Does The Consumption Behavior of Tourists Differ by Culture/Nationality? A Study into German and Russian Tourists

In the era where the fierce competitive settings are ever increasing, the success of establishments is heavily dependent upon the internal Dynamics of the firm along with environmental settings as well as market conditions. Parallel to the technological development in the 20th century, the growth of transportation and communications facilitate the access of goods and services to the consumer markets and the abundance of the goods and services offered in the market paved the way for a complicated consumer market. This study dwells on the consumer behavior observed in tourism sector and research was conducted over German and Russian tourists in Alanya district. The statistical data gathered indicate that individual factors are in the first place in shaping the consumption behavior, in the second place comes marketing components and socio-economic ones are in the last place. The result of t-test suggests that there is a significant difference at 0.05 significance level in terms of the nationality and the level of effect of the three dimensions used in the study

The Examining of Relationship between Local People’s Lifestyles and Perceptions towards Socio-Cultural Impacts of Tourism in Antalya

This study mainly examines whether a significant relationship between local people’s lifestyles and perceptions of socio-cultural impacts of tourism. Antalya, one of Turkey's major tourism centers, was preferred as study place. In the study, survey was used as data collection tools. As a result of study, while lifestyleswere divided into six sub-dimensions (Experiencers, Fashion Lovers, Makers, Innovators, Survivors and Unusual People), perceptions of socio-cultural impacts of tourismwere divided into eight sub-dimensions (Social Problems, Social Structure, Acculturation and Cultural Participation, Language and Art, Cultural Heritage, Local Peace, Service Quality and Attractiveness, Religion and Cultural Patterns).Hypothesis that there is a significant relationship between local people’s lifestyles and perceptions of socio-cultural impacts of tourismwas partly accepted. The study has provided important data for tourism planners and politicians. Keywords: Local people, Lifestyles, Perceptions, Socio-cultural impacts of touris

The Relationship between the Personality of Professional Tourist Guides and the Quality of Service Offered

As tourist guides have been recognized as tourism representatives, the impact of tourism on the perception of satisfaction and the intention of re-visiting has increased the research and development activities for the profession in recent years. The aim of the study is to determine whether there is a relationship between the personality traits and performance of professional tourist guides. In this context, determining how the performance level is perceived by tourists and determining how this performance is reflected in service quality. For this purpose, the Five Factor Personality Scale, which measures the personality traits, and the SERVPERF Scale, which measures the perceived service quality, were applied to 13 tourist guides and 475 tourists. As a result of the research, it was found that there was a significant relationship between the dimensions of personality traits and service quality. When the dimensions are examined, the perception of quality towards the dimension of concrete features expressing the external appearance of the tourist guides and the equipment used during the tour is negatively affected by the emotional stability (imbalance) and empathy characteristics of the tourist guides. As the extraversion personality of the tourist guide increases, the empathy that tourists perceive from the dimensions of service quality is unfavorable. It was observed that the perception of reliability, enthusiasm, trust and empathy of tourists was positively affected as the agreeableness (compatibility) increased. As the conscientiousness of professional tourist guides increases, the perception of reliability, trust and empathy perceived by the tourists towards the guides is positively affected. In this context, the number of samples can be increased in future studies and communication with more tourists and tourist guides can be provided.Turist rehberlerinin birer turizm temsilcisi olarak turistlerin memnuniyet algısı ve yeniden ziyaret etme niyeti üzerindeki etkisinin fark edilmesiyle beraber mesleğe yönelik yapılan araştırmalar ve bu alana yönelik geliştirme faaliyetleri artmıştır. Araştırmanın amacı profesyonel turist rehberlerinin kişilik özellikleri ile sergiledikleri performans arasında bir farklılaşma olup olmadığını belirlemektir. Bu kapsamda performans düzeyinin turistlerce nasıl algılandığını tespit ederek bu performansın hizmet kalitesine nasıl yansıdığını belirlemektir. Bu amaçla kişilik özelliklerini ölçen Beş Faktör Kişilik Ölçeği ve algılanan hizmet kalitesini ölçen SERVPERF Ölçeği, 13 turist rehberi ve 475 turiste uygulanmıştır. Araştırma neticesinde kişilik özellikleri boyutları ile hizmet kalitesi boyutları arasında anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Boyutlar incelendiğinde turistlerin, turist rehberlerinin dış görünüşünü, tur esnasında kullandığı ekipmanlarını ifade eden somut özellikler boyutuna yönelik olan kalite algısı turist rehberlerinin duygusal denge (dengesizlik) ve empati özelliğine göre olumsuz yönde etkilenmektedir. Turist rehberinin dışa dönük kişilik özelliğinin arttıkça, turistlerin hizmet kalitesi boyutlarından algıladığı empati özelliği olumsuz yönde seyretmektedir. Bir diğer kişilik özelliği geçimlilik (uyumluluk) incelendiğinde bu özelliğin arttıkça turistlerin güvenilirlik, heveslilik, güven ve empati algısının olumlu yönde etkilendiği görülmüştür. Yine profesyonel turist rehberlerinin sorumluluk özelliği arttıkça turistlerin, rehberlere yönelik algıladığı güvenilirlik, güven ve empati algısı olumlu etkilenmektedir. Bu kapsamda gelecek çalışmalarda örneklem sayısının çoğaltılarak daha fazla turist ve turist rehberiyle iletişim sağlanabilir

A Survey of Social Network Forensics

Social networks in any form, specifically online social networks (OSNs), are becoming a part of our everyday life in this new millennium especially with the advanced and simple communication technologies through easily accessible devices such as smartphones and tablets. The data generated through the use of these technologies need to be analyzed for forensic purposes when criminal and terrorist activities are involved. In order to deal with the forensic implications of social networks, current research on both digital forensics and social networks need to be incorporated and understood. This will help digital forensics investigators to predict, detect and even prevent any criminal activities in different forms. It will also help researchers to develop new models / techniques in the future. This paper provides literature review of the social network forensics methods, models, and techniques in order to provide an overview to the researchers for their future works as well as the law enforcement investigators for their investigations when crimes are committed in the cyber space. It also provides awareness and defense methods for OSN users in order to protect them against to social attacks

Higher COVID-19 pneumonia risk associated with anti-IFN-α than with anti-IFN-ω auto-Abs in children

We found that 19 (10.4%) of 183 unvaccinated children hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia had autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing type I IFNs (IFN-alpha 2 in 10 patients: IFN-alpha 2 only in three, IFN-alpha 2 plus IFN-omega in five, and IFN-alpha 2, IFN-omega plus IFN-beta in two; IFN-omega only in nine patients). Seven children (3.8%) had Abs neutralizing at least 10 ng/ml of one IFN, whereas the other 12 (6.6%) had Abs neutralizing only 100 pg/ml. The auto-Abs neutralized both unglycosylated and glycosylated IFNs. We also detected auto-Abs neutralizing 100 pg/ml IFN-alpha 2 in 4 of 2,267 uninfected children (0.2%) and auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-omega in 45 children (2%). The odds ratios (ORs) for life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia were, therefore, higher for auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-alpha 2 only (OR [95% CI] = 67.6 [5.7-9,196.6]) than for auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-. only (OR [95% CI] = 2.6 [1.2-5.3]). ORs were also higher for auto-Abs neutralizing high concentrations (OR [95% CI] = 12.9 [4.6-35.9]) than for those neutralizing low concentrations (OR [95% CI] = 5.5 [3.1-9.6]) of IFN-omega and/or IFN-alpha 2

Goodbye Hartmann trial: a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study on the current use of a surgical procedure developed a century ago

Background: Literature suggests colonic resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) instead of Hartmann's procedure (HP) for the treatment of left-sided colonic emergencies. We aim to evaluate the surgical options globally used to treat patients with acute left-sided colonic emergencies and the factors that leading to the choice of treatment, comparing HP and RPA. Methods: This is a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. A total 1215 patients with left-sided colonic emergencies who required surgery were included from 204 centers during the period of March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020. with a 1-year follow-up. Results: 564 patients (43.1%) were females. The mean age was 65.9 ± 15.6 years. HP was performed in 697 (57.3%) patients and RPA in 384 (31.6%) cases. Complicated acute diverticulitis was the most common cause of left-sided colonic emergencies (40.2%), followed by colorectal malignancy (36.6%). Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3b) were higher in the HP group (P < 0.001). 30-day mortality was higher in HP patients (13.7%), especially in case of bowel perforation and diffused peritonitis. 1-year follow-up showed no differences on ostomy reversal rate between HP and RPA. (P = 0.127). A backward likelihood logistic regression model showed that RPA was preferred in younger patients, having low ASA score (≤ 3), in case of large bowel obstruction, absence of colonic ischemia, longer time from admission to surgery, operating early at the day working hours, by a surgeon who performed more than 50 colorectal resections. Conclusions: After 100 years since the first Hartmann's procedure, HP remains the most common treatment for left-sided colorectal emergencies. Treatment's choice depends on patient characteristics, the time of surgery and the experience of the surgeon. RPA should be considered as the gold standard for surgery, with HP being an exception

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

The genetic history of the Southern Arc: a bridge between West Asia and Europe

By sequencing 727 ancient individuals from the Southern Arc (Anatolia and its neighbors in Southeastern Europe and West Asia) over 10,000 years, we contextualize its Chalcolithic period and Bronze Age (about 5000 to 1000 BCE), when extensive gene flow entangled it with the Eurasian steppe. Two streams of migration transmitted Caucasus and Anatolian/Levantine ancestry northward, and the Yamnaya pastoralists, formed on the steppe, then spread southward into the Balkans and across the Caucasus into Armenia, where they left numerous patrilineal descendants. Anatolia was transformed by intra–West Asian gene flow, with negligible impact of the later Yamnaya migrations. This contrasts with all other regions where Indo-European languages were spoken, suggesting that the homeland of the Indo-Anatolian language family was in West Asia, with only secondary dispersals of non-Anatolian Indo-Europeans from the steppe