Study of the Influence of Parent-brand Similarity,Association,and Complimentary Fit on Co-brand Attributes

In this paper,it investigates the factors affecting successive brand alliance in which two brands from different product categories are featured together to introduce a co-brand.Based on the brand alliance theories,the degree of association,similarity,and complimentary fit between parents brands are important factors in determining successive brand alliance.By using the 5P's,which are premium price,perceived quality,product features,performance,and perceived image,as the measuring scale in brand attributes for each brand,it has reflected the change of brand attributes of the brands before and after brand alliance.400 subjects participate in the research,and 360 of which are valid.From this study,we conclude that when association between parents turns from "-" to "+" and similarity from "-" to "0",there is a trend of descending of co-brand attributes.When fit between parents turns from "-" to "0",there is also a trend of descending of co-brand attributes.While fit between parents turns from "+" to "0",there is a trend of increasing of co-brand attributes.The results show an interesting pattern of interactions among factors,which has important implications for managers in co-brand marketing.These also provide researchers with promising avenues for further study in brand alliance.

Complimentary Herbal Treatments Used in Meknes-Tafilalet Region (Morocco) to Manage Cancer

Background. In Morocco, the use of folk medicine and phytotherapy is very common to treat several diseases including cancer. The aim of our study was to perform an ethnobotanical investigation of the plants used in traditional medicine to treat cancer in the region of Meknès-Tafilalet. Methods. An ethnobotanical survey has been conducted in Meknès-Tafilalet region (Meknès, Errachidia, Moulay Idriss, Khenifra, Ifrane and Azrou). Information was gathered from traditional healers, herbalists, patients and users of medicinal plants using semi-structures questionnaires. Results. Our study demonstrates that the practice of phytotherapy for the treatment of diseases and cancer in particular is important since 68.5% of the informants indicated using medicinal plants. In addition, our study reports that 35 different plants, belonging to 23 botanical families, are used in the Meknes-Tafilalet region. Of those, Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Liliaceae and Fabaceae are the most used families. In addition, we show that Aristolochia longa is the plant mainly used to treat cancer specifically. Our data indicate that leaves and seeds (respectively 36.9% and 28.6%) are the parts of the plants mainly used, largely processed in powder (76.9%). Our data indicate that despite unprecise data on the posology, adverse effects are seen only in 15% of the cases. Conclusion. Our study is an essential documentation on traditional use of medicinal plants in Meknes-Tafilalet region that will contribute to the preservation of the ancestral knowledge and will promote protection of biodiversity of this region.

Case-control study on regular Ba Duan Jin practice for patients with chronic neck pain

Purpose:To observe the long-term effects of regular Ba Duan Jin exercises for patients with chronic neck pain.Methods:Participants with chronic neck pain were instructed to perform
30 min/d of Ba Duan Jin exercises(n?36)or assigned to a control group(n?36)for six months.Data from a visual analogue scale,Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire,and the 36-item Shortform Health Survey(SF-36)were collected before,and three and six months after intervention began.Results:Participants undergoing Ba Duan Jin exercises achieved significantly greater improvement than the controls in visual analogue scale,Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire and SF-36 health transition scores(all p<0.05).However,no significant differences were observed in SF-36 physical or mental component summaries.Conclusion:Regular Ba Duan Jin practice reduces suffering and pain,and increases health satisfaction in individuals with chronic neck pain.

Key Determinants of Optimal Breastfeeding Practices in Laos

This paper provides information on optimal breastfeeding practices in the People’s Democratic Republic of Lao from data collected in the2011 Lao Social Indicator Survey. Results: Early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of life occurred among 39.6% of Laotian infants. After controlling for the effects of wealth, early initiation of breastfeeding was found to be most prevalent among mothers with higher education, those who received antenatal services, and those who delivered in a health facility. Avoidance of prelacteal feeds within the first three days of life occurred among 65% of Laotian infants, and was highest among ethnic Hmong and Khmer infants, and among those born in public versus private health facilities. Avoidance of prelacteal feeds was lowest after deliveries in which a traditional birth attendant was present. Exclusive breastfeeding through the first 5 months of age was reported among 40.8% of infants nationally. Ethnicity again played a role with the highest levels of exclusive breastfeeding found to occur among ethnic Khmer infants (69.4%, OR 2.8, CI: 1.5 - 5.1). Discussion: These results highlight the role that health care workers can have on early breastfeeding practices at the point of both antenatal counseling and in the delivery setting. Strengthening the quality of counseling on infant feeding can have a significant impact on early initiation of breastfeeding. Ethnic difference significantly impact both early and exclusive breastfeeding practices. Conclusion: A complexity of factors at different levels of care impact breastfeeding practices. A synergy of strategic approaches are needed to target antenatal counseling as well as post-delivery practices, all which account for the unique social and cultural attitudes towards infant feeding. Stronger community-based interventions that account for cultural attitudes and practices are most likely to be successful in promoting exclusive and continued breastfeeding practices.

Utilization, practice of herbal medicine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Kuwait and their perceptions

Background:Herbal medicine has become a popular treatment among patients with chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus worldwide.Many patients with diabetes mellitus use herbal medicine without consulting their health professionals.The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence,pattern of use,and perceptions in type 2 diabetes patients using herbal medicine.Methods:The study was conducted during the period of 1st January 2019 to the end of June 2019 in the diabetes clinic in Farwaniya hospital in Kuwait.It is cross sectional,quantitative study.Data were collected using a questionnaire in both Arabic and English designed by the investigators after a review of the literature on use of herbal medicine.The questionnaire was administered by working nurses.Results:The study denoted that the prevalence of using herbal medicine in the study sample(350 patients with type 2 diabetes)was 30.6%of all sample,females were greater than males in using herbal medicine about 56%of patients using herbs.Black Cumin(Habba Soda)i.e.Nigella Satival was the most frequent herbs used by the patients and a herbal mixture done by herbalist.The study revealed that 70%of herbal users has bad glycemic control HbA1C³7%and the diabetes complications were greater in herbal users than on conventional therapy.The study showed that irregular use of herbs that were used with diabetes conventional treatment and the majority of herbal users did not inform their treating doctors about herbal use(95.3%)herbal users.Conclusion:The study revealed that 30%of the sample were herbal users and they are in need for increase their awareness and education about risks and complications of herbal medicine.

Non-Pharmalogical Interventions towards Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia—An Integrated Literature Review

The objective of this integrated literature review was to identify and examine effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions towards BPSD. Database searches were documented following the PRISMA flow diagram and included papers were judged by the researchers using the SAHTAASS protocol. Coding of the papers was carried out using Polit and Beck matrix for literature review. It was concluded that several non-pharmacological interventions showed a positive influence on BPSD such as stimulating interventions, social and personalized activities and physical exercise. Also, education/training of healthcare professionals and equipment in form of a structured BPSD protocol resulted in decreased BPSD.

Herbal Use and Perceptions among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Kuwait

Herbal medicine has become a popular treatment among patients with chronic diseases worldwide. Many patients with diabetes mellitus use herbal medicine without consulting their health professionals. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, pattern of use, and perceptions in type 2 diabetes patients using herbal medicine. It was conducted between 1st January 2019 and end of June 2019 diabetes clinic in Farwaniya Hospital in Kuwait. In this cross sectional quantitative study, 350 patients were asked to complete questionnaire administered by nurses. The study found that 30.6% of sample used herbal medicine—women more than men. Black cumin (habba soda) i.e. Nigella sativa was the most common herb used by diabetic patients. The study revealed that 70% of herbal medicine users had poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 7%). Diabetic complications were greater in herbal users than in those receiving conventional therapy. The study also showed that 95.3% of herbal medicine users did not inform their treating doctors. Our conclusion was that herbal medicine users needed to increase their awareness and education about the risks and complications of herbal medicine.

Convex optimization of virtual storage system scheduling in market environment

Due to the popularization of distributed energy resources(DERs),the aggregated prosumer effect excels a general energy storage system characteristic.Virtual energy storage system(VESS)concept is proposed hereby that mimics an actual storage unit and incorporates the same charging(consumer)and discharging(producer)modes.It is possible to provide ancillary services via VESS by exploiting the flexibility and thus much research has been proposed on the optimization of the VESS scheduling.In general,the charging and discharging efficiencies of VESS are different and there can be only one status at a time slot.To achieve the optimal schedule while considering the constraints above,binary terms should be introduced into the optimization problem which end up with a nonconvex problem.In this paper,a complimentary mathematical proof is given for the convexification of this mixed-integer linear programming(MILP)problem so that the linear programming(LP)method can be applied instead if the objective function is linear.The proposed proof is validated through a case study and the simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Simulation analysis of combined UV/blue photodetector in CMOS process by technology computer-aided design

A composite ultraviolet （UV）/blue photode- tector structure has been proposed, which is composed of P-type silicon substrate, Pwelb Nwell and N-channel metal- oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor （NMOSFET） realized in the PweH. In this photodetector, lateral ring- shaped Pwell-Nwell junction was used to separate the photogenerated carriers, and non-equilibrium excess hole was injected to the Pwell bulk for changing the bulk potential and shifting the NMOSFET＇s threshold voltage as well as the output drain current. By technology computer-aided design （TCAD） device, simulation and analysis of this proposed photodetector were carried out. Simulation results show that the combined photodetector has enhanced responsivity to UV/blue spectrum. More- over, it exhibits very high sensitivity to weak and especially ultral-weak optical light. A sensitivity of 7000 A/W was obtained when an incident optical power of 0.01 μW was illuminated to the photodetector, which is 35000 times higher than the responsivity of a conventional silicon-based UV photodiode （usually is about 0.2 A/W）. As a result, this proposed combined photodetector has great potential values for UV applications.