How do Online Advertisements Affects Consumer Purchasing Intention: Empirical Evidence from a Developing Country

The size and range of online advertisement is increasing dramatically. Businesses are spending more on online advertisement than before. Understanding the factors that influence online advertisement effectiveness is crucial. While much research has addressed this issue, few studies have considered the case of developing countries. This study seeks to explore the factors that contribute to the effectiveness of online advertisements and affect consumer purchasing intention from the perspective of developing countries. Based on a five dimensions theoretical model, this study empirically analyzes the effect of online advertisement on purchasing intention using data collected from 339 Jordanian university students. Results show that Income, Internet skills, Internet usage per day, advertisement content and advertisement location are significant factors that affect the effectiveness of online advertisement. However, two notable findings emerged: first was the key significant role of website language and secondly and maybe most importantly is the impact of other people opinions on the effectiveness of online advertisement. Keywords: Advertisement, Consumer characteristics, Developing countries, Online Purchasing

The efficacy of intermittent directly observed isoniazid in preventing tuberculosis in HIV-infected adults with advanced disease

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 134-170).[Introduction] Meta-analysis of the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in HIV-infected adults has shown significant reduction in the incidence of tuberculosis in participants with a positive tuberculin skin test (TST), but not in those with a negative TST. However, there are insufficient data on patients with advanced HIV disease from high tuberculosis incidence areas. It is important to exclude tuberculosis prior to such preventive therapy, but this can be difficult in patients with symptomatic HIV disease. A tuberculosis screening instrument is thus needed to ensure that patients placed on preventive therapy do not have tuberculosis. Furthermore, to ensure adherence and avoid drug resistance optimal supervision of the treatment administrations is required. [ Methods ] Patients with clinically advanced HIV disease were screened for active tuberculosis using a symptom questionnaire, measured weight loss, chest radiography, sputum microscopy and culture prior to receiving tuberculosis preventive therapy. Once tuberculosis was excluded, a randomized doubleblind trial was conducted comparing INH with placebo among TST negative status participants with WHO Stage 3 or 4 HIV disease. INH/placebo was administered for 12 months by patient-nominated supervisors. TST-positive participants were given open-label INH. Participants who did not have access to ART were followed up for 24 months with 6-monthly sputum culture and chest radiography. All those enrolled for the trial were required to visit a clinic on a monthly basis for 12 months during the period of weekly intermittent supervised administration of INH/placebo to assess for tuberculosis and adherence. [ Results ] A total of 118 participants were enrolled: TST was negative in 98. Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 11 of 129 patients screened. A simple screening instrument of two or more of the symptoms cough, night sweats or fever, (plus measured weight loss) had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 88.1% (against the gold standard of sputum culture) and positive and negative predictive values of 44% and 100%, respectively. In the randomized trial arms, the incidence of tuberculosis was 18/100 person-years (py) in the INH arm and 11.6/100 py in the placebo arm [hazard ratio 1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57-49)]. There was no significant difference in mortality, hospitalization rate or CD4+ lymphocyte decline. Patient adherence for INH/placebo was 8 5% and was significantly higher among participants with work-based treatment supervisors than among those who were supervised by home-based or community-based treatment supervisors. The daily self-administered treatment (SAT) of cotrimoxazole (CTX) showed a good adherence especially among the TST positive participants, where a greater benefit in terms of survival among participants with good cotrimoxazole adherence was observed

A technique to randomise consecutive codons in a sequence of DNA using MAX oligonucleotides

Randomisation of DNA using conventional methodology requires an excess of genes to be cloned, since with randomised codons NNN or NNG/T 64 genes or 32 genes must be cloned to encode 20 amino acids respectively. Thus, as the number of randomised codons increases, the number of genes required to encode a full set of proteins increases exponentially. Various methods have been developed that address the problems associated with excess of genes that occurs due to the degeneracy of the genetic code. These range from chemical methodologies to biological methods. These all involve the replacement, insertion or deletion of codon(s) rather than individual nucleotides. The biological methods are however limited to random insertion/deletion or replacement. Recent work by Hughes et al., (2003) has randomised three binding residues of a zinc finger gene. The drawback with this is the fact that consecutive codons cannot undergo saturation mutagenesis. This thesis describes the development of a method of saturation mutagenesis that can be used to randomise any number of consecutive codons in a DNA strand. The method makes use of “MAX” oligonucleotides coding for each of the 20 amino acids that are ligated to a conserved sequence of DNA using T4 DNA ligase. The “MAX” oligonucleotides were synthesised in such a way, with an MlyI restriction site, that restriction of the oligonucleotides occurred after the three nucleotides coding for the amino acids. This use of the MlyI site and the restrict, purify, ligate and amplify method allows the insertion of “MAX” codons at any position in the DNA. This methodology reduces the number of clones that are required to produce a representative library and has been demonstrated to be effective to 7 amino acid positions

Forecast Model for Return Quality in Reverse Logistics Networks

Giving rise to the field of reverse logistics are the governmental legislations mandating used electronics take-backs and sustainable recovery, which often burden manufacturers with the challenge of high implementation costs but no guaranteed profitability. One way to tackle this challenge is to demystify the multi-faceted uncertainties of product returns, namely timing, quantity and quality, that currently inhibit optimal design and operations of reverse logistics networks (RLN). In recognition of the limitations particularly caused by uncertainty of returns’ quality in the strategic, tactical and operational planning of the RLN, this research seeks to develop a forecast model for the prediction of the returns’ quality of future electronics returns. The proposed forecast model comprehensively incorporates three major factors that affect quality decisions which are usage, technological age and remaining economic value of expected product returns to predict its quality grade. While technological age and economic trends can readily be established, the main complexity lies in modeling of usage-dependent reliability distribution of returned electronics. The novelty of the proposed forecast model lies in deducing usage distributions through segmentation of the consumer base by socioeconomic factors such as age, income, educational status and location. These usage distributions are then used to estimate remaining useful life of returned products and their components, the associated repair costs and the subsequent profitability of reprocessing based on economic value in the market. This research develops analytical models of expected return quality based on empirical usage distributions and pricing trends. The analytical models are then applied in Monte Carlo simulations to forecast expected returns’ quality from different regions, including large and small population centers, in Canada

Evaluation of Synthetic Unit Hydrograph Techniques For Utah Probable Maximum Flood Determinations

Every dam must be capable of safely passing a predetermined flood magnitude. For high-hazard dams, it is a common practice to require that this flood be the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF). The determination of the PMF starts with the determination of the Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP). We used the generalized estimates of the PMP as outlined in Hydrometeorological Report (HMR) 49. In this study we used the storm event model approach to convert the PMP into PMF. Different synthetic unit hydrograph (SUH) techniques were then used in the conversion process. The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) curve number method was used to estimate the losses, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) lag time relationship was used as the basis for estimating the time parameters for the different (SUH) methods. The objectives of this study were 1) to evaluate the theoretical and empirical basis for the SUH methods that are commonly used for Utah PMF determinations; 2) to compare the PMF determinations for representative Utah watersheds based on alternative SUH methods using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, and to explore the effects of parameter uncertainty ; and 3) to make recommendations for the selection and use of SUH methods for Utah PMF determinations. An interactive PMF modeling system was formulated. The modeling system processes the different databases and estimates the parameters required for HEC 1 model input to produce the PMF hydrograph. Five SUHs were used, tbe SCS, Clark, Snyder, USBR, and the Corps of Engineers (COE) LA valley S-graph. Seven representative Utah high-hazard dam sites were selected and used in the evaluation of the five SUH techniques, focusing on their procedure, practice and applicability, and analytical and empirical evaluations. GIS procedures proved to be a very efficient and flexible means for obtaining rainfall-runoff model inputs. Deviation of the site-specific time-area curve from the default curve in HEC 1 leads to errors in the peak flow estimate. In the absence of suitable events for site-specific development of unit hydrographs, the USBR SUH technique is to be used, but careful consideration should be given to the appropriateness of the use of local storm K, values for Utah local storm PMFs

Palestinian curriculum from an Israeli perspective

The article explores the Palestinian curriculum from an Israeli perspective. The reality of the school and the Palestinian textbooks are the subject of controversy and debate in Israel. Promotes and encourages a reality that is observed another look askance if no sound basis for agreement and respect between the two peoples. The article defends the right of every people to design their curriculum. Similarly, states that supports the exercise of this right from a national identity with the active work for the understanding and knowledge as a basis for trust. Inquire about the two main positions that arise out of Palestine. The article studies the two main positions that arises out of Palestine for or recognizing the Palestinian right to design education and curriculum materials, or, against, and suspicious of these materials and their consequences. Identifying the main arguments put forward in the debate. He concludes with a scenario of knowledge and inquiry for mutual understanding and respect. It promotes a new analysis of the curriculum and the current Palestinian textbooks, which will be his doctoral thesis: "The Palestinian Curriculum and Identity Representation of Palestine in 2010"