The Macroenomic Effect of EU Structural Transfers on the Cohesion Countries and Lessons for the CEECs

This paper provides an evaluation of the possible macroeconomic effects of EU financial assistance, such as the Pre-Accession Structural Funds, on the economic development of the CEECs. The experience of the Cohesion countries (Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain) with the Community the Cohesion countries (Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain) with the Community suggests that the Pre-Accession Structural Funds, which are similar in structure and rationale with the CSFs, can have an important bearing on the development of the transition countries. The analysis shows that the advantage that the CEECs can take of the Pre-Accession Structural Programs to promote development and the catch-up process is neither automatic nor predetermined. It depends on the specific micro-macroeconomic policies that the CEECs follow during the application of the programs. It also depends on how efficiently these programs are implemented

Integrating geochemical survey, ethnography and organic residue analysis to identify and understand areas of foodstuff processing

In this paper we explore the integration of science-based and ethnographic approaches that respond to the need to consider ancient economy and subsistence in the Greek world on a landscape level. It is particularly important to be in a position to understand changes and developments in the processes associated with the preparation of food as well as agro-industrial commodities such as wine and olive oil. While ancient economic and subsistence patterns are traditionally and most effectively investigated where animal and plant remains have been recovered from excavation, our strategy is less direct; operating by proxy, it is well suited in the first instance to archaeological field survey. Having first determined the soils’ chemical signatures and the identity of pottery residues, a comparison will then be made with data obtained from ethnographic surveys of abandoned 20th-century farmsteads and workplaces, where particular activities are known to have taken place. Integrating these approaches, our work is applying them to archaeological field survey, specifically the current project on the city of Sikyon and its vicinity in the North Peloponnese

An evaluation of macroeconomic policies in Greece within an optimal control theory framework

This study evaluates the effectiveness of fiscal (and monetary) policies on a set of macroeconomic objectives, giving explicit consideration to the alternative modes by which the budget deficits (or surpluses) are financed. The extent to which quantitative reductions in the share of the public sector is compatible with these objectives is also examined. The evaluation of optimal macroeconomic policies is undertaken in the context of the Greek economy, since the financial aspects of the budget have not received the necessary attention. The method of analysis is carried out within an optimization framework which employes an econometric model of the Greek economy estimated over the period 1957-75, and a quadratic objective function depicting the desires of the policy-makers. The specific characteristics of the Greek economy necessary for the construction of the econometric model and the specification of the objective function are discussed in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 deals with the theoretical considerations of the macroeconomic model and presents the optimization approach persued in the study. Chapter 4 presents the econometric model and discusses its dynamic characteristics and structure. The specification of the objective function and the optimization results are discussed in Chapter 5. The major findings of the study are summarized in Chapter 6

The Town Planning of Hellenistic Sikyon

This study offers an attempt to reconstruct the town planning of Hellenistic Sikyon based mainly on the results of the recent intensive surface and geophysical surveys. The fortifica­tions of the city were mapped over a total length of ca. 200 m and included seven gates. The city grid was oriented north­south, east­west, and included square insulae 60–65 m in length. The streets had an average width of 6 m with the exception of at least one avenue, almost 10 m wide. The estimated surface area of the agora ranges between 37,000 m2 and 59,000 m2, which would have corresponded to an area of 7.5 to 12 insulae. Towards the end of the article we examine various factors that are likely to have played a role in the design and application of the specific grid

Cultural Heritage led Growth: Regional evidence from Greece (1998-2016)

This paper brings empirical evidence on the relationship between cultural heritage assets and economic growth. The case of Greece over the period 1998-2016 is taken as an example. Regional growth is approached through the formulation of a neoclassical growth model augmented with cultural heritage factors. Using panel methods of estimation, the empirical results reveal a positive impact of cultural heritage on regional growth, thus supporting a culture-led growth hypothesis for the Greek economy. In addition, a significant influence of other growth drivers such as physical and human capital, fertility and unemployment on regional growth is evidenced. Our results leave ample room for smart, inclusive and sustainable national, regional and EU policies to operate for the promotion of economic growth

Study of Two-Step Mechanisms in Pion Absorption on 6Li, 12C via Deuteron Emission

The (pi+,pd), and (pi+,dd) reactions were investigated with pions of 100 and 165 MeV kinetic energy on 6Li and 12C targets. In comparison with previously published (pi+,pp) data on the same targets and at the same beam energies, kinematic regions were identified in which the neutron pickup process n+p->d dominated the observed deuteron yield. The importance of this mechanism increases with energy, contributing half of the observed cross section at 165 MeV. The contribution of direct quasi-triton absorption is significant only at 100 MeV.Comment: 23 pages, 12 figure

Cultural Heritage led Growth: Regional evidence from Greece (1998-2016)

This paper brings empirical evidence on the relationship between cultural heritage assets and economic growth. The case of Greece over the period 1998-2016 is taken as an example. Regional growth is approached through the formulation of a neoclassical growth model augmented with cultural heritage factors. Using panel methods of estimation, the empirical results reveal a positive impact of cultural heritage on regional growth, thus supporting a culture-led growth hypothesis for the Greek economy. In addition, a significant influence of other growth drivers such as physical and human capital, fertility and unemployment on regional growth is evidenced. Our results leave ample room for smart, inclusive and sustainable national, regional and EU policies to operate for the promotion of economic growth

A HIGH RESOLUTION DISTRIBUTED HYDROLOGIC MODEL CLIMATOLOGY OVER THE CONTERMINOUS UNITED STATES FOCUSED ON FLASH FLOODING

This study will describe the MRMS reanalysis precipitation dataset created for the time period from 2001 to 2011. This high resolution 1-km^2 5-minute dataset is ideal for simulating flash floods with a distributed hydrologic model. The Ensemble Framework For Flash Flood Forecasting (EF5) is created for the purpose of exploiting this high resolution precipitation information by conducting simulations with multi water balance models. The Coupled Routing and Excess Storage distributed hydrologic model and the Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting are both adapted for use in EF5. EF5 is then used to simulate all time series gauged basins in the CONUS with basin areas less than 1,000 km^2. The water balance models are then evaluated in terms of bias, correlation coefficient and Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency. The results show that the water balance models have skill over most of the CONUS with the exception for the mountain west where low quality precipitation estimates may be to blame. Finally, a climatology of simulated flash floods is produced over the CONUS by running EF5 to produce gridded daily maximum discharge, time of maximum discharge, and minimum soil moisture outputs. Thresholds are then developed to relate minor flood conditions to basin area and mean annual precipitation so that flooding conditions can be defined even for ungauged watersheds. Maps of the mean annual number of flash flood days are created which show an enhanced region over the central plains particularly Texas and Missouri

Recommender Systems Implementations with Deep Learning

Η εξέλιξη του διαδικτύου και η ανεξέλεγκτη αύξηση ροής της πληροφορίας εντός του προσφέρουν πολλά πλεονεκτήματα στους σημερινούς χρήστες, γεννούν όμως ταυτόχρονα ένα απροσδόκητο πρόβλημα: το παράδοξο της επιλογής. Ως απάντηση στο εν λόγω πρόβλημα, έχουν υλοποιηθεί συστήματα προτάσεων σε σχεδόν οτιδήποτε αποτελεί μέρος του διαδικτύου. Αυτοί οι αλγόριθμοι εξόρυξης μεγάλων δεδομένων παρέχουν στους χρήστες όσο το δυνατόν περισσότερες στοχευμένες επιλογές, σε μια προσπάθεια εξατομίκευσης και διευκόλυνσης της εμπειρίας του χρήστη. Ωστόσο, η αποτελεσματικότητα τέτοιων συστημάτων εντείνεται όταν συνδυαστούν με την ακόμη νεαρή τεχνολογία αλγορίθμων βαθιάς μάθησης. Ο σκοπός της παρούσας έρευνας είναι να αναλυθούν τα θετικά στοιχεία κάθε συστήματος ξεχωριστά, ούτως ώστε να αποδειχτεί η αναγκαιότητα του συνδυασμού τους. Επιπλέον, με χρήση προσομοιωμένων παραδειγμάτων, θα δημιουργηθεί και θα δοκιμαστεί μία ενδεικτική υλοποίηση για να υποστηρίξει την θεωρία. Λόγω ελλείψεων όσον αφορά πλήθος πραγματικών χρηστών και υπάρχοντος εξοπλισμού, το έργο αυτό θα επικεντρωθεί στην διαδικαστική προσέγγιση κάθε μεθόδου, προσφέροντας ταυτόχρονα ένα θεωρητικό υπόβαθρο και προσπαθώντας να προβλέψει τα αποτελέσματα της. Στο τελευταίο τμήμα της έρευνας θα θιχτούν ορισμένα προβλήματα βελτιστοποίησης και θα προταθούν ορισμένες πιθανές μη αποδεδειγμένες λύσεις.The rise of the Internet as well as the increasingly uncontrollable flow of information in the web come with multiple advantages for today´s users, yet at the same time giving birth to an unexpected issue: the paradox of choice. To counter this problem, recommender systems have been implemented in almost everything that is part of the Internet. Large-scale data mining algorithms provide users with as many targeted choices as possible, in an effort to personalize and facilitate user experience. However, the effectiveness of such systems truly shines when combined with the still young technology of deep learning algorithms. The purpose of this work is to analyze the advantages of each system separately, in order to prove the necessity of combining them. For that reason, a review of a multitude of deep learning algorithms will be provided. Furthermore, by using a simulated example, one such indicative implementation will be created and tested to support the theory behind it. Due to lack of an actual demographic and adequate equipment, the focus of this paper will be in the procedural approach of each method, while still offering theoretical feedback and trying to predict its outcome. In the final section of this study, a few optimization problems will be addressed, as well as some possible unproven solutions