MORE THAN FRIENDS: THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON WORD OF MOUTH, BRAND LOYALTY AND PURCHASE INTENTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL HOTELS

Purpose of the study: Increases in global travel have led to the internationalization of the hospitality industry. Though a number of applications of social media have been examined in the hospitality industry, few of them integrate key dimensions of fan pages into a measurement model in the same time, including interactivity (INT), engagement (ENG), trust (TRT), friendship (FRP), word-of-mouth (WOM) and purchase intention (PI). Methodology: Based on 408 valid fans from Facebook fan pages of 24 International hotels in Taiwan, the empirical results show that ENG, FRP, TRT, and WOM all act as partial mediators in their impact on post-purchase behaviors. Based on Taiwanese International hotels, this study attempts to explore why these owners want more than just a friend. Main findings: The empirical results show that ENG, FRP, TRT, and WOM all act as partial mediators in their impact on post-purchase behaviors. The study demonstrates the mechanisms behind utilizing social media to build solid long term potentially profitable relationships with hotel clientele. Originality/value: We propose and empirically investigate an integrated theoretical framework to more fully capture and describe the consumer’s behavior in the brand community. Our model of the social media process is informed by an “S-O-R” view from consumer behavior, where INT and ENG help create the situation which acts as a stimulus for FRP and TRT which in turn influence BL, WOM, and further PIs. Here, we see the pull force (website INT) as an influence on the brand-consumer relationship (i.e., FRP) through a push force (fan’s ENG). Together and along with the brand content they combine to create the consumer stimulus

Accelerometer-assessed light physical activity is protective of future cognitive ability: A longitudinal study among community dwelling older adults

OBJECTIVE: Physical activity (PA), especially moderate-to-vigorous intensity, could protect older adults from cognitive impairment. However, most literature is based on self-reported PA which is limited by recall bias. Light PA is popular among older adults, but a paucity of objective longitudinal data has considered the relationship between light PA and cognitive ability. We examined if a higher level of objectively measured light PA, independent of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), was prospectively associated with better cognitive ability in older adults. METHODS: A longitudinal study over 22.12 (±1.46) months including 274 community-dwelling older adults across 14 regions in Taiwan was undertaken. Cognitive ability was obtained using a Chinese version of the Ascertain Dementia 8-item Questionnaire (AD8) and light PA and MVPA captured by 7days accelerometer positioned on waist. Multivariable negative binomial regression adjusted for confounders were undertaken. RESULTS: 274 participants (74.52years, 45.6% male) attended the follow-up (96.1%). Higher light PA, independent from MVPA, was associated with a reduced rate of decline in cognitive ability (rate ratio 0.75 [0.60-0.92]). MVPA, was also associated with a reduced decline in cognitive ability (rate ratio 0.85 [0.75-0.95]). Light PA was protective of cognitive ability in sensitivity analyses removing participants with activities of daily living difficulties, depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment at baseline. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that light PA may offer a protective influence of future cognitive ability in community dwelling older adults. The promotion of light PA may be a valuable means to maintain cognitive ability in older age

Experimental analysis of power harvesting on vehicle vibration using smart piezoelectric materials

In this paper the experimental analysis for power harvesting from mechanical vibration on a vehicle has been studied by using QuickPack smart materials with piezoelectric effect. The finite element ANSYS method (ANSYS FEM) was applied to explore the required mechanical structure, modal and harmonic analysis, and electrical feature, i.e., output voltage, admittance. The experimental platform consists of a shocker and a lever, which simulated a periodical oscillation on vehicle vibration, for evaluating conversion efficiency from mechanical energy to electrical energy. During loading experiments of power generation, the electromechanical coupling characteristics of smart materials were investigated via a proposed testing circuit. Also, various electrical output loadings were specified within resistance of 5~3000 kΩ. Through the experiment analysis, the power harvesting test with a buck converter at the output terminal was processed to obtain the spectrum analysis of output voltage within the vibrating frequencies below 200 Hz, controlled by the electromagnetic shaker. Based on the comparison between ANSYS FEM and spectrum analysis, the optimal results of mechanical oscillating quantities have been verified by the maximum output voltage for the QuickPack NQ45N material. Hence, the optimum power harvesting of the smart material has the maximum output power of 0.18 mW at 26-Hz-vibration on a vehicle

The influence of the technical dimension, functional dimension, and tenant satisfaction on tenant loyalty: an analysis based on the theory of planned behavior

This study primarily explored the influence of the technical dimension, functional dimension, and tenant satisfaction on tenant loyalty. The theory of planned behavior served as the basis of this study, and the three aforementioned factors (the technical dimension, the functional dimension, and tenant satisfaction) were incorporated into a conceptual framework for tenant loyalty. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed for parameter estimation. The participants consisted of tenants residing in eight administrative districts in Kaohsiung City. 315 questionnaires were administered, all of which were returned. After removing 15 invalid responses, there were 300 valid responses, which indicated an effective recovery rate of 95.2%. The results showed that the technical dimension, the functional dimension, and attitude significantly and positively influenced tenant satisfaction. Tenant satisfaction, perceived behavioral control, and social norms significantly and positively influenced tenant loyalty. Tenant satisfaction mediated the influence of the technical dimension and the functional dimension on tenant loyalty; the mediating effect of the functional dimension on tenant loyalty was greater than that of the technical dimension. The findings of this study highlight the measures rental companies should adopt in order to enhance the technical dimension, functional dimension, and tenant satisfaction, as this is crucial to maintaining sustainable operations

Topological Entropy for Shifts of Finite Type Over Z\mathbb{Z} and Tree

We study the topological entropy of hom tree-shifts and show that, although the topological entropy is not conjugacy invariant for tree-shifts in general, it remains invariant for hom tree higher block shifts. In doi:10.1016/j.tcs.2018.05.034 and doi:10.3934/dcds.2020186, Petersen and Salama demonstrated the existence of topological entropy for tree-shifts and $h(\mathcal{T}_X) \geq h(X)$, where $\mathcal{T}_X$ is the hom tree-shift derived from $X$. We characterize a necessary and sufficient condition when the equality holds for the case where $X$ is a shift of finite type. In addition, two novel phenomena have been revealed for tree-shifts. There is a gap in the set of topological entropy of hom tree-shifts of finite type, which makes such a set not dense. Last but not least, the topological entropy of a reducible hom tree-shift of finite type is equal to or larger than that of its maximal irreducible component

Assessment of Changes in Knowledge and Stigmatization Following Tuberculosis Training Workshops in Taiwan

Background/PurposeThere is little understanding of the depth of knowledge of health workers involved in tuberculosis (TB) control programs, and even less is known about health workers attaching stigma to TB patients. This study surveyed health workers enrolled in TB training workshops prior to the execution of the directly observed treatment, short course (DOTS) program.MethodsAll participants attended the training course and completed structured questionnaires before (pre-test) and after training (post-test). The questionnaires were collected immediately following completion and the scores were analyzed.ResultsPair comparison of knowledge scores revealed that all participants made statistically significant improvements in level of TB knowledge, except those who had a history of TB (p = 0.331). Pair comparison of stigmatization scores revealed a reduction in stigmatization, with the DOTS workers attaching less stigma to TB patients. After training, caregivers, including women (p = 0.012), public health workers (p = 0.028), 40–49-year-old subjects (p = 0.035), those with an education of < 12 years (p = 0.024), those who had been a volunteer (p = 0.018), and those who had a history of TB and those who did not (p = 0.034, p = 0.036), were significantly less likely to stigmatize patients. TB knowledge was not found to be significantly correlated with stigmatization (pre-test, p = 0.298; post-test, p = 0.821).ConclusionTraining workshops in TB control were effective for promotion of knowledge and elimination of stigmatization in first-line caregivers. DOTS workers attached less stigma to TB patients than public health workers, and older workers who had been volunteers attached the least stigma

Primary Urothelial Carcinoma of the Ureter: 11-Year Experience in Taipei Veterans General Hospital

BackgroundUrothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract is relatively rare, occurring in 5% of all urothelial tumors. Ureteral urothelial carcinoma is even less common than that of the renal pelvis, accounting for about 25% of all upper urinary tract tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical behavior, survival, recurrence and prognostic information of primary ureteral urothelial carcinoma from our 11 years of experience at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 111 patients with ureteral urothelial carcinoma who had been treated in our hospital between January 1993 and December 2003. Tumor staging was according to the 2002 AJCC TNM classification and stage groupings. Patients with stage 0a and stage 0is were categorized as stage 0a/is, and patients with pathologic T stage pTa and pTis were categorized as pTa/is for statistical analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis.ResultsThere were 69 males and 42 females, with a mean age of 70.5 ± 9.4 years at diagnosis. Of the 111 patients, 5 presented with stage 0a/is, 38 with stage I, 23 with stage II, 21 with stage III, and 24 with stage IV. Nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision was performed in 78 patients, 12 patients received segmental resection of the ureter, 4 received ureteroscopic laser coagulation, and 17 underwent chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both. Tumors were located on the left side in 53 patients, on the right in 53, and bilaterally in 5. The most frequent initial presenting symptom was gross hematuria (65%). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 49.3 months. Disease recurrence in the nephroureterectomy group occurred in 36 patients (46.2%), with 17 (21.8%) at the urinary bladder, 2 (2.6%) at the retroperitoneum, 1 (1.3%) at the contralateral ureter, 6 (7.7%) with distant metastases to the lung, bone, distant lymph nodes or liver, and 10 (12.8%) at multiple sites. The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate was 100% for pTa/is, 95.2% for pT1, 69.4% for pT2, and 43.8% for pT3. All 3 pT4 cases died of cancer in a median of 12 months. Significant prognostic factors for cancer-specific survival by univariate analysis were pT (p = 0.00001), stage (p = 0.00001), type of treatment (p = 0.00001) and grade (p = 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, only stage (p = 0.0001) and grade (p = 0.014) were significant for cancer-specific and overall survival. Stage (p = 0.0001), pT (p =0.0001) and grade (p = 0.026) were also significant prognostic factors of recurrence in multivariate analysis.ConclusionOur experience showed that patients with pTa/is and pT1 tumors treated with radical surgery have excellent prognoses. Tumor stage and grade are the only significant prognostic factors for both cancer-specific and overall survival

A LITERATURE REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM (1990-2016): DEVELOPMENT TRAJECTORY AND FRAMEWORK

Purpose of the study—Tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the world. Just like an enterprise today, sustainability is the long-term objective pursued by tourism industry. However, little effort has been made to systematically provide sufficient information to academicians and practitioners who have great research interests in sustainable tourism. Therefore, this paper aims to figure out the knowledge mapping of sustainable tourism and to indicate its research hot spots and trends for future research. Methodology—This paper surveys the development trajectory of sustainable tourism using a literature review and classification of articles retrieved from 5 online databases with solo keyword “sustainable tourism” from 1900 to 2016. Main findings—Based on the scope of 641 articles, this study reveals that the number of publication on sustainable tourism has significantly increased since 2006. In addition, these articles are scattered across 125 journals and mostly published in 23 academic journals. The majority of targeted countries/regions for sustainable tourism focus on Asia, Europe and America. Limitation—Restricted to limited knowledge, we make a brief literature survey on sustainable tourism from 1990-2016 to explore how sustainable tourism and its applications have developed in this period. Originality/value—In fact, sustainable tourism is a belief and an overall concept in every tourism activities. Though this research has done lots, it still has rooms to make more complete. Finally, we present a conceptual framework integrating 13 classifications criteria derived from our analysis with 3247 keywords. Most interestingly, we further present a conceptual framework with a visual effect to operationalize the coverage of sustainable tourism. Based on our analysis, any researcher can easily find the popular and right journal to get into it, if he/she is in need, he/she also can roughly know its applications so far and completely get a whole picture of sustainable tourism quickly