Προσομοίωση της επίδρασης των ατελειών στη μηχανική απόκριση του γραφενίου

Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο--Μεταπτυχιακή Εργασία. Διεπιστημονικό-Διατμηματικό Πρόγραμμα Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών (Δ.Π.Μ.Σ.) “Επιστήμη και Τεχνολογία Υλικών

The Impact of Tourism on the Sociocultural Structure of Cyprus

This paper is based on evaluating tourism development in Cyprus, a European nation, and its impacts on the socio-cultural structure of the island. The principal concern of this research is aid in sustaining the resource base on which the tourism development in Cyprus depends on. The paper concludes that in spite of all the negative and positive impacts of tourism on Cyprus it is not yet clear whether the benefits outweigh the costs. The reason for this uncertainty is that most of the research is done on an estimate as there is no empirical data available as yet to support either side of the equation

The Impact of Tourism on the Sociocultural Structure of Cyprus

This paper is based on evaluating tourism development in Cyprus, a European nation, and its impacts on the socio-cultural structure of the island. The principal concern of this research is aid in sustaining the resource base on which the tourism development in Cyprus depends on. The paper concludes that in spite of all the negative and positive impacts of tourism on Cyprus it is not yet clear whether the benefits outweigh the costs. The reason for this uncertainty is that most of the research is done on an estimate as there is no empirical data available as yet to support either side of the equation

Validation of a novel HPLC-based serum thymidine kinase assay for breast cancer detection

Thymidine kinase (TK) has been validated as a serum-derived, tumour-associated marker for a number of malignancies and estimation of TK activity in serum has proved useful for clinical diagnosis and monitoring of therapy. However, the use of this biomarker in the clinical practice is constrained by the lack of an automatable easy-to-perform assay. We have developed and validated a novel HPLC-based assay for measuring TK activity in biological samples. This assay is cheaper, easy to perform and does not depend on the use of expensive antibodies or isotopes. In addition, it has comparable sensitivity with the radioenzymatic assay used in the clinical practice. The assay has been evaluated with samples from breast cancer patients.<br/

Genetic counselling legislation and practice in cancer in EU Member States

Background: Somatic and germline genetic alterations are significant drivers of cancer. Increasing integration of new technologies which profile these alterations requires timely, equitable and high-quality genetic counselling to facilitate accurate diagnoses and informed decision-making by patients and their families in preventive and clinical settings. This article aims to provide an overview of genetic counselling legislation and practice across European Union (EU) Member States to serve as a foundation for future European recommendations and action. Methods: National legislative databases of all 27 Member States were searched using terms relevant to genetic counselling, translated as appropriate. Interviews with relevant experts from each Member State were conducted to validate legislative search results and provide detailed insights into genetic counselling practice in each country. Results: Genetic counselling is included in national legislative documents of 22 of 27 Member States, with substantial variation in legal mechanisms and prescribed details (i.e. the ‘who, what, when and where’ of counselling). Practice is similarly varied. Workforce capacity (25 of 27 Member States) and genetic literacy (all Member States) were common reported barriers. Recognition and/or better integration of genetic counsellors and updated legislation and were most commonly noted as the ‘most important change’ which would improve practice. Conclusions: This review highlights substantial variability in genetic counselling across EU Member States, as well as common barriers notwithstanding this variation. Future recommendations and action should focus on addressing literacy and capacity challenges through legislative, regulatory and/or strategic approaches at EU, national, regional and/or local levels.</p

Residents’ perceptions and attitudes towards sustainable tourism development: The case of Larnaca, Cyprus

It has been argued that residents’ perceptions and attitudes towards tourism development in Island destinations is important for their future sustainability. This study aims to examine residents’ perceptions and attitudes towards sustainable tourism development by focusing on the city of Larnaca, Cyprus. Through a mixed method approach, this study yields insights on residents’ perceptions and attitudes towards sustainable tourism development, particularly in relation to the socio-cultural impacts of tourism. Residents recognise the role that the developmental limitations of small Island destinations play on the formation of their attitude. Conclusively, this study contributes a theoretical framework which tourism planners in Island destinations utilise to evaluate future tourism projects and strengthen residents’ participation in the decision-making process

Constructing meanings of luxury in Airbnb

Purpose: Following Airbnb’s recent turn to the luxury market, this paper aims to explore how Airbnb hosts construct meanings of luxury as enacted in their hosting practices. Design/methodology/approach: Semi-structured interviews with 46 Airbnb hosts were undertaken using purposing sampling. Findings: Study findings reveal that social and personal meanings of luxury manifest in host practice, with “home feeling” representing the epicentre of the luxury peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation experience. Research limitations/implications: Although this study draws from host views, it represents a first attempt to empirically examine perceptions and applications of luxury within P2P accommodation. The study provides a conceptual framework which may serve as a point of departure for further research into which luxury service dimensions guests value. Practical implications: The findings of the study carry implications to the wider hospitality context. Specifically, hospitality practitioners need to reconceptualize luxury hospitality provision to promote a “homotel” accommodation model which highlights the offering of physical and social luxury dimensions in addition to elements of personalized service and home-like hedonic benefits. Originality/value: The study offers a conceptual framework of the luxury P2P accommodation servicescape, which identifies two distinct luxury offerings that may be informative to both P2P accommodation providers and hospitality practitioners