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The gut microbiota has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Recent studies suggest that the gut microbiota is also closely associated with bone metabolism. However, given the high diversity of the gut microbiota, the effects of different taxa and compositions on bone are poorly understood. Previous studies demonstrated that the mechanisms underlying the effects of the gut microbiota on bone mainly include its modulation of nutrient absorption, intestinal permeability, metabolites (such as shortchain amino acids), immune responses, and hormones or neurotransmitters (such as 5-hydroxytryptamine). Several studies found that external interventions, such as dietary changes, improved bone health and altered the composition of the gut microbiota. This review summarises the beneficial gut bacteria and explores how dietary, natural, and physical factors alter the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota to improve bone health, thereby providing potential new insight into the prevention of osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coating was prepared on the surface of TC4 titanium alloy and sealed with (polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE] + graphite) emulsion to obtain MAO/(PTFE + graphite) composite coating. The surface morphology and phase composition of the MAO coating were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The corrosion resistance of the coating was studied by the potentiodynamic polarization curve and the scanning Kelvin probe (SKP) micro-area voltage. The results show that the TiO2 ceramic oxide coating formed on the surface of the titanium alloy substrate has the characteristics of porous structure, which will become a channel for corrosive media to enter the coating and accelerate the corrosion of the MAO coating. However, the MAO/(PTFE + graphite) composite coating can prevent corrosive media from entering the coating and improve the corrosion resistance of the composite coating. The corrosion potential increased from 0.146 V to 0.241 V, the corrosion current density decreased from 4.31 x 10-7 A/cm² to 7.92 x 10-8 A/cm², and the self-corrosion current dropped to one fifth of the MAO coating. In addition, the charge transfer resistance has also increased from 5.305 x 104Ω⋅cm² to 2.493 x 105Ω⋅cm². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the surface properties of different modified poplar (Populus tomentosa Carr.) wood samples, the color, surface roughness, and wettability of untreated poplar wood (control) and poplar modified via heat treatment, resin impregnation, and impregnation combined heat treatment were analyzed and compared in this study. The impregnant used in the test was a modified urea-formaldehyde resin with a low molecular weight and low viscosity. The results showed that the lightness of the samples was sorted in order as follows: the control was lighter than the resin impregnated sample, which was lighter than the impregnation combined heat treatment sample, which was lighter than the heat treatment sample. The surface of the control samples was relatively smooth, while after the impregnation, heat, and impregnation combined heat treatments, the Ra and Rz values increased, which indicated increased surface roughness due to the modifications. Among them, the heat-treated samples had the roughest surface, and the surface roughness of the impregnation combined heat treated samples at 160 °C had no major difference from the resin impregnated sample. The wettability of the samples decreased after heat treatment and increased after impregnation combined heat treatment. It was concluded that after the modification treatments, the color of the wood became darker, and the surface roughness and hydrophobicity increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The term "plasmonic" describes the relationship between electromagnetic fields and metallic nanostructures. Plasmon-based sensors have been used innovatively to accomplish different biomedical tasks, including detection of cancer. Plasmonic sensors also have been used in biochip applications and biosensors and have the potential to be implemented as implantable point-of-care devices. Many devices and methods discussed in the literature are based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and localized SPR (LSPR). However, the mathematical background can be overwhelming for researchers at times. Objective: This review article discusses the theory of SPR, simplifying the underlying physics and bypassing many equations of SPR and LSPR. Moreover, we introduce and discuss the hybrid whispering gallery mode (WGM) sensing theory and its applications. Methods: A literature search in ScienceDirect was performed using keywords such as "surface plasmon resonance," "localized plasmon resonance," and "whispering gallery mode/plasmonic." The search results retrieved many articles, among which we selected only those that presented a simple explanation of the SPR phenomena with prominent biomedical examples. Results: SPR, LSPR, tilted fiber Bragg grating, and hybrid WGM phenomena were explained and examples on biosensing applications were provided. Conclusions: This minireview presents an overview of biosensor applications in the field of biomedicine and is intended for researchers interested in starting to work in this field. The review presents the fundamental notions of plasmonic sensors and hybrid WGM sensors, thereby allowing one to get familiar with the terminology and underlying complex formulations of linear and nonlinear optics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A water and organic soluble N-benzyl-N,N-diethyl quaternized chitosan (NSQC) material was synthesized using chitosan, benzaldehyde, and bromoethane. Amino groups on chitosan reacted with benzaldehyde to form a Schiff base intermediate. Quaternized chitosan was obtained by reacting the Schiff base with bromoethane. The quaternized chitosan was dissolved in an organic solution with dissolved cellulose and cast to prepare quaternized chitosan/cellulose (QCC) film. The molecular structure, morphology, tensile strength, thermal stability, and antibacterial activity effects of NSQC-treated cellulose film were studied in detail. The results showed that the NSQC product exhibited superior solubility in deionized water and dimethylacetamide. The addition of NSQC as a reinforcing agent in QCC film enhanced the interlinking of fibers and slowed down the rate of cellulose pyrolysis, which improved the tensile properties and thermal stability of the cellulose film. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of NSQC showed that it had good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The QCC film also showed contact sterilization ability with regards to two kinds of bacteria, which suggested that QCC film has the potential for applications in food packaging and bacterial barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the relationship between production parameters and evaluation indexes for wood fiber production, a bi-directional prediction model was established to predict the fiber quality, energy consumption, and production parameters based on the improved particle swarm optimization and support vector machine (IPSO-SVM). SVM was applied to build the bi-directional prediction model, and IPSO was used to optimize the SVM parameters that affect the performance of prediction greatly. In the case of the forward prediction, the model can predict the fiber quality and energy consumption using the production parameters as input information; in the case of the backward prediction, the model can estimate production parameters using the fiber quality and energy consumption as evaluation indexes for input information. The results showed that the IPSO-SVM model had high accuracy and good generalization ability in the prediction for the wood fiber production. Additionally, based on the effectiveness of the proposed model and preset evaluation indexes, the corresponding production parameters were determined, which was able to save the wooden resources as well as reduce energy consumption in the fiberboard production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-step pyrolysis is a promising thermal degradation process that has a fast reaction rate and high energy efficiency. In this study, high performance bamboo activated carbon was successfully prepared by onestep pyrolysis with different pyrolysis times (2.5 h, 5 h, and 10 h). Using a high pyrolysis temperature of 1050 °C, the specific surface area was remarkably increased to 2348 m2/g, which was substantially higher than the findings reported previously by other studies. The mesopore ratio was increased to 77.4%, which indicated that the bamboo activated carbon mainly contained microporous carbon and the mesoporosity was considerably developed. The activated carbon was then applied successfully to remove Methylene Blue from aqueous solutions. The adsorption equilibrium data was fit best to the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacity ranged from 495 mg/g to 1667 mg/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The website of luxury hotel brands is regarded as a great platform for marketers to create positive brand identity. The underlying architecture of information, as well as the design of graphics, navigation system, and user interface could have an influence on user experience with a hotel brand. Utilizing a conjoint design, this research assessed user preferences of three website design factors: background/font color, human image use, and navigation system. The preferences of two cultural groups--that of the Chinese and American consumers--were compared and contrasted. The findings of this study suggest that users from both the US and Chinese cultures have similar tastes for hotel website design features. They both prefer photos with no human images, dark background with light font, and a linear navigation system. The convergent tendencies of the two cultural groups and practical implications for the luxury hotel industry were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the case of Chinese tourists' travel to Japan, this study is aimed at providing more insight on the relationship between international politics and travel decisions. This study identifies the generational gaps of attitudinal structure between the Chinese Cohort 60 (CC 60) and Chinese Post-80s (CP 80) based on the textual data collected through in-depth interviews with two generations of Chinese tourists. The fluctuation of Chinese tourist arrivals in Japan following diplomatic incidents suggests that Sino-Japanese historical and contemporary political incidents may have an effect on tourism attitude. Result indicated that the association between the attitudes toward tourism, Japan, and political incidents are stronger for CC 60 than for CP 80. Compared with CP 80, CC 60 tourists hold stronger stereotype and prejudice toward the Japanese, as well as experience considerable pressure from anti-Japanese social norm, thereby producing cognitive dissonance for those interested in visiting Japan. CP 80 hold more neutral attitude toward Japan tourism and their intention to travel to Japan is less influenced by their attitude toward this country and the historical incidents. The findings have implication on sustainable Sino-Japan tourism and pointed out the important role of political incidents in tourist behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism branding has an impact on a rural community's economic development and overall wellbeing, so it should be designed carefully. This study proposes the concept of back-to-trueself as an identity element of rural tourism and presents a branding model which is illustrated by the case of 'Honest-to-Goodness' brand of the State of Indiana in the United States. The study is contextualized in the growing trends of urbanization and the resultant concerns of its effect on quality of life. The proposed model suggests that rural communities branded with the back-to-trueself element meets the need for urban residents to relieve self-presentational concern and at the same time pursue an authentic way of life. The model takes into consideration the primary motivation of rural tourists, rural community's attractiveness to urban residents, and their loyalty to the destination brand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated the use of reclaimed rubber (RR) from waste tires to partially replace the rubber compound (RC) when making wood fiber-rubber composites (WRCs). Ninety panels of WRC containing RR were manufactured with RR contents of 0% to 40%, mixing times of 6 min to 14 min, and vulcanizing temperatures of 150 °C to 170 °C. There were three steps, which were the fiber-rubber mixing, tabletting, and vulcanization molding processes. Four regression equations for the tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness, and rebound resilience as functions of the RR content, mixing time, and vulcanizing temperature were derived, and a nonlinear programming model was developed to obtain the optimum panel properties. It was found that when the RR content was within 20%, the wood fibers were well encapsulated and embedded in the RC/RR blends, and the processability of the WRCs were improved by adding RR. The incorporation of RR into the WRCs increased the average tensile strength and hardness by 33.9% and 2.3%, respectively, while the swelling ratio in toluene and 24-h water absorption were reduced by 13% and 42%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refining is a critical step in the manufacturing of medium-density fiberboard (MDF). To ensure fiber quality and control of the energy consumption during refining, proper production parameters, such as feeding screw revolution speed (SR), accumulated chip height (CH), opening ratio of the discharge valve (OV), and content of Chinese poplar (CP), are vital. These parameters were monitored and recorded in an MDF mill to investigate the relationships between the parameters and the fiber quality and energy consumption. In this study, fuzzy models of the fiber quality and the energy consumption during refining were established based on subtractive clustering and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The fiber quality and energy consumption models demonstrated high prediction accuracy because their predictive mean relative errors were as low as 4.14% and 6.72%, respectively. The errors of fiber quality were optimized using the simulated annealing method, and the input parameters were obtained. Based on the energy consumption model, the minimum energy consumption was 41.51 kWh/t, on the premise of the minimum requirement of fiber quality. This study can be a guideline for MDF production management to improve fiberboard quality and reduce energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behaviors of the mechanical, hydrophobic, and thermal properties of the molded fiber product (MFP) were examined after the removal of residual lignin. The fibers resulting from the chemi-thermomechanical pulping and bleaching processes were treated by extended delignification, namely by their reaction with glacial acetic acid and sodium chlorite. The changes in surface composition, chemical structure, crystallinity, microstructure, and thermal stability of the MFP were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Results showed that the composition and structure of carbohydrates on the fiber surface were not changed significantly, the lignin in fibers was almost completely removed, the relative content of intermolecular hydrogen bonds in cellulose and the contact area between fibers was increased, and the crystallinity index increased from 79.5% to 81.4% after the extended delignification. When the content of lignin decreased from 5.78% to 0.02%, the tensile strength of the MFP increased 25.6%, but little changes were found in the bending strength. The onset thermal decomposition temperature of MFP increased from 242 °C to 250 °C and the maximum rate of degradation temperature increased from 347 °C to 350 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has become a major world destination and tourist-generating country. Despite flourishing literature on Chinese tourism, the analysis of China's society and value has not become an integral part of the research body. By reviewing the works of Liang Shuming and Fei Xiaotong, two great Chinese intellectuals, on the origin and constitution of the Chinese value system, this article aims to provide implications for Chinese tourism research based on their insights. The article posits that applying the indigenous culture in understanding a tourist population or destination is essential in pushing the boundaries of tourism research, particularly in this globalized environment with the diffusion of values in multilateral directions. In connecting the case of China to the study of tourists from emerging regions, the article questions the complete appropriation of the "emerging market" concept into tourism research. It argues that the term suggests a comparative notion that demeans the nature of a civilization that is non-Western. It calls for research approaches that are indiscriminate and true to the community of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attractive potential of natural superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the fields of medicine and functional food is limited by its short half-life in circulation and poor permeability across the cell membrane. The nanoparticle form of SOD might overcome these limitations. However, most preparative methods have disadvantages, such as complicated operation, a variety of reagents-some of them even highly toxic-and low encapsulation efficiency or low release rate. The aim of this study is to present a simple and green approach for the preparation of SOD nanoparticles (NPs) by means of co-incubation of Cu/Zn SOD with glucose. This method was designed to prepare nanoscale aggregates based on the possible inhibitory effect of Maillard reaction on heating-induced aggregation during the co-incubation. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) results indicated that the Maillard reaction occurred during the co-incubation process. It was found that enzymatically active NPs of Cu/Zn SOD were simultaneously generated during the reaction, with an average particle size of 175.86 ± 0.71 nm, and a Zeta potential of -17.27 ± 0.59 mV, as established by the measurement of enzymatic activity, observations using field emission scanning electron microscope, and analysis of dynamic light scattering, respectively. The preparative conditions for the SOD NPs were optimized by response surface design to increase SOD activity 20.43 fold. These SOD NPs showed storage stability for 25 days and better cell uptake efficacy than natural SOD. Therefore, these NPs of SOD are expected to be a potential drug candidate or functional food factor. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the preparation of nanoparticles possessing the bioactivity of the graft component protein, using the simple and green approach of co-incubation with glucose, which occurs frequently in the food industry during thermal processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differing from the hot-pressing method in the manufacturing of traditional wood-rubber composites (WRCs), this study was aimed at fabricating WRCs using rubber processing to improve water resistance and mechanical properties. Three steps were used to make WRCs, namely, fiber-rubber mixing, tabletting, and the vulcanization molding process. Ninety-six WRC panels were made with wood fiber contents of 0%-50% at rotor rotational speeds of 15-45 rpm and filled coefficients of 0.55-0.75. Four regression equations, i.e., the tensile strength (Ts), elongation at break (Eb), hardness (Ha) and rebound resilience (Rr) as functions of fiber contents, rotational speed and filled coefficient, were derived and a nonlinear programming model were developed to obtain the optimum composite properties. Although the Ts, Eb and Rr of the panels were reduced, Ha was considerably increased by 17%-58% because of the wood fiber addition. Scanning electron microscope images indicated that fibers were well embedded in rubber matrix. The 24 h water absorption was only 1%-3%, which was much lower than commercial wood-based composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To help protect the environment and reduce energy consumption in the wood industry, air-drying has been used to pre-dry lumber to about 30% moisture content. An air-drying model based on the principle of diffusivity was developed to help estimate air-drying times more accurately. Because the moisture movement rate considerably differs from that which occurs during kiln drying, the effective diffusion coefficients were experimentally determined at different temperatures. A user-friendly computer program predicting air-drying times was developed using the control volume method. The model was experimentally confirmed by air-drying practices. This program is a powerful tool used to estimate the air-drying times for any final moisture content for larch lumber, at any time of the year, at any location where the historical meteorological data, such as temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed, is available. This tool enables mill managers to generate an optimal operation plan based on their kiln capacity, yard availability, inventory requirements, and weather conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rigid polyurethane (PUR) foam is one of the most important insulating materials used today in the construction industry and is the main insulation material used in the global appliances industry. This study developed rice straw fiber-filled PUF (RPUF) and wheat straw fiber-filled PUF (WPUF) and explored the morphology, sound absorption properties, heat transfer, and compressive strength of the PUF composites. The results indicated that, with the higher fiber content, more open cells were observed in SEM images of the composites. The average sound absorption coefficients (ASAC) of both WPUF and RPUF were significantly increased when 5 per hundred polyols (php) by weight and 10 php fiber contents were added. When fiber contents of 15 php and 20 php were utilized, ASAC reduced due to the tortuosity of cells and large holes in the foam. The sound absorption coefficient (SAC) first increased, then decreased, and increased finally as the sound frequency increased from 100 to 2000 Hz for the two composites. The thermal conductivities of both WPUF and RPUF first decreased and then increased as the fiber content increased from 0 to 20 php. When 5 and 10 php straw contents was added, the thermal conductivities were reduced by 25% to 50% compared to that of the pure PU form (0 php), indicating that the improved thermal insulation ability was obtained. The composite compressive strength was reduced by 19% to 28% due to the fiber addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kenaf fiber-polyester composites incorporated with powdered activated carbon (PAC) were prepared using the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. The product demonstrates the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding function. The kenaf fibers were retted in a pressured reactor to remove the lignin and extractives in the fiber. The PAC was loaded into the freshly retted fibers in water. The PAC loading effectiveness was determined using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area analysis. A higher BET value was obtained with a higher PAC loading. The transmission energies of the composites were measured by exposing the samples to the irradiation of electromagnetic waves with a variable frequency from 8 GHz to 12 GHz. As the PAC content increased from 0% to 10.0%, 20.5% and 28.9%, the EMI shielding effectiveness increased from 41.4% to 76.0%, 87.9% and 93.0%, respectively. Additionally, the EMI absorption increased from 21.2% to 31.7%, 44.7% and 64.0%, respectively. The ratio of EMI absorption/shielding of the composite at 28.9% of PAC loading was increased significantly by 37.1% as compared with the control sample. It was indicated that the incorporation of PAC into the composites was very effective for absorbing electromagnetic waves, which resulted in a decrease in secondary electromagnetic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Validation of land cover products is a fundamental task prior to data applications. Current validation schemes and methods are, however, suited only for assessing classification accuracy and disregard the reliability of land cover products. The reliability evaluation of land cover products should be undertaken to provide reliable land cover information. In addition, the lack of high-quality reference data often constrains validation and affects the reliability results of land cover products. This study proposes a validation schema to evaluate the reliability of land cover products, including two methods, namely, result reliability evaluation and process reliability evaluation. Result reliability evaluation computes the reliability of land cover products using seven reliability indicators. Process reliability evaluation analyzes the reliability propagation in the data production process to obtain the reliability of land cover products. Fuzzy fault tree analysis is introduced and improved in the reliability analysis of a data production process. Research results show that the proposed reliability evaluation scheme is reasonable and can be applied to validate land cover products. Through the analysis of the seven indicators of result reliability evaluation, more information on land cover can be obtained for strategic decision-making and planning, compared with traditional accuracy assessment methods. Process reliability evaluation without the need for reference data can facilitate the validation and reflect the change trends of reliabilities to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authenticity, often cited as an important component of heritage tourism, is a complex, multifaceted phenomenon. A central issue in understanding authenticity is to determine what is perceived to be authentic. The present study examined visitor perceptions of the authenticity of the South Luogu Alley (SLA), a Hutong in Beijing. Described as a "must-see" destination for visitors to Beijing seeking to experience traditional "Hutong" culture, SLA has been redeveloped to incorporate both traditional and modem facilities. The inclusion of new building materials, pseudotraditional architecture, and Western-influenced architecture has raised concerns about the authenticity of SLA. The present study examined perceptions of authenticity of 353 visitors to the SLA. A self-administered survey was used for the study. It examined perceptions of specific elements of the destination and the destination as a whole. It also analyzed the impact of demographic factors and visitor experience on perceptions of authenticity. The present study found that for many visitors the external environment and architecture were most important elements contributing to perceptions of authenticity. The study determined that visitors' understanding of authenticity is best described as "constructive" and that a variety of personal factors can influence perceptions of authenticity. It also found that visitors' criteria for authenticity tend to be contextual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the uniformity of density distribution for Bamboo-bundle Laminated Veneer Lumber (BLVL) and its relationship to the stability of mechanical performance. A novel assembly style called one-piece veneer formation technology was developed to enhance the density uniformity, and four different density levels for BLVL were examined by X-ray scanning. The results indicated that the homogeneity of density, the stability of mechanical performance, and the mechanical properties for BLVL could be effectively improved by assembling the bamboo bundles into layers and then combining the layers to make the lumber. The density uniformity in width and thickness directions increased with increasing target density. A negatively linear correlation between density and Coefficient of Variation (COV) of MOR and shearing strength was observed. Partial correlation analysis revealed that when controlling for the variability of density, the linear relationship between density and the COV of MOR became insignificant, and the degree of linear correlation between density and the COV of shearing strength decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid A, the hydrophobic anchor of lipopolysaccharide, is an essential component in the outer membrane of most Gram-negative bacteria. Food-borne pathogen Cronobacter sakazakii synthesizes two lipid A species, differing by the length of the secondary acyl chain. In this work, we identified three genes ESA02293, ESA02951 and ESA01386 encoding for the late acyltransferases of lipid A biosynthesis pathway in C. sakazakii. Based on the sequence alignment, proteins YP_001438378.1 encoded by ESA02293, YP_001439016.1 encoded by ESA02951, and YP_001437482.1 encoded by ESA01386 are homologous to E. coli LpxL, LpxP and LpxM, respectively. Functions of the three acyltransferases were confirmed by overexpressing the genes in E. coli, isolating lipid As and analyzing their structures using an ESI/MS. C. sakazakii LpxL and LpxM transfer a C14:0 secondary acyl chain to the 2'- and 3'-position of lipid A, respectively. C. sakazakii LpxP can transfer either a C16:1 or a C14:0 secondary acyl chains to the 2'-position of lipid A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To extend the application of mountain pine beetle (MPB) killed lumber for decking, siding, and landscaping materials, it is essential to improve its dimensional stability. Thermal treatment is one of the well-established processes used to improve wood stability by modifying chemical compounds and masking blue-stains by darkening the fibre color. In this study, the MPB lumber was subjected to thermal treatment at three temperatures (195, 205, or 215°C) and three exposure times (1.5, 2, or 3 h). Based on Duncan's multiple range test, the results indicated that the volumetric swelling after thermal treatment, either from oven-dry to air-conditioned or from oven-dry to water-saturated, was significantly reduced after thermal treatment. Modulus of elasticity was increased when specimens were treated at a temperature of 195°C, and then decreased as the temperature increased. Modulus of rupture was significantly reduced as treatment temperature increased. The hardness of lumber thermal-treated at 195°C was significantly increased compared to that of the untreated lumber. At higher temperatures, hardness started to decrease slightly. With the treatment temperature increasing to 215°C for 3 h, the color difference between stained and clear wood was reduced by 75%. As a result, the blue-stains vanished gradually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current research is to study the importance of destination image to products and distribution partners in the tourism system. It also examines the perceived contribution of various image creation factors in stages of the consumer buying process. The study examines the opinions of management from travel products located in Australia and active marketing in the US and management from travel wholesalers marketing Australian travel products in the US. Results of the study highlight the importance of destination image to destination image stakeholders. It concludes that image creation factors play different roles during the consumer buying process. The study recognizes the perceived importance of Australian Tourism Commission (ATC) brand development strategies. The Australian branding experience in the US provides insights for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) seeking to maximize their impact on destination image creation by leveraging "word of mouth," public relations, e-marketing, and stakeholder marketing efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lately liquidity risk has received attention from regulators and banks - having witnessed how a credit crisis evolved into a major liquidity funding problem for many banks. Following the crisis regulators has put forward a new regulation, headed under Basel III, for liquidity risk focusing on testing the short- and long-term solvency of banks. One of the most challenging aspects of the new regulation is that banks now need to continuously manage a dedicated liquidity portfolio and that the adequacy of this portfolio in hedging liquidity outflows needs to be frequently tested. Given a sufficient liquidity hedging portfolio banks also need to consider strategizing its response to liquidity crisis in advance. Most notably, this includes having a strategy for liquidity execution. In this paper we propose a multi-stage linear program optimization for resource allocation to optimize the liquidity execution across stages. The optimization not only provides a solution at the time of liquidity execution i.e., in a distress period but also helps build an a priori practical liquidity plan consistent with Basel III required contingency funding plans. The model scenario of non-sufficient counterbalancing capacity allows banks to get prepared by acquiring further liquid funds. In our analysis we find that highly liquid sources, which remain liquid with low execution cost and haircut even in further distress, are optimal to hold until further distress stages and then execute at a still low cost. This is because their values do not diminish as stress increase across stages. Liquidity raising assets with an execution cost and haircut that is significantly worsening across stages are optimal to execute in the beginning of distress. This is because their liquidity values are higher in the initial phases of the distress when execution costs and haircuts are not as severe. Should however the firm not expect to use all of its liquidity to raise the needed funds during the liquidity distress stages then the firm can refrain from executing the lower quality assets to keep execution costs to a minimum. However, this strategy runs the risk that if the firm misjudges the length and severity of the liquidity distress it may end up holding only the lower quality assets exactly when those assets have their smallest value in raising funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypotonicity following water intoxication and/or salt loss leads to mainly astrocytic brain swelling. Astrocytic swelling also occurs following brain trauma or ischemia, together with an increase in extracellular K ([K]), stimulating a bumetanide/furosemide/ethacrynic acid-inhibitable cotransporter, NKCC1, that accumulates Na and K together with 2 Cl and osmotically obliged water. Either type of swelling may become fatal and is associated with phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK). Only the swelling associated with elevated [K], leads to an increase in astrocytic proliferation and in expression of the astrocytic marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein. These differences prompted us to investigate key aspects of the molecular pathways between hypotonicity-induced and high-K-mediated swelling in primary cultures of mouse astrocytes. In the latter Ca-mediated, AG1478-inhibitable transactivation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor leads, via bumetanide-inhibitable activation of the mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway to ERK phosphorylation and to NKCC1-mediated swelling. In the former, inhibition of the MAP kinase pathway, but not of EGF receptor activation, abolishes ERK phosphorylation, but has no effect on swelling, indicating that activation of ERK is a result, not a cause, of the swelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-alpine fir is characterized by its high proportion of wet pockets making it difficult to dry. Since it takes longer to dry, mills experience reduced kiln productivity and increased energy consumption. High temperature drying (HTD) can be an effective approach to accelerate the drying process. In this study, three drying schedules, namely, conservative (control), HTD, and HTD and conservative combined (HTD/Cons), were evaluated when drying green sub-alpine fir 2″ × 4″ dimension lumber. The results indicated that: (1) the drying rates in the HTD and HTD/Cons schedules were increased by 31–150% in comparison to the drying rates obtained for the conservative schedule; (2) although drying stresses observed for the HTD schedule were higher than those that were measured for the conservative schedule, no significant difference in drying stresses was found between the HTD/Cons and conservative schedules; (3) warp was reduced in both HTD and HTD/Cons schedules; (4) neither the HTD nor HTD/Cons schedule showed any significant reduction in modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) when compared to the values obtained for the conservative schedule. Diffusion coefficients during HTD for sub-alpine fir were determined and it was found that diffusivity increases with temperature. A mathematical model describing the processes of heating and drying under high temperatures was developed. The results of drying tests showed that the predicted drying curves by the model satisfactorily agree with the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article identifies five themes in Chinese rural tourism studies, including (1) definitions of rural tourism, (2) rural tourism planning and development, (3) pragmatic challenges and solutions, and (4) policies and impacts. Further, these themes are grouped by three methodological approaches, including supply-side perspectives, policy-oriented research, and descriptive methods. The article is based on the review and synthesis of 325 research articles published between 1997 and 2006 in China. The findings contribute to an understanding of China's rural tourism industry and current state of academic research on rural tourism issues unique to China but having global significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Since the heat-treatment of lumber may start at a temperature below freezing, two distinct stages, thawing and heating, are encountered during this treatment. This paper discusses the estimation of both thawing and heating times for hemlock (T. heterophylla) dimension lumber. An approximate analytic solution is used for the thawing process while a numeric simulation is utilized for the heating process. Heat-up experiments were carried out in a laboratory kiln. Core temperature in lumber was accurately determined when heating under various combinations of dry and wet bulb temperature. The results indicate that the calculated heating rates agree well with the experimental outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Sub-alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook)) is characterized by its low permeability and that it is then hard-to-dry. Long drying time for the species causes kiln capacity problems for numbers of spruce-pine-fir (SPF) lumber producers. A high-temperature drying schedule with a rapid rise in dry-bulb temperature to a temperature above boiling point at the beginning is a potential approach to enhance the drying productivity. Determinations in permeability of ten sub-alpine fir boards after slow heating and fast heating were carried out in this study. The results indicated that a rapid rise in temperature increased the permeability of sub-alpine fir. By statistical analysis, the permeability was increased significantly due to the fast heating in seven boards. The permeability in other three boards was also increased, but not significantly. Using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the impact of heating speed on pit membrane of sub-alpine fir lumber was investigated. A small number of fine fractures were observed on the pit membrane after slow heating, while in case of fast heating, the torus was partially ruptured and a separation occurred in pit border and cell wall. By observing the SEM images, it was suggested that the force of vaporization and/or thermal stresses due to the fast heating were able to open the aspirated pits and/or break the membranes in the wood cells, and therefore increase the permeability, intensify the moisture transportability and improve the dry-ability of sub-alpine fir lumber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technology of steam explosion was applied to pre-treat sub-alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) lumber and to improve its drying characteristics. Effects of steam explosion on the appearance and structure of the lumber are discussed in this paper. The structure of the wood was examined using light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The following results were obtained. With increasing temperature, pressure, and explosion cycles the color of the lumber darkened gradually. No significant structural difference between treated and untreated samples was observed using LM when the treatments were carried out at temperatures below 130°C with ten explosion cycles (group A or B). Some fractures were observed in bordered pit pairs between tracheids after 20 explosion cycles at 130°C (group C). More fractures occurred in bordered pit pairs between earlywood tracheids at a temperature of 160°C (group D). More or less fractures in pits between ray parenchyma cells and earlywood tracheids were observed using SEM in all four cases of treatments. Although no change in bordered pits in the tracheid walls between group A and the control group was discovered, groups B, C, and D showed different extents of ruptures in bordered pits, which may lead to break aspirated pits and improve permeability. In these groups, wrinkles and separations in the inner tracheid walls and detachments in middle lamella also occurred and became more serious as temperature or cycles of the treatment increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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