A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of virtual reality as an exercise intervention for individuals with a respiratory condition.

Background Respiratory diseases impose an immense health burden worldwide and affect millions of people on a global scale. Reduction of exercise tolerance poses a huge health issue affecting patients with a respiratory condition, which is caused by skeletal muscle dysfunction and weakness and by lung function impairment. Virtual reality systems are emerging technologies that have drawn scientists’ attention to its potential benefit for rehabilitation. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis following the PRISMA guidelines was performed to explore the effectiveness of virtual reality gaming and exergaming-based interventions on individuals with respiratory conditions. Results Differences between the virtual reality intervention and traditional exercise rehabilitation revealed weak to insignificant effect size for mean heart rate (standardized mean difference, SMD = 0.17; p = 0.002), peak heart rate (SMD = 0.36; p = 0.27), dyspnea (SMD = 0.32; p = 0.13), and oxygen saturation SpO2 (SMD = 0.26; p = 0.096). In addition, other measures were collected, however, to the heterogeneity of reporting, could not be included in the meta-analysis. These included adherence, enjoyment, and drop-out rates. Conclusions The use of VRS as an intervention can provide options for rehabilitation, given their moderate effect for dyspnea and equivalent to weak effect for mean and maximum peak HR and SpO2. However, the use of virtual reality systems, as an intervention, needs further study since the literature lacks standardized methods to accurately analyze the effects of virtual reality for individuals with respiratory conditions, especially for duration, virtual reality system type, adherence, adverse effects, feasibility, enjoyment, and quality of life

Character assassination in ancient Rome: Defamation in Cicero’s First Catilinarian Oration from a historical-psychological perspective

Cicero’s Catilinarian Orations of 63 BCE are among the most exemplary pieces of damning rhetoric and defamation from all of antiquity. This paper analyzes the first of these famous speeches, using comparative methods to explore the perceptions of how Cicero commits character assassination on his opponent. For the modern observer, at least two general interconnected themes appeared in the speech. One refers to the emotional atmosphere of fear and anxiety Cicero is building in his audience. The other creates a cognitive dichotomy between “us” and “them”. Insights from psychology, history, and sociology can help us to critically connect antiquity to present times, examine how Cicero’s attacks against Catiline’s reputation worked, and why they were so psychologically effective

Character assassination: Theoretical framework

This chapter provides a unifying framework for the study of CA by identifying “character” and “character assassination” as distinguished from other related concepts. The authors highlight the strategic nature of the phenomenon, then introduce five pillars that are necessary to consider in a thorough analysis of a character attack. Finally, this chapter introduces some of its dynamics and methods

The Routledge Handbook of Character Assassination and Reputation Management

In modern politics as well as in historical times, character attacks abound. Words and images, like symbolic and psychological weapons, have sullied or destroyed numerous reputations. People mobilize significant material and psychological resources to defend themselves against such attacks. How does character assassination "work," and when does it not? Why do many targets fall so easily when they are under character attack? How can one prevent attacks and defend against them? The Routledge Handbook of Character Assassination and Reputation Management offers the first comprehensive examination of character assassination. Moving beyond studying corporate reputation management and how public figures enact and maintain their reputation, this lively volume offers a framework and cases to help understand, critically analyze, and effectively defend against such attacks. Written by an international and interdisciplinary team of experts, the book begins with a theoretical introduction and extensive description of the "five pillars" of character assassination: (1) the attacker, (2) the target, (3) the media, (4) the public, and (5) the context. The remaining chapters present engaging case studies suitable for class discussion. These include: Roman emperors; Reformation propaganda; the Founding Fathers; defamation in US politics; women politicians; autocratic regimes; European leaders; celebrities; nations; Internet campaigns. This handbook will prove invaluable to undergraduate and postgraduate students in communication, political science, history, sociology, and psychology departments. It will also help researchers become independent, critical, and informed thinkers capable of avoiding the pressure and manipulations of the media

Agrippina, Theodora and Fredegund as Evil Empresses in the Historiographic Tradition

This chapter explores how historians acted as character assassins of imperial women in ancient and early medieval times. In particular, it analyses the hostile portrayals of the Roman empress Agrippina the Younger, the Byzantine empress Theodora, and the Merovingian queen Fredegund in Tacitus’s Annals, Procopius’s Secret History and Gregory of Tour’s History of the Franks. Many of the character attacks against these women relate to their gender, ranging from bad motherhood and the domineering of husbands to witchcraft and uncontrolled sexuality. Thus, these historians undermined the reputations of Agrippina, Theodora and Fredegund in order to set and guard strict socio-political norms for women in prestigious and influential positions