591 research outputs found
Catheter-based functional metrics of the coronary circulation
No full textIn patients with stable chest pain, decision making about treatment strategy should be based on anatomical and functional information on the coronary circulation. Traditionally, the functional data are obtained by non-invasive testing which aims at detecting and localizing 'myocardial ischemia.' Yet, the diagnostic accuracy of diagnostic testing is over-rated in the literature, so that in clinical practice, a sizable proportion of patients undergo a coronary angiogram without prior useful functional information. Therefore, several methods have been developed to obtain similar information in the catheterization laboratory. Here we review briefly some of these methods. Some of them are used routinely in clinical practice, and others are under development
Environmental ethics: values in and duties to the natural world (summarized with commentary by Panagiotis Perros)
No full textSummarized with commentary in Greek by Panagiotis Perros.Environmental ethics stands on a frontier, as radically theoretical as it is applied. Alone, it asks whether there can be nonhuman objects of duty. Animals, plants, endangered species, ecosystems, and even Earth are progressively unfamiliar as objects of duty, and puzzles arise both for theory and practice. Answers to such questions are as urgent as any humans face, and intimately related to the four principal issues on the world agenda: peace, population, development, and environment
R-CAUSTIC: Rippling CAUSTICs underwater Image dataset
No full text<p><strong>Description</strong></p><p>Rippling caustics seem to be the main factor degrading the underwater RGB image quality and affecting the image- based 3D reconstruction process in very shallow waters. These effects are adversely affecting image matching algorithms by throwing off most of them, leading to less accurate matches and causing issues in the Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) based navigation of the Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) on shallow waters. Also, they are the main cause for dissimilarities in the generated textures and orthoimages. In order to fill the gap in the literature regading underwater rippling caustics imagery with real ground truth and reference images, the first real-world underwater caustics benchmark dataset which contains 1465 underwater images is presented. Together with the RGB imagery, the corresponding generated ground truth images are delivered for facilitating the training and testing of machine learning and deep learning methods for image classification. R-CAUSTIC dataset also provides the necessary data to evaluate, at least to some extent, the performance of 3D reconstruction approaches. Data were acquired using a GoPro Hero 4 Black action camera with image dimensions of 4000 x 3000 pixels, focal length of 2.77mm and pixel size of 1.55μm and a tripod. Action cameras are widely used for underwater image acquisition. The dataset was captured in near-shore underwater sites at depths varying from 0.5 to 2m. No artificial light sources were used. Due to the wind, the turbulent surface of the water created dynamic rippling caustics on the seabed. In total 1465 RGB images were collected, separated in 7 different datasets; five of them containing stereo images, one of them tri-stereo images and one consists of multi-stereo imagery acquired in 7 different camera poses.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Publication</strong></p><p>The paper is availbale in Open Access here: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10172291</p><p><strong>If you use this dataset please cite it as R-CAUSTIC</strong> [Reference].<br>[Reference]: <strong>P. Agrafiotis, K. Karantzalos and A. Georgopoulos, "Seafloor-Invariant Caustics Removal From Underwater Imagery," in </strong><i><strong>IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering</strong></i><strong>, vol. 48, no. 4, pp. 1300-1321, Oct. 2023, doi: 10.1109/JOE.2023.3277168.</strong></p><p>BibTeX:</p><p>@ARTICLE{10172291,
author={Agrafiotis, Panagiotis and Karantzalos, Konstantinos and Georgopoulos, Andreas},
journal={IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering},
title={Seafloor-Invariant Caustics Removal From Underwater Imagery},
year={2023},
volume={48},
number={4},
pages={1300-1321},
doi={10.1109/JOE.2023.3277168}}</p><p> </p>
R-CAUSTIC: Rippling CAUSTICs underwater Image dataset
No full text<p> </p>
<h3><strong>Version 2 available! Please make sure to download the latest version of the dataset! <br></strong></h3>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Description</strong></p>
<p>Rippling caustics seem to be the main factor degrading the underwater RGB image quality and affecting the image- based 3D reconstruction process in very shallow waters. These effects are adversely affecting image matching algorithms by throwing off most of them, leading to less accurate matches and causing issues in the Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) based navigation of the Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) on shallow waters. Also, they are the main cause for dissimilarities in the generated textures and orthoimages. In order to fill the gap in the literature regading underwater rippling caustics imagery with real ground truth and reference images, the first real-world underwater caustics benchmark dataset which contains 1465 underwater images is presented. Together with the RGB imagery, the corresponding generated ground truth images are delivered for facilitating the training and testing of machine learning and deep learning methods for image classification. R-CAUSTIC dataset also provides the necessary data to evaluate, at least to some extent, the performance of 3D reconstruction approaches. Data were acquired using a GoPro Hero 4 Black action camera with image dimensions of 4000 x 3000 pixels, focal length of 2.77mm and pixel size of 1.55μm and a tripod. Action cameras are widely used for underwater image acquisition. The dataset was captured in near-shore underwater sites at depths varying from 0.5 to 2m. No artificial light sources were used. Due to the wind, the turbulent surface of the water created dynamic rippling caustics on the seabed. In total 1465 RGB images were collected, separated in 7 different datasets; five of them containing stereo images, one of them tri-stereo images and one consists of multi-stereo imagery acquired in 7 different camera poses.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Publication</strong></p>
<p>The paper is availbale in Open Access here: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10172291</p>
<p><strong>If you use this dataset please cite it as R-CAUSTIC</strong> [Reference].<br>[Reference]: <strong>P. Agrafiotis, K. Karantzalos and A. Georgopoulos, "Seafloor-Invariant Caustics Removal From Underwater Imagery," in </strong><em><strong>IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering</strong></em><strong>, vol. 48, no. 4, pp. 1300-1321, Oct. 2023, doi: 10.1109/JOE.2023.3277168.</strong></p>
<p>BibTeX:</p>
<p>@ARTICLE{10172291, author={Agrafiotis, Panagiotis and Karantzalos, Konstantinos and Georgopoulos, Andreas}, journal={IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering}, title={Seafloor-Invariant Caustics Removal From Underwater Imagery}, year={2023}, volume={48}, number={4}, pages={1300-1321}, doi={10.1109/JOE.2023.3277168}}</p>
<p> </p>
Does genetic diversity on corporate boards lead to improved environmental performance?
No full textElsevier
Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money
Volume 84, April 2023, 101756
Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money
Does genetic diversity on corporate boards lead to improved environmental performance?
Author links open overlay panelRenatas Kizys a, Emmanuel C. Mamatzakis b, Panagiotis Tzouvanas c
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intfin.2023.101756
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Highlights
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We examine the effect of boards’ genetic diversity (GENETICD) on corporate ESG performance.
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ESG performance and disclosures are higher in more genetically diverse firms.
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The positive GENETICD effect on ESG performance is driven by the environmental pillar.
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Corporate carbon performance significantly improves with increases in GENETICD.
We study the effects of boards’ genetic diversity on corporate environmental performance. Using a multidimensional information set for 3690 US firms during the period from 2005 to 2019, and three different measures of genetic diversity, we find that, pursuant to the diversity theory, which posits that diversity improves the quality of management decisions and business ethics, genetic diversity leads to improved environmental performance. We also find that genetic diversity improves carbon and governance performance, and ESG disclosure. Particularly, a one percentage point increase in boards’ genetic diversity will increase the carbon performance, measured by the inverse of the carbon emissions to total assets ratio, and environmental performance by 3.54% and 5.57%, respectively. Our results remain robust to different model specifications, while also controlling for endogeneity. In terms of policy implications, results suggest that the key to tackling climate challenges is to promote boards’ genetic diversity
Dataset in support of the Southampton doctoral thesis 'The boatbuilding tradition of the Aegean during the Late Neolithic – Early Bronze Age periods. Typological classification, digital reconstruction and seakeeping assessment'
No full textDataset in support of the Southampton doctoral thesis 'The boatbuilding tradition of the Aegean during the Late Neolithic – Early Bronze Age periods. Typological classification, digital reconstruction and seakeeping assessment' Appendix D - Resistance data and Appendix C - Stability data.
This dataset is focused on two appendices:
Appendix D - Resistance data. D.1 Resistance data produced by the author via MAXSURF Resistance for this thesis.
Appendix C - Stability data
C1. Stability data – STIX and ISO criteria, produced by the author via MAXSURF Stability software for his thesis
This research was funded by Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI), Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship, Greek Archaeological Committee UK (GACUK)
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Ideas in trenches: Power and polemics in Panagiotis Kondylis
No full textThe author of the article attempts to examine the positions of Panagiotis Kondylis on the intellectual history and ideas’ polemical nature that is the basic feature for understanding the configuration and development of an idea-theory in history. In order to achieve a full understanding of the specific concept of the intellectual history, first of all we have to analyze the Greek thinker's positions on the power and the way in which the search for power as a basic and irrevocable anthropological condition leads to a polemic condition within the social field. This polemic condition is also evident in the field of ideas, as ideas can be seen as the attempt to form worldviews by the respective subject or group of subjects that have the purpose of self-preservation and expanding their power. Therefore, in this article the emphasis is placed on two different areas of Kondylis' thought, the philosophy of man and then on the description of the ideas’ formulation. 
The effect of lycopene consuption on arterial elastic properties and endothelial function
No full textIntroduction: Consumption of tomato products is linked to beneficial outcomes; these are mainly attributed to lycopene, one of their antioxidant ingredients. A growing body of evidence has explored the potential of tomato consumption for cardiovascular risk reduction, with studies supporting a beneficial role regarding attenuation of oxidative stress and levels of inflammatory markers. Aortic stiffness, wave reflections and endothelial function are markers of cardiovascular disease and independently predict future risk. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of studies regarding the effect of tomato products consumption on these markers. The aim of the present study was to assess the acute and chronic effect of tomato paste consumption on indices of aortic stiffness, wave reflections and endothelial function. In addition, the impact of endogenous production of reactive oxygen species on aortic stiffness, wave reflections and peripheral/central pressures was studied. Genetic polymorphisms of the NADPH oxidase enzyme were used as a model of intrinsic, genetically determined oxidative status regulation.Methods: Nineteen healthy, young volunteers (age 39 ± 13 years; 8 men) were studied in a randomized (exposure sequence), single blind (operator), crossover design in an acute and chronic study. Both studies consisted of a supplementation arm (70 g tomato paste containing 33.3 mg of lycopene) and a control arm, during which no tomato paste was added to their regular diet. Volunteers maintained their regular diet during study arms. Two-week washout periods preceded each arm. In the acute study measurements were performed 24 h after the consumption of one portion of tomato paste; in the chronic study volunteers consumed one portion each day for a period of fourteen days. Pulse wave velocity (PWV), arterial wave reflection indices and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery by means of ultrasonography were measured at day 1 (acute response) and day 15 (chronic response). Plasma lipid peroxides, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) were measured as indices of oxidative and inflammatory status. 289 young, healthy volunteers were recruited for the genetic polymorphism substudy. The -930A/G, A640G and C242T polymorphisms of the CYBA gene that regulates the production of the p22phox subunit of NADPH oxidase were genotyped by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Pulse wave velocity, wave reflection/central pressure indices, oxidized LDL (oxLDL) cholesterol and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured and compared across genotypes.Results: In the acute study, tomato paste supplementation did not significantly alter PWV, wave reflections, FMD, lipid peroxides, IL-6 or sICAM-1 levels. On the contrary, in the chronic study FMD was significantly improved by 3.3% ± 1.4% (P = 0.030) following supplementation. This was also the case for AIx [absolute decrease by 3.4% ± 5.6% (P = 0.001)], lipid peroxides [reduction by 62 ± 120 μmol/L (P = 0.038)] and IL-6 [reduction by 0.54 ± 1.06 pg/mL (P = 0.023)]. sICAM-1 levels were not altered during the chronic supplementation arm; however chronic lycopene withdrawal during the control arm resulted in elevated levels of sICAM-1 (P = 0.043). PWV did not change. The genetic study revealed that presence of the G allele for the -930A/G polymorphism is linked to higher peripheral and central pressures, without altering aortic stiffness, oxLDL or CRP levels. A640G and C242T polymorphisms did not alter arterial elastic properties.Conclusions: Daily tomato paste consumption exerts a beneficial chronic but not acute effect on wave reflections, endothelial function, oxidative and inflammatory status, whereas arterial stiffness is not altered. Further studies are warranted to explore the role of tomato paste as a non-pharmacological adjunct for improving biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. Apart from exogenous antioxidant agents, peripheral and central pressure levels are dependent on the intrinsic, genetically determined production of reactive oxygen species.Εισαγωγή: Η κατανάλωση τομάτας και επεξεργασμένων προϊόντων αυτής σχετίζεται με μειωμένο καρδιαγγειακό κίνδυνο, κυρίως λόγο της δράσης του λυκοπενίου, ενός από τα αντιοξειδωτικά συστατικά της. Η αορτική σκληρότητα, τα ανακλώμενα κύματα και η ενδοθηλιακή λειτουργία είναι δείκτες καρδιαγγειακής νόσου και ανεξάρτητοι προγνωστικοί παράγοντες μελλοντικού κινδύνου. Εντούτοις, η επίδραση του λυκοπενίου/τομάτας στους δείκτες αυτούς δεν έχει μελετηθεί επαρκώς. Ο σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης ήταν να εκτιμήσει την οξεία και χρόνια επίδραση της κατανάλωσης λυκοπενίου στην αορτική σκληρότητα, τα ανακλώμενα κύματα και την ενδοθηλιακή λειτουργία. Επιπλέον, μελετήθηκε η επίδραση της ενδογενούς παραγωγής οξειδωτικού φορτίου στην αορτική σκληρότητα, τα ανακλώμενα κύματα και τις περιφερικές/κεντρικές αρτηριακές πιέσεις, χρησιμοποιώντας τους γενετικούς πολυμορφισμούς της NADPH οξειδάσης ως μοντέλο γενετικά καθορισμένου οξειδωτικού stress.Μέθοδοι: Στις μελέτες παρέμβασης μελετήθηκαν δεκαεννιά υγιείς, νέοι εθελοντές (ηλικία 39 ± 13 έτη, 8 άντρες) με τυχαιοποιημένο (σειρά έκθεσης), μονά τυφλό (ερευνητής), διασταυρούμενο τρόπο σε οξεία και χρόνια μελέτη. Και οι δυο μελέτες περιείχαν ενα σκέλος χορήγησης (70 g πολτού τομάτας με 33.3 mg λυκοπενίου) καθώς και σκέλος ελέγχου, κατά τη διάρκεια του οποίου δεν προστέθηκε τοματοπολτός στη συνήθη δίαιτα των εθελοντών. Η συνήθης δίαιτά τους διατηρήθηκε κατά τη διάρκεια των δυο σκελών. Δυο περίοδοι έκπλυσης διάρκειας δυο εβδομάδων προηγήθηκαν των σκελών. Κατά την οξεία μελέτη, μετρήσεις πραγματοποιήθηκαν 24 ώρες μετά την κατανάλωση μιας μερίδας πολτού, ενώ κατά τη χρόνια μελέτη καταναλώθηκε μια μερίδα καθημερινά για περίοδο δεκατεσσάρων ημερών. Η ταχύτητα του σφυγμικού κύματος (PWV), δείκτες ανάκλασης των κυμάτων με τονομετρία και η αγγειοδιαστολή της βραχιόνιας αρτηρίας εξαρτώμενη από τη ροή (FMD) μετρήθηκαν την 1η ημέρα (οξεία μελέτη) και την 15η ημέρα (χρόνια μελέτη). Τα επίπεδα οξειδωμένων λιπιδίων πλάσματος, ιντερλευκίνης-6 (IL-6) και διαλυτού διακυττάριου μορίου προσκόλλησης 1 (sICAM-1) μετρήθηκαν ως δείκτες οξείδωσης και φλεγμονής. Στην υπομελέτη των γενετικών πολυμορφισμών της NADPH οξειδάσης μελετήθηκαν 289 υγιείς, νέοι εθελοντές. Με τη μέθοδο της αλυσιδωτής αντίδρασης πολυμεράσης (PCR) τυποποιήθηκε ο γονότυπός τους για τους πολυμορφισμούς -930Α/G, Α640G και C242T του γονιδίου CYBA της υπομονάδας p22phox του ενζύμου. Μετρήθηκαν η ταχύτητα του σφυγμικού κύματος (PWV) όπως και οι δείκτες ανάκλασης των κυμάτων/αορτικές πιέσεις με τονομετρία, επίπεδα οξειδωμένης LDL χοληστερόλης (oxLDL) και C-αντιδρώσας πρωτεϊνης (CRP) και συγκρίθηκαν τα επίπεδα αυτών ανά γονότυπο.Αποτελέσματα: Στην οξεία μελέτη, ο πολτός τομάτας δε μετέβαλε στατιστικά σημαντικά το PWV, τα ανακλώμενα κύματα, το FMD, τα οξειδωμένα λιπίδια, ή τα επίπεδα IL-6 και sICAM-1. Αντιθέτως, στη χρόνια μελέτη το FMD βελτιώθηκε σημαντικά κατά 3.3% ± 1.4% (P = 0.030) μετά τη χορήγηση. Το ίδιο παρατηρήθηκε για το AIx (απόλυτη μείωση κατά 3.4% ± 5.6% (P = 0.001)], τα οξειδωμένα λιπίδια [μείωση κατά 62 ± 120 μmol/L (P = 0.038)] και την IL-6 [μείωση κατά 0.54 ± 1.06 pg/mL (P = 0.023)]. Το sICAM-1 δε μεταβλήθηκε κατά το σκέλος χορήγησης, αλλά η χρόνια στέρηση πολτού τομάτας κατά τη δοκιμασία ελέγχου αύξησε τα επίπεδά του (P = 0.043). Το PWV δε μεταβλήθηκε. Στη γενετική υπομελέτη η παρουσία του αλληλίου G για τον πολυμορφισμό -930A/G σχετίζεται με υψηλότερες περιφερικές και αορτικές πιέσεις, χωρίς να μεταβάλλει την αορτική σκληρότητα, τα επίπεδα oxLDL και CRP. Αντίθετα, οι πολυμορφισμοί Α640G και C242T δε φαίνεται να μεταβάλλουν τις ελαστικές ιδιότητες των αγγείων.Συμπεράσματα: Η ημερήσια κατανάλωση πολτού τομάτας δρά ευεργετικά σε χρόνια, αλλά όχι σε οξεία βάση, στα ανακλώμενα κύματα, την ενδοθηλιακή λειτουργία, το οξειδωτικό και φλεγμονώδες φορτίο. Αντιθέτως, δεν επηρεάζει την αρτηριακή σκληρότητα. Περαιτέρω μελέτες απαιτούνται για να διαλευκάνουν το ρόλο του λυκοπενίου ως μη φαρμακολογικού μέσου βελτίωσης των βιοδεικτών καρδιαγγειακού κινδύνου. Εκτός των εξωγενώς χορηγούμενων αντιοξειδωτικών ουσιών, η γονιδιακά ρυθμιζόμενη ενδογενής παραγωγή οξειδωτικών ουσιών καθορίζει τα επίπεδα περιφερικών και κεντρικών πιέσεων
Mini-review: The role of crop rotation, intercropping, sowing dates and increased crop density towards a sustainable crop and weed management in arable crops
No full textSaabunud / Received 17.05.2020 ; Aktsepteeritud / Accepted 29.05.2020 ; Avaldatud veebis / Published online 30.05.2020 ; Vastutav autor / Corresponding author: Panagiotis Kanatas e-mail: [email protected] extended and in many cases unjustified use of herbicides
has resulted in herbicide resistance development and serious environmental
concerns. Therefore, the need for implementation and wider adoption of
several agronomic and cultural practices is imperative. Ecologically-based
crop management practices like crop rotation, intercropping, delay of
sowing date and increased crop density can be also the basis for effective
and sustainable weed management. In the present review, several cases are
presented and the key points of each method are discussed. Special attention
is given to the fact that the efficacy of each practice is depended on the
specific soil and climatic conditions along with the field history of each site
and crop. Alternative methods of weed management should be further
studied and optimized to include them in both organic and conventional
production systems and ensure the sustainability of agroecosystems
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