• Title/Summary/Keyword: P

Search Result 148,520, Processing Time 0.146 seconds

Prognostically Significant Fusion Oncogenes in Pakistani Patients with Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and their Association with Disease Biology and Outcome

  • Sabir, Noreen;Iqbal, Zafar;Aleem, Aamer;Awan, Tashfeen;Naeem, Tahir;Asad, Sultan;Tahir, Ammara H;Absar, Muhammad;Hasanato, Rana MW;Basit, Sulman;Chishti, Muhammad Azhar;Ul-Haque, Muhammad Faiyaz;Khalid, Ahmad Muktar;Sabar, Muhammad Farooq;Rasool, Mahmood;Karim, Sajjad;Khan, Mahwish;Samreen, Baila;Akram, Afia M;Siddiqi, Muhammad Hassan;Shahzadi, Saba;Shahbaz, Sana;Ali, Agha Shabbir
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.13 no.7
    • /
    • pp.3349-3355
    • /
    • 2012
  • Background and objectives: Chromosomal abnormalities play an important role in genesis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and have prognostic implications. Five major risk stratifying fusion genes in ALL are BCR-ABL, MLL-AF4, ETV6-RUNX11, E2A-PBX1 and SIL-TAL1. This work aimed to detect common chromosomal translocations and associated fusion oncogenes in adult ALL patients and study their relationship with clinical features and treatment outcome. Methods: We studied fusion oncogenes in 104 adult ALL patients using RT-PCR and interphase-FISH at diagnosis and their association with clinical characteristics and treatment outcome. Results: Five most common fusion genes i.e. BCR-ABL (t 9; 22), TCF3-PBX1 (t 1; 19), ETV6-RUNX1 (t 12; 21), MLL-AF4 (t 4; 11) and SIL-TAL1 (Del 1p32) were found in 82/104 (79%) patients. TCF3-PBX1 fusion gene was associated with lymphadenopathy, SIL-TAL1 positive patients had frequent organomegaly and usually presented with a platelets count of less than $50{\times}10^9/l$. Survival of patients with fusion gene ETV6-RUNX1 was better when compared to patients harboring other genes. MLL-AF4 and BCR-ABL positivity characterized a subset of adult ALL patients with aggressive clinical behaviour and a poor outcome. Conclusions: This is the first study from Pakistan which investigated the frequency of5 fusion oncogenes in adult ALL patients, and their association with clinical features, treatment response and outcome. Frequencies of some of the oncogenes were different from those reported elsewhere and they appear to be associated with distinct clinical characteristics and treatment outcome. This information will help in the prognostic stratification and risk adapted management of adult ALL patients.

Optimal hot water extraction conditions of fermented Polygonum multiflorum root by Lentinula edodes pegler mycelials using response surface methodology (반응표면 분석법에 의한 표고균사체발효 적하수오 열수 추출조건의 최적화)

  • Oh, Junseok;Hong, Jae-Heoi;Park, Tae-Young;Shin, Ji-eun;Kim, Kyung-Je;Jin, Seong-Woo;Ban, Seung-Eon;Koh, Young-Woo;Im, Seung-Bin;Seo, Kyoung-Sun
    • Journal of Mushroom
    • /
    • v.16 no.1
    • /
    • pp.22-30
    • /
    • 2018
  • This study was performed to determine optimal extraction conditions of fermented Polygonum multiflorum root by Lentinula edodes (JMI10079) Pegler mycelials using response surface methodology. The independent factors were extraction temperature (X1: $40-100^{\circ}C$), extraction time (X2: 2-10 hrs.), and the ratio of water to sample (X3: 33-100 mg/mL). Their effects were assessed on dependent variables of the extract properties, which included soluble solid contents (Y1), $^{\circ}Brix$ of sample extract (Y2), total polyphenol content (Y3), total flavonoid content (Y4), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical cation scavenging activity (Y5) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (Y6). The experimental data obtained were fit to a second-order polynomial equation. The optimal extraction conditions for fermented P. multiflorum root were: X1: $91.22^{\circ}C$, X2: 7.72 hrs, and X3: 39.71 mg/mL.

Changes of Blood Gases, Plasma Catecholamine Concentrations and Hemodynamic Data in Anesthetized Dogs during Graded Hypoxia Induced by Nitrous Oxide (아산화질소에 의한 점진적 저산소가스 흡입이 혈중 가스치와 Catecholamine치 및 혈역학에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Sae-Yeon;Song, Sun-Ok;Bae, Jung-In;Cheun, Jae-Kyu;Bae, Jae-Hoon
    • Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
    • /
    • v.15 no.1
    • /
    • pp.97-113
    • /
    • 1998
  • The sympathoadrenal system plays an important role in homeostasis in widely varing external environments. Conflicting findings, however, have been reported on its response to hypoxia. We investigated the effect of hypoxia on the sympathoadrenal system in dogs under halothane anesthesia by measuring levels of circulating catecholamines in response to graded hypoxia. Ten healthy mongreal dogs were mechanically ventilated with different hypoxic gas mixtures. Graded hypoxia and reoxygenation were induced by progressively decreasing the oxygen fraction in the inhalation gas mixture from 21%(control) to 15%, 10% and 5% at every 5 minutes, and then reoxygenated with 60% oxygen. Mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure and mean pulmonary arterial pressure were measured directly using pressure transducers. Cardiac output was measured by the thermodilutional method. For analysis of blood gas, saturation and content, arterial and mixed venous blood were sampled via the femoral and pulmonary artery at the end of each hypoxic condition. The concentration of plasma catecholamines was determined by radioenzymatic assay. According to the exposure of graded hypoxia, not only did arterial and mixed venous oxygen tension decreased markedly at 10% and 5% oxygen, but also arterial and mixed venous oxygen saturation decreased significantly. An increased trend of the oxygen extraction ratio was seen during graded hypoxia. Cardiac output, mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance were unchanged or increased slightly. Pulmonary arterial pressure(PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR) were increased by 55%, 76% in 10% oxygen and by 82%, 95% in 5% oxygen, respectively(p<0.01). The concentrations of plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine increased by 75%, 29%, 24% in 15% oxygen and by 382%, 350%, 49% in 5% oxygen. These data suggest that the sympathetic nervous system was activated to maintain homeostasis by modifying blood flow distribution to improve oxygen delivery to tissues by hypoxia, but hemodynamic changes might be blunted by high concentration of nitrous oxide except PAP and PVR. It would be suggested that hemodynamic changes might not be sensitive index during hypoxia induced by high concentration of nitrous oxide exposure.

  • PDF

Effect of Protein Supplementation, O2 Concentration and Co-Culture on the Development of Embryos Produced by Nuclear Transfer Using Cultured Cumulus Cells in Hanwoo (Korean Cattle)

  • Im, G.S.;Yang, B.S.;Park, S.J.;Im, S.K.;Yang, B.C.;Yi, Y.J.;Park, C.S.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
    • /
    • v.14 no.9
    • /
    • pp.1260-1266
    • /
    • 2001
  • The effect of protein supplementation, $O_2$ concentration and co-culture on the development of embryos produced by nuclear transfer using cultured cumulus cell was investigated. Recipient oocytes and cumulus cells were obtained from the ovaries of the slaughtered Hanwoo cows. Donor cumulus cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 5% $CO_2$ in air at $38.5^{\circ}C$. The 1 to 6 passages of cumulus cells were isolated and used as donor cells. The in vitro matured oocytes were enucleated and then the isolated donor cells were introduced. One $15{\mu}s$ pulse of 180 volts was applied to induce the fusion between karyoplast and cytoplast. The fused embryos were activated with $10{\mu}M$ calcium ionophore for 5 min and 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine for 3 h. To examine the effect of protein supplementation, nuclear transfer (NT) embryos were cultured in one of the following 4 treatments : 1) CR1aa + 3 mg/ml BSA for 7 days ; 2) CR1aa + 10% FBS for 7 days ; 3) CR1aa + 1.5 mg/ml BSA + 5% FBS for 7 days ; and 4) CR1aa + 3 mg/ml BSA for first 3 days and then CR1aa + 1.5 mg/ml BSA + 5% FBS for 4 days. Culture took place at 5% $CO_2$, 5% $O_2$ and 90% $N_2$ at $38.5^{\circ}C$. Although there were no significant differences in cleavage rate among different protein supplements, the rates of blastocyst formation were significantly different. When NT embryos were cultured in the medium supplemented with only BSA, they could develop to only morula not to blastocyst. However, when FBS was supplemented, NT embryos developed to blastocyst stage. In order to investigate the effect of $O_2$ concentration and co-culture, NT embryos were cultured in CR1aa + 1.5 mg/ml BSA + 5% FBS with or without cumulus cell co-culture at an atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$ in air (20% $O_2$) or 5% $CO_2$, 5% $O_2$, 90% $N_2$ (5% $O_2$) at $38.5^{\circ}C$ for 7 days. The percentage of blastocyst development was significantly higher when the NT embryos were cultured at an atmosphere of 5% $O_2$ than that of 20% $O_2$ (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between with and without cumulus cell co-culture at an atmosphere of 5% $O_2$ or 20% $O_2$. Fifty embryos were transferred to 25 recipients and 5 recipients were pregnant at 100 days. From 5 pregnant cows, only one cow was delivered of female twin. In conclusion, the embryos reconstructed by enucleation of metaphase II oocytes and introduction of the cycling and quiescent cumulus donor cells in Hanwoo had developmental potential to term after embryo transfer to recipient cows.

Selection for Duration of Fertility and Mule Duck White Plumage Colour in a Synthetic Strain of Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

  • Liu, H.C.;Huang, J.F.;Lee, S.R.;Liu, H.L.;Hsieh, C.H.;Huang, C.W.;Huang, M.C.;Tai, C.;Poivey, J.P.;Rouvier, R.;Cheng, Y.S.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
    • /
    • v.28 no.5
    • /
    • pp.605-611
    • /
    • 2015
  • A synthetic strain of ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) was developed by introducing genes for long duration of fertility to be used as mother of mule ducklings and a seven-generation selection experiment was conducted to increase the number of fertile eggs after a single artificial insemination (AI) with pooled Muscovy semen. Reciprocal crossbreeding between Brown Tsaiya LRI-2 (with long duration of fertility) and Pekin L-201 (with white plumage mule ducklings) ducks produced the G0. Then G1 were intercrossed to produce G2 and so on for the following generations. Each female duck was inseminated 3 times, at 26, 29, and 32 weeks of age. The eggs were collected for 14 days from day 2 after AI. Individual data regarding the number of incubated eggs (Ie), the number of fertile eggs at candling at day 7 of incubation (F), the total number of dead embryos (M), the maximum duration of fertility (Dm) and the number of hatched mule ducklings (H) with plumage colour were recorded. The selection criterion was the breeding values of the best linear unbiased prediction animal model for F. The results show high percentage of exhibited heterosis in G2 for traits to improve (19.1% for F and 12.9% for H); F with a value of 5.92 (vs 3.74 in the Pekin L-201) was improved in the G2. Heritabilities were found to be low for Ie ($h^2=0.07{\pm}0.03$) and M ($h^2=0.07{\pm}0.01$), moderately low for Dm ($h^2=0.13{\pm}0.02$), of medium values for H ($h^2=0.20{\pm}0.03$) and F ($h^2=0.23{\pm}0.03$). High and favourable genetic correlations existed between F and Dm ($r_g=0.93$), between F and H ($r_g=0.97$) and between Dm and H ($r_g=0.90$). The selection experiment showed a positive trend for phenotypic values of F (6.38 fertile eggs in G10 of synthetic strain vs 5.59 eggs in G4, and 3.74 eggs in Pekin L-201), with correlated response for increasing H (5.73 ducklings in G10 vs 4.86 in G4, and 3.09 ducklings in Pekin L-201) and maximum duration of the fertile period without increasing the embryo mortality rate. The average predicted genetic response for F was 40% of genetic standard deviation per generation of selection. The mule ducklings' feather colour also was improved. It was concluded that this study provided results for a better understanding of the genetics of the duration of fertility traits in the common female duck bred for mule and that the selection of a synthetic strain was effective method of improvement.

The Correlation Among Health Status, Burden and Quality of Life of the Adult Stroke Patient's Family and the Elderly Stroke Patient's Family (노인층과 청·장년층 뇌졸중 환자가족의 건강상태·부담감 및 삶의 질과의 관계)

  • Kim, Kwuy-Bun;Lee, Kyung-Ho
    • Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
    • /
    • v.13 no.2
    • /
    • pp.262-276
    • /
    • 2001
  • The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation among the stroke patient family's health, burden and quality of life which is based upon the comparative appreciation of the adult stroke patient's family and elderly stroke patient's family. For this purpose, data were collected from the family care-givers for two groups of stroke patients under sixty years old and over sixty years of age, admitted at K Hospital and H Hospital in Seoul. The instruments for this research are based on the tool for measuring physical health and psychological health developed by Yang, Young-hee(1992), the tool for measuring the sense of burden by Seo, Mee-hae and Oh, Ga-sil(1993), and the tool for the quality of life by Noh, Yoo-ja(1988). The sampling for this study was done from December, 2000 until February, 2001. Questionnaire data were drawn up by personal interviews aided by the staff nurses. The analysis of collected data are based on general characteristics calculated at the rate of 100 percent of the average, t-test, ANOVA(some difference on a level with p<.05 being subsquently confirmed by DMR) for Health Status, Burden, Quality of Life and Pearson Correlation to verify the hypothetical correlation among the subjects. The results of this study are as follows: 1. In the adult stroke patient family, the factors influencing the physical health proved to be age, present occupation and family-formation. Here, the factors influencing psychological health turned out to be age, matrimonial status, present occupation and family-formation. In the elderly stroke patient family, the factors influencing physical health proved to be age, gender, final academic status, matrimonial status, present occupation, and relation with the patient. Here, the factors influencing the psychological health were age, final academic status, matrimonial status, present occupation, relation with the patient and family-formation. In the former case, the influencing factors upon the burden were shown to be age, final academic status, matrimonial status, relation with the patient and family-formation. In the latter case, the influences upon the burden were age, gender, final academic status, matrimonial status, present occupation and relation with the patient. In the former case, the influences on the quality of life were gender, and economic situation. In the later case, the influencing factors on the quality of life were age, final academic status, matrimonial status, present occupation, and relation with the patient. 2. The rate of the physical condition in the former case turned out to be 2.83, and the psychological condition 2.37. The physical condition of the latter case was 2.76, and the psychological condition 2.46. The rate of the burden in the former case was 3.14, and that of the latter case was 3.04. The rate of quality of life in the former case proved to be 2.46, and that of the latter case 2.55. 3. The rate of correlation between the burden and the quality of life appeared to be the high counter-correlation (r= -.573). The rate of correlation between the psychological health and the burden of a simialr (r= -.565). The rate of correlation between the physical health and the psychological health proved to be a moderate correlation (r= .372), The rate of correlation between physical health and the burden turned out to be a low counter-correlation (r= -.276). According to this study, there proved to be a very close correlation among the stroke patient family's health, the burden and quality of life. Thus, it would be necessary to find out various nursing interventions in order to mitigate the stroke patient family's burden in the process of caring for the patients.

  • PDF

Training Program to Raise Consciousness Among Adolescents for Protection Against Skin Cancer through Performance of Skin Self Examination

  • Balyaci, Ozum Erkin;Kostu, Nazan;Temel, Ayla Bayik
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.13 no.10
    • /
    • pp.5011-5017
    • /
    • 2012
  • Background: Overexposure to sunlight in childhood and the adolescent period and associsated sunburns significantly increase the risk of skin cancer in adulthood. In Turkey, the incidence of skin cancer in the general population is 0.8%. The incidence is 0.6% and the mortality rate is 0.4% for men, while these rates are 1.0% and 0.7%, respectively, for women. If skin cancer is found early, its treatment is facilitated. Therefore, personal skin examination is important for early diagnosis. Objectives: Our aim was to determine the effects of training for raising consciousness among adolescents to protect against skin cancer by influencing skin self examination behavior. Method: This quasi experimental intervention study was conducted between February and April 2012 in Izmir. The study population consisted of students attending $6^{th}$, $7^{th}$ and $8^{th}$ classes of a primary school (n:302). No sampling was performed. Data were collected with a form developed by the researchers based on the literature. The first part of form is aimed to determine demographic characteristics of adolescents (3 questions) and their risk status of skin cancer (6 questions). The second part was prepared for skin cancer risks of adolescents (8 questions) and indications of skin cancer (12 questions). The last part was intended to determine their knowledge about skin self examination (4 questions) and behavioral stages of skin self examination (1 question). Data collection was achieved with a questionnaire form in three phases. In the 1st phase, data about demographic characteristics of students, risk status of skin cancer, knowledge level of skin cancer and behavior stages were collected. In the $2^{nd}$ phase, skin self examination training based on the transtheoretical model was performed within the same day just after obtaining preliminary data. In the $3^{rd}$ phase, adolescents were followed up three times to establish the efficacy of the training (on the $15^{th}$ day after training program and at end of the $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ months). Follow-up data were evaluated by questioning skin self examination performing behavior stages through electronic mail. Results: Half of the adolescents (50.5%) are male, and 58.4% of them are 13 years old with a mean age of $12{\pm}1.15$ years. About 29.4% of adolescents had brown hair color, 37.9% had brown/hazel eye color, 29.4% had white skin, and 47.2% had fewer than 10 moles in their body. The pretest mean score on knowledge level about risks of skin cancer was found to be $4.19{\pm}1.96$, while the post-test mean score was $6.79{\pm}1.67$ (min:0, max:8).The pretest mean score about indications of skin cancer was $7.45{\pm}3.76$, while the post-test mean score was $10.7{\pm}2.60$ (min:0, max:12). The increases were statistically significant (p<0.05). The behavior "I do not perform skin self examination regularly in every month and I do not think to perform it in the next 6 months" was reduced from 52.8 to 35.5% after training. Conclusion: The training program organized to raise consciousness among adolescents for protection against skin cancer increased the knowledge level about risks and indications of skin cancer and it also improved the behavior of performing skin self examination.

The Relationship Between Perception of Prosody, Pitch Discrimination, and Melodic Contour Identification in Cochlear Implants Recipients (인공와우이식 난청인의 말소리 운율변화에 따른 구어 이해와 음도 변별, 선율윤곽 확인 간 관련성)

  • Kim, Eun Yeon;Moon, Il Joon;Cho, Yang-sun;Chung, Won-ho;Hong, Sung Hwa
    • Journal of Music and Human Behavior
    • /
    • v.14 no.2
    • /
    • pp.1-18
    • /
    • 2017
  • The relationships between the ability to understand changes in meaning depending on the prosody of spoken words and the ability to perceive pitch and melodic contour in cochlear implants (CI) recipients were examined. Fifteen postlingual CI recipients were measured in terms of speech prosody perception, speech perception, pitch discrimination (PD), and melody contour identification (MCI). The speech prosody perception test consists of words with positive (PW) and neutral meaning (NW). Participants were asked to identify the meaning of words depending on the conditions of positive and negative prosody. The MCI consists of subtests 1 and 2 with different chance levels to choose. Then, the relationships between speech prosody perception, speech perception, PD, and MCI performance were analyzed. There was a significant difference in identifying the meaning of words expressed in a different prosody between the PW and NW conditions. Speech prosody perception showed a significant correlation with MCI 1 while there was no significant relationship with speech perception. Although speech perception may be possible after CI, limited spoken word comprehension due to decreased sensitivity for prosodic changes may persist in CI recipients. In addition, there was a limitation in perception of melodic contour change compared to pitch discrimination, which is related to speech prosody perception.

The Study on the Influence of Selection Characteristics of Franchise System, business possibility, Communication, Moral Hazard on Franchisee's Perceived Risk, and Recontracting Intention in the Food Service Franchise Industry (외식 프랜차이저의 사업성, 커뮤니케이션, 모럴해저드가 프랜차이지의 위험지각과 재계약의도에 미치는 영향)

  • Yu, Jong-Pil;Lee, In-Ho
    • Journal of Distribution Research
    • /
    • v.16 no.1
    • /
    • pp.1-27
    • /
    • 2011
  • I. Introduction: This study is to examine the structural relationships among exogenous variable (preliminary and post-support, franchisee's perceived business possibility, communication, moral hazard), the mediated variables(satisfaction, perceived risk, trust) and dependent variable(recontracting intention) in the food service franchise industry context. More specifically, this study has considered some realistic characteristics factors influencing satisfaction, perceived risk and trust between franchisors and franchisees and their further recontracting intention from the perspective of a practical approach. In this study, 437 data has been collected and used for the SPSS and AMOS analysis. The data were analyzed with structural equation modeling. Since the result of the overall model analysis demonstrated a good fit, we could further analyze our data. II. Research Model: This study is to examine the structural relationships among preliminary and post-support by franchisor, franchisee's perceived business possibility, and communication, moral hazard, has on effect on franchisee's satisfaction, perceived risk, trust and recontracting intention in the food service franchise industry context. Hypotheses are as following (Stern & EL-Ansary 1988; Oliver, 1997;Kee & Knox, 1970; Moorman, Deshpande & Zaltman, 1993; Perron, 1998; Zaheer, McEvily, Perrone, 1998). III. Result and Implication: We examined franchisee who have food service stores for samples of this study. The data were analyzed with structural equation modeling using path analysis. The result of the overall model analysis appeared as following: ${\chi}^2$ = 61.578 (d.f.=9, p<0.01), CFI =.990, GFI =.973, AGFI =.863, RMR =.019, RMSEA= .116, NFI = .988, TLI = .959. The findings can be summarized as follows: First, preliminary and post support of franchisor, perceived business possibility and communication positively influence to franchisee's satisfaction. Second, moral hazard of franchisor has negatively influence to franchisee's satisfaction and positively influence to perceived risk. Third, franchisee's satisfaction and trust has positively influence to recontracting intention. Fourth, franchisee's perceived risk has negatively influence to trust and recontracting intention. We can concluded that franchisor's preliminary and post support of franchisor, perceived business possibility and communication may be considered as the important factors influence to franchisee's satisfaction. Moral hazard has become a focused issue in franchise industry. Finally, the managerial implication has been stated as followings: First, in the process of building a systematic industry support franchise system and developing a creative business model, franchisee's stable profitability should be considered as the first important factor. The franchisee's trust to franchise may become a dominant factor that influence the business expansion of franchisor. Second, franchisor should communication with their franchisees and deal with the realistic difficulties faced by them with an effort. Third, the franchisor should achieve a synergy effect by utilizing the win-win strategy. The moral hazard strategy that achieving the profit through franchisee's damage will not be inadvisable to franchisor. Then the long-term oriented development and profitability can be maintained. To do so, the franchise industry may break away from the traditional business structure to improve management transparency and competitiveness on investment and organizational changing management. The conflict between franchisor and franchisee also can be reduced and big success can be achieved in the franchise industry.

  • PDF

The Effects of Social Capital on the Economic and Noneconomic Performance: Considering the Causal Relationship of Dimensions of Social Capital (사회자본이 경제적 성과와 비경제적 성과에 미치는 영향: 사회자본 차원들의 인과관계를 고려한 접근)

  • Bae, Sang-Wook;Yun, Han-Sung
    • Journal of Distribution Research
    • /
    • v.15 no.1
    • /
    • pp.73-101
    • /
    • 2010
  • Using data collected from franchisees from Busan, we empirically examined the relationship both structural (tie strength), relational (trust), and cognitive (shared value) of social capital and between those dimensions and the patterns of economic performance and noneconomic performance (relationship continuity intention). So we established 9 hypotheses to test the structural relationship among dimensions of social capital and performances like below. H1: A franchisee's perceived tie strength with its franchisor will positively influence its trust in the franchisor. H2: A franchisee's perceived shared value with its franchisor will positively influence its trust in the franchisor. H3: A franchisee's perceived tie strength with its franchisor will positively influence its economic performance. H4: A franchisee's perceived shared value with its franchisor will positively influence its economic performance. H5: A franchisee's perceived trust in its franchisor will positively influence its economic performance. H6: A franchisee's perceived tie strength with its franchisor will positively influence its relationship continuity intention with the franchisor. H7: A franchisee's perceived shared value with its franchisor will positively influence its relationship continuity intention with the franchisor. H8: A franchisee's perceived trust in its franchisor will positively influence its relationship continuity intention with the franchisor. H9: A franchisee's perceived economic performance will positively influence its relationship continuity intention with the franchisor. The conceptual model specifying the relationship among dimensions of social capital and performances is presented in Fig. 1. Tests of the hypotheses were performed using a structural equation model. This model also reflected a good fit to the data ($\chi^2$=101.12 df=62 p=0.004, RMSEA=0.050 GFI=0.936 AGFI=0.895 NFI=0.959 CFI=0.986). The standardized solution estimated by the AMOS 7 program was for interpreting the structural results (Table 1). As was expected, tie strength and shared value were founded to be significant predictors of trust (H1 supported; H2 supported). Tie strength and trust have a significant positive effect on economic performance (H3 supported; H5 supported). But shared value have not a significant effect on economic performance (H4 Rejected). Tie strength were not associated with relationship continuity intention (H6 Rejected). While on the other higher shared value, trust, and economic performance have a significant effect on the relationship continuity intention (H7 supported; H8 supported; H9 supported). The results show integratedly that, first, tie strength does not affect directly but affects indirectly on relationship continuity intention via trust and economic performance. Second, shared goals affect directly and do indirectly via trust on relationship continuity intention. But shared goals does not affect via economic performance on relationship continuity intention. Finally, the study suggests important implications for both research and practice for franchise system especially.

  • PDF