bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stakeholder’s perception of service quality: a case in Qatar
Authors: Shurair Amal S.A. , Pokharel Shaligram 
Published: September 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate and report students’ perception of service quality in a university by examining the perceptual context of service quality with respect to students’ loyalty behavior, image of the university and culture/values.Design/methodology/approachA research framework is developed for quality assessment with three hypotheses. A questionnaire with 65 instruments was used for gathering the required data for the analysis. The questionnaire was sent through email to all engineering students. The analysis included descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, gap analysis and hypotheses tests. Seven dimensions of service quality were identified: the original dimensions of the SERVQUAL, namely, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy and tangibles. Two additional dimensions image and culture/value were added for the research to understand perceived service quality and loyalty.FindingsThe results provide a significant positive correlation between service quality and student's loyalty. It also shows that there is statistically significant relation between the image of the institution and the perceived service quality, and culture/values of the students in the institution and perceived service quality.Research limitations/implicationsThis study used data collected from a survey in the university in a given period.Practical implicationsThe findings indicate that to provide quality education, meeting students’ needs, wants and expectations of services quality should be carefully understood and addressed. Management also needs to consider factors such as corporate image and culture/value, as they have the ability to heavily impact the type of services provided by the institution.Originality/valueThe findings presented in this paper fill the gap in the current literature by providing empirical knowledge on the quality of service assessment and customer satisfaction in the higher education context. The study is the first of its kind in Qatar’s context and provides opportunities for higher institutions to focus more on current students’ services. This can lead to an increased brand value representing one of the premier institutes of higher education in the Middle East Gulf Region.
NFL betting market efficiency, divisional rivals, and profitable strategies
Authors: Shank Corey A. 
Published: September 2019

Purpose
This paper aims to examine market inefficiencies in the National Football League (NFL) betting market from the 2003 season to the 2016 season.

Design/methodology/approach
The author examines the impact that division rivals and previously known determinants of inefficiencies have on the current NFL gambling market.

Findings
The results show that games against division rivals have a lower chance of the home team covering the spread and the chance the game will result in an over. This result demonstrates that the sportsbooks underestimate the familiarity that teams have with each other’s players, coaches and tendencies from playing each other twice per year. Moreover, using this result in conjunction with previous known inefficiencies, the author puts forth a model to test out of sample predictions. The results from these tests show profitable strategies in the point spread and totals market with a win rate of nearly 57 per cent.

Originality/value
Overall, this paper demonstrates inefficiencies in the NFL betting market that future bettors may be able to take advantage of.
Modelling S‐wave radiation for SP‐waves in isotropic and anisotropic media
Authors: Gaiser James 
Published: September 2019

ABSTRACTUtilizing shear‐wave (S‐wave) data acquired with compressional waves (P‐waves) is becoming more common as joint imaging and inversion techniques improve. Interest in S‐waves radiated from vertical sources and buried explosives exploits conversion to P‐waves as primary reflections (SP‐waves) for reducing acquisition costs and for application to legacy data. However, recent investigations overstate the extent of SP‐wave illumination and show isotropic processing results with narrow bandwidth frequency and wavenumber data. I demonstrate that illumination with SP‐waves is limited in general to near vertical polar angles up to around 30° or 35° for VP/VS of 2 or 3, respectively. At greater angles, S‐waves are typically in the P‐wave evanescent range and cannot excite SP‐wave reflections. Contrary to recent claims, these sources for P‐wave do not radiate SH‐waves polarized in horizontal planes in all azimuths. I show these properties for isotropic media with radiation expressions for amplitude derived in vector slowness coordinates. Also, I extend these expressions to transversely isotropic media with a vertical symmetry axis to show agreement with synthetic seismic data that only quasi SV‐waves are radiated and become more narrowly focused towards 45°. Furthermore, in orthorhombic media, synthetic data show that fast S1‐ and slow S2‐waves polarized parallel and perpendicular to fractures may appear as SV‐ and SH‐waves. For the partially saturated fracture model studied here, S1‐wave radiation has broader azimuthal illumination than slow S2‐waves, which are more narrowly focused in azimuth. These produce SP‐wave splitting signatures on vertical component reflection data that are nearly identical to PS‐wave signatures on radial horizontal component data. Separating these fast and slow SP‐waves is an additional processing challenge.
Climate drives the spatial distribution of mycorrhizal host plants in terrestrial ecosystems
Authors: Barceló Milagros , van Bodegom Peter M. , Soudzilovskaia Nadejda A. 
Published: September 2019

Abstract

Mycorrhizal associations have massive impacts on ecosystem functioning, but the mode and magnitude heavily depend on the mycorrhizal type involved. Different types of mycorrhizas are recognized to predominate under different environmental conditions. However, the respective importance of climate and soil characteristics in shaping mycorrhizal global distributions are still poorly understood.

We provide a quantitative and comprehensive global analysis of the main climatic and edaphic predictors of the distribution of plants featuring different mycorrhizal types. Estimates on per grid‐cell relative above‐ground biomass of plants holding arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), ectomycorrhiza (EcM) and ericoid mycorrhiza (ErM) association were related to a set of 39 climatic and edaphic variables. We assessed their relationship by applying a Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS).

The best GAMLSS models were able to explain 55%, 41% and 46% of the variance in AM, EcM and ErM distribution, respectively. Temperature‐related factors were the main predictors of distribution patterns for the three different mycorrhizal plant types. AM plants are favoured by warm climates, while EcM plants’ dominance (and to some extent ErM plants too) is favoured by colder climates.

Synthesis. The observed lack of importance of soil drivers challenges the predominant view that mycorrhizal plants distribution mainly reflects soil type preferences—as related to its nutrient foraging strategies—of the different mycorrhizal types. Instead, our results highlight climate—and particularly temperature—as the main force shaping the distribution of arbuscular mycorrhiza, ectomycorrhiza and ericoid mycorrhiza host plants at the global scale and suggest that climate change can significantly alter the distribution of mycorrhizal host plants, with a subsequent impact on ecosystem functioning.
Dysphagia care for adults in the community setting commands a different approach: perspectives of speech–language therapists
Authors: Howells Simone R. , Cornwell Petrea L. , Ward Elizabeth C. , Kuipers Pim 
Published: September 2019

AbstractBackgroundDescriptions of community‐based speech–language therapy (SLT) dysphagia practices and services are underrepresented in the research literature, despite the prevalence of dysphagia in the community. Owing to a globally ageing population and government drives to support people to remain living at home rather than in hospital or aged care, there is a growing need for SLT services to be responsive to the needs of clients living at home in the community, referred to in this study as ‘community‐based clients’. Exploration of current SLT services and dysphagia care practices for this population may identify ways services can be designed and enhanced to better meet the needs of clients and carers.AimsTo explore the nature (i.e., characteristics) of dysphagia services and SLT clinical practices for adults with dysphagia living at home in the community.Methods & ProceduresUsing a qualitative descriptive approach positioned within an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, this study explored SLT services and practices for adults with dysphagia living in the community to explain further and elaborate on findings from an earlier quantitative study. A total of 15 SLTs working with community‐based clients with dysphagia were recruited using purposive representative sampling. Content analysis was used to explore the data.Outcomes & ResultsThe overarching theme of community commands a different approach and was illustrated by three subthemes that highlighted how and why a different approach to dysphagia care in the community setting was necessary: (1) skills and mindset require adaptation in the community context; (2) values and approaches are different in the community context; and (3) organizational influences impact service delivery in the community context. From the data, it is apparent that the work undertaken in the community setting differs from dysphagia care in other settings and requires adapted SLT skills, values and approaches that encompass holistic care, client autonomy and carer engagement. SLT practices are also informed by organizational influences such as policies and resourcing, which in some services were enablers, while for others these presented challenges.Conclusions & ImplicationsCommunity‐based SLT services must continue to foster flexible, responsive practices by SLTs to ensure the needs of clients and carers are met now and in future.
Counting the cost: the reserve price scheme for wool 1970‐2001
Authors: Abbott Malcolm , Merrett David 
Published: September 2019

This paper provides a policy commentary on the collapse in 1991 of the Australian Reserve Price Scheme for wool. A key cause of the collapse in the Scheme was a change in the RPS's governance arrangements, which led to increased political pressures to raise prices to unsustainable levels. In addition, in this paper an estimation has been made of the direct, upfront costs of the operation of the scheme, drawing on the financial accounts of the various agencies operating the RPS and subsequent wool stockpile. This was undertaken to determine the scale of the policy failure.
Phosphorus and Nitrogen Transport in the Binational Great Lakes Basin Estimated Using SPARROW Watershed Models
Authors: Robertson Dale M. , Saad David A. , Benoy Glenn A. , Vouk Ivana , Schwarz Gregory E. , Laitta Michael T. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractEutrophication problems in the Great Lakes are caused by excessive nutrient inputs (primarily phosphorus, P, and nitrogen, N) from various sources throughout its basin. In developing protection and restoration plans, it is important to know where and from what sources the nutrients originate. As part of a binational effort, Midcontinent SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes) models were developed and used to estimate P and N loading from throughout the entire basin based on nutrient inputs similar to 2002; previous SPARROW models only estimated U.S. contributions. The new models have a higher resolution (~2‐km2 catchments) enabling improved descriptions of where nutrients originate and the sources at various spatial scales. The models were developed using harmonized geospatial datasets describing the stream network, nutrient sources, and environmental characteristics affecting P and N delivery. The models were calibrated using loads from sites estimated with ratio estimator and regression techniques and additional statistical approaches to reduce spatial correlation in the residuals and have all monitoring sites equally influence model development. SPARROW results, along with interlake transfers and direct atmospheric inputs, were used to quantify the entire P and N input to each lake and describe the importance of each nutrient source. Model results can be used to compare loading and yields from various tributaries and jurisdictions.
Benthic Algal (Periphyton) Growth Rates in Response to Nitrogen and Phosphorus: Parameter Estimation for Water Quality Models
Authors: Schmidt Travis S. , Konrad Christopher P. , Miller Janet L. , Whitlock Stephen D. , Stricker Craig A. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractNitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are significant pollutants that can stimulate nuisance blooms of algae. Water quality models (e.g., Water Quality Simulation Program, CE‐QUAL‐R1, CE‐QUAL‐ICM, QUAL2k) are valuable and widely used management tools for algal accrual due to excess nutrients in the presence of other limiting factors. These models utilize the Monod and Droop equations to associate algal growth rate with dissolved nutrient concentration and intracellular nutrient content. Having accurate parameter values is essential to model performance; however, published values for model parameterization are limited, particularly for benthic (periphyton) algae. We conducted a 10‐day mesocosm experiment and measured diatom‐dominated periphyton biomass accrual through time as chlorophyll a (chl a) and ash‐free dry mass (AFDM) in response to additions of N (range 5–11,995 µg nitrate as nitrogen [NO3‐N]/L) and P (range 0.89–59.51 µg soluble reactive phosphorus/L). Resulting half‐saturation coefficients and growth rates are similar to other published values, but minimum nutrient quotas are higher than those previously reported. Saturation concentration for N ranged from 150 to 2,450 µg NO3‐N/L based on chl a and from 8.5 to 60 µg NO3‐N/L when based on AFDM. Similarly, the saturation concentration for P ranged from 12 to 29 µg‐P/L based on chl a, and from 2.5 to 6.1 µg‐P/L based on AFDM. These saturation concentrations provide an upper limit for streams where diatom growth can be expected to respond to nutrient levels and a benchmark for reducing nutrient concentrations to a point where benthic algal growth will be limited.
More than skin and bones: Comparing extraction methods and alternative sources of DNA from avian museum specimens
Authors: Tsai Whitney L. E. , Schedl Margaret E. , Maley James M. , McCormack John E. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractNext‐generation sequencing has greatly expanded the utility and value of museum collections by revealing specimens as genomic resources. As the field of museum genomics grows, so does the need for extraction methods that maximize DNA yields. For avian museum specimens, the established method of extracting DNA from toe pads works well for most specimens. However, for some specimens, especially those of birds that are very small or very large, toe pads can be a poor source of DNA. In this study, we apply two DNA extraction methods (phenol–chloroform and silica column) to three different sources of DNA (toe pad, skin punch and bone) from 10 historical avian museum specimens. We show that a modified phenol–chloroform protocol yielded significantly more DNA than a silica column protocol (e.g., Qiagen DNeasy Blood & Tissue Kit) across all tissue types. However, extractions using the silica column protocol contained longer fragments on average than those using the phenol–chloroform protocol, probably as a result of loss of small fragments through the silica column. While toe pads yielded more DNA than skin punches and bone fragments, skin punches proved to be a reliable alternative source of DNA and might be especially appealing when toe pad extractions are impractical. Overall, we found that historical bird museum specimens contain substantial amounts of DNA for genomic studies under most extraction scenarios, but that a phenol–chloroform protocol consistently provides the high quantities of DNA required for most current genomic protocols.
Interdomain ecological networks between plants and microbes
Authors: Feng Kai , Zhang Yuguang , He Zhili , Ning Daliang , Deng Ye 
Published: September 2019

AbstractWhile macroscopic interkingdom relationships have been intensively investigated in various ecosystems, the above–belowground ecology in natural ecosystems has been poorly understood, especially for the plant–microbe associations at a regional scale. In this study, we proposed a workflow to construct interdomain ecological networks (IDEN) between multiple plants and various microbes (bacteria and archaea in this study). Across 30 latitudinal forests in China, the regional IDEN showed particular topological features, including high connectance, nested structure, asymmetric specialization and modularity. Also, plant species exhibited strong preference to specific microbial groups, and the observed network was significantly different from randomly rewired networks. Network module analysis indicated that a majority of microbes associated with plants within modules rather than across modules, suggesting specialized associations between plants and microorganisms. Consistent plant–microbe associations were captured via IDENs constructed within individual forest locations, which reinforced the validity of IDEN analysis. In addition, the plant–forest link distribution showed the geographical distribution of plants had higher endemicity than that of microorganisms. With cautious experimental design and data processing, this study shows interdomain species associations between plants and microbes in natural forest ecosystems and provides new insights into our understanding of meta‐communities across different domain species.
Comparison of DAS‐ELISA and qRT‐PCR for the detection of cucurbit viruses in seeds
Authors: Torre Covadonga , Agüero Jesús , Gómez‐Aix Cristina , Aranda Miguel A. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractThe importance of seeds as virus vehicles for long‐distance dissemination makes essential the availability of adequate methods of analysis to guarantee the quality of seed lots. To improve the repertoire of sensitive methods for seed diagnosis, we have developed quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR assays (RT‐qPCR) based on the TaqMan technology to detect three viruses which are seed transmitted in cucurbits, namely, cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), squash mosaic virus (SqMV) and melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV), and compared these assays with DAS‐ELISA, the main method used for virus detection in seeds. The estimated RT‐qPCR limits of detection were 96, 97 and 740 RNA target molecules for CGMMV, SqMV and MNSV, respectively. The estimated RT‐qPCR analytical sensitivity (highest dilution capable of generating a detectable amplification signal) ranged between 10 and 1 pg/μL for the three viruses. Using RT‐qPCR, we could reliably detect a single SqMV‐ or CGMMV‐contaminated seed among 999 uncontaminated seeds in a seed lot, and sensitivities were 1,000 and 10,000 times of those provided by DAS‐ELISA for SqMV and CGMMV, respectively. Our RT‐qPCR assays have proved to be highly suitable for the analysis of seed lots, and the possibility of their implementation into certification programme should be taken into consideration.
Effects of brief inhibition of the ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons on the cocaine seeking during abstinence
Authors: Solecki WojciechB. , Wilczkowski Michał , Pradel Kamil , Karwowska Karolina , Kielbinski Michał , Drwięga Gniewosz , Zajda Katarzyna , Blasiak Tomasz , Soltys Zbigniew , Rajfur Zenon , Szklarczyk Klaudia , Przewłocki Ryszard 
Published: September 2019

AbstractPreclinical studies strongly suggest that cocaine seeking depends on the neuronal activity of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and phasic dopaminergic (DA) signaling. Notably, VTA pharmacological inactivation or dopamine receptor blockade in the forebrain may induce behavioral inhibition in general and acute aversive states in particular, thus reducing cocaine seeking indirectly. Such artifacts hinder successful translation of these findings in clinical studies and practice. Here, we aimed to evaluate if dynamic VTA manipulations effectively reduce cocaine seeking. We used male tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) IRES‐Cre+ rats along with optogenetic tools to inhibit directly and briefly VTA DA neurons during conditioned stimulus (CS)‐induced cocaine seeking under extinction conditions. The behavioral effects of optogenetic inhibition were also assessed in the real‐time dynamic place aversion, conditioned place aversion, and CS‐induced food‐seeking tests. We found that brief and nondysphoric/nonsedative pulses of VTA photo‐inhibition (1 s every 9 s, ie, for 10% of time) attenuated CS‐induced cocaine seeking under extinction conditions in rats expressing archaerhodopsin selectively on the TH+ neurons. Furthermore, direct inhibition of the VTA DA activity reduced CS‐induced cocaine seeking 24 hours after photo‐modulation. Importantly, such effect appears to be selective for cocaine seeking as similar inhibition of the VTA DA activity had no effect on CS‐induced food seeking. Thus, briefly inhibiting VTA DA activity during CS‐induced cocaine seeking drastically and selectively reduces seeking without behavioral artifacts such as sedation or dysphoria. Our results point to the therapeutic possibilities of coupling nonpharmacologic treatments with extinction training in reducing cocaine addiction.
Complement activation in the plasma and placentas of women with different subsets of antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Scambi Cinzia , Ugolini Sara , Tonello Marta , Bortolami Oscar , De Franceschi Lucia , Castagna Annalisa , Lotti Virginia , Corbella Michela , Raffaelli Ricciarda , Caramaschi Paola , Mattia Elena , Biasi Domenico , Ruffatti Amelia 
Published: September 2019

AbstractProblemAs antiphospholipid antibody‐positive women with adverse pregnancy outcomes have higher plasma complement activation product levels, and the placentas of women with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) exhibit C4d complement component deposition, complement activation involvement has been hypothesized in APS pregnancy complications.Method of studyPlasma levels of C5a and C5b‐9 complement components of 43 APS non‐pregnant patients and 17 pregnant APS women were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The results were compared with those of 16 healthy non‐pregnant women and eight healthy pregnant women, respectively. Placenta samples of five APS patients at high risk of pregnancy complications and of five healthy controls were subjected to immunoblotting analysis with specific antibodies to C5b‐9 and CD46, CD55, CD59 complement regulators.ResultsThe mean plasma C5a and C5b‐9 levels were significantly higher in the non‐pregnant APS patients with previous thrombosis ± pregnancy morbidity (P = .0001 and P = .0034, respectively) and in the pregnant APS women with adverse outcomes (P = .0093 for both). Similarly, C5b‐9 amounts were significantly higher in the adverse pregnancy outcome placenta (P = .0115) than in those associated to a favorable outcome. The mean CD46, CD55 and CD59 amounts were, instead, lower, although not always significantly, in the placentas of all the high‐risk APS women with respect to the control placentas.ConclusionData analysis demonstrated that there was significant complement activation in the more severe subset of APS patients and in only the adverse pregnancy outcome APS women. Further studies will clarify whether the lower CD46, CD55, and CD59 expressions in the APS placentas are limited to only high‐risk APS patients.