Archives-July 2011

In this paper, the authors propose a voter-customer brand loyalty model using a mixture of associative network memory model, brand signalling theory and social identity theory. The model will describe the behavioural influences of the political celebrity credibility, the political party brand credibility and the political party brand image on the brand equity of the party presidential candidate, voter-customer-party identification and the voter-customers loyalty. In this model, the authors propose that credible political celebrity endorsement can effectively enhance the brand equity of the party presidential candidate and the brand credibility of the party. In addition, the brand credibility of the party may enhance the brand equity of presidential candidate. In sum, the model framework will show that the use of credible endorsers and investment on the enhancement of the party brand image will lead to enhanced brand equity and committed meaningful relationship with the party presidential candidate by voter-customers.

The ameliorating effect of Emblica officinalis was evaluated against changes in sperm and hormone of mice. The animals received aqueous preparation of Endosulfan (Pesticide) once daily for 35 days at the dose of 3 mg/kg body wt by oral gavage method and observed deleterious effect such as of reduction in the number of sperm count and motility. Declination in the level of Testosterone were observed which signify the testicular dysfunctions and finally causes infertility. To ameliorate the deleterious effect made by endosulfan, Emblica officinalis was administered to mice @ 100 mg/kg body wt & 150 mg/kg body wt The earlier study have demonstrated potent anti-microbial, antioxidant, adaptogenic, hepatoprotective, anti-tumor and anti-ulcerogenic activities in the fruits of Emblica officinalis. Emblica officinalis treatment mitigate the fluctuation in sperm count and sperm motility as well as elevated the level of testosterone which was depressed by pesticide treatment.

Two tetradentate Schiff base ligands, N,N´-bis(2-hydroxy-5-methoxyacetophenone) ethylenediimine (MaenH₂) and N,N´-bis(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone) ethylenediimine(MbenH₂) were formed by 1:2 molar condensation of ethylenediamine with 2-hydroxy-5-methoxyacetophenone and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone respectively. These Schiff base ligands formed complexes (1:1 molar ratio) with Copper, Nickel, Cobalt and Oxovanadium ions. The complexes were characterized by Infrared, Electronic Spectra and elemental analysis. The spectra data of the ligands and their complexes were discussed based on the structural changes which occur due to complexation. The results suggest that the metal is bonded to the ligand through the phenolic oxygen and the imino nitrogen.

This study aims to examine the response of female fashion shoppers towards the mall atmosphere. A total of 100 female students conveniently sampled at a higher learning institution in Federal Territory of Labuan, Malaysia, served as the sample. Results from regression analysis revealed that the mall atmospherics positively influence hedonic shopping value and approach behaviour among all female shopper fashion clusters. It seems that fashion forward shoppers are not responding any better than female shoppers on the low end of the fashion spectrum. This study produced evidence suggesting that store environment triggers affective reactions in customers. The paper rounds off with conclusions and an agenda for future research in this area.

Malaysia has always been proud of her unique natural environment and cultural heritages, but still is searching for an exclusive identity of its own gardens. There is a great potential for development of a garden identity for the country, based on her rich legacy in traditions, cultures and beliefs, through which she could identify herself. The nation has a complex population composed of Malay, Chinese and Indian races. Hence, the icon, form, quality and appearance that are going to be introduced for Malaysian gardens should be appreciated, valued and respected by the Malaysian publics with diverse culture and preferences. This paper aims to propose a preferred iconography as a basic approach to create and develop a garden identity for Malaysia. Conducting photo surveys and testing public opinion of garden iconographies, including different garden scenes, reveals the preferred qualities for the image of Malaysian gardens. The result is expected to contribute towards the basic knowledge of Malaysian garden iconography as well as essential findings for landscape architects and garden enthusiasts to design and build garden with Malaysia identity acceptable by the Malaysian public. Moreover, this approach can propose a working model to identify preferred garden iconographies for new developing gardens and can be generalized to international scale.

This article intends to explore the rise of cultural nationalism in Contemporary China. For most of the previous century, traditional culture had been widely condemned as “impediments to China’s development” and therefore needed to be uprooted. However, since the 1990s, the traditional culture has experienced an unprecedented resurgence and the cultural nostalgia (later defined as cultural nationalism) quickly ascended as one of the most powerful ideological trends among the contemporary Chinese society. This article seeks to discover what caused such a dramatic shift. It starts with a brief historical background for the emergence of the current cultural nationalism, and then moves on to explain its two main ideological themes: “anti-Marxism” and “anti-Western” by examining representative works. It explores the economic, social cultural and political causes for the rise of cultural nationalism by drawing Primordialism, Modernism and Huntington’s theory concerning “modernization and cultural resurgence” in non-Western societies.

The marine biosphere is one of the richest habitats of microorganisms. Marine microbes particularly bacteria are considered for their secondary metabolites and enzymes with novel properties. The Marine Soil Microbial isolates were screened for potential producers of L-asparagines using a phenol red indicator and growth medium. The isolates were characterized by biochemical tests and found to belong to Bacillus sp. We performed random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis on five strain of Bacillus sp. Random primers were used for the PCR. Electrophoresis on denaturing acrylamide gels improved RAPD reproducibility and increased the band number. The primer of OPU series gave reproducible results and band profiles.

This paper reviews the roles of the various stakeholders in MSWM in Ghana. The policy and the legislative framework as well as the various institutions responsible for ensuring MSWM are discussed. Suggestion to improve the MSWM in Ghana is also outlined.

The solid phase FTIR and FT-Raman spectra of 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzaldehyde (CNB) have been recorded in the regions 4000–400 cm^-1 and 3500–100 cm^-1, respectively. The optimized geometry, frequency and intensity of the vibrational bands, NBO analysis, HOMO- LUMO study of CNB in two conformational states of C₁ and C₂ obtained by the ab initio HF and DFT levels of theory using B3LYP/6-31G** basis set. The harmonic vibrational frequencies were calculated and the scaled values have been compared with experimental FTIR and FT-Raman spectra. A detailed interpretation of the vibrational spectra of the title compound has been made on the basis of the calculated potential energy distribution (PED). Stability of the molecule arising from hyperconjucative interactions leading to its bioactivity, charge delocalization have been analyzed using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. The calculated HOMO-LUMO energies shows that charge transfer occur with in the molecule. The observed and calculated frequencies are found to be in good agreement.

The understanding of optimized molecular geometry, vibrational analysis of the heterocyclic organic compounds plays a vital role in the process of drug discovery. The present work provides geometrical parameters, vibrational assignments for pharmaceutical intermediate N-(Methyl)phthalimide (NMP). Moreover, the present study aims to illustrate how intramolecular interactions appear within the molecule on account of HOMO-LUMO studies. In addition to these, Mullikan’s Atomic charges associated with each atom of the stable conformer are also reported. Entire vibrational, geometrical parameters, Mullikan’s Atomic charges and HOMO-LUMO Energy gap of NMP were predicted with the aid of B3LYP level of theory with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set on a quantum chemical software Gaussian 03W. In view of visual inspection, 51 normal modes of vibrations contributed to NMP were found out. HOMO-LUMO studies provided information about occupied and unoccupied molecular orbitals and intramolecular interactions of NMP. Mullikan’s Atomic charge on each atom of NMP shows Charge-stability relations.