Conceptual modelling and systems theory with an application using real options analysis - Volume 2

This thesis introduces an abstract conceptualization of the notion of the system and examines its relations to the various issues relating to the problem of conceptual modelling and its links to the development of formal models and control/information architectures. The overall effort is placed on creating a basis that will help to move from a purely conceptual level of describing a system to a more formal one, enabling decision making and driving the analysis away from experience and intuition. The major drive is the development of a basis of general system theory in a way that expresses all aspects which are relevant to conceptualisation, modelling and control of processes, but are so general to provide a meaningful framework for general processes. For that purpose, a general systemic framework, suitable for discussing a number of important issues arising in the analysis and design of processes, is introduced. A particular case study-the future projection of prices of electricity, generated by gas and nuclear in the UK- has been used in this thesis to enable the conceptualisation process, as well as initiate the decision making process with the use of Real Options analysis. Through this application, a spherical understanding of the requirements needed for the purpose of modelling analysis and decision making was acquired

Conceptual modelling and systems theory with an application using real options analysis - Volume 1

This thesis introduces an abstract conceptualization of the notion of the system and examines its relations to the various issues relating to the problem of conceptual modelling and its links to the development of formal models and control/information architectures. The overall effort is placed on creating a basis that will help to move from a purely conceptual level of describing a system to a more formal one, enabling decision making and driving the analysis away from experience and intuition. The major drive is the development of a basis of general system theory in a way that expresses all aspects which are relevant to conceptualisation, modelling and control of processes, but are so general to provide a meaningful framework for general processes. For that purpose, a general systemic framework, suitable for discussing a number of important issues arising in the analysis and design of processes, is introduced. A particular case study-the future projection of prices of electricity, generated by gas and nuclear in the UK- has been used in this thesis to enable the conceptualisation process, as well as initiate the decision making process with the use of Real Options analysis. Through this application, a spherical understanding of the requirements needed for the purpose of modelling analysis and decision making was acquired

Resolution planning under the provisions of the SRMR and its contribution to the stability of the financial system

Βάση της έρευνας της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι το πλαίσιο εξυγίανσης όπως ισχύει εντός της Ευρωζώνης και υπό το πρίσμα των διατάξεων του Κανονισμού για τον Ενιαίο Μηχανισμό Εξυγίανσης (SRMR). Το κυρίως θέμα της έρευνας είναι η παρουσίαση της διαδικασίας εκπόνησης σχεδίων εξυγίανσης (Resolution Planning), ένα προπαρασκευαστικό αλλά καίριας σημασίας στάδιο του παρόντος πλαισίου. Αρχικά η προσοχή θα στραφεί στους λόγους που οδήγησαν στην καθιέρωση του εν λόγω μηχανισμού, λειτουργών παράλληλα με τo νομικό καθεστώς εκκαθάρισης των πιστωτικών ιδρυμάτων. Κατόπιν της παρουσίασης των βασικών στοιχείων του Κανονισμού και των αρμόδιων για την διεξαγωγή της διαδικασίας εξυγίανσης αρχών, θα αναλυθούν λεπτομερώς τα βήματα εκπόνησης των σχεδίων εξυγίανσης: μια σταδιακή ανάπτυξη όλων των φάσεων και εκτάσεων που θα πρέπει να λάβουν υπόψη οι αρμόδιες αρχές για να προχωρήσουν στην αξιολόγηση της δυνατότητας εξυγίανσης των ιδρυμάτων και την τελική υιοθέτηση των σχεδίων. Στο τέλος της παρουσίασης, εφόσον το παρόν νομικό οικοδόμημα είναι εφαρμοστέο λιγότερο από 10 χρόνια εντός της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, θα αναλυθούν οι μέχρι τώρα εξελίξεις καθώς και τα υπάρχοντα κενά και ελαττώματα της διαδικασίας.The research basis of this thesis is the resolution framework as in force within Eurozone and in light of the provisions of SRMR. The main topic of the research is a presentation of the resolution planning process, a preliminary but decisive step in this regime. Firstly, attention will be given to the reasons which led to the establishment of that mechanism alongside with the winding up procedure of institutions. After the presentation of the basic elements of SRM Regulation as well the authorities responsible for conducting the resolution process, the resolution planning steps will be detailly described; a step-by-step elaboration of all the phases and dimensions that must be taken into account, so that the responsible authorities will be able to make a resolvability assessment upon institutions and finally adopt the respective plans. At the end of this presentation, since this legal construction counts less than 10 years of application within European Union, the developments until now, as well the existing gaps and deficiencies will be also analyzed

Antigen-Induced Immunomodulation in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterised by the accumulation of monocytes/macrophages, smooth muscle cells, and lymphocytes within the arterial wall in response to the release of proinflammatory molecules. Such accumulation results in the formation of the atherosclerotic plaque, which would eventually evolve to complications such as total artery occlusion, rupture, calcification, or aneurysm. Although the molecular mechanism responsible for the development of atherosclerosis is not completely understood, it is clear that the immune system plays a key role in the development of the atherosclerotic plaque and in its complications. There are multiple antigenic stimuli that have been associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Most of these stimuli come from modified self-molecules such as oxidised low-density lipoproteins (oxLDLs), beta2glycoprotein1 (β2GP1), lipoprotein a (LP(a)), heat shock proteins (HSPs), and protein components of the extracellular matrix such as collagen and fibrinogen in the form of advanced glycation-end (AGE) products. In addition, several foreign antigens including bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Chlamydia pneumoniae and viruses such as enterovirus and cytomegalovirus have been associated with atherosclerosis as potentially causative or bystander participants, adding another level of complexity to the analysis of the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. The present review summarises the most important scientific findings published within the last two decades on the importance of antigens, antigen stimulation, and adaptive immune responses in the development of atherosclerotic plaques

Impact of Economic Crisis on Passenger Transportation – Case of Travelling to the Greek Mainland from Crete

The Greek economic crisis of 2009 onwards has affected all aspects of social and economic life of the country, including transportation. The present study focuses on the impact of economic crisis on the long distance transportation between the island of Crete in Greece, the largest Greek island and one of the largest in the Mediterranean Sea, and the Greek mainland. A questionnaire survey was used to investigate the opinions of the Cretans on the way the economic crisis influenced their transportation to the Greek mainland. The results of the survey show that the frequency of the Cretans’ travels was significantly limited, owing to the increased direct or indirect associated cost, due to the economic crisis. Especially for those who struggled to make ends meet, the transportation to the mainland dropped to the bare essentials. Furthermore, the respondents deemed that the&nbsp;deregulation of the Greek maritime and airline markets was also to blame for the high fares, thus they favoured a regulated public transport sector and were against privatization. Inevitably, financially vulnerable individuals were the most preoccupied with these issues. A feeling of isolation and exclusion was revealed by the sample on occasions when the scheduled trips were cancelled by the operators due to exogenous parameters.</p

Modeling the dynamic response of automobile sales in troubled times: a real-time Vector Autoregressive analysis with causality testing for Greece

In this paper, we investigate the factors that affect multi-segments automobile sales in Greece. Various relevant quantitative techniques have been employed, such as stationarity, causality and cointegration. A Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model was also developed and long-term impacts of the different variables of interest on car sales have been estimated through generalized impulse response functions (GIRF). The impact of the current financial crisis on the Greek automobile market was also taken into account. The results show that fuel prices Granger cause total car sales. The results also indicate the absence of long run cointegrating relationships among the variables. The full blown model shows that demand for new automobiles depends on the existing social, financial and political conditions of the local economy and that the various shocks observed have a temporary medium-run character on car sales, whereas the system is found to be stable

[Eksliibris Maximilian Likiardopulole]

1 tõmmis : klišee, trükitud mustaga j. 11,5 x 6 cm l. 13,4 x 8,2 cm8-kujulises ornamendis ülal naisfiguur avatud raamatuga. Joonise all paremal signeering: B. Milioty / 1906 joonises all keskel: Ex Libris / M.Lyciardopuli;"Ивас