Visual rehabilitation in combined surgical procedures: bridging two eye poles for better vision

Augenzentrum Nymphenburger Höfe and Augenklinik Herzog Carl Theodor, München, GermanyDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, GermanyDepartment of Ophthalmology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaCleveland Clinic Foundation, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland, OH, USADepartment of Ophthalmology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilDepartment of Ophthalmology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, SingaporeDepartment of Ophthalmology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

The role of cultural differences in customer retention: Evidence from the high-contact service industry

Current tourism landscape and dynamism of the business environment have increased market competitiveness in the high-contact service industry. Hotel operators must now pay greater heed to customer retention by exploring ways to improve customer engagement and experience. Toward this end, this study aimed to examine the interplays between relationship marketing, perceived service quality, corporate image, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty, as well as the moderating effect of cultural difference between Asian and Western tourists. Using a questionnaire, data were collected from 400 international tourists and analyzed with the structural equation modeling technique. While the direct relationships pertaining the variables of interest were found to be significant, Asian tourists appeared to hold stricter standards in employee–customer interactions and satisfaction-based loyalty than Western tourists. Discussion and implications are provided to promote the development of fruitful hotel–customer relationships in this industry with a heightened customer orientation

Impact of calcium on procedural and clinical outcomes in lesions treated with bioresorbable vascular scaffolds - A prospective BRS registry study

Background: There is limited data on the impact of calcium (Ca) on acute procedural and clinical outcomes in patients with lesions treated with bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BRS). We sought to evaluate the effect of calcium on procedural and clinical outcomes in a 'real world' population. Methods: Clinical outcomes were compared between patients with at least 1 moderately or heavily calcified lesion (Ca) and patients with no/mild calcified lesions (non-Ca) enrolled in our institutional BRS registry. Results: 455 patients (N) with 548 lesions (L) treated with 735 BRS were studied. Patients in the Ca group (N = 160, L = 200) had more complex (AHA B2/C lesion: 69.0% in Ca vs 14.9% in non-Ca, p. <. 0.001) and significantly longer lesions (27.80. ±. 15.27 vs 19.48. ±. 9.92. mm, p. <. 0.001). Overall device success rate was 99.1% with no significant differences between the groups. Despite more aggressive lesion preparation and postdilation compared to non Ca, acute lumen gain was significantly less in Ca lesions (1.50. ±. 0.66 vs 1.62. ±. 0.69. mm, p = 0.040) with lower final MLD (2.28. ±. 0.41 vs 2.36. ±. 0.43, p = 0.046). There were no significant differences in all-cause mortality, total definite scaffold thrombosis (ST), target lesion revascularization and myocardial infarction between the 2 groups. Late ST was more frequent in the Ca group compared to non Ca group (late ST: 2.1 vs 0%, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Clinical outcomes after BRS implantation in calcified and non-calcified lesions were similar. A remarkable difference in timing of thrombosis was observed, with an increased rate of late thrombosis in calcified lesions

Are BVS suitable for ACS patients? Support from a large single center real live registry

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate one-year outcomes after implantation of a bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) compared to stable angina patients.BackgroundRobust data on the outcome of BVS in the setting of ACS is still scarce.MethodsTwo investigator initiated, single-center, single-arm BVS registries have been pooled for the purpose of this study, namely the BVS Expand and BVS STEMI registries.ResultsFrom September 2012–October 2014, 351 patients with a total of 428 lesions were enrolled. 255 (72.6%) were ACS patients and 99 (27.4%) presented with stable angina/silent ischemia. Mean number of scaffold/patient was 1.55±0.91 in ACS group versus 1.91±1.11 in non-ACS group (P=0.11). Pre- and post-dilatation were performed less frequent in ACS patients, 75.7% and 41.3% versus 89.0% and 62.0% respectively (P=0.05 and P=0.001). Interestingly, post-procedural acute lumen gain and percentage diameter stenosis were superior in ACS patients, 1.62±0.65mm (versus 1.22±0.49mm, P<0.001) and 15.51±8.47% (versus 18.46±9.54%, P=0.04). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rate at 12months was 5.5% in the ACS group (versus 5.3% in stable group, P=0.90). One-year definite scaffold thrombosis rate was comparable: 2.0% for ACS population versus 2.1% for stable population (P=0.94), however, early scaffold thromboses occurred only in ACS patients.ConclusionsOne-year clinical outcomes in ACS patients treated with BVS were similar to non-ACS patients. Acute angiographic outcomes were better in ACS than in non-ACS, yet the early thrombotic events require attention and further research

The Role of Female Sexual-Self Schema in Reactions to Non-Explicit Sexual Advertising Imagery

We explore females’ reactions to a non-explicit, but still sexually themed, advertisement. Specifically, we consider the role of female sexual self-schema (SSS) in the identification of the level of sex present in such an advertisement, and then resultant effects on attitudes and purchase intent. We find that while SSS has no effect on the perceived level of sex present, it does influence resultant dependent variables, particularly for low-SSS females. Informed by our study and extant literature, we also offer areas for further SSS-based advertising research, particularly regarding issues of females’ perceptions of advertisement and brand fit with sexual themes

Enhancement Effects of Transition and Vavilov-Cherenkov Radiation Mechanisms Under Grazing Interaction of Fast Electrons With a Thick Substrate Applied by Thin Layer

The paper presents the results of a theoretical study and a mathematical model of radiation processes occurred during the grazing interaction of fast electrons with semi-infinite targets applied on a thin amorphous layer. The developed model considers Vavilov-Cherenkov and transition radiation mechanisms and predicts the possibility to enhance the angular radiation density under grazing incidence of fast electrons on the layer. The characteristics of possible extreme vacuum ultraviolet and soft X-ray sources are estimated

Impact of health literacy and self-care behaviors on health-related quality of life in Iranians with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study

Background: Regarding the importance of health literacy as a key factor in self-care, appropriate understanding of health information by patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is fundamental for better management of risk factors, which can also benefit their quality of life. This study aimed to describe the relationship between health literacy (HL), and self-care behaviors with health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with T2DM. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done in Iran in 2019. Patients were recruited randomly from health centers by medical records (n = 192, 55.2 male, mean age 58.12 years). The data collection included demographic form, health literacy questionnaire, diabetes self-care behavior questionnaire, and world health organization�s Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Analyses were adjusted for confounders using hierarchical regression analysis. Results: HL as predictor variables explained 47.5 of variance in overall HRQL (p value < 0.001), reading health information was the strongest HL dimension (β = 0.478). Self-care behaviors explained an additional 13.6 of the HRQL variance. In total, 65.5 of the variation in the HRQL is explained by the HL, self-care behavior, and the demographic variables. Conclusion: We found that more almost two-third of the HRQL explained by the HL and self-care behaviors. Given the importance of health literacy and self-care behaviors in the quality of life in patients with T2DM, adoption of health-promoting behaviors and increasing health literacy can be beneficial for promoting quality of life among these patients. © 2020, The Author(s)

Mapping the Pore Architecture of Structured Catalyst Monoliths from Nanometer to Centimeter Scale with Electron and X-ray Tomographies

The hierarchical pore systems of Pt/Al2O3 exhaust gas aftertreatment catalysts were analyzed with a collection of correlative imaging techniques to monitor changes induced by hydrothermal aging. Synergistic imaging with laboratory X-ray microtomography, synchrotron radiation ptychographic X-ray computed nanotomography, and electron tomography allowed quantitative observation of the catalyst pore architecture from centimeter to nanometer scale. Thermal aging at 750 °C in air and hydrothermal aging at 1050 °C in 10% H2O/air caused increasing structural degradation, which manifested as widespread sintering of Pt particles, increased volume and quantity of macropores (>20 nm), and reduction in effective surface area coupled with decreasing volume and frequency of mesopores (2-20 nm) and micropores (<2 nm). Electron tomography unraveled the three-dimensional (3D) structure with high resolution allowing visualization of meso- and macropores but with samples of maximum 300 nm thickness. To complement this, hard X-ray ptychographic tomography produced quantitative 3D electron density maps of 5 μm diameter samples with spatial resolution <50 nm, effectively filling the resolution gap between electron tomography and hard X-ray microtomography. The obtained 3D volumes are an essential input for future computational modeling of fluid dynamics, mass transport, or diffusion properties and may readily complement bulk one-dimensional porosimetry measurements or simulated porosity

Are BVS suitable for ACS patients? Support from a large single center real live registry

Objectives To investigate one-year outcomes after implantation of a bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) compared to stable angina patients. Background Robust data on the outcome of BVS in the setting of ACS is still scarce. Methods Two investigator initiated, single-center, single-arm BVS registries have been pooled for the purpose of this study, namely the BVS Expand and BVS STEMI registries. Results From September 2012-Octob