Search

The purpose of this article is to describe a multidisciplinary approach implemented in teaching public policy analysis at university level. The approach fuses (a) contextual policy analysis with (b) bivariate and multivariate analysis techniques and (c) data analytics skills to improve the learners' competence to conduct "decisional" policy analysis. The teaching subject matter was based on European Union policies and Eurostat data and delivered over a period of 3 years in a semester course and summer school formats. The multidisciplinary fusion generated strong interest among learners and participants from various backgrounds and skill levels. At the end of the course, even those with little or no previous exposure in at least one of the teaching topics were able to quickly grasp the "big picture" and explore their newly acquired knowledge with their own analyses. As a whole, this is an educational design where the multidisciplinary fusion is instrumented in the scope of a single course, not as the combination of different courses in a curriculum. The outcome is a viable and contemporary way to sidestep the quantitative-qualitative analysis divide (where applicable) and help learners gain valuable insight into how seemingly different subjects eventually fuse into applicable knowledge. The multidisciplinary synergy that instigated the course design was mirrored in research effort by the authors leading to publishable work, suggesting that the approach can be adopted and adapted to foster or enhance multidisciplinary research efforts. Similar educational designs can be used in existing curricula to bridge seemingly "distant" subjects and improve the comprehension of how seemingly "distant" subjects relate to each other. As in the case described, in curricula where such subjects already exist, the "raw" expertise is already present and can be readily utilized.

The study examines the impacts of climate change and sea level rise on coastal aquifers, focusing on the influence of the components of the water cycle on seawater intrusion, and the evolution of the phenomenon in the future. The simulation of coastal water resources was performed using an integrated modeling system (IMS), designed for agricultural coastal watersheds, which consists of inter-connected models of surface hydrology (UTHBAL), groundwater hydrology (MODFLOW), and seawater intrusion (SEAWAT). Climatic models for the adverse impact scenario (RCP8.5) and the medium impact scenario (RCP4.5) of climate change were used. Transient boundary head conditions were set to the coastal boundary, to dynamically represent the rise in sea level due to climate change. The response of groundwater in the coastal Almyros Basin, located in central Greece, was simulated from 1991 to 2100. The findings indicate that seawater intrusion will be advanced in the future, in both climate change scenarios. The models show varying patterns in groundwater recharge, with varying uncertainty projected into the future, and sensitivity to time in the fluctuation of the components of the water cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air cargo significantly contributes to trade, bridging the gap between production and consumption in a timely and reliable manner. The specific industry is a complex system, participating many players and requiring many documents and actions. Greece's economic growth is highly dependent on the exportation and import of goods. The current study intends to analyse the Greek air cargo industry, implementing a more holistic approach, identifying the main problems and challenges, and making useful recommendations. In-depth focus group discussion with the participation of twelve (12) experts (n=12) and observation applied to collect the required information. The main findings present the high level of bureaucracy, the lack of cooperation between the partners and the use of technology that caused significant problems in the industry's performance, while some effective interventions were proposed. The study provides useful insights to the related practitioners, policy-makers and academicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Greek secondary education system lacks a formal crisis management system. The purpose of this paper is to address this problem as follows: elicit current crisis management practices, outline features for designing a formal crisis management system in Greece. Design/methodology/approach: The research is based on a survey conducted with the directors of secondary education and the interpretation of the survey results. Due to the echelon structure of secondary education the directors are experienced educators with plenty of experience. They are in a unique setting to be able to combine the managerial perspective with field experience, both of which are important for managing crises. Findings: First, events of sociopolitical nature are considered as important crisis triggers. Second, there is tendency to expect extended involvement of the state. Third despite the lack of a formal system, current practices are relevant and tend to mimic formal systems. Research limitations/implications: In practice the lack of a formal system does not impede crisis management to be applied in secondary education units. Originality/value: There is no other survey on crisis management at the directors' level that we are aware of. The findings outline existing practices from a tactical perspective, and can serve as a guide for designing a formal crisis management system that is suited for secondary education in Greece.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the differential relationships between five dimensions of motivational climate and achievement goals, as the latter have been conceptualized by the revised achievement goal theory. Adolescents (N = 336, M age = 13.45 years, SD = 1.04) participating in a summer camp in southern Greece took part in the study. The participants completed the Approach Avoidance Achievement Goal Questionnaire (AAAGQ; measuring mastery, performance-approach and performance-avoidance goals, as conceptualized by Elliot, 1997), and the Learning and Performance Orientations in Physical Education Classes Questionnaire (LAPOPECQ; measuring five dimensions of task- and ego-involving motivational climate). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that, after controlling for age and gender, the dimensions of motivational climate predicted achievement goals differently. Specifically, the students' learning orientation dimension was the strongest predictor of mastery goals, the students' competitive orientation dimension was the strongest predictor of performance-approach goals, while the worries about mistakes dimension was the largest predictor of performance-avoidance goals. The findings of the present study indicate that there might be differential relationships between the dimensions of motivational climate and achievement goals in a physical education context. (Contains 5 tables.)

In Greece there is an almost total lack of special education after the primary school (6th grade). This is a descriptive study that aimed to examine social, academic and psychological characteristics of secondary school students with a history of special placement during primary school. It compared 86 students with a placement (group A) with their 1284 schoolmates with no such placement history (group B) with respect to scores on School Adjustment Scale, Academic Motivation Self-Rating Inventory and Youth Self-Report. Group A presented more family social, academic and psychological problems such as: One-parent family, lower socioeconomic status, poor adjustment, low motivation and (especially for boys) high internalizing and externalizing scores. The high rates of failure and dropout of these students indicate that in Greece there is a need to set up appropriate services to help secondary school students with learning difficulties.

Recent literature argues that with ever‐increasing levels of supranational constraints governments have less 'room to manoeuvre'; therefore, voters will place less weight on policy outcomes in their voting decisions. The question that remains less explored is how voters fill this accountability gap. We argue that, in this context, voters may move away from outcome‐ to input‐oriented voting. Fulfilling their promises becomes less vital for incumbents as long as they exhibit effort to overturn an unpopular policy framework. We test this argument against a survey experiment conducted in the run‐up to the September 2015 election in Greece, where we find a positive impact of the incumbent's exerted effort to challenge the status quo of austerity on vote intention for SYRIZA – the senior coalition government partner at the time – despite the failed outcome of the government's bailout negotiations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Epanomi gas field discovery during the 1980s at the eastern fringe of the Thermaikos Basin in Northern Greece proved the existence of an active petroleum system in the area. Seismic and drilling exploration programs in the area provide data to study the Cenozoic clastic sequence in the Thermaikos Basin. This study aims to recognize, through core and well-log data, the wide range of facies associations from different depositional environments, which contribute to the basin fill. Additional wells from the Kassandra and Epanomi onshore areas support the conclusions of this study. A detailed core description, a cuttings evaluation, and a log analysis of selected wells were the main tools for the facies association analysis. Seismic data from the area were used to identify the lateral extension of the depositional environments in the areas between and around the wells. The Eocene–Oligocene part of the stratigraphic succession corresponds to deep-water turbidites in the middle of the basin, passing laterally to a shallow marine and locally to fluvial, alluvial, and deltaic settings. The dominant (in terms of thickness) Miocene interval consists of fluvial and shallow marine sediments, while deltaic deposits are also present. The Quaternary deposits are mostly shallow marine, with local lagoonal sediments. The reservoir properties were integrated at the last stages of the study in order to identify the most interesting facies. The outcome of this study can be useful for hydrocarbon exploration or for potential future CO2 storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A risk analysis framework is proposed for the optimum remediation of a contaminated aquifer under hydrogeological uncertainty. The limited information and the spatial variation of hydraulic conductivity in a real-world large-scale aquifer create uncertain conditions for decision-making when remediation schemes ought to be accompanied by the minimum possibility of failure. The primary concern is focused on safeguarding public health when groundwater is used for urban drinking purposes from a contaminated aquifer. The proposed framework is based on the conjunctive use of stochastic simulation–optimization modelling followed up by a risk analysis application on remediation trade-offs. The framework includes three main steps/procedures: (i) the model formulation of multiple realizations of groundwater flow and contaminant transport, (ii) the optimal positioning and operation of the clean-up wells determined by the method of stochastic optimization, and (iii) the risk analysis of the optimum remediation strategies through a proposed decision model, so as the one with the minimum cost and risk of failure is chosen as the most appropriate. The proposed framework is tested for two scenarios of nitrogen fertilizer application in the cultivated areas. The strategic target is the groundwater nitrate concentration minimization in an area where exceedances of nitrate concentrations have been observed and water supply wells have been operating for the last twenty years satisfying domestic needs. The results demonstrate that, when decision-making is under hydrogeological uncertainty, the combined use of stochastic optimization and risk-based decision analysis can commend the remediation strategy with the minimum cost and the highest possibility of success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the implementation of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), this article highlights the fact that the cataloging procedures, the way records are stored, and the metadata models used during the recording, visualization, and storage of ICH expression elements, vary from country to country. Especially in these days of great uncertainty, war conflicts, and systemic risks that may arise, it is vital to clarify what techniques will be used in the storage of ICH to ensure its unhindered preservation and dissemination over time across the globe. Using the systems thinking approach indicated for cases of great complexity, the process followed in Greece for depositing a new element in its local repository is described to demonstrate the need for a well-defined process by UNESCO, which must be followed worldwide, and which has not been defined so far. What are the potential challenges not only in determining the type of data, but also in choosing the best metadata model to use in each case when capturing these data? What technologies must be used for storing digital cultural heritage in such a way that will preserve it over time, defying physical and technological hazards? This article finally suggests how blockchain technologies (BT) can be effectively used to store the global ICH and ensure its continuity in future generations by creating a decentralized worldwide network between the heritage stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vocational education in Greece has been slow to develop due to a labor market favoring low-skilled labor and a culture encouraging university education. Lack of continuity in national policy and low state financing have resulted in a system unable to deal with such crucial issues as unemployment and new technologies. (SK)

Forest fires are of critical importance in the Mediterranean region. Fire weather indices are meteorological indices that produce information about the impact as well as the characteristics of a fire event in an ecosystem and have been developed for that reason. This study explores the spatiotemporal patterns of the FWI system within a study area defined by the boundaries of the Greek state. The FWI has been calculated and studied for current and future periods using data from the CFSR reanalysis model from the National Centers for Environmental Protection (NCEP) as well as data from NASA satellite programs and the European Commission for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECWMF) in the form of netCDF files. The calculation and processing of the results were conducted in the Python programming language, and additional drought- and fire-related indices were calculated, such as the standardized precipitation index (SPI), number of consecutive 50-day dry periods (Dry50), the Fosberg fire weather index (FFWI), the days where the FWI exceeds values of 40 and 50 days (FWI > 40) and (days FWI > 50). Similar patterns can easily be noted for all indices that seem to have their higher values concentrated in the southeast of the country owing to the higher temperatures and more frequent drought events that affect the indices' behavior in both the current and future periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scope of this study is to assess the effects of agronomic and water resources management scenarios on groundwater balance, seawater intrusion, and nitrate pollution and the comparison of the developed scenarios relative to the current crop production and water management regime in the coastal agricultural Almyros basin in the Thessaly region, Greece. Agronomic and water resources scenarios have been simulated and analyzed for a period of 28 years, from 1991 to 2018. The analysis has been conducted with the use of an Integrated Modeling System for agricultural coastal watersheds, which consists of coupled and interlinked simulation models of surface water hydrology (UTHBAL), reservoir operation (UTHRL), agronomic/nitrate leaching model (REPIC), and groundwater models for the simulation of groundwater flow (MODFLOW) and contaminant transport of nitrates (MT3DMS) and chlorides (SEAWAT). The pressure on water resources has been estimated with the Water Exploitation Index (WEI+) and the reservoirs' operation with the Reliability index to cover the water demands. The indices of Crop Water Productivity, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Economic Water Productivity have been used to quantify the benefits and the feasibility of the alternative scenarios. The best results for the sustainability of water resources are achieved under the deficit irrigation and rain-fed scenario, while the best results for water resources and the local economy are achieved under deficit irrigation and reduced fertilization scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, alternative fuels are seen as a critical area of sustainable technological growth in maritime transport. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations body for maritime issues and other international bodies are in the process of amending and updating the regulations applicable to the shipping industry. Greece is ready to enter the era of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and electricity as marine fuels, as Eastern Mediterranean projects are heading towards adopting these alternative fuels. This study aims to explore the intention of the Greek stakeholders in accepting and using LNG and electricity as alternative fuels. The research objectives are to identify, analyse and evaluate the determinants that influence the intention to accept, diffuse and use alternative fuels, LNG and electricity for marine propulsion, and develop, construct and validate a hybrid model that can be used for future study. This research will clarify possible challenges or barriers to the implementation of technology by stakeholders and contribute to a deeper understanding of the green shipping network. It will also highlight the role of key players in the diffusion phase of technological innovation and the technology itself and its characteristics. Moreover, this research will suggest a unified model using the expansive Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in conjunction with the Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT) and external variables affecting LNG and electricity 1) to investigate the intent of implementing the use of such alternative fuels and 2) to inform policymakers concerning sustainable shipping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an integrated modeling system for the evaluation of the quantity and quality of water resources of coastal agricultural watersheds. The modeling system consists of coupled and interrelated models, including (i) a surface hydrology model (UTHBAL), (ii) a groundwater hydrology model (MODFLOW), (iii) a crop growth/nitrate leaching model (REPIC, an R-ArcGIS-based EPIC model), (iv) a groundwater contaminant transport model (MT3DMS), and (v) a groundwater seawater intrusion model (SEAWAT). The efficacy of the modeling system to simulate the quantity and quality of water resources has been applied to the Almyros basin in Thessaly, Greece. It is a coastal agricultural basin with irrigated and intensified agriculture facing serious groundwater problems, such as groundwater depletion, nitrate pollution, and seawater intrusion. Irrigation demands were estimated for the main crops cultivated in the area, based on precipitation and temperature from regional weather stations. The models have been calibrated and validated against time-series of observed crop yields, groundwater table observations, and observed concentrations of nitrates and chlorides. The results indicate that the modeling system simulates the water resources quantity and quality with increased accuracy. The proposed modeling system could be used as a tool for the simulation of water resources management and climate change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite years of crisis, the euro has enjoyed strong popular support across the Eurozone periphery. In light of the high costs of internal devaluation strategies, this begs the question why the public has remained in favor of the common currency. In this article, we propose a theoretical mechanism that accounts for both voters' pocketbook preferences and their sociotropic assessments over the noisy trade-offs associated with the outcomes of euro membership and euro exit. Using original survey data from three consecutive survey waves in Greece (conducted in July, September, and December 2015, respectively), we analyze the attitudes of Greek voters toward the euro in an environment of acute uncertainty, austerity, high unemployment, and economic recession. First, we juxtapose our uncertainty mechanism of popular euro attitudes against other explanations put forward in the literature and find strong support for our argument. Second, we conduct a survey experiment to tap into attitudes toward the euro-austerity trade-off and find that as uncertainty over policy outcomes diminishes, framing effects abate in significance, especially among those who voted No in the July 2015 referendum. Finally, we derive distinct sets of euro preferences for different 'vulnerability profiles'. Over time, as the trade-offs of euro membership become more pronounced, we find a marked fall in euro support between July and December 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonbelievers represent an understudied population in Greece. This investigation reports on the translation, cultural adaptation, and initial validation of the Nonreligious-Nonspiritual Scale (NRNSS), a measure designed to assess nonbelief. Data from 1754 participants were collected to examine the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the instrument and to assess the nationwide interpretability of the measure. Factor analyses suggested that the 16-item scale retained its bifactor model. Convergent validity was supported through associations with additional measures, namely, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), which were used as reference criteria. Potential utility of the measure and future directions for ongoing development are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study was to test the reliability and validity of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory in the Greek language (DHI).Design: This study was performed in a university tertiary centre. Internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach’s alpha for the DHI, physical (DHI-P), functional (DHI-F) and emotional (DHI-E) subscale scores. Correlation between DHI (total and subscales) and the SOT (sensory organisation test) as well as correlation between the DHI and FGA (functional gait assessment) was tested using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Test–retest reliability was tested using ICC (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient).Sample size: Ninety (90) patients were included in the study.Results: Internal consistency was excellent for the total score and very good for the physical functional and emotional subscale scores. No statistically significant correlation was found between SOT and DHI. There was a moderate correlation between FGA and total DHI scores (r = −0.472;p < 0.0001) and poor to moderate between FGA and DHI subscale scores (DHI-Er1 = −0.342;p1 = 0.001, DHI-Fr2 = −0.448p2 < 0.0001, DHI-Pr3 = −0.472p3 < 0.0001). Test–retest reliability was excellent.Conclusion: Greek version of DHI is recommended as a valid measure for patients with vestibular disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

• Forecasting urban growth via machine learning models can improve city planning. • We turn pan-European spatial data into tabular data for our predictive model. • We apply our Artificial Neural Network model in five major Greek cities. • We present our training and validation process using goodness-of-fit metrics. • We make an urban growth prediction for each city for a 12-year cycle to the year 2030. Urban development if not planned and managed adequately can be unsustainable. Urban growth models have been a powerful toolkit to help tackling this challenge. In this paper, we use a machine learning approach, to apply an urban growth model to five of the largest cities in Greece. Specifically, we first develop a methodology to collect, organise, handle and transform historical open spatial data, concerning various impact factors, into machine learning data. Such factors involve social, economic, biophysical, neighbouring-related and political driving forces, which must be transformed into tabular data. We also provide an artificial neural network (ANN) model and the methodology to train and evaluate it using goodness-of-fit metrics, which in turn provide the best weights of impact factors. Finally, we execute a prediction for 2030, presenting the results and output maps for each of the five case study cities. As our study is based on pan-European datasets, our model can be used for any area within Europe, using the open-source utility developed to support it. In this sense, our work provides local policy-makers and urban planners with an instrument that could help them analyse various future development scenarios and take the right decisions going forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is dealing with the assessment of climate change scenarios on selected meteorological variables at the Lake Karla watershed, central Greece and it is a contribution to the "HYDROMENTOR" research project. A statistical downscaling method has been employed to estimate monthly precipitation and temperature time series for future climate periods. The outputs of the Canadian Centre for Climate Modeling Analysis Global Circulation Model CGCM3 were applied for three socioeconomic scenarios, namely SRES B 1, SRES A 1B and SRES A2 for the assessment of climate change impact on precipitation and temperature. The methodology has been developed for the historical period 1980-2000 and applied for two future periods 2030-2050 and 2080-2100. Historical and future periods were compared for monthly and annual basis using various statistical criteria such as the mean and standard deviation. Results showed that climate change will have minor impacts on precipitation and even smaller impacts on temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study was to study the interrelationship between blood and tissue lactate in critically ill patients with or without shock admitted in a general intensive care unit. Materials and Methods: We studied 162 mechanically ventilated patients: 106 with shock (septic shock, 97; cardiogenic shock, 9) and 56 without shock (severe sepsis, 38; systemic inflammatory response syndrome, 18). A microdialysis catheter was inserted in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of the upper thigh, and interstitial fluid was collected every 4 hours for a maximum of 6 days. We assessed the relationship between tissue and blood lactate using cross-approximate entropy and cross-correlation analysis. Results: Patients with shock had higher area under the curve for blood (261 vs 175 mmol/L*hours, P < .0001) and tissue lactate (386 vs 281 mmol/L*hours, P < .0001) compared with patients without shock. The interrelationship of tissue-blood lactate, as assessed with cross-approximate entropy, was more regular in patients with shock compared with patients without shock. Cross-correlation of tissue vs blood lactate yielded higher correlation coefficients in patients with shock compared with those without shock, being higher when tissue lactate preceded blood lactate by 4 hours compared with tissue vs blood lactate with no lag time. Conclusions: In critical illness, the detailed dynamics between blood and tissue lactate are affected by the presence of shock. In patients with shock, microdialysis-assessed tissue lactate is higher compared with those without shock and may detect metabolic disturbances before these become evident in the systemic circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full cost recovery is a major and complex issue that has gained high recognition in recent years. The Water Framework Directive promotes the idea that water charging should act as an incentive for the sustainable use of water resources. Thus, all Member States should take into consideration the principle of recovery of the total cost of water services, which includes environmental and resource costs as well. In order to evaluate various aspects of current water policy, to investigate the perspectives of water saving, to explore new approaches toward sustainable water management in the water supply sector and to evaluate water price elasticity, a survey has been performed recently in the city of Volos, concerning the residential sector. The influence of some selected variables is examined, residential water demand curve and water price elasticity are calculated. Estimations of future water demand under different pricing policies are also performed. Finally, the full water cost for the city of Volos is estimated and essential conclusions concerning water pricing and public participation are drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) with standard treatments are decreasing worldwide as in Greece. Studies with new antibiotic combinations are needed to find better methods of eradication. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of a 10-day, four-drug, three-antibiotic, nonbismuth-containing concomitant regimen. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective, open-label, multicenter study that included 131 patients infected with H. pylori. All patients were diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease or nonulcer dyspepsia by endoscopy. H. pylori infection was established by at least two positive tests among rapid urease test, gastric histology, and 13C-urea breath test. For 10 days, all patients received esomeprazole 40 mg, amoxycillin 1000 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg, and metronidazole 500 mg, all b.d. eradication was assessed with 13C urea breath test 8 weeks after the start of treatment. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates were determined. Results: One hundred and twenty-seven of the 131 patients completed the study. At intention-to-treat analysis, the eradication rate was 91.6% (95% confidence interval (CI), 85.5-95.7%). For the per-protocol analysis, the eradication rate was 94.5% (95% CI, 89-97.8%). Adverse events were noted in 42 of 131 (32.1%); drug compliance was excellent with 96.9% of the patients taking more than 90% of the prescribed medication. Conclusion: A 10-day concomitant regimen appears to be an effective, safe, and well-tolerated treatment option for first-line H. pylori eradication in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between athletics and religion in the poetic works of the great lyric Theban poet, Pindar; his religiousness can be found at the roots of his poetry and all his perceptions about the human physique and sports have been deliberately developed from a religious perspective. The study establishes that Pindar does not question the gods' existence at all and does not attempt to raise such an issue either. His devotion to the gods and traditional theology is very strong and is reflected in his work from the beginning to the end. According to Pindar, the clergy consisted mainly of intelligent and cultivated people, trying to adjust the gods' image to the demands of their era. The heroes were the incarnation of heroic mankind, brave and adventurous people and the noble model of athletic life. Pindar's traditional theology is placed right within the theology of his era. He has always been trying to purify the concept of the godly element based on reason and the moral sentiment. According to him, exercising is a very amiable custom for the gods and they are pleased when the mortals honour them with athletic games. The athlete-winner is blessed by God because his victory is achieved thanks to God's blessing and help. This view expresses the poet's strict religiousness. In Pindar's work, the connection and the identification achieved between sports and the ancient gods, especially with traditional theology, were indeed important. The pedagogical importance of this identification enhanced the prestige of sports education by symmetrically cultivating the athletic spirit, vigour and beauty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the relationships between Asclepius and Trikki, Asclepius' place in Greek mythology and history, and Asclepius' significance for sports education. The research focuses on the discovery of the Trikkeos Asclepius sanctuary, the most ancient sanctuary in Greece, and description of rituals and cults related to diagnostic and therapeutic medicine, prayers, dreams, divination, gymnastics and nutrition. These issues were also related to the sources of athletics and sports pedagogy. The research was based on literary, archaeological, monetary and mythological sources and works on religious studies, in particular, L. Preller (1964) and R. Graves (1998). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the views of 76 elderly women, from different geographic areas in Greece. The participants were living in either urban (46.1%) or suburban/rural (53.9%) areas. Data was obtained through a survey questionnaire which included demographic questions at the beginning followed by a section regarding the quantity as well as the quality of the programs undertaken by the participants. In addition, the participants indicated the reasons for participation into the«Sports for All» programs. The most important reasons for the elderly women to participate were to have a good time,improve their mood, health and physical conditioning. Elderly women were satisfied with the content and the organization of the programs. Despite however their ongoing participation and satisfaction from the programs, they appeared unhappy with the equipment used. Further, urban participants differed in attendance, satisfaction and reasons of participation compared to their suburban/ rural counterparts. «Sports for All»programs for elderly people in Greece require constant assessment and feedback from the participants, in order to be designed and organized more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A trial was conducted during two years (2000/01 and 2001/02) on two sites using 'Shambar' grapefruit trees grafted to five rootstocks. The sites were located on the Greek island of Kos to evaluate the effect of rootstock and location on fruit production and leaf mineral composition of 'Shambar' grapefruit. Results indicated that yields were higher in 2001/02 than in 2000/01 and these differences were greater at site 2. Leaf nitrogen (N), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), and to some degree phosphorus (P) content was slightly deficient to deficient for the majority of the samples taken. Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) levels ranged from normal to high. The copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) leaf contents and the manganese (Mn) content of most samples were in the optimum range. The interactions between rootstock, site, and year upon yield and nutrient content were statistically significant. There were also significant correlation coefficients between yield and nutrient content as well as among the nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the hydrogeologic analysis and the development of a numerical model for the simulation of a complex system of aquifers in Northern Greece are presented. The study area faces a severe environmental danger as the unsustainable water consuming practices have resulted in negative water balance and severe water shortage. Based on field data and in-situ measurements carried out by several research groups during the last 30 years, a conceptual model is developed, that alters what scientists believed to date as far as the hydraulic communication between the shallow and the deep aquifer, as well as the lake-aquifer interaction are concerned. Based on the assumptions of the conceptual model, a numerical model has been developed in order to investigate the regional groundwater flow in the aquifers. The Modflow program has been used for its implementation. The results have verified firstly that a marginal hydraulic contact between the 2 aquifers is permitted, and secondly that the assumed relation between the lake's water volume and the aquifer's water table fluctuations is practically negligible. The dramatic decrease in the lake's water reserves by 90%, as the model results show, is mainly due to the reversing of the torrent-aquifer interrelation. Finally, the model is used as a management tool for the restoration of the aquifer as well as of the lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined what Greek adolescents believe are the most important criteria of personal, boys', and girls' popularity in their age group. Participants were 364 students aged between 12 and 15 years. Seven main criteria of popularity were identified: sport competence, physical appearance, academic ability, being a good friend, being sociable, having a good sense of humor, and having the 'right circle of friends'. With regard to personal popularity, being a good friend and being sociable were the two most highly ranked criteria for both boys and girls across al/ ages. Boys and girls perceived differently the most important criteria of boys' and girls' popularity. Specifically, for same-sex popularity, being a good friend was the most highly ranked criterion, whereas for other-sex popularity, physical attractiveness was the most highly ranked criterion. The findings imply that friendship and social affiliation are the most important criteria of popularity in Greek adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last few years there has been growing evidence against the Efficient Market Hypothesis. In this study we investigate the hypothesis using stock prices of common and preferred stocks from the Athens Stock Exchange. In Greece, preferred shares are regarded as part of the equity capital of the Greek companies and they are not considered as part of the borrowed funds. Under the Efficient Market Hypothesis their price behaviour, as far as the speed of adjustment to news is concerned, should be the same. However, our empirical evidence contradicts the above proposition. It seems that in the Greek market there are factors, other than news, which influence the price behaviour of the two categories of stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Data from 401 healthcare workers were analyzed, including 59 with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. • The first dose was highly immunogenic, especially in the seropositive. • The second dose boosted immunogenicity, particularly in seniors and uninfected subjects. • Post-prime immunogenicity in the seropositive exceeded post-boost antibody titers in the uninfected. This study monitored titers of neutralizing IgG against the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit 14 days post-injection of each dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in 401 Greek healthcare workers aged 20–67. After the first dose, titers varied upon age and history of infection, being lower in the 50+ age group and significantly higher among the seropositive. After the second dose, immunogenicity was significantly boosted in the age 50+ and SARS-CoV-2-naïve individuals, indicating the effectuality of its timely administration, yet questioning its value among the seropositive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19, the most wide-spread and disruptive pandemic in over a century, enforced emergency urban design responses meaning to recalibrate transport provision globally. This is the first work that systematically evaluates the 'public acceptance' as a proxy for 'policy success' and 'potential for longer-term viability' of the high-profile sustainable transport intervention package introduced in 2020 in the capital city of Greece known as the Great Walk of Athens (GWA). This is achieved through a twin statistical analysis of an e-survey that looked into the attitudes and urban mobility experiences of Athenians accessing the area of the trial daily. The research enabled a comparison between the pre- and post-implementation traffic situations and provided details about specific measures packaged in the GWA project. Our results suggest that walking and cycling uptake were only marginally improved. Traffic delays for car users were considerable. Car usage declined somewhat, with the exception of ride-sharing. Public transport ridership numbers suffered a lot because of concerns about sharing closed space with many others during a pandemic. Men and people on low income were more likely to agree with the 'change'. Naturally this was the case for people identified as primarily cyclists and pedestrians. The most impactful package elements in terms of car lane sacrifices (i.e., the redevelopment of Panepistimiou Street) had the lowest acceptability rates. A key reason that underpinned people's hesitation to approve the GWA initiative was the lack of public consultation in the decision-making that shaped the project. Our study provides evidence-based generalisable lessons for similar metropolitan environments looking to implement more or evaluate for possibly making permanent 'rushed' anti-Covid street redevelopment measures. • We assess the public acceptance and viability of the Great Walk of Athens (GWA), a COVID-19 induced sustainable mobility roadwork package, through a local road user e-survey analysis. • We compare pre- and post-implementation traffic volumes and discuss key measures of the GWA project. • While traffic delays for car users were substantial, car usage and public transit ridership declined and walking and cycling uptake were only slightly improved. • The most impactful package elements (i.e., those relating to car lane sacrifices) had the lowest acceptance. • The lack of citizen engagement in the decision-making that shaped GWA and led to overspend was a reason for opposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]