is well accepted by children due to its high concentration of lactose (about 60 g/L). Immunomodulatory properties have been reported in one study in humans and in several animal models. Donkey milk also seems to modulate the intestinal microbiota, enhance antioxidant defense mechanisms and detoxifying enzymes activities, reduce hyperglycemia and normalize dyslipidemia. Donkey milk has lower calorie and fat content compared with other milks used in human nutrition (fat ranges from 0.20% to 1.7%) and a more favourable fatty acid profile, being low in saturated fatty acids (3.02 g/L) and high in alpha-linolenic acid (about 7.25 g/100 g of fat). Until now, the beneficial properties of donkey milk have been mostly related to whey proteins, among which β-lactoglobulin is the most represented (6.06 g/L), followed by α-lactalbumin (about 2 g/L) and lysozyme (1.07 g/L). So far, the health functionality of donkey milk has been tested almost exclusively on animal models. Furthermore, in vitro studies have described inhibitory action against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. From the literature review emerges the need for new randomized clinical trials on humans to provide stronger evidence of the potential beneficial health effects of donkey milk, which could lead to new applications as an adjuvant in the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases, malnutrition, and aging

Community perceptions of enrolment of indigents into the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana: a case study of the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty Programme

BACKGROUND: The Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) programme in Ghana as part of its beneficiary programme, identifies the poor/indigents for exemptions from premium payments in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). This paper sought to understand community perceptions of enrolling the poor in the NHIS through LEAP in order to inform policy. METHODS: The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional study design by using a qualitative approach. The study was conducted in three geographical regions of Ghana: Greater Accra, Brong-Ahafo and Northern region representing the three ecological zones of Ghana between October 2017 and February 2018. The study population included community members, health workers, NHIS staff and social welfare officers/social development officers. Eighty-one in-depth interviews and 23 Focus Group Discussions were conducted across the three regions. Data were analysed thematically and verbatim quotes from participants were used to support the views of participants. RESULTS: The study shows that participants were aware of the existence of LEAP and its benefits. There was, however, a general belief that the process of LEAP had been politicized and therefore favours only people who were sympathizers of the ruling government as they got enrolled into the NHIS. Participants held the view that the process of selecting beneficiaries lacked transparency, thus, they were not satisfied with the selection process. However, the study shows the ability of the community to identify the poor. The study reports varying concepts of poverty and its identification across the three ecological zones of Ghana. CONCLUSION: There is a general perception of politicization and lack of transparency of the selection of the poor into the NHIS through the LEAP programme in Ghana. Community-based approaches in the selection of the indigent are recommended to safeguard the NHIS-LEAP beneficiary process

The intergenerational relationship between conditional cash transfers and newborn health

BACKGROUND: Lack of nutrition, inadequate housing, low education and limited access to quality care can negatively affect children's health over their lifetime. Implemented in 2003, the Bolsa Familia ("Family Stipend") Program (PBF) is a conditional cash transfer program targeting poor households in Brazil. This study investigates the long-term benefits of cash transfers through intergenerational transmission of health and poverty by assessing the early life exposure of the mother to the PBF. METHODS: We used data from the 100M SINASC-SIM cohort compiled and managed by the Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), containing information about participation in the PBF and socioeconomic and health indicators. We analyzed five measures of newborn health: low (less than 2,500 g) and very low (less than 1,500 g) birth weight, premature (less than 37 weeks of gestation) and very premature (less than 28 weeks of gestation) birth, and the presence of some type of malformation (according to ICD-10 codes). Furthermore, we measured the early life exposure to the PBF of the mother as PBF coverage in the previous decade in the city where the mother was born. We applied multilevel logistic regression models to assess the associations between birth outcomes and PBF exposures. RESULTS: Results showed that children born in a household where the mother received BF were less likely to have low birth weight (OR 0.93, CI; 0.92-0.94), very low birth weight (0.87, CI; 0.84-0.89), as well as to be born after 37 weeks of gestation (OR 0.98, CI; 0.97-0.99) or 28 weeks of gestation (OR 0.93, CI; 0.88-0.97). There were no significant associations between households where the mother received BF and congenital malformation. On average, the higher the early life exposure to the PBF of the mother, the lower was the prevalence of low birth weight, very low birth weight and congenital malformation of the newborn. No trend was noted for preterm birth. CONCLUSION: The PBF might have indirect intergenerational effects on children's health. These results provide important implications for policymakers who have to decide how to effectively allocate resources to improve child health

The effect of plant growth regulators, explants and cultivars on spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) tissue culture

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is an important vegetable crop of which dioecy in nature has made cultivar improvement difficult using traditional breeding methods; therefore, production of high amount of disease free spinach is critical. To achieve the best explants and media for spinach tissue culture, the effects of two different plant growth regulators, two explants and cultivars on adventitious shoot regeneration were tested. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed that the effects of plant growth regulators on spinach tissue culture were significant; moreover, the effects of explants were not significant except on the regeneration phase. The best medium for callous induction was MS media containing 1.5 mgl-1 IAA + 2.5 mgl-1 GA3. The best medium for shoot regeneration was MS media contained 0.5 mgl-1 NAA + 2 mgl-1 GA3. The best rooting medium was MS medium containing 0.5 mgl-1 IBA. Results presented inhibitory effect of GA3 for callus and root formation; whereas, promote shoot development

Evaluating the Catalytic Performance of La1-xCexNi1-yZnyO3 Nanostructure Perovskites in the Carbon Dioxide Reforming of Methane

AbstractIn this research nanostructure perovskites La1-xCexNi1-yZnyO3 were prepared by sol-gel auto-combustion method and their application were evaluated for methane reforming with carbon dioxide and syngas production. Catalysts were designed by Response Surface Method (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD) with three factors of catalyst characteristics, x, y and Tc. The prepared catalysts were examined in methane reforming process at 750 ˚C temperature and atmospheric pressure. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that parameters don’t have any linear effect on catalytic activity and their effect is proportional to square form. Among this investigated parameters, Ni content effect is considerable and calcination temperature (Tc) has a partial effect. In this research R2 value was 94.88%. The optimum catalyst which determined by RSM was La0.60Ce0.40Ni0.81Zn0.19O3 in 747 ˚C calcination temperature that corresponds to empirical result. The XRD characterization of optimum catalyst showed that perovskite catalyst was formed in rhombohedra phase with nanostructure crystals and the SEM of optimum catalyst confirmed the nano scale of prepared particles

New simplified protocols for timed artificial insemination (TAI) in milk-producing donkeys

This study compared the outcome of two new timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocols in a milk-producing donkey farm. Ninety Amiata jennies were inseminated at the moment of ovulation induction with hCG, with fresh-transported semen that had been stored at room temperature from 3 up to 6 h, with an approximate average storage time of 4 h and a half. In both protocols, on Day 0 jennies were treated with alfaprostol (PGF2α), and on Day 7 they were checked by ultrasound (US) and, if in estrus, they were treated in order to induce ovulation and were then artificially inseminated. In the slow-short TAI protocol, jennies not already inseminated were treated again with PGF2α at Day 14. On day 21 US was repeated and estrus jennies were induced to ovulate and inseminated. In the fast-long TAI protocol, US was performed once a week in jennies not already inseminated and if found in estrus, they were induced to ovulate and inseminated, while those not in estrus were treated again with PGF2α. This protocol was repeated for up to nine weeks. The rates of inseminated/treated, pregnant/inseminated and pregnant/treated jennies were 76%, 56% and 43% for the slow-short TAI protocol and 94%, 47% and 44% for the fast-long TAI protocol. The age class and the lactation status of the jennies had no significant effect on synchronization success or final pregnancy rate. This study demonstrates that it is possible to achieve reasonable pregnancy rates through simplified TAI protocols in jennies, reducing animal handling to a minimum

Nonimmune fetal hydrops and lysosomal storage disease: the finding of vacuolated lymphocytes in ascitic fluid in two cases

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102650/1/pd4274.pd