Dynamic Characteristics of Periodic Motions in a Restricted N-Body Problem

We investigate the existence and follow the evolution and dynamic stability of periodic motions in a restricted version of the N-body problem, where the positions of the mass bodies reside persistently on a planar polygon ring and its geometrical centre. The results show the existence of both (linearly) stable and unstable periodic orbits around the body placed on the ring centre (inside the ring), around all the periphery bodies (outside the ring) and around one or more of the periphery bodies. The stable periodic trajectories form regions of gravitational stability, whereas some classes of the unstable orbits exhibit bifurcations to non-symmetric periodic orbits of the same period, and less often period-doubling bifurcations

The Impact of Religious Beliefs and Practices on Coping with Health Challenges Posed by Covid-19

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the aim of the present study was to investigate to what extent the undergraduate students of the Department of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, felt the need to come closer to their own religiosity, spirituality, or faith. Materials and methods: Empirical research was conducted by means of an anonymous questionnaire, comprising demographics and items focusing on religiosity, spirituality, and faith. The survey results were processed using “MICROSOFT EXCEL IBM SPSS STATISTICS 24” statistical processing software. Results:  To overcome health dilemmas, the wide majority of students did not focus on religious & spiritual practices (70% & 66.7%) while at the same time, their religiosity & spirituality was not enhanced (74% & 78%). However, for the same period, 53% of the students stated that their faith was enhanced. Conclusions: While overall students’ religiosity & spirituality indicators were low, for the same period they stated that their faith in overcoming health distress was strengthened, which triggers new questions and prompts further research in the field of humanities.&nbsp

The Role of the Religion Vis-à-vis the 'Health Challenges' of Covid-19

Αim: In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the aim of the present study was to investigate to what extent the undergraduate students of the Department of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki felt the need to come closer to their own religiosity, spirituality or faith. Materials and methods: Empirical research was conducted by means of an anonymous questionnaire, comprising demographics and items focusing on religiosity, spirituality and faith. The results of the survey were processed using MICROSOFT EXCEL IBM SPSS STATISTICS 24 statistical processing software. Results:  To overcome health dilemmas, the wide majority of  students did not focus on religious & spiritual practices (70% & 66.7%) while at the same time their religiosity & spirituality was not enhanced (74% & 78%). However, for the same period 53% of the students stated that their faith was enhanced. Conclusions-Discussion: While overall students’ religiosity & spirituality indicators were low, for the same period they stated that their faith in overcoming health distress was strengthened, which triggers new questions and prompts further research in the field of humanities.&nbsp

Exploring elements of an effective practitioner-patient relationship in dentistry

Purpose: The present study, having human-centered orientation (empathy) as an index of the doctor-patient relationship, aims to record the degree of user/patient satisfaction with the health services provided by the Department of Oral Medicine/ Pathology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.Materials and Methods: Quantitative analysis of the research was conducted using a four-item anonymous questionnaire on satisfaction: (a) communication (b) information/ awareness (c) respect/ acceptance and (d) interest/ understanding. The participants were 600 patients with oral diseases of various severity. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM Statistics SPSS 20 and 25.Results: The participants were 61.7% females (median age 58.5 years) and 38.3% males (median age 60 years). According to the scores the patients’ satisfaction was: a) communication (97.8%), (b) information/ awareness (85.8%), (c) respect/ acceptance (78.8%), and (d) interest/ understanding (67.7%).Conclusion: Quantitative analysis of the empirical study established that the patients of Department of Oral Medicine revealed a fairly high rate of satisfaction. However some service parameters (interest/ understanding) need further attention and for this reason improvement proposals have been tabled

Comparison of abdominal adiposity and overall obesity in relation to risk of small intestinal cancer in a European Prospective Cohort

Published version. Source at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10552-016-0772-z Background: The etiology of small intestinal cancer (SIC) is largely unknown, and there are very few epidemiological studies published to date. No studies have investigated abdominal adiposity in relation to SIC. Methods: We investigated overall obesity and abdominal adiposity in relation to SIC in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), a large prospective cohort of approximately half a million men and women from ten European countries. Overall obesity and abdominal obesity were assessed by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression modeling was performed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Stratified analyses were conducted by sex, BMI, and smoking status. Results: During an average of 13.9 years of follow-up, 131 incident cases of SIC (including 41 adenocarcinomas, 44 malignant carcinoid tumors, 15 sarcomas and 10 lymphomas, and 21 unknown histology) were identified. WC was positively associated with SIC in a crude model that also included BMI (HR per 5-cm increase = 1.20, 95 % CI 1.04, 1.39), but this association attenuated in the multivariable model (HR 1.18, 95 % CI 0.98, 1.42). However, the association between WC and SIC was strengthened when the analysis was restricted to adenocarcinoma of the small intestine (multivariable HR adjusted for BMI = 1.56, 95 % CI 1.11, 2.17). There were no other significant associations. Conclusion: WC, rather than BMI, may be positively associated with adenocarcinomas but not carcinoid tumors of the small intestine. Impact: Abdominal obesity is a potential risk factor for adenocarcinoma in the small intestine