Carbon rich fly ash was recently reported to have compositions that are ideal for use as a precursor and catalyst for carbon nanotube growth. This fly ash powder is mostly composed of pure carbon, predominantly present as sp2. In this work, the effect of sonication time on the morphology and structural properties of carbon rich fly ash particles is reported. The obtained results show that ultrasound treatment is an effective tool for producing ultrafine particles/fragments with higher porosity, which might be suitable for the adsorption of gasses. Moreover, carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) of this fly ash were produced in parallel using the ball milling technique, and were evaluated as reinforcements for epoxy based composites. These CNPs have almost spherical shapes with particle sizes of around 30 nm. They were found to have strong C=O carbonyl group bonds, which might be generated during the ball milling process. The tensile testing results of a fly ash CNP reinforced epoxy composite showed significant improvements in the mechanical properties, mainly in the stiffness of the polymer. The stiffness value was increased by around 23% of that of neat epoxy. These CNPs with chemically active groups might also be useful for other applications.

Green products are often afflicted with a perceived performance liability, presenting marketing managers with a dilemma of how to motivate consumers to alter their consumption behavior, while acknowledging their negative inferences about green product performance. To address this problem, we develop green emphasis, defined as the prominence given to a firms’ environmental initiative in a green product communication appeal. By employing a green emphasis strategy, a firm makes prominent in a communication message either environmental attributes (Study 1 and 3), or uses assertive terminology (Study 2) to heighten issue importance. When a green emphasis strategy is used, the lack of performance-related extrinsic cues may reduce an individuals’ evaluation of a product’s performance ability. This relationship is mediated by autonomous motivation, which may be enhanced through the provision of information that is of interest and value to an individual (Deci & Ryan, 2000). Next, the moderating variable of performance criticality is examined, whereby the importance of the products’ performance ability is based on its associated category (Study 1) or purchase situation (Study 2). When a product belongs to a performance-critical category, or if situational involvement is heightened, the incongruent product information may heighten the negative impact of green emphasis. Finally, environmental attribute optionality (Study 3) is examined. When optional, the attribute is non-fundamental to the functioning of the base product (Ma, Gill, & Jiang, 2015). By making the environmental attribute an option, it is supposed that the incongruity between the attribute and perceived product performance is mitigated and localized, overcoming the negative effect of green emphasis.

This research was conducted in order to examine the reverse effect of brand loyalty on the emotional attachment to the place-of-origin. Results indicate that consumers that are highly loyal to a brand tend to be more emotionally attached to the place-of-origin; the effect is mediated by affective place image. Affective place image also partially mediates the brand loyalty–place attachment relationship in cases when the brand is authentic in the place. Human beings tend to extend their affect towards one object based on another object related to the first one. Building on this notion researchers have been trying to understand two related concepts—a place, and a brand originating from that place. In this endeavor, one literature stream has been focusing on place-based branding from the perspective of international marketing, including work on country-of-origin (COO) or product-country image (Baldauf et al., 2009; Hong & Wyer Jr, 1989). Another stream focusing on place branding adapts traditional marketing theory to market a place (Kotler 2002), and focuses on destination image (Bramwell & Rawding, 1996; Lee & Lockshin, 2012; Qu, Kim & Im, 2011), and place attachment (Gross & Brown 2006). Notwithstanding the above, there is a dearth of research combining these two aforementioned streams. One of few exceptions is Lee and Lockshin (2014), who explored the reverse COO effect of product perceptions on destination image. However, they focused on consumers’ cognitive beliefs and, thus, the underlying mechanism of the relationship is yet to be examined. Hence, the current research aims to answer the following questions: can brand loyalty be leveraged to consumers’ relationship with the place-of-origin as a tourism destination? And, if so, what is the mechanism underlying the effect? We present a global survey with consumers of place-based wine brands as a means to understand whether consumers’ loyalty to a brand will influence their emotional attachment to the place where the wine brand origins. A moderated mediation model is proposed. Affective destination image mediates the positive effect of brand loyalty on place attachment, which is positively moderated by authenticity of the brand-place associations. The study contributes to the tourisms marketing field by identifying the emotional linkage between brand loyalty and place attachment. It serves as a starting point for further investigation of how company or product branding could benefit place marketing and branding theory. Affective components are suggested to play a vital role in the relationships between a place and a brand. It further enriches understanding of the role of brand authenticity. Place marketers need to understand the role of brand loyalty in the decision-making process of tourism consumption.

Consumers nowadays are looking for luxury brands that are able to fulfil their values. Luxury fashion marketers have spent enormously on advertising and adopted sex appeal extensively as their major selling technique. Little empirical evidence, however, has been presented with regards to the effectiveness of using sex appeal in luxury fashion advertising. Consumer responses to sex appeal in luxury brand advertisements are also poorly understood and under-investigated. The massive use of sex appeal in luxury brand advertising suggests the strong need for empirical research to determine the relationship between sex appeal and perceived luxury values. Based on the luxury value framework and adopting a quasi-experimental design, this study examines the influence of sex appeal in advertising on the relationships between attitude towards the advertisement and luxury value perceptions. Results show that the increase of sex appeal level increases the favourability of the advertisement which results in significant changes in luxury value perceptions. The influence of gender is found to be prominent in this study, which highlights the importance of gender consideration when adopting sex appeal strategy for any luxury brand advertising. Implications for luxury brand marketers and advertisers are discussed.

Social media has quickly becoming tools of choice for communicating between brand and their customers. Among all social medias, instagram is seen as the most effective one, especially for fashion brands. Instagram’s main function to share videos and pictures is suitable with visual communication methods that is often being used by fashion brands. Posts with high amount of likes and positive comments may increase brand awareness and can trigger positive e-WOM (Electronic Word of Mouth) among customers and potential customers. Why is communicating with consumers very important? Because in this era consumers are brands’ most trustworthy and loyal marketers for company’s products (Çukul, 2015). Customers are likely to believe review from their families and friends rather than reviews that is being written by the company itself (Chang, 2014). Realizing the importance of nurturing positive word of mouths among customers, this paper is going to use qualitative analysis to analyze Instagram posts of well-known local fashion brands to find out what kind of post that will generate the highest positive e-WOM feedback from the audience. Content of Instagram account of researched brands are being examined according to post type (photo / video), content type (9 elements), number of likes and reviews, photo type (amateur / professional), and shooting place (studio / outdoor / shops). Analysis is conducted to understand what kind of Instagram post that will give positive feedback from their customers. The result of this paper will serve as guidance for company to tailor interesting and engaging post hence increasing the probability of creating positive e-WOM that will increase brand image that ultimately will increase sales.

Radio sources are very weak, as they can travel through large distances. Radio sources also have photons with low energies compared to others electromagnetic waves (EM). Microwave photons have a little more energy than radio waves, infrared photons have still more, then visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, and the most energetic electromagnetic wave is gamma-rays. Radio astronomy studies are restricted due to radio frequency interference (RFI) produced by people. If this disturbance is not minimized, it poses critical problems for astrophysical studies. The purpose of this paper is to profile RFI maps in Peninsular Malaysia with a minimum mapping technique for RFI interference. Decision-making processes using GIS (Geographical Information System) for the selection requires gathering information for a variety of parameters. These factors affecting the selection process are also taken into account. In this study, various factors or parameters are involved, such as the availability of telecommunications transmission (including radio and television), rainfall, water lines and human activity. This mapping step must be followed by RFI site testing in order to identify areas of low RFI. This study will benefit radio astronomy research, especially regarding the RFI profile.

We have initiated a Very Long Baseline Interferometer (VLBI) monitoring project of 36 methanol maser sources at 6.7 GHz using the Japanese VLBI Network (JVN) and East-Asian VLBI Network (EAVN), starting in August 2010. The purpose of this project is to systematically reveal 3-dimensional (3-D) kine- matics of rotating disks around forming high-mass protostars. As an initial result, we present proper mo- tion detections for two methanol maser sources showing an elliptical spatial morphology, G 002.53+00.19 and G 006.79-00.25, which could be the best candidates associated with the disk. The detected proper motions indicate a simple rotation in G 002.53+00.19 and rotation with expansion in G 006.79-00.25, respectively, on the basis of disk model fits with rotating and expanding components. The expanding motions might be caused by the magnetic-centrifugal wind on the disk.

We present a kinematic study of the parsec-scale radio jet in OJ 287, one of the most studied BL Lac objects, during γ-ray ares, to explore the relation between parsec-scale radio jet activity and γ-ray emission. The 22-GHz light curve of OJ 287 show three obvious are events around 2011 May, 2011 October, and 2012 March. The second radio are occurred during the γ-ray aring period, and the third radio are seemed to precede the γ-ray are by one month. One jet component moved outward with respect to the core component with an apparent superluminal speed (~ 11c) from 2010 November to 2011 November. Then it changed direction, moving apparently inward in 2011 November, when the γ-ray are occurred. The observed apparent inward motion of the jet at 22 GHz could be caused by a new jet component, unresolved at 22 GHz, in the innermost region.

This study deals with the generalization of the Elliptic Restricted Three-Body Problem (ER3BP) by considering the effects of radiation and oblate spheroid primaries. This may illustrate a gas giant exoplanet orbiting its host star with eccentric orbit. In the three dimensional case, this generalization may possess two additional equilibrium points (L6,7, out-of-plane). We determine the existence of L6,7 in ER3BP under the effects of radiation (bigger primary) and oblateness (small primary). We analytically derive the locations of L6;7 and assume initial approximations of (μ-1, ±3A2), where  and A2 are the mass parameter and oblateness factor, respectively. The fixed locations are then determined. Our results show that the locations of L6,7 are periodic and affected by A2 and the radiation factor (q1).

We present an ongoing study of the complete sample of supernova remnants (SNRs) and candidates in the Magellanic Clouds. 108 objects in both Clouds are considered to be either SNR or reliable candidates. This represents the most complete sample of all known SNRs in any galaxy. It therefore allows us to study SNR population properties such as the age-diameter (Age-D) relation. Here, we show that this Age-D relation is strongly dependant on the local environment in which SNRs are residing.

In this study, we present geometrical and kinematical analysis of Moreton wave observed in 2012 June 3rd and July 6th, recorded in H-α images of Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) archive. These large-scale waves exhibit different features compared to each other. The observed wave of June 3rd has angular span of about 70◦ with a diffuse wave front associated to NOAA active region 11496. It was found that the propagating speed of the wave at 17:53 UT is about 93180 km/s. The broadness nature of this Moreton wave can be interpreted as the vertical extension of the wave over the chromosphere. On the other hand, the wave of July 6th associated with X1.1 class are that occurred at 23:01 UT in AR NOAA11515. From the kinematical analysis, the wave propagated with the initial velocity of about 994 ± 70 km/s which is in agreement with the speed of coronal shock derived from type II radio burst, v ~ 1100 km/s. These two identified waves add the inventory of the large-scale waves observed in 24th Solar Cycle.

Sex appeal advertising has been widely adopted in luxury fashion marketing and yet little attention has been paid to the impact of sex appeal on perceived luxury values. Using a 2(low/high degree of sex appeal) x 2(male/female ad endorser) x 2(male/female ad viewer) factorial design, this study finds that the use of a high degree of sex appeal in an advertisement significantly improves young consumers’ perceptions of the appearance, quality, uniqueness, and conspicuousness value of a luxury fashion brand. The impact of sex appeal on the self-identity, hedonic, materialistic or prestige value perceptions appear to be insignificant. Gender interacts with the degree of sex appeal on the appearance and quality value only. Implications for luxury brand marketers and advertisers are discussed.

This study was aimed to determine the biometry of genital organs, incidence of gynecological disorders and pregnancy loss in Black Bengal goat (Capra hircus). Genitalia of 118 does were collected from local abattoirs. Biometric parameters of genital organs were measured and gross and histopathological examinations were carried out for detection of abnormalities. For gravid uterus, age of the fetus was determined by measuring crown-rump length. There was no significant difference in the length, width and weight of right and left ovaries (P>0.05). However, the number of follicles between left (5.3 ± 2.3) and right ovaries (7.4 ± 2.7) varied significantly (P<0.05). The mean length of right fallopian tube and uterine horn were not varied with those of left fallopian tube and uterine horn. The length of uterine body, cervix and vagina were 1.3 ± 0.1 cm, 3.3 ± 0.5 cm and 6.8 ± 1.3 cm, respectively. Overall, 29 (24.6%) genitalia had abnormalities. Fifteen genitalia (12.7%) had ovarian abnormalities including ovaro-bursal adhesions (6.8%), parovarian cyst (5.1%) and follicular cyst (0.9%). Uterine abnormalities were found in 12 genitalia (10.2%) and predominant uterine lesion was endometritis (6.8%) followed by adenomyosis (1.7%), hemorrhagic lesion on endometrial surface (0.9%) and cyst in broad ligament (0.9%). In addition, cyst in fallopian tube (0.9%) and vagina (0.9%) were recorded. The proportion of slaughtered pregnant goats was 15.3% (18/118). The pregnancy wastage was highest in the first month (50.0%) followed by second (33.3%) and third (16.7%) month. It can be concluded that ovaro-bursal adhesions, parovarian cyst and endometritis are the gynecological disorders of major concern in Black Bengal goat.

While IMO’s e-Navigation project’s scope is to enhance safety of navigation by improved shipto- shore-cooperation, the EU’s FP7 project MUNIN’s aim is to develop a concept for an autonomous dry bulk carrier, that is at least as safe as a manned vessel. As e-Navigation has a strong focus on improving the human element in shipping and MUNIN tends towards an unmanned bridge, a common baseline might look quite contradictory at first, but they share the need to ensure and enhance the safety of navigation. After an introduction into e-Navigation and the MUNIN project, this paper will demonstrate with two examples, how MUNIN’s results address identified e-Navigation’s gaps and addresses e-Navigation’s user needs. Thus, MUNIN contributes to the development and implementation of the prioritized e-Navigation solutions.

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) catalyzes an ester hydrolysis at sn-2 position of phospholipids. Various PLA2 genes are classified into at least 15 groups. However, on the basis of physiological functions, PLA2 genes are classified into calcium dependent cellular PLA2 (cPLA2), calcium independent cellular PLA2 (iPLA2) and secretary PLA2 (sPLA2). In insects, several sPLA2 genes are known to be associated with venom or immune functions. However, no known cellular PLA2 genes are identified. This study reports an iPLA2 (SeiPLA2) encoded in Spodoptera exigua. SeiPLA2 has an open reading frame of 2448 bp encoding a sequence of 816 amino acid residues. Its predicted protein is 89.55 KDa and 6.15 pI. SeiPLA2 is expressed in egg, larva, pupa and adult stages. In larval stage, SeiPLA2 is expressed in hemocytes, fat body, epidermis, gut, malpighian tubules and salivary gland. To understand its physiological function, its RNA interference is under investigation.

This study used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate the micro-morphological features of two formaldehyde to urea (F/U) mole ratio liquid urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins with three hardener levels as a function of the curing time. The micro-morphological features of the liquid UF resins were characterized after different curing times. As a result, the TEM examination revealed the presence of globular/nodular structures in both liquid UF resins, while spherical particles were only visible in the low F/U mole ratio resins. The high F/U mole ratio liquid UF resins also showed extensive particle coalescence after adding the hardener, along with the appearance of complex filamentous networks. When the resins were cured with a higher amount of hardener and longer curing time, the spherical particles disappeared. For the low mole UF resins, the particles tended to coalesce with a higher amount of hardener and longer curing time, although discrete spherical particles were still observed in some regions. This is the first report on the distinct features of the crystal structures in low F/U mole ratio UF resins cured with 5% hardener and after 0.5 h of curing time. In conclusion, the present results indicate that the crystal structures of low F/U mole ratio UF resins are formed during the curing process.

Saung Angklung Udjo (SAU) is recognized as a cultural tourism destination in Indonesia. The aim of this paper is to study the consumer personal value toward SAU. This research reported that consumers perceived angklung as an unique and attractive musical instrument and felt very satisfied to performance in SAU.