Mišljenja pakistanske djece o TV oglašavanju

This qualitative study explores Pakistani children’s views regarding TV advertising and outlines the factors impacting their choice of snack brands. Thirty-six children from three schools were selected purposefully and qualitative dana was collected through focus group sessions held in schools. Findings suggest that children understand the intended message of snack brand advertisers. Different variants of brands focusing on some product- and non-product related elements are considered imperative, contributing towards purchase. Children identify brandsn through jingles and cartoon characters and are well-aware of the logic behind TV advertising. This study highlighted children as knowledgeable, straightforward, fun-loving and rational consumers, all of which have some important implications for food marketers. The research is an original contribution to the work in the field of consumer socialization; it is intended to help the readers understand children’s attitude with regard to TV advertising, and identify some of the elements contributing to the choice of snack brands among children.Ova kvalitativna studija istražuje mišljenja pakistanske djece o televizijskom oglašavanju te navodi čimbenike utjecaja na izbor marke tzv. snack proizvoda. Namjernim uzorkovanjem odabrano je tridesetšestero djece iz triju škola, u kojima su putem fokus grupa prikupljeni kvalitativni podaci. Nalazi istraživanja upućuju na to da djeca razumiju namjere sadržane u porukama oglašivača snack proizvoda. Različiti oblici pojedinih maraka usmjereni na elemente vezane i nevezane uz proizvod smatraju se nužnima i pridonose namjeri kupovine. Djeca identificiraju marke kroz jinglove i crtane likove te su svjesna logike TV oglašavanja. Istraživanje je pokazalo da su ona dobro obaviještena, iskrena, da vole zabavu i racionalni su potrošači, što ima važne implikacije za marketinške stručnjake u prehrambenoj industriji. Ovaj je rad izvoran doprinos u području socijalizacije potrošača i nastoji pomoći čitateljima pri razumijevanju stavova djece prema TV oglašavanju putem identifikaciju nekih elemenata koji pridonose izboru marke snack proizvoda među djecom

Interleukin–33, Oxidative Stress in Prediabetic Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients with Insulin Resistance

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the common female endocrine disorders of uncertain etiology, which causes menstrual disorders as well as infertility. Interleukin–33(IL-33) is considered as a strong risk marker of inflammation and may have possible role in pathogenesis of PCOS. Objectives: The present study is designed to investigate the possible role of IL-33 in pathogenesis of PCOS and its relation with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C),insulin resistance(IR) and oxidative stress in prediabetic PCOS patients. Subjects and Methods: The study involved 30 healthy women as control group and sixty six infertile Iraqi women with PCOS which were divided into two groups according to glycated heamoglobin(HbA1c) value and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The first group (G1) consist of 30 women with HbA1c ≤ 6.5% and HOMA –IR<3.8 as PCOS without diabetes and without insulin resistance. The second group(G2) consist of 36 patients with HbA1c ≥ 6.5 % and HOMA-IR ≥ 3.8 as PCOS with pre diabetes type 2 and insulin resistance. Ten milliliters of blood were collected from all subjects by vein puncture during 2nd – 4th day of the menstrual cycle. Two ml of blood were collected in EDTA tube for HbA1c analysis. The serum which obtained from the remained blood were used for determination of (insulin, fasting blood glucose(FBG), Malondialdehyde(MDA) , Total antioxidant capacity(TAC) , uric acid, glutathione(GSH), albumin, and IL-33) . Results: Results revealed a significant elevation in HbA1c, insulin, HOMA-IR, MDA, TAC, uric acid and IL-33 in the patients group when compared with healthy women. On the other hand, a significant decreased in GSH and albumin were found in patients group when compared with control group. Also there are significant differences in the results between patients in group 1 and group 2. A significant positive correlation between IL-33 and HbA1c levels was noticed in G1 and G2 .A significant positive correlation between IL-33 and HOMA-IR was noticed in group 1 while a negative significant correlation was found in group 2. No correlation founded between IL-33 levels and TAC concentration in group 1, but a positive correlation noticed with group 2. A significant negative correlation was observed between IL-33 and MDA/TAS ratio in G1, while a significant positive correlation in G2 was found. Conclusion: high levels of IL-33 in patient groups may be considered as a novel cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Also the elevation in oxidative stress in PCOS patients could be a reason for disturbed follicular development and ultimately infertility

ASSOCIATION OF OBESITY WITH RS1421085 AND RS9939609 POLYMORPHISMS OF FTO GENE WITH T2DM IN EGYPTIAN FEMALES

Objective: Obesity has been described as a worldwide increasing health problem and risk factor of various disorders including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). So, our study aim to determine of common variants of fat mass and obesity associated gene polymorphisms rs1421085 and rs 9939609; confers risk of obesity and type 2 diabetic mellitus in Egyptian females.Methods: In this population rs1421085 and rs9939609 polymorphisms of fat mass and obesity (FTO) gene were genotyped in 105 obese patients and 100 healthy controls with ages 14-60 y were collected from Medicine Specialized Hospital, Mansoura University, Egypt during the period between Jul.-Oct. 2016, genotyping of SNPs was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay, fasting blood glucose, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA IR), body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) lipid profile was determined.Results: There was the significantly higher frequency of the AA compared to controls p=0.0001) of genotypers9939609. Also, cases have shown a significantly higher frequency of the C allele, p&lt;0.00001) of rs1421085 genotype polymorphisms increased the risks of obesity. On the other hand, there were no significant correlations between genotypes and obesity-related (anthropometric body composition) parameters. Only the fasting blood glucose was significantly higher in the TA p=0.004).Conclusion: The FTO rs9939609 and rs1421085 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was associated with increased risk of obesity in type 2 diabetic populations on Egyptian females

Synergistic Interaction of Rhizobium tropici, Rhizophagus irregularis and Serendipita indica in Promoting Snap Bean Growth

The overuse of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in crop farming has led to a decrease in crop quality and negative impacts on soil and the environment. It is crucial to adopt alternative strategies to maintain soil and environmental quality while enhancing crop growth and yield. To explore this, a study was conducted under greenhouse conditions to investigate the effect of Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 alone, as well as in association with mycorrhizae (Rhizophagus irregularis) and endophytic fungus (Serendipita indica), on the growth, yield, and nutrient status of snap bean plants. At harvest, the rhizobial strain CIAT 899 demonstrated the highest effectiveness. It significantly increased the number of nodules in both Contender and Garrafal Enana varieties by 6.97% and 14.81%, respectively, compared with the control without inoculation. Furthermore, the results indicated that co-inoculation of Rhizobium and symbiotic fungi had positive effects on nitrogen content, phosphorus availability, and overall plant growth. Regardless of the variety, plants inoculated with R. tropici CIAT 899 and Serendipita indica exhibited the highest values for plant growth parameters. This combination resulted in 168% and 135% increases in root dry biomass, as well as 140% and 225% increases in the number of pods for Contender and Garrafal Enana, respectively, compared with the control at harvest. Additionally, this study highlights the potential benefits of combining R. tropici with either Serendipita indica or Rhizophagus irregularis in terms of nitrogen and phosphorus uptake. These symbiotic microorganisms demonstrated synergistic interactions with snap bean plants, leading to improved mineral nutrition and enhanced growth. Overall, these findings suggest that utilizing these symbiotic microorganisms can effectively enhance the mineral nutrition and growth of snap bean plants.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Perceived Risk of falls among Acute Care Patients

Purpose: In an effort to lower the number of falls that occur among hospitalized patients, several facilities have begun introducing various fall prevention programs. However, the efficacy of fall prevention programs is diminished if patients do not consider themselves to be at risk for falls and do not follow recommended procedures. The goal of this study was to characterize how patients in four different acute care specialist services felt about their risk of falling while in the hospital. Methods: One hundred patients admitted to the study hospital with a Morse Fall Scale score of 45 or higher were given the Patient Perception Questionnaire, a tool designed to assess a patient's perception of their own fall risk, fear of falling, and motivation to take part in fall prevention efforts. Scores on the Morse Fall Scale were gathered through a historical assessment of medical records. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and independent sample t tests were used to examine the data. Results: The average age was 65, and around half (52%) were men and half (48%) were women. Based on their ratings on the Morse Fall Scale, all 100 participants were classified as being at high risk for falls. However, only 55.5% of the individuals agreed with this assessment. The likelihood that a patient would seek assistance and the degree to which they feared falling both declined as their faith in their mobility improved. Patients hospitalized after a fall exhibited considerably lower confidence scores and greater fear scores than patients who had not been injured in a fall. Conclusions: Patients who have a high fall risk assessment score may not believe they are at risk for falls and may not take any steps to reduce their risk. The prevalence of falls in hospitals might be mitigated by the creation of a fall risk assessment technique that takes into account both objective and subjective factors

Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab in adult patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with both hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Those trial participants with hypoxia (oxygen saturation &lt;92% on air or requiring oxygen therapy) and evidence of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥75 mg/L) were eligible for random assignment in a 1:1 ratio to usual standard of care alone versus usual standard of care plus tocilizumab at a dose of 400 mg–800 mg (depending on weight) given intravenously. A second dose could be given 12–24 h later if the patient's condition had not improved. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between April 23, 2020, and Jan 24, 2021, 4116 adults of 21 550 patients enrolled into the RECOVERY trial were included in the assessment of tocilizumab, including 3385 (82%) patients receiving systemic corticosteroids. Overall, 621 (31%) of the 2022 patients allocated tocilizumab and 729 (35%) of the 2094 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·85; 95% CI 0·76–0·94; p=0·0028). Consistent results were seen in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including those receiving systemic corticosteroids. Patients allocated to tocilizumab were more likely to be discharged from hospital within 28 days (57% vs 50%; rate ratio 1·22; 1·12–1·33; p&lt;0·0001). Among those not receiving invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, patients allocated tocilizumab were less likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (35% vs 42%; risk ratio 0·84; 95% CI 0·77–0·92; p&lt;0·0001). Interpretation: In hospitalised COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, tocilizumab improved survival and other clinical outcomes. These benefits were seen regardless of the amount of respiratory support and were additional to the benefits of systemic corticosteroids. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Free Radical Copolymerization of Diallylamine and Itaconic Acid for the Synthesis of Chitosan Base Superabsorbent

Copolymerization of diallylamine (DAA) and itaconic acid (IA) was synthesized using benzoyl peroxide as a free radical initiator, in dioxane as the solvent. The composition of the copolymer was determined by the nitrogen content using Edx. The solubility of the copolymer was also investigated. The water solubility of the synthesized copolymer depends on the comonomers&rsquo; ratio. The structure of the copolymer was confirmed by 13C-NMR spectroscopy. To increase the water insolubility of the copolymers, and keep their hydrophilicity, the copolymer was allowed to react with chitosan to form a superabsorbent polymeric material (SP). The structure of the synthesized superabsorbent was confirmed using 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The thermal property of the (SP) was also investigated by TGA. The investigation of the chitosan-based superabsorbent, as water-retaining agents, was studied. The results revealed that the superabsorbent polymers exhibited a good swelling ability and salt tolerance

Utilizing Empathy Philosophy In Advertising Design

The research focuses on studying the philosophy of empathy and how to utilize it in advertising design. Empathy is one of the most effective ways to communicate with the other. Empathy can be an entry point for designing the advertisement so that the designer put themselves in the shoes of the recipient and the audience, and thus the designers can learn more deeply about the opinions and behaviors of the audience and their trends by asking them directly about their desires, hopes, pains and goals. Empathy also means that the designer is aware of the recipient's feeling and emotional state when interacting with the advertisement presented. Thus, empathy based design research such as the empathy map aims to find common ground with the audience to apply the concept of empathy, and thus formulate advertising ideas from the view of the feelings and desires of the recipient and the requirements and objectives of the advertisement. Hence, the research problem lies in identifying the philosophy and theories of Empathy and how they can be used and utilized in the design of the advertisement, also studying how to use the empathy map in understanding the recipient, and how the advertisement can be designed in light of the emotion classification scheme. The research aims to benefit from the principles and theories of Empathy, as well as the empathy map as a way to reach a deep understanding of the recipient and thus formulate advertising ideas that attract the recipient and correspond to his needs and desires, as well as studying the classifications of feelings categories and how to employ them, formulating advertising ideas in light of the concept of Empathy. The research follows the descriptive approach accompanied by an analytical study. The research has found the importance of the empathy map in reaching a deep understanding of the feelings and needs of the recipient, and then creating the advertising message according to the emotion scheme