Applying marketing’s new dominant logic for interpreting customer experiences with brands

The concept of customer experience is evolving to an imperative area of study within the marketing discipline. Despite its importance and the positive attention this concept is receiving in the literature, the explanation of customer experiences remains vague and a thorough theoretical foundation is lacking. This paper addresses the gap in the literature and to facilitate a brand-management understanding of the concept of customer experience and its antecedents and consequences. The paper examines the impact of customer experience on brand loyalty via a comprehensive review of existing literature on the concept of customer experience and service brand literatures. Additionally, twelve propositions describe and explain the antecedents of customer experience and impacts upon brand loyalty within a service-centered marketing logic. This paper contributes a novel customer-brand experience perspective and conceptual tools relevant for further theory development and for effectively managing customer-brand relationships

Social disorganization and history of child sexual abuse against girls in sub-Saharan Africa : a multilevel analysis

Background: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a considerable public health problem. Less focus has been paid to the role of community level factors associated with CSA. The aim of this study was to examine the association between neighbourhood-level measures of social disorganization and CSA. Methods: We applied multiple multilevel logistic regression analysis on Demographic and Health Survey data for 6,351 adolescents from six countries in sub-Saharan Africa between 2006 and 2008. Results: The percentage of adolescents that had experienced CSA ranged from 1.04% to 5.84%. There was a significant variation in the odds of reporting CSA across the communities, suggesting 18% of the variation in CSA could be attributed to community level factors. Respondents currently employed were more likely to have reported CSA than those who were unemployed (odds ratio [OR] = 2.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.48 to 2.83). Respondents from communities with a high family disruption rate were 57% more likely to have reported CSA (OR=1.57, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.16). Conclusion: We found that exposure to CSA was associated with high community level of family disruption, thus suggesting that neighbourhoods may indeed have significant important effects on exposure to CSA. Further studies are needed to explore pathways that connect the individual and neighbourhood levels, that is, means through which deleterious neighbourhood effects are transmitted to individuals

The effect of data breach announcement on social media towards firm's reputation: empirical evidence from market efficiency / Norazira Ag. Ismail

Data breaches is a security incidents in which confidential data is being transmitted, copied or stolen by an unauthorized individual that would resulted negative consequences on the affected firms such as loss of market value, loss of customers and reputational damage. As corporate reputation is among the valuable assets, organizations need to be efficient in measuring the best techniques to manage it. Nowadays, social media such as Twitter, Facebook and Weblogs has become very popular communication tools among the internet users where people can share information, pictures and opinions on different aspects of daily life such as working or family events. Therefore, data breaches through social media could contribute to the reputational risk. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of data breaches through social media that could contribute to the firm reputational risk. The reputational effect of data breaches measured based on content by applying a novel approach which is the sentiment-based event study by taking samples that consist of 6 different companies within the year 2013 to 2016. The independent variables are the actual return to identify whether the company’s return are affected due to the data breach incidents and the trader sentiment from the social media. The dependent variable represented as reputational risk will be measured by the abnormal return of the affected companies. The data for actual return are collected from Yahoo Finance and Stock Analysis on Net website. The collected data are examined by using time series which is EViews 8th Edition. The actual results from this study showed that actual return and trader sentiment had significant positive relationship towards abnormal return at 99% confident level while trading volume showed there is no relationship towards abnormal return

NUDT2 Disruption Elevates Diadenosine Tetraphosphate (Ap4A) and Down-Regulates Immune Response and Cancer Promotion Genes.

Regulation of gene expression is one of several roles proposed for the stress-induced nucleotide diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A). We have examined this directly by a comparative RNA-Seq analysis of KBM-7 chronic myelogenous leukemia cells and KBM-7 cells in which the NUDT2 Ap4A hydrolase gene had been disrupted (NuKO cells), causing a 175-fold increase in intracellular Ap4A. 6,288 differentially expressed genes were identified with P < 0.05. Of these, 980 were up-regulated and 705 down-regulated in NuKO cells with a fold-change ≥ 2. Ingenuity® Pathway Analysis (IPA®) was used to assign these genes to known canonical pathways and functional networks. Pathways associated with interferon responses, pattern recognition receptors and inflammation scored highly in the down-regulated set of genes while functions associated with MHC class II antigens were prominent among the up-regulated genes, which otherwise showed little organization into major functional gene sets. Tryptophan catabolism was also strongly down-regulated as were numerous genes known to be involved in tumor promotion in other systems, with roles in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Conversely, some pro-apoptotic genes were up-regulated. Major upstream factors predicted by IPA® for gene down-regulation included NFκB, STAT1/2, IRF3/4 and SP1 but no major factors controlling gene up-regulation were identified. Potential mechanisms for gene regulation mediated by Ap4A and/or NUDT2 disruption include binding of Ap4A to the HINT1 co-repressor, autocrine activation of purinoceptors by Ap4A, chromatin remodeling, effects of NUDT2 loss on transcript stability, and inhibition of ATP-dependent regulatory factors such as protein kinases by Ap4A. Existing evidence favors the last of these as the most probable mechanism. Regardless, our results suggest that the NUDT2 protein could be a novel cancer chemotherapeutic target, with its inhibition potentially exerting strong anti-tumor effects via multiple pathways involving metastasis, invasion, immunosuppression and apoptosis

Conjugation of Anti-EpCAM Antibody on Alginate–RIP MJ-30 Nanoparticle through Carbodiimide Reaction as a Model of Targeted Protein Therapy

Ribosome inactivating proteins from Mirabilis jalapa L. (RIP MJ) has shown higher cytotoxic activity when being formulated as a nanoparticle. However, the selectivity of the delivery system is also an important aspect when it comes to cytotoxic cell therapy. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a monomeric glycoprotein which is overexpressed in epithelial cancer cells. This study aim was to develop a model of targeted protein delivery system by formulating the base fraction of RIP MJ (RIP MJ-30) into alginate nanoparticles and conjugating it with anti-EpCAM antibody. RIP MJ-30 was formulated in to nanoparticle using alginate and CaCl2 as cross-linker. Optimization of conjugation reaction condition was done in the pH variation of 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5. The success of conjugation was analyzed qualitatively using native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (native-PAGE) method and BCA assay. The optimum formula of RIP MJ-30 nanoparticles was produced using 0.3% alginate and 0.2% CaCl2. Results indicated that optimum conjugation reaction was carried out at pH level of 5.5. The optimum native-PAGE condition was by using 8% polyacrylamide gel in duration of 6h. Characterization of nanoparticle resulted in particle size of 205.0nm, zeta potential of -6.9mV, entrapment efficiency of 71.11±4.84%, and conjugation efficiency of 89.55±6.18%. It was concluded that RIP MJ-30 was successfully formulated into alginate nanoparticle and conjugated to anti-EpCAM antibody through carbodiimide reaction using 1-ethyl-(dimethylprophilamine) carbodiimide (EDAC)

Psychosocial barriers to promoting self-directed and autonomous learning: The perception of students and lecturers in Malaysia

It can be difficult to align with the present theoretical change in education from teacher-centered to student-centered learning&nbsp;especially in high-power distance cultures like Malaysia that are communal. This study aims to investigate the perceptions of students and lecturers regarding the psychosocial barriers to promoting self-directed and autonomous learning in the Malaysian context. The qualitative research method was chosen based on the research questions. Qualitative research allows the researcher to understand people's beliefs, attitudes, perceptions and behaviors. This study used purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen students and four lecturers at a Malaysian public university. The study found two types of challenges: personal (within the student) and environmental (surrounding the student). Personal obstacles include ideas about the value of education such as an emphasis on grades and diplomas&nbsp;as well as attitudes towards life, such as a propensity for hedonism and a need for spoon-feeding. Environmental barriers include a lack of encouragement for critical thinking, the development of student dependency, issues with university regulations, family and lecturers' attitudes and teaching methods. These challenges were explained using Hofstede's, self-determination and ARCS theories. The study highlights how important it is for teachers to modify their pedagogical approaches and attitudes in order to encourage student-centered learning&nbsp;as well as how important it is for students to get more assistance and support

Penggunaan transliterasi Arab-Rumi dalam konteks motivasi dakwah

Motivasi dakwah bertujuan memberikan rangsangan, tarikan dan minat terhadap dakwah yang diberikan. Mengabaikan motivasi dakwah dalam kehidupan seharian pasti akan mengundang budaya putus asa dan menjauh dalam kalangan mualaf, golongan yang ingin bertaubat, kanak-kanak dan sebagainya. Maka, tidak hairan masalah yang dihadapi oleh sesetengah umat Islam iaitu jika mereka yang tidak mahu membaca al-Quran memberikan alasan kerana merasa mengalami kesukaran menguasai asas tilawah. Lantaran itu, kajian ini dilakukan bertujuan untuk meninjau penggunaan transliterasi Arab-Rumi dalam konteks motivasi dakwah dalam Islam, dan untuk mengenal pasti sejauh mana implikasinya dalam penerbitan buku-buku agama. Mudah, menenangkan, memberikan khabar menggembirakan, bersifat gabung jalin terhadap pengetahuan sedia ada, berbentuk sementara dan tidak bersifat kekal adalah satu ciri untuk merangsang minat dan memudahkan penguasaan transliterasi Arab-Rumi sebelum berubah ke tahap yang lebih sukar dan kompleks. Penggunaan transliterasi Arab-Rumi dilihat sebagai antara bentuk motivasi dalam berdakwah mempelajari bahasa Arab, asas tilawah dan sebagainya kepada golongan yang mempunyai asas pembacaan tulisan Rumi atau Latin. Metodologi kajian ini adalah kajian kualitatif berbentuk tinjauan perpustakaan terhadap penggunaan transliterasi Arab-Rumi mengikut perspektif al-Quran, hadis-hadis Nabi SAW, pendapat-pendapat ulama dan penelitian terhadap buku-buku atau kitab-kitab yang menggunakan transliterasi Arab-Rumi dalam penerbitannya. Dapatan kajian mendapati penggunaan transliterasi Arab-Rumi adalah satu bentuk terjemahan fonetik yang memudahkan pembacaan tulisan Arab dan hukumnya adalah harus jika bertujuan motivasi dakwah, tetapi pendekatan berguru (Talaqqi Musyafahah) dan memahami kaedah penggunaannya adalah amat perlu agar dapat mengenal kaedah asas transliterasi yang diguna pakai, serta dapat menyebut makhraj atau artikulasi fonetik dengan tepat

Overweight and obese children's psychosocial effects: A review of the literature

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in both developed and developing nations. Childhood obesity and overweight have been shown to have a negative influence on both physical and psychological health. The goal of this study was to look at the psychological and psychosocial effects of childhood obesity. Obese and overweight children were more likely than their healthy-weight peers to have various related psychosocial issues, which may be affected negatively by childhood obesity stigma, taunting, and bullying. Childhood obesity stigma, taunting, and bullying are widespread and can have significant implications for mental and physical health and performance. Furthermore, childhood obesity can have a significant impact on a child's psychological and emotional well-being, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. To battle the present obesity epidemic, a coherent and comprehensive strategy is required to counteract this rising trend that jeopardises the health and well-being of the next generation

Obesity’s Influence on the Psychosocial Wellbeing of Primary School Students in Kota Kinabalu: A Phenomenological Approach

Overweight and obesity among youngsters have grown quickly worldwide in recent decades, including in Malaysia. The major goals of this study are to investigate the psychological impacts that obesity has on children and to find out the quality of life of obese children. A qualitative study design and a phenomenological approach are used in this study. The study used a purposive sampling method. A sample was selected of five obese male and female students aged 11 and 12 years. The selected students attend a government primary school in the city of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The data collection process was done using the methods of interviews, observations, and document analysis. Based on the findings of the study, there are three emerging themes that explain the psychological effects experienced by primary school students that impact their quality of life. These include: (a) social health, (b) mental health, and (c) physical health complications. In conclusion, this study found that obesity causes an enormous number of psychosocial problems with regard to the personal and social lives of children. Second, this research informed parents about the prevalence of bullying in the home, perpetrated by siblings. Finally, these findings contribute to the growing body of research revealing the harmful effects of weight-related stigma, even at a young age, and may be valuable in modifying public policy about weight discrimination