Perceived quality, satisfaction and loyalty at the destination level of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

This study was conducted for exploring the relationship among perceived quality, satisfaction, and loyalty at the destination level of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. A conceptual model was developed and tested by a field study. Then Partial Least Square (PLS) based Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach was used to test eight hypotheses on a sample of 602 visitors. Six hypotheses were supported at different significant levels. It is expected that the results of this study will help the destination operators in tourism planning and implementing effective marketing strategies. Theoretically, this study contributes in enhancing the causal relationships among cues of quality which have not been studied yet in the literature. Limitations and future research direction are also discussed

Laser Doppler measurements of laminar and turbulent flow in a pipe bend

The streamwise components of velocity in the flow through a ninety degree bend of circular cross section for which the ratio of radius of curvature to diameter is 2.8 were measured. The development of strong pressure driven secondary flow in the form of a pair of counter rotating vortices in the steamwise direction is shown. Refractive index matching at the fluid wall interface was not employed; the displacement of the measurement volume due to refraction is allowed for in simple geometrical calculations

Assessment of genetic variation in selected germplasm of white jute (Corchorus capsularis L.)

Fifty-one genotypes of white jute from different geographic origins were evaluated to study their genetic variability with 11 morphological characters. Significant variation was observed among the genotypes for all the characters. Multivariate techniques were used to classify 51 genotypes. All the genotypes were grouped into six different clusters. Principal component analysis, principal coordinate analysis and canonical vector analysis gave similar results to that of cluster analysis. The highest inter-genotypic distance (1.84) was found between G15, G50 and the lowest distance between G38 and G26. The highest inter-cluster distance (14.37) was observed between cluster I, IV and the lowest distance (2.46) was between cluster III and V. The highest intra-cluster distance was found in cluster I and lowest in cluster V. Considering genetic parameters, high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was observed in branches per plant. High heritability values with moderate genetic advance in percentage of mean were obtained for leaf width, petiole length, nodes per plant. Regarding the cluster distance, inter-genotypic distance and other agronomic performance, the genotypes G47, G33, G48 from cluster I; G27, G17, G23 from cluster III and G13, G40, G45 from cluster II were considered to be better parents for future use in hybridisation programmes

Lack of a significant legacy effect of baseline blood pressure 'treatment naivety' on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial

Objectives: To investigate legacy effects at 14-year follow-up of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in 'treatment-naive' or 'previous treatment' groups based on blood pressure (BP)-lowering treatment status at baseline. Methods: A post-hoc observational study of the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial. We excluded participants with a previous history of CVD events. Cox proportional hazard model and 95% confidence interval were used to estimate the effects of treatment naive on mortality outcomes. Moreover, a subgroup analysis by estimated 10-year Framingham risk score was performed. Results: In multivariable models adjusting for baseline and in-trial characteristics (BP values and number of BP medications as time-dependent variables), there was no statistically significant difference in 5 and 14-year all-cause mortality with a hazard ratio of 0.93 (95% confidence interval 0.80-1.09) and hazard ratio 0.95 (0.88-1.03) and in 5 and 14-year CVD mortality hazard ratio 0.94 (0.72-1.23) and hazard ratio 0.93 (0.80-1.08). In subgroup by absolute CVD risk, no heterogeneity of the association between treatment naive and short-term or long-term all-cause or CVD mortality were found. All comparisons are between the treatment-naive and previous treatment groups. Conclusion: Physicians are concerned about 'legacy effects' of not treating individuals with a BP of 140 mmHg or over and low absolute risk. When treatment intensification was taken into consideration in the primary prevention population in this study, no adverse legacy effect as a result of baseline BP 'treatment naivety' was evident in 14 years of follow-up. The nonsignificant associations were consistent across the CVD risk subgroups. However, the results may be biased due to unobserved residual confounding and therefore should be interpreted with caution