Brand authenticity : meditating authentic experiences through brand communication

Brand authenticity is considered as a core element in the contemporary brand management, but its theory and practice are still surrounded with varying point of views and lack of consensus. In the previous academic research, it has been stated that brand authenticity has positive impact on brand equity and overall reputation as people have an innate desire for authenticity. At an increasing rate, consumers are seeking products that resonate with their desire of authenticity and opine that the existence for the real or genuine have been denied from them. Mezcal is a distilled alcoholic beverage produced from fermented agave juice. Mezcal forms a part of Mexican culture and has deeply entwined roots in the country’s history. By researching mezcal brands, the purpose of this study is to describe how brand authenticity can be mediated in brand communication. The purpose is subsequently divided into four sub-questions: 1. What are the strategical level requirements for brand authenticity? 2. What cues implicate brand authenticity? 3. What signs convey brand authenticity? and 4. How the different signs of authenticity can be interpreted? This study aims to arouse relevant and critical ideas about branding by exploring the actual and potential contributions of brand authenticity communication with semiotic perspective. The study was conducted with qualitative mixed method research by combining semiotic content analysis and poetic inquiry. In total of 49 mezcal brands were examined and both visual and textual authenticity cues are collected. Derived from the prior research on brand authenticity, four strategic level requirements are predominant in constructing and maintaining an authentic brand strategy; purpose, genuineness, consistency and product orientation and the cues that implicate brand authenticity are downplaying commercial motives, craftsmanship, heritage and history, artistry and appealing to lifestyle. By evaluating these cues that are communicated through varying signs, the viewer performs unconsciously an assessment of the brand thus either allowing or denying the authenticity. Based on the research, a brand authenticity syntagma-paradigm was formed to better understand the semiotic levels and practices of brand authenticity communication. Evidently, brand authenticity can be communicated in multiple ways in hidden subliminal messages or presented explicitly throughout brand communication. With different brand authenticity signs, it is possible to create rich, multi-dimensional experiences with consumers and resonate with them in deeper levels

Substance use, affective symptoms, and suicidal ideation among Russian, Somali, and Kurdish migrants in Finland

Comorbidity of substance use with affective symptoms and suicidality has been well documented in the general population. However, population-based migrant studies about this association are scarce. We examined the association of affective symptoms and suicidal ideation with binge drinking, daily smoking, and lifetime cannabis use among Russian, Somali, and Kurdish migrants in comparison with the Finnish general population. Cross-sectional data from the Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study (Maamu, n?=?1307) and comparison group data of the general Finnish population (n?=?860) from the Health 2011 Survey were used. Substance use included self-reported current binge drinking, daily smoking, and lifetime cannabis use. Affective symptoms and suicidal ideation were measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25). We performed multivariate logistic regression analyses, including age, gender, and additional socio-demographic and migration-related factors. Suicidal ideation (OR 2.4 95% CI 1.3?4.3) was associated with binge drinking among Kurds and lifetime cannabis use among Russians (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.9?17.0) and Kurds (OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.9?15.6). Affective symptoms were associated with daily smoking (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.02?2.6) and lifetime cannabis use (OR 6.1, 95% CI 2.6?14.5) among Kurdish migrants. Our results draw attention to the co-occurrence of suicidal ideation, affective symptoms, and substance use, especially among Kurdish migrants. These results highlight the variation of comorbidity of substance use and affective symptoms between the different populations. This implies that screening for substance use in mental healthcare cannot be neglected based on presumed habits of substance use.Peer reviewe

A test of the effort equalization hypothesis in children with cerebral palsy who have an asymmetric gait

Healthy people can walk nearly effortlessly thanks to their instinctively adaptive gait patterns that tend to minimize metabolic energy consumption. However, the economy of gait is severely impaired in many neurological disorders such as stroke or cerebral palsy (CP). Moreover, self-selected asymmetry of impaired gait does not seem to unequivocally coincide with the minimal energy cost, suggesting the presence of other adaptive origins. Here, we used hemiparetic CP gait as a model to test the hypothesis that pathological asymmetric gait patterns are chosen to equalize the relative muscle efforts between the affected and unaffected limbs. We determined the relative muscle efforts for the ankle and knee extensors by relating extensor joint moments during gait to maximum moments obtained from all-out hopping reference test. During asymmetric CP gait, the unaffected limb generated greater ankle (1.36 +/- 0.15 vs 1.17 +/- 0.16 Nm/kg, p = 0.002) and knee (0.74 +/- 0.33 vs 0.44 +/- 0.19 Nm/kg, p = 0.007) extensor moments compared with the affected limb. Similarly, the maximum moment generation capacity was greater in the unaffected limb versus the affected limb (ankle extensors: 1.81 +/- 0.39 Nm/kg vs 1.51 +/- 0.34 Nm/kg, p = 0.033; knee extensors: 1.83 +/- 0.37 Nm/kg vs 1.34 +/- 0.38 Nm/kg, p = 0.021) in our force reference test. As a consequence, no differences were found in the relative efforts between unaffected and affected limb ankle extensors (77 +/- 12% vs 80 +/- 16%, p = 0.69) and knee extensors (41 +/- 17% vs 38 +/- 23%, p = 0.54). In conclusion, asymmetric CP gait resulted in similar relative muscle efforts between affected and unaffected limbs. The tendency for effort equalization may thus be an important driver of self-selected gait asymmetry patterns, and consequently advantageous for preventing fatigue of the weaker affected side musculature.Peer reviewe

The effect of mechanical and thermal stresses on the performance of lubricated icephobic coatings during cyclic icing/deicing tests

Evaluating the performance of icephobic coatings interests various industries, such as aviation, maritime, energy, and transportation. Recent developments on icephobic coatings have consistently highlighted the need for durable icephobic surfaces in cold conditions. This study investigates the icing performance and durability of lubricated polymer coatings under cyclic icing/deicing tests. Coatings were made of polyethylene and a solid lubricant and manufactured using flame spray technology. Icing was performed by accreting ice in an icing wind tunnel. Deicing was conducted by removing ice with a centrifugal ice adhesion tester. Surface properties, such as surface morphology, roughness, wettability and chemical composition, were measured before and after the cyclic tests. The results showed stable icephobic behaviour for some coatings, while the performance of others decreased over the cycles. The cyclic tests caused mechanical damage to the surfaces, producing erosion, scratches and, for some coatings, surface cracks. These defects resulted in increased surface roughness and reduced hydrophobicity. However, no chemical changes were revealed for any of the surfaces. Moreover, the causes of cracks were attributed to the difference in thermal expansion behaviour of substrate and coating materials. This result highlights the importance of materials and process parameters selection in flame sprayed coatings designed for cold applications.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

The prevalence of substance use among Russian, Somali and Kurdish migrants in Finland: a population-based study

Background Substance use is a well-known public health problem, but population-based research on migrants’ substance use in Europe is limited. Factors related to the cultural background and current life situation might influence substance use among migrants. Here, the prevalence of substance use in Russian, Somali and Kurdish migrants in Finland is reported in comparison with the general population, and the associations between substance use and socio-economic and migration-related background factors among migrants are analysed.MethodsCross-sectional data from the Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study (Maamu) and comparison group data of the general Finnish population (n = 1165) from the Health 2011 Survey were used. The survey participants were of Russian (n = 702), Somali (n = 512), and Kurdish (n = 632) origin. Substance use included self-reported alcohol use within previous 12 months (AUDIT-C questionnaire), current and lifetime daily smoking and lifetime use of cannabis and intravenous drugs.ResultsBinge drinking was less prevalent among all migrant groups than in the general Finnish population (Russian men 65%, p p p p p p = 0.04) and Kurdish (29%, p ConclusionsBinge drinking is less common among migrants than in the Finnish general population. However, current daily smoking was more prevalent among Russian and Kurdish migrant men compared with the general population. Younger age, level of education, employment, duration of residence in Finland and language proficiency were associated with binge drinking and daily smoking with varying patterns of association depending on the migrant group and gender. These findings draw attention to the variation in substance use habits among migrant populations.</p

Use of benzodiazepine and related drugs in migrants and Finnish-born persons: a nationwide register-based study

Aims: Benzodiazepines and related drugs (BZDR) are often used longer than generally recommended. The aim is to study patterns of use among migrant and Finnish-born users of BZDR, and to identify factors that are associated with long-term use and BZDR polytherapy. Methods: This register-based study includes a nationwide sample of migrants (n=8729) and their Finnish-born controls (n=11 388) who had purchased BZDR in 2011-2014, but not in 2009-2010. Information on drug purchases was obtained from the National Prescription Register and the duration of drug use was estimated using PRE2DUP method. The main outcomes were long-term use of BZDR, polytherapy and time until discontinuation of BZDR use. Sociodemographic variables and information on preceding psychiatric diagnoses were included as covariates. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were the statistical methods used. Results: Only migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa were more likely to discontinue the medication once initiated than Finnish-born users. Migrants were significantly less likely to be long-term users (adjusted odds ratio 0.79, 95% CI 0.70-0.89) or polytherapy users (aOR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84-0.97) of BZDR compared with Finnish-born participants. Conclusions: Migrants had less long-term and concomitant use of several BZDR than Finnish-born participants. The pattern of use is more optimal among migrants, but it may also reflect poorer access to mental health treatment.</p

Pre-migration traumatic experiences, post-migration perceived discrimination and substance use among Russian and Kurdish migrants-a population-based study

Background and aimsThe associations between traumatic events, substance use and perceived discrimination have been rarely studied among migrants in host countries. We examined whether pre‐migration potentially traumatic experiences (PTEs) or perceived discrimination (PD) are associated with substance use among migrants with voluntary (Russians) and forced (Kurds) migration backgrounds.DesignCross‐sectional interview and health examination data from the Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study were used. The target sample (n = 1000 for each group) was drawn from the national population register using stratified random sampling by participants’ country of birth and native language.SettingPopulation‐based data were collected from six cities in Finland during 2010–12.ParticipantsThe participation rates were 68% (Russians) and 59% (Kurds). The analytical sample size varied (Russians n = 442–687, Kurds n = 459–613), as some participants completed only interview, health examination or short interview. The majority of Kurds had a refugee background (75%) while Russians had mainly migrated for other reasons (99%).MeasurementsThe three main outcomes were self‐reported binge drinking, daily smoking and life‐time cannabis use. PTEs and PD were self‐reported in the interview. Socio‐demographic background, migration‐related factors and current affective symptoms were adjusted for.FindingsAmong Kurds, PTEs were associated with binge drinking [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.30–5.42] and PD was associated with life‐time cannabis use (aOR = 3.89, 95% CI = 1.38–10.97) after adjusting for contextual factors. Among Russians, PTEs were associated with life‐time cannabis use adjusting for contextual factors (aOR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.12–4.18).ConclusionsIn Finland, pre‐migration traumatic experiences appear to be associated with life‐time cannabis use among the Russian migrant population (voluntary migration) and binge drinking among the Kurdish migrant population (forced migration). Perceived discrimination in Finland appears to be associated with life‐time cannabis use among Kurdish migrants.</div

Rhinoviruses in infancy and risk of immunoglobulin E sensitization

Previous data about the role of viruses in the development of allergic immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization are contradictory. The aim of this study was to determine the possible associations between exposure to different viruses (rhinovirus, enterovirus, norovirus, and parechovirus) during the first year of life and IgE sensitization. Viruses were analyzed from stool samples collected monthly from infants participating in a prospective birth cohort study. From that study, 244 IgE sensitized case children and 244 nonsensitized control children were identified based on their allergen-specific IgE antibody levels at the age of 6, 18, and 36 months. Stool samples (n = 4576) from the case and control children were screened for the presence of rhinovirus, enterovirus, norovirus, and parechovirus RNA by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The study showed that rhinovirus was the most prevalent virus detected, present in 921 (20%) samples. None of the viruses were associated with IgE sensitization in the full cohort but after stratifying by sex, the number of rhinovirus positive samples was inversely associated with IgE sensitization in boys (odds ratio [OR]: 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69-0.94; P = 0.006). There was also a temporal relation between rhinoviruses and IgE sensitization, as rhinovirus exposure during the first 6 months of life was associated with a reduced risk of subsequent IgE sensitization in boys (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.6-0.94; P = 0.016). In conclusion, early exposure to rhinoviruses was inversely associated with IgE sensitization but this protective association was restricted to boys.Peer reviewe

European Society of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Disease Statistics 2019

Aims The 2019 report from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Atlas provides a contemporary analysis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) statistics across 56 member countries, with particular emphasis on international inequalities in disease burden and healthcare delivery together with estimates of progress towards meeting 2025 World Health Organization (WHO) non-communicable disease targets. Methods and results In this report, contemporary CVD statistics are presented for member countries of the ESC. The statistics are drawn from the ESC Atlas which is a repository of CVD data from a variety of sources including the WHO, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, and the World Bank. The Atlas also includes novel ESC sponsored data on human and capital infrastructure and cardiovascular healthcare delivery obtained by annual survey of the national societies of ESC member countries. Across ESC member countries, the prevalence of obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) and diabetes has increased two- to three-fold during the last 30 years making the WHO 2025 target to halt rises in these risk factors unlikely to be achieved. More encouraging have been variable declines in hypertension, smoking, and alcohol consumption but on current trends only the reduction in smoking from 28% to 21% during the last 20 years appears sufficient for the WHO target to be achieved. The median age-standardized prevalence of major risk factors was higher in middle-income compared with high-income ESC member countries for hypertension {23.8% [interquartile range (IQR) 22.5–23.1%] vs. 15.7% (IQR 14.5–21.1%)}, diabetes [7.7% (IQR 7.1–10.1%) vs. 5.6% (IQR 4.8–7.0%)], and among males smoking [43.8% (IQR 37.4–48.0%) vs. 26.0% (IQR 20.9–31.7%)] although among females smoking was less common in middle-income countries [8.7% (IQR 3.0–10.8) vs. 16.7% (IQR 13.9–19.7%)]. There were associated inequalities in disease burden with disability-adjusted life years per 100 000 people due to CVD over three times as high in middle-income [7160 (IQR 5655–8115)] compared with high-income [2235 (IQR 1896–3602)] countries. Cardiovascular disease mortality was also higher in middle-income countries where it accounted for a greater proportion of potential years of life lost compared with high-income countries in both females (43% vs. 28%) and males (39% vs. 28%). Despite the inequalities in disease burden across ESC member countries, survey data from the National Cardiac Societies of the ESC showed that middle-income member countries remain severely under-resourced compared with high-income countries in terms of cardiological person-power and technological infrastructure. Under-resourcing in middle-income countries is associated with a severe procedural deficit compared with high-income countries in terms of coronary intervention, device implantation and cardiac surgical procedures. Conclusion A seemingly inexorable rise in the prevalence of obesity and diabetes currently provides the greatest challenge to achieving further reductions in CVD burden across ESC member countries. Additional challenges are provided by inequalities in disease burden that now require intensification of policy initiatives in order to reduce population risk and prioritize cardiovascular healthcare delivery, particularly in the middle-income countries of the ESC where need is greatest

Leikkaussalin tarkistuslistan hyödyt ja käyttöönotto : Kirjallisuuskatsaus

Maailman terveysjärjestö (WHO) kehitti eri alojen asiantuntijoiden kanssa Safe Surgery Saves Lives -ohjelman, jonka tuotoksena luotiin leikkaussalin tarkistuslista. Tämän kirjallisuuskatsauksena tehdyn opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena oli selvittää Pirkanmaan sairaanhoitopiirille mitä hyötyjä leikkaussalin tarkistuslistan käyttöönotosta on ollut tähän mennessä. Tämän lisäksi selvitettiin, miten tarkistuslista on vaikuttanut leikkaustiimien välisiin työskentelytapoihin. Tehtävänä oli myös selvittää erilaisia keinoja tarkistuslistan käyttöönoton helpottamiseksi leikkausosastolla. Aineisto koostui 18 tutkimuksesta ja artikkelista, jotka haimme systemaattisen tiedonhaun perusteita noudattaen. Tutkimuksissa ja artikkeleissa nousi esiin paljon positiivisia vaikutuksia jotka liittyivät potilasturvallisuuden parantamiseen. Suurin osa tutkimuksista osoitti tarkistuslistan käytön parantaneen tiimityötä ja kommunikaatiota leikkaussalissa. Myös leikkaukseen liittyvistä kriittisistä kohdista keskusteltiin useammin etukäteen ja tulevaan leikkaukseen valmistauduttiin paremmin. Tarkistuslistan käyttö vähensi hierarkiaa ja auttoi koko tiimiä toimimaan yhdessä. Myös oleellisten asioiden, kuten leikkauspuolen, tarkistaminen tehostui jokaisen potilaan kohdalla tarkistuslistan käyttöönoton jälkeen. Tutkimusten mukaan tarkistuslistan käyttö vähensi myös komplikaatioiden ja kuolemien määrää. Tutkimuksissa nousi esiin useita esimerkkejä tarkistuslistan täytäntöönpanosta. Osassa sairaaloista lista otettiin käyttöön aluksi vain yhdessä leikkaussalissa, josta sen käyttö laajennettiin kokeilujakson jälkeen koko leikkausosastolle. Toisaalla listan käytöstä tehtiin heti pakollista. Kirurgin tulisi johtaa tarkistuslistan käyttöönottoprojektia, sillä tämän huomattiin helpottavan listan tehokasta käyttöönottoa. Keskeisimmiksi asioiksi käyttöönotossa nousivat hyvä suunnittelu, tehokas harjoittelu ja koko organisaation tuki. Työn tavoitteena oli kansainvälisistä tutkimuksista saatujen tietojen avulla helpottaa tarkistuslistan käyttöönottoa sekä motivoida leikkaussalin henkilökuntaa käyttämään listaa. Tarkistuslista on kehitetty jo joitain vuosia sitten, mutta sen käytöstä ei ole tehty vielä pitkäaikaista tutkimusta. Olisikin mielenkiintoista tietää listan vaikutuksista pitkällä aikavälillä niissä sairaaloissa, joissa sitä käytetään aktiivisesti. Myös henkilökunnan mielipiteitä listan käytöstä olisi hyvä selvittää Suomessa.World Health Organization (WHO) has implemented Safe Surgery Saves Lives challenge to improve the safety of surgical care around the world. The goal is to reduce mortality and morbidity in operating theatres. The WHO created the Surgical Safety Checklist which has 19 items to check before the surgical procedure, ensuring the patient’s safety. The purpose of this bachelor’s thesis was to research the benefits of teamwork and the implementation of the Surgical Safety Checklist. The literature review consisted of 18 reports and papers. The results showed that communication between team members improved and that there was a reduction in the perceived hierarchical power imbalance. The studies showed that using the WHO checklist benefitted the patient as it provided a structured approach for health care professionals to systematically check and document all aspects of care for each patient. However, almost each study in this review showed that there are different approaches to facilitate and implement the checklist. The aim of this thesis was to facilitate the implementation of the checklist and to motivate the operating room personnel to use it. Even though the checklist has been implemented a couple of years ago there are no long term studies suggesting overall benefit to the patient’s well-being. It would also be interesting to know how the care professionals working in operating theatres in Finland feel about the use of the checklist