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Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are a class of conserved noncoding RNAs forming complexes with proteins to catalyse site-specific modifications on ribosomal RNA. Besides this canonical role, several snoRNAs are now known to regulate diverse levels of gene expression. While these functions are carried out in trans by mature snoRNAs, evidence has also been emerging of regulatory roles of snoRNAs in cis, either within their genomic locus or as longer transcription intermediates during their maturation. Herein, we review recent findings that snoRNAs can interact in cis with their intron to regulate the expression of their host gene. We also explore the ever-growing diversity of longer host-derived snoRNA extensions and their functional impact across the transcriptome. Finally, we discuss the role of snoRNA duplications into forging these new layers of snoRNA-mediated regulation, as well as their involvement in the genomic imprinting of their host locus.

Copyright of Marketing (0354-3471) is the property of SEMA - Srpsko udruzenje za Marketing i Ekonomski fakultet Beograd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Some of the spas there trace their origins to the first half of that century. Thanks to its diverse natural and geographic environment Western Galicia was somehow predestined to establish spas. There were mineral waters and a favorable microclimate. An additional advantage was the mountainous natural environment, especially, in the south of the region, which was mostly pristine. Even though some spas originated in the first part of the century, their dynamic development began to be observed only from the middle of the same century. The number of visitors also began to grow dynamically. The most fashionable place in the middle of the century was Szczawnica. However, it gradually lost this position as a result of increasing competition from other spas and internal problems. Before the outbreak of World War I, Zakopane clearly led the way. The state of the spas depended on the people managing them, mainly, on their commitment. Alongside large spas like Zakopane and Szczawnica existed smaller ones with poorly developed accommodation. They were treated by visitors more as a summer resort than a health resort. The purpose of the article is to show the development of spa treatment in the 19th century and early 20th century. It was based on the sources of medicinal waters discovered in western Galicia. Consequently, these areas became a kind of spa basin, popular among patients. The selected individual spas are discussed, their establishment and development are described, factors influencing the growth of their popularity and obstacles to their development are indicated. Changes in the interaction between man and nature in relation to Western Galicia are shown. It allows to understand the inspiring role of nature in the everyday life of man. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Builder (1896-0642) is the property of PWB MEDIA Zdzieblowski sp.j. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the 18th and 19th centuries, rural spa establishments developed in Basse-Auvergne while spas in the area were proliferating. In these spa villages, doctors attempted to impose a medical vision of care on patients who had previously enjoyed free, independent access to the springs. Local patients set up somewhat organized strategies to maintain their access to the waters. Other locals took advantage of the situation, finding a new source of income: spa establishments required a large number of staff to act as a link between medical inspectors and patients.

Medical brochures promoting steam baths proliferated in the first half of the 19th century. Although these publications were devoted to fumigations, they included several references to spa towns. Despite the therapeutic proximity of the two water-based treatments, liquid baths and vapor baths were systematically pitted against each other, although no medical theories could justify the superiority attributed to fumigations. The latter were elevated to the status of miraculous cures through stories of healing, whose repetitive pattern underlined the artificiality of a rhetoric designed to discredit spas. At the time, spas were the main competing remedy to steam baths in a booming therapeutic market. This opposition was primarily commercial rather than medical, as demonstrated by the transformation of Lyon-based physician Toussaint Rapou’s fumigatory establishment into a balneo-fumigatory institution in 1828.

Some of the spas there trace their origins to the first half of that century. Thanks to its diverse natural and geographic environment Western Galicia was somehow predestined to establish spas. There were mineral waters and a favorable microclimate. An additional advantage was the mountainous natural environment, especially, in the south of the region, which was mostly pristine. Even though some spas originated in the first part of the century, their dynamic development began to be observed only from the middle of the same century. The number of visitors also began to grow dynamically. The most fashionable place in the middle of the century was Szczawnica. However, it gradually lost this position as a result of increasing competition from other spas and internal problems. Before the outbreak of World War I, Zakopane clearly led the way. The state of the spas depended on the people managing them, mainly, on their commitment. Alongside large spas like Zakopane and Szczawnica existed smaller ones with poorly developed accommodation. They were treated by visitors more as a summer resort than a health resort. The purpose of the article is to show the development of spa treatment in the 19th century and early 20th century. It was based on the sources of medicinal waters discovered in western Galicia. Consequently, these areas became a kind of spa basin, popular among patients. The selected individual spas are discussed, their establishment and development are described, factors influencing the growth of their popularity and obstacles to their development are indicated. Changes in the interaction between man and nature in relation to Western Galicia are shown. It allows to understand the inspiring role of nature in the everyday life of man.

Health and wellness tourism is a rapidly growing area of the tourism industry, driven by the increasing demand for health and wellness services and a focus on healthy living. This type of tourism offers a wide range of activities that aim to restore and strengthen physical and mental health, making it attractive to diverse segments of the population. As a global leader in health tourism, Germany has a long-standing tradition of utilizing natural healing resources such as mineral waters and therapeutic mud. This article explores the current state and unique characteristics of health and wellness tourism in Germany. The text confidently analyses the main indicators of health tourism development in Germany, showcasing the country's impressive number of health resorts, beds, tourist arrivals, overnight stays, gross value added, and employment. It asserts that health tourism plays a significant role in the German economy, despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, the text confidently identifies the key features and advantages of the German system of health and wellness tourism. Germany boasts a diverse range of resort types, each with their own unique specialisations. These include recreation resorts, balneological resorts, mineral and mud resorts, climatic medical and recreational resorts, Kneipp resorts and seaside resorts. These resorts are primarily located in federal states such as Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony and Brandenburg. The resorts specialize in treating and preventing various diseases, including those affecting the musculoskeletal, respiratory, skin, digestive, and cardiovascular systems. An analysis of the number of health resorts and tourist arrivals in Germany between 2014 and 2023 reveals a gradual reduction in the number of health resorts. This reduction is likely due to economic factors or changes in demand for healthcare services. Balneological, seaside, and recreational resorts have the highest number of beds. The most popular resorts are balneological and mineral spas, with an average bed occupancy rate of 38 % in 2023. Tourist arrivals to German resorts have shown steady growth until 2019, with fluctuations thereafter. Despite a slow recovery in 2021– 2023, the level of tourist arrivals has not yet reached the level of 2019. The research conducted on the dynamics of tourist arrivals in Germany main resort types from 2014–2023 revealed a significant decline in 2020 for mineral and mud resorts, balneological resorts, and Knype resorts. The analysis of overnight stays at resorts in Germany demonstrates a consistent upward trend from 2014 to 2019. Nevertheless, due to the Сovid-19 pandemic's impact on the tourism industry, there was a significant decline in the number of overnight stays, reaching the lowest values for the period under study in 2020–2021. It is worth noting that health and wellness tourism in Germany plays a significant role in the country's economy. The gross value added in this sector was approximately 3,2 billion euros in 2022. Specialised health and wellness services are provided by this sector, which requires highly qualified personnel. In 2022, the number of people employed in this sector was 151 000, the lowest since 2013. In 2023, over 24,5 million people in Germany were willing to spend significant funds on their health and well-being, indicating a significant potential for the development of health and wellness tourism in Germany. Germany boasts high-quality medical services, highly qualified medical personnel, and a wide range of medical procedures, making it an ideal destination for health and wellness tourism. To develop health and wellness tourism, we must focus on commercialisation, international cooperation, and improving the quality of services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are a class of conserved noncoding RNAs forming complexes with proteins to catalyse site-specific modifications on ribosomal RNA. Besides this canonical role, several snoRNAs are now known to regulate diverse levels of gene expression. While these functions are carried out in trans by mature snoRNAs, evidence has also been emerging of regulatory roles of snoRNAs in cis, either within their genomic locus or as longer transcription intermediates during their maturation. Herein, we review recent findings that snoRNAs can interact in cis with their intron to regulate the expression of their host gene. We also explore the ever-growing diversity of longer host-derived snoRNA extensions and their functional impact across the transcriptome. Finally, we discuss the role of snoRNA duplications into forging these new layers of snoRNA-mediated regulation, as well as their involvement in the genomic imprinting of their host locus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the article is to show spas as specific places in geographical and cultural space, called in this text “inclusions”. This geological term is used to bring an awareness to the difference which defines their essence. Contemporary literature reveals the otherness of spas. The article contains an analysis of autobiographical confessions written by Monika Sznajderman (Pusty las, published 2018), Ilona Witkowska (Biuro Usług Kuracjuszy, 2019) which shows the mechanism of settling the places chosen for living. On the other hand novels written nowadays by Olga Tokarczuk (Empuzjon, published 2022) and Joanna Bator (Gorzko, gorzko, 2022) also recognize the processes of formation of the cultural difference of spas and the conditions of their duration over time. Finally, in consideration there appears an interpretation of a poem written by Tadeusz Różewicz (Grypa w Krynicy, written 1984) which enables a return to the era of PRL (Polish People Republic) as well as recognizing the universal dimension of the spa experience

Professional ballet dancers are known as a high-risk group for adopting disordered eating behaviours. However, research regarding the professionals of other dance styles/genres is quite limited. The present study explored disordered eating, social physique anxiety (SPA) and perceived pressure for a thin body in professional dancers of different dance styles and genres. The Eating Attitude Test questionnaire (EAT-26), the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS), and the questionnaire for thin body by significant others were administered to 108 professional dancers of ballet (n = 37), Latin (n = 31) and traditional dance (n = 40). The results showed that seven dancers had an EAT-26 score ≥20, indicating abnormal eating behaviour. No statistically significant differences were found among the three dance groups in any assessment tool, even after controlling for age, sex and professional experience. However, when Body Mass Index (BMI) was added as a potential confounder in the model, significant differences were revealed. Our results indicate that BMI and not the dance genre is an important contributing factor for both the self-control of eating and the perceived pressure from co-dancers and choreographers. If a better 'dance life' is to be accomplished, actions aiming at enhancing positive relationships within professional dance environment would be beneficial for dancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spa industry is a booming business that is growing in popularity and profitability, and the outlook for the future is promising. The Republic of North Macedonia is a country with about 60 springs of mineral water that has eight thermal baths, from which two are currently not in operation. When comparing with some European countries, it can be seen that in Serbia there are more than 50 baths and more than 1000 springs, of which about 500 springs of cold and hot mineral water as well as an abundance of mineral mud. According to the number of overnight stays and arrivals, spas are leading tourist destinations in Serbia. In Croatia, unfortunately spa tourism is poorly developed taking that Croatia faces the Adriatic Sea (which is one of the calmest and clearest in the Mediterranean) and is the main tourist attraction in the country. Spa tourism is the most developed in Hungary where there are more than 100 spring of mineral water, currently there are 230 thermal baths. In Slovenia, one of the most developed forms of tourism is spa tourism. There are 87 thermal water springs with different properties and temperature (from 32 to 73 degrees Celsius). Slovenia currently has 12 SPA centers. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to see the number of overnight stays in the spas, compered to the total number of overnight stays of all types of tourists in the Republic of North Macedonia, but also in some of the European countries. This paper covers the countries of Serbia, Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia. Methodology: To achieve the set goal, the methods that were used are analysis and retrospective analysis of the number of spa tourists, the number of overnight stays in spas and the total number of overnight stays of tourists in the Republic of Macedonia and some of the European countries for the period from 2010 to 2020. The data were collected by the State Statistics Office of the Republic of Macedonia and related to the researched countries, and they were processed tabularly and graphically. The analysis was performed on the basis of previously studied scientific theoretical content of materials that include: literature, books, magazines and newspapers, reports, relevant publications, on-line databases, as well as all other published materials. Results: For the period from 2010-2020 the biggest number of overnight stays were Hungary (1 113 300 000) ) from which 44.45% were from the spa tourists. The Republic of North Macedonia for these 10 years has a total number of overnight stays 26,465,259, of which 7.71% are overnight stays in spas or 2,041,044. Conclusions: The percentage of overnight stays in spas compered to the total number of overnight stays for the Republic of North Macedonia is 7.71%. The biggest number of overnight stays by spa tourists were in Hungary (44.45%), and the lowest number were in Croatia (0.6%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Legal Studies ( IJOLS ) is the property of International Institute of Innovation Science-Education-Development in Warsaw and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Although somewhat neglected by researchers, the spa environment is nevertheless an interesting field to investigate through the study of gender representation, whether it be through geography or management sciences. Carole Carribon began to show interest in this question but her works are primarily about the Belle Époque and the Roaring Twenties. This article completes her precursory work (Carribon, 2009, 2011) by focusing on the medical use of spa, formalised in 1947 with the creation of Social Security. After presenting our methodology, we will consider if men’s and women’s viewpoints diverge on the thermal practices of today, whether at the level of crenotherapy or that of well-being. Finally, we will explore the communication methods employed by spa establishments. Is the feminine figure always at the heart of their marketing? If so, has her representation evolved? In conclusion, we will show that spas continue to cater to the feminine, albeit with changes to the way in which they treat the feminine figure in line with changes in society and an increasingly present masculine clientele in the wellness sector.

The main aim of the article is to show spas as specific places in geographical and cultural space, called in this text "inclusions". This geological term is used to bring an awareness to the difference which defines their essence. Contemporary literature reveals the otherness of spas. The article contains an analysis of autobiographical confessions written by Monika Sznajderman (Pusty las, published 2018), Ilona Witkowska (Biuro Usług Kuracjuszy, 2019) which shows the mechanism of settling the places chosen for living. On the other hand novels written nowadays by Olga Tokarczuk (Empuzjon, published 2022) and Joanna Bator (Gorzko, gorzko, 2022) also recognize the processes of formation of the cultural difference of spas and the conditions of their duration over time. Finally, in consideration there appears an interpretation of a poem written by Tadeusz Różewicz (Grypa w Krynicy, written 1984) which enables a return to the era of PRL (Polish People Republic) as well as recognizing the universal dimension of the spa experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historic green spaces in towns and cities, especially those with developed systems of public areas, play an extremely important role in shaping urban spatial structure. These systems, often designed by excellent planners, architects and urbanists, are highly durable elements of urban layouts and to a large extent determine the development of towns. This article presents the results of research on green areas in Ciechocinek, conducted by the authors between 2017 and 2022 as part of statutory activities in the National Institute of Cultural Heritage. The first part outlines the functioning of homogeneous systems of public green areas in Ciechocinek, clearly defining the character and specificity of the town and its huge potential. The second part presents the history of its formation and development, its characteristic features and values as well as the state of preservation and threats, along with actions that aim to realize the town's potential. The article emphasises the need to plan activities not only at the scale of individual objects, but also in relation to the whole system since their being a part of a larger whole comprises their essence and value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Iberoamericana de Turismo is the property of Revista Iberoamericana de Turismo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Beginning after the American Revolution, bourgeouis white northern Americans began to tell Indian origin stories about their mineral springs and spa towns. Appearing in guidebooks, periodicals, fiction, poetry, travel narratives, and scientific discourse, these origin stories had some identifiable roots in Native American practices but were largely an invention of elite white culture. They served as a neat intellectual resolution to some of the central problems of national legitimacy and national identity formation that faced the most privileged Americans. They imagined alternative non-British origin stories for shared Anglo-American cultural practices, which enabled elite white northerners to construct an alternative elite American national identity. They also established the legitimacy of white claims to an American landscape that was still in the process of being expropriated from Indians, and served to explain and deny the continued presence of Indians in white leisure spaces. The cultural script of Indian origins for Anglo-American summer leisure practices at mineral springs resolved a complex and interconnected set of cultural ambivalences through the simple, emblematic figure of an Indian at a spring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the health benefits of swimming are well-documented, health effects such as asthma and bladder cancer are linked to disinfection by-products (DBPs) in pool water. DBPs are formed from the reaction of disinfectants such as chlorine (Cl) or bromine (Br) with organics in the water. Our previous study (Daiber et al., Environ. Sci. Technol. 50, 6652; 2016) found correlations between the concentrations of classes of DBPs and the mutagenic potencies of waters from chlorinated or brominated swimming pools and spas. We extended this study by identifying significantly different concentrations of 21 individual DBPs in brominated or chlorinated pool and spa waters as well as identifying which DBPs and additional DBP classes were most associated with the mutagenicity of these waters. Using data from our previous study, we found that among 21 DBPs analyzed in 21 pool and spa waters, the concentration of bromoacetic acid was significantly higher in Br-waters versus Cl-waters, whereas the concentration of trichloroacetic acid was significantly higher in Cl-waters. Five Br-DBPs (tribromomethane, dibromochloroacetic acid, dibromoacetonitrile, bromoacetic acid, and tribromoacetic acid) had significantly higher concentrations in Br-spa versus Cl-spa waters. Cl-pools had significantly higher concentrations of Cl-DBPs (trichloroacetaldehyde, trichloromethane, dichloroacetic acid, and chloroacetic acid), whereas Br-pools had significantly higher concentrations of Br-DBPs (tribromomethane, dibromoacetic acid, dibromoacetonitrile, and tribromoacetic acid). The concentrations of the sum of all 4 trihalomethanes, all 11 Br-DBPs, and all 5 nitrogen-containing DBPs were each significantly higher in brominated than in chlorinated pools and spas. The 8 Br-DBPs were the only DBPs whose individual concentrations were significantly correlated with the mutagenic potencies of the pool and spa waters. These results, along with those from our earlier study, highlight the importance of Br-DBPs in the mutagenicity of these recreational waters. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents statistical data on spa tourism in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in the period from 1926 to 1940. The sources of data for the research were the Statistical Yearbooks of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The paper aims to show how spa tourism statistics and tourism statistics in general developed in the years between the two world wars. Furthermore, the paper aims to provide a picture of the level of development of spas and spa tourism in the Kingdom through the presented data. Illustrative data on hotel capacities for some of the most famous spas in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia are presented. A combination of historical and statistical methods was used to analyze statistical data on spa tourism and the financial effects of tourism. The existing data made it possible to calculate the share of revenues from spa tourism in both the total revenues from tourism and the national income of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Objectives: Radon, a radioactive gas, is among the leading causes of lung-cancer worldwide. While public health authorities emphasize radon’s health risks, there are spas across Europe which claim health benefits of radon. This study investigates how websites of European radon spas frame radon gas, in order to understand the potential controversy between “radon as carcinogen” and “radon as cure,” and its potential impact on public health interventions.Methods: A two-phased frame analysis of websites of radon spas (n = 26) situated in the European Union.Results: Five frames are identified, which present radon as a 1) source of health, 2) natural gas, 3) (non) risk, 4) luxury and 5) fountain of youth. These five partly overlapping frames are at times in clear contrast with the ways in which radon is presented in a public health context.Conclusion: Being aware of the existence and contents of radon frames, which potentially challenge or contradict public health interventions, helps responsible authorities in designing more effective campaigns and interventions.

This article considers the way in which high-end beauty services in Johannesburg use a particular notion of "Africa" to brand themselves. Globally, the beauty industry is designed around an idea of indulgence, with pampering posited as a means of self-care, survival and joy. Marketing for beauty destinations often draws on an Orientalist idea of the "mysterious east," invoking the stereotyped serenity of locations like Bali to offer bite-sized consumable contentment to clients. While it retains this focus on self-care as a practice of happiness, the burgeoning luxury industry in South Africa has seen the development of a new local aesthetic that treats the continent as an exotic landscape filled with healing plants and local wisdom. The article analyses the websites and physical salons of three high-end Johannesburg spas order to discuss their visual and textual representations of a mythic Africa as a site for luxury, indulgence and post-feminist self-care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 2000s, after an eclipse of almost 30 years, small towns have been making a comeback on the (geo)political and scientific scene. Several symposia have been organised on their subject and various articles have been published, particularly from the point of view of their functions (small commercial and industrial towns). Nevertheless, one category of small towns has not yet been analysed in depth: spa towns. This is all the more incongruous as their dominant economic sector finds a certain interest among public authorities, private groups and customers, and as they play a significant role in terms of town and country planning by being poles of centrality. Our contribution therefore aims to fill this gap. For this article, we will first look at their trajectory and their demographic characteristics. Can a typology of thermal towns be established ? Do the small thermal towns stand out from the other small towns ?

Copyright of Dynamis is the property of Dynamis - Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Granada and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Regiokutatas Szemle is the property of University of Debrecen and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Hotel & Tourism Management is the property of Faculty of Hotel Management & Tourism in Vrnjacka Banja and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Thermal waters have been recognized as a source of health and energy since ancient times, and today there is still interest in balneotherapy as a method of treating various diseases, rehabilitation and prevention. In Poland, as many as 12 spa towns use healing thermal waters in their activities. They include: Busko-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Jelenia Góra-Cieplice, Gołdap, Inowrocław, Iwonicz-Zdrój, Konstancin-Jeziorna, Lądek-Zdrój, Rabka-Zdrój, Uniejów, Ustka and Ustroń. Healing thermal waters are not only used there for medical treatments, because they also supply the brine graduation towers, are the base for the production of cosmetics and are also used in drinking treatments. Uniejów spa is a part of the cascade system, so the healing waters of higher temperature are also used for heating apartments. Depending on the mineral composition of the waters, they can be used in the treatment of, among others: diseases of the musculoskeletal system, rheumatology, osteoporosis, skin diseases, diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, cardiological diseases, diseases of the digestive system, hypertension, obesity, diabetes. All treatments are non-invasive, because the vast majority of them are carried out in the form of bathing, irrigation, inhalation or drinking treatments. The paper also shows the most promising towns in terms of the development of balneotherapy, including Stargard, Pyrzyce, Toruń, Konin and Grudziądz. Balneotherapy in Poland is currently at a difficult time, which is related to the inability to function of many facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a possibility that when the pandemic and its effects are eliminated, balneotherapy and spa treatment will experience a renaissance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization and lifestyle changes have led to healTh becoming a major social preoccupation of the population. Spas are no longer just centers for disease treatment, but a means of preventing diseases and protecting human health. An increasing number of young people are trying to improve their health through spa treatments. This is why there is a growing tourist offer of spa centers. Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) has rich natural resources that are conducive to the creation of spas. Therefore, this study looked into spa offers and evaluated the transformation of medical spas into modern spa centers in order to improve competitiveness. Spa transformation survey was conducted on the example of spas in B&H. Six, out of a total of fifteen registered spas in B&H, have been chosen randomly. The spa offer was evaluated by applying the decision-making model and expert decision-making. The obtained results showed that the spas of Ilidža - Gradačac and Ilidža - Sarajevo have "good" transformation; the spas Dvorovi and Mlječanica have "middle" transformation, while the spas of Gata and Sanska Ilidža have "bad" transformation in the process of creating modern spas. Based on the results of this study, spa managers can obtain the necessary information on how to adjust the offer to make those spas more competitive. In addition, the spas will also generate higher revenues. The decision-making model used has shown good results and can be applied to future studies and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes the metaphor of masquerade to explore the dynamics of 'cure-ism' and tourism, work and play, production and consumption, elitism and accessibility, authenticity and artifice through a study of Vichy, one of the leading European travel destinations in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It argues that performances of laborious leisure and productive consumption inherent in a Vichy cure reveal the resort as a distinctively modern place emblematic of the tensions at the heart of the French Third Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valorization of the mineral and thermal water of Kosovo and Metohija in a function of health tourism is an important issue for recognizing the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (AP KiM) as a significant tourist destination. Valorization of the mineral and thermal water in the territory former SFRY, to which Kosovo and Metohija belonged was largely based on the applicable legal regulations in the observed time period. The economic valorization of mineral and thermal water was generally lacking. The situation has changed significantly in recent years in the area of health tourism, which needs yet to get its portion of the budget while competing with the other social areas. Therefore, health tourism itself should become the very source of profit. Valorization of the mineral and thermal mineral water of Kosovo and Metohija should be based on the world criteria that contribute both to the economic development and reconciliation process. Furthermore, a part of research in the study paper, the special emphasis has been placed on the identification of sources of thermal and mineral water as a natural attraction in Kosovo and Metohija, elements of tourist valorization and the importance of mineral and thermo mineral water for development the tourist economy in Kosovo and Metohija.

The subject of this paper is an explanation of the concepts of ownership, ownership transformation and detailed analysis of the key elements in the business operations of Gornja Trepča Spa Ltd., Gornja Trepča, before and after privatization. The aim of this paper is to present a good example of a privatization through the analysis of the key elements that are responsible for successful spa business. The importance of this work is in its very goal, which is to draw attention to the significance of spa resorts and ownership transformation that is still in progress in the Republic of Serbia. An example of successfully implemented privatization can serve as a model for all remaining unresolved problems in the field of transformation of the properties of spa resorts.

Salaj county has a rich and diversified tourism potential induced by the water resources. This is related to the presence of mineral waters mainly sulfurous and thermal, which have been known and used since the previous century, the spectacular landscapes created by some peculiarities of the river valley and also to the presence of a few lakes. The tourism potential is not fully capitalized even though there are some spas where the healing properties of the mineral waters are used, while others have been turned into ruins and destroyed. The tourism potential of running waters is given by the presence of some spectacular valley sectors (gorges, canyons). Lakes attract the tourists especially for their fishing resources.

Background: The examination of sperm parameters and sperm DNA integrity are necessary for male fertility expression. These parameters can be affected by method of sperm separation. Objective: To measure the damage of each sperm separation method on the sperm parameters and sperm DNA integrity. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, semen samples of 20 infertile men with asthenoteratozoospermia (Infertility Research Center, Qom, Iran, 2017) were processed in three ways: density gradient centrifugation (DGC), cumulus column, and incubation with supernatant products of adipose tissue-derived adult stem cells (SPAS). The results of sperm parameters and DNA fragmentation before and after the process were statistically analyzed. Results: The number of separated sperms by normal morphologies during the SPAS and the cumulus column was significantly more than the corresponding population in the DGC group. In addition, although all three methods have the same ability to increase total sperm motility and the number of recovered sperms, in the field of forwarding movement and DNA fragmentation, the SPAS method performed more efficiently (p = 0.021). Conclusion: Sperm parameters and DNA fragmentation in the SPAS group were better than those in the DGC and cumulus column groups. Furthermore, it has been shown that the sperm capacity was increased with the SPAS method. However, the rearrangement of sperm chromatin by reducing the disulfide bridges and providing the possibility of re-histone over capacity causes a significant reduction in DNA fragmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The popularity of spas reached its peak in the late 1980s, and it has continued since then. Spas have grown in popularity and are perceived as an essential luxury. Consumer income is a key factor influencing spa treatment. In this study, the relationship between spa consumers' income and their repurchase intention was examined and clarified. After the collection and analysis of 351 questionnaire responses, the results indicated that the income of spa consumers was negatively associated with their repurchase intention. The study offers suggestions for spa operators to focus more on the social needs of high-end consumers and consider consumer perspectives to create exclusive personal spa services for consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the most important involved factors in pregnancy occurrence following intrauterine insemination (IUI) is semen sample preparation. Recently, supernatant product of adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (SPAS) method has been shown to improve semen parameters. Objective: To compare the effect of preparation methods in order to IUI, SPAS and density gradient centrifugation (DGC). Materials and Methods: This trial was done on 80 couples with male factor infertility who attend jihad daneshgahi infertility treatment center of Qom province, undergoing ovarian stimulation and IUI cycle. Various semen parameters including motility, count, DNA fragmentation and capacitation were evaluated before and after preparation. The effect of semen preparation methods and influence of various semen parameters on pregnancy occurrence were examined. Results: The overall clinical pregnancy rate was 17.5% per patient with no miscarriage. The pregnancy rate for DGC and SPAS were 5% (2 of 40) and 30% (12 of 40) respectively. Since there is no significant difference in improving motion parameters between two groups (except recovery of total number of motile spermatozoa), it seems that these parameters alone are not sufficient to predict IUI pregnancy outcome whereas in samples with >25 million motile spermatozoa in inseminate, there was a clear trend for a higher pregnancy rate for the sample processed using SPAS. Conclusion: Considering SPAS as a new and effective method leading to provide a combination of various improved semen parameters, is expected in near future.

Currently, health issues have grown rapidly into Health Tourism segment to strengthen Indonesia’s tourism. Ironically, the proliferation of salon and spa business as well as other forms of health tourism business is considered to cause negative effects in the form of destructive cultural penetration of foreign tourists. This study aimed to analyze the prospects of sharia salons and spas in safeguarding the health tourism in Indonesia. Furthermore, we examine the mix variables of sharia marketing as a marketing stimulus to encourage Muslim tourists in making the decision to visit and re-visit as well as their interest in the sharia salons and spas. This explanatory study uses the paradigm of quantitative research involved 13 informants of Muslim owner/staff sharia salons and spas in East Java, Indonesia. The results of this study indicate that stimulus of sharia marketing is needed to develop tourist visits, especially Muslim travelers in health tourism destination of sharia salons and spas.