A pension system for younger workers in Greece: a proposal for growth

Recent pension reforms help to trap Greece in deep crisis, but only increase the insecurity of pensioners. To break out of that vicious circle, a fresh start is needed. Such can result from the immediate introduction of a new type of pre-funded pensions. Such a new system, will put a stop to the reneging on pension commitments and can give a decisive impetus to the growth process. A detailed proposal was presented in December 2016 by a team of three academics from the University of Piraeus. That proposal has been quantified, potential problems identified and solutions proffered; even the considerable transition problems are likely to be more tractable than the most probable future course of the present, totally non-viable, arrangements

The legal protection of the accrued contributions in the Greek Public Pension Fund for the Self-Employed in view of the latest reductions

Το παρόν άρθρο αναφέρεται στους συνταξιούχους του ελληνικού δημόσιου ασφαλιστικού φορέα ελευθέρων επαγγελματιών (ΟΑΕΕ) και χωρίζεται σε δύο μέρη. Το πρώτο μέρος αναφέρεται σε υπολογισμούς σχετικούς με τις περικοπές των συντάξεων συγκεκριμένων ασφαλισμένων του ΟΑΕΕ. Η ανάλυση των προαναφερθέντων υπογραμμίζει τη διαφορά στο χειρισμό των συνταξιούχων που λαμβάνουν συντάξεις χαμηλές και υψηλές αντίστοιχα. Το δεύτερο κομμάτι ερευνά τη νομική προστασία των υψηλόμισθων συνταξιούχων υπό το πρίσμα της ελληνικής δημοσιονομικής κρίσης. Το άρθρο καταλήγει ότι ενώ δεν υπάρχει νομική προστασία υπό το παρόν νομικό πλαίσιο, υπάρχουν ηθικά και νομικά επιχειρήματα υπέρ της προστασίας των υψηλόμισθων συνταξιούχων, έτσι ώστε να μην υπονομευθεί το νομικό τους καθεστώς λόγω έλλειψης οικονομικών πόρων.This paper focuses on the pensioners of the Greek public pension fund for the selfemployed (OAEE) and is divided into two parts. The first part comprises calculations of pension reductions in certain cases for the selfemployed. The analysis of the former illustrates the great difference in handling pensionersreceiving low and high old-age pension benefits. The second part analyses the legal protection of the high-earnings pensioners precipitated by the Greek financial crisis. It is concluded that while there is no existing legal protection, there are some moral and legal arguments in support of their protection toensure that their legal status is not undermined due to restricted financial resources

The legal protection of the accrued contributions in the Greek Public Pension Fund for the Self-Employed in view of the latest reductions

Το παρόν άρθρο αναφέρεται στους συνταξιούχους του ελληνικού δημόσιου ασφαλιστικού φορέα ελευθέρων επαγγελματιών (ΟΑΕΕ) και χωρίζεται σε δύο μέρη. Το πρώτο μέρος αναφέρεται σε υπολογισμούς σχετικούς με τις περικοπές των συντάξεων συγκεκριμένων ασφαλισμένων του ΟΑΕΕ. Η ανάλυση των προαναφερθέντων υπογραμμίζει τη διαφορά στο χειρισμό των συνταξιούχων που λαμβάνουν συντάξεις χαμηλές και υψηλές αντίστοιχα. Το δεύτερο κομμάτι ερευνά τη νομική προστασία των υψηλόμισθων συνταξιούχων υπό το πρίσμα της ελληνικής δημοσιονομικής κρίσης. Το άρθρο καταλήγει ότι ενώ δεν υπάρχει νομική προστασία υπό το παρόν νομικό πλαίσιο, υπάρχουν ηθικά και νομικά επιχειρήματα υπέρ της προστασίας των υψηλόμισθων συνταξιούχων, έτσι ώστε να μην υπονομευθεί το νομικό τους καθεστώς λόγω έλλειψης οικονομικών πόρων.This paper focuses on the pensioners of the Greek public pension fund for the selfemployed (OAEE) and is divided into two parts. The first part comprises calculations of pension reductions in certain cases for the selfemployed. The analysis of the former illustrates the great difference in handling pensionersreceiving low and high old-age pension benefits. The second part analyses the legal protection of the high-earnings pensioners precipitated by the Greek financial crisis. It is concluded that while there is no existing legal protection, there are some moral and legal arguments in support of their protection toensure that their legal status is not undermined due to restricted financial resources

A conversation with Phevos Simeonidis (Disinfaux Collective), 21 July 2021

In this interview with Nerina Boursinou and Pierre Monforte, Phevos Simeonidis—cofounder of the Disinfaux Collective—reflects on the role of civil society organizations in the field of refugee support in Greece, in particular through the focus on their relations with public authorities. The interview provides an account of the changing environment in the field of migration and the diversity of the organizations working to support refugees in Greece, while it highlights such organizations’ ambivalent relations with public authorities. Moreover, the interview discusses the impact of the measures taken by the Greek government(s) to control or repress the activities of civil society organizations in recent years, including their criminalization. Finally, it makes reference to the complex ethics that accompany migration research and support practices, especially in relation to the collective’s operation and decision-making processes.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Towards a genome-scale kinetic model of cellular metabolism

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Advances in bioinformatic techniques and analyses have led to the availability of genome-scale metabolic reconstructions. The size and complexity of such networks often means that their potential behaviour can only be analysed with constraint-based methods. Whilst requiring minimal experimental data, such methods are unable to give insight into cellular substrate concentrations. Instead, the long-term goal of systems biology is to use kinetic modelling to characterize fully the mechanics of each enzymatic reaction, and to combine such knowledge to predict system behaviour.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We describe a method for building a parameterized genome-scale kinetic model of a metabolic network. Simplified linlog kinetics are used and the parameters are extracted from a kinetic model repository. We demonstrate our methodology by applying it to yeast metabolism. The resultant model has 956 metabolic reactions involving 820 metabolites, and, whilst approximative, has considerably broader remit than any existing models of its type. Control analysis is used to identify key steps within the system.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our modelling framework may be considered a stepping-stone toward the long-term goal of a fully-parameterized model of yeast metabolism. The model is available in SBML format from the BioModels database (BioModels ID: MODEL1001200000) and at <url>http://www.mcisb.org/resources/genomescale/</url>.</p

From little muffins to the biggest girl band in the UK: a construção de identidade da banda Little Mix através de seus videoclipes no Youtube de 2012 a 2018

As bandas pop ocupam posição de destaque no cenário musical de hoje, estabelecendo uma série de pontos de contatos com seus públicos. Os videoclipes, distribuídos pelos canais no YouTube, surgem nesse contexto como formato de divulgação e espaço de expressão das propostas de identidade de bandas e artistas. No presente trabalho estudamos como as influências da cultura pop foram responsáveis para a construção de identidade da banda Little Mix. Para isso, mapeamos os videoclipes da banda em seu canal do YouTube. Posteriormente, reconhecemos elementos nos videoclipes que mostram características de identidade de Little Mix como banda pop, e buscamos entender como ocorre o posicionamento e reposicionamento de identidade da banda através destes videoclipes. A metodologia é qualitativa, empregando a técnica de análise de conteúdo, e quantitativa, ao mapearmos os videoclipes da banda. Ao final consideramos que a banda utiliza de elementos presentes na cultura pop para construir sua identidade, junto com experimentações e novas abordagens de posicionamento.Pop bands occupy a prominent position in today's music scene, establishing a series of points of contact with their audiences. The video clips, distributed through the channels on YouTube, appear in this context as a format of dissemination and space for expression of the purposes of identity of bands and artists. In the present work we study how the influences of the pop culture were responsible for the construction of identity of the band Little Mix. To do this, we've mapped out the band's music videos on their YouTube Channel. Later, we recognize elements in video clips that show identity characteristics of Little Mix as a pop band, and we try to understand how the positioning and repositioning of band identity occurs through these video clips. The methodology is qualitative, employing the technique of content analysis, and quantitative, when mapping the video clips of the band. In the end we consider that the band uses elements present in pop culture to build their identity, along with experimentations and new approaches of positioning

Dimpled SiO₂@γ-Fe₂O₃ nanocomposites – fabrication and use for arsenic adsorption in aqueous medium

We report the synthesis of nanocomposites made of silica nanoparticles whose six surface dimples are decorated with magnetic maghemite nanoparticles and their use for detection and recovery of arsenic in aqueous media. Precursor silica nanoparticles have aminated polystyrene chains at the bottom of their dimples and the maghemite nanoparticles are surface functionalized with carboxylic acid groups in two steps: amination with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, then derivatization with succinic anhydride in the presence of triethylamine. In the end, the colloidal assembly consists of the regioselective grafting of the carboxylic acid-modified iron oxide nanoparticles onto the 6-dimple silica nanoparticles. Several characterization techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS) are employed to assess the grafting process and study the influence of the maghemite functional groups on the quality of the composites formed. The resulting magnetic nanocomposites are used for the environmentally benign detection and removal of arsenic from aqueous medium, being readily extracted through means of magnetic separation