Efficient e-Marketing in Tourism through a Novel Customer Relationship Management Model

This paper proposes an efficient customerrelationship management model based on technologicalconvergence of emerging next generation networks, such asinteractive digital television and network multimedia systems.The proposed research approach is exploited in tourism sectorfor effective destination management, enabling for personalizede-marketing strategies and facilitating marketers to accomplishoptimum marketing data analysis. The proposed researchapproach is evaluated for its applicability and usefulness byinterviewing a sample of Destination Marketing Organizationmanagers. The findings of this research provide useful practicalimplications

A Rare Pancreatic Tail Metastasis from Squamous Cell Lung Carcinoma Diagnosed by EUS-FNB and a Small Review of the Literature

Differential diagnosis of pancreatic lesions is really challenging, especially when the patient is diagnosed with primary cancer at another site. In this case report, we managed to histologically confirm pancreatic metastasis from squamous cell lung carcinoma, which is a very rare entity, using endoscopic ultrasound fine needle biopsy

Radial Basis Function Artificial Neural Network for the Investigation of Thyroid Cytological Lesions

Objective. This study investigates the potential of an artificial intelligence (AI) methodology, the radial basis function (RBF) artificial neural network (ANN), in the evaluation of thyroid lesions. Study Design. The study was performed on 447 patients who had both cytological and histological evaluation in agreement. Cytological specimens were prepared using liquid-based cytology, and the histological result was based on subsequent surgical samples. Each specimen was digitized; on these images, nuclear morphology features were measured by the use of an image analysis system. The extracted measurements (41,324 nuclei) were separated into two sets: the training set that was used to create the RBF ANN and the test set that was used to evaluate the RBF performance. The system aimed to predict the histological status as benign or malignant. Results. The RBF ANN obtained in the training set has sensitivity 82.5%, specificity 94.6%, and overall accuracy 90.3%, while in the test set, these indices were 81.4%, 90.0%, and 86.9%, respectively. Algorithm was used to classify patients on the basis of the RBF ANN, the overall sensitivity was 95.0%, the specificity was 95.5%, and no statistically significant difference was observed. Conclusion. AI techniques and especially ANNs, only in the recent years, have been studied extensively. The proposed approach is promising to avoid misdiagnoses and assists the everyday practice of the cytopathology. The major drawback in this approach is the automation of a procedure to accurately detect and measure cell nuclei from the digitized images

Immunity onset alters plant chromatin and utilizes EDA16 to regulate oxidative homeostasis

Perception of microbes by plants leads to dynamic reprogramming of the transcriptome, which is essential for plant health. The appropriate amplitude of this transcriptional response can be regulated at multiple levels, including chromatin. However, the mechanisms underlying the interplay between chromatin remodeling and transcription dynamics upon activation of plant immunity remain poorly understood. Here, we present evidence that activation of plant immunity by bacteria leads to nucleosome repositioning, which correlates with altered transcription. Nucleosome remodeling follows distinct patterns of nucleosome repositioning at different loci. Using a reverse genetic screen, we identify multiple chromatin remodeling ATPases with previously undescribed roles in immunity, including EMBRYO SAC DEVELOPMENT ARREST 16, EDA16. Functional characterization of the immune-inducible chromatin remodeling ATPase EDA16 revealed a mechanism to negatively regulate immunity activation and limit changes in redox homeostasis. Our transcriptomic data combined with MNase-seq data for EDA16 functional knock-out and over-expressor mutants show that EDA16 selectively regulates a defined subset of genes involved in redox signaling through nucleosome repositioning. Thus, collectively, chromatin remodeling ATPases fine-tune immune responses and provide a previously uncharacterized mechanism of immune regulation

GCN5 modulates salicylic acid homeostasis by regulating H3K14ac levels at the 5ʹ and 3ʹ ends of its target genes

The modification of histones by acetyl groups has a key role in the regulation of chromatin structure and transcription. The Arabidopsis thaliana histone acetyltransferase GCN5 regulates histone modifications as part of the Spt-Ada-Gcn5 Acetyltransferase (SAGA) transcriptional coactivator complex. GCN5 was previously shown to acetylate lysine 14 of histone 3 (H3K14ac) in the promoter regions of its target genes even though GCN5 binding did not systematically correlate with gene activation. Here, we explored the mechanism through which GCN5 controls transcription. First, we fine-mapped its GCN5 binding sites genome-wide and then used several global methodologies (ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq and RNA-seq) to assess the effect of GCN5 loss-of-function on the expression and epigenetic regulation of its target genes. These analyses provided evidence that GCN5 has a dual role in the regulation of H3K14ac levels in their 5′ and 3′ ends of its target genes. While the gcn5 mutation led to a genome-wide decrease of H3K14ac in the 5′ end of the GCN5 down-regulated targets, it also led to an increase of H3K14ac in the 3′ ends of GCN5 up-regulated targets. Furthermore, genome-wide changes in H3K14ac levels in the gcn5 mutant correlated with changes in H3K9ac at both 5′ and 3′ ends, providing evidence for a molecular link between the depositions of these two histone modifications. To understand the biological relevance of these regulations, we showed that GCN5 participates in the responses to biotic stress by repressing salicylic acid (SA) accumulation and SA-mediated immunity, highlighting the role of this protein in the regulation of the crosstalk between diverse developmental and stress-responsive physiological programs. Hence, our results demonstrate that GCN5, through the modulation of H3K14ac levels on its targets, controls the balance between biotic and abiotic stress responses and is a master regulator of plant-environmental interactions

Chromatin remodelling during plant-pathogen interactions

Plants - including commercially important crops - are exposed to numerous pathogens often resulting in significant loss of yield. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of pathogen recognition and defence strategies is key in successfully ensuring food security. Research on plant-pathogen interactions has mainly focused on the gene networks after pathogen perception as well the identification of resistance genes. Latest research suggests that chromatin remodelling, including nucleosome displacement and DNA or histone-modifying enzymes are important in plant immunity. This thesis focuses on chromatin remodelling as the mechanism by which plants mount an effective immune response. The thesis also investigates the role of histone acetylation as one of several chromatin remodelling mechanisms. Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) are two classes of histone modifying enzymes that antagonistically govern the acetylation levels of histones in gene promoters and gene bodies ultimately affecting gene expression. HAG1 was identified as an important positive regulator of plant immunity in the interaction with Pst DC3000. A proteomic approach allowed the identification of TOPLESS family members as HAG1 interactors. Considering that chromatin remodelling is an important aspect of plant immunity, it was hypothesised that pathogens have evolved mechanisms to interfere with such processes. To this end, this thesis will present a comprehensive approach towards identifying Pst DC3000 Type-III effectors with the ability to interfere with chromatin remodelling. HopO1-1 was initially identified as an effector with chromatin binding properties, however, further experiments pointed more strongly towards this effector’s involvement in processes such as translation and photosynthesis. Overall, this thesis contributes towards a better understanding of the roles of histone acetylation and HAG1 histone acetyltransferase in plant immunity and sheds light into which Pst DC3000 effectors could be potentially involved in chromatin remodelling processes

The role of cytological evaluation by the liquid-based method in thyroid fine-needle aspirates of a general hospital patients

Background: Thyroid fine needle aspiration, is considered of paramount importance for the appropriate management of nodular thyroid lesions. The cytologic evaluation is supported at cases in subjective criteria since standardized processes have not been imported in the daily diagnostics practice, in samples prepared with the conventional technique of smearing.Objective: The role of liquid based cytology, as an exclusive cytopreparatory method in thyroid fine needle aspiration samples, was investigated. The objectification of the diagnostic process, providing a reliable preoperative diagnostic proposal for an appropriate management of nodular thyroid lesions, was the aim of this investigation.Materials and Methods: Five hundred patients, aged 13 to 85 years (mean: 48.95 years) with nodules measured from 0.5 to 5 cm (average : 1.66 cm) were studied. All cases were selected on the basis of histopathologic diagnosis existing from a total of 4208 patients, submitted in thyroid fine needle aspiration under ultrasound-guidance from 2005 to 2011. All aspirates were prepared according to the ThinPrep® technique. The smears were Papanicolaou stained. The diagnostic features were evaluated by two experienced cytopathologists and the reports were issued according to the Bethesda classification for reporting thyroid cytopathology (TBSRTC). The microscopic findings related to the smear cellularity, the cytoplasmic and nuclear characters, as well as the architecture of the cell groups and the background, were recorded in an electronic database. Patients were subdivided into three categories depending on the histological diagnosis. The reproducibility of diagnostic criteria , was statistically analyzed. The possibility of performing ancillary techniques , was also estimated. In selected cases the residual material, was used in preparing more slides, in order to evaluate the expression of 4 monoclonal antibodies. Moreover, 160 cases were submitted in molecular investigation for detecting the BRAF V600E proto-oncogene.Results: The overall diagnostic accuracy was 95,05%, with 89,81% and 98,92% sensitivity and specificity, respectively . The Kappa Statistics test correlating the reports between two observers showed that, there is an almost perfect agreement (p0.01). Ιmmunoreactivity was observed >80% in cases of papillary carcinoma for Ck 19, HBME-1, and Galectin-3. Immunostain for calcitonin was positive 100% in cases of medullary carcinoma. The BRAF mutation was detected in 54,83% and 77.33% of patients with borderline and malignant cytological diagnosis respectively, concerning papillary carcinoma.Conclusions: According to our study, LBC method by the presence of stable cell morphology in smears, provides reproducibility of the morphological criteria, promotes objectification of the diagnostic process, showing also a high overall accuracy. Moreover, the possibility of performing ancillary techniques in the samples, enhances the diagnostic role of thyroid FNA, contributing decisively in the appropriate management of nodular thyroid lesions in a General Hospital.Key Words: thyroid, thyroid carcinoma, fine-needle aspiration, cytopathology, histopathology, reporting system, reproducibility, liquid based cytology.Εισαγωγή : Η παρακέντηση με λεπτή βελόνα του θυρεοειδούς, θεωρείται υψίστης σημασίας για την επιλογή των ασθενών που χρήζουν θυρεοειδεκτομής. Η κυτταρολογική αξιολόγηση στηρίζεται κατά περιπτώσεις σε υποκειμενικά κριτήρια, δεδομένου ότι μετρητικές διαδικασίες δεν έχουν εισαχθεί στην καθημερινή διαγνωστική πρακτική, στα επιχρίσματα που παρασκευάζονται με τη συμβατική τεχνική επίστρωσης.Σκοπός : Στην παρούσα μελέτη διερευνήθηκαν οι δυνατότητες της μεθόδου κυτταρολογίας υγρής φάσης σε υλικό παρακέντησης με λεπτή βελόνη (FNA) όζων του θυρεοειδούς αδένα. Η αντικειμενοποίηση της διαγνωστικής διαδικασίας και η παροχή αξιόπιστης προεγχειρητικής διαγνωστικής πρότασης για τον σχεδιασμό της κατάλληλης αντιμετώπισης των ασθενών, αποτέλεσε τον σκοπό της μελέτης μας.Υλικό και μέθοδοι: Μελετήθηκαν 500 ασθενείς 13 έως 85 ετών (μέση τιμή: 48,95 έτη) με διάμετρο όζων από 0,5 εκ έως 5 εκ (μέση τιμή 1,66 εκ). Οι περιπτώσεις επιλέχθηκαν με κριτήριο την ύπαρξη ιστολογικής επιβεβαίωσης από ένα σύνολο 4208 ασθενών που υποβλήθηκαν σε FNA υπό υπερηχογραφική καθοδήγηση (US-FNA) από το 2005 μέχρι το 2011. Τα επιχρίσματα παρασκευάστηκαν σύμφωνα με την τεχνική ThinPrep® και εχρώσθησαν κατά Παπανικολάου. Οι μορφολογικοί χαρακτήρες αξιολογήθηκαν από δύο τουλάχιστον έμπειρους παρατηρητές, εφαρμόζοντας τη διαγνωστική ταξινόμηση του συστήματος κατά Bethesda (TBSRTC). Τα μικροσκοπικά ευρήματα που αφορούσαν την κυτταρικότητα, τους πυρηνικούς και κυτταροπλασματικούς χαρακτήρες, την αρχιτεκτονική των κυτταρικών αθροίσεων και το υπόστρωμα καταγράφηκαν σε ηλεκτρονική βάση δεδομένων. Οι ασθενείς υποδιαιρέθηκαν σε τρείς κατηγορίες ανάλογα με την ιστολογική διάγνωση. Εγινε συσχέτιση κυτταρολογικής-ιστολογικής διάγνωσης. Η αναπαραγωγιμότητα των διαγνωστικών κριτηρίων αναλύθηκε στατιστικά. Επιπλέον, σε επιλεγμένες περιπτώσεις, υπολογίστηκε η δυνατότητα εφαρμογής επικουρικών μεθόδων στο υλικό που παρέμενε στο φιαλίδιο, εκτιμώντας ανοσοκυτταροχημικά την έκφραση τεσσάρων μονοκλωνικών αντισωμάτων και διερευνώντας μοριακά το ογκογονίδιο BRAF.Αποτελέσματα: Η διαγνωστική ακρίβεια της μεθόδου ήταν 95,05%, με ευαισθησία και ειδικότητα 89,81% 98,92%., αντίστοιχα. Η δοκιμασία με Kappa Statistics για τη συσχέτιση των αποτελεσμάτων μεταξύ των δύο παρατηρητών έδειξε ότι υπάρχει εξαιρετική συμφωνία (p0.01). Παρατηρήθηκε ανοσοθετικότητα >80% για το θηλώδες καρκίνωμα σε Ck 19, HBME-1, και Galectin-3 και 100% για το μυελοειδές καρκίνωμα στο αντίσωμα calcitonin. Σε 160 επιλεγμένες περιπτώσεις, ανιχνεύτηκε η μεταλλαγή του ογκογονιδίου BRAF V600E, κατά 54,83% και 77,33% σε ασθενείς με αμφίβολη και κακοήθη κυτταρολογική διάγνωση, αντίστοιχα, αφορώντας το θηλώδες καρκίνωμα.Συμπεράσματα: Η παρουσία σταθερών κυτταρικών χαρακτηριστικών στα επιχρίσματα υγρής φάσης, προσφέρει σημαντική δυνατότητα αναπαραγωγιμότητας των μορφολογικών κριτηρίων, προάγει την αντικειμενοποίηση της διαγνωστικής διαδικασίας και παρέχει υψηλή διαγνωστική ακρίβεια. Παράλληλα, η δυνατότητα εφαρμογής επικουρικών τεχνικών στο δείγμα, ενισχύει τον διαγνωστικό ρόλο της FNA θυρεοειδούς, συμβάλλοντας αποφασιστικά στην αντιμετώπιση ασθενών γενικού νοσοκομείου, με οζώδεις παθήσεις του θυρεοειδούς αδένα

Social Media Monitoring: An Innovative Intelligent Approach

Digital marketers have a range of tools at their disposal for understanding customers and prospects on social media. These tools allow for better social media monitoring and analysis through the provision of vital insights. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to such analysis enables for marketing tasks automation, accuracy improvement and human efforts reduction. In this respect, this paper proposes an AI-powered social media monitoring platform, which has been designed with an innovative approach, towards enabling digital marketers to better understand customers with intelligent insights in a manner like never before. The proposed platform helps by analyzing insights for effective online reputation management and competitors monitoring. In addition, this paper elaborates on contributions in respect to social media monitoring issues, mentions analysis uncovering knowledge, smarter insights and personalized advice to help in improving brands web and social presence, negative and positive conversations, competitors analysis ensuring brands are on top of the marketing game and social media strategy improvement

On the Evaluation of a Cluster-based Reputation Assessment Mechanism for Carpooling Applications

Carpooling is a mobility concept that appears to be the answer when it comes to challenges in urban mobility derived by population growth. In carpooling, the same amount of people move with fewer vehicles leading to reduced traffic congestion and consequently to less CO2 emissions, fuel consumption and drivers frustration. However, there has always been scepticism around carpooling due to the inherent mistrust between drivers and passengers. In recent years, some reputation systems have been proposed to reduce the impact of mistrust on carpooling applications. Among them, the work of Salamanis et al. (Salamanis, 2018), in which a reputation assessment mechanism based on clustering users travel preferences, was introduced. In this paper, we provide an extended version of the previous mechanism and we thoroughly evaluate its robustness in relation with different types of malicious attacks and clustering algorithms. In addition, we compare our mechanism with a benchmarking reputation system that utilizes the simple arithmetic mean to calculate reputation values based on users ratings. The evaluation results indicate that the extended reputation assessment mechanism exhibits more robust behavior compared to the benchmarking system in all types of attacks when using the hierarchical clustering algorithm