THE MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL DESTINATIONS:IN SEARCH FOR A DESTINATION\u2019S BALANCED SCORECARD

As tourist markets become increasingly competitive, tourist destinations have to develop more sophisticated management tools. The aim of this paper is to try to adapt the tool of the balanced scorecard to tourist destinations, by identifying the players involved in implementing such a control system, the adjustments necessary to transpose the idea of balanced scorecards from single companies to territorial economic systems, and the critical aspects of the implementation phase. Empirically, among other things, the article is based on the experience acquired during the course of a project aimed at developing a balanced scorecard for the city of Florence (Italy)

Skin morphology in double apoA-I/apoE knock-out mice: a structural and ultrastructural study

Apolipoprotein(apo)A-I, the main protein component of high density lipoproteins (HDLs), plays a major role in cholesterol removal from peripheral tissues and increasing evidence supports its function as an important regulator of the immune response (Annema et al., 2013). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of apoA-I deficiency in dyslipidemic mice, when fed a low-fat/low-cholesterol diet. Three lines of male mice were considered: wild-type mice as controls, apoE-KO mice as dyslipidemic model (Zhang et al.,1992) and apoA-I/apoE double KO mice (DKO mice). Whereas in wild-type mice cholesterol circulates almost exclusively in HDLs, apoE-KO mice are hypercholesterolemic and cholesterol mostly circulates in low-density lipoproteins. In DKO mice, cholesterol levels are comparable to wild-type mice, but HDLs are almost absent and cholesterol entirely accumulates in low-density lipoproteins. In the present study, all animals were maintained on a low-fat/low-cholesterol diet up to 30 weeks of age. At sacrifice, skin biopsies from two different anatomical areas (thoracic and abdominal regions) were harvested from each animal and processed for both light (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Whereas the skin of apoE-KO mice was comparable to that of control mice, LM analysis in DKO mice revealed an increase in dermal thickness and a massive presence of foam cells and lymphocytes. TEM analysis showed the presence of cholesterol clefts in the papillary dermis and inside foam cells in the reticular dermis. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that in DKO mice fed a low-fat/low-cholesterol diet, the lack of apoA-I is responsible for an aberrant skin morphology, with an exacerbated inflammatory response, possibly caused by a local cholesterol accumulation

Plasma Total Cysteine and Cardiovascular Risk Burden: Action and Interaction

We hypothesized that redox analysis could provide sensitive markers of the oxidative pathway associated to the presence of an increasing number of cardiovascular risk factors (RFs), independently of type. We classified 304 subjects without cardiovascular disease into 4 groups according to the total number of RFs (smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, hyperhomocysteinaemia, diabetes, obesity, and their combination). Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring plasma total and reduced homocysteine, cysteine (Cys), glutathione, cysteinylglycine, blood reduced glutathione, and malondialdehyde. Twenty-seven percent of subjects were in group 0 RF, 26% in 1 RF, 31% in 2 RF, and 16% in ≥3 RF. By multivariable ordinal regression analysis, plasma total Cys was associated to a higher number of RF (OR = 1.068; 95% CI = 1.027–1.110, P = 0.002). Total RF burden is associated with increased total Cys levels. These findings support a prooxidant effect of Cys in conjunction with RF burden, and shed light on the pathophysiologic role of redox state unbalance in preclinical atherosclerosis

Dose-Related Effects of Repeated ETC-216 (Recombinant Apolipoprotein A-IMilano/1-Palmitoyl-2-Oleoyl Phosphatidylcholine Complexes) Administrations on Rabbit Lipid-Rich Soft Plaques In Vivo Assessment by Intravascular Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

ObjectivesThis study sought to evaluate in vivo the minimal dose of apolipoprotein (apo) A-IMilano phospholipid complex (recombinant apoA-IMilano and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine complexes [ETC-216]) able to induce atherosclerosis regression in a rabbit model of lipid-rich plaques.BackgroundA single high dose of recombinant apoA-IMilano has promoted atherosclerosis regression in animal models. More recently, regression of atherosclerosis was achieved in coronary patients by repeated infusions of ETC-216.MethodsThirty-six rabbits underwent perivascular injury at both carotid arteries, followed by a 1.5% cholesterol diet. After 90 days, rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups and treated 5 times with vehicle or ETC-216 at 5, 10, 20, 40, or 150 mg/kg dose every 4 days. Carotid plaque changes were evaluated in vivo by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), performed before and at the end of treatments. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were also recorded after administration of the second dose for rabbits infused with vehicle 40 or 150 mg/kg.ResultsAtheroma volume in vehicle-treated rabbits increased dramatically between the first and the second IVUS analyses (+26.53%), whereas in ETC-216–treated animals, a reduced progression at the lower doses and a significant regression at the higher doses, up to −6.83%, was detected. Results obtained by MRI analysis correlated significantly with those at IVUS (r = 0.706; p < 0.0001). The MRI evaluations after the second infusion established that a significant regression was achieved with only 2 administrations of the highest dose.ConclusionsThese results confirm the efficacy of ETC-216 for atherosclerosis treatment and provide guidance for dose selection and frequency to obtain a significant reduction of plaque volume

Modelli transgenici per l'espressione dell'apolipoproteina A-IMilano: generazione e impiego nello studio di processi fisio-patologici

Dottorato di ricerca in biotecnologie applicate alla farmacologia e biotecnologie cellulari e molecolari applicate al settore biomedico. 11. ciclo. Coordinatore e Docente guida C. SirtoriConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - P.za Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

Business Planning

Il libro presenta le scelte strategiche connesse all'avvio di una nuova iiniziativa imprenditoriale, oltre che un quadro teorico utile per valutare le conseguenze di tali scelte sul profilo economico finanziario aziendale

The Drivers of Financial Results

The chapter describes the main drivers of operating results, distinguishing between structural and short term driver

Metamanagement del turismo urbano

Il libro tratta il tema del metamanagement dei sistemi turistici prestando particolare attenzione ad un comparto (quello del turismo urbano) dove le attività di gestione sovraordinata sono, se possibile, ancora più critiche di quanto avvenga per gli altri comparti. Nelle destinazioni urbane, infatti, assumono maggiore rilevanza attrattive di tipo culturale, che difficilmente possono essere gestite a scopo di lucro. Nel turismo urbano, inoltre, l’attività dei visitatori non è dominata da attività ripetitive e predefinite come invece avviene tipicamente nel turismo balneare o montano. I turisti devono quindi riempire la propria giornata con tante attività sempre diverse offerte da un numero di soggetti molto elevato, rendendo ancora più accentuati i fenomeni di frammentazione dell’offerta e la necessità di attività di informazione e coordinamento. Il tema viene trattato allargando il discorso al di là delle semplici attività di marketing territoriale e affrontando in senso lato il tema delle attività di sviluppo, regolazione e gestione del sistema

Business Planning: Turning an Idea into a Reality

The book provides a framework within which to fram start-up activities, providing a number of strategic and operational tools for setting up an entrepreneurial project, whether it is a new venture or a new initiative within an existing enterpris