The new semantics suggested for the marketing mix by millennials

This is an auxiliary study dealing with the 4 Ps of the Marketing Mix Model introduced by Robert F. Lauterborn. It focused on the comparative popularity of the components of the Marketing Mix among the contemporary consumers of fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs) produced by Unilever and Proctor and Gamble in the capital city of Islamabad, Pakistan. These two companies are two of the prominent multi-national companies providing products of day-to-day use in the country. This study sought to find out the most popular vocabulary to describe the components of the Marketing Mix among the consumers of FMCGs who are marketing graduates and thereby, revise, enhance and refurbish it to make it more relevant to the millennial perspective. The perspective of the consumers is important to gauge if the Lauterborn’s Model is still applicable to the modern consumers or if the consumers have other marketing priorities, which may differ from the model. Data were collected through a survey based on the random sampling technique from millennial consumers at five local universities in the city. Analysis of the data revealed useful information regarding the validity of the semantics in the presently accepted marketing mix. Findings of this study have the potential to assist marketing strategies, especially at the advertising departments of the leading FMCG chains Unilever and Proctor and Gamble. Results of this study may also be applied to marketing campaigns of similar prominent multi-national companies producing FMCGs in Pakistan, like Nestle, Reckitt Benckiser and the Coca Cola Company

Frequency and profile of induced abortions:hospital based study in tertiary hospitals in Egypt

Objectives. To determine the frequency and profile of induced abortions among hospitalized cases of abortions in three tertiary hospitals in Egypt. Methods. A total of 517 consecutive cases of abortions with com- plete records were enrolled from three tertiary hospitals in Egypt: two hospitals in Cairo and one hospital in Alexandria. A data extraction sheet was designed to extract the required information from the records. It included: File No., Age, marital status, occu- pation, parity, number of children, previous abortion, history of contraception, trial of induction for this abortion and manage- ment of abortion in the hospital. The World Health Organization (WHO) criteria of categorizing the abortion as possible, probable or certainly induced abortion was used for classification of abor- tion cases. Results. The proportion of classified induced abortions (cer- tainly, probably and possibly induced abortions) was 30.6% in the total sample, being higher in Alexandria hospital (60.9%) compared to 14 and 19% in the other two hospitals respectively. Using the multiple logistic regression, the following factors were found independently related to induced abortions: Alexandria hospital (as proxy for residence), age ? 30 years and having more than 2 children. Conclusion. The current study revealed that about one third of hospitalized cases of abortion can be suspected of being induced. Induced abortion may be linked to elder age, higher number of children in the family and probably have geographical variation in Egypt

Glutathione S Transferases M1 and T1 Genetic Variants are Associated with Coronary Artery Ectasia

29th Turkish Cardiology Congress of the Turkish-Society-of-Cardiology (TSC) with International Participation -- OCT 26-29, 2013 -- Antalya, TURKEYWOS: 000329858400026…Turkish Soc Cardio

Leitfaden Saatgutgesundheit im Ökologischen Landbau - Ackerkulturen

Im "Leitfaden Saatgutgesundheit im Ökologischen Landbau – Ackerkulturen" werden ausgewählte saatgutbürtige Krankheiten von ackerbaulichen Kulturen samt vorbeugenden und direkten Regulierungsmöglichkeiten vorgestellt

The accuracy of currently used WHO´s Body Mass Index cut-off points to measure Overweight and Obesity in Syrian women: A correlation study

Purpose: Obesity is a common health problem in both developed and developing countries. BMI is commonly used to identify obesity. However, there is increasing evidence that the relationship between BMI and BF% differs among various ethnicities. The main objectives of this study are (1) to evaluate the correlation between BF% as determined by BIA, DEXA, Deuterium oxide (D2O) and BMI, (2) to assess the accuracy of currently used WHOÅLs BMI cut-off points to identify overweight and obesity among Syrian women. Material and Methods: A total of 908 healthy Syrian women aged 18-60 years participated in this study. Weight, height, BMI, BF% assessed by BIA and DEXA, and D2O have been determined. Results: BF% results obtained by BIA and DEXA, and D2O revealed strong correlations. BMI showed a statistically significant correlation with BF% determined by BIA, DEXA and D2O. Obesity when defined as BMI ≥ 30 and as BF% > 35% (derived from BIA, DEXA and D2O) classified 43%, 52.5%, 75.9% and 72.7% of women as obese, respectively. ROC analysis defined BMI cut-off points for overweight and obesity of 22.5 and 25.7, respectively. Using the new BMI cut-off point, the prevalence of obesity among Syrian women was increased by 24%. Conclusions: The current BMI cut-off points recommended by WHO underestimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Syrian women. Our data suggests that it is important to lower the proposed WHOÅLs BMI cut-off points for the Syrian women

Saberes na graduação em administração : um estudo nas universidades federais do estado de Minas Gerais

Conforme censo da educação superior no Brasil de 2015, o curso de administração é um dos mais procurados no país. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar como surgem e são legitimados os saberes na graduação em administração das universidades federais mineiras. Na tentativa de responder a este objetivo, foi realizada uma caracterização do curso, investigados os saberes veiculados na matriz curricular e analisada a produção de verdades na graduação. A abordagem metodológica escolhida para este estudo foi a da pesquisa qualitativa por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo. A produção dos dados foi feita mediante a análise de um conjunto de 13 (treze) projetos pedagógicos. Como resultados foram identificados os objetivos do pensamento crítico e reflexivo, do campo de atuação e da qualificação técnica, os perfis responsável e generalista e os métodos da transmissão, da prática e da construção do saber. Em relação aos saberes veiculados na matriz curricular, foram investigados os saberes de formação básica, nas funções organizacionais, das especificidades regionais e organizacionais, formação social, ambiental e ética e em pesquisa. Assim, com a análise das características do curso com os saberes veiculados nas matrizes curriculares foi possível analisar a produção de verdades na graduação. Os objetivos do campo de atuação, da qualificação técnica e o perfil generalista são as características que se relacionam com os saberes mais presentes na graduação, de modo que os objetivos econômicos ainda estão ocupando uma posição hegemônica na formação dos bacharéis em administração entre as universidades pesquisadas.According to a census of higher education in Brazil in 2015, the administration course is one of the most sought after in the country. This research had as objective to investigate how the knowledge and the knowledge in the administration graduation of the federal universities of Minas Gerais arise and are legitimized. In an attempt to respond to this objective, a course characterization was carried out, the knowledge conveyed in the curricular matrix was investigated and the production of truths at the undergraduate level was analyzed. The methodological approach chosen for this study was that of the qualitative research through the technique of content analysis. The data were produced through the analysis of a set of 13 (thirteen) pedagogical projects. As results, the objectives of critical and reflexive thinking, the field of performance and technical qualification, the responsible and generalist profiles and the methods of transmission, practice and knowledge construction were identified. In relation to the knowledge conveyed in the curricular matrix, the basic training knowledge in organizational functions, regional and organizational specificities, social, environmental and ethical training and research were investigated. Thus, with the analysis of the characteristics of the course with the knowledge conveyed in the curricular matrices, it was possible to analyze the production of truths in the undergraduate course. The objectives of the field of activity, the technical qualification and the generalist profile are the characteristics that are related to the most present knowledge in the undergraduate, so that the economic objectives are still occupying a hegemonic position in the formation of the bachelors in administration among the researched universities

Bioactive metabolites of Streptomyces misakiensis display broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria and fungi

BackgroundAntimicrobial resistance is a serious threat to public health globally. It is a slower-moving pandemic than COVID-19, so we are fast running out of treatment options.PurposeThus, this study was designed to search for an alternative biomaterial with broad-spectrum activity for the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial and fungal pathogen-related infections.MethodsWe isolated Streptomyces species from soil samples and identified the most active strains with antimicrobial activity. The culture filtrates of active species were purified, and the bioactive metabolite extracts were identified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the bioactive metabolites against MDR bacteria and fungi were determined using the broth microdilution method.ResultsPreliminary screening revealed that Streptomyces misakiensis and S. coeruleorubidus exhibited antimicrobial potential. The MIC50 and MIC90 of S. misakiensis antibacterial bioactive metabolite (ursolic acid methyl ester) and antifungal metabolite (tetradecamethylcycloheptasiloxane) against all tested bacteria and fungi were 0.5 μg/ml and 1 μg/mL, respectively, versus S. coeruleorubidus metabolites: thiocarbamic acid, N,N-dimethyl, S-1,3-diphenyl-2-butenyl ester against bacteria (MIC50: 2 μg/ml and MIC90: 4 μg/mL) and fungi (MIC50: 4 μg/ml and MIC90: 8 μg/mL). Ursolic acid methyl ester was active against ciprofloxacin-resistant strains of Streptococcus pyogenes, S. agalactiae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella enterica serovars, colistin-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila and K. pneumoniae, and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Tetradecamethylcycloheptasiloxane was active against azole- and amphotericin B-resistant Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, C. gattii, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, and A. fumigatus. Ursolic acid methyl ester was applied in vivo for treating S. aureus septicemia and K. pneumoniae pneumonia models in mice. In the septicemia model, the ursolic acid methyl ester-treated group had a significant 4.00 and 3.98 log CFU/g decrease (P < 0.05) in liver and spleen tissue compared to the infected, untreated control group. Lung tissue in the pneumonia model showed a 2.20 log CFU/g significant decrease in the ursolic acid methyl ester-treated group in comparison to the control group. The haematological and biochemical markers in the ursolic acid methyl ester-treated group did not change in a statistically significant way. Moreover, no abnormalities were found in the histopathology of the liver, kidneys, lungs, and spleen of ursolic acid methyl ester-treated mice in comparison with the control group. ConclusionS. misakiensis metabolite extracts are broad-spectrum antimicrobial biomaterials that can be further investigated for the potential against MDR pathogen infections. Hence, it opens up new horizons for exploring alternative drugs for current and reemerging diseases

Progress and Recent Trends in the Application of Nanoparticles as Low Carbon Fuel Additives—A State of the Art Review

The first part of the current review highlights the evolutionary nuances and research hotspots in the field of nanoparticles in low carbon fuels. Our findings reveal that contribution to the field is largely driven by researchers from Asia, mainly India. Of the three biofuels under review, biodiesel seems to be well studied and developed, whereas studies regarding vegetable oils and alcohols remain relatively scarce. The second part also reviews the application of nanoparticles in biodiesel/vegetable oil/alcohol-based fuels holistically, emphasizing fuel properties and engine characteristics. The current review reveals that the overall characteristics of the low carbon fuel–diesel blends improve under the influence of nanoparticles during combustion in diesel engines. The most important aspect of nanoparticles is that they act as an oxygen buffer that provides additional oxygen molecules in the combustion chamber, promoting complete combustion and lowering unburnt emissions. Moreover, the nanoparticles used for these purposes exhibit excellent catalytic behaviour as a result of their high surface area-to-volume ratio—this leads to a reduction in exhaust pollutants and ensures an efficient and complete combustion. Beyond energy-based indicators, the exergy, economic, environmental, and sustainability aspects of the blends in diesel engines are discussed. It is observed that the performance of the diesel engine fuelled with low carbon fuels according to the second law of efficiency improves under the influence of the nano-additives. Our final part shows that despite the benefits of nanoparticles, humans and animals are under serious threats from the highly toxic nature of nanoparticles. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.20JCJQJC00160; Cardiff University; Universiti Tenaga Nasional: IC6-BOLDREFRESH2025This research was funded by Tianjin Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, grant number 20JCJQJC00160, and the Universiti Tenaga Nasional grant no. IC6-BOLDREFRESH2025 (HCR) under the BOLD2025 Program. The APC was funded by Cardiff University