Guest editorial

Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in hospitality and tourism is laden with contradictions. From the simple “carbon offsetting” of budget flights to the warning from the Maldivian Government that their country will disappear due to rising water levels whilst also building, in one year, at least seven additional airports to service their resort islands. The academic literature does not always help; the continually inconclusive or contradictory findings of financial impact studies, often meaningless CSR reporting, and consumer cynicism over perceived “green-washing” activities (Farrington et al., 2017) further contribute to the lack of clarity in this area. There is a need for a substantive move towards sustainable, ethical, responsible, environmentally or socially friendly strategies, but also towards concern for the well-being of future generations in the coming decades (Farrington et al., 2017; Jones et al., 2016; Wells et al., 2016a). Despite continued interest, this is a challenge for many countries, particularly with regards to meeting the ever-shifting opinions and customer expectations surrounding environmental issues pertaining to modern hospitality and tourism. Research should fundamentally debate the relevance and application of sustainability to the sector and its relationship with external stakeholders, and move away from narrow focuses. More specifically, ‘one size does not fit all’ with regards to sustainability and CSR, hence societies and organisations with different cultures and beliefs may be motivated to be involved in sustainability and CSR developments for different reasons, and may also face diverse barriers to implementation (Nyahunzvi, 2013; Thompson et al., 2018; Wells et al., 2015; Wells et al., 2016b; Xu, 2014; Yadav et al., 2016). Hence, the goal of this special issue was to encourage new theoretical and empirical development on sustainability and CSR studies in the hospitality and tourism field

I/O Burst Prediction for HPC Clusters using Darshan Logs

Understanding cluster-wide I/O patterns of large-scale HPC clusters is essential to minimize the occurrence and impact of I/O interference. Yet, most previous work in this area focused on monitoring and predicting task and node-level I/O burst events. This paper analyzes Darshan reports from three supercomputers to extract system-level read and write I/O rates in five minutes intervals. We observe significant (over 100x) fluctuations in read and write I/O rates in all three clusters. We then train machine learning models to estimate the occurrence of system-level I/O bursts 5 - 120 minutes ahead. Evaluation results show that we can predict I/O bursts with more than 90% accuracy (F-1 score) five minutes ahead and more than 87% accuracy two hours ahead. We also show that the ML models attain more than 70% accuracy when estimating the degree of the I/O burst. We believe that high-accuracy predictions of I/O bursts can be used in multiple ways, such as postponing delay-tolerant I/O operations (e.g., checkpointing), pausing nonessential applications (e.g., file system scrubbers), and devising I/O-aware job scheduling methods. To validate this claim, we simulated a burst-aware job scheduler that can postpone the start time of applications to avoid I/O bursts. We show that the burst-aware job scheduling can lead to an up to 5x decrease in application runtime.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, 2 table

Polyvinyl Sulfuric Acid: A Novel Solid Acid Catalyst for Preparation of Symmetrical Ethers and Theoretical Calculation

In this paper, polyvinyl sulfuric acid as a novel solid acid was easily prepared by simple mixing of polyvinyl alcohol with chlorosulfonic acid at room temperature. The facile procedure for conversion of benzylic alcohols to the corresponding symmetrical ethers in the presence of this solid acid under solvent free conditions was investigated. Results showed that the solid acid was an appropriate catalytic agent for this condensation reaction. It also showed its ability to produce the products in short reaction times while having high isolated yields.Also theoretical calculation by DFT method with B3LYP using 6-31G** basis sets was done. Based on the calculation, Transition state is a primary carbocation that the positive charge is dispersed by the benzene ring. The dipole moment of transition state is 0.2226D and the total energy of produced carbonation is more than symmetrical ether and alcohol, as the results the produced carbocation via SN1 is an appropriate transition state

Prevalence study of clinical disorders in 6-year-old children across Iranian provinces: Findings of Iranian national health assessment survey

Objective: To assess the national prevalence of clinical disorders in 6-year-old Iranian children before school entry using a national health assessment survey. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional nationwide survey, all Iranian children entering public and private elementary schools were asked to participate in a mandatory national screening program in Iran in 2009 in two levels of screening and diagnostic levels. Results: The study population consisted of 955388 children (48.5% girls and 76.1% urban). Of the whole children, 3.1% of the 6-year-old children had impaired vision. In addition, 1.2, 1.8, 1.4, 10, 10.9, 56.7, 0.7, 0.8 and 0.6% had color blindness, hearing impaired, speech disorder, height to age retardation, body mass index extremes, decayed teeth, having disease with special needs, spinal disorders, and hypertension, respectively. The distribution of these disorders was unequally distributed across provinces. Conclusions: Our results confirmed that the prevalence of clinical disorders among 6-year-old children across Iranian provinces was not similar. The observed burden of these distributions among young children needs a comprehensive national policy with evidence-based province programs to identify the reason for different distribution among provinces

First seroprevalence survey of children with tularemia infection in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province, Iran

Background and Objectives: An increasing number of tularemia was reported in all over the world. This infection is characterized by different clinical syndromes that can be considered in differential diagnosis of infectious disease. Despite effective antibiotics against Francisella tularensis, this infection is still as one of the agent of mortality and disability among infectious disease. The aim of this study was investigation of seroepidemiological of F. tuleransis among children between 2-18 years old in a risky zone in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional, laboratory-based study in two distinct villages Saragha seyed and Khoye in Chaharmahal va bakhtiari Province involved 183 children, adolescents who had no sign and symptom of disease and were screened for tularemia immunoglobulins G (IgG), using the ELISA-based quantitative assay. Results: In general, from 183 children 11 persons (6) were seropositive, compared with 172 persons (94) were seronegative. Conclusion: According to the high prevalence of antibodies against F. tularensis in this study, this infection must be considered as differential diagnosis of infectious disease in suspect patients

Bacteriospermia and its association with seminal fluid parameters and infertility in infertile men, Kerman, Iran: A cross-sectional study

Background: The role of genital Ureaplasma species, genital Mycoplasma (M) species, and Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis, the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacteria, in male infertility are still not clear. Different reports about the impact of these bacteria on semen quality are controversial. Objective: This study was proposed to determine the frequency of bacteriospermia in men and investigate the relationship between the presence of these bacteria and semen quality using molecular assay. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 200 semen samples obtained from men attending the research and clinical centers for fertility in Kerman, Iran, between July and December 2019 were analyzed for semen volume, progressive motility, nonprogressive motility, total progressive motility, and viability according to the World Health Organization guidelines. The polymerase chain reaction was used for the detection of related bacteria. Results: The mean values of volume, progressive motility, non-progressive motility, total progressive motility, and viability were significantly lower in infertile men (p < 0.001). Statistically significant correlations were observed between the presence of M. genitalium and progressive sperm motility, M. hominis and semen volume, Ureaplasma parvum and the sperm normal form, and C. trachomatis and the sperm progressive motility and viability. Logistic regression analysis showed that M. genitalium (OR = 8.06, p < 0.001) and C. trachomatis (OR = 16, p = 0.01) were significantly associated with male infertility. Conclusion: During the infertility assessment, clinicians should consider the role of C. trachomatis and M. genitalium in male infertility. Screening test particularly for asymptomatic individuals is recommended. Key words: Chlamydia trachomatis, Infertility, Mycoplasma, Semen analysis, Ureaplasma

Polyvinyl Sulfuric Acid: A Novel Solid Acid Catalyst for Preparation of Symmetrical Ethers and Theoretical Calculation

In this paper, polyvinyl sulfuric acid as a novel solid acid was easily prepared by simple mixing of polyvinyl alcohol with chlorosulfonic acid at room temperature. The facile procedure for conversion of benzylic alcohols to the corresponding symmetrical ethers in the presence of this solid acid under solvent free conditions was investigated. Results showed that the solid acid was an appropriate catalytic agent for this condensation reaction. It also showed its ability to produce the products in short reaction times while having high isolated yields.Also theoretical calculation by DFT method with B3LYP using 6-31G** basis sets was done. Based on the calculation, Transition state is a primary carbocation that the positive charge is dispersed by the benzene ring. The dipole moment of transition state is 0.2226D and the total energy of produced carbonation is more than symmetrical ether and alcohol, as the results the produced carbocation via SN1 is an appropriate transition state

The Comparison of Pain Caused by Suprapubic Aspiration and Transurethral Catheterization Methods for Sterile Urine Collection in Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Study

This study was performed to compare the levels of pain experienced by young infants undergoing either suprapubic aspiration (SPA) or transurethral catheterization (TUC) for the collection of sterile urine samples. This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted in hospitalized neonates in a university-affiliated hospital. Patients who required urine cultures were randomly assigned into one of two groups, the SPA or TUC group. The infants’ faces were videotaped, and the changes in the facial expression and physiological parameters during the procedure were scored using the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) in a blind manner. The primary outcome was the severity of the pain experienced during each procedure, and the secondary outcomes were the success rate, the duration, and the complications of each procedure. Ninety-four percent of male infants in the TUC group and 77.3% in the SPA group were uncircumcised (P=0.1). The mean (SD) of the PIPP pain scores did not differ between groups (9.95 ± 3.7 in SPA and 9.64 ± 3.2 in TUC, P=0.6). The duration of TUC was longer. Both methods can be used to collect urine from neonates, but the difficulty of performing TUC on females and uncircumcised males should be considered

Synthesized Anti-HER2 Trastuzumab-MCC-DM1 Conjugate: An Evaluation of Efficacy and Cytotoxicity

Background: Trastuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets site-specifically human epidermal growth factor-2 receptor (HER2) cell surface antigen overexpressed in approximately 20% of human breast carcinomas. Despite its positive therapeutic outcomes, a large proportion of individuals are unresponsive to the treatment with trastuzumab or develop resistance to it.Objective: To evaluate a chemically synthesized trastuzumab-based antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) to improve the trastuzumab therapeutic index.Methods: The current study explored the physiochemical characteristics of the trastuzumab conjugated to a cytotoxic chemotherapy agent DM1 via Succinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (SMCC) linker, created in our earlier study, using SDS-PAGE, UV/VIS, and RP-HPLC analyses. The antitumor effects of the ADCs were analyzed using MDA-MB-231 (HER2-negative) and SK-BR-3 (HER2-positive) cell lines utilizing in vitro cytotoxicity, viability, and binding assays. Three different formats of a HER2-targeting agent: trastuzumab, synthesized trastuzumab-MCC-DM1, and commercially available drug T-DM1 (Kadcyla®) were compared.Results: UV-VIS spectroscopic analysis showed that the trastuzumab-MCC-DM1 conjugates, on average, entailed 2.9 DM1 payloads per trastuzumab. A free drug level of 2.5% was determined by RP-HPLC. The conjugate appeared as two bands on a reducing SDS-PAGE gel. MTT viability assay showed that conjugating trastuzumab with DM1 significantly improved the antiproliferative effects of this antibody in vitro. Importantly, the evaluations using LDH release and cell apoptosis assays confirmed that trastuzumab maintains its ability to induce cell death response while conjugating with the DM1. The binding efficiency of trastuzumab-MCC-DM1 was comparable to that of the naked trastuzumab.Conclusion: Trastuzumab-MCC-DM1 was found effective against HER2+ tumors. The potency of this synthesized conjugate brings it closer to the commercially available T-DM1

Clinical Study The Comparison of Pain Caused by Suprapubic Aspiration and Transurethral Catheterization Methods for Sterile Urine Collection in Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Study

This study was performed to compare the levels of pain experienced by young infants undergoing either suprapubic aspiration (SPA) or transurethral catheterization (TUC) for the collection of sterile urine samples. This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted in hospitalized neonates in a university-affiliated hospital. Patients who required urine cultures were randomly assigned into one of two groups, the SPA or TUC group. The infants' faces were videotaped, and the changes in the facial expression and physiological parameters during the procedure were scored using the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) in a blind manner. The primary outcome was the severity of the pain experienced during each procedure, and the secondary outcomes were the success rate, the duration, and the complications of each procedure. Ninety-four percent of male infants in the TUC group and 77.3% in the SPA group were uncircumcised ( = 0.1). The mean (SD) of the PIPP pain scores did not differ between groups (9.95 ± 3.7 in SPA and 9.64 ± 3.2 in TUC, = 0.6). The duration of TUC was longer. Both methods can be used to collect urine from neonates, but the difficulty of performing TUC on females and uncircumcised males should be considered