Infrastructure Underpinnings of Trustworthiness in Infrastructure Contracts: Trust and Trust Perceptions

This paper discusses trust and trust perceptions in infrastructure contracts. We focus on perceptions of the trustworthiness of the government purchasers of infrastructure services (a) by supplying companies and (b) by governments. In particular, we allow for trust misalignments which may give rise to "undertrusting" and "overtrusting". The core of the paper sets out a game theoretic model of contracts which we use to explore the impact of trust misalignment both on economic efficiency and on investment levels, taking account both of asset specificity issues and maladaptation costs. We explore flexible contracts with and without pre-payments, rigid contracts (which do not allow for post-investment renegotiation) and hybrid contracts. Their efficiency is compared to an incentive compatible benchmark contract. The model is also used to shed light on current issues on the sustainability of private investment infrastructure contracts both in OECD countries (e.g. PPPs) and in developing countries.Regulatory Reform

The Old Navarino fortification (Palaiokastro) at Pylos (Greece). Adaptation to early artillery

[EN] Old Navarino fortification (Palaiokastro) is located on the promontory supervising the naturally endowed Navarino-bay at the south-western foot of Peloponnese peninsula, near the contemporary city of Pylos. The cliff where it is built and where ancient relics lie, was fortified by Frankish in the thirteenth century. The fortification though knows significant alterations firstly by Serenissima Republic of Venice from the fifteenth century that aims to dominate the naval routes of Eastern Mediterranean by establishing a system of coastal fortifications and later by the Ottomans after the conquest of Venice’s possessions at Messenia in 1500. Between fifteenth and seventeenth century, apart from important modifications at the initial enceinte of the northern Upper City, the most notable transformation of Old Navarino is the construction of the new Lower fortification area at the south and the southern outwork ending up to the coastline. Especially the Lower fortification is a sample of multiple and large-scale successive alterations for the adjustment to technological advances of artillery (fortification walls reinforcement, modification of tower-bastions, early casemates, gate complex enforcements). The current essay focuses on the study of these specific elements of the early artillery period and the examination of Old Navarino’s strategic role at the time of transition before the adaptation of “bastion-front” fortification patterns, such as those experimented in the design of the fortified city of New Navarino, constructed at the opposite side of the Navarino gulf by the Ottomans (1573).The PhD research is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social FundESF) through the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning” in the context of the project “Strengthening Human Resources Research Potential via Doctorate Research” (MIS-5000432), implemented by the State Scholarships Foundation (ΙΚΥ).Simou, X. (2020). The Old Navarino fortification (Palaiokastro) at Pylos (Greece). Adaptation to early artillery. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1401-1408. https://doi.org/10.4995/FORTMED2020.2020.11389OCS1401140

Investigating the process of translation:humour translation norms, strategies and approaches in children's literature

Research in the present thesis is focused on the norms, strategies,and approaches which translators employ when translating humour in Children's Literature from English into Greek. It is based on process-oriented descriptive translation studies, since the focus is on investigating the process of translation. Viewing translation as a cognitive process and a problem soling activity, this thesis Think-aloud protocols (TAPs) in order to investigate translator's minds. As it is not possible to directly observe the human mind at work, an attempt is made to ask the translators themselves to reveal their mental processes in real time by verbalising their thoughts while carrying out a translation task involving humour. In this study, thirty participants at three different levels of expertise in translation competence, i.e. tn beginner, ten competent, and ten experts translators, were requested to translate two humourous extracts from the fictional diary novel The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 ¾ by Sue Townsend (1982) from English into Greek. As they translated, they were asked to verbalise their thoughts and reason them, whenever possible, so that their strategies and approaches could be detected, and that subsequently, the norms that govern these strategies and approaches could be revealed. The thesis consists of four parts: the introduction, the literature review, the study, and the conclusion, and is developed in eleven chapters. the introduction contextualises the study within translation studies (TS) and presents its rationale, research questions, aims, and significance. Chapters 1 to 7 present an extensive and inclusive literature review identifying the principles axioms that guide and inform the study. In these seven chapters the following areas are critically introduced: Children's literature (Chapter 1), Children's Literature Translation (Chapter 2), Norms in Children's Literature (Chapter 3), Strategies in Children's Literature (Chapter 4), Humour in Children's Literature Translation (Chapter 5), Development of Translation Competence (Chapter 6), and Translation Process Research (Chapter 7). In Chapters 8 - 11 the fieldwork is described in detail. the piolot and the man study are described with a reference to he environments and setting, the participants, the research -observer, the data and its analysis, and limitations of the study. The findings of the study are presented and analysed in Chapter 9. Three models are then suggested for systematising translators' norms, strategies, and approaches, thus, filling the existing gap in the field. Pedagogical norms (e.g. appropriateness/correctness, famililarity, simplicity, comprehensibility, and toning down), literary norms (e.g. sound of language and fluency). and source-text norms (e.g. equivalence) were revealed to b the most prominent general and specific norms governing the translators'  strategies and approaches in the process of translating humour in ChL. The data also revealed that monitoring and communication strategies (e.g. additions, omissions, and exoticism) were the prevalent strategies employed by translators. In Chapter 10 the main findings and outcomes of a potential secondary benefit (beneficial outcomes) are discussed on the basis of the research questions and aims of the study, and implications of the study are tackled in Chapter 11. In the conclusion, suggestions for future directions are given and final remarks noted

Sharing Geoprocessing Workflows with Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN)

Graphical geoprocessing workflows are often built visually on interactive canvases of GIS software. Such workflows cannot be shared among different software, due to structural and semantical differences. This study experiments with a workflow created for ILWIS software and transforms it into a BPMN process model, exploiting XML serialisations of the two workflows. Ultimately, it aims at contributing to interoperability of geoprocessing workflows, through an extended approach serving as a frame around workflow conversion

Optimization of operation of a system of flood control reservoirs

Students supported: 1 Graduate StudentOptimization of operation of a system of flood control reservoirs is established by the application of mathematical programming. The mathematical procedure is applied to two different types of systems, reservoirs in parallel and reservoirs in tandem. The operational matrix to be optimized is made up of the objective function and the constraining equations. The objective function that is to be maximized is made up of the time sequence of releases from the reservoirs. The physical, structural and hydrological limitations are described by the constraint equations. All equations in the operational matrix are linear. Inflows to the reservoirs of the system and the initial conditions are assumed to be known, as are the reservoir capacities and downstream-channel maximum and minimum capacities. The objective of the operational matrix is to maximize the sum of releases thus minimizing the storage occupied by flood water. Set up of the operational matrix is carried out using a digital computer program and the optimization is carried out by applying the Linear-Programming algorithm of MPS/360. Results of the procedures are shown for a three reservoir system in the Kansas river basis (U.S.A.) using actual data.Project # B-065-MO Agreement # 14-31-0001-360

Huellas históricas y representación virtual en el castillo bizantino medio de Acrocorinto

[EN] Fortified architecture of medieval times in Greece is a research field with several challenges for the scholars such as the absent of plans and written sources. The current study investigates how digital documentation methods can contribute to the extraction of archaeological information from the actual material sources -the various building traces. This relation between survey and interpretation will be presented through the case of Acrocorinth Castle. The survey of a smaller area of the fortification between the 2nd and 3rd defence line of Acrocorinth was executed in order to create a three dimensional (3D) representation for the Middle-Byzantine Phase of the castle. The project was implicated in the frame of the creation of the web-platform ecastles.culture.gr for the promotion of fortified architecture in Peloponnese under the Hellenic Ministry of Culture (25th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities, Argolid Ephorate of Antiquities). In the present study the surveying method and the step by step graphic reconstruction will be initially presented. Subsequently, it will be analysed how the digital survey led to the gradual modulation of the castle's historic form and how the scenarios of building phases' evolution were made.[ES] La investigación de la arquitectura medieval en Greciaesun área que presentavariosretos para los investigadores, yaque no existenmapasniinformaciónescrita. Elestudio actual investigacómo los métodos de documentación digital puedencontribuir a la extracción de la informaciónarqueológica apartir de las fuentes materiales existentes –las variastrazas de construcción. Estarelación entre documentacióne interpretaciónse presentamedianteel casodel Castillo de Acrocorinto. Ladocumentaciónde unapequeña área de la fortificación entre la 2ay 3alínea de defensa de Acrocorintose ejecutópara crearunarepresentación tridimensional (3D)de la fase bizantina media del castillo. Elprojectose desarrollóen el marco de la creación de la plataforma web ecastles.culture.grcon el objeto depromocionar la arquitecturafortificada en el Peloponesobajo el Ministerio de CulturaHelénico(25thEphorate of Byzantine Antiquities, ArgolidEphorate of Antiquities). En el presentestudio,se presentael método de documentacióny los pasos para la reconstruccióngrafica. Adicionalmente, se analizarácómo ladocumentacióndigital condujoa la modulación gradual de la forma historica del castillo y cómolasdiferentesfases de construcciónfueronevolucionando.This project was a part of a wider collective attempt for the digital enhancement project of castles of Arcadia, Argolid and Corinthia co-funded by NSRF and Greek Ministry of Culture.Athanasoulis, D.; Simou, X.; Zirogianni, T. (2017). Historical imprints and virtual representation issues in Mid-Byzantine Acrocorinth Castle. Virtual Archaeology Review. 8(17):10-19. doi:10.4995/var.2017.5959SWORD101981

The Effect of Spironolactone on Cerebral Blood Flow and Cognition

Hypertension and arterial stiffness are associated with structural and functional changes in cerebral circulation and cognitive function, but based on existing evidence the effects are potentially reversible by spironolactone (Spiro) reducing blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness. This thesis consisted of a double-blind, controlled trial with older hypertensive adults (OA) who were receiving stable treatment with centrally acting angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors randomly assigned to Spiro or placebo to test the hypothesis that reductions in BP and arterial stiffness would be associated with improved anterior cerebral blood flow (aCBF) and cognitive function. Secondary objectives were to investigate how Spiro would affect cerebrovascular autoregulation and to conduct a supplementary experimental study in younger adults (YA) comparing blood pressure and arterial stiffness to OA; and to determine how induced acute small changes in BP could impact interpretation of the chronic changes in BP and arterial stiffness associated with Spiro therapy. The pooled data from the randomized, controlled trial (RCT) in OA (n=18) showed that age, mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and pulse pressure (PP) were 65±3 years, 97±9 mmHg, 142±16 mmHg, 75±8 mmHg, and 66±13 mmHg respectively. There was a significant association between age and carotid distensibility coefficient (r= - 0.51, P<0.05). Six months of Spiro significantly reduced SBP and PP by 14±14 mmHg and 12±14 mmHg respectively. However arterial stiffness estimated by regional indicator carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), or local indicators carotid distensibility coefficient and β-stiffness index, remained unchanged. Spiro did not significantly improve aCBF or cognitive function scores. Cerebrovascular autoregulation response to standing upright remained unchanged after Spiro compared to placebo. Mean adherence to study-drug was at least 95% for both groups. The calculated Cohen’s d effect size for Spiro was 0.3 from this thesis RCT data; much smaller than the desired Cohen’s d effect size of 1.0 that was derived from observational data used to calculate sample size for the RCT. The supplementary experimental study in YA (n=14) demonstrated that OA in the RCT had greater MAP (97±9 mmHg vs 86±9 mmHg, P<0.01), SBP (142±16 mmHg vs 124±12 mmHg, P<0.01), DBP (75±8 mmHg vs 67±9 mmHg, P<0.05), PP (66±13 mmHg vs 57±7 mmHg, P<0.05), and arterial stiffness was greater as indicated by faster cfPWV (7.22±1.09 m/s vs 5.43±1.13 m/s, P<0.001), smaller carotid distensibility coefficient (0.0014±0.0006 mmHg-1 vs 0.0031±0.0008, P<0.001), and greater β-stiffness index (8.78±3.53 a.u. vs 3.74±0.91, P<0.001). Application of lower body negative pressure to induce acute hemodynamic changes in these YA reduced stroke volume (P<0.001) and cardiac output (P<0.001); and increased total peripheral resistance (P<0.001) while MAP remained unchanged. There were also small acute decreases in both SBP (P<0.05) and PP (P<0.001) in these YA that were concurrent with a non-significant increase in arterial stiffness (cfPWV increase, carotid distensibility coefficient decrease, β-stiffness index increase). Transit times from R-peak of QRS complex to foot of aortic velocity pulse, carotid artery, or finger artery significantly increased with progressively increasing LBNP as a consequence of longer pre-ejection period (P<0.001). In conclusion for the main thesis objective, Spiro safely and effectively reduced BP while arterial stiffness, aCBF, cognitive function, and cerebrovascular autoregulation remained unchanged. OA, compared to YA, had greater blood pressure and arterial stiffness for all measures. In YA, acute reductions in systolic and pulse pressure affected stiffness indicators, in contrast to unchanged stiffness indicators observed in OA. These limited data should be interpreted with caution given the small sample size in the RCT, small effect size of Spiro and that acute reductions in SBP and PP may affect arterial stiffness

HISTORICAL TRACES' INTERPRETATION AND VIRTUAL RECONSTRUCTION - THE CASE OF ACROCORINTH CASTLE

[EN] When archival information misses or is insufficient, the structure itself becomes the most valuable archive unfolding stories of monument's life. The current essay examines how the building traces can be used as tools of historical interpretation and how important is digital survey in this respect through the presentation 3d virtual documentation of the castle of Acrocorinth. The overall venture was initiated by the 25th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities under the supervision of the Ephorate dr archaeologist Demetrios Athanasoulis on the occasion of developing the web-platform ecastles.culture.gr for the Digital Enhancement of the Castles of Peloponnese (Athanasoulis et al. 2015).Athanasoulis, D.; Simou, X.; Zirogianni, T. (2016). HISTORICAL TRACES' INTERPRETATION AND VIRTUAL RECONSTRUCTION - THE CASE OF ACROCORINTH CASTLE. En 8th International congress on archaeology, computer graphics, cultural heritage and innovation. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 288-290. https://doi.org/10.4995/arqueologica8.2015.3437OCS28829