Sport policy, citizenship and the social integration of immigrants in Denmark

Since 2010 Denmark has seen a significant increase in immigration and the topic has become a significant political issue linked to the rise of far-right political parties that advocate not only a more restrictive immigration policy but also the assimilation strategy for those migrants currently resident in the country. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the development of sport policies in two Danish cities in relation to migration since 2010. The research analyses changes in national level policy and in the policies of Copenhagen and Aarhus, in which three sports projects are examined to explore the impact on policy of the interaction between national, municipal and sports club policy actors. Data were collected through a combination of semi-structured interviews with municipal civil servants, administrative and coaching staff of sports clubs and a review of material derived from official municipal and sports club documents and media reports. The data were subject to thematic content analysis. The theoretical foundation for the data collection and analysis was provided by the advocacy coalition framework and the multiple streams framework. Moreover, macro-level theories with neo-corporatism and neo-pluralism were particularly significant. Neo-corporatism was significant because of its connection with associationalism which remains strong at the local level, whereas neo-pluralism was dominant at the national level. The main findings of the research were: a) sport was identified in both cities as an important vehicle for the inclusion of recent migrants into the communal associationalist life and their introduction to the Danish societal values and norms; b) municipalities were granted by central government considerable autonomy in interpreting their responsibilities and collaborated closely with sports clubs in the design and delivery of sports programmes related to immigrants; c) two competing advocacy coalitions were identified, one favouring inclusion through assimilation and the other integration through multiculturalism; d) the assimilationist coalition was composed of by centre-right and far-right political parties and where they controlled the municipal sport department it was the sports clubs that pursued an integration/ multicultural policy; e) in both cities the most conflicting issue was gender segregated swimming; and f) in both cities Get2Sport Project was a significant link between the local sports clubs and the Danish Sport Confederation (DIF).</div

Τhe Effect of a Traditional Dance Program on Health-Related Quality of Life as Perceived by Primary School Students

Physical exercise is acknowledged to play a highly significant role in human health and life quality. The concept “Quality of Life” (QoL) refers to many parameters, including the individual's physical condition, psychological status, level of independence, social relationships and interaction with the environment. Participating in dance activities, and more particularly in traditional dances, can significantly increase one’s physical and psychological well-being, and therefore improve their QoL.The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there are differences in the way Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is perceived by fifth and sixth graders of two public primary schools attending two different programs: a) program focused on traditional dance and b) program implemented within the context of the Physical Education curriculum as provided by the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs.According to the results of the research, the traditional dance intervention program presented higher perceived HRQoL values in six of the eight dimensions of the Kidscreen-52 Questionnaire, these dimensions being "Health", "Mood", "Self-perception", "Friends", "School-Learning" and "Self & Others". The most highly statistically significant difference was found for the "Health" dimension.In conclusion, traditional dance offers multiple benefits to participants, since it is an enjoyable physical activity contributing to the improvement of many QoL-related factors

Diagnosis and management of combined post- and precapillary pulmonary hypertension in a patient with multiple comorbidities

Diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension requires a laborious investigation that must be performed in accordance with international guidelines. Right-heart catheterization is the gold standard examination to assess the degree of hemodynamic impairment of  post- or precapillary origin, guiding management. The presence of comorbidities is becoming rather frequent in real-life pulmonary hypertension cases, thus creating diagnostic and therapeutic complexity. We present a case of combined post- and precapillary pulmonary hypertension in a patient with ischemic heart disease and combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema, in order to describe the diagnostic algorithm for pulmonary hypertension and elucidate the problematic aspects of managing this debilitating disease in a patient with several comorbidities. Current guidelines do not support the use of specific vasodilator treatment in group II — due to heart disease and group III-due to lung disease pulmonary hypertension, unless the patient presents with severe pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure &gt; 35 mm Hg or cardiac index &lt; 2.0 L/min) with right ventricular dysfunction and is treated in an expert center and preferably in the context of a randomized control trial. In the case presented, therapeutic management focused, firstly, on treatment of the underlying heart and lung disease and, subsequently, on specific vasoactive therapy, due to severe hemodynamic deterioration

Climate Change, Vulnerability and Adaptation in Latin America

Dissertation for the MA Area Studies (Latin America)submitted September 2008. Supervisor: Dr Graham Woodgate

Integrated photonics for SiC quantum technologies

Since the discovery of peculiar phenomena in the nano-world, at the beginning of last century, our understanding of nature at this level has being constantly improving through the establishment of quantum theory. A plethora of benefits has already been exploited in semiconductors, paving the way for the age of electronics. Despite the new, groundbreaking developments, this wasn’t but the first step on the spectrum of capabilities the quantum world could offer us. The second step that will follow is about quantum technologies exploiting the very nature of quantum physics and embracing these counter-intuitive phenomena to harness an advantage over the so far, classical operation of electronics. On this route, there are many challenges still remaining, with scalability being the toughest. Our approach to tackle this issue, is to have all components needed integrated on chip, on a fabrication friendly material. Moreover, this material has to host quantum emitters which should be easily and reliably being controlled. Such a material is silicon carbide since it’s been used for decades by the high power electronics industry while at the same time, colour centres in silicon carbide have been shown to have a high level of familiarity with the NV− centre in diamond. We aim on developing fabrication techniques that will allow us to have a reliable platform for quantum technologies. We aim on fabricating high quality factor photonic crystal cavities with embedded colour centres which would deliver high Purcell factors. Purcell factor’s importance would become prominent as we demonstrate its connection with two of the most important parameters for quantum technology applications, namely the indistinguishability and the emitter-photon coupling efficiency. Our high level of fabrication fidelity, allows us to fabricate complex cavity designs with high Q/V ratios. A simulated photonic crystal cavity design in SiC of Q/V ∼ 500, 000(n/λ) 3 will be presented and fabricated. The homebuilt confocal microscopy setup will be described in detail and its abilities will be manifested. Using this setup, we are able to measure photonic crystal cavities with Q factors as high as 7138, the highest reported in 3C-SiC. Such cavities could yield a Purcell factor of 443 and consequently indistinguishability could reach to 0.85 with coupling efficiencies of 0.97. Further efforts have to be made to characterise these parameters, as preliminary work has been made to implant colour centres in photonic crystal cavities

Investment incentives and their impact on fixed capital investment: sector analysis

Investment incentives are measurable economic benefits provided by governments to attract investment, particularly in developing countries. In Greece investment incentives are provided mainly through the Development Law and on a smaller scale through the European Community Support Frameworks.The present study attempts to assess the impact of investment incentives. Firstly a reference is made to the impact of tax policy on economic growth, at a macroeconomic level, analyzing data from OECD member countries. At a second level, the study examines the impact of investment incentives on corporate financial results, in companies operating in the region of Thrace, Greece. In order to accomplish this evaluation, econometric models are used, to compare financial ratios between companies that joint Development Law 1892/1990, with companies that have not been benefited.The findings indicate that the geographical position affects the firm's submission or not at the Development Law. Moreover some indicators of companies that have benefited appear to be improved from the submission in the Development Law. However, the majority of the indicators examined, show no differences between the two groups of companies, creating doubts about the effectiveness of the investment incentives.Τα επενδυτικά κίνητρα είναι μετρήσιμα οικονομικά οφέλη που παρέχουν οι κυβερνήσεις για την προσέλκυση επενδύσεων, κυρίως σε αναπτυσσόμενες χώρες. Στην Ελλάδα τα επενδυτικά κίνητρα παρέχονται κυρίως μέσω των Αναπτυξιακών Νόμων και σε μικρότερη κλίμακα μέσω των Ευρωπαϊκών Κοινοτικών Πλαισίων Στήριξης.Η παρούσα διατριβή επιχειρεί να αξιολογήσει τις επιπτώσεις των επενδυτικών κινήτρων. Αρχικά πραγματοποιείται αναφορά στην επίδραση της φορολογικής πολιτικής στην οικονομική ανάπτυξη, σε μακροοικονομικό επίπεδο, αναλύοντας δεδομένα που προέρχονται από χώρες μέλη του ΟΟΣΑ. Κατόπιν εξετάζονται οι επιπτώσεις των επενδυτικών και πως αυτές αποτυπώνονται στα εταιρικά οικονομικά αποτελέσματα σε εταιρείες που δραστηριοποιούνται στην περιοχή της Θράκης. Για το λόγο αυτό πραγματοποιείται, σε μικροοικονομικό επίπεδο, με τη χρήση οικονομετρικών μοντέλων, σύγκριση των οικονομικών στοιχείων εταιρειών που έχουν υπαχθεί στον Αναπτυξιακό Νόμο 1892/1990, με εταιρείες που δεν έχουν υπαχθεί.Τα συμπεράσματα καταδεικνύουν πως η γεωγραφική θέση και συγκεκριμένα ο Νομός επηρεάζει την υπαγωγή της επιχείρησης ή όχι στο Αναπτυξιακό Νόμο. Επίσης ορισμένοι δείκτες των εταιρειών που έχουν υπαχθεί εμφανίζονται βελτιωμένοι. Εντύπωση όμως προκαλεί το γεγονός ότι η πλειοψηφία των δεικτών που εξετάζονται δεν παρουσιάζουν διαφοροποιήσεις ανάμεσα στις δυο ομάδες των εταιρειών, δημιουργώντας αμφιβολίες για την αποτελεσματικότητα των επενδυτικών κινήτρων

Intertemporal evolution of the institution of adoption by the greco-roman antiquity until today

THIS WORK REFERS TO THE INSTITUTION OF ADOPTION STARTING TO TRACE HISTORICALLY REACHING THE CURRENT LEGAL FRAMEWORK. FURTHER DEALS WITH ADOPTION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH MEDICAL SCIENCE TO FINISH WITH PROPOSALS IN WHICH THE ADOPTION WILL BE MAINTAINED IN THE FUTURE. IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK AND CONCLUSIONS PLAY THE INCLUDED STATISTICAL TABLES, STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS.Η ΠΑΡΟΥΣΑ ΕΡΓΑΣΙΑ ΑΝΑΦΕΡΕΤΑΙ ΣΤΟ ΘΕΣΜΟ ΤΗΣ ΥΙΟΘΕΣΙΑΣ ΞΕΚΙΝΩΝΤΑΣ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΚΗ ΤΗΣ ΑΝΑΔΡΟΜΗ ΦΘΑΝΟΝΤΑΣ ΣΤΟ ΙΣΧΥΟΝ ΝΟΜΙΚΟ ΠΛΑΙΣΙΟ. ΠΕΡΑΙΤΕΡΩ ΑΣΧΟΛΕΙΤΑΙ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΥΙΟΘΕΣΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΤΗ ΣΧΕΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΙΑΤΡΙΚΗ ΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΗ ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΤΕΛΕΙΩΣΕΙ ΜΕ ΠΡΟΤΑΣΕΙΣ ΥΠΟ ΤΙΣ ΟΠΟΙΕΣ Η ΥΙΟΘΕΣΙΑ ΘΑ ΔΙΑΤΗΡΗΘΕΙ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΟ ΜΕΛΛΟΝ. ΣΗΜΑΝΤΙΚΟ ΡΟΛΟ ΣΤΗΝ ΚΑΤΑΝΟΗΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΕΡΓΑΣΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΞΑΓΩΓΗ ΣΥΜΠΕΡΑΣΜΑΤΩΝ ΠΑΙΖΟΥΝ ΟΙ ΣΥΜΠΕΡΙΛΑΜΒΑΝΟΜΕΝΟΙ ΣΤΑΤΙΣΤΙΚΟΙ ΠΙΝΑΚΕΣ, ΤΑ ΝΟΜΟΘΕΤΗΜΑΤΑ ΚΑΙ ΟΙ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΙΚΕΣ ΑΠΟΦΑΣΕΙΣ