Cause-related marketing: it's applicability in hypermarket context

The concept of cause-related marketing (CRM) was not sufficiently studied in the context of hypermarket. The objective of this study is to discover if CRM enhances customers’ patronage behaviour towards a hypermarket and whether the absence of CRM in a hypermarket initiates a switching behaviour among consumers. Therefore, five variables (attitude, CSR image, company-cause fit, education level and personal income) were examined for their influence on consumers’ patronage behaviour changes before and after the implementation of CRM. A total of 405 questionnaires were used for analysis. A paired-sample T-Test, one sample T-Test and multiple regression analyses were employed to analyse the research questions in this study. Results revealed that CRM implementation was able to produce two outcomes: customers’ patronage behaviour and customers’ switching behaviour. Also, factors such as attitude, CSR image and personal income were found to have different significant influences upon patronage behaviour increment across different hypermarkets

Increasing consumers’ hypermarket visit intention through cause-related marketing: a perspective from the theory of planned behaviour

Purpose: This study intends to discover factors affecting consumers’ intention to participate in cause-related marketing (CRM) and how CRM influences their intention to visit hypermarkets in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach: Through a self-administered questionnaire and using a mall-intercept technique, a total of 460 samples were collected from consumers in Malaysia. Structural equation modelling was then used to analyse the data. Findings: The results show that three variables (perceived CSR image, consumer-company identification and perceived company-cause fit) out of four significantly predicted consumers’ attitude towards CRM. Also, two components (attitude and perceived behavioural control) out of three in the theory of planned behaviour were found to be significantly related to CRM participation intention. Lastly, CRM participation intention was found to influence hypermarket visit intention. Originality/value: The proposed theory of planned behaviour (TPB) was found to be applicable in predicting CRM participation intention and hypermarket visit intention. The findings showed that consumers are more likely to increase their intention to visit a hypermarket that adopts a CRM campaign, which led us to highlight the main implications for hypermarket management and new study areas in this field

Selectivity in Photochemical Reactions within Water Soluble Calixarenes and Cyclodextrins

The research work presented in this thesis is a consolidated report of experiments aimed at controlling the product selectivity in photochemical reactions. Water soluble hosts such as p-sulfonato calix[n]arenes (n= 6 or 8) and cyclodextrins have been used to solubilize organic molecules in water and to control the product selectivity. These host molecules control the product selectivity by their ability to encapsulate and interact with guest molecules. Furthermore, carrying out reactions in water as solvent is important from green chemistry point of view

Sediment capping effects on gas ebullition, hyporheic exchange and benthic microbial community structure

The research described in this dissertation added to the current body of literature on the effectiveness of active capping in mitigating ebullition facilitated contaminant fluxes and in lowering gas ebullition rates, during an active capping sediment remediation in the WBGCR. The three-year post-capping study provided a comprehensive dataset on ebullition rates and the influence of environmental parameters with reductions in gas ebullition rates of 84%, 63% and 61%. The post-capping gas fluxes were also strongly influenced by sediment temperature and water depth. Incubation experiments to assess gas production potential of the post-cap sediment layers showed that cumulative gas production was similar in the contaminated sediment (CSed) and new deposit (ND) layers, whereas the armor (GAL) and organoclay (OrgC) layers exhibited minimal gas production. These results provide further evidence that the CSed layer is ebullition active and thus continued ebullition is likely following capping. This study also evaluated active capping performance in mitigating ebullition-facilitated metal and PAH transport. Metal fluxes were lowered by 89-97% with re-suspension of surficial sediment being the primary mode of transport. PAH fluxes also fell sharply in the first year but increased to 60% of pre-capping levels in 2013 and followed again by a decrease in 2014. The rise and fall of PAH flux in 2013 and 2014 were accompanied by a rise and fall of sediment temperature although average gas fluxes were similar. This suggests that the higher temperatures stimulated increased gas production in the CSed layer thereby increasing PAH partition and transport for 2013. Increases in sediment temperatures could reactivate gas generation in the CSed layer, with subsequent potential for cap fracture, enhanced advective transport and lower design breakthrough times. The impact of capping on the sediment Archaeal community structure was evaluated by using phylogenetic analysis of 16 sRNA genes from pre- and post-capping sediment. The archaeal community structure was dominated by methanogens in both pre-and post-capping sediment. Capping resulted in a more diverse distribution of methanogens in the surficial zone, with evidence of methanogenesis occurring via the three major methanogenic pathways: hydrogenotrophic, acetoclastic and C1-methylotrophic methanogenesis where as pre-cap Archaea were dominated by acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Field measured gas fluxes were also significantly correlated with Methanosaeta abundance in pre- and post-capping sediment, suggesting that acetoclastic methanogenesis controls gas production in the GCR. The analysis also revealed the presence of Ammonia Oxidizing Archaea (AOA) in increasing abundance with depth, suggesting a more important role for these newly discovered group in contaminated sediments. This research also explored the potential for using heat tracer methods to evaluate GW-SW interactions and the Darcy velocity in different layers of post-cap sediment. Two approaches utilizing amplitude/phase shift and forward modeling of temperature signal were used. The McCallum method provided a more comprehensive insight into the nature of GW-SW interaction in the top 25 cm, with GW fluxes strongly influenced by stream depth and storm events. The Darcy velocity were also found to decreased with depth in the OrgC and CSed layers, suggesting the presence of horizontal flow paths below the gravel layer. The higher velocities observed in the gravel layer suggest that the armor should not be viewed as additional protection against contaminant migration. Also, the higher seepage velocities can rapidly transport heat and nutrients to the subsurface thereby increasing the potential for gas production below the cap. Heat tracer methods if implemented properly can provide Darcy estimates with lower uncertainty compared to traditional methods

Controlling photoreactions with confinement: photochemistry of benzoin alkyl ethers within water soluble p-sulfonato calix[n]arenes

This publication pertains to the exploration of supramolecular assemblies to control excited state chemistry. One of our long-range scientific goals is to develop, on the basis of well-established rules of molecular organic photochemistry and supramolecular chemistry, a model to predict the photobehavior of organic molecules in restricted spaces, in general. We present the results of our studies on the photochemistry of benzoin alkyl ethers included within calixarenes in water. While in isotropic solution benzoin alkyl ethers yield products of Norrish Type I reaction, as guest-host complex with calixarenes they preferentially yield products of Norrish Type II reaction. The current observation suggests that rules of physical organic chemistry and photochemistry developed based on solution chemistry cannot be simply extended to supramolecular assemblies

Chiral photochemistry within natural and functionalized cyclodextrins: chiral induction in photocyclization products from carbonyl compounds

Chiral induction in products resulting from hydrogen abstraction upon excitation of carbonyl compounds included in four cyclodextrin related host systems has been examined. The chiral induction obtained in photoproducts is moderate. Results suggest that there is potential to improve the asymmetric interaction between the reactant molecules and the supramolecular host cyclodextrins. However, no models that would help us to predict the outcome of chiral induction in a photochemical reaction have resulted from this investigation. Given the use of cyclodextrins as chiral stationary phases in HPLC and GC separations we are optimistic that there is considerable potential for cyclodextrins as chiral hosts in photoreactions

Antimicrobial, function, and crystalline analysis on the cellulose fibre extracted from the banana tree trunks

Abstract Bioactive substances such as phenolic compounds, antioxidants, and antibacterial agents are found in natural fibres. In this study, banana fibre was extracted from the trunks of banana plants. Antibacterial activity, FTIR, XRD, and SEM analysis were performed to characterize the banana cellulose fibre, and also raw and alkali-treated banana fibre composite was fabricated with an epoxy matrix. Results of the antibacterial analysis indicate that this banana cellulose fibre strongly impedes bacterial growth with elevated inhibitory zones. The primary peaks observed at 1170 cm−1 and 1426 cm−1 by FTIR analysis correspond to C–O stretching, O–H bending, aliphatic ether, secondary alcohol, and carboxylic acid. The morphological analysis reveals the fibre quality, and the EDX analysis confirms the elements present in the banana cellulose fibre. The XRD results demonstrated a more significant proportion (76.8%) of the amorphous region. This study indicates that banana cellulose fibre could be a promising source of antimicrobial compounds. In addition, the mechanical properties of alkali-treated banana fibre composite were preferable to raw fibre composite by an average of 3% for this banana fibre composite. As a result, this composite can be used to manufacture automobile interior components, as it can reduce the sanitizing periods of interior components during winter months

A latent photoreaction predominates within water-soluble calixarenes: photochemistry of benzoin alkyl ethers

Benzoin alkyl ethers encapsulated in a cisoid conformation within water-soluble p-sulfonatocalix[8]arenes preferentially yield the Norrish Type II reaction product deoxybenzoin

Cytokine and chemokine responses to selected early secreted antigenic target-6 and culture filtrate protein-10 peptides in tuberculosis

Cytokine [tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4] and chemokine [regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1] responses to selected early secreted antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6) and culture filtrate protein-10 (CFP-10) peptides were studied in healthy household contacts and patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). It was observed that Th1 cytokines and chemokine RANTES positive T cells were elevated in response to the peptides Esp1, Esp6, Cfp6, and Cfp8 in healthy household contacts. IL-4 positive T cells were enhanced by Esp1 and Esp6 in PTB. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 positive monocytes increased in response to the peptides Esp1, Esp6, Cfp8, and Cfp9 in PTB. These peptides deserve attention for further immune studies