RESTORATION WORKFLOWS BY MEANS OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY: THE CASE STUDY OF PASHAS BRIDGE

The restoration of cultural heritage sites is a complex and challenging process, particularly when the structure holds significant historical and cultural value. This paper refers to the first stages of the restoration study of Pashas Bridge, one of the largest stone bridges in Greece that was destroyed during World War II and further damaged by an earthquake in 1995. The project was assigned to multiple research groups from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) for a period of 18 months by the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports. To restore the bridge effectively, it is essential to accurately record, document, and assess its current condition. Through the use of photogrammetry, which creates 3D models of objects or structures using images, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) which assisted in capturing multiple shots with various angles of the bridge, a detailed 3D model of the bridge’s current condition was generated. In addition to these technical approaches, historical research and documentation were utilized to understand the bridge's cultural heritage value. The process included an examination of historical photographs and records related to the bridge, with a constant effort to discover additional information about its history and importance. Ultimately, the restoration process of Pashas Bridge serves as a valuable case study for the effective restoration of cultural heritage sites. Through utilizing these resources, the team aims to restore the bridge to its former glory, preserving its cultural heritage value and ensuring its place as a valuable and integral part of the community for generations to come

A personalized audio server using MPEG-7 and MPEG-21 standards

This paper presents a semantic model which delivers personalized audio information. The personalization process is automated and decentralized. The metadata which support personalization are separated in two categories: the metadata describing user preferences stored at each user and the resource adaptation metadata stored at the server. The multimedia models MPEG-21 and MPEG-7 are used to describe metadata information. The Web Ontology Language (OWL) language is used to produce and manipulate the relative ontological descriptions. © 2010 IEEE. © 2010 IEEE

Platelet monoamine oxidase activity and psychometric correlates in male violent offenders imprisoned for homicide or other violent acts

Violent behavior has been associated with certain personality traits like poor impulse control, sensation seeking, and monotony avoidance, which predispose to increased risk for violent acts. Low platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity has been found in subjects with such traits, as well as in imprisoned violent offenders. On the other hand, cigarette smoking is expected to inhibit MAO activity. We assessed impulse control, lifetime history of aggression, suicide risk, as well as platelet MAO activity in 82 male offenders (mean age 33.0 +/- 10.7 years) imprisoned for homicide or other violent acts, and in 54 control male subjects (mean age 35.1 +/- 6.6 years). General psychopathology was assessed by the Hopkins Symptom Check List (SCL-90) questionnaire. A high rate of smoking (89 %), significantly higher than controls (63 %), was observed in offenders, but there were no differences in MAO activities among nonsmokers, moderate, or heavy smokers in either group. Offenders showed significantly higher scores in Impulse Control, Past Feelings and Acts of Violence, Suicide Risk and SCL-90 scales. Offenders who had committed other violent acts than homicide had higher scores in the three psychometric scales and in the Depression, Obsessive-Compulsive, Hostility, and Anxiety subscales of the SCL-90, than offenders who had committed homicide. Platelet MAO activity was significantly lower (p = 0.01) in the offenders’ group (38.1 +/- 14.4) compared to controls (44.7 +/- 15.2). The difference could not be attributed to smoking, and seems to be related to personality traits and behaviors that characterize the offenders’ group

Risk factors for childhood burn injuries: a case-control study from Greece

During a 12-month period 239 children who presented with a burn injury at the Emergency Department of a teaching children’s hospital in Athens, with city-wide coverage, and 239 gender-and age-matched controls with minor non-injury ailments were interviewed. The questionnaire covered sociodemographic characteristics of the children and their families, information allowing the construction of a burn avoidance index in their homes and items from the Achenback scale that were synthesized into a child activity score. The data were analyzed through conditional logistic regression. In general, socio-demographic variables were not of overwhelming importance, although some of the findings indicate that supervision lapses and barefoot walking of gypsy children increase the risk of burn injuries. The kitchen in an inherently high risk place for injuries and the powerful inverse association of the burn avoidance index with burn injury risk points towards steps that could be easily taken and impart substantial protection. There was no evidence in this study of burn injury proneness or that hyperactivity of the child increased the risk of burn injury; indeed, the results point in the opposite direction. Our results strongly support the view that childhood burn injuries are largely environmentally conditioned and, accordingly, easily preventable. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd for ISBI. All rights reserved

Wound infections after minor limb lacerations: Risk factors and the role of antimicrobial agents

Background: The requirement for antimicrobial agents in patients with minor limb lacerations was prospectively studied. Methods: The development of wound infections in patients with minor limb lacerations who received amoxicillin plus clavulanate acid treatment (group ii, 52 patients) mas studied and compared with patients who did not (group B, 48 patients). Results: Wound infection occurred in 6 (11.5%) and 10 (21%) patients in groups A and B, respectively (p > 0.10). Statistically significant risk factors for the development of infection were diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR], 15.8; p < 0.001), lower limb lacerations (OR, 33.5; p < 0.001), lacerations caused by compressive forces (OR, 21.6; p = 0.007), laceration length from 5 to 8 cm (OR, 7.04; p = 0.001), ragged laceration edge (OR, 2.55; p = 0.049), and skin tension (OR, 2.00; p = 0.006), Conclusion: The use of antimicrobial agents in minor limb injuries was not associated with a significant reduction of infection rate. Routine antimicrobial treatment is discouraged

Evaluating the Degradation of Natural Resources in the Mediterranean Environment Using the Water and Land Resources Degradation Index, the Case of Crete Island

Natural resources degradation poses multiple challenges particularly to environmental and economic processes. It is usually difficult to identify the degree of degradation and the critical vulnerability values in the affected systems. Thus, among other tools, indices (composite indicators) may also describe these complex systems or phenomena. In this approach, the Water and Land Resources Degradation Index was applied to the fifth largest Mediterranean island, Crete, for the 1999–2014 period. The Water and Land Resources Degradation Index uses 11 water and soil resources related indicators: Aridity Index, Water Demand, Drought Impacts, Drought Resistance Water Resources Infrastructure, Land Use Intensity, Soil Parent Material, Plant Cover, Rainfall, Slope, and Soil Texture. The aim is to identify the sensitive areas to degradation due to anthropogenic interventions and natural processes, as well as their vulnerability status. The results for Crete Island indicate that prolonged water resources shortages due to low average precipitation values or high water demand (especially in the agricultural sector), may significantly affect Water and Land degradation processes. Hence, Water and Land Resources Degradation Index could serve as an extra tool to assist policymakers to improve their decisions to combat Natural Resources degradation

Evaluating the Degradation of Natural Resources in the Mediterranean Environment Using the Water and Land Resources Degradation Index, the Case of Crete Island

Natural resources degradation poses multiple challenges particularly to environmental and economic processes. It is usually difficult to identify the degree of degradation and the critical vulnerability values in the affected systems. Thus, among other tools, indices (composite indicators) may also describe these complex systems or phenomena. In this approach, the Water and Land Resources Degradation Index was applied to the fifth largest Mediterranean island, Crete, for the 1999–2014 period. The Water and Land Resources Degradation Index uses 11 water and soil resources related indicators: Aridity Index, Water Demand, Drought Impacts, Drought Resistance Water Resources Infrastructure, Land Use Intensity, Soil Parent Material, Plant Cover, Rainfall, Slope, and Soil Texture. The aim is to identify the sensitive areas to degradation due to anthropogenic interventions and natural processes, as well as their vulnerability status. The results for Crete Island indicate that prolonged water resources shortages due to low average precipitation values or high water demand (especially in the agricultural sector), may significantly affect Water and Land degradation processes. Hence, Water and Land Resources Degradation Index could serve as an extra tool to assist policymakers to improve their decisions to combat Natural Resources degradation