12 research outputs found

    The Impact Of Mobile Commerce In Kavala

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    The mobile commerce, as an integral and often dominant part of a broader technological, economic and social system, is closely linked to environmental conditions that affect; this affects their decisions and strategy implemented. Undoubtedly, in the current era, the competition is increased and dominant in the market, pushing their bodies and citizens to abandon traditional and time-consuming methods of business functions, practices and yet purchases. The purpose of this study, it is the presentation and the penetration of mobile commerce to the citizens of Kavala. In particular, how they use their mobile devices in making purchases. The survey conducted in 2015 on a random sample of 220 people with criterion that the respondents have a mobile equipment. It was studied the use of wireless technologies in conjunction with the recognition and use of electronic commerce by both consumers and business world. The questionnaire has 47 questions concerning the population distribution, the advanced technology of their mobile devices, the interest for products and services provided by m-commerce and the security they feel. Finally, the respondents were asked for the purchases made by their mobile equipments and whether they were satisfied. For the measurement of the research factors which appear in the conducted study, the method of multiple determinants variables were used. The data analysis was carried out with the use of the statistical program SPSS Statistics 19.0.The conclusions of the survey is that despite the cost of use, the connection speeds, and security and misuse of personal data problems, the mobile commerce is in constant development due to the critical mass of the users who immediately and practically use their mobile devices. Keywords: M-commerce, Impact, Kavala, questionnair

    Cholesterol granuloma presenting as a mass obstructing the external ear canal

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cholesterol granuloma (CG) may involve the middle ear, the mastoid bone and the petrous apex. However, CG presenting as a mass obstructing the external ear canal (EEC) is relatively rare and it can be a diagnostic challenge.</p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>We report a case of a CG occupying the mastoid antrum and presenting as a mass into the EEC. Temporal bone computerized tomography showed a soft tissue mass which eroded the posterior-superior bony wall of the EEC. On magnetic resonance imaging, the mass revealed a high signal on both T1 and T2-weighted images. The CG was removed by a mastoidectomy procedure and the histopathologic report confirmed the diagnosis of CG. A type III tympanoplasty was performed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The postoperative course was uneventful.</p

    Status and perspectives of hospital mortality in a public urban Hellenic hospital, based on a five-year review

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Analysis of hospital mortality helps to assess the standards of health-care delivery.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a retrospective cohort study evaluating the causes of deaths which occurred during the years 1995–1999 in a single hospital. The causes of death were classified according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 149,896 patients who were discharged the 5836 (3.4%) died. Males constituted 55% and females 45%. The median age was 75.1 years (1 day – 100 years).</p> <p>The seven most common ICD-10 chapters IX, II, IV, XI, XX, X, XIV included 92% of the total 5836 deaths.</p> <p>The most common contributors of non-neoplasmatic causes of death were cerebrovascular diseases (I60–I69) at 15.8%, ischemic heart disease (I20–I25) at 10.3%, cardiac failure (I50.0–I50.9) at 7.9%, diseases of the digestive system (K00–K93) at 6.7%, diabetes mellitus (E10–E14) at 6.6%, external causes of morbidity and mortality (V01–Y98) at 6.2%, renal failure (N17–N19) at 4.5%, influenza and pneumonia (J10–J18) at 4.1% and certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00–B99) at 3.2%, accounting for 65.3% of the total 5836 deaths.</p> <p>Neoplasms (C00–D48) caused 17.7% (n = 1027) of the total 5836 deaths, with leading forms being the malignant neoplasms of bronchus and lung (C34) at 3.5% and the malignant neoplasms of large intestine (C18–21.2) at 1.5%. The highest death rates occurred in the intensive care unit (23.3%), general medicine (10.7%), cardiology (6.5%) and nephrology (5.5%).</p> <p>Key problems related to certification of death were identified. Nearly half of the deaths (49.3%: n = 2879) occurred by the completion of the third day, which indicates the time limits for investigation and treatment. On the other hand, 6% (n = 356) died between the 29<sup>th </sup>and 262<sup>nd </sup>days after admission.</p> <p>Inadequacies of the emergency care service, infection control, medical oncology, rehabilitation, chronic and terminal care facilities, as well as lack of regional targets for reducing mortality related to diabetes, recruitment of organ donors, provision for the aging population and lack of prevention programs were substantiated.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Several important issues were raised. Disease specific characteristics, as well as functional and infrastructural inadequacies were identified and provided evidence for defining priorities and strategies for improving the standards of care. Effective transformation can promise better prospects.</p

    Evaluation of young smokers and non-smokers with Electrogustometry and Contact Endoscopy

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Smoking is the cause of inducing changes in taste functionality under conditions of chronic exposure. The objective of this study was to evaluate taste sensitivity in young smokers and non-smokers and identify any differences in the shape, density and vascularisation of the fungiform papillae (fPap) of their tongue.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sixty-two male subjects who served in the Greek military forces were randomly chosen for this study. Thirty-four were non-smokers and 28 smokers. Smokers were chosen on the basis of their habit to hold the cigarette at the centre of their lips. Taste thresholds were measured with Electrogustometry (EGM). The morphology and density of the fungiform papillae (fPap) at the tip of the tongue were examined with Contact Endoscopy (CE).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was found statistically important difference (<it>p </it>< 0.05) between the taste thresholds of the two groups although not all smokers presented with elevated taste thresholds: Six of them (21%) had taste thresholds similar to those of non-smokers. Differences concerning the shape and the vessels of the fungiform papillae between the groups were also detected. Fewer and flatter fPap were found in 22 smokers (79%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The majority of smokers shown elevated taste thresholds in comparison to non-smokers. Smoking is an important factor which can lead to decreased taste sensitivity. The combination of methods, such as EGM and CE, can provide useful information about the vascularisation of taste buds and their functional ability.</p

    The Impact of Mobile Commerce in Kavala

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    The mobile commerce, as an integral and often dominant part of a broader technological, economic and social system, is closely linked to environmental conditions that affect; this affects their decisions and strategy implemented. Undoubtedly, in the current era, the competition is increased and dominant in the market, pushing their bodies and citizens to abandon traditional and time-consuming methods of business functions, practices and yet purchases. The purpose of this study, it is the presentation and the penetration of mobile commerce to the citizens of Kavala. In particular, how they use their mobile devices in making purchases. The survey conducted in 2015 on a random sample of 220 people with criterion that the respondents have a mobile equipment. It was studied the use of wireless technologies in conjunction with the recognition and use of electronic commerce by both consumers and business world. The questionnaire has 47 questions concerning the population distribution, the advanced technology of their mobile devices, the interest for products and services provided by m-commerce and the security they feel. Finally, the respondents were asked for the purchases made by their mobile equipments and whether they were satisfied. For the measurement of the research factors which appear in the conducted study, the method of multiple determinants variables were used. The data analysis was carried out with the use of the statistical program SPSS Statistics 19.0.The conclusions of the survey is that despite the cost of use, the connection speeds, and security and misuse of personal data problems, the mobile commerce is in constant development due to the critical mass of the users who immediately and practically use their mobile devices. Keywords: M-commerce, Impact, Kavala, questionnair

    Management of nutrient emissions of Axios River catchment: Their effect in the coastal zone of Thermaikos Gulf, Greece

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    Summarization: The estimation of nutrient fluxes, the determination of spatial and temporal response and the understanding of biogeochemical changes in the past, present and future in the Axios River catchment, in Greece, as well as the impacts to the coastal zone of Thermaikos Gulf were accomplished by the use of harmonized watershed and coastal zone models. The mathematical model MONERIS was the watershed management model that was used to model the export loads of nutrients in Axios River. MONERIS was developed to estimate the nutrient inputs into river basins by point sources and various diffuse pathways. Watershed hydrologic and water quality data were collected and synthesized to develop input data sets for the simulation of Axios River catchment. The model was modified to better assess organic nitrogen export loads in Mediterranean watersheds. The results showed the importance of agricultural and livestock activities, concerning their nutrients emissions in the River. MONERIS was integrated with the coastal zone model WASP 6.0 to assess the impacts of the nutrient loads to the eutrophication status of the coastal zone. Several management scenarios were assessed. Management scenarios included measures for reduction in the emissions from the fertilizer plant of Veles, removal of phosphorous from the detergents in FYROM, treatment of urban wastes to EU Standards, reduction in N-fertilizer input, reduction in erosion and the green scenario that represented the maximum reduction scenario of all the measures together. The model simulations indicated that the coastal zone of Axios mouth will be eutrophic for nitrate (2.69–3.34 μM) and phosphate (0.2–0.68 μM) and upper mesotrophic for chlorophyll-a (0.74–1.45 μg/l) for the scenarios tested. The results suggest that the impact of the management scenarios will be largely negligible (no change in trophic status) for the Thermaikos Gulf sector nearby the Axios River due to additional sources such as the loads from Thessaloniki's waste water treatment plant which appear to affect the region to a greater extent. The integration of watershed and coastal zone models can be used to assess management scenarios in order to illustrate the significance of various land use practices to the eutrophication of the Gulf.Presented on: Ecological Modellin

    Circulation and nutrient modeling of Thermaikos Gulf, Greece

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    Summarization: Thermaikos Gulf is considered to be one of the most polluted coastal zones in Greece. It is the final receptor of both municipal and industrial wastewaters from the city of Thessaloniki and of two heavily polluted rivers, Axios and Aliakmon. Nutrient enrichment and consequent eutrophication is the primary water quality issue of Thermaikos. The mathematical model WASP 6.0 was used to simulate the hydrodynamics, nutrient dynamics and phytoplakton evolution in the gulf. The model is a physical-based model that compartmentalizes the water body into high dispersivity, uniform concentration compartments. It then performs mass balances on water quantity and quality. In addition to the hydrodynamics, the model can simulate the carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous and plankton concentrations in the water body. Monthly hydrologic and water quality fluxes from 1997 to 1998, inputs to the gulf and seasonal nutrient surveys in the gulf were used to calibrate nutrient dynamics. The gulf was compartmentalized into 12 compartments, six were horizontal and two were vertical. Salinity data were used to calibrate the hydrodynamic variables of the model. Model calibration was conducted by minimizing the root mean square error between field observations and model simulation. The model was able to capture the variation of salinity and nutrient concentrations. The results showed the importance of Thessaloniki effluents to the Thessaloniki Bay and Gulf and the Axios and Aliakmon River loads to the degree of eutrophication of the entire gulf. The model can be used to assess management scenarios to improve the water quality of the gulf.Presented on: Journal of Marine System

    The surgical safety checklist and patient outcomes after surgery: a prospective observational cohort study, systematic review and meta-analysis

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    © 2017 British Journal of Anaesthesia Background: The surgical safety checklist is widely used to improve the quality of perioperative care. However, clinicians continue to debate the clinical effectiveness of this tool. Methods: Prospective analysis of data from the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS), an international observational study of elective in-patient surgery, accompanied by a systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature. The exposure was surgical safety checklist use. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and the secondary outcome was postoperative complications. In the ISOS cohort, a multivariable multi-level generalized linear model was used to test associations. To further contextualise these findings, we included the results from the ISOS cohort in a meta-analysis. Results are reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: We included 44 814 patients from 497 hospitals in 27 countries in the ISOS analysis. There were 40 245 (89.8%) patients exposed to the checklist, whilst 7508 (16.8%) sustained ≥1 postoperative complications and 207 (0.5%) died before hospital discharge. Checklist exposure was associated with reduced mortality [odds ratio (OR) 0.49 (0.32–0.77); P\u3c0.01], but no difference in complication rates [OR 1.02 (0.88–1.19); P=0.75]. In a systematic review, we screened 3732 records and identified 11 eligible studies of 453 292 patients including the ISOS cohort. Checklist exposure was associated with both reduced postoperative mortality [OR 0.75 (0.62–0.92); P\u3c0.01; I2=87%] and reduced complication rates [OR 0.73 (0.61–0.88); P\u3c0.01; I2=89%). Conclusions: Patients exposed to a surgical safety checklist experience better postoperative outcomes, but this could simply reflect wider quality of care in hospitals where checklist use is routine
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