Brand personality : consumer's perceptions of color used in brand logos

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on August 27, 2012).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Thesis advisor: Dr. MyersIncludes bibliographical references.M.S. University of Missouri--Columbia 2011."May 2011"The goal of this study was to (1) determine if consumers will apply conventional color associations to hues when they are used in a brand's logo, (2) examine whether color affects consumers' perceptions of a brand's personality, and (3) to investigate whether consumers view a color as more appropriate for a logo when brand personality and color associations are congruent. The theories of anthropomorphism and associative learning theory are used to explain how consumers relate to brand, perceive brand personality, and form associations. Participants were recruited for the study through the technique of snowball sampling via Facebook. The survey was distributed over the course of two weeks and 184 usable responses were collected. Results indicate that all hypotheses are supported. Therefore, color in logos plays a significant role in the way in which the consumers perceive a brand's personality

Women's self-perceptions: an exploratory study of optical illusion garments

Although previous research provides insight into how women construct and idealize their appearance through clothing, the connection to the design elements of a garment is lacking. Using an exploratory approach, the current study, theoretically grounded in the self-discrepancy theory, investigated a woman's perceptions of her body shape. The primary goal of this exploratory study was to understand how garments created with optical illusion prints or patterns, can affect women's perceptions of body shape and if optical illusion garments can increase body satisfaction while helping a woman achieve the appearance of a more ideal body shape. Fifteen women were body scanned to determine their body shape and then participated in an in-depth semi-structured interview while viewing a personalized avatar (created from their body scan) depicted in the seven different optical illusion garments created by the researcher. Data analysis revealed seven themes: (1) Perception of Self, (2) Clothing and the Body, (3) Defining Ideals, (4) Optical Illusion Applications, (5) Preferences by Body Shape Category, (6) Effects of Wearing Optical Illusions, and (7) A More Ideal Self. Results from this study showed that optical illusion garments do effect the visual perception of body shape and can result the perception of a more ideal body shape

Before and After Avatar Exposure: The Impact of Body Scanning Technology on Body Satisfaction, Mood, and Appearance Management

Research published in Clothing and Textiles Research Journal (CTRJ) initiated a call for research investigating how the third dimension affects one\u27s perception of their body. Specifically, Loker, Ashdown, and Carnrite (2008) raised the following questions: Will the ability to see ourselves in three dimensions (3D) increase body acceptance of normal variations and counteract the popular media images of what constitutes a beautiful body? Or will three-dimensional views increase dissatisfaction with our real bodies? (p. 175). In response to this call, this study investigated the unique experience of viewing one\u27s body in 3D on participants\u27 self-reported levels of body satisfaction, mood, and appearance management. The current study tested Self Discrepancy Theory (SDT; Higgins, 1987) by examining whether participants\u27 (N = 101) Actual-Ideal (AI) discrepancy (a discrepancy construed based on their own mental representation of their body) increases after viewing their 3D avatar (a discrepancy construed based on their actual body size measurements). It was predicted that participants would report an increase in their AI discrepancy after viewing their 3D avatar, as the scan confronts the participant with their actual body size (H1). SDT predicts that an increased AI discrepancy (e.g., post avatar scan) would result in fewer reports of body satisfaction (H2), decreased mood (H3), and increased likelihood to manage one\u27s appearance (H4) compared to participants\u27 baseline reports. All hypotheses were supported. Results and implications are discussed

A G358S mutation in the Plasmodium falciparum Na⁺ pump PfATP4 confers clinically-relevant resistance to cipargamin

Diverse compounds target the Plasmodium falciparum Na(+) pump PfATP4, with cipargamin and (+)-SJ733 the most clinically-advanced. In a recent clinical trial for cipargamin, recrudescent parasites emerged, with most having a G358S mutation in PfATP4. Here, we show that PfATP4(G358S) parasites can withstand micromolar concentrations of cipargamin and (+)-SJ733, while remaining susceptible to antimalarials that do not target PfATP4. The G358S mutation in PfATP4, and the equivalent mutation in Toxoplasma gondii ATP4, decrease the sensitivity of ATP4 to inhibition by cipargamin and (+)-SJ733, thereby protecting parasites from disruption of Na(+) regulation. The G358S mutation reduces the affinity of PfATP4 for Na(+) and is associated with an increase in the parasite’s resting cytosolic [Na(+)]. However, no defect in parasite growth or transmissibility is observed. Our findings suggest that PfATP4 inhibitors in clinical development should be tested against PfATP4(G358S) parasites, and that their combination with unrelated antimalarials may mitigate against resistance development

Resistance to Genotoxic Stresses in Arctica islandica, the Longest Living Noncolonial Animal: Is Extreme Longevity Associated With a Multistress Resistance Phenotype?

Bivalve molluscs are newly discovered models of successful aging. Here, we test the hypothesis that extremely long-lived bivalves are not uniquely resistant to oxidative stressors (eg, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, as demonstrated in previous studies) but exhibit a multistress resistance phenotype. We contrasted resistance (in terms of organismal mortality) to genotoxic stresses (including topoisomerase inhibitors, agents that cross-link DNA or impair genomic integrity through DNA alkylation or methylation) and to mitochondrial oxidative stressors in three bivalve mollusc species with dramatically differing life spans: Arctica islandica (ocean quahog), Mercenaria mercenaria (northern quahog), and the Atlantic bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians (maximum species life spans: \u3e500, \u3e100, and ∼2 years, respectively). With all stressors, the short-lived A i irradians were significantly less resistant than the two longer lived species. Arctica islandica were consistently more resistant than M mercenaria to mortality induced by oxidative stressors as well as DNA methylating agent nitrogen mustard and the DNA alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate. The same trend was not observed for genotoxic agents that act through cross-linking DNA. In contrast, M mercenaria tended to be more resistant to epirubicin and genotoxic stressors, which cause DNA damage by inhibiting topoisomerases. To our knowledge, this is the first study comparing resistance to genotoxic stressors in bivalve mollusc species with disparate longevities. In line with previous studies of comparative stress resistance and longevity, our data extends, at least in part, the evidence for the hypothesis that an association exists between longevity and a general resistance to multiplex stressors, not solely oxidative stress. This work also provides justification for further investigation into the interspecies differences in stress response signatures induced by a diverse array of stressors in short-lived and long-lived bivalves, including pharmacological agents that elicit endoplasmic reticulum stress and cellular stress caused by activation of innate immunity

Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licenseBackground: 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods: This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation: Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding: National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit

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

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseBackground: 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<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<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. Funding: National Institute for Health and Care Research