Value relevance of accounting information in the pre- and post-IFRS accounting periods

This paper examines the value relevance of accounting information in the pre- and post-periods of International Financial Reporting Standards implementation using the models of Easton and Harris (1991) and Feltham and Ohlson (1995) for a sample of Greek companies. The results of the paper indicate that the effects of the IFRS reduced the incremental information content of book values of equity for stock prices. However, earnings’ incremental information content increased for the post-IFRS period. The results can be explained by the introduction of the fair value principle under the IFRS that brought major changes in book value but not in earnings.peer-reviewe

The Cauchy problem for a class of two-dimensional nonlocal nonlinear wave equations governing anti-plane shear motions in elastic materials

This paper is concerned with the analysis of the Cauchy problem of a general class of two-dimensional nonlinear nonlocal wave equations governing anti-plane shear motions in nonlocal elasticity. The nonlocal nature of the problem is reflected by a convolution integral in the space variables. The Fourier transform of the convolution kernel is nonnegative and satisfies a certain growth condition at infinity. For initial data in $L^{2}$ Sobolev spaces, conditions for global existence or finite time blow-up of the solutions of the Cauchy problem are established.Comment: 15 pages. "Section 6 The Anisotropic Case" added and minor changes. Accepted for publication in Nonlinearit

Enhancement of visuospatial working memory by the differential outcomes procedure in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease

In the present study we investigated the efficacy of the differential outcome procedure (DOP) to improve visuospatial working memory in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The DOP associates correct responses to the to-be-remember stimulus with unique outcomes. Eleven patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, 11 participants with MCI, and 17 healthy matched controls performed a spatial delayed memory task under the DOP and a control condition (non-differential outcomes –NOP-). We found that performance (terminal accuracy) was significantly better in the DOP condition relative to the NOP condition in all three groups of participants. AD patients performed worse, and took longer to benefit from the DOP. In line with previous animal and human research, we propose that the DOP activates brain structures and cognitive mechanisms that are less affected by healthy and pathological aging, optimizing in this way the function of the cognitive system

Mother-child histocompatibility and risk of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus among mothers.

The study objective was to test the hypothesis that having histocompatible children increases the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), possibly by contributing to the persistence of fetal cells acquired during pregnancy. We conducted a case control study using data from the UC San Francisco Mother Child Immunogenetic Study and studies at the Inova Translational Medicine Institute. We imputed human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and minor histocompatibility antigens (mHags). We created a variable of exposure to histocompatible children. We estimated an average sequence similarity matching (SSM) score for each mother based on discordant mother-child alleles as a measure of histocompatibility. We used logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. A total of 138 RA, 117 SLE, and 913 control mothers were analyzed. Increased risk of RA was associated with having any child compatible at HLA-B (OR 1.9; 1.2-3.1), DPB1 (OR 1.8; 1.2-2.6) or DQB1 (OR 1.8; 1.2-2.7). Compatibility at mHag ZAPHIR was associated with reduced risk of SLE among mothers carrying the HLA-restriction allele B*07:02 (n = 262; OR 0.4; 0.2-0.8). Our findings support the hypothesis that mother-child histocompatibility is associated with risk of RA and SLE

NEOTECTONIC DEFORMATION OF EASTERN PYLIA ( SW PELOPONNESE , GREECE )

The present paper aims to the understanding of the effect of the morphotectonic factors on the formation of the morphoneotectonic macrostructures that comprise the eastern part of Pylia Peninsula (SW Péloponnèse). As the broader area of Pylia is one of the tectonically and seismically most active areas of the Hellenic arc, due to the fact that it is very near to the Hellenic trench (approximatly 50Km), the peninsula of Pylia is strongly considered to be a suitable area to study the neotectonic deformation at the Eastern Mediterranean region

Using GIS & Multicriteria Decision analysis in landslide susceptibility mapping - a case study in Messinia prefecture area (SW Peloponnesus, Greece)

Σκοπός της εργασίας είναι η εκτίμηση της επικινδυνότητας σε κατολισθήσεις ενός τμήματος του Νομού Μεσσηνίας, που περιλαμβάνει τους Δήμους Καλαμάτας, Αβιας και Αεύκτρου, με τη συνδυασμένη χρήση Γεωγραφικών Συστημάτων Πληροφοριών και Πολυκριτηριακών Μεθόδων Στήριξης Αποφάσεων. Στα πλαίσια αυτά κατασκευάστηκε ένας χάρτης κατολισθητικής επικινδυνότητας εφαρμόζοντας την Αναλυτική Ιεραρχική Διαδικασία και τη διαδικασία του Σταθμισμένου Γραμμικού Συνδυασμού.The purpose of this study is to assess the susceptibility of landslides at the eastern part of Messinia prefecture using GIS and Multicriteria Decision Analysis. Analytic Hierarchy Process and Weighted Linear Combination method were used to create a landslide susceptibility map for the study area. The produced map provides valuable information concerning the stability conditions of the territory and may serve as the first step in a complete hazard assessment towards the mitigation of natural landslide disasters in Messinia Prefecture area. Particularly the intention is to transfer effectively information regarding slope stability to non-geologists who take decisions for future land use planning processes and major construction projects

Using GIS & Multicriteria Decision analysis in landslide susceptibility mapping - a case study in Messinia prefecture area (SW Peloponnesus, Greece)

Σκοπός της εργασίας είναι η εκτίμηση της επικινδυνότητας σε κατολισθήσεις ενός τμήματος του Νομού Μεσσηνίας, που περιλαμβάνει τους Δήμους Καλαμάτας, Αβιας και Αεύκτρου, με τη συνδυασμένη χρήση Γεωγραφικών Συστημάτων Πληροφοριών και Πολυκριτηριακών Μεθόδων Στήριξης Αποφάσεων. Στα πλαίσια αυτά κατασκευάστηκε ένας χάρτης κατολισθητικής επικινδυνότητας εφαρμόζοντας την Αναλυτική Ιεραρχική Διαδικασία και τη διαδικασία του Σταθμισμένου Γραμμικού Συνδυασμού.The purpose of this study is to assess the susceptibility of landslides at the eastern part of Messinia prefecture using GIS and Multicriteria Decision Analysis. Analytic Hierarchy Process and Weighted Linear Combination method were used to create a landslide susceptibility map for the study area. The produced map provides valuable information concerning the stability conditions of the territory and may serve as the first step in a complete hazard assessment towards the mitigation of natural landslide disasters in Messinia Prefecture area. Particularly the intention is to transfer effectively information regarding slope stability to non-geologists who take decisions for future land use planning processes and major construction projects

Photodynamic therapy of choroidal neovascularization with enlargement of the spot size to include the feeding complex

This is a case report of a 83-year-old man with choroidal neovascularization (CNV), due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in his right eye. Digital fluorescein (FA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICG) were performed, which disclosed predominantly classic subfoveal CNV and a dilated and tortuous feeding complex. The visual acuity was 20/800. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment was suggested, however, the patient was not keen to receive an intraocular injection. Modified photodynamic therapy (PDT) with spot size enlarged, to include not only the CNV lesion but the feeding complex as well, was performed. Ten days after one session of PDT, ICG showed absence of leakage from the CNV and complete occlusion of the feeding complex. The visual acuity gradually improved to 20/100 and remained stable during the following 23 months. No evidence of CNV leakage was seen in the FA and ICG during the follow up period. Adjustment of the PDT spot size to include the detectable by ICG feeding complex might be an additional option in order to close the subfoveal CNV and might be considered as an alternative to intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF in selected cases where anti-VEGF treatment is not available