Determining service improvement priority in a zoological park

Purpose: The objective of this research is to determine the service improvement priority based on tourist judgements and experiences on service quality in a zoological park. Design/methodology/approach: A powerful integrated model was developed to acquire accurate critical service attributes and their priority ranks that can promote tourist satisfaction and tourist loyalty. Drawing on relevant literature, a model was proposed based on tourists’ perspective by integrating structural equation model (SEM) with SERVQUAL and refined Kano models. Findings and Originality/value: Based on the analysis of data through some quantitative tools, the study helped in prioritizing the critical service attributes, which, if adopted, improved, and implemented, could lead to satisfaction of tourists. This will help a zoological park to propose more efficient and value-added improvement policies of the service Research limitations/implications: The primary limitation in the scope its sample. Because the study involved only one Zoological Park in Indonesia, the results cannot be generalized across a national wide spectrum. Originality/value: The study was the first to successfully apply an integrated model in tourism sector, which has previously not been used. The study has hopefully opened up an area of research and methodology that could provide considerable further benefits for researchers interested in this topic. Moreover, the integrated model has proven to be useful in determining the priority rank of critical service quality attributes.Peer Reviewe

Large object segmentation with region priority rendering

The Address Recalculation Pipeline is a hardware architecture designed to reduce the end-to-end latency suffered by immersive Head Mounted Display virtual reality systems. A demand driven rendering technique known as priority rendering was devised for use in conjunction with the address recalculation pipeline. Using this technique, different sections of a scene can be updated at different rates, resulting in reductions to the rendering load.Further reductions can potentially be achieved by allowing for the segmenting of large objects. However in doing so a tearing problem surfaces, which has to be overcome before large object segmentation can be used effectively in priority rendering. This paper demonstrates a way of organizing virtual world objects for priority rendering, as well as a method to hide scene tearing artefacts due to object segmentation

EFFECTS OF ANKLE STABILlZATION ON PUSH-OFF MECHANICS FROM A THREE-POINT STANCE IN FOOTBALL

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of taping and bracing on push-off mechanics from a three-point football stance. Nineteen males were tested under three ankle stabilization conditions: braced, taped, and control. Participants performed five trials in each condition. Two 250Hz video cameras and a forceplate were used to collect data. A MANOVA with repeated measures revealed a significant main effect for condition. Post hoc analysis indicated that bracing and taping resulted in reduced minimum and maximum ankle angles and maximum angular velocity compared to the control. The horizontal velocity of the center of mass at takeofffor the tape condition was significantly lower than the control. Bracing and taping can have a negative effect on push-off mechanics

Evaluasi Aktivitas LST Pada Institusi Pendidikan Tinggi Berdasarkan Persepsi Mahasiswa

Institusi pendidikan tinggi perlu berperan aktif dalam isu keberlanjutan untuk mencapai Tujuan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan (TPB). Studi ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui persepsi mahasiswa terhadap kegiatan universitas terkait LST. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada sebuah universitas swasta di Indonesia yang telah melaksanakan berbagai aktivitas terkait isu lingkungan, sosial dan tata kelola (LST) untuk mendukung pencapaian TPB. Hal ini telah dibuktikan dengan terbitnya Laporan Keberlanjutan dan partisipasi universitas tersebut dalam UI GreenMetrics. Metode yang diterapkan adalah penyebaran kuesioner kepada responden mahasiswa, dan mahasiswa memberikan respon pada skala Likert 1-5. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa bidang sosial dan tata kelola mendapatkan persepsi baik dari mahasiswa dengan skor persepsi 4, sedangkan bidang lingkungan mendapat skor kurang dari 4. Pendalaman lebih lanjut menunjukkan bahwa universitas masih perlu melakukan perbaikan atas kegiatan penghematan energi, pengelolaan bangunan dan promosi transportasi ramah lingkungan. Hasil studi ini dapat dipakai oleh universitas untuk meningkatkan aspek-aspek yang masih kurang dan mempertahankan aktivitas yang telah baik dari persepsi mahasiswa

The ARP Virtual Reality System in Addressing Security Threats and Disaster Scenarios

Nations, corporations and political organizations around the world today are forced to deal with an increasing number of security threats. As a result, various organizations must find ways to adequately equip and prepare themselves to handle numerous dangerous and life threatening circumstances. Virtual reality is an extremely important technology that can be used across a variety of different fields and for a number of diverse applications, ranging from simulation training to visualization tools, in order to prepare for and manage disaster situations. Head mounted display (HMD) virtual reality systems attempt visually to immerse the user in a virtual environment. However, it is well recognized that latency, the delay in responding to a user\u27s head movement, is a major shortcoming that plagues immersive HMD virtual reality systems. Excessive latency destroys the illusion of reality that such systems attempt to present to the user. A hardware architecture known as the address recalculation pipeline (ARP) and a computer graphics rendering technique called priority rendering, were designed to reduce the end-to-end latency suffered by immersive HMD virtual reality systems. This paper discusses the benefits of using the ARP virtual reality system in addressing security threats and disaster situations

Cost-effectiveness analysis of left atrial appendage occlusion compared with pharmacological strategies for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation

Background Transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a promising therapy for stroke prophylaxis in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) but its cost-effectiveness remains understudied. This study evaluated the cost- effectiveness of LAAO for stroke prophylaxis in NVAF. Methods A Markov decision analytic model was used to compare the cost-effectiveness of LAAO with 7 pharmacological strategies: aspirin alone, clopidogrel plus aspirin, warfarin, dabigatran 110 mg, dabigatran 150 mg, apixaban, and rivaroxaban. Outcome measures included quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), lifetime costs and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Base-case data were derived from ACTIVE, RE-LY, ARISTOTLE, ROCKET-AF, PROTECT-AF and PREVAIL trials. One- way sensitivity analysis varied by CHADS2 score, HAS-BLED score, time horizons, and LAAO costs; and probabilistic sensitivity analysis using 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations was conducted to assess parameter uncertainty. Results LAAO was considered cost-effective compared with aspirin, clopidogrel plus aspirin, and warfarin, with ICER of US$5,115,$2,447, and $6,298 per QALY gained, respectively. LAAO was dominant (i.e. less costly but more effective) compared to other strategies. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated favorable ICERs of LAAO against other strategies in varied CHADS2 score, HAS-BLED score, time horizons (5 to 15 years) and LAAO costs. LAAO was cost-effective in 86.24$50,000/QALY. Conclusions Transcatheter LAAO is cost-effective for prevention of stroke in NVAF compared with 7 pharmacological strategies. Condensed abstract The transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is considered cost-effective against the standard 7 oral pharmacological strategies including acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) alone, clopidogrel plus ASA, warfarin, dabigatran 110 mg, dabigatran 150 mg, apixaban, and rivaroxaban for stroke prophylaxis in non-valvular atrial fibrillation management

How are they used?

Consolidated, accruals-based government accounting has been promoted by many commentators as contributing to macroeconomic policymaking, enhancing parliamentary scrutiny and accountability, and facilitating a more holistic approach to government by integrating accounting information systems. In fact, such theoretical claims have not been tested against the reality of how these accounts are being used and who is using them. Nor is it known whether ideas that work in one country will readily transfer to another. This purpose of the study on which this report is based was to test those claims. The study was based on interviews with key stakeholders across a range of user groups and was supplemented with an academic literature review. Although there are notable variations in the use and users across the countries analysed there are a number of unifying themes and lessons learnt. The key findings and recommendations are outlined below

Recurrent Hypoglycaemia in a Patient with Metastatic Pancreatic Carcinoma

The patient's recurrent hypoglycaemia was found to be due to non-islet cell tumour hypoglycaemia

A 50-Year-Old Woman with Recurrent Generalised Seizures

Ronald Ma and colleagues discuss the differential diagnosis, investigation, and management of this patient