Mayors and social inequalities

Social mobility has long been an ideal cherished in the United States even if not always achieved in practice. Contemporary studies suggest social mobility is lower in the US than in a significant number of other countries. Notwithstanding the belief that with enough effort, any American can succeed, empirical studies show that socio-economic background determines lifetime prospects. This working paper examines obstacles to social mobility in cities

The origins of central banking in Greece

The establishment of a fully fledged central bank in Greece between May 1927 and May 1928 was a prerequisite for the country’s stabilisation programme prepared by the FinancialCommittee of the League of Nations. Prior to 1928, the National Bank of Greece had acted as a central bank whilst at the same time being by far the biggest and most powerful commercial bank in the country. Under pressure from the League, its governors faced the challenge of transforming it into a fully fledged central bank by shedding all business that was in the province of deposit and commercial banking. They chose instead for the Bank to retain its commercial activities and instead a new fully fledged central bank was established. This thesis explores both the central banking and commercial aspects of the National Bank from the enactment of the Law of Control in 1898 until de jure stabilisation in 1928. It addresses the following questions: why was the National Bank not in a position to transform itself into a fully fledged central bank on its own initiative following a path similar to that described by the natural evolution hypothesis? Why were the commercial activities of the National Bank so important that in the end it chose to retain that aspect of its business when prior to 1927 it had so fiercely guarded its central banking privileges? It is argued that it was the way in which the governors of the National Bank combined central banking responsibilities with commercial banking that safeguarded and preserved the financial strength and consequently the reputation of the Bank throughout its entire history as a bank of issue. The financial position of the dual-purpose Bank was also protected by the conservative and risk-averse way in which it pursued its commercial activities. The National Bank’s financial strength was based on its market power and its ability to select high quality assets and liabilities which resulted in its enduring profitability and solvency. The quality of its assets and liabilities was more important for its governors than maximisation of profits per se. The way that central banking reforms were implemented is also studied. The objectives and functions of the new central bank are evaluated as well as its financial position when it first opened its doors for business. It is maintained that the statutes of the Bank of Greece were at the heart of the central banking principles promoted by the Bank of England and were focused on the macro function of a central bank and on its role as the bank of the government. This thesis also sheds light on the complex relationship that arose between Greek governments and foreign supervisors between the enactment of the Law of Control in 1898 and stabilisation in 1928. Furthermore, it asks questions about the conditionality attached to bailout loans in the late nineteenth century and in the 1920s. The impact that international financial intervention had on monetary reforms is clearly demonstrated. It is argued that monetary developments in Greece between 1898 and 1928 reflect the political economy of the time as well as the historical circumstances. Monetary reforms were shaped by the objectives of the National Bank and the constraints under which it operated rather than foreign control. These findings provide valuable insights into why Greek governments have unsuccessfully struggled to implement widespread structural reforms demanded by their lenders since 2010 and as a consequence the country has experienced a deep and protracted economic recession

Υπερηχογραφικά υποβοηθούμενος καθετηριασμός επισκληρίδιου χώρου

Η υπερηχογραφία έχει φέρει επανάσταση στην αναισθησιολογική πρακτική κατά τη διάρκεια των τελευταίων χρόνων. Η χρήση των υπερήχων για την τοποθέτηση ενδοφλέβιων καθετήρων είναι ευρέως διαδεδομένη, ενώ η υπερηχογραφική καθοδήγηση για την επιτέλεση περιφερικών νευρικών αποκλεισμών έχει επίσης εκτεταμένη εφαρμογή. Δεν ισχύει το ίδιο για τους κεντρικούς νευρικούς αποκλεισμούς, αν και η μέθοδος αναφέρεται στη βιβλιογραφία από το 1980, πιθανώς εξαιτίας των αρκετών περιορισμών της τεχνικής. Παρόλο που πολλές μελέτες και κατευθυντήριες οδηγίες υποστηρίζουν τους υπερήχους για ασφαλέστερους και πιο εύκολους κεντρικούς αποκλεισμούς, οι υπερηχογραφικά- υποβοηθούμενες νευραξονικές επεμβάσεις δεν ήταν συνηθισμένες μέχρι πρόσφατα. Στη συμβατική τεχνική, η εκτέλεση των νευραξονικών αποκλεισμών βασίζεται κυρίως στην ψηλάφηση ανατομικών οδηγών σημείων. Αυτή είναι μια τυφλή προσέγγιση, και η διαφοροποίηση της ανατομίας κάθε ασθενούς μπορεί να οδηγήσει σε επιπλοκές κατά την πραγματοποίηση του αποκλεισμού. Τα ανατομικά οδηγά σημεία μπορεί να αποκρύπτονται λόγω παρουσίας παχυσαρκίας, οιδήματος ή μεταβολών στις ανατομικές δομές (πχ. μετά από χειρουργείο στη σπονδυλική στήλη ή παρουσία σκολίωσης). Η τραυματική παρακέντηση του υπαραχνοειδούς ή επισκληρίδιου χώρου μπορεί να οδηγήσει σε πολύ σοβαρές επιπλοκές (κάκωση νευρικών ριζών, επισκληρίδιο αιμάτωμα, κεφαλαλγία μετά από ακούσια τρώση σκληράς μήνιγγας, παραισθησία). Η συχνότητα επιπλοκών αυξάνεται μετά από πολλαπλές προσπάθειες για εισαγωγή της βελόνας και παρουσία δύσκολου καθετηριασμού επισκληρίδιου χώρου. Ο προ-επεμβατικός υπέρηχος (σάρωση της σπονδυλικής στήλης πριν το νευραξονικό αποκλεισμό) μπορεί να δώσει την ευκαιρία στον αναισθησιολόγο να έχει μια απεικόνιση των δομών που τον ενδιαφέρουν με τον εντοπισμό των μεσοσπονδύλιων διαστημάτων, τον προσδιορισμό της μέσης γραμμής της σπονδυλικής στήλης, την εκτίμηση της ιδανικής κλίσης για την εισαγωγή της βελόνας και τη μέτρηση του βάθους του επισκληρίδιου χώρου. Aυτές οι πληροφορίες αυξάνουν τη συχνότητα επιτυχίας στην πρώτη απόπειρα και μειώνουν τον αριθμό των προσπαθειών, με αποτέλεσμα τη βελτίωση της τεχνικής και της κλινικής έκβασης. Στην παρούσα μελέτη περιλαμβάνεται η αναλυτική περιγραφή της υπερηχογραφικής τεχνικής και της κλινικής εφαρμογής της, καθώς και μία ανασκόπηση των βιβλιογραφικών δεδομένων που υποστηρίζουν τη χρήση υπερηχογραφίας για την υποβοήθηση της διεξαγωγής επισκληρίδιου ή υπαραχνοειδούς αναισθησίας· ακολουθούν κάποιες υποδείξεις για την κλινική πρακτική.Ultrasonography (US) has brought a revolution in anesthetic practice during last years. The use of ultrasound for intravenous line insertion is widely shared, and the ultrasonographic guidance for the performance of peripheral neural blockades is also extensively used. This does not apply to central neuraxial blockades, even though this method is referred in literature since 1980, possibly because of the several limitations of the technique. Although multiple studies and evidence-based guidelines support US for safer and convenient neuraxial blocks, ultrasound-guided neuraxial procedures were not common until recent years. In the conventional technique, the performance of neuraxial blocks relies primarily on the palpation of anatomical landmarks. This is a blind approach and the variability of patient anatomy may lead to complications occurring during block performance. The anatomic landmarks may be obscured in the case of obesity, oedema or anatomical variation (eg. after surgical operation in spine or presence of scoliosis). Traumatic needle puncture of subarachnoid or epidural space may lead to serious complications (trauma to neuronal structures, epidural haematoma, postdural puncture headache after unintentional dural puncture, paraesthesia). The rate of complications increases after multiple attempts for needle insertion and in the presence of difficult epidural catheterization. Pre-procedural ultrasound (scanning of the spine prior to neuraxial blockade) can give the anaesthesiologist an opportunity to have an image of the structures of interest with the detection of intervertebral space, the delineation of neuraxial midline, the estimation of the optimal angle for needle insertion and measurement of the depth of the epidural space. This kind of information can increase the success rate on the first attempt, reduce the number of attempts and improves technical and clinical outcomes. In the present study an analytical description of the ultrasound technique and its clinical use is included, in addition to a review in order to examine the data supporting the use of ultrasound for the assistance of the performance of epidural or subarachnoid block· suggestions for clinical practice are following

Θειική Δευδροεπιανδροστερόνη, αντίσταση στην ινσουλίνη και εκτίμηση του όγκου των ωοθηκών σε Ελληνίδες με σύνδρομο πολυκυστικών ωοθηκών (PCOS)

Το Σύνδρομο των Πολυκυστικών Ωοθηκών είναι η πιο συχνή ενδοκρινολογική διαταραχή κατά την αναπαραγωγική ηλικία των γυναικών με ένα ποσοστό επίπτωσης που κυμαίνεται από 6-17% Σκοπός: Ο σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης είναι η συσχέτιση ανάμεσα στην θειϊκή δευδροεπιανδροστερόνη (DHEAS) ορμόνη των επινεφριδίων, την αντίσταση στην ινσουλίνη και την υπερηχογραφική εκτίμηση του όγκου των ωοθηκών σε Ελληνίδες γυναίκες με διάγνωση Σύνδρομου πολυκυστικών ωοθηκών (PCOS) σύμφωνα με τα κριτήρια του NIH 1990 και τα κριτήρια του Rotterdam 2003. Ασθενείς και Μέθοδος: Στην μελέτη εντάχθηκαν νεαρές γυναίκες ηλικίας 17-35 ετών που προσήλθαν στο εξωτερικό ιατρείο Γυναικολογικής Ενδοκρινολογίας – Παιδικής και Εφηβικής Γυναικολογίας του Nοσοκομείου “Αττικόν”. Καταγράφηκαν 367 ασθενείς από τις οποίες 321 πληρούσαν τα κριτήρια. Οι ασθενείς υποβλήθηκαν σε κλινική αξιολόγηση ,βιοχημικές και ορμονικές αναλύσεις σε υπερηχογραφικό έλεγχο και σε καμπύλη γλυκόζης -ινσουλίνης με 75 γρ γλυκόζης. Αποτελέσματα: Η ανάλυση συσχέτισης αποκάλυψε μια σημαντική αρνητική συσχέτιση της DHEA-S με τον μέσο όγκο της δεξιάς και της αριστεράς ωοθήκης και με τον μέγιστο όγκο της μεγαλύτερης ωοθήκης. Αυτό το εύρημα παρέμεινε σημαντικό μετά τη ρύθμιση για την ηλικία και το BMI (β ± SE = -0,39 ± 0,17, p =0,023 στην περίπτωση του μέσου όγκου των ωοθηκών και β ± SE = -0,36 ± 0,17, p =0,032 στην περίπτωση του μέγιστου όγκου του μέγιστου όγκου των ωοθηκών). Συμπέρασμα: Τα ευρήματα της μελέτης μας αποκαλύπτουν μια σαφή αρνητική συσχέτιση της DHEA-S με τον όγκο των ωοθηκών. Μέχρι σήμερα, ωστόσο, τα στοιχεία στον τομέα αυτό περιορίζονται σε πειραματικά ζωικά μοντέλα. Απαιτούνται μελλοντικές κλινικές μελέτες στον τομέα αυτό για την επιβεβαίωση των ευρημάτων μας.Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive age women with an incidence that ranges between 6- 17% Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association of DHEA-S with metabolic and hormonal alterations especially of insulin resistance and with disorders of ovarian morphology. Materials and methods: The present study was based on women with PCOS that attended the Gynaecological Endocrinology – Paediatric and Adolescence Endocrinology Department of our clinic. Overall, 321 patients who met the Rotterdam ESHRE/ ASRM – Sponsored criteria for the definition of PCOS were included. Women’s personal medical history was recorded, anthropometric parameters were assessed and blood was drawn for analysis of metabolic and hormonal parameters. A gynaecological ultrasound was also performed to evaluate ovarian morphology. Results: Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation of DHEA-S with the mean volume of the right and left ovary and with the maximum volume of the largest ovary. This finding remained significant after adjusting for age and BMI (β ± SE = -0.39 ± 0.17, p = 0.023 in the case of mean ovarian volume and β ± SE = -0.36 ± 0.17, p = 0.032 in the case of the maximum volume of the maximum ovarian volume). Conclusion: The findings of our study reveal a clear negative association of DHEA-S with ovarian volume. To date, however, current evidence in this field are restricted to experimental animal models. Future clinical studies are needed in this field to corroborate our findings

«Κατάθλιψη, Άγχος και Θυμός σε φοιτητικό πληθυσμό»

Στόχος της παρούσας έρευνας είναι η διερεύνηση των επιπέδων Κατάθλιψης, Άγχους και Θυμού στο φοιτητικό πληθυσμό και πιθανή συσχέτιση μεταξύ τους και με τα δημογραφικά χαρακτηριστικά του δείγματος. Οι συμμετέχοντες της έρευνας ήταν 350 φοιτητές, 175 άντρες και 175 γυναίκες που φοιτούν σε δύο Ανώτατα Εκπαιδευτικά Ιδρύματα και ένα Ανώτατο Τεχνολογικό Εκπαιδευτικό Ίδρυμα της Αθήνας. Τα εργαλεία αξιολόγησης ήταν ένα αυτοσχέδιο ερωτηματολόγιο δημογραφικών στοιχείων, η κλίμακα κατάθλιψης του Α. Τ. Beck (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]), η κλίμακα για την έκφραση του Θυμού (State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory [STAXI]) και το ερωτηματολόγιο Άγχους του Beck (Beck Anxiety Inventory - BAI). Βρέθηκε ότι υπήρχε θετική σχέση ανάμεσα σε Κατάθλιψη και Άγχος, θετική σχέση ανάμεσα σε Κατάθλιψη και Εσωτερικευμένο Θυμό, αρνητική σχέση μεταξύ Κατάθλιψης, Εξωτερικευμένου Θυμού και Ελέγχου του Θυμού, οι γυναίκες παρουσίασαν υψηλότερα ποσοστά Κατάθλιψης και Άγχους από τους άντρες και οι πρωτοετείς φοιτητές παρουσίασαν υψηλότερα επίπεδα Κατάθλιψης. Λέξεις- κλειδιά: κατάθλιψη, άγχος, θυμός, φοιτητικός πληθυσμόςThe aim of the present study is to examine the levels of Depression, Anxiety and Anger in Greek University students, possible intercorrelations and the demographic characteristics of the sample. The participants of the study were 350 university students, 175 men and 175 women from two Higher Education Institutions and one Higher Technological Educational Institute of Athens. The psychometric instruments used were a self-report demographic questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory [BDI], the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory [STAXI] and the Anxiety Questionnaire of Beck (Beck Anxiety Inventory - BAI). The study found that there was a positive correlation between Depression and Anxiety, a positive correlation between Depression and Internal Anger, a negative correlation between Depression, External Anger and Anger Control, while women showed higher rates of Depression and Anxiety than men. Furthermore, first year students showed higher levels of Depression. Keywords: depression, anxiety, anger, University student

Using strongly typed genetic programming to combine technical and sentiment analysis for algorithmic trading

Algorithmic trading has become an increasingly thriving research area and a lot of focus has been given on indicators from technical and sentiment analysis. In this paper, we examine the advantages of combining features from both technical and sentiment analysis. To do this, we use two different genetic programming algorithms (GP). The first algorithm allows trees to contain technical and/or sentiment analysis indicators without any constraints. The second algorithm introduces technical and sentiment analysis types through a strongly typed GP, whereby one branch of a given tree contains only technical analysis indicators and another branch of the same tree contains only sentiment analysis features. This allows for better exploration and exploitation of the search space of the indicators. We perform experiments on 10 international stocks and compare the above two GPs’ performances. Our goal is to demonstrate that the combination of the indicators leads to improved financial performance. Our results show that the strongly typed GP is able to rank first in terms of Sharpe ratio and statistically outperform all other algorithms in terms of rate of return

Enhanced Strongly typed Genetic Programming for Algorithmic Trading

This paper proposes a novel strongly typed Genetic Programming (STGP) algorithm that combines Technical (TA) and Sentiment anal- ysis (SA) indicators to produce trading strategies. While TA and SA have been successful when used individually, their combination has not been considered extensively. Our proposed STGP algorithm has a novel fitness function, which rewards not only a tree’s trading performance, but also the trading performance of its TA and SA subtrees. To achieve this, the fitness function is equal to the sum of three components: the fitness function for the complete tree, the fitness function of the TA subtree, and the fitness function of the SA subtree. In doing so, we ensure that the evolved trees contain profitable trading strategies that take full advantage of both techni- cal and sentiment analysis. We run experiments on 35 international stocks and compare the STGP’s performance to four other GP algo- rithms, as well as multilayer perceptron, support vector machines, and buy and hold. Results show that the proposed GP algorithm statistically and significantly outperforms all benchmarks and it im- proves the financial performance of the trading strategies produced by other GP algorithms by up to a factor of two for the median rate of return

Prospects of germline nuclear transfer in women with diminished ovarian reserve

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is associated with a reduced quantity and quality of the retrieved oocytes, usually leading to poor reproductive outcomes which remain a great challenge for assisted reproduction technology (ART). Women with DOR often have to seek for oocyte donation, precluding genetically related offspring. Germline nuclear transfer (NT) is a novel technology in ART that involves the transfer of the nuclear genome from an affected oocyte/zygote of the patient to the cytoplast of an enucleated donor oocyte/zygote. Therefore, it offers opportunities for the generation of genetically related embryos. Currently, although NT is clinically applied only in women with serious mitochondrial DNA disorders, this technology has also been proposed to overcome certain forms of female infertility, such as advanced maternal age and embryo developmental arrest. In this review, we are proposing the NT technology as a future treatment option for DOR patients. Strikingly, the application of different NT strategies will result in an increase of the total number of available reconstituted embryos for DOR patients

METIS D3.4: Final workshops packages: workshops for different educational levels and education contexts

Several decades of research in technology-enhanced learning (TEL) have clearly demonstrated the potential of digital technology to transform education. Yet the impact of TEL research on daily teaching-learning practices is still far from fulfilling this potential. Arguably, this is a gap in the capacity for learning design: educators need the tools and competencies which would allow them to identify educational challenges, describe the context in which they arise, identify the opportunities afforded by technology, project the insights derived from research, and devise new learning experiences. To address this gap, educators need tools and practices. Tools that would support them through the cycle of learning design – from conception to deployment and evaluation of techno-educational innovations. Professional practices that use such tools to ensure the robustness and effectiveness of their innovations and make learning design a daily habit and part of their professional identity. The METIS project (http://metis-project.org/) aims to contribute to this aim, by providing educators with an Integrated Learning Design Environment (ILDE) (Hernández-Leo, Asensio-Pérez, Derntl, Prieto, & Chacón, 2014; Hernández-Leo et al., 2015) and a workshop package for training educators in using the ILDE to support effective learning design. Work Package 3, led by the OU (UK), is concerned with the design and development of the workshop package. This deliverable is the final version of the METIS workshop package. It includes • a meta-design for METIS workshops that provides a flexible reusable structure so that workshops can be customised to meet different needs , • a description of the rationale and pedagogical methodology on which the meta-design is based • guidance for instantiating the meta-design in different contexts and • example workshop packages based on the meta-design for three different educational sectors. This document provides educators with a basis for delivering workshops about using the ILDE to support effective learning design. To create and run a workshop suitable for your own context, please proceed in the following way. Firstly, consider the meta-design; then choose one of the example workshop packages closest to your context; finally, use the guidelines to adapt it for your needs