Hotels in a customer-centred business model: Empirical findings from Val Gardena

The gradual shifting of the hospitality industry from product to service is due to the orientation of business models towards the customers – i.e. how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value. Guests evaluate such attitude in several and influential review websites. We investigate about the effectiveness of such models on quality perception by studying the determinants of facilities\u27 online ratings. In particular we focus on two critical aspects for customer-oriented business, as price and proximity effect to competitors located near renowned tourist areas. The latter may stimulate quality improvement on hotels placed in peripheral locations. This study considers the acco-mmodation facilities located near Val Gardena, one of the most famous Italian mountain destinations. As done by previous contributors we present separate estimates for sales and advice websites. We find that price is not necessarily a significant indicator for hotel quality and the related business model. In addition, there seem not to be necessarily significant differences in quality perception between hotels located in strictly neighbour destinations and those in peripheral areas. If on one side proximity to a renowned area can be a rewarding factor for quality assessment, on the other side it appears not necessarily to be a critical one

The single surgeon learning curve of laparoscopic liver resection : a continuous evolving process through stepwise difficulties

The aim of the study was to evaluate the single-surgeon learning curve (SSLC) in laparoscopic liver surgery over an 11-year period with risk-adjusted (RA) cumulative sum control chart analysis.Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is a challenging and highly demanding procedure. No specific data are available for defining the feasibility and reproducibility of the SSLC regarding a consistent and consecutive caseload volume over a specified time period.A total of 319 LLR performed by a single surgeon between June 2003 and May 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. A difficulty scale (DS) ranging from 1 to 10 was created to rate the technical difficulty of each LLR. The risk-adjusted cumulative sum control chart (RA-CUSUM) analysis evaluated conversion rate (CR), operative time (OT) and blood loss (BL). Perioperative morbidity and mortality were also analyzed.The RA-CUSUM analysis of the DS identified 3 different periods: P1 (n = 91 cases), with a mean DS of 3.8; P2 (cases 92-159), with a mean DS of 5.3; and P3 (cases 160-319), with a mean DS of 4.7. P2 presented the highest conversion and morbidity rates with a longer OT, whereas P3 showed the best results (P<0.001). Fifty cases were needed to achieve a significant decrease in BL. The overall morbidity rate was 13.8%; no perioperative mortality was observed.According to our analysis, at least 160 cases (P3) are needed to complete the SSLC performing safely different types of LLR. A minimum of 50 cases can provide a significant decrease in BL. Based on these findings, a longer learning curve should be anticipated to broaden the indications for LLR

Cell-to-Cell Adhesion and Neurogenesis in Human Cortical Development: A Study Comparing 2D Monolayers with 3D Organoid Cultures

SUMMARY Organoids (ORGs) are increasingly used as models of cerebral cortical development. Here, we compared transcriptome and cellular phenotypes between telencephalic ORGs and monolayers (MONs) generated in parallel from three biologically distinct induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines. Multiple readouts revealed increased proliferation in MONs, which was caused by increased integrin signaling. MONs also exhibited altered radial glia (RG) polarity and suppression of Notch signaling, as well as impaired generation of intermediate progenitors, outer RG, and cortical neurons, which were all partially reversed by reaggregation of dissociated cells. Network analyses revealed co-clustering of cell adhesion, Notch-related transcripts and their transcriptional regulators in a module strongly downregulated in MONs. The data suggest that ORGs, with respect to MONs, initiate more efficient Notch signaling in ventricular RG owing to preserved cell adhesion, resulting in subsequent generation of intermediate progenitors and outer RG, in a sequence that recapitulates the cortical ontogenetic process

Discovering hidden treasures: unveiling a new population of the narrow endemic Hieracium lucidum Guss. (Asteraceae) on the Mounts of Palermo (NW Sicily, Italy)

The authors discovered a new population of Hieracium lucidum Guss., a species hitherto considered strictly endemic to Monte Gallo. Useful elements for the ecological characterisation of the new population are provided. The stretch of carbonate coastline between the Egadi Islands and the western portion of the Province of Palermo displays a very high wealth of valuable floristic elements and represents a unicum in terms of both phytogeography and ecology. Considering the extreme fragmentation of the distribution pattern of many endemic and exclusive species that characterise this district, as in the case of H. lucidum, the authors suggest upgrading the strategies to protect the local botanical heritage, going beyond the species approach and thinking on a wider territorial scale

Differentiation of Human iPSCs Into Telencephalic Neurons Using 3D Organoids and Monolayer Culture

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are emerging as a useful tool for modelling in vitro early brain development and neurological disorders. Molecular mechanisms and cell interactions that regulate the neurodevelopment at early stages remain unclear because of human brain’s complexity and limitations of functional studies. Two major culture methodologies are used to differentiate in vitro hiPSCs into neurons: monolayer (2D) and organoid (3D) cultures. Here we investigate the effect of cell dissociation and the loss of 3D organization during the early differentiation process of neuronal progenitors. Using the same culture media, we first differentiated hiPSCs into neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and then induced their differentiation into neurons in 3 different modalities: 3D undissociated organoids, dissociated NPCs followed by immediate re-aggregation into an organoid, and dissociated NPCs cultured as monolayer. We assessed neuronal differentiation efficiency of each method by immunocytochemistry, qPCR, western blot, and RNA-Seq analysis over a time course. Our data revealed substantial differences in gene and protein expression among the three systems, including genes of the Notch pathway (e.g. NEUROD1, NEUROG2), earliest determinants of cortical region differentiation (e.g. SOX1, FEZF1) as well as later transcriptional regulators that specify cortical neuron subtypes (e.g. TBR1, CTIP2), which were all downregulated in monolayer. Moreover, we found that genes and pathways mediating cell-to-cell interactions (e.g. CNTNs, CAMs) were mostly upregulated in the 3D culture systems, whereas cell-extracellular matrix interaction molecules (e.g. ITG, LAM) were mostly upregulated in 2D, indicating that cell surface molecules may be involved in specification of neuronal cell types. Our results address the methodological question of the appropriateness of a differentiation method for a particular experimental goal, and, beyond that, reveal important early determinants that exert a decisive influence on neuronal differentiation and regional specification of human neural stem cells.

KIC 7599132: an ellipsoidal variable in a close SB1 system

In this paper, we present a spectroscopic and photometric analysis of the suspected ellipsoidal variable star KIC 7599132. New spectroscopic observations have been obtained with Catania Astrophysical Observatory Spectropolarimeter. From the fit of Hα and Hβ, we determined the effective temperature and gravity of the primary component, Teff = 10200 ± 150 K and log g = 4.1 ± 0.1, while from a number of metal lines, we derive the rotational velocity, v esin i = 60 ± 2 km s-1. We found almost solar abundances with the exception of silicon (0.50 dex) overabundance. A Bayesian analysis, based on the comparison between observational data and theoretical predictions of PROSECCO evolutionary models, allows us to estimate the mass and the age of the primary. We obtained M1 = 2.4 ± 0.2 M☉ and τs = 3.8 _{-0.7}^{+0.9} Myr. A new model for the system was obtained combining Kepler photometric time series (Q0-Q17) and our radial velocities by using the code PHOEBE. As a result, the system appears to be a detached binary system with a mass ratio q = 0.30 ± 0.01, a semimajor axis a = 7.3 ± 0.1 R☉ and an inclination angle i = 35° ± 2°. This modelling allowed us to derive: M2 = 0.7 ± 0.1 M☉, R1 = 3.0 ± 0.2 R☉, and R2 = 1.5 ± 0.2 R☉. Numerical simulations show that if the secondary star had been hotter than 4000 K, we would have observed its spectral features in our spectra

Genetic screening for hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy in western Sicily: Two years of experience in a neurological clinic

Background and purposeHereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN) is caused by mutations in the TTR gene, leading to misfolded monomers that aggregate generating amyloid fibrils.MethodsA prospective systematic genetic screening for ATTRv-PN was proposed in patients presenting with a sensory-motor idiopathic polyneuropathy and two or more "red flags" among the following: family history of polyneuropathy or cardiopathy, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, cardiac insufficiency, renal amyloidosis, lumbar tract stenosis, autonomic dysfunction, idiopathic gastrointestinal disease, amyloid deposits on biopsy, and vitreous opacities. The detection rate was calculated, and nonparametric analyses were carried out to underline differences among screened positive versus negative patients.ResultsIn the first step, 145 suspected patients underwent genetic testing, revealing a diagnosis of ATTRv-PN in 14 patients (10%). Then, cascade screening allowed early recognition of 33 additional individuals (seven symptomatic ATTRv-PN patients and 26 presymptomatic carriers) among 84 first-degree relatives. Patients with a positive genetic test presented a higher frequency of unexplained weight loss, gastrointestinal symptoms, and family history of cardiopathy.ConclusionsA systematic screening for ATTRv-PN yielded an increased recognition of the disease in our neurological clinic. Unexplained weight loss associated with axonal polyneuropathy had the highest predictive value in the guidance of clinical suspicion. A focused approach for the screening of ATTRv-PN could lead to an earlier diagnosis and identification of asymptomatic carriers, who will be promptly treated after a strict follow-up at the clinical onset

Biliverdin Protects against Liver Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Swine

Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) in organ transplantation remains a serious and unsolved problem. Organs that undergo significant damage during IRI, function less well immediately after reperfusion and tend to have more problems at later times when rejection can occur. Biliverdin has emerged as an agent that potently suppress IRI in rodent models. Since the use of biliverdin is being developed as a potential therapeutic modality for humans, we tested the efficacy for its effects on IRI of the liver in swine, an accepted and relevant pre-clinical animal model. Administration of biliverdin resulted in rapid appearance of bilirubin in the serum and significantly suppressed IRI-induced liver dysfunction as measured by multiple parameters including urea and ammonia clearance, neutrophil infiltration and tissue histopathology including hepatocyte cell death. Taken together, our findings, in a large animal model, provide strong support for the continued evaluation of biliverdin as a potential therapeutic in the clinical setting of transplantation of the liver and perhaps other organs

Guidelines of the Italian Society of Videosurgery in Infancy for the minimally invasive treatment of the ureteropelvic-junction obstruction

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