Workplace Spirituality as a Mediator to Individual Spirituality and Organizational Performance in a Hospitality Business: An Evidence from Hotel X, Clarkfield, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines

Through this study, we want to determine whether workplace spirituality has mediating effects between individual's spirituality and organizational performance in a hospitality business in Hotel X, Clarkfield, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. We used the Spirituality Assessment Scale developed by Hamilton Beazley, PhD targeting one hundred twenty-nine respondents. As far as we have known, our study may serve as one of the pioneering studies of spirituality in the hospitality industry. Overall, hotel employees (the management and rank-and-file) are relatively more spiritual as shown on the Spirituality Assessment Scale, which are made up of two dimensions: spirituality definitive dimension and spirituality correlated dimension. The correlational analysis showed that the employees’ spirituality moves in the same direction as to how employees find meaning and purpose to their work and how they perceived organizational performance. Also, there is no significant difference on the assessment of the spirituality and organizational performance among the employees based on the respondents’ level of education, except under the components of inner life, meaning at work & personal responsibility. Hence, we encouraged businesses in the hospitality industry to promote spiritual activities in the workplac

Intraseasonal Kelvin Wave in Makassar Strait

Time series observations during 2004-2006 reveal the presence of 60-90 days intraseasonal events that impact the transport and mixing environment within Makassar Strait. The observed velocity and temperature fluctuations within the pycnocline reveal the presence of Kelvin waves including vertical energy propagation, energy equipartition, and nondispersive relationship. Two current meters at 750 and 1500 m provide further evidence that the vertical structure of the downwelling Kelvin wave resembles that of the second baroclinic wave mode. The Kelvin waves derive their energy from the equatorial Indian Ocean winds, including those associated with the Madden-Julian oscillations, and propagate from Lombok Strait to Makassar Strait along the 100-m isobath. The northward propagating Kelvin waves within the pycnocline reduce the southward Makassar Strait throughflow by up to 2 Sv and induce a marked increase of vertical diffusivity

Fun and Friendship in the Natural World: The Impact of Oregon 4-H Residential Camping Programs on Girl and Boy Campers

This article presents the results of a multi-site evaluation of Oregon\u27s 4-H Camps. The evaluation assessed 3 main areas: 1) personal growth, 2) life skill development, and 3) camper satisfaction. Questionnaires were administered at the end of each camp, with the data aggregated and analyzed across camps. Results revealed significant changes in personal growth and the development of selected life skills. Results also indicated that the campers enjoyed camp and their camp counselors. The results are confirming of what we know about the impact of camp and are important for sustaining investments currently made in camp programs

Intraseasonal Variability in the Makassar Strait Thermocline

Intraseasonal variability [ISV] in the Makassar Strait thermocline is examined through the analysis of along-channel flow, regional sea level anomaly and wind fields from January 2004 through November 2006. The dominant variability of 45-90 day in the Makassar Strait along-channel flow is horizontally and vertically coherent and exhibits vertical energy propagation. The majority of the Makassar ISV is uncoupled to the energy exerted by the local atmospheric ISV: instead the Makassar ISV is due to the combination of a remotely forced baroclinic wave radiating from Lombok Strait and deep reaching ISV originating in the Sulawesi Sea. Thermocline depth changes associated with ENSO influence the ISV characteristics in the Makassar Strait lower thermocline, with intensified ISV during El Nin˜o when the thermocline shallows and weakened ISV during La Nin˜a

Participation in a Diabetes Education and Care Program: Experience from the Diabetes Care for Older Adults Project

There is very little reported information concerning the participation of older adults in diabetes education and care programs, factors related to their attendance, and the influence of attendance on program outcomes. In this study, which was part of a larger study of insulin therapy, subjects (≥65 years old) assigned to the intensive management group (n=53) were provided with educational sessions during the 18-month study period. Data for this group were examined to determine factors that influenced enrollment and attendance. Attendance rates for individual participants averaged 72% during the first 6 months months and 68% during the subsequent 12 months. Demographic factors. baseline knowledge test scores, and baseline glycosylated hemoglobin levels did not significantly influence participation. Greater distance from the clinic and shorter time using insulin were significantly related (P=.05) to attendance. Perceived benefits of the program included diabetes education (45%), glucose control (23%), and interacting with others who have diabetes (23%).Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68301/2/10.1177_014572179802400205.pd

HVAC System Analysis and Energy Audit: The Providence Athenaeum

To evaluate the impact of potential modifications to the HVAC system the Historical Value Adding Consultants developed a building energy model. The building energy model was constructed using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that utilizes typical meteorological year (TMY) data to determine the average energy usage of the Athenaeum for a typical year. The model has been validated against actual energy usage and is used to identify and quantify energy savings resulting from design alternatives

Sex differences in renal angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) activity are 17β-oestradiol-dependent and sex chromosome-independent

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Angotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a newly discovered monocarboxypeptidase that counteracts the vasoconstrictor effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) by converting Ang II to Ang-(1-7) in the kidney and other tissues.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>ACE2 activity from renal homogenates was investigated by using the fluorogenic peptide substrate Mca-YVADAPK(Dnp)-OH, where Mca is (7-methoxycoumarin-4-yl)-acetyl and Dnp is 2,4-dinitrophenyl.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that ACE2 activity expressed in relative fluorescence units (RFU) in the MF1 mouse is higher in the male (M) compared to the female (F) kidney [ACE2 (RFU/min/μg protein): M 18.1 ± 1.0 versus F 11.1 ± 0.39; <it>P </it>< 0.0001; <it>n </it>= 6]. Substrate concentration curves revealed that the higher ACE2 activity in the male was due to increased ACE2 enzyme velocity (V_max) rather than increased substrate affinity (K_m). We used the four core genotypes mouse model in which gonadal sex (ovaries versus testes) is separated from the sex chromosome complement enabling comparisons among XX and XY gonadal females and XX and XY gonadal males. Renal ACE2 activity was greater in the male than the female kidney, regardless of the sex chromosome complement [ACE2 (RFU/min/μg protein): intact-XX-F, 7.59 ± 0.37; intact-XY-F, 7.43 ± 0.53; intact-XX-M, 12.1 ± 0.62; intact-XY-M, 12.7 ± 1.5; <it>n </it>= 4-6/group; <it>P </it>< 0.0001, F versus M, by two-way ANOVA]. Enzyme activity was increased in gonadectomized (GDX) female mice regardless of the sex chromosome complement whereas no effect of gonadectomy was observed in the males [ACE2 (RFU/min/μg protein): GDX-XX-F, 12.4 ± 1.2; GDX-XY-F, 11.1 ± 0.76; GDX-XX-M, 13.2 ± 0.97; GDX-XY-M, 11.6 ± 0.81; <it>n </it>= 6/group]. 17β-oestradiol (E₂) treatment of GDX mice resulted in ACE2 activity that was only 40% of the activity found in the GDX mice, regardless of their being male or female, and was independent of the sex chromosome complement [ACE2 (RFU/min/μg protein): GDX+E₂-XX-F, 5.56 ± 1.0; GDX+E₂-XY-F, 4.60 ± 0.52; GDX+E₂-XX-M, 5.35 ± 0.70; GDX+E₂-XY-M, 5.12 ± 0.47; <it>n </it>= 6/group].</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings suggest sex differences in renal ACE2 activity in intact mice are due, at least in part, to the presence of E₂in the ovarian hormone milieu and not to the testicular milieu or to differences in sex chromosome dosage (2X versus 1X; 0Y versus 1Y). E₂regulation of renal ACE2 has particular implications for women across their life span since this hormone changes radically during puberty, pregnancy and menopause.</p

Mucosal Melanomas of the Head and Neck: The Role of Postoperative Radiation Therapy

Objectives. Mucosal melanomas are rarer than their cutaneous counterparts and are associated with a poorer prognosis. We report the clinical outcomes of patients with mucosal melanomas of the head and neck region generally treated with definitive surgery followed by postoperative radiation therapy (RT). Methods. We reviewed the records of 17 patients treated at the University of Miami in 1990–2007. Patients generally received conventionally fractionated RT regimens to the postoperative bed. Elective nodal RT was not routinely delivered. Eight patients received adjuvant chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Results. Median followup was 35.2 months (range 5–225). As the first site of failure: 3 patients recurred locally, 2 regionally and 2 distantly. All 3 patients who recurred locally had not received RT. Of the 5 locoregional recurrences, 4 were salvaged successfully with multimodality therapy with no evidence of disease at last followup. Overall survival was 64.7% at 2 years and 51.5% at 5 years. Conclusions. Patients with mucosal melanoma of the head and neck are best treated with surgery to achieve negative margins, followed by postoperative RT to optimize local control. Elective nodal irradiation may not be indicated in all cases, as regional failures were not predominant. Distant metastases were fewer when compared to historical data, potentially due to advancements in adjuvant therapies as well as aggressive multi-modality salvage at time of failure

Procalcitonin and midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide as biomarkers of subclinical cerebrovascular damage: the northern manhattan study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic infections and cardiac dysfunction are risk factors for stroke. We hypothesized that blood biomarkers of infection (procalcitonin) and cardiac dysfunction (midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide [MR-proANP]), previously associated with small vessel stroke and cardioembolic stroke are also associated with subclinical cerebrovascular damage, including silent brain infarcts and white matter hyperintensity volume. METHODS: The NOMAS (Northern Manhattan Study) was designed to assess risk factors for incident vascular disease in a multiethnic cohort. A subsample underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and had blood samples available for biomarker measurement (n=1178). We used logistic regression models to estimate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the association of these biomarkers with silent brain infarcts after adjusting for demographic, behavioral, and medical risk factors. We used linear regression to assess associations with log-white matter hyperintensity volume. RESULTS: Mean age was 70±9 years; 60% were women, 66% Hispanic, 17% black, and 15% were white. After adjusting for risk factors, subjects with procalcitonin or MR-proANP in the top quartile, compared with the lowest quartile were more likely to have silent brain infarcts (adjusted odds ratio for procalcitonin, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.7 and for MR-proANP, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.7-6.3) and increased white matter hyperintensity volume (adjusted mean change in log-white matter hyperintensity volume for procalcitonin, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.13-0.44 and for MR-proANP, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.004-0.36). CONCLUSIONS: Higher concentrations of procalcitonin, a marker of infection, and MR-proANP, a marker of cardiac dysfunction, are independently associated with subclinical cerebrovascular damage. If further studies demonstrate an incremental value for risk stratification, biomarker-guided primary prevention studies may lead to new approaches to prevent cerebrovascular disease