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The Greek National Annex for current Eurocode 8 has adopted the seismic hazard zonation map published in 2003 as part of the modifications to the Greek Seismic Code EAK 2000 (EAK 2003). This map, which followed the catastrophic earthquakes that hit the country between 1978 and 2001, includes three seismic hazard zones with peak ground acceleration (PGA) ranging between 0.16 and 0.36 g. In this paper, following the significant progress that has been made worldwide in the last two decades towards the improvement of the definition of seismic actions and the seismic hazard maps using fully probabilistic models, we make a complete proposal for the Greek National Annex of the ongoing revision of Eurocode 8, which includes a new seismic hazard zonation map for Greece, as well as a novel site categorization scheme and related site amplification factors. To this end, we use the results of the European Seismic Hazard Model, ESHM20, as reported by Danciu et al. (The 2020 update of the European Seismic Hazard Model: Model Overview, 2021) which will be adopted as informative reference for the seismic hazard at European level in the forthcoming revision of Eurocode 8 (CEN/EC8). The herein proposed ground shaking zonation for rock conditions includes five zones with PGA values ranging between 0.13 and 0.37 g. For each zone, two newly proposed ground motion parameters, i.e., Sα,475 and Sβ,475, are provided, which are the two parameters used for anchoring the elastic response spectrum as defined in CEN/EC8, along with all the other necessary parameters for the definition of the elastic response spectrum, including site amplification. The proposal for the new seismic zonation is supported by a preliminary investigation of the impact of its adoption on the seismic design of new structures and on the seismic risk of the current building stock in Greece, to help gain a better insight on how important the differences imposed by the new zonation might be for the end-users and the administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-purpose and multi-scale tool for the seismic vulnerability and risk classification of critical buildings, such as schools, is proposed for pre- and post-event decision-making to mitigate the risk and reduce losses. The herein proposed "RiskSchools" system, is capable of performing the seismic risk assessment and grading of school buildings at various scales (district, municipality, region etc.), using (a) a pre-seismic rapid visual screening and grading of the school buildings in different vulnerability-risk classes and (b) a seismic risk assessment of the school buildings population, applying probabilistic or scenario-based methods for the seismic hazard and analytical methods for the vulnerability and risk assessment, also leading to a grading of the buildings' risk. The results of the two approaches are compared and combined through a flexible and adaptable expert elicitation scheme to provide a final classification of the seismic risk of the school buildings in the scale of interest and a prioritization scheme with respect to the need for seismic upgrade and retrofitting. The RiskSchools system consists of a powerful, state-of-the-art, user-friendly, and easy-to-use smartphone application for the compilation of the inventory and the rapid visual screening, and a project-dedicated multi-purpose webGIS platform for the seismic vulnerability and risk classification of school buildings at any scale. Although it is initially developed and applied to the school building stock of the Region of Central Macedonia in Greece, it has been specifically designed to be easily applied to other regions of Greece and worldwide and adapted to other critical buildings, like health care and hospital buildings. The ultimate scope of the RiskSchools System is to allow for the optimal design of decision-making procedures in support of disaster management to enhance critical buildings resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrastructures are critical for the functioning of society. Due to globalization, damages between different components of infrastructure systems can cross international boundaries, resulting in broad economic and social impacts. Hence, it is fundamental to develop powerful tools for the assessment of infrastructure risk, considering a wide spectrum of uncertainties. Past studies covering infrastructure risk assessment are limited to a few countries, partly because for assessing the infrastructure risk, issues due to the complexity of the systems, like paucity and heterogeneity of the data and methods, the consideration of dependencies between components and systems, modeling of ground shaking in terms of scenario and probabilistic approach, taking into account site effects, spatial variability and cross correlation of ground motion at the urban scale, as well as consideration of risk metrics tailored to infrastructure, still remain partially or not properly answered. Moreover, the presently available infrastructure risk assessment tools are not sufficiently illustrative, user-friendly, and comprehensive to meet actual needs. To this end, the paper making an overview of these issues proposes a comprehensive approach that leverages the main strength of existing infrastructure risk methodologies, integrating them into a powerful open-source tool and providing common platform from hazard to risk analysis that will serve for global and easy usage. The methodology and its implementation are illustrated through a test-bed study of the water supply network of the city of Thessaloniki in Greece, considering an Mw 6.5 scenario of the 1978 Thessaloniki earthquake and an event based probabilistic approach and, simultaneously evaluating the sensitivity of cross spatial correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening infection in HIV-positive patients. It usually presents with symptoms of lethargy, personality changes, memory disorders and cognitive decline. Fever is a common symptom, while specific meningeal signs such as headache, neck stiffness, and photophobia appear in 25 to 33% of patients. However, these symptoms are non-specific and unreliable in advanced HIV infection where the inflammatory response is impaired. Treatment in HIV-infected patients includes a combination of appropriate antifungal therapy, medical interventions aiming at the reduction of elevated intracranial pressure, and initiation of antiretroviral therapy at the appropriate time to avoid immune reconstitution syndrome (IRIS). We present a case of a patient diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis and newly diagnosed HIV infection in the Department of Internal Medicine at KAT General Hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to assess the resting values of the physiological oxidative stress exhibited by lambs and kids reared in Greece, and the potential correlations between redox biomarker levels in blood and other tissues (liver, diaphragm, quadriceps, psoas major muscle). For this purpose, lambs and kids at different developmental stages (d.s.) were used. The latter corresponded to four live weight categories (LWC), each representing 25%, 35%, 70% and 100% of mature body weight. In each of the above tissues, the levels of five common redox biomarkers were determined: glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS), and protein carbonyls (CARBS). The results revealed that lambs and kids belonging to the 35% LWC had weaker endogenous antioxidant pools, while animals in the 70% and 100% LWC had elevated intrinsic antioxidant defense systems. Blood redox biomarkers were associated with the respective ones measured in the diaphragm, liver, quadriceps, and psoas major of both species. Importantly, TBARS levels in blood of animals in the 25% and 100% LWC are correlated with the TBARS levels in all other tissues tested. Blood antioxidant parameters might be used as potential biomarkers to predict the antioxidant status of tissues that affect meat quality. The latter would facilitate quality assessment prior to slaughter, allowing for timely nutritional interventions that can improve meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper is inspired by the notions of "financial risk" and "financial uncertainties" and transfers their basic reasoning to social science analysis; that is, it develops a theoretical analysis in order to explain social and political change. We know that the degree of social and political change depends on the set of established institutions in a society. Societies can face two extremes: volatility, e.g., rapid changes that lead to instability, which increases the risk of a system or regime collapsing, or rigidity, which does not permit necessary adaptation and change and thus may again increase the risk of the regime collapsing. Thus, an optimal (or ideal) point of change is between the two extremes, permitting change that is neither too sudden and fast nor too slow and inflexible. To illustrate this, we analyze two cases from ancient Greece: Sparta, as a society and state with too many institutional checks and balances that led to rigidity and collapse, and Athens, which in the 5th century BCE had an institutional setting with very limited checks and balances, which again led to near collapse until the late 5th century BCE, when new institutions that were related to some efficient checks and balances were introduced that enabled the state to survive in a world of changing circumstances and balances of power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accuracy of a seismic risk model to predict future losses is a significant challenge as it depends on many parameters, each with important uncertainties, that are present in all components of the model. The aim of this study is to present a process that can be followed to validate the efficiency of a predictive risk model for seismic risk assessment at urban or regional scale, through comparison of estimated physical damages with those recorded at past seismic events, discussing at the same time the uncertainties involved in the different steps of this process. The proposed process is applied for the verification of the open-access uniform European Seismic Risk Model (ESRM20), considering two major past seismic events in Greece, i.e. the Athens 1999 Mw 5.9 and the Thessaloniki 1978 Mw 6.5 earthquakes, for which we possess relatively good damage reports for a representative portion of the two metropolitan agglomerations. Despite the numerous uncertainties and the unavoidable simplifications, a good comparison is found between the estimated and observed damage, especially for the city of Thessaloniki. Regarding the distribution of damage, it is anticipated that the most heavily damaged typologies for both case studies are found to be the low-to-medium-rise, non-ductile masonry buildings. The analyses also revealed the importance of the credibility of the adopted exposure model and of the adequate selection of ground motion models for seismic hazard assessment. Τhis challenging work and the positive results acquired so far aim to contribute to the efforts towards increasing the resilience of cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malnutrition is a common and major clinical health problem amongst rehabilitation patients; nevertheless it often remains unrecognized and not treated. Objective: The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition in patients in rehabilitation and to describe nutritional care therapy provision in a Greek Public sub acute rehabilitation unit. Methodology: 30 patients who were treated in the rehabilitation unit of the General Hospital of Attica KAT were studied. Patients were given an ad hoc questionnaire to complete which was based on ESPEN's Nutrition day questionnaire. At the same time, anthropometric data (weight, height) were collected. The MUST tool was used to determine malnutrition and the risk of malnutrition in each patient. Results: 30 patients participated in the study (73.3% men) with a mean age of 54 (± 17.3) years and BMI 25.4 (± 4.1). Based on MUST tool, 33,33% of participants were malnourished, and 6,67% at increased risk of malnutrition. Amongst all participants 11,5% were served a fortified menu and none was offered ONS. A considerable number of rehabilitation patients ate half, little (1/4) or nothing from the hospital food offered (30% for breakfast, 33,3% for lunch and dinner). 13,3% of patients had pressure ulcers. Presence of pressure ulcers was correlated with self-feeding ability Pearson correlation-0,413 (<0,05). Conclusion: Malnutrition is not seen as a priority in rehabilitation patients; their underlying pathologies and their functional and mobility difficulties take priority. Nevertheless, without proper nutritional care, malnutrition will lead to increased complications such as longer healing time for pressure ulcers and longer recovery stays amongst rehabilitation patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Youth smoking is an issue of great importance as it is responsible for premature death and serious related diseases. There are several determinants related to smoking, especially among young people, which should be recognized, as they may vary in different social backgrounds. Objectives: The present paper aims to examine the association between smoking and key determinants, such as self-perceived health status, health risk behaviours and socio-economic factors as well among university students in Greece. Further, our study examines how smoking is affected by an additional variable measuring the applied knowledge of people on health issues, known as "health literacy". Methodology: The study is based on data derived from a survey which was carried out in 14 Higher Tertiary Public universities and Technological Educational Institutes in Greece receiving a random sample of 1,526 students, during the period 15-30 April 2013. Summary statistics, correlations and regressions were used to assess the association between smoking and estimators. Results: Our results suggested a significantly negative association between smoking and perceived health status (coef; -0.004). Moreover, regular workout was found to be negatively correlated to smoking (coef; -0.168), while, respondents who consume alcohol seem to be related positively with tobacco use (coef; 0,245). With respect to demographic variables, our results demonstrated that lower income groups used to smoke less (coef; - 0.066). In contrast, the effect of health literacy on smoking is not significant. While our results are coherent with previous studies, several findings are worth further research. Conclusions: Acknowledging the major factors associated with smoking can lead to more effective and targeted interventions, which promote healthy behaviour and self-efficacy; both playing a key role in providing the necessary confidence to an adolescent so as not to engage in unhealthy behaviours like smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between fat-free mass and shot put performance at the beginning of the winter preparation cycle and at the first peak of the season (12 wk later) in well-trained shot-putters using the rotational style. Methods: Eight national-level shot put athletes followed their individual training programs for a period of 12 wk aiming at the national indoor championship. Shot put performance with the rotational style as well as from the power position was determined before and after this 12 wk period. Body composition was determined before and after the training period with dual x-ray absorptiometry. Results: Shot put from the power position was increased by 3% (P = .03) while shot put with the rotational style was increased by 6.5% (P < .01). Fat-free mass, body fat and bone mineral density were not altered after the training period. The correlation coefficient between fat-free mass and shot put performance from the power position was significant (r = .76 preseason vs r = .66, competition; P < .05). The correlation coefficient between fat-free mass and shot put performance with the rotational style was significant at the beginning of the training period (r = .70, P < .05) but it was decreased to moderate and nonsignificant levels at competition (r = .55, ns). Conclusions: These results suggest that the increase of fat-free mass might not be the most essential element for competition when the rotational shot put style is involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malnutrition is common and is a major clinical health problem. The frequency of malnutrition and of the risk of developing malnutrition is typically high amongst older acute care inpatients. A close relation between malnutrition of the hospitalised patient and poor outcome (e.g. complications such as infections and pressure ulcers) is well documented. Malnutrition should be timely recognized by a validated screening tool and appropriate nutritional care should be provided to malnourished and at risk of malnutrition patients. Aim: The present research aims to provide an estimation of the prevalence of malnutrition in older inpatients admitted to the internal medicine department of a Greek public hospital. Another objective of the present research is to estimate the percentage of patients identified as malnourished that were offered Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS). Methodology: During the first trimester of 2018, 147 older patients >65yrs (mean age 78.2 + 7.2 yrs, 61.4% women) were screened for malnutrition with the standardized screening tool Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF). Patient's medical records were reviewed in order to assess the use of Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS). Results: According to MNA-SF, 20% of patients were malnourished (MNA-SF score 0-7) and 52% were at risk of malnutrition (MNA-SF score 8-11). Amongst 25 (20%) malnourished patients only 8 received ONS. Conclusion: Our research findings confirm the relevant research literature on the high prevalence of malnourished or at risk of malnutrition amongst older internal medicine inpatients. Moreover, our findings also demonstrate the increased likelihood of inadequate nutritional intervention as exhibited by the limited number of malnourished patients provided with ONS for enhancement of energy and protein intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present essay we examine decision-making and choice under direct democracy procedures, focusing on three famous examples: Themistocles' Naval Law of 483/2 BCE, California's Proposition 13 on taxation and modern Greece's referendum of June 2015. They concerned, in a broad sense, the choice between the finance of public good(s) versus the increase in available personal income. We analyse the similarities and differences in the institutional setting, the means available for discussion and consensus-building and the actual outcomes, which were different in each case: in ancient Athens the outcome was in favour of the 'public good' defense, in California it was in favour of an increase in available income and in modern Greece, it was of no consequence since the final actual outcome was contrary to the referendum. Lastly, we offer some thoughts regarding the different outcomes, which were dependent on the specific perceptions of each issue, the possibility of disaggregation of choice elements, the time horizon and historic context and the perception of citizens-voters, as to the 'quality' of their government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study site effects using 520 weak motion earthquake records from a vertical array in Aegion, Greece. The array is inside a basin, has four stations in soil, and one in bedrock (178 m depth). The site is marked by high seismicity and complex surface geology. We first use the records to establish the downhole accelerometer orientations and their evolution with time. Then we estimate site effects using empirical spectral ratios with and without a reference site (standard and horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio). We find significant site amplification which cannot be accounted for by 1D model predictions, along with a significant difference in the amplification level between the two horizontal components. These are indications of 2D effects, namely surface waves generated at the basin edge. The difference in amplification between the horizontal components is maximised when these are rotated with respect to the orientation of the basin edge. The strongest amplification takes place in the direction parallel to the basin edge (SH, or out-of-plane motion), and is up to 2 times higher than in the perpendicular direction (SV, or in-plane motion). This directional effect on the amplification is corroborated by numerical 2D modelling using incident SH and SV waves, with the former possibly generating strong Love waves. In the records, the directionality is clear for windows containing the largest amplitudes of the records (S waves and strong surface waves), while it tends to vanish for coda-wave windows. This directionality is also observed when using response spectral ratios rather than Fourier ratios. We compute soil-to-rock amplification factors for peak ground acceleration (PGA) and find it is significantly higher than what is predicted by current design codes. We attribute this difference to the basin edge amplification, linear soil behaviour, and to the inability of simple scalar values like PGA to describe complex amplification effects. Finally, we analyse the earthquake records at a surface station near the slope crest and do not observe significant topographic amplification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present essay we examine whether and how sports affected the emergence of democracy as a political phenomenon in Classical Greece. To achieve this we introduce in a model the concept of macroculture as a complex of mutually supporting values, norms and beliefs in various areas of human activity, like athletics, war, politics, etc. Then, we proceed through a historical review on the history of sports in Ancient Greece and we investigate various aspects of how and under which terms athletics performed during classical Greece, predominantly, in ancient Athens. We found that the values that gradually emerged through sports during an extended period that goes back as far as the Bronze Age times, led to the development of an environment of mutually supporting norms and values such as equality and trust, that by being correlated and coordinated each other, led to the creation of new values and norms, as the theory of macroculture proposes. We also found that these new values were 'diffused' from athletics to the field of politics and played a key role to the emergence of democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transmissible venereal tumour (TVT) is a sexually transmitted neoplasm that frequently affects dogs of either sex, in tropical and subtropical regions. TVT primarily involves the external genitalia, although extragenital sites have also been reported. This study describes the ocular manifestations of TVT in 25 naturally infected dogs and their response to treatment. Seventeen male and eight female dogs were included in the study. TVT ocular lesions were either unilateral (21 dogs) or bilateral (four dogs). Ocular lesions as the single manifestation of TVT were seen in 22 animals. One dog presented external genitalia involvement while two others were found to have tumours in the oral and nasal mucosa. Variably sized multilobular tumour masses with irregular surface were noticed on the bulbar conjunctiva of the nictitating membrane in 17 dogs, on the conjunctiva of the upper eyelid in five dogs and on the conjunctiva of the lower eyelid and adjacent skin in three dogs. Deep ulcerative keratitis was observed in eight animals. TVT diagnosis was based on cytology and histopathology. The large eye masses were surgically excised. All dogs were treated with a single chemotherapeutic agent (vincristine). After four weeks of treatment, complete remission of the tumours was evident in all but one animal. Extragenital primary ophthalmic TVT can be completely eliminated by vincristine chemotherapy, while any further ocular damage is prevented with the combination of the above treatment and surgical excision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper we analyse some of the preconditions for the emergence of democracy in Ancient Greece. For democracy to emerge in Ancient Greece a combination of several enabling factors proved decisive: the development of new military tactic, the phalanx, marked by the appearance of a new type of heavy infantry warrior, the hoplite, who owned individually some property, i.e. land, sufficient to permit him to finance his weaponry and a city-state culture. We describe the emergence of this new type of warrior, link this emergence to the establishment of individual property rights and show how this brought about a military revolution, exemplified in a new tactical formation, the phalanx. We then proceed by showing how the attitudes and learning processes made necessary by this new type of warfare were transformed in the civic values and virtues that shaped democratic institutions. Our thesis can thus be briefly termed as the 'military cum city-state' explanation of democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: International studies have shown a two-way relationship between obesity and hypertension, increased morbidity, increased risk of complications and poor compliance to treatment. Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess whether short-term weight loss had had any effects on blood pressure control in obese patients with stage 1 hypertension who were not under treatment. Methodology: Initially, the sample comprised of 265 obese patients newly diagnosed with stage 1 hypertension that were not under treatment. 157 of them had to be excluded, since they did not comply with the study inclusion criteria; consequently, the final sample comprised of 108 patients. All participants were given a low-sodium diet. The SPSS 15.0 was used for the statistical analysis and the significance level was set to p< 0.05. Results: Our sample (n=108) consisted of 46 males and 62 females with an average age of 52±1.8 years and 50.3±1.5, respectively. Two weight measurements were taken, the second one took place after six months of diet and showed the following differences: the average BMI decreased from 33.7kg/m2±0.9 to 31.9±0.8 (males), and from 31.2±0.7 to 29.9±0.7 in females (p <0.001); also, waist circumference (WC) decreased from 119.6 ±1.8 cm to 113.4 ±1.6 cm in males, and from 101.9± 1.3 cm to 97.2±1.2 cm in females (p <0.001). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) also decreased from 149 mmHg±2.4 to 134 mmHg±1.6 (males), and from 144 mmHg±1.8 to 138 mmHg±1.3 (females) (p <0.001), and diastolic blood pressure (dbp), was also lower from 80 mmHg±1.8 to 76 mmHg±1.6 in males, and from 74 mmHg±1.2 to 73 mmHg±1.1 in females (p<0.001). Conclusions: Decreasing waist circumference in obese patients with stage 1 hypertension, combined with a diet targeted at reducing calories and sodium, could lead to short-term blood pressure control in accordance with international guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To examine microbiological and immunological alterations following two periodontal surgical techniques, over a 6-month period. Materials and methods A total of 30 chronic periodontitis patients participated in the present randomized controlled clinical trial and were randomized in two groups. Modified Widman flap (MWF) was applied in the control group and apically positioned flap (APF), without intervention to the bone, in the experimental group. Gingival crevicular fluid samples and subgingival plaque samples from the operated sites were collected at baseline, 6th, 12th and 24th post-operative week. Results No major differences were noticed in immunological and microbiological profile of patients receiving either modified MWF or APF, for a period of 6 months. Conclusions The choice of the periodontal surgical procedure does not seem to affect the immunological and the microbiological profile of patients with chronic periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To radiographically assess, by means of digital subtraction radiography, crestal bone loss following two periodontal surgical techniques, over a period of 6 months. Material and methods A total of 30 chronic periodontitis patients participated in this randomized controlled clinical trial and were separated into two groups. Modified Widman flap was applied in the control group and apically positioned flap, without intervention to the bone, in the experimental group. Clinical measurements (plaque index, gingival bleeding index, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level) were recorded at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months after surgery. Digital radiographs were taken at baseline, 1, 3, 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months after surgical treatment and subtracted digitally in pairs. Results Both groups showed statistically significant improvement of clinical parameters. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were observed only in probing pocket depth ( PPD) at 6 weeks interval, where the test group showed more reduction (smallest statistically significant differences observed, SSSDO = 0.64). Both groups showed the same rate of crestal bone resorption. Conclusions Bone resorption of the alveolar crest is a phenomenon that is observed as a consequence of periodontal surgical treatment without significant differences between the two techniques. Furthermore, both surgical techniques lead to satisfactory clinical results, indicating that bone removal during periodontal surgical treatment is not always necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on research which was conducted to investigate the acute effects countermovement jumping and sprinting have on shot put performance in experienced shot putters. Researchers evaluated 10 shot putters. They found that a standard warm-up protocol followed by 3 maximal bouts of shot put and either 3 consecutive countermovement jumps or a bout of 20-meter sprinting induce an acute increase in shot put performance in experienced shot putters.

Background: Anemia may be present in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and further impair their functional capacity. Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence of anemia of chronic disease (ACD) in COPD patients and its impact on dyspnea and exercise capacity, utilizing cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Methods: ACD prevalence was assessed in 283 consecutive patients with stable COPD (263 males, 60 females; age 60.31 ± 5.34 years; percent forced expiratory volume in 1 s 46.94 ± 6.12). ACD diagnosis was based on a combination of clinical and laboratory parameters [hemoglobin (Hb) <13 g/dl for males, <12 g/dl for females; ferritin >30 ng/ml; total iron-binding capacity <250 μg/dl, and transferrin saturation rate between 15 and 50%]. Twenty-seven patients who were identified with ACD (cases) and 27 matched nonanemic patients (controls) completed maximal CPET, and data were compared between the groups. Results: ACD was diagnosed in 29 patients, which represents a prevalence of 10.24%; the severity of anemia was generally mild (mean Hb: 12.19 ± 0.66 g/dl). Patients with ACD had a higher Medical Research Council dyspnea score compared to controls (2.78 ± 0.44 vs. 2.07 ± 0.55; p <0.001) and lower peak O2 uptake (VO2) (59.54 ± 17.17 vs. 71.26 ± 11.85% predicted; p <0.05), peak work rate (54.94 ± 21.42 vs. 68.72 ± 20.81% predicted; p <0.05) and peak VO2/heart rate (69.07 ± 17.26 vs. 82.04 ± 18.22% predicted; p <0.05). There was also a trend for a lower anaerobic threshold (48.48 ± 15.16 vs. 55.42 ± 9.99% predicted; p = 0.062). No exercise parameter indicative of respiratory limitation differed between the groups. Conclusions: ACD occurs in approximately 10% of stable COPD patients and has a negative impact on dyspnea and circulatory efficiency during exercise. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses an unusually large dataset to study scatter in site-effect estimation, focusing on how the events that increase uncertainty can be removed from the dataset. Four hundred seventy-three weak motion earthquake records from the surface and bedrock of a 178-m-deep borehole in Aegion, Gulf of Corinth, Greece, are used to evaluate spectral ratios. A simple statistical tool, variance reduction (VR), is first used to identify two groups of events that lie closest and farthest from the average, which is considered here as the initial best estimate of the site response. The scatter in the original dataset is found to be due to the group of events with smallest VR. These events can be removed from the dataset in order to compute a more reliable site response. However, VR is not normally used to choose records for site-effect studies, and it cannot be applied to the usual small datasets available. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is normally used to this end, for which reason we investigate whether SNR can be used to achieve similar results as VR. Signal-to-noise ratio is estimated using different definitions. Data selection based on SNR is then compared to that using VR in order to define an SNR-based criterion that discriminates against events that, according to VR, increase scatter. We find that defining the SNR of a surface record as the mean value over a frequency range around the resonant peak (here, 0.5-1.5 Hz) and using a cutoff value of 5 may be used in this case to exclude most events for which VR is small. This process is also applied to the downhole station, where we obtain similar results for a cutoff value of 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present essay analyses Athenian finances during the fourth century BC, the ‘Age of Demosthenes’, from both the revenue and expenditure points of view. It examines how Athenians practiced the concept of ‘economic democracy’ on matters of public choice, and the sometimes ingenious solutions they adopted for financing public goods such as defense, education and ‘social security’. Ancient Athens, the ‘prototype’ political democracy, was advanced also in matters of public administration, finance and institutions, on which political democracy was based and without their smooth running could not have functioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relative explanatory power of the Economic Value Added (EVA) model with respect to stock returns and firms' market value, compared to established accounting variables (e.g. net income, operating income), in the context of a small European developing market, namely the Athens Stock Exchange, in its first market-wide application of the EVA measure. Relative information content tests reveal that net and operating income appear to be more value relevant than EVA. Additionally, incremental information tests suggest that EVA unique components add only marginally to the information content of accounting profit. Moreover, EVA does not appear to have a stronger correlation with firms' Market Value Added than the other variables, suggesting that – for our Greek dataset – EVA, even though useful as a performance evaluation tool, need not necessarily be more correlated with shareholder's value than established accounting variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we examine the actual legal situation concerning the attribution of geostatic positions and frequencies and the problems of frequency interference by other satellites due to not fully clear property rights. We analyze the property rights setting governing satellite communications and review the implications of the Coase theorem of these rules through a game theoretical approach between two players: Russia and Greece (Hellasat commercial communication attempt). The basic finding, in accordance with the theorem's prediction under non-zero and possibly high transaction costs, is that the end result may be sub-optimal due to the inappropriate present specification of property rights, leading either to non-use of scarce resources, or to total over-investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geochemical evolution of groundwater in the coastal area of the Thriassion Plain, Attica, Greece, has been investigated using major and trace elements of chemical analyses. The groundwater of good quality (total dissolved solids TDS between 400 and 1100 mg/l) has been found in the Plio-Pleistocene sediments up to the depth of 90 m below sea level. Moreover, the existing contamination of groundwater in the Pleistocene-Holocene sediments possibly originates from the pumping of the old brackish water of the upper aquifers and the returns of the irrigation water as well as the possible occurrence of palaeo-seawater in the aquifers. A five-stage conceptual model is suggested for groundwater geochemical evolution from the main recharge area to the main discharge area. Limestone and dolomite dissolution in the recharge area leads to one end member of the Ca-Mg-HCO3 type. These waters evolve to Ca-Mg-Cl-HCO3 along their flow path possibly due to the dissolution of relics of evaporites, as well as mixing with seawater that is Na-Cl type, the other end member. Two more hydrogeochemical processes have also been identified; possibly gypsum, anhydrite, halite and fluorite dissolution; calcite, aragonite and dolomite precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study focuses on studying the validity and reliability of the Greek edition of DQOL-BCI. DQOL-BCI includes 15 questions-elements that are evaluated on a 5-grade scale like Likert and two general form-shapes.Methods: The translation process was conducted in conformity with the guidelines of EuroQol group. A non-random sample of 65 people-patients diagnosed with diabetes I and II was selected. The questionnaire that was used to collect the data was the translated version of DQOL-BCI, and included the demographic characteristics of the interviewees. The content validity of DQOL-BCI was re-examined from a team of five experts (expert panel) for qualitative and quantitative performance. The completion of the questionnaire was done via a personal interview.Results: The sample consisted of 58 people (35 men and 23 women, 59.9 ± 10.9 years). The translation of the questionnaire was found appropriate in accordance to the peculiarities of the Greek language and culture. The largest deviation of values is observed in QOL1 (1.71) in comparison to QOL6 (2.98). The difference between the standard deviations is close to 0.6. The statistics results of the tests showed satisfactory content validity and high construct validity, while the high values for Cronbach alpha index (0.95) reveal high reliability and internal consistency.Conclusions: The Greek version of DQOL-BCI has acceptable psychometric properties and appears to demonstrate high internal reliability and satisfactory construct validity, which allows its use as an important tool in evaluating the quality of life of diabetic patients in relation to their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Of this project was to study the characteristics of stress and depression in mental health professionals and the degree at which they are affected by demographic factors. Material - method: The sample of the study includes 62 mental health professionals. An anonymous closed questionnaire by Bedford & Foulds was used. The data analysis was made with the use of SPSS 16.0. Results: Two factors were found statistically essential; the age[F(5,41)=0,52 p=0,004] and the marital statue [F(5,41)=0.49 p=0.008]. The married people seem to statistically develop higher anxiety (p=0,001), higher tension (p=0,002) and higher insomnia (p=0,001) in comparison to the singles, the divorced and the widows/widowers. The singles seem to keep more calm (p=0.014) in comparison to the married and the divorced (p=0.001).Working people aged 35-49 experience more intense sorrow than the other age groups (p=0,003), more intense feelings of panic (p=0,018) and tension (p=0,049). The age groups in stressful or depression situations diversify their needs as regards smoking, with the 35-49 age group being the heaviest smokers (p=0,029). Conclusions: It is discovered that a different defense mechanism is used by mental health professionals as regards their marital statue and their age, developing sleeping disorders, increase in smoking and sadness elements indifference for the future, more often. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A detailed 2D model has been constructed and validated for Euroseistest valley, in northern Greece. We take advantage of this model to investigate what parameters, in addition to surface soil conditions (obviously the most important parameter), can be used to correctly characterize site response in a 2D structure. Through a parametric analysis using 2D numerical simulations for SH waves, we explore the differences between the computed ground motion for different simplifications of the valley''s structure. We consider variations in the velocity structure within the sediments, and variations of the shape between sediments and bedrock. We also compare the results from different 1D models reflecting current approaches to the determination of site response. Our results show clearly that, in the case of Euroseistest, site response owes fundamentally to its closed basin shape because it is largely controlled by locally generated surface waves. Thus, in terms of predicting site response, a rough idea of its shape ratio and of the average mechanical properties of the sediments are better than a very detailed 1D profile at the central site. Although the details of ground motion may vary significantly between the models, the relative amount of surface waves generated in the 2D models seems to be relatively constant. Moreover, if we quantify the additional amplification caused by the lateral heterogeneity in terms of the ‘aggravation factor’ introduced by Chávez-García & Faccioli [7], a roughly constant factor between 2 and 3 seems to appropriately take into account the effects of lateral heterogeneity. Of course, a correct estimate of the overall impedance contrast is necessary to correctly predict the maximum amplification, a caveat that also applies to 1D models. In this sense, Euroseistest rings an alarm bell. In this valley the more significant impedance contrast lies at about 200m depth, and it is missed both by consideration of the average shear wave velocity of the first 30m (the V s30 criterion) or using the detailed velocity profile down to a depth where a shear wave velocity larger than 750m/s is found. Our conclusions indicate that, in order to improve current schemes to take into account site effects in building codes, the more to be gained comes from consideration of lateral heterogeneity, at least in the case of shallow alluvial valleys, where locally generated surface waves are likely to be important. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]