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Purpose: This study examined attitudes and perspectives of consumers' environmental protection initiatives of NBA arenas in order to synthesize the extent eco-sustainability measures, such as recycling programs or waste reduction, affect motivation to attend events at the facility. Design/methodology/approach: This study employed an Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) in an effort to establish which eco-sustainable areas arenas were meeting or exceeding customer expectations, and areas that are important to consumers, but are not being addressed by the venues. Findings: Results identified consumer concern about the eco-sustainability of arenas. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate key eco-sustainable preferences of NBA fans related to recycling and attendance. The utilization of an IPA allowed for the measurement of variables, which identified areas of importance to fans, while demonstrating areas which need improvement from a managerial perspective. Research limitations/implications: These findings support the argument that consumers are likely to participate in, and desire venues to offer, eco-sustainable initiatives within their confines. Practical implications: This study contains findings related to the eco-sustainability of large facilities, and how these practices potentially influence consumer satisfaction. The findings are applicable to a wide variety of business types, as eco-driven consumers may be influenced to visit a business based on the eco-sustainable behaviours in which the firm participates. Originality/value: The findings from this paper are unique, as they measure the ecosustainable preferences of consumers attending large-scale events. Furthermore, this study establishes a foundation point for future academic research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst a growing industry, foodservice professionals are seeking certifications to differentiate themselves from the competition. The American Culinary Federation (ACF) provides the most comprehensive culinary certification program in the United States, promoting professional development through specialized training in the culinary arts. Proponents of the ACF certification program boast benefits such as increased pay and prestige. However, there has been limited research focusing on the relationship between professional foodservice certifications and perceived career success. This study examined the relationships between culinary certifications and objective (i.e. salary) and subjective (i.e. job satisfaction, self-efficacy) indicators of career success. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study aims to identify the representativeness of hospitality and service industry firms on flash-sale sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial. Currently, academic findings related to the frequency of offerings from these firms are nonexistent. This research relied upon a content analysis rubric and daily measurement of offerings from randomly selected cities represented by Groupon and LivingSocial for a period of 6 weeks. The daily offerings for specific cities on the Groupon and LivingSocial sites were utilized as the primary data sources. Findings indicate firms in these industries, outside of restaurants, have shunned away from offering their services via flash-sale mediums. The research findings demonstrate restaurants frequently utilize flash sales as a promotional tool. However, the abundant representation of these types of firms has created a scenario in which operators are compelled to offer deep discounts to make their offers competitive with offers from competing firms in the same city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exponential growth in the Chinese hospitality industry has fueled an overabundance of hotel job opportunities. The unintended consequences of an untrained workforce have posed a serious challenge to hospitality managers. Western hotel managers are hired for their special knowledge and expertise, and due to a lack of preparation and cultural training, they experience high assignment failure rates. Using the leveraging leader–member exchange theory, this qualitative study collected data from primary sources and revealed key emergent issues facing Western expatriate hotel managers working in China today. Productive culture-specific tactics for Western expatriate managers were offered to enhance team performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify whether travel and tourism related web sites derive a certain personality type. Design/methodology/approach – This study employed the ten-item personality inventory (TIPI) measure to assess personality dimensions of 188 tourism web sites including airlines, hotels, cruise lines, casinos, restaurants, and government funded travel web sites. Data analysis of 413 cases was conducted through mean comparisons and ANOVA. Findings – Data identified web sites representing different segments of the hospitality and tourism industries do vary in relation to online personalities. More specifically, web sites for venues such as casinos were represented as extraverted while lodging web sites were deemed more conscientious. Research limitations/implications – While this study aimed to identify web site personalities of businesses within the tourism segment, not all categories were represented. Furthermore, response choices were limited only 20 of the personality objectives from the TIPI personality scale were examined. Practical implications – This study demonstrated different personality characteristics are represented through tourism web sites, indicating providers may need to focus their web presence in a manner which engages potential travellers based on such features. Originality/value – This paper adds to the body of scholarly research related to TIPI and further demonstrates consumer awareness and preference for web sites which augment their personality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how effectively hotels are using Facebook as a marketing tool and how consumers are interacting with the property by measuring the number of fans, customer comments, and accuracy of information provided. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based upon a content analysis, inquiring into 100 hotels' Facebook pages. Findings – Findings demonstrate that the use of Facebook features by hotels varied widely. Some hotels utilize Facebook solely as a means for posting property information, whereas others focus on facilitating customer engagement. Research limitations/implications – Literature related to the effectiveness of social media as a marketing tool within the hospitality industry is severely limited, thus this research highlights the challenges some hotels are experiencing with maximizing the reach of their Facebook pages, suggests possible approaches for improvement and makes recommendations for structuring social networking strategies. Practical implications – Results demonstrated many hotels failed to interact with customers, provide accurate and timely information, and entice prospective purchasers by showcasing the property through photos and videos. Practitioners would be well served to improve upon these aspects to better appeal to consumers and recognize a significant return on investment. Originality/value – This study investigates the extent to which Facebook is being utilized by the top 100 domestic US hotels. Evaluation criteria included three aspects: content information, property details, and interactions between hotels and customers. Literature related to social network marketing is sparse, thus the present research is intended to provide a basis for future research and guidance for industry professionals to best maximize technological marketing channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Counselor education departments are often required to meet multiple accreditation standards that include assessment of individual student learning. Additionally, faculty in counselor education departments are responsible for acting as professional gatekeepers. The authors propose a model for assessment of individual student potential at the time of program admission. In addition, a comprehensive assessment process applied as students make the transition into clinical fieldwork is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This study aims to examine web site heuristics and their influence on the likelihood to purchase. Design/methodology/approach – A convenience sample of 28 participants was assigned a list of 30 hotel web sites to evaluate according to predetermined criteria and open-ended questions. Findings – Results indicated that booking decisions are positively related to a web site's aesthetic appeal. The study found the presence of photographs on a hotel web site was the most significant factor impacting site appeal and influencing the booking decision. Other features affecting purchase decisions included ease of use, color, link availability, lack of web site clutter, and sites unique in appearance. Research limitations/implications – Research limitations included the size and composition of the sample. Respondents were college students, thus they represented a younger demographic and one which may be more tech-savvy than other age groups. Also, the hotel web sites which were evaluated were located in one popular US tourist destination, meaning generalization to a larger population or to another industry may be limited. Practical implications – Results showed four variables; pictures, ease of use, neat/uncluttered and plain/boring; were most significant on both site appeal and site influence. Practitioners would be well served to improve these web site elements to better accommodate customers and realize the greatest return on investment. Originality/value – The paper investigates heuristics of hotel web sites. Findings identified areas for improvement by practitioners as well as areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors assessed potential differences between children of alcoholics and children of nonalcoholics in depression and choice of coping strategies. Although significant group differences were detected for level of depression, mean depression scores for both groups fell within the no depression range on the Beck Depression Inventory, No significant differences in coping strategies were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States Forest Service promulgated new planning regulations under the National Forest Management Act in 2012 (i.e., the Planning Rule). These new regulations include the first requirements in U.S. public land management history for National Forests to evaluate, protect, and/or restore ecological connectivity as they revise their land management plans. Data and resource limitations make single‐species, functional connectivity analyses for the myriad species that occur within the 78 million ha the Forest Service manages implausible. We describe an approach that relies on freely available data and generic species, virtual species whose profile consists of ecological requirements designed to reflect the needs of a group of real species, to address the new Planning Rule requirements. We present high‐resolution connectivity estimates for 10 different generic species across a 379,000 ha study area centered on the Custer Gallatin National Forest (CGNF) in Montana and South Dakota under two different movement models. We identify locations important for connectivity for multiple species and characterize the role of the CGNF for regional connectivity. Our results informed the Plan Revision process on the CGNF and could be readily exported to other National Forests currently or planning to revise their land management plans under the new Planning Rule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric high-grade brain tumors and adult glioblastoma are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1 (oHSV) is a promising approach to target brain tumors; oHSV G207 and M032 (encodes human interleukin-12) are currently in phase I clinical trials in children with malignant supratentorial brain tumors and adults with glioblastoma, respectively. We sought to compare the sensitivity of patient-derived pediatric malignant brain tumor and adult glioblastoma xenografts to these clinically-relevant oHSV. In so doing we found that pediatric brain tumors were more sensitive to the viruses and expressed significantly more nectin-1 (CD111) than adult glioblastoma. Pediatric embryonal and glial tumors were 74-fold and 14-fold more sensitive to M002 and 16-fold and 6-fold more sensitive to G207 than adult glioblastoma, respectively. Of note, pediatric embryonal tumors were more sensitive than glial tumors. Differences in sensitivity may be due in part to nectin-1 expression, which predicted responses to the viruses. Treatment with oHSV resulted in prolonged survival in both pediatric and adult intracranial patient-dervied tumor xenograft models. Our results suggest that pediatric brain tumors are ideal targets for oHSV and that brain tumor expression of nectin-1 may be a useful biomarker to predict patient response to oHSV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection and mentions topics including adverse effects and dose adjustment during the treatment, use of interferon-free drugs for avoiding complications, and cooperation of public health authorities for the treatment.

This exploratory study employed the values, attitudes, and behavior (VAB) framework to test Hofstede’s cultural values, state-level ethnocentrism (state brand consumption), and identity (state pride) on intent to support ag-related products in the context of a state operated agricultural marketing program (SOAMP). Results (N = 259) showed collectivism and long term orientation have a positive influence on consumers’ attitudes. State brand consumption was found to be the strongest predictor of intent to purchase local food products, while state pride had a mild level of predictability. Practical implications for food and beverage retailers, hospitality marketers and ag-related government agencies are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid expansion of the hotel industry in Mainland China has precipitated an increased need for hiring Western expatriate managers, especially among multinational brands. The consequences of expatriate failure are well studied and are of vital concern among stakeholders, necessitating a deeper understanding of Chinese norms. Prior justice research in China has recommended the inclusion of Chinese societal protocols, such as face protection and conflict avoidance, as predictors of Interactional Justice. The current study has added to the literature the importance of understanding face conflict avoidance styles as a precursor to Western expatriate managerial success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors studied the relationships between adult workers' spiritual well-being and job satisfaction. Two hundred participants completed 2 instruments: the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (C. W. Ellison & R. F. Paloutzian, 1982) and the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form (D. J. Weiss, R. V. Dawis, G. W. England. & L. H. Lofquist, 1967). A bivariate correlational analysis showed spiritual well-being, religious well-being. and existential well-being to be positively related to job satisfaction for this sample. With a forced-entry multiple regression analysis, overall spiritual well-being was found to have a moderate influence, existential well-being had a much stronger influence, and religious well-being had a minimal influence all on, general job satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. In the era of interferon-based HCV therapy, type 2 diabetes was associated with decreased likelihood of sustained virologic response (SVR). Preliminary studies suggest that type 2 diabetes may not reduce the efficacy of regimens involving direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications. We aimed to determine whether preexisting type 2 diabetes is associated with a reduced rate of SVR achieved 12 weeks after treatment of HCV with DAA-based regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We assessed the usefulness of real-time molecular profiling through next-generation sequencing (NGS) in predicting the tumor biology of advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (panNETs) and in characterizing genomic evolution. Methods: Patients with metastatic panNETs were recruited in the routine clinical practice setting (between May 2014 and March 2017) for prospective NGS of their tumors as well as for germline analysis using the Memorial Sloan Kettering-Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets (MSK-IMPACT) sequencing platform. When possible, NGS was performed at multiple time points. Results: NGS was performed in 96 tumor samples from 80 patients. Somatic alterations were identified in 76 of 80 patients (95%). The most commonly altered genes were MEN1 (56%), DAXX (40%), ATRX (25%), and TSC2 (25%). Alterations could be defined in pathways that included chromatin remodeling factors, histone methyltransferases, and mammalian target of rapamycin pathway genes. Somatic loss of heterozygosity was particularly prevalent (55 of 95 tested samples [58%]), and the presence of loss of heterozygosity resulted in improved overall survival (P =.06). Sequencing of pre- and post-treatment samples revealed tumor-grade progression; clonal evolution patterns were also seen (molecular resistance mechanisms and chemotherapy-associated mutagenesis). Germline genetic analysis identified clinically actionable pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in 14 of 88 patients (16%), including mutations in high-penetrance cancer susceptibility genes (MEN1 , TSC2 , and VHL). Conclusion: A clinical NGS platform reveals pertubations of biologic pathways in metastatic panNETs that may inform prognosis and direct therapies. Repeat sequencing at disease progression reveals increasing tumor grade and genetic evolution, demonstrating that panNETs adopt a more aggressive behavior through time and therapies. In addition to frequent somatic mutations in MEN1 and TSC2 , germline mutations in these same genes underlie susceptibility to panNETs and highlight the need to re-evaluate whether germline genetic analysis should be performed for all patients with panNETs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duvelisib (IPI-145) is an oral inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-δ/γ isoforms currently in clinical development. PI3K-δ/γ inhibition may directly inhibit malignant T-cell growth, making duvelisib a promising candidate for patients with peripheral (PTCL) or cutaneous (CTCL) T-cell lymphoma. Inhibition of either isoform may also contribute to clinical responses by modulating nonmalignant immune cells. We investigated these dual effects in a TCL cohort from a phase 1, open-label study of duvelisib in patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL (n = 16) and CTCL (n = 19), along with in vitro and in vivo models of TCL. The overall response rates in patients with PTCL and CTCL were 50.0% and 31.6%, respectively (P = .32). There were 3 complete responses, all among patients with PTCL. Activity was seen across a wide spectrum of subtypes. The most frequently observed grade 3 and 4 adverse events were transaminase increases (40% alanine aminotransferase, 17% aspartate aminotransferase), maculopapular rash (17%), and neutropenia (17%). Responders and nonresponders had markedly different changes in serum cytokine profiles induced by duvelisib. In vitro, duvelisib potently killed 3 of 4 TCL lines with constitutive phospho-AKT (pAKT) vs 0 of 7 lines lacking pAKT (P = .024) and exceeded cell killing by the PI3K-δ-specific inhibitor idelalisib. Administration of duvelisib to mice engrafted with a PTCL patient-derived xenograft resulted in a shift among tumor-associated macrophages from the immunosuppressive M2-like phenotype to the inflammatory M1-like phenotype. In summary, duvelisib demonstrated promising clinical activity and an acceptable safety profile in relapsed/refractory TCL, as well as preclinical evidence of both tumor cell-autonomous and immune-mediated effects. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01476657. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duvelisib is an oral dual inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase-δ (PI3K-δ) and PI3K-γ in late-stage clinical development for hematologic malignancy treatment. This phase 1 study evaluated maximum tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics (PD), efficacy, and safety of duvelisib in 210 patients with advanced hematologic malignancies. In the dose escalation phase (n = 31), duvelisib 8 to 100 mg twice daily was administered, with MTD determined as 75 mg twice daily. In the expansion phase (n = 179), patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), or T-cell lymphoma (TCL) were treated with 25 or 75 mg duvelisib twice daily continuously. Single-dose duvelisib was rapidly absorbed (time to maximum concentration, 1-2 hours), with a half-life of 5.2 to 10.9 hours. PD results showed inhibition of phospho-AKT (S473) in CLL tumor cells following a single dose and near-complete inhibition of CLL proliferation (Ki-67) by cycle 2. Clinical responses were seen across a range of doses and disease subtypes: iNHL overall response rate, 58% (n = 31) with 6 complete responses (CRs); relapsed/refractory CLL, 56% (n = 55) with 1 CR; peripheral TCL, 50% (n = 16) with 3 CR; and cutaneous TCL, 32% (n = 19). Median time to response was ∼1.8 months. Severe (grade ≥3) adverse events occurred in 84% of patients: neutropenia (32%), alanine transaminase increase (20%), aspartate transaminase increase (15%), anemia and thrombocytopenia (each 14%), diarrhea (11%), and pneumonia (10%). These data support further investigation of duvelisib in phase 2 and 3 studies. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01476657. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bosutinib is an oral, dual SRC/ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with clinical activity in Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) leukemia. We assessed the safety and tolerability of bosutinib 500 mg per day in a phase 1/2 study in chronic-phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CIVIL) or advanced Ph+ leukemia following resistance/intolerance to imatinib and possibly other TKIs. Patient cohorts included second-line CP CML (n = 286), third-/fourth-line CP CML (n = 118), and advanced leukemia (n = 166). Median bosutinib duration was 11.1 (range, 0.03-83.4) months. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in each cohort were primarily gastrointestinal (diarrhea [86%/83%/74%], nausea [46%/48%/ 48%], and vomiting [37%/38%/43%]). Diarrhea presented early, with few (8%) patients experiencing grade 3/4 events; dose reduction due to diarrhea occurred in 6% of affected patients. Grade 3/4 myelosuppression TEAEs were reported in 41% of patients; among affected patients, 46% were managed with bosutinib interruption and 32% with dose reduction. Alanine aminotransferase elevation TEAEs occurred in 17% of patients (grade 3/4, 7%); among patients managed with dose interruption, bosutinib rechallenge was successful in 74%. Bosutinib demonstrated acceptable safety with manageable toxicities in Ph+ leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The increased survival associated with treatments for CML emphasize the importance of understanding the HRQOL of newly diagnosed and previously treated CML patients with all phases of disease. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Leukemia results from a phase 3 and a phase 2 trial are reported for over 900 1st, 2nd, 3rd line CP, AP, and BP patients. Physical Well-being and Leukemia symptoms were worse for patients in later lines of therapy. Individuals with AP and BP CML had poorer HRQOL than individuals with CP CML. HRQOL of CML patients was predominantly consistent with the longitudinal clinical trajectory of the disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bosutinib, a dual Src/Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), has shown potent activity against chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). This phase 1/2 study evaluated the efficacy and safety of once-daily bosutinib 500 mg in leukemia patients after resistance/intolerance to imatinib. The current analysis included 118 patients with chronic-phase CML who had been pre-treated with imatinib followed by dasatinib and/or nilotinib, with a median follow-up of 28.5 months. In this subpopulation, major cytogenetic résponse was attained by 32% of patients; complete cytogenetic response was attained by 24%, including in one of 3 patients treated with 3 prior TKIs. Complete hematologic response was achieved/ maintained in 73% of patients. On-treat-ment transformation to accelerated/blast phase occurred in 5 patients. At 2 years, Kaplan-Meier-estimated progression-free survival was 73% and estimated overall survival was 83%. Responses were seen across Bcr-Abl mutations, including those associated with dasatinib and nilotinib resistance, except T315I. Bosutinib had an acceptable safety profile; treatment-emergent adverse events were primarily manageable grade 1/2 gastrointestinal events and rash. Grade 3/4 nonhemato-logic adverse events (> 2% of patients) included diarrhea (8%) and rash (4%). Bosutinib may offer a new treatment option for patients with chronic-phase CML after treatment with multiple TKIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Understanding the impact of second-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of imatinib (IM)-resistant and IM-intolerant chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP CML) patients is important given the increased survival that comes with therapy. As part of a bosutinib single-arm phase 2 trial, 200 IM-resistant and 88 IM-intolerant CP CML patients’ HRQOL was assessed prior to and throughout treatment with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Leukemia (FACT-Leu). Little HRQOL impairment was demonstrated at baseline. Over the course of 96weeks on bosutinib therapy, patients noted statistically significant and/or clinically meaningful improvements on several FACT-Leu scales. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Uranyl oxide hydrate minerals are common in the altered zones of U deposits and are expected to form where spent nuclear fuel is altered in an oxidizing environment. Consistent with all known uranyl oxide hydrate minerals, metaschoepite [(UO2)4O(OH)6](H2O)5, contains sheets of uranyl polyhedra with H2O groups located in the interlayer. Several crystals along the series from metaschoepite to Na-substituted metaschoepite (Na-MS), approximate formula Na[(UO2)4O2(OH)5](H2O)5, have been synthesized and their structures have been determined. Each contains sheets of uranyl pentagonal bipyramids that are topologically identical to those in metaschoepite, schoepite and fourmarierite. The sheets are electroneutral in metaschoepite, but substitution of O for OH located at the equatorial vertices of the uranyl polyhedra gives a charged sheet that is balanced by incorporation of Na in the interlayer. Synthesis of crystals of Na-MS from a solution containing ∼500 ppm Np5+, followed by analysis of the crystals using laser-ablation inductively coupled-plasma mass-spectroscopy, demonstrated that the crystals incorporate Np. This is in contrast to earlier studies that showed no incorporation of Np5+ in synthetic metaschoepite (which has electroneutral sheets), and supports the hypothesis that Np5+ incorporation is more likely in uranyl oxide hydrates with charged species in the interlayer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]