Publications

Background: Several lines of laboratory evidence support the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as an adverse prognostic indicator in ovarian cancers. However, different methods of immunohistochemical assessment have yielded conflicting results. Here, we sought to determine the prognostic value of EGFR in ovarian cancer using a novel method of compartmentalized in situ protein analysis. Methods: A tissue array composed of 150 advanced-stage ovarian cancers uniformly treated, with surgical debulking followed by platinum-paclitaxel combination chemotherapy, was constructed. For evaluation of EGFR protein expression, we used an immunofluorescence-based method of automated in situ quantitative measurement of protein analysis (AQUA). Results: Mean follow-up time for the entire cohort was 34.4 months. Eighty-one of 150 cases had sufficient tissue for AQUA analysis. High tumor EGFR expression was associated with poor outcome for overall survival (P = 0.0001) and disease-free survival (P = 0.0005) at 3 years. In multivariable analysis, adjusting for well-characterized prognostic variables, EGFR expression status was the most significant prognostic factor for disease-free and overall survival. Conclusion: The conflicting results in the literature regarding the prognostic value of EGFR may be due to the technical difficulties inherent in assessing EGFR with immunocytochemistry. In the present study, we show that measurement of EGFR protein levels in ovarian cancer using AQUA is feasible and can give important prognostic information. © 2005 American Association for Cancer Research.

In this work we present magnetization data on hybrids consisting of multilayers (MLs) of manganites [La0.33Ca0.67MnO3/La0.60Ca0.40MnO3](15) in contact with a low-T-c Nb superconductor (SC). Although a pure SC should behave diamagnetically in respect to the external magnetic field in our ML-SC hybrids we observed that the magnetization of the SC follows that of the ML. Our intriguing experimental results show that the SC below its T-c(SC) becomes ferromagnetically coupled to the ML. As a result in the regime where diamagnetic behavior of the SC was expected its bulk magnetization switches only whenever the coercive field of the ML is exceeded. By employing specific experiments where the ML was selectively biased or not we demonstrate that the ML inflicts its magnetic properties on the whole hybrid. Possible explanations are discussed in connection to recent theoretical proposals and experimental findings that were obtained in relative hybrids.

Objective. We investigated the dose-related effect of dopexamine and dopamine on free radical production and lipid peroxidation estimated by MDA measurements in an ischaemia-reperfusion model of supraceliac aortic repair. Design. Prospective, randomized, blinded experimental study. Materials. Twenty-five healthy pigs. Methods. All experiments were performed under general endotracheal anaesthesia. Supraceliac aortic cross clamping was performed in all pigs. The pigs were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 5 in each group) and received a continuous intravenous infusion of normal saline (CTL), dopamine 2 μg kg-1 min-1 (dopa 2), dopamine 8 μg kg-1 min-1 (dopa 8), dopexamine 2 μg kg-1 min-1 (dopex 2), dopexamine 8 μg kg-1 min-1 (dopex 8). Cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, arterial blood gas analysis and blood sampling for plasma MDA measurements (to reveal lipid peroxidation) were recorded after induction of anaesthesia (baseline), 60 and 120 min after cross-clamping of aorta (ischaemia phase), and 60 and 120 min after restoration of flow (reperfusion phase). Results. Dopexamine and dopamine at 8 μg kg-1 min-1 reduced MDA at 60 and 120 min after reperfusion. Conclusion. Dopexamine seems superior to dopamine in reducing oxygen free radicals and subsequent lipid peroxidation during reperfusion after supraceliac aortic cross clamping in pigs. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Objective. We investigated the dose-related effect of dopexamine and dopamine on free radical production and lipid peroxidation estimated by MDA measurements in an ischaemia-reperfusion model of supraceliac aortic repair. Design. Prospective, randomized, blinded experimental study. Materials. Twenty-five healthy pigs. Methods. All experiments were performed under general endotracheal anaesthesia. Supraceliac aortic cross clamping was performed in all pigs. The pigs were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 5 in each group) and received a continuous intravenous infusion of normal saline (CTL), dopamine 2 μg kg-1 min-1 (dopa 2), dopamine 8 μg kg-1 min-1 (dopa 8), dopexamine 2 μg kg-1 min-1 (dopex 2), dopexamine 8 μg kg-1 min-1 (dopex 8). Cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, arterial blood gas analysis and blood sampling for plasma MDA measurements (to reveal lipid peroxidation) were recorded after induction of anaesthesia (baseline), 60 and 120 min after cross-clamping of aorta (ischaemia phase), and 60 and 120 min after restoration of flow (reperfusion phase). Results. Dopexamine and dopamine at 8 μg kg-1 min-1 reduced MDA at 60 and 120 min after reperfusion. Conclusion. Dopexamine seems superior to dopamine in reducing oxygen free radicals and subsequent lipid peroxidation during reperfusion after supraceliac aortic cross clamping in pigs. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The electronic properties of boron-doped multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been studied using static magnetization and electron spin resonance. A relatively strong ferromagnetic signal has been identified in the dc magnetization response that shows the occurrence of ferromagnetism, coexisting with the orbital and spin magnetism of the conduction electrons. The small diamagnetic susceptibility and the weak temperature variation of the g factor, which is observed in the narrow conduction-electron spin resonance (CESR), indicate a Fermi level shift of ∼0.2eV, according to the quasi-two-dimensional graphite band model. The temperature dependence of the spin susceptibility reveals considerable enhancement compared to undoped MWNTs and the presence of thermally activated behavior, complying with an increased density of states and the formation of localized impurity states close to the Fermi level. Line-shape analysis of the CESR spectra in terms of two separate spin systems implies enhanced doping inhomogeneity. © 2005 The American Physical Society.

This study constitutes the first modern book-length, in-depth critical analysis of Ovid, Metamorphoses 13.623–14.582. In this unit Ovid, by challenging openly the artistry of his great predecessor Vergil, redraws the parameters associated with the definition and appreciation of epic poetry. The book first introduces the methodological complexity of the Ovidian embrace strategy, and, subsequently, it reads the ‘little Aeneid’ closely, discussing the network of allusions to its prototype. It assesses the structure and thematics of each episode in the cluster, and traces the recurrence of prominent motifs throughout the Metamorphoses. Not least, it explores poetics, arguing that Ovid’s selective incorporation of the Aeneid reproduces the spirit and fundamental ideas of the model in an idiosyncratic sophisticated manner.

We propose that emphasis as a prosodic marker can be used for disambiguating Greek spatial and temporal expressions in a task-oriented dialog system, contributing to the production of clear, definite and specific instructions and to a naturally-sounding spoken output produced by the system's Conversational Agent. Our claim is supported by the use of extra-linguistic markers as pointers to the core of the semantic content of sentences in spoken Greek sublanguages (Alexandris & Fotinea, 2004b), as well as data from two sets of transcribed spoken corpora from the domains of Engineering and Broadcast News.

Living coccolithophores were collected, in August, 2001, from eight stations in the Gulf of Korthi (Andros Island, middle Aegean Sea, eastern Mediterranean), in order to determine the cell density, species composition and biogeographical (spatial and vertical) distribution in this coastal marine ecosystem. The holococcolithophore assemblages in the sampled stations sometimes reached more than 50% of the total standing crop, tending to be dominant especially at the shallower stations. Two new species of Sphaerocalyptra were identified and are described and figured here: Sphaerocalyptra dermitzakii sp. nov. and Sphaerocalyptra youngii sp. nov.

The ever-increasing mobility in Greece’s geopolitical neighborhood calls for an evaluation and re-design of the existing crisis management mechanism, with a long-term perspective. Due to the fact that the mechanism in question is based on the functioning of the Governmental Council on Foreign and Defence Matters (KYSEA), this evaluation is focused on the Council’s current structure and on its weaknesses.

This study has been carried out in order to evaluate the performance of CALPUFF modelling system in an area of complex topography. For this reason a comparison was performed between numerical results produced by this modelling system and those derived by two Eulerian models (UAM-V and REMSAD), together with experimental measurements. The meteorological input parameters, produced by the meteorological model CALMET are also examined through comparison with observations and to MM5 model results. Emphasis is given to the mixing height calculation, due to its importance in the prediction of pollutant concentrations. It was found that the overall performance of the CALPUFF is satisfactory and the results derived are compatible with these produced by the Eulerian models, especially under unstable atmospheric conditions. The CALPUFF model’s performance is improved significantly when vertical meteorological profiles produced by MM5 are additionally employed. Copyright © 2005 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Assessment of the reliability of NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data has been the subject of much recent climatological research. In this study, an attempt is made to evaluate the reanalysis data for maximum and minimum temperatures over Greece for the period 1958-2000. Considering that available observations for Greek stations are not included as input in the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data, the evaluation was made using gridded observational data derived from long time series for the examined area, using an objective scheme. The reanalysis data were compared with respect to the intra-annual variability for extreme years, the inter-annual variability of the corresponding temperature anomalies, and their ability to represent cold and warm spells. Also, the correlation patterns between the two datasets of daily and monthly values were examined. In general, it was found that there was good agreement between the two datasets, although some regional and seasonal differences existed and these were associated with topographical features not correctly represented by the reanalysis model resolution, such as land-sea distribution and orography. © Springer-Verlag 2004.

Memory loads exceeding the limited capacity of working memory (WM) have been shown to expand the prefrontal areas that participate in WM and have revealed substantial individual differences in performance. We used a delayed-match-to-sample (DMS) task in an event-related fMRI study to map the full extent of the expanded regional activations associated with supracapacity loads. A 6-letter study array was compared to arrays of 1 and 3 letters. The task comprised separate encoding, retention, and retrieval fMRI epochs. A brain-wide spatial covariance analysis was applied to the data of all task epochs to identify patterns of correlated regional activations whose expression increased monotonically across 3 memory-load levels on a subject-by-subject basis. Such load-related activation patterns were in all task phases. Of greatest interest is the activation pattern that was obtained during the maintenance phase: increasing activation with memory load was found not only in the lateral PFC (BA 9,44) but also in the parietal lobe (BA 7,40), anterior cingulate (BA 32), and cerebellum. Decreasing activation was found in the occipito-temporal lobe (BA 19,39) as well as the medial prefrontal cortex (BA 9,10). Subject increases in pattern expression from 1 to 6 items were positively correlated with the corresponding reaction time increases (p<0.05) and negatively correlated with NARTIQ (p<0.05), indicating that people who were faster in their responses and had higher NARTIQ had to increase their subject expression of the memory-load-related activation pattern less and were more efficient at the cognitive task. Our method thus not only reproduced findings of other WM studies but also addressed the issue of interactions between lateral PFC and other parts of the brain during the task, for the retention of the to-be-remembered information. The load-related activation patterns from encoding and retrieval phase and their relationship to behavior are also discussed.

The origin of the pathogenic endothelial cells in common infantile hemangioma is unknown. We show here that the transcriptomes of human placenta and infantile hemangioma are sufficiently similar to suggest a placental origin for this tumor, expanding on recent immunophenotypical studies that have suggested this possibility [North, P. E., et al. (2001) Arch. Dermatol. 137, 559-570]. The transcriptomes of placenta, hemangioma, and eight normal and diseased tissues were compared by hierarchical and nonhierarchical clustering analysis of >7,800 genes. We found that the level of transcriptome similarity between placenta and hemangioma exceeded that of any other tissue compared and paralleled that observed between a given tissue and its derived tumor, such as normal and cancerous lung. The degree of similarity was even greater when a subset of endothelial cell-specific genes was analyzed. Genes preferentially expressed in both placenta and hemangiomas were identified, including 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 and tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2. These data demonstrate the value of global molecular profiling of tissues as a tool for hypothesis-driven research. Furthermore, it suggests that the unique self-limited growth of infantile hemangioma may, in fact, mirror the lifetime of placental endothelium.

We report on the microstructural evolution in Cu 15%Nb multifilamentary wires upon annealing and the corresponding effects on their magnetic properties. During annealing at temperatures higher than 800 degrees C thermal instability mechanisms take place in the microstructure of the Cu 15 %Nb composite, leading to the spheroidization of niobium filaments. Another important consequence of annealing is the recrystallization of Nb, that has a straightforward influence on the magnetization data. When compared to the as-drawn composite, in the annealed Cu15%Nb samples the bulk upper critical field H-c2(T) is reduced significantly, while the lower critical field H-c1 (T) is increased as a function of the annealing temperature and time. This indicates that we may employ this process as an efficient method to modify the basic superconducting parameters of Nb, namely the coherence length (T) and the penetration depth lambda(T).

Purpose: To quantitate the individual levels of melphalan-induced DNA damage formation and repair in vivo and to search for possible correlations with clinical outcome in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Patients and Methods: The formation and subsequent repair of DNA damage (monoadducts and interstrand cross-links) in the p53 tumor-suppressor gene, the proto-oncogene N-ras, and the house-keeping gene beta-actin during the first 24 hours after treatment with high-dose melphalan (HDM; 200 mg/m2) supported by autologous blood stem-cell transplantation (ABSCT) was measured in blood leukocytes of 26 patients with MM. The peak DNA adduct levels, the total amount of adducts over time, and the rate of adducts repair in each gene were correlated with response and time to progression after HDM. Results: The levels of gene-specific DNA damage formation and the individual repairing capacity varied up to 16-fold among patients, indicating that the melphalan-induced biologic effect in vivo is highly individualized. A significantly greater DNA damage and a slower rate of repair in p53 for all end points under study were found in patients who achieved tumor reduction compared with nonresponding patients. Furthermore, longer progression-free survival correlated with increased peak monoadduct levels in the p53 gene (P = .032). Conclusion: Increased DNA damage and slower repairing capacity in the p53gene from blood leukocytes after HDM correlate with improved outcome of patients with MM who undergo ABSCT. These results suggest that quantitation of such biologic end points may identify patients who are more likely to benefit from this procedure. © 2005 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

A small percentage of germ cell tumors is known to be familial. There are several reports describing familial cases of testicular germ cell tumors; however, there are only a few of them reporting germ cell tumors that occurred in both males and females of the same family. We present a family with three children, two females and one male, previously healthy, who all developed germ cell malignancies. The first sibling was diagnosed with malignant teratoma of the ovary, the second one with dysgerminoma involving both ovaries, and the male one with both embryonal carcinoma and seminoma of the testicle. Our case report suggests that the possibility of an association between germ cell tumors of both ovaries and testis should be considered. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) and ac conductivity have been applied to study a polymer composite containing as filler a binary mixture of magnetite (Fe3 O4) and cementite (Fe3 C) nanoparticles (30-50 nm) dispersed in a diamagnetic carbon matrix, which was synthesized by the carburization of nanocrystalline iron. Ac conductivity measurements showed thermally activated behavior involving a range of activation energies and power law frequency dependence at high frequencies similar to conducting polymer composites randomly filled with metal particles. Ferromagnetic resonance measurements revealed a relatively narrow FMR line at high temperatures indicating the presence of ferromagnetic nanoparticles, where thermal fluctuations and interparticle interactions determine the FMR temperature variation. An abrupt change of the FMR spectra was observed at T<81 K (ΔT≤1 K) coinciding with a sharp anomaly resolved in the temperature derivative of the ac conductivity. This behavior is attributed to the Verwey transition of Fe3 O4 nanoparticles, where the concurrent skin depth variation unveils the FMR of large magnetite conglomerates and thus allows discriminating their contribution from relatively isolated nanoparticles. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Model combinatorial films (CFs) which host a pure superconductor adjacent to a ferromagnetic-superconducting hybrid film (HF) are manufactured for the study of the influence of ferromagnetic nanoparticles (FNs) on the nucleation of superconductivity. Careful resistance measurements were performed simultaneously on two different sites of the CFs. Enhancement of superconductivity and magnetic memory effects were observed only on the hybrid site of the CFs but were absent on their purely superconducting part. Our results give direct proof that the FNs modulate the superconducting order parameter in an efficient and controlled way giving us the possibility of miscellaneous practical applications.

The g factor of the first 2+1 state of radioactive 76Kr ( T 1/2 = 14.8 h) has been measured using projectile Coulomb excitation in inverse kinematics combined with the transient magnetic-field technique. The 76Kr beam was produced and accelerated in batch mode (re-cyclotron method) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 88-Inch Cyclotron. The g factor g(76Kr; 2+1) = +0.37(11) was obtained. © Societa? Italiana di Fisica / Springer-Verlag 2005.

In this paper the language of first-order modal logic is enriched with an operator @ (‘actually’) such that, in any model, the evaluation of a formula @A at a possible world depends on the evaluation of A at the actual world. The models have world-variable domains. All the logics that are discussed extend the classical predicate calculus, with or without identity, and conform to the philosophical principle known as serious actualism. The basic logic relies on the system K, whereas others correspond to various properties that the actual world may have. All the logics are axiomatized.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 800 microg of misoprostol every 12 h, for a period of 36 h for pharmacological abortion. A group of 162 volunteer women with gestations between 50 and 63 days received misoprostol every 12 h up to a maximum of three doses for abortion. Outcome measures assessed included: successful abortion (complete abortion without requiring surgery), side effects, and a decrease in hemoglobin, mean time of vaginal bleeding, mean expulsion time and mean time of returning of menses. Complete abortion occurred in 148 of 162 (91%, 95% confidence interval 87.95) patients. The mean decrease in hemoglobin was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Vaginal bleeding lasted 8.0 +/- 3.2 days, spotting 8.0 +/- 3.5 days, and total bleeding 16 +/- 4.0 days. The mean expulsion time was 8.5 +/- 4.0 h. According to the observed outcomes, 800 microg of misoprostol vaginally could be a valid method to terminate pregnancies up to 9 weeks of gestation.

We present and discuss the Scargle periodograms of fast-speed B-band optical photometry of the eclipsing dwarf nova EX Draconis during quiescence and outburst, obtained with the 1.2m telescope of the National Observatory of Athens (NOA) in July 2000. We report on the discovery of a 143 s periodicity which most likely is related to the spin period of the white dwarf. We also find periodicities near 115 and 123 seconds during outburst which may be caused by pulsations of the accreting white dwarf in response to the enhanced mass transfer rate.

Computed tomography is entering the orthodontic specialty as a mainstream diagnostic modality. Radiation exposure and cost have decreased significantly, and the diagnostic value is very high compared with traditional radiographic options. However, 3-dimensional data present new challenges and need a different approach from traditional viewing of static images to make the most of the available possibilities. Advances in computer hardware and software now enable interactive display of the data on personal computers, with the ability to selectively view soft or hard tissues from any angle. Transfer functions are used to apply transparency and color. Cephalometric measurements can be taken by digitizing points in 3-dimensional coordinates. Application of 3-dimensional data is expected to increase significantly soon and might eventually replace many conventional orthodontic records that are in use today.

SUMMARY: The epidemic of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health issue. We conducted a comprehensive analysis to estimate future HCV-related morbidity and mortality, using a model which is the first to take into account currently available treatments. We reconstructed the incident infections per year in the past that progressed to chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in Greece. Then, the natural history of the disease was simulated in subcohorts of newly infected subjects in the presence or absence of treatment using yearly estimates of the number of treated patients obtained from national databases. Annual estimates of the incidence and prevalence of CHC by fibrosis stage, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and mortality were obtained up to 2030. The current proportion of naive CHC patients receiving treatment in Greece is 1.2% per year. Treatment of 1.2-10% of naive CHC patients per year would reduce the cumulative number of incident cirrhosis and HCC cases from 2002 to 2030 by 10.8-39.4% and 12.8-39.8%, respectively and decrease the number of prevalent cirrhosis and HCC cases in 2030 by approximately 17-48% compared with the number estimated under the assumption of no treatment. Approximately 17 cirrhosis cases or six HCC cases or 10 premature deaths would be prevented for every 100 treated patients. However, the prevalent cirrhotic/HCC cases because of HCV and HCV-related deaths would not plateau until 2030. Despite the introduction of effective treatment, HCV-related morbidity and mortality will likely increase during the next 20-30 years in Greece. Intensive primary prevention efforts coupled with increased access to the currently available treatments are necessary to control the chronic consequences of HCV epidemic.

Background: A phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of gemcitabine (GEM) and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in patients with platinum- and/or taxane-resistant/refractory advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (AEOC). Patients and Methods: Patients (pts), who had been treated with platinum or paclitaxel and met the criteria of resistant/refractory AEOC, received GEM 650 mg/m2 days 1 and 8 and PLD 25 mg/m2 day 1 every 4 weeks up to a total of 6 cycles, unless disease progression or adverse effects prohibited further therapy. Results: Thirty-seven patients entered the study. There was 1 complete (3%) and 7 partial responses (19%) for an overall response rate of 22%. Two patients had stable disease (5.5%). After a median follow-up of 16.2 months, the median survival was 8.4 months and time to treatment failure 2.7 months. The most frequent severe toxicity was myelosuppression recorded in 13 (35%) patients. Severe stomatitis was recorded in only 2 (5%) cases and severe palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia in 1 patient. One severe allergic reaction (grade 4) to PLD was recorded following the third cycle of treatment. Conclusion: The combination of GEM and PLD in patients with AEOC, who are resistant/refractory to platinum and/or Taxanes, did not show any superiority over monotherapy. However, in view of the acceptable toxicity profile, the above combination may deserve further investigation in a randomised setting.

Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2005). «Αρχέτυπων νέον: Η αθλήτρια ως κοινωνικό είδωλο» Εισήγηση στο Μεταπτυχιακό σεμινάριο ΑΓΩΝ-ΛΟΓΟΣ ΓΥΜΝΑΣΤΙΚΗ-ΑΘΛΗΤΙΚΗ-ΑΓΩΝΙΣΤΙΚΗ: ΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΗ, Στενή Ευβοίας (Δίρφυς), 11-12  Ιουνίου, 2005. Οργάνωση: Σπουδαστήρια Φιλοσοφίας, Αθλητικού Δικαίου και Στατιστικής του Τ.Ε.Φ.Α.Α. (ΕΚΠΑ) σε συνεργασία με το ΕΚΕΑΔ  και το ΕΛΕΕΑ.--------------------------------------------------------- Στη σημερινή μετανεωτερική πραγματικότητα, αναχρονιστικές ‘βιολογιστικές’ θεωρήσεις ή βιολογικά ‘δεδομένα’  που θεσμοθέτησαν και δόμησαν τις έμφυλες ιεραρχίες στον αθλητισμό αμφισβητούνται και επαναπροσδιορίζονται. Χρησιμοποιώντας τα εργαλεία των κοινωνικών επιστημών, θεωρητικές-μεθοδολογικές προσεγγίσεις που επεξεργάζονται την κοινωνική δόμηση του φύλου στις σύγχρονες δυτικές κοινωνίες, διερευνούνται ζητήματα που αναφέρονται στην συγκρότηση της κοινωνικής ταυτότητας ανδρών και γυναικών, και κατ’ επέκταση στην συγκρότηση της αθλητικής ταυτότητας. Επισημαίνεται, εντούτοις, ότι οι διαφορές μεταξύ γυναικών και ανδρών δεν είναι τόσο μεγάλες όσο είναι οι διαφορές μεταξύ των ίδιων των γυναικών ή μεταξύ των ίδιων των ανδρών, οι οποίες είναι δομημένες σύμφωνα με την κοινωνικο-οικονομική τάξη, την εθνική ταυτότητα, την κουλτούρα, την ηλικία, το χρώμα του δέρματος, τη θρησκεία, το σεξουαλικό προσανατολισμό, την επαγγελματική ιδιότητα, τις σωματικές αναπηρίες, κ.α. Πολλές διαφορές που παρατηρούνται βασίζονται λιγότερο στο βιολογικό φύλο (sex) και περισσότερο στο κοινωνικό φύλο (gender). Σύγχρονες συζητήσεις για το φύλο, την έμφυλη ταυτότητα και το ανθρώπινο σώμα (Kimmel 2004, Evans & Penney 2002, Macdonald 2002, McNay 2000) δεν βασίζονται πλέον αποκλειστικά στο βιολογικό φύλο (sex) ως αναλυτική κατηγορία, αλλά στο κοινωνικό φύλο (gender) το οποίο διαμορφώνει, προσδιορίζει και επαναπροσδιορίζει την ταυτότητα σύμφωνα με  κοινωνικο-πολιτισμικές ερμηνείες και εξελίξεις. Σε αυτά τα νέα θεωρητικά πλαίσια, το σώμα και το φύλο ‘ξανά ανακαλύπτονται’, ανοικοδομούνται, και επαναπροσδιορίζονται, δηλαδή γίνονται αντιληπτά ως μεταβαλλόμενες γλωσσικές συλλήψεις και έννοιες,  κοινωνικό-ιστορικές εκδηλώσεις, και εξελισσόμενα κοινωνικά στοιχεία. Σήμερα, η έννοια του φύλου σταδιακά μεταβάλλεται από μία στατική βιολογική αντίληψη, σε μία δυναμική κοινωνική κατηγορία (το κοινωνικό φύλο)— κοινωνική ομάδα δράσης, κοινωνικός φορέας, κοινωνική ιδιότητα  και κοινωνικό-πολιτισμικό σύμβολο—επηρεάζοντας και αλλάζοντας ως αποτέλεσμα τις προσδοκίες του κοινωνικού περιβάλλοντος.  Σε αυτά τα θεωρητικά πλαίσια το βιολογικό φύλο χάνει την προκαθεδρία του ως αναλυτική κατηγορία. στο σύγχρονο λόγο περί gender (κοινωνικού φύλου) και οι άνδρες, όπως και οι γυναίκες προσδιορίζονται, γίνονται αντιληπτοί ως έμφυλα υποκείμενα (gender subjects). Το gender, που ως σύλληψη (concept) και έννοια, οδηγεί στην ουδετεροποίηση ή απενεργοποίηση της ‘διαφοράς’ (difference) ως αναλυτική κατηγορία, (η οποία παράγει ανισότητα) στοχεύει στο σεβασμού της ποικιλότητας (diversity). Εν ολίγοις, η εισαγωγή  του κοινωνικού φύλου (gender), ως αναλυτική κατηγορία επιχειρεί να απενεργοποιήσει-ουδετεροποιήσει τον παράγοντα του βιολογικού φύλου (sex ή biological gender), της ‘διαφοράς’ ως στοιχείο κοινωνικής κατηγοριοποίησης και κοινωνικού αποκλεισμού, δηλαδή να εξαλείψει τις κοινωνικές διακρίσεις που πραγματοποιούνται σε πολλούς κοινωνικούς θεσμούς, όπως στην κοινωνική περιοχή του Αθλητισμού. Οι αλλαγές στις αντιλήψεις περί έμφυλων ρόλων παράγουν νέες αθλητικές ταυτότητες και νέες μορφές αυτονομίας και κοινωνικής πρόσβασης. Εντούτοις, εντοπίζονται και νέες μορφές κοινωνικής περιθωριοποίησης-κατηγοριοποίησης. Λόγου χάρη,  ‘ίσες ευκαιρίες’ και ‘ισότητα’ στην εμπορευματοποίηση- εκμετάλλευση του σώματος, το έμφυλο σώμα, η μοντελοποίηση των αθλητών-αθλητριών, και η σταδιακή εμφάνιση των άφυλων αθλητών (genderless athletes) στα ΜΜΕ.  

• Kamberidou, I. (2005).  “The female athlete as a social idol:  gender, physical education & sport. Presentation (12/6/2005) at the Graduate seminars “Agon-Logos, Gymnastics-Athletics-Agonistiki”, organized by the Laboratories of Philosophy, Sports Law and Statistics of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science of the University of Athens in collaboration with the Hellenic Sport Science Association and the Hellenic Sports Law Research Centre, Euboea, Greece 11-12 June 2005. [official language Greek] L. 5 in Apella  

Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2005).  «Ο Έμφυλος Ηρωισμός του Αθλητισμού». Εισήγηση στην διημερίδα με θέμα: «Μεσογειακή Κουλτούρα-Γυναίκες και Σπόρ» της Πανελλήνιας Ένωσης για την Προώθηση των Γυναικών στον Αθλητισμό και τα Σπόρ (ΠΕΠΓΑΣ), 4-5 Νοεμβρίου, Θεσσαλονίκη.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Δεν γεννιόμαστε με μία βιολογική προδιάθεση για μια έμφυλη ανισότητα. Οι έμφυλες διαφορές και ομοιότητες, η κυριαρχία ή η ‘υπεροχή’, δεν είναι γνωρίσματα των χρωμοσωμάτων μας. Είναι αποτέλεσμα της διαφορετικής πολιτιστικής και κοινωνικής αξιολόγησης των εμπειριών των ανδρών και των γυναικών. Γινόμαστε έμφυλα άτομα μέσα σε μία έμφυλη κοινωνία, δηλαδή σε μία κοινωνία που οι οργανισμοί και θεσμοί της αναπαράγουν τις ‘διαφορές’ μεταξύ γυναικών και ανδρών.  Η έννοια ή το νόημα του φύλου διαφέρει από πολιτισμό σε πολιτισμό, από κοινωνία σε κοινωνία, από κουλτούρα σε κουλτούρα. Το κοινωνικό φύλο σε αντίθεση με το βιολογικό φύλο διαφέρει και μεταβάλλεται, ακόμα και μέσα σε μία συγκεκριμένη κοινωνία, σε μία κουλτούρα ή σε ένα πολιτισμό, όχι μόνο μακροπρόθεσμα, ανάλογα με την ιστορική περίοδο, αλλά και κατά την διάρκεια της ζωής μας. Αντιλήψεις και στάσεις περί έμφυλων ρόλων και έμφυλων στερεότυπων εξελίσσονται, μεταλλάσσονται και αλλάζουν. Οι αθλήτριες της καινούργιας χιλιετηρίδας καταρρίπτουν τα ‘φυσικά εμπόδια’ του παρελθόντος και παράγουν νέες κουλτούρες και νέες αθλητικές ταυτότητες. Εντούτοις, πολλές συζητήσεις και διερευνητικά ερωτήματα προκαλούνται σχετικά με τη διαφορετική μεταχείριση ανδρών και γυναικών στους αθλητικούς θεσμούς, στον αγωνι9στικό αθλητισμό και την προβολή του στα ΜΜΕ. Αναμφίβολα, ο Αθλητισμός συνεχώς δημιουργεί, κατασκευάζει και αναπαράγει ‘ήρωες’ και 'ηρωίδες’, έμφυλα υποκείμενα που προβάλλονται με ιδιαίτερους τρόπους. Επισημαίνουμε ότι και ο άνδρας είναι ένα έμφύλο υποκείμενο ( gender subject), και όχι μόνο η γυναίκα. Αναδεικνύεται, ωστόσο ότι οι αθλήτριες που πετυχαίνουν αντιμετωπίζουν τη διφορούμενη ανταπόκριση του κοινού και των ΜΜΕ. Η αθλήτρια-ηρωίδα, σε αντίθεση με τον ήρωα-αθλητή, προσδιορίζεται διαφορικά και υπό-όρους. Επιπροσθέτως, παρατηρείται ότι η δημιουργία και η προβολή των ‘ηρωίδων’ του αθλητισμού αποσύρει την προσοχή από την γενική θέση της πλειοψηφίας των γυναικών στον αθλητισμό και αποκρύπτει τις διαφορές μεταξύ τους. Δηλαδή, αγνοούνται κοινωνική παράμετροι και μεταβλητές, όπως η πολυπλοκότητα, η πολλαπλότητα ή οι κατηγορίες της ‘διαφοράς’ του έμφυλου υποκειμένου σε σχέση με την κοινωνικο-οικονομική τάξη, την κοινωνική στρωμάτωση, την κουλτούρα, το έθνος, την φυλή, το χρώμα του δέρματος, τη θρησκεία, τις σωματικές αναπηρίες και το σεξουαλικό προσανατολισμό

This paper presents a geopolitical approach to the phenomenon of terrorism, dealing mainly with its geo-economic, geostrategic and geo-cultural aspects. Aiming to establish an analytical basis for comprehending and countering the root causes of terrorism, it builds upon the global instability framework theorem as influenced by the trends of current globalisation processes, such as the issues of energy and energy resources, globalisation and the rapid technological changes, the world’s demographics and global climate changes. The broad stability concept is adopted as a substitute model for the traditional power and control maxim, with special emphasis on the so-called socially acceptable models and rates of development.

In this study, novel approaches for the design of bioequivalence (BE) limits are developed. The new BE limits scale with intrasubject variability but only until a geometric mean ratio (GMR)-dependent plateau value and combine the classic (0.80-1.25) and expanded (0.70-1.43) BE limits into a single criterion. Plots of the extreme GMR values accepted as a function of coefficient of variation (CV) have a convex shape, similar to the classic unscaled 0.80-1.25 limits. The performance of the novel approaches in comparison to the classic unscaled 0.80-1.25 limits as well as the two expanded BE limits, i.e., 0.70-1.43 and 0.75-1.33 was assessed using simulated data. Two-period crossover BE investigations with 12, 24 or 36 subjects were simulated with assumptions of CV 10%, 20%, 30% or 40%. At low CV values, the performance of the novel BE limits is almost identical to the 0.80-1.25 criterion. On the contrary, the expanded BE limits are very permissive even at high GMR values. For high CV% values (30% and 40%), the new BE limits show a much greater probability of declaring BE when GMR = 1 in comparison to the classic 0.80-1.25 limits. In addition, when the drug products differ more than 25%, the new BE limits show much lower percentage of acceptance than the expanded 0.70-1.43 limits. One of the major advantages of the new BE limits is their gradual expansion with variability until a GMR-dependent plateau value. Finally, the continuity and leveling-off properties of the new BE limits make them suitable for the assessment of BE studies, irrespective of the level of variability encountered. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Concerning the present situation we must bear into mind the following: A) No external mediation can replace the interested parties in a recommencement of talks for a jointly accepted solution in the Cyprus Issue. B) The Turkish occupation troops must withdraw from the Island shortly and certainly before the implementation of the new solution. C) The last wave of Turkish settlers must return to Turkish territories, where it originally came from. D) The complete demilitarization of the Island and its accession to NATO, as the unique reliable figure of regional and international security. This means that Ankara can no longer promote claims of “insecurity” for the Turkish population of the Island. Furthermore it means that the “Sovereign British Bases” have no place in Cyprus. E) In order for all this to be achieved, the government of Athens must not pressure in any way the legitimate Government of the Republic of Cyprus of Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos and it must allow as it has already done in the case or the April 4th Referendum, the Cypriot people to express freely and without bias its opinion. The line of action adopted by Mr. Karamanlis and Mr. Molyviatis in this case must be continued. On the other hand, the talks with the legitimate Cypriot government of the now European Republic of Cyprus for its accession to NATO must begin. This will constitute the most important key-point of the century-old Cyprus Issue.

The post Arafat era of the Palestinian issue is characterized by two different possible paths: 1) The path of conflict between opposite groups of PLO, i.e. Hamas (which is more widely accepted by people than Fatah), Hezbollah as well as other “Arafatian” tendencies which will lead the Palestinian case to disaster, and 2) The desired path of finding a “successor” to Arafat, who will be accepted as a negotiator by the other side that is the Israeli and, principally, the American one. In that case, acceptance by the American side is far more important than that by the Israeli government, as it will help address the Palestinian claims more fully. As things have evolved according to what was predicted, Mahmoud Abbas (better known under his PLO name as Abu Mazen) is Arafat’s successor and is considered by the Israelis as a tough but honest negotiator; he is also accepted by the Americans. Certainly, in both cases, it is reasonable that diplomatic references between the two parties will be defined in the Oslo Agreement Ι and ΙΙ and in the “Road Map”, since the aforementioned Agreement has been accepted by i) the American arbitration and the Quartet ii) the Israeli side and iii) the Palestinian side. Moreover, iv) it bears the seal of Arafat, which provides the text with moral and political vindication for the Palestinians and, therefore, with greater flexibility for legitimate national maneuvers to his successor. In both cases, the period within which commonly accepted conclusions may be reached, can be no less than 5 years.

The monthly mean shortwave (SW) radiation budget at the Earth's surface (SRB) was computed on 2.5-degree longitude-latitude resolution for the 17-year period from 1984 to 2000, using a radiative transfer model accounting for the key physical parameters that determine the surface SRB, and long-term climatological data from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP-D2). The model input data were supplemented by data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction - National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP-NCAR) and European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Global Reanalysis projects, and other global data bases such as TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) and Global Aerosol Data Set (GADS). The model surface radiative fluxes were validated against surface measurements from 22 stations of the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) covering the years 1992-2000, and from 700 stations of the Global Energy Balance Archive (GEBA), covering the period 1984-2000. The model is in good agreement with BSRN and GEBA, with a negative bias of 14 and 6.5 Wm-2, respectively. The model is able to reproduce interesting features of the seasonal and geographical variation of the surface SW fluxes at global scale. Based on the 17-year average model results, the global mean SW downward surface radiation (DSR) is equal to 171.6 Wm-2, whereas the net downward (or absorbed) surface SW radiation is equal to 149.4 Wm-2, values that correspond to 50.2 and 43.7% of the incoming SW radiation at the top of the Earth's atmosphere. These values involve a long-term surface albedo equal to 12.9%. Significant increasing trends in DSR and net DSR fluxes were found, equal to 4.1 and 3.7 Wm-2, respectively, over the 1984-2000 period (equivalent to 2.4 and 2.2 Wm-2 per decade), indicating an increasing surface solar radiative heating. This surface SW radiative heating is primarily attributed to clouds, especially low-level, and secondarily to other parameters such as total precipitable water. The surface solar heating occurs mainly in the period starting from the early 1990s, in contrast to decreasing trend in DSR through the late 1980s. The computed global mean DSR and net DSR flux anomalies were found to range within ±8 and ±6 Wm-2, respectively, with signals from El Niño and La Niña events, and the Pinatubo eruption, whereas significant positive anomalies have occurred in the period 1992-2000.

The scope of this article is to present the diachronic value of Xenakis’ technological thought in computer musicresearch and creation of our days within a comparative and critical approach. On the one hand, we will refer to the maindomains of Xenakis’ contributions to Music Technology: the conquest of the computer as a tool for logicaltransformations of symbols into music and a laboratory of automation for certain compositional tasks on meta-musicaland compositional design issues; his pedagogical and compositional approach by the sound-design system UPIC as aninterface between musician and machine; his granular approaches of sound synthesis as a link between algorithms andthe creation of new sounds; the multi-sensoring approach of the conception of Polytopes where he combines varioustechnological tools in order to achieve a kind of a total art work.On the other hand, we will exalt the impact of his research in current music technology (use of the granular model inmodern synthesizers, the marriage between sound and light in modern interactive performances, the design of new userfriendlytools for the music education, etc).At the same time, we will discuss in which way many of the headmasters of computer music research have beenprofoundly affected by Xenakis’ technological and epistemological approach.

Generally speaking, the drafting of a Defense Doctrine follows the drafting and adoption, on the part of a government, of a National Security Policy, which includes the statement of the country’s Defense Policy and, consequently, its Defense Doctrine. In order to clarify the theoretical premises of the aims underlying the drafting of the Defense Doctrine, a set of definitions must be presented in detail. It should be stressed that this framework proposal, by its very nature, cannot be considered to imply a detailed presentation of the country’s New Defense Doctrine. It simply aims to outline the essential parameters which, in the eyes of its authors, should be considered by the country’s political leadership so that the final drafting of this Chart will be both complete and effective in view of protecting our national interest in all its aspects.

Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2005). Η Αθλήτρια ως Κοινωνικό Είδωλο στα ΜΜΕ : Ένα Καινούργιο Αρχέτυπο της Αμερικανικής κουλτούρας. Γυναίκα & Άθληση. Τόμος ΙV, τεύχος 1, Δεκ. 2005 11-22. Έκδοση της Πανελλήνιας Ένωσης για την Προώθηση των Γυναικών στον Αθλητισμό και τα Σπόρ (ΠΕΠΓΑΣ), Θεσσαλονίκη. L. 2 in Apella  

• Kamberidou, I. (2005). The idolization of the female athlete in the mass media: an icon of American culture. Women & Sport, (4), 1, Dec. 2005. Publication of the Hellenic Union for the Advancement of Women and Girls in Sport (PEPGAS):  11–22. [article and issue in Greek]  L. 2 in Apella  

Little research has been conducted regarding age-related changes in nonverbal memory. Using positron emission tomography (PET), the authors studied 17 elderly volunteers and 20 young volunteers, during nonverbal recognition task performance, to examine differences in brain blood flow. The subjects were asked to recognize a study list size (SLS) of shapes that was adjusted so that each subject performed at approximately 75% accuracy. Positron emission tomography results showed that, relative to younger individuals, elderly subjects engaged different regions, including the insula, during recognition. Elderly subjects did not show the relationship between parahippocampal flow and SLS, which was observed in younger subjects. These differences suggest that age-related functional brain changes partly explain performance deficits.

Using the state-of-the-art screened Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker Green function method we study the electronic and magnetic properties of NiMnSb and similar Heusler alloys. We show that all these compounds are half-metals, e.g. the minority-spin band is semiconducting and the Fermi level falls within this gap resulting in 100% spin polarization at the Fermi level. The total spin moment M-t shows the so-called Slater-Pauling behaviour and scales with the total valence charge Z(t) following the rule M-t = Z(t) - 18 for half and M-t = Z(t) - 24 for full Heusler alloys. These rules are connected to the origin of the gap. Finally we show that the inclusion of the spin-orbit interaction in our calculations kills the half-metallic gap but the spin-polarization at the Fermi level can be still very high, similar to 99% for NiMnSb, but much lower for a half-metallic compound like zinc-blende MnBi (77%).

Using theoretical arguments, we show that, in order to exploit half-metallic ferromagnets in tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) junctions, it is crucial to eliminate interface states at the Fermi level within the half-metallic gap; contrary to this, no such problem arises in giant magnetoresistance elements. Moreover, based on an a priori understanding of the electronic structure, we propose an antiferromagnetically coupled TMR element based on half-metallic zinc-blende chalcogenides, in which interface states are eliminated, as a paradigm of materials design from first principles. Our conclusions are supported by ab initio calculations.

UNLABELLED: Interferon (IFN) and especially IFN-alpha exhibit clinical anti-tumor activity against various types of malignant diseases. Natural inhibitors to various cytokines and IFNs have been documented in vitro as well as in vivo. IFN inhibitors have been implicated for the ineffectiveness of IFN treatment in malignant neoplasias. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of the IFN inhibiting activity in serum from patients with haematological malignancies versus patients with solid tumours, as an effort to explain, just in part, the different response of these patients to IFN treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety patients with a clinically evident solid tumour and forty-six patients with haematological malignancies were included in the study. Serum samples from all patients were collected before any treatment and stored at -70 degrees until use. Controls sera were selected from 50 apparently healthy blood donors. Interferon-inhibiting activity as well as endogenous IFN-like activity were determined in all serum samples in a cell line highly sensitive to IFN. RESULTS: There was no endogenous IFN-like activity in any of the patients' group or controls' group. Sera from patients with haematological malignancies exhibited IFN-blocking activity at a lower percentage (21.7%) in comparison to sera from patients with solid tumours (56.6%, P<0.001), but at a significantly higher percentage in comparison to sera from controls (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The fact that IFN inhibitors were detected at a significantly lower percentage in sera from patients with haematological malignancies versus patients with solid tumours, could explain in part the better response of the haematological malignancies to IFN treatment.

We present a small polaron hopping model to interpret the high-temperature electrical conductivity measured along the DNA molecules. The model takes into account the one-dimensional character of the system and the presence of disorder in the DNA double helix. The experimental data for the lambda phage DNA (λ-DNA) and the poly(dA)-poly(dT) DNA follow nicely the theoretically predicted behavior leading to realistic values of the maximum hopping distances supporting the idea of multiphonon-assisted hopping of small polarons between next nearest neighbors of the DNA molecular "wire".

AIM: To assess the relative occurrence of non motor-vehicle knee injuries and identify important clusters that can be targeted for preventive interventions. METHODS: The study subjects covered 2167 children (0-14 years) who suffered non motor-vehicle knee injuries out of 66870 registered during a three-year period in an established Emergency Department Injury Surveillance System (EDISS). A more serious joint injury was identified in 263 (12%) children, whereas the remaining 1904 children had only soft tissue knee injuries. RESULTS: The incidence of non motor-vehicle knee injuries was estimated at 6.5 per 1000 children-years. Both the incidence of knee injuries and the male-to-female ratio increase with increasing age, reflecting the gender and age pattern of physical activity. Three clusters were identified: The first consisted of more serious knee injuries among older children, frequently resulting after a fall from stairs or a collision in school during winter months; the second cluster consisted of rather minor knee injuries occurring mostly among younger girls at home or in playgrounds, following a fall after stumbling or hit by an object while playing, especially during the summer; the third cluster comprised injuries among older boys, sustained mainly subsequent to overexertion in a sports area. CONCLUSION: Knee injuries tend to be more common among boys but more serious among girls. More and less serious knee injuries tend to fall into distinct clusters that could facilitate prioritization of preventive measures.

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma which produces monoclonal immunoglobulin M (IgM). Over the last decade, new treatment modalites have been developed for the management of this disorder. Our objective is to provide treatment recommendations for WM. A review of published reports was facilitated by a MEDLINE computer search and by a manual search of Index Medicus. Other sources included abstracts and conference proceedings. Most patients with WM who are diagnosed by chance without symptoms should not be treated. Initiation of treatment should not be based on level of serum monoclonal protein per se. The presence of cytopenia, significant adenopathy or organomegaly, symptomatic hyperviscosity, severe neuropathy or cryoglobulinemia indicates the need for treatment. The main choices for primary treatment of symptomatic patients with WM include alkylating agents, the nucleoside analogs fludarabine or cladribine and the monoclonal antibody rituximab or combinations of these programs. There are no data from prospective randomized studies to recommend the use of one program over another. Nevertheless, the need for rapid disease control may favor the use of nucleoside analogs, whereas the presence of significant cytopenia may favor rituximab. High dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation may induce responses even in patients with resistance to all three class of agents. It may be prudent to avoid nucleoside analogs in patients who are candidates for high dose therapy. Despite the lack of randomized trials, a rational approach to the treatment of patients with WM is possible. Several factors, including the presence of cytopenias, need for rapid disease control, candidacy for autologous stem cell transplantation, age and co-morbid conditions, should be taken into consideration when choosing the most appropriate primary treatment.

UNLABELLED: Abnormal glucose tolerance is a frequent late complication of cystic fibrosis (CF), but the prevalence of CF-related diabetes mellitus (CFRD) in children less than 10 y old is less than 2%. The youngest child with CFRD reported to date was 6 mo of age. Insulinopenia is the primary cause of abnormal glucose tolerance/CFRD, but it is unknown whether it may begin in the neonatal period. We describe a case of a neonate with CF who presented with hyperglycaemia in the diabetic range and marked insulinopenia. Insulinopenia and impaired glucose tolerance were permanent findings at 6 and 15 mo of age. CONCLUSION: This case suggests that abnormal glucose tolerance/diabetes may occur much earlier in the course of CF, even during neonatal age. Careful follow-up and further studies in CF infants could reveal that the real incidence of glucose intolerance and diabetes in this age group has been underestimated.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of (variable number tandem repeat) interleukin (IL) 1RN and (-511) IL-1B gene polymorphisms with brain hemorrhagic events after traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: Data from brain CT, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at admission, and 6-month Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were collected for 151 prospectively recruited patients with TBI. IL-1RN and IL-1B genotypes were determined using standard methods. Presence vs absence of any type of brain hemorrhage was the main outcome. Type of brain hemorrhage, GCS at admission, and 6-month GOS and mRS were secondary outcomes. Odd ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% CI were calculated using logistic regression analyses. In adjusted models, the associations were controlled for age, gender, diffuse brain edema, volume of intracranial hematoma, neurosurgical intervention, and GCS at admission. p values less than 0.01 were considered significant. RESULTS: Compared with noncarriers, IL-1RN allele 2 carriers had higher odds of having cerebral hemorrhages after TBI (adjusted OR = 4.57; 95% CI = 1.67 to 12.96; p = 0.004). The associations for (-511) IL-1B polymorphism were not significant. CONCLUSION: There is an association between the presence of interleukin-1RN allele 2 and posttraumatic brain hemorrhage.

Virus infections are the major cause of asthma exacerbations. CD8+ T cells have an important role in antiviral immune responses and animal studies suggest a role for CD8+ T cells in the pathogenesis of virus-induced asthma exacerbations. We have previously shown that the presence of IL-4 during stimulation increases the frequency of IL-5-positive cells and CD30 surface staining in CD8+ T cells from healthy, normal subjects. In this study, we investigated whether excess IL-4 during repeated TCR/CD3 stimulation of CD8+ T cells from atopic asthmatic subjects alters the balance of type 1/type 2 cytokine production in favour of the latter.|Peripheral blood CD8+ T cells from mild atopic asthmatic subjects were stimulated in vitro with anti-CD3 and IL-2 +/- excess IL-4 and the expression of activation and adhesion molecules and type 1 and type 2 cytokine production were assessed.|Surface expression of very late antigen-4 [VLA-4] and LFA-1 was decreased and the production of the type 2 cytokines IL-5 and IL-13 was augmented by the presence of IL-4 during stimulation of CD8+ T cells from mild atopic asthmatics.|These data suggest that during a respiratory virus infection activated CD8+ T cells from asthmatic subjects may produce excess type 2 cytokines and may contribute to asthma exacerbation by augmenting allergic inflammation.

Η ανθολογία αυτή συγκεντρώνει για πρώτη φορά εντυπώσεις Βρετανίδων περιηγητριών από την Ελλάδα, αρχίζοντας από τις επιστολές της λαίδης Μόνταγκιου, της πιο διάσημης περιηγήτριας και θαυμάστριας της Ανατολής του 18ου αιώνα, και τελειώνοντας με τα ημερολόγια της Βιρτζίνια Γουλφ, που επισκέφτηκε δύο φορές τη χώρα μας. Οι περιηγητικές πραγματείες, οι επιστολές και τα ημερολόγια που επιλέγονται αποκαλύπτουν όχι μόνο τον σημαντικό ρόλο που έπαιξε η Ελλάδα στον βρετανικό πολιτισμό αλλά και τη σημασία του φύλου, τόσο στον περιηγητισμό όσο και στην αναπαράσταση ενός "άλλου" πολιτισμού. Τα κείμενα των περιηγητριών αμφισβητούν τα στερεότυπα του ελληνικού ταξιδιού, που διαμορφώθηκαν σύμφωνα με τα πρότυπα των αρχαιοφίλων (και αρχαιοθήρων) του 18ου αιώνα ή μέσα από το ρομαντικό βλέμμα του λόρδου Βύρωνα και των επιγόνων του· συμπίπτουν επίσης χρονικά με την ιστορική περίοδο της αυτογνωσίας, τη διαμόρφωση της εθνικής και πολιτισμικής ταυτότητας του νέου έθνους-κράτους. [...] "Η Αθήνα" γράφει η Βιρτζίνια Γουλφ "σημαίνει πολύ περισσότερα πράγματα από την Ακρόπολη και το συνετότερο σχέδιο είναι να διαχωρίσεις τους ζωντανούς από τους νεκρούς, το παλιό από το νέο, έτσι ώστε η μια εικόνα να μην ενοχλεί την άλλη". Χωρίς να εγκαταλείπουν την αναζήτηση του παρελθόντος, οι περιηγήτριες αυτής της ανθολογίας δείχνουν να αφοσιώνονται στην απεικόνιση ενός "νοθευμένου" μεν αλλά απτού παρόντος, σε μια Ελλάδα που δεν είναι ξεπεσμένη, αλλά ζωντανή.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this multicenter hemodialysis (HD) cohort study is to prospectively investigate the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Greece from 1993 to 1995 and delineate early virological and serological events associated with HCV seroconversion in the HD setting. METHODS: Sequential serum samples collected weekly from 562 patients were tested biochemically and serologically by means of a second- (EIA-2) and third-generation enzyme immunoassay (EIA-3). All patients with positive antibody to HCV test results (anti-HCV + ) and sequential samples from seroconverting patients were tested for HCV RNA. RESULTS: Anti-HCV prevalence at study entry was 29% (163 of 562 patients), and viremia was detectable in 110 of 163 anti-HCV + patients (67.5%). HCV incidence was 6.2 cases/100 person-years. Seroconversions could not be attributed to transfusions after study entry (only 1 patient had been administered transfusion), and HD unit was associated with increased hazard for seroconversion ( P = 0.002), even after adjusting for potential differences among their patients. According to Kaplan-Meier estimation, the median interval by which the HCV RNA assay detected HCV infection earlier than anti-HCV testing was 246 and 154 days for EIA-2 and EIA-3, respectively. Detectable HCV RNA and at least 2 consecutive abnormal alanine aminotransferase levels in the preseroconversion period were observed in 29 of 30 (97%) and 14 of 32 patients (44%), respectively. Reductions in HCV RNA levels immediately after seroconversion were transient or did not occur. CONCLUSION: On the grounds of apparent nosocomial transmission, the wide window period of HCV infection in HD patients emphasizes the need for strict adherence to specific infection-control measures in this setting.

AIM: To study the incidence of ulcerative colitis UC in the prefecture of Trikala, Central Greece. METHODS: A prospective and population based epidemiological study of UC from 1990 to the end of 1994 was conducted. Trikala is a semirural prefecture of Central Greece with a population of 138 946 (census 1991). Three gastroenterologists (one hospital based, two private doctors) of the prefecture participated in this study. RESULTS: During the study period, 66 new histologically verified cases of UC were recorded. The mean annual incidence of the disease in 1990-1994 was 11.2 per 10(5) inhabitants (95%CI: 8.7-14.3). There was no difference between men and women (annual incidence: 10.5 and 12.0 per 10(5) inhabitants respectively), either among urban, semirural or rural populations (annual incidence: 11.7, 17.1 and 9.9 per 10(5) inhabitants respectively). The majority (56%) of the patients never smoked and a quarter were ex-smokers. About a half of all cases had proctitis. CONCLUSION: UC is common in Central Greece and its incidence is similar to that in North-Western European countries.

The crystal structures of 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (4CPA) included in beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (TMbetaCD) have been studied by X-ray diffraction. The 4CPA/beta-CD complex crystallizes as a head-to-head dimer in the space group C2 in the Tetrad packing mode. The packing modes of some beta-CD dimeric complexes, having unique stackings, are also discussed. The 4CPA/TMbetaCD inclusion complex crystallizes in the space group P2(1) and its asymmetric unit contains two crystallographically independent complexes, complex A and complex B, exhibiting different conformations. The host molecule of complex A is significantly distorted, as a glucosidic residue rotated about the O4'-C1 and C4-O4 bonds forms an aperture where the guest molecule is accommodated. The phenyl moiety of the guest molecule of complex B is nearly perpendicular to the mean plane of the O4n atoms. The conformations of the guest molecules of the two complexes are similar. The crystal packing consists of antiparallel columns as in the majority of the TMbetaCD complexes published so far.

We report the growth of ultra-thin indium oxide layers using the dc-magnetron sputtering method. We demonstrate that good quality tunnel barriers made of indium oxide can be routinely fabricated and employed in spintronic-related devices. Simple magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) were fabricated in a cross geometry using ex situ thermally evaporated cobalt and permalloy. Our best junctions obey the Rowell criteria for tunneling and exhibit a tunnel magnetoresistance of 15% at 100 K. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The phenotypic differences among Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients, mdx mice, and mdx(5cv) mice suggest that despite the common etiology of dystrophin deficiency, secondary mechanisms have a substantial influence on phenotypic severity. The differential response of various skeletal muscles to dystrophin deficiency supports this hypothesis. To explore these differences, gene expression profiles were generated from duplicate RNA targets extracted from six different skeletal muscles (diaphragm, soleus, gastrocnemius, quadriceps, tibialis anterior, and extensor digitorum longus) from wild-type, mdx, and mdx(5cv) mice, resulting in 36 data sets for 18 muscle samples. The data sets were compared in three different ways: (1) among wild-type samples only, (2) among all 36 data sets, and (3) between strains for each muscle type. The molecular profiles of soleus and diaphragm separate significantly from the other four muscle types and from each other. Fiber-type proportions can explain some of these differences. These variations in wild-type gene expression profiles may also reflect biomechanical differences known to exist among skeletal muscles. Further exploration of the genes that most distinguish these muscles may help explain the origins of the biomechanical differences and the reasons why some muscles are more resistant than others to dystrophin deficiency.

Dermatomyositis has been modeled as an autoimmune disease largely mediated by the adaptive immune system, including a local humorally mediated response with B and T helper cell muscle infiltration, antibody and complement-mediated injury of capillaries, and perifascicular atrophy of muscle fibers caused by ischemia. To further understand the pathophysiology of dermatomyositis, we used microarrays, computational methods, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy to study muscle specimens from 67 patients, 54 with inflammatory myopathies, 14 with dermatomyositis. In dermatomyositis, genes induced by interferon-alpha/beta were highly overexpressed, and immunohistochemistry for the interferon-alpha/beta inducible protein MxA showed dense staining of perifascicular, and, sometimes all myofibers in 8/14 patients and on capillaries in 13/14 patients. Of 36 patients with other inflammatory myopathies, 1 patient had faint MxA staining of myofibers and 3 of capillaries. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells, potent CD4+ cellular sources of interferon-alpha, are present in substantial numbers in dermatomyositis and may account for most of the cells previously identified as T helper cells. In addition to an adaptive immune response, an innate immune response characterized by plasmacytoid dendritic cell infiltration and interferon-alpha/beta inducible gene and protein expression may be an important part of the pathogenesis of dermatomyositis, as it appears to be in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The objective of this study was to investigate the evolution of pollutant concentrations generated by smoking in a controlled indoor environment. For this purpose, a small flat in the centre of Athens, Greece was equipped with NO x, O 3 and SO 2 continuous measuring instruments and portable analysers for spot measurements of TVOCs and CO 2, while two volunteer smokers remained inside and smoked as normal inhabitants. The results indicated that when windows are kept closed and smoking takes place NO x, CO 2 and TVOCs concentrations increase by an order of 3, 4 or 10 times, respectively, and decrease returning to initial levels after 1 or 2 h. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Background: Irinotecan (IRI) and oxaliplatin (OXA) are effective in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Previously untreated patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma (CRC) were randomly assigned to receive IRI plus leucovorin (LV)/5-fluorouracil (5-FU), or OXA plus LV/5-FU in order to compare the response rates, time-to-tumor progression, overall survival rates, and toxicity profiles of these two agents. Materials and methods: From January 1999 to February 2002, 295 patients were randomized to receive either IRI/LV/5-FU or OXA/LV/5-FU. The treatment schedules consisted of weekly IRI 70 mg/m2 or OXA 45 mg/m2 plus LV 200 mg/m2 followed immediately by intravenous bolus 5-FU 450 mg/m2 for 6 weeks, followed by a 2-week rest period. Treatment was continued for up to four cycles or until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or patient refusal. Results: There were no significant differences between the study arms in the overall response rate (33% with IRI/LV/5-FU versus 32% with OXA/LV/5-FU based on responses demonstrated on a single evaluation; 23% with IRI/LV/5-FU versus 22.3% with OXA/LV/5-FU based on responses confirmed according to WHO criteria) median time to progression (8.9 versus 7.6 months), and median overall survival (17.6 versus 17.4 months). Toxicity profiles (grades 3 and 4) were similar in the IRI and OXA arms (diarrhea 12.3% and 9.8%, neutropenia 8.2% and 4.9%, and febrile neutropenia 1.4% and 1.4%, respectively), with the exception of grade 3 sensory neuropathy, which almost exclusively occurred in the OXA arm (0% versus 5.6%; P = 0.003, Fisher's exact test). Conclusion: The IRI/LV/5-FU and OXA/LV/5-FU regimens demonstrated equally substantial efficacies and manageable toxicity profiles in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced CRC. However, IRI/LV/5-FU may be the preferable regimen to avoid significant neurotoxicity associated with OXA-LV/5-FU. © 2005 European Society for Medical Oncology.

Naxos is the biggest island of the Cyclades. It is composed primarily of mica-shists, gneiss and marbles and granodiorites in the western part. The latter extend along parts of the studied area. Detailed coastal geomorphological study and GIS analysis made possible the determination of coastal evolution of this area during Late Quaternary. A number of shallow drillings and archaeological evidence helped in the determination of the sequence of the coastal evolution of the study area. Two sets of coastal dunes were mapped reaching elevation of 4 and 8 m respectively, plus older well preserved dune fields reaching elevations up to 18m located in the south. It was found that three granodiorite capes were small islands at the end of the last transgression in Mid Holocene. Since then, parts of the coastline, prograded joining them and forming coastal dunes, beachrocks and wetlands in several locations.

Purpose of investigation: Late relapses are infrequent in ovarian cancer. We present the characteristics and outcome of patients who relapsed at least five years after first-line chemotherapy. Methods: Six cases were retrieved from 203 patients treated from 1994 to 1998. Results: Time to recurrence ranged from five to nine years. The initial stage was I or II in all cases, while histology was: endometrioid (4 cases), clear cell (1 case) and unspecified adenocarcinoma (1 case). Only two of five assessable patients responded to chemotherapy. Compared to earlier relapses, late relapses were characterized by earlier stages (p < 0.001), non serous histology (p = 0.010) and absence of symptoms (0% vs 46.5%, p = 0.025) at baseline. Five of 16 relapses (31%) among patients with Stage I or II were late relapses. Conclusion: Late relapses of ovarian cancer occur in early stages, where they are relatively frequent, while the chemosensitivity of the disease may be less than expected.

After a brief description of the layer multiple scattering method as applied to phononic crystals, we present some results obtained by this method, relating to: crystals of polystyrene spheres in water; crystals of silica spheres in air; and crystals of steel spheres in polyester. We relate the transmission characteristics of slabs of these ma terials to the complex band structure of the corresponding infinite crystals. We emphasize aspects of the underlying physics which have not been discussed previously.

We present a computer program to calculate the frequency band structure of an infinite phononic crystal, and the transmission, reflection and absorption of elastic waves by a slab of this crystal. The crystal consists of a stack of identical slices parallel to a given surface; the slice may consist of multilayers of non-overlapping spheres of given periodicity parallel to the surface and homogeneous plates. The elastic coefficients of the various components of the crystal may be complex functions of the frequency.

New CCD observations of the pulsating star SZ Lyn are analyzed and a new ephemeris is proposed. The photometric data collected over the last 43 years are used to determine and update the pulsational and orbital elements, based on the light-time effect detected in the O-C diagram.

We theoretically investigate the linear near field absorption spectra of semiconductor quantum dots under magnetic field of variable orientation. We examine if the application of the magnetic field alone is sufficient to cause – increasing the spot illuminated by the near field probe – “unexpected” features to the absorption spectra.

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been inferred to arise in highly collimated, ultrarelativistic jets that emanate from the vicinity of a solar-mass compact object. Electromagnetic stresses are the most plausible candidate for extracting rotational energy at the source and converting it into outflow kinetic energy. Two questions that need to be answered in order for this process to be well understood are: what determines the terminal Lorentz factor of the flow? What is the asymptotic value of the Poynting-to-matter energy flux ratio? We discuss the general characteristics of the relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) solutions that, together with previously obtained exact results, help to shed light on these questions.

Electron spin resonance (ESR) has been applied to investigate the magnetic heterogeneity in electron doped La1-xCaxMnO3 (0.80≤x≤0.95). A low field ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) mode is observed for lightly doped compounds (x = 0.90,0.95), signifying the formation of ferromagnetic (FM) spin clusters within the antiferromagnetic G-type AFM phase. The anomalous temperature variations of the resonance field, linewidth and FMR intensity, as well as the observation of thermal cycling effects below TC, emphasize the non-trivial dynamics of the FM phase, which is attributed to the temperature dependent size evolution of the underlying spin clusters towards canted AFM and FM domains. For heavier electron doping (x = 0.80,0.85), distinct AFM behaviour is evinced in the vicinity of TN in the monoclinic C-type AFM phase, characterized by the absence of critical relaxation. Additional weak FMR lines are observed for x = 0.80 and 0.85, whereas a narrow superparamagnetic-like signal is detected for x = 0.95. © 2005 IOP Publishing Ltd.

It is well known that estradiol derived from neural aromatization of testosterone plays a crucial role in the development of the male brain and the display of sexual behaviors in adulthood. It was recently found that male aromatase knockout mice (ArKO) deficient in estradiol due to a mutation in the aromatase gene have general deficits in coital behavior and are sexually less motivated. We wondered whether these behavioral deficits of ArKO males could be related to changes in activity, exploration, anxiety and "depressive-like" symptomatology. ArKO and wild type (WT) males were subjected to open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM), and forced swim tests (FST), after being exposed or not to chronic mild stress (CMS). CMS was used to evaluate the impact of chronic stressful procedures and to unveil possible differences between genotypes. There was no effect of genotype on OF, EPM and FST behavioral parameters. WT and ArKO mice exposed to CMS or not exhibited the same behavioral profile during these three types of tests. However, all CMS-exposed mice (ArKO and WT) spent less time in the center of the EPM. Additionally, floating duration measured in the FST increased between two tests in both WT and ArKO mice, though that increase was less prominent in mice previously subjected to CMS than in controls. Therefore, both ArKO and WT males displayed the same behavior and had the same response to CMS however CMS exposure slightly modified the behavior displayed by mice of both genotypes in the FST and EPM paradigms. These results show that ArKO males display normal levels of activity, exploration, anxiety and "depressive-like" symptomatology and thus their deficits in sexual behavior are specific in nature and do not result indirectly from other behavioral changes.

For 5 years (January 1998 to November 2002) our department has applied the Marlex Mesh Perfix Plug hernioplasty. This article demonstrates the experience gained in operative and postoperative aspects, costs, and outcome along with the results of a follow-up analysis. Altogether, 801 patients (749 males, 52 females) were operated on Sixty-four males had bilateral groin hernias, so the total number of hernioplasties amounted to 865. A total of 19 hernias were recurrent, 297 were direct, 545 were indirect or scrotal (or both) 21 were femoral, and 2 were Spigelian. Fifty-three operations were performed on an emergency basis. Preoperative routine use of antibiotics was minimized throughout the years. Operating time fluctuated from 20 to 25 min (30-40 minutes for recurrent hernias), and the postoperative hospital stay was 28 hours (6-72) hours. The complication rate was 5% and the recurrence rate less than 1%. Early patient mobilization and return to everyday activities (1-2 weeks) was encouraged. The follow-up of 95% of the patient population lasted 12 to 60 months and was performed at 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, and yearly thereafter. The technique demonstrates less overall postoperative pain, discomfort, and complications combined with a remarkably low recurrence rate. The rapid rehabilitation with great patient comfort and decreased operating room time, resulting in lower financial costs, have led us nowadays to repair all types of inguinal hernias, femoral and recurrent ones, using this technique.

Mathematical models are presented for studying the value of leadership in a team where the members interact with each other. The models are based on a leader's role of motivating each team member to perform closer to his/her maximum ability. These models include controllable parameters whose values reflect the amount of task interdependence among the workers as well as the motivational skill and variability in the skill of the leader. Confirming results - such as the fact that the skill level of the leader is a critical factor in the expected performance of the team - establish credibility in the models. Mathematical analysis and computer simulations are used to provide new managerial insights into the value of the leader - such as the fact that the skill of the leader can be more important than controlling the amount of interdependence among the team members and that having a choice of multiple leaders with no particular motivating skill is beneficial to the performance of small teams but not to large teams. © Springer Science + Business Media, Inc. 2005.

Drug dissolution, release and uptake are the principal components of oral drug absorption. All these processes take place in the complex milieu of the gastrointestinal tract and they are influenced by physiological (e.g. intestinal pH, transit time) and physicochemical factors (e.g. dose, particle size, solubility, permeability). Due to the enormous complexity issues involved, the models developed for drug dissolution and release attempt to capture their heterogeneous features. Hence, Monte Carlo simulations and population methods have been utilized since both dissolution and release processes are considered as time evolution of a population of drug molecules moving irreversibly from the solid state to the solution. Additionally, mathematical models have been proposed to determine the effect of the physicochemical properties, solubility/dose ratio and permeability on the extent of absorption for regulatory purposes, e.g. biopharmaceutics classification. The regulatory oriented approaches are based on the tube model of the intestinal lumen and apart from the drug's physicochemical properties, take into account the formulation parameters the dose and the particle size.

Titan's vertical atmospheric temperature profile, atmospheric chemical composition and haze structure are controlled by many processes. In this work we present a self-consistent 1D simulation of radiation transfer, photochemistry and haze microphysics that determine Titan's atmosphere and haze. The atmospheric model extends from the surface up to the lower thermosphere and incorporates: high resolution radiation transfer codes for solar and thermal radiation, complete neutral species photochemical evolution and a detailed Eulerian description of the microphysical haze particle growth. Chemical analysis of the laboratory produced haze analogs, suggests that the most probable photochemical pathways leading to haze formation, include copolymers of acetylene, hydrogen cyanide, aromatics and others. Although these pathways produce a Haze monomers mass production rate of the correct magnitude to fit the geometric albedo, their production profiles are significantly different from the simplified ones used in previous simulations. The photochemical part of the model produces the vertical profile of all the important hydrocarbons and nitriles in Titan's atmosphere including the polymerisation of organic species for Haze production. This interaction of the Haze precursors with the chemistry is considered to take place until the precursors reach a typical mass of ∼1000 amu, after which the polymers chemical growth ceases and the conglomeration of the Haze particles commences. The resulting distribution of different size particles, along with the rest of the species interacting with the radiation field are included in the radiative/convective part of the model for the calculation of the thermal structure. The model iterates between these processes until a steady state is reached. The results presented are validated against observed data (geometric albedo, chemical composition, thermal structure, etc.) in order to understand better the physical processes that control: Titan's methane abundance; the production, structure and radiative properties of the haze; and the radiative properties of Titan's atmosphere and surface.

The main research aim of this paper is to examine the slope-stream erosionalprocess in the Korinthos drainage basin located in the north – eastern part ofPeloponnese, Greece, by means of applying the fuzzy set theory on a GIS platform.The main steps of this procedure are: the definition of the input variables (erodibilityof rocks, slope angle, slope morphology), the construction of a fuzzy inference system based on theoretical and empirical knowledge for transforming the input to output variables (erosion – deposition) and the visualization of the output variables (Spatial distribution of the erosion-deposition processes). The earth’s surface is the result of endogenous (weathering) and exogenous (erosion) processes. Weathering destroys chemically, biologically and mechanically the structure and the cohesion of the rock. The erosional mechanism transports the sediment and depends on many factors such as: frequency and magnitude of precipitation, surface and subsurface waters, slope elements (geometry, length and angle), rocks’ susceptibility to erosion, vegetation cover, human actions and land use. The study of the erosional process demands a series of steps in order to obtain the final output maps. These steps include: 1) field-work, air-photos and satellite images interpretation, map digitization (geological, topographical, drainage), 2) definition of input and output variables, 3) formulation of the proper logical rules (Boolean or fuzzy) for the transformation of input variables to output variables, 4) analysis and visualization of the output results.The input variables used in this research are: erodibility of rocks, slope angle andslope morphology. The erodibility of rocks depends on many variables which showspatial and time variation. Firstly, it depends on physical and chemical characteristics of the rocks and the rocks’ structure and discontinuities. Secondly, it depends on the existence of a protective vegetative cover which contributes in the increase of the infiltration capacity and limits the runoff flow. Thirdly, it depends on the characteristics of the involved processes: the intensity and duration of precipitation and also its spatial and time distribution and its raindrop size.The input variables are inserted into a fuzzy inference system, constructed in orderto transform them to output variables (erosion-deposition variable). This is achievedby the formulation of the proper ‘if…then’ rules based on theoretical as well asempirical knowledge of the erosional processes.The output variable (erosion) expresses the degree of erosion and deposition ofthe various parts of the drainage basin and is presented through erosion risk maps of the area that is studied.

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We have employed magnetization measurements, Mössbauer and ESR spectroscopic techniques, in order to study the ferromagnetic insulating (FMI) compound La1-xCaxMnO3 (x=0.175) doped with 1% 57Fe. We have used two samples; one prepared in air which has cation vacancies and a second in inert atmosphere, which is stoichiometric. An abrupt change of the experimental results is obtained, by all techniques, in the ferromagnetic insulating regime, in the temperature region of T O/O//≈60 K, where an orbital rearrangement is suggested to occur. An analysis of these findings points to an orbital rearrangement transformation. Ferromagnetic resonance reveals considerable differences between stoichiometric and cation deficient samples, indicating anisotropy of the exchange interactions in the former sample with significant temperature dependence, most pronounced in the vicinity of TO/O//. © EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2005.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the presence of motor signs has predictive value for important outcomes in Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS: A total of 533 patients with AD at early stages (mean Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] 21/30 at entry) were recruited and followed semiannually for up to 13.1 years (mean 3) in five University-based AD centers in the United States and European Union. Four outcomes, assessed every 6 months, were used in Cox models: cognitive endpoint (Columbia Mini-Mental State Examination < or = 20/57 [ approximately MMSE < or = 10/30]), functional endpoint (Blessed Dementia Rating Scale > or = 10), institutionalization equivalent index, and death. Using a standardized portion of the Unified PD Rating Scale (administered every 6 months for a total of 3,149 visit-assessments, average 5.9 per patient), the presence of motor signs, as well as of individual motor sign domains, was examined as time-dependent predictor. The models controlled for cohort, recruitment center, sex, age, education, a comorbidity index, and baseline cognitive and functional performance. RESULTS: A total of 39% of the patients reached the cognitive, 41% the functional, 54% the institutionalization, and 47% the mortality endpoint. Motor signs were noted for 14% of patients at baseline and for 45% at any evaluation. Their presence was associated with increased risk for cognitive decline (RR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.24 to 2.38), functional decline (1.80 [1.33 to 2.45]), institutionalization (1.68 [1.26 to 2.25]), and death (1.38 [1.05 to 1.82]). Tremor was associated with increased risk for reaching the cognitive and bradykinesia for reaching the functional endpoints. Postural-gait abnormalities carried increased risk for institutionalization and mortality. Faster rates of motor sign accumulation were associated with increased risk for all outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Motor signs predict cognitive and functional decline, institutionalization, and mortality in Alzheimer disease. Different motor sign domains predict different outcomes.

The outburst and eclipse characteristics of the eclipsing dwarf nova EX Dra prompted us to monitor it during the months July-August 2000 with the 1.2m telescope of the National Observatory of Athens (NOA). Here, we present an eclipse mapping study of the July 2000 light curves. B-band of the August 2000 data have been presented by Harlaftis et al. (2002).

The in-vitro activities of penicillin, ticarcillin-clavulanic acid, cefoxitin, imipenem, ertapenem, metronidazole and clindamycin were evaluated against 138 Gram-negative anaerobic isolates (82 Bacteroides fragilis group, 17 non-fragilis Bacteroides spp., 31 Prevotella spp., four Fusobacterium spp., two Veillonella spp., one Porphyromonas sp. and one Tissierella praeacuta) collected from six general hospitals in Athens, Greece. Overall rates of non-susceptibility (both resistant and intermediately-resistant) to penicillin and ticarcillin-clavulanic acid were 81.8% and 2.3%, respectively. The rates of non-susceptibility to cefoxitin and clindamycin were 30.3% and 31.1%, respectively, and that for metronidazole was 4.3% (four Prevotella spp. isolates, one Porphyromonas sp. isolate and one B. fragilis isolate). Only the single B. fragilis isolate was nim-positive by PCR. Only one B. fragilis isolate was resistant to both carbapenems tested, while six more Bacteroides spp. isolates were imipenem-susceptible and ertapenem-non-susceptible. The MIC range, MIC(50) and MIC(90) values were comparable for imipenem and ertapenem, although ertapenem MIC(90)s were one or two two-fold dilutions higher.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to illustrate the clinicopathological features of patients presenting with multifocal extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Among 810 patients with NHL, 37 cases (4.2%) were found to have multiple extranodal involvement (two or more sites). There were 24 men and 13 women, with a median age of 63 years. The majority of these cases (n = 26) had gastric or intestinal (GI) involvement with or without other extranodal sites. Lung along with another extranodal site was relatively common in the present series. Stratification of the 37 cases according to the International Prognostic Index (IPI) showed that 89% of the patients belonged to the high-risk groups. Diffuse large-B -cell lymphoma (DLBCL) accounted for 62%, and mucosa-associated lymphoma tissue (MALT) lymphoma accounted for 27% of all cases. After induction treatment with anthracycline-based regimens, complete remission was achieved in 21 patients (57%), partial remission was achieved in six patients (16%), and seven patients (19%) had no response, while three patients (8%) were nonevaluable. In conclusion, multifocal extranodal NHL is a heterogeneous group of diseases. The majority of them arise at various sites in the GI tract. DLBCL was the most frequent histological subtype followed by MALT lymphoma. Risk group, as defined by the IPI, was predictive of survival. ©AlphaMed Press.

Objectives: Purpose of this study was to compare prognostic factors and outcome of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) aged > 70 yr at diagnosis with those of younger patients. We also applied the recently proposed International Staging System (ISS) for MM in these patients. Patients and methods: Among 1,162 newly diagnosed, symptomatic MM patients included in our database, 357 (31%) were > 70 yr of age. Clinical and laboratory variables were evaluated in patients > 70 yr and in younger patients and were assessed for possible correlation with survival in patients > 70 yr of age. Results: Most clinical and laboratory features were similar in the two groups of patients but older patients presented more frequently with advanced ISS (P = 0.02). Despite similar response rates to primary treatment, younger patients survived longer than patients > 70 yr of age (40 vs. 28 months, P = 0.001). There was a longer survival of younger patients than that of older patients diagnosed with ISS stage 1 (median 71 vs. 54 months, P = 0.007) and ISS stage-2 patients (median: 38 vs. 26 months, P = 0.0008) but for patients with ISS stage 3 median survival was similarly poor in the younger and older age group (21 and 20 months, P = 0.283). Other variables associated with impaired prognosis were severe anemia, extensive bone marrow plasmacytosis and elevated serum LDH. Conclusions: Older patients with MM present more often with advanced ISS and have significantly shorter survival than younger patients. The ISS retained its prognostic significance within the group of elderly patients. © Blackwell Munksgaard 2005.

This book came to fruition as a result of my interest and research in the area of integration as well as music education’s role and independence within the educational process and formal classroom.The concepts of integration, interdisciplinarity and other relative terms are explained through the trace of their historical and philosophical roots and uses. The autonomy of music within the umbrella of arts as well as integrative applications between music and other subjects is discussed and issues and problems are highlighted.It was the first book in the Greek language with this subject and was reviewed and presented in the specialized press.The second edition with minor corrections was published in 2008 and the third in 2014.

Bone disease is a major feature of multiple myeloma. Myeloma-induced bone destruction is the result of an increased activity of osteoclasts, which is not accompanied by a comparable increase of osteoblast function. Recent studies have revealed that new molecules such as the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK), its ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α are implicated in osteoclast activation and differentiation, while proteins such as dickkopf-1 inhibit osteoblastic bone formation. These new molecules seem to interfere not only with the biology of myeloma bone destruction but also with tumour growth and survival, creating novel targets for the development of new antimyeloma treatment. Currently, bisphosphonates play a major role in the management of myeloma bone disease. Clodronate, pamidronate and zoledronic acid are the most effective bisphosphonates in symptomatic myeloma patients. Biochemical markers of bone remodeling have been used in an attempt to identify patients more likely to benefit from early treatment with bisphosphonates. Furthermore, using microarray techniques, myeloma patients may be subdivided into molecular subgroups with certain clinical characteristics, such as propensity for lytic lesions that may need early prophylactic treatment. Recent phase I studies with recombinant OPG and monoclonal antibodies to RANKL appear promising. © 2005 European Society for Medical Oncology.

Immunonutrition with diets enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are becoming mandatory for multiple trauma patients. Solutions containing single n-6 PUFAs were administered intravenously in an experimental model of trauma. Thirty-five rabbits were studied; 13 controls; 10 administered gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) 30 min after fracture of the right femor; and 12 arachidonic acid (AA). Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures and heart rate were recorded; serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrate were estimated before and after therapy. Mean survival of controls, of animals treated with GLA and of animals treated with AA was 0.80, 1.41 and 3.60 days, respectively. Administration of PUFAs induced higher levels of blood pressure; that of AA decreased serum TNFalpha and tissue bacterial load compared to controls. Intravenous administration of n-6 PUFAs conferred hemodynamic stability and increased survival in a model of trauma rendering further research mandatory.

The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer has been clarified by recent randomized studies and meta-analyses, which all showed that cisplatin-based, combination chemotherapy offers a significant survival advantage. Preoperative chemotherapy results in downstaging in a significant percentage of patients, which is an independent factor of favorable prognosis. Nevertheless, the optimal sequence of perioperative chemotherapy remains undefined. The authors examine the results of large Phase II and randomized studies as well as the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the context of bladder preservation strategies. Finally, issues of improving therapeutic efficacy and directing clinical research are discussed. © 2005 Future Drugs Ltd.

Magnetic nanostructures on nonmagnetic or magnetic substrates have attracted strong attention due to the development of interesting experimental methods with atomic resolution. Motivated by this progress we have extended the full-potential Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker Green-function method to treat noncollinear magnetic nanostructures on surfaces. We focus on magnetic 3d impurity nanoclusters, sitting as adatoms on or in the first surface layer on Ni(001), and investigate the size and orientation of the local moments and, moreover, the stabilization of noncollinear magnetic solutions. While clusters of Fe, Co, Ni atoms are magnetically collinear, noncollinear magnetic coupling is expected for Cr and Mn clusters on surfaces of elemental ferromagnets. The origin of frustration is the competition of the antiferromagnetic exchange coupling among the Cr or Mn atoms with the antiferromagnetic (for Cr) or ferromagnetic (for Mn) exchange coupling between the impurities and the substrate. We find that Cr and Mn first-neighboring dimers and a Mn trimer on Ni(001) show noncollinear behavior nearly degenerate with the most stable collinear configuration. Increasing the distance between the dimer atoms leads to a collinear behavior, similar to the one of the single impurities. Finally, we compare some of the noncollinear ab initio results to those obtained within a classical Heisenberg model, where the exchange constants are fitted to total energies of the collinear states; the agreement is surprisingly good.

The purpose of this retrospective study, the largest unselected series in our country, was to illustrate the clinicopathological features of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of lymphoid neoplasms. A retrospective analysis was conducted and clinical features of histological subtypes were established in 810 patients (age ≥ 15 years) with NHL who were treated at 8 major centers representative of Greece. There were 435 males and 375 females 95% of them aged >30 years. B symptoms were present in 34% of the patients, while 45.3% had stages I-II and 54.6% had stages III-IV. LDH was increased in 37% of the patients. B cell lymphomas formed 88% of the cases whereas T cell lymphomas formed 12% of the total. Indolent lymphomas accounted for 31.1%, aggressive ones for 66.7% and very aggressive ones for 2.4% of all NHLs. Among indolent lymphomas extranodal ones (MALT B cell lymphoma) were the most common subset while follicular lymphoma grade I and II and small lymphocytic ones presented with equal frequency. Among the aggressive lymphomas diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL) was the most common subtype; this entity along with large-cell immunoblastic lymphomas accounted for 45.2% of all B cell lymphomas. Among the T cell lymphomas, peripheral T cell lymphomas and anaplastic large cell lymphomas of the T/null-cell type were the most common subtypes. The most common extranodal presentation was the gastrointestinal tract (GI). Next in frequency were primary extranodal NHL of the head and neck region. MALT B cell lymphomas were found in almost half of the patients with GI tract NHL, whereas in all other extranodal places DLCL was the predominant histological subtype. The median survival for indolent and aggressive NHL was 123.5 and 55.5 months, respectively. This is the first report of a large series of malignant lymphomas in Greece using the WHO classification. It appears that there are no significant differences between NHL in Greece and other large series as far as clinical and extranodal presentation is concerned. The frequency of follicular lymphoma in the current study is comparable to that reported from Asian countries and mainland Europe, but lower than that of US and Northern European series. There were no important differences in the incidence of the remaining histological subtypes between Greece and other European countries. Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG.

The nucleation of superconductivity in a hybrid film (HF) that consists of randomly distributed CoPt ferromagnetic nanoparticles (FNs) embedded in a 200 nm Nb layer was studied by combined magnetic and magnetoresistance measurements. The FNs exhibit both soft and hard magnetic behaviour. It is found that both magnetic phases contribute to the modulation of bulk and surface-like superconductivity by broadening their intermediate regime. More specifically, while the soft FNs (SFNs) promote bulk superconductivity, the hard FNs (HFNs) suppress the bulk superconducting state. In contrast, both SFNs and HFNs promote surface-like superconductivity since on the H-T phase diagram the respective boundary line presents abrupt upturns at their corresponding saturation fields. The dependence of the observed effects on the magnetic history gives clear evidence that they are mainly induced by the cooperative action of the FNs. Our experimental results are compared with current theoretical studies on relevant hybrid systems. Finally, the possible applications that such HFs could find in the near future are discussed.

The optical properties of a dielectric waveguide coated on one side with a periodic monolayer of metallic nanospheres are studied by means of transmission and density-of-states calculations using the on-shell layer-multiple-scattering method. In particular, the strong coupling mechanism between the waveguide and collective particle–plasmon modes is analysed and its influence on the optical response of the system is elucidated.

We carried out spectroscopic observations of the optical transient near M31 reported in ATel #611 (RA = 00h38m54.63s DEC =+40o27'34.2" (J2000)) from the 1.3m telescope of the Skinakas Observatory in Crete (Greece) on the nights 28 and 29 September 2005. The spectra covered the range 3800-7000 angstroms. All the lines of the Balmer series up to H-8 appeared strongly in emission. The equivalent widths of the H-alpha and H-beta lines (the strongest emission features) on 28 September 2005 were -550+-25 angstrom and -220+-20 angstrom, respectively and the FWHM 1800+-30 km/s in both lines.

This article investigates the role of option contracts in a supply chain when the demand curve is downward sloping. We consider call (put) options that provide the retailer with the right to reorder (return) goods at a fixed price. We show that the introduction of option contracts causes the wholesale price to increase and the volatility of the retail price to decrease. In general, options are not zero-sum games. Conditions are derived under which the manufacturer prefers to use options. When this happens the retailer is also better off, if the uncertainty in the demand curve is low. However, if the uncertainty is sufficiently high, then the introduction of option contracts alters the equilibrium prices in a way that hurts the retailer. © 2005 INFORMS.

Purpose: Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) has been associated recently with the use of pamidronate and zoledronic acid. We studied the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors for the development of ONJ among patients treated with bisphosphonates for bone metastases. Patients and Methods: ONJ was assessed prospectively since July 2003. The first bisphosphonate treatment among patients with ONJ was administered in 1997. Two hundred fifty-two patients who received bisphosphonates since January 1997 were included in this analysis. Results: Seventeen patients (6.7%) developed ONJ: 11 of 111 (9.9%) with multiple myeloma, two of 70 (2.9%) with breast cancer, three of 46 (6.5%) with prostate cancer, and one of 25 (4%) with other neoplasms (P = .289). The median number of treatment cycles and time of exposure to bisphosphonates were 35 infusions and 39.3 months for patients with ONJ compared with 15 infusions (P < .001) and 19 months (P = .001), respectively, for patients with no ONJ. The incidence of ONJ increased with time to exposure from 1.5% among patients treated for 4 to 12 months to 7.7% for treatment of 37 to 48 months. The cumulative hazard was significantly higher with zoledronic acid compared with pamidronate alone or pamidronate and zoledronic acid sequentially (P < .001). All but two patients with ONJ had a history of dental procedures within the last year or use of dentures. Conclusion: The use of bisphosphonates seems to be associated with the development of ONJ. Length of exposure seems to be the most important risk factor for this complication. The type of bisphosphonate may play a role and previous dental procedures may be a precipitating factor. © 2005 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Otitis media with effusion–defined as the accumulation of middle-ear effusion behind an intact tympanic membrane without signs or symptoms of acute infection–is one of the most common causes of hearing loss in children in developed countries, potentially leading to language deficits. Although treatment of chronic or relapsing otitis media with effusion is considered imperative, none of the preventative or nonsurgical management measures currently available have proven effective. Tympanostomy tube placement remains the recommended treatment option for high-risk children or for cases of unresponsive otitis media with effusion. This can be attributed to the uncertainties surrounding its pathogenesis. Multiple factors and several possible pathogenetic models have been proposed to explain the production and persistence of middle-ear effusion; only a few of them are supported by sufficient evidence. In this review, the authors will present current knowledge on the pathogenesis, consequences, diagnosis and management of otitis media with effusion. An effort will be made to clarify those aspects sufficiently supported by evidence-based studies, and to underline those that remain unfounded.

Background. Data about the outcome and prognostic factors in the group of patients with non-squamous cell advanced or recurrent carcinomas of the uterine cervix are limited. We compared the outcome of patients with non-squamous with that of squamous cell carcinomas after platinum-based combination chemotherapy as first line therapy for stage IV or recurrent cervical carcinoma. Patients and methods. A total of 200 patients with stage IV or recurrent carcinomas of the cervix received platinum-based combination chemotherapy and were included in our analysis. Results. There were 58 patients with non-squamous and 142 patients with squamous cell carcinomas. Response to chemotherapy was 53.5% in non-squamous vs. 43.5% in squamous carcinomas. Histology was not an independent predictor of tumor response (P = 0.797). Response rates were lower in patients with relapse only in a previously irradiated area in both squamous (26.9% vs. 53.5%, P = 0.005) and non-squamous carcinomas (47.1% vs. 65%, P = 0.270). Weight loss was the only significant predictor of survival in non-squamous histology patients (P <0.0001). There was no significant difference in median survival between squamous (11.57 months [95% CI 9.35-13.79]) and non-squamous carcinomas (19.05 months [95% CI 13.63-24.47]) (P = 0.064). After adjustment for independent prognostic factors (ECOG performance status and weight loss), differences in survival remained not significant. Conclusion. Our study showed a similar outcome for both squamous and non-squamous stage IV or recurrent cervical carcinomas treated with platinum-based combination chemotherapy. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Background: The majority of patients with advanced urothelial cancer are elderly, but data regarding this specific age group are limited. We compared the tolerability and efficacy of first-line platinum (cisplatin or carboplatin)-based chemotherapy in elderly patients (≥70 years) with those in younger patients. Patients and methods: A total of 381 patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma received CIMV (cisplatin, ifosphamide, methotrexate, vinblastine) (n=32), MVAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, cisplatin) (n=105), DC (docetaxel, cisplatin) (n=174), CaG (carboplatin, gemcitabine) (n=64) or other regimes (n=6) and were included in this analysis. Results: A total of 116 patients were ≥70 years. Elderly patients experienced more frequent neutropenia grade 3/4 (55% versus 37%, P=0.087) and renal toxicity (28% versus 10%, P=0.033) among patients treated with CIMV/MVAC, and neutropenic infections (4% versus 0%, P=0.019) among patients treated with DC. Median survival did not differ significantly between elderly and younger patients (9.3 versus 10.5 months, P=0.16). Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) and haemoglobin were independently associated with prognosis. Patients with PS <2 and haemoglobin ≥10g/dl had a median survival of 14 months as opposed to 5 months for patients with PS ≥2 or haemoglobin <10g/dl (P <0.001). Conclusion: Elderly patients with advanced urothelial cancer tolerate platinum-based chemotherapy well and derive the same benefit as their younger counterparts. © 2005 European Society for Medical Oncology.

BACKGROUND. Oral-based antibiotic therapy is the standard of care in the management of cancer patients with low-risk neutropenic fever. Nevertheless, to the authors' knowledge, the best antibiotic regimen and the feasibility of ambulatory treatment have not been clearly defined. METHODS. The authors evaluated the efficacy and safety of moxifloxacin as outpatient treatment in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia who were selected according to the recently proposed Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk assessment model. Moxifloxacin was given at a dose of 400 mg orally once daily. RESULTS. Fifty-four patients with solid and hematologic malignancies, the majority of whom (84%) had advanced disease, were included in the current study. The median neutrophil count at the time of study entry was 340/mm3 (range, 20-950/mm3) and the median duration of neutropenia was 4 days (range, 3-14 days). Of 55 neutropenic episodes, 50 (91%) had a successful outcome with a median time to defervescence of 2 days (range, 1-5 days). A multivariate analysis indicated that severe neutropenia (an absolute neutrophil count of < 100 mm3) was the only independent factor associated with treatment failure (P < 0.04). Moxifloxacin was found to be well tolerated and there were no infectious deaths reported. CONCLUSIONS. The results of the current study demonstrated that moxifloxacin was a highly effective and safe regimen in the outpatient treatment of cancer patients with febrile neutropenia. © 2005 American Cancer Society.

Background: We compared the combination plus Carboplatin plus paclitaxel, which is considered the treatment of choice for initial chemotherapy of advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) with a regimen combining alternating carboplatin and cisplatin plus paclitaxel. The two platinum derivatives have been previously combined as they are not totally cross-resistant and as they share no overlapping toxicities. Patients and methods: Patients with AOC, after the initial cytoreductive surgery were randomized to either 6 courses of paclitaxel at 175 mg/m2 as 3h infusion plus Carboplatin at 7 AUC (Arm A) or Paclitaxel at the same dose plus Carboplatin again at 7 AUC for cycles 1,3,5, while for cycles 2,4,6 Cisplatin at 75 mg/m2 substituted for Carboplatin (Arm B). Results: 247 patients are analyzed. Significant differences were not found, both in terms of PFS (38 vs 39 months, p=0.95) and overall survival (40.6 vs 38.6 months, p=0.79). There was not also difference in 5-year survival rate (35% vs 39%) or 5-year PFS rate (23% vs 28%). Age >60, PS 2, stage IV disease and presence of residual disease were adversely related to the overall survival. Conclusion: Both regimens are well tolerated and effective. Alternating cisplatin with carboplatin does not improve the results compared with the standard combination. © 2005 European Society fr Medical Oncology.

The irinotecan-cisplatin combination has emerged as a new standard for the treatment of advanced-stage small-cell lung cancer (AS-SCLC). To move forward we developed a 3-day regimen of cisplatin, etoposide and irinotecan. Successive cohorts of AS-SCLC patients were treated with irinotecan administered as a single 1-h infusion in combination with fixed doses of cisplatin (20 mg/m 2) and etoposide (75 mg/m2), both given for three consecutive days (ECI regimen). Irinotecan dose was escalated from 60 mg/m 2 by 40-mg/m2 increments. At mid-step between the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and the previous dose level, patients were randomized for the day of administration of irinotecan (day 1 vs day 3). A total of 36 AS-SCLC patients received 166 courses of treatment at four dose levels. The MTD of irinotecan was 140 mg/m2 (three dose-limiting toxicities, DLTs), and the recommended optimal dose (ROD) 120 mg/m2 (two DLTs). DLTs were febrile neutropenia and grade 3 diarrhea. Other toxicities were mild. No difference in toxicity was seen between the two time schedules. A 77% (95% CI 63.25-90.75%) response rate was recorded among 31 evaluable patients and the median survival was 12 months. The ECI regimen was well tolerated and showed considerable activity in patients with AS-SCLC. Phase II/III evaluation is ongoing. © Springer-Verlag 2005.

This paper presents research on controlling synthetic voice via a MIDI accordion. As motivation for this research served the goal of reviving "lost instruments", that is of using existing traditional instruments “lost” to new music genres as interfaces to control new types of sound generation in novel and future genres of music.We worked with a MIDI-accordion, because it provides expressive control similar to the human breath through the mechanism of the bellows. The control interface of the two hands is also suited for characteristics of the singing voice: The right hand controls the pitch of the voice as traditionally used, while the left hand chooses combinations of timbres,phonemes, longer phonetic units, and different kinds of vocal expression. We use a simple model of phonemes, diphones and timbre presets. We applied this to a combination of sample based synthesis and formantbased synthesis. Our intention is to extend the work to physical models. A further goal of this research is to bridge the gap between ongoing research in the domain of synthesis of the singing voice with that of experimentation in novel forms of artistic performance, by examining different ways of interpreting synthesized voices via the MIDI accordion.

Photonic crystals are inhomogeneous materials whose dielectric properties vary periodically in space on a macroscopic scale. These materials have novel and interesting properties concerning both basic physics and technological applications. After a brief description of the main properties of photonic crystals, we present some specific applications related to wave guiding and Anderson localization of light due to stacking faults in these crystals.

Wall lizards of the genus Podarcis (Sauria, Lacertidae) comprise 17 currently recognized species in southern Europe, where they are the predominant novavian reptile group. The taxonomy of Podarcis is complex and unstable. Based oil DNA sequence data, the species of Podarcis falls into four main groups that have substantial geographic coherence (Western island group, southwestern group, Italian group, and Balkan Peninsula group). The Balkan Peninsula species are divided into two subgroups: the subgroup of P. taurica (P. taurica, P. milensis, P. gaigeae, and perhaps P. melisellensis), and the Subgroup of P. erhardii (P. erhardii and P. peloponnesiaca). In the present study, the question of phylogenetic relationships among the species of Podarcis encountered in the Balkan Peninsula was addressed using partial mtDNA sequences for cytochrome b (cyt b) and 16S rRNA (16S). The data support the monophyly of Podarcis and suggest that there are three phylogenetic clades: the clade A (P. taurica, P. gaigeae, P. milensis, and P. melisellensis); the clade B (P. erhardii and P. peloponnesiaca), and the clade C (P. muralis and P. sicula). By examining intraspecific relationships it was found that extant populations of P. erhardii are paraphyletic. Furthermore, subspecies previously defined on the basis of morphological characteristics do not correspond to different molecular phylogenetic clades, Suggesting that their status should be reconsidered. The distinct geographic distribution of the major clades of the phylogenetic tree and its topology Suggest a spatial and temporal sequence of phylogenetic separations that coincide with some major paleogeographic separations during the geological history of the Aegean Sea. The results stress the need for a reconsideration of the evolutionary history of Balkan Podarcis species and help overcome difficulties that classical taxonomy has encountered at both the species and subspecies level. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Wall lizards of the genus Podarcis (Sauria, Lacertidae) comprise 17 currently recognized species in southern Europe, where they are the predominant reptile group. The taxonomy of Podarcis is complex and unstable. Based on DNA sequence data the species of Podarcis falls into four main groups that have substantial geographical conherence (western island group, southwestern group, Italian group and Balkan group). The Balkan species are divided in two subgroups: the subgroup of Podarcis taurica (P. taurica, P. milensis, P. gaigeae and perhaps P. melisellensis), and the subgroup of Podarcis erhardii (P. erhardii and P. peloponnesiaca). We addressed the question of phylogenetic relations among the species of the P. taurica subgroup encountered in Greece, as they can be inferred from partial mtDNA (cyt b and 16S) sequences. Our data support the monophyly of P. taurica subgroup and suggest that P. gaigeae, P. milensis and P. melisellensis form a clade, which thereinafter connects to P. taurica. Within the previous clade, P. gaigeae is more closely related to P. milensis than to P. melisellensis. However, the specimens of P. taurica were subdivided in two different groups. The first one includes the specimens from northeastern Greece, and the other group includes the specimens from the rest of continental Greece and Ionian islands. Because the molecular clock of the cyt b and 16 rRNA genes was not rejected in our model test, it is possible to estimate times of speciation events. Based on the splitting of the island of Crete from Peloponnisos [c. 5 million years ago (Ma)], the evolutionary rate for the cyt b is 1.55% per million years (Myr) and for the 16S rRNA is 0.46% per Myr. These results suggest that the evolutionary history of P. taurica in Greece is more complex than a single evolutionary invasion. The data analysed, stress the need for a reconsideration of the evolutionary history of Greek Podarcis species and help overcome difficulties that classical taxonomy has encountered at both the species level.

The paper presents new geometric, photometric and absolute parameters, derived from combined spectroscopic and photometric solutions, for ten contact binary systems. The analysis shows that three systems (EF Boo, GM Dra and SW Lac) are of W-type with shallow to moderate contact. Seven systems (V417 Aql, AH Aur, YY CrB, UX Eri, DZ Psc, GR Vir and NN Vir) are of A-type in a deep contact configuration. For six systems (V417 Aql, YY CrB, GM Dra, UX Eri, SW Lac and GR Vir) a spot model is introduced to explain the O'Connell effect in their light curves. The photometric and geometric elements of the systems are combined with the spectroscopic data taken at David Dunlap Observatory to yield the absolute parameters of the components.

The physical parameters of ten eclipsing binaries (eight contact and two semi-detached) are derived by using ground-based photometric observations and Hipparcos/Tycho photometric data, which mimic the photometric observations that are expected to be obtained by Gaia. The results are compared and the achievable precision of the basic stellar parameters derived by Gaia photometry is discussed.

We report the growth of single-phase, stoichiometric polycrystalline thin films of the half-Heusler ferromagnet NiMnSb, predicted to be half-metallic, on single crystal (100) InSb substrates heated at 200 °C by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The NiMnSb target used for the PLD deposition was synthesized by arc melting and had a saturation magnetization, MS (5K) ≤ 4μB/formula unit. The films exhibited saturation magnetization, MS (5K) ≤ 4μB/formula unit and coercive fields of 2 Oe at 300 K, indicating good structural quality. The temperature dependence of the saturation magnetization shows that at low temperature (T < 200 K) the system behaves like a Heisenberg ferromagnet as expected for a half-metal, while at T > 200 K behaves like an itinerant ferromagnet. © 2005 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Health informatics is a well established and important multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary field that not only involves informatics but also medicine, nursing, engineering, biology and other-related subjects. A co-ordination of this field at a postgraduate level has become an important issue now in Europe where other European Community programs such as the Telematics for Health Care will require during the Fifth and Sixth Framework Programmes (2000-2006) adequate human resources of higher potential and knowledge. A European M.Sc. course met all the above objectives. The curriculum was developed according to previous experiences in similar programmes. Recently the course has been organised on the basis of an Inter-University nature with the participation of 5 Greek Universities. The paper aims at providing a current description of the academic programme and a brief evaluation of the implementation phase.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the effect of dose-dense sequential chemotherapy with or without paclitaxel primarily on disease-free survival (DFS) and secondarily on overall survival (OS) in patients with high-risk operable breast cancer. Patients and methods: From June 1997 until November 2000, 604 patients with T1-3N1M0 or T3 N0M0 tumors were randomized to three cycles of epirubicin 110 mg/m2 followed by three cycles of paclitaxel 250 mg/m2 followed by three cycles of 'intensified' CMF (cyclophosphamide 840 mg/m2, methotrexate 47 mg/m2 and fluorouracil 840 mg/m2) (group A), or to four cycles of epirubicin followed by four cycles of CMF, as in group A (group B). All cycles were given every 2 weeks with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support. Results: A total of 595 patients were eligible. Median follow-up was 61.7 months for group A and 62 months for group B. The 3-year DFS was 80% in group A and 77% in group B. Survival rates were 93% and 90%, respectively. The effect of treatment on the hazard of death was different according to hormonal receptor status. More specifically, in patients with negative receptor status the hazard of death was significantly higher for group B (hazard ratio 2.42). Both regimens were well tolerated and severe acute side-effects were infrequent. No cases of severe cardiotoxicity or acute leukemia were recorded. Conclusions: The present study failed to demonstrate a significant difference in DFS or OS between the two treatment groups. However, our study has shown clearly that high-dose paclitaxel can be safely incorporated to dose-dense sequential chemotherapy. © 2005 European Society for Medical Oncology.

Rituximab is an active agent for the treatment of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. However, many patients do not respond to this agent and several others develop secondary resistance. In order to identify clinical and laboratory parameters that could predict a higher likelihood for response, we evaluated 54 patients who were treated with single-agent rituximab. Twenty-four patients (44%)exhibited ≥ 50% reduction of serum monoclonal protein. Previously untreated and pretreated patients had the same probability for response. Low response rates were noted in patients with serum monoclonal protein level ≥ 40 g/L (17%) and serum albumin level < 35 g/L (14%). Furthermore, a multivariate analysis indicated that high serum monoclonal protein and low albumin were the dominant variables associated with shorter time to progression. The presence of 2, 1, or none of these variables was associated with median times to progression of 4 months, 11 months, and approximately 48 months, respectively. We conclude that patients with low levels of monoclonal protein and normal albumin are the best candidates for treatment with rituximab.

BACKGROUND: In cognitively impaired patients without dementia, the utility of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive utility of the APOE epsilon4 genotype for conversion to probable Alzheimer disease (AD). DESIGN: Naturalistic, longitudinal study. SETTING: Memory disorders outpatient clinic. PATIENTS: A total of 136 patients with memory complaints were determined to have mild cognitive impairment and were evaluated every 6 months. Fifty-seven age- and sex-matched healthy controls were evaluated annually. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measures included conversion to AD. Secondary outcome measures included change over time in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score and Selective Reminding Test (SRT) delayed recall score. RESULTS: The APOE epsilon4 allele was present in 25% of patients and 21% of healthy controls. During a mean +/- SD follow-up of 35.2 +/- 24.3 months, 35 of 136 patients converted to AD. APOE epsilon4 carrier status did not differ between converters (31%) and nonconverters to AD (23%, P = .3) and did not affect the time trend in MMSE or SRT scores in the entire sample. Four of 5 APOE epsilon4 homozygotes converted to AD compared with 7 of 29 heterozygotes (P = .02). In a Cox proportional hazards model stratified by age quartiles, after controlling for sex, education, MMSE score, and SRT delayed recall score, APOE epsilon4 increased the risk of AD in patients 70 to 85 years old (n = 57; risk ratio, 2.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-7.3; P = .03) but not in patients 55 to 69 years old (n = 79; P = .7). CONCLUSIONS: APOE epsilon4 carrier status was associated with conversion to AD in older outpatients after controlling for known demographic and clinical risk factors, and APOE epsilon4 homozygosity was associated with increased risk of conversion to AD. However, APOE epsilon4 carrier status by itself did not predict cognitive decline or conversion to AD, indicating that APOE genotyping in patients with mild cognitive impairment may have limited clinical applicability for prediction of outcome.

We report multicolour photometric observations of the 2003 eclipse of the long-period (5.6 yr) eclipsing binary EE Cep. Measurements were obtained with ten telescopes at eight observatories in four countries. In most cases, UBV(RI)C broad band filters have been used. The light curve shape shows that the obscuring body is an almost dark disk around a low-luminosity central object. However, variations of the colour indices during the eclipse indicate that the obscuring body emits a considerable amount of radiation in the near infrared.

SUMMARY: A 71-year-old diabetic patient underwent right pneumonectomy with wide mediastinal lymph node dissection for lung cancer (right upper lobe). Postoperatively he developed pleura empyema that was successfully treated - drainage and Eloesser window, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Two months later he developed an esophagopleural fistula. Due to the patient's physical condition primary repair of the esophageal rupture was considered a high-risk operation. Stenting was also considered as inappropriate due to the existing contamination. Bypassing with the use of the stomach as conduit was preferred due to its simplicity compared to the colon. In order to avoid mediastinum after the postradiation alterations and because of the Eloesser window we adopted a presternal subcutaneous position. Twenty-eight months after the by pass procedure the patient is in good health being able to eat and drink, has gained weight and shows no evidence of malignancy. Presternal gastric esophageal bypass has never been reported as a treatment for esophagopleural fistula. This case report indicates its possible successful use in this debilitating setting, although more experience is needed.

The prevalence of HIV-1 drug resistance mutations in naive patients has been previously shown to differ greatly with the geographic origin. The purpose of this study was to prospectively estimate the prevalence of HIV-1 drug resistance in Greece by analyzing a representative sample of newly HIV-1 diagnosed patients, as part of the SPREAD collaborative study. Protease (PR) and partial reverse transcriptase (RT) sequences were determined from 101 newly diagnosed HIV-1 patients, in Greece, during the period September 2002--August 2003, representing one-third of the total newly diagnosed HIV-1 patients in the same time period. The prevalence of HIV-1 drug resistance was estimated according to the IAS-USA mutation table taking into account all mutations in RT and only major mutations in PR region. The overall prevalence of resistance was 9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.2--16.2%]. The prevalence of mutations associated with resistance to NRTIs was 5% (95% CI: 1.6--11.2%), for NNRTIs was 4% (95% CI: 1.1--9.8%), while no major resistance mutations were found in PR. No multi-class resistance was detected in the study population. The prevalence of resistant mutations in the recent seroconverters was 22%. For two individuals, there was clear evidence for transmitted resistance based on epidemiological information for a known source of HIV-1 transmission. The prevalence of the HIV-1 non-B subtypes and recombinants was 52%.

The authors report the case of a 2-year-old girl with pulmonary cystic adenomatoid malformation type II who presented with a mass on the lower lobe of the left lung. Resection and histological examination revealed pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed the operation and the girl is alive and in perfect condition 10 years after the operation. The literature on primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the lung in children is reviewed.

The recent activity of the events over the project has been handled by the experts with restraint. The negotiations between the Russian President Putin and the Greek Prime Minister Mr. Karamanlis that took place in Moscow in December 2004 did not make the situation over the future of the project any clearer. We cannot deny that among many Bosporus bypassing projects, it is the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis project that is the most advantageous for Russia from the geopolitical point of view. And it is logical to assume that the Russian authorities will be guided by the geopolitical interests of the country, while making a decision on overcoming the Bosporus deadlock. The same interests will no doubt become the decisive ones for the policy of the oil companies that are likely to participate in the project. In any case, we should take into account that Russian oil exports are almost completely controlled by the government, and the decision on choosing new export routes is its exclusive prerogative. Thus, the “last word” on the future of Bourgas-Alexandroupolis will be said by the Russian president. The project could be also promoted by the European Union, and it will be in line with the economic and political interests of the EU, that in the future it can confront the situation when Turkey will control oil traffic from the Caspian region to Europe. However, until now there has not been any essential reaction from the EU authorities, and the European Committee on Transport, Energy and Communications has concentrated its attention on the disputable Ukrainian route Odessa-Brody.

In this paper the study of geomorphological characteristics, developed because of the run off, in the Cyclades area and especially in Tinos, Mykonos and Naxos islands, has taken place. In order to explain their development, the geomorphological characteristics were correlated with the lithological, tectonical and hydrological characteristics of the study area. The study area is characterized by a wide variety of different lithological and hydrogeological factors. To achieve this study’s targets, GIS and GPS technology was used in order to geographicallyand statistically analyse the morphological, hydrological, lithological and tectonic factors of this area. The main sources were the pre-existent maps and the literature, aerial photos and satellite images, while the extensive field work resulted to the geomorphological mapping of the area. The results of this study are related to the analysis of the current morphology and are presented on maps and rodograms.

This paper uses a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach to explore the productivity impact of a telemedicine system for obstetrics and gynaecology (O-G) services in the Greek National Health Service (NHS). DEA is a technique that can provide valuable information to aid understanding of the complex relationship between investments in telemedicine and the efficient delivery of services. The study involved 32 (O-G) units located in both peripheral regions and the central area of Attica. Initially, DEA analysis was applied to the units without the use of telemedicine taking into consideration the number of beds, staffing numbers and total expenditure. The analysis indicated that overall improvements in efficiency of between 6-10% could be achieved. There was, however, a marked difference between the units in peripheral regions and Attica. To improve efficiency in the peripheral units would require a 26% reduction in staff and 12% reduction in beds, compared to less than 5% reduction for either beds or staff in Attica. Achievable cost savings were also much higher for peripheral regions compared to central areas. These figures reflect the current status of healthcare in Greece with female patients traveling from the peripheral regions to central areas to receive O-G services. As a consequence, there is overcapacity in peripheral regions. The effect of the introduction of telemedicine was next analysed. This demonstrated that its introduction produces a geographic redistribution of O-G cases with more cases being treated in the peripheral regions. Increased treatment in these regions is associated with increased expenditure for them of approximately 10-20%. This is, however, offset by a decrease of more than 50% in expenditure for the units in Attica due to less patients traveling from the peripheral regions to them for treatment. The introduction of telemedicine also produced significant improvements in efficiency permitting a reduction of approximately 15% in beds and 25% for staff in both peripheral regions and Attica. Improvements in efficiency were more profound in peripheral units with three units achieving a relative efficiency of 100% compared to zero before the introduction of telemedicine. Economically, the introduction of telemedicine was estimated to produce annual savings of 7.5 million Euros, and when combined with the recommendations obtained from DEA achieved total savings of over 13 million Euros or approximately 25% of current expenditure. In conclusion, the study indicates that the introduction of telemedicine would overcome the diagnostic-treatment gap that currently exists in non urban regions for the treatment of O-G cases and enable more patients to be treated in peripheral regions. Application of DEA methodology demonstrated that significant improvements in efficiency and utilisation of resources could also be achieved. © The Journal on Information Technology in Healthcare 2005.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been a useful technique for the assessment of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). We evaluated the prognostic significance of different MRI patterns in symptomatic patients with MM. Patients and methods: A total of 142 symptomatic MM patients underwent MRI before treatment. MRI patterns of involvement were correlated with known prognostic variables, including the International Staging System (ISS), response to treatment and survival. Results: Focal marrow lesions were identified in 50% of patients, diffuse marrow replacement in 28%, a variegated pattern in 14% and normal pattern in 8%. When patients with the diffuse pattern were compared with patients with the other MRI patterns, they had features of more advanced disease such as higher ISS, anemia, hypercalcemia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase and extensive marrow plasmacytosis. Response rate was similar among patients with different MRI patterns. Median survival was 24 months for patients with the diffuse pattern, 51 months for those with the focal pattern, 52 months for those with the variegated pattern and 56 months for patients with the normal pattern (P = 0.001). The presence or absence of a diffuse MRI pattern separated patients with ISS stages I and II into two subgroups with significantly different survival times of 28 months and 61 months, respectively (P = 0.01). Furthermore, a diffuse MRI pattern predicted inferior outcome regardless of whether or not patients had received high-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation. Conclusion: Diffuse marrow replacement on MRI adds to the evaluation of patients with multiple myeloma and their management. © 2005 European Society for Medical Oncology.

There are 509 expanding neutral hydrogen shells catalogued in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), all apparently very young, with dynamical ages of a few Myr. To examine their relationship with young stellar objects, we cross-correlated the shell catalogue with various catalogues of OB associations, supergiants, Cepheids, Wolf-Rayet stars, supernova remnants and star clusters. The incidence of chance line-ups was estimated via Monte Carlo simulations, and found to be high. However, it is important that there are 1.5 times more shells that are not spatially correlated to an OB association, than shells that are. Moreover, 59 of the 509 shells lie mainly in low stellar density fields and have no young stellar objects associated with them, and therefore no obvious energy source. It is shown that, on the whole, the properties of these `empty' shells are very similar to the properties of the rest of the shells, once selection biases are taken into account. In both cases, the shell radius and expansion velocity distribution functions are consistent with the standard model, according to which shells are created by stellar winds and supernova explosions, as long as all shells were created in a single burst and with a power-law distribution of the input mechanical luminosity. This would indicate a burst of star formation. This interpretation, however, cannot explain why the 59 shells, with no young stellar counterparts, show almost exactly the same behaviour as shells with OB associations within their radius. Gamma-ray bursts could account for some but certainly not for the majority of the `empty' shells. Many `empty' shells, including most of the high-luminosity ones, are located in the north-western outer regions of the SMC, and may be associated with a chimney-like feature that is known to exist in that area. Finally, it is noted that turbulence is a promising mechanism for the formation of the shell-like structures, but direct comparison with the observations was not possible at this stage, due to lack of detailed models.

Το βιβλίο αυτό αναφέρεται στο Φυσικό Περιβάλλον και τα περιβαλλοντικά προβλήματα που αντιμετωπίζει η ανθρωπότητα στην αυγή του 21ου αιώνα και τα οποία προβάλλουν ως απειλή για κάθε μορφή ζωής πάνω στον πλανήτη. Η προσέγγιση βασίζεται σε δύο άξονες: στην επιστήμη και στην εκπαίδευση. Δεν μπορεί να υπάρξει εκπαίδευση για το περιβάλλον χωρίς κατανόηση και γνώση. Δηλαδή χωρίς την κατανόηση και τη γνώση των φυσικών φαινομένων και των διαδικασιών που βρίσκονται πίσω από τα περιβαλλοντικά προβλήματα. Οικολογικά συνειδητοποιημένος πολίτης είναι ο πολίτης που κατανοεί, που έχει γνώση.Η γνώση του μέλλοντος δεν είναι κατακερματισμένη και επιμέρους αλλά ολιστική και συνθετική. Η επιστήμη γίνεται διαδικασία σύνθεσης και όχι αναγωγής. Αποβάλλει τις θετικιστικές της δεσμεύσεις και αναζητά την πολλαπλότητα των προσεγγίσεων, την αισθητική, τις ηθικές και κοινωνικές αξίες. Η μελέτη του Περιβάλλοντος αποτελεί τη βάση πάνω στην οποία γεννιέται η γνώση του μέλλοντος.Το βιβλίο απευθύνεται στους φοιτητές που στο μέλλον θα διδάξουν το ίδιο ή συναφή γνωστικά αντικείμενα, στους εκπαιδευτικούς όλων των βαθμίδων αλλά και στους οικολογικά ευαισθητοποιημένους πολίτες που αποζητούν μια ειδική γνώση και εις βάθος κατανόηση για τα περιβαλλοντικά προβλήματα.[...]

The concept of the law of damages in common law systems is dualistic: damages can be recovered for the losses incurred, including loss of profit, and for punishment of the wrongdoer. On the contrary the concept of the law of damages in civil law systems is purely monistic, at least if taken at face vale. Damages are strictly restricted to compensation. Punishment of the tortfeasor is under no circumstances a legitimate function of damages. Nevertheless during the last decade continental tort law has proven less static than one might initially think. It is still to be examined whether any recent developments have brought the two systems any closer to each other, so as at least to narrow that apparently unbridgeable gap.

The Cycladic islands are located in the central Aegean Sea (Greece) in a relatively low seismicity area and are composed mainly of metamorphic and plutonic rocks. Although the Cycladic plateau is believed to be an entity, a closer morphologic study of the islands through GIS, separates them into two parts: the eastern shallower one (Andros, Tinos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Syros, Ios, Sikinos, Folegandros) which formed one big island (6.978Km2) at the end of the last glacial period; the western islands (Kea, Kythnos, Serifos, Sifnos, Milos) remained separated during the same period. It is concluded that the eastern islands constitute an erosional plateau which is a product of a Neogene palaeosurface that is partially submerged due to thinning of the crust during the Quaternary.

In Japanese quail, as in rats, the expression of male sexual behavior over relatively long time periods (days to weeks) is dependent on the local production of estradiol in the preoptic area via the aromatization of testosterone. On a short-term basis (minutes to hours), central actions of dopamine as well as locally produced estrogens modulate behavioral expression. In rats, a view of and sexual interaction with a female increase dopamine release in the preoptic area. In quail, in vitro brain aromatase activity (AA) is rapidly modulated by calcium-dependent phosphorylations that are likely to occur in vivo as a result of changes in neurotransmitter activity. Furthermore, an acute estradiol injection rapidly stimulates copulation in quail, whereas a single injection of the aromatase inhibitor vorozole rapidly inhibits this behavior. We hypothesized that brain aromatase and dopaminergic activities are regulated in quail in association with the expression of male sexual behavior. Visual access as well as sexual interactions with a female produced a significant decrease in brain AA, which was maximal after 5 min. This expression of sexual behavior also resulted in a significant decrease in dopaminergic as well as serotonergic activity after 1 min, which returned to basal levels after 5 min. These results demonstrate for the first time that AA is rapidly modulated in vivo in parallel with changes in dopamine activity. Sexual interactions with the female decreased aromatase and dopamine activities. These data challenge established views about the causal relationships among dopamine, estrogen action, and male sexual behavior.

Greek electroacoustic music, born in the New Music environment of the sixties and developed among fruitful and critical periods, seems to be in expansion in our days. In this article we present a brief overview of the genesis and evolution of the electroacoustic music in Greece since 1967 until today, exposing three crucial periods. In the second section we present the works, the means and aesthetics of representative composers of the most recent period (1990-2005). In the last section we focus on the pedagogical and institutional development of the Greek electroacoustic music during the last fifteen years, as well as on the diversity of styles and techniques of works presented in various events in Athens and other places in Greece. We also stress the lack of an official institute for the archiving, creation and expansion of the electroacoustic music, and the indifference of the cultural authorities to cultivate such kind of music.

Human rhinoviruses (RV), the most common triggers of acute asthma exacerbations, are considered not cytotoxic to the bronchial epithelium. Recent observations, however, have questioned this knowledge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of RV to induce epithelial cytotoxicity and affect epithelial repair in-vitro.|Monolayers of BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cells, seeded at different densities were exposed to RV serotypes 1b, 5, 7, 9, 14, 16. Cytotoxicity was assessed chromatometrically. Epithelial monolayers were mechanically wounded, exposed or not to RV and the repopulation of the damaged area was assessed by image analysis. Finally epithelial cell proliferation was assessed by quantitation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) by flow cytometry.|RV1b, RV5, RV7, RV14 and RV16 were able to induce considerable epithelial cytotoxicity, more pronounced in less dense cultures, in a cell-density and dose-dependent manner. RV9 was not cytotoxic. Furthermore, RV infection diminished the self-repair capacity of bronchial epithelial cells and reduced cell proliferation.|RV-induced epithelial cytotoxicity may become considerable in already compromised epithelium, such as in the case of asthma. The RV-induced impairment on epithelial proliferation and self-repair capacity may contribute to the development of airway remodeling.

{Viremia has been implicated in many viral infections; however, viremia due to rhinovirus (RV; rhinoviremia) has been considered not to occur in normal individuals.|To evaluate whether RV enters the bloodstream and identify the possible risk factors.|Nasopharyngeal washes (NPWs) of 221 children with respiratory infections were examined for the presence of RV by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Blood from 88 children, whose NPW was RV-positive, and 31 of RV-negative control subjects was subsequently examined for the presence of RV in the blood by semi-nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Rhinoviremia was then correlated with clinical characteristics of the disease.|RV was detected in the blood of 10 out of 88 NPW RV-positive cases (11.4%): 7 of 28 children with asthma exacerbations (25.0%), 2 of 26 with common cold (7.7%), 1 of 25 with bronchiolitis (4.0%), and 0 of 9 with pneumonia (0%). All NPW RV-negative cases were negative in the blood. The proportion of rhinoviremia in children with asthma exacerbation was significantly higher compared with children suffering from the other diseases (25 vs. 5%

The optical response of a two-dimensional periodic array of metallic nanoparticles on a dielectric waveguide is investigated by means of numerical calculations using the on-shell layer-multiple-scattering method. We find that the strong interaction between particle-plasmon and waveguide modes influences drastically the extinction spectrum of the system. Our results explain successfully available experimental data and provide a transparent physical picture of the underlying processes.

We calculate the monthly components of the Mediterranean Sea heat budget, namely the net shortwave, net longwave, latent, sensible heat fluxes, and heat storage change, for years 1984-2000. The radiative components of the seasonal heat budget are derived by a radiation transfer model, while in most other studies bulk formulae are used. A variety of data are required to run the model, among which are cloud data from International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) D2 data set, aerosol data from Global Aerosol Data Set (GADS), temperature and humidity from National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) and European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40), and oceanographical data from Mediterranean Data Archaeology and Rescue (MEDAR) MEDATLAS database and the World Ocean Atlas 2001. We compare two methods for the estimation of the monthly latent heat flux and evaporation: the bulk aerodynamic and the heat balance. The average annual evaporation rate for the Mediterranean Sea, based on the heat balance method, is estimated at 1500 ± 190 mm yr-1. The bulk aerodynamic method produces estimates of the annual evaporation rate in the range 1060-1280 mm yr-1, depending on the source of the input data. The analysis of the heat content shows that the solar heat absorbed by the sea during summer is redistributed to winter evaporation via heat storage by the sea. Thus the peak evaporation occurs in winter and is mainly driven by energy released (100-150 Wm-2) from sea heat storage.

Objective: To assess endogenous androgen and insulin resistance status in postmenopausal women receiving continuous combined hormone therapy (HT), tibolone, raloxifene or no therapy. Methods: A total of 427 postmenopausal women aged 42-71 years were studied in a cross-sectional design. Among them 84 were taking HT (46 women conjugated equine estrogens 0.625 mg; medroxyprogesterone acetate, 5 mg, CEE/MPA; and 38 women 17β-estradiol 2 mg; norethisterone acetate 1 mg, E2/NETA); 83 were taking tibolone 2.5 mg; 50 were taking raloxifene HCl 60 mg; and 210 women were not receiving any therapy. Main outcome measures were FSH, LH, estradiol, total testosterone, SHBG, free androgen index (FAI), Δ4-Androstendione (Δ4-A), Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and HOMA insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). Results: In women not on hormone therapy smoking and older age was associated with lower DHEAS levels. FAI values increased linearly with increasing BMI. Age and BMI were positive determinants of HOMA-IR, while no association was identified between endogenous sex steroids and insulin resistance. CEE/MPA therapy was associated with higher SHBG, lower FAI and lower HOMA-IR values compared to women not on therapy (age and BMI-adjusted SHBG: CEE/MPA 148.8 nmol/l, controls 58.7 nmol/l, p < 0.01; age-adjusted FAI: CEE/MPA 0.8, controls 3.2, p < 0.05; age-adjusted HOMA-IR: CEE/MPA 1.3, controls 2.6, p < 0.05). On the contrary, E2/NETA treatment had no effect on these parameters. Women on tibolone had lower SHBG, higher FAI and similar HOMA-IR values compared to controls (age and BMI-adjusted SHBG: 24.1 nmol/l, p < 0.01; FAI: 6.0, p < 0.05; HOMA-IR: 2.3, p = NS). Raloxifene users did not exhibit any difference with respect to sex steroids and HOMA-IR levels. Conclusions: CEE/MPA users had lower free testosterone and improved insulin sensitivity. Tibolone on the other hand associated with higher free testosterone, while raloxifene did not relate to any of these parameters. © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

{The g factor of the first excited 21+ state in 46Ca has been remeasured with better accuracy than previously obtained, g(21+, 46Ca) = -0.26(6). The experiment utilized the transient field technique combined with Coulomb excitation in inverse kinematics. This result was analyzed in terms of shell model plus deformed core calculations. The positive g factors of the 2 1+ states in Ca and Ca suggest that the 21+ state wave functions require significant particle-hole excitations of the Z = 20

Side Population (SP) cells, isolated from murine adult bone marrow (BM) based on the exclusion of the DNA dye Hoechst 33342, exhibit potent hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) activity when compared to Main Population (MP) cells. Furthermore, SP cells derived from murine skeletal muscle exhibit both hematopoietic and myogenic potential in vivo. The multipotential capacity of SP cells isolated from variable tissues is supported by an increasing number of studies. To investigate whether the SP phenotype is associated with a unique transcriptional profile, we characterized gene expression of SP cells isolated from two biologically distinct tissues, bone marrow and muscle. Comparison of SP cells with differentiated MP cells within a tissue revealed that SP cells are in an active transcriptional and translational status and underexpress genes reflecting tissue-specific functions. Direct comparison of gene expression of SP cells isolated from different tissues identified genes common to SP cells as well as genes specific to SP cells within a particular tissue and further define a muscle and bone marrow environment. This study reports gene expression of muscle SP cells, common features and differences between SP cells isolated from muscle and bone marrow, and further identifies common signaling pathways that might regulate SP cell functions.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To investigate the response to interval exercise (IE) training by looking at changes in morphologic and biochemical characteristics of the vastus lateralis muscle, and to compare these changes to those incurred after constant-load exercise (CLE) training. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, parallel, two-group study (IE vs CLE training). SETTING: Multidisciplinary, outpatient, hospital-based, pulmonary rehabilitation program. PATIENTS: Nineteen patients with stable advanced COPD (mean +/- SEM FEV1, 40 +/- 4% predicted). INTERVENTIONS: Patients (n = 10) assigned to IE training exercised at a mean intensity of 124 +/- 15% of baseline peak exercise capacity (peak work rate [Wpeak]) with 30-s work periods interspersed with 30-s rest periods for 45 min/d. Patients (n = 9) allocated to CLE training exercised at a mean intensity of 75 +/- 5% Wpeak for 30 min/d. Patients exercised 3 d/wk for 10 weeks. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Needle biopsies of the right vastus lateralis muscle were performed before and after rehabilitation. After IE training, the cross-sectional areas of type I and IIa fibers were significantly increased (type I before, 3,972 +/- 455 microm2; after, 4,934 +/- 467 microm2 [p = 0.004]; type IIa before, 3,695 +/- 372 microm2; after, 4,486 +/- 346 microm2 [p = 0.008]), whereas the capillary-to-fiber ratio was significantly enlarged (from 1.13 +/- 0.08 to 1.24 +/- 0.07 [p = 0.013]). Citrate synthase activity increased (from 14.3 +/- 1.4 to 20.5 +/- 4.2 micromol/min/g), albeit not significantly (p = 0.097). There was also a significant improvement in Wpeak (by 19 +/- 5%; p = 0.04) and in lactate threshold (by 17 +/- 5%; p = 0.02). The magnitude of changes in all the above variables was not significantly different compared to that incurred after CLE training. During training sessions, however, ratings of dyspnea and leg discomfort, expressed as fraction of values achieved at baseline Wpeak, were significantly lower (p < 0.05) for IE training (73 +/- 9% and 60 +/- 8%, respectively) compared to CLE training (83 +/- 10% and 87 +/- 13%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: High-intensity IE training is equally effective to moderately intense CLE training in inducing peripheral muscle adaptations; however, IE is associated with fewer training symptoms.

We present a small polaron hopping model for interpreting the strong temperature (T) dependence of the electrical conductivity, σ, observed at high (h) temperatures along DNA molecules. The model takes into account the one-dimensional character of the system and the presence of disorder in the DNA double helix. Percolation-theoretical considerations lead to analytical expressions for the high temperature multiphonon-assisted small polaron hopping conductivity, the hopping distance and their temperature dependence. The experimental data for lambda phage DNA (λ-DNA) and poly(dA)–poly(dT) DNA follow nicely the theoretically predicted behaviour (EQUATION). Moreover, our model leads to realistic values of the maximum hopping distances, supporting the idea of multiphonon-assisted hopping of small polarons between next nearest neighbours of the DNA molecular 'wire'. The low temperature case is also investigated.

A short shear (SH) wave profile was collected as a part of a wider experiment involving P- and S-wave reflection and refraction measurements for further processing. The purpose of the experiment was to examine the efficiency of ultra shallow bedrock surface by SH reflection imaging commonly implemented in engineering applications. The original SH data suffer from direct, refracted, guided and surface waves interference. In some Common Shot Gathers the presence of significant P wave energy is also obvious, despite the use of special designed SH-wave detectors and the use of a pure horizontal energy source, i.e. a hydraulic seismic generator device. We tested the efficiency of successive processing steps focusing on multiple energy attenuation, followed by the implementation of a technique for reducing the source generated noise, both based on forward and reverse linear and parabolic Radon transformations. The proposed scheme was applied on the data collected along a 49-shot records SH wave reflection profile.

This article presents a survey of Greek EFL teachers' (N = 421) attitudes regarding their pronunciation beliefs and practices. It touches on two sets of questions. First, it refers to teachers' viewpoints regarding pronunciation-specific issues and the possible links between pronunciation teaching, English as an international language (EIL), and the sociocultural identity of nonnative speakers of English (NNSs). Second, it tries to establish the extent to which these teachers are aware of EIL-related matters, such as the need for mutual intelligibility in NNS-NNS communication. We conclude that teachers' viewpoints are predominantly norm bound. We further attempt to make sense of these viewpoints by referring to (a) the teachers' sense of being the custodians of the English language as regards English language learners and (b) the wider sociocultural linguistic background in Greece (which involves a history of diglossia and a recent experience of a massive inflow of immigrants). We go on to suggest ways to raise teachers' awareness of EIL-related concerns by suggesting that they use their immediate geopolitical and sociocultural surroundings.

We present calculations of the spectral and temporal radiative signatures expected from ultrarelativistic protons in compact sources. The coupling between the protons and the leptonic component is assumed to occur via Bethe-Heitler pair production. This process is treated by modeling the results of Monte-Carlo simulations and incorporating them in a time-dependent kinetic equation, that we subsequently solve numerically. Thus, the present work is, in many respects, an extension of the leptonic “one-zone” models to include hadrons. Several examples of astrophysical importance are presented, such as the signature resulting from the cooling of relativistic protons on an external black-body field and that of their cooling in the presence of radiation from injected electrons. We also investigate and refine the threshold conditions for the “Pair Production/Synchrotron” feedback loop which operates when relativistic protons cool efficiently on the synchrotron radiation of the internally produced Bethe-Heitler pairs. We demonstrate that an additional component of injected electrons lowers the threshold for this instability.

We study the magnetization, M, and the spin polarization, ζ, of n-doped non-magnetic-semiconductor (NMS)/narrow to wide dilute-magnetic-semiconductor (DMS)/n-doped NMS quantum wells, as a function of the temperature, T, and the in-plane magnetic field, B. Under such conditions the density of states (DOS) deviates from the occasionally stereotypic step-like form, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The DOS modification causes an impressive fluctuation of M in cases of vigorous competition between spatial and magnetic confinement. At low T, the enhanced electron spin-splitting, Uoσ, acquires its bigger value. At higher T, Uoσ decreases, augmenting the influence of the spin-up electrons. Increasing B, Uoσ increases and accordingly electrons populate spin-down subbands while they abandon spin-up subbands. Furthermore, due to the DOS modification, all energetically higher subbands become gradually depopulated.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to record and analyze the dynamic nature of spontaneous smiles. METHODS: Fifteen children (9 girls and 6 boys; average age, 10.5 years) were filmed with a hidden camera while they watched a funny cartoon video. Spontaneous smiles were recorded, and the video frames were digitized. Time-graphs of the measurements were constructed, and plots of the movement of the mouth points were drawn. RESULTS: Facial measurements showed that the upper lip elevated by 28%, relative to the rest position, and the mouth increased in width by 27%. The corners of the mouth moved laterally and superiorly at an angle of approximately 47 degrees . Time analysis showed that the smiles developed in a staged fashion. The first stage (attack phase) was the shortest, lasting an average 500 ms. It was followed by a sustaining phase that included waxing and waning. The smile ended with a fade-out stage. The second and third stages were of variable duration and could be interrupted by the attack phase of a subsequent smile. CONCLUSIONS: The dynamics of the spontaneous smile and the findings of this study raise concerns about the validity of a single photographic capture for esthetic assessment and treatment planning.

The recent advances in biology and technology genetics have a great influence on the human being and further on the human-athlete, since the human cloning possibilities and the potentiality to create the conditions which will allow the blastocells production, actually leads to the creation of organic cells which contribute to the revival of the body- tissue. The international consideration that has already been developed for this matter is mainly concentrated on: a) whether or not such a scientific development consists of an interference in the biological human status and, b) whether or not such an action is morally acceptable. Those supporting the aforementioned procedures consider that the moral objections inhibit the development of important sectors of the latest technology which allows the improvement of the living conditions. On the other hand those criticizing these procedures claim that this scientific advance is actually an interference in the historical and natural continuity of the human being and further a clear moral offence to the human rights. Consequently, the development in biogenetics set up a new perception of the athlete as an individual and of sports as an anthropological phenomenon, since the role of the first is denied and the importance of the latter is downgraded. Considering that “athletics” is a phenomenon that brings together the individual with his/her nature, the genetic interference in the future athlete results in the contrary, i.e his/her withdrawal from his/her nature, while it degenerates the value of sports and weakens the importance of the sports spirit.

Skin prick testing (SPT) is the standard method for diagnosing allergic sensitization but is to some extent performed differently in clinical centres across Europe. There would be advantages in harmonizing the standard panels of allergens used in different European countries, both for clinical purposes and for research, especially with increasing mobility within Europe and current trends in botany and agriculture. As well as improving diagnostic accuracy, this would allow better comparison of research findings in European allergy centres. We have compared the different SPT procedures operating in 29 allergy centres within the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA(2)LEN). Standard SPT is performed similarly in all centres, e.g. using commercial extracts, evaluation after 15-20 min exposure with positive results defined as a wheal >3 mm diameter. The perennial allergens included in the standard SPT panel of inhalant allergens are largely similar (e.g. cat: pricked in all centres; dog: 26 of 29 centres and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus: 28 of 29 centres) but the choice of pollen allergens vary considerably, reflecting different exposure and sensitization rates for regional inhalant allergens. This overview may serve as reference for the practising doctor and suggests a GA(2)LEN Pan-European core SPT panel.

Η παρούσα μελέτη βασίζεται στην έρευνα που πραγματοποιήθηκε σύμφωνα με το πρόγραμμα του Ιδρύματος Κρατικών Υποτροφιών για μεταδιδακτορική έρευνα στην Ελλάδα και είχε διάρκεια δύο εξαμήνων με παράταση  υποβολής του τελικού έργου για ακόμη ένα εξάμηνο. Επιθυμία μας ήταν να προβληθεί στο ευρύτερο κοινό η υιοθεσία τέκνων, όχι μόνο ως επιλογή των συζύγων στην αντιμετώπιση της ατεκνίας, αλλά και ως πράξη αγάπης που αποσκοπεί στο συμφέρον των ορφανών και εγκατελειμμένων παιδιών. Το θέμα συνήθως εξετάζεται από νομικούς και κοινωνικούς λειτουργούς, στην προκέιμενη έρευνα εξετάζεται από την χριστιανική ηθική. Η Εκκλησία ευλογεί με συγκεκριμένη ακολουθία και ευχές την πράξη της υιοθεσίας και με τον τρόπο αυτό καταλύεται η λεγόμενη μυστικότητα που τηρούν οι γονείς και οι συγγενείς προς τον υιοθετούμενο. Εκτός όμως από την τεχνητή δημιουργία σχέσης γονιών και τέκνου με τη διαδικασία της υιοθεσίας, που αναμφίβολα ανήκει στη σφαίρα του οικογενειακού δικαίου και της κοινωνικής μέριμνας, εμφανίζεται στη παύλεια θεολογία η ίδια λέξη για να καταδείξει τη σωτηρία των πιστών, μέσω της θείας υιοθεσίας από το Θεό πατέρα.  Για την υιοθεσία τέκνων αναφύονται τα εξής ερωτήματα:   α. Είναι ηθικά  ορθό να υιοθετούν τέκνα οι ορθόδοξοι χριστιανοί στην προσπάθειά τους να ξεπεράσουν το όνειδος της ατεκνίας τους; β.  Μήπως η υιοθεσία δεν αφορά μόνο στους ατέκνους, αλλά αναφέρεται και σε ζευγάρια που έχουν ήδη αποκτήσει παιδιά; γ. Πόσο επηρεάζεται η προβολή της επιλογής της υιοθεσίας στα ηθικά διλήμματα, τα οποία δημιούργησε η πρόοδος των τεχνολογιών της υποβοηθούμενης αναπαραγωγής; δ. Γιατί πάντα υπάρχει η βούληση των ατέκνων για υιοθεσία, παρά τις δυνατότητες υποβοηθούμενης αναπαραγωγής, ενώ κάποιοι άλλοι την απορρίπτουν σε κάθε περίπτωση;  Τέτοιου είδους ερωτήματα φιλοδοξεί να εξετάσει η παρούσα έρευνα και να προσεγγίσει ηθικά το θέμα. Συγκεκριμένα, η εργασία χωρίζεται σε τέσσερα κεφάλαια. Στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο γίνεται αναφορά στην ιστορική αναδρομή του θεσμού της υιοθεσίας, στη σύγχρονη ελληνική νομοθεσία, που σχετικά πρόσφατα έχει αλλάξει, στο  νέο  θεσμό της ανάδοχης οικογένειας, στην ιδρυματική φροντίδα των ορφανών και εγκαταλειμμένων παιδιών, όπως είναι τα κέντρα παιδικής μέριμνας, τα ορφανοτροφεία της Εκκλησίας και τα παιδικά χωριά.  Στο δεύτερο κεφάλαιο εξετάζουμε την υιοθεσία μέσα από άλλα συναφή θέματα και προβλήματα, όπως τα κίνητρα που οδηγούν σ’ αυτή, τη μυστικότητα και την άρνησή της, τις νέες προοπτικές που συνδέονται με την υιοθεσία, όπως τη σχέση της με το διαδίκτυο, την υποβοηθούμενη αναπαραγωγή, τη γενετική. Επιπλέον, αναφέρονται οι δυνατότητες υιοθεσίας από ομοφυλοφίλους, από μοναχικά άτομα, από αλλοθρήσκους, όπως και οι υιοθεσίες με παιδιών από διαφορετικές φυλές και εθνότητες και με παιδιά με ειδικές ανάγκες. Περιγράφεται τέλος με συντομία η ψυχολογία των εμπλεκομένων στην υιοθεσία και αναφέρονται χαρακτηριστικές περιπτώσεις υιοθεσιών. Στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο γίνεται αναφορά σε βίους αγίων σχετικούς με τη υιοθεσία και παρατίθενται  τα κείμενα που μας ενδιαφέρουν από την ορθόδοξη χριστιανική άποψη, όπως οι ακολουθίες και ευχές για την υιοθεσία και οι αναφορές σε ιερούς Κανόνες. Το κεφάλαιο κατακλείεται με τις απόψεις σύγχρονων θεολόγων και ποιμένων για το θεσμό της υιοθεσίας τέκνων. Στο τέταρτο κεφάλαιο εξετάζεται σύντομα η πατρότητα από θεολογική και κοινωνική άποψη και γίνεται αναφορά στη θεολογία του όρου «υιοθεσία», όπως αυτή χρησιμοποιήθηκε από τον απ. Παύλο. Η δική μας έρευνα εξετάζει την υιοθεσία τέκνων από την ορθόδοξη χριστιανική ηθική. Η θετική στάση απέναντι στην υιοθεσία τέκνων, αν και πολλές φορές είναι αυτονόητη, θεμελιώνεται στην προσφορά προς τον πλησίον με τον τονισμό του συμφέροντος του πάσχοντος συνανθρώπου, κι όχι αποκλειστικά των συζύγων εκείνων που αναζητούν να λύσουν τα προβλήματα ατεκνίας τους. Αποτελεί έργο αγάπης και πράξη μίμησης Θεού. Τέλος, η εργασία ολοκληρώνεται με τα συμπεράσματα, την παράθεση της βιβλιογραφίας και ενός εκτεταμένου παραρτήματος που περιλαμβάνει σχετικά κείμενα με την υιοθεσία. Αξίζει να σημειωθεί ότι οι βιλιοπαρουσιάσεις του εν λόγω πονήματος σε σχολές γονέων και σε διαλέξεις που διοργανώθηκαν από Ιερές Μητροπόλεις της Βορείου Ελλάδος, συνετέλεσαν στην τέλεση της ιερής ακολουθίας της υιοθεσίας σε Ι. Ναούς, σύμφωνα με μαρτυρίες ιερέων και γονέων, οι οποίοι υιοθέτησαν τέκνα με νόμιμο τρόπο. ΙSBN 960-78l4-24-x (set 960-7814-05-03). Κωδικός Βιβλίου στον Εύδοξο: 14297

This paper describes the study of the structural control of the Meganissi island coastal zone and its geomorphological evolution; based on that it detects and presents coastal hazard. The coastal geomorphology is affected by the lithological configuration, the tectonism, the wider seismotectonic status and the sea activity. For this study, a database has been structured in G.I.S. was using all data deriving from the above characteristics as well as detailed fieldwork, aerial photos, satellite images and pre-existing maps. Data were analysed and processed in order to locate zones of high hazard risk. Finally, a hazard risk map was developed for Meganissi island.

Purpose: p27 protein is regarded as a valuable prognostic biomarker in cancer with a potential use as a molecular target. However, different methods of immunohistochemical assessment have yielded conflicting results. Here, we sought to determine the prognostic value of p27 in ovarian cancer using a novel method of compartmentalized in situ protein analysis. Experimental Design: A tissue array composed of 150 advanced stage ovarian cancers uniformly treated, with surgical debulking followed by platinum-paclitaxel combination chemotherapy, was constructed. For evaluation of p27 protein expression, we used an immunofluorescence-based method of automated in situ quantitative measurement of protein analysis [automated quantitative analysis (AQUA)]. Results: The mean follow-up time of the patients was 34.3 months. Patients with low Fédération Internationale des Gynaecologistes et Obstetristes stage were more likely to have low nuclear p27 expression (P = 0.008). Low nuclear p27 expression was associated with improved 3-year overall survival (66% versus 20%, P = 0.0047) and disease-free survival (27% versus 12%, P = 0.022). In multivariable analysis, adjusting for well-characterized prognostic variables, low nuclear p27 expression level was the most significant prognostic factor for both disease-free and overall survival. Conclusions: Our results indicate that quantitative assessment of nuclear p27 expression level by automated in situ quantitative analysis is a strong predictor for outcome in ovarian cancer. © 2005 American Association for Cancer Research.

A robust methodology is presented for the accurate modal analysis of three-dimensional dielectric waveguides with the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. We investigate the propagation of well-defined vector modes along strongly guiding rectangular waveguides. Eigensolutions of the vectorial wave equation are utilized in the simulations to accurately launch the fundamental and higher order eigenmodes. Results for their FDTD-computed propagation constant are found to be in excellent agreement with existing mode-solving techniques. Improved accuracy or significant computational savings are achieved when the nonstandard FDTD concepts are incorporated in the context of the present analysis. © 2005 IEEE.

We investigate the magnetization of II–VI non‐magnetic‐semiconductor (NMS) / narrow to wide dilute‐magnetic‐semiconductor (DMS) / NMS quantum wells. These structures are appropriate for conduction‐band spintronics. We employ an in‐plane magnetic field, B, in order to induce non‐step‐like density of states. Finally, we tune the spin polarization by varying the temperature, T, and B, i.e. we investigate the magnetic phases of these NMS/DMS/NMS structures.

Thalidomide has antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory properties and has recently been used in the management of human malignancies. Multiple studies have confirmed its activity in multiple myeloma, alone or combined with dexamethasone and/or chemotherapy as first- or second-line treatment. In addition, it may reduce the need for transfusions in patients with myelofibrosis or myelodysplastic syndromes. The activity of thalidomide in solid tumours is less prominent. The most promising results have been reported in Kaposi's sarcoma, malignant melanoma and prostate cancer, especially when it is combined with chemotherapy. Recently, thalidomide analogues (immunomodulatory drugs), with higher immunomodulatory activity and different toxicity profile, have been developed. They have already shown promising activity in multiple myeloma and are currently being evaluated in clinical studies. © 2005 Ashley Publications Ltd.

The optical properties of three-dimensional photonic crystals consisting of polaritonic spheres in a dielectric host medium are studied by means of accurate numerical calculations using the on-shell layer-multiple-scattering method. The transmission characteristics of finite slabs of these materials are related to the complex band structure of the corresponding infinite crystals and the effect of dissipative losses is examined.

We investigate generalized asymmetric left-handed (LH) slab waveguides that constitute an extension to the symmetric structure initially proposed by Pendry. By utilizing the asymmetry it has been shown that they have the potential for increased image resolution. This is due to the amplification of the formed surface waves (SWs) that is able to compensate material losses. Some preliminary studies in this direction have been reported in the literature but, to the best of our knowledge, there is no complete study of all possible S W eigenmodes supported by such LH waveguides. A rigorous theoretical investigation is presented herein that offers clear mathematical explanation and detailed physical insight into the formation of surface polaritons (SPs) in these heterostructures and provides the conditions for their existence. It is found that a rich variety of SP modes can exist (30 in total) that depend critically on the combination of the different refractive indices, constitutive parameters ε(ω) and μ(ω) the sample geometry. For each case we provide the geometric dispersion diagram and the profile of the corresponding stable field configuration from which the various characteristics of the mode (enhancement, phase reversal) are apparent, An interesting result of the above analysis is that, for certain choices of the material parameters, the coupling between the interfaces allows the existence of new 'supermodes' when no stable solutions exist at the isolated interfaces of the slab alone. Finally, the modes that give rise to negative group velocity are identified and key features of the dispersion diagrams are discussed, most of which are unique to the structures studied herein and have not been previously recovered with symmetrical studies.

Basel, Switzerland,  Αποτελεί δημοσίευση περίληψης της ανακοίνωσης μας στο Συνέδριο της Ολλανδίας (ESF Euroconference, «Biomedicine within the Limits of Existence», Doom Utrecht, Holland, 8-13 Αpril 2005), την οποία συμπεριέλαβε το επιστημονικό περιοδικό της Societe Suisse d’ Ethique Biomedicale. Υπήρξε ιδιαίτερη επιθυμία από τη συντακτική επιτροπή για τη δημοσίευση αυτή και για περαιτέρω συνεργασία. Μέρος των απόψεων για την ανθρώπινη κλωνοποίηση που γράφτηκαν για το ελβετικό αυτό περιοδικό, το οποίο δημοσιεύει άρθρα στα αγγλικά, γαλλικά, γερμανικά και ιταλικά, περιλαμβάνονται και αποτελούν θέσεις που εκφράσθηκαν παλαιότερα στη δημοσίευση στην Επιστημονική Επετηρίδα του Τμήματος Θεολογίας 12 (2002), σελ. 389-395.

Field body temperatures (T(b)s), activity cycles, and preferred body temperatures maintained in a laboratory thermogradient (T-sel) were studied for Podarcis milensis, a small, endemic, lacertid lizard occurring in Milos Archipelago, Greece. P. milensis is active all year round; overall maximum activity level is recorded in spring, and minimum activity in winter. Daily activity patterns range from unimodal (winter) to strongly bimodal (summer). Body temperature of adults of the examined population (n = 188) averages 31.3 degrees C range 21.5-38.4 degrees C, SD 3.27 degrees C; mean monthly T(b)s are grouped together into "seasons". The species actively thermoregulates, and effectiveness of thermoregulation for the month of August is high, 0.95. The thermoregulatory behavior, microhabitat utilization, and activity cycle of this population are all discussed in the specific context of our study system: the harsh thermal environment of an insular sand dune.

The present study attempted a follow-up of the time characteristics in elite volleyball, four years after the implementation of the new regulations. To this aim data concerning set and match points and duration and total match duration from two consecutive Olympic volleyball competitions in men and women (Sidney, 2000 and Athens, 2004) were compared. Results indicated a statistically significant increase of the corresponding sets duration, and as a result of the match and total match duration, in the Athens Olympics, both for men and women. On the contrary the total number of set points remained the same. Consequently, the increase in set time duration is caused exclusively by rally time expansion. In conclusion, time characteristics of the volleyball game continue to be influenced by the impact of the new regulations.  Keywords: volleyball, time characteristics, rules.

Published in CORDIS March 2006 http://cordis.europa.eu.int/ist/directorate g/seminar20060405.htm (Η εισήγηση (position paper και action plan) της κα. Καμπερίδου ως μέλος του GEAG  συμπεριλήφθηκαν στους ατομικούς φακέλους/ντοσιέ των συμμετεχόντων και στις συζητήσεις. Στη συνέχεια ακολούθησε και δημοσίευση στο Cordis: http://cordis.europa.eu.int/ist/directorate g/seminar20060405.htm)--- **(Kamberidou, I., & Patsantaras, N. (2005). 'Towards a Gender-Neutral Inclusive Information Society: Preserving the European Model in the Information Age'. Women in Science Seminar: Women in the Information Society, European Commission Information Society and Media Directorate-General, Brussels (pp. 1–11), Brussels (DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4646.0962). Published in Cordis: http://cordis.europa.eu.int/ist/directorate g/seminar20060405.htm.Abstract http://scholar.uoa.gr/sites/default/files/ikamper/files/towards_a_gender_neutral_inclusive_information_society.pdf   [ L. in Apella]

1. Position Paper-action plan distributed in folders of all the participants at the Women in the Information Society Seminar: Women in the Information Society, European Commission Information Society and Media Directorate-General, 5/4/2005, Centre Borschette, rue Froissart 36-1049, Brussels.
2. Participation as member of the Gender Expert Action Group (GEAG) of the European Commission DG for Information Society and Media [ L.1.  in Apella]

• Η εισήγηση (position paper και action plan) της κα. Καμπερίδου ως μέλος του GEAG (εμπειρογνώμων για θέματα φύλου και ισότητας) συμπεριλήφθηκαν στους ατομικούς φακέλους/ντοσιέ των συμμετεχόντων και στις συζητήσεις. Στη συνέχεια ακολούθησε και η δημοσίευση στο Cordis: http://cordis.europa.eu.int/ist/directorate g/seminar20060405.htm)  DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4646.0962

Transient-field strengths for Mg ions traversing Gd hosts have been measured above the K-shell electron velocity. The results support a recent model-based extrapolation of the transient-field strength and show sufficient magnitude for g-factor measurements on exotic nuclei near the island of inversion around 32Mg produced as intermediate-energy fragments. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This is a retrospective analysis of 150 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who had failed prior treatment or were unfit for chemotherapy and were treated with oral gefitinib ('lressa', ZD1839; AstraZeneca) 250 mg/day. Thirty-two patients who received gefitinib for 3 weeks or less were not included in the analysis. For the remaining 118 evaluable patients, the mean age was 63.1 years; most patients had received prior chemotherapy (97.5%), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status scores 0-2 (97.4%) and stage IV disease (64.4%). The majority were symptomatic (84.6%). Disease control was observed in 30 patients (25.4%), of whom five had a partial response and 25 had stable disease; 18 (15.3%) were not evaluable. Median duration of treatment was 29.9 weeks in responding patients and 11.5 in patients with progressive disease (p<0.0001). Median overall survival was 7.3 months (15.2 months for disease control) and median progression-free survival was 3.2 months. Gefitinib was well tolerated, with grade 3/4 skin rash and diarrhea seen in 2.5 and 4.2% of patients, respectively. Clinical benefit was evaluated using questionnaires before and following treatment with gefitinib. In 82 patients with completed questionnaires, evaluation revealed symptom improvement in 40.1% and improvement in general feeling in 31.4%. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) analysis found that efficacy did not correlate with tumor EGFR overexpression. Therefore, in this retrospective analysis, gefitinib treatment provided disease control in 25% of patients who derived significant palliative benefit. © 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Background and Objectives. Bortezomib is a selective proteasome inhibitor which has shown significant activity in a variety of hematologic malignancies including multiple myeloma, mantle cell lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma. Thus, this agent is worth studying in patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM). Design and Methods. Patients with refractory or relapsed WM were treated with bortezomib administered intravenously at a dose of 1.3 mg/m2 on days 1, 4, 8 and 11 in a 21-day cycle for a total of four cycles. Results. Ten previously treated patients with WM were treated with bortezomib. Most patients had been exposed to all active agents for WM and eight patients had received three or more regimens. Six of these patients achieved a partial response which occurred at a median of 1 month. The median time to progression in the responding patients is expected to exceed 11 months. Bortezomib was relatively well tolerated. The more common toxicities were mild or moderate thrombocytopenia, fever and fatigue while peripheral neuropathy occurred in three patients and one patient developed severe paralytic ileus. Interpretation and Conclusions. Our preliminary data indicate that bortezomib is an active agent in patients with heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory WM. Four cycles of this agent may be adequate to assess sensitivity in this disease. Further studies are needed to confirm our results and to evaluate combinations of bortezomib with other active agents. ©2005 Ferrata Storti Foundation.

The nova-like variable TT Ari had shown a luminosity change with a drastic change of the light curve. This state is distincly different from both the bright "negative superhump" state and the "positive superhump" state known before.

The surface waves method was used in this case study as an alternative and efficient tool for geological and geotechnical investigation. The site is located at Glyfada, Athens where neogene formations, mainly composed by clayish layers with intercalations of conglomerates, are present. The results were compared with data from geotechnical investigation and seismic refraction data.

In this paper the counteractive dynamic marine and river environments responsible for a river mouth’s and a delta’s modulation is studied. The Acheloos River (West Greece) was chosen as the case study due to the recent changes taken place in its basin. The aim of this study is to analyze the present dominant environment and the impact of human activity on this balance. A GIS database was developed and updated in order to provide access for future use and computer analysis (both spatial and chronological). The study, includes an estimation of the delta forming processes, the impact of the anthropogenic parameters on these processes, and, finally, their representation.

There is a consistent variation in the response of different skeletal muscle groups to mutations in genes known to cause muscular dystrophy, yet these muscles appear histologically similar. To better understand these phenotypic differences, we analyzed gene expression patterns in control muscle specimens obtained from four sites at autopsy: deltoid, quadriceps, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior (TA). A total of 35 muscle samples from nine individuals (four pediatric and five geriatric) were studied. Factors potentially influencing gene expression in the different samples included individuality, age, muscle type, gender, cause of death, postmortem interval, and ethnicity. The first three factors, in decreasing order, were found to have a significant impact on the stratification of muscle specimens. A novel analytic method, using a second round of normalization, was used to elicit differences between muscle types. This approach may be extended to a broader survey, potentially elucidating a molecular classification of the skeletal muscles.

We studied viral dynamic parameters in 44 chronic hepatitis B/hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)(-) patients treated with pegylated interferon alfa-2b (PEG-IFN) 100 or 200 microg weekly or lamivudine 100 mg daily or the combination of PEG-IFN 100 or 200 microg with lamivudine. Patients receiving PEG-IFN monotherapy exhibited viral load oscillations between weekly injections, which were resolved by the addition of lamivudine. The median pharmacological delay was estimated at 4.1, 5.8, and 1.8 hours in PEG-IFN monotherapy, PEG-IFN 100/200 microg + lamivudine, and lamivudine monotherapy, respectively (P = .44). The median half-life of free virus was 12.7 hours (range, 2.4-69.2 hours). The mean antiviral effectiveness of PEG-IFN 100/200 microg monotherapy was lower than that of lamivudine (82.6% vs. 96.4%; P = .005). The mean effectiveness of PEG-IFN 100 microg + lamivudine and PEG-IFN 200 microg + lamivudine was 92.8% and 94.4%, respectively. The half-life of infected cells ranged from 2.7 to 75 days. The median half-life of infected cells in patients receiving the combination regimens of PEG-IFN and lamivudine was similar to that of lamivudine patients (5.0 days vs. 6.0 days, P = .77). In conclusion, the addition of pegylated interferon alfa-2b in lamivudine treatment was found to neither enhance the potency of blocking HBV production nor the decay rates of infected cells. Supplementary material for this article can be found on the HEPATOLOGY website (http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0270-9139/suppmat/index.html).

Kamberidou, Irene & Patsantaras, Nikolaos (2005). Virtual Globalization. Paper and proposals as member of GEAG and Research Group for the Consultation Workshop on Gender and Technology, European Commission, Information Society Directorate-General Miniaturisation, Embedded Systems, Societal Applications, April 22, 2005 Brussels.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESEARCH GROUP PAPER AND DRAFT PROPOSALS FOR CONSULTATION WORKSHOP ON GENDER AND TECHNOLOGY, BRUSSELS, EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Information Society Directorate-General Miniaturisation, Embedded Systems, Societal Applications , February 12, 2005. Includes Irene Kamberidou's Paper and proposals as member of the Gender Expert Action Group (GEAG) and the Research Group for the next Consultation Workshop on Gender and Technology, European Commission, Information Society Directorate-General Miniaturisation, Embedded Systems, Societal Applications, April 22, 2005 Brussels (DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3546.7606). Concludes with Irene Kamberidou’s observations and proposals from last Gender & Technology Workshop in Brussels.   Keywords and future directions: Bodiless society, gender-neutral society, gender subject, service society, virtual servitude, information manipulation, electronic surveillance, electronic terrorism, (new) information world order, digital despotism, digital capitalism, information elite, exclusionist technophobia, digital illiteracy, interdisciplinary communication, education, techno-education, integration of women (gender integration), action plan, techno-ethos, techno-ethics.   Everything as we know it today is definitively and ultimately in the process of transformation due to two significant changes in the global scene—the globalization of the economy, aggressive/dynamic competition, and the ‘invasion’ of technology in every area of human-social life, in every sector of public and private activity. Today we are witnessing the creation of “a society of services/ a service society”, as a result of accelerated technological developments, in combination with the globalization of the economy-- a service society, ‘a bodiless society” which is gradually replacing industrial society. The expansion of a new bureaucracy is being promoted, the formulation of units that provide services, and the creation of thousands of specialized employment positions in the distribution and use of new technologies, whose hard nucleus is made up of specific specialized knowledge and know-how, denied to the less-privileged gender subject/citizen. The products of the technological revolution are in reality services—a fact that has foundational consequences on society! We are at a transitional stage, in a transitional period that not only disorganizes and disorientates but also marginalizes the less privileged gender subject, namely an extremely large sector of the population, the majority of the EU population, the non-mainstream social groups. That which was familiar, understood and considered a given is being eradicated, and no longer understood. Due to the high speed disorganization of existing structures the gender subject/citizen is having dramatic difficulty in adapting and comprehending what is going on, and our social system is confronting difficulties in defining the problems and thus providing solutions on how we can get through this transitional period. KEYWORDS: Gender subject/citizen, service society, commercialization, “professionalization”, virtual world order, virtual servitude, digital despotism, virtual elite, future exclusions-technophobia, cultural commonality, commonality of cultures, virtual illiteracy, virtual techno-illiteracy, interdisciplinary communication/research, Education, socio-economic-biocentric rationale, technoethics – technoethos https://pergamos.lib.uoa.gr/uoa/dl/object/2775578  

• Includes Irene Kamberidou’s observations / proposals from last workshop. 
• GEAG (Gender Action Group)

The goal is to visualize a set of multivariate data in such a way that datavectors belonging to different classes (subgroups) appear differentiated as muchas possible. When intending such visualization, the first question should be aboutthe intrinsic dimensionality of the data. The answer may be obtained byevaluating, e.g., the fractal correlation dimension. The projection to a plane isjustified when the correlation dimension of the data is about 2. Only in such casethe performed visualization is plausible to reflect all the between group and thewithin group relationships among the data vectors. There are several recognizedmethods for mapping data to a plane. Our interest lies especially in nonlinearmethods. We consider in detail three methods: The canonical discriminantfunctions, the kernel discriminant functions and the neuroscale mapping. Weillustrate our considerations using the Kefallinia erosion data, where each datavector belongs - in a crisp way – to one of five predefined subgroups indicatingthe severity of the erosion risk. The assignments to the subgroups were performedby an expert GIS system based on logical rules established by experts.

From a sample of 304 carbon stars in the central parts of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), ~27 per cent have Merrill-Sanford (MS) bands of the SiC2 molecule. The data are based on a uniform set of spectra taken with 2dF on the Anglo-Australian Telescope, and give useful statistics on the incidence of MS bands and on their correlation (or otherwise) with other properties. All of these are red stars, cooler than 3100 K. The proportion of stars showing the bands is highest amongst the coolest stars, but not all very cool stars show the bands. There is no evidence that MS bands are more common in J-type stars (carbon stars with a high 13C/12C ratio) than in N-type carbon stars, at least within this sample of LMC stars. There is no apparent correlation with stellar variability, or between the photospheric temperature [as measured by (J-K)] and the occurrence of the 'hot' MS bands from excited molecular states. (2 data files).

We present analysis of all 24 archival raster XMM-Newton (Jansen et al., 2001A&A...365L...1J) observations of M33. (2 data files).

The diagnosis of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) requires evidence of bone-marrow infiltration by lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma and detection of serum monoclonal protein of IgM type. The normal counterpart of the WM malignant cell is believed to be a postgerminal-center B cell. The clinical manifestations and laboratory abnormalities associated with WM are related to direct tumor infiltration and to the amount and specific properties of IgM. Asymptomatic patients should be followed without treatment. When treatment is indicated, the three main choices for systemic frontline treatment are chlorambucil, the nucleoside analogues fludarabine or cladribine and the monoclonal antibody rituximab. There is evidence that high-dose therapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation is effective even in patients with advanced and resistant disease. Patient's age, hemoglobin and serum β2-microglobulin before treatment are important prognostic variables which correlate with survival. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

We demonstrate the existence of strong Anderson localization in certain disordered phononic systems. As a result, the transmission coefficient of elastic waves through a slab of the material practically vanishes, whatever the angle of incidence, over a region of frequency much wider than the absolute frequency gap of the corresponding ordered system. The phenomenon can be of use in the design of phononic systems with very wide absolute transmission gaps.

Η παρουσίαση της δημοσιευμένης μεταπτυχιακής εργασίας στη Θεολογική Σχολή του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών προβάλλει τη σημασία και το ρόλο των δημοσιευμάτων στον Αθηναϊκό Τύπο για τα θέματα της βιοηθικής και της βιοτεχνολογίας.

Ἡ γεωπολιτικὴ σημασία τοῦ ἐθνοθρησκευτικοῦ μωσαϊκοῦ στὸ Νέο Ἰράκ, τὸ ὁποῖον, ἐπανειλημμένως ἔχει ὑποστηρίξει ὁ γράφων κατὰ τὸ παρελθόν (χωρὶς αὐτὸ νὰ σημαίνει ὅτι τὸ ἐπιθυμεῖ), θὰ εἶναι συνομόσπονδο καὶ τριεθνοτικὸ καὶ θὰ ἔχει βαρύνουσα γεωπολιτικὴ σημασία γιὰ τὴν ἐπανακατανομὴ ἰσχύος στὴ Ν/Α Μεσόγειο καὶ δι' αὐτῆς σὲ ὁλόκληρο τὸν πλανήτη. Το παρόν κείμενο αναφέρεται στις γεωπολιτικὲς ὄψεις τοῦ Κουρδικοῦ Ζητήματος στὸ νέο Ἰράκ και στα ερωτήματα που προκύπτουν γιὰ τὴν Ἑλληνικὴ Ἐξωτερικὴ καὶ Ἀμυντικὴ πολιτικὴ.

Η παγκόσμια αθλητική ηγεσία δεν κατόρθωσε να διεκδικήσει αποτελεσματικά την εφαρμογή της εκεχειρίας στο σύγχρονο κόσμο κατά τη διεξαγωγή των Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων, που θα δρούσε ως προστατευτική προμετωπίδα των αγώνων. Επίσης, δεν κατάφερε να προστατεύσει τους αγώνες απ’ την τεράστια εμπορευματοποίηση που, οικειοποιούμενη τα αθλητικά οφέλη, δεν διστάζει να διογκώσει την αθλητική επιτυχία ώστε αυτή να μετατρέπεται σε ελκυστικό καταναλωτικό προϊόν. Ο αθλητισμός, αποτελώντας μια απεικόνιση της κοινωνίας στην οποία ανήκει, αντανακλά την προβληματική της. Το μεγαλύτερο πρόβλημα που αντιμετωπίζει σήμερα ο ολυμπιακός αθλητισμός, η επαπειλούμενη ασφάλεια, είναι ακριβώς το ίδιο που αξιολογείται ως νούμερο ένα στην κλίμακα των ζητημάτων του σύγχρονου κόσμου. Η τρομοκρατία, που δημιουργεί το κλίμα γενικής ανασφάλειας, είναι μια πραγματικότητα των καιρών μας, όπως πραγματικότητα είναι όμως και οι οποιοιδήποτε πολιτικοί λόγοι που γεννούν το φαινόμενο της τρομοκρατίας. Η απόφαση ν’ ανατεθεί η προστασία των Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων του 2004 στο στρατιωτικό πλέγμα του ΝΑΤΟ ήρθε σε πλήρη αντίθεση με το πνεύμα που χαρακτηρίζει τους αγώνες: της ειρήνης, της ισότητας, της συνεργασίας των λαών. Η απόφαση αυτή, όχι μόνο βρίσκεται σε σύγκρουση με τον αυθεντικό χαρακτήρα των αγώνων, αλλά εγκυμονεί και κινδύνους για την επιβίωση του θεσμού. Υπάρχει μια σαφής αντίφαση στο να διεξάγεται μια εκδήλωση που συμβολίζει την ειρήνη υπό την ομπρέλα του πιο ισχυρού στρατιωτικού μηχανισμού- ο οποίος έχει μάλιστα χρεωθεί τις μεγαλύτερες επιθέσεις κατά πληθυσμών τα τελευταία χρόνια, και εναντίον του οποίου έχουν πραγματοποιηθεί οι πολυπληθέστερες αντιπολεμικές διαδηλώσεις σε όλο τον κόσμο. Όχι μόνο δεν θα έπρεπε να εισχωρήσει το ΝΑΤΟ σε μια τέτοιου χαρακτήρα εκδήλωση, αλλά και η ίδια η Αμερική, ως χώρα ευρισκόμενη σε πολεμική διένεξη με το Ιράκ και μ’ άλλες χώρες (Πακιστάν, Αφγανιστάν), θα έπρεπε, σύμφωνα με το μέτρο του αποκλεισμού που ίσχυε κατά την αρχαιότητα, να αποκλειστεί από τους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες. Η ανάληψη της ευθύνης των Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων από την Ατλαντική Συμμαχία, δεν περιορίστηκε άλλωστε μόνο στους αγώνες, αλλά νομιμοποιήθηκε το ΝΑΤΟ να επιβλέπει και να ελέγχει επίσημα ολόκληρη την ευρύτερη περιοχή της Μεσογείου. Αν υπάρχει, ωστόσο, κάποιο περιθώριο ν’ αποφορτιστεί ο θεσμός των Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων από το ρόλο του πολιτικού κατασκόπου απαιτούνται σημαντικές παρεμβάσεις. Μια διαφορετική εθνική και διεθνής πολιτική είναι αναγκαίες, ώστε οι μελλοντικοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες ν’ αποτελούν ένα αθλητικό συμβόλαιο που θα συμβάλλει στην αποφυγή ενεργειών εμπορικού ή επιθετικού χαρακτήρα, δημιουργώντας μηχανισμούς απομόνωσης απ’ τους αγώνες χωρών και ανθρώπων που οικειοποιούνται το θεσμό για πολιτικούς ή οικονομικούς λόγους. Η μορφή μιας νέας ολυμπιακής εκεχειρίας, θα έδινε έναν αξιόπιστο πολιτικό ρόλο στους αγώνες, ενώ ταυτόχρονα θα τον καθιστούσε θεσμό επικοινωνίας και συνύπαρξης μεταξύ των κοινωνιών. Η καθιέρωση της υποχρεωτικής εκεχειρίας ως προϋπόθεση για τη συμμετοχή στους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες, πιθανόν να έδινε τη δυνατότητα στο ολυμπιακό ιδεώδες να διαδραματίσει έναν οικουμενικό ρόλο, αποκτώντας, προς όφελος της ανθρωπότητας, μιαν ειρηνευτική αποστολή και διαπαιδαγωγώντας τις νέες γενιές για τη σπουδαιότητα της ειρηνικής διευθέτησης των διαφορών.

Στο άρθρο παρουσιάζονται με συντομία συμβολές ομιλητών στο συνέδριο στην Ολλανδία (ESF Euroconference, «Biomedicine within the Limits of Existence», Doom Utrecht, Holland, 8-13 Αpril 2005), οι οποίες προσφέρουν αφορμή για προβληματισμό στα σύγχρονα βιοηθικά προβλήματα.

Η προσπάθεια ηθικοποίησης της ολυμπιακής νίκης κατά την αρχαιότητα, σε μια κοινωνία που για πρώτη φορά θέτει όρους ηθικής λειτουργίας των θεσμών, δεν στέφθηκε πάντοτε από επιτυχία. Η για πολιτικούς λόγους εκμετάλλευση της ολυμπιακής επιτυχίας αποτελεί ως εκ τούτου την έκβαση της λειτουργίας μιας κοινωνίας που το πρώτιστο πολιτικό της κύτταρο είναι η «πόλη», καθώς η νίκη υφαρπάζεται από τα χέρια του μεμονωμένου νικητή για να αναχθεί σε καθολική νίκη της πόλης του. Ωστόσο, εκτός από τις αψιμαχίες μεταξύ των πόλεων, ο διακαής πόθος Ολυμπιονικών να καρπωθούν πολιτικά τα οφέλη της νίκης, οδήγησε ενίοτε σε αχαλίνωτες προσωπικές φιλοδοξίες, ή σε δραματικά αποτελέσματα, όπως το απεχθές Κυλώνειον άγος. Η διεκδίκηση της αθλητικής επιτυχίας, ως απόρροια της δίψας για προσωπική ωφέλεια, είναι ένα φαινόμενο που λειτουργεί χωρίς εξαίρεση, γι’ αυτό παρατηρείται το ίδιο συχνά είτε σε έναν τύραννο, ή βασιλιά ή ευγενή της αρχαιότητας, είτε σε έναν κοινό θνητό της σύγχρονης κοινωνίας που επιδιώκει να ξεχωρίσει δια της ολυμπιακής νίκης. Σύμμαχος και συν-διαμορφωτής αυτής της αντίληψης του αθλητή σήμερα είναι συνήθως τα ίδια τα πολιτικά σχήματα, που ως άλλοι χορηγοί και σπόνσορες, παρακολουθούν την επικαιρότητα των αθλητικών επιδόσεων, με σκοπό να αρπάξουν σαν πολεμικό λάφυρο το νικητή, για να τον χρησιμοποιήσουν στον πολιτικό στίβο ως κυνηγό ψήφων. Αυτό όχι μόνο αντίκειται στο ολυμπιακό πνεύμα, επειδή το διαστρεβλώνει, αλλά και έχει ως συνέπεια την υποβάθμιση του πολιτικού διαλόγου και των ηθικών αξιών, καθώς καλλιεργούνται στη νεολαία και στην κοινωνία πρότυπα επιτυχίας αντί για πρότυπα αξίας.

Στο άρθρο αυτό επισημαίνεται ότι επιβάλλεται να καθορίζεται ρητώς ο στόχος και οι αρχές που ακολουθεί κάθε οικογενειακή παροχή, ώστε να ενισχυθούν οι ευπαθείς κοινωνικές ομάδες. Eπισημαίνεται ότι η προστασία των απασχολουμένων στην Ελλάδα για τα οικογενειακά βάρη είναι κοινωνικά άνιση. Οι ελληνικές οικογένειες διακρίνονται σε δύο κατηγορίες: α) Η πρώτη, περιλαμβάνει τους δημόσιους υπαλλήλους και τους μισθωτούς του δημόσιου και του ιδιωτικού τομέα και προστατεύεται από την εργατική νομοθεσία και την κοινωνική ασφάλιση κατά τρόπο που κρίνεται σχετικά ικανοποιητικός. β) Η δεύτερη περιλαμβάνει τους αυτοτελώς απασχολουμένους και τους αγρότες και έχει μειωμένη προστασία σε σχέση με την προηγούμενη, διότι όσοι ανήκουν σε αυτήν απουσιάζουν ελάχιστα από την εργασία τους, επειδή δεν εξασφαλίζονται οι αποδοχές τους κατά τη διάρκεια της απουσίας τους. Οι κοινωνικές αυτές ανισότητες στην Ελλάδα είναι ιδιαίτερα σημαντικές, διότι η πρώτη και η δεύτερη κατηγορία έχουν περίπου ίσο αριθμό εργαζομένων. Η αναλογία αυτή διαφοροποιεί την Ελλάδα από πολλά άλλα κράτη μέλη της Ε.Ε., όπου ο συνολικός αριθμός των μισθωτών είναι πολύ μεγαλύτερος από τον αριθμό των λοιπών ασφαλισμένων. Μία άλλη παράμετρος που εντοπίζεται είναι ότι οι έμμεσα ασφαλισμένοι που στην Ελλάδα στην πλειοψηφία τους είναι γυναίκες και παιδιά δεν έχουν  άμεσο δικαίωμα κατά του ασφαλιστικού οργανισμού να αξιώσουν ατομικά και για λογαριασμό τους τις σχετικές παροχές. Προτείνεται η εκτίμηση της ανάγκης να γίνεται ανά οικογένεια και η είσπραξη της παροχής ατομικά. Επίσης, εξετάζονται τα αντικίνητρα για την απασχόληση των γυναικών που δημιουργεί η ισχύουσα προστασία και κίνητρο για την απασχόληση με συμβάσεις έργου που υποκρύπτουν συμβάσεις εργασίας. Για να δημιουργηθεί ένα συνεκτικό και ισότιμο σύστημα που θα εναρμονίζει την οικογενειακή με την επαγγελματική ζωή προτείνεται η ίδρυση ενιαίου χρηματοδοτούμενου από το Κράτος ταμείου για την κάλυψη των οικογενειακών βαρών.  

When citing/ για παραπομπήΚαμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2005). Ο Έμφυλος Ηρωισμός του Αθλητισμού, ο ήρωας αθλητής και η αθλήτρια-ηρωίδα: το ανθρώπινο εμπόριο της ψυχαγωγίας και του θεάματος. Η Κοινωνική Εικόνα της Αθλήτριας.  Κεφάλαιο στις Πανεπιστημιακές Σημειώσεις του Σεμιναρίου Εδικών Θεμάτων «Άσκηση-Ευρωστία-Υγεία» της Επικ. Καθηγήτριας Μ. Μαριδάκη, σελ. 1-11. Ακαδημαϊκό έτος 2004-2005,   Τ.Ε.Φ.Α.Α. του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών.  DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1389.9601 

• Kamberidou, Irene (2005). Gendered Heroism: sport heroes and heroines. (in Greek)  DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1389.9601

Στην εργασία αυτή παρουσιάζουμε, σε θεματικές, σημαντικές απόψεις του Piaget για την εκπαίδευση και την παιδαγωγική, ένα θέμα στο οποίο δεν έχει δοθεί η απαιτούμενη προσοχή. Αναφέρονται και σχολιάζονται οι απόψεις του για τη σχέση μάθησης-ανάπτυξης, παιδαγωγικής-ψυχολογίας, για την αναγκαιότητα της γνώσης από τον εκπαιδευτικό της ψυχολογίας του παιδιού, για το περιεχόμενο της μάθησης και τα είδη της γνώσης, για τις διαδικασίες προαγωγής της μάθησης, για την ομαδική-συνεργατική μάθηση, για το παιχνίδι, για τη σχέση της γνωστικής με την ηθική εκπαίδευση, για την αυτοδιακυβέρνηση και την αλληλεγγύη, καθώς και για τη διεθνή παιδεία ως παιδεία της ελευθερίας και της ειρήνης. Επισημαίνεται η διαχρονική και ιδιαίτερα επίκαιρη αξία των ιδεών αυτών του Piaget.

Στην εργασία αυτή ανασκοπούνται κριτικά τα ευρήματα της διεθνούς βιβλιογραφίας για την πρόληψη και αντιμετώπιση της μοναξιάς του παιδιού και του εφήβου, ιδίως στο σχολικό πλαίσιο. Μέχρι σήμερα, δεν υπάρχει μια τέτοια ανασκόπηση, ο αριθμός των σχετικών ερευνών είναι μικρός και δεν έχει ελεγχθεί εμπειρικά η αποτελεσματικότητα των αντίστοιχων σχολικών παρεμβάσεων. Ειδικότερα, αποσαφηνίζονται εννοιολογικά οι επιμέρους μορφές μοναξιάς και ανασκοπούνται ευρήματα για τη σχέση του εκπαιδευτικού με τη μοναξιά των μαθητών του και τις αντίστοιχες σχολικές παρεμβάσεις. Εντοπίζονται κενά και προτείνονται οδοί περαιτέρω ερευνητικής ενασχόλησης με το θέμα.

Το παρόν κείμενο αποτελέι πρόλογο του Καθηγητή Ἰ.Θ. Μάζη στὸ τεῦχος 7, του επιστημονικού περιοδικού "Γεωστρατηγικη", του Ινστιτούτου Αμυντικών Αναλύσεων (ΙΑΑ).

Τὸ φαινόμενο τῆς τρομοκρατίας, ἰδωμένο στὴν γεωγραφική, τὴν πολιτική, τὴν θρησκευτικὴ καὶ τὴν πολιτισμική του διάσταση, τυγχάνει πολλῶν ὁρισμῶν. Καὶ τοῦτο, διότι στὸν ἀντίποδά της, δηλαδὴ στὴν θεωρία καὶ τὴν πράξη τῆς ἀντιμετωπίσεως τοῦ φαινομένου τῆς τρομοκρατίας καὶ τῶν συνεπειῶν του, ὑπεισέρχεται, ἀναμφιβόλως, ἡ ἔννοια τοῦ Συμφέροντος, ἐθνικοῦ ἢ καὶ ὑπερεθνικοῦ, ἡ ἀντίληψις τοῦ ὁποίου διαφοροποιεῖ, ἐν τέλει, τὸν προσδιορισμὸν τῆς ἰδίας τῆς ἔννοιας τῆς τρομοκρατίας. Το παρόν κείμενο αναλύει τα αἴτια τῆς τρομοκρατίας καὶ τις δυνατότητες αναιρέσεώς της.