An Activities-based Analysis Of The Space-time Characteristics Of Tourist Travel: The Lions Of Shetland, Scotland

This study evolved as a response to the dearth of empirically-based research within the realm of island tourism. It is an attempt to combine a broad range of geographical concepts (space, time, location, perception, regions, and impacts) in achieving a more holistic understanding of tourist group travel in the region of Shetland, Scotland, through a proposed theoretical model. A total of 100 questionnaire packages were distributed in the study area, with a response rate of 71 percent. Respondents were placed into one of two groups contingent upon their activity-based interests: Special Interest (birders, fishers, history/archaeology, natural history, and other , n = 35), or General Interest (n = 36).;A triangulation methodology was used that employed two approaches and four distinct data-gathering techniques. The first approach, quantitative, relied on the implementation of a self-administered questionnaire and on a space-time budget. The questionnaire was designed to uncover both socio-demographic data in addition to the characteristics of the Shetland on-site travel experience. Conversely, the space-time budget required respondents to keep a daily record of their spatial and temporal use of attractions, facilities, accommodation and transportation in Shetland. Respondents were also required to trace their daily spatial movement on a map for each day of their Shetland vacation. The second approach, qualitative, involved the application of observations and interviews in all regions of the study area.;Data were presented using a number of techniques including tables, the model itself, in addition to maps of Shetland comparing travel groups on the basis of mean centre and weighted mean centre. In general, it was discovered that both groups differed only marginally in their use of attractions, facilities, accommodation, and transportation; in their overall movement through the four access zones of Shetland (Lerwick, Rural Mainland, Car Ferry Isles, and Passenger Ferry Isles); in the results of the questionnaire; and through an analysis of observation and interview data.;Implications of the methodological framework and the theoretical model are discussed in the context of past studies, and future research needs. Particular attention was focused on exploring attractions and their importance in the travel experience

SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES OF FLY-FISHING LODGES: A GLOBAL APPROACH

Usprkos sve većoj popularnosti mušičarenja, malo je studija utjecaja koje ono ima na okoliš i na društvo. Ovaj rad predstavlja prvo opsežno istraživanje o ribičkim kućicama kao gospodarskoj aktivnosti i njihovim praksama koje se odnose na održivo poslovanje. Okvirom izbora uzorka bile su obuhvaćene ribičke kućice iz raznih dijelova svijeta koje navodi nekoliko glavnih trgovaca opremom za mušičarenje, putničkih poduzeća koja se bave mušičarenjem i publikacija. Odabran je uzorak od 196 kućica i na njihovim internetskim stranicama provedena je analiza njihove komunikacije o održivim praksama. Analiza je pokazala da je razina izvještavanja o njihovim inicijativama vezanima uz održivost niska, premda je prisustvo ribičkih kućica na internetu veliko (samo 16,3% uzorka nema internetsku stranicu). Među najpopularnijim inicijativama su praksa “uhvati i pusti”, korištenje obnovljive energije, obnova staništa, podrška lokalnoj zajednici te uzgoj organske hrane. Iako mnoge ribičke kućice otvoreno promoviraju odlazak na manje pristupačna područja, rijetko se bave njihovim utjecajem na okoliš i djelotvornošću praksi vezanih uz održivost.Despite fly-fishing’s growing popularity, there are few studies on its environmental and social impacts. The present study is the first large-scale investigation of the fly-fishing lodge sector and its sustainability practices. A sampling frame of global fly-fishing lodges was created by including lodges featured by several major fly-fishing outfitters, fly-fishing travel companies, and publications. A sample of 196 lodges was drawn and their websites analyzed with respect to sustainability communications. The analysis indicated that although the web presence of fly-fishing lodges is high (only 16.3% of the sample did not have a website), reporting on sustainability initiatives is low. The most popular initiatives included catch and release practices, renewable energy use, restoration of habitats, support for local community, and growing organic food. While many lodges explicitly promoted access to remote areas, they rarely addressed their own impacts and sustainability performance

Social Acceleration as a New Frontier for the Ethics of Tourism

Las críticas a la velocidad, al cambio continuo o al crecimiento han formado parte de muchos debates sobre la deslegitimación del turismo de los últimos tiempos. De manera más o menos explícita, a muchos de ellos les subyace una dimensión ética cuando sugieren que podría o debería desarrollarse de otra forma. Por lo tanto, es tarea de la ética del turismo reflexionar sobre ellas. No obstante, aunque esta ha ido adquiriendo una gran relevancia en los últimos tiempos, aún se trata de una disciplina relativamente joven. Una de las tareas pendientes es la de superar las concepciones tradicionales y estáticas del turismo, porque, a diferencia de muchas actividades, es extraordinariamente heterogéneo, escurridizo y difícilmente controlable. Para avanzar hacia esa dirección, este número plantea un espacio de reflexión sobre la ética del turismo que toma en consideración una perspectiva analítica concreta: la aceleración social

A detailed study of the diastereoselective catalytic hydrogenation of 6-hydroxytetrahydroisoquinoline-(3R)-carboxylic ester intermediates

A key step towards a highly-selective antagonist of ionotropic glutamate receptors entails the diastereoselective arene hydrogenation of an enantiopure tetrahydroisoquinoline. An extensive screen using parallel reactors was conducted and led to the discovery of several Pd/C catalysts giving high yield and improved diastereoselectivity from 75 : 25 to 95 : 5. A detailed kinetic study of the best system was performed and supports the reduction occuring in two-steps.

Effects of Harvest Time on the Aroma of White Wines Made from Cold-Hardy Brianna and Frontenac Gris Grapes Using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Olfactometry

The Midwest wine industry has shown a marked increase in growers, hectares planted, wineries, and wine production. This growth coincides with the release of cold-hardy cultivars such as Brianna and Frontenac gris, in 2001 and 2003, respectively. These white grape varieties account for one-third of the total area grown in the state of Iowa. It is generally accepted that the wine aroma profile plays a crucial role in developing a local, sustainable brand. However, the identity of Brianna/Frontenac Gris-based wine aromas and their link to the grape berry chemistry at harvest is unknown. This study aims to preliminarily characterize key odor-active compounds that can influence the aroma profile in wines made from Brianna and Frontenac gris grapes harvested at different stages of ripening. Brianna and Frontenac gris grapes were harvested approximately 7 days apart, starting at 15.4 °Brix (3.09 pH) and 19.5 °Brix (3.00 pH), respectively. Small batch fermentations were made for each time point with all juices adjusted to the same °Brix prior to fermentation. Odor-active compounds were extracted from wine headspace using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and simultaneous olfactometry (O). Over 30 odor-active compounds were detected. Aromas in Brianna wines developed from “cotton candy” and “floral”, to “banana” and “butterscotch”, then finally to “honey”, “caramel” and an unknown neutral aroma. Frontenac gris wines changed from an unknown neutral aroma to “fruity” and “rose”. Results from the lay audiences’ flavor and aroma descriptors also indicate a shift with harvest date and associated °Brix. To date, this is the first report of wine aromas from Brianna and Frontenac gris by GC-MS-O. Findings from this research support the hypothesis that aroma profiles of Brianna and Frontenac gris wines can be influenced by harvesting the grapes at different stages of ripening

The <i>Plasmodium</i> eukaryotic initiation factor-2α kinase IK2 controls the latency of sporozoites in the mosquito salivary glands

Sporozoites, the invasive form of malaria parasites transmitted by mosquitoes, are quiescent while in the insect salivary glands. Sporozoites only differentiate inside of the hepatocytes of the mammalian host. We show that sporozoite latency is an active process controlled by a eukaryotic initiation factor-2α (eIF2α) kinase (IK2) and a phosphatase. IK2 activity is dominant in salivary gland sporozoites, leading to an inhibition of translation and accumulation of stalled mRNAs into granules. When sporozoites are injected into the mammalian host, an eIF2α phosphatase removes the PO4 from eIF2α-P, and the repression of translation is alleviated to permit their transformation into liver stages. In IK2 knockout sporozoites, eIF2α is not phosphorylated and the parasites transform prematurely into liver stages and lose their infectivity. Thus, to complete their life cycle, Plasmodium sporozoites exploit the mechanism that regulates stress responses in eukaryotic cells

Near-Earth injection of MeV electrons associated with intense dipolarization electric fields: Van Allen Probes observations.

Substorms generally inject tens to hundreds of keV electrons, but intense substorm electric fields have been shown to inject MeV electrons as well. An intriguing question is whether such MeVelectron injections can populate the outer radiation belt. Here we present observations of a substorm injection of MeV electrons into the inner magnetosphere. In the premidnight sector at L ∼ 5.5, Van Allen Probes (Radiation Belt Storm Probes)-A observed a large dipolarization electric field (50 mV/m) over ∼40 s and a dispersionless injection of electrons up to ∼3 MeV. Pitch angle observations indicated betatron acceleration of MeV electrons at the dipolarization front. Corresponding signals of MeV electron injection were observed at LANL-GEO, THEMIS-D, and GOES at geosynchronous altitude. Through a series of dipolarizations, the injections increased the MeV electron phase space density by 1 order of magnitude in less than 3 h in the outer radiation belt (L &gt; 4.8). Our observations provide evidence that deep injections can supply significant MeV electrons

Comprehensive comparative analysis of RNA sequencing methods for degraded or low input samples

RNA-Seq is an effective method to study the transcriptome, but can be difficult to apply to scarce or degraded RNA from fixed clinical samples, rare cell populations, or cadavers. Recent studies have proposed several methods for RNA-Seq of low quality and/or low quantity samples, but their relative merits have not been systematically analyzed. Here, we compare five such methods using metrics relevant to transcriptome annotation, transcript discovery, and gene expression. Using a single human RNA sample, we constructed and sequenced ten libraries with these methods and two control libraries. We find that the RNase H method performed best for low quality RNA, and confirmed this with actual degraded samples. RNase H can even effectively replace oligo (dT) based methods for standard RNA-Seq. SMART and NuGEN had distinct strengths for low quantity RNA. Our analysis allows biologists to select the most suitable methods and provides a benchmark for future method development

Toward the Elucidation of Cytoplasmic Diversity in North American Grape Breeding Programs

Plants have an intriguing tripartite genetic system: Nuclear genome 9 Mitochondria 9 Plastids and their interactions may impact germplasm breeding. In grapevine, the study of cytoplasmic genomes has been limited, and their role with respect to grapevine germplasm diversity has yet to be elucidated. In the present study, the results of an analysis of the cytoplasmic diversity among 6073 individuals (comprising cultivars, interspecific hybrids and segregating progenies) are presented. Genotyping by sequencing (GBS) was used to elucidate plastid and mitochondrial DNA sequences, and results were analyzed using multivariate techniques. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) effects were annotated in reference to plastid and mitochondrial genome sequences. The cytoplasmic diversity identified was structured according to synthetic domestication groups (wine and raisin/table gr.ape types) and interspecific-hybridization-driven groups with introgression from North American Vitis species, identifying five cytoplasmic groups and four major clusters. Fifty-two SNP markers were used to describe the diversity of the germplasm. Ten organelle genes showed distinct SNP annotations and effect predictions, of which six were chloroplast-derived and three were mitochondrial genes, in addition to one mitochondrial SNP affecting a nonannotated open reading frame. The results suggest that the application of GBS will aid in the study of cytoplasmic genomes in grapevine, which will enable further studies on the role of cytoplasmic genomes in grapevine germplasm, and then allow the exploitation of these sources of diversity in breeding