6 research outputs found
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The effects of touristic elements in photographs on potential visitors’ evaluations of a volcano
To promote nature-based destinations with crustal activity, it is crucial to capture scenic images of these to communicate their inherent attractiveness to potential visitors while minimizing perceived risk. This study aims to investigate how the presence of a visitor and a human-made touristic structure in photographs affects potential visitors’ evaluations of a volcano and to offer avenues to leverage the inherent nature of creative, smart, and sustainable destinations. Sixty-one students rated 24 slide photographs featuring a volcano with and without a visitor, a human-made structure, and a volcanic plume, on scales regarding the touristic sense, activity, grandness, transcendence, and security. The results implied the risk-cushioning effects of the presence of the visitor and the human-made structure. As the structure enhanced the sense of transcendence and grandness, its inclusion may be effective in communicating the destination’s attractiveness
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The effect of information intervention on a model of potential visitors’ intentions to avoid visiting volcanic destinations
Using a model based on dual-process theory, this study aims to clarify the effect of information intervention on a model of potential visitors’ intentions to avoid visiting a volcanic destination. News coverage of a volcanic eruption with a photograph is employed as risk-amplifying information, and intervention through information about residents’ lives is assumed to reduce perceived risk. The experimental research results showed that cognitive risk perception had a positive effect on intention to avoid visiting a volcanic destination through negative affective risk perception, and that these three variables were weakened by information intervention. This suggests the usefulness of intervention through information about residents’ everyday lives in minimizing the effect of the risk amplifying information. Nevertheless, the results did not show a significant effect of cognitive risk perception on positive affective risk perception, which may raise questions about the inextricable relationship between risk and destination attractiveness
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Potential visitors’ evaluations of photographs of destinations with volcanoes
Volcanoes are a form of attractions where inextricable relationship between risk and inherent attractiveness can be observed. In addition, potential visitors’ past experiences with natural disasters may have effects on their perceived risk of natural resources (Vastfjall and Solvic 2008). This study investigates the effects of potential visitors’ past nature disaster experiences on their evaluations of a destination with a volcano. Sixty-one university students evaluated 24 slide-presentations of view sites of an active volcano. As a result, subjects’ past nature disaster experiences intensified the negative relationship between the volcanic plume included in the photographs and the sense of security whereas those experiences had the main effects on a touristic sense and the sense of transcend grandness as well as the simple main effect on the sense of security. These results together further point to the importance of investigating both the effects of personal factors and environmental factors of destinations
High glucose concentration-induced expression of pentraxin-3 in a rat model of continuous peritoneal dialysis
Background: Continuous exposure to
peritoneal dialysis fluids (PDFs) is associated with
pathological responses such as persistent microinflammation, which leads to ultrafiltration failure.
Pentraxin-3 (PTX3), a multifunctional soluble pattern
recognition receptor, is produced at sites of
inflammation by a wide range of cell types. This study
investigates the in vivo expression of PTX3 in the
peritoneal membrane of a rat continuous peritoneal
dialysis (PD) model, as well as the effect of high glucose
on the in vitro expression of PTX3.
Methods: The expression of PTX3 was analyzed
using RT-PCR, real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry
and western blotting in a PD rat model receiving saline
or conventional PDF containing 3.86% glucose for 8
weeks. The effects of high glucose on the expression of
PTX3 were examined in cultured rat peritoneal
mesothelial cells (RPMCs), mouse macrophage-like
cells, and mouse fibroblasts.
Results: In a rat model of PD, eight-week instillation
of the conventional PDF produced increased
submesothelial thickening, followed by substantially
enhanced PTX3 protein levels in the submesothelial
layer of peritoneal membrane. PTX3 was detected in
peritoneal mesothelial cells, macrophages and fibroblasts
in the thickened submesothelial area. Glucose was found
to induce PTX3 protein expression in RPMCs as well as
macrophage-like cells and fibroblasts.
Conclusion: Continuous exposure to conventional
PDF induces PTX3 expression in the peritoneal
membrane of rats. High glucose may be involved in the
mechanism of PDF-induced local micro-inflammation in
the peritoneum