bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bank service quality: perception of customers in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana in the post banking sector reforms era
Authors: Tetteh Joseph Emmanuel , Boachie Chrisopher 
Published: December 2020

PurposeIn the wake of fierce competition that has ensued among banks to get a share of the depositors' funds after the banking sector reforms in 2017, this study attempts to investigate bank service quality and its influence on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of 753 respondents (bank customers), the study employs the structural equation modelling (SEM) using Smart-PLS to test the nature of relationships between service quality, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty using the SERVQUAL model.FindingsThe findings show that, with the exception of assurance, the remaining four antecedents of service quality, namely reliability, responsiveness, empathy and tangibility had significant positive influence on customer satisfaction. The results also show a significant positive influence of customer satisfaction on customer loyalty, implying that more satisfied customers in Ghana tend to become more loyal to their banks.Practical implicationsFor policy purposes, the authors recommend that banks should invest in improving service quality to drive customer satisfaction, loyalty and ultimately firm performance. The satisfied customer is a reliable source of bank viability and survival.Originality/valueTo the best of the knowledge of the authors, this is the first time a study on bank service quality has been done involving the management of banks in Ghana. This ensures the reliability of results. The findings of this study enhance knowledge of the positive relationship between service quality, customer satisfaction and loyalty using a modified SERVQUAL model.
Collapse and rescue of evolutionary food webs under global warming
Authors: Yacine Youssef , Allhoff Korinna T. , Weinbach Avril , Loeuille Nicolas 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Global warming is severely impacting ecosystems and threatening ecosystem services as well as human well‐being. While some species face extinction risk, several studies suggest the possibility that fast evolution may allow species to adapt and survive in spite of environmental changes.

We assess how such evolutionary rescue extends to multitrophic communities and whether evolution systematically preserves biodiversity under global warming.

More precisely, we expose simulated trophic networks of co‐evolving consumers to warming under different evolutionary scenarios, which allows us to assess the effect of evolution on diversity maintenance. We also investigate how the evolution of body mass and feeding preference affects coexistence within a simplified consumer–resource module.

Our simulations predict that the long‐term diversity loss triggered by warming is considerably higher in scenarios where evolution is slowed down or switched off completely, indicating that eco‐evolutionary feedback indeed helps to preserve biodiversity. However, even with fast evolution, food webs still experience vast disruptions in their structure and functioning. Reversing warming may thus not be sufficient to restore previous structures.

Our findings highlight how the interaction between evolutionary rescue and changes in trophic structures constrains ecosystem responses to warming with important implications for conservation and management policies.
Early nebivolol treatment is beneficial in myocardial infarction in rats partly through β3‐adrenoceptor remodelling
Authors: Audigane Leslie , Persello Antoine , Piriou Nicolas , Ferron Marine , Trochu Jean‐Noël , Lauzier Benjamin , Gauthier Chantal , Rozec Bertrand 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIt remains unknown whether β‐blockers are useful and safe in acute myocardial infarction (MI). Owing to its pharmacological profile and vasodilating action, nebivolol (N) is useful in MI. The aim of the present study was to assess in rat whether early nebivolol treatment could be beneficial in MI. It remains unknown whether β‐blockers are useful and safe in acute MI. On day (D) 0, male Sprague‐Dawley rats underwent left coronary artery ligation (MI) or simple thoracotomy (SHAM). On D1 and D2, the rats were treated with either nebivolol (5 mg.kg−1.day−1, MI‐N and Sham‐N) or vehicle (V, MI‐V and Sham‐V). On D3, heart rate, left ventricle (LV) intrinsic contractility (PESmid) and arterial elastance were measured. Cardiac and aortic β‐Adrenoceptor (AR) subtype mRNA were quantified using real time quantitative RT‐qPCR. Catecholamine response was assessed on isolated heart and aortic rings with isoproterenol. PESmid was decreased in MI without worsening the decrease nebivolol. In LV, β1‐ and β3‐AR mRNA were respectively decreased and increased in all MI. β3‐AR mRNA increase was partly limited by nebivolol. Ex vivo, basal contractility was less decreased in MI‐N than in MI‐V. Isoproterenol response was only altered in MI‐V. In MI aorta, Nebi prevented β2‐ and β3‐AR mRNA increases. In addition, Acetylcholine‐induced relaxation was lowered in MI‐V but preserved with nebivolol. We demonstrated an early modulation of cardiovascular β3‐AR transcription early MI. Despite its putative negative inotropic properties, nebivolol did not worsen cardiac function in basal conditions and preserved LV catecholamine response.
Capitalizing on a double crop: Recent advances in proso millet's transition to a food crop
Authors: Marti Alessandra , Tyl Catrin 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAcross the globe, strategies to adapt food production to a changing climate as well as to unforeseen events (such as a pandemic) are needed, for example, if farmers miss planting times due to abnormal weather patterns or harvests are lost. Such food security considerations represent reasons for why proso millet deserves a more prominent place at the table. It has one of the shortest growing seasons and water requirements among cereals and is already grown in rotation with other crops, for example, in the American Midwest. Yet, most consumers in the Western world are unfamiliar with it, which limits its market potential. Introducing proso millet to consumers requires development of products with acceptable textural and sensory attributes as well as convincing selling points. These can be found in its nutritional profile, as it is a gluten‐free “ancient” grain and millet‐based products frequently have low glycemic indices. This review presents a synthesis of recent studies that utilized processing strategies to advance proso millet functionality. Results are put into the context of the most frequently addressed compositional and functional attributes, organized in clusters. Diversity across varieties in amylose to amylopectin ratios presents an opportunity to utilize proso millet for foods with specific pasting requirements, as in bread versus pasta. Hydrothermal or pressure treatments may further adapt its functionality for baked goods. Bitterness remains an unsolved issue, even when decorticated material is used. In addition, heating dramatically lowers in vitro protein digestibility, whereas starch digestibility appears to be matrix dependent (more than raw material dependent).
Two polymorphic mutations in promoter region of DNA polymerase β in relatively higher percentage of thymic hyperplasia patients
Authors: Wu Qingjun , Zhou Shan , Liu Jian , Tong Hongfeng , Sun Yaoguang , Tian Wenxin , Yu Hanbo , Huang Chuan , Li Donghang , Jiao Peng , Ma Chao , Cai Jianping , Dai Dapeng 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundDNA polymerase β is one of the key enzymes involved in the repair of DNA damage, and its high or low expression is closely related to tumorigenesis. In a previous study on lung cancer, we found three genetic mutations in the promoter region of the Polb gene could be detected in the Han Chinese population. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between these mutations and thymic hyperplasia.MethodsGenomic DNA was extracted from 59 thymic hyperplasia patients by the salting out method and used for amplification of the promoter region of the Polb gene. The Polb gene mutation and its frequency were analyzed systematically by comparing them with the deposited wild‐type gene sequence in the NCBI database. The three typical mutated sequences in the promoter region of Polb gene, ‐196G > T, ‐168C > A and ‐188_‐187insCGCCC, were then amplified and ligated to pGL4.10 vector, so as to get the vectors used for the infection of 293T cells to explore their transcription activities by dual‐luciferase reporter system.ResultsTwo types of mutations, ‐168C>A and‐188_‐187insCGCCC, were found in a significantly higher percentage in patients with thymic hyperplasia than in normal healthy people after sequencing analysis of 59 patients and 60 healthy controls. These results suggest that the two mutations may be closely related to thymic hyperplasia. in vitro functional experiments showed that‐168C>A could significantly increase promoter activity, whereas ‐188_‐187insCGCCC could significantly reduce promoter activity, suggesting that these two mutations may affect the expression level of the Polb gene in cells.ConclusionsTwo types of mutations in the promoter region of the Polb gene, ‐168C>A and‐188_‐187insCGCCC, are associated with thymic hyperplasia and may become a new risk factor for this disease.Key pointsSignificant findings of the studyGenetic mutations in the Polb gene are reported to be associated with different kinds of cancers. However, their relationship with thymic hyperplasia is still unclear.What this study addsFor the first time, we report that two nucleotide mutations in the promoter region of the Polb gene are closely related with thymic hyperplasia after sequencing 59 patients and 60 healthy controls in the Han Chinese population.
sMap: Evolution of independent, dependent and conditioned discrete characters in a Bayesian framework
Authors: Bianchini Giorgio , Sánchez‐Baracaldo Patricia 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Trait evolution analyses enable the comparison of characters amongst different species—a useful technique when inferring ancestral phenotypes based on a phylogeny of living taxa. The evolution of discrete characters can be mapped on the branches of a phylogenetic tree using stochastic mapping. Here we present sMap, a new program to perform stochastic mapping analyses.

Key features characterising sMap are: a wide variety of models and prior distributions; the ability to use a posterior distribution of trees and to compute marginal likelihoods to perform model selection analyses; and the implementation of three kinds of characters: ‘independent’ characters, which do not interact with each other; ‘dependent’ characters, which co‐evolve at the same time; and ‘conditioned’ characters, whose state is determined by the state of other characters.

Here we present two examples that show how sMap can be used to perform stochastic mapping analyses, produce robust results and answer new kinds of questions. sMap is freely available and distributed under a GPL licence, in a command‐line and Graphical User Interface version; a detailed user manual with examples and tutorials is also provided.

The wide variety of algorithms implemented in sMap enables accurate analyses of the evolution of discrete characters. Conditioned characters can be used to study the interaction of simple traits to produce complex phenotypes. As a multiplatform and open‐source project, sMap can be used on a variety of systems and situations, such as academic research and teaching.
Codon‐based analysis of selection pressure and genetic structure in the Psammobates tentorius (Bell, 1828) species complex, and phylogeny inferred from both codons and amino acid sequences
Authors: Zhao Zhongning , Heideman Neil , Hofmeyr Margaretha D. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis study used codon analysis (dN/dS and Tv/Ti) to investigate selection pressure and genetic structure in the highly polymorphic Psammobates tentorius species complex, and amino acid sequences to construct a phylogeny tree for it. Our results revealed a strong selection signal at node ‘C2 + C3’, possibly driven by aridity intensification resulting from the development of the Benguela Current. A similar signal was noticed at C3, possibly due to the same driving force. These findings suggest that environmental selection pressure favoured those groups and that further cladogenic events were possible. Selection pressure was also found to be high at C1, C4 and C7, which may indicate that they are also favoured by the current selection pressure. The codon‐based phylogeny did not retrieve any potentially undescribed species, but nonetheless provided support for the validity of the seven distinct clades retrieved with the DNA sequence data. The amino acid sequence‐based phylogeny generally supported the seven lineages as valid putative species. Investigation at the genomic scale could, however, help to solve the issue. In general, we found the codon, dN, dS, Tv, Ti and amino acid sequence‐based phylogenetic inferences useful in species delimitation and recommend their use in species delimitation studies.
Let them eat cake? Contextualizing support for religious right to discriminate laws
Authors: Farnum Katlyn S. , Koller Abigail , Taylor Madison , Harmon Olivia , Birthwright Karissa , Shamblee Jayda 
Published: December 2020

AbstractShould businesses be allowed to deny services based on their strongly held religious beliefs? Despite the recent Supreme Court Case of Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado, this question of the right to discriminate remains unanswered. Given the currently ambiguous legal area, it is important to understand whether the public supports these laws. The current study examines both general support for the law and under what conditions people support it. The service provided and the religion of the service provider were both manipulated while religiosity and system justification were examined as potential moderators. Service type was the only significant experimental predictor of support, with participants less supportive of the law when reading about a marriage certificate being denied due to religious reasons than a wedding cake and a wedding ceremony being denied. Religiosity, but not system justification, moderated the relationship between service type and support for the law.
Tumor cell and immune cell profiles in primary human glioblastoma: Impact on patient outcome
Authors: González‐Tablas Pimenta María , Otero Álvaro , Arandia Guzman Daniel Angel , Pascual‐Argente Daniel , Ruíz Martín Laura , Sousa‐Casasnovas Pablo , García‐Martin Andoni , Roa Montes de Oca Juan Carlos , Villaseñor‐Ledezma Javier , Torres Carretero Luis , Almeida Maria , Ortiz Javie , Nieto Adelaida , Orfao Alberto , Tabernero María Dolores 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe distribution and role of tumor‐infiltrating leucocytes in glioblastoma (GBM) remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the cellular composition of 55 primary (adult) GBM samples by flow cytometry and correlated the tumor immune profile with patient features at diagnosis and outcome. GBM single‐cell suspensions were stained at diagnosis (n = 44) and recurrence following radiotherapy and chemotherapy (n = 11) with a panel of 8‐color monoclonal antibody combinations for the identification and enumeration of (GFAP+CD45−) tumor and normal astrocytic cells, infiltrating myeloid cells —i.e. microglial and blood‐derived tumor‐associated macrophages (TAM), M1‐like, and M2‐like TAM, neutrophils. and myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSC)— and tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) —i.e. CD3+T‐cells and their TCD4+, TCD8+, TCD4−CD8−, and (CD25+CD127lo) regulatory (T‐regs) subsets, (CD19+CD20+) B‐cells, and (CD16+) NK‐cells—. Overall, GBM samples consisted of a major population (mean ± 1SD) of tumor and normal astrocytic cells (73% ± 16%) together with a significant but variable fraction of immune cells (24% ± 18%). Within myeloid cells, TAM predominated (13% ± 12%) including both microglial cells (10% ± 11%) and blood‐derived macrophages (3% ± 5%), in addition to a smaller proportion of neutrophils (5% ± 9%) and MDSC (4% ± 8%). Lymphocytes were less represented and mostly included TCD4+ (0.5% ± 0.7%) and TCD8+ cells (0.6% ± 0.7%), together with lower numbers of TCD4−CD8− T‐cells (0.2% ± 0.4%), T‐regs (0.1% ± 0.2%), B‐lymphocytes (0.1% ± 0.2%) and NK‐cells (0.05% ± 0.05%). Overall, three distinct immune profiles were identified: cases with a minor fraction of leucocytes, tumors with a predominance of TAM and neutrophils, and cases with mixed infiltration by TAM, neutrophils, and T‐lymphocytes. Untreated GBM patients with mixed myeloid and lymphoid immune infiltrates showed a significantly shorter patient overall survival versus the other two groups, in the absence of gains of the EGFR gene (p = 0.02). Here we show that immune cell infiltrates are systematically present in GBM, with highly variable levels and immune profiles. Patients with mixed myeloid and T‐lymphoid infiltrates showed a worse outcome.
circ_100984‐miR‐432‐3p axis regulated c‐Jun/YBX‐1/β‐catenin feedback loop promotes bladder cancer progression
Authors: Tong Liang , Yang Huihui , Xiong Wei , Tang Guyu , Zu Xiongbing , Qi Lin 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBladder cancer (BC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers globally. Recently, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been revealed to participate in BC progression with diverse mechanisms. However, mechanisms of circ_100984 in BC have not been determined. Here, we found that circ_100984 and YBX‐1 were high presented, while miR‐432‐3p was low presented in BC. Silencing of circ_100984 and YBX‐1 repressed BC tumor growth, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we revealed that circ_100984 served as a competing endogenous RNA that sponged miR‐432‐3p to indirectly regulate YBX‐1 and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐related molecules. Moreover, we confirmed that YBX‐1 or c‐Jun acted as a transcription regulatory factor for β‐catenin or YBX‐1, respectively, in BC cells. Knockdown of YBX‐1 inhibited the expression of β‐catenin and c‐Jun, whereas downregulated c‐Jun inversely repressed the expression of YBX‐1 and β‐catenin. Our results suggested that circ_100984‐miR‐432‐3p axis regulated c‐Jun/YBX‐1/β‐catenin feedback loop promotes BC progression, providing a potential therapeutic axis for BC progression.
Comparing factors affecting dental‐implant loss between age groups: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Boboeva Obida , Kwon Tae‐Geon , Kim Jin‐Wook , Lee Sung‐Tak , Choi So‐Young 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundThere is a growing interest in factors leading to implant failure in older people as the population aged 65 years or older continues to expand.PurposeWe sought to identify differences of results in the implant survival rate and the influence of certain factors on implant failure in the older (≥65 years) and younger (<65 years) patients.Materials and MethodsPatients who underwent their first dental‐implant surgery between July 2008 and June 2018 were included. Data on age, sex, smoking habits, medical conditions, implant location, implant size, and the presence and type of bone graft and membrane were collected and analyzed according to age group. Moreover, cumulative survival rates of implants (by Kaplan‐Meier analysis) and hazard ratios (HR) of each factor (using Cox regression analysis with shared frailty) in each group were assessed and results compared between groups.ResultsA total of 628 implants in 308 patients and 1904 implants in 987 patients in the older and younger groups, respectively, were assessed, with failure rates of 3.9% and 3.4%. Per Kaplan‐Meier analysis, the 11‐year patient‐level cumulative survival rate of implant treatment was 95.3% (95% CI: 0.91‐0.97) in the older and 93.9% (95% CI: 0.88‐0.97) in the younger group. The HR for implant failure of the variables, except diameter of dental implants, were not statistically significant in both groups.ConclusionThe outcomes of implant treatment were not considerably different between the age groups.
Prospective randomized clinical trial evaluating the effects of two different implant collar designs on peri‐implant healing and functional osseointegration after 25 years
Authors: Camarda Aldo Joseph , Durand Robert , Benkarim Marwa , Rompré Pierre H. , Guertin Geneviève , Ciaburro Hugo 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectivesEvaluate the effects of two different machined‐collar lengths and designs on peri‐implant healing.Material and MethodsAn implant with a microtextured surface and 3.6mm‐long internal‐connection machined collar was compared to two implants that had an identical 1.2mm‐long external‐connection machined collar, but one had the microtextured surface while the other's was machined. Participants received the three implants, with microgap at the crest, alternately at five sites between mental foramen, and a full‐arch prosthesis. Peri‐implant bone levels were measured after 23 to 26 years of function. Keratinized tissue height, plaque, probing depth, bleeding, and purulence were also evaluated. Descriptive and mixed models for repeated\measures analyses were used, with Bonferroni correction for pairwise comparisons.ResultsTwenty‐two participants (110 implants) were evaluated at the 25‐year examination. Microtextured implants with the longer machined collar had significantly greater mean marginal bone loss (−1.77mm ± 0.18, mean ± SE) than machined (−0.85mm ± 0.18, p < .001) and microtextured (−1.00 ± 0.18mm, p < .001) implants with the shorter machined collar. Keratinized tissue height was greater for internal‐connection (0.74mm ± 0.10) versus external‐connection (0.51 ± 0.08, p = 0.01) microtextured implants. No differences were observed for plaque (p = 0.78), probing depth (p = 0.42), bleeding (p = 0.07), and purulence (p = 1.00). Implant survival rate was 99%.ConclusionsImplants with the 1.2mm machined collar limited bone loss to 1mm, while those with the longer machined collar showed > 1.5mm loss after 25 years of function with microgap at the crest. Internal‐connection design and fixture surface microtexturing did not result in greater bone preservation.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03862482.