Understanding generation Z’s travel social decision-making

Purpose – To propose a new decision-making process that Generation Zers adopt when they shop for travel and tourism services through social and mobile applications (i.e., hotels, airlines, attractions, and restaurants). Design – A qualitative research was used to explore the changes and unique characteristics of the Generation Z’s different stages of social travel decision-making. Methodology – A conceptual approach that relies on an extensive literature review of classical decision-making models reflecting the changes and differences in each stage in the process. Approach – The authors rely on Engel-Kollat-Blackwell’s (EKB) consumer decision-making model as a base to understand and propose a modified model. Findings – The authors propose a new social decision-making process model for Generation Z. The proposed model consists of five stages and each step is deeper and more complex than ever before. These stages are as follows: 1) Inspiration, 2) Need for Social Recognition, 3) Planning, Search and Evaluation, 4) Booking, and 5) Post-Booking Evaluation. Originality of the research – The paper is the first study to propose a unique decision-making process for Generation Z travellers in the realm of social and mobile business

Enhancement of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity is associated with treatment response to extracorporeal photopheresis in Sézary syndrome

Sézary syndrome (SS) is a rare, leukemic type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), for which extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is a first-line therapy. Reliable biomarkers to objectively monitor the response to ECP in patients with SS are missing. We examined the quantitative and qualitative impact of ECP on natural killer (NK) cell activity in SS patients, and especially their functional ability for antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Further, we addressed the question whether the magnitude of the effect on ADCC can be associated with the anti-cancer efficacy of ECP in SS patients. We assessed numbers of NK cells, ADCC activity, and treatment response based on blood tumor staging in a cohort of 13 SS patients (8 women, 5 men) treated with ECP as a first-line therapy. Blood samples were collected before treatment start and after an average of 9 months of uninterrupted ECP treatment. NK cell numbers were reduced in SS patients compared to healthy individuals and showed a tendency of recovery after long-term ECP treatment, independent of the clinical response to treatment. Patients with marginal increase (≤1.5 AU-fold) or lack of increase in ADCC activity failed to respond clinically to treatment, while patients with an increased ADCC activity showed a reduction in blood tumor burden. NK-mediated ADCC is selectively enhanced and might be a mechanism underlying the effect of ECP while in addition it can possibly serve as a reliable biomarker to objectively monitor response to ECP in patients with SS

Determination of environmental flows in rivers using an integrated hydrological-hydrodynamic-habitat modelling approach

[EN] We propose the novel integrated modelling procedure 3H-EMC for the determination of the environmental flow in rivers and streams; 3H-EMC combines Hydrological, Hydrodynamic and Habitat modelling with the use of the Environmental Management Classes (EMCs) that are defined by the Global Environmental Flow Calculator. We apply 3H-EMC in the Sperchios River in Central Greece, in which water abstractions for irrigation cause significant environmental impacts. Calculations of the hydrodynamic-habitat model, in which the large and the small chub are the main fish species, suggest discharge values that range from 1.0 m3/s to 4.0 m3/s. However, hydrological modelling indicates that it is practically difficult to achieve discharges that are higher than approximately 1.0-1.5 m3/s. Furthermore, legislation suggests significantly lower values (0.4-0.5 m3/s) that are unacceptable from the ecological point of view. This behaviour shows that a non-integrated approach, which is based only on hydrodynamic-habitat modelling does not necessarily result in realistic environmental flows, and thus an integrated approach is required. We propose the value of 1.0 m3/s as the "optimum" environmental flow for Sperchios River, because (a) it satisfies the habitat requirements, as expressed by the values of weighted useable area that are equal to 2180 and 1964 m2 for the large and small chub, respectively, and correspond to 82 and 95% of their respective maximum values, (b) it is consistent with the requirements of Environmental Classes A and B, whose percentiles are higher than 75% for discharge (77.2%) and for habitat availability (>83.5% for the large chub and >85.0% for the small chub), (c) it is practically achievable from the hydrological point of view, and (d) it is higher than the value proposed by the Greek legislation. The proposed modelling approach can be applied to any river or stream using the same or similar modelling tools, which should be linked via suitable coupling algorithms.Hydraulic field measurements were performed within the framework of a research project by the Hellenic Centre of Marine Research (HCMR) entitled KRIPIS “Development of an integrated management system for river basin, coastal and marine zones” (http://imbriw.hcmr.gr/en/). Fish habitat data were collected within the framework of the ECOFLOW research project (www. ecoflow.gr). A part of the modelling work has been performed, while the first author was a visiting professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM); thanks are due to the Bavarian State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).Stamou, A.; Polydera, A.; Papadonikolaki, G.; Martinez-Capel, F.; Muñoz Mas, R.; Papadaki, C.; Zogaris, S.... (2018). Determination of environmental flows in rivers using an integrated hydrological-hydrodynamic-habitat modelling approach. Journal of Environmental Management. 209:273-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.12.038S27328520

Desarrollo de modelos de idoneidad de hábitat para la trucha balcánica (Salmo fariodes, Karaman) y estimación de caudales ecológicos en ríos de montaña de Grecia

[EN] Esta investigación, enmarcada en el proyecto ECOFLOW (Grecia), está enfocada a la estimación de caudales ecológicos en ríos de Grecia. La alteración hidrológica y la degradación de los hábitats fluviales han sido escasamente estudiados en este país, y permanecen aún fuera de su legislación. En este trabajo se aplicó el enfoque de la simulación del hábitat físico, basado en simulación hidráulica y del hábitat. Por primera vez para la trucha balcánica occidental (Salmo fariodes, Karaman) adulta, se realizó un modelo de idoneidad del hábitat multivariante (a escala de microhábitat) mediante modelos generalizados aditivos (GAM). Dichos adultos escogían principalmente los microhábitats con escasa corriente, profundos y con abundante refugio. Un tramo del río Acheloos se escogió para la simulación del hábitat físico. La falta de hábitats con abundante refugio y las pozas poco desarrolladas no llegaron a aportar una idoneidad alta. Esta primera aplicación en Grecia remarca la necesidad de ampliar y extender los enfoques de caudales ecológicos basados en estudios científicos locales y regionales, basados en hidrología y en eco-hidráulica. Estos métodos suponen avances importantes y son relevantes para mejorar el estado ecológico de los ríos y para la aplicación de las actuales políticas europeas sobre el agua.Este estudio se enmarca dentro del proyecto ECOFLOW patrocinado por la Secretaría General Griega para la investigación y la Tecnología en el marco de NSRF 2007-2013.Papadaki, C.; Muñoz Mas, R.; Ntoanidis, L.; Martínez Capel, F.; Zogaris, S.; Dimitriou, E. (2015). Desarrollo de modelos de idoneidad de hábitat para la trucha balcánica (Salmo fariodes, Karaman) y estimación de caudales ecológicos en ríos de montaña de Grecia. Cuadernos de la Sociedad Española de Ciencias Forestales. (41):253-268. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/60208S2532684

Enhancement of endogenous midbrain neurogenesis by microneurotrophin BNN-20 after neural progenitor grafting in a mouse model of nigral degeneration

We have previously shown the neuroprotective and pro-neurogenic activity of microneurotrophin BNN-20 in the substantia nigra of the “weaver” mouse, a model of progressive nigrostriatal degeneration. Here, we extended our investigation in two clinically-relevant ways. First, we assessed the effects of BNN-20 on human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells and neurons derived from healthy and parkinsonian donors. Second, we assessed if BNN-20 can boost the outcome of mouse neural progenitor cell intranigral transplantations in weaver mice, at late stages of degeneration. We found that BNN-20 has limited direct effects on cultured human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells, marginally enhancing their differentiation towards neurons and partially reversing the pathological phenotype of dopaminergic neurons generated from parkinsonian donors. In agreement, we found no effects of BNN-20 on the mouse neural progenitor cells grafted in the substantia nigra of weaver mice. However, the graft strongly induced an endogenous neurogenic response throughout the midbrain, which was significantly enhanced by the administration of microneurotrophin BNN-20. Our results provide straightforward evidence of the existence of an endogenous midbrain neurogenic system that can be specifically strengthened by BNN-20. Interestingly, the lack of major similar activity on cultured human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitors and their progeny reveals the in vivo specificity of the aforementioned pro-neurogenic effect

Isolation of neural stem and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from the brain of live rats

Summary Postnatal brain neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) cluster in anatomically inaccessible stem cell niches, such as the subependymal zone (SEZ). Here, we describe a method for the isolation of NSPCs from live animals, which we term “milking.” The intracerebroventricular injection of a release cocktail, containing neuraminidase, integrin-β1-blocking antibody, and fibroblast growth factor 2, induces the controlled flow of NSPCs in the cerebrospinal fluid, where they are collected via liquid biopsies. Isolated cells retain key in vivo self-renewal properties and their cell-type profile reflects the cell composition of their source area, while the function of the niche is sustained even 8 months post-milking. By changing the target area more caudally, we also isolate oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) from the corpus callosum. This novel approach for sampling NSPCs and OPCs paves the way for performing longitudinal studies in experimental animals, for more in vivo relevant cell culture assays, and for future clinical neuro-regenerative applications

Potential impacts of climate change on flow regime and fish habitat in mountain rivers of the southwestern Balkans

The climate change in the Mediterranean area is expected to have significant impacts on the aquatic ecosystems and particular in the mountain rivers and streams that often host important species such as the Salmo farioides, Karaman 1938. These impacts will most possibly affect the habitat availability for various aquatic species resulting to an essential alteration of the water requirements, either for dams or other water abstractions, in order to maintain the essential levels of ecological flow for the rivers. The main scope of this study was to assess potential climate change impacts on the hydrological patterns and typical biota for a south-western Balkan mountain river, the Acheloos. The altered flow regimes under different emission scenarios of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were estimated using a hydrologicalmodel and based on regional climate simulations over the study area. The Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA) methodology was then used to assess the potential streamflow alterations in the studied river due to predicted climate change conditions. A fish habitat simulation method integrating univariate habitat suitability curves and hydraulic modeling techniques were used to assess the impacts on the relationships between the aquatic biota and hydrological status utilizing a sentinel species, the West Balkan trout. The most prominent effects of the climate change scenarios depict severe flow reductions that are likely to occur especially during the summer flows, changing the duration and depressing the magnitude of the natural low flow conditions. Weighted Usable Area-flow curves indicated the limitation of suitable habitat for the native trout. Finally, this preliminary application highlighted the potential of science-based hydrological and habitat simulation approaches that are relevant to both biological quality elements (fish) and current EUWater policy to serve as efficient tools for the estimation of possible climate change impacts on the south-western Balkan river ecosystems.This study was supported by the ECOFLOW project funded by the Hellenic General Secretariat of Research and Technology in the framework of the NSRF 2007-2013. The W. B. trout data collection was partially funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness with the project SCARCE (Consolider-Ingenio 2010 CSD2009-00065).Papadaki, C.; Soulis, K.; Muñoz Mas, R.; Martinez-Capel, F.; Zogaris, S.; Ntoanidis, L.; Dimitriou, E. (2016). Potential impacts of climate change on flow regime and fish habitat in mountain rivers of the southwestern Balkans. Science of the Total Environment. 540:418-428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.134S41842854