Moderating role of self-congruence: Impact of brand personality on Brand attachment through the Mediating role of Trust

Increasingly companies are focused on searching for ways to create strong brand connections with consumers. It is illustrated that such connections lead to higher levels of consumer loyalty, which increases companies’ financial performance. The main purpose of this study is to explore the impact of brand personality on brand attachment through the mediating role of trust. Also investigate the moderating role of self-congruence on the relationship between brand personality and brand trust.  SPSS 23 is used to analyze the data. Data was collected through survey questionnaire technique and snow-ball sampling technique was used for data collection. Analysis reveal Brand personality have significant and positive relationship with brand trust. On the other side trust significantly enhance the brand attachment. While the results prove that self-congruence have significant moderating effect on the relationship between brand personality and brand trust.&nbsp

Entrepreneurial finance and its impact on e-business

Entrepreneurial activity is important not just from an economic point of view but it also recognizes the power and value of an individual. In a developing country like Pakistan that ranks high when it comes to ease of doing business but very low in entrepreneurship, alternatives must be devised to empower individuals socially and economically. The Pakistani women being empowered than ever before have to be paid special attention to in case of entrepreneurship. The current study is thus aimed at assessing the e-business related entrepreneurial finance and potential of women doing e-business. E-business helps women overcome many traditional barriers to employment and entrepreneurship. Using Theory of Planned behavior and entrepreneurship models, a framework for assessing e-business and seeking entrepreneurial finance alternatives is developed. Unlike the previous theories which suggested eight variables the current study found that for e-business entrepreneurs only perceived propensity, desirability, feasibility, motherhood, management and meso and macro environment are significant. Besides money, market and management which are important for starting any business, IT knowledge is important. The results based on regression analysis suggest that the model fits well as it predicts value of the entrepreneurial intention at 95% with a 5% significance value. Based on the findings of the study a new model for assessment of e-business entrepreneurial intention is developed which includes all significant variables and IT knowledge as a moderating variable. Based on this assumption, there is a clear implication for the policy makers to stress IT literacy to encourage entrepreneurial activity

Corporate sustainability priorities, elements and business areas

Corporate sustainability is one of the vital corporate agenda.Its pragmatic and profound impact on business strategy and operations could lead to achieving competitive advantage in the long run. This paper investigates the sustainability priority, elements and business areas among Malaysian public listed companies.Three sectors of industry namely; consumer, trading and industrial companies were selected and surveyed using mail survey method.Our findings show that majority of the companies put a high priority on sustainability initiatives.However, only a few companies claimed that they have a management council or special committee to manage sustainability efforts.This study also identifies energy usage, water usage, recycling, employee well-being and community involvement as the top five elements of sustainability. As for the business area’s priority in sustainability initiatives, the findings show that operations (processes) and customer use of products were ranked as the highest business areas’ priority, followed by facilities (building), supply chain (supplier product selection), distribution and logistics, product design and end of life product disposal/recovery.These results suggest that corporate leaders are well informed of the sustainability initiatives and opportunities across their entire value chai

Drinking Water Quality Characterization and Heavy Metal Analysis in Springs of Dewan Gorah, District Palandri, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan¤

In this study, water quality and microbial characterizations of fresh water springs of union council Dewangorah, Palandri, AJK have been studied. Sampling was done from January to October 2017, from fifteen different locations of study area, which are a drinking water source for natives of the area. Water samples were collected in sterilized glass bottles for physicochemical and microbial analysis and in clean plastic bottles for heavy metals analysis from various locations. Various physiochemical parameters including pH, Total dissolved solids (TDS), Conductivity, Chlorides (Cl-), Fluorides (F-), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), hardness and alkalinity were measured by standard methods. Heavy metals concentrations including Arsenic (As), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb) and Nickel (Ni) were evaluated using atomic absorption spectroscopy. It was found that concentration of Pb and Cr were above permissible limits of WHO at all locations. Standard plate count (SPC) was used to determine total viable count and total coliform counts in water samples. Various bacterial colonies were isolated from water samples and characterized by performing different biochemical tests including Gram staining, Catalase, Oxidase and Citrate utilization tests. Results showed that various physicochemical parameter such as pH, TDS, Cl-, F-, COD and heavy metals including As, Cu, Fe were within World Health Organization (WHO) standards. While values for conductivity of few samples were above permissible limits of WHO. The calculations for human health risk showed that heavy metals at present levels are not posing a threat to the population. Microbial analysis showed that water samples contain different pathogenic bacteria like E. coli, Salmolella spp., shigella spp etc. and are not fit for drinking purposes. The quality of drinking water of Dewangorah must be monitored by regulatory authorities and further research is required to identify the sources of water contamination and its mitigation

Impact of service quality on Loyalty & Mediating role of Trust: An empirical investigation of Restaurants

Study was conducted to investigate the relationship between service quality, trust and loyalty. The trust is mediating between service quality and loyalty. Service quality provided to the customer is responsibility of the restaurants. Using a convenient sampling data was collected from consumers. Service quality positively associated with trust and loyalty and trust is also positively linked with loyalty and mediates the relationship between service quality and loyalty according to our finding. This article helps the organizations to understand the importance of service quality provide and how consumers become loyal to the organization. Customer retention is higher and profitability is greater for the business over the long period of time.&nbsp

Assessment of Wastewater Quality of Paharang Drain and its Impact on the Ground Water Quality of Adjacent Areas

This study was conducted to assess the effect of wastewater quality of Paharang drain Faisalabad on ground water quality of adjacent areas. Ground water samples and drain water samples were collected and analyzed by using standard methods. Parameters of wastewater samples were compared with Pakistan National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS). Results indicated that physico-chemical parameters including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, fluoride and total hardness were found exceeding the permissible limits in wastewater samples. Similarly, few physicochemical parameters in groundwater were found within the permissible limit while electrical conductivity (EC), TDS, chlorides (Cl), fluoride (F), and total hardness in most of samples were found above the Pak EPA and WHO standard limits. Heavy metals like nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) were found within the prescribed concentrations in drain and ground water samples. Statistical analysis showed significant effect of some drain wastewater parameters like conductivity, TDS, salt, temperature, and Cl on the corresponding ground water quality. A strong positive correlation between pH, EC, TDS, Salt, and Cl in drain wastewater and strong positive correlation between EC, TDS and Salt in ground water samples was observed. For improving the ground water quality in the adjacent areas textile wastewater treatment all factories is required, and a combined effluent treatment plant (CETP) at the Paharang drain is also recommended

Utility of Inferior Turbinoplasty in the Autonomic System

The inferior turbinates are important anatomical nasal structures that provide warmth, humidification, and filtration of the inspired air to provide optimal conditioning for lung function. Besides these well-established basic functions, the turbinates are also important in immune function as the interface between the airway and the environment. Proper functioning of the inferior turbinates relies on an intact autonomic system, which maintains homeostasis within the nasal cavity. The autonomic nervous system innervates the submucosal glands and the vasculature within the inferior turbinate, resulting in control of major turbinate functions: nasal secretions, nasal patency, and amount of warmth and humidification provided. This study will summarize the normal and abnormal autonomic processes that contribute to the inferior turbinate as an autonomic organ

The H Syndrome: A Genodermatosis

H syndrome (histiocytosis lymph adenopathy plus syndrome) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the SLC29A3 gene, encoding the human equilibrative nucleoside transporter (hENT3), characterized by cutaneous hyperpigmentation and hypertrichosis, hepatosplenomegaly, hearing loss, heart anomalies, hypogonadism, low height, hyperglycemia/insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and hallux valgus/flexion contractures. Exophthalmos, malabsorption, renal anomalies, flexion contractions of interphalangeal joints and hallux valgus, and lytic bone lesions, as well as osteosclerosis, are also seen. If these are lacking, the constellation of additional findings should raise suspicion for H syndrome. As most of the patients reported to date with H syndrome are from traditional, low-income populations, where consanguinity is common, it is highly important to develop a cheap and affordable technique for a mutation analysis. Two siblings presented to us, diagnosed as having insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) since the age of eight years and progressive flexion contracture of the small joints for seven-eight years. On examination, both had short stature. One also had bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. The female had the Tanner stage of B3P3A2 M0 and the male had the Tanner stage of prepuberty. Laboratory workup, including antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, thyroid profile, and Celiac serology were negative. Genetic studies confirmed the diagnosis of H syndrome