Perceived Risk in Apparel Online Shopping: A Multi Dimensional Perspective

The purpose of this study, drawing on marketing and psychometric paradigms, is to investigate the effect of risk perception dimensions on apparel internet purchase intention among Saudi consumers. A web-based survey was conducted to measure consumers’ perception of the six types of risk associated with apparel online shopping and their influence on purchase intention. Three hundred responses were collected. Results showed that not all the considered risk constructs have the same influences on apparel internet purchasing intention. Specifically, time and performance risks have the most significant influence followed by privacy and social risks. Key words: Consumer behavior; Apparel; Internet shopping; Saudi ArabiaRésumé: Le but de cette étude, dessinant sur le marketing et les paradigmes psychométriques,est d'étudier l'effet des dimensions de perception de risque sur l'intention d'achat d’habillement sur l’Internet parmi les consommateurs saoudiens. Une enquête basée sur le WEB a été menée pour mesurer consommateurs des six types du risque liés aux achats en ligne d'habillement et de leur influence sur l'intention d'achat. Trois cents réponses ont été rassemblées. Les résultats ont prouvé que non toutes les constructions considérées de risque ont la même influence sur l'Internet d'habillement achetant l'intention. Spécifiquement, le temps et les risqué de représentation ont l'influence la plus significative suivie de l'intimité et des risques sociaux. Mots clés: Comportement du consommateur; Habillement; Achats d'Internet; Arabie Saoudit

Influence of Health Beliefs on Diabetes Self-care in Saudi Adults

The prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (DMT2) has increased among the adult population in Saudi Arabia. Many Saudi adults with DMT2 fail to follow the recommended daily self-care activities, increasing their risk for diabetes-related complications. Findings in the literature show that people’s health beliefs influence their self-care behaviors. However, limited studies were found to examine the association between the health beliefs of Saudi adults with DMT2 and their diabetes self-care. Therefore, the aim of this dissertation study was to examine the relationship between the health beliefs of adults in Saudi Arabia with DMT2 and their reported adherence to their self-care activities to manage their diabetes. Additionally, the study was conducted to explore Saudi perceptions of threats to their health due to having DMT2. The Health Belief Model was the conceptual framework for this study, and a descriptive, correlational design was used. Data was collected using self-reported questionnaires, and 202 Saudi adults with DMT2 were recruited from diabetes clinics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The findings of the study showed that self-efficacy, internal health locus of control, and perceived benefits of doing self-care were the significant predictors of whether the participants followed their self-care activities to manage their diabetes. Therefore, health care providers are encouraged to assess the health beliefs of persons with DMT2 in order to maintain and improve the patients’ adherence to self-care activities

Evaluation of Mackey Childbirth Satisfaction Rating Scale in Iran: What Are the Psychometric Properties?

Background: With the integration of the evaluation of patient satisfaction in the overall assessment of healthcare services, authorities can be assured about the alignment of these services with patient needs and the suitability of care provided at the local level. Objectives: This study was conducted in 2013 in Zahedan, Iran, in order to assess the psychometric properties of the Iranian version of the mackey childbirth satisfaction rating scale (MCSRS). Patients and Methods: For this study, a methodological design was used. After translating the MCSRS and confirming its initial validity, the questionnaires were distributed among women with uncomplicated pregnancies and no prior history of cesarean section. The participants had given birth to healthy, full-term, singletons (with cephalic presentation) via normal vaginal delivery at hospitals within the past six months. Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest (via the intraclass correlation coefficient) were applied to analyze the internal consistency and reliability of the scale. Moreover, the validity of the scale was tested via exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and convergent validity. Results: The MCSRS consists of six subscales. Through the process of validation, two partner-related items (“partner” subscale) of the scale were excluded due to cultural barriers and hospital policies. Cronbach’s alpha for the total scale was 0.78. It ranged between 0.70 and 0.86 for five subscales, and was 0.31 for the “baby” subscale. Factor analysis confirmed the subscales of “nurse,” “physician,” and “baby,” which were identified in the original scale. However, in the translated version, the “self” subscale was divided into two separate dimensions. The six subscales explained 70.37% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fitness for the new model. Convergent validity showed a significant correlation between the MCSRS and the SERVQUAL scale (r = 0.72, P < 0.001). Moreover, the Farsi version of the MCSRS showed excellent repeatability (r = 0.81 - 0.96 for individual subscales and r = 0.96 for the entire scale). Conclusions: The study findings indicated the Farsi version of the MCSRS is a reliable and valid instrument. However, according to the reliability assessment and factor analysis, the “baby” and “self” subscales need further revisions

Diagnostic value of nuclear cardiology in coronary artery disease

This thesis investigates the diagnostic value of cardiac positron emission tomography when compared to single photon emission computed tomography for detection of coronary artery disease. This prospective study involves comparison of myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography with coronary calcium scores; optimization of nuclear cardiac protocols in cardiac phantom experiments; and determination of diagnostic performance of cardiac positron emission tomography in the evaluation of myocardial viability in patients with significant coronary disease

A challenge for routing algorithms in optical multistage interconnection networks

Problem statement: A class of dynamic interconnection networks is Multistage Interconnection Networks (MINs) that connects input devices to output devices through a number of switch stages. MINs have assumed importance in recent years; because of their cost-effectiveness. Optical MINs are one type of MINs that have large transmission capacity in the communication networks. There is a major problem in Optical MIN that is crosstalk, which is caused by coupling two signals within a switching element. Approach: To avoid crosstalk in Optical MINs many algorithms have been proposed by many researchers that we review applying five routing algorithms and scheduling them in the Optical MINs. Results: The comparative results of routing algorithms show affective of avoiding crosstalk in number of passes and execution time for different algorithm. Conclusion: The challenge between these routing algorithms is thoroughly investigated, by applying them on Optical MIN and showing which algorithm has better performance to avoid crosstalk

On the relation between network throughput and delay curves

The theoretical background of network throughput and delay has been widely used in the previous studies to efficiently study the behaviour of different interconnection networks. In this paper, we derive a new relationship between the network throughput and delay curves. Specifically, we prove that this relation on the average delay and throughput in x-Folded TM topology by considering the tangent line of each curve. Based on the achievements, we introduce the reflection relation between these two performance metrics, while considering the gradient of the metric curves. Moreover, we show the superiority of x-Folded TM topology, previously introduced with same authors, is obvious with this relation in interconnection networks. Consequently, the obtained results have been verified with simulation results to signify how to relate the performance metrics for various topologies in interconnection networks

Morphological study of four sections of genus Dendrobium Sw. (Orchidaceae) in Peninsular Malaysia

A morphological study of the four sections (Aporum, Crumenata, Strongyle, and Bolbidium) of the genus Dendrobium (family Orchidaceae) was conducted by using 18 morphological characters. One of the three largest Orchid genera in Orchidaceae is genus Dendrobium. This genus is distributed from South- East Asia, west to the Himalayas, east to Japan, and south to the Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australia. Dendrobiums are one of the most popular orchids for their medicinal and commercial values. This plant occurs in the tropical regions with high annual rainfall and without a significant dry season for growth. In this study, 17 fresh samples of Dendrobium species were collected and identified upto the species level. The statistical analysis indicated he occurrence of two groups. The first group had four sections (Aporum, Crumenata, Strongyle and Bolbidium) and the other group had three sections (Dendrobium, Callista and Latouria), which were closely related. The morphological analysis showed that the four sections formed a monophyletic group compared to three other sections Dendrobium, Callista and Lautoria. The results demonstrated that sections Aporum, Crumenata, and Strongyle were close to one another and were grouped into one clade. Although section Bolbidium was close to them but it formed a different clade by itself. The three other sections included in the analysis formed a separate clade from these four sections .In all, according to the cluster and cladistics analysis, these four sections (Aporum, Crumenata, Strongyle and Bolbidium) can be put in the separate clade compared to the other sections of genus Dendrobium an can be named Aporum based on ICBN rules

Diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET in the assessment of myocardial viability in coronary artery disease: A comparative study with 99mTc SPECT and echocardiography

Objectives: To investigate the diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET in the assessment of myocardial viability in patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD) when compared to 99mTc SPECT and echocardiography, with invasive coronary angiography as the gold standard.Methods: Thirty patients with diagnosed CAD met the selection criteria, with 10 of them (9 men; mean age 59.5 ± 10.5 years) undergoing all of these imaging procedures consisting of SPECT and PET, echocardiography and invasive angiography. Diagnostic sensitivity of these less invasive modalities for detection of myocardial viability was compared to invasive coronary angiography. Inter- and intra-observer agreement was assessed for diagnostic performance of SPECT and PET.Results: Of all patients with proven CAD, 50% had triple vessel disease. Diagnostic sensitivity of SPECT, PET and echocardiography was 90%, 100% and 80% at patient-based assessment, respectively. Excellent agreement was achieved between inter-observer and intra-observer agreement of the diagnostic value of SPECT and PET in myocardial viability (k=0.9).Conclusions: 18F-FDG PET has high diagnostic value in the assessment of myocardial viability in patients with known CAD when compared to SPECT and echocardiography. Further studies based on a large cohort with incorporation of 18F-FDG PET into patient management are warranted

How Baloch Women Make Decisions About the Risks Associated With Different Childbirth Settings in Southeast Iran

Background: In Zahedan City in Southeast Iran, some women prefer to give birth at home despite the availability of the equipped hospitals and expert advice that hospital births are safer. Objectives: This study explains how Baloch women make decisions regarding the risks associated with childbirth at home versus a hospital. This study identifies and defines the factors that influence the choice of the place of delivery by Baloch women. Materials and Methods: The article draws on data from a grounded theory. In particular, on in-depth interviews with 25 Baloch women, 21 of whom had planned home births and 4 planned hospital births in their most recent childbirth. Results: Six categories emerged from the data as follows: 1) deliberation and risk assessment; 2) obstacles to hospital births; 3) preference for hospital births; 4) obstacles to homebirth; 5) preference for homebirth; and 6) risk management. The core category was deliberation and risk assessment. Our interviews showed that Baloch woman weighed the negative and positive aspects of each option when deciding on a childbirth setting. In this process, their assessment of risk included physical wellbeing and social-cultural values. Furthermore, their assessment of risk can, in some circumstances, result in delays or avoidance of having hospital childbirth. Conclusions: Managers and service providers need to know an ordinary woman’s perception of risk to address the gap between current and desired childbirth services and encourage women to use current hospital services