107 research outputs found
Tween Tourists: Children and Decision-Making.
Research suggests that children influence family vacation decision-making.
However, with few exceptions parents act as respondents in studies of family
vacation decision-making and furthermore, childrenâs role is often defined as a
rather passive one. Thus, it is often assumed that although children might
explicate wishes pertaining to holidays, they generally submit to whatever
choices their parents make. In recent years, marketing researchers have
taken a keen interest in the so-called âtweensâ, people who are 8 to 12 years
old and in between childhood and the teenage years. One key finding of
research on tweens is that tweens are consumers in their own rights â
especially in regard to consumption of products such as cellular phones,
clothing, magazines, music and movies. However, little research focuses on
tweens and vacations and accordingly, we know very little about tweens as
consumers of tourism. Drawing on 89qualitative interviews, we suggest that
tweens as consumers of tourism differ profoundly from the traditional role of
children in tourism consumption. The paper shows that tweens are highly
experienced tourists; very active during up-front vacation decision-making;
and wish for (and have) a say in regard to issues such as destination choice.
Consequently, we argue that tweens should be given voice in future research
on tourism consumption if we wish to gain knowledge on families as
consumers of tourism
Interacting Preformed Cooper Pairs in Resonant Fermi Gases
We consider the normal phase of a strongly interacting Fermi gas, which can
have either an equal or an unequal number of atoms in its two accessible spin
states. Due to the unitarity-limited attractive interaction between particles
with different spin, noncondensed Cooper pairs are formed. The starting point
in treating preformed pairs is the Nozi\`{e}res-Schmitt-Rink (NSR) theory,
which approximates the pairs as being noninteracting. Here, we consider the
effects of the interactions between the Cooper pairs in a Wilsonian
renormalization-group scheme. Starting from the exact bosonic action for the
pairs, we calculate the Cooper-pair self-energy by combining the NSR formalism
with the Wilsonian approach. We compare our findings with the recent
experiments by Harikoshi {\it et al.} [Science {\bf 327}, 442 (2010)] and
Nascimb\`{e}ne {\it et al.} [Nature {\bf 463}, 1057 (2010)], and find very good
agreement. We also make predictions for the population-imbalanced case, that
can be tested in experiments.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, accepted version for PRA, discussion of the
imbalanced Fermi gas added, new figure and references adde
SIC~POVMs and Clifford groups in prime dimensions
We show that in prime dimensions not equal to three, each group covariant
symmetric informationally complete positive operator valued measure (SIC~POVM)
is covariant with respect to a unique Heisenberg--Weyl (HW) group. Moreover,
the symmetry group of the SIC~POVM is a subgroup of the Clifford group. Hence,
two SIC~POVMs covariant with respect to the HW group are unitarily or
antiunitarily equivalent if and only if they are on the same orbit of the
extended Clifford group. In dimension three, each group covariant SIC~POVM may
be covariant with respect to three or nine HW groups, and the symmetry group of
the SIC~POVM is a subgroup of at least one of the Clifford groups of these HW
groups respectively. There may exist two or three orbits of equivalent
SIC~POVMs for each group covariant SIC~POVM, depending on the order of its
symmetry group. We then establish a complete equivalence relation among group
covariant SIC~POVMs in dimension three, and classify inequivalent ones
according to the geometric phases associated with fiducial vectors. Finally, we
uncover additional SIC~POVMs by regrouping of the fiducial vectors from
different SIC~POVMs which may or may not be on the same orbit of the extended
Clifford group.Comment: 30 pages, 1 figure, section 4 revised and extended, published in J.
Phys. A: Math. Theor. 43, 305305 (2010
Impact of two myostatin (MSTN) mutations on weight gain and lamb carcass classification in Norwegian White Sheep (Ovis aries)
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Our aim was to estimate the effect of two <it>myostatin </it>(<it>MSTN</it>) mutations in Norwegian White Sheep, one of which is close to fixation in the Texel breed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The impact of two known <it>MSTN </it>mutations was examined in a field experiment with Norwegian White Sheep. The joint effect of the two <it>MSTN </it>mutations on live weight gain and weaning weight was studied on 644 lambs. Carcass weight gain from birth to slaughter, carcass weight, carcass conformation and carcass fat classes were calculated in a subset of 508 lambs. All analyses were carried out with a univariate linear animal model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The most significant impact of both mutations was on conformation and fat classes. The largest difference between the genotype groups was between the wild type for both mutations and the homozygotes for the c.960delG mutation. Compared to the wild types, these mutants obtained a conformation score 5.1 classes higher and a fat score 3.0 classes lower, both on a 15-point scale.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Both mutations reduced fatness and increased muscle mass, although the effect of the frameshift mutation (c.960delG) was more important as compared to the 3'-UTR mutation (c.2360G>A). Lambs homozygous for the c.960delG mutation grew more slowly than those with other <it>MSTN </it>genotypes, but had the least fat and the largest muscle mass. Only c.960delG showed dominance effects.</p
Bounding basis reduction properties
The paper describes improved analysis techniques for basis reduction
that allow one to prove strong complexity bounds and reduced basis
guarantees for traditional reduction algorithms and some of their
variants. This is achieved by a careful exploitation of the linear
equations and inequalities relating various bit sizes before and after
one or more reduction steps
Classification of K3-surfaces with involution and maximal symplectic symmetry
K3-surfaces with antisymplectic involution and compatible symplectic actions
of finite groups are considered. In this situation actions of large finite
groups of symplectic transformations are shown to arise via double covers of
Del Pezzo surfaces. A complete classification of K3-surfaces with maximal
symplectic symmetry is obtained.Comment: 26 pages; final publication available at http://www.springerlink.co
National culture and tourist destination choice in the UK and Venezuela: an exploratory and preliminary study
National culture determines consumer attitudes and behaviour. While this holds true for tourism
consumption, little research has sought to better understand the effect of culture on tourist
destination choice. The geographical scope of analysis has also been restricted. This study
employs the Hofstedeâs cultural dimensions framework to conduct an exploratory, qualitative
evaluation of the influence of the tourist cultural background on destination choice. It focuses on
the UK and Venezuela, the two countries with significant cultural differences and forecast
growth in outbound tourism. The study shows the distinct role of culture in tourist preferences
for destination choice and structure of travel groups. The effect of culture is also recorded in how
tourists research destinations prior to visit and perceive travel risks, thus ultimately influencing
their motivation to travel. Recommendations are developed on how to integrate knowledge on
the cultural background of tourists into tourism management and policy-making practices
Stakeholders, collaboration, food, and wine: The case of Jumillaâs Gastronomic Days
An emerging literature on gastronomic events highlights the growing interest among academics, event organisers and development agencies in identifying potential or actual outcomes from gastronomic events. Partly in response to such interest, this study seeks to contribute to the literature on events management, studying the contribution of various stakeholders involved in the âGastronomic Daysâ of Jumilla, Spain. Semi-structured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted with the managers and owners of four participating businesses to the event. The data collection was complemented through on-site visits, observations, and interviews with eight other local businesses. The findings underline the significance of collaboration among these participants to grow and sustain the event, as well as voluntary efforts by event âstakeholders.â Importantly, a common objective was identified in the form of enhancing the image of the local products, and overall that of the region, to âconvertâ residents, and also outside consumers and tourists to Jumillaâs products. These findings have significant implications for Jumillaâs community. In particular, the importance and efforts of a regionâs food stakeholders in contributing to adding value and improving the local food culture emerge as useful aspects, with potential benefits for local food growers, hospitality and tourism sectors, and residents
Mutations in GABRB3
Objective: To examine the role of mutations in GABRB3 encoding the b3 subunit of the GABAA receptor in individual patients with epilepsy with regard to causality, the spectrum of genetic variants, their pathophysiology, and associated phenotypes. Methods: We performed massive parallel sequencing of GABRB3 in 416 patients with a range of epileptic encephalopathies and childhood-onset epilepsies and recruited additional patients with epilepsy with GABRB3 mutations from other research and diagnostic programs. Results: We identified 22 patients with heterozygous mutations in GABRB3, including 3 probands frommultiplex families. The phenotypic spectrum of the mutation carriers ranged from simple febrile seizures, genetic epilepsies with febrile seizures plus, and epilepsy withmyoclonic-atonic seizures to West syndrome and other types of severe, early-onset epileptic encephalopathies. Electrophysiologic analysis of 7 mutations in Xenopus laevis oocytes, using coexpression of wild-type or mutant beta(3), together with alpha(5) and gamma(2s) subunits and an automated 2-microelectrode voltage-clamp system, revealed reduced GABA-induced current amplitudes or GABA sensitivity for 5 of 7 mutations. Conclusions: Our results indicate that GABRB3 mutations are associated with a broad phenotypic spectrum of epilepsies and that reduced receptor function causing GABAergic disinhibition represents the relevant disease mechanism
The Intestinal Microbiota Plays a Role in Salmonella-Induced Colitis Independent of Pathogen Colonization
The intestinal microbiota is composed of hundreds of species of bacteria, fungi
and protozoa and is critical for numerous biological processes, such as nutrient
acquisition, vitamin production, and colonization resistance against bacterial
pathogens. We studied the role of the intestinal microbiota on host resistance
to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium-induced colitis.
Using multiple antibiotic treatments in 129S1/SvImJ mice, we showed that
disruption of the intestinal microbiota alters host susceptibility to infection.
Although all antibiotic treatments caused similar increases in pathogen
colonization, the development of enterocolitis was seen only when streptomycin
or vancomycin was used; no significant pathology was observed with the use of
metronidazole. Interestingly, metronidazole-treated and infected C57BL/6 mice
developed severe pathology. We hypothesized that the intestinal microbiota
confers resistance to infectious colitis without affecting the ability of
S. Typhimurium to colonize the intestine. Indeed, different
antibiotic treatments caused distinct shifts in the intestinal microbiota prior
to infection. Through fluorescence in situ hybridization,
terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism, and real-time PCR, we showed
that there is a strong correlation between the intestinal microbiota composition
before infection and susceptibility to Salmonella-induced
colitis. Members of the Bacteroidetes phylum were present at significantly
higher levels in mice resistant to colitis. Further analysis revealed that
Porphyromonadaceae levels were also increased in these mice. Conversely, there
was a positive correlation between the abundance of
Lactobacillus sp. and predisposition to colitis. Our data
suggests that different members of the microbiota might be associated with
S. Typhimurium colonization and colitis. Dissecting the
mechanisms involved in resistance to infection and inflammation will be critical
for the development of therapeutic and preventative measures against enteric
pathogens
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