Why and how of narrative advertising : an integrated processing framework

The empirical part of my dissertation involved two studies. Study 1 tested the hypotheses regarding the relative effectiveness of narrative (vs. non-narrative) ads, while Study 2 examined the factors associated with the superiority of some narrative ads relative to other narrative ads. A feature of both studies is that they were conducted with a large sample of actual TV commercials. Study 1 used a random sample of 25 narrative and 25 non-narrative recent TV commercials and involved 484 research participants. Data were collected using Qualtrics online software and participants were recruited from an online panel. The data yielded support for the prediction that narrative (vs. non-narrative) commercials will result in more emotive response, more ad hedonic value, more ad credibility, more perceived goal facilitation, more positive Aad, and more positive brand attitudes. The results also supported the mediating role of ad hedonic value and ad credibility in terms of the effects of narrative (vs. non-narrative) ads on Aad. However, the mediating role of emotive response in the effects of narrative (vs. non-narrative) ads on Aad was not supported in the simultaneous mediation test. Further, the results also supported the hypotheses that the effects of emotive response, ad hedonic value, and ad credibility on brand attitudes would be mediated by Aad. Finally, the results confirmed that the effects of narrative (vs. non-narrative) ads on brand attitudes were mediated by perceived goal facilitation. Study 2 used a random sample of 50 narrative TV commercials and involved 515 research participants. As in Study 1, data were collected using Qualtrics online software and participants were recruited from an online panel. Study 2 provided support for all of the hypotheses regarding the factors that makes some narrative ads superior. Specifically, narrative ads that produced more emotive response, more ad hedonic value, and more ad credibility resulted in more positive Aad, which in turn enhanced brand attitudes. The results of the SEM analysis also indicated that among these three independent variables, ad hedonic value had the largest effect on Aad, followed by ad credibility. Note that the results further supported the hypothesis that Aad will fully mediate the effects of these three independent variables on brand attitudes. Also, as predicted, narrative ads that produced more perceived goal facilitation were conducive to more positive brand attitudes. My dissertation thus makes a significant contribution to the literature on narrative advertising. I believe my contribution not only enhances our theoretical understanding of the phenomenon, but also provides specific guidance for advertising practitioners about how to create good narrative ads

Renal Podocyte Injury in a Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes Is Prevented by Metformin

Hyperglycemia promotes oxidative stress and hence generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Metformin, an oral hypoglycemic drug, possesses antioxidant effects. The aim of this paper is to investigate the protective effects of metformin on the injury of renal podocytes in spontaneously diabetic Torii (SDT) rats, a new model for nonobese type 2 diabetes. Metformin (350 mg/kg/day) was given to SDT rats for 17 weeks. Blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and albuminuria were examined. Kidney histopathology, renal 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels and apoptosis were examined. In 43-week-old SDT rats, severe hyperglycemia was developed, and albuminuria was markedly increased. Diabetes induced significant alterations in renal glomerular structure. In addition, urinary and renal 8-OHdG levels were highly increased, and podocyte loss was shown through application of the TUNEL and synaptopodin staining. However, treatment of SDT rats with metformin restored all these renal changes. Our data suggested that diabetes-induced podocyte loss in diabetic nephropathy could be suppressed by the antidiabetes drug, metformin, through the repression of oxidative injury

An Empirical Study on Media Characteristics and Knowledge Sharing in Web 2.0 Environment

The success of the Enterprise 2.0 KMS (knowledge management systems) depends on the user’s continuous participation in the process of knowledge sharing. This study attempts to identify the determinants of the user’s intention to continuous knowledge sharing based on Expectation Confirmation Theory and Channel Expansion Theory. We also consider communication process modes (i.e., blog and wiki) as a moderator for perceived channel richness. The results of our analysis show the positive effects of all the predictors. With regard to the moderating effects of communication process modes, the effect of experiences shared with group members is greater in the channel to support conveyance, and the effects of experiences about the channel and the group task are greater in the channel to support convergence

An Algorithm for Exchanging Target Asset Pairs using the Kidney Exchange Model

Since chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosive (CBRNE) attacks can cause catastrophic damage, it is important to detect and eliminate the means of attack at the origin. In surveillance operations, efficient allocation of friendly intelligence assets and enemy targets is critical for continuous and reliablemonitoring. In this research, we investigate a mathematical model for exchanging target–asset pairs when there are sudden changes in various operational environments. For this task, we refer to the kidney exchange model as a benchmark. In particular, the methods for constructing and solving the target–asset exchange problem in near realtime are presented. Additionally, we introduce the methodology and results for obtaining a feasible solution of the weapon target assignment problem using the exchange model. Our method can facilitate decisions in reconnaissance operations, especially when countless targets and assets are intricately intertwined in future battlefield scenarios

KIOM-79 Prevents Lens Epithelial Cell Apoptosis and Lens Opacification in Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats

Damage of lens epithelial cells (LECs) has been implicated in cataract formation. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of KIOM-79, a combination of four plant extracts, on LECs. We examined the levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) activation and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in LECs during cataract development using the Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat, an animal model of type 2 diabetes. KIOM-79 was orally administered by gavage to ZDF rats once a day for 13 weeks. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay, and NF-κB activation and iNOS expression were studied by southwestern histochemistry and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In diabetic cataractous lenses, TUNEL-positive LECs were markedly increased 20-fold, and AGEs were highly accumulated (2.7-fold) in LECs. In addition, both NF-κB activation, and iNOS expression were significantly enhanced 3- to 5-fold, respectively, compared to levels found in normal ZL rats. However, the administration of KIOM-79 delayed the development of diabetic cataracts and prevented LEC apoptosis (70%) through the inhibition of AGEs, NF-κB-activation and iNOS expression. These observations suggest that KIOM-79 is useful in inhibiting diabetic cataractogenesis and acts through an antiapoptotic mechanism to protect LECs from injury

A comparison of digital and conventional sketching: Implications for conceptual design ideation

The study compared the use of digital and conventional sketching as influence upon conceptual design work. Results show a significantly increased focus of attention upon the sketching tool in the digital condition compared to conventional sketching with pen and paper. Both a statistical analysis and fine-grained qualitative comparison illustrate how increased frequencies of sketching tool focused activities resulted in both significantly more time spent in problem orientated work and the fragmentation of attempts to transition from problem definition to generative solution ideation. In contrast, reduced tool-focused activity in the conventional sketching condition appeared to provide opportunities for significantly increased solution ideation through design-driven moves to explore reflect upon and develop solution propositions. The implications of a tool orientated focus of attention are discussed in terms of its impact upon reflective solution ideation during conceptual design

An International Comparison Study Exploring the Influential Variables Affecting Students’ Reading Literacy and Life Satisfaction

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) aims to provide comparative data on 15-year-olds’ academic performance and well-being. The purpose of the current study is to explore and compare the variables that predict the reading literacy and life satisfaction of U.S. and South Korean students. The random forest algorithm, which is a machine learning approach, was applied to PISA 2018 data (4,677 U.S. students and 6,650 South Korean students) to explore and select the key variables among 305 variables that predict reading literacy and life satisfaction. In each random forest analysis, one for the U.S. and another for South Korea, 23 variables were derived as key variables in students’ reading literacy. In addition, 23 variables in the U.S. and 26 variables in South Korea were derived as important variables for students’ life satisfaction. The multilevel analysis revealed that various student-, teacher- or school-related key variables derived from the random forest were statistically related to either U.S. and/or South Korean students’ reading literacy and/or life satisfaction. The current study proposes to use a machine learning approach to examine international large-scale data for an international comparison. The implications of the current study and suggestions for future research are discussed

Combination of Medicinal Herbs KIOM-79 Reduces Advanced Glycation End Product Accumulation and the Expression of Inflammatory Factors in the Aorta of Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats

Previous studies have reported that KIOM-79 shows a strong inhibitory effect on AGE formation and inhibited a proinflammatory state in a murine macrophage cell line. In the present study, we investigated the effect of KIOM-79 on AGE accumulation and vascular inflammation in the aorta of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, a commonly used model of type 2 diabetes. Seven-week-old male ZDF rats were treated with KIOM-79 (50 mg/kg) once a day orally for 13 weeks. We examined the dissected aortas for AGE accumulation, expression of the receptor for AGEs (RAGE), and the expression of proinflammatory factors, including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were also measured by Southwestern histochemistry, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and immunohistochemistry, respectively. KIOM-79 markedly reduced the accumulation of AGEs and the expression of RAGE in the aorta. We also found that KIOM-79 attenuated the expression of inflammatory factors including NF-κB, MCP-1, VEGF, VCAM-1, and iNOS in the aortas of ZDF rats. These data suggest that KIOM-79 may prevent or retard the development of inflammation in diabetic vascular disease