Political travel across the ‘Iron Curtain’ and Communist youth identities in West Germany and Greece in the 1970s and 1980s

This article explores tours through the Iron Curtain arranged by West German and Greek pro-Soviet Communist youth groups, in an attempt to shed light on the transformation of European youth cultures beyond the ‘Americanisation’ story. It argues that the concept of the ‘black box’, employed by Rob Kroes to describe the influence of American cultural patterns on Western European youth, also applies to the reception of Eastern Bloc policies and norms by the Communists under study. Such selective reception was part of these groups’ efforts to devise a modernity alternative to the ‘capitalist’ one, an alternative modernity which tours across the Iron Curtain would help establish. Nevertheless, the organisers did not wish such travel to help eliminate American/Western influences on youth lifestyles entirely: the article analyses the excursions’ aims with regard to two core components of youth lifestyles in Western Europe since the 1960s, which have been affected by intra-Western flows, the spirit of ‘doing one’s own thing’ and transformations of sexual practices. The article also addresses the experience of the travellers in question, showing that they felt an unresolved tension: the tours neither served as a means of Sovietisation nor as an impulse to develop an openly anti-Soviet stance.PostprintPeer reviewe

Axial length measurement acquisition rates of two optical biometers in cataractous eyes

Alice EpitropoulosThe Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USAPurpose: To compare the ability of two optical biometers to acquire the axial length (AL) measurement in cataractous eyes.Methods: This prospective, comparative, single-center study comprised 105 eyes (63 patients). AL was acquired by the composite mean value of 20 measurements (composite-20 IM) and five measurements (composite-5 IM) (IOLMaster® 500 version 7.1 software), and the standard mean value of the first five measurements (standard-5 LS, Lenstar LS 900®). Anterior chamber depth (ACD) and average keratometry (K) readings were acquired. Results: AL was acquired in 83.8%, 92.4%, and 84.8% of eyes for the composite-5 IM, composite-20 IM, and standard-5 LS, respectively. Standard-5 LS AL measurements were significantly shorter (P<0.001). IOLMaster® 500-acquired ACD (corneal epithelium to lens) measurements were significantly shorter (P<0.001). IOLMaster® 500 average K measurements were significantly steeper (P<0.001). Conclusion: The composite-20 IM had the highest AL acquisition success rate of the three versions evaluated. AL, ACD, and average Ks were statistically different between the two biometers, although the differences were clinically insignificant.Keywords: cataract, biometry, IOL power calculatio

Sport tourism on the islands: The impact of an international mega golf event

Islands may differ economically and socially from mainland areas and often suffer problems of insularity and vulnerability. However, they also experience certain benefits from their geographically different location, unique cultures, and international investment. In recent times, a number of successful international sporting events have been organised as a means of supporting an island's sustainable development. These sporting events have been based on close cooperation between the public and the international private sector in the areas of strategic planning and marketing. This paper will discuss a successful strategic sports marketing event that was held on Jeju Island, Korea - the US Professional Golf Association (PGA) Tour event, which was entitled, 'Korea Golf Championship'. First, the paper will discuss the major characteristics of islands that encourage sport tourism development. Second, research studies supporting sports tourism will be reviewed from a golf tourism perspective as a strategic niche market for island development. Third, an overall analysis will be conducted of this event that will cover all aspects in terms of the success or failure of the first US PGA tour that was held outside the United States of America