AN INVESTIGATION OF RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF POSITIVE FESTIVAL IMPACTS, COMMUNITY ATTACHMENT AND WELL-BEING: A STUDY ON THE JAMESON FESTIVAL, VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE

The Study aims to examine residents’ perception of positive festival impacts, social cohesion and cultural benefits on the relationship between community attachment and well-being. An integration of the Social Exchange and Affect Theories are employed to develop and test a conceptual model that test the interrelationships. The quantitative research approach is used to conduct the study on resident attendees of the Jameson Festival in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Via the convenience sampling technique data are collected. Results of the study indicate that festivals foster community cohesiveness and community attachment. They also show that the perceived positive festival impact: community cohesiveness is strongly related to community attachment and well-being; community attachment mediates the relationships. Contrarily, though the relationship between festival cultural preservation and community attachment was partially supported, there was no significant association to well-being. The theoretical implications of the study lay mainly on the introduction of a new theory to the festival body of studies and the study’ findings shed light and direction on practical implications and future directions for festival organizers and scholar

Učinkovito upravljanje brzinom induktivnog motora korištenjem metode adaptivnog upravljanja s referentnim modelom zasnovane na RBF-u

This paper proposes a model reference adaptive speed controller based on artificial neural network for induction motor drives. The performance of traditional feedback controllers has been insufficient in speed control of induction motors due to nonlinear structure of the system, changing environmental conditions, and disturbance input effects. A successful speed control of induction motor requires a nonlinear control system. On the other hand, in recent years, it has been demonstrated that artificial intelligence based control methods were much more successful in the nonlinear system control applications. In this work, it has been developed an intelligent controller for induction motor speed control with combination of radial basis function type neural network (RBF) and model reference adaptive control (MRAC) strategy. RBF is utilized to adaptively compensate the unknown nonlinearity in the control system. The indirect field-oriented control (IFOC) technique and space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) methods which are widespread used in high performance induction motor drives has been preferred for drive method. In order to demonstrate the reliability of the control technique, the proposed adaptive controller has been tested under different operating conditions and compared performance of conventional PI controller. The results show that the proposed controller has got a clear superiority to the conventional linear controllers.Ovaj rad prikazuje adaptivni regulator s referentnim modelom zasnovan na neuronskoj mreži za induktivne motore. Ponašanje tradicionalnih regulatora s povratnom vezom pokazalo se nedovoljno dobrom za upravljanje brzinom induktivnih motora zbog nelineatnosti strukture sustava, promjene okolišnih uvjeta, i efekta ulaznih poremećaja. Uspješno upravljanje brzinom induktivnog motora zahtjeva nealinearne upravljačke sustave. S druge strane, posljednjih godina pokazano je kako su upravljačke metode zasnovane na umjetnoj inteligenciji bitno uspješnije u primjenama upravljanja nelinearnim sustavima. U ovome radu razvijen je inteligentni regulator za upravljanje brzinom induktivnog motora s kombinacijom radijalne neuronske mreže (RBF) i strategije adaptivnog regulatora s referentnim modelom (MRAC). RBF je realiziran kako bi adaptivno kompenzirao nepoznatu nelinearnost u sustavu upravljanja. Tehnika indirektnog vektorskog upravljanja (IFOC) i metoda prostorno vektorske širinsko impulsne modulacije koje su široko korištene za induktivne motore visokih performansi preferirani su kao metode u ovome radu. Kako bi se prikazala pouzdanost tehnike upravljanja, predloženi adaptivni regulator ispitan je u različitih uvjetima rada i uspoređeno je vladanje s obzirom na konvencionalni PI regulator. Rezultati pokazuju kako predloženi regulator očito pokazuje bolje vladanje od konvencionalnih linearnih regulatora

THE APOGEE SPECTROSCOPIC SURVEY OF KEPLER PLANET HOSTS: FEASIBILITY, EFFICIENCY, AND FIRST RESULTS

The Kepler mission has yielded a large number of planet candidates from among the Kepler Objects of Interest(KOIs), but spectroscopic follow-up of these relatively faint stars is a serious bottleneck in confirming and characterizing these systems. We present motivation and survey design for an ongoing project with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III multiplexed Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) near-infrared spectrograph to monitor hundreds of KOI host stars. We report some of our first results using representative targets from our sample, which include current planet candidates that we find to be false positives, as well as candidates listed as false positives that we do not find to be spectroscopic binaries. With this survey, KOI hosts are observed over ∼20 epochs at a radial velocity (RV) precision of 100–200ms−1. These observations can easily identify a majority of false positives caused by physically associated stellar or substellar binaries, and in many cases, fully characterize their orbits. We demonstrate that APOGEE is capable of achieving RV precision at the 100–200ms−1 level over long time baselines, and that APOGEE’s multiplexing capability makes it substantially more efficient at identifying false positives due to binaries than other single-object spectrographs working to confirm KOIs as planets. These APOGEE RVs enable ancillary science projects, such as studies of fundamental stellar astrophysics or intrinsically rare substellar companions. The coadded APOGEE spectra can be used to derive stellar properties (Teff, log g) and chemical abundances of over a dozen elements to probe correlations of planet properties with individual elemental abundances

Characterization of greater middle eastern genetic variation for enhanced disease gene discovery

The Greater Middle East (GME) has been a central hub of human migration and population admixture. The tradition of consanguinity, variably practiced in the Persian Gulf region, North Africa, and Central Asia1-3, has resulted in an elevated burden of recessive disease4. Here we generated a whole-exome GME variome from 1,111 unrelated subjects. We detected substantial diversity and admixture in continental and subregional populations, corresponding to several ancient founder populations with little evidence of bottlenecks. Measured consanguinity rates were an order of magnitude above those in other sampled populations, and the GME population exhibited an increased burden of runs of homozygosity (ROHs) but showed no evidence for reduced burden of deleterious variation due to classically theorized ‘genetic purging’. Applying this database to unsolved recessive conditions in the GME population reduced the number of potential disease-causing variants by four- to sevenfold. These results show variegated genetic architecture in GME populations and support future human genetic discoveries in Mendelian and population genetics

Inborn errors of OAS-RNase L in SARS-CoV-2-related multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare and severe condition that follows benign COVID-19. We report autosomal recessive deficiencies of OAS1, OAS2, or RNASEL in five unrelated children with MIS-C. The cytosolic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-sensing OAS1 and OAS2 generate 2'-5'-linked oligoadenylates (2-5A) that activate the single-stranded RNA-degrading ribonuclease L (RNase L). Monocytic cell lines and primary myeloid cells with OAS1, OAS2, or RNase L deficiencies produce excessive amounts of inflammatory cytokines upon dsRNA or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) stimulation. Exogenous 2-5A suppresses cytokine production in OAS1-deficient but not RNase L-deficient cells. Cytokine production in RNase L-deficient cells is impaired by MDA5 or RIG-I deficiency and abolished by mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) deficiency. Recessive OAS-RNase L deficiencies in these patients unleash the production of SARS-CoV-2-triggered, MAVS-mediated inflammatory cytokines by mononuclear phagocytes, thereby underlying MIS-C

COVID-19: Is There Evidence for the Use of Herbal Medicines as Adjuvant Symptomatic Therapy?

Background: Current recommendations for the self-management of SARS-Cov-2 disease (COVID-19) include self-isolation, rest, hydration, and the use of NSAID in case of high fever only. It is expected that many patients will add other symptomatic/adjuvant treatments, such as herbal medicines. Aims: To provide a benefits/risks assessment of selected herbal medicines traditionally indicated for “respiratory diseases” within the current frame of the COVID-19 pandemic as an adjuvant treatment. Method: The plant selection was primarily based on species listed by the WHO and EMA, but some other herbal remedies were considered due to their widespread use in respiratory conditions. Preclinical and clinical data on their efficacy and safety were collected from authoritative sources. The target population were adults with early and mild flu symptoms without underlying conditions. These were evaluated according to a modified PrOACT-URL method with paracetamol, ibuprofen, and codeine as reference drugs. The benefits/risks balance of the treatments was classified as positive, promising, negative, and unknown. Results: A total of 39 herbal medicines were identified as very likely to appeal to the COVID-19 patient. According to our method, the benefits/risks assessment of the herbal medicines was found to be positive in 5 cases (Althaea officinalis, Commiphora molmol, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Hedera helix, and Sambucus nigra), promising in 12 cases (Allium sativum, Andrographis paniculata, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea purpurea, Eucalyptus globulus essential oil, Justicia pectoralis, Magnolia officinalis, Mikania glomerata, Pelargonium sidoides, Pimpinella anisum, Salix sp, Zingiber officinale), and unknown for the rest. On the same grounds, only ibuprofen resulted promising, but we could not find compelling evidence to endorse the use of paracetamol and/or codeine. Conclusions: Our work suggests that several herbal medicines have safety margins superior to those of reference drugs and enough levels of evidence to start a clinical discussion about their potential use as adjuvants in the treatment of early/mild common flu in otherwise healthy adults within the context of COVID-19. While these herbal medicines will not cure or prevent the flu, they may both improve general patient well-being and offer them an opportunity to personalize the therapeutic approaches

Cruise Travelers’ Service Perceptions: A Critical Content Analysis

This paper examines the main elements of online reviews left by popular cruise ships’ travelers. The eight most popular cruise ships were selected. We aimed to pinpoint the service quality experiential perceptions of cruise travelers regarding their higher or lower value for money ratings. Leximancer 4.5 software was used to derive the linkage and co-occurrence between service concepts in the online narratives of 2000 guests from Cruisecritic.com. The evaluation showed 10 areas addressed by the descriptions of the cruise’s perceived quality. These are “ship,” “staff,” “food,” “entertainment,” “room,” “area,” “embarkation,” “excursion” “disembarkation,” and “port.” Furthermore, the results highlight themes like “ship,” “staff,” “food,” “entertainment,” “room,” and “area” as belonging to the high-satisfaction group (excellent/very good), while “embarkation,” “disembarkation,” “excursion,” and “port” belong to the low-satisfaction group (poor/terrible). The study offers useful insights into cruise travelers’ general perceived experience according to user-generated content, and enables the identification of the main themes associated with different satisfaction groups.publishedVersio

Kreditbedömning vid konkurser och varningssignaler : Att förutspå konkurser

Varje år går tusentals företag i konkurs, vilket innebär förluster för samhället i stort och för de intressenter som på något sätt kan förknippas till företaget. För banken som lånar ut krediter till företag som går i konkurs innebär det kreditförluster om det inte finns säkerheter som täcker lånet. Därför är behovet av tidiga varningssignaler av stor betydelse för intressenter. Syftet med detta arbete är att teoretiskt analysera och empiriskt pröva varningssignaler för konkurser samt förklara signaler om förestående konkurs i kreditbedömning. Studiens resultat visar att risker för konkurser kan upptäckas med hjälp av finansiella och icke-finansiella nyckeltal. Resultatet i denna studie visar att återbetalningsförmåga, vilket består av soliditet och likviditet är den viktigaste varningssignaler bland de finansiella nyckeltalen. Revisionsanmärkningar, bankens egna mätinstrument, erfarenhet och VD:ns ålder är de viktigaste varningssignalerna bland de icke-finansiella nyckeltalen. Resultatet visar även att dessa varningssignaler blir starkare desto närmare konkurs företaget är.Every year thousands of firms file for bankruptcy, creating considerable loses for the society and stakeholders associated with the firm. A bankruptcy by a firm, that a bank have loaned money to, can also affect the bank considerably if there are not assets enough to cover the outstanding debt. Considering the negative consequences of a bankruptcy it is of paramount interest to be able to spot early warning signals. The study shows that bankruptcy risks can be detected with the help of the firm´s financial and non-financial key assessment indicators.  The purpose of this paper is to theoretically and empirically study warning signals of bankruptcies, in order to identify and explain the signals in the credit assessments before occurrence of the bankruptcy.  The result of this study shows that the refund assessment consisting of solidity and liquidity are the most important warning signals among the financial key assessment indicators. Remarks, the bank´s own measuring instrument, experience, and the CEO´s age are the most important warning signals among non-financial key assessment indicators. Additionally, results show that the warning signals become stronger the closer the company proceeds towards bankruptcy.

An assessment of implementing green HRM practices on environmental performance: The moderating role of green process innovation

As the world is trying to curb CO2 emission, mainly from the industries, various organizations’ employees are crucial in mitigating carbon monoxide emissions. The employee reaction based on their perception of human resources management practices shapes their commitment to the workplace environment. According to relevant environment literature, emphasizing effective environmental management improves employees’ green attitudes dedicated to natural purposes. This study explores how to enhance hotels’ environmental performance (EP) by adopting green human resource management (HRM) practices. The current study developed and investigated a moderation model which examined the green process innovation (GPI) as a moderator onto the relationship between green HRM and environmental process through the lens of Ability-Motivation-Opportunity theory (AMO). SmartPLS software was used to analyze the data from 220 full-time employees of 3-, 4-, and 5-stars green hotels in Turkey. The findings demonstrate the importance of adopting green practices in advancing organizational performance, especially the environmental aspect. The novel findings of this study enrich the moderation effect of GPI in hospitality literature