Adoption of Information Technology in U.S. Hotels: Strategically Driven Objectives

Using two unique, independent samples of U.S. hotels, this study examines the utilization of information technology (IT) in all hotel sectors, from deluxe to budget, to reveal strategic differences and similarities. Overall, the findings suggest that the U.S. lodging industry has focused on employing technologies that improve employee productivity and enhance revenue but has not given strategic priority to technologies designed to improve guest services. The hotel sector, lodging type, size/complexity of the property, and independent versus chain affiliation influenced the number and type of technologies adopted. Luxury and upscale hotels adopted more IT than economy and budget hotels. Similarly, IT development was greatest for certain lodging types such as convention hotels, conference centers, and casinos, and lowest for other types, such as motels and bed-and-breakfasts. Chain-affiliated properties typically adopted more technologies than independent hotels

Effect of functionalization of polymeric nanoparticles incorporated with whole attenuated rabies virus antigen on sustained release and efficacy

Nanovaccines introduced a new dimension to prevent or cure diseases in an efficient and sustained manner. Various polymers have been used for the drug delivery to increase the therapeutic value with minimal side effects. Thus the present study incorporates both nanotechnology and polymers for the drug delivery. Poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) was incorporated with the rabies whole attenuated viral antigen using double emulsion (W/O/W) method and characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Chitosan-PEG nanoparticles incorporated with the rabies whole attenuated virus antigen (CS-PEG NP-RV Ag.) were prepared using Ionic Gelation method. The CS-PEG NP-RV Ag. was surface modified with biocompatible polymers such as Acacia, Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), Casein, Ovalbumin and Starch by Ionic Gelation method. The morphology was confirmed by SEM and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The surface modification was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Zeta potential. The size distribution of CS-PEG-RV Ag. and surface modified CS-PEG-RV Ag. by respective biocompatible polymers was assessed by Zetasizer. Release profile of both stabilized nanoparticles was carried out by modified centrifugal ultrafiltration method which showed the sustained release pattern of the Rabies Ag. Immune stimulation under in-vitro condition was studied using rosette assay and phagocytosis assay. In-vitro toxicity using human blood and genotoxicity using human blood DNA was also studied to assess the toxicity of the nanoformulations. The results of these studies infer that PLGA-b-PEG nanoparticles, CS-PEG and surface modified CS-PEG nanoparticles may be an efficient nanocarrier for the RV Ag. to elicit immune response sustainably with negligible toxic effect to the human system

The effect of acute noise stress on neutrophil functions”

Abstract: The effect of acute noise stress on albino rats was studied by estimating the plasma corticosterone level, total leukocyte count and differential leukocyte count. Neutrophil function was assessed by Candida phagocytosis and Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test. The total leukocyte count was significantly decreased. No significant changes were observed in the differential count of the leukocytes. A significant increase in the plasma corticosterone level, Candida phagocytosis and Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction was observed indicating acute noise to be a potent stressor in albino rats

ACUTE NOISE-INDUCED ALTERATIONS IN THE IMMUNE STATUS OF ALBINO RATS

Abstract : The effect of acute noise induced changes on the immune functions of albino rats was studied. Cell mediated immunity was assessed by Leukocyte migration inhibition index (LMI) and humoral immunity by estimating antibody titre. The organ weight of spleen, thymus, adrenal and lymph node was noted, the cell count of spleen and thymus was enumerated and plasma corticosterone level was estimated. A significant increase in the plasma corticosterone level, thymus weight and cell count along with significant decrease in the antibody titre, spleen weight and cell count was observed in noise stressed animals. No significant changes were observed in the LMI and organ weight of adrenal and lymph node in these animals. Our study shows acute noise to be a potent stressor causing definite alterations in the immune functions of the albino rats

LINKING PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT FOR UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING WITH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH TEACHING AND LEARNING

Students and facilitators in an undergraduate engineering degree program at Taylor’s University demonstrate how they link professional conduct to the learning in a civic engagement activity. This paper provides insight into reflection about learning and teaching that undertook in the process and how the authors improved our instructional strategies. With a conceptualized civic engagement activity on health, safety and environment aspects (HSE), a teaching and learning activity is discussed on its implementation. The service activities are undertaken with organizations in various underserved domains of community in Malaysia. Students reflect on their experience in these settings with organizational members and community. They organize their reflection to demonstrate how they link professional conduct required for HSE. Findings from student reflections analysed using thematic analysis related to a number of themes in the way students interpreted their learning of HSE with civic engagement. However, the limitations of study provide insight into developing civic engagement as a meaningful exercise for understanding HSE as a driven commitment through participation for engineering students

Generating Random Logic Programs Using Constraint Programming

Testing algorithms across a wide range of problem instances is crucial to ensure the validity of any claim about one algorithm's superiority over another. However, when it comes to inference algorithms for probabilistic logic programs, experimental evaluations are limited to only a few programs. Existing methods to generate random logic programs are limited to propositional programs and often impose stringent syntactic restrictions. We present a novel approach to generating random logic programs and random probabilistic logic programs using constraint programming, introducing a new constraint to control the independence structure of the underlying probability distribution. We also provide a combinatorial argument for the correctness of the model, show how the model scales with parameter values, and use the model to compare probabilistic inference algorithms across a range of synthetic problems. Our model allows inference algorithm developers to evaluate and compare the algorithms across a wide range of instances, providing a detailed picture of their (comparative) strengths and weaknesses.Comment: This is an extended version of the paper published in CP 202

Cancer cells adapt FAM134B/BiP mediated ER-phagy to survive hypoxic stress

In the tumor microenvironment, cancer cells experience hypoxia resulting in the accumulation of misfolded/unfolded proteins largely in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Consequently, ER proteotoxicity elicits unfolded protein response (UPR) as an adaptive mechanism to resolve ER stress. In addition to canonical UPR, proteotoxicity also stimulates the selective, autophagy-dependent, removal of discrete ER domains loaded with misfolded proteins to further alleviate ER stress. These mechanisms can favor cancer cell growth, metastasis, and long-term survival. Our investigations reveal that during hypoxia-induced ER stress, the ER-phagy receptor FAM134B targets damaged portions of ER into autophagosomes to restore ER homeostasis in cancer cells. Loss of FAM134B in breast cancer cells results in increased ER stress and reduced cell proliferation. Mechanistically, upon sensing hypoxia-induced proteotoxic stress, the ER chaperone BiP forms a complex with FAM134B and promotes ER-phagy. To prove the translational implication of our mechanistic findings, we identified vitexin as a pharmacological agent that disrupts FAM134B-BiP complex, inhibits ER-phagy, and potently suppresses breast cancer progression in vivo