The impacts of negative problem orientation on perceived risk and travel intention in the context of COVID-19: a PLS-SEM approach

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic, which appeared in China in late 2019, has affected the world psychologically, socially and economically in 2020. Tourism is one of the areas where the effects of COVID-19 have been felt most clearly. The study aims to determine the effect of negative problem orientation (NPO) and perceived risk related to the COVID-19 pandemic on travel and destination visit intention. Design/methodology/approach: This study employed a convenience and probabilistic sampling method for collecting data from 531 respondents using an online questionnaire. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for testing research model. Findings: According to the findings, NPO and perceived risk related to the pandemic were found to have direct and indirect effects on the travel behavior of tourists. The results of this research provide theoretical and practical implications for hospitality and travel businesses on topics such as the psychological effects of the pandemic and the travel behaviors of tourists. Originality/value: It is estimated that the pandemic will also affect tourist behavior due to its effects on human psychology. For this reason, a study conducted in the context of tourist behavior theories is expected to contribute to the literature, managers and future of the tourism

Classification of parameters affecting slip safety of limestones

This study determines the appropriate surface processing techniques for limestone plates. slip resistance, which is required for the slip safety of pedestrians wearing shoes, is one of the most important parameters for the surface processing of limestone plates used as floor covering. The slip resistances of five different limestone plates, each of which have undergone four different surface processes, were determined according to the TS EN 14231 Standard. To define the factors affecting slip resistance, the mineralogical and petrographic characteristics, chemical properties, physico-mechanical properties of five different types of limestone were identified. Statistical analyses were performed to define the relations among these parameters. Slip resistance values on limestone sample plates were found to change considerably depending on both the surface processing techniques applied and the dryness or wetness of the surface along with its physico-mechanical characteristics. Finally, the limestones used in this research were classified according to safety applications with consideration of their slip resistance values

Antygrzybiczne mikrokapsułki z etylocelulozy uzyskane przez odparowanie rozpuszczalnika oraz ich zastosowanie dla preparacji tkanin bawełnianych

In this study two antifungal pharmaceutical agents, terbinafine and ketoconazole, were microencapsulated by solvent evaporation. Two types of ethyl cellulose with different viscosity values were used. Microcapsules were evaluated by X-ray diffractometry, DSC, FTIR and SEM analysis. Although the characteristic peaks of ketoconazole appeared in the X-ray diffractometry, those of terbinafine disappeared. The same results were observed for DSC analysis. The melting point of ketoconazole existed, while that of terbinafine was not observed. The microcapsules had a spherical shape, however the particle size varied between 5 and 120 μm. The microcapsules were applied to 100% cotton fabric. The washing of fabrics was performed in various washing cycles, and afterwards antifungal tests were performed. The fabrics had antifungal properties against Trichophyton rubrum, which causes mycoses, up to 5 washing cycles.Zastosowano dwa antygrzybiczne farmaceutyki, terbinafinę i ketokonazol, wprowadzano do mikrokapsułek uzyskanych przez odparowanie rozpuszczalnika. Zastosowano dwa typy etylocelulozy o różnej lepkości. Mikrokapsułki badano za pomocą dyfrakcji rentgenowskiej, DSC, FTIR i SEM. Podczas gdy charakterystyczne piki ketokonazolu były widoczne w badaniach rozproszenia rentgenowskiego, piki terbinafiny nie były widoczne. Te same wyniki zaobserwowano przy zastosowaniu analizy DSC, punkt topnienia ketokonazolu był widoczny podczas gdy punktu topnienia terbinafiny nie można było zaobserwować. Kształty mikrokapsułek były sferyczne o różnych rozmiarach od 5 do 120 µm. Mikrokapsułki zastosowano do impregnacji 100% tkanin bawełnianych. Tkaniny prano stosując różne cykle pralnicze, a następnie przeprowadzano testy antygrzybiczne obrabianych tkanin. Testy wykazały antygrzybiczne właściwości przeciwko Trichophyton rubrum, powodujących grzybice, nawet do pięciu cykli pralniczych

Modifying of Cotton Fabric Surface with Nano-ZnO Multilayer Films by Layer-by-Layer Deposition Method

<p>Abstract</p> <p>ZnO nanoparticle&#8211;based multilayer nanocomposite films were fabricated on cationized woven cotton fabrics via layer-by-layer molecular self-assembly technique. For cationic surface charge, cotton fabrics were pretreated with 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (EP3MAC) by pad-batch method. XPS and SEM were used to examine the deposited nano-ZnO multilayer films on the cotton fabrics. The nano-ZnO films deposited on cotton fabrics exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against <it>Staphylococcus aureus</it> bacteria. The results also showed that the coated fabrics with nano-ZnO multilayer films enhanced the protection of cotton fabrics from UV radiation. Physical tests (tensile strength of weft and warp yarns, air permeability and whiteness values) were performed on the fabrics before and after the treatment with ZnO nanoparticles to evaluate the effect of layer-by-layer (LbL) process on cotton fabrics properties.</p