The Conceptualization and Development of the Social Self Image / Brand Image Construct: A Confirmatory Data Analysis Approach

This research paper reviews various conceptualizations and perspectives on the nature of the self image, brand image, and the social self congruity as presented in the previous literature. The aim of this paper is to propose a global and situation-free measure of the social self congruity construct. Confirmatory data analysis revealed that the proposed measure is highly reliable and demonstrates high levels of content, criterion, predictive, and convergent validity. Keywords: Self image, brand image, image congruence, confirmatory factor analysis, symbolic meaning, consumer behavior, social interaction

Investigating the Relationship Between the Kuwait Stock Market and Its Marketing Sectors

The main objective of this research is to measure the relationship between the Kuwait stock Exchange (KSE) index and its two marketing sectors after the new market classification. The findings of this research are important for economic policy makers as they need to know whether the new system (new classification) is efficient and to which level, in order to monitor the markets and intervene with appropriate measures. The investigated data are derived from the daily index of the financial Kuwaiti market and the daily closing price, number of deals and volume of shares traded of two marketing sectors (consumer goods and consumer services sectors) for the period starting from the 13th of May 2012 till the 12th of December 2016.  The results indicate a positive direct impact of the closing price, volume and deals indexes of the consumer goods and the consumer services companies on the overall KSE index, volume and deals of the Kuwaiti stock market (KSE). Keywords: Correlation, Market Capitalization (MCAP), Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE), Marketing sectors, Stock Performance, Regression Analysis.

Gender differences in the surgical management and early clinical outcome of coronary artery disease: Single centre experience

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the gender disparity in the distribution of patient-related risk factors and their effect on the surgical management and clinical outcome of coronary artery disease in Saudi population.Materials and methodsWe carried out a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of 971 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) at our institution between January 2005 and December 2008. Seven hundred and eighty seven patients (81%) were males and 184 patients (19%) were females. We analyzed gender-based difference in clinical presentation and patient-related pre-operative risk factors and studied their impact on surgical management and clinical outcome.ResultsThe mean age was 59.5 years in males and 63.4 years in females (p=<0.0001). Associated co-morbidities were higher in females. Prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 61.2% in males and 78.8% in females (p-value=<0.0001); hypertension 61.9% in males and 79.9% in females (p-value <0.0001); hyperlipidemia 66.7% in males and 77.7% in females (p-value 0.0035); morbid obesity 24.7% in males and 45.1% in females (p-value <0.0001); and Hypothyroidism 2.5% in males and 13.6% in females (p-value <0.0001). Smoking was the only risk factor with higher prevalence in males compared to females (44.2% v/s 2.2%; p-value <0.0001). The mean logistic euroSCORE was 3.94 in males and 5.51 in females (p<0.0003). On-pump and off-pump CABG was carried out in equal numbers in two groups. Females required urgent surgery and less than 3 grafts more frequently while males underwent elective surgery and more than 3 grafts in greater numbers. No significant difference was present between the two gender groups in aortic occlusion times and bypass times. Univariant analysis revealed females gender as an independent risk factor for higher in-hospital mortality (1.1% versus 4.9% p=0.0026) and higher incidence of post-operative complications like surgical wound infection, need for prolonged ventilation, low cardiac output state and multi-organ failure (p-values 0.01 or less).ConclusionFemale gender is an independent predictor of adverse outcome after isolated CABG due to significantly higher co-morbidities and acute presentation and independent of their peri-operative management. Therefore, major socioeconomic education and preventive measures are needed to reduce the burden of major co-morbidities in females and to seek early cardiac advice and care

Association between solar insolation and a history of suicide attempts in bipolar I disorder

In many international studies, rates of completed suicide and suicide attempts have a seasonal pattern that peaks in spring or summer. This exploratory study investigated the association between solar insolation and a history of suicide attempt in patients with bipolar I disorder. Solar insolation is the amount of electromagnetic energy from the Sun striking a surface area on Earth. Data were collected previously from 5536 patients with bipolar I disorder at 50 collection sites in 32 countries at a wide range of latitudes in both hemispheres. Suicide related data were available for 3365 patients from 310 onset locations in 51 countries. 1047 (31.1%) had a history of suicide attempt. There was a significant inverse association between a history of suicide attempt and the ratio of mean winter solar insolation/mean summer solar insolation. This ratio is smallest near the poles where the winter insolation is very small compared to the summer insolation. This ratio is largest near the equator where there is relatively little variation in the insolation over the year. Other variables in the model that were positively associated with suicide attempt were being female, a history of alcohol or substance abuse, and being in a younger birth cohort. Living in a country with a state-sponsored religion decreased the association. (All estimated coefficients p <0.01). In summary, living in locations with large changes in solar insolation between winter and summer may be associated with increased suicide attempts in patients with bipolar disorder. Further investigation of the impacts of solar insolation on the course of bipolar disorder is needed.Peer reviewe

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p&lt;0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p&lt;0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

An investigation of self and brand image congruence as antecedents of consumer brand involvement

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

The Impact Of Radio Programs On The Formation Of Religious Awareness Among Individuals Who are Visually Impaired and Blind In Jordan

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of radio programs on the religious awareness among the visually impaired and blind people in Jordan. The survey method was used. The study consisted of all individuals with visual disabilities (visually impaired and blind people) (5934) with a sample of 200 participants. The study used the purposive method. The results of the study showed that the impact of radio programs on the religious awareness among the visually impaired and blind people in Jordan was generally high. The degree of interest of radio programs in the needs of visually impaired and blind people was generally high, and there were no statistically significant differences at the level of significance (α ≤ 0.05) between the arithmetical averages of the responses of the sample members according to the gender variable