CUSTOMER READINESS, MARKET ORIENTATION AND TRANSACTION FREQUENCY IN MOBILE BANKING SERVICE RECOVERY

This study investigates the effect of internet banking service recovery satisfaction on future intention toward using mobile banking, and examines transaction frequency as a moderator of this relationship. Moreover, this study applies customer participation in service recovery and service recovery experience as the influential factors of service recovery satisfaction. Questionnaires were obtained 419 respondents with internet banking and service recovery experience. The results of SEM analysis illustrate that both role clarity and ability of service recovery can affect the level of service recovery participation. Additionally, the internet banking service provider’s responsive and proactive customer orientation can influence customer service recovery experience, which further increases service recovery satisfaction. Recovery satisfaction can thus affect future intention toward using mobile banking. The moderating effect of transaction frequency was also confirmed. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed

Associations among systemic blood pressure, microalbuminuria and albuminuria in dogs affected with pituitary- and adrenal-dependent hyperadrenocorticism

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hypertension and proteinuria are medical complications associated with the multisystemic effects of long-term hypercortisolism in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study investigated the relationships among adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-stimulation test results, systemic blood pressure, and microalbuminuria in clinically-healthy dogs (n = 100), in dogs affected with naturally occurring pituitary-dependent (PDH; n = 40), or adrenal-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (ADH; n = 30).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean systemic blood pressure was similar between clinically healthy dogs and dogs with HAC (<it>p </it>= 0.803). However the incidence of hypertension was highest in dogs with ADH (<it>p = 0.017</it>), followed by dogs with PDH, with the lowest levels in clinically healthy dogs (<it>p = 0.019</it>). Presence of microalbuminuria and albuminuria in clinically healthy dogs and dogs affected with HAC was significantly different (<it>p </it>< 0.001); incidences of albuminuria followed the same pattern of hypertension; highest incidence in dogs with ADH, and lowest level in clinically healthy dogs; but microalbuminuria showed a different pattern: clinically healthy dogs had highest incidences and dogs with ADH had lowest incidence. The presence of albuminuria was not associated with blood pressure values, regardless of whether dogs were clinically healthy or affected with ADH or PDH (<it>p </it>= 0.306).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Higher incidence of hypertension and albuminuria, not microalbuminuria was seen in dogs affected with HAC compared to clinically healthy dogs; incidence of hypertension and albuminuria was significantly higher in dogs affected with ADH compared to PDH. However, presence of albuminuria was not correlated with systemic blood pressure.</p

GPER-induced signaling is essential for the survival of breast cancer stem cells.

G protein-coupled estrogen receptor-1 (GPER), a member of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, mediates estrogen-induced proliferation of normal and malignant breast epithelial cells. However, its role in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) remains unclear. Here we showed greater expression of GPER in BCSCs than non-BCSCs of three patient-derived xenografts of ER- /PR+ breast cancers. GPER silencing reduced stemness features of BCSCs as reflected by reduced mammosphere forming capacity in vitro, and tumor growth in vivo with decreased BCSC populations. Comparative phosphoproteomics revealed greater GPER-mediated PKA/BAD signaling in BCSCs. Activation of GPER by its ligands, including tamoxifen (TMX), induced phosphorylation of PKA and BAD-Ser118 to sustain BCSC characteristics. Transfection with a dominant-negative mutant BAD (Ser118Ala) led to reduced cell survival. Taken together, GPER and its downstream signaling play a key role in maintaining the stemness of BCSCs, suggesting that GPER is a potential therapeutic target for eradicating BCSCs

Type I IL-1 Receptor (IL-1RI) as Potential New Therapeutic Target for Bronchial Asthma

The IL-1R/TLR family has been receiving considerable attention as potential regulators of inflammation through their ability to act as either activators or suppressors of inflammation. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, allergic inflammation, elevated serum total, allergen-specific IgE levels, and increased Th2 cytokine production. The discovery that the IL-1RI–IL-1 and ST2–IL-33 pathways are crucial for allergic inflammation has raised interest in these receptors as potential targets for developing new therapeutic strategies for bronchial asthma. This paper discusses the current use of neutralizing mAb or soluble receptor constructs to deplete cytokines, the use of neutralizing mAb or recombinant receptor antagonists to block cytokine receptors, and gene therapy from experimental studies in asthma. Targeting IL-1RI–IL-1 as well as ST2–IL-33 pathways may promise a disease-modifying approach in the future

Aberrant oligodendroglial-vascular interactions disrupt the blood-brain barrier, triggering CNS inflammation.

Disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is critical to initiation and perpetuation of disease in multiple sclerosis (MS). We report an interaction between oligodendroglia and vasculature in MS that distinguishes human white matter injury from normal rodent demyelinating injury. We find perivascular clustering of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) in certain active MS lesions, representing an inability to properly detach from vessels following perivascular migration. Perivascular OPCs can themselves disrupt the BBB, interfering with astrocyte endfeet and endothelial tight junction integrity, resulting in altered vascular permeability and an associated CNS inflammation. Aberrant Wnt tone in OPCs mediates their dysfunctional vascular detachment and also leads to OPC secretion of Wif1, which interferes with Wnt ligand function on endothelial tight junction integrity. Evidence for this defective oligodendroglial-vascular interaction in MS suggests that aberrant OPC perivascular migration not only impairs their lesion recruitment but can also act as a disease perpetuator via disruption of the BBB

PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC RESPONSES AT THREE LEVELS OF BICYCLE SEAT HEIGHT

Recently, bicycle riding has become one of the most popular exercises. As the use time increased, the risk of pedalling injury raised. Holmes (1994) indicated that inappropriate bicycle saddle height could result in lower limbs injuries. The motivation of this study was to find out the best riding position that could effectively use energy from the physiology and electromyography measures. The oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and the muscle activity (electromyography, EMG) from rectus femoris (RF) and biceps femoris (BF) of lower limb were collected during a 6 min cycling trail in three different heights of bicycle saddle. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three different types of bicycle seat heights and different perspectives of muscle activity and physiology’s parameters

Juvenile Dermatomyositis: A 20-year Retrospective Analysis of Treatment and Clinical Outcomes

BackgroundJuvenile dermatomyositis is a rare childhood multisystem autoimmune disease involving primarily the skin and muscles, and it may lead to long-term disability. This study aimed to describe the clinical course of juvenile dermatomyositis and determine if any early clinical or laboratory features could predict outcome.MethodsMedical charts of patients aged ≤18 years and diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis (according to the criteria of Bohan and Peter) at the Pediatric Department, National Taiwan University Hospital, between 1989 and 2009 were reviewed. The endpoints for disease assessment were complete clinical response and complete clinical remission. Cox's proportional hazards model was fitted to identify important predictors of complete clinical remission.ResultsA total of 39 patients with juvenile dermatomyositis were reviewed. Two-thirds were females, and the mean age at disease onset was 81.97 ± 46.63 months. The most common initial presentations were Gottron's papule (82.1%) and muscle weakness (82.1%). After excluding one patient with an incomplete record, the remaining 31 patients who had muscle weakness were analyzed; among them, 22 (70.97%) achieved complete clinical response, but only six (19.4%) achieved complete clinical remission. Multivariate analysis showed that female sex, negative Gowers' sign at disease onset, and positive photosensitivity at disease onset were favorable factors to achieve complete clinical remission. Moreover, covariate-adjusted survival curves were drawn for making predictions of complete clinical remission. Only 13 (33.33%) patients were symptom free at the end of follow up, whereas the other 26 suffered from different kinds of complications. None of them developed malignancy, but two (5.13%) patients died during the follow-up period.ConclusionFactors such as male sex and Gowers' sign were unlikely to favor the achievement of complete clinical remission in juvenile dermatomyositis. Certain complications cannot be avoided, and thus more effective treatments and monitoring strategies are needed for better control of juvenile dermatomyositis

Alterations in IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF. TNF-α, and IFN-γ Release by Peripheral Mononuclear Cells in Patients with Active Vitiligo

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between the cellular and humoral immune components in the pathogenesis of vitiligo vulgaris. By using cytokines as indicators of peripheral mononuclear cell (MNC) function, we compared the effects of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and purified IgG on MNCs derived from patients suffering from active vitiligo with those from normal controls. The results revealed (i) a significant increase in spontaneous production of 11-6 and IL-8 in patients; (ii) PHA, purified IgG from patients (IgG-anti-MC), or IgG from normal controls (N-IgG) induced a significant increase in IL-6 but diminished GM-CSF, TNF-α, and IFN-γ release in patients; and (iii) IgG-anti-MC brought about a significantly higher stimulatory effect on IL-1β and IFN-γ production than N-IgG in normal controls. Immunologically, IL-6 can enhance melanocyte ICAM-1 expression, which may increase leukocyte-melanocyte attachment and cause melanocyte damage in vitiligo. A decrease in GM-CSF (an intrinsic growth factor for melanocyte) production may retard recovery from vitiligo by checking the proliferation of surviving melanocytes. A significant decrease in TNF-α and IFN-γ production may partially explain the reduced inflammatory reaction in vitiliginous lesions. That IgG-anti-MC stimulates an increase in IL-1β and IFN-γ production in controls suggests that IgG-anti-MC may play a role in melanocyte destruction mediated by monocytes