Initiating a Smart Tourism Ecosystem: A Public Actor Perspective

Smart tourism ecosystems are an emerging phenomenon; however, how these ecosystems are initiated by city actors is under-explored in the existing literature. In this paper, we conduct a qualitative case study to investigate the initiation of a de novo smart tourism ecosystem in the City of Gothenburg—the European capital of smart tourism 2020. Göteborg & Co, as a public organization, is initiating a digital Destination Data Platform (DDP) as the core of its tourism ecosystem and is working on involving non-focal actors to shape the surrounding ecosystem. Our findings extend the existing research on innovation ecosystems by highlighting a hybrid public-private focal actor in the smart tourism ecosystem. We also underline how a public focal actor leverages its unique public position and legal obligations to involve non-focal actors and orchestrating the ecosystem. Finally, we suggest a conceptual model for a smart tourism ecosystem focusing on the place and purpose of control points

Cosmological solutions of time varying speed of light theories

We consider scalar-tensor theory for describing varying speed of light in a spatially flat FRW space-time. We find some exact solutions in the metric and Palatini formalisms. Also we examine the dynamics of this theory by dynamical system method assuming a $\Lambda$CDM background and we find some exact solutions by considering the character of critical points of the theory in both formalisms. We show that for any attractor the form of non-minimal coupling coefficient is quadratic in terms of the scalar field $\Psi$. Also we show that only attractors of the de Sitter era satisfy the horizon criteria.Comment: 16 pages, final version accepted for publication in Physics Letters

DYNAMICS OF SUCCESS FOR MOBILE GAMES: THE CASE OF EARLY-STAGE STARTUPS

The competitive mobile app markets along with the lack of business experience of mobile app startups has created many challenges for startups in their efforts to create a viable business through developing and publishing apps. In this study, we collected data from 20 international mobile game startups that were working on their first commercial game with the aim to develop a successful game as the first step toward a successful business. Through a classic grounded theory methodology, we developed a theoretical model. Our model depicts how startups work with three requirements of visibility, quality and user engagement toward success while enhancing each and every one of the requirements through online and offline social interactions with various members of the mobile ecosystem. Our study contributes to the existing literature on mobile app development and the interactions of startups with the platform owner, users, and their games artefact, particularly by highlighting how the startups leverage the social aspects of mobile app platforms for success. It also contributes to the knowledge on business creation in startups through explaining the fundamental factors that early-stage mobile game startups consider in their work on mobile platforms to create a successful business

The Political Turn of Twitch – Understanding Live Chat as an Emergent Political Space

Research and media have all emphasized the importance of digital platforms such as Twitter and Facebook in contemporary political activism. Yet, little is known of the politicization of other digital platforms, such as Reddit, Twitch, and Discord, and how such politicization is manifested. By politicization, we refer to the emergence of political messages in a “decidedly a-political” space. In this paper, we explore a case of politicization on Twitch, a live streaming platform associated with the gaming community. We focus on the live chat, a central feature of Twitch. Our analysis illustrates rapidly emergent actor roles and their respective use of different features in posting (and objecting to) political messaging. We develop a model that illustrates the dynamic between actors and conclude with implications for research and practice

Mobile application ecosystems from the application developers' perspectives: the cases of App Store and Android Market

Objectives The study provides an insight into the mobile application ecosystems which are shaped around the novel phenomenon of app stores. It investigates the important factors that application developers perceive in their interactions with these ecosystems. The motivation for the study stems from scarcity of earlier research on the app stores despite their considerable impact on restructuring of the global mobile industry. The aim is to understand the current structure of the ecosystems, and to find out the factors that application developers find important during their activities on these ecosystems. Methodology The study undertakes a multiple-case study approach by focusing on the application ecosystems that have shaped around the two largest market players (i.e. App Store by Apple, and Android Market by Google). The empirical data are collected by an original data gathering method on the Internet with is supported by concurrent data analysis. The method allows for collecting immediate, in-depth qualitative data from a large number of developers all across the world. Findings Findings are twofold: 1) The study shows that in the current structure of mobile application ecosystems, platform providers, as the keystones, hold most of the traditional roles of the industry into their app stores’ technological settings. As a critique to the current literature on business ecosystems, the study indicates that the platform providers can apply high entry barriers to the ecosystem for developers even at the early stages of evolution if assured of their app stores’ benefits. Additionally, the study contributes to the current literature by introducing a new strategy for integration of application distribution process (semi-integration) which is applied by Google. 2) The study finds that application developers are highly influenced by the network effects on the app stores, and suggests that the cross-side network effect has a stronger effect on developers’ behaviors. The study contributes to the current research on app stores via empirically supported findings on developers’ perspectives. It outlines developers’ requests for: a reasonable entry barrier to the ecosystem that allows the qualified developers in; a comprehensive documentation affording the expectations of beginner to advanced developers; a flawless development platform with facilities for memory management and fast testing of applications; and a fast review process for quality control of the published applications. It also confirms that the potential for the global economy of scale of a platform is highly acknowledged by developers in their attitudes towards the application ecosystem

UTILIZATION OF ACCELERATOR FACILITIES IN MOBILE APP DEVELOPER STARTUPS

This interpretive grounded theory study describes and analyses how early-stage mobile app developer startups utilize an accelerator’s facilities to develop and publish their game applications on a platform. The data was collected by interviewing 20 startups participating in an accelerator operated by a mobile platform-owner. Our model shows that the accelerator is affecting our early-stage startups in five areas of: their 1) market-related activities, 2) resources, 3) startup’s capabilities, 4) experimenting activities, and 5) game design activities. We discuss how the startups utilize the accelerator’s facilities to improve their capabilities and knowledge inside their firms which can affect their game design, access to resources, and improve their market-related activities. Furthermore, they make the accelerator into a social boundary resource through which they aim 1) to collaborate with and impact the platform decisions more effectively, and 2) to gain access to resources from other members of the ecosystem, in order to increase the chance of acquiring more users and building a reputation for entering other platforms. Our study enriches the existing literature in the areas of mobile application development and accelerators by shedding light on the game development activities of early-stage startups that have been selected to a platform-owned accelerator. Keywords: Mobile App Development, Boundary Resource, Accelerators, Grounded Theory study

Comparative Efficacy of Bispectral Index Monitoring and Clinical Assessment in The Recovery of Patients Undergoing Open Renal Surgery: A Randomized, Double-Blind Study

Background and Aims: Maintaining the sufficient depth of anesthesia with an adequate anesthetic drug dosage in patients undergoingsurgery is one of the most significant issues. Inadequate depth of anesthesia can cause significant disturbances in hemodynamicparameters. In this study, clinical assessment and bispectral (BIS) index monitoring compare the depth of general anesthesiaand recovery time in patients undergoing open renal surgery.Method: In this double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, all patients undergoingopenrenal surgery were enrolledandrandomlydivided into a BIS group and clinical assessment group (control). In the BIS group, the electrodes of BIS monitoring system wereplaced on frontal and temporal lobes of the patient. The time of eye opening, verbal response to verbal stimulation, extubation time,the duration of stay in the recovery unit, the first-time of narcotic usage, and total dosage of intravenous narcotics were assessed in2 groups.Results: A total of 96 patients were enrolled. Sex, age, BMI, duration of surgery, length of stay in the recovery room and first-timenarcotic drug usage were not significantly different in the two groups. However, the length of time from the anesthetic drug discontinuationto eye opening, verbal responses to verbal stimulation and extubation was significantly lower in the BIS group thanthe control group, respectively (P = 0.002, P = 0.007, P = 0.019).Conclusions: The evaluation of the aneasthesia status of patients based on the BIS index would be more efficient in decreasing theemergence anaesthesia including eye opening, verbal response, extubation after anesthesi

The effect of the human cumulus cells-conditioned medium on in vitro maturation of mouse oocyte: An experimental study

Background: To increase the results of infertility treatment, many efforts have been made to improve the treatment methods. As assisted reproductive technology is mainly using cell culture methods, one of the approaches to improve this technology is conditioned medium from different sources. It is desirable to apply in vitro maturation (IVM) and use oocytes from normal cycles instead of stimulating ovulation. Objective: To investigate the effect of human cumulus cell condition medium (hCCCM) on the IVM of immature mouse oocytes and morphology. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 240 germinal vesile oocytes were collected from four-six wk-old mice after 48 hr of 5IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) injection and cultured in hCCCM (test group, n = 120) and DMEM + 20% FBS (control group, n = 120). The IVM rates and changes in perivitelline space (PVS) and shape were investigated at 8, 16, and 24 hr following the culture. The mature (MII) oocytes were subjected to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the fertilization rate was assessed in three days. Results: A significant difference was observed between the maturation rates in the hCCCM and control groups (24.16% vs 0%; p = 0.001), as well as morphologic changes between the two groups (p = 0.04, p = 0.05). The development rate for MII oocytes attained from IVM in the hCCCM group was 27.58% (2-cell) and 6.89% (4-cell). Data displayed that hCCCM is an effective medium for oocytes maturation compared to the control medium. Conclusion: hCCCM supports oocyte in vitro growth and maturation. Moreover, hCCCM changes the oocyte shape and size of perivitelline space. Key words: Germinal vesicle, Cumulus cell, Conditioned medium, In vitro fertilization, In vitro maturation, Oocyte

Strive for kidney health for everyone during COVID-19; the possible theme for the world kidney day 2021

Increasing awareness regarding CKD and self-care during COVID-19 pandemic has become the most important aspect for the nephrologists. Hence it is appropriate that the theme of the forthcoming World Kidney Day on 11 March 2021 should be “Strive for kidney health for everyone during COVID-19

Association of Follicular Fluid Antioxidants Activity with Aging and In Vitro Fertilization Outcome: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: This research was aimed at assessing the relationship between the follicular fluid (FF) antioxidantsactivity, aging and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome.Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out on 65 women undergoing IVF/intracytoplasmicsperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles due to unexplained infertility. Ovarian stimulation was performed using thelong gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist protocol. After ovum pickup, FF was collected and processedto measure the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) andglutathione (GSH). Day 3 after ICSI, fresh embryos were transferred and later, possible pregnancy was assessed.Patients participating in this study were divided into four groups on the basis of age and pregnancy outcome.Results: SOD activity was not significantly different between the groups (P=0.218). GSH in the group whose participantswere aged ≤35 years and were pregnant was higher than that in other groups. CAT activity in groups withyounger participants was higher compared to the other groups. The mean TAC was higher in groups with pregnantparticipants compared to the non-pregnant women. Correlation analysis showed that: GSH level had a significantnegative correlation with age (P<0.001, R -0.55) and a significant positive correlation with pregnancy (P=0.015,R=0.30). CAT level also had a significant negative correlation with age (P<0.001, R=-0.42) and the level of TAC hada significant positive correlation with pregnancy (P<0.001, R=0.59).Conclusion: According to our results, the levels of TAC, GSH and CAT in younger and pregnant women were highercompared with those undergoing ICSI cycles. Given the correlation of FF antioxidant activity with age and pregnancy,it is necessary to carry out more research on these compounds and the maintenance of pregnancy