94 research outputs found
Service Recovery Satisfaction in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in Malaysia: Antecedents and Outcomes
Researchers and practitioners often pay less attention to service recovery
research compared to service quality or customer satisfaction, particularly in
the context of Open and Distance Learning. Moreover, the antecedents and
outcomes of service recovery satisfaction are frequently given less emphasis
by Open and Distance Learning institutions in their efforts to gain advantages
in the current higher education business environment. Service organisations
such as Open and Distance Learning institutions are often focused on
delivering services with the approach of getting it right the first time. Service
failure is inevitable and when service delivery fails at some point, the whole
process will be disrupted and the students will be dissatisfied and
disappointed. This is where service recovery satisfaction through justice
dimensions plays its role. This study explores the relationship between justice
dimensions (Distributive, Procedural, Interpersonal and Informational Justice)
and Service Recovery Satisfaction, in addition to examining the moderating
effects of University Image. In order to regain lost customer support, service
providers must overcome the negative impact of poorly performed service.
Previous studies have attempted to identify the impact of service recovery
satisfaction by analysing the variation in post-recovery customer outcomes.
The present study explores four customer outcomes: Repurchase Intention,
Word of Mouth, Trust and Loyalty within the Malaysian ODL context. (Abstract by authors
Where tulips and crocuses are popular food snacks: Kurdish traditional foraging reveals traces of mobile pastoralism in Southern Iraqi Kurdistan
Background: Iraqi Kurdistan is a special hotspot for bio-cultural diversity and for investigating patterns of traditional wild food plant foraging, considering that this area was the home of the first Neolithic communities and has been, over millennia, a crossroad of different civilizations and cultures. The aim of this ethnobotanical field study was to cross-culturally compare the wild food plants traditionally gathered by Kurdish Muslims and those gathered by the ancient Kurdish Kakai (Yarsan) religious group and to possibly better understand the human ecology behind these practices. Methods: Twelve villages were visited and 123 study participants (55 Kakai and 68 Muslim Kurds) were interviewed on the specific topic of the wild food plants they currently gather and consume. Results: The culinary use of 54 folk wild plant taxa (corresponding to 65 botanical taxa) and two folk wild mushroom taxa were documented. While Kakais and Muslims do share a majority of the quoted food plants and also their uses, among the plant ingredients exclusively and commonly quoted by Muslims non-weedy plants are slightly preponderant. Moreover, more than half of the overall recorded wild food plants are used raw as snacks, i.e. plant parts are consumed on the spot after their gathering and only sometimes do they enter into the domestic arena. Among them, it is worth mentioning the consumption of raw wild crocus corms, also still common in Turkish Kurdistan and that of wild tulip bulbs, which was documented to be popular until the beginning of the twentieth century in the Middle East. Comparison with other ethnobotanical field studies recently conducted among surrounding populations has shown that Kurds tend to gather and consume the largest number of non-weedy wild vegetables. Conclusion: The collected data indicate robust traces of nomadic pastoralism in Kurdish traditional foraging. This finding confirms that studies on wild food plant gathering in the Fertile Crescent and Turco-Arabic-Iranic regions of the Middle East are crucial for understanding the possible evolution of wild food plant gathering through history within the post-Neolithic continuum between pastoralism and horticulturalism
Distribution of hyaluronidase-producing staphylococcus aureus and staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from palm skin and anterior nares of healthy Malaysian adults
Introduction: The distribution of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis among Malaysian healthy adults and their capability to produce enzyme hyaluronidase are less reported. Hyaluronidase degrade hyaluronic acid in animal connective tissue and facilitate bacterial spreading in host body. This study aims to identify the distribution of both Staphylococci species in healthy subject, the hyaluronidase producer among the isolates and the association of the latter with site of isolation (palm skin and anterior nares) and gender of the host. Methods: A total of 108 swab samples were collected from anterior nares and palm of 54 healthy subjects. The bacteria were identified through microscopic and biochemical tests, before screened for hyaluronidase production using hyaluronic acid diffusion rapid plate
method. Results: Total of 139 bacterial isolates were identified; 68 isolates are S. aureus, 63 S. epidermidis and 8 other bacterial species. Staphylococcus aureus was highly isolated from palm (57%) than anterior nares (47%). On the contrary for S. epidermidis was highly isolated from anterior nares (53%) than from palm skin (43%). Equal proportion was found for both
species in male and female subject. A total of 77 (59%) isolates produced hyaluronidase; 55% are S. aureus and 45% are S. epidermidis. Hyaluronidase-producer isolates are equally found between anterior nares (56%) and palm skin (61%) or male (57%) and female subject (60%) regardless of Staphylococcal species. No significant value was recorded for any analysis. Conclusion: Capability of commensal S. aureus and S. epidermidis isolated from healthy subject to produce hyaluronidase may indicate their potential as opportunistic pathogen whenever the opportunity arises in any way
Una observación hacia los procesos asistidos por computadora en la producción de prendas de vestir. Comparación y análisis de software CAD/CAM en Bangladesh
This research paper inquires about different attributes of Computer-aided processes in garments production. This perspective Research was done by our courageous team from 2021 to 2022. It reveals adequate information on the Garments industry's Intension and criteria for choosing CAD/CAM software. For the sake of this Research, we visited more than 600 industries to gather raw data; Every Industry tried to attend this Research from a different region of Bangladesh willingly. After collecting all raw data from the garments industry. The data of the Garments industry was coordinated by Excel program. Consequently, the data was analyzed and implemented statistically to identify the Garments Industry attribute for satisfaction with CAD/CAM software. This process also detects many challenges and defines and advises a proper solution to the problems that the Garments industry is facing in the current situation. This research paper demonstrates adequate information about the Garment's criteria and demand in purchasing garments Computer-aided software.Este trabajo de investigación indaga sobre los diferentes atributos de los procesos asistidos por computadora en la producción de prendas de vestir. Esta investigación de perspectiva fue realizada por nuestro valiente equipo de 2021 a 2022. Revela información adecuada sobre la intención de la industria de la confección y los criterios para elegir el software CAD/CAM. Por el bien de esta investigación, visitamos más de 600 industrias para recopilar datos sin procesar; Cada industria trató de asistir a esta investigación desde una región diferente de Bangladesh de buena gana. Después de recopilar todos los datos sin procesar de la industria de la confección. Los datos de la industria de Vestuario fueron coordinados por el programa Excel. En consecuencia, los datos se analizaron e implementaron estadísticamente para identificar el atributo de la industria de la confección para la satisfacción con el software CAD/CAM. Este proceso también detecta muchos desafíos y define y aconseja una solución adecuada a los problemas que enfrenta la industria de la confección en la situación actual. Este trabajo de investigación demuestra información adecuada sobre los criterios de la prenda y la demanda en la compra de prendas Software asistido por computadora
A mutation in the major autophagy gene, WIPI2, associated with global developmental abnormalities
We describe a large consanguineous pedigree from a remote area of Northern Pakistan, with a complex developmental disorder associated with wide-ranging symptoms, including mental retardation, speech and language impairment and other neurological, psychiatric, skeletal and cardiac abnormalities. We initially carried out a genetic study using the HumanCytoSNP-12 v2.1 Illumina gene chip on nine family members and identified a single region of homozygosity shared amongst four affected individuals on chromosome 7p22 (positions 3059377–5478971). We performed whole-exome sequencing on two affected individuals from two separate branches of the extended pedigree and identified a novel nonsynonymous homozygous mutation in exon 9 of the WIPI2 (WD-repeat protein interacting with phosphoinositide 2) gene at position 5265458 (c.G745A;pV249M). WIPI2 plays a critical role in autophagy, an evolutionary conserved cellular pathway implicated in a growing number of medical conditions. The mutation is situated in a highly conserved and critically important region of WIPI2, responsible for binding PI(3)P and PI(3,5)P2, an essential requirement for autophagy to proceed. The mutation is absent in all public databases, is predicted to be damaging and segregates with the disease phenotype. We performed functional studies in vitro to determine the potential effects of the mutation on downstream pathways leading to autophagosome assembly. Binding of the V231M mutant of WIPI2b to ATG16L1 (as well as ATG5–12) is significantly reduced in GFP pull-down experiments, and fibroblasts derived from the patients show reduced WIPI2 puncta, reduced LC3 lipidation and reduced autophagic flux
COVID-19 aerosol box as protection from droplet and aerosol contaminations in healthcare workers performing airway intubation: a randomised cross-over simulation study
Background Concerns over high transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 have led to innovation and usage of an aerosol box to protect healthcare workers during airway intubation in patients with COVID-19. Its efficacy as a barrier protection in addition to the use of a standard personal protective equipment (PPE) is not fully known. We performed a simulated study to investigate the relationship between aerosol box usage during intubation and contaminations on healthcare workers pre-doffing and post-doffing of PPE.
Methods This was a randomised cross-over study conducted between 9 April to 5 May 2020 in the ED of University Malaya Medical Centre. Postgraduate Emergency Medicine trainees performed video laryngoscope-assisted intubation on an airway manikin with and without an aerosol box in a random order. Contamination was simulated by nebulised Glo Germ. Primary outcome was number of contaminated front and back body regions pre-doffing and post-doffing of PPE of the intubator and assistant. Secondary outcomes were intubation time, Cormack-Lehane score, number of intubation attempts and participants’ feedback.
Results Thirty-six trainees completed the study interventions. The number of contaminated front and back body regions pre-doffing of PPE was significantly higher without the aerosol box (all p values<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the number of contaminations post-doffing of PPE between using and not using the aerosol box, with a median contamination of zero. Intubation time was longer with the aerosol box (42.5 s vs 35.5 s, p<0.001). Cormack-Lehane scores were similar with and without the aerosol box. First-pass intubation success rate was 94.4% and 100% with and without the aerosol box, respectively. More participants reported reduced mobility and visibility when intubating with the aerosol box.
Conclusions An aerosol box may significantly reduce exposure to contaminations but with increased intubation time and reduced operator’s mobility and visibility. Furthermore, the difference in degree of contamination between using and not using an aerosol box could be offset by proper doffing of PPE
Global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its risk factors, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Funding: F Carvalho and E Fernandes acknowledge support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT), in the scope of the project UIDP/04378/2020 and UIDB/04378/2020 of the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences UCIBIO and the project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy i4HB; FCT/MCTES through the project UIDB/50006/2020. J Conde acknowledges the European Research Council Starting Grant (ERC-StG-2019-848325). V M Costa acknowledges the grant SFRH/BHD/110001/2015, received by Portuguese national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), IP, under the Norma Transitória DL57/2016/CP1334/CT0006.proofepub_ahead_of_prin
The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% [47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% [32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% [27.9-42.8] and 33.3% [25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe
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