'Unserved' interpretations of service satisfaction

Satisfaction with services has traditionally been explained with the help of service attributes. While these attributes have been good predictors of satisfaction, the relationship could possibly be better explained with the inclusion of additional variables. We draw on the literature in consumer behavior where situational variables in combination with product and consumer characteristics have been shown to be better predictors of consumers' behavior than consumer or product characteristics by themselves. Studies in consumer behavior have also established a direct link between affective state and consumers' behavior, the argument being that different states prime different goals, thus affecting the importance of attributes relevant under different situations. This is the basis of our study to show that situation-related affective state moderates the effects of service characteristics on satisfaction and the resulting outcomes of such satisfaction. A model incorporating the effects of situation-related affective state in the existing relationship between service characteristics and satisfaction is developed and tested to not only demonstrate the moderating role of situational emotions in the relationships but also its impact on the strength of these relationships.Services marketing, Satisfaction paradigm, Consumer behavior, Situation, Affective state

Evaluation of the Relationship between AcademicPerformance and Physical Fitness Measures in California Schools

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between academic achievement and physical fitness in California schools. Data from the academic year 2004-2005 Fitnessgram were compared to reading, mathematics and science scores on the California Standards test (CST) of 253 elementary schools in the Orange County School District. Physical education teachers from the 10 lowest scoring and 10 highest scoring schools were interviewed regarding content of the physical education classes in their school. Simple correlation coefficients revealed a positive linear relationship between academic scores and physical fitness scores. The interview with the teachers revealed that most of the 10 lowest scoring schools did not have a designated physical education teacher. All of the 10 highest scoring schools had designated physical education teachers and followed the physical education guidelines recommended by the California Education Board

Perinatal outcomes and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: a prospective study

Background: Women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) have an increased risk for postpartum haemorrhage, dyslipidaemia, preterm labour and operative interference. Fetus in ICP has been associated with an increased incidence of preterm labour, preterm prelabour rupture of membrane, fetal distress, abnormal CTG, meconium staining, spontaneous intrauterine death. The present study was done to evaluate the perinatal outcomes – maternal outcomes and fetal outcomes of ICP.Methods: This was a prospective observational study carried out in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Total 1100 pregnant women were screened during the study period. Patients with ICP were identified in maternity care units after eliciting history about itching. Pregnancies with pregnancy induced hypertension and other liver diseases in pregnancy were excluded.Results: 62 pregnant women with prevalence rate of 5.64% have been found to be suffering from ICP. The most frequently affected (22, 35.48%) age-group with ICP were belong to age > 35 years. A majority of pregnant women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy was of multipara. ICP was highly significantly associated with small for gestational age (SGA, p-value: 0.0003); abnormal cardiotocography (CTG, p-value: 0.0002); and meconium stained liquor (p-value: 0.0001). Caesarean section as mode of delivery found significantly associated (p-value: 0.0033) with ICP. Insomnia (p-value: 0.0045); dyslipidemia (p-value: 0.0011); and postpartum haemorrhage (p-value: 0.0122) were also found significantly with ICP.Conclusions: ICP can adversely affect fetal as well as maternal pregnancy outcomes. Maternal outcomes have good prognosis, but fetal outcomes can be improved by timely and effective intervention

Maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum

Background: Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is associated with maternal weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, fluid and electrolyte abnormalities, which may lead to adverse fetal and maternal outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of hyperemesis gravidarum to maternal and foetal outcomes.Methods: A hospital-based prospective observational study was carried out. All patients with singleton pregnancy diagnosed as / history of hyperemesis gravidarum the current pregnancy was included in the study. The pregnant women with multiple pregnancy, molar pregnancy, presence of pre-gestational diabetes, pre-gestational hypertension, and other causes of nausea such as appendicitis and pyelonephritis were excluded from the study.Results: 36 pregnant women with prevalence rate of 3.28% have been found to be suffering from HG. Almost half (17, 47.22%) of the pregnant women with HG had age less than 25 years. The significant association (p-value: 0.0099) has been found between parity and smoking with HG. HG was significantly associated with low birth weight (p-value: 0.0133); small for gestational age (SGA) (p-value: 0.0316); APGAR score < 7 after 1 minute (p-value: 0.0060); and APGAR score <7 after 5 minutes (p-value: 0.0006). There is no association found between mode of delivery, gestational diabetes, and pregnancy-induced hypertension with HG.Conclusions: HG can adversely affect fetal as well as maternal, though not significant, pregnancy outcomes

Effect of nephroprotective Ficus dalhousiae bark extract on gentamicin induced with combination of benzoic acid nephrotoxicity in rats

Background: The Ficus dalhousiae plant (Anjeer family) is. Its important parts-leaves, stem, bark and root are. The current study is design to effect of Ficus dalhousiae bark extract on gentamicin (GM) induced with combination of benzoic acid (BA) nephrotoxicity in rats.Methods: In acute toxicity studies animals are fasted before being dosed; kept overnight. Depending on the time interval. The beginning dose will be chosen from one of four predetermined levels: 5, 50, 300, or 2000 mg/kg of body weight. The animals are evaluated for 4 and 48 hours. In nephroprotective studies we are taken 30 rats which will be divided into 5 groups. proceed group by group like-control with normal saline, BA (100 mg/kg/body weight, IP) daily, hydroalcoholic extract of Ficus dalhousiae (200 mg/kg/body weight, PO) and simultaneously administered GM (100 mg/kg/body weight, IP) daily for 9 days. And we are doing difference types of estimations, like-blood urea, uric acid and serum creatinine.Results: Ficus dalhousiae bark extract on BA action on serum creatinine and urea levels in rats given GM. When compared to control rats, eight days of GM treatment resulted in significantly higher serum creatinine and urea levels. However, BA pretreatments have significantly improved serum creatine and urea (p<0.001) to reduce GM-induced nephrotoxicity (p<0.01, resp.).Conclusions: Ficus dalhousiae has significant nephroprotective activity in nephroprotective studies, acute toxicity activity and various such type of estimations like- blood urea, uric acid and creatinine

F-wave records with submaximal stimulation: sustainability of the data and subject discomfort levels

Background: F-wave studies are valuable electrodiagnostic tests with considerable roles in early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy, detection of axonal neuropathies and focal proximal nerve dysfunctions. The recording of F-waves, however, requires recurrent supramaximal stimulation which entails subjects’ discomfort during the procedure. The present study hence attempted to assess the validity of the F-wave data obtained after submaximal stimulation thereby lessening the subject discomfort levels.Methods: The study was conducted on 64 healthy subjects in the age-group of 18-40 years with normal neurological examinations. F responses from median, ulnar, tibial and peroneal nerves by both supramaximal and submaximal stimulation were recorded. Subjects rated discomfort level on a visual analogue scale. Mean values of F-wave minimum latency, mean latency, mean duration, persistence, chronodispersion, F/M amplitude ratio and subject’s discomfort level obtained by the two techniques were compared by paired t-test. P value 0.05). Mean persistence, mean F/M amplitude ratio and mean subject discomfort levels varied statistically significantly.Conclusions: F-wave data can be attained by submaximal stimulation. F-wave mean and minimum latency, chronodispersion and duration remain relatively stable, but more stimuli may be needed for accurate values. For F/M amplitude ratio and F-wave persistence, submaximal reference range would be required. Nonetheless, diminution in subject discomfort with valid F-wave latency values, favours low intensity stimulation

MUSALI - A DIVINE HERB WITH ITS MEDICINAL USES

Musali is one of the reputed drug mentioned in the ancient books of Ayurveda and Siddha. It is good for all round development of health Musali&nbsp;is called as Divine Medicine for its medicinal qualities. Musali is also called Talamuli, Suvaha, Talamulika, Deerghakandika, Talapatri in Ayurveda. Acharya Charaka describe Musali in the treatment of respiratory disorders. Sushruta mentioned it in the treatment of Urolithiasis and in the treatment of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In Rajnighantu it has been described as sweet, cooling, mucilaginous, increase Kapha and reduces Pitta daha (burning sensation), act as stimulant, gives strength. It is one of the important Rasayana drugs of Ayurvedic Materia Medica for vigour and vitality. It is an important ingredient of many Ayurvedic preparation and is considered to have aphrodisiac, immunostimulant, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anticancer and antidiabetic activities. Hence the present study include its general introduction its type, Ayuredic literature, pharmacological activities and variable uses of Musali in several disease.&nbsp

Improving the Website Design Process for SMEs: A Design Science Perspective

The success of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in e-business is significantly affected by the quality of their websites. Currently, website designers focus mainly on improving the usability of websites. They pay less attention to the psychological, cognitive and other needs of the employees and customers who use these websites. The lack of attention to these needs leads to websites that are not well or appropriately utilised, negatively impacting the e-business ambitions of SMEs. This study adopts a design science approach (Hevner et al. 2004; March and Smith, 1995) to develop a new methodology for designing websites that takes these concerns into account. The new methodology is based on Brown’s principles (Brown, 1999), as they incorporate the various concerns of users. The new methodology was used to design a New Zealand SME\u27s website and multiple methods were used to evaluate it. The data was complemented by the results of the requirements analysis exercise and the designer\u27s wire frame models

'Unserved' interpretations of service satisfaction

Satisfaction with services has traditionally been explained with the help of service attributes. While these attributes have been good predictors of satisfaction, the relationship could possibly be better explained with the inclusion of additional variables. We draw on the literature in consumer behavior where situational variables in combination with product and consumer characteristics have been shown to be better predictors of consumers' behavior than consumer or product characteristics by themselves. Studies in consumer behavior have also established a direct link between affective state and consumers' behavior, the argument being that different states prime different goals, thus affecting the importance of attributes relevant under different situations. This is the basis of our study to show that situation-related affective state moderates the effects of service characteristics on satisfaction and the resulting outcomes of such satisfaction. A model incorporating the effects of situation-related affective state in the existing relationship between service characteristics and satisfaction is developed and tested to not only demonstrate the moderating role of situational emotions in the relationships but also its impact on the strength of these relationships

Familiarity and format: cause-related marketing promotions in international markets

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate cause-related marketing (CRM) promotions as a brand-oriented international market entry strategy that can leverage an unfamiliar brand in a new international market. One of the challenges CRM promotions face is skepticism toward the campaign and for that reason, many brands form alliances with well-known charities familiar to the consumer, hoping that the trust and goodwill generated by the charity will be transferred to the brand. The authors manipulate price and donation presentation formats to show an alternative means for overcoming skepticism.Lola Duque acknowledges support from FEDER/Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Project ECO2017-87369-P)