The study of factors affecting customer’s satisfaction with the three star hotels in Dubai

Previous studies has supported the relationship between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. Accordingly, understanding the factors affecting customer satisfaction is very important for those who are involved in hotel industry. Despite the abundant studies conducted on tourist satisfaction there is very little known about the customers satisfaction of Middle East hotels. Filling a part of this gap, the current study attempts to examine factors affecting travelers\u27 satisfaction of three star hotels in Dubai. Unfortunately the website doesn\u27t support online booking from any of hotels in Iran, so the comments and reviews on these hotels are not available. On the other hand Dubai has the greatest number of registered hotels in Agoda website, hence this city was chosen as case study. Accordingly comments of travelers on each three star hotel was collected from the Online booking website of Agoda (www.Agoda.com), on October 2015. The study relied on text mining and content analysis of over 2500 online traveller reviews covering 3-star hotels in Dubai. ). The website categorizes the hotels based on the stars and rankings (figure 2) and website only publishes reviews of a hotel from travelers who have booked and paid for a reservation and most probably has stayed in the hotel. The website also provides databases of customer evaluations of their experiences of hotels. This study applied content analysis of the reviews. The collected data was exported into the Nvivo 7 qualitative data analysis software. The comments on each hotel were categorized in terms of positive and negative feedback. Content analysis of collected data revealed that the main factors affecting the tourists\u27 satisfaction were hotel location, food management , cleanliness, facilities, design and staff behaviors

Catecholamines are active plant-based drug compounds in Pisum sativum, Phaseolus vulgaris and Vicia faba Species

Introduction: Catecholamines (L-DOPA and dopamine) are the key metabolites found in nervous system and their endogenous deficiency is associated with different patho-physiological disorders. Therefore, it is important to screen the new herbal sources of catecholamines for drug preparation. In this study, the amount of L-DOPA and dopamine were investigated in the leaves and roots of three species from legume family such as Pisum sativum (garden pea), Phaseolus vulgaris (haricot bean) and Vicia faba (broad bean); using TLC and HPLC. Methods: The seeds of P. sativum, P. Vulgaris and V. faba were treated and cultured under the glasshouse conditions. The extraction from 1 gram of each plant sample was obtained and assayed for L-DOPA and dopamine using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and reversed-phase HPLC. Results: The results indicated that all cultivars accumulated different levels of L-DOPA and dopamine in leaves and roots. The quantitative results showed that the metabolites concentrations were high in the leaves of P. Sativum and V. faba compared to that in roots. Conclusion: The present study may provide a new avenue for preparation and estimation of L-DOPA and dopamine from plant sources and may be used for further analysis and therapeutic studies.</p

Over-expressing the C3 photosynthesis cycle enzyme Sedoheptulose-1-7 Bisphosphatase improves photosynthetic carbon gain and yield under fully open air CO2fumigation (FACE)

Abstract Background Biochemical models predict that photosynthesis in C3 plants is most frequently limited by the slower of two processes, the maximum capacity of the enzyme Rubisco to carboxylate RuBP (Vc,max), or the regeneration of RuBP via electron transport (J). At current atmospheric [CO2] levels Rubisco is not saturated; consequently, elevating [CO2] increases the velocity of carboxylation and inhibits the competing oxygenation reaction which is also catalyzed by Rubisco. In the future, leaf photosynthesis (A) should be increasingly limited by RuBP regeneration, as [CO2] is predicted to exceed 550 ppm by 2050. The C3 cycle enzyme sedoheptulose-1,7 bisphosphatase (SBPase, EC 3.1.3.17) has been shown to exert strong metabolic control over RuBP regeneration at light saturation. Results We tested the hypothesis that tobacco transformed to overexpressing SBPase will exhibit greater stimulation of A than wild type (WT) tobacco when grown under field conditions at elevated [CO2] (585 ppm) under fully open air fumigation. Growth under elevated [CO2] stimulated instantaneous A and the diurnal photosynthetic integral (A') more in transformants than WT. There was evidence of photosynthetic acclimation to elevated [CO2] via downregulation of Vc,max in both WT and transformants. Nevertheless, greater carbon assimilation and electron transport rates (J and Jmax) for transformants led to greater yield increases than WT at elevated [CO2] compared to ambient grown plants. Conclusion These results provide proof of concept that increasing content and activity of a single photosynthesis enzyme can enhance carbon assimilation and yield of C3 crops grown at [CO2] expected by the middle of the 21st century. </jats:sec

Overexpression of Plastid Transketolase in Tobacco Results in a Thiamine Auxotrophic Phenotype

To investigate the effect of increased plastid transketolase on photosynthetic capacity and growth, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants with increased levels of transketolase protein were produced. This was achieved using a cassette composed of a full-length Arabidopsis thaliana transketolase cDNA under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. The results revealed a major and unexpected effect of plastid transketolase overexpression as the transgenic tobacco plants exhibited a slow-growth phenotype and chlorotic phenotype. These phenotypes were complemented by germinating the seeds of transketolase-overexpressing lines in media containing either thiamine pyrophosphate or thiamine. Thiamine levels in the seeds and cotyledons were lower in transketolase-overexpressing lines than in wild-type plants. When transketolase-overexpressing plants were supplemented with thiamine or thiamine pyrophosphate throughout the life cycle, they grew normally and the seed produced from these plants generated plants that did not have a growth or chlorotic phenotype. Our results reveal the crucial importance of the level of transketolase activity to provide the precursor for synthesis of intermediates and to enable plants to produce thiamine and thiamine pyrophosphate for growth and development. The mechanism determining transketolase protein levels remains to be elucidated, but the data presented provide evidence that this may contribute to the complex regulatory mechanisms maintaining thiamine homeostasis in plants

Inhibition of hypertrophy and improving chondrocyte differentiation by MMP-13 inhibitor small molecule encapsulated in alginate-chondroitin sulfate-platelet lysate hydrogel

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells are a promising cell source for chondrogenic differentiation and have been widely used in several preclinical and clinical studies. However, they are prone to an unwanted differentiation process towards hypertrophy that limits their therapeutic efficacy. Matrix metallopeptidase 13 (MMP-13) is a well-known factor regulated during this undesirable event. MMP-13 is a collagen degrading enzyme, which is also highly expressed in the hypertrophic zone of the growth plate and in OA cartilage. Accordingly, we investigated the effect of MMP-13 inhibition on MSC hypertrophy. Methods: In this study, 5-bromoindole-2-carboxylic acid (BICA) was used as an inhibitory agent for MMP-13 expression. After identifying its optimal concentration, BICA was mixed into a hydrogel and the release rate was studied. To prepare the ideal hydrogel, chondroitin sulfate (CS) and platelet lysate (PL) were mixed with sodium alginate (Alg) at concentrations selected based on synergistic mechanical and rheometric properties. Then, four hydrogels were prepared by combining alginate (1.5w/v) and/or CS (1w/v) and/or PL (20v/v). The chondrogenic potential and progression to hypertrophy of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hBM-MSC)-loaded hydrogels were investigated under free swelling and mechanical loading conditions, in the presence and absence of BICA. Results: Viability of hBM-MSCs seeded in the four hydrogels was similar. qRT-PCR revealed that BICA could successfully inhibit MMP-13 expression, which led to an inhibition of Coll X and induction of Coll-II, in both free swelling and loading conditions. The GAG deposition was higher in the group combining BICA and mechanical stimulation. Conclusions: It is concluded that BICA inhibition of MMP-13 reduces MSC hypertrophy during chondrogenesis. Graphical abstract: Figure not available: see fulltext. © 2020 The Author(s)

Stimulating photosynthetic processes increases productivity and water use efficiency in the field

Previous studies have demonstrated that independent stimulation of either electron transport or RuBP regeneration can increase the rate of photosynthetic carbon assimilation and plant biomass. In this paper, we present evidence that a multi-gene approach to simultaneously manipulate these two processes provides a further stimulation of photosynthesis. We report on the introduction of the cyanobacterial bifunctional enzyme fructose-1, 6- bisphosphatase/sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase or overexpression of the plant enzyme sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase, together with expression of the red algal protein cytochrome c6, and show that a further increase in biomass accumulation under both glasshouse and field conditions can be achieved. Furthermore, we provide evidence that stimulation of both electron transport and RuBP regeneration can lead to enhanced intrinsic water use efficiency under field conditions

Evaluating the relation between the elongated styloid process and the ponticulus posticus using cone beam computed tomography

Background: Ponticlus posticus as a one of the cervical vertebra variations brings about symptoms similar to Eagle syndrome. This study aimed to determine the relationship between elongated styloid process (ESP) and ponticulus posticus (PP) in a group of Iranian patients using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Materials and methods: The CBCT images of 349 patients (118 males and 231 females; mean age: 32.53 ± 14.143) were involved in this study. The atlas vertebra was investigated for the presence and classification of PP (partial or complete) in sagittal views. Also, the styloid process was evaluated for the presence of ESP in reconstructed panoramic and 3D images. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test, Fisher’s exact test, and Chi-square test to assess the relationship between the presence of PP and ESP with regard to age and gender. Results: PP was observed in 24.5% of patients with ESP and 31.98% of patients without ESP. There was no significant relationship between the presence of PP and ESP (p = 0.198). 25 patients with ESP showed PP, cases of ESP with either side and opposite side PP were 7.84% and 1.96%, respectively. Cases of bilateral ESP and PP were predominant (14.70%). The mean age of patients with bilateral ESP and PP was higher than others. There was no significant difference between males and females (p = 0.456). Conclusions: Considering the prevalence and characteristics of PP in the case and control groups, there was no significant relationship between PP and ESP

Threshold Concepts Theory in Higher Education&mdash;Introductory Statistics Courses as an Example

The purpose of this research was to identify &ldquo;threshold&rdquo; concepts in introductory statistics courses by surveying engineering students. Threshold concepts are those ideas that bind a subject together and are fundamental to the thinking and practice within a discipline. In this exploratory study, the aim was to answer the following questions: What are the learners&rsquo; assessments of the proposed threshold concepts? Based on the learners&rsquo; assessments, which of the four threshold characteristics best describes the selected threshold concepts? What are the final proposed threshold concepts that incorporate the learners&rsquo; perspectives? What is the perception held by learners about the theory&rsquo;s impact on the learning and teaching processes? Using qualitative and quantitative exploratory analysis to answer these questions, all students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science who took one of the 29 sections of the course Introductory Statistics offered at the University of Colorado at Boulder were surveyed. The findings reveal there are differences in threshold concepts identified by instructors and learners. The learners added 11 concepts to the 18 proposed by the instructors as threshold concepts. Based on these inputs, a list of potential threshold concepts incorporating the two perspectives&mdash;that of instructor and that of learner&mdash;was created, and a framework of knowledge to support curriculum design was developed. An important suggestion for future research is to explore how to incorporate these threshold concepts in redesigning the syllabi of such courses, depending on the proposed framework