On patent legislation, patent enforcement and economic growth: empirical evidence from developed and developing countries

This study investigates the long-term effects of national patent legislation and enforcement systems on the economic development of 42 countries. The econometric methodology that has been adopted involves the estimation of three different models, namely, the pooled, the fixed effects and the random effects models whilst the specification of the economic development regressions is a variant of the standard growth specifications encountered in relevant studies. The empirical analysis is conducted in the context of the time period following the imposition of trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPs). The results show that the extension and strengthening of patent legislation resulting from TRIPs have had a negative impact on economic development. In contrast, stronger levels of patent enforcement have had a positive effect overall and particularly for developing economies while negative for developed economies

Lexis for Young Learners: Are we heading for frequency or just common sense?

There have been limited studies to show what junior level language learners are taught and why. Just how useful are the words that Greek young learners of about 7 to 8 years old have acquired by the end of their first 'junior' year?The present paper presents a qualitative and quantitative analysis concerning the vocabulary used in a number of recent coursebooks for Junior A level. More specifically, the degree to which these words overlap with the first two thousand most frequent words in English is ascertained, according to wordlists from the General Service List (GSL) and the British National Corpus (BNC). In addition it reveals the topic areas within which the vocabulary of these coursebooks falls

Major Trends in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics 3

In the three volumes of Major Trends in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, the editors guide the reader through a well-selected compendium of works, presenting a fresh look at contemporary linguistics. Specialists will find chapters that contribute to their fields of interest, and the three-volume collection will provide useful reading for anyone interested in linguistics. The first volume explores theoretical issues dealing with phonetics-phonology and syntax-semantics-morphology. Volume two is organized into three main sections that examine interdisciplinary linguistics: discourse analysis, gender and lexicography; language acquisition, and language disorders. Finally, volume three focuses on applied linguistics - both language teaching/ learning and education

The effect of patent enforcement strength and FDI on economic growth

Purpose This paper aims to study the effects of the strength of patent enforcement on economic growth following the signing of the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and the role of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in mediating and enhancing this relationship. Design/methodology/approach Following a generalized method of moments methodology, use is made of a new longitudinal index measuring the strength of enforcement-related aspects of patent systems. Findings Stronger levels of patent enforcement have a significant positive effect on the economic growth of both developed and developing countries. Importantly, inward FDI flows have a mediating role in positively boosting this effect for all countries and particularly for developed countries. Originality/value This is the first empirical study of the role of the strength of patent enforcement (“law in action”) in stimulating economic growth, as previous empirical studies have focused on the effect of the strength of patent law protection (“law on the books”). The failure in the past to allow for “law in action” was mainly due to the lack of available data that could proxy for the strength of patent enforcement levels in a country. This study utilizes a newly published, longitudinal index that captures the strength of the enforcement-related aspects of patent systems

Subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum after unsuccessful ERCP: a case report

Background: The presence of subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum simultaneously is a rare complication of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy that usually indicates free perforation to the peritoneal cavity or the retroperitoneal space. Case presentation: We report an unusual case of a self-limited subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum following an unsuccessful ERCP for removal of a common bile duct stone. Conclusion: There was no radiological evidence of peritoneal or retroperitoneal perforation. This complication is distinct from pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum due to perforation, and must be recognized, because it is benign and needs no surgical or radiological intervention. Background Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a standard invasive technique for revealing and man-agement of a wide spectrum of distal bile duct disorders. The rate of significant complications is very low if it isn'

Non-polypoidal, synchronous mantle- cell lymphoma of small intestine: a rare case

Herein is reported the case of a mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) with synchronous double intestinal location. A 74 - year old male presented with mild abdominal pain. CT scan imaging indicated invasion of lateral intestinal cavity by large mass formation. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and two solid extra-mural masses were isolated and excised. Histology revealed non- polypoid double synchronous lymphoma of mantle cell origin, an unusual presentation of the disease

Όροι και προϋποθέσεις χορήγησης κρατικών ενισχύσεων στο πλαίσιο του ρυθμιστικού καθεστώτος της εξυγίανσης πιστωτικών ιδρυμάτων

Στην παρούσα εργασία παρουσιάζεται το πλαίσιο των κανόνων χορήγησης κρατικών ενισχύσεων μετά την διαμόρφωση της «Τραπεζικής Ένωσης». Για την αντιμετώπιση της κρίσης του τραπεζικού τομέα της Ευρωζώνης, η Επιτροπή δημοσίευσε μια σειρά Ανακοινώσεων, οι οποίες θέσπισαν ένα πλαίσιο επιτρεπτών χορηγήσεων κρατικών ενισχύσεων προς τα πιστωτικά ιδρύματα. Μετά την θέση σε ισχύ της Οδηγίας BRRD και του Κανονισμού του SRMR, το πλαίσιο αυτό αυστηροποιήθηκε σημαντικά. Πλέον, οι ενισχύσεις στον τραπεζικό τομέα διέπονται συνδυαστικά από τους κανόνες του Δευτερογενούς Δικαίου και του Ήπιου Δικαίου που διαμορφώθηκε από τις Ανακοινώσεις της Επιτροπής. Στο πρώτο μέρος της εργασίας παρουσιάζεται το γενικό πλαίσιο της δημόσιας παρέμβασης στον τραπεζικό τομέα και των κρατικών ενισχύσεων στις τράπεζες. Στο δεύτερο μέρος αναλύονται τα δύο κύρια εργαλεία κρατικών ενισχύσεων, η «προληπτική ανακεφαλαιοποίηση» και τα «εργαλεία δημόσιας χρηματοπιστωτικής σταθεροποίησης». Η χορήγηση των εργαλείων αυτών πρέπει να είναι σύμφωνη με τους κανόνες των κρατικών ενισχύσεων, όπως περιγράφονται στα άρθρα 107 και 108 ΣΛΕΕ. Παρουσιάζουν μάλιστα αρκετές διαφοροποιήσεις μεταξύ τους, καθώς η προληπτική ανακεφαλαιοποίηση χορηγείται αποκλειστικά σε φερέγγυα πιστωτικά ιδρύματα. Αντίθετα, τα εργαλεία δημόσιας χρηματοπιστωτικής σταθεροποίησης χορηγούνται προς πιστωτικά ιδρύματα, τα οποία παρουσιάζουν προβλήματα φερεγγυότητας και η συνέχιση λειτουργίας των οποίων είναι επιβεβλημένη για λόγους δημοσίου συμφέροντος. Τέλος, παρουσιάζεται μια συγκριτική εξέταση των προϋποθέσεων χορήγησης εργαλείων δημόσιας χρηματοπιστωτικής σταθεροποίησης και των διατάξεων του Συντάγματος σχετικά με την κρατικοποίηση επιχειρήσεων.This thesis presents the framework of State Aid rules after the formation of the "Banking Union". To address the crisis in the banking sector of Eurozone, the Commission has published a series of Communications, which set out a framework for authorizing state aid to credit institutions. Following the entry into force of the BRRD Directive and the SRMR Regulation, this framework has been significantly tightened. State Aid to the banking sector is now governed by a combination of Secondary and Soft Law Rules, which were set out in the Commission Communications. The first part of this thesis presents the general framework of public intervention in the banking sector and state aid to banks. The second part analyzes the two main instruments of State Aid, the “Precautionary Recapitalization” and the “Government Financial Stabilisation Tools” (GFSTs). The granting of these tools must comply with the State aid rules, as they are defined in Articles 107 and 108 TFEU. In fact, there are several differences between those tools, as “Precautionary Recapitalization” is granted exclusively to creditworthy institutions. Instead, “Government Financial Stabilisation Tools” are provided to credit institutions, which have solvency problems and the continuity of their operation is necessary for reasons of public interest. Finally, a comparative examination of the conditions for granting of “Government Financial Stabilisation Tools” and the provisions of the Greek Constitution on the nationalization of enterprises is presented

Measuring Annual Sedimentation through High Accuracy UAV-Photogrammetry Data and Comparison with RUSLE and PESERA Erosion Models

Model-based soil erosion studies have increased in number, given the availability of geodata and the recent technological advances. However, their accuracy remains rather questionable since the scarcity of field records hinders the validation of simulated values. In this context, this study aims to present a method for measuring sediment deposition at a typical Mediterranean catchment (870 ha) in Greece through high spatial resolution field measurements acquired by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) survey. Three-dimensional modeling is considered to be an emerging technique for surface change detection. The UAV-derived point cloud comparison, applying the Structure-from-Motion (SfM) technique at the Platana sediment retention dam test site, quantified annual topsoil change in cm-scale accuracy (0.02–0.03 m), delivering mean sediment yield of 1620 m3 ± 180 m3 or 6.05 t ha−1yr−1 and 3500 m3 ± 194 m3 or 13 t ha−1yr−1 for the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 estimation. Moreover, the widely applied PESERA and RUSLE models estimated the 2020–2021 mean sediment yield at 1.12 t ha−1yr−1 and 3.51 t ha−1yr−1, respectively, while an increase was evident during the 2021–2022 simulation (2.49 t ha−1yr−1 and 3.56 t ha−1yr−1, respectively). Both applications appear to underestimate the net soil loss rate, with RUSLE being closer to the measured results. The difference is mostly attributed to the model’s limitation to simulate gully erosion or to a C-factor misinterpretation. To the authors’ better knowledge, this study is among the few UAV applications employed to acquire high-accuracy soil loss measurements. The results proved extremely useful in our attempt to measure sediment yield at the cm scale through UAV-SfM and decipher the regional soil erosion and sediment transport pattern, also offering a direct assessment of the retention dams’ life expectancy.Greece and the European UnionPeer Reviewe