Valuing Quality in Educational Services: An Empirical Study

This study aims to evaluate the value parameters in education services and to develop a framework for enhancement of student’s satisfaction. Focusing on traditional service quality dimensions and new concerns, it seeks to investigate the changes in expectations due to changing trends in education service industry and level of performance achieved with the identification of gap areas.   This paper reviews emerging gaps in service performance in education sector with the help of primary study. Respondents are selected on simple random basis from various formats of management institutes in India. Research instrument was designed with available scales in service quality studies with some new additions reflecting changed scenario. Data analysis reflects the gaps and the important dimensions which needs urgent attention.   The paper suggests that educational planners should look into the emerging trends and allocate their resources in light of importance-performance analysis. The findings of this study can be used by the practitioners in identification and improvement of service gap areas to enhance student’s satisfaction. Keywords: Service quality, Customer Satisfaction, Service Gap, Service Performanc

A Comparative study of product life cycle and its marketing applications

In this paper we explain the product life-cycle models that studies a set of strategic choices facing manufacturers as they design the product/service bundle which may require maintenance and repair support after its sale. Traditional market analysis relies on purely macroeconomic and political factors and fails to account for an emerging market's dynamism and future potential. The objective of this paper is to present all composed product life cycle (PLC) specific to the assessment of emerging markets at domestic and international expansion opportunities. Based on the literature pointing out the product life cycle in domestic and international markets with graphic presentation and models the need for a specialized composite and comprehensive approach, additional criteria are introduced to assess emerging market potential. Emerging markets provided the rationale for the product life cycle in dealing with common product life cycle (FMCG), retail PLC, industrial products PLC, services PLC, engineering PLC and international PLC criteria. Marketing with PLC philosophy gives insights to practicing managers to follow the options and make visionary decisions for products they are dealing with. Composite PLC has been overlooked in literature and this paper will fill the gaps by collective study on five market conditions. Keywords: product life-cycle, marketing DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/63-06 Publication date: December 31st 201

In-silico molecular docking for Potential herbal leads from Withaniasomnifera L. Dunal for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, necessitating novel therapeutic interventions. Withaniasomnifera L. Dunal, commonly known as Ashwagandha, has been historically utilized in traditional medicine for its neuroprotective properties. This study employs computational techniques to explore the potential of W. somnifera compounds in targeting key proteins associated with AD. The reported phytoconstituents of W. somnifera were identified and subjected to molecular docking studies against 5NUU (Torpedo californica acetylcholinesterase in complex with a chlorotacrine-tryptophan hybrid inhibitor), as crucial targets. The results revealed several phytoconstituents of W. somnifera exhibiting favorable binding affinities and promising interactions with the target proteins. These findings provide a valuable foundation for further experimental validation and the development of novel therapeutic agents derived from natural sources for the treatment of Alzheimer's

Prevalence and attributable health burden of chronic respiratory diseases, 1990–2017: A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2017

© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license Background: Previous attempts to characterise the burden of chronic respiratory diseases have focused only on specific disease conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma. In this study, we aimed to characterise the burden of chronic respiratory diseases globally, providing a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis on geographical and time trends from 1990 to 2017. Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, we estimated the prevalence, morbidity, and mortality attributable to chronic respiratory diseases through an analysis of deaths, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and years of life lost (YLL) by GBD super-region, from 1990 to 2017, stratified by age and sex. Specific diseases analysed included asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis, pneumoconiosis, and other chronic respiratory diseases. We also assessed the contribution of risk factors (smoking, second-hand smoke, ambient particulate matter and ozone pollution, household air pollution from solid fuels, and occupational risks) to chronic respiratory disease-attributable DALYs. Findings: In 2017, 544·9 million people (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 506·9–584·8) worldwide had a chronic respiratory disease, representing an increase of 39·8% compared with 1990. Chronic respiratory disease prevalence showed wide variability across GBD super-regions, with the highest prevalence among both males and females in high-income regions, and the lowest prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. The age-sex-specific prevalence of each chronic respiratory disease in 2017 was also highly variable geographically. Chronic respiratory diseases were the third leading cause of death in 2017 (7·0% [95% UI 6·8–7·2] of all deaths), behind cardiovascular diseases and neoplasms. Deaths due to chronic respiratory diseases numbered 3 914 196 (95% UI 3 790 578–4 044 819) in 2017, an increase of 18·0% since 1990, while total DALYs increased by 13·3%. However, when accounting for ageing and population growth, declines were observed in age-standardised prevalence (14·3% decrease), age-standardised death rates (42·6%), and age-standardised DALY rates (38·2%). In males and females, most chronic respiratory disease-attributable deaths and DALYs were due to COPD. In regional analyses, mortality rates from chronic respiratory diseases were greatest in south Asia and lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, also across both sexes. Notably, although absolute prevalence was lower in south Asia than in most other super-regions, YLLs due to chronic respiratory diseases across the subcontinent were the highest in the world. Death rates due to interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis were greater than those due to pneumoconiosis in all super-regions. Smoking was the leading risk factor for chronic respiratory disease-related disability across all regions for men. Among women, household air pollution from solid fuels was the predominant risk factor for chronic respiratory diseases in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, while ambient particulate matter represented the leading risk factor in southeast Asia, east Asia, and Oceania, and in the Middle East and north Africa super-region. Interpretation: Our study shows that chronic respiratory diseases remain a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with growth in absolute numbers but sharp declines in several age-standardised estimators since 1990. Premature mortality from chronic respiratory diseases seems to be highest in regions with less-resourced health systems on a per-capita basis. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Reconfiguring the traditional knowledge system for providing earthquake resistance: The case of post-disaster reconstruction of Khokana Village, Nepal

Cultural landscapes represent a closely woven net of inter-relationships between people, events and places over time; they are a symbol of the growing recognition of the fundamental links between local communities and their heritage, between people and their natural environment, and are hence crucial to their identity. In architectural projects like post-disaster reconstruction, which revolves around the needs of the communities decimated by a disaster, decisions taken become especially critical, as they have a long-term impact on the community and its built environment. It therefore requires one to take into account the cultural, social, and environmental context. This paper considers the case of Khokana, a traditional Newari settlement in the Kathmandu valley, in order to study its spatial configuration, determined by its socio-cultural activities, through the lens of collective memory mapping. It further analyzes the repercussions on the intangible values and tangible built environment of the community following the 2015 Nepal earthquake, and proposes a new design approach based on an understanding of Khokana’s traditional knowledge system and practices. Finally, we propose a model to achieve community resilience while keeping the community’s values and spatial ethos intact.Los paisajes culturales representan una red de relaciones estrechas entre personas, acontecimientos y lugares a lo largo del tiempo: son un símbolo del reconocimiento creciente de los vínculos fundamentales entre las comunidades locales y su patrimonio, entre las personas y el entorno natural y, por consiguiente, cruciales para su identidad. En proyectos arquitectónicos como los de reconstrucción tras una catástrofe, que giran en torno a las necesidades de comunidades diezmadas por un desastre, las decisiones adoptadas se vuelven especialmente críticas, ya que tienen un impacto a largo plazo en la comunidad y su entorno construido. Por consiguiente, hay que tener en cuenta el contexto cultural, social y medioambiental. Este artículo analiza el caso de Khokana, un asentamiento newari tradicional en el valle de Katmandú, para estudiar su configuración espacial, determinada por sus actividades socioculturales, a través de la perspectiva de la memoria colectiva. Por otra parte, se analizan las repercusiones que tuvo el terremoto de Nepal de 2015 en los valores inmateriales y el entorno construido de la comunidad; asimismo se propone la reconfiguración de los proyectos mediante la comprensión del sistema de conocimientos y las prácticas tradicionales de Khokana. En la última parte se propone un modelo para conseguir una mayor adaptabilidad comunitaria manteniendo intactos sus valores y ética del espacio

Why do people purchase antibiotics over-the-counter? A qualitative study with patients, clinicians and dispensers in central, eastern and western Nepal

Introduction Over-the-counter (OTC) use of antibiotics contributes to the burgeoning rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Drawing on qualitative research methods, this article explores the characteristics of OTC sales of antibiotic in Nepal, its drivers and implications for policy.Methods Data were collected in and around three tertiary hospitals in eastern, western and central Nepal. Using pre-defined guides, a mix of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with dispensers at drug stores, patients attending a hospital and clinicians. Interviews were audio-recorded, translated and transcribed into English and coded using a combination of an inductive and deductive approach.Results Drug shops were the primary location where patients engaged with health services. Interactions were brief and transactional: symptoms were described or explicit requests for specific medicine made, and money was exchanged. There were economic incentives for clients and drug stores: patients were able to save money by bypassing the formal healthcare services. Clinicians described antibiotics as easily available OTC at drug shops. Dispensing included the empirical use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, often combining multiple antibiotics, without laboratory diagnostic and drug susceptibility testing. Inappropriately short regimens (2–3 days) were also offered without follow-up. Respondents viewed OTC antibiotic as a convenient alternative to formal healthcare, the access to which was influenced by distance, time and money. Respondents also described the complexities of navigating various departments in hospitals and little confidence in the quality of formal healthcare. Clinicians and a few dispensers expressed concerns about AMR and referred to evadable policies around antibiotics use and poor enforcement of regulation.Conclusions The findings point to the need for clear policy guidance and rigorous implementation of prescription-only antibiotics

Search for CPCP violation in D0^0→\to KS0^0_\mathrm{S}KS0^0_\mathrm{S} decays in proton-proton collisions at s\sqrt{s} = 13 TeV

International audienceA search is reported for charge-parity D$^0$$\to$ K$^0_\mathrm{S}$K$^0_\mathrm{S}$$CP$ violation in D$^0$$\to$ K$^0_\mathrm{S}$K$^0_\mathrm{S}$ decays, using data collected in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV recorded by the CMS experiment in 2018. The analysis uses a dedicated data set that corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 41.6 fb$^{-1}$, which consists of about 10 billion events containing a pair of ẖadrons, nearly all of which decay to charm hadrons. The flavor of the neutral D meson is determined by the pion charge in the reconstructed decays D$^{*+}$$\to$ D$^0\pi^+$ and D$^{*-}$$\to$ D$^0\pi^-$. The D$^0$$\to$ K$^0_\mathrm{S}$K$^0_\mathrm{S}$$CP$ asymmetry in D$^0$$\to$ K$^0_\mathrm{S}$K$^0_\mathrm{S}$ is measured to be $A_{CP}$( K$^0_\mathrm{S}$K$^0_\mathrm{S}$) = (6.2 $\pm$ 3.0 $\pm$ 0.2 $\pm$ 0.8)%, where the three uncertainties represent the statistical uncertainty, the systematic uncertainty, and the uncertainty in the measurement of the D$^0$ $\to$ K$^0_\mathrm{S}$K$^0_\mathrm{S}$ $CP$ asymmetry in the D$^0$ $\to$ K$^0_\mathrm{S}\pi^+\pi^-$ decay. This is the first D$^0$ $\to$ K$^0_\mathrm{S}$K$^0_\mathrm{S}$ $CP$ asymmetry measurement by CMS in the charm sector as well as the first to utilize a fully hadronic final state

Observation of the J/ψ\psi →\to μ+μ−μ+μ−\mu^+\mu^-\mu^+\mu^- decay in proton-proton collisions at s\sqrt{s} = 13 TeV

International audienceThe J/$\psi$$\to$$\mu^+\mu^-\mu^+\mu^-$ decay has been observed with a statistical significance in excess of five standard deviations. The analysis is based on an event sample of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected by the CMS experiment in 2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 33.6 fb${-1}$. Normalizing to the J/$\psi$$\to$$\mu^+\mu^-$ decay mode leads to a branching fraction [10.1$^{+3.3}_{-2.7}$ (stat) $\pm$ 0.4 (syst) ]$\times$ 10$^{-7}$, a value that is consistent with the standard model prediction