This article analyses the impact of electoral institutions on the re-election campaigning and outreach strategies of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on the Twitter social media platform. Social media offers politicians a means to contact voters remotely and at low cost. We test the effect of diverse national proportional representation electoral institutions in European elections on a possible online electoral connection. We draw upon an original dataset of MEP Twitter activity before, during, and after the 2014 European elections. Our results confirm that variation in electoral institutions leads to meaningful differentiation in MEP social media campaigning, which is further affected by national party, voter and MEP characteristics. MEPs make constructive use of Twitter, but there is no sustained online electoral connection.

This article examines the assignment of legislative rapporteurships to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Original data sources are used to test the assumption that committee reports are routinely awarded to MEPs with higher levels of education and seniority at the European level. The hypotheses are supported by an extensive multivariate regression analysis, which also demonstrates the increasing value of rapporteurships, following the initiation of Parliament's veto player status under co-decision. The article surpasses existing accounts of committee work in the European Parliament to include data on the individual balance of legislative power for the legislature's full

Group coordinators are part of a highly influential circle of members of the European Parliament (MEPs). However, there is only scant knowledge about the powers and purpose of this position. This article draws upon theories of legislative organization and committee assignments to assess the question: What individual qualities determine the selection of group coordinators? Using a novel dataset of all MEPs elected to the 8th session of the European Parliament (EP), we consider various aspects of MEP professional background, experience in the chamber and interest group ties as potential predictors of this selection. Our findings indicate the particularly strong effect of incumbency in the committee system, as well as professional background for selection. Ultimately, the results bear relevance to the legislative organization of the EP as a legislature with both strong committees and strong parties.

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of different clamping strategies during CABG on the incidence of postoperative stroke. Methods In this case-control study, all patients at Emory hospitals from 2002–2009 with postoperative stroke after isolated CABG (N=141) were matched 1:4 to a contemporaneous cohort of patients without postoperative stroke (N=565). Patients were matched according to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Predicted Risk of Postoperative Stroke (PROPS), which is based on 26 variables. On- (ONCAB) and off-pump (OPCAB) patients were matched separately. Multiple logistic regression analysis with adjusted odds ratios (OR) was performed to identify operative variables associated with postoperative stroke. Results Among the ONCAB cohort, the single cross-clamp technique was associated with a decreased risk of stroke compared to the double clamp (cross clamp + partial clamp) technique (OR=0.385, p=0.044). Within the OPCAB cohort, there was no significant difference in stroke according to clamp use. Epiaortic ultrasound of the ascending aorta increased from 45.3% in 2002 to 89.4% in 2009. From 2002–2009, clamp use decreased from 97.7% of cases to 72.7%. Conclusions During ONCAB, the use of a single cross-clamp compared to the double clamp technique decreases the risk of postoperative stroke. The use of any aortic clamp has decreased and epiaortic ultrasound use has increased from 2002–2009, indicating a change in operative technique and surgeon awareness of the potential complications associated with manipulation of the aorta.

Long-term endoscopic confirmation of frontal ostium patency demonstrates that endoscopic frontal sinusotomy can yield high quality, durable results. There was no significant difference in patency results between ECRS and non-ECRS patients. Laryngoscope, 2009.