An Empirical Study of Consumer Buying Behaviour Towards Organised Retailing

The main objective of this study is to examine the consumer buying behaviour and to identify the factors involving in purchase decisions in organized retail sector. In order to establish a structure for consumer behaviour research towards organised retail, it is helpful to begin the study by taking into consideration different models and theories of consumer behaviour given by a number of authors.  Under this article the researcher tried to identify a set of dimensions in the literature which can be used to exemplify and differentiate the various viewpoints on consumer behaviour research. During 1960s the consumer behaviour emerges as a different field of research and was characterized by two different aspects, the positivist and the non-positivist. The positivist model covers the economic, behavioural, cognitive, motivational, attitudinal, qualitative and situational perspectives; these aspects are referred to as the traditional models as they occur before the development of non-positivist models.The positivist factor, which is still the dominant factor, accentuates the dominance of human cause and that there is a single, objective fact that can be exposed by science. This paradigm regards the world as a rational and ordered place with a clearly defined past, present, and future. The assumption of rationalism is therefore fundamental to the traditional perspective

Frequency and predisposing factors of pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy

Objective The objective of our study was to determine the frequency and predisposing factors of pharyngocutaneous fistula in postlaryngectomy patients. Materials and methods Charts of those patients who were treated with total laryngectomy for laryngeal carcinoma in our department from 2000 to 2008 were reviewed. Total 77 patients were included in the study. The variables studied for the development of pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) after total laryngectomy were: age and gender, diabetes mellitus, post-operative hemoglobin, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tumor characteristics including tumor site, stage, differentiation and extension into pyriform sinus, pre-operative radiotherapy, pre-operative chemotherapy, pre-operative tracheostomy and positive surgical margins. Results Univariate analysis showed diabetes, pre-operative radiotherapy, pre-operative chemotherapy and pre-operative tracheostomy to be significantly associated with the formation of PCF. However, multivariate regression revealed that the only pre-operative radiotherapy was highly associated with the formation of PCF (OR = 132.923, P = 0.001). Conclusions We found 28.6% incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula mainly because of the number of patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy as primary treatment for laryngeal cancers is increasing with current approach of organ preservation protocol

Frequency and predisposing factors of pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of our study was to determine the frequency and predisposing factors of pharyngocutaneous fistula in postlaryngectomy patients.Materials and methodsCharts of those patients who were treated with total laryngectomy for laryngeal carcinoma in our department from 2000 to 2008 were reviewed. Total 77 patients were included in the study. The variables studied for the development of pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) after total laryngectomy were: age and gender, diabetes mellitus, post-operative hemoglobin, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tumor characteristics including tumor site, stage, differentiation and extension into pyriform sinus, pre-operative radiotherapy, pre-operative chemotherapy, pre-operative tracheostomy and positive surgical margins.ResultsUnivariate analysis showed diabetes, pre-operative radiotherapy, pre-operative chemotherapy and pre-operative tracheostomy to be significantly associated with the formation of PCF. However, multivariate regression revealed that the only pre-operative radiotherapy was highly associated with the formation of PCF (OR=132.923, P=0.001).ConclusionsWe found 28.6% incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula mainly because of the number of patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy as primary treatment for laryngeal cancers is increasing with current approach of organ preservation protocol

Root system architecture of historical spring wheat cultivars is associated with alleles and transcripts of major functional genes

We evaluated root system architecture (RSA) of a set of 58 historical spring wheat cultivars from Pakistan representing 105 years of selection breeding. The evaluations were carried out under control and water-limited conditions using a high-throughput phenotyping system coupled with RhizoVision Explorer software. The cultivars were classified into three groups based on release year as cultivars released pre-1965, released between 1965 and 2000, and cultivars released post-2000. Under water-limited conditions a decline in 20 out of 25 RSA component traits was observed in pre-1965 cultivars group. Whereas cultivars released after the 1965, so-called green revolution period, showed a decline in 17 traits with significant increments in root length, depth, and steep angle frequency which are important root traits for resource-uptake under water-limited conditions. Similarly, cultivars released after 2000 indicated an increase in the number of roots, depth, diameter, surface area, and steep angle frequency. The coefficient of correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between root depth and yield-related traits under water-limited conditions. We also investigated the effects of green-revolution genes (Rht1) and some phenology-related genes such as DRO1, TaMOR, TaLTPs, TaSus-2B on RSA and identified significant associations of these genes with important root traits. There was strong selection pressure on DRO1 gene in cultivated wheat indicating the allele fixed in modern wheat cultivars is different from landraces. The expression of DRO1, and TaMOR were retrieved from an RNAseq experiment, and results were validated using qRT-PCR. The highest expression of DRO1 and TaMOR was found in Chakwal-50, a rainfed cultivar released in 2008, and MaxiPak-65 released in 1965. We conclude that there is a positive historic change in RSA after 1965 that might be attributed to genetic factors associated with favored RSA traits. Furthermore, we suggest root depth and steep angle as promising traits to withstand water-limited environments and may have implications in selection for breeding

Effects of a high-dose 24-h infusion of tranexamic acid on death and thromboembolic events in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding (HALT-IT): an international randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Tranexamic acid reduces surgical bleeding and reduces death due to bleeding in patients with trauma. Meta-analyses of small trials show that tranexamic acid might decrease deaths from gastrointestinal bleeding. We aimed to assess the effects of tranexamic acid in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods: We did an international, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 164 hospitals in 15 countries. Patients were enrolled if the responsible clinician was uncertain whether to use tranexamic acid, were aged above the minimum age considered an adult in their country (either aged 16 years and older or aged 18 years and older), and had significant (defined as at risk of bleeding to death) upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients were randomly assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Patients received either a loading dose of 1 g tranexamic acid, which was added to 100 mL infusion bag of 0·9% sodium chloride and infused by slow intravenous injection over 10 min, followed by a maintenance dose of 3 g tranexamic acid added to 1 L of any isotonic intravenous solution and infused at 125 mg/h for 24 h, or placebo (sodium chloride 0·9%). Patients, caregivers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. The primary outcome was death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation; analysis excluded patients who received neither dose of the allocated treatment and those for whom outcome data on death were unavailable. This trial was registered with Current Controlled Trials, ISRCTN11225767, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01658124. Findings: Between July 4, 2013, and June 21, 2019, we randomly allocated 12 009 patients to receive tranexamic acid (5994, 49·9%) or matching placebo (6015, 50·1%), of whom 11 952 (99·5%) received the first dose of the allocated treatment. Death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation occurred in 222 (4%) of 5956 patients in the tranexamic acid group and in 226 (4%) of 5981 patients in the placebo group (risk ratio [RR] 0·99, 95% CI 0·82–1·18). Arterial thromboembolic events (myocardial infarction or stroke) were similar in the tranexamic acid group and placebo group (42 [0·7%] of 5952 vs 46 [0·8%] of 5977; 0·92; 0·60 to 1·39). Venous thromboembolic events (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) were higher in tranexamic acid group than in the placebo group (48 [0·8%] of 5952 vs 26 [0·4%] of 5977; RR 1·85; 95% CI 1·15 to 2·98). Interpretation: We found that tranexamic acid did not reduce death from gastrointestinal bleeding. On the basis of our results, tranexamic acid should not be used for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding outside the context of a randomised trial

Capability Maturity Model Integration Within The Admission Processes Of Academic Institutions In Pakistan

One of the important foundations of any society is the education provided by the universities to the students. ­There are various levels of educational institutions from IV league to ordinary colleges. ­The gradation of these institutions is very informal and need proper mechanism to assess them and improve their standards. ­There are national bodies’ setup in our country for the purpose of assessment of quality assurance such as HEC and PEC but many of the institutions; they do not go for external audit of the process implemented within the institution. ­is research aims to assess the processes in renowned institutions, measure their level of maturity for improvement where feasible. In this research paper three models have been presented; Documented Model, Actual Model and Proposed Model. ­e “Admission Processes” of two renowned institutions have been chosen for the purpose of assessment. Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) has been used to measure the maturity level of the Actual Model. Weaknesses in Actual Models were identified and solutions have been proposed to upgrade the institutions’ Admission Process Level. The main focus of this research is on the existing “Admission Processes” within the institutions and how to improve them using CMMI. Our analysis shows that proposed model with CMMI level-3 removes the major weaknesses and upgrade the institutions’ Admission Process Level. Analysis shows that after mapping Admission Process of Educational Institution-1 and Educational Institution-2 onto the process areas of Capability Maturity Model Integration it has been found that Maturity Level of Educational Institute-1 is 32.04% and Maturity Level of Educational Institution-2 is 39.54%. Maturity Levels of both Institutions are near to Maturity Level 2. Model has been proposed with Maturity Level 3 for both institutions which is graded as good and rated at 60%. After the practical implementation of proposed model, the Maturity Level can be further improved to 4 and 5, which are graded as excellent and ideal respectively

Analysis of fashion product of apparels from Consumer lifestyle perspectives: An empirical study

In the present fast changing social environment, Designers, merchandisers and marketers tries to become proactive   at every level of the industry whenever it is about the concept of fashion and fashion change. Marketer tries to analyze Consumers, product cycle and their acceptances given by the consumer are all level to position its product effectively. at every point it is discussed that “how these concepts will affect product development and its effective marketing”. The Designers, merchandisers and marketers keep themselves aware of all of the categories of apparel, particularly in their specialty area. Present research work focus on the analysis of fashion product of apparels from Consumer lifestyle perspectives. Various factors and outcome are discussed and some suggestions based on the study is also given in the study

Metastatic prostate tumor to testes: Sign of advance disease

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of mortality for males in the United States. Metastases may be present, typically in the axial skeletal region. To date, few patients have presented with metastases to the testicles. We present the case of an adult male with diagnosed prostate cancer who presented and subsequently diagnosed bilateral testicular metastases. Testicular metastases secondary to diagnosed prostate cancer are very rare. Patients present with these metastases may have unfavorable prognosis. This case demonstrates that prostate cancer may metastasize to rare locations such as the testes, requiring further surgical intervention