Brand Trust and Customer Retention: A Survey of Branded Automobile Dealers in Port Harcourt

Brand trust has been recognized as an important factor that strongly influences customer loyalty. However, there has been little empirical research into brand trust and customer retention in the marketing literature. In this study we investigate the relationship between brand trust and customer retention and its impact on the automobile dealers in Port Harcourt This research adopts convenience sampling method to carry on a questionnaire and takes customers of the auto dealers  as a research sample, and send 512 questionnaires and receive 474 questionnaires, the receive rate is 92.5% The study adopts the SPSS software package carrying on by statistical analysis, descriptive statistics factor analysis z-test for a single sample cohens-d estimated effective sample size. It is proved that there is a strong relationship between brand trust and customer retention besides, word of mouth communication was observed to strongly moderate between brand trust and customer retentio

The incursion, persistence and spread of peste des petits ruminants in Tanzania: Epidemiological patterns and predictions

Peste des petits ruminants virus, which causes a severe disease in sheep and goats, has only recently been officially declared to be present in Tanzania. An epidemiological study was carried out between September 2008 and October 2010 to investigate the incursion, persistence and spread of the virus in Tanzania. The investigation involved serosurveillance, outbreak investigation and computation of epidemiological indices such as the effective reproductive number, persistence and the threshold level for vaccination. Field and molecular epidemiological techniques were applied to isolate, characterise and trace the origin of the virus in Tanzania. A total of 2182 serum samples from goats and 1296 from sheep from 79 villages across 12 districts were investigated. Village-level prevalence of infection was variable (0.00% – 88.00%) and was higher in pastoral than in agro-pastoral villages. The overall antibody response to the virus was 22.10% (CI 95% = 20.72% – 23.48%). About 68.00% and 73.00% of seropositive goats and sheep, respectively, did not show clinical signs. The proportion of seropositive animals differed significantly (p ≤ 0.001) between age groups, sex and farming practices. Real-time polymerase chain reaction results showed that the isolated strains belong to lineage III, whose origin is in East Africa and the Middle East. This indicates that one of the northern neighbouring countries is most likely the source of infection. The computed overall effective reproductive number, the threshold level of vaccination necessary to eradicate the disease and persistence were 4.75% and 98.00%, respectively. These estimates indicate that achieving elimination of the peste des petits ruminants virus from pastoral flocks will require significant effort and development of highly effective intervention tools

Silo Storage Preconceptual Design

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has a need to develop and field a low-cost option for the long-term storage of a variety of radiological material. The storage option’s primary requirement is to provide both environmental and physical protection of the materials. Design criteria for this effort require a low initial cost and minimum maintenance over a 50-year design life. In 1999, Argonne National Laboratory-West was tasked with developing a dry silo storage option for the BN-350 Spent Fuel in Aktau Kazakhstan. Argon’s design consisted of a carbon steel cylinder approximately 16 ft long, 18 in. outside diameter and 0.375 in. wall thickness. The carbon steel silo was protected from corrosion by a duplex coating system consisting of zinc and epoxy. Although the study indicated that the duplex coating design would provide a design life well in excess of the required 50 years, the review board was concerned because of the novelty of the design and the lack of historical use. In 2012, NNSA tasked Idaho National Laboratory (INL) with reinvestigating the silo storage concept and development of alternative corrosion protection strategies. The 2012 study, “Silo Storage Concepts, Cathodic Protection Options Study” (INL/EST-12-26627), concludes that the option which best fits the design criterion is a passive cathotic protection scheme, consisting of a carbon steel tube coated with zinc or a zinc-aluminum alloy encapsulated in either concrete or a cement grout. The hot dipped zinc coating option was considered most efficient, but the flame-sprayed option could be used if a thicker zinc coating was determined to be necessary

Differential IL-1 signaling induced by BMPR2 deficiency drives pulmonary vascular remodeling.

Bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 (BMPR2) mutations are present in patients with heritable and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Circulating levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1) are raised in patients and animal models. Whether interplay between BMP and IL-1 signaling can explain the local manifestation of PAH in the lung remains unclear. Cell culture, siRNA, and mRNA microarray analysis of RNA isolated from human pulmonary artery (PASMC) and aortic (AoSMC) smooth muscle cells were used. R899X+/- BMPR2 transgenic mice fed a Western diet for six weeks were given daily injections of IL-1ß prior to assessment for PAH and tissue collection. PASMC have reduced inflammatory activation in response to IL-1ß compared with AoSMCs; however, PASMC with reduced BMPR2 demonstrated an exaggerated response. Mice treated with IL-1ß had higher white blood cell counts and significantly raised serum protein levels of IL-6 and osteoprotegerin (OPG) plasma levels recapitulating in vitro data. Phenotypically, IL-1ß treated mice demonstrated increased pulmonary vascular remodeling. IL-1ß induces an exaggerated pulmonary artery specific transcriptomic inflammatory response when BMPR2 signaling is reduced

Redução da nocicepção articular induzida pela formalina em ratos tratados com laser de baixa potência 670 ou 830 nm

Modelo do estudo: estudo experimental, de caráter transversal. Objetivo: avaliar os efeitos do laser de baixa potência (LBP), com comprimento de onda de 670nm e 820nm, na nocicepção de ratos Wistar submetidos à hipernocicepção articular no joelho direito. Metodologia: foram utilizados 18 ratos Wistar, separados em 3 grupos: G1 – não tratados; G2 – tratados com LBP 670 nm; G3 – tratados com LBP 830 nm. Para a indução da hipernocicepção foi injetado no espaço articular tíbio-femoral 100 µL de formalina 5%. Para avaliar a nocicepção foi utilizado o filamento de von Frey digital, tanto com pressão sobre o joelho, quanto na região plantar; esta avaliação aconteceu: pré-lesão (AV1), após 15 (AV2), 30 (AV3) e 60 (AV4) minutos da indução da hipernocicepção. Para o tratamento com LBP foi usada fluência de 8 J/cm, logo após AV2. Resultados: o limiar de retirada, quando a pressão foi realizada no joelho, mostrou que 670 nm produziu elevação do limiar em AV3 e AV4, retornando para valores semelhantes aos de AV1. Para a região plantar, apenas 830 nm mostrou restauração dos valores em AV4, e foi maior em AV3 ao comparar com o grupo controle. Conclusão: ambos os comprimentos de onda produziram elevação do limiar de retirada da pata, em ratos com hipernocicepção em joelhoStudy design: experimental study of cross-cutting nature. Objective: To evaluate the low level laser therapy (LLLT) effects, with a wavelength of 670 and 820nm, in nociception of Wistar rats submitted to hypernociception in his right knee. Methods: 18 Wistar rats, separated into 3 groups: G1 – untreated; G2 – treated with LBP 670 nm; G3 – treated with LBP 830 nm. For the hypernociception induction was injected into the tibiofemoral articular space 100 µL of 5% formalin. To evaluate nociception was used digital von Frey filament, both with pressure on the knee, as in the plantar region. The evaluations occurred: pre-injury (EV1), 15 (EV2), 30 (EV3) and 60 (EV4) minutes after hypernociception induction. For the treatment with LBP was used to 8 J/cm2, after EV2. Results: the withdrawal threshold, when the pressure was held at the knee, showed that 670 nm produced threshold elevation in EV3 and EV4, returning to values similar to those of EV1. For the plantar region, only 830 nm showed restoration of values in EV4, and was higher in EV3 when comparing with G1. Conclusion: Both wavelengths produced raising the paw withdrawal threshold in rats with knee hypernociceptio

Role of voluntary teacher forums (VTFs) in continuous teacher professional development in India: experiences from Rajasthan, Karnataka and Puducherry

The quality of education depends largely upon the teacher. Hence building teacher capacity through continuous professional development of teachers is critical to the quality of education. Systems and programs for continuous professional development for school teachers in the formal educational system in India are inadequate and often illconceived. Apart from other lacunae, they often do not recognize the professional identity and agency of the teacher. Voluntary Teacher Forums (VTFs) that are facilitated by Azim Premji Foundation in different locations of India, as part of an integrated and multimodal approach to continuous professional development, try to address this central issue. This study shows that VTFs are evolving as very useful platforms for collaboration and peer learning amongst teachers in various locations. It shows that given an environment that allows for easy access to meaningful opportunities, teachers will commit their time, talents and resources to their own professional development. The study further recognizes however, that the real issue is to understand how such forums can be made to happen in different locations in a context as complex as the Indian public education system. While this study highlights certain crucial dimensions of the VTFs – including what happens within these forums and the efforts that go behind it – these continue to be subjects for our future research works

KCNK3 mutation causes altered immune function in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients and mouse models

Loss of function KCNK3 mutation is one of the gene variants driving hereditary pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). KCNK3 is expressed in several cell and tissue types on both membrane and endoplasmic reticulum and potentially plays a role in multiple pathological process associated with PAH. However, the role of various stressors driving the susceptibility of KCNK3 mutation to PAH is unknown. Hence, we expose

Satellite data for environmental justice:a scoping review of the literature in the United States

In support of the environmental justice (EJ) movement, researchers, activists, and policymakers often use environmental data to document evidence of the unequal distribution of environmental burdens and benefits along lines of race, class, and other socioeconomic characteristics. Numerous limitations, such as spatial or temporal discontinuities, exist with commonly used data measurement techniques, which include ground monitoring and federal screening tools. Satellite data is well poised to address these gaps in EJ measurement and monitoring; however, little is known about how satellite data has advanced findings in EJ or can help to promote EJ through interventions. Thus, this scoping review aims to (1) explore trends in study design, topics, geographic scope, and satellite datasets used to research EJ, (2) synthesize findings from studies that use satellite data to characterize disparities and inequities across socio-demographic groups for various environmental categories, and (3) capture how satellite data are relevant to policy and real-world impact. Following PRISMA extension guidelines for scoping reviews, we retrieved 81 articles that applied satellite data for EJ research in the United States from 2000 to 2022. The majority of the studies leveraged the technical advantages of satellite data to identify socio-demographic disparities in exposure to environmental risk factors, such as air pollution, and access to environmental benefits, such as green space, at wider coverage and with greater precision than previously possible. These disparities in exposure and access are associated with health outcomes such as increased cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, mental illness, and mortality. Research using satellite data to illuminate EJ concerns can contribute to efforts to mitigate environmental inequalities and reduce health disparities. Satellite data for EJ research can therefore support targeted interventions or influence planning and policy changes, but significant work remains to facilitate the application of satellite data for policy and community impact.</p

Is checklist an effective tool for teaching research students? A survey-based study

Background: Students face hardships in determining what are the main points that need more studying in every subject. Checklists are one of the ways that can help students identify the most important pieces of information. Accordingly, in this study, we aimed at examining the impact of using educational checklists on the learning process of postgraduate students at Nagasaki University, Japan.Methods: Thirty-one Master’s students, who finished a “how to write a research protocol” course were recruited by sending them an invitation email that had an attached link to a reviously developed and tested questionnaire on the SurveyMonkey® platform. After signing the electronic informed consent, twenty-two participants (response rate = 71%) finished the survey. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and expressed in the form of frequencies and percentages.Results: More than half of the students declared that they know the checklist will be used in the course that we investigated. Only two students used checklists as a means of studying (9%). Twelve students (55%) confirmed that no other courses or lessons in the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health (TMGH) use checklists. No students found the usage of checklists not easy or not practical to apply. Many students thought the length of the checklist was suitable and not too short (64%), although three students (14%) found it lengthy. Moreover, most students described the checklist as beyond good (86%) and they would recommend using a checklist for teaching other college students (73%).Conclusion: Using checklists in education can facilitate the learning process, help in memorization, and deepen the concepts being studied. Further studies are required to examine the impact of checklists in teaching undergraduate students and students from other non-healthcare disciplines

Anosmin-1 contributes to brain tumor malignancy through integrin signal pathways

Anosmin-1, encoded by the KAL1 gene, is an extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated protein which plays essential roles in the establishment of olfactory and GNRH neurons during early brain development. Loss-of-function mutations of KAL1 results in Kallmann syndrome with delayed puberty and anosmia. There is, however, little comprehension of its role in the developed brain. As reactivation of developmental signal pathways often takes part in tumorigenesis, we investigated if anosmin-1-mediated cellular mechanisms associated with brain tumors. Our meta-analysis of gene expression profiles of patients' samples and public microarray datasets indicated that KAL1 mRNA was significantly upregulated in high-grade primary brain tumors compared with the normal brain and low-grade tumors. The tumor-promoting capacity of anosmin-1 was demonstrated in the glioblastoma cell lines, where anosmin-1 enhanced cell motility and proliferation. Notably, anosmin-1 formed a part of active β1 integrin complex, inducing downstream signaling pathways. ShRNA-mediated knockdown of anosmin-1 attenuated motility and growth of tumor cells and induced apoptosis. Anosmin-1 may also enhance the invasion of tumor cells within the ECM by modulating cell adhesion and activating extracellular proteases. In a mouse xenograft model, anosmin-1-expressing tumors grew faster, indicating the role of anosmin-1 in tumor microenvironment in vivo. Combined, these data suggest that anosmin-1 can facilitate tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival. Therefore, although the normal function of anosmin-1 is required in the proper development of GNRH neurons, overexpression of anosmin-1 in the developed brain may be an underlying mechanism for some brain tumors