Examining the Nonlinear Effects in Satisfaction-Loyalty-Behavioral Intentions Model

Extant research has widely investigated linear functional forms in satisfaction and loyalty models. Though complex nonlinear nature of satisfaction loyalty link is suggested by several researchers, few attempts have been made to empirically examine nonlinearity. Moreover, researchers have used divergent functional forms to model nonlinearity and their findings are often inconclusive. In this study we use nonlinear form to describe the relationship between satisfaction, attitudinal loyalty, purchase loyalty and customer behavioral intentions such as willingness to pay more and external and internal complaining responses in the context of business-to-consumer ecommerce. We find modest empirical support for nonlinear effects in the relationship. Results support nonlinearity only in the case of attitudinal loyalty to internal complaining response link. Results also present evidence about the mediating role of attitudinal loyalty in the relationship between satisfaction, purchase loyalty, willingness to pay more and internal complaining responses.

Two site self consistent method for front propagation in reaction-diffusion system

We study front propagation in the reaction diffusion process $A\leftrightarrow2A$ on one dimensional lattice with hard core interaction between the particles. We propose a two site self consistent method (TSSCM) to make analytic estimates for the front velocity and are in excellent agreement with the simulation results for all parameter regimes. We expect that the simplicity of the method will allow one to use this technique for estimating the front velocity in other reaction diffusion processes as well.Comment: 6 figure

Heat capacity and magnetoresistance in Dy(Co,Si)2 compounds

Magnetocaloric effect and magnetoresistance have been studied in Dy(Co1-xSix)2 [x=0, 0.075 and 0.15] compounds. Magnetocaloric effect has been calculated in terms of adiabatic temperatue change (Delta Tad) as well as isothermal magnetic entropy change (Delta SM) using the heat capacity data. The maximum values of DeltaSM and DeltaTad for DyCo2 are found to be 11.4 JKg-1K-1 and 5.4 K, respectively. Both DSM and DTad decrease with Si concentration, reaching a value of 5.4 JKg-1K-1 and 3 K, respectively for x=0.15. The maximum magnetoresistance is found to about 32% in DyCo2, which decreases with increase in Si. These variations are explained on the basis of itinerant electron metamagnetism occurring in these compounds.Comment: Total 8 pages of text and figure

Peer-Led Versus Conventional Teacher-Led Methodological Research Education Sessions : An Initiative to Improve Medical Education Research Teaching

Open access via the Springer Agreement The authors thank the National Medical Research Association (NMRA) Committee for their valuable contribution in organizing and delivering the teaching series. The authors would also like to thank the executive members of NMRA Aishwarya Shah and Janahan Suthakar for their assistance in the conceptualisation of this study. Finally, the authors thank Dr Fraser Peck for reviewing the final version of this manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Heat capacity and magnetocaloric effect in polycrystalline Gd1-xSmxMn2Si2

We report the magnetocaloric effect in terms of isothermal magnetic entropy change as well as adiabatic temperature change, calculated using the heat capacity data. Using the zero field heat capacity data, the magnetic contribution to the heat capacity has been estimated. The variations in the magnetocaloric behavior have been explained on the basis of the magnetic structure of these compounds. The refrigerant capacities have also been calculated for these compounds

Multiple magnetic transitions and magnetocaloric effect in Gd1-xSmxMn2Ge2 compounds

Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of polycrystalline samples of Gd1-xSmxMn2Ge2 have been studied. All the compounds except GdMn2Ge2 show re-entrant ferromagnetic behavior. Multiple magnetic transitions observed in these compounds are explained on the basis of the temperature dependences of the exchange strengths of the rare earth and Mn sublattices. Magnetocaloric effect is found to be positive at the re-entrant ferromagnetic transition, whereas it is negative at the antiferro-ferromagnetic transition. In SmMn2Ge2, the magnetic entropy change associated with the re-entrant transition is found to decrease with field, which is attributed to the admixture effect of the crystal field levels. The isothermal magnetic entropy change is found to decrease with increase in Sm concentration.Comment:

Rocuronium for intubation in parturients undergoing caesarean section

Background: Anaesthetic management of a parturient is a challenge because it involves simultaneous care of both mother and baby. Succinylcholine, a depolarizing muscle relaxant is most commonly used and considered “The Gold Standard’’ for tracheal intubation. Among currently available non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent rocuronium bromide is the only agent that has rapid onset of action which is comparable to succinylcholine. Thus, rocuronium may provide alternative to succinylcholine for rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia wherever succinylcholine is contraindicated.Methods: In a control trial, 60 parturients of ASA grade I and II were randomly allocated in two groups of 30 patients each (group R and group S). After preoxygenation for a period of 5minutes rapid sequence induction done with thiopentone 5mg/kg for all patients. Muscle relaxant rocuronium (0.6mg/kg) was administered for group R. Succinylcholine was given in similar dosage (0.6mg/kg) for group S. The intubation was tried after 90 seconds in group R (rocuronium group) but after 60 seconds in group S (succinylcholie group). The intubating conditions were assessed and compared among the groups using criteria suggested by Cooper et al.Results: The mean intubation time was 98.3 seconds in group R and 67.9 seconds in group S. Rocuronium produced clinically acceptable intubating conditions in 28 out 30 patients (93.33%). Among these 28 patients 70% had excellent intubating conditions and 23.33% had good intubating conditions. Clinically acceptable intubating conditions were present in all 30 patients (100%-90% excellent and 10% good) who were administered succinylcholine. Succinylcholine produced excellent intubating conditions at 60 seconds (90 percent) compared to rocuronium (70 percent). However, this difference was statistically insignificant (p= 0.053). The mean Apgar score at 1 min and 5 min in group R was 8.1 and 8.83 as against 8.06 and 8.96 in babies born to mother in group S.Conclusions: Rocuronium (0.6mg/kg) provided acceptable intubation conditions after a waiting period of 90 seconds in 93.33% patients as against 100% patients in succinylcholine administered patients in equivalent dosage. So rocuronium is a promising alternative for rapid sequence induction in parturients in whom succinylcholine is not advisable or contraindicated

Early neuronal accumulation of DNA double strand breaks in Alzheimer's disease.

The maintenance of genomic integrity is essential for normal cellular functions. However, it is difficult to maintain over a lifetime in postmitotic cells such as neurons, in which DNA damage increases with age and is exacerbated by multiple neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we used immunohistochemical staining to detect DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), the most severe form of DNA damage, in postmortem brain tissues from patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or AD and from cognitively unimpaired controls. Immunostaining for γH2AX-a post-translational histone modification that is widely used as a marker of DSBs-revealed increased proportions of γH2AX-labeled neurons and astrocytes in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of MCI and AD patients, as compared to age-matched controls. In contrast to the focal pattern associated with DSBs, some neurons and glia in humans and mice showed diffuse pan-nuclear patterns of γH2AX immunoreactivity. In mouse brains and primary neuronal cultures, such pan-nuclear γH2AX labeling could be elicited by increasing neuronal activity. To assess whether pan-nuclear γH2AX represents DSBs, we used a recently developed technology, DNA damage in situ ligation followed by proximity ligation assay, to detect close associations between γH2AX sites and free DSB ends. This assay revealed no evidence of DSBs in neurons or astrocytes with prominent pan-nuclear γH2AX labeling. These findings suggest that focal, but not pan-nuclear, increases in γH2AX immunoreactivity are associated with DSBs in brain tissue and that these distinct patterns of γH2AX formation may have different causes and consequences. We conclude that AD is associated with an accumulation of DSBs in vulnerable neuronal and glial cell populations from early stages onward. Because of the severe adverse effects this type of DNA damage can have on gene expression, chromatin stability and cellular functions, DSBs could be an important causal driver of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in this disease