Instagram is a popular social media platform. Its ability to convey feelings through photographs has become a valuable communication tool for tourism destination branding. The cases of two ...destinations in Southern Europe provide an understanding of how Instagram can be used to promote a destination’s image by Destination Management Organizations (DMOs). For this purpose, a content analysis is carried out, first of the official Instagram accounts of Algarve (Portugal) and Costa del Sol (Spain), and then of the most popular hashtags related to them, showing User-Generated Content (UGC) from the points of view of both destination managers and tourists. The results show that Instagram is a strategic social media platform for enhancing the brand image by engaging customers. Destinations seize content generated by tourists; therefore, the hermeneutic circle of representation is inverted, as photos taken by tourists aim to reproduce the perceived image of a destination and motivate tourists to capture their experiences with the best picture. Additionally, it is worth highlighting, as a main finding, the role of sustainability as a key factor in UGC for DMOs and for Instagram users. This research provides valuable information about designing promotion strategies for DMOs, in order to understand the potential of Instagram in building a destination’s image and inspiring tourism through images.
Hypoxia is defined as a reduction in oxygen supply to a tissue below physiological levels. However, physiological hypoxic conditions occur during early embryonic development; and in adult organisms, ...many cells such as bone marrow stem cells are located within hypoxic niches. Thus, certain processes take place in hypoxia, and recent studies highlight the relevance of hypoxia in stem cell cancer physiology. Cellular response to hypoxia depends on hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), which are stabilized under low oxygen conditions. In a hypoxic context, various inducible HIF alpha subunits are able to form dimers with constant beta subunits and bind the hypoxia response elements (HRE) in the genome, acting as transcription factors, inducing a wide variety of gene expression. Typically, the HIF pathway has been shown to enhance vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, which would be responsible for angiogenesis and, therefore, re-oxygenation of the hypoxic sites. Embryonic stem cells inhibit a severely hypoxic environment, which dictates their glycolytic metabolism, whereas differentiated cells shift toward the more efficient aerobic respiration for their metabolic demands. Accordingly, low oxygen tension levels have been reported to enhance induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) generation. HIFs have also been shown to enhance pluripotency-related gene expression, including Oct4 (Octamer-binding transcription factor 4), Nanog and Wnt. Therefore, cell metabolism might play a role in stemness maintenance, proliferation and cell reprogramming. Moreover, in the hypoxic microenvironment of cancer cells, metabolism shifts from oxidative phosphorylation to anaerobic glycolysis, a process known as the Warburg effect, which is involved in cancer progression and malignancy.
Textural, geochemical and geochronological analyses on two gravity and two box cores recovered from the outer and inner sectors of the Ría de Muros allowed reconstructing and timing the anthropogenic ...imprint on the sedimentary record from this ría. The chronological framework for the last 8 kyr was built based on Pb-210 dating (Constant Rate of Supply model) and C-14 dating. Recent sedimentation rates were an order of magnitude higher than those of the oldest analyzed sediments, and the periods of upwelling enhancement were constrained.
Assessing the human influence on sediment metal contents required the establishment of local background levels. Since the 16th century the enrichment factors of copper, zinc and lead increased (up to 2.7, 1.5 and 2.1, respectively, at or close to present), and a remarkable increase in the fine-grained particles’ content happened in the outer ría sector, due to deforestation. The anthropogenic signature identified in the sedimentary record is assigned to fishing, harbor activities, mining, salting, and, or canning activities, depending on the considered period, which caused a local demographic increase since the 16th century in the region. Such population growth caused a rise in the marine signature of the organic matter, which likely results from enhanced primary production due to eutrophication caused by increased soil erosion and human and livestock waste inputs. Furthermore, the metal enrichment trend during the 20th century, which was more significant in the inner than in the outer ría sector, follows the different demographic evolution of the villages (related to urban and industrial development).
The present study highlights the need for conjunction of varying dating techniques when reconstructing the anthropization trends in coastal environments.
Protic ammonium carboxylate tri-bis(2-hydroxyethylammonium) citrate (DCi) ionic liquid has been used as neat lubricant of the stainless steel-sapphire pair. In order to improve its tribological ...performance, few-layers graphene nanoplatelets (G) or 4wt.% nanodiamonds aqueous suspension (ND) have been dispersed (in a nanophase proportion of 0.1wt.%) in DCi. Both carbon nanophases reduce the friction coefficient of neat DCi. The new graphene-containing (DCi+G) dispersion covers the sliding path with a protecting layer that prevents wear. This anti-wear effect is not observed for (DCi+ND). Water-free thin-film boundary lubricant layers have been generated on the steel surface under static conditions. Thin films reduce the amount of lubricant and the friction coefficients with respect to the corresponding full-fluid lubricants. Wear mechanisms and surface analysis results obtained by optical profilometry, SEM microscopy, TEM microscopy, XPS and Raman spectroscopy, are discussed. The results reported here show the possibility of reducing both the toxicity and the cost of ionic liquid lubricants and nanophases.
•Carbon nanophases reduce friction of protic ionic liquid stainless steel-sapphire.•DCi+graphene prevents wear of stainless steel by a protecting surface layer.•Thin-film boundary layers reduce friction with respect to full-fluid lubricants.
Background
Treatment response for psoriasis is typically evaluated using clinical scores. However, patients can relapse after clinical clearance, suggesting persistent inflammation. Dermoscopy, ...reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) can non‐invasively improve treatment response assessment.
Objectives
To compare the clinical and non‐invasive microscopic features in a psoriatic target lesion treated with clobetasol cream or calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate foam (Cal/BD foam).
Methods
Prospective, unicentric, open, randomized clinical trial comparing clinical data total clinical score (TCS) and microscopic data (dermoscopy, RCM and OCT) in psoriasis patients treated with clobetasol or Cal/BD foam.
Results
We included 36 adult patients (22 men). At week 4, more patients treated with Cal/BD foam achieved TCS ≤1 than with clobetasol (63.2% vs. 18.8%, P = 0.016). Treatment satisfaction was higher with Cal/BD foam (P < 0.03). Microscopically, Cal/BD foam induced more reduction in epidermal thickness at week 4 (P < 0.049). Dilated horizontal blood vessels were more common with clobetasol than with Cal/BD foam at week 8 (69.2% vs. 31.2%, P = 0.159). If epidermal hyperplasia was noted at baseline, the response was poorer with clobetasol (P = 0.029).
Limitations
Small sample size, open study, imaging sampling bias.
Conclusion
Cal/BD foam is more effective than clobetasol, has better patient satisfaction and induces greater reduction in the hyperkeratosis/acanthosis, regardless of baseline epidermal hyperplasia.
A rectangular waveguide bandpass filter for <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">Q </tex-math></inline-formula>-band with simple fabrication is proposed in this letter. The design is based on ...the use of the first passband replica of commensurate-line stepped-impedance structures and achieves the suppression of their inherent low-pass response. In order to do it, the filter is implemented by rectangular waveguide sections with different widths and heights that can be analytically calculated. The technique is validated by a ninth-order Chebyshev filter with passband between 40 and 43 GHz and fabrication yield equal to 84% for a manufacturing error of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\pm 20~\mu \text{m} </tex-math></inline-formula>. The measured results of the prototype fabricated with computer numerical control (CNC) milling are in good agreement with the simulated ones.
Relative permittivity and density on mixing at atmospheric pressure and temperatures from (288.15 to 308.15)
K and atmospheric pressure have been measured over the entire composition range of mixing ...for {CH
3O(CH
2CH
2O)
m
CH
3 with
m
=
1, 2, 3, 4 (also called monoglyme, diglyme, triglyme, or tetraglyme)
+
n-heptane}. The permittivity values were fitted as a function of the volume fraction and temperature to a logarithmic equation. The excess permittivity is calculated considering a definition that has been recently established in terms of the volume fraction. Excess molar volumes on mixing for the above systems have also been calculated. The density and excess molar volumes were fitted as a function of both mole fraction and temperature to a polynomial equation. The temperature dependence of derived magnitudes,
(
∂
V
m
E
/
∂
T
)
P
,
x
and
(
∂
H
m
E
/
∂
P
)
T
,
x
, was computed, given their importance in the study of specific molecular interactions. The experimental values of permittivity have been compared to those estimated by usual models of literature and the results indicate that the predictions are better when the volume change on mixing is incorporated in calculations. From the values of permittivity and density on mixing the dipole moment for tetraglyme was calculated. The work concludes with an interpretation of the sign of excess permittivity and its behaviour with temperature and that of excess molar volume.
Abstract The evolution of reproductive strategies depends on the relative balance between current benefits and future costs. Geographic variation in demographic and ecological factors has the ...potential to affect reproductive strategies by altering this optimal cost-benefit balance. Here, we studied a population of the harvestmen Discocyrtus prospicuus inhabiting an environment never studied before in this context: a tidal freshwater wetland. We made monthly observations of male-female interactions and their association with egg clutches during a two-year field survey. Our results do not match the expected pattern for this species, consisting of males deserting females immediately after copulation, and females laying isolated eggs and abandoning them after oviposition. Conversely, we show for the first-time pairs D. prospicuus, formed by a female and a male, resting together before and after oviposition. Females of this wetland population lay the eggs in small clutches and some of the clutches had eggs in more than one stage of development. Also, we found many females alone over or near the egg clutch in the typical resting position. These findings markedly widen the behavioral specter previously reported for this species and set the stage for future research to determine the causes of these variations.
Purpose
Compartment syndrome is a surgical emergency that can occur in any part of the body and can cause cell necrosis when maintained over time. The resulting defects can affect the nerves, muscle ...cells, bone tissue, and other connective tissues inside the compartment, and fasciotomy has to be performed. The anatomical and histological characteristics of the leg make acute, chronic, and exertional compartment syndrome more likely in this limb. For these reasons, knowledge of the ultrasound, anatomical, and histological features of the crural fascia can help in the treatment of leg compartment syndrome.
Methods
Twenty-one cryopreserved lower limbs from adult cadavers and from one 29-week-old fetus were obtained from the dissection room. They were examined by ultrasound and a subsequent anatomical dissection and microscopy to study the crural fascia and its relationship with the different muscles. Anthropometric measurements were taken of the distances from the head of the fibula and lateral malleolus to the origin of the tibialis anterior muscle in the crural fascia, the exit of the superficial fibular nerve, and the fascia covering the deep posterior muscles of the leg.
Results
The crural fascia has very important clinical relationships, which can be identified by ultrasound, as the origin of the tibialis anterior muscle at 16.25 cm from the head of the fibula and the exit of the superficial fibular nerve that crosses this fascia at 21.25 cm from the head of the fibula. Furthermore, the presence of a septum that fixes the deep posterior muscles of the leg and the vessels and nerve can be seen by ultrasound and can explain the possible development of a posterior compartmental syndrome of the leg. Awareness of these features will help to keep these structures safe during the surgical treatment of compartment syndrome.
Conclusion
The ultrasound study allows identification of anatomical structures in the leg and, thus, avoids damage to them during surgery for compartmental syndromes.
Various micro-scale surface texturing techniques have been used to control surface topography; however, conventional protocols are inherently difficult to adapt in large surface area applications. ...Micro-scale material removal methods based on superimposed tool modulation offer advantages for overcoming this challenge through direct-write processing. In this study, the ability to prescribe micro-scale textures of controlled size and morphology by control of underlying process parameters in vibration/modulation-assisted machining is demonstrated. Novel surface textures including protrusions (ribs and fins) and depressions (dimples) were generated, and corresponding geometric surface models were developed. The tribological performance of dimple-type textures was characterized by lubricated ball-on-flat wear testing. The dimple-type surface textures resulted in a substantial reduction in wear factor for two material systems, brass and an aluminum alloy. The effect of the texturing process on surface and subsurface microstructure was measured using electron microscopy. Heterogeneities in crystallographic texture and grain size along the textured surface were linked to local variations in machining conditions during surface generation.
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