The Core-Periphery Structure of Destination Image: An Exploration via Social Network Analysis

The core-periphery structure (C/PS) of destination image, recently proposed as an alternative image model, has scarcely been tested. Presumably, the lack of appropriate techniques plays an important role in the limited theory testing efforts. Besides, it remains unclear how people retrieve destination image from memory, when we place destination image into a C-P model. Understanding the structure of destination image could reveal insights into image retrieval. This research aims to introduce social network analysis as a new approach to test the C/PS of destination image, and identify the retrieving paths of destination image adopted by potential tourists. Image descriptions about the Shanghai Disney Resort (SHDR) were collected from 1,000 respondents, and the data was analyzed via social network techniques. Results show that the image of SHDR has both single and multiple C/PSs, and image retrieval of respondents either follows a core-to-periphery path or fluctuates between two neighboring levels of core/periphery

TIPS AND TRAPS: METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES RELATED TO CONDUCTING AN ONLINE TRIP PLANNING STUD

This study examines methodological issues related to studying American college students’ online travel planning behavior. A mixed method approach, which integrated think-aloud protocol combined with the process tracing method, log analysis and survey techniques, was evaluated in this paper. In previous studies, this methodological approach has been subject to issues of reliability and validity that were addressed in the design of the current study. Specifically, questions were related to whether the experiment used in this study would yield results comparable to the decision-making and search processes respondents would engage upon on their real-life trip planning. The purpose of this paper was to discuss how this study has evolved from previous work in this area in order to increase reliability and validity. Issues regarding the artificiality of the environment are addressed in this paper. Overall it was found that the qualitative- based, mixed-method approach used in this study was deemed appropriate and has resulted in delivering insights into the phenomena of online travel planning

Dietary phytochemicals, HDAC inhibition, and DNA damage/repair defects in cancer cells

Genomic instability is a common feature of cancer etiology. This provides an avenue for therapeutic intervention, since cancer cells are more susceptible than normal cells to DNA damaging agents. However, there is growing evidence that the epigenetic mechanisms that impact DNA methylation and histone status also contribute to genomic instability. The DNA damage response, for example, is modulated by the acetylation status of histone and non-histone proteins, and by the opposing activities of histone acetyltransferase and histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes. Many HDACs overexpressed in cancer cells have been implicated in protecting such cells from genotoxic insults. Thus, HDAC inhibitors, in addition to unsilencing tumor suppressor genes, also can silence DNA repair pathways, inactivate non-histone proteins that are required for DNA stability, and induce reactive oxygen species and DNA double-strand breaks. This review summarizes how dietary phytochemicals that affect the epigenome also can trigger DNA damage and repair mechanisms. Where such data is available, examples are cited from studies in vitro and in vivo of polyphenols, organosulfur/organoselenium compounds, indoles, sesquiterpene lactones, and miscellaneous agents such as anacardic acid. Finally, by virtue of their genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, cancer chemopreventive agents are being redefined as chemo- or radio-sensitizers. A sustained DNA damage response coupled with insufficient repair may be a pivotal mechanism for apoptosis induction in cancer cells exposed to dietary phytochemicals. Future research, including appropriate clinical investigation, should clarify these emerging concepts in the context of both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms dysregulated in cancer, and the pros and cons of specific dietary intervention strategies

Study of the ψ2(3823)ψ_2(3823) and χc1(3872)χ_{c1}(3872) states in B+→(Jψπ+π−)K+B^+ \rightarrow \left( Jψπ^+π^-\right)K^+ decays

The decays $B^+\rightarrow J/\psi \pi^+ \pi^- K^+$ are studied using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9fb$^{-1}$ collected with the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions between 2011 and 2018. Precise measurements of the ratios of branching fractions with the intermediate $\psi_2(3823)$, $\chi_{c1}(3872)$ and $\psi(2S)$ states are reported. The decay of $B^+\rightarrow \psi_2(3823)K^+$ with $\psi_2(3823)\rightarrow J\psi\pi^+\pi^-$ is observed for the first time with a significance of 5.1 standard deviations. The mass differences between the $\psi_2(3823)$, $\chi_{c1}(3872)$ and $\psi(2S)$ states are measured to be $$\begin{array}{rcl} m_{\chi_{c1(3872)}} - m_{\psi_2(3823)} &= & 47.50 \pm 0.53 \pm 0.13\,\mathrm{MeV/}c^2\,, \\ m_{\psi_2(3823)} - m_{\psi(2S)} &= & 137.98 \pm 0.53 \pm 0.14\,\mathrm{MeV/}c^2\,, \\ m_{\chi_{c1}(3872)} - m_{\psi(2S)} &= & 185.49 \pm 0.06 \pm 0.03\,\mathrm{MeV/}c^2\,, \end{array}$$ resulting in the most precise determination of the $\chi_{c1}(3782)$ mass. The width of the $\psi_2(3823)$ state is found to be below 5.2MeV at 90\% confidence level. The Breit-Wigner width of the $\chi_{c1}(3872)$ state is measured to be $$\Gamma^{\mathrm{BW}}_{\chi_{c1}(3872)} = 0.96^{+0.19}_{-0.18}\pm0.21 \mathrm{MeV},$$ which is inconsistent with zero by 5.5 standard deviations

Measurement of the electron reconstruction efficiency at LHCb

The single electron track-reconstruction efficiency is calibrated using a sample corresponding to 1.3 fb−1 of pp collision data recorded with the LHCb detector in 2017. This measurement exploits B+→ J/ψ(e+e−)K+ decays, where one of the electrons is fully reconstructed and paired with the kaon, while the other electron is reconstructed using only the information of the vertex detector. Despite this partial reconstruction, kinematic and geometric constraints allow the B meson mass to be reconstructed and the signal to be well separated from backgrounds. This in turn allows the electron reconstruction efficiency to be measured by matching the partial track segment found in the vertex detector to tracks found by LHCb's regular reconstruction algorithms. The agreement between data and simulation is evaluated, and corrections are derived for simulated electrons in bins of kinematics. These correction factors allow LHCb to measure branching fractions involving single electrons with a systematic uncertainty below 1%

TIPS AND TRAPS: METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES RELATED TO CONDUCTING AN ONLINE TRIP PLANNING STUD

previously providedThis study examines methodological issues related to studying American college students’ online travel planning behavior. A mixed method approach, which integrated think-aloud protocol combined with the process tracing method, log analysis and survey techniques, was evaluated in this paper. In previous studies, this methodological approach has been subject to issues of reliability and validity that were addressed in the design of the current study. Specifically, questions were related to whether the experiment used in this study would yield results comparable to the decision-making and search processes respondents would engage upon on their real-life trip planning. The purpose of this paper was to discuss how this study has evolved from previous work in this area in order to increase reliability and validity. Issues regarding the artificiality of the environment are addressed in this paper. Overall it was found that the qualitative- based, mixed-method approach used in this study was deemed appropriate and has resulted in delivering insights into the phenomena of online travel planning

Financial Implications of Customer Engagement Behavior on Business Profitability

This study investigated the financial value of online reviews, an important customer engagement behavior (CEB). Total revenue, operating expenses and operating profits of a given period from each property were collected for 111 hotels in five Asian countries. These were matched with each hotel’s TripAdvisor reviews for the same time period, yielding a sample of 53,474 reviews. Panel regression analysis showed that review variance, volume and length had varying levels of association with gross operating profit indicators, thus providing empirical evidence linking CEB and business profitability. In comparison, only review volume was significantly associated with a hotel’s total revenue. Meanwhile, review valence is not significantly related with all measures of total revenue, total expenses and operating profits. The reviews were also assessed for their relationship with room revenue for comparisons with profitability and total revenue indicators. Theoretical and empirical implications of the study were discussed

Management methods and demonstration on pollution load control of Song-Liao river basin

This deliverables reports the “aquatic eco-function zoning map” delineation activities of the SUSTAIN H2O project consortium during the project’s reporting period