Are consumer perceptions of a brand effected by materialism, gender and nationality?

This study attempts to establish a linkage between materialism, gender and nationality with the consumer perception of a high priced brand of apparel. The work focuses on the differences in perception of a high priced brand. It indicates that young undergraduates hold different perceptions of a brand depending on their sex and nationality. The study also examines materialistic tendencies and whether, materialism was influenced by gender and nationality. The results indicated that there is a difference in perception between customers of different nationality and sexes and that materialism does effect the perception of high priced fashion clothing.Rajeev Kamineni, Aron O’Cas

Web based shopping: The evolution and global implications: An exploratory analysis from a consumer behavioural view point

The World Wide Web can change human behaviour and human interactions to a very large extent. Web based shopping behaviour is one major example to point out the trends in this direction. This study is of a very exploratory nature and it intends to establish the differences between several web-based shoppers from different parts of the world. Several critical factors associated with online shopping behaviour will be explored. A cross cultural data set will be collected and an illustrative description of the shoppers will be provided. As a final step the cross cultural differences between several shoppers will be explored. One question which will run as a theme through out the course of this paper is, Will the traditional consumer behaviour theory and research be altered by the advent of web based shopping?Rajeev Kaminen

The effect of materialism, gender and nationality on consumer perception of a high priced brand

This study examines the link between materialism, gender and nationality with consumers’ perception of a high priced brand of apparel. The work focuses on the differences in perception of a high priced brand. It indicates that young people hold different perceptions of a brand depending on their sex and nationality. The study also examines the materialistic tendencies of customers, focussing on gender and nationality differences. Five research questions were put forward and the results indicated that there is a difference in perception of a high priced brand between domestic and international customers and between customers of different sex.. However, materialism was found to have little effect on brand perceptions.Rajeev Kamineni, Aron O’ Cas

Distal Insertional Footprint of the Brachialis Muscle: 3D Morphometric Study

Objective. The purpose of this study is to describe the three-dimensional morphometry of the brachialis muscle at its distal attachment to the ulna. Methods. Fifty cadaveric elbows were dissected and the brachialis distal insertion was isolated on the ulna bone and probed with a three-dimensional digitizer, to create a three-dimensional model of the footprint. Measurements and analysis of each footprint shape were recorded and compared based on gender and size. Results. There was significant gender difference in the surface length (P = 0.002) and projected length (P = 0.001) of the brachialis footprint. The shapes of the footprint also differed among the specimens. Conclusion. The shape of the brachialis muscle insertion differed among all the specimens without significant variation in gender or sides. There was also a significant difference in muscle length between males and females with little difference in the width and surface area. Significance. The information obtained from this study is important for kinematic understanding and surgical procedures around the elbow joint as well as the understanding of the natural age related anatomy of the brachialis footprint morphology

Multinational corporations and corporate social responsibility in transition economies

Many multinational enterprises have had tough experiences in learning the importance of being socially responsible. Multinational enterprises are now finally, regarding high standards of corporate behaviour as the key to success in the international market. For example, Oil company Shell lost business and declined in value due to two high profile corporate incidents in 1995. Since then, Shell has been dedicated to managing its social responsibilities as a strategic priority, aiming to build up the company’s reputation, to protect its market share and to operate in a way which satisfies all of its stakeholders (McIntosh et al, 1998). There are two major objectives of this paper: (1) to answer two critical questions in relation to corporate social responsibility: (a) what is the external dimension of corporate social responsibility for multi-national enterprises in transition economies? (b) What are the consequences for multinational enterprises if they ignore the interests of their stakeholders in the transition economies? And (2) to point out the marketing paradigms with a social responsibility focus for transition economies.Rajeev Kamineni, Ka Chun Tsan

Analyses of Expression Patterns of Genes Associated with Inherited Retinal Degeneration in Different Cell Types of the Human Retina

Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are familial or inherited forms of retinal degeneration that are characterized by the progressive loss of photoreceptor cells, leading to the eventual loss of vision. Genetic studies have identified more than 300 genes that are altered in different forms of IRDs. Analyses of human retinal single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNAseq) data from published studies were performed to examine differential gene expression in different retinal cell types and understand how correlations in gene expression in various retinal cell types may play a role in the pathogenesis of IRDs. Our analyses have shown remarkably different patterns of expression of genes associated with different subtypes of IRDs in different retinal cell types. Interestingly, different genes associated with the same pathological subtypes of IRDs may show distinct patterns of expression in different retinal cell types. Gene pathways were analyzed to examine the relationship between IRD genes and molecular function in the human retina. Using different tools, gene networks were also constructed by clustering genes into networks based on correlations in their expression levels. Identifying gene pathways annetworks will provide information that will lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of IRDs

Using the enneagram for market segmentation

Session 6.4 New Products IISegmentation and positioning constitute the crux of marketing strategy. Over the past two decades, lifestyle and psychographics have been increasingly used as a basis for market segmentation. This paper illustrates how the ancient and mystical technique of the Enneagram can be effectively used as a base for psychographic segmentation. With the Enneagram finding ever-increasing applications in strategic management and human resource development, it is only fitting that scholars in marketing harness the diagnostic and predictive power of the Enneagram. However, adoption of the Enneagram for marketing purposes will require further conceptual development and empirical analysis.Rajeev Kamineni and Sudhir Kal

Aseptic Loosening of an APTIS Distal Radioulnar Joint Arthroplasty – Case Report

Dysfunction of the distal radioulnar joint can cause significant pain and instability. The self-stabilizing APTIS distal radioulnar joint prosthesis is used as a solution for severe distal radioulnar joint pathologies. We present a case of a 60-year-old male, who received an APTIS distal radioulnar joint prosthesis which resulted in aseptic loosening within five years of the initial implantation. Infection, incorrect implantation, demographic differences and over-activity were all excluded as the source; therefore, mechanical aseptic loosening was concluded. Ultimately, two surgeries were required to resolve the patient\u27s pain, which resulted in a one-bone forearm once the implant was extracted. The solution to a failed APTIS implant, a one bone forearm, is difficult and protracted, so every effort should be attempted to preserve distal ulna bone stock before resorting to the implantation of this device

Posterior interosseous nerve localization within the proximal forearm - a patient normalized parameter

AIM To provide a “patient-normalized” parameter in the proximal forearm. METHODS Sixty-three cadaveric upper extremities from thirty-five cadavers were studied. A muscle splitting approach was utilized to locate the posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) at the point where it emerges from beneath the supinator. The supinator was carefully incised to expose the midpoint length of the nerve as it passes into the forearm while preserving the associated fascial connections, thereby preserving the relationship of the nerve with the muscle. We measured the transepicondylar distance (TED), PIN distance in the forearm’s neutral rotation position, pronation position, supination position, and the nerve width. Two individuals performed measurements using a digital caliper with inter-observer and intra-observer blinding. The results were analyzed with the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test for paired samples. RESULTS In pronation, the PIN was within two confidence intervals of 1.0 TED in 95% of cases (range 0.7-1.3 TED); in neutral, within two confidence intervals of 0.84 TED in 95% of cases (range 0.5-1.1 TED); in supination, within two confidence intervals of 0.72 TED in 95% of cases (range 0.5-0.9 TED). The mean PIN distance from the lateral epicondyle was 100% of TED in a pronated forearm, 84% in neutral, and 72% in supination. Predictive accuracy was highest in supination; in all cases the majority of specimens (90.47%-95.23%) are within 2 cm of the forearm position-specific percentage of TED. When comparing right to left sides for TEDs with the signed Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test for paired samples as well as a significance test (with normal distribution), the P-value was 0.0357 (significance - 0.05) indicating a significant difference between the two sides. CONCLUSION This “patient normalized” parameter localizes the PIN crossing a line drawn between the lateral epicondyle and the radial styloid. Accurate PIN localization will aid in diagnosis, injections, and surgical approaches

Medical versus surgical termination of early pregnancy: satisfaction with care, emotional impact and acceptability of the procedure

Background: Aim of the study was to compare the satisfaction with care and acceptability of the procedure next time between medical and surgical termination of pregnancy (TOP) and the factors affecting it.Methods: This is a prospective observational study conducted at Jyothi Maternity Centre, a project of population health services of India (PHSI). Total 213 women were included in the study, of these 108 women received medical termination of pregnancy (MTOP) and 105 received surgical termination of pregnancy (STOP). Questionnaires regarding satisfaction with care, experience of care, psychological rating scales and acceptability were given at the follow- up visit at two weeks. The data was collected and computed for statistical analysis.Results: Women in both the groups were similar with respect to age, marital status, socioeconomic status, educational status and parity. The mean age was 24 years. The success rate with STOP (100%) was more than MTOP (79.6%), with p -value of 0.001. The experience of care comparing the semantic variables showed MTOP to be less painful and safer, while STOP was good and faster. The total mean impact scores and depression scores of MTOP were higher than STOP and it was statistically significant with p- values of 0.010 and < 0.001 respectively. The acceptability rate with MTOP was 79.6% and with STOP 95.2%.Conclusions: Satisfaction with both the methods of medical and surgical abortion is high. Acceptability of the procedure next time was more with surgical abortion. MTOP had higher emotional impact