Suburbanization: A Post World War II Phenomenon in the Athens Metropolitan Area, Greece

This article studies the phases of urban development in Athens, the biggest metropolitan center of the country, in combination with the development of the Greek economy during the post world war II era, by applying techniques suggested by the theory of spatial cycle. Before application, an extended reference to the theoretical background will be presented, so that a comprehensive view of the spatial cycle hypothesis is established. Ã short historical analysis of the Greek economy will also be provided, so that the impact of several historical factors on the recent evolution of Athens Metropolitan Area be better understood. Since the beginning of the post-war period, the Athens Metropolitan Area has been going through a certain phase, i.e. the phase of suburbanization. Recently (1981-2001) the afore-mentioned area has shifted from the first stage of this phase to the second, i.e. from relative to absolute decentralization, facing not only a complete loss of core city population but also memorisation, unemployment and other depressive phenomena. As differences among western, southern or northern suburbs appear, an intra-suburb analysis will be carried out in order to identify the direction of urban evolution through time. The recent decline in the development of suburbs, in juxtaposition with the rapid emergence of some independent urban areas outside the Athens Metropolitan Area, provides some evidence of potential movement towards the next phase of disurbanization in the near future.

The implementation of an intervention programme in physical education for greek pupils in the sisth year of junior school on the cultivation of knowledge of the olympic movement and attitudes towards olympic values

El objetivo del presente estudio es la creación, implementación y evaluación de un programa de intervención que forma parte del contenido de Educación Física en el sexto año de educación primaria. En particular, el programa tiene el doble anhelo de fomentar el conocimiento sobre el Movimiento Olímpico y desarrollar actitudes en torno a los valores olímpicos. El estudio está hecho sobre una muestra de 165 alumnos: un grupo de control con 199 y un grupo experimental con 46. El programa comprende 25 lecciones a lo largo de 6 meses. Se ha empleado un cuestionario de temática olímpica, consistente en 28 preguntas de tipo Likert (abierto – cerrado). La primera parte del cuestionario está formado por preguntas que investigaban el conocimiento de los alumnos sobre la historia del Movimiento Olímpico, mientras que la segunda comprendía preguntas para conocer las actitudes hacia los valores olímpicos. Los cambios se midieron mediante tres evaluaciones repetidas: antes de empezar el programa, al final y tres meses después de su finalización. Los cambios que fueron constatados se produjeron en las siguientes áreas: 1. Conocimiento del Movimiento Olímpico. En particular: a) historia, b) ideales y símbolos, c) los Juegos modernos, d) los Juegos Paralímpicos. 2. Actitud hacia los 8 valores de la Carta Olímpica. En particular: a) juego limpio, b) respeto mutuo, c) harmonía entre el cuerpo y la mente, d) solidaridad, e) la alegría del esfuerzo, f) la paz, g) la deportividad. El análisis de la información se efectuó usando el SPSS y los tests Pearson X, Mc Nemar, Homogeneidad Marginal y Friedman, y mostró que el programa de intervención: a) incrementaba el conocimiento en el Movimiento Olímpico entre los estudiantes del grupo experimental b) no influyó en sus actitudes hacia los ocho valores olímpicos. Sin embargo, parece que contribuyó hacia el mantenimiento de actitudes positivas en los alumnos después de la finalización del programaThe purpose of the present study is the creation, implementation and evaluation of an intervention programme as part of the Physical Education lesson in the sixth year of junior school. In particular the programme has the dual aim of cultivating knowledge about the Olympic Movement and developing attitudes towards Olympic Values. The sample consisted of 165 pupils; a control group of 119 and an experimental group of 46. The intervention programme comprised 25 lessons over 6 months. An Olympic questionnaire was employed, consisting of 28 open and closed- Likert- type questions. The first part of the questionnaire consisted of questions which investigated the pupils’ knowledge about the history of the Olympic Movement, while the second part was comprised questions referring to the evaluation of attitudes towards Olympic Values. (Telama, Naul, Nupponen, Rychtecky & Vuolle, 2002). Changes were measured by three repeated assessments: before the beginning of programme; at its end and three months after it finished. The changes that were assessed were in the following areas: 1. Knowledge of the Olympic Movement. In particular: a) History b) Ideals and symbols c) the Modern Games d) the Paralympics. 2. Attitude towards the 8 values of the Olympic Charter. In particular: a) fair play, b) mutual respect, c) harmony of body and mind, d) solidarity, e) joy in effort, f) peace, g) sportsmanship. The analysis of the data was carried out using the SPSS and the tests Pearson X2, Mc Nemar, Marginal Homogeneity and Friedman. The analysis showed that the Intervention Programme: a) increased knowledge of the Olympic Movement among the students of the experimental group b) didn’t influence them regarding attitudes towards the eight Olympic Values. It did, however, seem that it contributed towards maintaining the pupils’ of the experimental group positive attitudes after the programme had ende

Cranioplasty optimal timing in cases of decompressive craniectomy after severe head injury: a systematic literature review

AbstractObjectCranioplasty has been considered for several decades as a protective and cosmetic procedure. It has recently been postulated that cranioplasty may have a therapeutic role, and improve the patient’s functional outcome after decompressive craniectomy (DC). The appropriate timing for cranioplasty remains unknown. In our current study, we review the literature for evaluating the relationship of cranioplasty timing and its complication rate and outcome.MethodsThe PubMed database was searched to identify any relevant articles. The following terms were used as keywords: “cranioplasty”, “timing cranioplasty”, “early cranioplasty”, “late cranioplasty”, “delayed cranioplasty”, “early versus late cranioplasty”. Clinical studies with more than 10 participants, and closed head injury as the underlying cause for DC were included in our study. The study design, the timing performing cranioplasty, the complication rate, and the patients’ outcome were evaluated.ResultsTen clinical series met our inclusion criteria. The observed complication rate associated to cranioplasty after DC is not negligible. Several reports have demonstrated that late cranioplasty may minimize procedure-associated complications. Early cranioplasty has been associated with complications, but improves CSF dynamics, and regional cerebral perfusion and metabolism, minimizes the complications from a sunken scalp, reduces the overall length of hospitalization, and thus the overall cost of care.ConclusionsCranioplasty is a relatively simple procedure that is nevertheless burdened by considerable morbidity. However, an early cranioplasty procedure may improve the outcome in selected cases. Prospective, large-scale studies are necessary to outline the actual complication rate, the neurological outcome, and define the optimal timing for a cranioplasty

Draft for internal testing Scientific Committee guidance on appraising and integrating evidence from epidemiological studies for use in EFSA's scientific assessments.

EFSA requested its Scientific Committee to prepare a guidance document on appraising and integrating evidence from epidemiological studies for use in EFSA's scientific assessments. The guidance document provides an introduction to epidemiological studies and illustrates the typical biases of the different epidemiological study designs. It describes key epidemiological concepts relevant for evidence appraisal. Regarding study reliability, measures of association, exposure assessment, statistical inferences, systematic error and effect modification are explained. Regarding study relevance, the guidance describes the concept of external validity. The principles of appraising epidemiological studies are illustrated, and an overview of Risk of Bias (RoB) tools is given. A decision tree is developed to assist in the selection of the appropriate Risk of Bias tool, depending on study question, population and design. The customisation of the study appraisal process is explained, detailing the use of RoB tools and assessing the risk of bias in the body of evidence. Several examples of appraising experimental and observational studies using a Risk of Bias tool are annexed to the document to illustrate the application of the approach. This document constitutes a draft that will be applied in EFSA's assessments during a 1-year pilot phase and be revised and complemented as necessary. Before finalisation of the document, a public consultation will be launched

Late-Stage Diversification of Phosphinic Dehydroalanine Pseudopeptides Based on a Giese-Type Radical C-Alkylation Strategy

A straightforward, late-stage diversification strategy for the installation of side chains on readily accessible unsaturated phosphinopeptidic scaffolds based on a Giese-type addition of alkyl radicals has been investigated. Among different alternatives, the preferred methodology is operationally simple as it can be carried out in an open flask with no need for protection of acidic moieties. Direct application to the synthesis of SPPS-compatible building blocks or to longer peptides is also reported

The Development of a Model System for the Visualization of Information on Cultural Activities and Events

The use of augmented reality (AR) is the only meaningful way towards the creation and integration of information into a cultural (and not only) analogue leaflet, flyer and poster, which by their nature have limited informational material. The enrichment of information, which an analogue leaflet has, with additional descriptive information (text), multimedia (image, video, sound), 3-D models, etc., gives the end recipient/user a unique experience of approaching and understanding a music event, for example. The Digi-Orch is a research project that aims to create smart printed communication materials (e.g., posters, concert programme booklets) and an accompanying AR application to provide this enhanced audience experience to classical music lovers. The paper presents the ways in which AR can extend and enrich an analogue leaflet/flyer/poster, the features of and how to use the developed AR application, as well as the components, architecture and functions of the system. It also presents the different versions of the AR application within the project, starting with the laboratory versions, continuing with the pilot versions in real conditions (music events) and reaching the final prototype and the educational version of the AR application