bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inflammatory and Apoptotic Markers in Ischemic Heart Disease Patients
Authors: Đorđević Vidosava , Ristić Tatjana , Ćosić Vladan , Vlahović Predrag , Zvezdanović Lilika , Đorđević Gordana
Published: May 2008

Inflammatory and Apoptotic Markers in Ischemic Heart Disease Patients

Ischemic heart disease is the most frequent cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is developed on the basis of atherosclerosis which is today considered a chronic inflammatory disease. It is documented by an increase in inflammatory and immune biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, neopterin, leukocytes, lymphocytes and others, that are significantly changed in patients with unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction. CRP is mostly studied. Increased concentrations of CRP are associated with a series of risk factors. CRP may predict recurrent events and mortality independently of cardiac troponin levels, and it is also an independent predictor of a cardiovascular event after adjustment for traditional risk factors. Although CRP currently appears to be the most promising biological marker, there is still controversy regarding its use in clinical practice. Both necrotic and apoptotic cell death are documented during atherogenesis, however, limited data are available about apoptotic markers in ischemic heart disease patients. Increasing evidence supports the existence of apoptotic death initiated by ligation of membrane-bound death receptors or by release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, as well as their regulators in the heart. The studies of serum markers show that the apoptotic process is disregulated in ischemic heart disease patients. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is present in stable atherosclerotic lesions, is increased in vulnerable plaques, but its serum levels are reduced significantly in patients with unstable angina. Serum Fas concentrations are increased and FasL are decreased in subjects at high cardiovascular risk. The results of our study show significant changes in serum Fas, FasL, and Bcl-2 concentrations, and lymphocyte caspase-3 activity in different stages of ischemic heart disease. For now, there is evidence that statins are effective in the regulation of some apoptotic markers. The better understanding of the pathways of apoptosis and their regulation is promissing in yielding novel therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease.
The Clinical Impact of who Standardization of PSA Assays
Authors: Blanchet Jean-Sébastien , Brinkmann Thomas
Published: May 2008

The Clinical Impact of who Standardization of PSA Assays

The determination of serum level of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) is widely used for detection and management of prostate cancer. Analytical variability between the various PSA assays on the market has been reported. This discrepancy in the PSA results was shown to be related to non-equimolar detection of total PSA (tPSA) but also to a lack of assay standardization and could have serious clinical repercussions on the diagnostic performance of PSA testing. The recalibration of equimolar assays to common reference preparations (tPSA WHO 96/670 and fPSA 96/668) was thought to promote standardization of PSA assays and limit the clinical implication of assay variability. Comparison studies have demonstrated that PSA assay calibration to the WHO standard certainly improves the harmonisation of PSA testing, but differences between assays remain. Recent evaluations of the clinical impact of analytical variations induced by a calibration to the WHO standard reported that 15% to 30% of prostate cancer could be missed if the historical tPSA cut-off was used. In order to avoid unacceptable erosion of the clinical diagnostic performance of PSA determination for the detection of prostate cancer with WHO calibrated assays, it is critical to define new specific clinical decision points.
Tauopathies: A Distinct Class of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Ozansoy M , Başak A
Published: May 2008

Tauopathies: A Distinct Class of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by neuronal loss and intraneuronal accumulation of fibrillary materials, of which, neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) are the most common. Neurofibrillary tangles also occur in normal aging and contain the hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau. A detailed presentation is made of the molecular bases of Alzheimer's disease (AD), postencephalitic parkinsonism, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex (ALS/PDC) of Guam, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), Pick's disease, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Down's syndrome, myotonic dystrophy (DM) and Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) disease, which are considered to be common tauopathies. The unique human tau gene extends over 100 kb of the long arm of chromosome 17 and contains 16 exons. The human brain contains six tau isoforms that contain from 352 to 441 amino acids. To date, 34 pathogenic tau mutations have been described among 101 families affected by FTD with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). These mutations may involve alternative splicing of exon 10 that lead to changes in the proportion of 4-repeat- and 3-repeat-tau isoforms, or may modify tau interactions with microtubules. Tau aggregates differ in degree of phosphorylation and in content of tau isoforms. Five classes of tauopathies have been defined depending on the type of tau aggregates. The key event in tauopathies is the disorganization of the cytoskeleton, which is based on mutations/polymorphisms in the tau gene and lead to nerve cell degeneration. In this review, tauopathies as a distinct class of neurodegenerative diseases are discussed with emphasis on their molecular pathology and genetics.
Molecular Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Metodieva S
Published: May 2008

Molecular Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The most important risk factors for the development of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV), high dietary exposure to hepatic carcinogen aflatoxin B1 and alcohol abuse. Hepatitis B virus exerts its effects through integration of the viral DNA into the hepatocyte genome, or through acting as transcriptional regulator for several cellular proto-oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes. Hepatitis C virus may affect hepatocytes via the transcriptional regulation activity of the HCV core protein or via the HCV non structural proteins NS5A, NS5B and NS2, interfering with the regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis. Environmental exposure to aflatoxin B1 can cause a specific missense mutation in codon 249 of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene. Habitual alcohol consumption leads to production of reactive oxygen species and peroxidation damage to DNA. The objective of this review is to make you acquainted with the most common risk factors and the most frequent genetic aberrations associated with the development of HCC.
Molecular Analysis of a Family With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia - Genotype/Phenotype Discrepancy
Authors: Anastasovska V , Kocova M
Published: May 2008

Molecular Analysis of a Family With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia - Genotype/Phenotype Discrepancy

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a common autosomal recessive disease with a variable clinical presentation caused by a spectrum of different mutations. A significant association of genotype with phenotype has been reported.

The molecular analysis of a girl with a mild form of CAH presenting with precocious pubarche, confirmed that she was heterozygous for two mutations of the CYP21 gene (exon 1, codon 30/exon 8, codon 318). Her mother was homozygous for the codon 30 mutation and her father was homozygous for the codon 318 mutation. The only anomaly in the parents was a difficulty in conceiving. The molecular analysis of this family confirmed the variability of presentation in carriers of different mutations, which caused difficulties in decisions about the timing of therapy and in genetic counseling.
Cyclin D1 G870A Variant is Associated with Increased Risk of Microsatellite Instability-Positive Colorectal Cancer in Young Male Patients
Authors: Josifovski T , Matevska N , Hiljadnikova-Bajro M , Sterjev Z , Kapedanovska A , Serafimoska Z , Despotovska S , Petrusevska N , Panovski M , Suturkova L , Dimovski A
Published: May 2008

Cyclin D1 G870A Variant is Associated with Increased Risk of Microsatellite Instability-Positive Colorectal Cancer in Young Male Patients

Cyclin D1 (CCND1) is a cell cycle regulatory protein, which is often over expressed in human tumors and is associated with cell proliferation and poor prognosis. A common G870A single nucleotide polymorphism at codon 242 in exon 4 of the CCND1 gene is associated with an altered messenger RNA transcript and increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and adenoma in some studies. Over expression of CCND1 modifies the effect of mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes, enhances microsatellite instability (MSI), and influences the age ofonset of hereditary non polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). We have extended our study that indicated that the CCND1 A variant may influence the age of onset of CRC in the Macedonian population only in patients who exhibit MSI tumors by a case control study of 331 randomly selected CRC patients and 101 controls without clinical diagnosis of CRC. We did not observe a significant difference in overall allelic frequencies and genotype distribution of affected and unaffected mutation carriers, but found a statistically significant risk of CRC in carriers of the CCND1 A allele when patients were grouped according to gender, age and MSI status. A higher risk was observed in patients with MSI-positive tumors and particularly in male patients under 60 years of age. The consequences of the above observation were reversed in female patients. These results indicate that the CCND1 A variant may enhance CRC progression through a pathway influenced by estrogens in colonic epithelia.
CAG Repeat Polymorphism of the Mitochondrial DNA Polymerase Gamma Gene in Macedonian Infertile and Fertile Men
Authors: Plaseski T , Noveski P , Dimitrovski C , Efremov G , Plaseska-Karanfilska D
Published: May 2008

CAG Repeat Polymorphism of the Mitochondrial DNA Polymerase Gamma Gene in Macedonian Infertile and Fertile Men

The catalytic subunit of human mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma (POLG) is encoded by the POLG gene, located on chromosome 15q24 and includes a polymorphic CAG repeat. Analysis of POLG genotypes in some populations has identified an association between the absence of the 10 CAG repeat allele and male infertility and suggested that POLG gene polymorphism should be considered as a possible contributing factor in cases with idiopathic subfertility with normal spermiograms. We undertook to assess whether different POLG CAG alleles are associated with impaired spermatogenesis and infertility/subfertility in Macedonian men. We studied 225 infertile/subfertile men (74 with azoospermia, 56 with severe oligozoospermia, 27 with mild oligozoospermia, 39 with unexplained infertility and normal sperm counts, and 29 with known causes of infertility) and a control group of 123 proven fathers, by fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) andanalysis on an ABI PRISM™ 310 Genetic Analyzer. The most frequently observed POLG allele was the common one of 10 CAG repeats with a frequency of 87.6% in the infertile/subfertile group and 86.6% in the control group. The homozygous mutant POLG genotype (not10/not10) was found in both groups, 1.6% in the infertile/subfertile patients and 1.8% in the controls. In conclusion, our study showed no association between polymorphism of the POLG gene and infertility in Macedonian men.
Linkage Analysis by a Transmission/Disequilibrium Test of Russian Sibling Pairs with Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Tupitsina T , Slominsky P , Yufereva Y , Perova N , Aronov D , Limborska S
Published: May 2008

Linkage Analysis by a Transmission/Disequilibrium Test of Russian Sibling Pairs with Coronary Artery Disease

We studied the association between coronary artery disease (CAD) and polymorphisms of theABCA1, ACE, AGT, eNOSandEFNB3genes in 85 Russian patients with angiography-proven CAD and 100 of their siblings. No gene analyzed had a z-score value of more than 2.47 for CAD or for its main clinical presentations due to sibling transmission/disequilibrium test (S-TDT). However, the DD genotype ofACEis significantly more prevalent in siblings with CAD [p= 0.025, relative risk(RR)2.8], angina (p= 0.028,RR= 3.3) and myocardial infarction (MI) (p= 0.018,RR= 5.5). An increased risk of CAD, and its main manifestations, was associated with the R1587 allele of theABCA1gene: theRRfor developing CAD was 4.88, for MI 6.18, and for angina 3.69 for siblings who were carriers of the R1587R and R1587K genotypes. Index of stenosis was significantly higher in probands with the K219K and R219K genotypes (p= 0.001). The combination of genotype K219K with R219K was more frequent among siblings with CAD (p= 0.044,RR= 2.38), arterial hypertension (p= 0.023,RR= 2.87) and angina (p= 0.027,RR= 3.3). Thus, none of the genes studied can be considered as the main gene associated with CAD. However, the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of theACEgene and the R219K and R1587K variants ofABCA1are associated with a higher likelihood of developing CAD, MI and angina among Russians who have siblings affected by CAD.
Molecular Analysis of Survival Motor Neuron and Neuronal Apoptosis Inhibitory Protein Genes in Macedonian Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patients
Authors: Kocheva S , Vlaski-Jekic S , Kuturec M , Efremov G
Published: May 2008

Molecular Analysis of Survival Motor Neuron and Neuronal Apoptosis Inhibitory Protein Genes in Macedonian Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patients

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is classified according to the age of onset and severity of the clinical manifestations into: acute (Werding-Hoffman disease or type I), intermediate (type II) and juvenile (Kugelberg-Wilander disease or type III) forms. All three SMAs have been linked to markers at 5q11.2-q13.3. Two candidate genes deleted in SMA patients are the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene and the neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) gene. We have performed molecular analyses of these genes in 30 unrelated Macedonian families (17 with type I, eight with type II and five with type III forms of the disease). Deletions of exons 7 and 8 of the SMN gene were found in 76.6% (23/30) of patients (94.1% in type I, 87.5% in type II). Among these 23 families, 19 had both exons deleted, while four had deletions only of exon 7. Deletions of exon 5 of the NAIP gene were found in 41.2% (7/17) patients with type I SMA and in 12.5% (1/8) of patients with type II SMA. No deletions of the SMN gene were found in 30 parents and 30 normal controls. We found 2/30 (6.7%) parents to be homozygous for the deletion of exon 5. Our data support the hypothesis that the telomeric SMN gene plays a major role in determining the clinical course of the disease, while the defects in the NAIP gene have only a modifying effect on the phenotype.
Chromosomal Abnormalities in Endometrial and Ovarian Carcinomas
Authors: Pazarbaşi A , Kasap M , Demirhan O , Vardar M , Suleymanova-Karahan D , Doran F
Published: May 2008

Chromosomal Abnormalities in Endometrial and Ovarian Carcinomas

Development and progression of human malignancies involve multiple genetic changes including chromosomal instabilities such as translocations, deletions, and inversions. Chromosomal abnormalities were observed in 23 cases with ovarian and endometrial cancer by cytogenetic studies using a GTG (G bands by trypsin using Giemsa) banding technique. Specific chromosome bands were frequently involved, and were most frequent on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 12 and 17. Clonal alterations were observed at the cancer breakpoints, such as 1q21, 1q32, 3p21, 7q22, 11q23 in ovarian and 1p36, 1q32, 2p12, 3p21, 7q22, 9q34, 11p15, 11q23, 12q13, 14q11, 14q32, 16p13, 21q22 in endometrial cases. These findings provide evidence that multiple genetic lesions are associated with the pathogenesis of endometrial and ovarian cancer.
Triploidies in First and Second Trimesters of Pregnancies in Turkey
Authors: Yilmaz Z , Sahin F , Tarim E , Kuscu E
Published: May 2008

Triploidies in First and Second Trimesters of Pregnancies in Turkey

Triploidy is the most common chromosomal abnormality in human conceptions that cause fetal loss before 20 weeks of gestation and has an incidence of 1 in 10,000 live births. Placental changes, fetal malformations and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) occur in triploid pregnancies. We performed karyotype analyses of 75 spontaneous abortions and 1,114 amniotic fluid cultures by conventional methods between 2002 and 2005 at our cytogenetics laboratory. Triploidy was detected in five spontaneous abortions and four amniotic fluid samples. Abortions were between the 9th and 13th weeks of pregnancy, and cytogenetic analyses revealed a 69, XXY karyotype in four of the aborted fetuses and a 69, XXX karyotype in one. Amniotic fluid cell cultures revealed a 69, XXX karyotype in three cases and 69, XXY in one. Amniocentesis was performed in four patients because of an increased trisomy 18 risk detected in maternal serum screening. In pregnant women undergoing second trimester amniocentesis, increased risk for trisomy 18 may be due to triploidy and should be taken into account during genetic counseling.
Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome: Report of two Cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Heljić S , Hadžagić-Ćatibušić F , Maksić H , Terzić S , Đozić M , Mačkić M , Ćatović A
Published: May 2008

Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome: Report of two Cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a rare developmental disorder caused by a partial deletion of the short arm of chromosome 4 (4p-). The main phenotypic characteristics of WHS are: intrauterine growth retardation, mental retardation, typical facial dysmorphism, microcephaly and midline fusion defects (cleft lip or palate, cardiac septal defects). Other abnormalities, such as agenesis of the corpus callosum, dysplastic kidneys, iris coloboma and skeletal abnormalities have occasionally been described.

We describe two female newborn babies with a 4p deletion, who have a majority of the main phenotypic features of WHS. Prenatal diagnosis of the syndrome is very important, because dysmorphologic features are associated with profound mental retardation. Postnatal recognition of the syndrome requires genetic counseling of the parents and supportive multidisciplinary treatment.
Nasal encephalocele in a child with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome
Authors: Broekman Marike L. D. , Hoving Eelco W. , Kho Kuan H. , Speleman Lucienne , Han K. Sen , Hanlo Patrick W.
Published: June 2008

✓ Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a rare congenital syndrome characterized by gigantism, macroglossia, exophthalmos, postpartum hypoglycemia, and multiple midline defects such as omphalocele. The authors describe, to the best of their knowledge, the first case of a child in whom BWS was diagnosed and who was subsequently treated for a nasal encephalocele.

Because the authors believe that this feature might not be an incidental finding in patients with BWS, intranasal masses in these patients should be carefully differentiated, as complications might be severe.
Einsatzmöglichkeiten von Plantagenholz | Possibilities for the use of plantation wood
Authors: Knust Christine , Haller Peer , Krug Detlef , Tobisch Steffen
Published: June 2008

In addition to the use of plantation wood for energy, wood from short-rotation plantations can also be used for the production of construction wood and fiberboard. For energy, often wood chips are produced which can be used as fuel in domestic heaters or in combined heat and power plants. Furthermore, wood chips can be processed into second generation fuel (biomass to liquid, cellulasic ethanol). Poplar wood can also be processed into wooden tubes which can be used as supporting construction elements. This process is based on compression followed by deformation while the cell structure remains intact. Such wooden tubes allow an 80% reduction of the material compared to conventional supporting wood elements. Poplar wood can also be used for MDF and HDF production. Tests at the Institut für Holztechnologie Dresden (IHD) have shown that such boards made out of poplar wood meet the DIN EN 622-5 standard with respect to strength and stiffness with very small values for thickness swelling. The formaldehyde emissions from poplar fiber plates are significantly lower compared to similar plates made out of pine wood.

Poplar wood from short-rotation plantations fulfills the technical requirements for the processing of construction elements and MDF, which opens a large economic potential.
Tourism as the Consciousness Industry: Kirshenblatt-Gimblett and the Mediative Authority of Tourism
Authors: Hollinshead Keith
Published: May 2008

Recently, Kirshenblatt-Gimblett authored a transdisciplinary text on the manufacture of culture and heritage, examining the politicized manner in which "locations" are turned into "destinations." While her book is not exclusively about tourism, it is loaded with insight on the role
of tourism/travel as an agent of display, and as a highly performative meaning producer. This review article analyzes what Kirshenblatt-Gimblett considers to be the undersuspected mediative agency/authority/power of those who work in tourism to collaboratively make "places"—and also
"peoples" and "pasts." In this deconstruction of Kirshenblatt-Gimblett's contribution to the exhibitionary logic of place-making, her work on the ontological, museological, and frequently fabricative activity of tourism is first critically analyzed. Thereafter, some 30 propositions are bracketed
(i.e., distilled) from what she terms as the 'the madeness" and "the hereness" of local reality-making in and through tourism. These propositional insights on the objectifications and theatricalities of the manufacture of felt or represented "difference" are found to be vitally important in
an era where tourism is increasingly being touted as the educative and self-formative project of our time. Yet the emerging field of Tourism Studies remains an undertheorized domain where culture, itself, habitually subsists as an unproblematic concept in the half-light of the humanities.
The author of this review article considers that the field (of Tourism Studies) has much to learn from Kirshenblatt-Gimblett on the small "p" political character of all sorts of areas of cultural selection and cultural production through tourism (i.e., of the aggregative ways in which local
distinctiveness is collaboratively created, re-created, or de-created in and via tourism).
Before and After the Inclusion of Intervention Events: An Evaluation of Alternative Forecasting Methods for Tourist Flows
Authors: Chen Rachel J. C.
Published: May 2008

This article investigates the intervention impacts on tourist flows and evaluates the accuracy of various forecasting techniques to predict travel demand before and after the inclusion of intervention events. The forecasting methods used in this study include (1) Naïve 1, (2) Naïve
2, (3) Holt-Winter's model, (4) Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model, and (5) Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). The Holt Winter's and Naïve models are included for comparison purposes to ensure that minimum performance standards are being met. Data on air transport
passengers including international arrivals and domestic air transport flows of the US (from January 1990 to June 2003) were obtained from the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics. This study focuses firstly on the importance for forecasting accuracy of allowing for intervention events in
the modeling process. SARIMA models are therefore estimated both with and without intervention effects (the September 11th events). These models are used to generate forecasts for 2002 and the first part of 2003, and forecast accuracy is assessed using mean absolute percentage error and root
mean square percentage error. The second focus of the study is to examine the impacts on tourism demand of the major crises that occurred during the period 2001–2003.
Analyzing Heterogeneity and Substitution in Trip-Making Propensity to Urban Parks: A Mixed Logit Model
Authors: Kemperman Astrid D. A. M. , Ponjé Maarten M. W. , Timmermans Harry J. P.
Published: May 2008

The aim of this study is to describe and predict residents' trip-making propensity to urban parks. The parks are classified in four categories: local parks, neighborhood parks, district parks, and city parks. Specifically, a mixed multinomial logit model is estimated from data collected from a sample of 991 households (1107 members) in the Eindhoven region in the Netherlands in 2002. The effects of household and individual characteristics and temporal aspects such as time of day, day of week, and season are examined. The mixed logit model accommodates for individuals' differences in trip-making propensity to the various urban parks. Furthermore, a pattern of correlation across urban park types, and hence substitution, is obtained. Results indicate that residents prefer the smaller, local, and neighborhood parks to the larger, district, and city parks for their leisure trips. In addition, there is heterogeneity in trip-making propensity to the particular parks types, specifically with regard to the district parks. Moreover, the local and neighborhood parks are substitutes of each other while they are complements of the district park in terms of residents' leisure trip behavior.
The Influence of the Weather on Recreational Behavior: A Micro Econometric Approach
Authors: Berkhout Peter H. G. , Brouwer Natasja M.
Published: May 2008

In this article the relationship between the weather and water-based recreational behavior is investigated at the microlevel. The relation is estimated by applying a zero-inflated negative binomial count model on a large dataset consisting of individually reported day-tripping behavior
during a 2-week period. The weather conditions, measured by four indicators, were merged to these data. The analysis shows that effects of the weather on human choice behavior can be estimated at the microlevel. Various aspects of the weather (temperature, rain, wind, and sunshine) exert their
particular influence on different recreational activities. In particular, temperature and wind force affect all types of water-based day trips. Rain and hours of sunshine appear to matter less.
An Evaluation of Price Measures in Tourism Demand Models
Authors: Oh Chi-Ok , Ditton Robert B.
Published: May 2008

In contrast with the rapid development of forecast modeling in tourism, there has been little attention given to identifying the best measures of important explanatory variables. This article focused on selecting the best surrogate of tourism price from two measures considered important
determinants in modeling tourism demand: the exchange rate-adjusted consumer price index ratio of origin and destination countries, and the divided variables of exchange rate and relative consumer price indexes. Two different models using these measures of tourism prices were compared in terms
of their forecasting performance using the Johansen multivariate cointegration approach. We used aggregate data on international tourism demand in Korea. Test results, including forecasting performance and forecast error decompositions, were not clear cut but indicated that the divided measures
of tourism prices variables with exchange rate and relative consumer price index are likely best for tourism demand modeling.
Stability in Outbound Travel Motivation: A Norwegian Example
Authors: Prebensen Nina K. , Kleiven Jo
Published: May 2008

Only travel and leisure motives with some degree of stability are likely to contribute to predictions of travel choice or behavior. Eight motive scales, based on previous research and consultations with a travel company, were used in a survey of outbound tourists from Norway (n
= 243). Their stability was tested in a quasi-experimental pre/post design. Respondents' trip abroad was used as the "experimental treatment," and postintervention measurements were taken at two different points in time: either after 1 week or after 2 months. Internal consistency proved satisfactory
for seven out of eight motive scales tested. Confirmatory factor analysis also lends some support to the single-scale factor models. All seven scales show satisfactory test–retest reliability. A small, but statistically significant, difference between pre- and posttravel motives emerged
in the powerful repeated-measurements analysis. A difference of this magnitude is not likely to have any practical significance, however. The interval difference between post- and premeasurements (1 week vs. 2 months) had no significant effect. The travel motives measured in the study thus
may be trusted to be relatively lasting and stable phenomena. For the use of travel motives for predicting travel choices and behavior, this is a necessary, although insufficient, precondition.
Ratios of Tourist Experience: It was the Best of Times it was the Worst of Times
Authors: Pritchard Mark P. , Havitz Mark E.
Published: May 2008

Much like Charles Dickens' prelude to A Tale of Two Cities, stories tourists give of their destination experience tend to develop from an amalgam of positive and negative encounters. To understand best and the worst experiences researchers often consider using qualitative data
to extract insights. Several approaches for analyzing self-report feedback on performance exist, yet the most frequently used approach asks tourists to provided written accounts of critical incidents, positive and negative experiences, that occurred during their destination visit. A content
analysis of comments from 987 visitors was used to generate an overall account of the destination. Ratios of best and worst experiences with different attributes provide a report of strengths and weaknesses for industry action, and offer a template for destination researchers intent on describing
experienced-based performance.
Dance as a Tourism Activity: Demographics, Demand Characteristics, Motivation, and Segmentation
Authors: McCleary Ken W. , Weaver Pamela A. , Meng Fang
Published: May 2008

With the increased popularity of ballroom dance as a recreational activity in the US, there is a need to explore the different aspects associated with the participation in social and competitive dance events. This preliminary study examined the demographics, dance community involvement,
travel-related activities, and the most important demand characteristics of the ballroom dance event market. By employing factor-cluster analysis, six motivation dimensions for social dance participation were identified: Escape & Relaxation, Socialization, Novelty, Dance Learning, (Dance)
Event Enjoyment, and Excitement. Three cluster groups were identified based on the dance event motivation dimensions: Multipurpose Dancers, Dance Learning and Enjoyment Seekers, and Socialization and Relaxation Seekers. It is hoped that the results of the study will contribute to the better
understanding of the dance event market and be helpful to those who organize and host dance events.
The Advertising Effectiveness of Aboriginal Endorsers: An Example from Taiwan
Authors: Chang Janet C. , Wall Geoffrey , Lai Chung Yan
Published: May 2008

Endorsement of products by successful aboriginal people might enhance the effectiveness of their marketing. While there is much research regarding aboriginal tourism, there is apparently little discussion of marketing strategies other than frequent criticism of the stereotypical portrayal
of aboriginal people. The purposes of this study were to explore the effectiveness of different types of endorsement and to determine what types of advertising appeals are most effective in attracting tourists to visit aboriginal cultural sites. This research adopted a between-subjects experimental
design. In total, 610 samples were valid. Among them, 461 questionnaires were returned by the six experimental groups, and 149 were obtained by the two control groups. The main interest of this study was to explore the effectiveness of endorsement advertising of aboriginal products, in this
case aboriginal culture villages in Taiwan. The results revealed that an employee endorser (i.e., aboriginal dancer) stimulates a better response than a celebrity endorser. In addition, an emotional advertising appeal was more effective than using a rational advertising appeal in an aboriginal
cultural village's brochure.
An Empirical Analysis of Ecogeneralists Visiting Florida: 1998–2003
Authors: Bonn Mark A. , Joseph Sacha M. , Dai Mo
Published: May 2008

As ecotourism becomes more and more popular, the emerging trend creates an "ecogeneralist" market segment. The purpose of this study is to present statistical evidence to illustrate the changing market profile of the ecogeneralists in North America, through the investigation of as well
as through an analysis of ecogeneralists' spending habits and activities undertaken between 1998 and 2003, during their visit to Florida. The findings of this study indicated that: (1) the basic demographic characteristics exhibited by ecogeneralists in Florida coincided with those market
profiles from the previous research findings specific to ecogeneralists, (2) all demographic and behavioral characteristics of ecogeneralists from different geographical origins were found to differ significantly, (3) the economic environment of the US had the most significant impact on the
international ecogeneralists' travel experience.
Tourism Potential and Achievement of Protected areas in Kenya: Criteria and Prioritization
Authors: Okello Moses Makonjio , Wishitemi Bobby E. L. , Lagat Benjamin
Published: May 2008

Tourism is a big revenue–generating industry in Kenya, hence interest in its stability and status. But this industry is very sensitive to a number of factors that affect its performance. To help bridge realized and potential tourism of protected areas as tourist destinations,
this study compared the influence of these factors and how they affected tourism achievement. Six factors (biodiversity attributes, physical landscape attributes, cultural attractions, marketing campaigns, facility endowments, and health/security risks) were considered. Scores were assigned
for each factor for each protected area and mean scores determined. The mean score of factors for each protected area was considered an index of its tourism potential. This tourism potential index was used to assess whether each protected area had significant tourism potential, had
achieved it, or exceeded it (tourism achievement). Only 12 (22.6%) of the protected areas had achieved and/or exceeded their tourism potential, and only 22 out of 53 protected areas (41.51%) had any meaningful potential for tourism. Generally, tourism potential scores were higher than
those based on tourist numbers alone (Wilcoxon signed rank test, T = 3.00, p = 0.003), implying that tourist visits alone were not sufficient in evaluating the tourism potential of protected areas. Protected areas that had a high tourism achievement index were: Aberdares, Lake
Nakuru, Buffalo Springs, Tsavo West, Nairobi, Tsavo East, Maasai Mara, Lake Bogoria, and Amboseli, respectively. Generally, biodiversity and facility endowment influenced tourist performance, and specifically the marketing campaigns, communication facilities, accessibility, and the diversity
of large mammal species. These findings confirm that Kenyan tourism is mainly wildlife based and strongly influenced by facilities and infrastructure. A national tourism–based conservation strategy should be targeting protected areas that have tourism potential but have failed by improving
facilities and infrastructure, rather than the current ad hoc approach.
Plowing Uncharted Waters: A Study of Perceived Constraints to Cruise Travel
Authors: Kerstetter Deborah L. , Yen I-Yin , Yarnal Careen M.
Published: May 2008

Taking a cruise is a "dream vacation" for the majority of adults in North America. Yet, only 15% have ever taken a cruise. Why are so few individuals cruising? Is their participation in a cruise vacation being inhibited or prohibited by specific factors? The objectives of this study
were to: (1) document constraints to cruise travel, (2) identify types of potential cruisers based on the resulting constraints as well as amount of cruise travel, and (3) determine whether types of potential cruisers differ in the way they describe constraints to cruising. The results indicated
that there were four dimensions (i.e., types) of constraints to cruise travel that, in combination with cruise experience, explain differences between three types of cruisers. In addition, using content analysis, differences in response to specific constraint items were observed, providing
additional evidence for the existence of a heterogeneous market of potential cruisers. Discussions regarding the theoretical and practical contributions of this study as well as suggestions for future research are presented.
Analytical Knowledge Management for Tourist Destinations
Authors: Pyo Sungsoo
Published: May 2008

The purpose of this study was to explore important analytical knowledge by tourist destinations. Types of knowledge are explored and examples of analytical knowledge are presented. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to explore and compare the important analytical knowledge
by destinations. It was found that each destination type has unique environment in the managerial and marketing perspectives, and consequently, perceived important knowledge is different. Thus, efforts to create important analytical knowledge should be destination specific and the resources'
allocation for the knowledge creation, storage, and reuse should consider destination-specific knowledge needs.
Measuring Leisure and Travel Motives in Norway: Replicating and Supplementing the Leisure Motivation Scales
Authors: Kleiven Jo
Published: May 2008

Based on previous research, nine central motive dimensions were identified. Four scales (Culture, Friends, Accomplishment, and Peace/Quiet) may be seen as conceptual replications of the four scales of Beard and Ragheb, while five (Sun/Warmth, Family, Nature, Fitness, and Indulgence)
were found in other research in Norway and abroad. In a representative survey of the Norwegian inland city of Gjøvik (N = 401), four-item rating scales for each of the nine dimensions were tried out. The psychometric properties of most scales are promising, with alpha values
comparable to those found in previous work in this field. Judging from a SEM perspective, the replication of the four Beard and Ragheb scales is only moderately successful. While a combined nine-factor model does not appear tenable, an eight-factor model is closer to the data. More work is
needed on the issue of validity.
The Minho Region (Galicia and Northern Portugal): A Case of Tourism Destination Planning
Authors: Pardellas de Blas Xulio X. , Fabeiro Carmen Padín
Published: May 2008

The new configuration of the Euro-region Galicia–Northern Portugal is in need of a debate on the problems regarding its development. Important questions arise, such as the organization and planning of common tourism destinations. In this article, important and valuable scientific
literature on this topic and data from a study carried out by the authors for the Xunta de Galicia in 2001 are used to implement some instruments for their application to the Minho Region. The model presented here is a systemic elaboration of the design of the region as a common tourism destination
in which a formal structure of its elements is provided, which will prove useful to managers and planners in their analysis of situations and in decision-making processes.
Tourism Strategic Marketing Planning: Challenges and Opportunities for Tourism Business Sector in Egypt
Authors: Eraqi Mohammed I.
Published: May 2008

The results of this study proved that the tourism business sector managers in Egypt have positive attitudes towards the importance of tourism strategic marketing as a way to improve their companies' operating efficiency. However, there is still a degree of misunderstanding to the concept
of tourism strategic marketing and most of them are dealing with it as a tool or a policy to implement tourism marketing functional objectives.
Does Personal Interaction Quality Really Pay? On the Influence of Personal Interaction Quality on Willingness to Pay
Authors: Laesser Christian , Peters Mike
Published: May 2008

This article focuses on the influence of perceived quality on the willingness to pay in the case of services in restaurants, aiming at contributing to the empirical analysis of service interaction quality in the hospitality sector. The service literature traditionally considers personal interactions between individual service-providing staff and individual customers to be the main contribution to service quality experiences. The quality of service interaction is often thought to outweigh any other service process experiences and results. A case study approach was applied, including customer surveys in four different hotels/restaurants. The main findings indicate that good quality perception leads to higher readiness to pay (share of wallet), as well as readiness to build identification and customer loyalty towards the restaurant visited. Customer loyalty in this context is not an obligation, meaning that regular customers do not necessarily feel obliged to regularly visit a specific restaurant, but they have a more precise idea of the budget they are willing to spend on the occasion of a restaurant visit. Investment in loyalty programs without a clear focus on customer budgets should hence be questioned and give way to investments in clear prices, standards, and quality.
State Park Names: Implications for Tourism Marketing
Authors: Morgan Mark
Published: May 2008

A random selection of state park names were classified by their origins: from nature, culture, or people. The purpose of this study was to determine if park names were consistent with some of the attractions sought by tourists. Although it may seem trivial, names can be powerful links between people and places. Names can heighten visitor expectations, increase subjects' willingness to pay, or result in nonattendance if perceived needs are not met. Many people rely on cues to make decisions about recreation opportunities, instead of using information-based strategies. Names are dominant cues. Nearly 75% of the state park names contained a natural and/or cultural feature (although some of these included people). Only 4% of the parks were named after a person or group having no connection to the site. Overall, the findings were consistent with the literature. Park names were discussed in relation to marketing, visitor behavior, and place attachment, with implications for recreation policy.
Destination Image and Visit Intention Among Members ofYahoo!-taiwan's Travel Communities: An Online Survey Approach
Authors: Lin Yueh-Hsiu , Wu Chin-Yuan , Chang Janet
Published: May 2008

Prior research has long indicted a distinct relationship between tourists' purchasing behaviors and their perceptions of the target destination. While investigations of this phenomenon have gained popularity in the increasingly competitive global marketplace, research of this nature is still new to developing tourism locations such as Taiwan. The present study addresses this gap by using online surveys to explore the destination images and visit intentions of members ofYahoo!-Taiwan's travel communities regarding Hualien, a pristine county located on Taiwan's relatively isolated east coast. A total of 1011 respondents completed the online survey and 993 usable questionnaires were collected. In total, 25 image attributes of Hualien were identified and analyzed into four factors. Regression analysis identified four attributes that contribute to a positive influence and one negative attribute that has a strong influence on future visit intentions. The study concludes with a discussion of the research limitations, suggestions for future research, and implications for promotion of peripheral tourism areas such as the one described.
Determinants of US Wildlife-Watching Consumption: A Tobit Analysis
Authors: Chi Yeong Nain , Chang Guang-Hwa Andy
Published: May 2008

This study utilized microdata extracted from the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation to analyze individual consumption behavior associated with wildlife watching in the US. In the process of selecting an appropriate model consistent with individual
consumption behavior associated with wildlife watching, the Tobit model for a primary nonresidential expenditure analysis was evaluated. Empirical results of this study indicated that income, age, gender, education level, fishing or hunting, use of private or public lands, wildlife category
(birds or mammals) and ecosystem category (oceans, lakes, marshes, forestlands, brushes, and open fields) had significant effects on nonresidential wildlife-watching expenditures. The results in this study provide insight into determinants of nonresidential wildlife-watching expenditures,
which can be used for planning and management purposes regarding wildlife resources and habitats.
Postpurchase Behavior: A Case Study into a Vacation Club Product
Authors: Upchurch Randall S. , Rompf Paul
Published: May 2008

Currently, the vacation ownership industry, alias timeshare, is experiencing double-digit growth, which is a trend that has continued for the past 30 years within the US. During this period the timeshare product has evolved from a fixed week system to a more robust vacation club product
where the consumer can purchase products or services based on a point allocation system, therefore giving the consumer more flexibility in how the product is utilized. This article evaluates the linkages between product and services offerings in relation to consumer expectancies and satisfaction
with intent to purchase additional timeshare products and services. The findings of this study support the general notion that timeshare developer services are integrally related to consumer satisfaction, and in turn influence future decisions to maintain usage patterns or to purchase additional
vacation time.
Reading Tourism Texts in Context: A Critical Discourse Analysis
Authors: Feighery William
Published: May 2008

This article discusses the method of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) employed in a study focusing on the textual representation of ethnocultural diversity by official tourism organizations (OTOs) in England. The underlying principles of CDA are outlined, as well as the specific approach
adopted in the study. The study employed a three-dimensional approach to CDA, which included an analysis of written and spoken language as text, as discourse practice, and as social practice. By way of an example, a critical reading of a promotional text is provided that
focuses on the dimension of discourse practice. This critical reading outlines some of the strategies writers use to naturalize discourses in tourism promotion: that is, to make discourses appear to be common sense and apolitical. Subsequently, the article comments on the problems and
possibilities for the deployment of CDA approaches to analysis within the prevailing system of research governance in the UK and elsewhere. It is argued that although the criteria of relevance and applicability, so often appended to research outputs, may collide with critical interpretative
approaches, CDA does have the potential to contribute to our understanding of tourism, and its meta-narratives.