Beyond Towel Recycling: Sustainability as Hotel Business Strategy

With the push towards more sustainable living, hotel leaders need to consider how they can make their operations more sustainable. While the general business line of “growth at all costs” is rapidly giving way to a view that supports sustainability as good business practice; hotel leaders who seek to make their businesses, and by extension their communities, more sustainable need to use business models that support environmental, economic, and social sustainability. It is incontestable that the primary goalof commercial businesses is profit and that hotel leaders must meet goals and targets focused on improving shareholder returns. I contend, however, that strategic planning focused on sustainability may be effective in achieving profit targets in a way that effectively integratessocial, economic, and environmental imperatives. This article will explore concepts from the literature on sustainable community development and sustainable hospitality as well as discuss preliminary research results from one site

Editorial

N

Studies on the Growth, Optical, Thermal and Physical Properties of an Efficient Second Order Nonlinear Optical Organic Crystal: 2-Amino-5-Chloropyridinium- Trifluoroacetate for Optoelectronic and Photonic Device Applications

The novel organic single crystal 2-amino-5-chloropyridinium-trifluoroacetate (2A5CTFA) has been synthesized andgrown successfully using methanol as solvent by continuous slow evaporation technique. The X-ray diffraction resultsreveals that the crystal 2-amino-5-chloropyridinium-trifluoroacetate crystallizes into monoclinic crystal system with the noncentrosymmetricspace group Pc. The vibrational spectrum of the sample by FTIR and FT-RAMAN study confirms thecharacteristic functional groups of the 2A5CTFA crystal. The optical absorption spectrum shows 85% of transmittance inthe entire UV-Vis-NIR region with cut-off wavelength at 345 nm. The crystal has a thermal stability of 137° C without anymajor weight loss in the TG curve. The photoluminescence spectrum of the crystal has a prominent violet emission peakcentered at 388 nm. The dielectric behavior of the crystal measured with various frequencies at different temperaturesreveals the normal behavior for optical materials. The second order NLO effect from the crystal is confirmed by theemission of green signal from the crystal upon tested with the aid of Kurtz powder analysis using Nd:YAG laser. The laserinduced surface damage threshold value of the crystal is found to be 1.05 GW/cm2. Overall, the outlined properties of thegrown crystal makes it suitable for opto-electronic and nonlinear optical device applications

Diagnóstico oportuno de la displasia de cadera. Enfermedad que imposibilita de por vida

Hip dysplasia is a disease that is defined as a delay in the development and maturation of the elements that form that joint, made up of the femoral head and the acetabulum or concave portion of the pelvis that covers it. When the relationship between both bony structures is lost, it causes disorders ranging from a subluxation to a total alteration or dislocation. The spectrum of deformities varies from a slight inconsistency between the articular surfaces of the iliac and femur, which will cause premature wear of said joint, to the most serious situation when the femoral head is outside the acetabulum, causing many collateral alterations such as scoliosis, reduction of said limb, atrophies in the knee and in the contralateral hip; in addition to causing pain and paralysis of the aforementioned joint. All this spectrum of alterations turns the individual into a disabled being with a social and economic burden for his family and society. Thus, the importance of early diagnosis and timely care has a favorable prognosis for motor function and quality of life.La displasia de cadera es una enfermedad que se define como un retardo en el desarrollo y maduración de los elementos que forman esa articulación, constituida por la cabeza femoral y el acetábulo o porción cóncava de la pelvis que la recubre. Cuando la relación entre ambas estructuras óseas se pierde, provoca trastornos que van desde una subluxación hasta una alteración total o luxación. El espectro de deformidades varía desde una ligera incongruencia entre las superficies articulares del ilíaco y fémur, que traerá un desgaste prematuro de dicha articulación, hasta la situación más grave cuando la cabeza femoral está afuera del acetábulo, provocando muchas alteraciones colaterales como escoliosis, reducción de dicha extremidad, atrofias en rodilla y en la cadera contralateral; además de provocar dolor y parálisis de la articulación mencionada. Todo este espectro de alteraciones convierte al individuo en un ser incapacitado con una carga social y económica para su familia y la sociedad. De tal manera la importancia de un diagnostico precoz y una atención oportuna tiene un pronóstico favorable para la función motora y la calidad de vida

Análisis de los estilos de aprendizaje del estudiantado de nuevo ingreso de una institución pública: la universidad de oriente

The obtained results from the administration of Honey-Alonso to the students of La Universidad de Oriente in Valladolid, Yucatan are analyzed to determinate which is the most prevalent learning style among students according to the Kolb’s model. In addition,  these studies seek to identify if it exists a difference beetween genre and language. The information alsos serves as a reference for the future designo of strategies for the teaching improvement, curricular adequacy, learning assessment and continuing education of students. It was found a predominance of the pragmatic-theorist style of learning over the others from the students in general. Regarding to the genre, it exists a predominance in the reflesive learning style in women while pragmatic is in men. The most provalent learning style among mayan native speakers is theoricalSe analiza los resultados obtenidos de la administración de la prueba de Honey-Alonso a estudiantes de la Universidad de Oriente, en Valladolid, Yucatán, para determinar cuál es el estilo de aprendizaje predominante según el Modelo de Kolb, también pretende identificar si existe una diferencia con relación al género y la lengua. La información servirá como referencia para el diseño de estrategias para la mejora de la enseñanza, adecuación curricular, evaluación de los aprendizajes y formación continua del estudiantado. Se encontró una predominancia de los estilos de aprendizaje Teórico-Pragmático en el estudiantado en general. Con relación al género hay una predominancia del estilo Reflexivo en mujeres y el Pragmático en hombres, el estilo predominante en jóvenes mayahablantes es el Teórico. &nbsp

Valoración e implementación de la estrategia pedagógica para la caligrafía en la formación del maestro primario

The initial training of elementary teachers in Cuba has as its main propose, the preparation of a competent graduate, who is able to carry out his/ her future professional work with Excellency. Nevertheless, these teachers-to- be reveal problems with their calligraphy, which in occasions have to do with difficulties with their writing. All these led to the determination of the following objective: to valuate and put into practice a calligraphic didactic strategy in the training of elementary teachers. The methodology chosen helped to verify these difficulties, out of class observations, revision of the future teachers´ notebooks, written exams, and interviews to their teacher- trainers. These latters demonstrated that teachers-to-be have limitations with their handwriting, the tracing of graphemes, or lettering. The implementation of the strategy proved that the systematic treatment done by several teacher-trainers,  corroborated the qualitative and quantitative changes undergone by the students of this major, not only in their teachers practicum class observations, but in their written exams during four academic years, as well as in their independent works. Besides, other outcomes allowed eight future teachers of the sample take part in university contests, class festivals, where they showed better calligraphic skills.La formación inicial de los maestros primarios en Cuba, tiene como propósito lograr un egresado capaz de alcanzar una preparación de excelencia para su futuro desempeño profesional. Sin embargo, las problemáticas de los estudiantes referida a la caligrafía, revelan en ocasiones, situaciones críticas en su escritura que posibilitan determinar el objetivo como: la valoración e instrumentación de una estrategia pedagógica para la caligrafía en la formación del maestro primario. La metodología seleccionada constató las dificultades a partir de la observación a clases, revisión de cuadernos, prueba escrita a los estudiantes y entrevista a los docentes, estas últimas demostraron que los discentes tienen limitaciones en el uso de los trazos de grafemas, enlaces entre otros. La implementación de la estrategia demostró que el tratamiento sistemático ofrecido por varios docentes, corroboró el salto cualitativo y cuantitativo de los estudiantes de la carrera, constatado en las visitas al componente laboral de los futuros maestros, si no en los exámenes escritos evaluados durante 4 cursos académicos y la entrega de trabajos independientes. Además, otros resultados permitieron que un total de 8 estudiantes de la muestra seleccionada, participaran en Concursos a nivel de universidad, y Festivales de clases, demostrando mejores rasgos caligráficos

Las prácticas culturales: una vía para el desarrollo de sentimientos de identidad en niños y jóvenes

Rural culture is an alternative for the development of feelings of identity in children and young people. Therefore, the objective of the research was: to develop cultural practices from the educational context by the teacher, as ways that allow promoting the culture of each region and recognizing some elements of identity through oral traditions. The implementation of methods such as interviews and an ethnographic method made it possible to record oral traditions in rural areas and incorporate them in the school through cultural activities with the community. Orality, as it has also been called, needs a treatment in the pedagogical process as an element of identity. The results obtained develop the students' knowledge because they know about the sociocultural context, and the use of the mother tongue is promoted. In addition, work with the family, the community and rural schoolchildren is promoted, which enables the development of the language and feelings of identity in children and young people.La cultura rural es una alternativa para el desarrollo de sentimientos de identidad en los niños y jóvenes. Por tanto, el objetivo de la investigación fue: desarrollar prácticas culturales desde el contexto educativo por el maestro, como vías que permitan promover la cultura de cada región y reconocer algunos elementos de identidad a través de las tradiciones orales. La implementación de métodos como entrevistas, y método etnográfico posibilitó grabar las tradiciones orales en las zonas rurales e incorporarlas en la escuela a través de actividades culturales con la comunidad. La oralidad como también ha sido llamada, necesita un tratamiento en el proceso pedagógico como un elemento de identidad. Los resultados que se obtienen desarrollan los conocimientos de losestudiantes porque conocen acerca del contexto sociocultural, y se promueve el uso de la lengua materna. Además, se promueve el trabajo con la familia, la comunidad y los escolares rurales, lo que posibilita el desarrollo de la lengua y los sentimientos de identidad en niños y jóvenes

Eosinophils Are Important for Protection, Immunoregulation and Pathology during Infection with Nematode Microfilariae

Eosinophil responses typify both allergic and parasitic helminth disease. In helminthic disease, the role of eosinophils can be both protective in immune responses and destructive in pathological responses. To investigate whether eosinophils are involved in both protection and pathology during filarial nematode infection, we explored the role of eosinophils and their granule proteins, eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) and major basic protein-1 (MBP-1), during infection with Brugia malayi microfilariae. Using eosinophil-deficient mice (PHIL), we further clarify the role of eosinophils in clearance of microfilariae during primary, but not challenge infection in vivo. Deletion of EPO or MBP-1 alone was insufficient to abrogate parasite clearance suggesting that either these molecules are redundant or eosinophils act indirectly in parasite clearance via augmentation of other protective responses. Absence of eosinophils increased mast cell recruitment, but not other cell types, into the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid during challenge infection. In addition absence of eosinophils or EPO alone, augmented parasite-induced IgE responses, as measured by ELISA, demonstrating that eosinophils are involved in regulation of IgE. Whole body plethysmography indicated that nematode-induced changes in airway physiology were reduced in challenge infection in the absence of eosinophils and also during primary infection in the absence of EPO alone. However lack of eosinophils or MBP-1 actually increased goblet cell mucus production. We did not find any major differences in cytokine responses in the absence of eosinophils, EPO or MBP-1. These results reveal that eosinophils actively participate in regulation of IgE and goblet cell mucus production via granule secretion during nematode-induced pathology and highlight their importance both as effector cells, as damage-inducing cells and as supervisory cells that shape both innate and adaptive immunity

La formación del profesional desde la superación en la universidad de Ecuador

The upgrading courses given to professors constitutes one of the essential aspects for their adequate professional performance, so that the theoretical and pedagogical gaps will be solved  through their self studies and reflection developed in  the postgraduate courses and methodological workshops. The objective of this article is to develop professional upgrading courses to professors from the tertiary education so that better results could be obtained in the formation of  university students. The application of empirical instruments and the  revision of documents  gave way  to the determination of the students´ learning problems in some university  majors, revealed with great emphasis in the limitation  of the use of the mother tongue either oral or written which affects the quality of the assimilation of knowledge. Thus the implementation of theoretical and methodological workshops will give solution to the students’ weaknesses and at the same time it will reveal higher levels in the professor’s performance. La superación de los docentes constituye uno de los aspectos esenciales para el adecuado desempeño profesional. De modo que las fisuras tanto teóricas, como pedagógicas o didácticas, tengan respuesta en su auto estudio y reflexión a través de cursos de postgrados y talleres metodológicos. El objetivo del artículo consiste en: desarrollar una superación profesional del docente de la educación superior, que permita elevar mejores resultados en la formación de los egresados. La aplicación de instrumentos empíricos y revisión de documentos, posibilitó determinar los problemas de aprendizaje en algunos estudiantes de carreras universitarias, con mayor énfasis, reveladas en las limitaciones en el uso de la lengua materna tanto oral como escrita que afectan la calidad de la asimilación de conocimientos. Por tanto, instrumentar talleres teóricos y metodológicos que den prioridad a las fisuras de los maestros referidas a los fundamentos de la lingüística del texto y la pedagogía, posibilitará a mediano plazo, brindar solución a las debilidades de los estudiantes y al mismo tiempo, revelar niveles superiores de desempeño en los docentes para el logro del desarrollo como categoría pedagógica

Abrasive, Silica Phytoliths and the Evolution of Thick Molar Enamel in Primates, with Implications for the Diet of Paranthropus boisei

Background: Primates—including fossil species of apes and hominins—show variation in their degree of molar enamel thickness, a trait long thought to reflect a diet of hard or tough foods. The early hominins demonstrated molar enamel thickness of moderate to extreme degrees, which suggested to most researchers that they ate hard foods obtained on or near the ground, such as nuts, seeds, tubers, and roots. We propose an alternative hypothesis—that the amount of phytoliths in foods correlates with the evolution of thick molar enamel in primates, although this effect is constrained by a species ’ degree of folivory. Methodology/Principal Findings: From a combination of dietary data and evidence for the levels of phytoliths in plant families in the literature, we calculated the percentage of plant foods rich in phytoliths in the diets of twelve extant primates with wide variation in their molar enamel thickness. Additional dietary data from the literature provided the percentage of each primate’s diet made up of plants and of leaves. A statistical analysis of these variables showed that the amount of abrasive silica phytoliths in the diets of our sample primates correlated positively with the thickness of their molar enamel, constrained by the amount of leaves in their diet (R 2 = 0.875; p,.0006). Conclusions/Significance: The need to resist abrasion from phytoliths appears to be a key selective force behind the evolution of thick molar enamel in primates. The extreme molar enamel thickness of the teeth of the East African homini