Innovation in Slovenian tourism organisations

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-62
Author(s):  
Maja Uran Maravić ◽  
Dejan Križaj ◽  
Miha Lesjak
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Main Hypothesis ◽  
Innovation Activities ◽  
Innovation Climate ◽  
High Level ◽  
Innovation Practices ◽  
First Time

The purpose – Slovenian tourism organisations must constantly focus on developing variety innovations for organisations. In this paper, we present a study conducted on innovation practices in Slovenian tourism organisations. Design/methodology – In a survey conducted on Slovenia tourism organisations, we obtained data and identified their innovation performance and the innovation climate in their area of business. There are three main hypothesis tested. Findings – The research sample of 41 organisations found that most innovation in tourism organisations came through the introduction of new services (90%), followed by innovation through new organisational methods (73%), and found a high-level climate for innovation. Worse was its assessment of research activity within organisations and cooperation with external institutions (eg. universities and research institutes) and investment in innovation activities within their research and development. Results obtained from the research showed a mean value for the innovation climate-instrument of 3.83 indicating a high innovation climate for the Slovenian tourism companies included in the sample survey. Mostly, (publicly known as) more innovative active organisations responded to our survey. From such results, we find that tourism organisations included in the survey are aware of the importance of innovation, teaching organisations to communicate well and network with other organisations, are adaptable to change and engaged with their own ideas in support of the organisation's management. Originality of the research – The contribution of the research is that it has applied the generic instrument for measuring innovation climate on tourism and the first time climate is measured in Slovenia.

An efficient local search for large-scale set-union knapsack problem

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yupeng Zhou ◽  
Mengyu Zhao ◽  
Mingjie Fan ◽  
Yiyuan Wang ◽  
Jianan Wang
Keyword(s):  
Knapsack Problem ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Optimization Problem ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Convergence Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Statistical Experiments ◽  
Scale Optimization ◽  
First Time

PurposeThe set-union knapsack problem is one of the most significant generalizations of the Non-deterministic Polynomial (NP)-hard 0-1 knapsack problem in combinatorial optimization, which has rich application scenarios. Although some researchers performed effective algorithms on normal-sized instances, the authors found these methods deteriorated rapidly as the scale became larger. Therefore, the authors design an efficient yet effective algorithm to solve this large-scale optimization problem, making it applicable to real-world cases under the era of big data.Design/methodology/approachThe authors develop three targeted strategies and adjust them into the adaptive tabu search framework. Specifically, the dynamic item scoring tries to select proper items into the knapsack dynamically to enhance the intensification, while the age-guided perturbation places more emphasis on the diversification of the algorithm. The lightweight neighborhood updating simplifies the neighborhood operators to reduce the algorithm complexity distinctly as well as maintains potential solutions. The authors conduct comparative experiments against currently best solvers to show the performance of the proposed algorithm.FindingsStatistical experiments show that the proposed algorithm can find 18 out of 24 better solutions than other algorithms. For the remaining six instances on which the competitor also achieves the same solutions, ours performs more stably due to its narrow gap between best and mean value. Besides, the convergence time is also verified efficiency against other algorithms.Originality/valueThe authors present the first implementation of heuristic algorithm for solving large-scale set-union knapsack problem and achieve the best results. Also, the authors provide the benchmarks on the website for the first time.

Innovation in micro enterprises: reality or fiction?

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 349-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ultan Faherty ◽  
Simon Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Marketing Innovation ◽  
Innovation Activities ◽  
Innovation Practices ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Micro Enterprises

Purpose – Although there is significant literature on innovation activities in large and medium-sized enterprises, studies that report on innovation practices in micro enterprises are lacking. The purpose of this paper is to explore three issues: understanding of the term “innovation”, innovation practice(s) and how innovation can be effectively measured. Design/methodology/approach – The 12 case studies presented in this paper involve micro enterprises based in Ireland. Data collected during depth interviews provide insights into understanding, practices, motivations, behaviours and attitudes relating to innovation. Findings – Although awareness of innovation theories, processes and procedures is found to be low, all of the micro enterprises studied engage in a range of innovation activities across products, processes, people and marketing. Innovation is important to the development of the enterprises; however, innovation is not a managed or systematic process, and this is often due to lack of resources. Practical implications – This paper presents six recommendations which are of use to academics, micro enterprises and government support agencies. These recommendations include making changes to the service provided by support agencies, simplifying innovation, developing an innovation brokering facility, and improving the design/delivery of innovation programmes. Originality/value – The paper enriches understanding of the experience of participants through the use of narrative structuring, and augments knowledge on the innovation practices of micro enterprises.

Social-economic aspects of German universities innovation activities

2020 ◽  
pp. 92-104
Author(s):  
E.V. Romanova ◽  
N.Y. Nikiforova
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Society ◽  
The State ◽  
Industrial Society ◽  
Innovation Activity ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Innovation Activities ◽  
High Level ◽  
University Participation

Under conditions of growing competitive pressure, a role of universities in the development of innovations at both national and regional levels increases. At the same time, there is a shift from the dominant cooperative ties between the state and the enterprises in an industrial society to the ties between the state and enterprises and universities in the knowledge society. This work performed characterization of Germany by the level of innovative development. 4 types of Regional Innovation Systems were identified: innovation core, strong business- innovators, clusters with high level of governmental support, innovation periphery. Further, the territory was investigated for the formation of the research and educational function of universities and 5 types of regions with different types of universities (leading, high, medium, underdeveloped and backward) were identified. An analysis of the laws governing university participation in innovation processes has shown that their innovation activity is formed under the influence of both the regional innovation environment and institutional factors. In the western part of the country, the nature of research activity of universities is driven mainly by their intensity of cooperation with businesses while in the eastern part it is determined by the level of state support for R & D.

A Confrontation between Two Doctrines: The Birth of Struggle for Hegemony in Hebrew Children's Literature during the 1930s and 1940s

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
YAEL DARR
Keyword(s):  
Children's Literature ◽  
Educational System ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Children’S Literature ◽  
The Political ◽  
Literary Creation ◽  
History Of ◽  
High Level ◽  
First Time ◽  
Literary Quality

This article describes a crucial and fundamental stage in the transformation of Hebrew children's literature, during the late 1930s and 1940s, from a single channel of expression to a multi-layered polyphony of models and voices. It claims that for the first time in the history of Hebrew children's literature there took place a doctrinal confrontation between two groups of taste-makers. The article outlines the pedagogical and ideological designs of traditionalist Zionist educators, and suggests how these were challenged by a group of prominent writers of adult poetry, members of the Modernist movement. These writers, it is argued, advocated autonomous literary creation, and insisted on a high level of literary quality. Their intervention not only dramatically changed the repertoire of Hebrew children's literature, but also the rules of literary discourse. The article suggests that, through the Modernists’ polemical efforts, Hebrew children's literature was able to free itself from its position as an apparatus controlled by the political-educational system and to become a dynamic and multi-layered field.

Interest rate option hedging portfolios without bank account

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-142
Author(s):  
Alberto Bueno-Guerrero
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Contingent Claim ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient Condition ◽  
Barrier Option ◽  
Bank Account ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Option Hedging ◽  
Hedging Portfolio ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient ◽  
First Time

Purpose This paper aims to study the conditions for the hedging portfolio of any contingent claim on bonds to have no bank account part. Design/methodology/approach Hedging and Malliavin calculus techniques recently developed under a stochastic string framework are applied. Findings A necessary and sufficient condition for the hedging portfolio to have no bank account part is found. This condition is applied to a barrier option, and an example of a contingent claim whose hedging portfolio has a bank account part different from zero is provided. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that this issue has been addressed in the literature.

scholarly journals Exploring the Influences of Innovation Climate and Resource Endowments through Two Types of University–Industry Collaborative Activities on Regional Sustainable Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7559
Author(s):  
Shu Yu ◽  
Shuangshuang Zhang ◽  
Takaya Yuizono
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Innovation Activities ◽  
Industry Collaboration ◽  
Regional Sustainable Development ◽  
Resource Endowments ◽  
Innovation Climate ◽  
University Industry

“Innovation driven” is the proper term for promoting regional sustainable development under the general goal of national high-quality development. University–industry collaboration (UIC) has become an important innovation resource for regional sustainable development. The study aims to analyze the influencing factors and mediating mechanisms of university–industry collaboration scientific and technological (S&T) and business activities oriented for regional sustainable development in 30 provinces in China (excluding Tibet). Specifically, we used the partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modeling method to test the effects of innovation climate and resource endowments on regional sustainable development through two mode pathways of university–industry collaboration activities. The results show that the innovation climate and resource endowments significantly affect UIC in scientific and technological innovation activities, and then affect the regional economic development and human capital. UIC S&T innovation activities play positive mediating roles in promoting regional sustainable development. In addition, the innovation climate does not significantly impact the business activities of UIC. Therefore, region can get a greater sustainable development through UIC S&T innovation activities than business activities. Much more UIC S&T activities can improve the economic development, human capital, and environmental conditions in the region.

scholarly journals AB0189 LIPOPROTEIN ABNORMALITIES IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1119.1-1119
Author(s):  
L. Nacef ◽  
Y. Besbes ◽  
Y. Mabrouk ◽  
H. Ferjani ◽  
K. Maatallah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Calcium Score ◽  
Healthy Person ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Immunological Parameters ◽  
American College Of Rheumatology ◽  
Patient Consent ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Level

Background:The lipid paradox is termed the decreased cholesterol level in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Nevertheless, the apolipoprotein levels are usually higher than a healthy person and are predictors of cardiovascular events.Objectives:We aimed to describe lipid abnormalities in RA patients and to look for predictor factors of these changes.Methods:The prospective study was carried out on patients with RA who met the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria. These patients were followed in the rheumatology department of the Kassab Institute.We collected the socio-demographic data, biological and immunological parameters.The lipid assessment included: a measurement of total cholesterol (TC), HDL, LDL, and triglycerides (TG). Lipoproteins APOA1 and APOB were measured. All data were collected after patient consent.Results:Of the 47 patients recruited, 78.7% were female. The mean age was 52.5 ±11.06 [32-76]. The average RA progressed from 86.25 ±63 months [5-288] and was erosive in 81.6% of cases. The rheumatoid factor (RF) was positive in 57.8% of patients, and citrullinated antipeptide antibodies (ACPA) were present in 62.2%. Eight patients had a previous CV history.Mean TC was 4.42 ±1.3 [1.2-7.58], mean HDL was 1.38 ±0.73 [0.18-4.10], mean LDL was 2.55 ±1.16 [0.24-5.54]. The mean TG value was 1.28 ±0.6 [0.24-5.54]. TC elevation was found in 9.1% of cases, HDL in 21.3% of cases, LDL in 5.5% of cases, and TG in 16.4% of cases. Mean APOB/APOA1 ratio was 0.67 ±0.18 [0,46-1,11]. LDL elevation was associated to a high DAS28 (p=0.06, r=0.512). APOA1 was associated to a low DAS28 (p=0.04, r=-0.642).The mean value of APO A1 was 1.36 ±0.21 [0.84-1.81], that of APOB was 0.90 ±0.22 [0.58-1.40]. APOA1 values were lower in patients with high-level LDL (p=0.767). The APOB value was associated with lipid disturbance without significant correlation (p=0.291).Conclusion:Lipid test abnormalities can be found in RA patients outside of any known CV risk factors. APOA1 seems to have a protective effect. Screening and treatment of these abnormalities can prevent CV risk.References:[1]Miguel Bernardes and al. Coronary artery calcium score in female rheumatoid arthritis patients: Associations with apolipoproteins and disease biomarkers. Int J Rheum Dis. 2019;00:1–16.[2]Anna So dergren and al. Biomarkers associated with cardiovascular disease in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. PLOS ONE. August 5, 2019.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Aberrant Expression of TLR2, TLR7, TLR9, Splicing Variants of TLR4 and MYD88 in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 867
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Skorka ◽  
Paulina Wlasiuk ◽  
Agnieszka Karczmarczyk ◽  
Krzysztof Giannopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Cytotoxic T Cells ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Downstream Signaling ◽  
Splicing Variants ◽  
High Level ◽  
Time To First Treatment ◽  
First Time

Functional toll-like receptors (TLRs) could modulate anti-tumor effects by activating inflammatory cytokines and the cytotoxic T-cells response. However, excessive TLR expression could promote tumor progression, since TLR-induced inflammation might stimulate cancer cells expansion into the microenvironment. Myd88 is involved in activation NF-κB through TLRs downstream signaling, hence in the current study we provided, for the first time, a complex characterization of expression of TLR2, TLR4, TLR7, TLR9, and MYD88 as well as their splicing forms in two distinct compartments of the microenvironment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): peripheral blood and bone marrow. We found correlations between MYD88 and TLRs expressions in both compartments, indicating their relevant cooperation in CLL. The MYD88 expression was higher in CLL patients compared to healthy volunteers (HVs) (0.1780 vs. 0.128, p < 0.0001). The TLRs expression was aberrant in CLL compared to HVs. Analysis of survival curves revealed a shorter time to first treatment in the group of patients with low level of TLR4(3) expression compared to high level of TLR4(3) expression in bone marrow (13 months vs. 48 months, p = 0.0207). We suggest that TLRs expression is differentially regulated in CLL but is similarly shared between two distinct compartments of the microenvironment.

scholarly journals Applying MRI Intensity Normalization on Non-Bone Tissues to Facilitate Pseudo-CT Synthesis from MRI

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 816
Author(s):  
Kuei-Yuan Hou ◽  
Hao-Yuan Lu ◽  
Ching-Ching Yang
Keyword(s):  
Mean Value ◽  
Tissue Type ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Intensity Level ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Conversion Model ◽  
Ratio Image ◽  
Abdominal Mri ◽  
High Level ◽  
Intensity Normalization

This study aimed to facilitate pseudo-CT synthesis from MRI by normalizing MRI intensity of the same tissue type to a similar intensity level. MRI intensity normalization was conducted through dividing MRI by a shading map, which is a smoothed ratio image between MRI and a three-intensity mask. Regarding pseudo-CT synthesis from MRI, a conversion model based on a three-layer convolutional neural network was trained and validated. Before MRI intensity normalization, the mean value ± standard deviation of fat tissue in 0.35 T chest MRI was 297 ± 73 (coefficient of variation (CV) = 24.58%), which was 533 ± 91 (CV = 17.07%) in 1.5 T abdominal MRI. The corresponding results were 149 ± 32 (CV = 21.48%) and 148 ± 28 (CV = 18.92%) after intensity normalization. With regards to pseudo-CT synthesis from MRI, the differences in mean values between pseudo-CT and real CT were 3, 15, and 12 HU for soft tissue, fat, and lung/air in 0.35 T chest imaging, respectively, while the corresponding results were 3, 14, and 15 HU in 1.5 T abdominal imaging. Overall, the proposed workflow is reliable in pseudo-CT synthesis from MRI and is more practicable in clinical routine practice compared with deep learning methods, which demand a high level of resources for building a conversion model.

scholarly journals Revealing the constituents of Egypt’s oldest beer using infrared and mass spectrometry

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed A. Farag ◽  
Moamen M. Elmassry ◽  
Masahiro Baba ◽  
Renée Friedman
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Beer Brewing ◽  
Chemical Signatures ◽  
Chemical Determination ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
High Level ◽  
Beer Production ◽  
First Time ◽  
Detailed Chemical

Abstract Previous studies have shown that the Ancient Egyptians used malted wheat and barley as the main ingredients in beer brewing, but the chemical determination of the exact recipe is still lacking. To investigate the constituents of ancient beer, we conducted a detailed IR and GC-MS based metabolite analyses targeting volatile and non-volatile metabolites on the residues recovered from the interior of vats in what is currently the world’s oldest (c. 3600 BCE) installation for large-scale beer production located at the major pre-pharaonic political center at Hierakonpolis, Egypt. In addition to distinguishing the chemical signatures of various flavoring agents, such as dates, a significant result of our analysis is the finding, for the first time, of phosphoric acid in high level probably used as a preservative much like in modern beverages. This suggests that the early brewers had acquired the knowledge needed to efficiently produce and preserve large quantities of beer. This study provides the most detailed chemical profile of an ancient beer using modern spectrometric techniques and providing evidence for the likely starting materials used in beer brewing.

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