Profitability in Egyptian hotels: business model and sustainability impact

The goals of this research are: first, to identify factors impacting hotel profitability; second, to explore the profitability ratios most commonly used by Egyptian hotel managers; third, to examine whether the hotel profitability is considered an issue of control or not. Questionnaires were collected from a convenience sample of hotels at different locations in Egypt. Two-stage analysis was performed, involving the hotel profitability estimation in the first stage using a sophisticated frontier analysis technique (LIMDEP), and the determination of hotel profitability determinants during the second stage using regression analysis. Results showed that hotels’ ability to succeed is not only determined by their business model attributes of size or location, but by their type, brand, and some controlled factors such as sustainability practices. The importance/performance analysis (IPA) showed that occupancy rate as a profitability indicator was situated in the second IPA quadrant, meaning similarity between importance and performance perceptions. Furthermore, measuring efficiency is a useful tool to identify factors impacting profitability. This research found that hotels located in the capital city do not show higher profitability values than hotels locating in remote areas. Hotels’ size, capacity, star rating, type, managers’ experience and sustainability factors were found to be the main profitability determinants. To date, this study is one of the first attempts to identify hotel profitability determinants in Egyptian hotels.Keywords: business model, Egyptian hotels, frontier technique, profitability, sustainabilit

Komodifikasi Perempuan Dalam Iklan Televisi

: Women and sexual attraction is to be one weapon in the arsenal of the ads. In the version of AXE advertisement “Turun Hargaâ€, the author indicates the presence of the commodification of women. This paper discusses how the signs set in them to communicate with the target and how the structure of the message that commodificate women. The method of analysis used in this paper is semiotics Greimasian combined with Marxian feminist perspective.

Characterization of a new, recombinant thermo-active subtilisin-like serine protease derived from Shewanella arctica

Proteases represent the commercially most relevant enzyme family with applications in the chemical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. For the personal care industry, both cold-active and thermo-active protease variants are of particular interest for detergent formulation. We have identified a gene sequence encoding a putative subtilisin-like serine protease in a gene library of the psychrophilic bacterium Shewanella arctica (DSM 16509, JCM 14208). The recombinant protein (67 kDa, 644 amino acids) product was flanked by 4.4 kDa (38 a.a.) signal sequence. Initial in-silico sequence analysis and protein modelling revealed the dominant alpha helical structural features embedding the catalytic residues Asp-180, His-213 and Ser-364, which form the canonical catalytic triad of subtilisin-like serine proteases. Further, in the N-terminal region a subtilisin-N domain was detected between residues Asp-55 and Thr-135. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that this enzyme can be classified as subtilisin-like serine protease with 73% amino acids identity to its closest characterized relative, the putative protease of Pseudoaltermonas sp. This is the first report of a detailed biochemical characterization of Shewanella spp. derived protease activity. The recombinant protein (28.18 mg/L), termed SaP, was purified to homogeneity from a crude E. coli lysate with an activity of 0.52 U/mg. Surprisingly, although derived from psychrophilic bacteria, SaP is active over a very broad temperature (T = 0-80 °C) and pH (pH 6-10) range, with optimal proteolytic activity at 60 °C and pH 8. The unique enzyme displayed an activity half-life of 45 h and 1.5 h at 40 °C and 70 °C, respectively. The specific activity of SaP (Kcat/Km: 71.14 s-1 M-1) toward the model substrate casein is comparable to other prokaryotic serine proteases. The enzyme activity was not affected by various metal ions or non-specific protease inhibitors, which positions SaP for industrial application operating over a broad temperature range, such as household detergent formulations

What Does Heritage Food Mean? An Interdisciplinary Review of Literature

The attention carried in food and eating by social sciences has recently moved from investigating the issue as a topic of interest to addressing it as a concern constructed as a research object. However, we still need to have an in-depth understanding of the concept of “heritage food” (HF), in which disciplines we can address it? and shed light on its parallels in the literature such as local food and traditional food. The shortage of knowledge about similarities and differences between those concepts may cause confusion while conducting related studies. Therefore, the current study aims to provide a clear understanding of the concept of heritage food, through an interdisciplinary systematic review approach. In the end, the article will try to provide a clear comprehension of the heritage food concept and portrait the relation between local, traditional, and heritage food

Bowel obstruction by ingestion of superabsorbent polymer balls

Ingestion of foreign bodies is a common complaint among children. However, few cases require surgical intervention [1] of non-food foreign bodies in young children [2].This study reports 2 cases of intestinal obstruction by superabsorbent gel balls in children ages 15 months and 18 months. Both presented with symptoms and signs of small bowel obstruction. The first patient underwent two operations during the same admission for other missing balls. Both patients did well postoperatively and were discharged home.Superabsorbent balls or polymer balls are new and emerging unexpected causes of intestinal obstruction. Their ingestion causes catastrophic sequelae; these items should always be kept out of the reach of children [3]. Keywords: Polymer balls, Water beads, Intestinal obstruction in children, Ingestion of foreign bod

Predictive markers for efficiency of the amino-acid deprivation therapies in cancer

Amino acid deprivation therapy (AADT) is a promising strategy for developing novel anticancer treatments, based on variations in metabolism of healthy and malignant cells. L-asparaginase was the first amino acid-degrading enzyme that received FDA approval for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Arginase and arginine deiminase were effective in clinical trials for the treatment of metastatic melanomas and hepatocellular carcinomas. Essential dependence of certain cancer cells on methionine explains the anticancer efficacy of methionine-g-lyase. Along with significant progress in identification of metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells, new amino acid-cleaving enzymes appear as promising agents for cancer treatment: lysine oxidase, tyrosine phenol-lyase, cysteinase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. However, sensitivity of specific cancer cell types to these enzymes differs. Hence, search for prognostic and predictive markers for AADT and introduction of the markers into clinical practice are of great importance for translational medicine. As specific metabolic pathways in cancer cells are determined by the enzyme expression, some of these enzymes may define the sensitivity to AADT. This review considers the known predictors for efficiency of AADT, emphasizing the importance of knowledge on cancer-specific amino acid significance for such predictions

Targeting Methionine Addiction of Cancer Cells with Methioninase

All types of cancer cells are addicted to methionine, which is known as the Hoffman effect. Restricting methionine inhibits the growth and proliferation of all tested types of cancer cells, leaving normal cells unaffected. Targeting methionine addiction with methioninase (METase), either alone or in combination with common cancer chemotherapy drugs, has been shown as an effective and safe therapy in various types of cancer cells and animal cancer models. About six years ago, recombinant METase (rMETase) was found to be able to be taken orally as a supplement, resulting in anecdotal positive results in patients with advanced cancer. Currently, there are 8 published clinical studies on METase, including two from the 1990s and six more recent ones. This review focuses on the results of clinical studies on METase-mediated methionine restriction, in particular, on the dosage of oral rMETase taken alone as a supplement or in combination with common chemotherapeutic agents in patients with advanced cancer

Forgotten Legacy: An Endeavor to Highlight Heritage Food of Egyptian Bedouins

Despite the issue of food heritage having an important debate around the globe, there is still inconclusive literature addressing Egyptian heritage food in general, and particularly the gastronomic heritage of Egyptian Bedouins. The main argument of the current study is firstly to identify a set of genuine heritage foods of Egyptian Bedouins by using explicit criteria. Then, transfer the data to develop a documented recipe book for these meals, which is intended to be an initial phase of promoting them as a unique component of the Egyptian cultural legacy. The target population of the study is the Egyptian Bedouin society, both in the western and eastern deserts. Through a qualitative approach, 15 semi-structured interviews with elderly local people were undertaken before conducting a focus group with six Bedouin experts. The findings section reported eight heritage foods of Egyptian Bedouins and produced a recipe book for them

The land of Ewes and Milk: An exploration study of heritage food of Egyptian Bedouins

For a territory to be sustainable, economic and social benefits need to be exploited to improve the living standard of local people. Food as a part of human culture has supposed a significant role in tourist decision-making and satisfaction, tourism services and destination promotion strategies, accordingly, it can be a useful factor of destination development. The main argument of current research is to explore and document a group of authentic heritage foods of Egyptian Bedouins as an attempt to preserve them as well as suggest a potential utilisation of these foods in the light of rural tourism. An initial online survey, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions with Bedouins from Sinai and Matruh areas have been undertaken to accomplish the study aim. At the end of the study, a full description of seven heritage foods of the mentioned areas with their original names, pictures, ingredients, and preparation methods have presented, additionally, a potential utilisation has been suggested