The Importance of Onboard Features in Cruise Decision Making: A Comparison between Cruisers and Potential Cruisers

An important task for the cruise industry is to convert potential cruisers to cruisers, which may be best accomplished by acknowledging the different features of a cruise that influence the decision making of cruisers and potential cruisers. Using a sample of cruisers and potential cruisers with similar demographics, the researchers found that cruisers and potential cruisers perceive six dimensions of onboard features, but attach different importance to some of the dimensions. The results support the theoretical prediction based on the motivational and knowledge differences between cruisers and potential cruisers

Arts Residency Interventions in Special Education 2008 Evaluation Report

This report includes evaluation findings from the first of three years of data collection for the Performing Arts Workshop's ARISE Project (Arts Residency Interventions in Special Education). The ARISE Project offers public schools weekly artist residencies lasting between 25 and 30 weeks in theater arts and creative movement for third to fifth grade students. Classrooms participating in ARISE are identified as Special Day Classes or general education classes with special education inclusion (or mainstreamed) students. The ARISE residencies emphasize critical-thinking while engaging in the creative process. In the 2007-08 school year, the Workshop provided ARISE residencies to 24 classrooms from five schools within the San Francisco Unified School District. The report includes the ARISE program methodology; the evaluation methodology; background information on arts education for students in special education; results from the data collected during the 2007-08 school year; a discussion of factors that affect findings and program impact; and recommendations. The appendices to this report include our statistical analysis, data collection instruments, and informed consent forms

Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis, phase-angle assessment and relationship with malnutrition risk in a cohort of frail older hospital patients in the United Kingdom

AbstractObjective Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) and phase angle (PA) have been shown previously to indicate relative nutritional status in patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the application of {BIVA} and {PA} assessments in a cohort of frail older hospital patients and compare these assessments with malnutrition risk screening by {MUST} (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool), and the MNA-SF® (Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form). Methods Sixty-nine patients (n = 44 men; n = 25 women; age 82.1 ± 7.6 y range 62â-96 y; body mass index 25.8 ± 5.4 kg/m2 range 16.6â-45.1 kg/m2) were recruited from hospital wards specializing in the care of frail older individuals from the United Kingdom. Bioelectrical impedance assessment was performed at 50 khz frequency, \{BIVA\} was performed using raw impedance data, \{PA\} was calculated, and data were compared against reference population groups. Patients were categorized by malnutrition risk by \{MUST\} and MNA-SF. Results \{BIVA\} indicated that the men and women in the study were significantly different from reference population groups (P < 0.0001), with a noticeable reduced capacitive reactance (xC) component. The group mean \{PA\} was 4.6° ± 1.1° (2.4°â-9.2°). The mean \{PA\} for men was 4.7° ± 1.3° (2.4°â-9.2°), and for women it was 4.5° ± 0.7° (2.8â-6.0°). Group \{PA\} correlated with MNA-SF score (P = 0.05). \{MUST\} categorized patients predominantly at low risk for malnutrition (80%); whereas MNA-SF was at risk (46%) and malnourished (45%). Conclusions The significant reduction in xC component and \{PA\} is consistent with other studies and is indicative of a reduced body cell mass and nutritional status with aging and illness. The general trend in MNA-SF scoring was more consistent with these patterns as a group; but requires clarification in larger cohorts. Future studies are necessary with an aim to improve and optimize care of frail older people

A2ML1 and otitis media : novel variants, differential expression, and relevant pathways

A genetic basis for otitis media is established, however, the role of rare variants in disease etiology is largely unknown. Previously a duplication variant within A2ML1 was identified as a significant risk factor for otitis media in an indigenous Filipino population and in US children. In this report exome and Sanger sequencing was performed using DNA samples from the indigenous Filipino population, Filipino cochlear implantees, US probands, Finnish, and Pakistani families with otitis media. Sixteen novel, damaging A2ML1 variants identified in otitis media patients were rare or low-frequency in population-matched controls. In the indigenous population, both gingivitis and A2ML1 variants including the known duplication variant and the novel splice variant c.4061 + 1 G>C were independently associated with otitis media. Sequencing of salivary RNA samples from indigenous Filipinos demonstrated lower A2ML1 expression according to the carriage of A2ML1 variants. Sequencing of additional salivary RNA samples from US patients with otitis media revealed differentially expressed genes that are highly correlated with A2ML1 expression levels. In particular, RND3 is upregulated in both A2ML1 variant carriers and high-A2ML1 expressors. These findings support a role for A2ML1 in keratinocyte differentiation within the middle ear as part of otitis media pathology and the potential application of ROCK inhibition in otitis media.Peer reviewe

Use of Alignable and Nonalignable Attributes in Decision Making: The Role of Between-Alternatives Heterogeneity

With the help of information technology, consumers today can easily compare tourism and hospitality products directly based on various attributes. Grounded in Structural Alignment Theory and the notion of process goals, this study investigated how between-alternatives heterogeneity affect consumers’ use of alignable (i.e., attributes shared by all the alternatives) and nonalignable attributes (i.e., attributes not shared by all the alternatives). Results of two experiments showed that consumers attach more relative importance to alignable attributes when the between-alternative heterogeneity is high, but attach more relative importance to nonalignable attributes when the between-alternative heterogeneity is low. Important theoretical and practical implications are discussed