Publications

An attempt is made to investigate the role of the jet streaks upstream an upper tropospheric diffluent trough in its evolution. A proof of the relationship that controls the rate of change of the mean absolute vorticity in the region of the diffluent trough is provided. It is demonstrated that for certain value of the rate of the increasing mean regional vorticity, a cut-off low can develop in the upper troposphere, which is likely to trigger the initiation of surface cyclogenesis, under favourable lower tropospheric conditions. Therefore, it seems that this approach offers to the operational meteorologists a simple tool to evaluate the numerical weather prediction of a cyclonic development in southern Europe and to decide for its uncritical accept or rejection when the initial atmospheric conditions in northwest Europe are similar to those described above. This diagnostic tool is then applied to the case of cyclogenesis that occurred on the 29th January 1994 in Greece, in order to demonstrate its practical significance.

Seasonal variability and the spatial distribution of sea surface temperatures (SST) and salinities (SSS) are reviewed, in relation to the prevailing climatological conditions, heat fluxes, water budget and general water circulation patterns. Within this context, consideration is given to: sea surface temperatures; air temperatures; precipitation; evaporation; wind speeds and directions; freshwater (mainly riverine) discharges throughout the Aegean; and the exchange of water masses with the Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean Sea. The investigation of satellite images, covering a 6-yr period (1988–1994), has enabled a synthesis of the monthly sea surface thermal distribution to be established. The climate of the Aegean Sea is characterised by annual air temperatures of 16–19.5°C, precipitation of about 500 mm yr−1 and evaporation of some 4 mm d−1. The Aegean has a negative heat budget (approximately −25 W m−2) and positive water balance (+ 1.0 m yr−1), when inflow from the Black Sea is considered. During the summer, the (northerly) Etesians are the dominant winds over the Sea. Mean monthly sea surface temperatures (SST) vary from 8°C in the north during winter, up to 26°C in the south during summer. SST depends mainly upon air temperature; there is a month's delay between the former and latter maxima. The sea surface salinity (SSS) varies also spatially and seasonally, ranging from less than 31 psu, in the north, to more than 39 psu, in the southeast; lower values (< 25 psu) occur adjacent to the river mouths. SSSs present their maximum differences during summer, whilst during winter and autumn the distribution of SSS is more uniform. The overall spatial SST and SSS distribution pattern is controlled by: distribution of the (colder) Black Sea Waters; advection of the (warmer) Levantine Waters, from the southeastern part of the Aegean; upwelling and downwelling; and, to a lesser extent, but locally important, freshwater riverine inflows.

A phase II study of combination paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ)/gemcitabine was conducted in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had failed first-line docetaxel- or cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Eligibility criteria included histologically confirmed measurable stage IIIB or IV NSCLC and previous exposure to docetaxel- or cisplatin-based regimens, World Health Organization performance status between 0 and 2, adequate hematologic parameters, and adequate hepatic, renal, and cardiac function. Gemcitabine (900 mg/m2) was given on days 1 and 8 as a 30-minute infusion; paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) was administered on day 8 as a 3-hour infusion after appropriate premedication. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (150 microg/m2 subcutaneously) was given on days 9 to 15. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks until patients experienced disease progression. From October 1995 to December 1996, 26 patients with advanced NSCLC were enrolled (three stage IIIB, 23 stage IV). All 26 patients were assessable for toxicity, and 24 were evaluable for response. Two complete (8%) and five partial (21%) responses were observed, for an overall response rate of 29% (95% confidence interval, 11% to 47%). The median duration of response was 2.5 months and the median survival was 8 months. A median of three courses per patient was administered, and the median interval between courses was 21 days. The median delivered dose was 579 mg/m2/wk gemcitabine and 54.5 mg/m2/wk paclitaxel, corresponding to a relative dose intensity of 0.97 and 0.96, respectively. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in two patients (8%). Grade 3 conjunctivitis occurred in one (4%) patient and grade 2/3 neurotoxicity in eight (31%) patients. Grade 3/4 and grade 2 fatigue occurred in four (15%) and eight (31%) patients, respectively. Other toxicities were mild to moderate. These preliminary results suggest that the paclitaxel/gemcitabine combination is an active and well-tolerated salvage regimen in patients with NSCLC previously treated with docetaxel- or cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The paclitaxel/gemcitabine combination merits further evaluation as first-line treatment.

A phase II study of combination paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ)/gemcitabine was conducted in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had failed first, line docetaxel- or cisplatin- based chemotherapy. Eligibility criteria included histologically confirmed measurable stage IIIB or IV NSCLC and previous exposure to docetaxel, or cisplatin-based regimens. World Health Organization performance status between 0 and 2, adequate hematologic parameters, and adequate hepatic, renal, and cardiac function. Gemcitabine (900 mg/m2) was given on days 1 and 8 as a 30-minute infusion; paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) was administered on day 8 as a 3-hour infusion after appropriate premedication. Granulocyte colony- stimulating factor (150 μg/m2 subcutaneously) was given on days 9 to 15. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks until patients experienced disease progression. From October 1995 to December 1996, 26 patients with advanced NSCLC were enrolled (three stage IIIB, 23 stage IV). All 26 patients were assessable for toxicity, and 24 were evaluable for response. Two complete (8%) and five partial (21%) responses were observed, for an overall response rate of 29% (95% confidence interval, 11% to 47%). The median duration of response was 2.5 months and the median survival was 8 months. A median of three courses per patient was administered, and the median interval between courses was 21 days. The median delivered dose was 579 mg/m2/wk gemcitabine and 54.5 mg/m2/wk paclitaxel, corresponding to a relative dose intensity of 0.97 and 0.96, respectively. Grade 314 neutropenia occurred in two patients (8%). Grade 3 conjunctivitis occurred in one (4%) patient and grade 213 neurotoxicity in eight (31%) patients. Grade 314 and grade 2 fatigue occurred in four (15%) and eight (31%) patients, respectively. Other toxicities were mild to moderate. These preliminary results suggest that the paclitaxel/gemcitabine combination is an active and well-tolerated salvage regimen in patients with NSCLC previously treated with docetaxel, or cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The paclitaxel/gemcitabine combination merits further evaluation as first-line treatment.

AIM: To investigate the significance of IgM antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen (IgM anti-HCV core) in chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: In a group of 112 patients with histologically proven chronic hepatitis C positive for HCV RNA, IgM anti-HCV core level was studied by a sensitive semi-quantitative enzyme immunoassay. Quantitation of serum HCV RNA was done by a second generation bDNA assay and determination of HCV genotype by RT-PCR and reverse hybridization. RESULTS: IgM anti-HCV core was detected in 72 (64.3%) of the 112 patients. ALT levels were significantly higher in IgM anti-HCV core positive than negative patients. No other significant difference was observed in any of the patients' characteristics between IgM anti-HCV core positive and negative groups. On the contrary, IgM anti-HCV core level was found to be significantly higher in females than in males, in patients with moderate or severe chronic hepatitis, in patients with high HCV RNA levels and in patients infected with HCV genotype 1b. Moreover, IgM anti-HCV core level was significantly correlated with age and ALT level. Multiple regression analysis showed that IgM anti-HCV core level was significantly related only to the HCV genotype (p=0.001), histological grade (p=0.017) and ALT level (p=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the hypothesis that IgM anti-HCV core level is associated mainly with HCV genotype and secondly with liver disease necroinflammatory activity. These associations may have implications in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C.

The spin density in the Heusler alloy Cu2MnAl, has been studied in a Compton scattering experiment with 92 keV circularly polarized synchrotron radiation on the high-energy beamline at ESRF. The conduction electrons were found to have a negative spin polarization of 0.4 μB which is at variance with the deduction of a positive moment from earlier neutron data; neither was any evidence found for a 3d spin moment on the copper site. The spin moment on the Mn site at room temperature was determined as 3.25 μB, which is in agreement with neutron data. The spin-dependent Compton profiles for the [100], [110] and [111] directions, reported here, show anisotropy in the momentum density which is in good agreement with new KKR calculations based on a ferromagnetic ground state. By combining charge- and spin-dependent Compton data the momentum space anisotropies in the majority and minority bands have been analysed. Both the majority and minority spin densities are anisotropic.

Irregular galaxies are generally less massive and less evolved systems than spirals. They constitute a different sort of system in which to study the processes of star formation and galactic evolution. The star formation history of Irregular Galaxies may be affected by several different factors. However, detailed knowledge of the star-formation history of a significant number of objects is necessary before it becomes possible to determine which parameters are important. In the last few years, there has been significant progress on this front. For the first time, we begin to probe in some detail the star-formation history of a fair number of resolved Irregulars in the Local Group. In the present, these results are summarized.

General theorems and various analytical self-similar solutions have recently shown that magnetized and rotating astrophysical outflows may become asymptotically cylindrical, in agreement with observations of cosmical jets. A notable common feature in all such self-consistent, self-similar MHD solutions is that before final cylindrical collimation is achieved, the jet passes from a stage of oscillations in its radius, Mach number and other physical parameters. It is shown that under rather general assumptions this oscillatory behavior of collimated outflows is not restricted to the few specific models examined so far, but instead it seems to be a rather general physical property of an MHD outflow which starts noncylindrically before it reaches collimation. It is concluded thence that astrophysical jets are structurally stable to small amplitude, time-independent perturbations in their asymptotically cylindrical shape.

We present a theoretical analysis of the photonic band structure of fcc colloidal crystals in relation to experimentally available transmission spectra of finite slabs of such crystals.

General theoretical arguments and various analytic self-similar solutions have recently shown that magnetized and rotating astrophysical outflows may become asymptotically cylindrical, in agreement with observations of cosmical jets. A notable common feature in all such self-consistent, self-similar MHD solutions is that before final cylindrical collimation is achieved, the jet passes from a stage of oscillations in its radius, Mach number and other physical parameters. It is shown that under rather general assumptions this oscillatory behaviour of collimated outflows is not restricted to the few specific models examined so far, but instead seems to be a rather general physical property of an MHD outflow that starts non-cylindrically before it reaches collimation. It is concluded thence that astrophysical jets are topologically stable to small-amplitude, time-independent perturbations in their asymptotically cylindrical shape. Also, similarly to the familiar fluid instabilities, these oscillations may give rise to brightness enhancements along jets.

General theoretical arguments and various analytic self-similar solutions have recently shown that magnetized and rotating astrophysical outflows may become asymptotically cylindrical, in agreement with observations of cosmical jets. A notable common feature in all such self-consistent, self-similar MHD solutions is that before final cylindrical collimation is achieved, the jet passes from a stage of oscillations in its radius, Mach number and other physical parameters. It is shown that under rather general assumptions this oscillatory behaviour of collimated outflows is not restricted to the few specific models examined so far, but instead seems to be a rather general physical property of an MHD outflow that starts non-cylindrically before it reaches collimation. It is concluded thence that astrophysical jets are topologically stable to small-amplitude, time-independent perturbations in their asymptotically cylindrical shape. Also, similarly to the familiar fluid instabilities, these oscillations may give rise to brightness enhancements along jets.

The Internet was born in December of 1969 and has grown phenomenally since. Its graphically interactive, user-friendly modality, the World Wide Web (WWW), is younger and growing even more explosively. By its nature, the WWW is a tool ideally and uniquely suited for the advancement education. This paper describes the design, development and the implementation of a Web Site for supporting the education of the students in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Athens.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA125, and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) were evaluated in paired vaginal fluid and serum samples from 69 women, mean age 40.6 (20-78) years. Fifteen of the subjects were normal females (controls), 12 were pregnant, 20 had benign gynecological diseases, 5 presented severe cervical dysplasias and 17 suffered from cancer of the genital tract. Highly elevated CEA, CA125 and SCC concentrations (median, range) were found in vaginal fluid: 186 ng/ml (12-5 420); 890 U/ml (54-65 000); 1 600 ng/ml (27-13 000) respectively, compared with those in the paired serum samples: 1 ng/ml (0.5-8.6); 12 U/ml (3.0-1 590); 1 ng/ml (0.3-19). Vaginal fluid CEA, CA125 and SCC values were significantly different among the five studied groups (p < 0.0002; p < 0.02; p < 0.002 respectively), being significantly higher in the patients with benign gynecological diseases, compared with those in the patients with malignancies of the genital tract (p < 0.0001; p < 0.02; p < 0.005), and those in controls (p < 0.02; p < 0.007; p < 0.02 respectively). The results of this study suggest that: 1) CEA, CA125 and SCC seem to be normal constituents of vaginal fluid. 2) The distribution of CEA, CA125 and SCC between vaginal fluid and the circulation is affected by pregnancy, inflammation and cancer of the genital tract.

We present a model of the spectra of gamma-ray emitting blazars in which a single homogeneous emission region both emits synchrotron photons directly and scatters them to high (gamma-ray) energy before emission (a `synchrotron self-Compton' or SSC model). In contrast to previous work, we follow the full time dependent evolution of the electron and photon spectra, assuming a power-law form of the electron injection and examine the predictions of the model with regard to variability of the source. We apply these computations to the object Mkn 421, which displayed rapid variability in its X-ray and TeV emission during a multiwavelength campaign in 1994. This observation strongly implies that the same population of electrons produces the radiation in both energy bands. By fitting first the observed quiescent spectrum over all 18 orders of magnitude in frequency, we show that the time dependence of the keV/TeV flare could have been the result of a sudden increase in the maximum energy of the injected electrons. We show also that different types of flare may occur in this object and others, and that the energy band most sensitive to the properties of the acceleration mechanism is the X-ray band.

With current treatment modalities, most patients with early stage Hodgkin's disease (HD) can be cured. Patients destined to relapse, usually do so within 3 years after treatment completion. Late relapses do occur but disease recurrence beyond 15 years is extremely rare. We report a patient with clinical stage IIA nodular sclerosis HD, originally treated with radiotherapy alone, who relapsed 24 years after the initial diagnosis. Our patient's case indicates the possible need for lifelong surveillance of patients with Hodgkin's disease.

We present the results of a survey of neutral hydrogen emission in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The survey consists of a mosaic of 320 separate pointings of the 375-m array, resulting in a resolution of 1.6arcmin (28pc, for a distance of 60kpc) over a field of 20deg2. The rms brightness temperature sensitivity is 1.4K, corresponding to an H I column density sensitivity of 4x18cm-2 for each velocity channel of width 1.6km/s. The HI distribution is complex and, on scales <=1kpc, appears to be dominated by the effects of expanding H I shells, which are probably driven by the combined effects of supernovae and stellar winds from massive stars. The picture of the SMC that arises from the current data seems to challenge the earlier belief that the SMC consists of two or more spatially separate structures with different systemic velocities. We find that the observed multiple components are, in many cases, caused by the combined effects of the numerous shells and supershells. Altogether, we identify six supershells (defined here as those with radii greater than 300pc) and 495 giant shells. For each of these, we measure positions. radii, velocities and expansion rates, and derive ages and kinetic energy requirements. The apparent age distribution of shells is remarkably narrow, with a mean age of 5.4Myr and an intrinsic dispersion of 2Myr. Southern shells appear to be older, on average, by 2.5Myr. The kinetic energy of the shells is a large fraction of the gravitational binding energy of the SMC, implying that further disintegration of the SMC will occur with time, and especially at the next close passage with the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) or the Galaxy, unless the SMC possesses a massive halo. Because of their interferometric nature, the images presented here are insensitive to structures of size >=0.6°, and should not be used for deriving total H I column densities (1 data file).

The European Union retained the WISECARE project "Work flow Information Systems for European nursing CARE" for funding. The project focuses on the use of telematics technology for clinical and resource management in oncology care in hospitals. This paper outlines the impact of introducing this kind of advanced nursing informatics application on the management of nursing knowledge. Three shift in knowledge management that will get high attention in WISECARE, are identified. The first is the shift from knowledge dissemination to knowledge sharing. The second is the shift from individual knowledge to organisational knowledge. The third is the shift from deductive, prescriptive knowledge as seen in guidelines, protocols to more inductive, experience based knowledge. The paper emphasizes that the real impact of information technology is not in the automation of existing processes but on the discovery of new ways of organisation and living.

Oxidised porous silicon emits luminescence in two distinct bands in the visible region. The fast blue (τ ∼ ns) and slow red (τ ∼ μs at 300K) bands are studied via the separate methods of time-resolved XEOL in single-bunch mode and wavelength-selective and total XEOL in multi-bunch mode. Measurements have been conducted at the silicon K-edge (1840eV) and L2,3-edge for freshly prepared and oxidised porous silicon and related samples. Both methods give conclusive evidence that the fast, blue luminescent site is defects in silica or suboxide formed near to the Si/ SiO2 interface, whereas the slower, red band originates from smaller silicon particles of diameter 14Å or less found in porous silicon. The XEOL process is discussed and range estimates of the spatial separation between the photoionisation event and radiative recombination are made.

We study Compton upscattering of low-frequency photons in a converging flow of thermal plasma. The photons escape diffusively, and electron scattering is the dominant source of opacity. We solve the equation of radiative transfer in the case of spherical, steady state accretion into black holes numerically and approximately analytically. Unlike previous work on this subject, we consider the inner boundary at a finite radius, and this has a significant effect on the emergent spectrum. It is shown that the bulk motion of the converging flow is more efficient in upscattering photons than thermal Comptonization, provided that the electron temperature in the flow is of order a few keV or less. In this case, the spectrum observed at infinity consists of a soft component coming from input photons that escaped after a few scatterings without any significant energy change and of a power law that extends to high energies and is made of those photons that underwent significant upscattering. The luminosity of the power law is relatively small compared to that of the soft component. The more reflective the inner boundary is, the flatter the power-law spectrum becomes. The spectral energy power-law index for black hole accretion is always higher than 1, and it is approximately 1.5 for high accretion rates. This result tempts us to say that bulk motion Comptonization might be the mechanism behind the power-law spectra seen in black hole X-ray sources.

In this article, we present ways of applying a well-known systemic technique, reframing and paradox, in the management of problematic situations in the school. The rationale, the utility, and the advantages of this technique are described. We discuss notions such as the many different interpretations of the same behavior, the vicious cycle of the interactions and the circular causality, the cooperative perspective, the therapeutic double bind, the self-fulfilling prophecy, the reframing of relapses, etc. We also present two case studies that illustrate the use of the reframing technique in the school context.

Χρήση παραπομπής και βιβλιογραφίας/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1997). «Θαυμάζοντες και Θαυμαζόμενοι»: «Οι Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες στην Αθήνα το 1875» (Mahaffy 1875). ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA,  Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt,  τεύχος 47, 15 Ιουν.-15 Ιουλ. 1997, σελ.  63-66.

(1997). Γογγάκη, Κωνσταντίνα. Ο Μυθολογικός Κύκλος των Πυθίων αγώνων. Καταγωγή, τελετουργία, ερμηνεία, Διδακτορική διατριβή, Αθήνα.   Η εργασία επιχειρεί την ανίχνευση της καταγωγής, της αρχής, της γένεσης των Πυθίων αγώνων μέσα από τη συμβολική ερμηνεία των μύθων των Δελφών. Οι αθλητικοί αγώνες, τα Πύθια, αποτελούν το κέντρο προς το οποίο εστιάζεται η έρευνα, καθώς η μουσική τους αφετηρία τους συνδέει με παλαιότατες μαγικές τελετές και με θρησκευτικές τελετουργίες. Ο αρχικός χαρακτήρας των αγώνων των Δελφών, σημαντικού Δωρικού κέντρου της πολιτιστικής και θρησκευτικής ζωής των αρχαίων Ελλήνων, έχει στοιχεία που τον συνδέουν με πανάρχαιες τελετουργίες έκστασης και μέθεξης, όπως λόγου χάριν των Υπερβόρειων παρθένων. Καθώς ο δωρικός θεός Απόλλων αποτελεί τον θεό της εφηβείας, του φωτός, της μουσικής και του ηθικού εξαγνισμού, τα τελετουργικά στοιχεία των Πυθίων αγώνων προσλαμβάνουν απαραίτητα τον ιερό τελετουργικό χαρακτήρα των εκδηλώσεων που λάμβαναν μέρος στον «ομφαλό της γης». Η επίδραση και η συμβολή του Μαντείου των Δελφών και της ιέρειάς του Πυθίας υπήρξε επί δώδεκα αιώνες καταλυτική για την πολιτική και κοινωνική ζωή και τη φιλοσοφική σκέψη των Ελλήνων. Η σύγχρονη έρευνα έχει δείξει γενικά ότι οι Ινδοευρωπαίοι-Έλληνες μετανάστες βρήκαν και αποδέχθηκαν λατρείες πλήρως διαμορφωμένες, και πως τα μυθολογικά κέντρα αφορούν σε τοπικές συναντήσεις, οι οποίες αποτελούν την πηγή των εξελίξεων. Οι συναντήσεις αυτές έχουν διάφορο χαρακτήρα. Λαμβάνουν, δηλαδή χώρα είτε βίαια, είτε ειρηνικά, είτε με υποταγές, είτε με διάλογο, και οι διάφορες μορφές συναντήσεων κατόπιν αποτυπώνονται σε μύθους. Όποτε και όπου υπήρξαν τέτοιες συναντήσεις παρατηρήθηκε υποταγή μύθων και έξαρση άλλων μύθων ή δημιουργία νέων μύθων, ή περιγραφή του ίδιου μύθου με άλλες εκδοχές. Επίσης σημειώθηκε καταφυγή σε μυστήρια ή σε μυστηριακές τελετές και σε τοπικές λατρείες, ενώ ταυτόχρονα επιτελέστηκαν και επιτάφιοι αγώνες-όπως είναι και οι αγώνες των Δελφών. Η ελληνική μυθολογία, η μυθολογία του Ολυμπικού πανθέου, είναι ακριβώς το καταστάλαγμα αυτής της μεγάλης μυθολογικής διαδικασίας. Προηγούνται, επομένως, της μυθολογίας αυτής άλλοι μύθοι, προελλήνων, πρωτοελλήνων, Πελασγών, Μινύων ή άλλων, οι οποίοι μύθοι εμφανίζουν μια μεγάλη, απέραντη εξέλιξη και μια κρυφή σημειολογία. Και επειδή παρουσιάζουν τοπικά χαρακτηριστικά, γι’ αυτό και αναφέρεται η εργασία σε «κύκλους μυθολογικούς», όπως ο Δελφικός. Τα μυθολογικά κέντρα, επομένως, αφορούν σε συναντήσεις, οι οποίες αποτυπώνονται μέσα σε τοπικούς – γενικούς ή σε πανελλήνιους μύθους. Ενώ έχουν, κατά συνέπεια, τοπικά χαρακτηριστικά, διαθέτουν, ωστόσο, γενική, πανελλήνια σημασία.    

Χρήση παραπομπής και βιβλιογραφίας/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1997).  Όσο και αν Ταξιδέψεις στο Αιγαίο, παντού είναι Ελλάδα: Ταξιδιωτικά ημερολόγια περιηγητών. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ- GRAMMA,  Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt, τεύχος 49, Δεκ. 1997: 60-61.  

Ο συγγραφέας είχε γράψει είκοσι έτη πριν από το παρόν άρθρο ότι: "τὰ οἰκονομικὰ θεμέλια τοῦ κεμαλικοῦ κράτους ὑπονομεύονται συστηματικῶς ἀπὸ τὴν διείσδηση ἰσλαμικῶν κεφαλαίων. Ἂν ἡ κατάκτησις μιᾶς χώρας ἀρχίζει ἀπὸ τὴν οἰκονομία της, ἡ κεμαλικὴ κοσμικὴΤουρκία ἔχει ἤδη χάσει τὸ παιγνίδι μὲ τὴν ἰσλαμικὴν ταὐτότητά της". Το παρόν άρθρο, γράφεται το 1999 και αναφέρεται στα ισλαμικά κεφάλαια, τα οποία κατακτούν την τουρκική οικονομία.

Ἡ ἀνάλυσις τοῦ φαινομένου τοῦ ἰσλαμισμοῦ, ὁ ρόλος τοῦ Ἰσλὰμ στὴν σημερινὴ καὶ τὴν μελλοντικὴ Τουρκία, οἱ κίνδυνοι ποὺ προκύπτουν γιὰ τὴν Εὐρώπη ἀπὸ τὴν ἄνοδο τοῦ ἰσλαμικοῦ φονταμενταλισμοῦ καὶ οἱ σχέσεις τῆς Ἑλλάδος μὲ τὸν μουσουλμανικὸν κόσμο ἀποτελοῦν θέματα ποὺ συνεχίζουν νὰ προκαλοῦν πονοκεφάλους σὲ ὅσους προσπαθοῦν νὰ ὁρίσουν τὸ νέο διεθνὲς περιβάλλον τοῦ ΚΑ΄ αἰῶνος. Το παρόν κείμενο αποτελέι συνέντευξη του Καθηγητή Ιωάννη Μάζη, τὸ συγγραφικὸ ἔργο τοῦ ὁποίου κατὰ μέγα μέρος ἐπικεντρώνεται σὲ θέματα ἀναλύσεως τοῦ Ἰσλάμ. Εἰδικώτερα, τὸ βιβλίο του "Ἡ γεωγραφία τοῦ Ἰσλαμικοῦ κινήματος στὴν Μέση Ἀνατολὴ" ήταν τότε τὸ μοναδικὸ πόνημα στὴν ἑλληνικὴ βιβλιογραφία ποὺ ασχολούνταν μὲ τὸ Ισλάμ, μιᾶς καὶ ἡ πανεπιστημιακὴ κοινότης, το θεωρούσε, μάλλον, ως θέμα ἥσσονος σημασίας.

Στο άρθρο αυτό παρουσιάζονται οι κυριότερες μέχρι σήμερα θεωρητικές απόψεις, καθώς και τα ερευ­νητικά ευρήματα για το συναίσθημα της μοναξιάς του παιδιού σχολικής ηλικίας. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, περιγράφονται τα ευρήματα για τον τρόπο με τον οποίο το παιδί αντιλαμβάνεται, βιώνει και αντιμετω­πίζει το συναίσθημα αυτό και συζητούνται οι προσπάθειες για την ψυχομετρική αξιολόγηση του φαινο­μένου. Στη συνέχεια, ανασκοπούνται τα ευρήματα για τη σχέση της μοναξιάς με διάφορες κρίσιμες παραμέτρους, όπως: η ηλικία, το φύλο, η θέση του παιδιού στην ομάδα των συνομηλίκων του, οι φιλίες, η αντίληψη του παιδιού για τις κοινωνικές του δεξιότητες, τα χαρακτηριστικά της συμπεριφοράς του, η απόδοση αιτίων για τις κοινωνικές επιτυχίες και αποτυχίες και η κατάθλιψη. Τέλος, διατυπώνονται συμπεράσματα για το επίπεδο στο οποίο βρίσκεται η κατανόηση της μοναξιάς των παιδιών και για πι­θανά κενά στη σχετική θεωρητική και ερευνητική ενασχόληση.

The purpose of this study was to examine the allocation of nursing time to various activities of registered and assistant nurses during the day shift. Twenty-three registered (RN) and eighteen assistant nurses (AN) working in medical and surgical wards of five large hospitals were studied. The findings have shown that the most frequent activities performed were; indirect care representing 35.6% of the time, direct care representing 23.8% of the time, personal activities representing 16.8% of the time, and direct nursing interventions representing 8.2% of the time. Cross-tabulation revealed that RNs provided direct care less frequently and indirect care more frequently than ANs (25.3 activities per RN and 27.5 per AN, 62.1 activities per RN and 32.6 per AN, respectively). Many indirect care activities were found to be the responsibility of the head nurse (64), secretary (465), and others (104). Less expected results were the minimal amounts of time spent on both education and research activities (1.3% and 0.0% respectively). Nurse managers have to free nurses from subsidiary work and to find mechanisms to distribute nursing valuable time more efficiently.

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a distinct clinicopathologic variant of intermediate grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) composed of large pleomorphic cells that usually express the CD30 antigen and interleukin (IL)- 2 receptors, and is characterized by frequent cutaneous and extranodal involvement. With variable frequency ALCL bear the t(2;5)(p23;q35) chromosomal translocation that fuses the nucleophosmin (NPM) gene on chromosome 5q35 to a novel protein kinase gene, Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK), on chromosome 2p23. We determined the frequency of this translocation with e novel DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique using 0.5 μg of genomic DNA, 5'-primers derived from the NPM gene and 3'-primers derived from the ALK gene and hybridization with internal probes. The presence of amplifiable DNA in the samples was tested with the inclusion in the PCR reaction of oligonucleotide primers designed to amplify a 3016-bp fragment from the β-globin locus. NMP-ALK fusion amplicons were detected using DNA isolated either from all three ALCL cell lines tested, or from all four primary ALCL tumors known to contain the t(2;5)(p23;q35) translocation. Nested amplicons were detected by hybridization in 100% of specimens diluted 104-fold and in 20% of those diluted 105-fold. We subsequently examined archival genomic DNA from 20 patients with ALCL, 39 with diffuse large cell, 2 with mantle cell, 20 with peripheral T cell, 13 with low-grade NHL, 31 with Hodgkin's disease (HD), and 6 with lymphomatoid papulosis. Fusion of the NPM and ALK genes was detected in three of 18 patients with ALCL who had amplifiable DNA (17%, 95% confidence intervals 4% to 41%), but not in any patients with other NHL, HD, or lymphomatoid papulosis. The amplicon sizes were different in all cell lines and patients reflecting unique genomic DNA breakpoints. We conclude that with genomic DNA-PCR the rearrangement of the NPM and ALK loci is restricted to patients with ALCL. Further studies are needed to determine the prognostic significance of the NPM-ALK rearrangement, to determine whether its detection can aid in the differential diagnosis between ALCL, Hodgkin's disease, and lymphomatoid papulosis, and to establish the usefulness of the genomic DNA PCR in the monitoring of minimal residual disease in those patients whose tumors bear the t(2;5).

In this study we have used high resolution parallel electron energy loss spectroscopy (PEELS) and X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) to investigate the chemical nature of the luminescence centre in fresh and aged porous silicon. We find that regardless of the non-stoichiometric oxides which were observed by PEELS in our fresh porous silicon layers, Si-Si bonded material is involved in the luminescence process. However, in the case of aged porous silicon both Si-Si and Si-O bonded material are involved.

Fludarabine monophosphate (Fludara) is a purine analogue which entered clinical trials in 1982. Although inactive in solid tumors, Fludara has marked activity in indolent lymphoproliferative disorders. The exact mechanism of action of Fludara is uncertain. Fludara has been established as the most active single agent in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in single arm and comparative clinical trials. The activity has been demonstrated in both previously treated and initially treated patients. Marked activity has been noted in patients with low grade lymphoma, in particular, those with a follicular morphology and in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. Combinations of fludarabine with alkylating agents, anthracyclines, and anthraquinones have led to clinically useful combination approaches. The ability of fludarabine to modulate the levels of the triphosphate form of cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) in acute leukemia cells has led to the development of combinations of fludarabine and ara-C. These combinations have demonstrated marked activity in treatment of relapsed and previously untreated patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The ability to modulate the activity of pyrimidines and to inhibit repair of DNA damage caused by alkylating agents, anthracyclines, and other DNA active drugs suggest that the future of fludarabine will be in combination approaches to modulate the activity of other agents. These activities may extend its role to use in solid tumors.

a-i.r Inhibin, has been recently proposed as a useful tumor marker for mucinous ovarian carcinomas (Ca), as the widely used tumor marker for ovarian malignancies, CA125 is efficient only in nonmucinous ovarian Ca, and, together with CEA, fails to detect minimal disease and show long half-life in serum after successful surgery. Moreover, conflicting evidence has been reported as to whether inhibin in ovarian malignancies is the biologically active dimer α-βA inhibin or the inactive free α-subunits and inhibin precursors. Serum α-βA i.r inhibin, CA125 and CEA were measured preoperatively and 8 days postoperatively in 39 postmenopausal patients with ovarian cancer (13 mucinous, 15 serous and 11 difference other ovarian Ca) in comparison with 20 age-matched healthy women (Controls), 18 patients with benign ovarian tumors and 10 patients with nonovarian gynecological malignancies. Serum α-βA i.r inhibin values were very low in controls (0.121 U/ml; 0.060-0.250) while they were greatly elevated in both benign (67% sensitivity) and malignant ovarian tumors (100% sensitivity in mucinous Ca, 80% in serous and 90.9% in other ovarian, 0.250 U/ml). In contrast, in non-ovarian malignancies no increased values of α-βA inhibin were found (0% sensitivity). Our results on the sensitivity of CA125 and CEA are in agreement with previous studies. After successful surgery the very high concentrations of α-βA i.r inhibin were reduced very rapidly (8 days) to normal postmenopausal values in contrast to those of CA125 and CEA, that remained elevated. Serum α-βA i.r inhibin seems to be very useful in monitoring after treatment the patients with any type of ovarian malignancy and specifically those with mucinous ovarian cancer.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the factors that may affect the position of the center of resistance and center of rotation. A two-dimensional computer model of the periodontal ligament was developed. The model permitted the simulation of an isotropic (responding in the same manner regardless of the direction of the applied force) and nonisotropic periodontal ligament and allowed changes in root shape and in position and direction of force application. The center of resistance was found to depend on the distribution of root surface area. For a model of the upper central incisor, it was located at 42% of the root length measured from the alveolar crest. The presence of anisotropy in the periodontal ligament significantly affected the position of the center of resistance, which was in this case also affected by the direction of the applied force. Forces passing through the center of resistance produced translation of the modeled tooth in a direction not necessarily the same as the direction of the applied force. Tipping forces produced much larger stresses than forces causing translation. Simulation of periodontal involvement resulting in loss of attachment increased the stresses exerted on the periodontal ligament. The model permitted easy assessment of various factors that may influence the position of the center of resistance of teeth and revealed a potentially large variability in the position of the center of resistance and center of rotation, caused by variation of the properties of the periodontal ligament.

This study examined the contribution of phosphocreatine (PCr) and aerobic metabolism during repeated bouts of sprint exercise. Eight male subjects performed two cycle ergometer sprints separated by 4 min of recovery during two separate main trials. Sprint 1 lasted 30 s during both main trials, whereas sprint 2 lasted either 10 or 30 s. Muscle biopsies were obtained at rest, immediately after the first 30-s sprint, after 3.8 min of recovery, and after the second 10-and 30-s sprints. At the end of sprint 1, PCr was 16.9 ± 1.4% of the resting value, and muscle pH dropped to 6.69 ± 0.02. After 3.8 min of recovery, muscle pH remained unchanged (6.80 ± 0.03), but PCr was resynthesized to 78.7 ± 3.3% of the resting value. PCr during sprint 2 was almost completely utilized in the first 10 s and remained unchanged thereafter. High correlations were found between the percentage of PCr resynthesis and the percentage recovery of power output and pedaling speed during the initial 10 s of sprint 2 (r = 0.84, P < 0.05 and r = 0.91, P < 0.01). The anaerobic ATP turnover, as calculated from changes in ATP, PCr, and lactate, was 235 ± 9 mmol/kg dry muscle during the first sprint but was decreased to 139 ± 7 mmol/kg dry muscle during the second 30-s sprint, mainly as a result of a  45% decrease in glycolysis. Despite this  41% reduction in anaerobic energy, the total work done during the second 30-s sprint was reduced by only  18%. This mismatch between anaerobic energy release and power output during sprint 2 was partly compensated for by an increased contribution of aerobic metabolism, as calculated from the increase in oxygen uptake during sprint 2 (2.68 ± 0.10 vs. 3.17 ± 0.13 l/min; sprint 1 vs. sprint 2; P < 0.01). These data suggest that aerobic metabolism provides a significant part ( 49%) of the energy during the second sprint, whereas PCr availability is important for high power output during the initial 10 s.

This study examined the contribution of phosphocreatine (PCr) and aerobic metabolism during repeated bouts of sprint exercise. Eight male subjects performed two cycle ergometer sprints separated by 4 min of recovery during two separate main trials. Sprint 1 lasted 30 s during both main trials, whereas sprint 2 lasted either 10 or 30 s. Muscle biopsies were obtained at rest, immediately after the first 30-s sprint, after 3.8 min of recovery, and after the second 10-and 30-s sprints. At the end of sprint 1, PCr was 16.9 ± 1.4% of the resting value, and muscle pH dropped to 6.69 ± 0.02. After 3.8 min of recovery, muscle pH remained unchanged (6.80 ± 0.03), but PCr was resynthesized to 78.7 ± 3.3% of the resting value. PCr during sprint 2 was almost completely utilized in the first 10 s and remained unchanged thereafter. High correlations were found between the percentage of PCr resynthesis and the percentage recovery of power output and pedaling speed during the initial 10 s of sprint 2 (r = 0.84, P < 0.05 and r = 0.91, P < 0.01). The anaerobic ATP turnover, as calculated from changes in ATP, PCr, and lactate, was 235 ± 9 mmol/kg dry muscle during the first sprint but was decreased to 139 ± 7 mmol/kg dry muscle during the second 30-s sprint, mainly as a result of a ~45% decrease in glycolysis. Despite this ~41% reduction in anaerobic energy, the total work done during the second 30-s sprint was reduced by only ~18%. This mismatch between anaerobic energy release and power output during sprint 2 was partly compensated for by an increased contribution of aerobic metabolism, as calculated from the increase in oxygen uptake during sprint 2 (2.68 ± 0.10 vs. 3.17 ± 0.13 l/min; sprint 1 vs. sprint 2; P < 0.01). These data suggest that aerobic metabolism provides a significant part (~49%) of the energy during the second sprint, whereas PCr availability is important for high power output during the initial 10 s.

This study examined the contribution of phosphocreatine (PCr) and aerobic metabolism during repeated bouts of sprint exercise. Eight male subjects performed two cycle ergometer sprints separated by 4 min of recovery during two separate main trials. Sprint 1 lasted 30 s during both main trials, whereas sprint 2 lasted either 10 or 30 s. Muscle biopsies were obtained at rest, immediately after the first 30-s sprint, after 3.8 min of recovery, and after the second 10-and 30-s sprints. At the end of sprint 1, PCr was 16.9 ± 1.4% of the resting value, and muscle pH dropped to 6.69 ± 0.02. After 3.8 min of recovery, muscle pH remained unchanged (6.80 ± 0.03), but PCr was resynthesized to 78.7 ± 3.3% of the resting value. PCr during sprint 2 was almost completely utilized in the first 10 s and remained unchanged thereafter. High correlations were found between the percentage of PCr resynthesis and the percentage recovery of power output and pedaling speed during the initial 10 s of sprint 2 (r = 0.84, P < 0.05 and r = 0.91, P < 0.01). The anaerobic ATP turnover, as calculated from changes in ATP, PCr, and lactate, was 235 ± 9 mmol/kg dry muscle during the first sprint but was decreased to 139 ± 7 mmol/kg dry muscle during the second 30-s sprint, mainly as a result of a  45% decrease in glycolysis. Despite this  41% reduction in anaerobic energy, the total work done during the second 30-s sprint was reduced by only  18%. This mismatch between anaerobic energy release and power output during sprint 2 was partly compensated for by an increased contribution of aerobic metabolism, as calculated from the increase in oxygen uptake during sprint 2 (2.68 ± 0.10 vs. 3.17 ± 0.13 l/min; sprint 1 vs. sprint 2; P < 0.01). These data suggest that aerobic metabolism provides a significant part ( 49%) of the energy during the second sprint, whereas PCr availability is important for high power output during the initial 10 s.

EPR and magnetic results are reported for oxygen deficient, nonsuperconducting R(Formula presented)(Formula presented)(Formula presented) (R=Nd, Sm) compounds. The magnetic-susceptibility χ(T) and isothermal M(H) data are analyzed as the superposition of the rare-earth (Formula presented) contribution with another strongly ferromagnetic (FM) contribution arising from FM copper clusters with large total spin S. The rare-earth paramagnetic contribution in χ(T) and M(H) are calculated using the results of consistent crystal-field analysis (intermediate coupling wave functions, J-mixing effects) of (Formula presented) and (Formula presented) ions. The corresponding EPR spectra comprise an intense, almost isotropic EPR line whose intensity I(T) exhibits a ferromagnetic behavior, while (Formula presented) and the linewidth Δ(Formula presented) diverge at T<10 K indicating the presence of slowly fluctuating “internal” fields. The origin of the FM clusters is related to spin-polarized copper clusters through oxygen holes in the Cu(1) or Cu(2) layers, while the ferromagnetic interaction of the (Formula presented)(1) with the (Formula presented)(2) moments may be involved in the low-temperature (T<10 K) behavior of the EPR parameters. On increasing the oxygen deficiency, the ferromagnetic contribution is drastically reduced and more isolated (Formula presented) centers appear as shown by the corresponding EPR data. Exact simulation of the latter anisotropic EPR spectra, shows that the anisotropic linewidths Δ(Formula presented) (i=x, y, z) gradually broaden at low temperatures, while the intensity I(T) shows antiferromagnetic behavior. EPR measurements on an “aged” (Formula presented)(Formula presented)(Formula presented)(Formula presented)(Formula presented) sample revealed that the (Formula presented) EPR spectrum intensifies with time, a behavior probably related to oxygen ordering processes or to surface degradation effects. Analysis of the EPR resonance of (Formula presented) and (Formula presented) ions in combination with the absence of the corresponding EPR spectra indicate the presence of very fast spin-lattice relaxation of the rare-earth ions. © 1996 The American Physical Society.

An attempt is made to identify and investigate the structure, behaviour and synoptic characteristics of cyclogenesis over the Aegean Sea. A simple, realistic and easily used methodology of identification, in an analytical form, was established. This combines two types of criteria: synoptic and dynamic/thermodynamic. Six synoptic categories that could favour cyclogenesis over the Aegean Sea are distinguished according to the synoptic criteria. Grid-point values of geopotential height and temperature are used to calculate the dynamic/thermodynamic criteria, which are used to identify potential cases of cyclogenesis with respect to the thermodynamic prerequisites and the time continuance. It is demonstrated that cyclogenesis over the Aegean Sea is not as rare as was believed. The majority of cases result from the prevalence of a south-westerly flow, a long-wave trough and a closed system over the Aegean Sea. The cyclogenesis appears to occur primarily in the cold period of the year, mainly from October to May, and to have a small intensity and lifetime.

A potentiometric method for the in vitro adsorption kinetic study of an ionic micromolecule to charcoal, based on the continuous direct monitoring of the micromolecule free concentration by means of an ion-selective electrode (ISE), has been developed. A chlorpromazine ISE was constructed and used to study the adsorption kinetics of the drug on pure activated charcoal and two commercial formulations (Ultracarbon tablets and Carbomix powder). The method consists of the rapid addition of a slurry containing the charcoal into the drug solution under stirring at pH 1.2 (to simulate a gastric fluid environment) and continuous recording of the electrode potential until the establishment of equilibrium The drug free concentration at appropriate time intervals was calculated from the recorded adsorption curve acid the apparent adsorption rate constant was estimated assuming first order kinetics. Within run RSD of the estimates ranged from 0.3 to 12% (mainly less than 5%), while between run RSD (n=3) ranged from 1 to 19% (mainly less than 10%). A linear relationship was found between the apparent adsorption rate constants and the amount of charcoal used with slopes following the rank order activated charcoal>Ultracarbon tablets>Carbomix powder. These results were explained on the basis of different surface areas of the adsorbents. The work proved the usefulness of ion-selective potentiometry in adsorption studies and can be extended to other ionic drugs for which selective electrodes can be constructed.

Objectives. For patients with prostate specific antigen (PSA) values of 4-10 ng/mL, some urologists perform prostatic biopsies depending upon the findings of digital rectal examination (DRE) and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), and others perform biopsies on most of these men regardless of the findings of DRE and TRUS. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the information given by the measurement of the ratio of free to total (F/T) PSA can alter decision-making on prostatic biopsy. Methods. One hundred and two (102) men with PSA values between 4 and 10 ng/mL, were included in this study. All men were examined with DRE and TRUS; a F/T PSA ratio was also measured, and six prostatic biopsies were taken from each patient. Results. In 102 men who were biopsied, 22 (21.5%) prostatic carcinomas were identified. Among these 22 cancer patients, 13 had abnormal findings in DRE and/or TRUS and would have been biopsied and diagnosed anyway. If we use only the F/T PSA ratio (cut-off value 0.20) to decide whom to biopsy, we would have diagnosed 16/22 cancers; the difference between these two procedures was not statistically significant (P = 0.17). If we decide to biopsy those patients who have abnormal findings in DRE and/or TRUS and those who have a F/T PSA ratio <0.20, we would diagnose 20/22 cancers (P = 0.05) and at the same time, reduce the unnecessary biopsies from 80 to 41 (48%). With a PSA value between 4 and 10 ng/mL and no findings in DRE and TRUS and at the same time with a F/T PSA ratio ≤0.20, we would have to perform biopsies in 20.5 men to find one cancer. On the other hand, in patients with suspicious findings in DRE and/or TRUS and a F/T PSA ratio <0.20, in every two men that we biopsy we would find one cancer. Conclusion. We believe that among patients with PSA values between 4 and 10 ng/mL after performing DRE and TRUS, the additional information of F/T PSA ratio can help since it increases the number of cancers detected and reduces the number of unnecessary biopsies.

The cytotoxic effects of a 22 h treatment with four antineoplastic agents in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 2366 were investigated. Two agents, doxorubicin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), were effective in decreasing the colony-forming ability of yeast cells. Following examination under the light microscope, the effect of doxorubicin appeared to be, at least partially, due to killing of yeast cells whereas the effect of 5-FU was rather due to changes in cell structure leading to abnormal bud formation. For amsacrine (AMSA) and melphalan, cytotoxicity was totally absent. In the presence of diltiazem the above described effects were not significantly changed. When verapamil was added in the culture medium the cytotoxic activity of doxorubicin and 5-FU did not change. However, following treatment with AMSA in combination with verapamil, cell survival was significantly decreased whereas the presence of verapamil increased the yeast survival which was observed after melphalan treatment.

Background: This investigation war undertaken to study: a) the adsorption characteristics of chlorpromazine to activated charcoal and its formulations Carbomix(R) powder and Ultracarbon(R) tablets at gastric pH; b) the effect on chlorpromazine adsorption of polyethylene glycol and its combination with electrolyte lavage solution; c) the effect of the order of addition of polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution. Method: Ion selective electrode potentiometry, bared on the selective, direct and continuous response of a chlorpromazine-ion selective electrode to the concentration of the free drug, was used. Successive additions of microvolumes of a chlorpromazine solution were made into a charcoal slurry in acidic medium of pH 1.2 with measurement of the chlorpromazine-ion selective electrode potential at equilibrium Results: The maximum adsorption capacity values of activated charcoal, Carbomix and Ultracarbon, were 297, 563, and 382 mg/g respectively, while the affinity constant values were 40.2, 70.4, and 40.5 L/g, respectively. The adsorption of chlorpromazine to each of the Ultracarbon and Carbomix components was compared to the total adsorption of the formulations. The addition of polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution causes a slight desorption of chlorpromazine from activated charcoal at gastric pH, more pronounced when polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution follows the addition of activated charcoal, suggesting the possibility of a nonspecific binding of chlorpromazine to polyethylene glycol. The amount of chlorpromazine adsorbed to Carbomix and Ultracarbon was not significantly affected at gastric pH by the presence of polyethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution added either concurrently or sequentially to these formulations.

The effects of active recovery on metabolic and cardiorespiratory responses and power output were examined during repeated sprints. Male subjects (n = 13) performed two maximal 30-s cycle ergometer sprints, 4 min apart, on two separate occasions with either an active [cycling at 40 (1)% of maximal oxygen uptake; mean (SEM)] or passive recovery. Active recovery resulted in a significantly higher mean power output (W̄) during sprint 2, compared with passive recovery [W̄] 603 (17) W and 589 (15) W, P < 0.05]. This improvement was totally attributed to a 3.1 (1.0)% higher power generation during the initial 10 s of sprint 2 following the active recovery (P < 0.05), since power output during the last 20 s sprint 2 was the same after both recoveries. Despite the higher power output during sprint 2 after active recovery, no differences were observed between conditions in venous blood lactate and pH, but peak plasma ammonia was significantly higher in the active recovery condition [205 (23) vs 170 (20) μmol·l-1; P < 0.05]. No differences were found between active and passive recovery in terms of changes in plasma volume or arterial blood pressure throughout the test. However, heart rate between the two 30-s sprints and oxygen uptake during the second sprint were higher for the active compared with passive recovery [148 (3) vs 130 (4) beats min-1; P < 0.01) and 3.3 (0.1) vs 2.8 (0.1) l·min-1; P < 0.01]. These data suggest that recovery of power output during repeated sprint exercise is enhanced when low-intensity exercise is performed between sprints. The beneficial effects of an active recovery are possibly mediated by an increased blood flow to the previously exercised muscle.

The effects of active recovery on metabolic and cardiorespiratory responses and power output were examined during repeated sprints. Male subjects (n = 13) performed two maximal 30-s cycle ergometer sprints, 4 min apart, on two separate occasions with either an active [cycling at 40 (1)% of maximal oxygen uptake; mean (SEM)] or passive recovery. Active recovery resulted in a significantly higher mean power output (W̄) during sprint 2, compared with passive recovery [W̄] 603 (17) W and 589 (15) W, P < 0.05]. This improvement was totally attributed to a 3.1 (1.0)% higher power generation during the initial 10 s of sprint 2 following the active recovery (P < 0.05), since power output during the last 20 s sprint 2 was the same after both recoveries. Despite the higher power output during sprint 2 after active recovery, no differences were observed between conditions in venous blood lactate and pH, but peak plasma ammonia was significantly higher in the active recovery condition [205 (23) vs 170 (20) μmol·l-1; P < 0.05]. No differences were found between active and passive recovery in terms of changes in plasma volume or arterial blood pressure throughout the test. However, heart rate between the two 30-s sprints and oxygen uptake during the second sprint were higher for the active compared with passive recovery [148 (3) vs 130 (4) beats min-1; P < 0.01) and 3.3 (0.1) vs 2.8 (0.1) l·min-1; P < 0.01]. These data suggest that recovery of power output during repeated sprint exercise is enhanced when low-intensity exercise is performed between sprints. The beneficial effects of an active recovery are possibly mediated by an increased blood flow to the previously exercised muscle.

Background. Skeletal complications are a major clinical manifestation of multiple myeloma. These complications are caused by soluble factors that stimulate osteoclasts to resorb bone. Bisphosphonates such as pamidronate inhibit osteoclastic activity and reduce bone resorption. Methods. Patients with stage III multiple myeloma and at least one lytic lesion received either placebo or pamidronate (90 mg) as a four-hour intravenous infusion given every four weeks for nine cycles in addition to antimyeloma therapy. The patients were stratified according to whether they were receiving first-line (stratum 1) or second-line (stratum 2) antimyeloma chemotherapy at entry into the study. Skeletal events (pathologic fracture, irradiation of or surgery on bone, and spinal cord compression), hypercalcemia (symptoms or a serum calcium concentration ≥12 mg per deciliter [3.0 mmol per liter]), bone pain, analgesic-drug use, performance status and quality of life were assessed monthly. Results. Among 392 treated patients, the efficacy of treatment could be evaluated in 196 who received pamidronate and 181 who received placebo. The proportion of patients who had any skeletal events was significantly lower in the pamidronate group (24 percent) than in the placebo group (41 percent, P<0.001), and the reduction was evident in both stratum 1 (P=0.04) and stratum 2 (P=0.004). The patients who received pamidronate had significant decreases in bone pain and no deterioration in performance status and quality of life. Pamidronate was well tolerated. Conclusions. Monthly infusions of pamidronate provide significant protection against skeletal complications and improve the quality of life of patients with stage III multiple myeloma.

An attempt is made to find the dynamical and physical characteristics of the atmospheric circulation which contributed to the development of a great storm in the vicinity of Greece on 5 October 1989. The surface cyclogenesis could be considered as a consequence of an upper-tropospheric minor wave which formed upstream on the eastern flank of a blocking-type anticyclone which was centred over Britain and dominated the atmospheric circulation over western Europe. This minor wave formed three days before the initiation of the surface cyclogenesis and could be explained by the theory of ’a dynamically unstable ridge’. As the wave moved south-eastwards, an elongated trough formed in the upper troposphere. The southernmost part of this elongated trough was disrupted by dynamical processes, leading finally to the formation of a cut-off low. When the area of positive relative vorticity advection due to the low became superimposed upon a shallow frontal surface lying across southern Greece in the afternoon of 4 October 1989, a deep depression developed at the surface between Crete and Athens during the next 12 hours. To further elucidate the role played by the forcing conditions at the upper levels in the surface cyclogenesis, the potential vorticity has been analysed.

Purpose. To point out the importance of heterogeneity in drug distribution processes and develop a noncompartmental approach for the description of the distribution of drug in the body. Methods. A dichotomous branching network of vessels for the arterial tree connected to a similar venous network was used to describe the heterogeneity of blood flow in the successive generations of the networks. The relevant kinetics of drug distribution in the well perfused and the deep tissues was considered to take place under well stirred (homogeneous) and understirred (heterogeneous) conditions, respectively. Results. A `'homogeneous model'' with classical kinetics (which is mathematically equivalent with the one-compartment model) was developed for these drugs which are confined to well perfused (''well stirred'') spaces. A `'heterogeneous model'' was proposed for the drugs reaching understirred spaces using a decreasing with time rate coefficient (fractal kinetics) to model the diffusion of drug under heterogeneous conditions. The analysis of the model equations revealed that the homogeneous model can be considered as a special case of the heterogeneous model. Concentration-time plots of multiexponential type were generated using the heterogeneous model equation. The empirically used power functions of time for the analysis of calcium clearance curves, were found to be similar to the equation adhering to the heterogeneous model. Fittings comparable to multiexponential models were obtained when the heterogeneous model equation with only one adjustable parameter was applied to six sets of long period calcium data. Conclusions. The heterogeneous processes of drug distribution in the body can obey the principles of fractal kinetics. Calcium clearance curves were analysed with the heterogeneous model. The validity of multicompartmental models which are based on the concept of homogeneity to describe drug distribution should be reconsidered.

Geopolitics is the geographical and analytical method which studies and describes the power distribution and control of the influence zones on the planet. It is important to stress that whoever controls the international commercial routes also controls the planet. What does this concept mean in the case of Aegean Sea? The Aegean is a sea route and an air passage extending from the Mediterranean Sea and Europe to the Dardanelles and to the Turkish ports in the East. Moreover, while the Aegean Sea exerts a geopolitical influence on Greece and Turkey, it is also -in a practical and not in a legal sense- a sea and an air passage serving the former Soviet Republics, such as Ukraine and Russia, and connecting, as far as transports are concerned, the commercial flow between Europe and Asia.

We review the hadronic model for Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). This model, which can be applied to all AGN, advocates the acceleration of protons to ultrarelativistic energies by shock fronts which are formed a few Schwarzschild radii away from the central black hole. The necessary consequences of this hypothesis are discussed. These include the formation of electromagnetic cascades which are initiated by the injection of secondary electrons and photons inside the source, as well as the production and escape of neutrons and neutrinos. As a result of the neutron escape we emphasize that AGN can be sources of TeV radiation.

Shock waves associated with shell type supernova remnants are considered to be possible sites of cosmic ray acceleration. Since shocks are capable of accelerating electrons in addition to protons one anticipates both species to contribute to the high energy radiation expected from these objects. Adopting a simple model for particle acceleration we calculate in a self-consistent manner the time-dependent synchrotron and inverse Compton radiation of high energy electrons assumed either to be accelerated directly by the shock wave or to be injected at high energies as secondaries from the hadronic collisions of relativistic protons with the circumstellar material. We deduce that for standard supernova parameters the TeV flux produced from neutral pion decay is about the same order as the flux expected from directly accelerated electrons.

More effective and safer regimens are needed for patients who have advanced multiple myeloma resistant to or relapsing despite prior treatment with alkylating agents and VAD. We treated 58 such patients using the combination of twice daily cyclophosphamide (total dose 1.8 g/m2) and VAD (hyperCVAD). Treatment was given to outpatients followed by G-CSF at 5 μg/kg/d until granulocyte recovery. Twenty-three patients responded (40%), with a median duration of granulocyte depression to less than 500/μl of 4 days and a mortality rate of 2%. The median survival time for all patients was 15 months, and the median remission time of responding patients was 8 months. Patients who had low LDH, low B2M, or primary resistant disease lived significantly longer than patients without these features. The combination of fractionated cyclophosphamide and VAD provided an effective and safe rescue treatment for many patients who had advanced myeloma resistant to standard therapies.

A wide range of pharmacological actions has been attributed to the anthracyclins. In this study we examined their effect on serum lipids in experimental animals in parallel with histological alterations. Three Wistar rat groups were injected with doxorubicin, epirubicin or normal saline once a week for 12 weeks. Total serum lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, transaminases, proteins and alkaline phosphatase were assayed weekly. A proportion of the animals were sacrificed at the same time points and the cardiac muscle, large vessels, liver and abdominal muscle were stained and examined under light microscopy. Serum lipids were found to increase gradually, starting after 8 weeks of drug administration, until the end of the experiment. Tissue damage was noted in the cardiac muscle, abdominal muscle and large vessels, also following an increasing trend. Doxorubicin had a more pronounced effect than epirubicin on both serum lipid increase and tissue destruction. These alterations may contribute to anthracyclin-related cardiac damage.

The prediction of propagation and motion of thunderstorm activity, especially when heavy rainfall accumulation amounts could occur, is a matter of great importance. The objective of this study is to examine the possibility of using the environmental wind data for the problem of assessing predictability of the propagation and movement of thunderstorms in northern Greece. The propagation of radar thunderstorm echoes (radar echo reflectivity maxima) and cell movement (fine radar echo patterns) were determined for the spring and summer thunderstorms in 1992 and 1993 (April to September). Radar data were used by examining and analyzing digitally recorded plan position indicator for the entire time that the radar was operated. Multicell and single-cell thunderstorms were identified and thunderstorm propagation and cell motion were calculated for each. Environmental winds at standard levels of 850, 700, and 500 hPa were considered and, additionally, a mean 0- to 6-km layer density-weighted wind was also examined. In northern Greece, winds and radar thunderstorm echoes rarely moved from the clockwise sector 070° to 220° (ENE - SW). The movement of thunderstorm cells was not only steered by the 700-hPa level wind but was also well represented by the wind at the 500-hPa level and by the average wind in the layer 0-6 km. Using standard levels, cell motion can be determined by adding 5° to 500-hPa wind direction and reducing the 500-hPa wind speed by 30%. With the use of the mean 0- to 6-km density-weighted wind, cell motion can be represented by adding 5° to the 0- to 6-km wind direction and increasing 35% the 0- to 6-km wind speed. The propagation of multicell and single-cell thunderstorm echoes was very similar, in spite of initial expectations, and was approximately equal to the cell motion, suggesting that the new cells grew on all sides of existing multicell thunderstorms. The majority of northern Greece thunderstorms do not propagate significantly and their motion is substantially translational and similar to cell motion. However, in cases of severe thunderstorms, propagation was indicated. Characteristic cases of storm propagation are presented and vertical wind shear is investigated as a particularly important factor in influencing storm structure and evolution and the resulting storm propagation.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to investigate the availability of intensive care unit (ICU) beds and the number of requests, the number and categories of nursing staff, the nursing care required, and the time spent in various nursing activities. METHODS: 19 district general hospitals were studied. The characteristics of the units and their nursing personnel were recorded. The availability of ICU beds, the frequency of bed requests, and the way of patient admission in the ICUs were studied retrospectively for 1 year and prospectively for 2 weeks. The staffing level of direct care for 36 patients was studied to determine the time required for direct nursing care. RESULTS: the distribution of intensive care beds was: GICU 108, CICU 114, PSICU 30. During 1991, 12363 patients were admitted and 12172 of them were discharged; 3 628 patients stayed less than 2 days while the average length of stay was 12.5 days. In 1992, during the 2-week period, there were 303 requests for an admission to ICUs and of these 150 requests could not be met because of lack of ICU beds. The mean staffing level was 2.3 nurses per bed (to cover the three shifts). The mean nursing time required for direct nursing care of each patient per shift was found to be 6 hours for GICU patients, 5.3 for CICU, and 6.0 for PSICU patients.

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has been found to exert multiple enhancing effects in the immune response in vitro, IFN-alpha has been also used in clinical trials with variable response rates. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of IFN-alpha in the treatment of 25 patients with malignant pleural or peritoneal effusions caused by lung, and metastatic breast and ovarian cancer. Clinical responses were correlated with a) the ratio of malignant effusion (ME)-associated tumor cells to ME-associated mononuclear cells (MEMNC), b) MEMNC-derived cytotoxic responses against autologous or allogeneic tumor targets, and c) major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen expression on tumor cells. After partial drainage of pleural or peritoneal fluid, the patients were allocated to receive 10 million units of IFN-alpha by intrapleural or intraperitoneal injection at weekly intervals. The treatment was terminated if the malignant effusion disappeared or the patients had received four to six consecutive procedures. None of the patients received concomitant systemic chemotherapy or radiation therapy. MEMNC and tumor cells were isolated by centrifugation on discontinous percoll density gradients. Cytotoxic and phenotypic profiles of MEMNG were analyzed before and after treatment with IFN-alpha. An improvement was observed in patients with increased ratios of tumor cells to malignant effusion-associated mononuclear cells (MEMNC) in the effusions. In the same patients MEMNC were overpopulated by CD8+ T lymphocytes. In this group of patients the administration of IFN-alpha was associated with 25% complete response and 75% partial response rates. In contrast only 17% partial responses were achieved in patients whose effusions had decreased tumor cell to MEMNC ratios. The immunomodulation induced by IFN-alpha in vivo was also tested. Thus in a group of 6 patients, treatment with IFN-alpha resulted in the induction of CD8+ cell-mediated lysis against autologous tumor cells which was associated with PR (two patients). Natural killer (NK)-cell activity, and MHC class I antigen expression on effusion-associated tumor cells were also enhanced during treatment, but were not correlated with the outcome of the therapy since similar findings were also observed in the 4 non-responders. Local infusions of IFN-alpha provide an effective alternative treatment for malignant effusion in patients with lung, breast, and ovarian cancer. Increased ratios of tumor cells to MEMNC and the presence of CD8+ T lymphocytes within the malignant effusions may play an important role in the outcome of such a treatment with IFN-alpha but more patients need to be studied for definite conclusions.

We describe single and multiple solitonlike solutions of the electromagnetic field in nonlinear superlattices using an effective-medium approximation.

The concentration of radon (222Rn) was measured in the soil near the ground surface, using CR/39 solid state nuclear track detectors. The measurements were carried out in PVC tubes at 0.25 m intervals up to 1.25 m. The detectors were etched in 7N NaOH solutions at 80°C. The ?-tracks from radon's decay were counted using a microscope. A microscopc-camera-computer system developed for automatic counting was also used. The results provide evidence for the non-diffusive transport of radon in soils. A transport length of (46.9 ± 3.2) cm was estimated for radon transport near ground surface. Also the variation of soil's radon concentration was correlate to humidity and atmospheric pressure. Copyright © 1996 Akade?miai Kiado?. All rights reserved.

{We present the results of a dense seismological experiment in the western part of the Gulf of Corinth (Psathopyrgos-Aigion area), one of the most active rifts in the Aegean region for which we have precise tectonic information. The network included 51 digital stations that operated during July and August 1991, covering a surface of 40 times 40 km2. Among the 5000 recorded events with ML ranging between 1.0 and 3.0, we precisely located 774 events. We obtained 148 well-constrained focal mechanisms using P-wave first motions. Of these, 60 also have mechanisms obtained by combining the P-wave first motions with the S-wave polarization directions. The observed seismicity is mainly located between 6 and 11 km depth. Most of the fault-plane solutions correspond to E-W-striking normal faulting, in agreement with the geological evidence. Most of the well-determined mechanisms indicate a nodal plane dipping 10–25° due north and a steep south-dipping plane. A similar asymmetry is also seen in the seismicity distribution and in the overall geological structure of the Corinth Rift. We discuss this evidence and the inference of a deep detachment zone, a structure where the major faults seen at the surface appear to root. A large part of the microseismic activity appears to cluster in regions near the junctions of the main faults with the proposed detachment zone. This feature of the microseismicity is interpreted in terms of stress transfer and stress concentration in regions of probable nucleation of future large earthquakes.}

This is a brief presentation of the emerging molecular concept of prostate cancer as regards the diagnosis and staging of the disease, analysis of tumour response to hormone-depletion therapy, and the cellular mechanisms that underly progression of the organ-confined tumour toward systemic dissemination and inevitable lethal disease.

Consider the problem of sequential sampling from m statistical populations to maximize the expected sum of outcomes in the long run. Under suitable assumptions on the unknown parameters θ= ∈ Θ, it is shown that there exists a class CR of adaptive policies with the following properties: (i) The expected n horizon reward Vπ0 n (θ=) under any policy π0 in CR is equal to nμ,*(η=) - M(θ=)log n + o(log n), as n → ∞, where μ*(θ=) is the largest population mean and M(θ=) is a constant. (ii) Policies in CR are asymptotically optimal within a larger class CUF of "uniformly fast convergent" policies in the sense that limn → ∞(nμ,*(θ=) - Vπ0 n (θ=))/ (nμ*(θ=) - Vπ n(θ=)) ≤ 1, for any π ∈ CUF and any θ= ∈ Θ such that M(θ=) > 0. Policies in CR are specified via easily computable indices, defined as unique solutions to dual problems that arise naturally from the functional form of M(θ=). In addition, the assumptions are verified for populations specified by nonparametric discrete univariate distributions with finite support. In the case of normal populations with unknown means and variances, we leave as an open problem the verification of one assumption. © 1996 Academic Press, Inc.

Summary: A phase-I study was conducted to examine the safety, pharmacokinetics, and activity of combination 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI) and ribavirin against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-positive individuals with CD4+ cell counts of ≤500/μl. Nineteen patients were enrolled into the study in which ddI monotherapy (200 mg p.o. b.i.d.) was administered for the first 4 weeks, followed by the coadministration of ribavirin (600 mg p.o. q.d.) and ddI (200 mg p.o. b.i.d.) for 8 or 20 additional weeks. The combination regimen was safe and well tolerated. Three patients did not complete 12 weeks of the study because of adverse events or voluntary withdrawal. The pharmacokinetic studies performed at weeks 4, 6, and 12 on specimens collected from the 15 individuals who completed 12 weeks of therapy revealed no pharmacokinetic interaction between ddI and ribavirin. A significant decline from baseline in HIV-1 titer as measured by quantitative HIV-1 culture was detected both during the ddI-monotherapy phase (week 4, p < 0.001) and during the combination-therapy ddI + ribavirin phase (week 12, p < 0.001); the median drop observed was 0.90 log10 at week 4 and 0.92 log10 at week 12. While the addition of ribavirin did not result in further reductions in viremia in the following weeks on study treatment, 13 (81%) of the 16 patients had at least a -0.5 log10 change in viral titer at week 12. The median decline in plasma viral RNA was 0.68 log10 at week 4 (p < 0.001) and 0.67 log10 at week 12 (p = 0.005). CD4+ cell counts increased above baseline significantly during the ddI-monotherapy phase of the study (p = 0.0038). The median increase was +26 cells/mm3 at week 4 and +11 cells/mm3 at week 12; for patients who remained on treatment through 24 weeks, the median CD4+ cell count increase was +10 cells/mm3. The L74V ddI resistance-conferring HIV-1 reverse-transcriptase mutation emerged in 53% of the patients. Patients with non-syncytiuminducing HIV variants demonstrated greater responses to treatment with larger decreases in virus load and greater increases in CD4+ cell count. Our results reveal that the combination of ddI and ribavirin in HIV-positive patients is safe, well tolerated, without adverse pharmacologic interaction, and associated with significant and sustained declines in virus load over 12 weeks of therapy.

The powder samples of Cu(II) complexes of bis-salicylidene-1,2-phenylenediamine (complex I) and bis-(3,5-dichlorosalicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine (complex II) have been prepared and investigated by magnetic, IR, UV/VIS and EPR methods. From IR similar chemical structures for both complexes have been proposed. The electronic spectra support the square-planar geometry of both complexes. Magnetic susceptibility of complex I has shown typical paramagnetic behaviour for spin S = 1/2 with some ferromagnetic interaction, but no ferromagnetic order down to 1.7 K. The observed EPR spectra for both complexes are dominated by resonances arising from coupled pairs of copper ions in the temperature range investigated.

Objective: To compare the pregnancy rates achieved by intrauterine insemination or timed intercourse in gonadotrophin stimulated cycles in couples whose only detectable abnormality was poor sperm quality. Design: Sixty-two couples with primary or secondary infertility due to male factor entered the study. The 62 couples were randomly equally divided into two groups. Each group began one of the two treatment modalities (controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in conjunction with timed intercourse or intrauterine insemination) for three consecutive cycles and then switched to the alternative treatment after one rest cycle, if pregnancy was not achieved. Results: Five pregnancies (3.9%) were achieved after 128 cycles with timed intercourse and 15 pregnancies (11.5%) after 130 cycles with intrauterine insemination. The difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: We suggest that intrauterine insemination during hMG stimulated cycles improves the pregnancy rates of couples whose only detectable abnormality is poor sperm quality.

Objective: To determine whether failure to achieve pregnancy after repeated ET after ovum donation was due to an endometrial defect or to the embryo quality. Design: Retrospective data analysis. Setting: A private infertility center. Patient(s): Four hundred sixty-seven donors (513 cycles) undergoing IVF donating oocytes to 266 recipients (423 cycles). Intervention(s): Hormonal endometrial preparation with increasing dosages of valerate E2 (2, 4, and 6 mg) and 100 mg of P. Main Outcome Measure(s): Pregnancy rates (PRs) and abortion rates in patients undergoing one to seven ETs after ovum donation. Result(s): Pregnancy rates in recipients that had one or two ETs were significantly higher (34.8%) compared with those of recipients having three or more ETs (15.1%). Abortion rates were significantly higher (54.5%) in recipients repeating more than three ETs than in the recipients having one or two ETs (29.1%). Conclusion(s): Recipients that had failed to establish a pregnancy after two ETs had a lower PR in successive attempts, possibly because of a defect of their endometrial lining.

Purpose: We assessed the incidence, clinical and radiological features, and prognosis of patients with renal lymphoma. Materials and Methods: We studied 210 patients with symptoms, signs and radiological findings suggestive of renal cell carcinoma. Results: Final diagnosis in 6 of 210 patients (3%) was primary renal lymphoma. Radiological features were similar to those of renal cell carcinoma. Five of the 6 patients had an International Prognostic Index score of greater than 1. Despite appropriate chemotherapy, only 2 patients remain with complete remission. Conclusions: Primary renal lymphoma is unusual but not rare. The relatively poor prognosis in our patients could be attributed to the adverse prognostic factors associated with aggressive nodal lymphomas.

The geopolitical approach is imposed neither by legal superstructures and international organizations nor through -willingly or unwillingly- inapplicable moral exhortations. The geopolitical approaches are dominated only by one point: the logic of power of the international ruling social and economic cores. Unfortunately, the results of the geopolitically stronger actions are “legalized” -after they have been established- by the legal decisions or the international organizations. There are many relevant examples.

We discuss a model for the γ-ray production in blazars in which electrons are accelerated rectilinearly in localised regions of the jet, scattering soft radiation from the accretion disk. In our model the jet divides naturally into two zones. In the `radiation dominated zone' (close to the disk), the acceleration of electrons is balanced by inverse Compton losses in the Thomson regime and energy is efficiently transferred into the γ-rays. The γ-ray spectral slope is determined by the electric field profile along the jet. In the `particle dominated zone' (further from the disk) the electron losses are too low to balance acceleration and the electrons are injected into the jet with energies corresponding to the full potential drop in the acceleration region. We suggest that these electrons are then isotropised by the random component of the magnetic field of the jet and cool mainly by synchrotron losses. In the framework of our model we predict further that Galactic black hole candidates might be sources of γ-radiation; in this case, however, we do not expect emission above 10GeV.

The variable flux of TeV gamma-rays detected from Mkn 421 and Mkn 501 requires the presence of high energy electrons, which could in principle produce large numbers of electron/positron pairs, leading to an electromagnetic cascade. We point out that this scenario can be avoided if electrons are accelerated to high energy rectilinearly, rather than being injected isotropically into a blob, as in most of the models of the GeV gamma-ray emission. By balancing linear acceleration by an electric field against inverse Compton losses in the radiation field of the accretion disk we calculate the emitted spectra and find the conditions which must be fulfilled in order to exclude the development of electromagnetic cascades during acceleration. Assuming these to be fulfilled, we show that the maximum possible photon energy is approximately 10M_8_^2/5^TeV, where M_8_ is the mass of the central black hole in units of 10^8^Msun_. In addition we compute the optical depth to absorption of TeV photons on a possible isotropic scattered component and on the observed nonthermal radiation (in the case of Mkn 421) and find that TeV photons can escape provided the nonthermal X-rays originate in a jet moving with a Lorentz factor γ_b_>8.

The kinetics of radiocesium sorption and desorption by cation solutions and the corresponding radiocesium distribution profiles in sediment cores were investigated. The results have shown that a significant percentage of radiocesium is adsorbed in the sediments during the first 3 d. Radiocesium reaches rapidly (< than 5 d) at a depth which does not exceed 3.5 cm. The desorption of radiocesium was found to depend on cation concentrations. Empirical laws are derived both for cesium adsorption and desorption.

Spectral formation in steady state, spherical accretion onto neutron stars and black holes is examined by solving numerically and analytically the equation of radiative transfer. The photons escape diffusively and their energy gains come from their scattering off thermal electrons in the converging flow of the accreting gas. We show that the bulk motion of the flow is more efficient in upscattering photons than thermal Comptonization in the range of non-relativistic electron temperatures. The spectrum observed at infinity is a power law with an exponential turnover at energies of order of the electron rest mass. Especially in the case of accretion into a black hole, the spectral energy power-law index is distributed around 1.5. Because bulk motion near the horizon (1-5 Schwarzschild radii) is most likely a necessary characteristic of accretion into a black hole, we claim that observations of an extended power law up to about m_e_c^2^, formed as a result of bulk motion Comptonization, is a real observational evidence for the existence of an underlying black hole.

The stomach contents of 108 specimens of Podarcis peloponnesiaca (BlBRON & BORY, 1833) were examined and the results of the analysis are discussed together with prey availability data. The animals were sampled during the spring months March to May when the activity of the lizards and their prey is at its peak. According to the results of the present study, P. peloponnesiaca feeds mainly on arthropods. Imaginai Coleoptera, Diptera, insect larvae, and spiders were the most frequently encountered prey in the lizard's environment. The same taxa were found to be numerically predominant in the stomachs of P. peloponnesiaca.

Supernova 1006 is the first shell type supernova remnant to show evidence of particle acceleration to TeV energies. In the present paper we examine this possibility by modeling the observed X-ray non-thermal emission in terms of synchrotron radiation from Fermi accelerated electrons. The predicted synchrotron spectrum fits the radio and non-thermal component of the observed soft X-ray to hard X-ray emission quite well. These particles can produce TeV gamma rays by inverse Compton scattering on the microwave radiation and other ambient fields, and the derived electron distribution is also used to calculate the expected inverse Compton flux. We find that if the remnant is characterised by a magnetic field strength lower than ~7yG, then the TeV flux can be higher than that of the Crab Nebula. About 75% of the TeV emission from SN 1006 is expected to be concentrated in the synchrotron bright NE and SW rims (the "hard aegis") of the remnant, which would allow a sensitive search if the Atmospheric Imaging Cherenkov Technique is used.

A survey of carbon stars in the outer parts of the Small Magellanic Cloud has been completed; the candidate objects were identified by inspecting UK Schmidt Telescope objective-prism plates which cover a total area of ~220 sq deg on the sky, including the inter-Cloud region. Co-ordinates are given for 1185 newly identified carbon stars. (1 data file).

We present a radial velocity survey of a sample of the field population of carbon stars in the outer parts of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). This first set of results includes radial velocities for 71 carbon stars, with an individual precision of +/-2-5km/s. The mean heliocentric velocity of the stars (excluding one very high velocity star) is 149.3+/-3.0km/s with a velocity dispersion of 25.2+/-2.1km/s. These values drop to 145.5+/-2.7km/s and 20.6+/-1.9km/s respectively, if we exclude the stars belonging to the Outer Wing. The velocity distribution does not show the multiple peaks seen in some samples of Population I objects. The mass of the SMC as inferred from the above velocity dispersion (without the outer Wing stars) is =~1.2x109M☉. (2 data files).

The present study was part of a broader research prograrn of the first author concerning loneliness and coping behaviour in childhood. We attempted to explore children's definitions of loneliness as well as the kind and frequency of coping strategies children employ in order to deal with loneliness. 238 4th- and 6th-grade pupils answered the questions: 'What is loneliness?' and 'When you feel lonely, what do you do in order to stop feeling that way?'. Children defined loneliness as the sad feeling caused by the absence of friends and by peer rejection. Children used various coping strategies, including seeking the companionship of important others (e.g., parents, siblings, grandparents, peers, pets); solitary play; indoor and outdoor activities (e.g., television, video games, sports); cognitive strategies (e.g., attempt to forget this feeling, attempt to improve oneself in order to find friends and not being rejected by peers); and passive ways of coping (e.g., doing nothing, crying, going to sleep). The two most frequent strategies were seeking companionship in peers and watching television. Results are discussed in terms of age and gender differences and of their relevance to coping taxonomies known from relevant literature.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). Η Ελληνοβουδιστική Τέχνη. Έλληνες και Φιλέλληνες. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΣ, τεύχος 6, Αυγ. 1993, σελ. 48-50.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). Η "Λύρα" του Αιγαίου. Η λυρική ποίηση 'γεννήθηκε' στο Αιγαίο. Οι πρώτοι μεγάλοι Έλληνες λυρικοί ποιητές. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt., ΠΑΡΑΔΟΣΗ, τεύχος 38, 15 Αυγ.-15 Σεπτ. 1996: 75-76.  

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). Η Ναυπηγική του Αιγαίου, Έλληνες, οι μεγαλοφυέστεροι κατασκευαστές πλοίων: «ο άνθρωπος του Αιγαίου» και οι  πρώτες θαλασσοκρατορίες. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΣ, τεύχος 40, 15 Οκτ-15 Νοεμ. 1996, σελ. 66-68.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). «Ομολογώ», Καταστροφή Ελληνικών Αρχαιοτήτων (Hughes 1820): Η Συλλεκτική Μανία των Ευρωπαίων. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ- GRAMMA,  Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΕΣ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΤΗΤΕΣ, τεύχος 35, 15 Μαίου-15Ιουνίου 1996, σελ. 72-75.

Το άρθρο σχολιάζει τη δυνατότητα λήψης σπέρματος από σπερματίδες, δηλαδή πρώιμου και μη δημιουργημένου σπέρματος για χρήση στην εξωσωματική γονιμοποίηση. Το γεγονός αυτό στάθηκε η αφορμή για τη συγγραφή της σύντομης αυτής αναφοράς, στην οποία περιγράφεται η δυνατότητα να μεταβιβάζονται διηνεκώς τα γονίδια των στείρων ανδρών,  επιβαρύνοντας έτσι το γενετικό φορτίο των επόμενων γενεών.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). Τα υποδήματα των Αρχαίων Ελλήνων. Υποδηματοποιεία τόποι συνάντησης. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. Τέυχος 32, 15 Ιαν.-15 Φεβρ. 1996, σελ. 68-71.

Πρακτικά του Διεθνούς Συμποσίου που διοργανώθηκε στα πλαίσια του Προγράμματος «Οι δρόμοι του ορθόδοξου μοναχισμού: Πορευθέντες μάθετε». Θεσσαλονίκη, 28 Σεπτεμβρίου - 2 Οκτωβρίου 1994.Proceedings of the International Symposium Organised within the Programme «The Routes of Orthodox Monasticism: Go ye and learn

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). Το Ελληνικό Κόσμημα. Έργο Τέχνης με Ιστορία και Παράδοση. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. Τεύχος 33, 15 Φεβρ.-15 Μαρτίου 1996., σελ. 70-75.

Στο σύντομο αυτό άρθρο σχολιάζεται το θέμα των δανεικών μητέρων, πριν από την τελική διαμόρφωση άποψης για το πρόβλημα στη διδακτορική διατριβή, με αφορμή την προβολή σχετικής ταινίας στην τηλεόραση. Συγκεκριμένα, εκφέρουμε θετική γνώμη για την περίπτωση εγκυμοσύνης εμβρύου από συγγενικό ή φιλικό πρόσωπο, δίχως συναλλαγές και ανταλλάγματα, όταν η μητέρα-σύζυγο δεν δύναται να κυοφορήσει. Ωστόσο, στη συνέχεια η θέση μας για το θέμα αυτό είναι περισσότερο κριτική και διατηρούμε επιφυλάξεις, οι οποίες αναπτύσσονται στη διδακτορική διατριβή.

The aim of the present study was to assess the two main forms of adolescent egocentrism, the imaginary audience and the personal fable phenomenon, in Greek adolescents. Piaget defined adolescent egocentrism as a differentiation failure, a negative by-product of the newly acquired formal operational abilities. Elkind stated that adolescents often believe that they are the focus of attention and act as if they are performing in front of an audience (imaginary audience). They also feel special/unique, omnipotent and invulnerable (personal fable). The Greek adaptations of Lapsley's New Imaginary Audience Scale and New Personal Fable Scale were administered to 783 14-18-year-old adolescents from Athens and semi-rural areas of Greece. The New Imaginary Audience Scale was a highly reliable measure, whereas the New Personal Fable Scale had a lower, though adequate, reliability. Factor analyses showed that the imaginary audience consisted of several factors, the most important of which were, among the 14-16-year-old adolescents, leadership abilities, physical strength, material possessions and, among the 16-18 year-old adolescents, physical appearance, relationships with the opposite sex, and leadership abilities. The distinction among the three dimensions of the personal fable was confirmed in general. Both the imaginary audience and the personal fable decreased significantly with age. Boys had significantly higher personal fable scores than girls. Adolescents from semi-rural areas had significantly higher imaginary audience and personal fable scores than those living in Athens. The necessity to assess adolescent egocentrism, a developmental phenomenon that explains various adolescent behaviours, within a multidimensional framework is discussed.

The deoxygenation of secondary alcohols via thionoesters with the use of 5,10-dihydrosilanthrene as the radical reducing agent has been studied in detail. The ability of hydrogen donation of this silane has been measured using the one-carbon ring expansion of 1-(2-oxocyclopentyl)ethyl radical as a timing device.

The clinical spectrum of MM is variable. Infiltration of bone and bone marrow by malignant plasma cells results in severe osteopenia, lytic lesions, pathological fractures and anaemia. Occasionally, significant numbers of plasma cells circulate in the bloodstream. Hypercalcaemia and Bence Jones proteinuria are the main reasons for renal impairment, but amyloidosis and monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition should also be considered. Neurological impairment is most often due to spinal cord pressure by an extradural plasma cell tumour. In some patients, symptoms and signs of peripheral neuropathy may be present. Amyloidosis complicates the course of a minority of patients with MM and further impairs the performance of affected patients. Circulating monoclonal protein may increase serum viscosity, impair the function of platelets and coagulation factors, and behave as a cryoglobulin. The levels of uninvolved immunoglobulins are usually decreased, rendering patients susceptible to various bacterial infections. One or more of these complications provides a clue for the diagnosis, forms the basis for defining prognosis and must be managed expeditiously and concurrently, with the institution of specific treatment for the myeloma. © 1995 Baillière Tindall. All rights reserved.

Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the bovine cardiac Na/Ca exchanger were treated with ouabain to increase [Na+]i and stimulate Ca2+ influx by Na/Ca exchange. Depletion of cellular ATP inhibited 45Ca uptake by 40% or more and reduced the half-maximal Na+ concentration for inhibition of 45Ca uptake from 90 to 55 mM. ATP depletion also reduced the rate of rise in [Ca2+]i when [Na+]o was reduced and inhibited the decline in [Ca2+]i when high [Na+]o was restored. The effects of ATP depletion were either absent or reduced in cells expressing a mutant exchanger missing most of the cytosolic hydrophilic domain. We were unable to detect a phosphorylated form of the exchanger in immunoprecipitates from 32P-labeled cells. ATP depletion caused a breakdown in the actin cytoskeleton of the cells. Treatment of the cells with cytochalasin D mimicked the effects of ATP depletion on the [Na+] inhibition profile for 45Ca uptake. Thus, ATP depletion inhibits both the Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ efflux modes of Na/Ca exchange, and may alter the competitive interactions of extracellular Na+ and Ca2+ with the transporter. The latter effect appears to be related to changes in the actin cytoskeleton

As several possible prognostic and therapeutic applications of interleukin-6 are currently under trial, the available methods for its quantification in biological fluids should be evaluated. In this report, the 7TD1 hybridoma bioassay is compared to an enzyme immunoassay for the determination of interleukin-6 in serum and plasma of normal subjects and patients with cancer, sepsis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as in malignant pleural effusions and culture supernatants. The results show a good correlation between the two methods in all cases. Mean values of the examined groups were statistically different between the assays only in the case of septic patients. This may be attributed either to the influence of other molecules on the assays or to the nonlinearity of the dose-response curves. Since immunoassays are easier to perform, it seems that they are more suitable for routine use, the bioassay being preferable in cases where increased sensitivity is required.

A model based on the fractal methodology is proposed for the kinetic study of carrier-mediated transport under heterogeneous conditions, i.e., when the drug-carrier interaction occurs at an interface with an effective dimensionality smaller than the embedding dimension of d = 2. A model equation is derived for the flux, based on a similar approach for an analogous equation for enzyme kinetics. It is shown that the total flux-solute concentration plots are curvilinear when the fractal dimension is smaller than unity while they become biexponential, with ascending and descending limbs, when the fractal dimension D is in the range 1 < D < 2. Nonlinear Lineweaver-Burk plots are obtained when this fractal kinetics approach is used. Good fittings are obtained when the fractal model is applied to literature data previously analysed with a combined transport mechanism, revealing experimental systems that display a D value in the range 1 < D < 2. It is suggested that transport studies should be carried out at a wider working solute concentration range and various agitation and incubation conditions in order to derive definite conclusions for the transport pathways.

A simulation method is developed for computing average reward optimal policies, for a finite state and action Markovian decision process. It is shown that the method is consistent; i.e., it produces solutions arbitrarily close to the optimal. Various types of estimation errors and confidence bounds are examined. Finally, it is shown that the probability distribution of the number of simulation cycles required to compute an é-optimal policy satisfies a large deviations property. © 1995, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.

A diflunisal ion selective electrode of the PVC membrane type with an ion-exchanger consisting of the tetraheptylammonium-diflunisal ion pair is described. The sensor exhibits a rapid, near-Nernstian, selective response to diflunisal anion in the pH range 7-10, with a (batch) detection limit of 1 x 10(-5) M. The ion sensor was used as a flow detector in an automated flow-injection analyzer to develop routine methods for assays (concentration range 1-50 x 10(-4) M, (flow) detection limit 2.6 x 10(-5) M), content uniformity, and dissolution studies of diflunisal formulations. No serious interference from common ions and tablet excipients was found, and the drug can be directly determined in colored samples without separation steps. Fourty measurements can be performed automatically per hour with a precision of 0.5-1.8% relative standard deviation. The automated method for the dissolution test provides a complete dissolution profile by the end of the experiment. Using the constructed ion sensor, the intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the diflunisal anion was studied, thereby revealing a new application of ion sensor potentiometry.

The aim of this study was to classify the degree of 21αhydroxylase deficiency in patients suspected for non-classic 21-hydroxylase-deficient congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). In 66 selected subjects (45 young women with polycystic ovary (PCO)-like symptoms and members of their families, of whom 12 were men), progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and cortisol were measured at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation. The markers [(17-OHP at 30 min - 17-OHP at 0 min) + (progesterone at 30 min - progesterone at 0 min)]/30 proposed by Gutai and the ratio of cortisol to 17-OHP at 30 min (cortisol30/17-OHP30) were calculated and cluster analysis was performed using the above two markers and 17-OHP at 60 min (17-OHP60). Our patients were grouped by cluster analysis into four Groups: I, II, III and IV (n = 3, 11, 35 and 16, respectively) with (1) Gutai (x±SE) 107.0±21.7, 29.9±4.4, 10.5±0.54 and 4.0±0.37 ng/dl per min, respectively, (2) 17-OHP60 169.7±28.3, 10.8±1.3, 4.6±0.2 and 3.7±0.4 ng/ml, respectively, and (3) cortisol/17-OHP30 0.97±0.28, 38.5±6.9, 82.3±5.5 and 112.0±8.9, respectively. All three markers showed highly significant differences between the four groups (p < 0.0001). The patterns of 17-OHP, cortisol and cortisol/17-OHP ratio following ACTH testing revealed the degree of 21-hydroxylase deficiency in every group. HLA typing effected in 20 studied individuals confirmed the classification derived from cluster analysis. Thus, it seems that Groups I, II and III include, respectively, patients with severe, mild and minimal forms of non-classic 21-hydroxylase-deficient CAH, while in patients of Group IV the hyperandrogenemic symptoms are of different etiology. In conclusion, the concurrent evaluation of the three markers together with the variations of 17-OHP, cortisol and the cortisol/17-OHP ratio after ACTH testing enhance the accurate identification of a patient suspected for non-classic 21-hydroxylase-deficient CAH in relation to the severity of the enzymatic defect. © 1995 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.

High resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and synchrotron X‐ray excitation of luminescence (XEOL) is used to probe the chemical nature of the luminescence mechanisms of porous and rapidly oxidised porous silicon. It is concluded that for fresh porous silicon, Si‐Si bonded material is involved in the luminescence. For oxidised material this is probably not the case, the chemical environment being SiO2. Copyright © 1995 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

The structural and optical properties of low and high porosity luminescent porous silicon layers have been studied. It has been shown that the luminescence intensity is strongly dependent on the porosity and not on the surface area. Double-crystal X-ray and electron diffraction patterns indicate that freshly anodized luminescent porous silicon is crystalline. Both techniques show an increasing distortion of the lattice planes with increasing porosity, implying that the distortion is strongly linked to the smallness of the crystallites constituting the layers. © 1995.

The paper presents a method for the calculation of fractal reaction dimension, D-R, in dissolution studies of powdered substances with a given particle size distribution. An estimate for D-R can be directly obtained from dissolution experiments using the well known Hixson-Crowell equations in a modified form. The estimation is accomplished with a special computer program in BASIC which was developed and applied to simulated errorless and contaminated data with very good results. A practical demonstration of the method's usefulness was shown on experimental data taken from the literature.

High-dose thioTEPA is used frequently in myeloablative regimens for marrow transplantation, but the need for dose adjustments in obese patients has not been explored. We determined the pharmacokinetics of thioTEPA and its metabolite TEPA during first-dose infusion of thioTEPA 150-250 mg/m2 given daily for 3 days in combination with busulfan and cyclophosphamide, and evaluated the results for correlations with toxicity and dosing strategies. The study included 15 adults undergoing marrow transplantation for hematologic malignancies. Plasma samples were obtained at various times over a 24-h period, and concentrations of thio TEPA and TEPA were measured by gas chromatography. At 22-24 h after initiation of a 4-h infusion, the mean ±SE plasma concentration of thioTEPA was 124±63 ng/ml, while that of TEPA was 235±69 ng/ml. For CFU-GM and BFU-E growth in vitro, the IC50s of thioTEPA were 83 ng/ml and 16 ng/ml, respectively, and the IC50s of TEPA were 141 ng/ml and 47 ng/ml, respectively. Using a twocompartment model, the mean thioTEPA Vc was 47.4±4.7 l/m2, t1/2α 19±5 min, t1/2β 3.7±0.5 h, and plasma clearance 302±21 ml/min per m2. The mean AUCs were 6.9-16.2 mg h/l for thioTEPA and 8.9-21.2 mg h/l for TEPA, while the mean peak concentrations were 0.95-2.08 μg/ml for thioTEPA and 0.88-1.90 μg/ml for TEPA. There was a significant association of grades 2-4 maximum regimen-related toxicity (RRT) with TEPA peak >1.75 μg/ml and with combined thioTEPA and TEPA AUC >30 mgh/l (5/6 vs 0/9, P=0.01 for both comparisons), suggesting that drug exposure was an important determinant of toxicity and, potentially, efficacy. ThioTEPA Vc correlated best with adjusted body weight (r=0.74, P=0.0015). In an evaluation of 74 adults receiving thioTEPA 750 mg/m2 in combination with busulfan and cyclophosphamide, the maximum RRT for patients at ideal weight was significantly greater than that for obese patients dosed on ideal weight (mean RRT grade 1.7 vs 1.0, P=0.004) but did not differ from the maximum RRT for obese adults dosed on actual or adjusted weights. We recommend that for obese patients thioTEPA be dosed on adjusted body weight. Measurements at time-points after 24 h are needed to determine when thioTEPA and TEPA concentrations are below myelosuppressive levels and safe for marrow infusion. © 1995 Springer-Verlag.

In this study, the structural properties of luminescent porous silicon layers have been investigated. Double x-ray and electron diffraction patterns combined with high resolution electron microscopy (HREM) show a good agreement in that the distortion of the lattice planes in porous silicon is related to the smallness of the crystallites constituting the layers. HREM results indicate that a two-level microstructure is present in porous silicon layers. This structure consists of a crystalline part (nanocrystals) and an amorphous part (a sponge-like structure). The morphology of both parts show differences for samples grown under different conditions. A model based on this two-level microstructure is used to account for these observations. It turns out that this microstructure cannot be characterized, as often attempted, by only the measured values of the porosity and the surface area. Finally, double x-ray diffraction on post-treated porous silicon layers confirms that hydrogen desorption and readsorption or further oxidation and/or reconstruction of the oxide layer in porous silicon induce further distortion of the lattice planes. © 1995, The Electrochemical Society, Inc. All rights reserved.

Objective: To study the effect of pentoxifylline on sperm motility, oocyte fertilization, embryo cleavage, and quality as well as pregnancy outcome on asthenospermic patients participating in an IVF program. Design: Prospective randomized study. Setting: Private IVF unit. Patients: Ninety seven couples, 24 of whom were repeating IVF. Two semen specimens were obtained from each patient and each specimen was divided equally into two parts, nontreated (control semen) and pentoxifylline-treated (treated semen). Main Outcome Measure: Sperm progressive motility, oocyte fertilization. Results: Overall and progressive motility did not differ significantly between the two semen specimens. There was a significant increase in the progressive motility of the pentoxifylline-treated semen compared with control semen. No significant difference was noticed between control and treated semen in fertilization rate, cleavage rate, embryo quality, and pregnancy rate. The percentage of patients who fertilized only with control semen (9.3%) was not significantly different from that of patients who fertilized only with treated semen (10.3%). Couples who were repeating IVF did not show significant difference in fertilization between the present study and previous attempts. Conclusion: Our results showed that although the sperm progressive motility is improved after pentoxifylline treatment, it is doubtful whether this effect is of any clinical significance.

We consider the problem of sequential control for a finite state and action Markovian Decision Process with incomplete information regarding the transition probabilities P ∈ Papprox. Under suitable irreducibility assumptions for Papprox.. We construct adaptive policies that maximize the rate of convergence of realized rewards to that of the optimal (non adaptive) policy under complete information. These adaptive policies are specified via an easily computable index function, of states, controls and statistics, so that one takes a control with the largest index value in the current state in every period.

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell function can be generated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after brief exposure of high dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) over the course of 1 or 2 days' culture in plain culture medium (IL-2-pulsed PBMC). The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to augment LAK induction in low dose IL-2-pulsed PBMC derived from patients with cancer undergoing immunotherapy with IL-2.|Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from patients with cancer receiving a 5-day cycle of local (intraperitoneal or intrapleural) infusions with IL-2. The cells were incubated with IL-2 in the presence or absence of GM-CSF for 1 hour and then tested as effectors against allogeneic tumor cells and LAK-sensitive cell lines.|Granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor at doses between 10 and 100 ng/ml was synergized with low dose IL-2 (100 IU/ml) in the generation of LAK activity in PBMC. Lymphokine-activated killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity derived from PBMC cultures incubated with IL-2 and GM-CSF was significantly higher (up to three-fold) compared with that generated with IL-2 alone. The GM-CSF-induced enhanced LAK activity was maintained when tested at day 5. GM-CSF increased the percentages of IL-2 receptor (R) positive (+) and CD8+ cells in the IL-2-pulsed PBMC. In contrast to CD56+ cells, highly purified CD8+ cells isolated from PBMC pulsed with IL-2 and GM-CSF responded with increased LAK activity, thus representing the cell-type that mediates the augmenting effect of GM-CSF. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules or the CD3 surface antigens were not involved in the GM-CSF-mediated enhancement of LAK induction because anti-MHC class I and class II monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) or MoAb against the CD3 molecules remained without any effect in this system. The GM-CSF-mediated LAK-enhancement was IL-2-dependent because MoAb against IL-2 receptor completely inhibited the generation of LAK activity.|The use of GM-CSF for the enhancement of IL-2-induced LAK activity in 1 hour cultures may improve clinical results in cancer immunotherapy. In addition, implementation of this procedure could eliminate the high cost of cell culture which usually accompanies IL-2/LAK cell therapy as well as eliminate the known toxic side effects associated with this kind of therapy.

Powdered samples of the Pr0.5RE0.5Ba2Cu3O6 + x compounds, where RE Yb, Ho, Tm, Er, and Y, were investigated by the EPR technique at low temperatures in the range 2.8-20 K. In the EPR spectra of these non-superconducting materials in tetragonal phase, resonance lines arising from the exchange interaction of coupled pairs of divalent copper ions and Cu2+ in the tetragonal local crystal field symmetry were recorded. Apart from the usually observed ΔMs = 1 and ΔMs = 2 transitions for the CuCu system, rarely reported singlet-triplet transitions were detected as well. The exchange parameter J has roughly the same value of about 0.12 cm-1 for all investigated samples and the zero-field splitting parameter D is of the order of 0.013 cm-1. It is suggested that formation of Cu(1)OCu(2) copper coupled pairs is responsible for the observed EPR spectrum. © 1995.

Low-temperature EPR measurements are presented for the PrBa2Cu3O6+x and Pr0.5R0.5Ba2Cu3O6+x (R=Y,Er) compounds with oxygen deficiency (tetragonal phase). The nuclear hyperfine interaction of the Cu2+ ions has been observed in both compounds. The origin of the Cu2+ EPR spectra has been associated with localized divalent copper ions in the Cu(1) sites. A time-induced transformation of the Cu2+ local crystal-field symmetry from orthorhombic to tetragonal, related to the oxygen distribution in the Cu(1) plane, has been detected. The EPR spectra of pairs of weakly exchange-coupled divalent copper ions were also observed. These copper pairs are suggested to occur in the Cu(1) planes and to be magnetically isolated from the antiferromagnetic CuO2 planes. © 1995 The American Physical Society.

Les développements actuels, après la démystification du rêve marxiste qui a eu lieu avec la chute du Mur de Berlin, l’effondrement de l’Empire Soviétique et le réveil des nationalismes régionaux, exigent de la part de la communauté internationale et de ses appareils de décision une analyse précise et attentive du nouveau paysage géopolitique. À mon avis, cette analyse doit se faire selon deux axes: a) Les évènements du XXe siècle qui ont mené à des crises et a des conflits ont souvent abouti à la « création de démons » qui ont été loin de contribuer à l’établissement du progrès et du développement au niveau international. b) D’autre part, ce totémisme politique a conduit les sociétés de la «guerre froide» à l’acceptation de «tabous» politiques qui ont fonctionné comme de facteurs d’équilibre de la terreur et de la suspicion: -équilibre qui a toutefois permis au mécanisme international, économique et politique de tourner dans le cadre d’un économie de plus en plus internationale avec de rythmes connus à l’avance même s’ils n’étaient pas excellents. -équilibre qui a aidé ne serait-ce qu’à l’établissement de conceptions culturelles nationalistes chez des nations comme celles de la mosaïque ethnique de l’URSS, qui, avant l’instauration du système soviétique et de la deconsécration de la métaphysique marxiste, étaient attelées au char de la métaphysique proprement dite. Celle-ci était tout à fait inadéquate comme base culturelle de sociétés qui désirent rattraper les réalisations dues aux progrès technologiques et à l’évolution politique et sociale. Les évaluations et /ou propositions des analystes dans le cas présent sont de trois types: i) Puisqu’ il n’y a pas de démons, il n’y a donc plus de causes des confrontations internationales, de conflits et de crises. Collaborons donc tous pour le bien de tous! ii) Hélas, il n’y plus de démons. Fabrique-on donc de nouveaux pour le bien de tous! iii) L’évolution en spirale d’histoire de la civilisation de l’homme a déjà commencé à parcourir une nouvelle démarche, supérieure, de son hélice: les anciens démons «a la forme bien définie et identifiable» commencent à céder la place à d’autres démons primaires, informes et mêmes non identifiables, qui prendront une forme et un contenu avec la manière dont nous le traiterons. Faisons donc attention à la manière de les traiter. En résume, nous pouvons dire que cela ne vaut pas la peine de partager l’optimisme des analystes du premier groupe ni l’affolement des analystes du deuxième. Il n’est pas possible du point du vue dialectique qu’une phase de l’histoire puisse exister sans les démons. Le problème est d’être en mesure de les évaluer objectivement, de les définir en détail. Alors peut-être découvrirons-nous qu’ils ne sont pas plus méchants envers nous que nous ne le sommes envers eux, et surtout que nous nous sommes mutuellement indispensable. Alors il ne restera plus qu’à collaborer pour affronter les autres démons bien réels qui nous menacent : la famine, la soif, la pollution de l’environnement, le chômage, l’analphabétisme, la drogue, la criminalité.

Bioequivalence assessment of extended release (ER) dosage forms is usually carried out at steady-state, using area under the curve (AUG) to evaluate extent of absorption and maximum concentration (C-max) and % peak trough fluctuation ratio (%PTF) to evaluate rate of absorption. Other metrics such as C-max/AUC and partial AUCs have recently been proposed as alternatives for assessing the absorption rate of drugs from immediate release (IR) dosage forms under single dose conditions. The performances of these metrics were assessed using the results of two sets of simulated experiments of ER dosage forms at steady-state and 2 actual pharmacokinetic studies involving ER dosage forms of a Glaxo drug. In the first set of simulations there was no difference in bioavailability between the two formulations; in the second set of simulations the test formulation had a 50% greater absorption rate-constant (ka) than the reference formulation. The following conclusions were reached: 1. For ER dosage forms at steady-state, all the metrics, with the exception of %PTF, resulted in much smaller increases than the underlying 50% increase in ka. Although, %PTF gave the largest effect it was also the most imprecisely estimated. 2. In our studies, none of the metrics tested provided reliable information about changes in the underlying rate of absorption from ER dosage forms under steady-state conditions. 3. The current practice of comparing rate of absorption from ER dosage forms using steady-state C-max is inappropriate due to lack of sensitivity. The use of %PTF may require a widening in the currently accepted 80-125% permissible range set for C-max and AUC.

Five hundred and fifty-nine human sera were examined using the Rose Bengal test (RBT), the Wright test and the immunofluorescence technique. Analysis of the collected data is indicative of the high sensitivity of the RBT, which is proved to be a very useful screening test. The inadequacy of the Wright test for an accurate diagnosis of chronic brucellosis is obvious and the need to be replaced or supplemented by another technique is suggested and discussed.

The study described here was designed to develop and test a form of nursing assessment of mental patients for use as a basis for individualized holistic nursing care in any setting. Nursing assessment was made of 581 mental patients receiving care in either mental hospitals, psychiatric departments of general hospitals or in mental health centres. Subjects were observed, interviewed and asked to complete a structured assessment form. Major variables studied were physical nursing problems/needs with nine categories, psychosocial nursing problems/needs with nine categories, sex, age, and physical and psychiatric disorders. Data were analysed with frequency distribution and comparative techniques, correlational procedures, and the multiple linear regression statistical procedure. The frequency distribution of psychiatric diagnoses showed that schizophrenic disorders were the most frequent in the total sample. However, there were more depressive patients in the general hospital group. Physical nursing problems/needs were significantly related with psychosocial nursing problems/needs, affective-depressive disorders, sex and age as well as negatively related with psychotic and anxiety disorders. Psychosocial nursing problems/needs were significantly related with schizophrenic and psychotic disorders, physical disorders and with the younger age groups. It was concluded that the psychiatric nursing assessment should encompass the areas of personal characteristics, and physical and psychological problems of the patient, and thus lead to practicing psychiatric nursing, that is, holistic psychosomatic nursing.

Water reserves represent a vital goal of the Arab-Israeli peace negotiations (A/I/N). The multilateral negotiations, that started in Madrid in November 1991 under the tutelage of USA and Russia and continued in Washington after September 1992 together with the bilateral discussions on regional problems (sovereignty issues and administrative status of the Palestinians), have been followed by seven rounds of discussions on the issue of the water, in which participated Israel, on the one side, and a Palestinian-Israeli delegation, on the other. These seven rounds were held in first place, in Moscow in January 1992, then in Vienna (13-14 May 1992), Geneva (May 1993), Peking (26-28 October 1993), Mascat (17-20 April 1994), Athens (7-9 November 1994) and, finally, in Amman (18-22 June 1995).1 None of these meetings had been successful because Syria and Lebanon were absent. The governments of Syria and Lebanon stated that any discussion of the multiple aspects of the conflict, such as the arms control, the refugee problem, the economic development and the protection of the environment, is without significance as long as Israel continues to occupy Palestinian territory. The above governments, since the Madrid meeting, have already made clear that their first concern is the contrivance of an international legal status that will settle the existing bellicose situation, due to the territories that Israel has occupied and principally the Golan Heights, between them and Israel.

Forty-eight adult patients with recurrent or refractory intermediate grade or immunoblastic lymphoma received high-dose carmustine (BCNU), etoposide, Ara C and cyclophosphamide (BEAC), followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Median follow-up is 906 days (range 613-2067 days). The complete remission rate was 42% and 22% had a partial response. Actuarial failure-free survival is 30% ± 6.6%. Twenty one patients relapsed or progressed. Only one relapse occurred > 1 year after autologous BMT. Adverse prognostic factors for failure-free survival include high LDH at the time of autologous BMT, chemotherapy-refractory disease and multiple prior relapses. Patients with chemotherapy responsive first salvage (those achieving first CR only with salvage chemotherapy and those with first relapse, responding to salvage chemotherapy) had a failure-free survival of 52% ± 10% vs 12% ± 6% for those with more advanced disease. Of 13 patients who had no adverse factors, only two relapsed. Treatment-related mortality occurred in 23%, including infection (n = 4), cardiac toxicity (n = 4), pulmonary toxicity (n = 2) and hemorrhage (n = 1). Pulmonary toxicity was more common among patients who had received prior radiation-therapy to the chest. BEAC chemotherapy with autologous BMT is an effective but relatively toxic regimen for patients with relapsed or refractory lymphomas. The combination of chemotherapy-responsive disease after failure of one chemotherapy regimen and normal LDH identifies patients with a favorable prognosis. Alternative cytotoxic regimens require evaluation, with the goal of reducing treatment related mortality. More effective cytoreductive therapy is required for patient with poor prognostic features.

We report systematic calculations of the low-temperature diffusion thermopower of Al-based dilute alloys with 3d and 4sp impurities, by solving self-consistently the linearized Boltzmann equation. The impurity scattering is described by the phase shifts obtained from self-consistent local-density-functional impurity-in-jellium calculations. Moreover, the influence of the full anisotropy of the Al Fermi surface on the scattering process is taken into account within the on-Fermi-sphere approximation. Our results explain successfully the experimentally measured variations in the thermoelectric power, except for Mn impurities. In this case, the presence of a narrow many-body resonance at the Fermi level in the localized-spin-fluctuations regime seems to be responsible for the large negative value of thermopower observed.

We report systematic calculations of the low-temperature diffusion thermopower of Al-based dilute alloys with 3d and 4sp impurities, by solving self-consistently the linearized Boltzmann equation. The impurity scattering is described by the phase shifts obtained from self-consistent local-density-functional impurity-in-jellium calculations. Moreover, the influence of the full anisotropy of the Al Fermi surface on the scattering process is taken into account within the on-Fermi-sphere approximation. Our results explain successfully the experimentally measured variations in the thermoelectric power, except for Mn impurities. In this case, the presence of a narrow many-body resonance at the Fermi level in the localized spin-fluctuations regime seems to be responsible for the large negative value of thermopower observed.

The polymorphic modifications α-, β-, and γ-Fe2WO6 of the iron tungstate system were studied by means of magnetic susceptibility and EPR measurements at low temperatures. Both methods revealed a significant paramagnetic contribution, probably resulting from local distortions of the antiferromagnetic bulk structure induced by a disturbed cation ordering or the presence of Fe2+ ions. The magnetic susceptibility revealed a peak at ∼260 K for all samples which can be related with an AF phase transition. The EPR spectra comprised the contribution of various isolated paramagnetic iron centers, one arising from high-spin Fe3+ ions in rhombic crystal field symmetry with E/D ≈ 1/3 and D ≈ 0.22 cm-1, an anisotropic EPR signal consistent with an S = 3/2 ground state with large zero-field splitting, and a dominant component in the g ≈ 2 region presumably arising from an S = 1/2; spin state. The latter spectra were tentatively attributed to the formation of multi-iron clusters, one of them invoking the presence of Fe2+ ions as well. For the βFe2WO6 phase an additional EPR spectrum was observed, which probably results from high-spin Fe3+ ions in a weak crystal field. © 1995 Academic Press. All rights reserved.

We present density-functional calculations within the local-density approximation for all transition-metal impurities in the divalent hosts Ca, Sr, and Ba. Our results predict sizable moments, even for impurities of the 4d and 5d series, being only slightly smaller than the moments obtained in the corresponding alkali metals

After a sequence of standard and intensive therapies, approximately 70% of patients with multiple myeloma achieve a remission of good quality and of many months duration. Yet the disease remains incurable because the high residual burden of approximately 1010 tumor cells cannot be eradicated. Initial disease control, followed by long unmaintained or maintained remissions and by repeated recontrol of relapsing disease, provides the best chance for a long survival time of good quality. Since melphalan-prednisone became available, many other chemotherapy programs have been studied. For selected groups of patients, the most useful regimens are VAD, high-dose dexamethasone, high-dose alkylating agent therapy, and myeloablative therapy plus autologous cell transplantation. Other programs, such as treatments using combinations of alkylating agents in standard doses or interferon alfa, remain unproven despite prolonged study. Until the mortality rate associated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation can be reduced substantially, the role of intensive treatment supported by this procedure will be limited. Current testing of agents such as paclitaxel, new agents that suppress MDR, topoisomerase I inhibitors, and myeloablative bone-seeking isotopes may lead to future improvements.

During a 7-week microearthquake experiment conducted in Epirus, Akarnania, and the Ionian islands of western Greece, we located approximately 600 earthquakes with magnitudes between 2 and 4.2. No event was deeper than 40 km. The seismicity cannot be clearly associated with any single fault except the Lixourion right-lateral fault located west of the Ionian islands. Focal mechanisms of about 100 earthquakes show, for a narrow band of earthquakes located along the coast, ENE–WSW shortening consistent with the surface tectonics. Farther east, focal mechanisms show NNW–SSE extension beneath the foothills of the Pindus mountains, which is unrelated to surface faulting but is consistent with the presently subsiding basins. This strain pattern is seen far north and south of the Lixourion fault and is similar to the one observed in the Peloponnese. It suggests that a large-scale mechanism is responsible for the recent geodynamics of both the northwestern and southwestern Aegean

Myeloablative therapy supported by autologous bone marrow or blood stem cell transplantation was assessed in 41 patients who had multiple myeloma resistant to vincristine‐doxorubicin by continuous infusion with high‐dose dexamethasone (VAD) or other high‐dose dexamethasone regimens. In patients who had high or intermediate tumor mass, the myeloma cell mass was reduced by more than 75% in 56% of patients and the survival time quadrupled in comparison with that of a matched control group. Later treatment resulted in a lower response rate and shorter remission. Current myeloablative regimens supported by autologous stem cells provided a useful treatment for patients who had advanced primary resistant multiple myeloma. Such treatment should be given early in the disease course to provide the best chance for remission, collecting blood stem cells with facility, and preventing complications that would increase the risk of the procedure. Copyright © 1995 AlphaMed Press

Late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21α-hydroxylase deficiency (LO21OH def), as many other diseases, is the cause of hirsutism, menstrual disorders, infertility (PCO-like symptoms). We evaluated the reliability of a new biochemical marker for screening LO-21OH def in 47 women with PCO-like symptoms and 11 men, members of their families, comparing the results of separation using this new marker with those of HLA-haplotyping in 21 members of the patient population. All subjects were stimulated with 0.25 mg synthetic ACTH iv. Serum progesterone (P), 17-hy-droxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and cortisol (F) at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min following ACTH administration were determined and the new marker, namely the difference between 60min and 0min of the ratio F/17-OHP [Δ F/17-OHP (60 min–0 min)] was calculated. According to the established biochemical criteria for the detection of LO-21OH def cases, (Gutai 30 min ≥12 ng/dl/min and 17-OHP 60 min ≥12 ng/ml for severe 21-OH def and Gutai 30 min<6.5 ng/dl/min and 17-OHP 60 min<5 ng/ml for “healthy” individuals regarding 21-OH def) two groups, A and B respectively, were separated from the patient population. In group A (n=8), with LO-21 OH def, the new marker showed negative values in all cases, while in group B (n=9), without LO-21 OH def, this marker was positive. The remaining subjects, depending on the results of the new marker were separated in 2 subgroups, Cneg (n=28), with negative values, composed, consequently, of members with 21-OH def and Cpos (n=13), with positive values, composed, consequently, of subjects with absence of LO-21OH def. HLA-typing was in agreement with the results of screening by the new marker, in 20 out of 21 cases, while there was only one false negative result. In conclusion, the proposed biochemical marker ΔF/17-OHP (60 min–0 min) seems to be a reliable parameter for the LO-21OH def detection among young women with PCO-like symptoms as well as males suspected for congenital adrenal hyperplasia. © 1995, Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE). All rights reserved.

We consider optically active photonic crystals. We propose a model structure and discuss the factors which determine optical activity by reference to this model.

In this Phase I clinical trial, six multiple myeloma patients who had not responded to conventional therapy and were scheduled for bone marrow transplantation received a bone-seeking radiopharmaceutical for bone marrow ablation. The pharmacokinetics, dosimetry, and toxicity of this radiopharmaceutical were studied. Methods: Patients received from 519 mCi to 2.1 Ci (19.2 GBq to 77.7 GBq) of holmium-166 (166Ho) complexed with a bone-seeking agent, DOTMP (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10- tetramethylene-phosphonic acid). The reproducibility of pharmacokinetics from multiple injections of 166Ho-DOTMP administered to these myeloma patients was demonstrated from blood (r2 = 0.926) and whole-body retention (r2 = 0.983), which allowed therapeutic parameters to be determined from a diagnostic study. Results: Over 50% of the 166Ho-DOTMP injected dose was excreted within 2-3 hr postinjection, increasing to 75%-85% over a 24-hr period. Rapid blood clearance minimized radiation dose to nontarget tissue: less than 10% of the injected activity was retained in the blood pool at 1 hr postinjection, and less than 2% remained after 5 hr. The total radiation absorbed dose delivered to the bone marrow for the six patients ranged from 7.9 Gy to 41.4 Gy. Conclusion: All patients demonstrated severe bone marrow toxicity with a white blood cell (WBC) count < 1,000 cells/μl, two patients exhibited marrow ablation (WBC count < 100 cells/μl), and no other toxicity ≥grade 2 was observed in any of the patients.

Primary lymphoma of the prostate was diagnosed in 3 patients corresponding to 0.1 percent of those with previously untreated lymphoma and 0.09 percent of those with previously untreated prostatic malignancy presenting to our cancer between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1993. All 3 patients had prostatism at presentation that caused renal failure in 2. After treatment with doxorubicin-based combination chemotherapy appropriate for the stage and the specific histological subtype, all 3 patients achieved a complete remission and remained free of disease after a minimum followup of 3 years. Our results suggest that primary prostatic lymphoma is not necessarily associated with a poor outcome. Review of the literature suggests that the poor prognosis reported for prostatic lymphoma might be explained by treatment that was acceptable at the time but would be considered suboptimal by current criteria. We recommend through staging in all patients with prostatic lymphoma and treatment with a doxorubicin-based regimen according to disease stage and histological classification. © 1995 American Urological Association, Inc.

Epirubicin is an anthracyclinic antibiotic that has been increasingly used in the treatment of a variety of malignancies. A hybridoma producing monoclonal antibody (MAb) against the drug was obtained by cell fusion. The MAb is of the IgM isotype and has an affinity constant of 1.4 x 10(-7) M. Inhibition analysis showed that the antibody recognizes an epitope related to the C 4'-hydroxyl group in the amino sugar moiety, distinguishing epirubicin from the closely related doxorubicin. Since the precise mechanism of anthracycline action as well as its immunomodulating effects are still under scrutiny, powerful tools for their study are clearly needed. Moreover, this MAb can be useful in monitoring the levels of epirubicin in treated patients, as well as for the construction of bispecific antibodies in tumor-targeting immunotherapy.

Purpose: To assess the prognostic significance of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in patients with newly diagnosed asymptomatic multiple myeloma. Patients and Methods: Thirty-eight consecutive patients with asymptomatic myeloma of low tumor mass and negative skeletal surveys underwent MR imaging of the thoracic and lumbosacral spine. The presence and patterns of marrow involvement were correlated with standard laboratory parameters and time to disease progression. Results: Nineteen patients (50%) had evidence of marrow involvement at spinal MR imaging. MR patterns of marrow involvement were classified as diffuse (five patients), variegated (nine), and focal (five). Patients with abnormal MR imaging studies required therapy after a median of 16 months, versus 43 months for those with normal MR studies (P < .01). Conclusion: Abnormal marrow patterns were present in half of patients with asymptomatic myeloma. An abnormal MR study of the spine identified asymptomatic patients who were likely to require treatment earlier than those with a normal MR study. A normal MR pattern provided additional justification to defer institution of chemotherapy. However, MR imaging remains an investigational tool to stage patients with multiple myeloma until more data are accumulated.

A number of nucleoside substrates has been reduced under free radical conditions with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane. In one case a novel type of a beta-(acyloxy)alkyl radical rearrangement has been observed, which leads through the generation of a C-1' radical species to the stereoselective preparation of an alpha-ribonucleoside. The rate of the above 12-migration has been estimated, and a comparison with previously reported results has been made.

A number of nucleoside substrates has been reduced under free radical conditions with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane. In one case a novel type of a $\beta$-(acyloxy)alkyl radical rearrangement has been observed, which leads through the generation of a C-1' radical species to the stereoselective preparation of an $\alpha$-ribonucleoside. The rate of the above 1,2-migration has been estimated, and a comparison with previously reported results has been made.

Ro 24-7429, a Tat antagonist, dosed at 75, 150, or 300 mg/day, was compared with nucleoside analogue (zidovudine or didanosine) for 12 weeks in 96 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients to assess safety and activity. The primary adverse effect of Ro 24-7429 was rash, which necessitated treatment discontinuation in 6 of 71 patients. Nucleoside analogue treatment produced an average increase in CD4 cell count of 28 cells/mm3 at week 8 versus a decrease of 27 cells/mm3 in recipients of Ro 24-7429 (P < .001). Serum HIV p24 antigen levels decreased by an average of 111 pg/mL in nucleoside recipients at week 8 compared with an increase of 41 pg/mL in recipients of Ro 24-7429 (P = .007). Nucleoside-treated patients had a mean 0.66 log10 reduction in infectious peripheral blood mononuclear cells, while Ro 24-7429 recipients had a mean 0.02 log10 reduction (P = .02). No dose-response relationships were observed in the Ro 24-7429 groups. In this study, Ro 24-7429 treatment showed no evidence of antiviral activity.

1. The recovery of power output and muscle metabolites was examined following maximal sprint cycling exercise. Fourteen male subjects performed two 30 s cycle ergometer sprints separated by 1.5, 3 and 6 min of recovery, on three separate occasions. On a fourth occasion eight of the subjects performed only one 30 s sprint and muscle biopsies were obtained during recovery. 2. At the end of the 30 s sprint phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP contents were 19.7 ± 1.2 and 70.5 ± 6.5% of the resting values (rest), respectively, while muscle lactate was 119.0 ± 4.6 mmol (kg dry wt)-1 and muscle pH was 6.72 ± 0.06. During recovery, PCr increased rapidly to 65.0 ± 2.8% of rest after 1.5 min, but reached only 85.5 ± 3.5% of rest after 6 min of recovery. At the same time ATP and muscle pH remained low (19.5 ± 0.9 mmol (kg dry wt)-1 and 6.79 ± 0.02, respectively). Modelling of the individual PCr resynthesis using a power function curve gave an average half-time for PCr resynthesis of 56.6 ± 7.3 s. 3. Recovery of peak power output (PPO), peak pedal speed (maxSp) and mean power during the initial 6 s (MPO6) of sprint 2 did not reach the control values after 6 min of rest, and occurred in parallel with the resynthesis of PCr, despite the low muscle pH. High correlations (r = 0.71-0.86; P < 0.05) were found between the percentage resynthesis of PCr and the percentage restoration of PPO, maxSp and MPO6 after 1.5 and 3 min of recovery. No relationship was observed between muscle pH recovery and power output restoration during sprint 2 (P > 0.05). 4. These data suggest that PCr resynthesis after 30 s of maximal sprint exercise is slower than previously observed after dynamic exercise of longer duration, and PCr resynthesis is important for the recovery of power during repeated bouts of sprint exercise.

1. The recovery of power output and muscle metabolites was examined following maximal sprint cycling exercise. Fourteen male subjects performed two 30 s cycle ergometer sprints separated by 1.5, 3 and 6 min of recovery, on three separate occasions. On a fourth occasion eight of the subjects performed only one 30 s sprint and muscle biopsies were obtained during recovery. 2. At the end of the 30 s sprint phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP contents were 19.7 ± 1.2 and 70.5 ± 6.5% of the resting values (rest), respectively, while muscle lactate was 119.0 ± 4.6 mmol (kg dry wt)-1 and muscle pH was 6.72 ± 0.06. During recovery, PCr increased rapidly to 65.0 ± 2.8% of rest after 1.5 min, but reached only 85.5 ± 3.5% of rest after 6 min of recovery. At the same time ATP and muscle pH remained low (19.5 ± 0.9 mmol (kg dry wt)-1 and 6.79 ± 0.02, respectively). Modelling of the individual PCr resynthesis using a power function curve gave an average half-time for PCr resynthesis of 56.6 ± 7.3 s. 3. Recovery of peak power output (PPO), peak pedal speed (maxSp) and mean power during the initial 6 s (MPO6) of sprint 2 did not reach the control values after 6 min of rest, and occurred in parallel with the resynthesis of PCr, despite the low muscle pH. High correlations (r = 0.71-0.86; P < 0.05) were found between the percentage resynthesis of PCr and the percentage restoration of PPO, maxSp and MPO6 after 1.5 and 3 min of recovery. No relationship was observed between muscle pH recovery and power output restoration during sprint 2 (P > 0.05). 4. These data suggest that PCr resynthesis after 30 s of maximal sprint exercise is slower than previously observed after dynamic exercise of longer duration, and PCr resynthesis is important for the recovery of power during repeated bouts of sprint exercise.

1. The recovery of power output and muscle metabolites was examined following maximal sprint cycling exercise. Fourteen male subjects performed two 30 s cycle ergometer sprints separated by 1.5, 3 and 6 min of recovery, on three separate occasions. On a fourth occasion eight of the subjects performed only one 30 s sprint and muscle biopsies were obtained during recovery. 2. At the end of the 30 s sprint phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP contents were 19.7 ± 1.2 and 70.5 ± 6.5% of the resting values (rest), respectively, while muscle lactate was 119.0 ± 4.6 mmol (kg dry wt)-1 and muscle pH was 6.72 ± 0.06. During recovery, PCr increased rapidly to 65.0 ± 2.8% of rest after 1.5 min, but reached only 85.5 ± 3.5% of rest after 6 min of recovery. At the same time ATP and muscle pH remained low (19.5 ± 0.9 mmol (kg dry wt)-1 and 6.79 ± 0.02, respectively). Modelling of the individual PCr resynthesis using a power function curve gave an average half-time for PCr resynthesis of 56.6 ± 7.3 s. 3. Recovery of peak power output (PPO), peak pedal speed (maxSp) and mean power during the initial 6 s (MPO6) of sprint 2 did not reach the control values after 6 min of rest, and occurred in parallel with the resynthesis of PCr, despite the low muscle pH. High correlations (r = 0.71-0.86; P < 0.05) were found between the percentage resynthesis of PCr and the percentage restoration of PPO, maxSp and MPO6 after 1.5 and 3 min of recovery. No relationship was observed between muscle pH recovery and power output restoration during sprint 2 (P > 0.05). 4. These data suggest that PCr resynthesis after 30 s of maximal sprint exercise is slower than previously observed after dynamic exercise of longer duration, and PCr resynthesis is important for the recovery of power during repeated bouts of sprint exercise.

The effect of several antineoplastic agents on Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains has been investigated. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum cytotoxic concentration (MCC) and median effective concentration (EC50) were determined to identify strains with inherent sensitivity to the agents tested. Several strains proved to be sensitive to the antimetabolites 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate as well as to doxorubicin and cis-platine. On the contrary m-amsacrine, procarbazine, vinca alcaloids, melphalan and hydroxyurea were inactive at concentrations up to 400 micrograms ml-1. The strain ATCC 2366, the most relatively sensitive to the agents tested, was used for studying the effect of treatment duration and of drug concentration on cell survival. Methotrexate and cis-platine, which according to MIC and MCC tests seemed ineffective for this strain, reduced survival significantly after 6 h of treatment. A correlation of the shape of the survival curves with MIC and MCC values was attempted.

Since rising serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) heralds progression in patients with lymphoma or myeloma we investigated the significance of its elevations during chemotherapy supported by granulocyte (G-) or Granulocyte-Macrophage (GM-) colony stimulating factors (CSF). To exclude effects of resistant disease we analyzed 52 courses of therapy in 36 responding patients. During hematologic recovery LDH increased above normal in 53% and 85% of patients with leukocyte counts of 10,000/mUL and 15,000/kmUL, respectively. After CSF discontinuation LDH fell to or towards normal during 20 courses with adequate follow-up. Therefore rising serum LDH in patients with lymphoma or myeloma may be caused the CSF administration during chemotherapy and not by progressive disease. Proper identification of this effect can prevent unnecessary tests or treatment delays. © 1995 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.

Στο μονόπρακτο του Άρθουρ Σνίτσλερ Ο πράσινος παπαγάλος [Der grüne Kakadu] κυριαρχεί ο προβληματισμός γύρω από την ουσία της πραγματικότητας. Γάλλοι αριστοκράτες επισκέπτονται την παραμονή της Γαλλικής Επανάστασης ένα ιδιόρρυθμο θέατρο-καπηλειό του Παρισιού, όπου οι θαμώνες είναι ηθοποιοί που παριστάνουν κακοποιούς και απατεώνες. Η ευχάριστη διέγερση των νεύρων που προσφέρουν στους αριστοκράτες οι επινοημένες αφηγήσεις των ηθοποιών έρχεται σε αντίθεση με αυτό που πραγματικά συμβαίνει και που οι αριστοκράτες αποφεύγουν να συνειδητοποιήσουν: τη στιγμή που εκείνοι απολαμβάνουν την ψευδαίσθηση της απειλής και του κινδύνου, ξεσπάει έξω, στους δρόμους του Παρισιού, η Επανάσταση. Το βασικό θέμα του έργου είναι αντιπροσωπευτικό της εποχής που γράφτηκε, δηλαδή του Fin-de-siècle, της Βιεννέζικης Νεωτερικότητας αφού ο Σνίτσλερ εστιάζει στα παρακμιακά στοιχεία και στο θέμα της αποσύνθεσης της πραγματικότητας. Ακόμα και ο χαρακτηρισμός «γκροτέσκο» που χρησιμοποιεί ο συγγραφέας για το έργο δεν δικαιολογείται με αυστηρά λογοτεχνικά κριτήρια, αλλά σκοπό έχει να τονίσει την ιδιομορφία των συμβάντων στον Παπαγάλο και να σχολιάσει τη στάση του κοινού που τα υπαγορεύει και τα προκαλεί.

Adopting the hypothesis that the nonthermal emission of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) is primarily due to the acceleration of protons, we construct a simple model in which the interplay of acceleration and losses can be studied together with the formation of the emitted spectrum. The acceleration process is assumed to be of the first order Fermi type, and the proton distribution as well as the injected electrons and photons in the central region of the AGN are described by spatially averaged kinetic equations. The various relevant processes which dominate the three species are incorporated into the equations. The technique used to solve these is presented and several tests of the numerical implementation are presented. We also present results of a sample time-dependent AGN model in which photons appear suddenly as a result of a feedback instability and the system evolves to a steady state, in which the acceleration process is saturated self-consistently by the photons it produces. This example combines an X-ray power law index of about -1.7, together with a break at an energy between 50 and 500keV.

Serum α-immunoreactive inhibin was evaluated in 16 male renal transplant recipients with stabilized renal function of mean age 38.5 ± 10.7 years and was compared to that in sex- and age-matched 17 haemodialyzed patients; 10 patients with chronic renal failure and 26 healthy normal men (controls). Serum LH, FSH, prolactin and testosterone were also measured simultaneously, in the same samples. In renal transplant recipients, inhibin was found significantly higher than that in controls (P<0.001), 25% however of the values were in the normal range. In contrast, all haemodialyzed patients showed highly elevated inhibin values (P<0.0001). In patients with chronic renal failure values of inhibin were also highly elevated compared to those in normals. A negative correlation was noticed between inhibin and FSH only in controls (r(s) = -0.610, P<0.005). In renal transplant recipients, inhibin showed a strong correlation with serum creatinine (sCr) (r(s) = 0.710, P<0.008), while in the case of graft rejection the rise of sCr was immediately followed by a parallel increase of inhibin. In conclusion, the highly elevated inhibin in uraemic men not improved by haemodialysis and persistent after successful renal transplantation, might be implicated in the pronounced hypergonadotropic hypogonadism of haemodialyzed patients and the remaining dysfunction of hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in renal transplant recipients.

Sharp luminescence at 1.54μm from erbium doped porous silicon has been observed. The silicon was made porous after implantation of high doses of erbium and oxygen into p-type Czochralski silicon. The erbium related luminescence from porous silicon is an order of magnitude more intense than that from erbium doped single crystal silicon. © 1995, IEE. All rights reserved.

XRD, magnetic susceptibility, and EPR studies are reported for the BaCuO2+x compound in both the oxygenated and nonoxygenated phases. The XRD analysis has shown essential differences in the disordered part between the oxygenated and the nonoxygenated samples. The magnetic susceptibility measurements have shown strong ferromagnetic intracluster interactions among copper ions in the ordered part of the compound. At low temperature, antiferromagnetic intercluster interactions mediated by the disordered part predominate. EPR measurements in both phases have revealed a spectrum of Cu2+ ions, in orthorhombic local symmetry, which is attributed to copper ions in the disordered part. An intense exchange-narrowed EPR line has also been observed in both phases, which is ascribed to the copper clusters in the ordered part. The temperature dependence of the intensity and linewidth of this line is consistent with the bulk magnetic behaviour. At low temperature, the divergent behaviour of the EPR parameters indicates that antiferromagnetic ordering may occur. Additionally, it was found that the EPR spectra are essentially influenced by thermal treatment and the ordering of the oxygen atoms in the disordered part of the compound. © 1995 Academic Press Limited.

A new determination of the structural parameters of the dwarf spheroidals (dSphs) orbiting our Galaxy is presented. The morphology of the dSphs was determined from star counts made using photographic plates digitized and analysed using the APM facility at Cambridge. Global and central mass-to-light ratios were calculated for these galaxies. They range from ~=10 for Fornax and Sculptor to more than 200 for Draco. It appears plausible that Draco, Ursa Minor, Carina and Sextans contain significant amounts of dark matter, at least under the standard assumptions for the dynamics of these galaxies. However, the errors associated with these estimates remain - often forbiddingly - large, dominated (in most cases) by the errors in the luminosity and velocity dispersion. The possibility of the presence of extra-tidal stars in at least some of the dSphs is also discussed, together with the effect of the Galactic tidal field on the dSphs' morphology. Both Sextans and Sculptor appear to be good candidates for systems in the process of tidal disruption.

We present a quantitative analysis of the temperature dependence of the quasi-two-dimensional electron concentration in AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs heterostructures taking into account the fact that in the bulk Si-doped AlxGa1-xAs two types of donor coexist, i.e. deep and shallow, which independently, and by different mechanisms, provide electrons to the bulk AlxGa1-xAs different conduction band minima and to the quasi-two-dimensional electron gas (Q2DEG). We calculate the electronic states, the ionized-donor concentrations, the Q2DEG and the bulk-electron concentrations and the corresponding mobilities as a function of temperature. Our numerical results are in very good agreement with the experimental data.

A survey of carbon stars in the outer parts of the Small Magellanic Cloud has been completed; the candidate objects were identified by inspecting UK Schmidt Telescope objective-prism plates which cover a total area of ~220sq.deg on the sky, including the inter-Cloud region. Co-ordinates, accurate to =~2arcsec, are given for 1185 newly identified carbon stars. The spatial distribution of the SMC carbon stars appears to be identical to that of red, horizontal-branch/clump stars found by Gardiner & Hatzidimitriou (1992).