Social Media as a Destination Marketing Tool for a Sustainable Heritage Festival in Nigeria: A Moderated Mediation Study

This study explored how social media is used as a destination marketing tool for the sustainability of heritage festival quality in Nigeria, drawing on the theory of planned behavior. The festival, which is an exploration of heritage, was specifically premeditated to celebrate the slave trade period by highlighting the unique connection of African American history to the diaspora ancestors who were literally taken away as slaves through “the point of no return” in Badagry, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was utilized as a research instrument to gather information aimed at examining the influence of social media (SM), website quality (WQ), and online word of mouth (eWOM) on tourists’ festival satisfaction (FS) and festival revisiting intention (FRI). Data were gathered from samples of 473 diaspora tourists at Badagry Diaspora Festival in Nigeria and analyzed using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with the aid of WarpPLS (7.0). The findings of the study revealed that social media (SM), festival quality (FQ), website quality (WQ), and electronic word of mouth (eWOM) had a positive and significant relationship with tourists’ festival satisfaction. Additionally, this study found that festival quality had a positive impact on the intention of the tourists to revisit the Badagry Diaspora Festival because tourist attitude is influenced by the socio-cultural background of tourists. Moreover, the result revealed the partial mediating effect of festival satisfaction in the relationship between (a) SM, (b) FQ, (c) WQ, and (d) eWOM and tourists’ festival satisfaction. Similarly, cultural motivation was also found to mediate the relationship between tourists’ festival satisfaction and festival revisiting intension (RI). Based on the findings, the implications of the festival sustainability and future research directions were discussed.publishedVersio

Effects of factors on direct screw withdrawal resistance in medium density fiberboard and particleboard

An increase in demand on solid wood that is insufficient supply to meet in the world necessarily directed to other engineering materials that could be an alternative to the solid wood. In this context, instead of using solid wood in furniture and construction industry, wood-based panels such as medium density fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard (PB) have become widely used as construction material. Limited research has been done in the field of fastener performance as mechanical properties with different parameters in the joints constructed with these panels. Therefore, in this study, the parameters of screw type, pilot hole, screw orientation, water treatment and adhesives were investigated in MDF and PB. The results indicated that the highest direct screw withdrawal (DSW) resistance was observed in the test blocks applied with PU and the lowest DSW resistance was in the test blocks without a pilot hole drilled in both materials. In addition, MDF in general had better DSW resistance than PB in almost all combinations of the parameters. The treatment of water into MDF and PB test blocks negatively affects the DSW resistance. The DSW resistance in the face orientation was found to be higher than the corresponding ones in the side orientation in both materials

Fundus topographical distribution patterns of ocular toxoplasmosis

BACKGROUND: To establish topographic maps and determine fundus distribution patterns of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) lesions. METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients who presented with OT to ophthalmology clinics from four countries (Argentina, Turkey, UK, USA) were included. Size, shape and location of primary (1°)/recurrent (2°) and active/inactive lesions were converted into a two-dimensional retinal chart by a retinal drawing software. A final contour map of the merged image charts was then created using a custom Matlab programme. Descriptive analyses were performed. RESULTS: 984 lesions in 514 eyes of 464 subjects (53% women) were included. Mean area of all 1° and 2° lesions was 5.96±12.26 and 5.21±12.77 mm2, respectively. For the subset group lesions (eyes with both 1° and 2° lesions), 1° lesions were significantly larger than 2° lesions (5.52±6.04 mm2 vs 4.09±8.90 mm2, p=0.038). Mean distances from foveola to 1° and 2° lesion centres were 6336±4267 and 5763±3491 µm, respectively. The majority of lesions were found in temporal quadrant (p<0.001). Maximum overlap of all lesions was at 278 µm inferotemporal to foveola. CONCLUSION: The 1° lesions were larger than 2° lesions. The 2° lesions were not significantly closer to fovea than 1° lesions. Temporal quadrant and macular region were found to be densely affected underlining the vision threatening nature of the disease

Credit Market Imperfections and Business Cycle Asymmetries in Turkey (Turkiye’de Kredi Piyasasi Noksanliklari ve Is Cevrim Nispetsizlikleri)

The credit market imperfections have important consequences for aggregate cycles, especially for developing countries. The research on the relationship between imperfections and output dynamics at the macro level are ample, but the lack of wide coverage micro data sets for developing countries limit the study of aggregate implications of the micro level capital market imperfections. This paper presents micro evidence on the credit market imperfections in Turkey and connects these imperfections to macro movements. First part of the paper documents the aggregate boom-bust cycles in Turkey and shows that non-tradable sector is more volatile over the business cycle than tradable sector. Additionally, this sector based asymmetry is found to be strongly correlated with aggregate credit movements. To establish the connection between the sector based asymmetries and the credit markets further, second part of the paper constructs two micro data sets. Using structural estimation, we find that non-tradable sector is financially more constrained than tradable sector. With non-tradable sector being more constrained, credit movements become an important determinant of boom-bust cycles. Therefore, we can establish that the asymmetry in the financial constraints of the different sectors at the micro level can generate the observed asymmetrical aggregate response of sectors over the business cycle.Credit constraints, business cycle asymmetries, cash-flow regressions

Social media marketing the African door of return experience in Badagry-Nigeria

This study examines the role of social media in promoting the standard of return festivals and revisiting intentions in Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria. The festival, also known as the Door of Return festival, is a cultural event commemorating 400 years of African ancestors who were forcibly taken away as slaves and are now back to their mother land as queens and kings. The African ‘door of experience’, which took place in Lagos Nigeria is the 3rd door of return ceremony reflecting the significance of the slave trade activities that took place in the ancient town of Badagary. Data was collected in Badagry from sample of 473 and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The DMOs website was also observed to monitor the presence of the DMOs and their relationship with customers. The results revealed that DMOs are still exploring social media marketing skills on festival quality and revisiting intension to promote cultural tourism product in capturing both international and domestic tourists. It was recommended that improving the festival website and enhancing the DMOs digital marketing competence will help create unique festival experience and effectiveness of the festival as the bottom-line is to delight the African Americans and other visitors as well as stimulate a profitable return visit to the door of return festival in the future

Social Media as a Destination Marketing Tool for a Sustainable Heritage Festival in Nigeria: A Moderated Mediation Study

This study explored how social media is used as a destination marketing tool for the sustainability of heritage festival quality in Nigeria, drawing on the theory of planned behavior. The festival, which is an exploration of heritage, was specifically premeditated to celebrate the slave trade period by highlighting the unique connection of African American history to the diaspora ancestors who were literally taken away as slaves through “the point of no return” in Badagry, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was utilized as a research instrument to gather information aimed at examining the influence of social media (SM), website quality (WQ), and online word of mouth (eWOM) on tourists’ festival satisfaction (FS) and festival revisiting intention (FRI). Data were gathered from samples of 473 diaspora tourists at Badagry Diaspora Festival in Nigeria and analyzed using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with the aid of WarpPLS (7.0). The findings of the study revealed that social media (SM), festival quality (FQ), website quality (WQ), and electronic word of mouth (eWOM) had a positive and significant relationship with tourists’ festival satisfaction. Additionally, this study found that festival quality had a positive impact on the intention of the tourists to revisit the Badagry Diaspora Festival because tourist attitude is influenced by the socio-cultural background of tourists. Moreover, the result revealed the partial mediating effect of festival satisfaction in the relationship between (a) SM, (b) FQ, (c) WQ, and (d) eWOM and tourists’ festival satisfaction. Similarly, cultural motivation was also found to mediate the relationship between tourists’ festival satisfaction and festival revisiting intension (RI). Based on the findings, the implications of the festival sustainability and future research directions were discussed

The Results of the Treatment of Osteogenesis Imperfecta with Corkscrew Tipped Telescopic Nail

WOS: 000406930000004Aim: We aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of an intramedullary fixation system used in surgeries for fractures and deformities of osteogenesis imperfecta where we applied a new design corkscrew tipped intramedullary nailing. Materials and Methods: Twenty extremities of 14 osteogenesis cases, who underwent surgery and to whom corkscrew tipped intramedullary treatment was applied, were retrospectively scanned. Ambulation, discrepancies in the lenght of extremities, deformities and joint mobility range were all noted before the operation. Postoperative union rates, complications and our experience regarding the nail were also evaluated. Results: Six tibia and 14 femurs were operated using corkscrew tipped telescopic nails. Two bones were operated due to non-union, while seven bones underwent surgery due to acute fractures and 11 bones due to deformities. All the bones were seen to have achieved the aimed union. No major complications were observed. Infection was present in two cases. Conclusion: Corkscrew tipped telescopic nail is a safe and effective method of fixation in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta

Monofocal bone transport technique for bone defects greater than 5 cm in tibia: our experience in a case series of 24 patients

WOS: 000395191600006PubMed ID: 28040086Background: As the tibial bone defect increases in size, the problems in treatment also increase. The treatment may be problematic but different treatment approaches can be used. Among these approaches, distraction osteogenesis is a method an orthopedic surgeon with limited conditions can use although it has a longer treatment period. In our case series, we evaluated current treatment approaches. Method: Retrospective study based on patient records and radiographs. We evaluated our cases with tibial bone defects Type B and greater than 5 cm. Twenty four caseswere operated between 1995 and 2013. Clinical follow-up consisted of physical examination, review of radiographs, and Association for the Study of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) scoring system of bone and functional results. Results: The defects had an average lenght of 7.01 cm (SD: 2.88) (range, 5-18). The mean follow-up time from removal of the apparatus to the time of the last clinic visit averaged 74.08 +/- 24.17 months (range: 39-122). The Ilizarov frame was placed for transport and until bone was solid, average of 275.5 +/- 70.6 days (range: 190-437 days). The mean external fixator time (EFT) was 350.91 +/- 89.22 days (range: 261-627 days). The mean external fixator index (EFI) was 52 days/cm (range: 34.8-62.8 days/cm). Bone unionwas obtained in 23/24 (95.8%) patients. Seven patients suffered from stiffness (2 knee, 5 ankle) from which 3 patients developed equinus deformity and required tenoplasty (Achilles tendon lengthening at the time of frame removal. After reaching docking site, 5 patients needed intramedullary nailing to speed up union. Twelve (50%) cases had excellent radiological results, 8 (33%) cases had good, 2 (8%) cases fair and 2 (8%) cases had poor results. Regarding the functional ASAMI scoring system 14 (58%) cases had excellent, 9 (38%) cases had good and one case (4%) had fair result. Conclusion: According to our experience, the Ilizarov bone transport technique remains a reliable method to repair bone defects. However, the treatment time is lengthy with a considerable risk of complications. We found closed intramedullary nailing as an effective and easy solution for cases without pin tract infections to manage the nonunion problem of the docking site and this option should be considered where the surgeon envisages difficulties of healing or the patient has lost patience with the frame. Careful selection of case and patient profile can optimize the outcomes. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved