The cross-training effect between swimming and running

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Medicine (Exercise Science) Johannesburg, 1997This investigation examined the cross- training effect of swim training on middle distance running performance. Eight, healthy, untrained subjects (mean age + SD = 24.63 + 2.77 yrs) participated in a 12 week. swim training program. Before and immediately following the training period, measurements were made of: maximal oxygen consumption (V03 max.) (treadmill); anaerobic capacity (Wingate test); knee and shoulder muscle strength (isokinetic dynamometer); 100m and 200m swim time- trials; and 400m and 800m run time-trials. VO- max. increased from a mean of 42.06 + 5.1 ml/kg/min. to 45.39 + 5.05 ml/kg/min. (8.137. ; p< 0.005). The 100m, 200m swim times and the 400m, 800m run times improved significantly in response to the swimming training (p< 0.0001). Dynamometry showed significant inc reases in power and work during knee flexion at an angular velocity of 60 °/sec; knee extension at 245 °/sec; and during shoulder f1 ex ion and extension at 195 and 245 °/sec. The Wingate test however, did not show any changes after the training period. A cross-training effect by swim training on running performance was attained among the untrained, non- competitive swimmers of this study. While mode of activity was non- specific, a training response was attained by keeping the intensity and volume of the swim training specific to middle distance run training.IT201

ERP PACKAGE EVALUATION, THE CASE OF SMEs KAVALA’s REGION

In this paper we want to examine how enterprise resource planning (ERP) systemseffects on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) Kavala’s region. We consider several SMEsof our region, we use data from each SME and we form a questionnaire to secure more data fromthe enterprises. We weight up the factors that affect the choice of ERP. Also, we relate these factorswith basic characteristics of the specific SMEs of our region. Flexibility and functionality are themost important criteria of choosing an ERP system. Surprisingly, the cost is one of the lessimportant criteria. Also, minor effects have criteria such as brand, name and position of the vendor.Finally, we indicate issues for future research.ERP, SMEs, criteria evaluation

INTERNET ADDICTION IN BALKAN AND SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

The use of Internet has increased dramatically in recent years. Although there is no standardized definition of Internet addiction, there is acknowledgement among researchers that this phenomenon does exist. In this study, we identify various similarities and differences among people in the Balkan and South-Eastern European countries about Internet addiction. There are many factors such as cultural differences, gender differences, psychosocial variables, computer attitudes and time.We present the experience from studies concerning Internet addiction in all over the world. A specific research with the use of Young's 20-scale was also conducted in five Balkan and South-Eastern European countries (Republic of Moldova, Romania, Republic of Bulgaria, Hellenic Republic, Republic of Cyprus).The findings are interesting. Although there is a need for Interest using, there are also cases where the addiction, dependence and abuse is apparent

Evaluation of e-banking dimensions by Greek customers

The use of electronic banking is increased rapidly worldwide. However, the percentage of Greek e-banking users, even if it has increased, is still very low. The adoption of e-banking depends on some factors which are connected with the services that the banks offer and the satisfaction from these factors influences, the overall satisfaction. The aim of this study was the exploration of the perception of Greek e-banking users about the factors affecting the satisfaction from the use of e-banking and moreover the influence of their experiences in the perception’s formation. In order to achieve the aims of this study a research was realized, using a structured questionnaire, in 354 users of e-banking. The results show that Greek customers are quite satisfied from the e-banking dimensions and moreover the dimensions that mostly affect the overall satisfaction are “trust” and “convenience/ usefulness”.peer-reviewe

Innovative Business Models in Tourism Industry

[ES] This study examines the business models of four emblematic Digital Disruptive Intermediaries (DDIs), Airbnb, TripAdvisor, Expedia and Booking.com. The sources are constituted mainly by surveys, articles and expert opinions which are the main argumentation sources. The best practices for ideal business models in tourism industry through the analysis of the DDIs are the findings of the study. The main functions of the DDIs are Cataloguing, Reordering or filtering, Ranking and Recommending, Bundling, Sharing, Intent Casting, Channelling Actors, Pricing and Matching Actors. The originality of the paper derives from the SWOT analysis of the business models of the four well known DDIs. There is no previous analysis which evaluates the business models and discloses the main functions they perform.Valsamidis, S.; Maditinos, D.; Mandilas, A. (2020). Innovative Business Models in Tourism Industry. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 279-290. https://doi.org/10.4995/INN2019.2019.10146OCS27929

Greek Accounting Standards and Debt Covenants. Changes in Contracting

Businesses, organizations, and even more governments are strongly related with information provided by accounting in order for CEO’s or managers and even more members of parliament to make decisions. Financial statements which contain multiple criteria, and how managers or shareholders treat them influence the decisionmaking of organizations and all types of businesses, public and private. Auditing financial statements ensures their reliability and validity. Both lenders and borrowers must choose the right set of debt covenants to minimize risk from their respective perspectives. It is critical to use and select debt covenants in relation to the side of interest. For instance, in past decades, financial covenants based on balance sheet variables are more likely in debt contracting. Nowadays, the trend of choosing a batch of covenants in contracting changed. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between changing the Greek direction and accounting standard setting. Greek accounting standards are moving away from “old-fashioned” book- and record-keeping standards. This was a great change that took place in 2015, and since then, new notions of accounting practice have been introduced. Fair value, net realizable value, present value, cash equivalents, and useful economic life are some concepts that were first used in accounting the process in Greek economy. Changes were massive and everyone involved with accounting, financial statements, and the way they were introduced should change the way they are analyzed. We hypothesized that this significant shift in accounting standard setting reduces the value of analyzing balance sheets in debt contracting. Since 2015, balance sheet-based covenants started to vanish, especially from private debt contracting. We tried to correlate borrowers and their likelihood in using balance sheet-based covenants. The correlation between the change in accounting standard setting and the concurrent change in trend of choosing accounting-based covenants in debt contracting is being investigated. The results are consistent with our hypothesis. A mechanism that separates multiple covenants and correlates them with significant debt characteristics will be an innovative tool for managers and credit institutions, as well as a more definite way of auditing, for instance, by digitalizing it, which will be a great tool for everyone involved in businesses. Keywords: accounting-based covenants, debt contracting, Greek accounting standard

Traditional and currently developed management accounting practices – a Greek study

This study investigates the extent to which Greek firms have implemented various traditional and currently developed management accounting practices, the benefits received from those practices and the intentions to focus on specific practices in the future. The findings indicate, that, overall the rates of adoption of traditional management accounting practices were marginaly higher than the currently developed techniques. However, there were techniques such as budgeting and formal strategic planning, which were more widely practiced than those found in previous surveys. Also evidence suggests that firms are willing to place greater emphasis in the future on currently developed techniques instead the traditional ones, particularly performance evaluation techniques and strategic management accounting.peer-reviewe

Application of quality function deployment on an alternative transportation system (paratransit system)

Quality Function Deployment (QFD) methodology is applied in the planning of new products/services or the improvement of existing products/services, with the active participation of all departments of the organization, minimizing the initial time of planning and also the cost of planning, with parallel minimization of the failure possibilities of the product/service to enter the market. The basic idea behind this method is to take into serious consideration the “Wants” of the customers, so that they can be translated to engineering characteristics of the product/service. The methodology was introduced in Japan in the late ‘60s and about 15-20 years later entered USA, while it is now applied in many organizations in Europe. In our work, we will apply QFD in the planning of an alternative transportation system (paratransit) in a “Kapodistrian” Municipality which constitutes many villages.peer-reviewe

EVA reconsidered for the Greek capital market

The present study examines the explanatory power of one value based performance measure (Economic Value Added) and three other traditional accounting measures (Earnings Per Share, Return On Investment, Return On Equity) in explaining stock market returns in the framework of Athens Stock Exchange for the period 1996-2005. Methodology is based on studies performed for the same capital market by Maditinos, Theriou and Šević (2005; 2006), Maditinos, Šević and Theriou G (2007), Maditinos, Šević, Chatzoglou and Theriou (2007) and Maditinos, Šević, Theriou and Demetriadis (2007). Results show EPS to provide the greatest value relevance in explaining stock market returns consistent with that of previous studies. Moreover, the explanatory power of the pair wise combinations of EVA with each traditional accounting performance measure is also examined. The pair wise combination of EVA with EPS grants for a significant increase of the explanatory power, compared to EPS explanatory power examined alone (from 2.9 to 7.6 per cent), in explaining stock market returns, consistent again with the previous findings.peer-reviewe

The role of chair exercises for older adults following hip fracture

Objectives. To examine the influence of regular participation in chair exercises on postoperative deconditioning in respect of selected physiological, psychological and anthropometric variables.Design. Quasi-experimental, non-randornised control group pre-test/post-test design where test group (N = 20) and control group (N = 10) were not equivalent because random selection and assignment were not possible.Subjects. Patients discharged from an orthopaedic ward 8 - 10 days after hip surgery who were cognitively competent (mean score on Mini-Mental State Examination 26 (SO 3.5)), sedentary (mean score on Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire for the Elderly 7.4 (SO 3.3)) women aged 70 years and above (mean 80 (SO 6.6) years).Setting. Hip fracture patients admitted to a multidisciplinary geriatric hospital for further medical observation.Measurements. Abstraction of medical records provided information about co-morbidities and questionnaires assessed demographic, affective and cognitive function. Physiological, psychological and anthropometric status was measured pre- and post-intervention.Results. Data revealed high variability, suggesting that the effect of the independent variable was obscured by the heterogeneity of the cohort. Both groups improved similarly in grip strength, and in levels of depression and confidence. Body composition data explained the weight maintenance as a consequence of significant gains in fat-free mass in the experimental group. The significant change in systolic blood pressure and heart rate over the exercise and recovery period suggested that the 6-week period of moderate-intensity exercise was adequate to stimulate cardiovascular adaptations.Conclusions. Whether or not the submaximal chair exercise regimen was of optimal benefit remains unclear. However, the intervention did appear to have contributed to the maintenance of the physical condition of older  women temporarily disabled as a result of a fracture and subsequent hip surgery