Publications

We report the detection of seven recent nova candidates in M 31 on two sets of three 300 s dithered stacked CCD images obtained on 2010 Oct 4 with the 1.3m Ritchey Chretien f/7.5 telescope at Skinakas Observatory, Crete, Greece, using an Andor DZ436-BV CCD Camera (with a Marconi 2k x 2k chip with 13.5 microns sq. pixels) and a broad (75 Angstrom wide) H-alpha filter. Only novae M31N 2010-07a and M31N 2010-10a were also detected on four 100 s dithered stacked CCD images obtained on 2010 Oct 5 with the same telescope and camera using a R filter.

Hepatic progenitor cells (HPC) appear in a variety of liver diseases. Their occurrence in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) remains unclear, and triggering factors have to be elucidated. The presence of HPC in CHC was examined in relation to histological and virological parameters and patient age. Fifty liver biopsies of HCV-infected patients were examined. The presence of HPC was evaluated by immunohistochemical expression of keratin 7 (K7). Double immunostaining with K7 and cell proliferation marker Ki-67 was undertaken. Ductular reaction at the limiting plate, mean number of isolated progenitor cells (IPC) and isolated ductular structures (IDS) were quantified. The predominant distribution pattern of IPC and IDS and the presence of K7(+) hepatocytes were registered. Relationship between ductular reaction, IPC, IDS, presence of K7(+) hepatocytes, and patient age, hepatitis grade and stage, HCV RNA, and HCV genotype was examined. Prominent ductular reaction and increased numbers of IPC and IDS correlated significantly with older age and severe fibrosis/cirrhosis. The above HPC subtypes were not proliferating. Periportal/periseptal distribution pattern of IPC and IDS and presence of K7(+) hepatocytes were significantly more frequent in advanced hepatitis stages and in patients older than 40 years. Intraparenchymal distribution pattern correlated with younger age, lobular activity, and early fibrosis stage. K7(+) hepatocytes were encountered almost exclusively in the periportal pattern and in the presence of interface hepatitis and were more frequent among HCV genotype-1 patients. HPC activation in CHC is a common but diverse phenomenon closely related to patient age and hepatitis stage.

Vertically transmitted hepatitis B virus (HBV) usually causes chronic infection. While combined active-passive immunoprophylaxis in neonates of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive (HBsAg(+)) mothers at birth prevents vertical transmission, it is not yet clear whether neonates encounter the virus or its products in the absence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). This study was undertaken to investigate HBV antigen-specific T-cell responses in vaccinated neonates of HBsAg(+)/HBeAg(-) mothers. Blood was collected from 46 HBsAg(+) mothers and their neonates (subjects) as well as 24 age-matched controls. All neonates of HBsAg(+) mothers received appropriate immunoprophylaxis, and HBsAg and hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) antibody titers were determined after completion of the vaccination course. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from infants at birth, 1 and 6 months of age were stimulated with recombinant HBsAg, hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) and mitogen, and interferon (IFN)-γ concentrations were determined by ELISA. HBsAg-induced production of IL-2, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10 was assessed using a cytometric bead array kit on cells from 6-month-old neonates post-vaccination. All neonates were HBsAg(-) and responded to vaccination. Increased IFN-γ production following HBcAg stimulation was seen in 30.4% of neonates born to HBsAg(+)/HBeAg(-) mothers. Subjects demonstrated significantly higher IL-2 production post-HBsAg stimulation, whereas IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10 cytokine responses were not significantly different. Almost one-third of uninfected neonates developed viral antigen-induced IFN-γ production, suggesting that they had been exposed to virions or viral derivatives. This encounter, however, did not impair their T-cell responses to vaccination.

Ship-borne sunphotometer measurements obtained in the Arabian Sea (AS) in the pre-monsoon season (18 April-10 May 2006) during a cruise campaign (ICARB) have been used to retrieve the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD; τ) and the Ångström wavelength exponent (α). The continents surrounding the AS produce natural and anthropogenic aerosols that have distinctive influences on α and its spectral distribution. The α values were estimated by means of the least-squares method over the spectral bands 340-1020 nm and 340-870 nm. The spectral distribution of AOD in logarithmic co-ordinates could be fit using a 2nd order polynomial with higher accuracy in the wavelength band 340-1020 nm than in the 340-870 nm band. A polynomial fit analytically parameterizes the observed wavelength dependencies of AOD with least errors in spectral variation of α and yields accurate estimates of the coefficients (α1 and α2). The coarse-mode (positive curvature in the ln λ vs. ln λ) aerosols are mainly depicted in the Northern part of the AS closely associated with the nearby arid areas while fine-mode aerosols are mainly observed over the far and coastal AS regions. In the study period the mean AOD at 500 nm is 0.25±0.11 and the α340-1020 is 0.90±0.19. The α340-870 exhibits similar values (0.92±0.18), while significant differences revealed for the constant terms of the polynomial fit (α1 and α2) proportionally to the wavelength band used for their determination. Observed day-to-day variability in the aerosol load and optical properties are direct consequence of the local winds and air-mass trajectories along with the position of the ship. © Author(s) 2010.

Summary Serum levels of five angiogenic cytokines were evaluated in 82 patients with primary systemic amyloidosis (AL). Angiopoietin-1, vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and angiogenin were higher in AL patients than in controls (n = 35) and newly-diagnosed, symptomatic, myeloma patients (n = 35). Angiopoetin-1/Angiopoetin-2 ratio was lower in AL compared to controls but higher than in myeloma patients. Angiopoetin-2 correlated with cardiac dysfunction indices; however, none of the angiogenic growth factors was prognostically significant. The increased angiogenic cytokine levels observed in AL seem to represent either a toxic effect of amyloid fibrils or light chains, or a compensatory response to organ dysfunction. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) was evaluated in the pre-treatment serum of 55 newly diagnosed patients with symptomatic myeloma. TIMP-1 was elevated in 47% of patients and correlated with lytic bone disease and increased bone resorption. Importantly, TIMP-1 correlated with ISS stage (p=0.005) and was an independent prognostic covariate for survival [HR: 1.003 (1-1.006), p=0.004] in these patients who were all treated with novel agents (bortezomib and/or IMiDs) during their disease course. Our study provides evidence that pre-treatment serum TIMP-1 is associated with advanced myeloma and suggests the further evaluation of this molecule to better determine its prognostic potential in MM. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd.

The Pissouri basin (Cyprus Island) corresponds to a small tectonically controlled depression elongated NNW-SSE and widening southward in the direction of the deep Mediterranean domain. In the centre of the basin, the section Pissouri South, about 100 m thick, consists of well-preserved cyclic marine sediments including laminated brownish layers alternating with grey homogeneous marls. Plankton biostratigraphy (calcareous nannofossil and planktonic foraminifera) revealed a remarkable number of biovents bracketing the Zanclean-Piacenzian boundary. In particular the Highest Occurrence (HO) of Reticulofenestra pseudoumbilicus suggests the presence of NN14/15-NN16 nannofossil biozone boundary, dated at 3.84 Ma. Additionally the defined planktonic foraminiferal MPL3-MPL4a and MPL4a-MPL4b zone boundaries point to ages between 3.81 and 3.57 Ma, in Pissouri North section. Zanclean/Piacenzian boundary (3.6 Ma) is placed at 75.8 m from the base of the section, considering Discoaster pentaradiatus top paracme (3.61 Ma) and Globorotalia crassaformis first influx (3.6 Ma) bioevents. The cyclically developed sapropelic layers around the Zanclean – Piacenzian boundary suggest a climate characterized by a period of warm temperate conditions and a highly stratified water column that occurred at times of precession minima.

The Pissouri basin (Cyprus Island) corresponds to a small tectonically controlled depression elongated NNW-SSE and widening southward in the direction of the deep Mediterranean domain. In the centre of the basin, the section Pissouri South, about 100 m thick, consists of well-preserved cyclic marine sediments including laminated brownish layers alternating with grey homogeneous marls. Plankton biostratigraphy (calcareous nannofossil and planktonic foraminifera) revealed a remarkable number of biovents bracketing the Zanclean-Piacenzian boundary. In particular the Highest Occurrence (HO) of Reticulofenestra pseudoumbilicus suggests the presence of NN14/15-NN16 nannofossil biozone boundary, dated at 3.84 Ma. Additionally the defined planktonic foraminiferal MPL3-MPL4a and MPL4a-MPL4b zone boundaries point to ages between 3.81 and 3.57 Ma, in Pissouri North section. Zanclean/Piacenzian boundary (3.6 Ma) is placed at 75.8 m from the base of the section, considering Discoaster pentaradiatus top paracme (3.61 Ma) and Globorotalia crassaformis first influx (3.6 Ma) bioevents. The cyclically developed sapropelic layers around the Zanclean – Piacenzian boundary suggest a climate characterized by a period of warm temperate conditions and a highly stratified water column that occurred at times of precession minima.

The Pissouri basin (Cyprus Island) corresponds to a small tectonically controlled depression elongated NNW-SSE and widening southward in the direction of the deep Mediterranean domain. In the centre of the basin, the section Pissouri South, about 100 m thick, consists of well-preserved cyclic marine sediments including laminated brownish layers alternating with grey homogeneous marls. Plankton biostratigraphy (calcareous nannofossil and planktonic foraminifera) revealed a remarkable number of biovents bracketing the Zanclean-Piacenzian boundary. In particular the Highest Occurrence (HO) of Reticulofenestra pseudoumbilicus suggests the presence of NN14/15-NN16 nannofossil biozone boundary, dated at 3.84 Ma. Additionally the defined planktonic foraminiferal MPL3-MPL4a and MPL4a-MPL4b zone boundaries point to ages between 3.81 and 3.57 Ma, in Pissouri North section. Zanclean/Piacenzian boundary (3.6 Ma) is placed at 75.8 m from the base of the section, considering Discoaster pentaradiatus top paracme (3.61 Ma) and Globorotalia crassaformis first influx (3.6 Ma) bioevents. The cyclically developed sapropelic layers around the Zanclean – Piacenzian boundary suggest a climate characterized by a period of warm temperate conditions and a highly stratified water column that occurred at times of precession minima.

Objectives: High serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is associated with features of advanced disease and inferior survival in multiple myeloma. It is however unclear whether LDH adds to the prognostic value of International Staging System (ISS) and whether it retains its prognostic significance in patients who are exposed to novel agent-based therapies. Patients/Methods: To address these issues we analyzed 996 consecutive symptomatic patients who were included in the database of the Greek Myeloma Study Group and received frontline treatment between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2008. Results: The median overall survival (OS) of all patients was 40 months with a clear improvement in those who started treatment after January 1, 2000 (49 vs. 31 months; P < 0.01). A multivariate model showed that LDH, ISS, performance status, age and platelet counts had an independent prognostic value for OS (P < 0.001 for all parameters). The median OS of patients with high (11% of patients) and normal LDH was 15 vs. 44 months (P < 0.001). High LDH was associated with inferior OS within all ISS groups: 22 vs. 76 months for high and normal LDH groups, respectively, in ISS-1 (P < 0.01); 11 vs. 40 months in ISS-2 (P < 0.001) and 17 vs. 27 months in ISS-3 (P < 0.01). The median OS of high and normal LDH groups among patients who received novel agents was 21 vs. 51 months, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Lactate dehydrogenase is a readily available and inexpensive variable, which has a major impact on the survival of myeloma patients even when they belong to a low or intermediate ISS subgroup and even when they receive novel agent-based therapies. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

This study describes the application of a novel chemistry method based on a modified sol-gel technique for the fabrication of nanostructured non-metal doped TiO2 photocatalytic films that can be activated under both visible and UV light. A self-assembling surfactant was employed as a pore-directing agent and a nitrogen-containing compound as doping precursor. Different surfactant ratios were explored to tailor-design the desired structural properties of TiO2 (i.e., high surface area, small crystal size) and enhanced the photocatalytic activity under visible light illumination. The films were characterized by XRD, ESEM, TEM, AFM, EPR, micro-Raman, XPS, UV-vis spectroscopy and N2 porosimetry. The photocatalytic evaluation of the films was tested for the degradation of microcystin-LR and the effects of NOM, pH, alkalinity, and dissolved oxygen under visible light irradiation were investigated. The multifunctional behavior exhibited for the non-metal doped TiO2 films can lead to important photoinduced applications including environmental protection (water disinfection, self-cleaning surfaces) and sustainable solar energy conversion to electricity (dye-sensitized solar cells).

Lung carcinogenesis is considered to be the result of composite environmental, genetic and epigenetic changes. Despite the fact that many of the genetic alterations, including loss of heterozygocity in the 3p chromosome locus and point mutations in the tumor-suppressor genes TP53 and retinoblastoma (RB1), occur in nearly all histopathologic types of lung cancer, the frequency and the "timing" of their occurrence seems to differ between small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells, that are characterized by neuroendocrine differentiation, and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Although loss of cell-cycle control is the crucial molecular event in both types, the mechanism by which it provokes oncogenesis differs significantly between SCLC and NSCLC. Importantly, some of these molecular events, including DNA-damage response and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are valuable in predicting response to conventional chemotherapy or molecular-targeted agents as well as in the prognosis of patients that harbor these alterations. In the current review we report on the best characterized histopathologic and genetic changes in NSCLC and SCLC in relation to each histological subtype and we discuss their predictive and prognostic implications.

Lung carcinogenesis is considered to be the result of composite environmental, genetic and epigenetic changes. Despite the fact that many of the genetic alterations, including loss of heterozygocity in the 3p chromosome locus and point mutations in the tumor-suppressor genes TP53 and retinoblastoma (RB1), occur in nearly all histopathologic types of lung cancer, the frequency and the " timing" of their occurrence seems to differ between small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells, that are characterized by neuroendocrine differentiation, and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Although loss of cell-cycle control is the crucial molecular event in both types, the mechanism by which it provokes oncogenesis differs significantly between SCLC and NSCLC. Importantly, some of these molecular events, including DNA-damage response and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are valuable in predicting response to conventional chemotherapy or molecular-targeted agents as well as in the prognosis of patients that harbor these alterations. In the current review we report on the best characterized histopathologic and genetic changes in NSCLC and SCLC in relation to each histological subtype and we discuss their predictive and prognostic implications. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

The current study investigated the impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection on the rate of change of antiretroviral drugs after the initiation of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). The data on 1425 HIV-positive patients with recorded serology for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were retrospectively analysed. The estimated rate of treatment change was slightly higher in the HBsAg-positive group (0.57 per year) compared with the HBsAg-negative group (0.50 per year). Although this difference was insignificant in multivariable modelling, the confidence intervals of the estimates barely included unity. Antiretroviral drug family, calendar period, prior exposure to antiretrovirals and the diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome were independently associated with the number of drug alterations. A slight impact of co-infection on the frequency of treatment change after the beginning of HAART cannot be excluded. However, the paucity of studies on this issue necessitates the conduct of further research.

The study area, Mesokambos, is located at the SE coast of Samos Island situated at the east-central part of the Aegean Sea. Mesokambos is an alluvial valley situated on the outskirts of Pythagorion, a town built on top of the ancient town of Samos which is believed to be inhabitant since at least the Late Neolithic period (4th millennium BC). Archaeological evidences indicate that the present morphology is associated with recent coastal subsidence which comes in contrast with the uplift of the North West coastal area of Samos Island. For the purposes of this study detailed geomorphological mapping, paleontological, sedimentological and radiocarbon dating analyses of the Late Holocene coastal zone were conducted. The study of sea-land interactions during Upper Holocene, in relation to the eustatic sea level rise, as well as the geomorphologic observations and analyses on deposited sediments, aims to reveal the palaeogeographical evolution of the landscape. To obtain information about the Holocene stratigraphy under the recent alluvial cover, eight boreholes followed the detailed geomorphological mapping. The paleontological analysis took place and ten samples of plants, shells, peat and charred material were also collected from several layers of the sedimentary sequence and were dated using AMS radiocarbon techniques providing temporal control of the sediments. In this study the tracing of the diachronic palaeo-shoreline shift due to the sea level change and its effect to the palaeo-environment in the south-eastern part of Samos Island was attempted. Sea level changes along with local conditions have been studied and the palaeogeographical evolution of the last 6.500 has been verified.

his paper investigates identity representations through a narrative perspective. It examines the reproduction of social stereotypes through the creation of machinima films created by the students of the Department of French language at the University of Athens. According to Giddens΄s project of social and self identity and Ricoeur’s interpretation theories, the machinima films will be considered as an eloquent reflection of their creators’ representations. They claim that narrative is the dialectical process, between me and the other, through which the person is constantly led to a conscious identity adjustment. Based on this assumption, we investigate the mediating role of machinima, animated filmmaking within a real-time virtual 3-D environment, in the identity awareness of the subject. We study the representations produced by a group of students through the evaluation of the signifying practice of the creation of machinima films they have created during a Cyberculture course

Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death among women. Resistance to the disease occurs in more than 70 of the cases even after treated with chemotherapy agents such as paclitaxel- and platinum-based agents. The immune system is increasingly becoming a target for intense research in order to study the host's immune response against ovarian cancer. T cell populations, including NK T cells and Tregs, and cytokines have been associated with disease outcome, indicating their increasing clinical significance, having been associated with prognosis and as markers of disease progress, respectively. Harnessing the immune system capacity in order to induce antitumor response remains a major challenge. This paper examines the recent developments in our understanding of the mechanisms of development of the immune response in ovarian cancer as well as its prognostic significance and the existing experience in clinical studies. Copyright © 2010 Nikos G. Gavalas et al.

{Aim. Intense and prolonged exercise greatly affects circulating cytokine levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible changes in tumour necrosis factor -a (TNF-a), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Cortisol concentrations during and after prolonged exercise of constant and alternating intensity of the same duration and total work performed. Methods. Ten male subjects underwent two main cycling exercise trials lasting one hour each. On one occasion, exercise intensity was alternated between 46.5±1.9% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max ) for 40 s and 120% of VO2max for 20 s, so that the mean intensity corresponded to 105% of the lactate threshold. On the other occasion, exercise intensity was constant at 105% of the lactate threshold. Levels of TNF-a, IL-6 after lipo polysaccharide (LPS) stimulation as well as Cortisol were measured at rest, 30 and 60 minutes of exercise and 1 hour after. Results. No significant differences were observed in TNF-a concentrations between the two exercise protocols (P= 0.75), but there was a significant time effect (P<0.01). TNF-a was increased in both groups from a resting value of 436.1±102.5 to 649.5±187.7 pg/mL (P<0.05) at the end of exercise and was subsequently decreased 1 hour post exercise to 305.9±78.8 pg/mL (P<0.01). No significant difference in IL-6 and Cortisol concentrations was observed between the two exercise protocols (P=0.13

{Aim. Intense and prolonged exercise greatly affects circulating cytokine levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible changes in tumour necrosis factor -a (TNF-a), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Cortisol concentrations during and after prolonged exercise of constant and alternating intensity of the same duration and total work performed. Methods. Ten male subjects underwent two main cycling exercise trials lasting one hour each. On one occasion, exercise intensity was alternated between 46.5±1.9% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max ) for 40 s and 120% of VO2max for 20 s, so that the mean intensity corresponded to 105% of the lactate threshold. On the other occasion, exercise intensity was constant at 105% of the lactate threshold. Levels of TNF-a, IL-6 after lipo polysaccharide (LPS) stimulation as well as Cortisol were measured at rest, 30 and 60 minutes of exercise and 1 hour after. Results. No significant differences were observed in TNF-a concentrations between the two exercise protocols (P= 0.75), but there was a significant time effect (P<0.01). TNF-a was increased in both groups from a resting value of 436.1±102.5 to 649.5±187.7 pg/mL (P<0.05) at the end of exercise and was subsequently decreased 1 hour post exercise to 305.9±78.8 pg/mL (P<0.01). No significant difference in IL-6 and Cortisol concentrations was observed between the two exercise protocols (P=0.13

Aim. Intense and prolonged exercise greatly affects circulating cytokine levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible changes in tumour necrosis factor -a (TNF-a), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Cortisol concentrations during and after prolonged exercise of constant and alternating intensity of the same duration and total work performed. Methods. Ten male subjects underwent two main cycling exercise trials lasting one hour each. On one occasion, exercise intensity was alternated between 46.5±1.9% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max ) for 40 s and 120% of VO2max for 20 s, so that the mean intensity corresponded to 105% of the lactate threshold. On the other occasion, exercise intensity was constant at 105% of the lactate threshold. Levels of TNF-a, IL-6 after lipo polysaccharide (LPS) stimulation as well as Cortisol were measured at rest, 30 and 60 minutes of exercise and 1 hour after. Results. No significant differences were observed in TNF-a concentrations between the two exercise protocols (P= 0.75), but there was a significant time effect (P<0.01). TNF-a was increased in both groups from a resting value of 436.1±102.5 to 649.5±187.7 pg/mL (P<0.05) at the end of exercise and was subsequently decreased 1 hour post exercise to 305.9±78.8 pg/mL (P<0.01). No significant difference in IL-6 and Cortisol concentrations was observed between the two exercise protocols (P=0.13, P=0.10 accordingly). Conclusions. In conclusion, prolonged constant and alternating intensity exercise of the same mean intensity and duration seemed to provoke similar changes in aspects of immune response in healthy subjects.

Aims: Loss of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) leads to activation of several kinases, including mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which promotes cell cycle progression. The aim was to study the expression of PTEN and phosphorylated (p)-mTOR in familial and sporadic invasive breast carcinomas and their relation to clinicopathological features, molecular indices (Wnt1) and patients' survival. Methods and results: PTEN and p-mTOR were detected immunohistochemically in 215 sections of invasive breast carcinomas (112 with a familial history of breast cancer). Image analysis was used and univariate and multivariate analyses employed for statistical evaluation of results. PTEN was detecte5d in the nucleus (73.5%) and p-mTOR in the cytoplasm (44.2%) of cancer cells. Loss of PTEN protein was more frequently detected in women with a familial history of breast cancer (72%) (P < 0.0001), while its expression was negatively correlated with Wnt1, in total (P = 0.049). p-mTOR showed a positive association with lymph node status (P = 0.010) and was found to have a negative impact on patients' overall survival (P = 0.016). Conclusions: Loss of PTEN protein expression appears to occur more frequently in women with a family history of breast cancer, whereas activation of mTOR protein seems to be related to a more aggressive phenotype. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Limited.

Systems biology has emerged as a major trend in biological research during the past decade. As living organisms are described in more and more detail, it aims at filling the gap between understanding basic molecular processes and complex biological systems in which new properties often emerge from the combination of these elementary processes. This approach culminates in the development of computer-based mathematical models of physiological and pathophysiological processes. We review the state of the art in dynamic modelling, with emphasis on two complementary approaches: the modelling of small systems that is mostly developed by academic teams and aims at understanding generic biological properties, and the modelling of large systems that is mostly implemented by industrial companies and aims at the generation of new therapeutic strategies. We also provide an example of such large-scale modelling applied to the identification of drug targets for neurodegeneration.

MICs to tigecycline and 12 antimicrobials were performed by microdilution method, against 2423 nonduplicate pathogens recently isolated in 17 Greek hospitals. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) criteria were used comparatively for interpretation of tigecycline MICs. Tigecycline exhibited potent in vitro activity against the majority of the isolates tested. (MIC(90) values of 0.5, 1, 2, 0.125, 1, 0.25, 0.125, and 1 mg/L were observed for Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp., Moraxella catarrhalis, Acinetobacter spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp., and Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates, respectively.) Tigecycline activity was the same, irrespective of the resistance profile to other antimicrobials (Gram-negative pathogens susceptible or resistant to imipenem, Enterococcus spp., S. aureus, or S. pneumoniae isolates, susceptible or resistant to vancomycin, methicillin or penicillin, respectively). Interpretation using EUCAST and FDA breakpoints differed among isolates of K. pneumoniae and Enterobacter spp. having tigecycline MICs of 2 to 4 mg/L. In conclusion, tigecycline exhibited potent activity against pathogens recently isolated in a region that experiences high antimicrobial resistance rates. Indications that the available criteria might categorize differently tigecycline susceptibility status in K. pneumoniae and Enterobacter spp. isolates were also detected.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression and disease resistance are related to transmural degenerative processes and an inflammatory infiltration (INF). Diabetes is associated with low prevalence and growth rate of AAA. We sought to characterize INF in established AAA (INFAAA), in diabetic patients. From 89 male patients aged 52 to 83 years, aneurysm specimens obtained at open asymptomatic nonruptured AAA repair were graded for INF and immunostained using antibodies against T-lymphocytes (CD3) and macrophages (CD68). Diabetic patients had an odds ratio (OR) 3.8, 95% confidence interval ([CI] 1.14-12.96), P =.03, of experiencing above-median INFAAA. These associations were affected by serum glucose (SG) levels (OR 3.6, 95% CI [0.72-18.77]; P =.1). Macrophage subpopulations higher in diabetic patients (1.44 ± 0.78 versus 0.98 ± 0.76; P =.02) were correlated with SG (r =.21, P =.044). Abdominal aortic aneurysms in diabetic patients are associated with higher INF. Macrophage densities are correlated with SG. © The Author(s) 2010.

 Kamberidou, I. (2010). “Inspiring Women into Technology: the EUD Megacommunity”. Poster presentation in proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Interdisciplinarity in Education ICIE’10: New Higher Education Programs & Jointly 4th International Steering Committee Meeting, June 17_19, 2010, Tallinn, Estonia. [Also see article in: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/events/cf/daa11/person.cfm?personid=21537ABSTRACT: In order to promote the targets of the European Center for Women and Technology (ECWT) and increase the number of girls and women in the knowledge based economy until the year 2020, the ECWT has developed the European Directory (EUD) of Women and ICT (http:// www.ictwomendirectory.eu), an online directory, an ecospace, a meeting point for ICT women in Europe. The EUD, created with the support of the European Commission DG Information Society and Media, was launched in Brussels in October 2009 by Commissioner Viviane Reding.[1] (Kamberidou 2010) Specifically, on the 8th of October 2009, Commissioner Reding welcomed 32 new signatories of the Code of Best Practices for Women and ICT and introduced this new tool –the online Directory for Women in ICT: http://www.ictwomendirectory.eu.  Specifically, this prentation showcases, or rather introduces a new ecospace, an online directory, a tool for getting more girls and women into the technology sector. It is the first regional directory for Women and ICT issues, a meeting point for ICT women in Europe and a megacommunity for  innovative collaboration in the Women and ICT and related sectors.   Keywords: new ecospace, megacommunity, collaboration platform, European level database, Web Community for Women in ICT.

The objective of this paper is to assess the future adaptability of e-Learning platforms within postgraduate modules. An ongoing empirical assessment was conducted amongst postgraduate students, based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The current paper presents the outcomes from the second phase of a survey, involving fifty six participants. Data analysis was performed using a structural equation model, based on partial least squares. Results highlighted the very strong effect of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use to attitude towards using e-Learning platforms. Consequently, attitude towards use proved to be a very strong predictor of behavioral intention. Perceived usefulness, on the contrary, did not prove to have an effect to behavioral intention. Implications on the potential of using e-Learning platforms are discussed along with limitations and future directions of the study.

The objective of this paper is to assess the future adaptability of e-Learning platforms within postgraduate modules. An ongoing empirical assessment was conducted amongst postgraduate students, based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The current paper presents the outcomes from the second phase of a survey, involving fifty six participants. Data analysis was performed using a structural equation model, based on partial least squares. Results highlighted the very strong effect of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use to attitude towards using e-Learning platforms. Consequently, attitude towards use proved to be a very strong predictor of behavioral intention. Perceived usefulness, on the contrary, did not prove to have an effect to behavioral intention. Implications on the potential of using e-Learning platforms are discussed along with limitations and future directions of the study. © 2010 IMIA and SAHIA. All rights reserved.

Numerous studies have been published concerning the characteristics and the behaviour of the intramedullary devices in the treatment of the intertrochanteric hip fractures. However, there is still room for further exploration and exploitation concerning the implant behaviour with respect to the parts of the implant assembly (nail, lag screw and distal screw). Towards this direction, the present paper aimed at revealing the effect of the position of the distal screw on the mechanical behaviour of the fixation device. For this purpose, a simplified model was developed and analysed with the finite element method. In total, five different locations for the distal screw were examined. In all cases, the bone was fixed at its distal end while the external load was applied at the tip of the lag screw towards the hip and in the form of orthonormal force components applied individually. The results of the FE analyses were illustrated in appropriately formed plots revealing the sensitivity of the behaviour of the implant with respect to the location of the distal screw. The main conclusion derived from the present investigation was that moving the distal screw apically decreases the stresses on the distal screw but increases the stresses on the lag screw. In turn, this indicates the existence of a location for the distal screw that compromises these two effects in an optimum way.

BACKGROUND:Patterns of spatial variation in discrete phenotypic traits can be used to draw inferences about the adaptive significance of traits and evolutionary processes, especially when compared to patterns of neutral genetic variation. Population divergence in adaptive traits such as color morphs can be influenced by both local ecology and stochastic factors such as genetic drift or founder events. Here, we use quantitative color measurements of males and females of Skyros wall lizard, Podarcis gaigeae, to demonstrate that this species is polymorphic with respect to throat color, and the morphs form discrete phenotypic clusters with limited overlap between categories. We use divergence in throat color morph frequencies and compare that to neutral genetic variation to infer the evolutionary processes acting on islet- and mainland populations.RESULTS:Geographically close islet- and mainland populations of the Skyros wall lizard exhibit strong divergence in throat color morph frequencies. Population variation in throat color morph frequencies between islets was higher than that between mainland populations, and the effective population sizes on the islets were small (Ne:s < 100). Population divergence (FST) for throat color morph frequencies fell within the neutral FST-distribution estimated from microsatellite markers, and genetic drift could thus not be rejected as an explanation for the pattern. Moreover, for both comparisons among mainland-mainland population pairs and between mainland-islet population pairs, morph frequency divergence was significantly correlated with neutral divergence, further pointing to some role for genetic drift in divergence also at the phenotypic level of throat color morphs.CONCLUSIONS:Genetic drift could not be rejected as an explanation for the pattern of population divergence in morph frequencies. In spite of an expected stabilising selection, throat color frequencies diverged in the islet populations. These results suggest that there is an interaction between selection and genetic drift causing divergence even at a phenotypic level in these small, subdivided populations.

Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist, die Rolle und die Wichtigkeit des Kindermordmythologems imRahmen des Medea-Mythos zu diskutieren. Dabei werden zwei der wichtigsten Bearbeitungen desMythos untersucht: Euripides’ Tragödie und Christa Wolfs Roman (1996). In einem ersten Schrittwird versucht, die Erfindung des Kindermordes von Seiten des Euripides von einem neuenBlickwinkel zu beleuchten. Im Gegensatz zur Annahme der überwiegenden Mehrheit der Forschergeht diese Studie davon aus, dass Euripides’ Medea nicht bloß ein bürgerliches Ehedrama, sonderneine politische und soziale Skizze des Mikrokosmos der Polis ist. In einer Art „Flaschenpost“ ist esdem großen Tragiker gelungen, die Bedürfnisse der Unterdrückten herauszustreichen und eine neuePerspektive für das weibliche Element zu eröffnen. Während jedoch in der männlichen Überlieferungvon Euripides bis von Trier das Unterdrückte als Grausamkeit ans Licht kommt, schlägt Wolf einanderes Modell von Weiblichkeit vor. Zu diesem Zweck braucht ihre Protagonistin den Kindermordnicht mehr. Der Mythos ist kein Kontext, sondern ein Rahmen. Demzufolge gehören alle Fassungenzum Mythos. In einer Zeit, die durch Gewalt und Angst gekennzeichnet ist, wirft Wolf Licht auf dieUrsprünge von Gewalt, indem sie beim Erzählen der Geschichte einer Gestalt, die sowohl Männern alsauch Frauen schlechthin Angst macht, andere Schwerpunkte setzt.

Aims: We announce the discovery of a quasar behind the disk of M 31, which was previously classified as a remarkable nova in our neighbour galaxy. It is shown here to be a quasar with a single strong flare where the UV flux has increased by a factor of 20. The present paper is primarily aimed at the remarkable outburst of J004457+4123 (Sharov 21), with the first part focussed on the optical spectroscopy and the improvement in the photometric database. Methods: We exploited the archives of photographic plates and CCD observations from 15 wide-field telescopes and performed targetted new observations. In the second part, we try to fit the flare by models of (1) gravitational microlensing due to a star in M 31 and (2) a tidal disruption event (TDE) of a star close to the supermassive black hole of the quasar. Results: Both the optical spectrum and the broad band spectral energy distribution of Sharov 21 are shown to be very similar to that of normal, radio-quiet type 1 quasars. We present photometric data covering more than a century and resulting in a long-term light curve that is densely sampled over the past five decades. The variability of the quasar is characterized by a ground state with typical fluctuation amplitudes of 0.2 mag around bar{B} 20.5, superimposed by a singular flare of 2 yr duration (observer frame) with the maximum at 1992.81. The total energy in the flare is at least three orders of magnitudes higher than the radiated energy of the most luminous supernovae, provided that it comes from an intrinsic process and the energy is radiated isotropically. The profile of the flare light curve is asymmetric showing in particular a sudden increase before the maximum, whereas the decreasing part can be roughly approximated by a t-5/3 power law. Both properties appear to support the standard TDE scenario where a 10 M_⊙ giant star was shredded in the tidal field of a 2...5×108 M_⊙ black hole. The short fallback time derived from the observed light curve requires an ultra-close encounter where the pericentre of the stellar orbit is deep within the tidal disruption radius. This simple model neglects, however, the influence of the massive accretion disk, as well as general-relativistic effects on the orbit of the tidal debris. Gravitational microlensing probably provides an alternative explanation, although the probability of such a high amplification event is very low.

Tissue kallikrein (KLK1) and the kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK2-15) genes encode for a subgroup of 15 homologous secreted serine proteases possessing numerous physiological roles, such as the regulation of blood pressure, hormone processing and tissue remodeling. The expression of KLKs is detected in a broad spectrum of human tissues where it has been found to be regulated mainly by steroids hormones. The aberrant expression of KLKs, presented in many human malignancies, highlights the significance of this gene family for early diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of cancer patients, as it is strongly emphasized by the routine use of PSA (KLK3) for prostate cancer management. Here, we review the presently known data regarding the role of KLKs as cancer biomarkers, giving emphasis on novel information about the subject.

This review investigates the quality and content of published reports relating to labial surgery for well women. Electronic databases were searched for relevant articles between 1950 and April 2009. Forty articles were identified, 18 of which included patient data. The specification of the study design was unavailable in 15 of the 18 papers; the remaining three were retrospective reports. No prospective, randomised or controlled studies were found. All reports claimed high levels of patient satisfaction and contained anecdotes pertaining to success. Medically nonessential surgery to the labia minora is being promoted as an effective treatment for women's complaints, but no data on clinical effectiveness exist. © RCOG 2009 BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Lippia citriodora H.B.K. is an aromatic plant indigenous to South America. It is cultivated and commercialised as an ornamental for its lemon-like scent emitted from its leaves and flowers. The present morphoanatomical and histochemical study revealed that leaves of L. citriodora possess one type of setae (non-glandular) and at least five types of glandular trichomes, with the latter differing anatomically and in the composition of their secondary metabolites. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the same types of trichomes exist also on the calyces. Histochemical tests indicate that the glandular trichomes contain a combination of terpenoids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, phenolics and alkaloids. However, within the vacuoles of the mesophyll cells, terpenoids, phenolics, flavonoids and tannins are stored. The presence of lamellar cytoplasmic inclusions in the mesophyll cells, possibly precursors of tannins stored in the vacuoles, is reported for the first time. © 2010 CSIRO.

Lenalidomide is a novel immunomodulatory agent with a unique dual mechanism of action: its tumoricidal effect leads to direct tumor cell death, and its immunomodulatory effect keeps the tumor in remission. Phase III clinical trials have demonstrated that in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM), lenalidomide in combination with dexamethasone offers high clinical response rates and improved time to disease progression, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) compared with dexamethasone alone. In patients with newly diagnosed MM, the combination of lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone prolonged survival compared with lenalidomide and standard high-dose dexamethasone. The benefits of lenalidomide-based treatment regimens can be optimized by initiating treatment early in the disease course, either as a frontline treatment or at first relapse. Lenalidomide is generally well tolerated; the primary adverse events are myelosuppression and venous thromboembolic complications. These adverse events emerge early in the course of treatment and can be managed using standard interventions such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, dose reduction, and thromboprophylaxis. The combination of lenalidomide and dexamethasone is effective and generally well tolerated in patients with renal impairment provided that creatinine clearance level and adverse events are carefully monitored and the starting dose of lenalidomide is adjusted appropriately. Early results from phase III trials indicate that in patients with newly diagnosed MM, continuous lenalidomide therapy is well tolerated and associated with significant improvements in PFS, offering a new treatment option for patients with MM - although no OS benefit has yet been seen in this setting. Lenalidomide-based treatment is effective across the spectrum of MM disease phases, allowing for the long-term management of myeloma. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.

Objectives: Lenalidomide and dexamethasone (LenDex) is an active regimen for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). However, there is limited data for the effect of LenDex on renal impairment (RI) and on renal reversibility. Patients & Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with relapsed/refractory MM received LenDex in 28-d cycles. Median lines of previous therapies were 2 (range: 1-6). Lenalidomide was administered on days 1-21 according to creatinine clearance (CrCl), while dexamethasone was given at a dose of 40 mg on days 1-4 and 15-18 for the first four cycles and only on days 1-4 thereafter. Results: Twelve patients (24%) had RI at baseline, defined as CrCl < 50 mL/min. Most patients were pretreated with either thalidomide or bortezomib and > 50% of them were refractory to both drugs. At least partial response was documented in 60.5% and 58% of patients with and without RI. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for all patients was 9 and 16 months, respectively. RI was not associated with an inferior PFS or OS. There were no differences in the incidence of adverse events among patients with and without RI. Three of 12 patients with RI (25%) achieved complete renal response and two (16%) achieved minor renal response with LenDex. Conclusions: We conclude that LenDex is an active treatment even in heavily pretreated MM. With dosing of lenalidomide according to renal function, LenDex can be administered to patients with RI (who may not have other treatment options) without excessive toxicity. Furthermore, LenDex may improve the renal function in approximately 40% of patients with RI. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Le présent volume réunit des contributions qui étudient plusieurs formes du français (quoi que ce soit, n’importe qu-, un N quelconque). Elles sont considérées ici en tant qu’elles apparaissent, au moins à première vue, comme des items pouvant relever d’une nouvelle catégorie introduite dans le champ des études linguistiques à la suite de Z. Vendler (1967 : 80-81), la catégorie des termes de choix libre (free choice items). L’essentiel des items considérés étant des formes en que, et souvent analysées comme indéfinis, ce numéro de Langue française revient, mais avec une perspective spécifique, sur un domaine empirique déjà abordé sous d’autres angles dans deux numéros antérieurs de la revue : le numéro 139 (2003) qui était axé sur la grammaticalisation, et le numéro 158 (2008) sur les proformes indéfinies. Afin de mieux cerner les spécificités de ce numéro thématique, nous allons d’abord présenter la notion de terme de choix libre. Ensuite, nous rappellerons quelques éléments de la discussion qui reviennent régulièrement dans les analyses des termes de choix libre à travers les langues. Enfin, nous situerons les articles contenus dans ce numéro dans ce panorama de la recherche.

The life span of various model organisms can be extended by caloric restriction as well as by autophagy-inducing pharmacological agents. Life span-prolonging effects have also been observed in yeast cells, nematodes and flies upon the overexpression of the deacetylase Sirtuin-1. Intrigued by these observations and by the established link between caloric restriction and Sirtuin-1 activation, we decided to investigate the putative implication of Sirtuin-1 in the response of human cancer cells and Caenorhabditis elegans to multiple triggers of autophagy. Our data indicate that the activation of Sirtuin-1 (by the pharmacological agent resveratrol and/or genetic means) per se ignites autophagy, and that Sirtuin-1 is required for the autophagic response to nutrient deprivation, in both human and nematode cells, but not for autophagy triggered by downstream signals such as the inhibition of mTOR or p53. Since the life spanextending effects of Sirtuin-1 activators are lost in autophagy-deficient C. elegans, our results suggest that caloric restriction and resveratrol extend longevity, at least in experimental settings, by activating autophagy.

We study the linear and nonlinear optical response of intersubband transitions in a semiconductor quantum well. We describe the coupling of the quantum well structure with the electromagnetic field by using the nonlinear density matrix equations, in the two-subband approximation. We provide proper approximate analytical solutions to these equations that are used for the closed-form determination of the optical susceptibilities &#x3C7;(1)">χ(1), &#x3C7;(3)">χ(3), and &#x3C7;(5)">χ(5). We also explore the dependence of &#x3C7;(1)">χ(1), &#x3C7;(3)">χ(3), and &#x3C7;(5)">χ(5) on the electron sheet density for a specific double GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well.

BACKGROUND: Lobular breast cancer in men is an extremely infrequent occurrence due to the lack of lobules and acini in the male breast. Such a rare case is described here. CASE REPORT: A 74-year-old patient presented with a sizeable lesion in the right breast, which proved to be a lobular carcinoma. Genetic studies excluded Klinefelter's syndrome, though revealing an interesting genetic multiformity feature. This case represented a lobular carcinoma in a genotypically male patient under no exogenous or endogenous estrogenic influence. CONCLUSIONS: The increasing number of male lobular breast cancer cases should be explored more extensively with particular emphasis placed on causally related genetic and hormonal factors.

Mean diameter or longest diameter are the 2 most frequently used parameters for wheal response assessment after skin prick testing (SPT). We aimed to compare these 2 parameters taking as gold standard the surface of the wheal skin response.|Patients suspected of having an allergic reaction against inhalant allergens have been skin prick tested using the Pan-European GA(2)LEN SPT panel. Fifteen minutes later, macroscopically evident wheal and flare reactions were marked with a pen and transferred to paper with a transparent scotch tape. Each paper-transferred wheal was scanned with an ordinary scanner, and its surface-corresponding maximum perpendicular diameters and longest diameters were measured using a computer software application for image recognition, developed for this purpose. Correlation coefficients (Spearman's rho) between surfaces and respective mean (rho(mean)) or longest (rho(longest)) diameters were calculated and subsequently compared.|1,554 SPTs were performed in 74 patients. In 264, a macroscopically evident wheal and flare response was observed. Both mean and longest diameters correlated significantly with the wheal surfaces. However, rho(longest) was statistically significantly larger than rho(mean) when the surface of the wheal was >17 mm(2) (rho(longest) > 0.860 vs. rho(mean) < 0.660; p < 0.05).Such a surface corresponds to a maximum diameter of approximately 7 mm and a mean diameter of approximately 6 mm. Thus, the larger the surface of the wheal, the more appropriate the usage of the longest diameter.|The longest wheal diameter alone seems to be a better surrogate marker of the wheal surface in comparison with the mean diameter. In addition, it is easier and faster to measure. Therefore, we propose this as the optimal methodology to evaluate SPTs.

This study examined in detail patterns of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) and memantine use and explored the relationship between patient characteristics and such use. Patients with probable Alzheimer disease AD (n=201) were recruited from the Predictors Study in 3 academic AD centers and followed from early disease stages for up to 6 years. Random effects logistic regressions were used to examine effects of patient characteristics on ChEIs/memantine use over time. Independent variables included measures of function, cognition, comorbidities, the presence of extrapyramidal signs, psychotic symptoms, age, sex, and patient's living situation at each interval. Control variables included assessment interval, year of study entry, and site. During a 6-year study period, rate of ChEIs use decreased (80.6% to 73.0%) whereas memantine use increased (2.0% to 45.9%). Random effects logistic regression analyses showed that ChEI use was associated with better function, no psychotic symptoms, and younger age. Memantine use was associated with better function, poorer cognition, living at home, later assessment interval, and later year of study entry. Results suggest that high rate of ChEI use and increasing memantine use over time are consistent with current practice guidelines of initiation of ChEIs in mild-to-moderate AD patients and initiation of memantine in moderate-to-severe patients.

Objective: The rarity of uterine sarcomas along with their pathological and molecular heterogeneities render their study particularly challenging. We evaluated a panel of somatic mutations principally centering on the tyrosine kinase gene family and their downstream signaling cascades in an attempt to identify potential candidate markers that may assist in diagnostic or therapeutic decisions in these tumors. Methods: We performed mutational analysis of 20 exons from 9 genes (EGFR, CDKN2A, MET, KIT, RAS, BRAF, PI3KCA, HER-2 and PDGFR-α) on biopsy material from 25 patients who underwent primary surgery for uterine sarcoma between October 1995 and October 2003. Due to the limited number of studies conducted we have also undertaken a literature review of somatic mutations in uterine sarcomas. Results: A total of 3 different somatic mutations were identified: one KRAS (codon G12D) in a carcinosarcoma and two exon 20 PI3KCA mutations (H1047R and H1047Y) both in carcinosarcomas. Mutational status of all mutations was confirmed using germline DNA extracted from peripheral blood. Consistent with the literature data, no other mutations regarding the rest of the genes of the panel were identified. Due to the low number of somatic mutations in our series, we did not perform further clinicopathological correlations. Conclusion: The absence of somatic mutations in the majority of genes that are considered critical in neoplastic transformation hampers the identification of potential therapeutic targets in patients with uterine sarcoma. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Under the influence of different external stimuli condensed matter reveals its magnificent properties. The electric field, the temperature, the concentration gradients and the light are the basic “forces” responsible for processes such as the electrical, the thermal, the diffusion transport or optical phenomena. The action of the magnetic field brings about the galvanomagnetic or the thermomagnetic effects. New alloy semiconductors and the development of artificial semiconductor heterostructures led to the confinement of carriers in two, one or zero dimensions, opening a new window in condensed matter research. The application of a perpendicular magnetic field upon two-dimensional carriers, led to the discovering of astonishing phenomena, namely, the integer or the fractional quantum Hall effects and inspired radical theoretical interpretations. The reduced symmetry of low dimensional structures enhances decisively the role of the magnetic field orientation, bringing to light novel and unexpected phenomena. In the present book the effect of the application of an in-plane magnetic field upon low dimensional carriers, giving rise to impressive novel phenomena, is presented and discussed. Specifically, whenever a quantum well is subjected to an in-plane or tilted magnetic field, the elegant concept of Landau levels must be modified, because the carriers move under the competing influence of the Lorentz force and the force due to the quantum well confining potential. Under these conditions, the equal-energy surfaces or equivalently, the density of states (DOS), are qualitatively and quantitatively modified. The DOS diverges significantly from the ideal step-like two-dimensional carrier form. The book discusses various physical properties which are affected by the DOS modification.

The magnetic and electronic properties of composites consisting of oxidized multiwall carbon nantubes (MWNTs) dispersed in elastomeric poly(ether-ester) segmented block copolymer have been studied by means of electron spin resonance (ESR) and dc magnetization measurements. A marked reduction in the MWNT diamagnetic response is identified, indicative of substantial hole doping related to the oxygen functional groups on the oxidized carbon nanotube's surface. Both ESR and the static magnetization reveal considerable enhancement of the spin susceptibility due to an excessive increase in the density of paramagnetic defects, which are sensitive to the dynamical polymer relaxation and thus to the MWNT-polymer interfacial coupling. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.

The molecular triad, which includes the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), its receptor RANK, and the endogenous soluble RANKL decoy receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG), has emerged as an important determinant of bone metabolism. We aimed to evaluate the effect of treatment with the biphosphonate zoledronic acid (ZA) on biochemical markers of bone remodeling and to detect possible correlations of markerlevel changes with skeletal morbidity and clinical outcomes in patients with solid tumors and osseous metastases. The following serum markers were measured at the onset of skeletal metastases and after 6 months of treatment with ZA (4 mg intravenously monthly) in 70 patients with breast (n = 30), lung (n = 18), or prostate (n = 22) cancer: RANKL, OPG, C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (TRACP-5b), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (bALP), and osteopontin (OPN). Logistic regression models were applied to assess the correlation between marker-level changes and skeletal related events (SRE, primary endpoint), recurrence or progression, and death. Within a median follow-up of 32 months, 34 patients (48.6%) presented with at least 1 SRE and 48 patients (68.6%) relapsed. The RANKL/OPG ratio was upregulated in patients with breast and lung cancer, and it tended to decline after treatment with ZA, whereas prostate cancer patients presented with profound elevation of OPG only that persisted after treatment. CTX levels were significantly reduced after treatment in the whole study population (P = 0.003). None of the markers was able to predict skeletal morbidity or clinical outcomes independently of well-established prognostic clinical parameters. © 2010 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

The paper is an investigation into the concept of actuality from the standpoint of the philosophy of language. It is argued that expressions such as ‘actually’ and ‘in fact’ are not indexicals like ‘here’ and ‘now’; when e.g. ‘Snow is actually white’ is uttered in a world, what proposition is conveyed does not depend on the world. Nor are such expressions ambiguous. The paper makes a suggestion about the role that ‘actually’ and its cognates do play. It is also argued that the sentence ⌜Actually S⌝ expresses a necessary truth only if S itself expresses one. In order to capture the necessitation of the proposition expressed in ⌜Actually S⌝ , it is not sufficient to prefix the word ‘necessarily’.

This paper reports on a design experiment conducted to explore the construction of meanings by 17 year old students, emerging from their interpretations and uses of algebraic like formalism. The students worked collaboratively in groups of two or three, using MoPiX, a constructionist computational environment with which they could create concrete entities in the form of models by using equations and animate them to link the equations’ formalism to the produced visual representation. Our aim was to further study the ways in which the use of formalism in constructionist environments can create contexts for the emerging of mathematical meanings. Some illustrative examples of two groups of students’ work indicate the potential of the activities and tools for expressing and reflecting on the mathematical nature of the available formalism. We particularly focused on the students’ engagement in reification processes, i.e. making sense of structural aspects of equations, involved in conceptualising them as objects that underlie the behaviour of the respective models

BACKGROUND: A decline of medical students' interest in a general surgery career is occurring in the Western medical world. We sought data on the mentality of Greek students toward specialty selection, and we determined whether trends indicated a decline in interest for general surgery in Greece. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was distributed to 3 groups of medical students: to pre-4th-year (group 1) surgical clerkship, post-4th-year (group 2) surgical clerkship, and post-6th-year internship students in surgery (group 3). The questions covered a wide spectrum of data including career choices, influential factors, and satisfaction rates on educational and training issues. RESULTS: From a total of 500 distributed questionnaires 363 were returned. Most students (63.1%) indicated preference toward nonsurgical (medical) specialties. Surgical specialties within the 3 groups gathered 19.5% (group 1), 26.5% (group 2) and 31.2% (group 3) preference rates. Among surgical specialties, general surgery was chosen by 29.4% in group 1, 10.0% in group 2, and 17.9% in group 3. The most common criterion for specialty selection was "quality of life" (68.6%) among group 1 students and "patient contact" for group 2 and group 3 students (77.3% and 65.3%, respectively). Among the 96 students who chose surgical specialties, the most common criterion for specialty selection was "scientific challenge" (100%) in group 1 and "patient contact" in groups 2 and 3 (62.5% and 69.2%, respectively). The 3 more frequently chosen factors that influenced the "picture" of surgery positively were attending live surgery cases in the operating room (37.6%), clinical experience (29.6%), and patient care (14.4%), followed by assisting in the operating room (8.8%). CONCLUSION: Our survey suggests a limited interest of Greek medical students for surgical specialties and general surgery in particular. As the medical curriculum is restructured, our data underscore the need for actions by surgical educators and medical school authorities so as to enhance the interest of medical students in general surgery in Greece.

We aimed to investigate the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk in a prospective study. Specifically, we analyzed reduced inflammation and improved metabolic profile as a potential medium through which the MeDi reduced the risk of AD. During a 4-year follow-up, 118 incident AD cases were identified among the 1219 non-demented elderly (age ≥ 65) subjects who provided dietary information and blood samples at baseline. We used high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) as an index of systemic inflammation, and fasting insulin and adiponectin as indexes of metabolic profile. We investigated whether there was a change in the association between MeDi and incident AD risk when the biomarkers were introduced into multivariable adjusted COX models. Better adherence to MeDi was associated with lower level of hsCRP (p =0.003), but not fasting insulin or adiponectin. Better adherence to MeDi was significantly associated with lower risk for AD: compared to those in the lowest tertile of MeDi, subjects in the highest tertile had a 34% less risk of developing AD (p-for-trend =0.04). Introduction of the hsCRP, fasting insulin, adiponectin, or combinations of them into the COX model did not change the magnitude of the association between MeDi and incident AD. Ultimately, the favorable association between better adherence to MeDi and lower risk of AD did not seem to be mediated by hsCRP, fasting insulin, or adiponectin. Other aspects of inflammatory and metabolic pathways not captured by these biomarkers, or non-inflammatory or non-metabolic pathways, may be relevant to the MeDi-AD association.

Epithelial cancer of the ovary is the most lethal malignancy of all gynaecological cancers. Various clinical and pathological features of ovarian cancer are used as predictors of clinical outcome. The use of molecular markers in common clinical practice seems promising for the diagnosis and prognostication. The aim of this review article is to describe current theories regarding the pathogenesis and molecular evolution of epithelial ovarian cancer. With respect to the molecules involved, this article focuses on whether they are associated with poor prognosis or not. This evaluation is performed in light of the progress made and the potential usefulness in treatment decisions without overlooking existing controversies that should be further studied. It is tempting to anticipate the gradual integration of molecular profiling in clinical practice.

On February 25, 2009, a panel of international experts on plasma cell dyscrasia and skeletal disease met to discuss monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). This non-malignant B-cell disorder is the most common plasma cell dyscrasia and is associated with an increased risk of developing serious B-cell disorders. Individuals with MGUS also have an increased risk of osteoporosis and osteopenia associated with an increased likelihood of developing fractures especially in the vertebral column, peripheral neuropathy and thromboembolic events. The goal of the meeting was to develop a consensus statement regarding the appropriate tests to screen, evaluate and follow-up patients with MGUS. The panel also addressed the identification and treatment of MGUS-related skeletal problems, thromboembolic events and neurological complications. The following consensus statement outlines the conclusions and marks the first time that a consensus statement for the screening and treatment of MGUS has been clearly stated. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) was identified in 3.2% of 21 463 residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, 50 years of age or older. The risk of progression to multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, AL amyloidosis or a lymphoproliferative disorder is approximately 1% per year. Low-risk MGUS is characterized by having an M protein < 15 g/l, IgG type and a normal free light chain (FLC) ratio. Patients should be followed with serum protein electrophoresis at six months and, if stable, can be followed every 2-3 years or when symptoms suggestive of a plasma cell malignancy arise. Patients with intermediate and high-risk MGUS should be followed in 6 months and then annually for life. The risk of smoldering (asymptomatic) multiple myeloma (SMM) progressing to multiple myeloma or a related disorder is 10% per year for the first 5 years, 3% per year for the next 5 years and 1-2% per year for the next 10 years. Testing should be done 2-3 months after the initial recognition of SMM. If the results are stable, the patient should be followed every 4-6 months for 1 year and, if stable, every 6-12 months. © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND: Mucinous and clear cell histology have been associated with adverse prognosis in ovarian carcinomas. The authors compared the outcome of these subtypes with that of serous tumors in patients who were treated with combination paclitaxel/platinum at their center. METHODS: Four hundred twenty patients with histologically confirmed, serous (n = 367), mucinous (n = 24), or clear cell (n = 29) ovarian carcinomas, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage III or IV disease, and who were treated with paclitaxel/platinum after cytoreductive surgery were included in this analysis. RESULTS: The median overall survival for each histological subtype was 47.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 37.7-57.7 months) for serous, 15.4 months (95% CI, 4.2-26.6 months) for mucinous, and 36.6 months (95% CI, 22.7-50.5 months) for clear cell carcinomas. Cox regression analysis showed that mucinous histology was an independent predictor of poor prognosis compared with serous tumors (hazard ratio, 0.360; 95% CI, 0.215-0.603; P = .001). In contrast, such a difference between clear cell and serous carcinomas was not found (P = .337). Median survival of patients with mucinous tumors and residual disease >2 cm was poor, averaging 7.1 months (95% CI, 4.6-9.6 months). CONCLUSIONS: Mucinous but not clear cell histology is associated with significantly worse prognosis in advanced ovarian cancer treated with combination platinum/paclitaxel. Different therapeutic strategies should be studied in this entity. © 2010 American Cancer Society.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematological malignancy, with an incidence of 6/100 000 in Europe. Interactions between myeloma cells and the microenvironment are essential for MM cell survival. Better knowledge of disease biology has led to the introduction of novel agents for the management of myeloma patients. Patients with asymptomatic MM may remain stable for a long time without any therapy, and treatment is needed only in symptomatic disease. Patients who are eligible for high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) are usually treated with bortezomib- or immunomodulatory drug (IMiD)-based regimens as induction therapy pre-ASCT. In elderly patients, the combination of melphalan and prednisone with either thalidomide (MPT) or bortezomib (MPV) is considered as the standard of care in this setting. Novel agent-based therapies are used for the management of relapsed/refractory disease. However, previous therapies, age, comorbidities and drug safety have to be taken into consideration before deciding the appropriate therapy for patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma. Patients with renal impairment or with extended bone disease may be treated with bortezomib-based regimens, while patients with pre-existing peripheral neuropathy may be treated with lenalidomide-based combinations. Maintenance therapy with thalidomide can be administered post-ASCT; however, caution is needed due to thalidomide toxicity. © The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved.

The photometric and spectroscopic observational campaign organized for the 2008/9 eclipse of EE Cep revealed features, which indicate that the eclipsing disk in the EE Cep system has a multi-ring structure. We suggest that the gaps in the disk can be related to the possible planet formation.

Aim of the present study was to describe the muscle fibre type composition and body composition of well-trained hammer throwers. Six experienced hammer throwers underwent the following measurements: one repetition maximum in squat, snatch, and clean, standing broad jump, backward overhead shot throw and the hammer throw. Dual x-ray absorptiometry was used for body composition analysis. Fibre type composition and cross sectional area was determined in muscle biopsy samples of the right vastus lateralis. Eight physical education students served as a control group. One repetition maximum in squat, snatch and clean for the hammer throwers was 245 ± 21, 132 ± 13 and 165 ± 12kg, respectively. Lean body mass was higher in hammer throwers (85.9 ± 3. 9kg vs. 62.7 ± 5.1kg (p < 0.01). The percentage area of type II muscle fibres was 66.1 ± 4% in hammer throwers and 51 ± 8% in the control group (p < 0.05). Hammer throwers had significantly larger type IIA fibres (7703 ± 1171 vs. 5676 ± 1270μm(2), p < 0.01). Hammer throwing performance correlated significantly with lean body mass (r = 0.81, p < 0.05). These data indicate that hammer throwers have larger lean body mass and larger muscular areas occupied by type II fibres, compared with relatively untrained subjects. Moreover, it seems that the enlarged muscle mass of the hammer throwers contributes significantly to the hammer throwing performance. Key pointsWell-trained hammer throwers had increased lean body mass, higher type IIA muscle fibres cross sectional areas, as well as higher bone mineral density, compared to controls.Increased lean body mass was closely related with hammer throwing performance.The relative high percentage of type IIX muscle fibres in vastus lateralis in hammer throwers warrants further investigation.

OBJECTIVES: 5382insC frameshift mutation along with 5331G>A (G1738R) missense mutation, both found in exon 20 of the BRCA1 gene, are relatively frequent among the Greek breast and ovarian cancer population (46%). Our goal was to develop a novel, reliable and rapid genotyping/scanning method for mutation detection of the exon 20 of the BRCA1 gene, using high-resolution melting curve analysis. DESIGN AND METHODS: The developed methodology was based on real-time PCR and high-resolution melting curve analysis in the presence of LCGreen I dye. Two amplicons on the exon 20 of BRCA1 gene were designed (157 bp and 100 bp), one flanking the exon's boundaries, and one embracing the 5382insC mutation. Our methodology was first optimized and validated by using genomic DNA samples with the 5382insC and 5331G>A (G1738R) mutations and wild-type. In total, the developed methodology was applied on 90 peripheral blood and 127 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast tissue samples. RESULTS: Sensitivity studies with gDNA isolated from peripheral blood showed that mutated DNA could be reliably detected in the presence of wild-type DNA at 5% and 0.5% ratio with the larger and the smaller amplicon, respectively. By using the developed methodology we successfully identified 5382insC, 5331G>A and 5370C>T (R1751X) mutations, in genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood samples and 5382insC mutation in two breast tumors, as verified by DNA sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of real-time PCR and high-resolution melting curve analysis provides a cost-efficient, simple and rapid approach to successfully scan exon 20 of BRCA1 gene for these clinically important and frequent mutations

In the gospel of Mark (6:14-29) the death of John the Baptist is reported in the most detailed fashion, compared to its synoptic parallels. In fact, this is the only extended story in the second gospel that interrupts the gospel’s linear narrative flow by referring to a past event. On the basis of stylistic, structural and narratological observations the present study attempts to illuminate the narrative function and the christological significance of this story by examining the relationship of Mk 6:14-16 to 8:27-29 and 9:9-13, as well as the relationship of 6:17-29 to the Marcan passion narrative. The study concludes that from a narrative, as well as a christological perspective, the second evangelist presents the death of John the Baptist as decisively pointing towards Jesus’ passion.

Metamaterials exhibiting negative electromagnetic parameters can enable a multitude of exciting applications, but currently their performance is limited by the occurrence of losses-particularly radiation losses, which dominate over their dissipative counterparts even in the optical regime. Here, a metamaterial configuration is conceived that judiciously generalizes the traditional electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) scheme-by which radiation losses can be restrained-in such a way that EIT can be observed and exploited in negative-magnetic metamaterials. Analytic theory and three-dimensional simulations unveil the required route: introduction of poor-conductor meta-atoms next to the good-conductor meta-atoms of a magnetic metamaterial. This setup results in a frequency band where the metamaterial remains negative-magnetic, while its loss-performance dramatically improves owing to suppression of radiation damping. Furthermore, we show that placing the two meta-atoms on orthogonal planes gives rise to a passive anisotropic metamaterial exhibiting permeabilities with negative real parts (Re {μ} <0) and active imaginary parts (Im {μ} >0 for an e+iωt time dependence) along its principal crystallographic axes. © 2010 The American Physical Society.

Eccentric exercise has been extensively used as a model to study muscle damage-induced neuromuscular impairment, adopting mainly a bilateral matching task between the reference (unexercised) arm and the indicator (exercised) arm. However, little attention has been given to the muscle proprioceptive function when the exercised arm acts as its own reference. This study investigated muscle proprioception and motor control, with the arm acting both as reference and indicator, following eccentric exercise and compared them with those observed after isometric exercise. Fourteen young male volunteers were equally divided into two groups and performed an eccentric or isometric exercise protocol with the elbow flexors of the non-dominant arm on an isokinetic dynamometer. Both exercise protocols induced significant changes in indicators of muscle damage, that is, muscle soreness, range of motion and maximal isometric force post-exercise (p < 0.050.001), and neuromuscular function was similarly affected following both protocols. Perception of force was impaired over the 4-day post-exercise period (p < 0.001), with the applied force being systematically overestimated. Perception of joint position was significantly disturbed (i.e., target angle was underestimated) only at one elbow angle on day 4 post-exercise (p < 0.05). The misjudgements and disturbed motor output observed when the exercised arm acted as its own reference concur with the view that they could be a result of a mismatch between the central motor command and an impaired motor control after muscle damage. © 2010 Informa Healthcare Ltd.

Eccentric exercise has been extensively used as a model to study muscle damage-induced neuromuscular impairment, adopting mainly a bilateral matching task between the reference (unexercised) arm and the indicator (exercised) arm. However, little attention has been given to the muscle proprioceptive function when the exercised arm acts as its own reference. This study investigated muscle proprioception and motor control, with the arm acting both as reference and indicator, following eccentric exercise and compared them with those observed after isometric exercise. Fourteen young male volunteers were equally divided into two groups and performed an eccentric or isometric exercise protocol with the elbow flexors of the non-dominant arm on an isokinetic dynamometer. Both exercise protocols induced significant changes in indicators of muscle damage, that is, muscle soreness, range of motion and maximal isometric force post-exercise (p < 0.050.001), and neuromuscular function was similarly affected following both protocols. Perception of force was impaired over the 4-day post-exercise period (p < 0.001), with the applied force being systematically overestimated. Perception of joint position was significantly disturbed (i.e., target angle was underestimated) only at one elbow angle on day 4 post-exercise (p < 0.05). The misjudgements and disturbed motor output observed when the exercised arm acted as its own reference concur with the view that they could be a result of a mismatch between the central motor command and an impaired motor control after muscle damage. © 2010 Informa Healthcare Ltd.

Eccentric exercise has been extensively used as a model to study muscle damage-induced neuromuscular impairment, adopting mainly a bilateral matching task between the reference (unexercised) arm and the indicator (exercised) arm. However, little attention has been given to the muscle proprioceptive function when the exercised arm acts as its own reference. This study investigated muscle proprioception and motor control, with the arm acting both as reference and indicator, following eccentric exercise and compared them with those observed after isometric exercise. Fourteen young male volunteers were equally divided into two groups and performed an eccentric or isometric exercise protocol with the elbow flexors of the non-dominant arm on an isokinetic dynamometer. Both exercise protocols induced significant changes in indicators of muscle damage, that is, muscle soreness, range of motion and maximal isometric force post-exercise (p < 0.050.001), and neuromuscular function was similarly affected following both protocols. Perception of force was impaired over the 4-day post-exercise period (p < 0.001), with the applied force being systematically overestimated. Perception of joint position was significantly disturbed (i.e., target angle was underestimated) only at one elbow angle on day 4 post-exercise (p < 0.05). The misjudgements and disturbed motor output observed when the exercised arm acted as its own reference concur with the view that they could be a result of a mismatch between the central motor command and an impaired motor control after muscle damage. © 2010 Informa Healthcare Ltd.

The aim of this study is to develop milk-based formulations for ionized and unionized lipophilic drugs. Solubility studies of the following non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): mefenamic acid, tolfenamic acid, ketoprofen, meloxicam, tenoxicam and nimesulide in phosphate- and glycine-NaOH buffers at nominal pH 8-12. were performed. The solubilities of cyclosporine and danazol in water-ethanol solutions were studied. NSAIDs-, cyclosporine-, danazol-, aspirin-milk oral liquid formulations were prepared by adding the appropriate volume of (i) NSAIDs-alkaline buffer solutions, (ii) water-ethanol solutions of cyclosporine and danazol and (iii) aspirin aqueous solution to 150-200 ml of milk. All the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs exhibited increased solubility in the alkaline buffers. The actual pH values (range 6.7-7.7) of the final NSAIDs-milk formulations were very close to milk pH. The higher ethanol content in ethanol-water mixtures increased the solubility of danazol and cyclosporine. A 15 mg meloxicam-, a 100 mg cyclosporine- and a 500 mg aspirin-milk formulation was administered orally to healthy volunteers. All these formulations showed a satisfactory in vivo performance. The strong buffering capacity of milk that was observed and the high solubility of unionized drugs in ethanol allow the preparation of drug-milk formulations with enhanced pharmacokinetic properties. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Background: Particulate matter with diameter less than 10 micrometers (PM10) that originates from anthropogenic activities and natural sources may settle in the bronchi and cause adverse effects possibly via oxidative stress in susceptible individuals, such as asthmatic children. This study aimed to investigate the effect of outdoor PM10concentrations on childhood asthma admissions (CAA) in Athens, Greece. Methods: Daily counts of CAA from the three Children's Hospitals within the greater Athens' area were obtained from the hospital records during a four-year period (2001-2004, n = 3602 children). Mean daily PM10concentrations recorded by the air pollution-monitoring network of the greater Athens area were also collected. The relationship between CAA and PM10concentrations was investigated using the Generalized Linear Models with Poisson distribution and logistic analysis. Results: There was a statistically significant (95% CL) relationship between CAA and mean daily PM10concentrations on the day of exposure (+3.8% for 10 μg/m3 increase in PM10concentrations), while a 1-day lag (+3.4% for 10 μg/m3 increase in PM 10concentrations) and a 4-day lag (+4.3% for 10 g/m3 increase in PM10concentrations) were observed for older asthmatic children (5-14 year-old). High mean daily PM10concentration (the highest 10%; >65.69 μg/m3) doubled the risk of asthma exacerbations even in younger asthmatic children (0-4 year-old). Conclusions: Our results provide evidence of the adverse effect of PM10on the rates of paediatric asthma exacerbations and hospital admissions. A four-day lag effect between PM10peak exposure and asthma admissions was also observed in the older age group. © 2010 Nastos et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Outflows emanating from the environment of stellar or galactic objects are a widespread phenomenon in astrophysics. Their morphology ranges from nearly spherically symmetric winds to highly collimated jets. In some cases, e.g., in jets associated with young stellar objects, the bulk outflow speeds are nonrelativistic, while in others, e.g., in jets associated with active galactic nuclei or gamma-ray bursts, it can even be highly relativistic. The main driving mechanism of collimated outflows is likely related to magnetic fields. These fields are able to tap the rotational energy of the compact object or disk, accelerate, and collimate matter ejecta. To zeroth order these outflows can be described by the highly intractable theory of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). Even in systems where the assumptions of zero resistivity (ideal MHD), steady state, axisymmetry, one fluid description, and polytropic equation of state are applicable, the problem remains difficult. In this case the problem reduces to only two equations, corresponding to the two components of the momentum equation along the flow and in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field (transfield direction). The latter equation is the most difficult to solve, but also the most important. It answers the question on the degree of the collimation, but also crucially affects the solution of the first, the acceleration efficiency and the bulk velocity of the flow. The first and second parts of this chapter refer to nonrelativistic and relativistic flows, respectively. These Parts can be read independently. In each one, the governing equations are presented and discussed, focusing on the case of flows that are magnetically dominated near the central source. The general characteristics of the solutions in relation to the acceleration and collimation mechanisms are analyzed. As specific examples of exact solutions of the full system of the MHD equations that satisfy all the analyzed general characteristics, self-similar models are presented.

On the basis of a full-vectorial three-dimensional Maxwell-Bloch approach we investigate the possibility of using gain to overcome losses in a negative refractive index fishnet metamaterial. We show that appropriate placing of optically pumped laser dyes (gain) into the metamaterial structure results in a frequency band where the nonbianisotropic metamaterial becomes amplifying. In that region both the real and the imaginary part of the effective refractive index become simultaneously negative and the figure of merit diverges at two distinct frequency points. © 2010 The American Physical Society.

Ἡ ἑλληνικὴ πατερικὴ σκέψη καὶ ἡ τέχνη τῆς αὐτοαξιολογήσεως κατὰ τὴν παιδικὴ ἡλικία», στὸ Η χάρη θέλει αντίχαρη, αφιέρωμα στον Καθηγητή Αντώνιο Κ. Δανασσή-Αφεντάκη, ἐκδ. Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών, Αθήνα 2011, σ. 195-218.

Background: Antitumor activity of paclitaxel is based on promotion of abnormal microtubule (MT) assembly but it is also considered to have significant pro-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects in vivo and thus may cause vascular dysfunction. Methods: We studied 27 women treated with paclitaxel-containing combinations for breast or ovarian cancer. The control group was represented by 10 women with carcinoma of the uterine cervix who received low doses of weekly cisplatin as radiation sensitizer. We measured endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and nitrate-mediated dilatation (NMD) of the right brachial artery by ultrasonography, as well as levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 before and after chemotherapy. Results: Patients who received paclitaxel and an anthracycline had the most marked reduction in both FMD (p=0.005) and NMD (p=0.027). A significant reduction in FMD was also observed in patients treated with weekly paclitaxel (p=0.045), whereas NMD was not affected (p=0.421). Although TNF-α and IL-6 levels were different among chemotherapy groups after treatment, no significant differences were observed between levels of both markers before and after chemotherapy. Conclusion: Treatment with paclitaxel-containing combinations impairs endothelial function in vivo but endothelial function deterioration is not related to the serum levels of inflammation markers. © 2010 Elsevier Inc.

The study area of Vigla coastal zone is located at the W coast of Naxos, the largest island of Cycladic plateau. The study of sea-land interactions during Holocene in relation to the eustatic sea level oscillations as well as the geomorphologic observations and analyses on deposited sediments, aims to reveal the paleogeographic evolution of the landscape and its impact to the overall cultural development of the area. A geomorphological mapping of the coastal area along with the drilling of three boreholes has been accomplished. Moreover, a micro faunal analysis has been performed. Five samples of plant material, chart coal and shells were dated using AMS and Conventional radiocarbon techniques providing temporal control of the sediments. Sea level rise along with sea-land interactions to the landscape evolution and the transgression of sea in 5000 BP have been verified.

The coastal area of the Vravron Bay, in the vicinity of the homonym archaeological site, is a marshy plain located on the eastern part of the Attica Peninsula (eastern Greece). In order to provide evidence for palaeoenvironmental changes and landscape evolution of the area, detailed micropaleontological, palynological and sedimentological analyses have been conducted at the underlying Late Holocene coastal deposits. The recovered sediments (lithostratigraphic Units A–D) represent a continuous record of the environmental history of the area since the Early Bronze Age, covering all subsequent historical periods. The base of the recovered deposits is older than the 3rd millennium BC. Until late medieval times, the studied sequence contains plenty evidence for the existence of the natural port reported from the Mycenaean (lithostratigraphic Unit A), that infilled after repeated flooding events during the Classic period (lithostratigraphic Unit B) and gradually developed into a shallower marine environment (lithostratigraphic Unit C). In the uppermost part of the sequence (lithostratigraphic unit D), a transition towards brackish environment with intense fresh water input is featured around 1540 AD. Signs of human agricultural activities in Vravron appear since 3000 BC (Early Bronze Age) and are linked to the history of inhabitation in the area.

Palamari Bay is located on the northeastern coast of Skyros Island (Sporades Islands, Aegean Sea). At the northern edge of the bay a fortified prehistoric settlement is found, dated between 2800 and 1700 BC (Early Bronze Age II–Middle Bronze Age I). Detailed geomorphological mapping of the coastal alluvial plain and paleontological, micropaleontological, palynological, sedimentological and micromorphological studies of the Holocene coastal deposits have been conducted in order to reconstruct the palaeoenvironment and the landscape evolution of the broader area of Palamari Bay. Three main sedimentary units were recognized (A, B and C, from oldest to youngest). The lowermost sedimentary unit A, deposited between before 7500 and 3500 cal BP, consists of sediment deposited from high to moderate energy fresh water flows with some suspended load fallout in established water bodies. The microfauna indicates a shallow fresh water environment. However, a tendency to oligohaline conditions was established gradually. During the same period, the Palamari area was characterized by open mixed deciduous forests that gradually retreated as a possible consequence of the intensification of anthropic activity, associated with the settlement of Palamari. Indications of cultivating and grazing activities in the vicinity of the lagoon were identified, pointing to a strong human presence since the Neolithic. Between about 6000 and 3500 cal BP, the embayment was a lagoon southeasterly connected to the sea, therefore sheltered and protected from northeastern winds. The overlying unit B (ca. 3500–800 cal BP) is characterized by the dominance of brackish water microfauna, indicating a brackish stagnant shallow water depositional environment, which was periodically supplied with fresh water from the surrounding springs. As the result of the continuous sea-level rise during the Late Holocene, part of the northern headland was submerged. The decline of the Palamari settlement at the time of the establishment of Unit B might be related to the observed changes that rendered the embayment a restricted body of water. The uppermost sedimentary unit C corresponds to a backshore environment dominated by aeolian activity modified by fluvial processes.

The paramagnetic Meissner effect (PME) is related to the appearance of a positive magnetization when a superconducting specimen is field cooled through its critical temperature. In this work we report on the PME and ac magnetization in roll-bonded Cu-Nb (RB/Cu-Nb) layered composites. We present typical DC magnetization loops obtained in the normal magnetic field configuration that show the PME. In addition, we present ac magnetization measurements that reveal a crossover behavior at a characteristic field value. We show evidence that such a crossover behavior, attributed to activation processes of vortices, is probably related to the disappearance of the PME in the RB/Cu-Nb layered composites.

Using the numerical code Fishbone, developed to study the parasitic oscillations in gyrotron beam tunnels, a parametric study is performed on the effect of the dielectric material as well as of the slot geometry on the growth rate of the excited parasitic modes.

It is known that the frequency of men and women suffering from stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders is all but proportionally distributed. Notably, women are far more susceptible than men to the precipitation of depressive symptomatology. Some studies attribute this sex-specific vulnerability to the pronounced genetic predisposition that women may present towards the development of depressive disorders. Furthermore, clinical evidence support the notion that antidepressant response is also characterized by sex-specific manifestations; women may have a better outcome when treated with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, in comparison to tricyclic antidepressants. Despite the fact that the contribution of the "genome" remains elusive when it comes to major depression, intriguing evidence has recently emerged pointing to sexually dimorphic influences of certain polymorphisms in genes related to the pathophysiology of major depression and antidepressant response, such as the serotonin transporter (5-HTT), serotonin 1A (5HT1A) receptor, monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and others. Given that the ultimate goal of pharmacogenetics is to provide "tailor-made" pharmacotherapies based on the genetic makeup of an individual, the factor of "sex" needs to be carefully addressed in disorders that are characterized by sex specific manifestations. The aim of the present article is to highlight the impact of sex in depression and in antidepressant pharmacoresponse by providing intriguing insights from the field of pharmacogenetics.

Heart disease represents the primary cause of death worldwide, with mortality rates being predicted to remain constant within the next couple of decades. Cardiac disease treatment currently includes the administration of drugs, predominantly aiming at improving heart performance, through controlling heart rhythm, blood pressure, as well as reducing cholesterol and blood clotting. Despite, however, the medical advances that have lead towards a better understanding of heart disease pathophysiology and the development of new therapeutic approaches, the degree of success of the available drug therapies varies among patients. The existence of polymorphisms in a number of genes has been shown to result in differences in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and drug metabolism and have therefore been associated with response to drug treatment. The occurrence of adverse drug reactions that may lead to drug-induced toxicity represents another factor influencing outcome of therapeutic treatment. While the influence of genetic polymorphisms in patient's response to heart disease drugs is being unveiled, the rapidly evolving field of pharmacogenetics is promising to aid clinicians in choosing the best suited drug/dose for each patient and the pharmaceutical companies in the design of better targeted, more effective new chemical compounds. In the near future individualized, targeted therapy will become part of clinical care routine maximizing patient therapeutic benefits and minimizing risks of adverse effects.

Importance of the field: The various phospholipase A2 (PLA2) types have been implicated in diverse kinds of lipid signaling and inflammatory diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis, lung inflammation, neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, and cancer are included among the diseases where PLA2 enzymes are involved. Thus, there is a great interest in developing potent and selective PLA2 inhibitors and some of them have entered clinical trials. Areas covered in this review: This review article discusses the role of each PLA2 class in inflammatory diseases and the advances in the development of inhibitors presented in patent literature from January 2004 to May 2009. What the reader will gain: PLA2s cluster in four main types: secreted sPLA2, cytosolic cPLA2, Ca2+-independent iPLA2 and lipoprotein-associated LpPLA2. Each of those types has been implicated in diverse kinds of inflammatory diseases. Readers will rapidly gain an overview of the various PLA2 inhibitors reported in the patent literature in the past 5 years. Furthermore, the readers will learn the difficulties related to the development of PLA2 inhibitors as new drugs and also the different companies and research groups that are the main players in the field. Take home message: Although the role of each PLA2 is not yet distinct in different diseases, the development and future use of different PLA2 inhibitors to treat human disease seems very promising.

Self-assembled titanium oxide nanotubular (NTs) arrays with vertical arrangement, tailored morphological properties and variable thickness were prepared by electrochemical anodization in ethylene glycol containing electrolytes. The NTs present significant UV photocatalysis against toluene and benzene at ppb concentrations, under normal conditions of temperature and pressure. The photocatalytic activity depends on the length of the NT arrays, showing a tendency of saturation for thickness above 2.5 μm and maximum efficiency for samples with thickness of 12 μm. The optimum NT structures outperform over standard Degussa P25 films rendering them very promising for outdoor photocatalytic applications. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In this work, titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been used as an additive in lime binder (Ca(OH)2), in order to benefit from its photocatalytic properties and study both the photocatalytic properties of the produced mixtures and the effect of photocatalytically produced carbon dioxide on the carbonation process of lime. TiO2 was added in three different portions (3, 6 and 10% w/w) in lime mixtures and their physicochemical and photocatalytic properties were studied and compared to those of a reference, made exclusively of lime. The photocatalytic properties of the mixtures were studied through the photo-oxidation of an organic model pollutant solution (methyl orange) to a colorless form, as well as by studying the microstructure and carbonation depth in different groups of mixtures subjected to photocatalysis cycles in the laboratory and exposed for a 2 month period in the open air (urban environment). Laboratory results confirmed that lime-TiO2 composite mixtures exhibit photocatalytic properties in both UV radiation conditions and direct exposure to sunlight. Moreover, analytical results indicated an enhanced carbonation of lime-TiO2 composites. TiO2 can be added to lime successfully and can have applications in lime-based mortars used in the conservation of architectural heritage, enhancing their performance against soiling and amenity loss. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We report that porous anodic alumina (aluminum oxide: Al2O 3) (PAA) thin films directly grown on Si show clear oscillations in their photoluminescence (PL) spectra which are ascribed to PL-induced interferences within the Fabry-Ṕrot optical cavity formed by the PAA film on Si, that involve the air/oxide and oxide/Si interfaces. The existence of the PL-induced oscillations is indicative of the high quality of the interface of the PAA film with Si, which is both planar and smooth. We show that by using these oscillations we can develop a sensitive optical method of measuring the porosity of PAA thin films on Si if we know the film thickness. The method is based on the calculation of the effective refractive index of the PAA film derived from the PL-induced oscillations, which is then introduced into the Bruggeman equation in order to derive the porosity of the film. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.

Three short period (P ∼ 1 day) variable stars from the Hipparcos catalogue targets were observed after suspected misclassification as Beta Lyr eclipsing systems (Perryman et al. 1997), as no secondary component had been noticed in the inspection of their Broadening Functions (BFs) (Rucinski 2002). FH Cam is found to be a multiple star system with a member exhibiting Delta Scuti behaviour. The dominant pulsation frequency is found to be 7.3411 ± 0.0002 c/d, which corresponds to a pulsation mode of l ≤ 1. We confirmed the pulsations of CU CVn using photometric observations and found a pulsation frequency of 14.7626 ± 0.0250 c/d, which is in agreement with the period given in literature. CC Lyn is a non-eclipsing visual binary (CCDM J07359+4302AB), the brighter component (A) is found to be a multi-mode Delta Scuti pulsator, with pulsation frequencies of 5.6402 ± 0.0004 c/d and 7.3368 ± 0.0005 c/d.

BACKGROUND: The entomopathogenic fungi of the genus Beauveria are cosmopolitan with a variety of different insect hosts. The two most important species, B. bassiana and B. brongniartii, have already been used as biological control agents of pests in agriculture and as models for the study of insect host - pathogen interactions. Mitochondrial (mt) genomes, due to their properties to evolve faster than the nuclear DNA, to contain introns and mobile elements and to exhibit extended polymorphisms, are ideal tools to examine genetic diversity within fungal populations and genetically identify a species or a particular isolate. Moreover, mt intergenic region can provide valuable phylogenetic information to study the biogeography of the fungus. RESULTS: The complete mt genomes of B. bassiana (32,263 bp) and B. brongniartii (33,920 bp) were fully analysed. Apart from a typical gene content and organization, the Beauveria mt genomes contained several introns and had longer intergenic regions when compared with their close relatives. The phylogenetic diversity of a population of 84 Beauveria strains -mainly B. bassiana (n = 76) - isolated from temperate, sub-tropical and tropical habitats was examined by analyzing the nucleotide sequences of two mt intergenic regions (atp6-rns and nad3-atp9) and the nuclear ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 domain. Mt sequences allowed better differentiation of strains than the ITS region. Based on mt and the concatenated dataset of all genes, the B. bassiana strains were placed into two main clades: (a) the B. bassiana s. l. and (b) the "pseudobassiana". The combination of molecular phylogeny with criteria of geographic and climatic origin showed for the first time in entomopathogenic fungi, that the B. bassiana s. l. can be subdivided into seven clusters with common climate characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that mt genomes and in particular intergenic regions provide molecular phylogeny tools that combined with criteria of geographic and climatic origin can subdivide the B. bassiana s.l. entomopathogenic fungi into seven clusters with common climate characteristics.

We present results of the modelling of multicolour light curves of 10 contact binary systems: V376And, V523Cas, CCCom, BXDra, FGHya, UZLeo, XYLeo, AMLeo, EXLeo and RTLMi. The solutions resulted in a contact configuration for all systems. We found only FGHya and UZLeo to be in deep contact, the latter almost filling the outer critical lobe. The absolute parameters of the components have been determined with an accuracy of about a few per cent based on combined photometric and radial velocity curves, enlarging the sample of systems to 58 for which the physical parameters have been obtained in a uniform way. All but three systems (BXDra, AMLeo and RTLMi) show asymmetries and peculiarities in the observed light curves, interpreted as resulting from their magnetic activity.

Somatic mutations in the PIK3CA gene have been discovered in many human cancers, and their presence correlates to therapy response. Three "hotspot" mutations within the PIK3CA gene are localized in exons 9 and 20. High-resolution melting analysis (HRMA) is a highly sensitive, robust, rapid, and cost-effective mutation analysis technique. We developed a novel methodology for the detection of hotspot mutations in exons 9 and 20 of the PIK3CA gene that is based on a combination of PCR and HRMA. The PIK3CA HRMA assay was evaluated by performing repeatability, sensitivity, and comparison with DNA sequencing studies and was further validated in 129 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast tissue samples: 99 tumors, 20 noncancerous, and 10 fibroadenomas. The developed methodology was further applied in a selected group of 75 breast cancer patients who underwent Trastuzumab treatment. In sensitivity studies, the assay presented a capability to detect as low as 1% of mutated dsDNA in the presence of wtDNA for both exons. In the 99 tumor samples (validation group), 12/99 (12.1%) exon 9 mutations and 20/99 (20.2%) exon 20 mutations were found. No mutations were found in noncancerous tissues. In fibroadenomas, we report one PIK3CA mutation for the first time. In the selected group, 30/75 (40%) samples were detected as mutants. The PIK3CA HRMA assay is highly sensitive, reliable, cost-effective, and easy-to-perform, and therefore can be used as a screening test in a high-throughput pharmacodiagnostic setting

OBJECTIVES: To determine if plasma β-amyloid (Aβ) levels (1) can be linked to specific cognitive changes that constitute conversion to Alzheimer disease (AD) and (2) correspond to cognitive change independent of dementia. DESIGN: Longitudinal study including 3 visits during approximately 4¹/₂ years (2000-2006). SETTING: Northern Manhattan community. PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred eighty individuals from a population-based and ethnically diverse sample who had 2 plasma Aβ measurements and were dementia free at the time of the first Aβ sample; 481 remained cognitively healthy, 329 were cognitively or functionally impaired but not demented at any point, and 70 developed AD. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: General estimating equations tested the association between plasma Aβ (baseline and change in values) and cognitive change (composite score and memory, language, and visuospatial indices). RESULTS: High baseline plasma Aβ42 (P = .01) and Aβ40 (P = .01) and decreasing/relatively stable Aβ42 (P = .01) values were associated with faster decline in multiple cognitive domains. In those who remained cognitively healthy, high baseline plasma Aβ42 (P = .01) and decreasing/relatively stable plasma Aβ42 (P = .01) was associated with faster cognitive decline, primarily in memory. CONCLUSIONS: The association between plasma Aβ and multiple aspects of cognition more clearly specifies the previously documented downward trajectory of plasma Aβ with AD onset. The predominant association with memory seen only in healthy elderly individuals also suggests that plasma Aβ is linked with even earlier neurologic changes that may or may not culminate in dementia.

We apply the layer-multiple-scattering method to study the optical properties of different plasmonic architectures; namely two- and three-dimensional periodic arrays of metallic nanocylinders and of metallodielectric nanosandwiches. These structures exhibit various types of collective plasmonic resonances, tunable over a broad spectral range from infrared to visible frequencies, which cause large enhancement of the local field and give rise to interesting phenomena that we discuss and provide a consistent interpretation of the underlying physics. We analyze extinction spectra of finite slabs of the structures under consideration and explain the different spectral features. In relation to optical metamaterials, we deduce effective electromagnetic parameters by the S-matrix retrieval procedure for single- and multi-layer slabs of periodic arrays of metallodielectric nanosandwiches and propose a method to resolve ambiguities in the determination of the effective refractive index, which become prominent for thick slabs, based on the complex band structure of the corresponding infinite crystal.

BACKGROUND: Altered thrombocyte morphology and function have been reported in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2. The aim of the present study was to determine the associations between platelet morphology markers and hemoglobin A1C (HbA(1c)), fasting glucose (FG), hypertension and coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and DM, in patients with DM and in controls. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 30 cases with primary MDS with normal platelet count and non-insulin dependent diabetes, 30 non-insulin dependent diabetic patients and 30 non-diabetic, non-MDS controls matched on age and gender. RESULTS: After adjusting for body mass index, platelet number, CHD and hypertension, HbA(1c) and FG were significant predictors of mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) in diabetic patients. There was no correlation between platelet parameters and HbA(1c) or FG in diabetic MDS patients. In controls, FG and hypertension predicted significant differences in platelet morphology. Platelet count correlated with platelet morphology in diabetic MDS and control groups, but not in diabetics. CONCLUSIONS: MPV and PDW are associated with glycemic indices in diabetic patients but not in diabetic MDS patients with normal platelet counts. Non-diabetic controls also exhibit FG related changes in platelet morphology. This suggests other factors inherent to bone marrow dysplasia, platelet turnover and biochemistry, or vascular environment affect platelet morphology in diabetic MDS patients even with normal platelet count. Platelet morphology in this population may be an early marker for myelodysplasia. These findings also support platelet morphology change as a marker for elevated macrovascular disease risk.

Group VIA calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (GVIA iPLA2) has recently emerged as a novel pharmaceutical target. We have now explored the structure−activity relationship between fluoroketones and GVIA iPLA2 inhibition. The presence of a naphthyl group proved to be of paramount importance. 1,1,1-Trifluoro-6-(naphthalen-2-yl)hexan-2-one (FKGK18) is the most potent inhibitor of GVIA iPLA2 (XI(50) = 0.0002) ever reported. Being 195 and >455 times more potent for GVIA iPLA2 than for GIVA cPLA2 and GV sPLA2, respectively, makes it a valuable tool to explore the role of GVIA iPLA2 in cells and in vivo models. 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-Heptafluoro-8-(naphthalene-2-yl)octan-4-one inhibited GVIA iPLA2 with a XI(50) value of 0.001 while inhibiting the other intracellular GIVA cPLA2 and GV sPLA2 at least 90 times less potently. Hexa- and octafluoro ketones were also found to be potent inhibitors of GVIA iPLA2; however, they are not selective.

Most correlations between in vitro and in vivo data (IVIVC) rely on linear relationships. However, non-linear IVIVC can be also observed, justified and validated. The purpose of the present work was the development of a methodology for power law IVIVC, which mirror power law kinetics under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Fractional calculus was used to justify power law kinetics for zero-order processes in disordered media. Power law kinetics was observed in a large number of in vitro data sets. When ``zero-order{''} release and absorption is considered in terms of fractional calculus the following power law IVIVC between the fraction released F-r and the fraction absorbed F-alpha, is obtained: F-alpha = mu F-r(lambda) - beta, where mu is a constant related to the rate constants and the orders of the release/absorption kinetics, lambda is the ratio of the orders of the kinetics under in vitro and in vivo conditions and 13 accounts for a time shift between the in vitro and in vivo processes; We used literature data to develop power law IVIVC and derive estimates for mu, lambda and beta; the simulated pharmacokinetic profiles using the in vitro release data and the IVIVC developed compared well with the actual in vivo data. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Background: Serum CD105 has been associated with angiogenic activity in cancer, and low CD105 expression has been associated with improved prognosis. The present study evaluated the prognostic significance of serum levels of CD105 and related factors in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) after cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: Eighty-six patients with stages IIC to IV EOC treated postoperatively with platinum-based chemotherapy were included. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure prechemotherapy serum levels of CD105, transforming growth factor β1/2 (TGF-β1/2), angiopoietin 2, vascular endothelial growth factor, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Results: High levels of TGF-β2 (≥8908.86 pg/mL) and CD105 (≥4.25 ng/mL) were independently associated with improved overall survival (not reached vs 39 months, P = 0.009 and 75 vs 39 months, P = 0.029, respectively), whereas a high level of TGF-β2 and a low level of vascular endothelial growth factor (<219.04 pg/mL) were independently associated with improved progression-free survival (49 vs 17 months, P = 0.022 and 57 vs 16 months, P = 0.023, respectively). Among patients with favorable (≥4.25 ng/mL) CD105 levels, only patients with low TGF-β1 levels (<177.1 ng/mL) had superior survival than patients with low CD105 levels. Conclusions: Our study confirms the prognostic significance of angiogenesis in EOC and supports a biological interaction between CD105 and TGF-β1. High angiogenic activity may be associated by increased efficacy of postoperative chemotherapy. Copyright© 2010 by IGCS and ESGO.

The currently available genetic tests for identification of the RET proto-oncogene mutation offer the possibility of prospective successful therapy before the hyperplasia of C-cells evolve to Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma. We present our experience regarding the preventive thyroidectomy of family members with history of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma, who were found to be heterozygote for mutant RET proto-oncogene. We have retrospectively reviewed 19 members of 6 families with history of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma, who were heterozygote for mutant RET protooncogene and underwent prophylactic thyroidectomy. All patients included in this series were below twenty years of age. The Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma was asymptomatic and the mutation of RET protooncogene has been also documented pre-operatively in all of them. All patients had undergone total thyroidectomy, while 1 with pheochromocytoma had undergone also left epinephridectomy. Fourteen patients (73.68%) had undergone lymph-nodes resection (in 10 of them the resection was central, in 3 unilateral and in 1 bilateral). Although none of our patients suffered from hyperparathyroidism, 7 parathyroid glands have been also resected from 3 patients, while auto-transfusion has been performed in one. In all patients, preoperative measurement of the calcitonin blood levels before and after stimulation with pentagastrin has been performed.

This chapter investigates the profitability of technical trading rules in the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), utilizing the FTSE/ASE 20 index during the period 1995 to 2008. We focus on a less developed and efficient stock market, given the existing scarcity of research in such markets. The technical rules that will be explored are simple moving averages. We compare technical trading strategies in the spirit of Brock, Lakonishok, and LeBaron (1992), employing traditional t test and bootstrap methodology under the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity model. The results provide strong evidence on the profitability of the technical trading rules against the “buy and hold” strategy and contradict the efficient market hypothesis.

Background: The treatment paradigm in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has changed in the recent years. Sunitinib has been established as a new standard for first-line therapy. We studied the prognostic significance of baseline characteristics and we compared the risk stratification with the established Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) model.Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients treated in six Greek Oncology Units of HECOG. Inclusion criteria were: advanced renal cell carcinoma not amenable to surgery and treatment with Sunitinib. Previous cytokine therapy but no targeted agents were allowed. Overall survival (OS) was the major end point. Significance of prognostic factors was evaluated with multivariate cox regression analysis. A model was developed to stratify patients according to risk.Results: One hundred and nine patients were included. Median follow up has been 15.8 months and median OS 17.1 months (95% CI: 13.7-20.6). Time from diagnosis to the start of Sunitinib (<= 12 months vs. >12 months, p = 0.001), number of metastatic sites (1 vs. >1, p = 0.003) and performance status (PS) (<= 1 vs >1, p = 0.001) were independently associated with OS. Stratification in two risk groups ("low" risk: 0 or 1 risk factors; "high" risk: 2 or 3 risk factors) resulted in distinctly different OS (median not reached [NR] vs. 10.8 [95% confidence interval (CI): 8.3-13.3], p < 0.001). The application of the MSKCC risk criteria resulted in stratification into 3 groups (low and intermediate and poor risk) with distinctly different prognosis underlying its validity. Nevertheless, MSKCC model did not show an improved prognostic performance over the model developed by this analysis.Conclusions: Studies on risk stratification of patients with advanced RCC treated with targeted therapies are warranted. Our results suggest that a simpler than the MSKCC model can be developed. Such models should be further validated. © 2010 Bamias et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

One hundred and fifty-seven patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy (HDT) and autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) for hematopoietic malignancies and solid tumors were randomly assigned to receive (Group A) or not (Group B) prophylaxis with ciprofloxacin, orally, and vancomycin, intravenously. Prophylactic antibiotics were given from day 0 until resolution of neutropenia or the appearance of a febrile event. Furthermore, patients in both groups received once a day fluconazole, orally. The primary end-point of our study was the incidence of neutropenic febrile episodes attributed to infection. One hundred and twelve (71.3%) patients developed neutropenic fever, 50 (56.2%) in Group A and 62 (91.2%) in Group B (P < 0.001) with the majority (82%) of patients developing fever of unknown origin. Patients on prophylactic antibiotics had a significantly lower rate of bacteremias (5.6%) than did those randomized to no prophylaxis (29.4%) (P = 0.005) and, when developing neutropenic fever, they had a lower probability of response to first-line empirical antibiotics (P = 0.025). Prophylactic administration of ciprofloxacin and vancomycin reduced the incidence of neutropenic fever in patients receiving HDT with ASCT, however, without affecting the total interval of hospitalization, time to engraftment, or all-cause mortality. Therefore, our results do not support the use of antibiotic prophylaxis for patients undergoing HDT and ASCT. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Background: Platinum-based combinations are the standard second-line treatment for platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (OC). This randomized phase II study was undertaken in order to compare the combination of carboplatin and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (LD) with carboplatin and paclitaxel (CP) in this setting.Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed recurrent OC, at the time of or more than 6 months after platinum-based chemotherapy, were randomized to six cycles of CP (carboplatin AUC5 + paclitaxel 175 mg/m2, d1q21) or CLD (carboplatin AUC5 + pegylated LD 45 mg/m2, d1q28).Results: A total of 189 eligible patients (CP 96, CLD 93), with a median age of 63 years, median Performance Status (PS) 0 and a median platinum free interval (PFI) of 16.5 months, entered the study. Discontinuation due to toxicity was higher in the CP patients (13.5% versus 3%, P = 0.016). The overall response rate was similar: CP 58% versus CLD 51%, P = 0.309 (Complete Response; CR 34% versus 23%) and there was no statistical difference in time-to-progression (TTP) or overall survival (OS; TTP 10.8 months CP versus 11.8 CLD, P = 0.904; OS 29.4 months CP versus 24.7 CLD, P = 0.454). No toxic deaths were recorded. Neutropenia was the most commonly seen severe toxicity (CP 30% versus CLD 35%). More frequent in CLD were severe thrombocytopenia (11% versus 2%, P = 0.016), skin toxicity and Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE) grade 1-2 (38% versus 9%, P< 0.001), while grade 3 neurotoxicity and alopecia were higher in CP (7% versus 0%, P = 0.029, 20% versus 5%, P = 0.003). PS and PFI were independent prognostic factors for TTP and OS.Conclusions: The combination of pegylated LD with carboplatin is effective, showing less neurotoxicity and alopecia than paclitaxel-carboplatin. It thus warrants a further phase III evaluation as an alternative treatment option for platinum-sensitive OC patients. © 2010 Bafaloukos et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

The optimal adjuvant treatment for gastric cancer remains controversial. We compared the efficacy of a docetaxel and platinum adjuvant chemotherapy regimen, in patients with high-risk gastric cancer, with that of the same chemotherapy plus radiation therapy (RT). In addition, we evaluated the prognostic and/or predictive value of a panel of molecular markers. Patients with histologically proven, radically resected gastric cancer, stage >T3 and/or N+ were randomized to 6 cycles of docetaxel with cisplatin, both at 75 mg/m 2 every 3 weeks (arm A) or the same treatment with RT (arm B; 45 Gy). Due to excessive nausea and vomiting, cisplatin was substituted by carboplatin at AUC (area under the curve) of 5 after the first 45 patients (22 group A, 23 group B). The prognostic value of EGFR, ERCC1, HER2, MET/HGFR, MAP-Tau, and PTEN expression was also studied in a subset of 67 patients using immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays (TMAs). A total of 147 patients were randomized. After a median follow-up of 53.7 months, no differences in overall (OS) and diseasefree survival (DFS) were found between the two arms. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities for arms A and B (excluding alopecia) were non-febrile neutropenia (11 and 17%, respectively), febrile neutropenia (9 and 7%) and diarrhea (7 and 4%, respectively). Patients with ERCC1 positive tumors had significantly longer median DFS (33.1 vs. 11.8 months, Wald P = 0.016) and OS (63.2 vs. 18.8 months, Wald P = 0.046). Our results indicate that the addition of RT to platinum/docetaxel adjuvant chemotherapy does not appear to improve survival in high-risk, radically resected gastric cancer. However, the possibility that a benefit by the addition of RT was not detected due to decreased power of the study should not be excluded. © Springer-Verlag 2010.

One of the most significant challenges implementing colloidal magnetic nanoparticles in medicine is the efficient heating of microliter quantities by applying a low frequency alternating magnetic field. The ultimate goal is to accomplish nonsurgically the treatment of millimeter size tumors. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis, characterization, and the in vitro as well as in vivo efficiency of a dextran coated maghemite (gamma-Fe(2)O(3)) ferrofluid with an exceptional response to magnetic heating. The difference to previous synthetic attempts is the high charge of the dextran coating, which according to our study maintains the colloidal stability and good dispersion of the ferrofluid during the magnetic heating stage. Specifically, in vitro 2 mu l of the ferrofluid gives an outstanding temperature rise of 33 degrees C within 10 min, while in vivo treatment, by infusing 150 mu l of the ferrofluid in animal model (rat) glioma tumors, causes an impressive cancer tissue dissolution. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3449089]

When a magnetically dominated superfast-magnetosonic long/soft gamma-ray burst (GRB) jet leaves the progenitor star, the external pressure support will drop and the jet may enter the regime of ballistic expansion, during which additional magnetic acceleration becomes ineffective. However, recent numerical simulations by Tchekhovskoy et al. have suggested that the transition to this regime is accompanied by a spurt of acceleration. We confirm this finding numerically and attribute the acceleration to a sideways expansion of the jet, associated with a strong magnetosonic rarefaction wave that is driven into the jet when it loses pressure support, which induces a conversion of magnetic energy into kinetic energy of bulk motion. This mechanism, which we dub rarefaction acceleration, can only operate in a relativistic outflow because in this case the total energy can still be dominated by the magnetic component even in the superfast-magnetosonic regime. We analyse this process using the equations of relativistic magnetohydrodynamics and demonstrate that it is more efficient at converting internal energy into kinetic energy when the flow is magnetized than in a purely hydrodynamic outflow, as was found numerically by Mizuno et al. We show that, just as in the case of the magnetic acceleration of a collimating jet that is confined by an external pressure distribution - the collimation-acceleration mechanism - the rarefaction-acceleration process in a magnetized jet is a consequence of the fact that the separation between neighbouring magnetic flux surfaces increases faster than their cylindrical radius. However, whereas in the case of effective collimation-acceleration the product of the jet opening angle and its Lorentz factor does not exceed ~1, the addition of the rarefaction-acceleration mechanism makes it possible for this product to become >>1, in agreement with the inference from late-time panchromatic breaks in the afterglow light curves of long/soft GRBs.

When a magnetically dominated superfast-magnetosonic long/soft gamma-ray burst (GRB) jet leaves the progenitor star, the external pressure support will drop and the jet may enter the regime of ballistic expansion, during which additional magnetic acceleration becomes ineffective. However, recent numerical simulations by Tchekhovskoy et al. have suggested that the transition to this regime is accompanied by a spurt of acceleration. We confirm this finding numerically and attribute the acceleration to a sideways expansion of the jet, associated with a strong magnetosonic rarefaction wave that is driven into the jet when it loses pressure support, which induces a conversion of magnetic energy into kinetic energy of bulk motion. This mechanism, which we dub rarefaction acceleration, can only operate in a relativistic outflow because in this case the total energy can still be dominated by the magnetic component even in the superfast-magnetosonic regime. We analyse this process using the equations of relativistic magnetohydrodynamics and demonstrate that it is more efficient at converting internal energy into kinetic energy when the flow is magnetized than in a purely hydrodynamic outflow, as was found numerically by Mizuno et al. We show that, just as in the case of the magnetic acceleration of a collimating jet that is confined by an external pressure distribution - the collimation-acceleration mechanism - the rarefaction-acceleration process in a magnetized jet is a consequence of the fact that the separation between neighbouring magnetic flux surfaces increases faster than their cylindrical radius. However, whereas in the case of effective collimation-acceleration the product of the jet opening angle and its Lorentz factor does not exceed ~1, the addition of the rarefaction-acceleration mechanism makes it possible for this product to become >>1, in agreement with the inference from late-time panchromatic breaks in the afterglow light curves of long/soft GRBs.

We review recent theoretical and experimental breakthroughs in the realm of slow and stopped light in structured photonic media featuring negative electromagnetic parameters (permittivity/permeability and/or refractive index). We explain how and why these structures can enable complete stopping of light even in the presence of disorder and, simultaneously, dissipative losses. Using full-wave numerical simulations we show that the incorporation of thin layers made of an active medium adjacently to the core layer of a negative-refractive- index waveguide can completely remove dissipative losses - in a slow-light regime where the effective index of the guided wave is negative. We, also, review and compare several 'trapped rainbow' schemes that have recently been proposed for slowing and stopping light. © 2010 Copyright SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering.

Classical novae (CNe) have recently been reported to represent the major class of supersoft X-ray sources (SSSs) in the central area of our neighbouring galaxy M 31. This paper presents a review of results from recent X-ray observations of M 31 with XMM-Newton and Chandra. We carried out a dedicated optical and X-ray monitoring program of CNe and SSSs in the central area of M 31. We discovered the first SSSs in M 31 globular clusters (GCs) and their connection to the very first discovered CN in a M 31 GC. This result may have an impact on the CN rate in GCs. Furthermore, in our optical and X-ray monitoring data we discovered the CN M31N 2007-11a, which shows a very short SSS phase of 29-52 days. Short SSS states (durations ≤ 100 days) of CNe indicate massive white dwarfs (WDs) that are candidate progenitors of supernovae type Ia. In the case of M31N 2007-11a, the optical and X-ray light curves suggest a binary containing a WD with M_WD > 1.0 M\sun. Finally, we present the discovery of the SSS counterpart of the CN M31N 2006-04a k. The X-ray light curve of M31N 2006-04a shows short-time variability, which might indicate an orbital period of about 2 hours. Partly based on observations with \xmmk, an ESA Science Mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and NASA.

Objective: The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) agreed on revising the existing international recommendations in health informatics/medical informatics education. These should help to establish courses, course tracks or even complete programs in this field, to further develop existing educational activities in the various nations and to support international initiatives concerning education in biomedical and health informatics (BMHI), particularly international activities in educating BMHI specialists and the sharing of courseware. Method: An IMIA task force, nominated in 2006, worked on updating the recommendations' first version. These updates have been broadly discussed and refined by members of IMIA's National Member Societies, IMIA's Academic Institutional Members and by members of IMIA's Working Group on Health and Medical Informatics Education. Results and Conclusions: The IMIA recommendations center on educational needs for health care professionals to acquire knowledge and skills in information processing and information and communication technology. The educational needs are described as a three-dimensional framework. The dimensions are: 1) professionals in health care (e.g. physicians, nurses, BMHI professionals), 2) type of specialization in BMHI (IT users, BMHI specialists), and 3) stage of career progression (bachelor, master, doctorate). Learning outcomes are defined in terms of knowledge and practical skills for health care professionals in their role a) as IT user and b) as BMHI specialist. Recommendations are given for courses/course tracks in BMHI as part of educational programs in medicine, nursing, health care management, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, health record administration, and informatics/computer science as well as for dedicated programs in BMHI (with bachelor, master or doctor degree). To support education in BMHI, IMIA offers to award a certificate for high-quality BMHI education. It supports information exchange on programs and courses in BMHI through its Working Group on Health and Medical Informatics Education.

This paper is an attempt to reconstruct the Holocene geomorphological evolution of the Kambos coastal - alluvial plain, situated in the southern part of the island of Samos between the ancient city of Samos (contemporary city of Pythagorio) and the temple of Hera (Heraion). The present morphology of the site area is shaped by the fluvial action of Mavratza Torrent forming an extensive alluvial fan in the northern part of the plain, while further southwards a drained freshwater marsh close to the sea exists. Heraion is located about 6km westwards of the ancient city. The habitation of the site area started approximately in the 11th century BC and has been constant to this day. Samos city enjoyed its greatest prosperity in the 6th century BC, under the leadership of the tyrant Polycrates. To reconstruct the geomorphological changes of the plain’s area, a detailed geomorphological survey in combination with stratigraphical and palaeontological techniques took place. In addition, a drilling project of two vibracores was carried out. The chronostratigraphy of the cores was determined by two C14-AMS radiocarbon datings undertaken on in situ bivalves. The evaluation of the data gives rise to the following time-scenario concerning the geomorphological evolution of the area. Long before 2700 BC, the area was covered by fluvial sediments originating from the nearby torrents to the north. Predominance of sandy fraction and a low percentage of silty-clayey material may indicate a process that removed the fine material. Absence also of coarse clastics (pebbles, cobbles) indicates restricted fluvial transportation and subsequently a low gradual relief. By ~2700 BC the area had already been flooded by sea-level rise and a shallow lagoon with a sandy bottom was formed. The lagoon continued to exist for a further ~2000 years, progressively becoming muddy; it was restricted and gradually transformed into a marsh. This marsh endured until the final decades of the previous century before it was drained. The aforementioned results strongly encourage the idea that the paved road connecting the ancient city to the temple in the 6th century BC must have been situated more inland, avoiding the coastal lagoon.

In order to explain the absence of hysteresis in ferromagnetic p-type (Cd,Mn)Te quantum wells (QWs), spin dynamics was previously investigated by Monte Carlo simulations combining the Metropolis algorithm with the determination of hole eigenfunctions at each Monte Carlo sweep. Short-range antiferromagnetic superexchange interactions between Mn spins—which compete with the hole-mediated long-range ferromagnetic coupling—were found to accelerate magnetization dynamics if the layer containing Mn spins is wider than the vertical range of the hole wave function. Employing this approach it is shown here that appreciate magnitudes of remanence and coercivity can be obtained if Mn ions are introduced to the quantum well in a delta-like fashion.

The aim of the present study was the determination of the levels of osteoprotegerin and soluble RANKL in blood serum and in gingival crevicular fluid relative to the degree of orthodontic root resorption in a rat model. Blood samples and gingival crevicular fluid were collected from fourteen 6-month-old male Wistar rats weighing 350-500 g. A 25-g closed orthodontic coil spring was inserted between each upper right first molar and the upper incisors. After 21 days of loading, both upper first molars (treated and control) were extracted and studied under microcomputed tomography scanning. Statistical analysis demonstrated a positive linear correlation between the initial concentration of RANKL in blood serum and the degree of root resorption. The ratio of the initial concentrations of osteoprotegerin to RANKL in blood serum proved to be an independent prognostic factor of the degree of root resorption. The initial concentration of RANKL in gingival crevicular fluid showed a negative correlation to the initial concentration of RANKL in blood serum and for a finite range of initial concentrations of osteoprotegerin in gingival crevicular fluid, the dental root seemed protected against extreme external root resorption. Finally, the concentration of osteoprotegerin in blood serum decreased significantly in cases of severe root resorption.

The relationship of prolonged dry spells in Eastern Mediterranean with large-scale surface and upper circulation is investigated on seasonal basis with the aid of the Singular-Value Decomposition Analysis (SVDA) for the period 1958-2000. The study was based on daily precipitation data of 56 stations, evenly distributed over Eastern Mediterranean region. Extreme dry spells are defined using the CDD index (maximum number of consecutive dry days). It was found that teleconnection patterns centered over Northern Atlantic and northern Europe seem to affect the duration of the longest dry spells over the Eastern Mediterranean, while surface synoptic scale systems in Northern Africa play a substantial role. The SVDA results compare well with the corresponding results of Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA), mainly for the surface circulation during winter and summer. © Springer-Verlag 2009.

The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship of orography over Greece with prolonged dry spells, as represented by the maximum number consecutive dry days (CDD index) during an extremely dry summer. For this purpose a simulation experiment was conducted with the aid of the regional climate model RegCM3.1 using a spatial resolution of 10 km. It was shown that a significant precipitation regime formed over the mountainous areas of continental Greece and Crete during this dry summer, due to orographically forced precipitation, consequently influencing the length of dry spells. Furthermore, the CDD appears spatial variations over the maritime areas, despite the zero or insignificant precipitation. The sensitivity test that was performed with the elimination of orography demonstrated the important role that orography plays in the distribution of CDD, since significant lengthening of extreme dry spells was found over the mountainous areas. © Author(s) 2010.

We study semi-analytical time-dependent solutions of the relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations for the fields and the fluid emerging from a spherical source. We assume uniform expansion of the field and the fluid and a polytropic relation between the density and the pressure of the fluid. The expansion velocity is small near the base but approaches the speed of light at the light sphere where the flux terminates. We find self-consistent solutions for the density and the magnetic flux. The details of the solution depend on the ratio of the toroidal and the poloidal magnetic field, the ratio of the energy carried by the fluid and the electromagnetic field and the maximum velocity it reaches.

We study semi-analytical time-dependent solutions of the relativistic MHD equations for the fields and the fluid emerging from a spherical source. We assume uniform expansion of the field and the fluid and a polytropic relation between the density and the pressure of the fluid. The expansion velocity is small near the base but approaches the speed of light at the light sphere where the flux terminates. We find self-consistent solutions for the density and the magnetic flux. The details of the solution depend on the ratio of the toroidal and the poloidal magnetic field, the ratio of the energy carried by the fluid and the electromagnetic field and the maximum velocity it reaches.

Renal impairment is a common complication of multiple myeloma (MM). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula is the recommended method for the assessment of renal function in patients with MM with stabilized serum creatinine. In acute renal injury, the RIFLE (risk, injury, failure, loss and end-stage kidney disease) and Acute Renal Injury Network criteria seem to be appropriate to define the severity of renal impairment. Novel criteria based on eGFR measurements are recommended for the definition of the reversibility of renal impairment. Rapid intervention to reverse renal dysfunction is critical for the management of these patients, especially for those with light chain cast nephropathy. Bortezomib with high-dose dexamethasone is considered as the treatment of choice for such patients. There is limited experience with thalidomide in patients with myeloma with renal impairment. Thus, thalidomide can be carefully administered, mainly in the context of well-designed clinical trials, to evaluate if it can improve the rapidity and probability of response that is produced by the combination with bortezomib and high-dose dexamethasone. Lenalidomide is effective in this setting and can reverse renal insufficiency in a significant subset of patients, when it is given at reduced doses, according to renal function. The role of plasma exchange in patients with suspected light chain cast nephropathy and renal impairment is controversial. High-dose melphalan (140 mg/m2) and autologous stem-cell transplantation should be limited to younger patients with chemosensitive disease. © 2010 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Renal impairment is a common complication of multiple myeloma. Chronic renal failure is classified according to glomerular filtration rate as estimated by the MDRD (modification of diet in renal disease) formula, while RIFLE (risk, injury, failure, loss and end-stage renal disease) and AKIN (acute renal injury network) criteria may be used for the definition of the severity of acute renal injury. Novel criteria based on estimated glomerular filtration rate measurements are proposed for the definition of the reversibility of renal impairment. Renal complete response (CRrenal) is defined as sustained (i.e., lasting at least 2 months) improvement of creatinine clearance (CRCL) from under 50 mL/min at baseline to 60 mL/min or above. Renal partial response (PRrenal) is defined as sustained improvement of CRCL from under 15 mL/min at baseline to 30 to 59 mL/min. Renal minor response (MRrenal) is defined as sustained improvement of the baseline CRCL of under 15 mL/min to 15 to 29 mL/min or, if baseline CRCL was 15 to 29 mL/min, improvement to 30 to 59 mL/min. Bortezomib with high-dose dexamethasone is considered the treatment of choice for myeloma patients with renal impairment and improves renal function in most patients. Although there is limited experience with thalidomide, this agent can be administered at the standard dosage to patients with renal failure. Lenalidomide, when administered at reduced doses according to renal function, is effective and can reverse renal impairment in a subset of myeloma patients.

The resolution of 2-amino alcohols protected by urethane-type groups either via porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) hydrolysis of the corresponding racemic acetates or via PPL catalyzed transesterification of racemic alcohols was studied. In both cases, Boc protecting group led to better chemical yields and enantiopurities than Z and Fmoc protecting groups. Furthermore, a simple and efficient method for the synthesis of the medicinally interesting optically pure (R)-2-aminohexadecanol was developed. 

We propose a method for calculating average local effective permittivity and permeability tensors for anisotropic photonic crystals through least-squares fits of sets of data points, obtained by rigorous, systematic complex-band-structure, and reflection calculations for all propagation directions, to appropriate analytic expressions. The proposed methodology is applied on a specific example of a tetragonal structure of metallic nanoshells, which is a uniaxial photonic crystal of resonant units. Our results demonstrate the efficiency of the method at low and moderate frequencies and, at the same time, reveal the inability to define local effective constitutive parameters in regions of resonance gaps.

The purpose of this analysis was to assess the effect of novel agent-based regimens on the improvement of renal impairment (RI) in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma. Ninety-six consecutive patients with RI received conventional chemotherapy (CC)-based regimens (n= 32), IMiDs-based regimens (n= 47) or bortezomib-based regimens (n= 17) as frontline therapy. Improvement of RI was more frequent in patients treated with novel agents (79% in IMiD- and 94% in bortezomib-treated groups versus 59% in CC-treated group; p= 0.02). Bortezomib-based regimens and CrCl > 30 ml/min at baseline independently correlated with a higher probability of at least renal partial response (PRrenal) and with a shorter time to PRrenal or better. Thus bortezomib-based regimens may be the preferred treatment for newly diagnosed myeloma patients with RI. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.

The ensemble of forces that stabilize protein structure and facilitate biological function are intimately linked with the ubiquitous aqueous environment of living systems. As a consequence, biomolecular activity is highly sensitive to the interplay of solventĝ€"protein interactions, and deviation from the native conditions, for example by exposure to increased thermal energy or severe dehydration, results in denaturation and subsequent loss of function. Although certain enzymes can be extracted into non-aqueous solvents without significant loss of activity, there are no known examples of solvent-less (molten) liquids of functional metalloproteins. Here we describe the synthesis and properties of room-temperature solvent-free myoglobin liquids with near-native structure and reversible dioxygen binding ability equivalent to the haem protein under physiological conditions. The realization of room-temperature solvent-free myoglobin liquids with retained function presents novel challenges to existing theories on the role of solvent molecules in structural biology, and should offer new opportunities in protein-based nanoscience and bionanotechnology. © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.

We have used a new ApoA-I transgenic mouse model to identify by global gene expression profiling, candidate genes that affect lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in response to fenofibrate treatment. Multilevel bioinformatical analysis and stringent selection criteria (2-fold change, 0% false discovery rate) identified 267 significantly changed genes involved in several molecular pathways. The fenofibrate-treated group did not have significantly altered levels of hepatic human APOA-I mRNA and plasma ApoA-I compared with the control group. However, the treatment increased cholesterol levels to 1.95-fold mainly due to the increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The observed changes in HDL are associated with the upregulation of genes involved in phospholipid biosynthesis and lipid hydrolysis, as well as phospholipid transfer protein. Significant upregulation was observed in genes involved in fatty acid transport and beta-oxidation, but not in those of fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis, Krebs cycle and gluconeogenesis. Fenofibrate changed significantly the expression of seven transcription factors. The estrogen receptor-related gamma gene was upregulated 2.36-fold and had a significant positive correlation with genes of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism and mitochondrial functions, indicating an important role of this orphan receptor in mediating the fenofibrate-induced activation of a specific subset of its target genes.

Testicular cancer is a highly curable neoplasm, even in the case of extragonadal disease. Nevertheless, patients with adverse prognostic features or relapsing after first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy have a worse prognosis with a death rate greater than 50%. High-dose chemotherapy (HDC) has long been used in this group of patients. The introduction of stem cells, instead of bone marrow, as the source of hemopoietic cells and the use of leukocyte growth factors have substantially reduced the mortality and morbidity of this procedure although the role of HDC is not well defined. This review summarizes the available data, focusing on published randomized studies. The problems associated with the design of these studies and the interpretation of data are discussed. Currently this HDC approach is mainly used in patients who relapse after first-line chemotherapy. Nevertheless, selection of patients likely to benefit from this treatment remains an issue of intense clinical research. © 2010 Karadimou et al.

It is well-known that natural and anthropogenic emissions of ambient pollutants affect air quality, and as a consequence the public health. Air pollution indices are commonly used to indicate the level of severity of air pollution to the public. The objective of this study is the assessment of the air quality levels in the urban environment of Athens, Greece using the Air Quality Index (AQI), which presents advantages as an administrative tool for early warning in the context of public health protection. The AQI is a complex index and calculated by compounding appropriately the concentrations of surface ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM 10). For this purpose, available hourly data of the above ambient pollutants recorded by the Athens air pollution monitoring network, during the period 2001-2006, were analyzed for the development of the proposed index. The temporal and spatial distribution of the mean annual AQI values within greater Athens area (GAA) is examined, and the results are analyzed in terms of the meteorological conditions. The effect of wind speed and direction on AQI levels is found to be significant, among the other meteorological parameters such as air temperature, relative humidity, sunshine and total solar radiation. The analysis revealed that the higher values of AQI, during the warm period of the year, are strongly associated with sea breeze than with northern wind flow. The knowledge of the sea breeze characteristics over GAA contributes to the comprehension of the local air quality formation levels. Β© by PSP.

This paper evaluates the role of meteorological factors on the configuration of the complex aerosol’s character at a suburban area of Athens, Greece. To this effort, 4-month period measurements of hourly PM2.5 aerosol samples were employed, being collected with the aid of a conventional R&P TEOM (model 1400a) at Aghia Paraskevi. The simultaneous daily PM10 and PM2.5.10 concentrations are also discussed. Then, the entire daily data set was divided in 5 different classes at similar proportion by one decimal point for each one of assessed meteorological parameter, temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. The present study discusses not only the variations of the recorded levels of the three PM fractions and their seasonality but also the inter-fraction relationship for all possible matching of the aerosol’s pairs and the PM ratios in connection with the differentiation of the meteorological parameters’ values. PM10 and PM2.5-10 appeared to have the same character as in all the cases they proved to be strongly correlated. It was found that temperature enhanced the concentrations of the PM fractions and especially those with bigger diameter while relative humidity seemed to favour the formation of fine particles. Wind direction appeared to play a key role on the recorded PM profile. The transportation from the ’polluted’ Athens center proved to be the major mechanism which deters the ’clean atmosphere’ of the suburban area. © by PSP.

The palaeo relative sea-level indicators are the most important type of data as far as the Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) related to the Last Glacial Maximum is concerned. The geomorphological and archaeological indicators have recorded the long-term sea-level variation that accompanied and followed the melting of the Late Pleistocene ice sheets. This bathymetry change stems for the combined effects of the eustatic sea-level change, the gravitational interactions between the geoid and the ice sheets and the deformation of the solid Earth. Since these three factors are fully described by the sea level equation in a self-consistent manner, the comparison of relative sea-level (rsl) data and predicted Holocene curves provides fundamental constraints on the GIA models. While the rsl data from the formerly glaciated area may provide constraints on both the extent and thickness with time of the ice sheets and the local shallow Earth structure and rheology, the palaeo sea-levels from the Mediterranean Sea may constrain the volumes of melt water that has been globally released through time and also the lower mantle rheological parameters. In this work we combine archaeological and geomorphological rsl indicators with GIA-model predictions to investigate the Holocene sea level changes in Tunisia and Cyclades islands (Central Aegean). While the former area has been proven to be vertically stable on the long timescale, the Central Aegean could be affected by local tectonics that would result in vertical deformations. We therefore compare at first the available rsl data from Tunisia with GIA predictions based on a suite of available late Pleistocene ice chronologies and Earth rheological models. We find the best combination of ice and earth models to explain the rsl data from Tunisia and finally apply those to investigate the vertical stability at the Cyclades islands and to quantify the tectonics-related rates of vertical crustal deformation.

A seasonal morphological variability is observed in Emiliania huxleyi var. huxleyi specimens, collected from discrete water samples in the Aegean Sea. Biometric analyses reveal a consistent pattern of increase in the size of coccoliths and coccospheres, including the thickness of the inner tube elements (INT), in winter/spring time low sea surface temperature and moderate productivity samples when compared with summer time high temperature–low productivity samples. The small range of salinity change in the Aegean Sea and the absence of seasonal  pattern in nutrient content do not support any association with the observed increase in E. huxleyi coccolith size. A relatively increased [HCO3-] content is observed during spring-time interval related with the increase in the coccolith size, however it remains unclear which parameter of the carbonate system causes the observed effects.

A cross-sectional study was carried out in injecting drug users (IDUs) from Greece to assess the seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) and to identify potentially associated risk factors. A total of 288 IDUs were tested for K8.1 antibodies to HHV-8 lytic antigen. Associations between HHV-8 serostatus and potential risk factors were examined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Seroprevalence of HHV-8 was 24.3% (95% CI 19.5-29.7), increasing with age from 19.4% in those aged <30 years to 52.9% in those aged 40 years (P for trend=0.003). No statistically significant associations between HHV-8-positive status and gender, educational level, age at first drug injection, needle sharing, number of imprisonments, complications from drug overdose, HIV and HCV were observed. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, older age (40 vs. <40 years, OR 3.30, 95% CI 1.14-9.56) and report of septicaemia/abscess (yes vs. no, OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.01-3.18) were each independently associated with higher HHV-8 seroprevalence. HHV-8 is highly prevalent in the IDU population in Greece. The independent association between HHV-8 and reported abscess or septicaemia supports the hypothesis that poor hygiene conditions in the setting of drug injection may contribute to HHV-8 transmission.

Many stress-related mental disorders, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder occur more often in women than in men. While social and cultural factors certainly contribute to these differences, neurobiological sex differences seem to also play an important role. A rapidly burgeoning literature from basic and clinical research documents sex differences in brain anatomy, chemistry and function, as well as in stress and drug responses. For example, some clinical studies have reported that women may have a better outcome when treated with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, in comparison to tricyclic antidepressants. Furthermore, relatively limited basic research has been devoted to developing animal models and consequently describing drug treatments which are sensitive to sex differences. In this MiniReview, we discuss sex differences in behavioural aspects, as well as neurochemical, neurobiological and pharmacological findings that we have collected from several different animal models and tests of depression. These are the forced swim test, the chronic mild stress and the learned helplessness models, the Flinders sensitive line rats, which is a genetic model of depression and the lipopolysaccharide-induced sickness behaviour, a putative inflammatory model of depression. Collectively, our data have shown that in all animal models assayed, serotonergic neurochemical responses were differently affected in males and females, ultimately producing sex-dependent behavioural effects. In addition, Flinders sensitive line rats exhibited a sexually dimorphic response to chronic antidepressant treatment. These sex-differentiated neurochemical and behavioural alterations lend support to a major role of serotonin in the mediation of sexually dimorphic responses.

Many stress-related mental disorders, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder occur more often in women than in men. While social and cultural factors certainly contribute to these differences, neurobiological sex differences seem to also play an important role. A rapidly burgeoning literature from basic and clinical research documents sex differences in brain anatomy, chemistry and function, as well as in stress and drug responses. For example, some clinical studies have reported that women may have a better outcome when treated with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, in comparison to tricyclic antidepressants. Furthermore, relatively limited basic research has been devoted to developing animal models and consequently describing drug treatments which are sensitive to sex differences. In this MiniReview, we discuss sex differences in behavioural aspects, as well as neurochemical, neurobiological and pharmacological findings that we have collected from several different animal models and tests of depression. These are the forced swim test, the chronic mild stress and the learned helplessness models, the Flinders sensitive line rats, which is a genetic model of depression and the lipopolysaccharide-induced sickness behaviour, a putative inflammatory model of depression. Collectively, our data have shown that in all animal models assayed, serotonergic neurochemical responses were differently affected in males and females, ultimately producing sex-dependent behavioural effects. In addition, Flinders sensitive line rats exhibited a sexually dimorphic response to chronic antidepressant treatment. These sex-differentiated neurochemical and behavioural alterations lend support to a major role of serotonin in the mediation of sexually dimorphic responses.

Using Chandra, XMM-Newton and optical photometric catalogs we study the young XRB populations of the SMC. We find that the Be-XRBs are observed in regions with star formation (SF) rate bursts ˜25-60 Myr ago. The similarity of this age with the age of maximum occurrence of the Be phenomenon (˜40 Myr) indicates that the presence of a circumstellar decretion disk plays a significant role in the number of observed XRBs in the 10-100 Myr age range. We also find that regions with strong but more recent SF (e.g. the Wing) are deficient in Be-XRBs. By correlating the number of observed Be-XRBs with the formation rate of their parent populations, we measure a Be-XRB production rate of ˜1 system per 10-6 Msun/yr. Finally, we use the strong localization of the Be-XRB systems in order to set limits on the kicks imparted on the neutron star during the supernova explosion.

We derive metal abundances ([Fe/H]) of 472 RR-Lyrae variables of RRab type in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), based on extended and merged data provided by the OGLE II and OGLE III projects. Fourier decomposition of the 11-year V-band light curves of the variables and Monte Carlo simulations have been used to derive Fourier parameters which are related to [Fe/H]. We examine possible correlations between [Fe/H] and projected distance from the dynamical center (DC) of the SMC. We also derive the distance along the line of sight of the RR-Lyrae variables which represent the old populations in the SMC. (Kapakos et al., in prep.)

Purpose: To provide an overview on smoldering (asymptomatic) multiple myeloma (SMM) including current diagnostic criteria, predictors of progression, pattern of progression, and outcome. Design: A comprehensive review of the literature on risk factors for progression, treatment attempts to delay progression and outcome in patients with SMM. Results: The risk factors for progression of SMM include: plasma cell mass including M-protein size and percentage of bone marrow clonal plasma cells (BMPC), abnormal free light chain ratio, proportion of phenotypically abnormal BMPC, immunoparesis, evolution pattern (evolving v nonevolving), and pattern of magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities. Most patients with SMM progress with anemia and/or skeletal involvement. Immediate therapy with cytotoxic agents, such as melphalan/prednisone has not resulted in improved outcome. Patients should not be treated until progressive disease with end-organ damage occurs. Increasing anemia is the most reliable indicator of progression. Conclusion: These recently recognized predictors of outcome may be helpful for better disease monitoring and for investigation of new treatment approaches. Thus, recommendations for follow-up every to 3 to 6 months depending on the risk of progression are suggested, and clinical trials with new noncytotoxic biologically derived agents to delay progression, particularly in high-risk patients, are ongoing. © 2009 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2010). Κοινωνικό φύλο - βιολογικό φύλο: το φύλο στον αθλητισμό και η ιστορικότητα του γυναικείου αποκλεισμού. Γυναίκα και Άθληση, τόμος VII, 2009/2010, σελ. 7-24.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Σκοπός της εργασίας αυτής είναι να διερευνηθούν οι αιτίες που οδήγησαν στη σημερινή υπό-εκπροσώπηση των γυναικών όσον αφορά θέσεις διοικητικής ευθύνης στους αθλητικούς θεσμούς και να προταθούν στρατηγικές ενσωμάτωσης. Στην πρώτη ενότητα αναφέρονται οι θεωρητικές προσεγγίσεις για το φύλο (κοινωνικό φύλο – βιολογικό φύλο). Εξετάζετε το έμφυλο υποκείμενο (gender subject) καθώς και η έμφυλη ταυτότητα ως αποτέλεσμα συσχετισμού της βιολογικής διαφοράς με πολύπλοκες κοινωνικές διεργασίες. Το ενδιαφέρον επικεντρώνετε στην έμφυλη ουδετερότητα, που αφορά στην πρόσβαση και ενσωμάτωση του υποκειμένου επιμέρους κοινωνικές περιοχές όπως της πολιτικής, του αθλητισμού κ.τ.λ. Διαπιστώθηκε ότι ιδιαίτερα στο υψηλό αθλητισμό, σε αντίθεση με άλλες κοινωνικές περιοχές, δεν συναντάται ως δομικό συστατικό  μια έμφυλη ουδετερότητα. Στην δεύτερη ενότητα διερευνήθηκαν οι παράγοντες υπό-εκπροσώπησης στον αγωνιστικό αθλητισμό και στους αθλητικούς θεσμούς.    Λέξεις κλειδιά: κοινωνικό φύλο, βιολογικό φύλο, έμφυλη ουδετερότητα, αθλητισμός, κοινωνική χειραφέτηση, εκδημοκρατισμός, αθλητικοί θεσμοί------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Women have come a long way since the 1952 Helsinki Games, where they represented only 10 percent of the Olympic athletes. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing women represented approximately 43 percent of the total athlete delegation, up from 41 percent in the Athens 2004 Olympics. This does not mean that their biological make-up has changed. What has changed however are the socio-cultural perceptions pertaining to gender. On the other hand, women constitute an invisible minority in sport governing bodies today. This paper focuses on women’s underrepresentation in sport governing bodies and proposes strategies-practices of gender inclusion, including the democratization of sport institutions. The first part of thestudy examines current discussions on gender, gender neutrality, the gender subject and gender identity. In the new theoretical framework gender is being transformed from a static biological perception into a dynamic social category, affecting and changing identity, gender relations and the expectations of the social environment. Namely, in today’s postmodernist reality discussions on gender no longer focus exclusively on the biological gender (sex) as an analytical category, but on the social gender which formulates, defines and redefines identity, according to evolving socio-cultural interpretations. Although the biological gender is losing its primacy as an analytical category in most social spaces (i.e. there is no regulated gender classification system in the political arena, in sports, etc.), it is enforced by rules and regulations in competitive sports, and not only. It seems to extend into sport governing bodies as well. The second part of the study explores the interrelation of outdated social theories, ‘biologistic’ approaches and anachronistic gender- based ideologies that established gender stereotypes, hierarchies in sports that continue to apply today. Women are still under-reprsented in executive bodies of national and international sport organizations, federations and institutions, such as the IOC: there are only 14 women who represent 14.1% of the total of 113 IOC members. Consequently, a critical issue which needs to be addressed extensively, among others, is the democratization of the IOC structures since exclusions based on genetic characteristics are a contradiction to the value system of sport. Keywords: gender identity, gender neutrality, democratization of the IOC.  ............................................ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ - Σκοπός της εργασίας αυτής είναι να διερευνηθούν οι αιτίες που οδήγησαν στη σημερινή υπό-εκπροσώπηση των γυναικών όσον αφορά θέσεις διοικητικής ευθύνης στους αθλητικούς θεσμούς και να προταθούν στρατηγικές ενσωμάτωσης. Στην πρώτη ενότητα αναφέρονται οι θεωρητικές προσεγγίσεις για το φύλο (κοινωνικό φύλο – βιολογικό φύλο). Εξετάζετε το έμφυλο υποκείμενο (gender subject) καθώς και η έμφυλη ταυτότητα ως αποτέλεσμα συσχετισμού της βιολογικής διαφοράς με πολύπλοκες κοινωνικές διεργασίες. Το ενδιαφέρον επικεντρώνετε στην έμφυλη ουδετερότητα, που αφορά στην πρόσβαση και ενσωμάτωση του υποκειμένου επιμέρους κοινωνικές περιοχές όπως της πολιτικής, του αθλητισμού κ.τ.λ. Διαπιστώθηκε ότι ιδιαίτερα στο υψηλό αθλητισμό, σε αντίθεση με άλλες κοινωνικές περιοχές, δεν συναντάται ως δομικό συστατικό  μια έμφυλη ουδετερότητα. Στην δεύτερη ενότητα διερευνήθηκαν οι παράγοντες υπό-εκπροσώπησης στον αγωνιστικό αθλητισμό και στους αθλητικούς θεσμούς.     Λέξεις κλειδιά: κοινωνικό φύλο, βιολογικό φύλο, έμφυλη ουδετερότητα, αθλητισμός, κοινωνική χειραφέτηση, εκδημοκρατισμός, αθλητικοί θεσμοί  

In this study, the spatial and temporal variability of the mean annual rain intensity in Greece are examined during a 41-year period (1962-2002). The meteorological datasets concern monthly rain amounts (mm) and the respective monthly durations (h) recorded at thirty two meteorological stations of the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, which are uniformly distributed on Greek territory, in order to calculate the mean monthly rain intensity. All the rain time series used in the analysis were tested by the application of the short-cut Bartlett test of homogeneity. The spatial distribution of the mean annual rain intensity is studied using the Kriging interpolation method, while the temporal variability, concerning the mean annual rain intensity trends along with their significance (Mann-Kendall test), is analysed. The findings of the analysis show that statistically significant negative trends (95% confidence level) appear mainly in the west sub-regions of Greece, while statistically significant positive trends (95% confidence level) appear in the wider area of Athens and the complex of Cyclades Islands. Further analysis concerning the seasonal rain intensity is needed, because there are different seasonal patterns, taking into account that, convective rain in Greece occurs mainly within the summer season. Β© 2010 Author(s).

BACKGROUND: The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is a norm-referenced test that assesses the spontaneous motor performance of infants from birth through independent walking (0-18 months). This scale has been utilized for clinical and research purposes in various countries, however, whether the initial standardization in Canadian infants is also representative of other countries’ populations has been questioned. AIM: To assess whether the AIMS needs new reference values for Greek infants. METHODS: A cohort of 424 healthy full-term infants (250 boys and 174 girls), aged between 7 days and 18 months, derived from various areas of the Prefecture of Attica and from all socio-economic classes to ensure a true representation, was studied. The AIMS-scores of Greek infants were compared with the norm-referenced values of the original Canadian population reported by Piper and Darrah. RESULTS: The mean AIMS-scores did not differ significantly between Greek and Canadian infants at any age level from birth to 18 months, except for the 2-<3 month of age when higher scores were observed in Greek infants (p=0.02). There was no significant difference in AIMS-values corresponding to the 5th and 90th percentile between Greek and Canadian infants. Inter-rater reliability was excellent in our study population [ICC: 0.99 (95% CI: 0.99-0.99)]. CONCLUSION: In healthy full-term Greek infants, gross motor maturity assessed by the AIMS during the first 18 months of age, seems to follow a similar course to that of Canadian infants.

Using Chandra, XMM-Newton, and optical photometric catalogs we study the young X-ray binary (XRB) populations of the Small Magellanic Cloud. We find that the Be/X-ray binaries (Be-XRBs) are observed in regions with star formation rate bursts ~25-60 Myr ago. The similarity of this age with the age of maximum occurrence of the Be phenomenon (~40 Myr) indicates that the presence of a circumstellar decretion disk plays a significant role in the number of observed XRBs in the 10-100 Myr age range. We also find that regions with strong but more recent star formation (e.g., the Wing) are deficient in Be-XRBs. By correlating the number of observed Be-XRBs with the formation rate of their parent populations, we measure a Be-XRB production rate of ~1 system per 3 × 10-3 M sun yr-1. Finally, we use the strong localization of the Be-XRB systems in order to set limits on the kicks imparted on the neutron star during the supernova explosion.

Encouraging more women and girls to take up ICT, retaining them in the sector and reproducing female participation requires working together to support an “Education-Engagement-Retention Action Plan”  (Kamberidou 2008) that entails: (1) Support of multicultural interdisciplinary gender research networks and collaborative actions that address the three major gender gaps:(a) the gender participation/engagement gap, (b) the pay gap and the (c) advancement-leadership gap. (2) Support of multicultural interdisciplinary gender research to influences mainstream developments in science and technology from a gender perspective, including a better balance of gendered content to change attitudes, perceptions and stereotypes. (3) Interdisciplinarity in education and research in order to formulate new pedagogical methods and approaches that incorporate the gender dimension. Education-training and engagement for teachers and children means extra-curricula approaches, new classroom examples and best practice models. (3) Educating the educators, re-training the trainers: learning, continued training and re-training. (4) Participation in areas of planning, management, assessment and organization. (5) Family support programmes, flexi-hours, a family-friendly working environment, child care facilities, namely an inclusive work culture. (6) The establishment of an attractive open labour market that recruits and retains women. (7) Gender networking, alliances with women, sharing, mentoring and supporting younger female colleagues in order to eliminate “gender fatigue” (Kamberidou 2010) and encourage women to take a more active role (agency), to keep up with developments, to share information, etc. (8) Social mobility in the structure, i.e. learning the system and how to use it in order to make changes. (9) Best-practice models and mentoring projects: the involvement of professional women (Leaders) already employed in science and technology, the academia, research sectors. (10)  Raising the profile of our role models and female leaders as well as the diversity of careers available. We need to inspire women into technology with innovative and different approaches such as the European Commission’s shadowing activities (http://ec.europa.eu/itgirls, mentoring programs and so forth. We need to all join forces and work together to accomplish this. For example, the ECWT (www.womenandtechnology.eu) and the EUD www.ictwomendirectory.eu)  provide such a platform for collaborations.

• Disseminated to 5.000 readers in five languages (translated from English), Greek translation G.3.1 in Apella.
• Κυκλοφόρησε αρχικά σε e-Newsletter το οποίο μεταφράστηκε σε πέντε (5) γλώσσες και διανεμήθηκε ηλεκτρονικά σε 5.000 αναγνώστες (Fostering Gender Mainstreaming in the ICT Sector, E-Newsletter, Nov. 19, 2010, pp. 1-5)
•  Η προαναφερόμενη εισήγηση δημοσιεύτηκε ηλεκτρονικά μετά το συνέδριο (στο πλαίσιο του Ευρωπαϊκού συνεδρίου:  “Women Choosing ICT careers: Influencing Policy from Practice.” Που πραγματοποιήθηκε στο Hellenic American Union, Athens Greece, 26 Οκτ. 2010. (ζωντανή μετάδοση του συνεδρίου at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/gender-it-conference.

Αναδημοσίευση του προαναφερόμενου άρθρου στις ιστοσελίδες των e-news  του ECWT-European Centre for Women and Technology (www.womenandtechnology.eu) και στο   http://www.ictwomendirectory.eu/digitalcity/projects/eudir/eudir_news-

(Στην αμερικάνικη ιστοσελίδα ηθικού και βιοηθικού επιστημονικού ενδιαφέροντος http://ethicshare.org/files/user_files/5759/Fanaras,%20EAP%20Article%202010%20pp.%201-14Copy.pdf ) Η παρούσα πρωτότυπη εργασία δημοσιεύθηκε στα αγγλικά και περιλαμβάνει θέσεις και απόψεις για την έρευνα στα βλαστοκύτταρα από την ορθόδοξη χριστιανική  ηθική άποψη.

 

In this study, immobilized nitrogen and fluorine co-doped TiO2 (NF-TiO2) was synthesized employing a fluorosurfactant-based sol-gel method to tailor-design the nanoparticulate, structural and photocatalytic properties of the catalyst. Besides the co-doping of nitrogen and fluorine observed for visible light photoresponse, the nanostructure of the dip-coated films was effectively controlled by modifying the molar ratio of the fluorosurfactant. The synthesized films were evaluated for the destruction of two emerging contaminants, hepatotoxin microcystin LR (MC-LR) and herbicice Amitrole. NF-TiO2 films showed high photocatalytic activity for the degradation of both MC-LR and Amitrole compared to control experiments under both visible and solar light irradiation. Moreover, NF-TiO2 nanostructured films also exhibited high mechanical stability and no irreversible changes were observed during photocatalysis after 3 cycles under visible light. These results are promising for further development of sustainable remediation technologies for the treatment of water contaminated with MC-LR and other persistent micropollutants, based on advanced oxidation processes driven by solar light as a renewable source of energy.

In this study, the mean rain intensity (mm/h) in Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece, is examined during the period 1930-2007. The daily meteorological data were acquired from the meteorological stations of the National Observatory of Athens (Thissio) and the University Campus of Thessaloniki. These stations have recorded the longest and reliable daily rain time series in Greece. The trends of the annual and seasonal mean, as well as the maximum rain intensity, are analyzed. On the one hand, all of the time series in Athens present higher figures of mean rain intensity during the period 1990-2007 compared to the period 1930-1990. On the other hand, regarding the time series in Thessaloniki, the mean rain intensity remains in lower level than the respective one in Athens without significant trend at the Confidence Level (CL) 95%. As far as the annual and seasonal maximum rain intensity is concerned, similar patterns appear. However, the summer maximum rain intensity in Thessaloniki remains at higher levels till 1970's. The atmospheric circulation patterns for the extreme rain intensities show intense negative anomalies centred over Greece and positive anomalies to the north, with centre over Scandinavia.

The PMTs of the CMS Hadron Forward calorimeter were found to generate a large size signal when their windows were traversed by energetic charged particles. This signal, which is due to Čerenkov light production at the PMT window, could interfere with the calorimeter signal and mislead the measurements. In order to find a viable solution to this problem, the response of four different types of PMTs to muons traversing their windows at different orientations is measured at the H2 beam-line at CERN. Certain kinds of PMTs with thinner windows show significantly lower response to direct muon incidence. For the four anode PMT, a simple and powerful algorithm to identify such events and recover the PMT signal using the signals of the quadrants without window hits is also presented. For the measurement of PMT responses to Čerenkov light, the Hadron Forward calorimeter signal was mimicked by two different setups in electron beams and the PMT performances were compared with each other. Superior performance of particular PMTs was observed.

The phase 3 Velcade as Initial Standard Therapy in Multiple Myeloma: Assessment with Melphalan and Prednisone study in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients ineligible for high-dose therapy demonstrated that bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone (VMP) was superior to melphalan-prednisone across all efficacy end points. We assessed the prognostic impact of response on time-to-event parameters in the intent-to-treat population. Patients received nine 6-week cycles of treatment. Time to progression, time to next therapy, and treatment-free interval were associated with quality of response. When European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation criteria were used, complete response (CR) was associated with significantly longer time to progression (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.45, P = .004), time to next therapy (HR = 0.46, P = .0004), and treatment-free interval (HR = 0.38, P < .0001) versus partial response, but there was no significant difference in overall survival (HR = 0.87, P = .54); similar differences were seen with CR versus very good partial response by uniform criteria. Quality of response improved with prolonged VMP treatment, with 28% of CRs achieved during cycles 5-9. CR duration appeared similar among patients with "early" (cycles 1-4) and "late" CRs (cycles 5-9) and among patients receiving 9 versus < 9 cycles of bortezomib within VMP. These results highlight that CR is an important treatment goal and support prolonged VMP therapy to achieve maximal response. This study is registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00111319. © 2010 by The American Society of Hematology.

To investigate the transient nature of supersoft sources (SSSs) in M 31, we compared SSS candidates of the XMM-Newton Deep Survey, ROSAT PSPC surveys and the Chandra catalogues in the same field. We found 40 SSSs in the XMM-Newton observations. While 12 of the XMM-Newton sources were brighter than the limiting flux of the ROSAT PSPC survey, only two were detected with ROSAT ˜10 yr earlier. Five correlate with recent optical novae which explains why they were not detected by ROSAT. The remaining 28 XMM-Newton SSSs have fluxes below the ROSAT detection threshold. Nevertheless we found one correlation with a ROSAT source, which had significantly larger fluxes than during the XMM-Newton observations. Ten of the XMM-Newton SSSs were detected by Chandra with <1- ˜6 yr between the observations. Five were also classified as SSSs by Chandra. Of the 30 ROSAT SSSs three were confirmed with XMM-Newton, while for 11 sources other classifications are suggested. Of the remaining 16 sources one correlates with an optical nova. Of the 42 Chandra very-soft sources five are classified as XMM-Newton SSSs, while for 22 we suggest other classifications. Of the remaining 15 sources, nine are classified as transient by Chandra, one of them correlates with an optical nova. These findings underlined the high variability of the sources of this class and the connection between SSSs and optical novae. Only three sources, were detected by all three missions as SSSs. Thus they are visible for more than a decade, despite their variability. Based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and NASA.

Purpose: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the survival effect of venous thromboembolism (VTE) development in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Methods: Two identically designed, multicenter, double-blind, phase III clinical trials (MM-009 and MM-010) were conducted in Europe and the United States to assess the effect of lenalidomide in combination with dexamethasone versus dexamethasone plus placebo in patients with relapsed or refractory MM, after failing at least one prior line of treatment. In this retrospective analysis, we evaluated incidence and survival effect of thromboembolism in 353 patients randomly assigned to receive 25 mg of lenalidomide on days 1 through 21 of a 28-day cycle, plus 40 mg of oral dexamethasone on days 1 through 4, 9 through 12, and 17 through 20 for the first four cycles; after the fourth cycle, 40 mg of dexamethasone was administered on days 1 through 4 only. Results: Seventeen percent of patients experienced a thromboembolic episode. The development of VTE did not significantly affect overall survival (P = .90) or time to progression (P = .34). No significant survival impact was observed in a subgroup of patients who received prophylactic anticoagulation (overall survival P = .7, time to progression P = .1). Conclusion: Patients with MM treated with lenalidomide and high-dose dexamethasone who developed a VTE did not experience shorter overall survival or time to progression. © 2009 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

We report the detection of a nova candidate in M 31 using observations with the UltraViolet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) on board the Swift satellite. The object was serendipitously detected in the UVW1 filter (181-321nm) UVOT observation 00031255018 with 4333 s exposure starting on 2010-06-24.02 UT with a magnitude of 19.5+-0.2. The position for the nova candidate is RA = 00h42m55s.56, Dec = +41d19'25".5 (J2000, accuracy of 1.0"), which is 127" east and 197" north of the core of M 31.

The reaction of [Ru(η6-p-cymene)Cl2]2 with 2.0 mol equivalents of C(CH2SMe)4, C(CH 2SeMe)4, 1,2,4,5-C6H2(CH 2SMe)4 or 1,2,4,5-C6H2(CH 2SeMe)4 (L4) and [NH4][PF 6] in ethanol solution forms the [RuCl(η6-p-cymene) {κ2-L4}][PF6] complexes. Similar Os(II) complexes are obtained starting with [Os(η6-p-cymene)Cl 2]2. Treatment of [RuCl(η6-p-cymene) {κ2-L4}][PF6] with a further 0.5 mol equivalents of [Ru(η6-p-cymene)Cl2]2 or reaction of [Ru(η6-p-cymene)Cl2]2 directly with 1.0 mol equivalent of L4 forms the homobimetalllic [{RuCl(η6-p-cymene)}2{κ2κ ′2-L4}][PF6]2. Reaction of [OsCl(η6-p-cymene)-{κ2-C(CH2SeMe) 4}][PF6] with [Ru(η6-p-cymene)Cl 2]2 or [PtCl2(MeCN)2] affords the heterobimetallic [{OsCl(η6-p-cymene)}{RuCl(η6-p- cymene)}{κ2κ′2-C(CH2SeMe) 4}][PF6]2 and [{OsCl(η6-p- cymene)}{PtCl2}{κ2κ′2- C(CH2SeMe)4}][PF6] respectively. The complexes have been characterised by multinuclear NMR and IR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The synthesis and properties of homomonometallic and homo-and hetero- bimetallic complexes based upon tetrathio-or tetraselenoether ligands with {(arene)MCl]+ units are described, and crystal structures reported for representative examples. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.

Glycogen phosphorylase (GP) is a promising molecular target for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. The design of potential inhibitors for the catalytic site of the enzyme is based on the high affinity for -D-glucopyranose and the pres- ence of a -cavity that extends from the sugar anomeric position forming a 15 x 7.5 x 10 Å available space. This review is focused on our efforts towards the design and synthesis of various families of potential inhibitors, including N--D- glucopyranosyl oxamic acid esters and oxamides, N--D-glucopyranosylaminocarbonyl L-aminoacids and peptides, as well as glucose-derived purine and pyrimidine nucleosides, spiro- and other bicyclic derivatives. Kinetic and crystallo- graphic study of the interactions of these inhibitors with GP has increased our understanding of the importance of the various functional groups within the catalytic site and has pointed the way towards the in silico prediction and design of potent inhibitors, which are both synthetically viable and pharmacologically relevant.

This study reports on the synthesis, characterization and environmental application of immobilized nitrogen and fluorine co-doped TiO2 (NF-TiO2) photocatalyst. A fluorosurfactant-based sol-gel approach was employed to enhance the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activity of NF-TiO2 under visible and UV light for the degradation of the hepatotoxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR). The films were characterized by XRD, environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), TEM, AFM, EPR, micro-Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS), UV-vis spectroscopy and porosimeter analysis. The results revealed that by modifying the molar ratio of the fluorosurfactant, we could effectively control the physicochemical properties and obtain films with high BET surface area and porosity, small crystallite size and narrow pore size distribution. UV-vis spectroscopy showed an increase in the absorption capacity of NF-TiO2 in the visible light range compared to reference films. The existence of interstitial nitrogen and substitutional fluorine in the titanium dioxide (TiO2) lattice was determined by XPS. Comparative EPR measurements between the co-doped and reference samples identified distinct N spin species in NF-TiO2, with a high sensitivity to visible light irradiation. The abundance of these paramagnetic centers verifies the formation of localized intra-gap states in TiO2 and implies synergistic effects between fluorine and nitrogen dopants. Micro-Raman spectroscopy showed the growth of small amounts of brookite concomitantly with the major anatase TiO2 phase, which could promote the system's photocatalytic activity through the formation of anatase/brookite heterojunctions. Analysis of the lower frequency Eg anatase Raman mode indicated the occurrence of size effects reflecting phonon confinement in the anatase nanocrystallites as well as deviations from stoichiometry due to structural defects in the co-doped sample. NF-TiO2 films effectively degraded MC-LR under visible and UV light compared to reference film. Similar MC-LR degradation rates under visible light after three cycles revealed high mechanical stability and no irreversible changes of the film during photocatalysis. This process has the potential of providing environmentally benign routes for drinking water treatment with solar powered photocatalytic systems. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.

We have developed a quantum-mechanical theory for the interaction of light and electron-hole excitations in semiconductor quantum dots. Our theoretical analysis results in an expression for the photoluminescence intensity in the non-linear regime. The validity of the theoretical results is tested analyzing experimental data reported for the temperature dependence of the emission spectra of an individual lens-shaped In0.4Ga0.6As self-assembled quantum dot in a wide temperature range up to 300 K. Our theoretical predictions for the redshift of the emission peak with increasing temperature, in the range 2–300 K, agree with the experiment.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines propose different reperfusion strategies for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) depending on the time delay from pain onset, the availability of a catheterization laboratory and the patient's characteristics. In order to implement national strategies to improve reperfusion rates the existing situation must be first analysed. The aim of this report is to provide a description of where and when STEMI patients present in a countrywide registry. METHODS: The Hellenic Infarction Observation Study (HELIOS) was a countrywide registry that enrolled 1096 patients with STEMI from 31 hospitals with a proportional representation of all types of hospitals from all geographical areas. We recorded the proportion of patients that fits within each category of treatment algorithms. RESULTS: The following percentages of the total STEMI population were recorded: a) admitted in invasive hospitals within 12 h 28.7% (with 26% of those not reperfused) and after 12 h 5.9% and b) admitted in non-invasive hospitals within 3 h 34.9% (with 30% of those not reperfused), 3-12 h 19.3% and after 12 h 11%. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of STEMI patients are admitted either in an invasive hospital within 12 h or in a non-invasive one within 3 h from pain onset and therefore can be treated locally according to the guidelines. A relatively small percentage of patients are late presenters in non-invasive centres and are candidates for immediate transfer for primary PCI. These data could be useful in planning reperfusion strategies at countrywide level since not all patients may require immediate transfer for primary PCI.

The goal of this work is the analysis of air quality levels in the area of Volos, a city of average size on the eastern seaboard of Central Greece. For this purpose, concentration measurements of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and nitrogen dioxide, for a 4-year period (2001-2004) are analyzed. Air pollution data were obtained by a monitoring station, fully automated, which was established by the Hellenic Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning, and Public Works, in order to measure air pollution levels in Volos, a medium-sized city, which faces the effects of industrialization. The main conclusions from the statistical analysis of the 4-year measurements of hourly SO2, NO2, and NO concentrations in the city of Volos, showed that the mean seasonal variation of the examined air pollutant concentration presents a minimum during the warm period of the year and a maximum during the cold period. Although the local geomorphology and meteorology encourage particularly the accumulation of air pollutants, the analysis shows that the SO2 and NO2 concentration levels remain lower than corresponding thresholds for human health protection set by the European Union, in this urban measuring site, during the examined period. The application of harmonic analysis revealed the difference between the annual variation of the SO2 and NO x concentrations. Regarding NO x, the variation is mainly due to the first harmonic term (anthropogenic factor), while the SO2 variation is interpreted by the two harmonic terms, which represent the anthropogenic and meteorological factors, respectively. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

The revised tectono-stratigraphy of Crete and especially of the "Phyllites-Quartzites" complex demonstrated the distinction of the probable Paleozoic low-medium grade metamorphic rocks of the Arna unit from the underlying Permo-Triassic phyllites and associated carbonate sediments (Trypali facies) of Western Crete unit as well as the overlying Permo-Triassic phyllites and associated sediments of the Tyros/Ravdoucha Beds at the base of the Tripolis unit. The pre-existing mixture of the above tectono-stratigaphic units in a single complex created a number of misinterpretations as far as stratigraphy, metamorphism and interpretation of low angle faults as thrusts or detachments. Especially in cases where the inferred tectonic contact concerns the transition between the Tyros Beds and the base of the Tripolis carbonate platform there is no structural omission and therefore the contact represents a minor disharmonic sliding surface and not a detachment. Based on the revised tectono-stratigraphic analysis the determination of the structural omission for each tectonic contact was possible and several detachments were described for the first time. Footwall rocks of the detachments comprised several tectonic units usually from the lower nappes and hanging wall rocks comprised several tectonic units usually from the upper nappes. The detachment may separate not only metamorphosed units in the footwall (Mani, Western Crete, Arna) from non metamorphosed units in the hanging wall (Tripolis, Pindos and higher nappes) but also all other possible combinations from the Cretan nappe pile. Extension in Crete started in the Middle-Late Miocene with the formation of extensional detachment faults. The reported extensional structures of Oligocene to Early Miocene age do not correspond to crustal extension of Crete but to localized shear zones related to nappe stacking and the exhumation of metamorphic rocks. Extensional detachments in Crete form a tectonic horst through two oppositely dipping E-W-trending zones; one dipping north, related to the opening of the Cretan basin, and the other dipping south, related to the formation of the Messara supra-detachment basin. The deformation history of units within Crete can be summarized as: (i) compressional deformation producing arc-parallel east-west-trending south-directed thrust faults in Oligocene to Early Miocene time; (ii) extensional deformation along arc-parallel, east-west-trending detachment faults in Middle Miocene time, with hanging wall motion to the north and south; and (iii) Late Miocene-Quaternary transtensional deformation along high-angle normal and oblique normal faults that disrupt the older arc-parallel structures.

Purpose: To identify if thymidine phosphorylase (TP), dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), and ratio TP/DPD levels in tumor tissues are potential predictive factors for response to combined preoperative chemoradiation with capecitabine, in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Methods And Patients: Between 2004 and 2006, 28 patients with LARC (cT2-T4, N0-N2) were treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Total radiation dose was 50.4 Gy and daily dose was 1.8 Gy in 5.5 weeks. Capecitabine was administrated 1,650 mg/m2/day, 7 days/week. Preoperative staging was based on combined computer tomography and endorectal ultrasound. Tissue samples, both neoplastic and normal ones, were endoscopically taken before treatment for TP and DPD measurement with ELISA. Levels of total proteins were calculated by the Bradford method. Results: Median TP, DPD, ratio TP/DPD levels in the primary tumors were 32.85 U/mg, 18.73 U/mg, and 1.64 respectively. Median ratio TP/DPD of patients with proven pathological "response" (downstaging of the disease) was higher than the "no response" group, 4.40 and 1.42, respectively (P = 0.0001). Levels of TP and DPD in tumor tissue did not reveal any statistically important difference between the two groups. Conclusions: TP/DPD ratio is a possible predictive factor for tumor response after concomitant preoperative chemoradiation with capecitabine in LARC. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Background: Postpartum mood disturbances are very common with postpartum blues being as high as 44.5% among Greek women. This study aimed to investigate whether thyroid function within the normal range affects the incidence of postpartum mood disturbances. Methods: In a cross-sectional study in the maternity ward of Aretaieion Hospital, 57 Greek women were evaluated for postpartum mood swings by the Maternity Blues Questionnaire and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale on the first and sixth week postpartum. Serum Free T4, Free T3 and TSH concentrations as well as thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase antibodies were measured on admission for delivery and daily until the fourth postpartum day. We examined the association between hormone and antibody levels, and scores in the two scales evaluating postpartum mood disturbances. Results: Prepartum serum FT3 and FT4 correlated negatively with blues scores in the first week postpartum (blues on day 4: with FT3, rho = - 0.44, p ≤ 0.01; with FT4 rho = - 0.36, p ≤ 0.01). Women with lower FT3 and FT4 levels belonged to the high scoring group (high scoring group: FT3 = 1.22 pg/ml, FT4 = 0.66 ng/dl; low scoring group: FT3 = 1.64 pg/ml, FT4 = 0.73 ng/dl). Serum FT3 showed a negative independent correlation with postpartum blues scores in the first postpartum days. No association was found between thyroid antibody levels and mood scores. Conclusion: Our findings indicate an association between the occurrence of postpartum mood disorders and antenatal thyroid function. Within normal limits, lower levels of serum FT3 and FT4 are associated with increased incidence of mood disturbances in the first postpartum week. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tornado activity is associated with extreme convective weather which can cause extended damage and even in some cases the loss of life. The complex inland terrain of Greece along with the Ionian Sea at the west and the Aegean Sea at the east appear to be a favorable area for fury phenomena such as tornadoes, waterspouts and funnel clouds. In this study, the spatial and temporal variability of tornado activity in Greece for the period 1900g-1999 are presented. The spatial distribution of tornadoes, waterspouts and funnel clouds reveals the vulnerability of specific geographical areas, such as the west Greece and the south Aegean Sea. As far as the intra annual variability is concerned, the maximum of tornado activity dominates within the cold period of the year (Octoberg-March) while according to the daily distribution, tornadoes happen frequently during the warm hours of the day. It is remarkable to mention that in Greece, within the 20th century, the tornado activity caused the loss of 4 lifes, the injury of 40 people and numerous damages on human constructions and cultivations. © 2010 Author(s).

As a result of the variability survey in χ Persei and NGC 6910, the number of β Cep stars that are members of these two open clusters is increased to twenty stars, nine in NGC 6910 and eleven in χ Persei. We compare pulsational properties, in particular the frequency spectra, of β Cep stars in both clusters and explain the differences in terms of the global parameters of the clusters. We also indicate that the more complicated pattern of the variability among B-type stars in χ Persei is very likely caused by higher rotational velocities of stars in this cluster. We conclude that the sample of pulsating stars in the two open clusters constitutes a very good starting point for the ensemble asteroseismology of β Cep-type stars and maybe also for other B-type pulsators.

In this work we unmask a novel downregulation mechanism of the uric acid/xanthine transporter UapA, the prototype member of the ubiquitous Nucleobase-Ascorbate Transporter family, directly related to its function. In the presence of substrates, UapA is endocytosed, sorted into the multivesicular body pathway and degraded in vacuoles. Substrate-induced endocytosis, unlike ammonium-induced turnover, is absolutely dependent on UapA activity and several lines of evidence showed that the signal for increased endocytosis is the actual translocation of substrates through the UapA protein. The use of several UapA functional mutants with altered kinetics and specificity has further shown that transport-dependent UapA endocytosis occurs through a mechanism, which senses subtle conformational changes associated with the transport cycle. We also show that distinct mechanisms of UapA endocytosis necessitate ubiquitination of a single Lys residue (K572) by HulA(Rsp5). Finally, we demonstrate that in the presence of substrates, non-functional UapA versions can be endocytosed in trans if expressed in the simultaneous presence of active UapA versions, even if the latter cannot be endocytosed themselves.

The recent breakthrough discoveries of transport systems assigned with atypical functions provide evidence for complexity in membrane transport biochemistry. Some channels are far from being simple pores creating hydrophilic passages for solutes and can, unexpectedly, act as enzymes, or mediate high-affinity uptake, and some transporters are surprisingly able to function as sensors, channels or even enzymes. Furthermore, numerous transport studies have demonstrated complex multiphasic uptake kinetics for organic and mineral nutrients. The biphasic kinetics of glucose uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a result of several genetically distinct uptake systems operating simultaneously, is a classical example that is a subject of continuous debate. In contrast, some transporters display biphasic kinetics, being bona fidae dual-affinity transporters, their kinetic properties often modulated by post-translational regulation. Also, aquaporins have recently been reported to exhibit diverse transport properties and can behave as highly adapted, multifunctional channels, transporting solutes such as CO(2), hydrogen peroxide, urea, ammonia, glycerol, polyols, carbamides, purines and pyrimidines, metalloids, glycine, and lactic acid, rather than being simple water pores. The present review provides an overview on some atypical functions displayed by transporter proteins and discusses how this novel knowledge on cellular uptake systems may be related to complex multiphasic uptake kinetics often seen in a wide variety of living organisms and the intriguing diffusive uptake of sugars and other solutes.

We review recent theoretical and experimental in progress in the realisation of slow and stopped light by the 'trapped rainbow' principle in optical metamaterials featuring negative electromagnetic parameters (permittivity/permeability and/or refractive index). We explain how and why these structures can enable complete stopping of light even in the presence of disorder and, simultaneously, dissipative losses. Using full-wave numerical simulations we show that the incorporation of thin layers made of an active medium adjacently to the core layer of a negative-refractive-index waveguide can completely remove dissipative losses - in a slow-light regime where the effective index of the guided wave is negative. © 2010 SPIE.

We prospectively studied the impact of several cytogenetic abnormalities (CAs) in patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma who received lenalidomide and dexamethasone (RD) with or without the addition of bortezomib (V). On the basis of the presence of previous neuropathy, 50 patients were treated with RD and 49, without preexisting neuropathy, with VRD. The overall response rate was 63%, similar for RD and VRD. Poor risk cytogenetics were associated with lower response rates in RD (P=0.01), but not in VRD (P=0.219). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was similar for RD (9 months) and VRD (7 months). The median overall survival (OS) for all patients was 16 months, with no differences between RD or VRD regimens. Poor risk cytogenetics, especially del17p, resistance to previous thalidomide, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and presence of extramedullary disease were associated with inferior response to therapy and shorter PFS and OS. The impact of other CAs on OS was more pronounced in RD. In conclusion, the presence of CAs is an important adverse prognostic factor for patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma, but resistance to previous thalidomide, elevated LDH and presence of extramedullary disease remain of major prognostic importance. The outcome of patients with del17p remains extremely poor even with VRD combination. © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved.

Introduction of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib and the immunomodulatory drugs thalidomide and lenalidomide has substantially improved outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma. As a result, these drugs have become cornerstones of current antimyeloma treatment regimens. However, after several years of clinical experience it has become apparent that peripheral neuropathy is the most common and potentially disabling non-haematological side-effect associated with thalidomide and bortezomib. Maximising treatment benefit while preserving quality of life therefore requires a careful balance between achieving optimum activity and minimising toxicity, including neuropathy, to further enhance efficacy. In this review, we discuss all aspects of drug-induced peripheral neuropathy in myeloma, with a particular focus on thalidomide and bortezomib. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.

Using Chandra, XMM-Newton and optical data we study the young (?Myr) X-ray binary (XRB) populations of the Magellanic Clouds. We find that the Be-XRBs of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) are observed in regions with star formation (SF) rate bursts ˜25-60 Myr ago. The similarity of this age with the age of maximum occurrence of the Be phenomenon (˜40 Myr) indicates that the presence of a circumstellar decretion disk plays a significant role in the number of observed XRBs in the 10-100 Myr age range. We also find that regions with strong but more recent SF (e.g. the Wing) are deficient in Be-XRBs. By correlating the number of observed Be-XRBs with the formation rate of their parent populations, we measure a Be-XRB production rate of ˜1 system per 10^{-6} M⊙/yr. Finally, we use the strong localization of the Be-XRB systems in order to set limits on the kicks imparted on the neutron star during the supernova explosion. Understanding of the populations of compact objects and their connection with star-formation (SF) will allow us to investigate channels of XRB formation in a variety of environments and therefore help in studies of the X-ray source populations of star-forming galaxies outside our Local Group, and even enable their use as a SF diagnostic. This work was supported from NASA LTSA grant NAG5-13056, and NASA grant GO2-3117X.

The first structurally characterised zerovalent platinum complex to contain a tridentate pincer-type coordination mode (κ3-SBS) is presented, raising further questions concerning the geometries and trans influence of Z-type ligands. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2010.

We report on the effective optical response of a uniaxial crystal of metal–dielectric–metal nanosandwiches, which exhibits artificial optical magnetism, through full-electrodynamic simulations by the extended layer-multiple-scattering method. Using a recently developed all-angle homogenization procedure, which is based on rigorous results of complex-band-structure and reflection-coefficient calculations, we deduce local effective permittivity and permeability tensors, appropriate for this crystal. We show that the effective-medium description breaks down as we approach the region of the magnetic resonance. In a frequency region close to the resonance the retrieved effective parameters, though doubtful, indicate that the crystal under consideration may exhibit negative refraction. This behaviour is demonstrated by rigorous calculation of the isofrequency surfaces of the actual crystal and determination of the relevant group velocities.

Lytic bone disease is a frequent complication of multiple myeloma (MM). Lytic lesions rarely heal and X-rays are of limited value in monitoring bone destruction during anti-myeloma or anti-resorptive treatment. Biochemical markers of bone resorption (amino- and carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX and CTX, respectively) or CTX generated by matrix metalloproteinases (ICTP)) and bone formation provide information on bone dynamics and reflect disease activity in bone. These markers have been investigated as tools for evaluating the extent of bone disease, risk of skeletal morbidity and response to anti-resorptive treatment in MM. Urinary NTX, serum CTX and serum ICTP are elevated in myeloma patients with osteolytic lesions and correlate with advanced disease stage. Furthermore, urinary NTX and serum ICTP correlate with risk for skeletal complications, disease progression and overall survival. Bone markers have also been used for the early diagnosis of bone lesions. This International Myeloma Working Group report summarizes the existing data for the role of bone markers in assessing the extent of MM bone disease and in monitoring bone turnover during anti-myeloma therapies and provides information on novel markers that may be of particular interest in the near future. © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved.

The recently proposed, ISSWM staging system for symptomatic patients with WM was based on patients treated with alkylating agents and nucleoside analogs and has not been externally validated nor has been validated for cause-specific survival (CSS). We independently validated ISSWM both for overall survival (OS) and for CSS and assessed whether addition of elevated serum LDH may add to the strength of ISSWM in 335 patients treated upfront mainly with alkylating agents (43%), and rituximab-based therapies (47%). ISSWM could discriminate three groups with significantly different OS and CSS (p< 0.01 for both). High serum LDH was predictive of shorter OS and CSS (p< 0.01). The combination of high risk according to ISSWM and elevated serum LDH identified a subset of patients for whom innovative treatment approaches are needed. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.

OJ 287 is a BL Lac object at redshift z = 0.306 that has shown double-peaked bursts at regular intervals of ~12yr during the last ~40yr. We analyse optical photopolarimetric monitoring data from 2005 to 2009, during which the latest double-peaked outburst occurred. The aim of this study is twofold: firstly, we aim to analyse variability patterns and statistical properties of the optical polarization light curve. We find a strong preferred position angle in optical polarization. The preferred position angle can be explained by separating the jet emission into two components: an optical polarization core and chaotic jet emission. The optical polarization core is stable on time-scales of years and can be explained as emission from an underlying quiescent jet component. The chaotic jet emission sometimes exhibits a circular movement in the Stokes plane. We find six such events, all on the time-scales of 10-20d. We interpret these events as a shock front moving forwards and backwards in the jet, swiping through a helical magnetic field. Secondly, we use our data to assess different binary black hole models proposed to explain the regularly appearing double-peaked bursts in OJ 287. We compose a list of requirements a model has to fulfil to explain the mysterious behaviour observed in OJ 287. The list includes not only characteristics of the light curve but also other properties of OJ 287, such as the black hole mass and restrictions on accretion flow properties. We rate all existing models using this list and conclude that none of the models is able to explain all observations. We discuss possible new explanations and propose a new approach to understanding OJ 287. We suggest that both the double-peaked bursts and the evolution of the optical polarization position angle could be explained as a sign of resonant accretion of magnetic field lines, a `magnetic breathing' of the disc.

Hb Agrinio [α29(B10)Leu→Pro] is a highly unstable variant, classified as a nondeletional α-thalassemia (α-thal) mutation. To date it has only been described in individuals of Greek and Cypriot origin. Evaluation of the phenotypic presentation of 12 Hb Agrinio homozygotes or compound heterozygotes, diagnosed in a single center in Greece during a 15-year period, found a wide clinical expression, ranging from thalassemia intermedia (with or without transfusion requirement) to Hb H hydrops fetalis, with some phenotype-to-genotype correlation. The often severe clinical presentation of Hb Agrinio homozygotes or Hb Agrinio compound heterozygotes, coinheriting severe α-thal determinants, indicates that molecular identification of carriers of the Hb Agrinio mutation should be considered within the context of screening programs involving individuals of Greek and Cypriot origin. Selective molecular investigation of candidate carriers is facilitated by the observation that all heterozygotes for the Hb Agrinio mutation present with at least one hematological parameter implicating an α-thal carrier state.

Young stellar object jets are supersonic and highly collimated plasma outflows that propagate for large distances. Although their association to star formation is a well established fact, there are still open questions such as whether the outflow is of disk or stellar origin, how the jet’s time variable structure is produced and why there is an asymmetry between the opposite bipolar flows. The increasing angular resolution of modern telescopes gradually provides the clues to clarify and understand such issues. An emerging picture is that of a two-component protostellar jet, where a high mass loss rate disk wind surrounds a hot stellar outflow. In this context, our group has carried out numerical simulations of several two-component magnetohydrodynamic jet models, setting as initial conditions a combination of two well studied analytical solutions. We investigated the dynamics and the steady state features of many interesting cases as a function of the mixing parameters and the enforced time variability. A highly significant result was the morphological reproduction of the large scale knot-like structure of many young stellar objects jets. Moreover, with the assumption of a quadrupolar disk field we found asymmetric velocities between the bipolar outflows suggesting a possible explanation for this observational fact. In this article we summarize the results on the dynamics and the velocity profiles of a few interesting two-component jet scenarios.

Paraneoplastic syndromes represent a group of clinical manifestations widely separated from the primary site of malignancy, which are not caused by local infiltration of the tumor or its metastases. Alterations of hemostasis and vascular abnormalities commonly accompany the progression of malignant disease. Hypercoagulability, changes in coagulation factors, anticoagulant proteins, circulating anticoagulants or platelets, and vascular responses have been noted during the disease process. The purpose of this review is to illustrate and present the current state of knowledge surrounding vascular paraneoplastic manifestations in gynecologic oncology. Since they may constitute the presenting feature of an undiagnosed gynecologic cancer, it is important to seek to identify such malignancies in women presenting with clinical thrombotic or bleeding syndromes. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Inquiries into the relationships between viral respiratory tract illnesses and the inception and exacerbation of asthma are being facilitated by recent advances in research approaches and technology. In this article we identify important knowledge gaps and future research questions, and we discuss how new investigational tools, including improved respiratory tract virus detection techniques, will permit current and future researchers to define these relationships and the host, virus, developmental, and environmental mechanisms that regulate them. A better understanding of these processes should facilitate the development of improved strategies for the prevention and treatment of virus-induced wheezing illnesses and asthma exacerbations and, possibly, the ultimate goal of discovering effective approaches for the primary prevention of asthma.

aspects on the interactive masks createdby the composer Georgia Spiropoulosfor the needs of the opera LesBacchantes (Ircam, 2010). Bacchae isan opera for a single performer, tapeand live electronics where the voice ofthe performer interprets four differentroles with the interactive environmentin Max/Msp. The virtual masks as ametaphor of Euripide’s dramaticpersonae and masks1 of the same actor.Are used as virtual scores whichregister the vocal trace of the performerand give further vocal agility,extensibility, mutation, multiplicationand augmented vocality.

alpha-Lactalbumin (alpha-La) is a major cow's milk (CM) allergen responsible for allergic reactions in infants.|We performed molecular, structural, and immunologic characterization of alpha-La.|Recombinant alpha-lactalbumin (ralpha-La) was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity, and characterized by means of mass spectrometry and circular dichroism, and its allergenic activity was studied by using microarray technology, as well as in a basophil histamine release assay. IgE epitope mapping was performed with synthetic peptides.|According to circular dichroism analysis, ralpha-La represented a folded protein with a high thermal stability and refolding capacity. ralpha-La reacted with IgE antibodies from 57.6% of patients with CM allergy (n = 66) and induced the strongest basophil degranulation with sera from patients with CM allergy who had exhibited gastrointestinal symptoms or severe systemic reactions on CM exposure. ralpha-La contained sequential and conformational IgE epitopes. Superposition of IgE-reactive peptides onto the 3-dimensional structure of alpha-La revealed a close vicinity of the N- and C-terminal peptides within a surface-exposed patch.|ralpha-La can be used for the diagnosis of patients with severe allergic reactions to CM and serves as a paradigmatic tool for the development of therapeutic strategies for CM allergy.

These files present the observational data of the paper. There are 7 files : 6 for photometry (BVRIri) and one for polarimetry. Details of the reduction procedures and the telescopes involved can be found in the paper. (7 data files).

Historical buildings are important structures and their preservation and restoration is a vital issue worldwide. A crucial step before interventions is the definition of potential hazards and the monument’s vulnerability estimation. The Kapnikarea chapel is one of the most important and popular Byzantine monuments in Athens and dates back to the 11th century. In 1994, construction of the Athens underground Metro system began, with the tunnels passing underneath Kapnikarea foundations. During excavations, sounds of the approaching underground activities (heavy drilling and hydraulic hammer equipment) were heard in the interior of the chapel, and several failures were observed inside the church. Additional reasons reduced the structure’s rigidity are deterioration in time and past severe earthquakes. Towards the restoration planning of the monument, the University of Athens together with the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism, assigned to our research group the task to investigate the fundamental frequencies of the monument and of its soil foundation in order to determine resonance phenomena capable of compromising building stability during an earthquake. For this purpose, we conducted a microtremor survey. Ambient noise measurements were taken for 87 points located both on the ground and the chapel. Using the HVSR technique we determined the response of the ground, the monument’s predominant frequency and the spatial variations of the peak frequencies on the monument. Based on the experimental observations we discuss the possibility that differentiations are due to the structural members’ particularity and/or health.

The performance of QuantiFERON-tuberculosis (TB) Gold-In-Tube assay was compared with the tuberculin skin test for the diagnosis of TB among children. It was shown that among non-Bacille Calmette Guèrin immunized children, agreement between tests was excellent both in those with TB disease and in TB contacts. Among Bacille Calmette Guèrin-immunized children, agreement was fair in those with active disease and poor among TB contacts. It is concluded that QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube compares with the tuberculin skin test in the diagnosis of TB disease and latent tuberculosis infection in TB contacts among children and has enhanced specificity.

Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη &  Al zyoud, Khaled (2010). Γυναίκα και Αθλητισμός στην Ιορδανία και στην «Κορανική Κοινωνία», Γυναίκα & Άθληση, VII, σελ. 54-72. Έκδοση της Πανελλήνιας Ένωσης για την Προώθηση των Γυναικών στον Αθλητισμό και τα Σπορ (ΠΕΠΓΑΣ)    Abstract women_and_sports_in_jordan_and_in_koranic_society_2010.pdf-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Σκοπός της εργασίας αυτής ήταν να εξετάσει τους λόγους που απομακρύνουν ή αποκλείουν τη γυναίκα της Ιορδανίας από την αθλητική δραστηριότητα. Χρησιμοποιώντας τα εργαλεία των κοινωνικών επιστημών και την κοινωνιολογική προσέγγιση, στην πρώτη ενότητα μελετήθηκαν η θέση της γυναίκας στο Ισλάμ και την Ιορδανία, καθώς και ο αθλητισμός από ισλαμική σκοπιά (Najy, 1995; Mansour, 2000; Alkakei, 2001; Υοnes, 2001; Mouner, 2003; Yones & Ibrahem, 2003; El-Azhary, 2005; Αλζιούντ, 2008). Στόχος της δεύτερης ενότητας ήταν να διερευνηθούν οι επιπτώσεις των ηθών και εθίμων στην αθλητική δραστηριότητα των μαθητριών της Ιορδανικής κοινωνίας-τόσο στην περιφέρεια όσο και την πόλη-και ο βαθμός παρέμβασης των  κηδεμόνων/γονέων τους. Τα ερωτηματολόγια διανεμήθηκαν συνολικά σε 2.000 μαθήτριες και κηδεμόνες/γονείς: 1000 μαθήτριες της Ιορδανίας, ηλικίας 14-16 ετών, εκ των οποίων οι 580 εκπροσωπούσαν την αστική κοινωνία και οι 420 την αγροτική και αντίστοιχα ο ίδιος αριθμός ερωτηματολογίων μοιράστηκε στους κηδεμόνες/γονείς τους. Ως κηδεμόνας, των εν λόγω μαθητριών ορίζεται ο πατέρας ή ο μεγαλύτερος αδελφός. Η ιορδανική νομοθεσία δεν αναγνωρίζει τη μητέρα ως κηδεμόνα της κόρης της.  Συμπεράσματα: Αναδεικνύεται  ότι τα ήθη και έθιμα της αραβικής κοινωνίας, η θρησκεία, η εθνικο-θρησκευτικές και κρατικές δομές, ο αναλφαβητισμός, ο ενδυματολογικός κώδικας του Ισλάμ, οι κοινωνικές προκαταλήψεις, η έλλειψη αθλητικών χώρων αποκλειστικά για γυναίκες, η ανεπάρκεια «κατάλληλης» αθλητικής ενδυμασίας για τη μουσουλμάνα, καθώς και η έλλειψη αθλητικής κουλτούρας στην Ιορδανία, αποτελούν σοβαρά εμπόδια για τη συμμετοχή των κοριτσιών και των γυναικών στο μάθημα της φυσικής αγωγής και στον αγωνιστικό αθλητισμό.   Λέξεις κλειδιά: αθλητισμός από ισλαμική σκοπιά, εμπόδια στην αθλητική δραστηριότητα, ήθη και έθιμα, κοινωνικο-θρησκευτικοί περιορισμοί, «κατάλληλη» αθλητική ενδυμασία. --------------------------------------This study examines the participation of Muslim girls and women in physical education classes and competitive sports in Jordanian society. The first part of the study, using a sociological approach, focuses on international dialogue on the position of “Women in a Qur’ anic Society” (Al-Faruqi, 1984), namely in Islamic cultures, including Jordanian society, and subsequently examines sport from an Islamic perspective (Najy, 1995; Mansour, 2000; Alkakei, 2001; ÀÔnes, 2001; Mouner, 2003; Yones & Ibrahem, 2003; El-Azhary, 2005; Αλζιούντ, 2008). The second part examines socio-cultural attitudes concerning Jordanian girls’ and women’s participation in sports. Questionnaires were distributed to 1.000 female high school students in Jordan between the ages of 14-16 – 580 from urban areas and 420 from agricultural. An equivalent number (1.000 questionnaires) was also distributed to their male parents or legal guardians. According to Jordanian legislation (law 34:1973) a female (the mother) is not recognized as a legal gal guardian. The results of the study indicate that the reasons that Jordanian girls and women are discouraged or forbidden from participating in sport activities –although there are exceptions to the rule– are due to cultural perspectives, socio-religious barriers and perceptions concerning women’s bodies as well as the lack of “appropriate sport attire”, social prejudices and attitudes, the scarcity of exclusively female sport spaces/installations and so forth. In Jordanian society girls and women still confront many obstacles to sport participation.   Key-words: sport from an Islamic perspective, women’s bodies, socio-religious barriers, Muslim women in sports, “appropriate” sport attire.  

This paper argues for the support of women entrepreneurs and policies encouraging entrepreneurship regardless of gender in order to stimulate growth  as Europe does not have enough entrepreneurs. Surveys conducted by the National Foundation of Women Business Owners (NFWBO) show that women-owned firms compete in the global market, stimulate growth, have greater revenues and are more focused on business expansion than firms that are domestically oriented.1 Women entrepreneurs have a significant impact on the economy, not only in their ability to create jobs for themselves but also in creating jobs for others. However, they constitute only 34.4% of the EU's self-employed workforce and only 39.4% women choose to be self-employed compared to 50.2% men  Research also confirms that women entrepreneurs are highly educated and use more high technology systems than their male counterparts.  Additionally, studies show that women create smaller but relatively more viable enterprises, are more cautious than men and possess better awareness regarding the risk of failure.  Consequently, it is vital for women to learn how to play the international trade game and raise the visibility of women’s entrepreneurship...............................................................

1. Kamberidou, Irene (2010). Women Entrepreneurs, an Emerging Economic Force. Submitted Paper for the “SMEs and Entrepreneurship: European Actions for Women Entrepreneurs” Round Table on Women Entrepreneurship organized by the Transnational Consortium of the European project women@business and the Hellenic Association of Young Entrepreneurs, 14th December 2010, Hellenic European Parliament Office, 8 Amalias street, Athens, Greece. European Commission Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme 2007-2013. (info@militos.org). Published in EUD Community http://www.ictwomendirectory.eu (December 18, 2010 11:40 AM); in  ECWT www.womenandtechnology.eu (December 18, 2010 11:18 AM Dec. 2010). Also disseminated in women@business website (www.womenatbusiness.eu)  and in Home page: http://www.womenatbusiness.eu/ViewShopStaticPage.aspx?ValueId=2901. G.4 in Apella                Also published/disseminated in:
   1.  Global Women News: http://www.hajduszoboszlo.hu.com/digitalcity/entity/entityNews.jsp?dom=AAAATCEI&prt=AAAAYFWY&egd=AAABEAOW&hir=BAAFKBUE
   2.  European Network of Women Resource Centres, Dec. 18, 2010 (http://www.szocialispartnerek.hu/digitalcity/entity/entityNews.jsp?ktg=AAAABCOX&dom=AAAABIVV&prt=AAAAUSFE&egd=AAABEAOW
   3. Also disseminated/pulbished in: EUD Community  http://www.ictwomendirectory.eu (December 18, 2010 11:40 AM)  και στο ECWT www.womenandtechnology.eu (December 18, 2010 11:18 AM  Dec. 2010). 

Also disseminated in women@business (www.womenatbusiness.eu and http://www.womenatbusiness.eu/Files/files/Dr.pdf   

As one of the initiatives undertaken to promote Astronomy in Greece, particularly in view of the International Year of Astronomy 2009, the Hellenic Astronomical Society (Hel.A.S.), in collaboration with the Hellenic Association of the Laboratory Centers of Physical Sciences, organized a special workshop, under the umbrella of the 9th Hellenic Astronomical Conference, addressed to school teachers. The aim was to develop and promote teaching of Astronomy, which is currently an optional subject, offered during the second year of senior high school (Lyceum).

Context. Classical novae (CNe) have recently been reported to represent the major class of supersoft X-ray sources (SSSs) in the central region of our neighbour galaxy M 31. Aims: We carried out a dedicated monitoring of the M 31 central region with XMM-Newton and Chandra in order to find SSS counterparts of CNe, determine the duration of their SSS phase and derive physical outburst parameters. Methods: We systematically searched our data for X-ray counterparts of CNe and determined their X-ray light curves and spectral properties. Additionally, we determined luminosity upper limits for all novae from previous studies which are not detected anymore and for all CNe in our field of view with optical outbursts between May 2005 and March 2007. Results: We detected eight X-ray counterparts of CNe in M 31, four of which were not previously known. Seven sources can be classified as SSSs, one is a candidate SSS. Two SSSs are still visible more than nine years after the nova outburst, whereas two other nova counterparts show a short SSS phase of less than 150 days. Of the latter sources, M31N 2006-04a exhibits a short-time variable X-ray light curve with an apparent period of (1.6±0.3) h. This periodicity could indicate the binary period of the system. There is no X-ray detection for 23 out of 25 CNe which were within the field of view of our observations and had their outburst from about one year before the start of the monitoring until its end. From the 14 SSS nova counterparts known from previous studies, ten are not detected anymore. Additionally, we found four SSSs in our XMM-Newton data without a nova counterpart, one of which is a new source. Conclusions: Out of eleven SSSs detected in our monitoring, seven are counterparts of CNe. We therefore confirm the earlier finding that CNe are the major class of SSSs in the central region of M 31. We use the measured SSS turn-on and turn-off times to estimate the mass ejected in the nova outburst and the mass burned on the white dwarf. Classical novae with short SSS phases seem to be an important contributor to the overall population. Partly based on observations with XMM-Newton, an ESA Science Mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and NASA.