Chemical and oxygen isotopic composition of Roman and late Antique glass from northern Greece

The present paper emphasizes the importance of measuring the oxygen isotopic and chemical compositions of ancient glass, in order to constrain some features such as age, raw materials, and production technologies and to identify the \u201cfingerprint\u201d of local productions. In this context, thirty-nine Roman and late Antique glass samples and eight chert samples fromnorthern Greece were selected and analysed for their oxygen isotopic and chemical compositions. Results show that the majority of glass samples are produced using natron as flux and have 18O values of about 15.5\u2030, plus or minus a few tenths of one per mil, suggesting that raw materials probably come from Levantine area. Four samples are heavily enriched in 18O, and their chemical composition clearly shows that they were made with soda plant ash as flux. Isotopic and chemical data of Greek chert samples support the hypothesis of local production of the above samples. About half of the glass samples have chemical compositions, which allow their age to be constrained to the late Antique period. For the remaining glass, similarities with literature compositional groups are reported and discussed

An Input-Output Analysis of Environmental Effects of Infrastructure Investments in the Greek Economy: The Case of - Attiki Odos - motorway

This paper calculates the environmental effects of the Attiki Odos (AOD) motorway investment expenditures in the Athens Metropolitan Area (AMA), Greece. The AOD is incorporated in the Trans-European Networks (TEN) and is a priority project aimed at developing the AMA. Input - output analysis is applied to assess the environmental impacts of the investments expenditures. More precisely, we apply the environmental input-output life cycle assessment (EIOLCA) method to estimate ex-post the environmental burden associated with the investment vector of AOD. In this context, we calculate each type of emission caused by the AOD investments expenditures (direct, indirect and induced), by sector of economic activity during the construction phase (1999-2004). The investment vector is assembled from figures calculated based on corporate data. Next, in order to estimate the impact of technological change on our estimates, we use ceteris paribus the 2005 input - output table, which expresses, in a nutshell, the production technology of 2005. The domestic input-output tables for 2000 and 2005 come from EUROSTAT. In this framework, the main finding of the paper is that technological change between 2000 and 2005, as expressed through each year's technical coefficients matrix, provided significant results with respect to total output and emissions. Roughly speaking, total output increased approximately by 7% and emissions decreased approximately by 19%

Athens as Symbolic Space: Spatial Representations and the Conceptualization of the City through Narratives and Urban Plans

This paper explores the dynamic interplay between urban narratives and spatial policies in shaping contemporary Athens' identity, tracing significant transformations from the early 2000s to the present. Drawing from Lefebvre’s representational spaces and Barthes’ myths, it illustrates how dominant narratives and spatial policies mutually construct and reshape each other, reflecting evolving political, economic, and social contexts.Initially, Athens' identity aligned with the global aspirations symbolized by the 2004 Olympic Games, projecting the city as an international metropolitan center. The subsequent Greek financial crisis radically altered these narratives, recasting Athens as a space of decline, unrest, and socio-political activism. Movements such as the "Indignants" protests transformed public spaces into symbolic arenas of resistance and cultural expression, reshaping global perceptions of the city. Since 2017, Athens experienced another narrative shift emphasizing cultural revival and increased touristification. International events like Documenta 14, and strategic media portrayals rebranded the city as resilient, creative, and culturally vibrant. These optimistic narratives, however, intensified urban inequalities and accelerated gentrification processes, highlighting tensions between symbolic representations and residents lived realities. Strategic urban planning practices under neoliberal governance reinforced these narratives, shifting from state-centered managerialism to entrepreneurial frameworks prioritizing investment attraction and commodification of urban spaces. Despite the proliferation of participatory initiatives, governance practices became increasingly fragmented and less democratic, sidelining genuine social equity, inclusion, and spatial justice

A P300-based cognitive assessment battery

© 2015 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Background: It is well established that some patients who are diagnosed as being in a vegetative state or a minimally conscious state show reliable signs of volition that may only be detected by measuring neural responses. A pertinent question is whether these patients are capable of higher cognitive processes. Methods: Here, we develop a series of EEG paradigms that probe several core aspects of cognition at the bedside without the need for motor responses and explore the sensitivity of this approach in a group of healthy controls. Results: Using analysis of ERPs alone, this method can determine with high reliability whether individual participants are able to attend a stimulus stream, maintain items in working memory, or solve complex grammatical reasoning problems. Conclusion: We suggest that this approach could form the basis of a brain-based battery for assessing higher cognition in patients with severe motor impairments or disorders of consciousness

Τhe symbolic economy of cities – new shapes of work and networking: Τhe role of traditional and emerging clusters of creativity in the Αthenian public space

Η συμβολική οικονομία των πόλεων – νέες μορφές εργασίας και δικτύωσης: Ο ρόλος των παραδοσιακών και των αναδυόμενων clusters δημιουργικότητας στον αθηναϊκό αστικό χώροΣε αυτό το άρθρο εξετάζουμε τις αλλαγές στον αθηναϊκό αστικό χώρο που έγιναν υπό το φως της κρίσης καθώς και τις αλλαγές στις εργασιακές σχέσεις και τη συμβολική οικονομία της Αθήνας. Στα πρώτα κεφάλαια γίνεται θεωρητική επισκόπηση των διεθνών αλλαγών, του ρόλου του πολιτισμού στις αναπτυξιακές στρατηγικές και της συμβολικής οικονομίας. Επίσης, αναλύονται οι σύγχρονες αστικές πολιτικές και οι νέες μορφές εργασίας. Η περίπτωση του ιστορικού κέντρου της Αθήνας ως χώρου συγκέντρωσης δημιουργικών δραστηριοτήτων και ως αναπτυσσόμενου τουριστικού προορισμού έρχεται επίσης στο προσκήνιο. Το τελευταίο κεφάλαιο αφιερώνεται στην εν εξελίξει επιτόπια έρευνα που διεξάγεται προκειμένου να εξεταστούν τα παραδοσιακά και τα αναδυόμενα συμπλέγματα (επίκεντρα) δημιουργικότητας στο κέντρο της Αθήνας, τον τρόπο δομής, λειτουργίας και εγκατάστασης τους και την αλληλεπίδρασή τους με το «Αθηναϊκό Αστικό Εργοστάσιο».In this article we investigate the changes in the Athenian urban space that have taken place in the light of the crisis, changes in labour relations and the symbolic economy. In the first part a theoretical overview of international changes, the role of culture in development strategies and the symbolic economy is made. Urban policies and new shapes of work are also being analyzed. The case of the historic centre of Athens, as a host of creative activities and as a growing tourist destination, also comes to the forefront. The last part is devoted to the ongoing field research conducted to look into the traditional and emerging creativity clusters in the center of Athens, how they are built and located and their interaction with the Athenian Urban Factory

The effect of spaceflight and microgravity on the human brain

peer reviewedMicrogravity, confinement, isolation, and immobilization are just some of the features astronauts have to cope with during space missions. Consequently, long-duration space travel can have detrimental effects on human physiology. Although research has focused on the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal system in particular, the exact impact of spaceflight on the human central nervous system remains to be determined. Previous studies have reported psychological problems, cephalic fluid shifts, neurovestibular problems, and cognitive alterations, but there is paucity in the knowledge of the underlying neural substrates. Previous space analogue studies and preliminary spaceflight studies have shown an involvement of the cerebellum, cortical sensorimotor, and somatosensory areas and the vestibular pathways. Extending this knowledge is crucial, especially in view of long-duration interplanetary missions (e.g., Mars missions) and space tourism. In addition, the acquired insight could be relevant for vestibular patients, patients with neurodegenerative disorders, as well as the elderly population, coping with multisensory deficit syndromes, immobilization, and inactivity