Today, communication is a key factor of destination competitiveness. The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of message consistency between different online communication tools on the ...formation of consumer-based destination brand equity (CBDBE), within two distinct brand positioning strategies (single-destination brand vs. multiple-destination brands). An experimental design is applied to manipulate message consistency (high vs. low) and the type of brand positioning strategy implemented by the destination (single vs. multiple brands). The results demonstrate that when the messages received by the tourist are highly consistent across different channels, branding strategy type exerts no differential effect on CBDBE. By contrast, when the messages present low consistency, a single destination branding strategy generates higher CBDBE than a multiple destination branding strategy. The study makes an original contribution to the literature, showing the interaction between destination branding strategy type and degree of consistency in the messages received by the tourist.
Supermassive black holes with masses of millions to billions of solar masses are commonly found in the centers of galaxies. Astronomers seek to image jet formation using radio interferometry but ...still suffer from insufficient angular resolution. An alternative method to resolve small structures is to measure the time variability of their emission. Here we report on gamma-ray observations of the radio galaxy IC 310 obtained with the MAGIC (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov) telescopes, revealing variability with doubling time scales faster than 4.8 min. Causality constrains the size of the emission region to be smaller than 20% of the gravitational radius of its central black hole. We suggest that the emission is associated with pulsar-like particle acceleration by the electric field across a magnetospheric gap at the base of the radio jet.
Hen egg lysozyme was hydrolyzed with pepsin in situ on a cation-exchange column to isolate antioxidant peptides. The most cationic fraction was eluted with 1 M NaCl. Five positively charged peptides ...f(109–119) VAWRNRCKGTD, f(111–119) WRNRCKGTD, f(122–129) AWIRGCRL, f(123–129) WIRGCRL and f(124–129) IRGCRL were identified using tandem mass spectrometry. Using ORAC-FL , all five peptides presented antioxidant activity with values of (1970, 3123, 2743, 2393 and 0.313 µmol Trolox/µmol peptide), respectively. Using method TBARS in Zebrafish larvae, all five synthetic peptides were found to efficiently inhibit lipid peroxidation (36.8, 51.6, 55.56, 63.2, 61.0 % inhibition of lipid peroxidation), respectively. None of the five peptides were toxic in Zebrafish eggs and larvae at concentrations lower than 50 µg/ml. Concentrations higher than 50 µg/ml were toxic for both Zebrafish eggs and larvae.
Introduction
Women with schizophrenia require health interventions and safe spaces sufficiently different from those of men.
Objectives
To describe units in two mental health outpatient services ...specialized in the treatment of women with schizophrenia and related disorders.
Methods
Two units in Spain projected to treat women with schizophrenia and related disorders - Community Mental Health Programs (CMHU Rambla, CMHU Sant Cugat) will be described. Recruitment, assessment, intervention, and evaluation and satisfaction measures will be characterized, and the need to build-in safety precautions (policy/structural).
Results
Demographics:(Preliminary 2021 data on the two services).
Patients attending (CMHU): 3,393. Forty-five per cent diagnosed with severe mental illness. Schizophrenia and related disorders: 873 patients. 58% women.
Staffing projected: 2 psychiatrists, 2 nurses, 1 clinical psychologist, 2 social workers.
Physical structure: Safe spaces for women/children.
Programs (offered currently and in planning stages): 1)Therapeutic Drug Monitoring/Adherence, 2)Individual/group patient/family sessions, 3)Perinatal Mental Health (preconception, pregnancy, lactation, postpartum, parent training/support), 4)Collaborative programs (primary care, medical specialties especially obstetrics/gynecology and endocrinology, trauma specialists, addiction experts), 5)prevention/intervention of suicide risk, 6)social services (single mothers, family issues, domestic abuse, sexual exploitation) 7)home-based services, 8)peer support, 9)physical activity, 10)psychoeducation for patients and families.
Planned quality evaluation measures: diagnostic assessment (reliability, long-term validity);regular treatment effectiveness evaluation (individualization of treatment plans, assessment of adverse effects of drugs, screening for metabolic syndrome/ physical health, family intervention, psychoeducation (individual/group) assessment of suicidal ideation and global functioning.
Conclusions
Specific services for women with schizophrenia and related disorders represent an important resource to improve patient well-being and offer clinical care leading to individual recovery.
Disclosure of Interest
None Declared
The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is the next generation of ground-based observatory in the Very High Energy (VHE) gamma-ray domain. The observatory, operating in an open, all-sky mode, will ...consist of two sites, one in the Northern Hemisphere, at Observatorio Roque de los Muchachos (La Palma, Spain), and another in the Southern Hemisphere. CTA will implement Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) of large, medium and small size, mapping the VHE sky with an unprecedented sensitivity in an extended energy range. In its baseline design, 4 Large Size Telescopes (LSTs) will operate in coincidence in each site, dominating the CTA sensitivity in the 20 GeV – 150 GeV gamma-ray band, while the CTA core energy range, from 150 GeV to 5000 GeV, will be best covered by Medium Size Telescopes (MSTs), 25 in CTA-South and 15 in CTA-North. Each LST will be based on a 23 m diameter segmented, light-weight reflector, incorporating an active mirror control system, and a fast Photo-Multiplier Tube (PMT) camera. These features will allow CTA to observe extragalactic sources up to redshifts larger than two and to improve the sensitivity in observing gamma-ray transients. A prototype LST is currently under construction at the CTA-North site. A commissioning and validation phase will follow, which will mark the beginning for the construction of the rest of the LSTs of CTA-North and CTA-South. The MSTs, with an aperture of 10–12 m, are being explored in two different design options. One is based on the traditional IACT Davies–Cotton optical system and PMT-based cameras (FlashCam and NectarCAM), which is perfected after the experience from current HESS, MAGIC and VERITAS observatories. An alternative approach, based on the novel Schwarzschild–Couder optical system and Silicon-Photo-Multiplier-based camera, is also being developed to improve angular resolution. In this contribution, we will review the status of the prototypes of the LST and both MSTs for CTA.
•We explored several serological rapid immunochromatographic and ELISA tests for detection of antibodies against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in wild boar piglets.•Sensitivity was assessed ...using tuberculosis compatible lesions and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex culture in naturally infected wild boar piglets.•Rapid animal-side tests can contribute to TB control strategies by enabling the setup of test and cull schemes or improving pre-movement testing.•However, sub-optimal test performance in piglets as compared to that in older wild boar should be taken into account.
Animal tuberculosis (TB) caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis and closely related members of the M. tuberculosis complex (MTC), is often reported in the Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa). Tests detecting antibodies against MTC antigens are valuable tools for TB monitoring and control in suids. However, only limited knowledge exists on serology test performance in 2–6 month-old piglets. In this age-class, recent infections might cause lower antibody levels and lower test sensitivity. We examined 126 wild boar piglets from a TB-endemic site using 6 antibody detection tests in order to assess test performance. Bacterial culture (n=53) yielded a M. bovis infection prevalence of 33.9%, while serum antibody prevalence estimated by different tests ranged from 19% to 38%, reaching sensitivities between 15.4% and 46.2% for plate ELISAs and between 61.5% and 69.2% for rapid immunochromatographic tests based on dual path platform (DPP) technology. The Cohen kappa coefficient of agreement between DPP WTB (Wildlife TB) assay and culture results was moderate (0.45) and all other serological tests used had poor to fair agreements. This survey revealed the ability of several tests for detecting serum antibodies against the MTC antigens in 2–6 month-old naturally infected wild boar piglets. The best performance was demonstrated for DPP tests. The results confirmed our initial hypothesis of a lower sensitivity of serology for detecting M. bovis-infected piglets, as compared to older wild boar. Certain tests, notably the rapid animal-side tests, can contribute to TB control strategies by enabling the setup of test and cull schemes or improving pre-movement testing. However, sub-optimal test performance in piglets as compared to that in older wild boar should be taken into account.
Long-duration γ-ray bursts (GRBs) originate from ultra-relativistic jets launched from
the collapsing cores of dying massive stars. They are characterized by an initial phase
of bright and highly ...variable radiation in the kiloelectronvolt-to-megaelectronvolt band, which is probably produced within the jet and lasts from milliseconds to minutes, known as the prompt emission. Subsequently, the interaction of the jet with the surrounding medium generates shock waves that are responsible for the afterglow emission, which lasts from days to months and occurs over a broad energy range from the radio to the gigaelectronvolt bands. The afterglow emission is generally well explained as synchrotron radiation emitted by electrons accelerated by the external shock. Recently, intense long-lasting emission between 0.2 and 1 teraelectronvolts was observed from GRB 190114C. Here we report multifrequency observations of GRB 190114C, and study the evolution in time of the GRB emission across 17 orders of magnitude in energy, from 5 × 10^(−6) to 10^(12) electronvolts. We find that the broadband spectral energy distribution is double-peaked, with the teraelectronvolt emission constituting a distinct spectral component with power comparable to the synchrotron component. This component is associated with the afterglow and is satisfactorily explained by inverse Compton up-scattering of synchrotron photons by high-energy electrons. We find that the conditions required to account for the observed teraelectronvolt component are typical for GRBs, supporting the possibility that inverse Compton emission is commonly produced in GRBs.
Summary
Background
The most commonly used second‐line Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens are bismuth‐containing quadruple therapy and levofloxacin‐containing triple therapy, both offering ...suboptimal results. Combining bismuth and levofloxacin may enhance the efficacy of rescue eradication regimens.
Aims
To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a second‐line quadruple regimen containing levofloxacin and bismuth in patients whose previous H. pylori eradication treatment failed.
Methods
This was a prospective multicenter study including patients in whom a standard triple therapy (PPI–clarithromycin–amoxicillin) or a non‐bismuth quadruple therapy (PPI–clarithromycin–amoxicillin–metronidazole, either sequential or concomitant) had failed. Esomeprazole (40 mg b.d.), amoxicillin (1 g b.d.), levofloxacin (500 mg o.d.) and bismuth (240 mg b.d.) was prescribed for 14 days. Eradication was confirmed by 13C‐urea breath test. Compliance was determined through questioning and recovery of empty medication envelopes. Incidence of adverse effects was evaluated by questionnaires.
Results
200 patients were included consecutively (mean age 47 years, 67% women, 13% ulcer). Previous failed therapy included: standard clarithromycin triple therapy (131 patients), sequential (32) and concomitant (37). A total of 96% took all medications correctly. Per‐protocol and intention‐to‐treat eradication rates were 91.1% (95%CI = 87–95%) and 90% (95%CI = 86–94%). Cure rates were similar regardless of previous (failed) treatment or country of origin. Adverse effects were reported in 46% of patients, most commonly nausea (17%) and diarrhoea (16%); 3% were intense but none was serious.
Conclusions
Fourteen‐day bismuth‐ and levofloxacin‐containing quadruple therapy is an effective (≥90% cure rate), simple and safe second‐line strategy in patients whose previous standard triple or non‐bismuth quadruple (sequential or concomitant) therapies have failed.
Eating chocolate in the morning or in the evening/at night, may differentially affect energy balance and impact body weight due to changes in energy intake, substrate oxidation, microbiota ...(composition/function), and circadian‐related variables. In a randomized controlled trial, postmenopausal females (n = 19) had 100 g of chocolate in the morning (MC), in the evening/at night (EC), or no chocolate (N) for 2 weeks and ate any other food ad libitum. Our results show that 14 days of chocolate intake did not increase body weight. Chocolate consumption decreased hunger and desire for sweets (P < .005), and reduced ad libitum energy intake by ~300 kcal/day during MC and ~150 kcal/day during EC (P = .01), but did not fully compensate for the extra energy contribution of chocolate (542 kcal/day). EC increased physical activity by +6.9%, heat dissipation after meals +1.3%, and carbohydrate oxidation by +35.3% (P < .05). MC reduced fasting glucose (4.4%) and waist circumference (−1.7%) and increased lipid oxidation (+25.6%). Principal component analyses showed that both timings of chocolate intake resulted in differential microbiota profiles and function (P < .05). Heat map of wrist temperature and sleep records showed that EC induced more regular timing of sleep episodes with lower variability of sleep onset among days than MC (60 min vs 78 min; P = .028). In conclusion, having chocolate in the morning or in the evening/night results in differential effects on hunger and appetite, substrate oxidation, fasting glucose, microbiota (composition and function), and sleep and temperature rhythms. Results highlight that the “when” we eat is a relevant factor to consider in energy balance and metabolism.
STUDY QUESTION
In patients with recurrent miscarriages (RM) or recurrent implantation failure (RIF), does the maternal killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) haplotype have an impact on live birth ...rates per cycle after embryo transfer with the patient's own or donated oocytes?
SUMMARY ANSWER
After double embryo transfer (DET) in patients with the maternal KIR AA haplotype, a significantly increased early miscarriage rate was observed when the patient's own oocytes were used, and a significantly decreased live birth rate per cycle after embryo transfer was observed when donated oocytes were used.
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN
Interactions between fetal HLA-C and maternal KIR influence placentation during human pregnancy. There is an increased risk of RM, pre-eclampsia or fetal growth restriction in mothers with the KIR AA haplotype when the fetus has more HLA-C2 genes than the mother.
STUDY DESIGN, SIZE AND DURATION
Between 2010 and 2014, we performed a retrospective study that included 291 women, with RM or RIF, who had a total of 1304 assisted reproductive cycles.
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS
Pregnancy, miscarriage and live birth rates per cycle after single or DET, categorized by the origin of the oocytes and the presence of maternal KIR haplotypes, were studied. KIR haplotype regions were defined by the presence of the following KIR genes: Cen-A/2DL3; Tel-A/3DL1 and 2DS4; Cen-B/2DL2 and 2DS2; as well as Tel-B/2DS1 and 3DS1.
MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
Higher rates of early miscarriage per cycle after DET with the patient's own oocytes in mothers with the KIR AA haplotype (22.8%) followed by those with the KIR AB haplotype (16.7%) compared with mothers with the KIR BB haplotype (11.1%) were observed (P = 0.03). Significantly decreased live birth rates per cycle were observed after DET of donated oocytes in mothers with the KIR AA haplotype (7.5%) compared with those with the KIR AB (26.4%) and KIR BB (21.5%) haplotypes (P = 0.006). No statistically significant differences were observed for pregnancy, miscarriage and live birth rates per cycle among those with maternal KIR AA, AB and BB haplotypes after single embryo transfer (SET) with the patient's own or donated oocytes. The large number of cases studied strengthens the results and provides sufficient power to the statistical analysis.
LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION
During the IVF procedure, DET induces the expression of more than one paternal HLA-C and the oocyte-derived maternal HLA-C in the oocyte-donation cycles probably behaves like paternal HLA-C. Because this was a retrospective study, we did not have data about the HLA-C of the parent, donor, chorionic villi, or infant, which is a limitation because we cannot show differences according to paternal or oocyte donor HLA-C1 and HLA-C2.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
These new insights could have an impact on the selection of SET in patients with RM or RIF, and a KIR AA haplotype. Also, it may help in oocyte and/or sperm donor selection by HLA-C in patients with RM or RIF and a KIR AA haplotype.
STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)
No funding was received for this study. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
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