Workplace Spirituality as a Mediator to Individual Spirituality and Organizational Performance in a Hospitality Business: An Evidence from Hotel X, Clarkfield, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines

Through this study, we want to determine whether workplace spirituality has mediating effects between individual's spirituality and organizational performance in a hospitality business in Hotel X, Clarkfield, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. We used the Spirituality Assessment Scale developed by Hamilton Beazley, PhD targeting one hundred twenty-nine respondents. As far as we have known, our study may serve as one of the pioneering studies of spirituality in the hospitality industry. Overall, hotel employees (the management and rank-and-file) are relatively more spiritual as shown on the Spirituality Assessment Scale, which are made up of two dimensions: spirituality definitive dimension and spirituality correlated dimension. The correlational analysis showed that the employees’ spirituality moves in the same direction as to how employees find meaning and purpose to their work and how they perceived organizational performance. Also, there is no significant difference on the assessment of the spirituality and organizational performance among the employees based on the respondents’ level of education, except under the components of inner life, meaning at work & personal responsibility. Hence, we encouraged businesses in the hospitality industry to promote spiritual activities in the workplac

Anteproyecto finca escuela agroturística “AMAK” ubicado en el Departamento de Nueva Segovia, Municipio de Jalapa, en la comunidad de nuevo amanecer

Con este fin el ‘Anteproyecto de Finca Escuela Agroturística “Amak3” se proyectará como una alternativa ante la demanda de infraestructura dentro de la modalidad de agroturismo en la zona, en donde no solo importa el espacio protegido de flora y fauna, sino también la interacción entre el trabajador de las áreas rurales con los visitantes; de esta manera aportando a la generación de empleos y desarrollo de la comunidad “Nuevo Amanecer”, logrando una integración del entorno natural y lo constructivo, dentro de una política sostenible. La riqueza natural y cultural de Nicaragua, sumada con la calidez de sus habitantes y su fascinante historia permite hacer del país un destino turístico para todos los amantes de la naturaleza y turistas en general. Es así, que siendo poseedores de esta riqueza es un deber valorar y aprovechar de manera sostenible los recursos, es bajo este concepto que en los últimos años ha surgido en Nicaragua una nueva alternativa de recreación, el agroturismo1 que se deriva del turismo rural comunitario2, el cual aprovecha el auge turístico y el alto potencial agrícola del país. En Nicaragua las actividades primarias como el agroturismo representan el 30% de PIB (Producto Interno Bruto), teniendo mayor presencia en el norte del país debido en su mayoría al clima y fertilidad de suelos, estas actividades se desarrollan en fincas grandes extensiones de terreno, las que se dedican a la producción de granos básicos como el maíz, frijol, café, tabaco, y la ganadería. En los últimos años, fincas en el país se han adoptado esta modalidad de turismo (agroturismo) con el objetivo de diversificar sus ingresos económicos sin sustituir sus actividades cotidiana

Fragmentation of Andes-to-Amazon connectivity by hydropower dams

Andes-to-Amazon river connectivity controls numerous natural and human systems in the greater Amazon. However, it is being rapidly altered by a wave of new hydropower development, the impacts of which have been previously underestimated. We document 142 dams existing or under construction and 160 proposed dams for rivers draining the Andean headwaters of the Amazon. Existing dams have fragmented the tributary networks of six of eight major Andean Amazon river basins. Proposed dams could result in significant losses in river connectivity in river mainstems of five of eight major systems—the Napo, Marañón, Ucayali, Beni, and Mamoré. With a newly reported 671 freshwater fish species inhabiting the Andean headwaters of the Amazon (>500 m), dams threaten previously unrecognized biodiversity, particularly among endemic and migratory species. Because Andean rivers contribute most of the sediment in the mainstem Amazon, losses in river connectivity translate to drastic alteration of river channel and floodplain geomorphology and associated ecosystem services

Diseño propuesta de mejora del sistema de seguridad y salud en el trabajo que permita disminuir los riesgos que presentan los trabajadores de la empresa Cooptransanmateo.

El presente proyecto de investigación se centra en la importancia que representa para una empresa la implementación de mejoras del SG-SST, se enfoca y aplica en la empresa Cooptransanmateo, la cual ejerce en función como prestadora de servicio de transporte público en el municipio de Soacha Cundinamarca. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica acerca de temas relevantes para los puntos de investigación como: servicio de transporte público, condiciones, riesgos laborales, psicosociales, alteraciones de salud en los conductores, cada tema fue referenciado y citado; se limitó a la información que se relaciona directamente con el tema para su respectiva revisión y consulta, con el fin de comprender su relación directa con los objetivos establecidos. La metodología utilizada se basa en el método cuantitativo que permite tomar decisiones al analizar datos numéricos, estadísticas y permite responder a la pregunta de investigación e interpretar los resultados mediante gráficas y así categorizar las variables implementadas. Los datos obtenidos mediante la aplicación de una encuesta online al 40% al personal operativo de la empresa Cooptransanmateo identificaron las falencias en el sistema y las necesidades de los conductores por lo cual es recomendable proceder a tomar decisiones para realizar mejoras que promueva la protección de los conductores. Esto se realizará a través de programas, donde se da a conocer las situaciones a las cuales se exponen, actividades necesarias para salvaguardar el desarrollo de sus labores, capacitación constante acerca de las enfermedades más comunes y su prevención reportando siempre al área correspondiente dentro del interior de la empresa.This research project focuses on the importance that represents for a company the implementation of improvements in the OSHMS, focuses and applies in the company Cooptransanmateo, which serves as a provider of public transport service in the municipality of Soacha Cundinamarca. A bibliographic review was made about relevant topics for the research points such as: public transportation service, conditions, labor risks, psychosocial, health alterations in drivers, each topic was referenced and quoted; it was limited to the information directly related to the topic for its respective review and consultation, in order to understand its direct relation with the established objectives. The methodology used is based on the quantitative method that allows making decisions by analyzing numerical data, statistics and allows answering the research question and interpreting the results by means of graphs and thus categorizing the variables implemented. The data obtained through the application of an online survey to 40% of the operating personnel of the company Cooptransanmateo identified the shortcomings in the system and the needs of drivers so it is advisable to proceed to make decisions to make improvements that promote the protection of drivers. This will be done through programs, where it is made known the situations to which they are exposed, activities necessary to safeguard the development of their work, constant training about the most common diseases and their prevention, always reporting to the corresponding area within the company

Design, synthesis and biological assessment of novel N-substituted 3-(phthalimidin-2-yl)-2,6-dioxopiperidines and 3-substituted 2,6-dioxopiperidines for TNF-α inhibitory activity

Eight novel 2-(2,6-dioxopiperidin-3-yl)phthalimidine EM-12 dithiocarbamates 9 and 10, N-substituted 3-(phthalimidin-2-yl)-2,6-dioxopiperidines 11-14 and 3-substituted 2,6-dioxopiperidines 16 and 18 were synthesized as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) synthesis inhibitors. Synthesis involved utilization of a novel condensation approach, a one-pot reaction involving addition, iminium rearrangement and elimination, to generate the phthalimidine ring required for the creation of compounds 9-14. Agents were, thereafter, quantitatively assessed for their ability to suppress the synthesis on TNF-α in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged mouse macrophage-like cellular screen, utilizing cultured RAW 264.7 cells. Whereas compounds 9, 14 and 16 exhibited potent TNF-α lowering activity, reducing TNF-α by up to 48% at 30 μM, compounds 12, 17 and 18 presented moderate TNF-α inhibitory action. The TNF-α lowering properties of these analogs proved more potent than that of revlimid (3) and thalidomide (1). In particular, N-dithiophthalimidomethyl-3-(phthalimidin-2-yl)-2,6-dioxopiperidine 14 not only possessed the greatest potency of the analogs to reduce TNF-α synthesis, but achieved this with minor cellular toxicity at 30 μM. The pharmacological focus of the presented compounds is towards the development of well-tolerated agents to ameliorate the neuroinflammation, that is, commonly associated with neurodegenerative disorders, epitomized by Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease

Experiencia del grupo de cirugía bariátrica y metabólica del Hospital Universitario de Neiva durante un año

Objective. Describe the surgical and metabolic results and changes to body image in patients undergoing bariatric surgery, in order to establish the effectiveness of the procedure in obese patients. Method and materials. Case study. The study examined the medical history of 35 patients who underwent bariatric surgery between September 2011 and September 2012. Results. 91% of patients had one or more associated comorbidities, of which gastrointestinal disorders were the most common. The most common technique was the gastric bypass. 12% developed postoperative complications. All patients reduced their bodyweight with an average body mass index (BMI) loss of 5.4 and 11.6 kg/m2 in the first and the sixth month respectively. Patients with a small intestine of 150cm lost more weight by the sixth month (2kg/m2 more) than those with a small intestine of 100cm. 98% reported a decrease in gastrointestinal symptoms and glycaemic levels reduced in 30%. 20% of diabetic patients and 12.5% of hypertensive patients continued taking medication for their conditions. Conclusions. Bariatric surgery is an effective technique to reduce BMI and improve comorbidities associated with obesity, thereby reducing the necessity of the use of medication. Self-perception of post-surgical body image improves considerably.Objetivo. Describir los resultados quirúrgicos, metabólicos y de percepción corporal obtenidos en pacientes sometidos a Cirugía Bariátrica, para establecer la efectividad del procedimiento en pacientes obesos. Materiales y métodos. estudio serie de casos. Se revisaron 35 historias clínicas de pacientes intervenidos quirúrgicamente por el equipo de Cirugía Bariátrica entre Septiembre del 2011 a septiembre del 2012. Resultados. El 91% de los pacientes presentó una o más comorbilidades asociadas, siendo las gastrointestinales las más frecuentes. La técnica más aplicada fue el Bypass gástrico. El 12% presentó complicaciones posquirúrgicas. Todos redujeron su peso con una media de pérdida de índice de masa corporal (IMC) al primer y sexto mes de 5.4 y 11,6 kg/m2 respectivamente. Los pacientes con asa alimentaria a 150cm tuvieron una mayor pérdida peso al sexto mes (2kg/m2 más) respecto a aquellos con asa alimentaria de 100cm. El 98% reportó disminución de los síntomas gastrointestinales y el 30% redujo las cifras de glicemia. El 20% de pacientes diabéticos y el 12,5% de los hipertensos continuaron con medicamentos para su enfermedad. Conclusiones. La Cirugía Bariátrica es una técnica efectiva para reducir el IMC y mejorar las comorbilidades asociadas a la obesidad. Así mismo, disminuye la necesidad del uso de medicamentos. La autopercepción de la imagen corporal posquirúrgica mejora ostensiblemente

Bio-inspired computation: where we stand and what's next

In recent years, the research community has witnessed an explosion of literature dealing with the adaptation of behavioral patterns and social phenomena observed in nature towards efficiently solving complex computational tasks. This trend has been especially dramatic in what relates to optimization problems, mainly due to the unprecedented complexity of problem instances, arising from a diverse spectrum of domains such as transportation, logistics, energy, climate, social networks, health and industry 4.0, among many others. Notwithstanding this upsurge of activity, research in this vibrant topic should be steered towards certain areas that, despite their eventual value and impact on the field of bio-inspired computation, still remain insufficiently explored to date. The main purpose of this paper is to outline the state of the art and to identify open challenges concerning the most relevant areas within bio-inspired optimization. An analysis and discussion are also carried out over the general trajectory followed in recent years by the community working in this field, thereby highlighting the need for reaching a consensus and joining forces towards achieving valuable insights into the understanding of this family of optimization techniques

Cognitive Analytic Therapy for Bipolar Disorder: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

The evidence base for treatment of bipolar affective disorder (BD) demands the evaluation of new psychotherapies in order to broaden patient choice. This study reports on the feasibility, safety, helpfulness and effectiveness of cognitive analytic therapy (CAT). In a pilot randomized controlled trial, BD patients in remission were randomized to either receiving 24 sessions of CAT (n = 9) or treatment as usual (n = 9) and were assessed in terms of symptoms, functioning and service usage over time. In the CAT arm no adverse events occurred, 8/9 completed treatment, 5/8 attended all 24 sessions and 2/8 were categorized as recovered. The most common helpful event during CAT was recognition of patterns in mood variability, with helpfulness themes changing according to phase of therapy. No major differences were found when comparing the arms over time in terms of service usage or psychometric outcomes. The study suggests that conducting further research into the effectiveness of CAT in treating BD is warranted and guidance regarding future trials is provided. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE: Treating BD with CAT appears feasible and safe. Retaining fidelity to the reformulation, recognition and revision structure of CAT appears useful. Participants stated that across the phases of CAT, focussing on patterns of mood variability was consistently helpful