Social Media Battles: their Impact during the 2014 Greek Municipal Elections

The purpose of this study is to examine the use of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube by candidates running for the 2014 Greek Municipal Elections by addressing the following questions: (1) which factors affect social media adoption by municipal candidates?, and (2) whether social media usage along with the popularity of candidates' social media pages influence candidates' vote share. Results indicate that social media are not very popular campaigning tools among municipal candidates in Greece. This implies that Greek candidates still rely on traditional ways to lure their voters. Furthermore, findings reveal that candidates running in large municipalities are more likely to utilize social media (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube) as means of political marketing. In addition, challengers seem to prefer Facebook and Twitter as campaign tools while males tend to focus on YouTube to attract voters. Despite the low adoption rate, results suggest that candidates who made use of social media won more votes compared to candidates who were not social media users. Moreover, it was found that a candidate's Facebook page and YouTube channel popularity are good indicators of the candidate's vote share

Clinical review: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis acute exacerbations - unravelling Ariadne's thread

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a dreadful, chronic, and irreversibly progressive fibrosing disease leading to death in all patients affected, and IPF acute exacerbations constitute the most devastating complication during its clinical course. IPF exacerbations are subacute/acute, clinically significant deteriorations of unidentifiable cause that usually transform the slow and more or less steady disease decline to the unexpected appearance of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) ending in death. The histological picture is that of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), which is the tissue counterpart of ARDS, upon usual interstitial pneumonia, which is the tissue equivalent of IPF. ALI/ARDS and acute interstitial pneumonia share with IPF exacerbations the tissue damage pattern of DAD. 'Treatment' with high-dose corticosteroids with or without an immunosuppressant proved ineffective and represents the coup de grace for these patients. Provision of excellent supportive care and the search for and treatment of the 'underlying cause' remain the only options. IPF exacerbations require rapid decisions about when and whether to initiate mechanical support. Admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) is a particular clinical and ethical challenge because of the extremely poor outcome. Transplantation in the ICU setting often presents insurmountable difficulties

Static and dynamic mechanics of the murine lung after intratracheal bleomycin

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite its widespread use in pulmonary fibrosis research, the bleomycin mouse model has not been thoroughly validated from a pulmonary functional standpoint using new technologies. Purpose of this study was to systematically assess the functional alterations induced in murine lungs by fibrogenic agent bleomycin and to compare the forced oscillation technique with quasi-static pressure-volume curves in mice following bleomycin exposure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Single intratracheal injections of saline (50 μL) or bleomycin (2 mg/Kg in 50 μL saline) were administered to C57BL/6 (<it>n </it>= 40) and Balb/c (<it>n </it>= 32) mice. Injury/fibrosis score, tissue volume density (TVD), collagen content, airway resistance (<it>R_N</it>), tissue damping (<it>G</it>) and elastance coefficient (<it>H</it>), hysteresivity (<it>η</it>), and area of pressure-volume curve (PV-A) were determined after 7 and 21 days (inflammation and fibrosis stage, respectively). Statistical hypothesis testing was performed using one-way ANOVA with LSD <it>post hoc </it>tests.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both C57BL/6 and Balb/c mice developed weight loss and lung inflammation after bleomycin. However, only C57BL/6 mice displayed cachexia and fibrosis, evidenced by increased fibrosis score, TVD, and collagen. At day 7, PV-A increased significantly and <it>G </it>and <it>H </it>non-significantly in bleomycin-exposed C57BL/6 mice compared to saline controls and further increase in all parameters was documented at day 21. <it>G </it>and <it>H</it>, but not PV-A, correlated well with the presence of fibrosis based on histology, TVD and collagen. In Balb/c mice, no change in collagen content, histology score, TVD, <it>H </it>and <it>G </it>was noted following bleomycin exposure, yet PV-A increased significantly compared to saline controls.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Lung dysfunction in the bleomycin model is more pronounced during the fibrosis stage rather than the inflammation stage. Forced oscillation mechanics are accurate indicators of experimental bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. Quasi-static PV-curves may be more sensitive than forced oscillations at detecting inflammation and fibrosis.</p

MRC chronic Dyspnea Scale: Relationships with cardiopulmonary exercise testing and 6-minute walk test in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients: a prospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Exertional dyspnea is the most prominent and disabling feature in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The Medical Research Chronic (MRC) chronic dyspnea score as well as physiological measurements obtained during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) are shown to provide information on the severity and survival of disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We prospectively recruited IPF patients and examined the relationship between the MRC score and either CPET or 6MWT parameters known to reflect physiologic derangements limiting exercise capacity in IPF patients</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty-five patients with IPF were included in the study. Significant correlations were found between the MRC score and the distance (r = -.781, p < 0.001), the SPO₂at the initiation and the end (r = -.542, p = 0.005 and r = -.713, p < 0.001 respectively) and the desaturation index (r = .634, p = 0.001) for the 6MWT; the MRC score and <it>V</it>O₂peak/kg (r = -.731, p < 0.001), SPO₂at peak exercise (r = -. 682, p < 0.001), VE/VCO₂slope (r = .731, p < 0.001), VE/VCO₂at AT (r = .630, p = 0.002) and the Borg scale at peak exercise (r = .50, p = 0.01) for the CPET. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the only variable independently related to the MRC is the distance walked at the 6MWT.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this population of IPF patients a good correlation was found between the MRC chronic dyspnoea score and physiological parameters obtained during maximal and submaximal exercise testing known to reflect ventilatory impairment and exercise limitation as well as disease severity and survival. This finding is described for the first time in the literature in this group of patients as far as we know and could explain why a simple chronic dyspnea score provides reliable prognostic information on IPF.</p

Museums Brand Equity and Social Media: Looking into Current Research Insights and Future Research Propositions

Abstract. Extensive research has repeatedly acknowledged the link between traditional and digital marketing communication tools and branding performance. Particularly, both within For Profit Organizations (henceforth, FPOs) and Non-Profit Organizations (henceforth NPOs), social media as the milestone of the digital era has rebutted the foundations of corporate and personal communication through the emergence of new participatory communication terms, such as ''prod-user'' and “co-creation”. Consequently, a growing research trend has emerged towards e-e marketing tools and social media impact on destination branding, as well. Simultaneously, thanks to its multidimensional benefits both at the communicational, educational, and promotional levels, social media are emerging as an essential feature in the branding of the new museum era. To date, within the NPOs sector, few studies have investigated the effect of social media on brand equity. Moreover, far too little attention has been paid to the link between social media and museums' brand equity. Based on the systematic qualitative critical review methodology, this paper attempts to identify the basic trends and research status by 2018. Drawing on a review of 78 papers that are the result of systematic desk research, this study categorizes and presents, for the first time, the effects of social media use on museums’ brand components. The study offers new and valuable insights into the multidisciplinary research interests of the research and industry community relating to communication and marketing, NPOs, tourism, and museums context. Keywords: Social Media, Museums, Brand Equity, NPOs, Cultural Tourism

Oral manifestations of systemic disease

While the majority of disorders of the mouth are centred upon the direct action of plaque, the oral tissues can be subject to change or damage as a consequence of disease that predominantly affects other body systems. Such oral manifestations of systemic disease can be highly variable in both frequency and presentation. As lifespan increases and medical care becomes ever more complex and effective it is likely that the numbers of individuals with oral manifestations of systemic disease will continue to rise. The present article provides a succinct review of oral manifestations of systemic disease. In view of this article being part of a wider BDJ themed issue on the subject of oral medicine, this review focuses upon oral mucosal and salivary gland disorders that may arise as a consequence of systemic disease

Pilgrimages: the “promised land” for travel age

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Purpose:&lt;/b&gt; The purpose of this paper is to investigate the most important characteristics of the religious package tour as perceived by consumers who travel to the Holy Land and to examine the marketing components that play an important role for pilgrims.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Design/methodology/approach:&lt;/b&gt; In-depth interviews were conducted with Greek Orthodox travellers who were about to leave for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Content analysis was used in order to analyse the transcribed interviews.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Findings:&lt;/b&gt; Results show that regarding the product mix, hotel ratings and extra benefits are considered of minor importance by the interviewed travellers. However, the tour guide and the trip's schedule and program are the most important factors that influence consumer decisions regarding the purchase of a specific tourism product. In addition, the travel agent's reputation for organising religious trips plays a crucial role. Alternatively, price does not seem to influence travellers to sacred places.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Practical implications:&lt;/b&gt; Travel agents that offer tour packages to pilgrims, as well as tourism companies wishing to promote pilgrimages can take into consideration these findings in order to design effective marketing plans.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Originality/value:&lt;/b&gt; Although tour packages for pilgrims are profitable, only few studies have focused on this type of traveller. As travel for religious purposes increases, the design of an effective marketing plan may help to further develop the market for pilgrimages.&lt;/p&gt

A high-protein low-fat diet is more effective in improving blood pressure and triglycerides in calorie-restricted obese individuals with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes

Background/Objectives: There is controversy over dietary protein&apos;s effects on cardiovascular disease risk factors in diabetic subjects. It is unclear whether observed effects are due to increased protein or reduced carbohydrate content of the consumed diets. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two diets differing in protein to fat ratios on cardiovascular disease risk factors. Subjects/Methods: A total of 17 obese (body mass index (BMI) ranging from 31 to 45 kg/m2) volunteers with type 2 diabetes (DM2), aged 46±3 years, consumed two diets, each for 4 weeks, with 3 weeks of washout period in a random, blind, crossover design. The diets were: (1) a high-protein low-fat diet (HP-LF, with 30% protein, 50% carbohydrates and 20% fat) and (2) a low-protein high-fat diet (LP-HF, with 15% protein, 50% carbohydrates and 35% fat). Their effects on fasting glycemic control, lipid levels and blood pressure, and on postprandial glucose and insulin responses after a standard test meal at the beginning and end of each dietary intervention were analyzed. Results: Both diets were equally effective in promoting weight loss and fat loss and in improving fasting glycemic control, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, but the HP-LF diet decreased to a greater extent triglyceride (TG) levels (P=0.04) when compared with the LP-HF diet. HP-LF diet improved significantly both systolic and diastolic blood pressure when compared with the LP-HF diet (P&amp;lt;0.001 and P&amp;lt;0.001, respectively). No differences were observed in postprandial glucose and insulin responses. Conclusions: A protein to fat ratio of 1.5 in diets significantly improves blood pressure and TG concentrations in obese individuals with DM2. © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved