Negotiating differences in mixed marriages - Christians and Muslims in Greece

Christian - Muslim mixed couples in Greece challenge marital norms and group identifications through re-negotiation of religious affiliations, identifications and practices. They are sociologically significant because they contest historically and socially constructed ethnic, cultural and religious differentiations in the specific Greek context. These couples link nuanced and subtle dimensions of conjugal mixedness in the family formation process with Muslim migration and the indigenous Muslim minority communities. My doctoral research analyses religious negotiations, practices and strategies of mixed Christian - Muslim families in Greece and investigates intergenerational transmissions and interactions between mixed couples and extended families in transnational and translocal networks of social relationships. The research draws on in-depth interviews with Christian and Muslim participants of diverse socioeconomic characteristics and national background. Analysing mixed marriages according to the institutional affiliation to Islam and Orthodox Christianity captured Christian - Muslim intermarriage with different Muslim populations: Near, Middle East and South East Asian Muslim-born immigrants, native minority Muslims and Greek converts to Islam. I follow intermarriage as an iterative process of trajectories and awakenings to mixedness and present identity shifts and exchanges, negotiations and practices during the family formation process. Novel data on the everyday and festive, religious and social practices of mixed and homogamous families shed light on how mixed couples put their worldviews into practice and how religious practice is incorporated into mixed family life. Conjugal mixedness is reproduced and represented, asserted and contested in religious, cultural and ethnic transmissions, parenting, “multiple-mixing” upbringing and naming of children in Christian – Muslim families. Intermarriage has acquired social visibility in Greece, even though is far from being integrated as a social norm. Mixed couples live, reside and locate themselves within the specific socioeconomic context of economic and humanitarian crisis in contemporary Greece. There are different lifestyle patterns of multilevel being, living and belonging of mixed couples within Greek society. Discrimination, racism and xenophobia against immigrants and minorities provoke social exclusion and precariousness for some mixed couples that are socially visible and mostly affected by phenotypical prejudice. Social processes of exclusion do not result only from ‘being’ a foreigner or an immigrant, they also result from ‘being with’ a foreigner or an immigrant. Religion as a social signifier of mixedness differs significantly from one relationship to another. The many facets of differentiation in mixed Christian and Muslim relationships are combined to produce distinctive and unique forms of conjugal mixedness in a wide repertoire of moral, cultural and religious systems. My research contributes knowledge in the study of intermarriage and mixedness by bringing religion into focus and analysing dynamic and negotiable self-identifications with ethno-cultural and religious affiliations and practices in Christian – Muslim conjugal mixedness and family formation. It takes the analysis beyond a simple focus on religion to link family with migration and minoritisation social processes and reveal complicated border crossings through conversion, intersections between gender, class, power and agency and potential of intermarriage for sociocultural transformations through interactions, exchanges and reciprocity of mixed couples and their extended families in transnational and translocal social networks

Factors affecting motivation in the public sector under the context of self-determination theory and public service motivation : the case of the Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organization (H.A.I.O.)

Purpose: The main aim of this study is to develop and test a conceptual framework that explores the factors that motivate employees in public services. The study is based on two theories, the Self Determination Theory (SDT), and the Public Service Motivation (PSM). Design/methodology/approach: The empirical testing of the proposed conceptual framework was conducted using a structured questionnaire that was distributed to 390 employees of a Greek public sector organization, namely the Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organization (Η.Α.Ι.Ο.). The population of the study consists of 489 public servants. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique were used to test the research hypotheses. Findings: Results highlight, among others, the importance of work autonomy and job satisfaction and their impact on employees’ intrinsic motivation. Moreover, empirical results emphasize the need for building a supportive work environment that contributes on employee satisfaction, autonomy and relatedness. Results also confirm the existence of a positive relationship among intrinsic motivation, public service motivation and job performance. Practical implications: The findings suggest that in cases where external incentives are significantly limited (e.g., in the public sector), it is crucial to consider the importance of promoting and supporting intrinsic motivation and support public service incentives. Originality/value: Self-determination theory seems to be poorly explored in the Greek public sector, and moreover, in economies and countries with similar characteristics. Therefore, it seems crucial to increase the knowledge about the real value of self-determination theory as a work motivation approach, especially in the public sector. Finally, research results may help supervisors and business leaders to implement appropriate systems and practices that promote a supportive environment in the workplace.peer-reviewe

Quality of soil and water in deltaic deposits of Louros and Arachthos rivers related to karstic rocks of the wider area

Οι υδρογραφικές λεκάνες των ποταμών Λούρου και Αράχθου αναπτύσσονται κυρίως σε καρστικά πετρώματα από ασβεστόλιθους, δολομίτες και δευτερευόντως γύψων. Τα εδάφη στο δελταϊκό πεδίο των δύο ποταμών, όπως αναμενόταν, είναι επαρκώς εφοδιασμένα με CaCOi και υπάρχει φυσική τροφοδοσία σε Ca++. Οι τιμές της Ικανότητας Ανταλλαγής Κατιόντων (ΙΑΚ) στα εδάφη είναι υψηλές με κυριαρχία των εναλλακτικών ιόντων Ca++ και δευτερευόντως Mg++ . Στα νερά του Δέλτα τόσο του φρεατίου όσο και του υπόγειου υδροφόρου ορίζοντα η περιεκτικότητα σε ιόντα Ca++ είναι υψηλή. Η διακύμανση των τιμών των ιόντων HCOî στο νερό του υπόγειου υδροφόρου είναι σε φυσιολογικά επίπεδα. Τα υπάρχοντα SO/ στα νερά προέρχονται από την καρστικοποίηση της γύψου και του ανυδρίτη. Οι τιμές των ιόντων Να+ και CT είναι υψηλότερες στα νερά του φρεατίου υδροφόρου από αυτά του υπόγειου υδροφόρου ορίζοντα. Τα νερά του Δέλτα κατατάσσονται στα ανθρακικά, χωρίς ιδιαίτερη επίδραση από τη θάλασσα. Υπάρχει συνεπώς άμεση εξάρτηση της ποιότητας των εδαφών και των νερών του Δέλτα με την ύπαρξη των καρστικών σχηματισμών κυρίως των ανθρακικών και σε μικρό βαθμό των εβαποριτώνThe present study focuses on the connection between the existing karstic formations and the quality of soil and water in the River Delta area. The hydrological basins of Louros and Arachthos Rivers (NW Greece) are partially developed on karstic rocks. So the soil is enriched with CaC03 and there is a natural supply of Ca++, which originates mainly from the limestone and secondarily from gypsum formations. The value of the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) of soil is high and in the exchange sites Ca++ ions dominate and Mg++ secondarily. Delta water ofphreatic and confined aquifer contain high Ca++ ion concentrations. The fluctuation of HCO3 values in confined aquifer water is within normal levels. Ions of SO 4 ' that occur in water are derived from the karstic process of gypsum and anhydrite formations. The values ofNa+ and CT content in water are higher in the phreatic aquifer than in ground water. The water in the area of the River Delta is classified as Carbonic water, despite its proximity to the sea. Therefore, the quality of soil and water of the River Delta area is highly related to the karstic process of carbonate formations, mainly of calcareous and secondarily evaporate sediment

Geotechnical foundation conditions of Mesologion swimming pool center

Η επιλογή του καταλληλότερου τύπου θεμελίωσης εμπεριέχει την εξέταση ποικίλλων παραμέτρων. Στην περίπτωση του Κολυμβητηρίου Μεσολογγίου, έγινε μια προσπάθεια πρότασης ενός τύπου θεμελίωσης, κατάλληλου από γεωτεχνικής πλευράς, για ιζήματα που βρίσκονται πολύ κοντά στη θάλασσα. Το υπέδαφος εκεί, αποτελείται από μαλακά, λεπτόκοκκα, χαμηλής πλαστικότητας υλικά, CL μέχρι SL, με εναλλαγές υψηλής πλαστικότητας αργιλικών στρωμάτων CH. Επιπρόσθετα η στάθμη του υπόγειου υδροφόρου εντοπίζεται στα 0,8 μέτρα κάτω από την επιφάνεια του εδάφους. Ή δυσκολία εξασφάλισης αδιατάραχτων δειγμάτων λόγω κατάστασης υλικού, μας ανάγκασε να στηριχτούμε για τους υπολογισμούς των παραμέτρων στα αποτελέσματα των επί τόπου δοκιμών. Σκοπός της εργασίας αυτής είναι να παρουσιάσει τα υλικά των ιζημάτων, τις εδαφοτεχνικές τους παραμέτρους, τη μεθοδολογία, τους υπολογισμούς και την πρόταση θεμελίωσης για κολυμβητήριο Μεσολογγίου.Although geotechnical tests are standard and commonly used in determining the foundation type to be applied, in some cases the use ofin-situ tests are essential in order to obtain the correct values needed in the geotechnical calculations. In the case of the foundation of Mesologi Swimming-pool Center, an attempt was made to propose a foundation type, suitable from geotechnical point of view, for sediments that lie very close to the sea! The selection of the most suitable foundation type encloses the examination of several parameters. The subsoil there, consists of soft, fine grained, low plasticity materials, CL to SL with alternations of high plasticity clay layers CH. Additionally, the groundwater level is 0,8 meters under the soil surface, demonstrating constant saturation conditions. The combination of soft subsoil layers quality and the high level of groundwater leads to difficult foundation conditions in relation to immediate and secondary consolidation settlement. Geotechnical calculations and calculations of settlement were performed and the most suitable foundation type was semi-compensated mat foundation

Nitrotriazole-based acetamides and propanamides with broad spectrum antitrypanosomal activity.

3-Nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-based acetamides bearing a biphenyl- or a phenoxyphenyl moiety have shown remarkable antichagasic activity both in vitro and in an acute murine model, as well as substantial in vitro antileishmanial activity but lacked activity against human African trypanosomiasis. We have shown now that by inserting a methylene group in the linkage to obtain the corresponding propanamides, both antichagasic and in particular anti-human African trypanosomiasis potency was increased. Therefore, IC50 values at low nM concentrations against both T. cruzi and T. b. rhodesiense, along with huge selectivity indices were obtained. Although several propanamides were active against Leishmania donovani, they were slightly less potent than their corresponding acetamides. There was a good correlation between lipophilicity (clogP value) and trypanocidal activity, for all new compounds. Type I nitroreductase, an enzyme absent from the human host, played a role in the activation of the new compounds, which may function as prodrugs. Antichagasic activity in vivo was also demonstrated with representative propanamides.This work was supported in part by internal funds of the Radiation Medicine Department at NorthShore University HealthSystem. In addition, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) received financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to perform the in vitro screenings against parasites

Language external and language internal factors in the acquisition of gender: the case of Albanian-Greek and English-Greek bilingual children

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group The aim of this experimental study is to examine the development of gender assignment and gender agreement in bilingual Albanian-Greek and English-Greek children as well as the exploitation of gender cues on the noun ending in real and pseudo-nouns. Four gender tasks were designed, two targeting gender assignment (determiner + noun production) and two gender agreement (predicate adjective production). Performance is investigated in relation to the role of (positive) L1 transfer (Albanian vs. English), the role of the bilingual’s vocabulary knowledge in Greek as well the role of input factors including the monolingual/bilingual school contexts and the role of parental education as a proxy for socioeconomic status (SES). The results show a strong interaction between the bilinguals’ performance and their Greek vocabulary development and a negative link between gender accuracy and use of the other language

USING GIS AND EARTHQUAKE SCENARIOS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN CASE OF A STRONG EARTHQUAKE. AN APPLICATION IN THE URBAN AREA OF THESSALONIKI, GREECE

The aim of this paper, which is part of the M.Sc Thesis of the first author, is an initial attempt for the assessment of the emergency response through the road network of the Urban Area of Thessaloniki (UAT) after a strong earthquake. The areas of the road network that are to become inaccessible either due to partial collapse of buildings or due to destruction of the road axes by rupture zones, are detected. The inaccessible parts are determined for the cases of three earthquake scenarios using the values of the Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA), which were calculated for about 6000 points over the UAT, as well as spatial overlay tools of a GIS. In the end, by applying network analysis and according to the situation of the network after the earthquake, the possibility of movement of the fire engines and ambulances was studied and least cost routes from ambulance stations to UAT hospitals were tracked