Malarial Pathophysiology and Phytochemical Interventions: A Current Discourse on Oxidative Stress Anti-Disease Phytotherapeutics

Malarial systemic pathophysiology refers to physiological changes or abnormalities that are experienced by individuals infected with the Plasmodium parasite not be presenting in the absence of active, chronic or previous infection. The pathologies are derived, in part, from OS induced insults whose mediators are readily available in malaria. The malaria disease is equivalent to the pathophysiology as shown by the abnormal syndromic expressions ranging from ailments that affect homeostatic mechanisms and processes to tissues and organ specific damages and derangements. Phytotherapeutic remedies refer to the natural phytochemicals or plant medicinal compounds and their derivatives with known antiparasitic and antimalarial disease effects in both experimental and clinical situations. The chapter explores how Plasmodium infection generates or cause to be generated oxidative stress, how oxidative stress drives systemic disease process and how phytotherapeutics treatment (artemisinins) and administration (asiatic acid) in malaria resolves the various pathologies as a current situational analysis

Brand orientation: another explanation of retailer performance

This paper postulates that organisational capabilities, particularly brand orientation, may provide an appropriate theoretical framework to explain variations in organisational performance among retailers. Brand orientation is viewed as a strategic capability, just like innovation. This allows for a distinction to be made with such core antecedent (However, it is important to distinguish between strategic capabilities (innovation orientation and brand orientation) and antecedent core) capabilities such as market orientation, operational orientation and human resource orientation which all organizations must have to some degree. This distinction is made to emphasise that all organisations operate with some degree of market, operational and human resource orientation, whereas organisations can choose to operate without either innovation or brand orientation. We argue that it is the inclusion of organisational capabilities with positional advantage and organisational performance that provides an holistic conceptual framework for the empirical investigation we are currently undertaking. The propositions discussed in this paper link the various relationships in the conceptual model within the context of Australian retailing organisations.<br /

Malaria Pathophysiology as a Syndrome: Focus on Glucose Homeostasis in Severe Malaria and Phytotherapeutics Management of the Disease

Severe malaria presents with varied pathophysiological manifestations to include derangement in glucose homeostasis. The changes in glucose management by the infected human host emanate from both Plasmodium parasitic and host factors and/or influences which are aimed at creating a proliferative advantage to the parasite. This also includes morphological changes that that take place to both infected and uninfected cells as structural alterations occur on the cell membranes to allow for increased nutrients (glucose) transportation into the cells. Without the availability, effective and efficient intervention there is a high cost incurred by the human host. Hyperglycaemia, hypoglycaemia and hyperinsulinemia are critical aspects displayed in severe malaria. Conventional treatment to malaria renders itself hostile to the host with negative glucose metabolism changes experiences in the young, pregnant women and malaria naïve individuals. In malaria, therefore, host effects, parasite imperatives and treatment regimens play a pivotal role in the return to wellness of the patient. Phytotherapeutics are emerging as treatment alternatives that ameliorate glucose homeostasis alternations as well as combat malaria parasitaemia. The phytochemicals e.g. triterpenes, have been shown to alleviate the “disease” and “parasitic” aspects of malaria pointing at key aspects in ameliorating malaria glucose homeostasis fallings-out that are experienced in malaria

Brand orientation : conceptualisation, operationalisation and explanatory power

This study contributes to the brand management literature by providing a conceptualisation of brand orientation from a resource based theory perspective. Moreover, the study advances seminal brand conceptualisations through operationalising the construct and empirically testing its psychometric properties and explanatory power. The construct was explored within a services context focusing on Australian retail organisations, thereby extending brand management research beyond the manufacturing domain. Building on the work of leading brand authors four reflective dimensions of brand orientation are operationalised including distinctive, functional, value adding and symbolic capabilities. The results of this study suggest that brand orientation is a robust construct with strong explanatory power in regards to dependent constructs; positional advantage and organisational performance.<br /

Gatekeeper influence on food acquisition, food preparation and family diet

The problems associated with overweight and obesity has focused attention on obesogenic, or obesity promoting environments. The home environment, in particular the role of the main food gatekeeper, has come under particular scrutiny for its impact on the family diet (Campbell et al, 2007; Coveney, 2004; Crawford et al, 2007). 326 US and 323 Australian gatekeepers are studied to understand relationships between healthy eating capability, food acquisition and food preparation behaviours, and satisfaction with the household diet. The results suggest that gatekeeper attitudes and perceived control over family diet play a significant role in shaping food-related behaviours and diet satisfaction. Impulsiveness, focusing on freshness, meal planning, and vegetable prominence in meals are also important behavioural factors for satisfaction with diet.<br /

Corporate brand identity and image congruence in the leisure services sector : a stakeholder perspective

This paper aims to contribute to current leisure services and branding literature by conceptualising the relationship between brand identity, brand image and whether a congruent relationship between the two influences customer satisfaction and loyalty. A conceptual model is developed in the context of zoological operations, central constructs and subsequent research propositions are discussed.<br /

Severe Malarial Anemia (SMA) Pathophysiology and the Use of Phytotherapeutics as Treatment Options

Hemolytic anemia results when red blood cells (RBCs) are destroyed prematurely by a number of agents. Obligate intracellular parasites like the Plasmodium species proliferate by infecting RBCs, growing through different stages of their life cycles, expanding their population to unsustainable numbers and eventually rupturing the cell membranes in order to transmit and infect new RBCs. In this manner, more RBCs are infected by the parasites and destroyed together with some nonparasitized cells. Membranes of RBCs are altered and deformed by parasite antigens expressed on the surfaces of both parasitized and nonparasitized cells, which lead to their premature phagocytosis and destruction by the reticuloendothelial system. Parasites and the hemoglobin waste products produced by them are released when the RBCs burst. Activated leukocytes take up the hemoglobin waste (hemozoin which is a polymerized heme), which stimulates the innate immune system leading to the synthesis and secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and mediators. Together with the destruction of RBCs in malaria, imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory events results in the modification of erythroid cell proliferation leading to severe malarial anemia (SMA) and other pathophysiologies of malaria. While current malarial management is targeted at the destruction of the parasite, it is the malaria-related pathophysiology (disease aspect of malaria) like severe malarial anemia that results in the high malaria morbidity and mortality. Antidisease approaches promise to be more effective at malarial management. Triterpenes with antioxidant, pro-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiparasitic effect show effects at retarding and abrogating severe malarial anemia. Asiatic acid, amongst other triterpenes like oleanolic acid, masilinic acid administered through oral or transdermal route improves severe malaria anaemia providing promise in the management of malaria pathophysiology

The role of brand orientation in explaining retail offer advantage

We provide a conceptualisation and operationalisation of brand orientation within the context of retailing. We then empirically test this operationalisation in terms of a retail offer advantage across the dimensions of merchandise, trading format, customer service and customer communication. Our results suggest that the degree to which a retailer values brands and its practices are oriented towards building brand capabilities provides a valuable theoretical framework to explain variations in retailers\u27 advantage over their competitors.<br /

Exploring the effects of perceived service provider sincerity on consumers\u27 emotional state and satisfaction during service consumption

A holistic approach to satisfaction and its effects seems to be particularly important in high-affect, high-involvement, and extended duration services such as those offered by many travel and tourism providers. This means understanding the complexities of service provision and its processes. Consumers value service interaction that appears sincere. For this reason, organizations expect service providers to manage their service &quot;performance&quot; to reflect a genuine display of positive emotions towards the customer, which has a direct impact on customer satisfaction and possibly overall life satisfaction. This study explores consumers\u27 perception of sincerity and tests its effects on positive emotions and satisfaction in an extended duration service. The findings indicate that perceived service sincerity positively influences consumers\u27 emotions during a service and has important direct and indirect effects on life satisfaction, service satisfaction, and intention to repurchase. Implications for managers and opportunities for further research are discussed

Integration of outside-in and inside-out entrepreneurial marketing capabilities, marketing agility, and resources for entrepreneurial firms performance

Peer reviewedPostprin