Boundaries Between a City and Its Suburbs: the Case Study of Two Greek Cities, Volos and Larissa

It is generally accepted that there aren't any plain boundaries between a city and its suburbs. Different investments have been applied on the subject such as that by Mills and Hamilton, or the "edge city" theory by Joel Garreau or even the "urban field" concept by Friedman and Miller. The previous theories describe the resulting space as "a thick, fuzzy boundary between rural and urban uses". On the other side, though, there are cases of cities in which the limits between them and their suburbs are clearly distinct. Resultantly, it is interesting to investigate the topological and morphological constitution of space, which occurs beyond the urban net, through the phenomenon of suburbanisation. In order to clarify the spatial morphology among urban and suburban space, two case studies in Greece will be examined, Volos and Larisa, two middle class cities, that have a different way of suburban development. Finally, through a comparative presentation of the case studies results there will be extended conclusions that concern the contemporary Greek sub- urban space

Profiling Attitudes for Personalized Information Provision

PAROS is a generic system under design whose goal is to offer personalization, recommendation, and other adaptation services to information providing systems. In its heart lies a rich user model able to capture several diverse aspects of user behavior, interests, preferences, and other attitudes. The user model is instantiated with profiles of users, which are obtained by analyzing and appropriately interpreting potentially arbitrary pieces of user-relevant information coming from diverse sources. These profiles are maintained by the system, updated incrementally as additional data on users becomes available, and used by a variety of information systems to adapt the functionality to the users’ characteristics

Η αρχή της παγκόσμιας δικαιοσύνης: Θεωρητικές και πρακτικές προσεγγίσεις

Στον απόηχο του Β’ Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου, η διεθνής κοινότητα συνειδητοποίησε ότι υπάρχουν κάποια συγκεκριμένα εγκλήματα, τα οποία είναι τόσο σοβαρά και προσβάλλουν σε τέτοιο βαθμό θεμελιώδεις αξίες της πλειοψηφίας των κρατών, ώστε να πρέπει να διασφαλίζεται ότι οι δράστες τους δεν θα βρίσκουν ασφαλές καταφύγιο πουθενά. Ως αποτελεσματικός μηχανισμός για τη διασφάλιση της ανάγκης αυτής μπορεί αναμφίβολα να λειτουργήσει η αρχή της παγκόσμιας δικαιοσύνης, αφού με την εφαρμογή της αυξάνονται σημαντικά οι πιθανότητες ποινικής δίωξης και εκδίκασης των δραστών διεθνών εγκλημάτων. Ωστόσο, όσο προφανής και επιθυμητός κι αν είναι ο βασικός σκοπός πρόβλεψης της αρχής αυτής, η τελευταία έχει αναχθεί σε ένα αρκετά αμφιλεγόμενο ζήτημα, που έχει απασχολήσει τόσο σε θεωρητικό όσο και σε νομολογιακό επίπεδο. Αρχικά, στην παρούσα μελέτη, θα γίνει ανάλυση της έννοιας και της δικαιολογητικής βάσης της αρχής της παγκόσμιας δικαιοσύνης, και θα εκτεθεί ο τρόπος καθιέρωσής της καθώς και το πεδίο εφαρμογής της. Στη συνέχεια, θα παρατεθούν και θα σχολιαστούν διάφοροι προβληματισμοί που έχουν ανακύψει σχετικά με την υπό εξέταση αρχή, οι οποίοι αφορούν στην πιθανή σύγκρουση της τελευταίας με θεμελιώδεις αρχές του διεθνούς δικαίου, όπως η αρχή περί μη επεμβάσεως στις εσωτερικές υποθέσεις των άλλων κρατών και οι ασυλίες των αρχηγών κρατών και των κρατικών αξιωματούχων, στη σχέση της με την εξυπηρέτηση πολιτικών συμφερόντων και σκοπιμοτήτων, ενώ θα εξετασθούν και δύο ειδικές περιπτώσεις εγκλημάτων, η τρομοκρατία και η νομιμοποίηση εσόδων από εγκληματικές δραστηριότητες. Στο τέλος, θα εκτεθούν τα πραγματικά περιστατικά και θα σχολιασθούν οι δικαστικές αποφάσεις που εκδόθηκαν από εθνικά ποινικά δικαστήρια βάσει της αρχής της παγκόσμιας δικαιοσύνης επί ορισμένων ιδιαιτέρως σημαντικών υποθέσεων της διεθνούς νομολογίας, που απασχόλησαν τη διεθνή κοινή γνώμη.In the wake of World War II, the international community realized that there are certain crimes considered so heinous that it must be ensured that their perpetrators could find no safe haven. The principle of universal jurisdiction may undoubtedly work towards this direction, since its application may significantly increase the possibility of the prosecution and conviction of perpetrators of international crimes. However, the principle of universal jurisdiction has been a subject of controversy in both legal theory and case-law. First, herein an analysis of the definition and rationale of universal jurisdiction, as well as its application and scope, will be performed. Then, this dissertation will deal with certain questions concerning a possible conflict among the principle of universal jurisdiction and other fundamental principles of international law, namely the principle of non-intervention and immunities of foreign Heads of state or other state officials, as well as its relation with politics and diplomacy. Two special crimes, i.e. terrorism and money laundering, will be also examined under the light of universal jurisdiction. Lastly, the decisions issued by national courts applying universal jurisdiction concerning certain significantly serious cases of international criminal law will be analyzed in depth

Οργανοκαταλυτικοί Οξειδωτικοί Μετασχηματισμοί Φιλικοί προς το Περιβάλλον

Η Οργανοκατάλυση αποτελεί έναν σύγχρονο και φιλικό προς το περιβάλλον τομέα κατάλυσης. Βάσει του οξειδωτικού πρωτοκόλλου που θεσπίστηκε από το Εργαστήριο Οργανικής Χημείας του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών, χρησιμοποιώντας το υπεροξείδιο του υδρογόνου ως οξειδωτικό και την 2,2,2-τριφθορομέθυλο ακετοφαινόνη ως καταλύτη για την ενεργοποίηση του οξειδωτικού, στην παρούσα διατριβή μελετήθηκε η χρήση της συγκεκριμένης μεθόδου για την ανάπτυξη one-pot αντιδράσεων με σκοπό: • Τη σύνθεση ισοξαζολινών μέσω οξείδωσης αλλυλο-οξιμών. • Τη βελτιστοποίηση συνθηκών της εκλεκτικής οξείδωσης σουλφιδίων σε σουλφοξείδια ή σουλφόνες. • Τη σύνθεση διϋδροξυ-βενζοφουρανίων μέσω οξείδωσης αλλυλο-φαινολών. • Τη σύνθεση λακτονών μέσω οξείδωσης αλκενυλο-οξέων. Επίσης, μελετήθηκαν φωτοχημικές αντιδράσεις, στις οποίες με τη χρήση μεταλλικών συμπλόκων ως καταλύτες και οικιακών λαμπτήρων ως πηγή ενέργειας επετεύχθη: • Η σύνθεση λακτονών από αλκένια και ιωδο-οξικό οξύ και η μελέτη του μηχανισμού της αντίδρασης με τη χρήση Φασματομετρίας Μάζας Υψηλής Διακριτικής Ικανότητας (HRMS). • H σύνθεση ενώσεων που φέρουν κυανο-ομάδα από αλκένια και βρωμο-ακετονιτρίλιο. Τέλος, μελετήθηκε η σύνθεση λακτονών από κετο-οξέα με χρήση της εποξείδωσης Corey-Chaykovsky.Organocatalysis constitutes a new and environmentally friendly field in Organic Chemistry. Based on oxidant protocol that established from Laboratory of Organic Chemistry of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, utilizing hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant and 2,2,2-trifluoromethylacetophenone as the catalyst for oxidant’s activation, in the present thesis studied the application of this method for the achievement of one-pot reactions, in order to: • Synthesize isoxazolines by oxidation of allyl-oximes. • Optimize of the reaction conditions for the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides or sulfones. • Synthesize dihydrobenzofurans by oxidation of allylphenols. • Synthesize lactones by oxidation of alkenoic acids. Furthermore, a variety of photochemical reactions have been studied, utilizing metal-complexes as the catalysts and house lamps as the energy source. Analytically, we achieved: • The synthesis of lactones from alkenes and iodo-acetic acid. The reaction mechanis have been studied extensively with High Resolution Mass Spectroscopy (HRMS). • The synthesis of compounds with cyano-moiety from alkenes and bromoacetonitrile. Finally, we studied the synthesis of lactones from keto-acids via the Corey-Chaykovsky epoxidation

Restoring tibiofemoral alignment during ACL reconstruction results in better knee biomechanics

"Published online: 24 October 2017"PURPOSE: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) aims to restore normal knee joint function, stability and biomechanics and in the long term avoid joint degeneration. The purpose of this study is to present the anatomic single bundle (SB) ACLR that emphasizes intraoperative correction of tibiofemoral subluxation that occurs after ACL injury. It was hypothesized that this technique leads to optimal outcomes and better restoration of pathological tibiofemoral joint movement that results from ACL deficiency (ACLD). METHODS: Thirteen men with unilateral ACLD were prospectively evaluated before and at a mean follow-up of 14.9 (SD = 1.8) months after anatomic SB ACLR with bone patellar tendon bone autograft. The anatomic ACLR replicated the native ACL attachment site anatomy and graft orientation. Emphasis was placed on intraoperative correction of tibiofemoral subluxation by reducing anterior tibial translation (ATT) and internal tibial rotation. Function was measured with IKDC, Lysholm and the Tegner activity scale, ATT was measured with the KT-1000 arthrometer and tibial rotation (TR) kinematics were measured with 3Dmotion analysis during a high-demand pivoting task. RESULTS: The results showed significantly higher TR of the ACL-deficient knee when compared to the intact knee prior to surgery (12.2° ± 3.7° and 10.7° ± 2.6° respectively, P = 0.014). Postoperatively, the ACLR knee showed significantly lower TR as compared to the ACL-deficient knee (9.6°±3.1°, P = 0.001) but no difference as compared to the control knee (n.s.). All functional scores were significantly improved and ATT was restored within normal values (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative correction of tibiofemoral subluxation that results after ACL injury is an important step during anatomic SB ACLR. The intraoperative correction of tibiofemoral subluxation along with the replication of native ACL anatomy results in restoration of rotational kinematics of ACLD patients to normal levels that are comparable to the control knee. These results indicate that the reestablishment of tibiofemoral alignment during ACLR may be an important step that facilitates normal knee kinematics postoperatively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prospective cohort study.The authors gratefully acknowledge the funding support from the Hellenic Association of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (HAOST-EEXOT)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Microbes and us: microbiology literacy in Greece

Microbes are ubiquitous and provide numerous services to humans and our planet. However, a query arises as to whether these microbial services are valued by the general public especially after unprecedented conditions like the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context a survey was conducted to investigate the concept of microbe in Greece. Thematic analysis of 672 anonymous responses (age range 4–75yo) received for the open-ended prompt “What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word microbe?” revealed five thematic categories: Negative emotions, Fuzzy associations, Biology, Entities and Health. Almost 80% of responses fell under “Biology” and “Health” and the general pattern of answers was the same across all age groups. Microbes took a variety of forms in the minds of respondents, however, the concept of “microbe” seems to be more unshaped at younger ages (4–11yo), as revealed in children's language choices. Overall, the often-negative perception of microorganisms seems to be confirmed in this study. Although this research was limited to participants from Greece, it remains relevant to other countries around the world as well. We discuss the reasons behind this negative perception and offer suggestions for reversing it

BATHS IN ROMAN AND LATE ANTIQUE CHERSONISSOS: PRELIMINARY REMARKS ON THEIR TOPOGRAPHY, ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING HISTORY

Baths count among the most frequent, but generally little studied, type-buildings of the Roman period in Crete. This study draws upon the rich evidence of bath buildings from the rescue excavations by the KG? Ephoreia of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities and the 13thEphoreia of Byzantine Antiquities over the past two decades in the area of ancient Chersonissos (modern Limenas Chersonissou) in the Pediada region. The purpose is to discuss aspects of the baths’ distribution in the urban area, their architecture, function and building history and to place them in their regional (Cretan) and supra-regional (provincial and empire-wide) context. In addition, we consider the place of baths and bathing in the Late Antique town, focusing on the evidence for architectural modifications and re-use. The evidence from Chersonissos provides an important addition to the growing number of studies on architecture in Roman Crete and a case-study of the spread and transformation of the bathing habit on the island during the Roman imperial period and Late Antiquity

Microplastics Generation: Onset of Fragmentation of Polyethylene Films in Marine Environment Mesocosms

Summarization: The fragmentation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) films from single-use supermarket plastic bags to microplastics under laboratory-simulated onshore and nearshore conditions was investigated for a period of 6 months. The weathering process of the plastic strips either on beach sand or in seawater under direct natural sunlight was monitored by tensile strength, molecular weight measurements, FTIR, weight loss, and image processing of photographs of the plastic strips before and after mild mechanical stress was applied. The latter represents a novel method proposed for determining the onset of fragmentation through the application of mild mechanical stress on the weathered plastic samples emulating the action of sand and wind on a beach. It was found that 12 h of application of mild mechanical stress in rotating glass bottles filled partially with sand was sufficient time to reach the maximum degree of fragmentation that could occur for the weathered plastics samples being tested. For example, applied mechanical stress yielded an area loss of almost 14% for samples weathered for a period of 5 months and about 16.7% after 5.5 months. While tensile strength tests and molecular weight measurements were rather inconclusive till the very last month when the onset of fragmentation was identified; FTIR measurements revealed that samples under ultraviolet irradiation were gradually modified chemically until fragmentation commenced. After 6 months of weathering, molecular weight measurements showed a 60% reduction for sample SMB-1 whereas for sample SMB-2 the measurement was not possible due to extensive fragmentation. The onset of fragmentation for SMB-1 and SMB-2 samples occurred at a cumulative luminance of 5.3 × 106 lux•d and in the presence of atmospheric oxygen whereby the polymer films broke down partially to microplastics. When the UV exposure reached 7.2 × 106 lux•d the weathered plastic strips broke down fully to microplastics with the application of a mild mechanical stress. Samples placed in seawater proved to be resistant to fragmentation compared to those on sand over the 6-month period of the weathering experiment. The direct implication of this work is that beached macroplastic debris should be regularly collected from the seashore before they are weathered by sunlight and returned to the sea as microplastics by the action of high waves or strong winds. Presented on: Frontiers in Marine Scienc