Kakoyianni-Doa F, Tziafa E, Naskos A. The Exercise: an Exercise generator tool for the SOURCe project. In: Papadima-Sophocleous S, Bradley L, Thouësny S CALL communities and culture – short papers from EUROCALL 2016. Research-publishing.net; 2016. pp. 208-214. DOI
Maintenance and accurate propagation of the genetic material are key features for physiological development and wellbeing. The replication licensing machinery is crucial for replication precision as it ensures that replication takes place once per cell cycle. Thus, the expression status of the components comprising the replication licensing apparatus is tightly regulated to avoid re-replication; a form of replication stress that leads to genomic instability, a hallmark of cancer. In the present review we discuss the mechanistic basis of replication licensing deregulation, which leads to systemic effects, exemplified by its role in carcinogenesis and a variety of genetic syndromes. In addition, new insights demonstrate that above a particular threshold, the replication licensing factor Cdc6 acts as global transcriptional regulator, outlining new lines of exploration. The role of the putative replication licensing factor ChlR1/DDX11, mutated in the Warsaw Breakage Syndrome, in cancer is also considered. Finally, future perspectives focused on the potential therapeutic advantage by targeting replication licensing factors, and particularly Cdc6, are discussed.
Silicoflagellate abundance, vertical distribution and morphology were studied during spring (March 2014) at three sampling stations locatedin the Northeast Aegean Sea adjacent to the Dardanelles Strait and characterized by a variable influx of cold, low-salinity Black Sea water.The silicoflagellate assemblage was dominated by Dictyocha stapedia and Stephanocha speculum with minor contribution of D. aculeata andOctactis pulchra. While specimens of D. stapedia were represented by the typical morphologies described in other areas of the Mediterranean Sea,populations of S. speculum displayed peculiar characters: they were large, predominantly 7-sided, with a small apical ring as well as apical ringspines, concave basal ring sides and non-rotated apical structure. Some of these features have been described for S. speculum at high latitudes, butthe combined characters make these specimens slightly different from the high latitude populations. Similar morphologies have been observed inthe western Black Sea, thus we can infer that the peculiar specimens detected in the Northeast Aegean are associated with the influx of Black Seawater masses.
The Fermi surfaces and Elliott-Yafet spin-mixing parameter (EYP) of several elemental metals are studied by ab initio calculations. We focus first on the anisotropy of the EYP as a function of the direction of the spin-quantization axis {[}B. Zimmermann et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 236603 (2012)]. We analyze in detail the origin of the gigantic anisotropy in 5d hcp metals as compared to 5d cubic metals by band structure calculations and discuss the stability of our results against an applied magnetic field. We further present calculations of light (4d and 3d) hcp crystals, where we find a huge increase of the EYP anisotropy, reaching colossal values as large as 6000% in hcp Ti. We attribute these findings to the reduced strength of spin-orbit coupling, which promotes the anisotropic spin-flip hot loops at the Fermi surface. In order to conduct these investigations, we developed an adapted tetrahedron-based method for the precise calculation of Fermi surfaces of complicated shape and accurate Fermi-surface integrals within the full-potential relativistic Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker Green function method.
There are limited data on fetuin-A, soluble leptin receptor (sOB-R) and free leptin index (FLI) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The aim of this study was to compare circulating fetuin-A, sOB-R levels and FLI between 95 patients with CLL and 95 matched controls, as well as among different stages of CLL. Circulating fetuin-A was significantly lower in cases than controls (241.9 ± 99.2 vs. 288.8 ± 127.7 μg/mL; p = 0.005). Although circulating sOB-R levels were similar between groups, FLI was lower in cases than controls (0.45 ± 0.42 vs. 0.67 ± 0.57; p = 0.003). Furthermore, lower fetuin-A or FLI, but not sOB-R, were independently associated with CLL (p < 0.05), particularly among overweight/obese individuals. Fetuin-A, s-OB-R and FLI were similar between different stages of CLL severity, or between symptomatic and asymptomatic disease. In conclusion, circulating fetuin-A and FLI, but not sOB-R, were lower in patients with CLL than controls, a finding warranting further investigation.
A number of software applications for the practice of the singing voice have been introduced the last decades, but all of them are limited to equal tempered scales. In this work, we present the design and development of FONASKEIN, a novel modular interactive software application for the practice of singing voice in real time and with visual feedback for both equal and non-equal tempered scales. Details of the Graphical User Interface of FONASKEIN are given, along with its architecture. The evaluation results of FONASKEIN in a pilot experiment with eight participants and with four songs in various musical scales showed its positive effect in practice of the singing voice in all cases.
Saronikos Gulf, including the industrial zone of Elefsis Bay and the Port of Piraeus, is one of the most anthropogenically impacted coastal regions of Greece. Distinct assemblages of benthic foraminifers in sediment samples, collected from this gulf in February 2012, defined three zones that reflect abiotic parameters of the sediments (e.g., organic carbon, metal content). A low-diversity assemblage, dominated by stress-tolerantAmmonia tepida and Bulimina spp., was characteristic of samples from Elefsis Bay. Samples from the western and central part of Saronikos Gulf were the most variable with respect to both abiotic parameters and the foraminiferal assemblage, characterized by a mix of stress-tolerant and more sensitive taxa, especially Bolivina spp. andNonion fabum. Samples from the coast of Salamis and at the eastern sector of the gulf were characterized by a diverse assemblage that included Peneroplis pertusus, miliolids, and a variety of small, epiphytic rotaliid taxa. A new biotic index, the Foram Stress Index (FSI), is based on the relative percentages of two ecological groups of benthic foraminiferal species, grouped according to their tolerance/sensitivity to organic matter enrichment and weighted proportionately to obtain a formula to define five ecological-status classes. The FSI produced three rankings for these samples (Poor, Moderate and Good), that strongly correlate with the macroinvertebrate-classification tool known as the BENTIX Index. The FSI provides a new tool to assess sediment or substrata quality based upon the benthic foraminiferal assemblages, which are a significant component of living meiobenthic communities that are generally not considered in most biotic benthic indices.
Saronikos Gulf, including the industrial zone of Elefsis Bay and the Port of Piraeus, is one of the most anthropogenically impacted coastal regions of Greece. Distinct assemblages of benthic foraminifers in sediment samples, collected from this gulf in February 2012, defined three zones that reflect abiotic parameters of the sediments (e.g., organic carbon, metal content). A low-diversity assemblage, dominated by stress-tolerantAmmonia tepida and Bulimina spp., was characteristic of samples from Elefsis Bay. Samples from the western and central part of Saronikos Gulf were the most variable with respect to both abiotic parameters and the foraminiferal assemblage, characterized by a mix of stress-tolerant and more sensitive taxa, especially Bolivina spp. andNonion fabum. Samples from the coast of Salamis and at the eastern sector of the gulf were characterized by a diverse assemblage that included Peneroplis pertusus, miliolids, and a variety of small, epiphytic rotaliid taxa. A new biotic index, the Foram Stress Index (FSI), is based on the relative percentages of two ecological groups of benthic foraminiferal species, grouped according to their tolerance/sensitivity to organic matter enrichment and weighted proportionately to obtain a formula to define five ecological-status classes. The FSI produced three rankings for these samples (Poor, Moderate and Good), that strongly correlate with the macroinvertebrate-classification tool known as the BENTIX Index. The FSI provides a new tool to assess sediment or substrata quality based upon the benthic foraminiferal assemblages, which are a significant component of living meiobenthic communities that are generally not considered in most biotic benthic indices.
Macheras P, Iliadis A. Fractional Pharmacokinetics. In: MODELING IN BIOPHARMACEUTICS, PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS: HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION. Vol. 30. 233 SPRING STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013, UNITED STATES: SPRINGER; 2016. pp. 211-225.
In this paper, we revisit the discovery of argon by Lord Rayleigh and William Ramsay. We argue that to understand historically how argon was detected, conceptualized, and accommodated into chemical knowledge we need to take into account the philosophical insight that scientific discovery is often an extended process. One of argon’s most intriguing properties was that it did not react with other elements. Reactivity, however, had been a constitutive property of elements. Thus, the discovery of argon could not have been accepted by chemists without a reconceptualization of ‘element’. Furthermore, there were difficulties with the accommodation of argon in the Periodic table, because argon appeared to undermine the conception of matter that underlay the Periodic table. The discovery of argon was complete only after those conceptual difficulties had been removed. This is why it has to be understood as an extended process, rather than as an event. Furthermore, we will suggest that some of the factors that complicated the discovery of argon were related to the legitimization of physical techniques of investigation in chemistry and the emergence of physical chemistry.
Context. At about 1000 days after the launch of Gaia we present the first Gaia data release, Gaia DR1, consisting of astrometry and photometry for over 1 billion sources brighter than magnitude 20.7. Aims: A summary of Gaia DR1 is presented along with illustrations of the scientific quality of the data, followed by a discussion of the limitations due to the preliminary nature of this release. Methods: The raw data collected by Gaia during the first 14 months of the mission have been processed by the Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC) and turned into an astrometric and photometric catalogue. Results: Gaia DR1 consists of three components: a primary astrometric data set which contains the positions, parallaxes, and mean proper motions for about 2 million of the brightest stars in common with the Hipparcos and Tycho-2 catalogues - a realisation of the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) - and a secondary astrometric data set containing the positions for an additional 1.1 billion sources. The second component is the photometric data set, consisting of mean G-band magnitudes for all sources. The G-band light curves and the characteristics of 3000 Cepheid and RR Lyrae stars, observed at high cadence around the south ecliptic pole, form the third component. For the primary astrometric data set the typical uncertainty is about 0.3 mas for the positions and parallaxes, and about 1 mas yr-1 for the proper motions. A systematic component of 0.3 mas should be added to the parallax uncertainties. For the subset of 94 000 Hipparcos stars in the primary data set, the proper motions are much more precise at about 0.06 mas yr-1. For the secondary astrometric data set, the typical uncertainty of the positions is 10 mas. The median uncertainties on the mean G-band magnitudes range from the mmag level to 0.03 mag over the magnitude range 5 to 20.7. Conclusions: Gaia DR1 is an important milestone ahead of the next Gaia data release, which will feature five-parameter astrometry for all sources. Extensive validation shows that Gaia DR1 represents a major advance in the mapping of the heavens and the availability of basic stellar data that underpin observational astrophysics. Nevertheless, the very preliminary nature of this first Gaia data release does lead to a number of important limitations to the data quality which should be carefully considered before drawing conclusions from the data.
Collaboration G, Prusti T, de Bruijne JHJ, Brown AGA, Vallenari A, Babusiaux C, Bailer-Jones CAL, Bastian U, Biermann M, Evans DW, et al.The Gaia mission. [Internet]. 2016;595:A1. WebsiteAbstract
Gaia is a cornerstone mission in the science programme of the EuropeanSpace Agency (ESA). The spacecraft construction was approved in 2006, following a study in which the original interferometric concept was changed to a direct-imaging approach. Both the spacecraft and the payload were built by European industry. The involvement of the scientific community focusses on data processing for which the international Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC) was selected in 2007. Gaia was launched on 19 December 2013 and arrived at its operating point, the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth-Moon system, a few weeks later. The commissioning of the spacecraft and payload was completed on 19 July 2014. The nominal five-year mission started with four weeks of special, ecliptic-pole scanning and subsequently transferred into full-sky scanning mode. We recall the scientific goals of Gaia and give a description of the as-built spacecraft that is currently (mid-2016) being operated to achieve these goals. We pay special attention to the payload module, the performance of which is closely related to the scientific performance of the mission. We provide a summary of the commissioning activities and findings, followed by a description of the routine operational mode. We summarise scientific performance estimates on the basis of in-orbit operations. Several intermediate Gaia data releases are planned and the data can be retrieved from the Gaia Archive, which is available through the Gaia home page. http://www.cosmos.esa.int/gaia
Multiciliated cells are terminally differentiated, post-mitotic cells that form hundreds of motile cilia on their apical surface. Defects in multiciliated cells lead to disease, including mucociliary clearance disorders that result from ciliated cell disfunction in airways. The pathway controlling multiciliogenesis, however, remains poorly characterized. We showed that GemC1, previously implicated in cell cycle control, is a central regulator of ciliogenesis. GemC1 is specifically expressed in ciliated epithelia. Ectopic expression of GemC1 is sufficient to induce early steps of multiciliogenesis in airway epithelial cells ex vivo, upregulating McIdas and FoxJ1, key transcriptional regulators of multiciliogenesis. GemC1 directly transactivates the McIdas and FoxJ1 upstream regulatory sequences, and its activity is enhanced by E2F5 and inhibited by Geminin. GemC1-knockout mice are born with airway epithelia devoid of multiciliated cells. Our results identify GemC1 as an essential regulator of ciliogenesis in the airway epithelium and a candidate gene for mucociliary disorders.
Macheras P, Iliadis A. The Geometry of Nature. In: MODELING IN BIOPHARMACEUTICS, PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS: HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION. Vol. 30. 233 SPRING STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013, UNITED STATES: SPRINGER; 2016. pp. 3-14.
The littoral region of Alexandria, east of Silsileh (the eastern promontory of the Eastern Harbor) to Montazah promontory was investigated combining archaeological and geomorphological evidence in order to better understand the subsidence of the coastal zone. The coastal zone is rich in archaeological and geomorphological features able to provide insights into the evolution of the coastline and the relative sea level changes. Our study has revealed a continuous subsidence of the coastal zone, owed to various contributing processes, while further research is required to decipher the coastal evolution of this littoral.
Women are more likely to develop depression during childbearing years with up to 20% of women suffering from depression during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Increased prevalence of depression during the perinatal period has resulted in frequent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant treatment; however the effects of such medications on the maternal brain remain limited. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of the SSRI medication, fluoxetine, on neurobiological differences in the maternal brain. To model aspects of maternal depression, gestational stress was used. Sprague-Dawley rat dams were exposed to either gestational stress and/or fluoxetine (5mg/kg/day) to form the following four groups: 1. Control+Vehicle, 2. Stress+Vehicle, 3. Control+Fluoxetine, and 4. Stress+Fluoxetine. At weaning maternal brains were collected. Main findings show that gestational stress alone increased synaptophysin and serotonin metabolism in the cingulate cortex2 region of the cortex while fluoxetine treatment after stress normalized these effects. In the hippocampus, fluoxetine treatment, regardless of gestational stress exposure, decreased both global measures of methylation in the dentate gyrus, as measured by Dnmt3a immunoreactivity, as well as serotonin metabolism. No further changes in synaptophysin, PSD-95, or Dnmt3a immunoreactivity were seen in the cortical or hippocampal areas investigated. These findings show that gestational stress and SSRI medication affect the neurobiology of the maternal brain in a region-specific manner. This work adds to a much needed area of research aimed at understanding neurobiological changes associated with maternal depression and the role of SSRI treatment in altering these changes in the female brain.
Women are more likely to develop depression during childbearing years with up to 20% of women suffering from depression during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Increased prevalence of depression during the perinatal period has resulted in frequent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant treatment; however the effects of such medications on the maternal brain remain limited. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of the SSRI medication, fluoxetine, on neurobiological differences in the maternal brain. To model aspects of maternal depression, gestational stress was used. Sprague-Dawley rat dams were exposed to either gestational stress and/or fluoxetine (5mg/kg/day) to form the following four groups: 1. Control+Vehicle, 2. Stress+Vehicle, 3. Control+Fluoxetine, and 4. Stress+Fluoxetine. At weaning maternal brains were collected. Main findings show that gestational stress alone increased synaptophysin and serotonin metabolism in the cingulate cortex2 region of the cortex while fluoxetine treatment after stress normalized these effects. In the hippocampus, fluoxetine treatment, regardless of gestational stress exposure, decreased both global measures of methylation in the dentate gyrus, as measured by Dnmt3a immunoreactivity, as well as serotonin metabolism. No further changes in synaptophysin, PSD-95, or Dnmt3a immunoreactivity were seen in the cortical or hippocampal areas investigated. These findings show that gestational stress and SSRI medication affect the neurobiology of the maternal brain in a region-specific manner. This work adds to a much needed area of research aimed at understanding neurobiological changes associated with maternal depression and the role of SSRI treatment in altering these changes in the female brain.
A concept realizing giant spin Nernst effect in nonmagnetic metallic films is introduced. It is based on the idea of engineering an asymmetric energy dependence of the longitudinal and transverse electrical conductivities, as well as a pronounced energy dependence of the spin Hall angle in the vicinity of the Fermi level by the resonant impurity states at the Fermi level. We employ an analytical model and demonstrate the emergence of a giant spin Nernst effect in Ag(111) films using ab initio calculations combined with the Boltzmann approach for transport properties arising from skew scattering off impurities.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was discovered in the early 1980s when the virus had already established a pandemic. For at least three decades the epidemic in the Western World has been dominated by subtype B infections, as part of a sub-epidemic that traveled from Africa through Haiti to United States. However, the pattern of the subsequent spread still remains poorly understood. Here we analyze a large dataset of globally representative HIV-1 subtype B strains to map their spread around the world over the last 50years and describe significant spread patterns. We show that subtype B travelled from North America to Western Europe in different occasions, while Central/Eastern Europe remained isolated for the most part of the early epidemic. Looking with more detail in European countries we see that the United Kingdom, France and Switzerland exchanged viral isolates with non-European countries than with European ones. The observed pattern is likely to mirror geopolitical landmarks in the post-World War II era, namely the rise and the fall of the Iron Curtain and the European colonialism. In conclusion, HIV-1 spread through specific migration routes which are consistent with geopolitical factors that affected human activities during the last 50years, such as migration, tourism and trade. Our findings support the argument that epidemic control policies should be global and incorporate political and socioeconomic factors.
Τhis lavishly illustrated book surveys Greek archaeology from the collapse of the Mycenaean palaces to the subordination of the last Hellenistic kingdoms to Rome. Its aim is to study Greek art through the material record, and against its cultural and social backdrop. The book's target audience is archaeology and art students, as well as anyone interested in Greek art and culture. Through concise, systematic covering of the main categories of classical monuments, the reader is taken to a tour of ancient Greece along the most spectacular period in its history, the 1st millennium BC. Architecture and city planning, sculpture, painting, pottery, metallurgy, jewelry, and numismatics are some of the areas covered.
Kamberidou I, Chroni S. The Greek Experience: Outstanding Women in the Social Space of Sport. In: Inspirational Women in Europe: making a difference in Physical Education, Sport and Dance. Juiz de Fora, Brazil.: Rosa Diketmüller (editor). Juiz de Fora : NGIME/UFJF, 2016. 254 p. (IAPESGW Continent Series). Publication of the International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women (IAPESGW), ISBN 978-85-67380-55-1; 2016. pp. 224–242.Abstract
The Voices of Six Inspirational Greek Women in Sport: What inspired them to take that leap; the Obstacles they faced; how they moved forward and Tips for Success. Many inspirational and outstanding women have made a difference in the lives ofgirls and women in sport, physical education (PE) and physical activity in Greece,despite their invisibility in the mainstream media, the life stories of which would needvolumes. They succeeded in making a difference while respecting and celebratingdiversity with regard to gender, ethnicity, culture, disability, age and sexualorientation. Beginning with a brief discussion on the underrepresentation of women’ssports and the female athlete in the Greek media, this chapter shares the contributionsof some inspiring and motivating Greek women in sport whose achievements havebeen excluded from the country’s mainstream media. It is through six in-depthinterviews and follow-up meetings that we learn how these pioneers influenced thelives of sporting girls and women by daring to disregard social barriers and spreadawareness. We conclude the chapter with tips from these successful, namelyinspirational women, who all agree that success requires ethos and taking that leap.http://www.ngime.ufjf.br/wp-content/uploads/Europa_opt.pdf
Kostis PC, Kafka KI, Valsamis DG. The Greek Growth Decoupling. In: A New Growth Model for the Greek Economy. Palgrave Macmillan {US}; 2016. pp. 33–57. Website
The coinfection of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been associated with increased death rates. However, the relevant research has mostly relied on serologic HBV testing [HBV surface antigen (HBsAg)]. The aim of this work was to explore the relationship of HBV viraemia with overall mortality among HIV/HBV coinfected individuals. The analysis included 1,609 HIV seropositives of a previously described cohort (1984-2003) with limited exposure to tenofovir (12%) and a median follow-up of approximately 5 years. Those with persistent expression of HBsAg were further tested for HBV-DNA. The data were analyzed using Poisson regression models. Totally, 101 participants were chronic carriers of HBsAg (6.28%). Of these, 81 were tested for HBV-DNA. The median HBV-DNA levels were 3.81 log (base-10) International Units (IU)/ml. A third (31%) of those tested for HBV-DNA had received tenofovir. Before developing acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), the adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) for all-cause mortality of coinfected patients with HBV viraemia above the median value versus the HIV monoinfected group was 3.44 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05-11.27]. Multivariable regressions in the coinfected group only (n = 81) showed that one log-10 increase in HBV-DNA levels was associated with an elevated risk for death (IRR: 1.24, 95%CI: 1.03-1.49). HBV-DNA levels predict overall mortality in the setting of HIV/HBV coinfection, especially during the period before developing AIDS, and could thus help prioritize needs and determine the frequency of medical monitoring.
BACKGROUND: Most of the HCV transmission the recent years in Greece was among IDUs. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of HCV genotypes and to investigate the patterns of HCV dispersal among IDUs in Athens using current state of the art molecular epidemiology methods.
METHODS: HCV sequences were determined from 238 HIV-negative IDUs collected on the basis of the "ARISTOTLE" prevention program carried out in Athens between 2012 and 2013. Phylogenetic trees were inferred on HCV sequences isolated from IDUs in Athens for the most prevalent HCV clades (subtypes 1a and 3a). Phylogenetic analysis was performed by Neighbor-Joining and Bayesian methods using GTR+G as nucleotide substitution model. HCV dispersal patterns were estimated using as references, all globally available HCV sequences for subtypes 1a and 3a.
RESULTS: The prevalence of HCV subtypes was: 3a (59.2%), 1a (21.9%), 4 (13.0%), 1b (5.4%) and 2 (0.5%). Phylogenetic analyses revealed that most sequences (63.5%) οf subtypes 1a and 3a fell within IDU-specific monophyletic groups. The proportion of sequences in monophyletic clades was similar for subtype 3a (62.9%) and 1a (65.3%). For the latter group, monophyletic clades were smaller in size. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that monophyletic clustering was marginally associated recent onset of injecting ([AOR]=1.44; 95% CI (0.97-2.13), p=0.068).
CONCLUSIONS: The high proportions of HCV sequences within IDU-specific monophyletic clusters suggest that transmissions occurred locally among IDUs in Greece. The numerous clusters for both 1a and 3a provide evidence that both sub-epidemics were the result of multiple introductions among the IDUs. Higher regional clustering was probably associated with a more recent onset of drug use.
Kopanias K, Fox S. Headshaping at Tell NaderMina M, Papadatos Y, Triantaphyllou S. Embodied Identities In The Prehistoric Eastern Mediterranean: Convergence Of Theory And Practices. Conference hosted by the University of Cyprus, 10-12 April 2012, Nicosia, Cyprus [Internet]. 2016:153-159. Publisher's Versionpaper_2016_headshaping_at_tell_nader.pdf
Objective:The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between classroom psychological climate and the physical and sedentary behaviour of primary school students after the implementation of an innovative education programme regarding nutrition and physical activity.Design:Randomised controlled trial.Setting:Study participants were 729 students, aged 8?10?years, in the third and fourth grade of 30 public primary schools in the Athens Metropolitan Area.Methods:Students were randomly assigned to three study groups: an Intensive Intervention Group (IIG) that underwent an intensive nutrition and physical activity education programme delivered by specialised personnel and teachers, an Intervention Group (IG) that underwent a less intensive programme delivered by their regular teacher and a Control Group (CG) that received no instruction. Classroom Psychological Climate (CPC) was measured in all groups, and the data regarding physical activity and sedentary lifestyle habits, such as the time spent viewing TV or video games (screen time), were recorded.Results:Friction declined and satisfaction increased significantly after the intervention in the IG compared with the CG. There was no significant difference in physical activity and screen time between the groups. Daily screen time was positively associated with increased friction, which is a measure of conflicts between students in the school environment.Conclusion:A school nutrition and physical activity education programme was shown to decrease friction by decreasing daily screen time and increasing outdoor activities. These findings also suggest that teachers alone may be more effective in delivering optional health education programmes than specialised personnel and instructors.
Across-sectional survey was designed to determine health professionals' awareness and usage of online evidence retrieval systems in clinical practice. A questionnaire was used to measure professionals' behavior and utilization of online evidences, as well as, reasons and barriers on information retrieval. 439 nurses and physicians from public and private hospitals in Greece formulate the study's sample. The two most common reasons that individuals are using online information systems were for writing scientific manuscripts or filling a knowledge gap. A positive correlation was found between participants with postgraduate studies and information system usage. The majority of them (90,6%) believe that online information systems improves patient care and 67,6% of them had their own experiences on this. More support is needed to nurses and physicians in order to use the online evidence and as a result to improve the provided care and practices.
This paper investigates the relationship between the volatility of Volume Synchronized Probability of Informed Trading (VPIN) and future short-term volatility of stock returns. We construct a transaction-signed version of VPIN (TR-VPIN) based on tick by tick data on securities traded in the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) during the Greek sovereign debt crisis. The results show a positive and statistically significant correlation between the volatility of TR-VPIN and future short-term volatility for securities that are exposed to asymmetric information during the period under examination. This evidence expands the existent literature which shows that the absolute order imbalance forecasts absolute returns, suggesting that TR-VPIN is a real-time informative indicator of the Probability of Informed Trading (PIN) in the high frequency domain. Further, the long-range dependence between the conditional volatilities of TR-VPIN and stock returns becomes more significant as we move towards securities which display stronger long memory. This is perfectly in line with the recent empirical evidence in microstructure literature that large past shocks of flow toxicity can lead to volatility through liquidity shortages.
Combined micropaleontological and geochemical analyses of the high-sedimentation gravity core M-4G provided new centennial-scale paleoceanographic data for sapropel S1 deposition in the NE Aegean Sea during the Holocene Climatic Optimum. Sapropel layer S1a (10.2–8.0 ka) was deposited in dysoxic to oxic bottom waters characterized by a high abundance of benthic foraminiferal species tolerating surface sediment and/or pore water oxygen depletion (e.g.,Chilostomella mediterranensis, Globobulimina affinis), and the presence of Uvigerina mediterranea, which thrives in oxic mesotrophic-eutrophic environments. Preservation of organic matter (OM) is inferred based on high organic carbon as well as loliolide and isololiolide contents, while the biomarker record and the abundances of eutrophic planktonic foraminifera document enhanced productivity. High inputs of terrigenous OM are attributed to north Aegean borderland riverine inputs. Both alkenone-based sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and δO18 G. bulloides records indicate cooling at 8.2 ka (S1a) and ~7.8 ka (S1 interruption). Sapropelic layer S1b (7.7–6.4 ka) is characterized by rather oxic conditions; abundances of foraminiferal species tolerant to oxygen depletion are very low compared with the U. mediterranea rise. Strongly fluctuating SSTs demonstrate repeated cooling and associated dense water formation, with a major event at 7.4 ka followed by cold spells at 7.0, 6.8, and 6.5 ka. The prominent rise of the carbon preference index within the S1b layer indicates the delivery of less degraded terrestrial OM. The increase of algal biomarkers, labile OM-feeding foraminifera and eutrophic planktonic species pinpoints an enhanced in situ marine productivity, promoted by more efficient vertical convection due to repeated cold events. The associated contributions of labile marine OM along with fresher terrestrial OM inputs after ~7.7 ka imply sources alternative/additional to the north Aegean riverine borderland sources for the influx of organic matter in the south Limnos Basin, plausibly related to the inflow of highly productive Marmara/Black Sea waters.
Combined micropaleontological and geochemical analyses of the high-sedimentation gravity core M-4G provided new centennial-scale paleoceanographic data for sapropel S1 deposition in the NE Aegean Sea during the Holocene Climatic Optimum. Sapropel layer S1a (10.2–8.0 ka) was deposited in dysoxic to oxic bottom waters characterized by a high abundance of benthic foraminiferal species tolerating surface sediment and/or pore water oxygen depletion (e.g.,Chilostomella mediterranensis, Globobulimina affinis), and the presence of Uvigerina mediterranea, which thrives in oxic mesotrophic-eutrophic environments. Preservation of organic matter (OM) is inferred based on high organic carbon as well as loliolide and isololiolide contents, while the biomarker record and the abundances of eutrophic planktonic foraminifera document enhanced productivity. High inputs of terrigenous OM are attributed to north Aegean borderland riverine inputs. Both alkenone-based sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and δO18 G. bulloides records indicate cooling at 8.2 ka (S1a) and ~7.8 ka (S1 interruption). Sapropelic layer S1b (7.7–6.4 ka) is characterized by rather oxic conditions; abundances of foraminiferal species tolerant to oxygen depletion are very low compared with the U. mediterranea rise. Strongly fluctuating SSTs demonstrate repeated cooling and associated dense water formation, with a major event at 7.4 ka followed by cold spells at 7.0, 6.8, and 6.5 ka. The prominent rise of the carbon preference index within the S1b layer indicates the delivery of less degraded terrestrial OM. The increase of algal biomarkers, labile OM-feeding foraminifera and eutrophic planktonic species pinpoints an enhanced in situ marine productivity, promoted by more efficient vertical convection due to repeated cold events. The associated contributions of labile marine OM along with fresher terrestrial OM inputs after ~7.7 ka imply sources alternative/additional to the north Aegean riverine borderland sources for the influx of organic matter in the south Limnos Basin, plausibly related to the inflow of highly productive Marmara/Black Sea waters.
PURPOSE: During the last three decades, the number of devices that emit non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at the wireless communication spectrum has rapidly increased and possible effects on living organisms have become a major concern. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of radiofrequency EMR emitted by a widely used wireless communication device, namely the Digital Enhanced Communication Telephony (DECT) base, on the immune responses of the Aegean wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male lizards were exposed 24 h/day for 8 weeks to 1880-1900 MHz DECT base radiation at average electric field intensity of 3.2 V/m. Immune reactivity was assessed using the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin swelling and mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) tests.
RESULTS: Our results revealed a noticeable suppression (approximately 45%) of inflammatory responses in EMR-exposed lizards compared to sham-exposed animals. T cell-mediated responses were marginally affected.
CONCLUSION: Daily radiofrequency EMR exposure seems to affect, at least partially, the immunocompetence of the Aegean wall lizard.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate how the spatial distribution of each plaque element, defined by intravascular-ultrasound virtual histology (IVUS-VH), may affect stent deployment even at high inflation pressures.
METHODS: Thirty-two patients undergoing direct percutaneous coronary intervention and IVUS were evaluated. Fifty-two lesions were treated with drug-eluting stents. Pre-stenting lumen area and real (Rcssla) and average cross-sectional stent lumen area (Acssla) were measured along the whole lesion. Ideal cross-sectional stent lumen area (Icssla) was calculated. Plaque composition was characterized by IVUS-VH. The spatial distribution of each plaque element was quantified by a novel image analysis tool measuring the area and percentage of each plaque component that was adjacent to the lumen. Average stent deployment was defined as: [1 - (Icssla-Acssla)/Icssla]×100%.
RESULTS: Stent expansion was significantly less at the site of maximum calcification compared to the average stent deployment (80±9% vs. 85±13%, P=0.044, respectively). Furthermore, wherever calcium was adjacent to the lumen, stent expansion was impaired compared to sites where calcium was non-luminal (70±23% vs. 80±9%, P=0.01, respectively). In contrast, at the site of maximum necrotic core, stent deployment showed a trend to be less compromised, compared to the average stent deployment.
CONCLUSIONS: An interaction was found between plaque components and their distribution and stent deployment even at high inflation pressures.
{The goal of this study is to quantify the impact of airborne coarse particles between 2.5 and 80 mu m (PM2.5-PM80) on hospital admissions for respiratory diseases, acquired from the two main hospitals in Heraklion, Crete Island. The atmospheric coarse particles were collected in Heraklion city from November 18, 2011 to May 31, 2013, using the Sigma-2 passive sampler technique. Further, the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), was utilized to identify the qualitative structure of PMs. On one hand, we applied Generalized Addictive Models (GAMS) in order to assess the impact of coarse particles on respiratory diseases. The findings of the analysis revealed that the highest estimates were 7.3 % (Cl: 1.00-1.01) and 7.1 % (Cl: 1.00-1.01) increases in weekly respiratory admissions associated with an increase of 10 mu g m(-3) with respect to coarse particles between 10 and 20 mu m, for men and women, respectively. On the other hand, using SEM technique, the PMs were identified by means of their chemical composition. It is worth noting the presence of Rutile (a mineral composed primarily by Titanium Dioxide), which was found in our samples with possible origin from Saharan desert, causing adverse respiratory problems.}
The ability of vertebrates to evolve different defence strategies in response to varying parasitism regimes remains poorly understood. Hosts may adopt two different strategies to defend themselves against parasites: tolerance (hosts alleviate the negative fitness consequences of parasite infection) and resistance (hosts strengthen their immune response as parasite burden increases). Both strategies are effective, but fitness has been reported to decline faster in less-tolerant individuals. Here, we assessed the number of splenocytes and the cell-mediated response (proxies for resistance) and body condition (a proxy for tolerance) in four populations of a Greek endemic lizard (Podarcis gaigeae), each exposed to different infection risks (defined as the cumulative effect of parasite burden and duration of exposure). We anticipated that populations with heavy parasite burden would enhance the efficacy of their immune response (resistance) compared to lizards deriving from parasite-poor habitats. We also predicted that populations with longer exposure to parasites would be adopted and be more tolerant. Each factor (duration of exposure and parasite burden) had a distinct effect on the immune response, and thus, our results were rather complicated. Lizards with heavy parasite burden and aperiodic exposure demonstrated resistance, whereas lizards with heavy parasite burden and chronic exposure were more tolerant. Populations with low parasite burden and minimal exposure were more resistant. Our results suggest that the development of some immunological strategies may be differentiated under different infection risks, even within the same species.
We show by first-principles calculations that the skew-scattering anomalous Hall and spin Hall angles of L1(0)-ordered FePt drastically depend on different types of disorder. A different sign of the anomalous Hall angle is obtained when slightly deviating from the stoichiometric ratio towards the Fe-rich side as compared to the Pt-rich side. For stoichiometric samples, short-range ordering of defects has a profound effect on the Hall angles and can change them by a factor of 2 as compared to the case of uncorrelated disorder. This might explain the vast range of anomalous Hall angles measured in experiments, which undergo different preparation procedures and thus might differ in their crystallographic quality.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the maxillary second molar (M2) and third molar (M3) inclination following orthodontic treatment of Class II subdivision malocclusion with unilateral maxillary first molar (M1) extraction.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Panoramic radiographs of 21 Class II subdivision adolescents (eight boys, 13 girls; mean age, 12.8 years; standard deviation, 1.7 years) before treatment, after treatment with extraction of one maxillary first molar and Begg appliances and after at least 1.8 years in retention were retrospectively collected from a private practice. M2 and M3 inclination angles (M2/ITP, M2/IOP, M3/ITP, M3/IOP), constructed by intertuberosity (ITP) and interorbital planes (IOP), were calculated for the extracted and nonextracted segments. Random effects regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect on the molar angulation of extraction, time, and gender after adjusting for baseline measurements.
RESULTS: Time and extraction status were significant predictors for M2 angulation. M2/ITP and M2/IOP decreased by 4.04 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -6.93, 1.16; P = .001) and 3.67 (95% CI: -6.76, -0.58; P = .020) in the extraction group compared to the nonextraction group after adjusting for time and gender. The adjusted analysis showed that extraction was the only predictor for M3 angulation that reached statistical significance. M3 mesial inclination increased by 7.38° (95% CI: -11.2, -3.54; P < .001) and 7.33° (95% CI: -11.48, -3.19; P = .001).
CONCLUSIONS: M2 and M3 uprighting significantly improved in the extraction side after orthodontic treatment with unilateral maxillary M1 extraction. There was a significant increase in mesial tipping of maxillary second molar crowns over time.
The upregulation of PGE2 by mesangial cells has been observed under chronic inflammation condition. In the present work, renal mesangial cells were stimulated to trigger a huge increase of PGE2 synthesis and were treated in the absence or presence of known PLA2 inhibitors. A variety of synthetic inhibitors, mainly developed in our labs, which are known to selectively inhibit each of GIVA cPLA2, GVIA iPLA2, and GIIA/GV sPLA2, were used as tools in this study. Synthetic sPLA2 inhibitors, such as GK115 (an amide derivative based on the non-natural amino acid (R)-γ-norleucine) as well as GK126 and GK241 (2-oxoamides based on the natural (S)-α-amino acid leucine and valine, respectively) presented an interesting effect on the suppression of PGE2 formation.
This region of western Greece has been frequently activated during the last decade, providing a large amount of enhanced quality new seismic information that was recorded by the Hellenic Unified Seismological Network (HUSN). In this work, the results of earthquake relocation, stress inversion and seismic traveltime tomography are presented, towards investigating the geodynamics of the study area. Inversion of ~2300 focal mechanisms indicates obliquity by 30 ̊ between shearing and the maximum horizontal stress along the major strike-slip faults, consistent with clockwise crustal rotation. Within the lower crust, the stress field appears to be constrained by larger scale deformation. Seismic velocity anomalies have been resolved by regional body-wave traveltime tomography, applying an iterative tomographic inversion scheme using phase data from more than 5000 seismic events. Preliminary 3D tomographic models indicate the presence of gross structures related with the western Hellenic Trench, the Cephalonia Transform Fault (CTF), the Aitoloakarnania shear zone, the Corinth Gulf and the Messinia graben. Dipping towards the east and segmentation of CTF between Cephalonia and Lefkas is evidenced by the resolved anomalies while a predominant NE-SW oriented low velocity zone observed in central Peloponnesus, related with dextral strike-slip faulting, marks a 90° rotation of the extensional stress direction that is found to occur at both sides.
The number of public health applications for molecular epidemiology and social network analysis has increased rapidly since the improvement in computational capacities and the development of new sequencing techniques. Currently, molecular epidemiology methods are used in a variety of settings: from infectious disease surveillance systems to the description of disease transmission pathways. The latter are of great epidemiological importance as they let us describe how a virus spreads in a community, make predictions for the further epidemic developments, and plan preventive interventions. Social network methods are used to understand how infections spread through communities and what the risk factors for this are, as well as in improved contact tracing and message-dissemination interventions. Research is needed on how to combine molecular and social network data as both include essential, but not fully sufficient information on infection transmission pathways. The main differences between the two data sources are that, firstly, social network data include uninfected individuals unlike the molecular data sampled only from infected network members. Thus, social network data include more detailed picture of a network and can improve inferences made from molecular data. Secondly, network data refer to the current state and interactions within the social network, while molecular data refer to the time points when transmissions happened, which might have happened years before the sampling date. As of today, there have been attempts to combine and compare the data obtained from the two sources. Even though there is no consensus on whether and how social and genetic data complement each other, this research might significantly improve our understanding of how viruses spread through communities.
As early as the seventeenth century, women have been going from one corner of the world to the other recording their experiences and reasons for publishing. Exploring, working and residing in regions of the East considered ‘safe for dynamic men only’ (Smith 1887, Through Cyprus, Author of ‘Glimpses of Greek life and Scenery, etc’. London: Hurst and Blacket), western women interacted with the peoples of Ottoman society, enjoying their warm and generous hospitality. Their gender allowed them to study, learn and become experts in areas where men had no access: the Ottoman harems, women's daily life, social gatherings and celebrations. Western and eastern women discuss harem slavery, marriage, adultery, childbirth, abortion, divorce, religion and women's rights. In reconsulting primary sources and focusing on the writings of nineteenth-century British women in Asia Minor (Turkey), this article contributes additional evidence on women's alternative representations or less degrading gaze, while revealing a patriarchal system's domestic-social reality that was founded on the institution of slavery. In other words, it differs from other studies in spotlighting the accounts that are illustrative of the polyethnic synthesis of the Ottoman households, i.e. the discourse on the multiethnic harem slavery institution, which distinguished Ottoman society, so as to provide a bigger picture and inspire new discussions.
As early as the seventeenth century, women have been going from one corner of the world to the other recording their experiences and reasons for publishing. Exploring, working and residing in regions of the East considered ‘safe for dynamic men only’ (Smith 1887), western women interacted with the peoples of Ottoman society, enjoying their warm and generous hospitality. Their gender allowed them to study, learn and become experts in areas where men had no access:the Ottoman households (harems), women's daily life, social gatherings and celebrations. Western and eastern women discuss harem slavery, marriage, adultery, childbirth, abortion, divorce, religion and women's rights. In reconsulting primary sources and focusing on the writings of nineteenth-century British women in Asia Minor (Turkey), this article contributes additional evidence on women's alternative representations or less degrading gaze, while revealing a patriarchal system's domestic-social reality that was founded on the institution of slavery. In other words, it differs from other studies in spotlighting the accounts that are illustrative of the polyethnic synthesis of the Ottoman households, i.e. the discourse on the multiethnic harem slavery institution, which distinguished Ottoman society, so as to provide a bigger picture and inspire new discussions.
We report on the effect of interfacial energy on the glass temperature, Tg, of several amorphous polymers with various glass temperatures and polymer/substrate interactions confined within self-ordered nanoporous alumina (AAO). The polymers studied include poly(phenylmethylsiloxane) (PMPS), poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc), 1,4-polybutadiene (PB), oligostyrene (PS), and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). The segmental dynamics and associated Tg’s are studied by means of dielectric spectroscopy. The interfacial energy for the polymer/substrate interface, γSL, is calculated with Young’s equation whereas the AAO membrane surface energy is obtained by measuring contact angles for several reference liquids. We find that interfacial energy plays a significant role in the segmental dynamics of polymers under confinement within AAO. There is a trend for a decreasing glass temperature relative to the bulk with increasing interfacial energy. PDMS exhibits the highest interfacial energy and the highest reduction in glass temperature within AAO. Other effects that may also contribute to changes in Tg are discussed.
RESUMEN:
Óscar Cerruto, en su novela Aluvión de fuego revela aspectos históricos y sociales de su país relacionados con la guerra de Chaco. Mediante un acercamiento histórico-cultural, se estudia el conflicto entre los representantes del poder y la población india y su impacto en la formación de la identidad boliviana.
PALABRAS CLAVE:
Indio, poder, mujer, historia, identidad.
ABSTRACT:
Óscar Cerruto, in his novel Aluvión de fuego, presents historical and social aspects of his country related to the Chaco’s war. Through a historical and cultural approach, we analyze the conflict between the representatives of the powerful upper class and the Indians, as well as its impact on the formation of the Bolivian identity.
KEYWORDS:
Indian, power, woman, history, identity.
PURPOSE: Stable fixation of distal humerus fracture fragments is necessary for adequate healing and maintenance of reduction. The purpose of this study was to measure the reliability and accuracy of interpretation of postoperative radiographs to predict which implants will loosen or break after operative treatment of bicolumnar distal humerus fractures. We also addressed agreement among surgeons regarding which fracture fixation will loosen or break and the influence of years in independent practice, location of practice, and so forth.
METHODS: A total of 232 orthopedic residents and surgeons from around the world evaluated 24 anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of distal humerus fractures on a Web-based platform to predict which implants would loosen or break. Agreement among observers was measured using the multi-rater kappa measure.
RESULTS: The sensitivity of prediction of failure of fixation of distal humerus fracture on radiographs was 63%, specificity was 53%, positive predictive value was 36%, the negative predictive value was 78%, and accuracy was 56%. There was fair interobserver agreement (κ = 0.27) regarding predictions of failure of fixation of distal humerus fracture on radiographs. Interobserver variability did not change when assessed for the various subgroups.
CONCLUSIONS: When experienced and skilled surgeons perform fixation of type C distal humerus fracture, the immediate postoperative radiograph is not predictive of fixation failure. Reoperation based on the probability of failure might not be advisable.
TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic III.
Eukaryotic cells heavily depend on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generated by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) within mitochondria. ATP is the major energy currency molecule, which fuels cell to carry out numerous processes, including growth, differentiation, transportation and cell death among others (Khakh and Burnstock, 2009). Therefore, ATP levels can serve as a metabolic gauge for cellular homeostasis and survival (Artal-Sanz and Tavernarakis, 2009; Gomes et al., 2011; Palikaras et al., 2015). In this protocol, we describe a method for the determination of intracellular ATP levels using a bioluminescence approach in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
Conduction of electrical signals along the surface of muscle fibers is acknowledged as an essential neuromuscular component which is linked with muscle force production. However, it remains unclear whether muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) is also linked with explosive performance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between vastus lateralis MFCV and countermovement jumping performance, the rate of force development and maximum isometric force. Fifteen moderately-trained young females performed countermovement jumps as well as an isometric leg press test in order to determine the rate of force development and maximum isometric force. Vastus lateralis MFCV was measured with intramuscular microelectrodes at rest on a different occasion. Maximum MFCV was significantly correlated with maximum isometric force (r = 0.66, p < 0.01), nevertheless even closer with the leg press rate of force development at 100 ms, 150 ms, 200 ms, and 250 ms (r = 0.85, r = 0.89, r = 0.91, r = 0.92, respectively, p < 0.01). Similarly, mean MFCV and type II MFCV were better correlated with the rate of force development than with maximum isometric leg press force. Lower, but significant correlations were found between mean MFCV and countermovement jump power (r = 0.65, p < 0.01). These data suggest that muscle fiber conduction velocity is better linked with the rate of force development than with isometric force, perhaps because conduction velocity is higher in the larger and fastest muscle fibers which are recognized to contribute to explosive actions.
The Magellanic Clouds harbour a large sample of Be/X-ray binariesat a moderate and well known distance with low Galactic foregroundabsorption. However, the transient nature of Be/X-ray binaries complicatesobservations in X-rays. Serendipitous detections of bright outburstsprovide rare chances for further investigation. We propose three triggeredXMM-Newton observations of new or unexplored systems to continue thebuild up of a large statistical sample of these sources.
Evolution Teaching (ET) among In-Service teachers in Greece was examined in an attempt to evaluate their Pedagogical Content Knowledge. Evolution teaching is a problematic issue. For this purpose, we constructed a questionnaire that was distributed to the target population and to which 181 teachers responded. We used quantitative method to determine factors that may characterize the ET milieu and which of the factors of PCK apply or not to ET. Our research finds that Biology teachers although strive to teach evolution, face specific difficulties due to lack of PCK. The research results may be useful when organizing and implementing professional development programs of teachers on ET.
Fires of 2007 have consumed large areas of Black pine and Greek fir forests in Peloponnese, Euboea and Attica. Most studies that followed, focused on the natural regeneration potential or the need for reforestation. The current research aims at examining the role of geomorphology and lithology that govern the soil properties upon the post-fire vegetation recovery at the landscape level. A case study from Taygetos Mt, a large part of which was burned in 2007, is presented. Based on the interpretation of a high spatial and spectral resolution satellite image (WorldView-3, 4/2015), several GIS thematic layers have been created showing unburned and regenerated patches over various lithological types. A network of sites was selected for field sampling representing various combinations of the above. Data on vegetation cover and recovery of the main tree species were collected. Results prove the interrelationship between regeneration and species traits as well as the existence of unburned patches near the burned ones. Recovery seems to be controlled by the geology of the plots as it was found weaker in plots overlying carbonate, permeable, not easily erodible formations as compared to that observed over clastic, impermeable, erodible formations of schists, even for the same species. In conclusion, post-fire vegetation recovery at the landscape level seems to be a complex process controlled not only from species biology but also from the landscape features and its fire history.
This paper investigates the contagion effects of the global financial crisis (GFC) and Eurozone sovereign debt crisis (ESDC) on Islamic equity and bond markets. Using a sample of Islamic stock indices from various developed and emerging markets and the global Islamic stock and bond (sukuk) indices, we explore asymmetric conditional correlation dynamics across stable and crisis periods and across the two crises. The results fail to provide strong contagion evidence between conventional and Islamic equity and bond indices, supporting the decoupling hypothesis of the Islamic securities. Our findings imply that Islamic equities and bonds may provide a cushion against risk and instability, particularly in periods of turmoil. The small number of contagion cases mostly relates to the ESDC and developed Islamic stock indices. The findings also show that the Islamic emerging stock indices in the BRICS provide the most effective international portfolio diversification benefits compared to the Islamic developed indices.
In the 18(th) century clinical cardiology was based on pulse examination and auscultation by placing the ear directly on the patient's chest, while diagnosis of heart diseases was done in postmortem examination. In 1749, Jean-Baptiste de Sénac, physician of King Louis XV, published his work on the heart Traité de la structure du coeur, de son action et de ses maladies. It was the result of years of anatomical and physiological study, in an attempt to illuminate heart and its functions. Sénac recognized among several heart disorders, aortic regurgitation, mitral calcification, and mitral regurgitation. His work remained a landmark in valvular pathology and cardiology until the early 19(th) century.
INTRODUCTION: Tissue kallikrein and the kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) constitute a family of 15 homologous secreted serine proteases with trypsin- or chymotrypsin-like activities, which participate in a broad spectrum of physiological procedures. Deregulated expression and/or activation of the majority of the family members have been reported in several human diseases, thereby making KLKs ideal targets for therapeutic intervention. AREAS COVERED: In the present review, we summarize the role of KLKs in normal human physiology and pathology, focusing on prostate cancer and skin diseases. Furthermore, we discuss the recent advances in the development of KLK-based therapies. A great number of diverse engineered KLKs inhibitors with improved potency, selectivity and immunogenicity have been synthesized by redesigning examples that are endogenous and naturally occurring. Moreover, encouraging results have been documented using KLKs-based vaccines and immunotherapies, as well as KLKs-mediated activation of pro-drugs. Finally, KLKs-targeting aptamers and KLKs-based imaging tools represent novel approaches towards the exploitation of KLKs' therapeutic value. EXPERT OPINION: The central/critical roles of KLK family in several human pathologies highlight KLKs as attractive molecular targets for developing novel therapeutics.
El objeto del presente trabajo es examinar si el nivel lingüístico en lengua extranjera afecta la disponibilidad léxica de aprendientes griegos de español. Para ello, se han analizado diferentes aspectos cuantitativos y cualitativos de la disponibilidad léxica de dos grupos de aprendientes griegos que tienen un nivel lingüístico diferente (B1 y C1) en español siguiendo las pautas metodológicas en las que se basan los estudios de disponibilidad léxica. Se ha recogido léxico de tres campos semánticos (comida y bebida, la casa, profesiones y oficios) y los datos se han analizado con el objetivo de encontrar el número de palabras producidas, el promedio de las palabras producidas por participante, el número de vocablos (palabras diferentes), el promedio de los vocablos producidos por participante, el índice de cohesión y las palabras más comunes de cada campo semántico. Los resultados del estudio han indicado que el nivel lingüístico en lengua extranjera afecta la disponibilidad léxica de los dos grupos de aprendientes griegos de español en todos los campos semánticos analizados. La explicación se basa en el desarrollo y la organización del lexicón mental en lengua extranjera.
El tema que examina el presente artículo es la necesidad de enseñanza de las estrategias compensatorias en la clase delenguas extranjeras. Se trata de un tema polémico, que ha suscitado un debate entre los investigadores. En un intento de daruna visión global del tema, se presentan algunos de los argumentos de las dos posturas opuestas y se mencionan algunasconsideraciones que se deben tener en cuenta antes de decidir si su enseñanza se debería incluir en el currículo deaprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras.
Les difficultés de compréhension et d'appropriation qu'éprouvent les étudiants, face à un domaine cognitif parfois trop théorique, sont à l'origine de cette étude de cas. Notre but est d'explorer le rôle que peut jouer la traduction dans l'appréhension et l'approfondissement des contenus d'un cours disciplinaire de cursus universitaire de premier cycle. Pour ce faire, nous décrirons la réalisation d'un travail de traduction collaborative présentée sous forme de situation-problème selon les principes de l'apprentissage par problèmes
Papapanagiotou IK, Kalles V, Migklis K, Sgantzos M, Kaklamanos I, Mariolis-Sapsakos T. Langer's axillary arch. Clin Case Rep. 2016;4(6):613.Abstract
Langer's axillary arch is usually asymptomatic and difficult to detect preoperatively. When present, it is important for surgeons operating in the axillary region, to identify correctly the relevant anatomy. Simple surgical division is curative and necessary in order to achieve exposure of the axillary contents, lymphatic dissection, and neurovascular preservation.
Fossil shorelines produced by recent co-seismic movements were identified through a submarine survey along the coasts of Ithaca and Fiscardo (Greece). In both areas a tidal notch-slightly submerged below present Mean Sea Level (MSL) was observed at various sites. This “modern” notch is known to have been submerged by the global sea-level rise during the 19th and 20th centuries. The depth after tide and air-pressure correction of the vertex of the “modern” notch (that owes its submergence to the current rapid sea level rise) was measured between -20 and -30±5cm at Fiscardo and between -36 and -45±6cm at Ithaca. This “modern” notch at the same depth on east and west sides of the Ionian Thrust suggests that both areas were not affected by the co-seismic vertical movements that occurred in 1953 (in the wider area). On the other hand, a greater depth in Ithaca could be an effect of co-seismic subsidence. Over the long term, the tectonic behavior of Ithaca differs from Fiscardo. At Ithaca no evidence of emergence was found and Holocene vertical movements have been only of subsidence: submerged fossil tidal notches were distinguished below MSL at about -40 (modern), -60, -75, -95, -106, -126, -150 and -220±6cm. On the East coast of Fiscardo peninsula impacts of ancient earthquakes have left some marks of emergence at about +18 and +44±5cm, and of submergence at about -25 (modern), -45, -60, -75, -82, -100 and -230cm, with even some evidence of past uplift and subsidence at the same sites.
Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) is a rare lung congenital malformation. Differential diagnosis of the disease remains challenging in an infant with acute respiratory distress. We report a case of a 3-week-old female infant with a weight of 2.1 kg who presented respiratory distress related to CLE. Left upper lobectomy was performed and she had an uneventful recovery.
Akiba K, Akbiyik M, Albrow M, Arneodo M, Avati V, Baechler J, Baillie OV, Bartalini P, Bartels J, Baur S, et al.LHC forward physics. Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics. 2016;43.
Benthic foraminiferal composition assemblages and their temporal changes, ecological indices and foraminiferal densities are used to compare three coastal environments with different physicogeographical features in the Aegean Sea (coastal environment of Avdira–Vistonikos Gulf and Kitros–Thermaikos Gulf and open lagoonal environment of Vravron–South Evoikos Gulf). Three main foraminiferal assemblages have been recognized: a) “Assemblage A”; high degree of similarity between living and dead foraminiferal species, dominated byAmmonia beccarii, Elphidium spp. and relatively abundant and diverse miliolids, b) “Assemblage B1”; intermediate degree of similarity between live and dead assemblages, characterized by highly-abundant and well-diversified foraminiferal assemblages including the algal symbiont bearing Peneroplis pertusus together withAmmonia tepida and several small epiphytic rotaliids and miliolids, and c) “Assemblage B2”; absence of living individuals, strongly dominated by the opportunistic species A. tepida. Our results suggest a good comparison between living and dead assemblages from different coastal environments in the Aegean Sea, however the prevailing environmental conditions (vegetation cover, hydrodynamics, fresh water influx) have a strong impact on the taphonomic processes.
We calculate the lowest ionisation and excitation energies in a variety of biologically important molecules, i.e. π-conjugated systems like DNA and RNA bases and isomers plus related heterocyclic molecules. For approximately half of these molecules, there are no experimental and theoretical/numerical data in the literature, as far as we know. These electronic transitions are mainly but not exclusively of π and π–π* character, respectively. We perform symmetry-constrained density functional theory (DFT) geometry optimisation at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level of theory. At the DFT-obtained ground-state geometries, we calculate vertical ionisation energies with ionisation potential coupled cluster with singles and doubles (IP-EOMCCSD) and vertical excitation energies with the completely renormalised equation of motion coupled cluster with singles, doubles, and non-iterative triples (CR-EOMCCSD(T)) method. We also investigate whether a simple semi-empirical Hückel-type model approach with novel parametrisation could provide reasonable estimates of the lowest π ionisation and π–π* excitation energies. Our coupled cluster (CC) results are in very good agreement with experimental data, while the Hückel-type model predictions generally follow the trends with some deviation. Finally, we investigate the effect of basis set in IP-EOMCCSD energies and we compare our CR-EOMCCSD(T) results with time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) ones.
Potari D, Psycharis G, Spiliotopoulou V, Triantafillou C, Zachariades T, Zoupa A. Mathematics and science teachers' collaboration: searching for common grounds. In: Csikos C, Rausch A, Szitanyi J Proceedings of the 40th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME 40). Vol. 4. Szeged, Hungary: PME; 2016. pp. 91-98.pme_40_2016b.pdf
Ependymal cells are multiciliated cells located in the wall of the lateral ventricles of the adult mammalian brain and are key components of the subependymal zone niche, where adult neural stem cells reside. Through the movement of their motile cilia, ependymal cells control the cerebrospinal fluid flow within the ventricular system from which they receive secreted molecules and morphogens controlling self-renewal and differentiation decisions of adult neural stem cells. Multiciliated ependymal cells become fully differentiated at postnatal stages however they are specified during mid to late embryogenesis from a population of radial glial cells. Here we discuss recent findings suggesting that 2 novel molecules, Mcidas and GemC1/Lynkeas are key players on radial glial specification to ependymal cells. Both proteins were initially described as cell cycle regulators revealing sequence similarity to Geminin. They are expressed in radial glial cells committed to the ependymal cell lineage during embryogenesis, while overexpression and knock down experiments showed that are sufficient and necessary for ependymal cell generation. We propose that Mcidas and GemC1/Lynkeas are key components of the molecular cascade that promotes radial glial cells fate commitment toward multiciliated ependymal cell lineage operating upstream of c-Myb and FoxJ1.
To assess the differences among seven different methods for the calculation of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and to identify the formula that provides MAP values that are more closely associated with target organ deterioration as expressed by the carotid cross-sectional area (CSA), carotid-to-femoral pulse-wave velocity (cf-PWV) and left ventricular mass (LVM). The study population consisted of 1878 subjects who underwent noninvasive cardiovascular risk assessment. Blood pressure (BP) was assessed in all subjects, and MAP was calculated by direct oscillometry and six different formulas. Carotid artery ultrasound imaging was performed in 1628 subjects. The CSA of the right and left common carotid artery (CCA) were calculated and used as surrogates of arterial wall mass and hypertrophy. Aortic stiffness was evaluated in 1763 subjects by measuring the cf-PWV. Finally, 218 subjects underwent echocardiographic examination for the assessment of LVM. Among the examined methods of MAP calculation, the formula MAP1=[diastolic BP]+0.412 × [pulse pressure] yielded the strongest correlations with the LVM, cf-PWV and CSA of the right and left CCA, even after adjusting for age and gender. The MAP calculation using the 0.412 was superior compared with the traditional formula that uses the 0.33 for the discrimination of subjects with left ventricular and carotid wall hypertrophy, as well as subjects with increased aortic stiffness. MAP estimated with the 0.412 is better correlated with target organ deterioration compared with other formulas. Future studies are needed to explore the accuracy of these formulas for MAP estimation compared with direct intra-arterial BP measurement.
The rate of oxygen consumption is a vital marker indicating cellular function during lifetime under normal or metabolically challenged conditions. It is used broadly to study mitochondrial function (Artal-Sanz and Tavernarakis, 2009; Palikaras et al., 2015; Ryu et al., 2016) or investigate factors mediating the switch from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis (Chen et al., 2015; Vander Heiden et al., 2009). In this protocol, we describe a method for the determination of oxygen consumption rates in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
We developed an extension of the layer-multiple-scattering method to photonic crystals comprising homogeneous layers of magneto-optical materials. The applicability of the method is demonstrated on a specific architecture of a magnetic garnet thin film coated with a square array of silver nanodisks, supported by a silica substrate. It is shown that enhanced Faraday rotation, driven by hybrid particle plasmon-film quasi-guided collective modes, can be achieved within selected regions of frequency, which can be tuned by properly choosing the geometric and material parameters involved. The results are analyzed in conjunction with numerical simulations by the finite-element method and a consistent interpretation of the underlying physics is provided. Our extended layer-multiple-scattering computational methodology provides a versatile framework for fast and accurate full electrodynamic calculations of magneto-optical structures, enabling physical insight.
Mitophagy is a conserved, mitochondria-specific autophagic clearance process. We recently discovered an intricate regulatory network that balances mitophagy with mitochondrial biogenesis. Proper coordination of these opposing processes is important for stress resistance and longevity. Nodal regulatory factors that contribute to mitochondrial homeostasis have also been linked to carcinogenesis, highlighting mitophagy as a potential target for therapeutic interventions against cancer.
Macheras P, Iliadis A. Modeling and Simulation in Bioequivalence. In: MODELING IN BIOPHARMACEUTICS, PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS: HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION. Vol. 30. 233 SPRING STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013, UNITED STATES: SPRINGER; 2016. pp. 227-254.
Modeling in Biopharmaceutics. In: MODELING IN BIOPHARMACEUTICS, PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS: HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION. Vol. 30. 233 SPRING STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013, UNITED STATES: SPRINGER; 2016. pp. 51-52.
Modeling in Pharmacodynamics. In: MODELING IN BIOPHARMACEUTICS, PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS: HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION. Vol. 30. 233 SPRING STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013, UNITED STATES: SPRINGER; 2016. pp. 341-342.
Modeling in Pharmacokinetics. In: MODELING IN BIOPHARMACEUTICS, PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS: HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION. Vol. 30. 233 SPRING STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013, UNITED STATES: SPRINGER; 2016. pp. 159-160.
Within this study we introducea framework for assessing spatial fire risk and exposure to three important habitat types in Cephalonia island, Greece.Existing maps were used for plot allocation in orderto measure several fuel parameters in representative natural fuel complexes for site-specific fuel models development, as well as for collecting training and validation points for satellite data classification. The spatial extent of the fuel types and the canopy cover were delineated using a Landsat 8 OLI image acquired on 23-7-2015and the Support Vector Machines-(SVMs) machine learning algorithm. Subsequently, The Minimum Travel Time (MTT) algorithm, as it is embedded in FlamMap spatial fire simulation software, was applied in order to assess critical fire behavior parameters and exposure of Cephalonia's habitats under three different meteorological and fuel moisture scenarios. The outputs of this study may be used as an application of quantitative and probabilistic risk assessment for habitats conservation planning, prioritization and management of high value natural and cultural resources.
Sgr A* is an ideal target to study low-luminosity accreting systems. It has been recently proposed that properties of the accretion flow around Sgr A* can be probed through its interactions with the stellar wind of nearby massive stars belonging to the S-cluster. When a star intercepts the accretion disc, the ram and thermal pressures of the disc terminate the stellar wind leading to the formation of a bow shock structure. Here, a semi-analytical model is constructed which describes the geometry of the termination shock formed in the wind. With the employment of numerical hydrodynamic simulations, this model is both verified and extended to a region prone to Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. Because the characteristic wind and stellar velocities are in ∼108 cm s-1 range, the shocked wind may produce detectable X-rays via thermal bremsstrahlung emission. The application of this model to the pericentre passage of S2, the brightest member of the S-cluster, shows that the shocked wind produces roughly a month long X-ray flare with a peak luminosity of L ≈ 4 × 1033 erg s-1 for a stellar mass-loss rate, disc number density, and thermal pressure strength of dot{M}_w= 10^{-7} M_{⊙} yr^{-1}, nd = 105 cm-3, and α = 0.1, respectively. This peak luminosity is comparable to the quiescent X-ray emission detected from Sgr A* and is within the detection capabilities of current X-ray observatories. Its detection could constrain the density and thickness of the disc at a distance of ∼3000 gravitational radii from the supermassive black hole.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) is characterised by vast genetic diversity. Globally circulating HIV-1 viruses are classified into distinct phylogenetic strains (subtypes, sub-subtypes) and several recombinant forms. Here we describe the characteristics and evolution of European HIV-1 epidemic over time through a review of published literature and updated queries of existing HIV-1 sequence databases. HIV-1 in Western and Central Europe was introduced in the early-1980s in the form of subtype B, which is still the predominant clade. However, in Eastern Europe (Former Soviet Union (FSU) countries and Russia) the predominant strain, introduced into Ukraine in the mid-1990s, is subtype A (A) with transmission mostly occurring in People Who Inject Drugs (PWID). In recent years, the epidemic is evolving towards a complex tapestry with an increase in the prevalence of non-B subtypes and recombinants in Western and Central Europe. Non-B epidemics are mainly associated with immigrants, heterosexuals and females but more recently, non-B clades have also spread amongst groups where non-B strains were previously absent - non-immigrant European populations and amongst men having sex with men (MSM). In some countries, non-B clades have spread amongst the native population, for example subtype G in Portugal and subtype A in Greece, Albania and Cyprus. Romania provides a unique case where sub-subtype F1 has predominated throughout the epidemic. In contrast, HIV-1 epidemic in FSU countries remains more homogeneous with Aclade predominating in all countries. The differences between the evolution of the Western epidemic and the Eastern epidemic may be attributable to differences in transmission risk behaviours, lifestyle and the patterns of human mobility. The study of HIV-1 epidemic diversity provides a useful tool by which we can understand the history of the pandemic in addition to allowing us to monitor the spread and growth of the epidemic over time.
OBJECTIVES: The European epidemiology of MRSA is changing with the emergence of community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) and livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA). In this study, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of MRSA during 2 years in 13 ICUs in France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Luxemburg, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.
METHODS: Surveillance cultures for MRSA from nose and wounds were obtained on admission and twice weekly from all patients admitted to an ICU for ≥3 days. The first MRSA isolate per patient was genotyped in a central laboratory by MLST, spa typing, agr typing and SCCmec (sub)typing. Risk factors for patients with an unknown history of MRSA colonization were identified.
RESULTS: Overall, 14 390 ICU patients were screened, of whom 8519 stayed in an ICU for ≥3 days. Overall MRSA admission prevalence was 3.9% and ranged from 1.0% to 7.0% for individual ICUs. Overall MRSA acquisition rate was 2.5/1000 patient days at risk and ranged from 0.2 to 8/1000 patient days at risk per ICU. In total, 557 putative MRSA isolates were submitted to the central laboratory for typing, of which 511 (92%) were confirmed as MRSA. Each country had a distinct epidemiology, with ST8-IVc (UK-EMRSA-2/-6, USA500) being most prevalent, especially in France and Spain, and detected in ICUs in five of eight countries. Seventeen (3%) and three (<1%) isolates were categorized as CA-MRSA and LA-MRSA, respectively. Risk factors for MRSA carriage on ICU admission were age >70 years and hospitalization within 1 year prior to ICU admission.
CONCLUSIONS: The molecular epidemiology of MRSA in 13 European ICUs in eight countries was homogeneous within, but heterogeneous between, countries. CA-MRSA and LA-MRSA genotypes and Panton-Valentine leucocidin-producing isolates were detected sporadically.
Molecular spontaneous emission and fluorescence depend strongly on the emitter local environment. Plasmonic nanoparticles provide excellent templates for tailoring fluorophore emission, as they exhibit potential for both fluorescence enhancement and quenching, depending on emitter positioning in the nanoparticle vicinity. Here we explore the influence of hitherto disregarded nonclassical effects on the description of emitter–plasmon hybrids, focusing on the roles of the metal nonlocal response and especially size-dependent plasmon damping. Through extensive modelling of metallic nanospheres and nanoshells coupled to dipole emitters, we show that within a purely classical description a remarkable fluorescence enhancement can be achieved. However, once departing from the local-response approximation, and particularly by implementing the recent generalised nonlocal optical response theory, which provides a more complete physical description combining electron convection and diffusion, we show that not only are fluorescence rates dramatically reduced compared to the predictions of the local description and the common hydrodynamic Drude model, but the optimum emitter–nanoparticle distance is also strongly affected. In this respect, experimental measurements of fluorescence, the theoretical description of which requires a precise concurrent evaluation of far- and near-field properties of the system, constitute a novel, more sensitive probe for assessing the validity of state-of-the-art nonclassical theories.
AIM: A morphometric analysis of the odontoid process of the A2 vertebra, in the Greek population, was conducted using CT scan. We aimed to determine the feasibility to use one or two screws when treating fractures of this anatomic element.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and fifteen patients (57 men) of a mean age of 48 years (16-95 years) underwent a cervical spine CT scan examination. The anterior-posterior and transverse diameters of the odontoid process were measured from the base, at 1-mm interval upward on axial CT images. The length from the tip of the odontoid process to the anterior-inferior angle of the body of the axis was calculated. Data concerning the height and weight of the examined patients were collected.
RESULTS: The mean transverse and anterior-posterior distances were found to be 11.46 and 10.45 mm, respectively, for the upper end of the odontoid process. At the neck level of the odontoid process, the equivalent mean values were 11.12 and 8.73 mm, respectively, while at the base, these distances were found to be 13.84 and 12.3 mm, respectively. The mean distance from the tip of the odontoid to its base was 17.25 and 17.28 mm, respectively, while the mean distance from the tip of the dens to the anterior-inferior corner of the axis' body was 39.2 mm. Men showed greater values than women.
CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was shown that in the Greek population there is enough room for one 4.5-mm or one 3.5-mm cannulated screw to be used. The application of two 3.5-mm screws is feasible in 58.6 % of the male and 26.3 % of the female population. This confirms that the knowledge of the true dimensions of the odontoid process is of paramount importance before the proper management of fractured dens using the anterior screw technique.
This study attempts to analyse the narrative function and the theological significance of Jesus’ mother for the overall theology of the fourth gospel, mainly based on the exegetical method of narrative criticism.In the first part, the problem of the anonymity of Jesus’ mother in juxtapposition with the anonymity of the beloved disciple is dealt with. The second part consists of a detailed exegetical approach to the narrative of Jesus’ first sign in Cana within the Johannine narrative context as a whole. On this basis, in the third part a response to further relevant questions about the significance of Jesus’ mother according to the overall fourth gospel’s witness is attempted. The article is concluded with a summary of exegetical and theological positions, including a hypothesis about a possible Johannine background of the current Orthodox understanding of Theotokos.
Biophysical restoration or rehabilitation measures of land have demonstrated to be effective in many scientific projects and small-scale environmental experiments. However circumstances such as poverty, weak policies, or inefficient scientific knowledge transmission can hinder the effective upscaling of land restoration and the long term maintenance of proven sustainable use of soil and water. This may be especially worrisome in lands with harsh environmental conditions. This review covers recent efforts in landscape restoration and rehabilitation with a functional perspective aiming to simultaneously achieve ecosystem sustainability, economic efficiency, and social wellbeing. Water management and rehabilitation of ecosystem services in croplands, rangelands, forests, and coastlands are reviewed. The joint analysis of such diverse ecosystems provides a wide perspective to determine: (i) multifaceted impacts on biophysical and socio-economic factors; and (ii) elements influencing effective upscaling of sustainable land management practices. One conclusion can be highlighted: voluntary adoption is based on different pillars, i.e. external material and economic support, and spread of success information at the local scale to demonstrate the multidimensional benefits of sustainable land management. For the successful upscaling of land management, more attention must be paid to the social system from the first involvement stage, up to the long term maintenance.
We report the discovery of the new multi-periodic variable star GSC 0476-1362. Analysis of the observed light curves shows a complex variability pattern, as a result of a multi-periodic behaviour.
We report on the results of a ∼40-d multi-wavelength monitoring of the Be X-ray binary system IGR J05007-7047 (LXP 38.55). During that period the system was monitored in the X-rays using the Swift telescope and in the optical with multiple instruments. When the X-ray luminosity exceeded 1036 erg s-1 we triggered an XMM-Newton ToO observation. Timing analysis of the photon events collected during the XMM-Newton observation reveals coherent X-ray pulsations with a period of 38.551(3) s (1σ), making it the 17th known high-mass X-ray binary pulsar in the LMC. During the outburst, the X-ray spectrum is fitted best with a model composed of an absorbed power law (Γ = 0.63) plus a high-temperature blackbody (kT ∼2 keV) component. By analysing ∼12 yr of available OGLE optical data we derived a 30.776(5) d optical period, confirming the previously reported X-ray period of the system as its orbital period. During our X-ray monitoring the system showed limited optical variability while its IR flux varied in phase with the X-ray luminosity, which implies the presence of a disc-like component adding cooler light to the spectral energy distribution of the system.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV), fiber type composition, and power performance in participants with different training background.
METHODS: Thirty-eight young males with different training background participated: sedentary (n = 10), endurance runners (n = 9), power trained (n = 10), and strength trained (n = 9). They performed maximal countermovement jumps (CMJ) and maximal isometric leg press for the measurement of the rate of force development (RFD). Resting vastus lateralis MFCV was measured with intramuscular microelectrodes on a different occasion, whereas muscle fiber type and cross-sectional area (CSA) of vastus lateralis were evaluated through muscle biopsies 1wk later.
RESULTS: MFCV, CMJ power, RFD, and % CSA of type II and type IIx fibers were higher for the power-trained group (P < 0.001). No difference was found between sedentary participants and endurance runners in these variables, but both of these groups performed worse than strength/power participants. Close correlations were found between MFCV and fiber CSA as well as the % CSA of all fiber types as well as with RFD and CMJ power (r = 0.712-0.943, P < 0.005). Partial correlations revealed that the % CSA of IIx fibers dictates a large part of the correlation between MFCV and RFD, power performance. Significant models for the prediction of the % CSA of type IIa and type II as well as the CSA of all muscle fibers based upon MFCV, RFD, and CMJ were revealed (P = 0.000).
CONCLUSION: MFCV is closely associated with muscle fiber % CSA. RFD and jumping power are associated with the propagation of the action potentials along the muscle fibers. This link is regulated by the size and the distribution of type II, and especially type IIx muscle fibers.
Early treatment, soon after infection, reduces HIV transmissions and benefits patients. The Transmission Reduction Intervention Project (TRIP) evaluated a network intervention to detect individuals recently infected (in the past 6 months). TRIP was conducted in Greece (2013-2015) and focused on drug injector networks. Based on HIV status, testing history, and the results of an assay to detect recent infections, TRIP classified drug injector "Seeds" into groups: Recent Seeds (RS), and Control Seeds with Long-term HIV infection (LCS). The network members of RS and LCS were traced for two steps. The analysis included 23 RS, 171 network members of the RS, 19 LCS, and 65 network members of the LCS. The per-seed number of recents detected in the network of RS was 5 times the number in the network of LCS (Ratio RS vs. LCS: 5.23; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.54-27.61). The proportion of recents among HIV positives in the network of RS (27%) was approximately 3 times (Ratio RS vs. LCS: 3.30; 95% CI: 1.04-10.43) that in the network of LCS (8%). Strategic network tracing that starts with recently infected persons could support public health efforts to find and treat people early in their HIV infection.
Early treatment, soon after infection, reduces HIV transmissions and benefits patients. The Transmission Reduction Intervention Project (TRIP) evaluated a network intervention to detect individuals recently infected (in the past 6 months). TRIP was conducted in Greece (2013-2015) and focused on drug injector networks. Based on HIV status, testing history, and the results of an assay to detect recent infections, TRIP classified drug injector "Seeds" into groups: Recent Seeds (RS), and Control Seeds with Long-term HIV infection (LCS). The network members of RS and LCS were traced for two steps. The analysis included 23 RS, 171 network members of the RS, 19 LCS, and 65 network members of the LCS. The per-seed number of recents detected in the network of RS was 5 times the number in the network of LCS (Ratio RS vs. LCS: 5.23; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.54-27.61). The proportion of recents among HIV positives in the network of RS (27%) was approximately 3 times (Ratio RS vs. LCS: 3.30; 95% CI: 1.04-10.43) that in the network of LCS (8%). Strategic network tracing that starts with recently infected persons could support public health efforts to find and treat people early in their HIV infection.
Here we report the first set of new and recurrent X-ray transients found in two XMM-Newton 100-ks pointings of the M31 northern disk on Jan 1 and 21 (see ATel #8825).
Here we report the second set of new and recurrent X-ray transients found in two XMM-Newton 100-ks pointings of the M31 northern disk on Jan 1 and 21 (see ATels #8825, #8826).
OJ287 has been monitored in the optical wavelength with small telescopes since the beginning of September, 2015. In November and December, an unprecedented outburst in the optical band was noticed (ATels: 8382, 8395, 8401, 8411, 8438), with OJ287 reaching 12.9 mag in the R filter.
Macheras P, Iliadis A. Nonclassical Pharmacodynamics. In: MODELING IN BIOPHARMACEUTICS, PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS: HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION. Vol. 30. 233 SPRING STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013, UNITED STATES: SPRINGER; 2016. pp. 361-403.
Macheras P, Iliadis A. Nonlinear Dynamics. In: MODELING IN BIOPHARMACEUTICS, PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS: HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION. Vol. 30. 233 SPRING STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013, UNITED STATES: SPRINGER; 2016. pp. 37-49.
The commingling of human remains often hinders forensic/physical anthropologists during the identification process, as there are limited methods to accurately sort these remains. This study investigates a new method for pair-matching, a common individualization technique, which uses digital three-dimensional models of bone: mesh-to-mesh value comparison (MVC). The MVC method digitally compares the entire three-dimensional geometry of two bones at once to produce a single value to indicate their similarity. Two different versions of this method, one manual and the other automated, were created and then tested for how well they accurately pair-matched humeri. Each version was assessed using sensitivity and specificity. The manual mesh-to-mesh value comparison method was 100 % sensitive and 100 % specific. The automated mesh-to-mesh value comparison method was 95 % sensitive and 60 % specific. Our results indicate that the mesh-to-mesh value comparison method overall is a powerful new tool for accurately pair-matching commingled skeletal elements, although the automated version still needs improvement.
This work describes the outcome of two field surveys in Lefkada Island, after the 17.11.2015 earthquake of Mw6.4 at its southwestern peninsula. Geo-environmental effects were observed throughout the western flanks of the mountain massif, parallel to the activated fault. Structural damage was mainly observed in the epicentral area where macroseismic intensity was assessed as VIII, based on registered damage and assumed vulnerability per building typology. Both modern and traditional buildings exhibited notable seismic performance. The distribution of the damage per building category present in the affected area is presented, based on site surveys and post-seismic usability characterization by the local Earthquake Rehabilitation Organization. The survey highlights the frequent presence of the so-called “pontelo” dual system at both ground floor and two-story stone masonry buildings at the western mountain villages. This structural type, unique within the Greek territory, revealed significant seismic performance and the need of engineering restoration measures is underlined.
This work deals with the effects of the 17.11.2015 earthquake with Mw6.4 occurred onshore at the SW part of Lefkada Island. The earthquake produced a large co-seismic horizontal displacement u=40 cm towards a SSW direction (N210), recorded at a near-field, permanent GPS station of NOA (PONT). Extensive geo-environmental and limited structural impacts were caused. Seismic effects have been extensively investigated during several in-situ surveys conducted by our research group and a thorough damage databank was constructed. Comparisonwith damage due to the previous strong event with Mw=6.2 occurred on 14.8.2003, showed that the effects of the current quake were significantly lower.Geo-environmental effects were observed throughout the western flanks of the mountain massif of the mainland, related with slope failures, rock falls, rock mass slides, leading thus to significant damage of several vital infrastructures. The building stock of the island comprising both modern and traditional buildings exhibited notable seismic performance during this earthquake. Structural damage was concentrated in the epicentral area where macroseismic intensity was assessed VIII, based on registered damage and vulnerability. The analysis of 3D strong ground motion recordings at two permanent accelerometric stations on the island and of the GNSS 1 Hz three-component data at PONT indicate directional dynamic effects, parallel with the T- principal axis of the event’s stress field and the regional slope dip that may likely have triggered extensive landslides. Moreover, the ground motion pattern indicates a rupture complexity involving two discrete sources. Besides the exceptional behavior of the buildings across the island, the spectral content of the strong ground motion has been found to be discrete from the elastic response of the low-rise traditional constructions, thus favoring amenablestructural damage distribution.The damage databank compiled in this work has been employed into a holistic building-by-building GIS scheme applying a vector base-map of the buildings footprints in the epicentral area available by the analysis of optical satellite imagery, undertaken within the framework of the RASOR project (http://www.rasor-project.eu). Thereafter, the poly-thematic outcome of the present study may be considered a valuable tool for the scientific community toward studying the seismic risk of Lefkada.
Matsangouras IT, Avgoustoglou E, Gofa F, Pytharoulis I, Nastos PT, Bluestein HW. Numerical Modeling Analysis of Tornadoes Using the COSMO.GR Model Over Greece. In: {Karacostas TS, Bais AF, Nastos PT} PERSPECTIVES ON ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES. {PO BOX 17, 3300 AA DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS}: {Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Phys, Lab Atmospher Phys; Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Geol, Dept Meteorol & Climatol; Hellen Meteorol Soc; Mariolopoulos Kanaginis Fdn Environm Sci}; 2016. pp. 123-128.Abstract
{The COnsortium for Small-scale MOdeling (COSMO) was formed in October 1998, and its general goal is to develop, improve and maintain a non-hydrostatic limited-area atmospheric model, while the Hellenic National Meteorological Service joined the consortium in 1999. The COSMO model has been designed both for operational numerical weather prediction (NWP) as well as various scientific applications on the meso-beta and meso-c scale. Two tornado case studies were selected to investigate the ability of COSMO model to depict the characteristics of severe convective weather, which favored the development of the associated storms. The first tornado occurred, close to Ag. Ilias village, 8 km northwestern from Aitoliko city over western Greece on February 7, 2013, while the second tornado developed close to Palio Katramio village, 8 km southern from Xanthi city over northern Greece on November 25, 2015. Although both tornadoes had a short lifetime, they caused significant impacts. The COSMO. GR atmospheric model was initialized with analysis boundary conditions obtained from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The resulting numerical products with spatial resolution of 0.020 degrees (similar to 2 km) over the geographical domain of Greece depicted very well the severe convective conditions close to tornadoes formation.}
Mylonas MP, Nastos PT, Matsangouras IT. Numerical Modeling of a Tornado Event at Skala, Lakonia, Peloponnese in September 2015. In: {Karacostas TS, Bais AF, Nastos PT} PERSPECTIVES ON ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES. {PO BOX 17, 3300 AA DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS}: {Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Phys, Lab Atmospher Phys; Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Geol, Dept Meteorol & Climatol; Hellen Meteorol Soc; Mariolopoulos Kanaginis Fdn Environm Sci}; 2016. pp. 81-86.Abstract
{Towards the evaluation of the thermodynamic characteristics of a high impact tornadic event in Skala Lakonia, southern Peloponnese, in September 21, 2015, Weather Research and Forecasting (AR-WRF) mesoscale model was used. For the particular model setup used in this study, different configurations were pre-tested based on different spatial resolution and parameterization schemes. The current study downscales ECMWF reanalysis initial and boundary conditions to 300 m spatial resolution to assess the convective available potential energy (CAPE), the reflectivity perceived by radar (dBZ) and the energy helicity index (EHI). The validation was conducted using in situ and remote sensing observations of the surrounding area. The results illustrate deep convective activity with CAPE values indicating a strong instability in the region of interest. Furthermore, the model seems to capture well the southwesterly-northeasterly front propagation of the convective initiation of the storm, as well as the troughs that affected the south part of Peloponnese, assessing the pre-frontal nature of the particular tornadic event. Finally, the EHI values demonstrate the tornadic activity in the region of Skala Lakonia, as the model appears to simulate accurately the low pressure system along the east coast of the Lakonia Gulf.}
Pytharoulis I, Matsangouras IT, Tegoulias I, Kotsopoulos S, Karacostas TS, Nastos PT. Numerical Study of the Medicane of November 2014. In: {Karacostas TS, Bais AF, Nastos PT} PERSPECTIVES ON ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES. {PO BOX 17, 3300 AA DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS}: {Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Phys, Lab Atmospher Phys; Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Geol, Dept Meteorol & Climatol; Hellen Meteorol Soc; Mariolopoulos Kanaginis Fdn Environm Sci}; 2016. pp. 115-121.Abstract
{A hurricane-like cyclone with an `eye', eyewall convection and strong winds affected central Mediterranean basin on 7-8 November 2014. The maximum observed sustained wind speed was 22 m/s (tropical storm strength) at Lampedusa. Significant damages were reported from this island and the coastal regions of eastern Sicily. Thus, it is essential to study medicanes and calibrate the numerical weather prediction models in order to simulate them adequately. Operational ECMWF analyses are used together with the non-hydrostatic Weather Research and Forecasting numerical model with the Advanced Research dynamic solver (WRF-ARW ver 3.7.1). The aims of this study are to simulate the system and investigate the sensitivity of the model on the microphysical scheme, the number of vertical levels and the global input dataset. The main characteristics of the medicane are represented in good agreement with observations and analyses, but, no single setup is able to provide the best reproduction of all its features.}
UNLABELLED: Theme: Complex health care and chronic disease management.
INTRODUCTION: Congenital heart disease (CHD) may have a very important impact on central nervous system function and neurodevelopment.
PURPOSE: Critical evaluation of literature concerning the neurodevelopmental outcomes following congenital heart surgery.
METHODS: Systematic review of 28 articles published after 2000 in PubMed, Scopus and CINAHL.
RESULTS: Neurodevelopment morbidities can have a negative impact on early childhood development, academic performance and later transition to adulthood. The spectrum of neurodevelopment impairment is wide, depending on the complexity of CHD and it is characterized by mild cognitive impairment, impaired social interaction, and impairments in core communication skills, including pragmatic language, as well as inattention, impulsive behavior and impaired executive function. A number of important determinants are presented.
CONCLUSIONS: Children with CHD are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental delay. Screening and evaluation of neurodevelopmental delay, along with regular follow up, are essential steps to guide appropriate interventions to optimize their overall development.
UNLABELLED: Theme: Cardiology Introduction: Measuring quality of life (QoL) in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD) is of great clinical importance.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was: (a) to adapt the PedsQL Cardiac Module for children aged two to 18 years with CHD in a sample of the Greek population; (b) to determine its reliability and validity.
METHODS: Forward and backward translation methodology was used. Parents and children completed the instrument during: (a) hospitalization and (b) visits in the paediatric cardiology outpatient department. Cross-informant variance between children and parents was thoroughly assessed.
RESULTS: Missing item responses did not exceed 5%. All internal consistency reliability coefficients for the inventory exceeded the minimum standards for group comparisons, over 0.75. Hypothesized correlations between cardiac module and core scales were statistically significant, (p<0.05). Agreement between children and parents was relatively high. Pilot study results will be additionally presented.
CONCLUSION: The findings support the feasibility, reliability and validity of the Greek translation of the PedsQL Cardiac Module in children with congenital heart defect (CHD).
UNLABELLED: Theme: Parenting/parenthood.
INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of complex CHD impacts the psychosocial status of parents and their functioning.
PURPOSE: A critical evaluation of the literature concerning the psychosocial parental response to their infant's diagnosis of complex CHD.
METHODS: Systematic review of 18 articles published after 2000 in PubMed and CINAHL.
RESULTS: The impact of an infant's CHD on the family functioning is determined both by child's medical condition and family's psychosocial factors. The majority of parents experience intense loss and numerous stressors. Nurses and physicians need to be sensitive to the needs, thoughts and experiences of the parents when discussing treatment options. Families with poor social support networks may have the greatest need for professional interventions.
CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate interventions assist the majority of parents to adapt to the diagnosis of complex CHD. However, there are a number of parents with an increased psychosocial risk associated with higher rates of emotional distress.
Pavlakis EP. Onelio Jorge Cardoso: vida y obra en breve. In: Pavlakis EP Nuevas perspectivas en los cuentos de Onelio Jorge Cardoso. Madrid: Ediciones del Orto; 2016. pp. 7-12.
Abstract Measurements of nuclear magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments are considered quite important for the understanding of nuclear structure both near and far from the valley of stability. The recent advent of radioactive beams has resulted in a plethora of new, continuously flowing, experimental data on nuclear structure – including nuclear moments – which hinders the information management. A new, dedicated, public and user friendly online database (http://magneticmoments.info) has been created comprising experimental data of nuclear electromagnetic moments. The present database supersedes existing printed compilations, including also non-evaluated series of data and relevant meta-data, while putting strong emphasis on bimonthly updates. The scope, features and extensions of the database are reported.
Online bibliographic databases constitute the access to information supporting evidence-based practice. The purpose of the present survey is to evaluate the awareness, the use and the impact that online evidences have in clinical practice. An online survey was conducted using a 25 item questionnaire which was completed by 263 healthcare practitioners (nurses and doctors). Chi-square analysis and t-tests were used and comparisons between both groups were made. Multiple logistic regression to predict databases use was employed. Ninety-three percent (n = 206) of participants had heard about the online bibliographic databases; 5.7% of participant sample have heard about online databases but they do not use them. 18.3% was the total sample of non-users (n = 48). The main reason of using was filling a knowledge gap (50.7%), and the main reasons of not using were both that they use another information source and they don't need them to do their job. Both nurses and doctors believe that the use of online databases improves patient care it is a part of their legitimate clinical role. They need more training to improve their searching skills, enhancing them in everyday clinical place.
The competitive nature of ferromagnetism and superconductivity in Ferromagnet/Superconductor (FM/SC) hybrids has attracted much interest in the last decades. In particular, the superconducting magnetoresistance (SMR) observed in FM/SC/FM trilayers (TLs) is related to the manipulation of the transport properties of the SC interlayer by the magnetic domain structure of the FM outer layers with out-of-plane anisotropy. In our recent work [Sci. Rep. 5, 13420 (2015)], a phenomenological model was proposed that describes successfully the scaling of the SMR magnitude with the relevant macroscopic parameters and microscopic length scales of the SC and FM structural units. Based on this model, here we investigate the contribution of the parameters that affect indirectly the SMR magnitude and do not appear in the original model. To this end, the parameters of both the SC interlayer (i.e., the thickness, dSC, the mean free path, l, the coherence length, xi(0), etc.) and the FM outer layers (i.e., the thickness, d(FM)) are examined. The theoretical simulations presented here and experimental data unveil the indirect contribution of these parameters on the magnitude of the SMR and confirm the predictive power of the original phenomenological model. Accordingly, this model can be employed as a generic formula to combine successfully all involved parameters in every kind of FM/SC/FM TLs, ultimately optimizing the magnitude of the SMR. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.
The ferroelectric compound family Pb(ZrxTi1-x,)O-3 (PZT) is one of the most investigated and widely used piezoelectric materials. Optimization of the piezoelectric coefficients is observed for x similar to 0.52 (Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3) and is further promoted by the increase of grain size (OS). However, in some cases the piezoelectric properties of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3 deteriorate upon processing due to the decrease of density, p, that is mostly ascribed to the appearance of byproduct phases. In the present study we discuss the influence of the processing conditions on the piezoelectric properties for polycrystalline Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3, specifically focusing on the sintering temperature, 1100 degrees C Tsin <= 1250 degrees C. To this end, we use atomic force microscopy (AFM), Archimedes' method, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and a newly introduced local technique, based on a conventional optical microscope, which is further developed here to accommodate non-clamped specimens. The data obtained via this technique in the regime of relatively high electric fields evidence that the absolute piezoelectric coefficients, 141(i = x, y) show a non -monotonic behavior with an unexpectedly high maximum value broken vertical bar d broken vertical bar similar to 1100 pm V 1 at 7 = 1180 degrees C. These features are accompanied by a progressive increase of coercivity, reaching maximum value Ecj 4.5-5.0 kV cm I (i = x, y) at Tsin = 1250 degrees C. 'lb explain these findings, the Idzil coefficients are compared with the microstructure and compositional information, coming from AFM, Archimedes' method and XRD data. We conclude that the significantly high 141 values observed for samples prepared at Tsin = 1180 degrees C are motivated by the increase of mean GS, < GS >, while for Tsin > 1180 degrees C the decrease of density, p, ascribed to the appearance of byproduct phases, dominates and deteriorates Id2 I. These experimental results on broken vertical bar d broken vertical bar(T-sin) are reliably reproduced by a phenomenological model with reasonable assumptions for < GS > (7) 1 and rho(T(si)n). The unexpectedly high piezoelectric coefficients, broken vertical bar d(zi)broken vertical bar similar to 1100 pm V-1, reported here for the first time, are provocative and call for utilization of the introduced approach in the investigation of the respective properties of other compounds.
Macheras P, Iliadis A. Oral Drug Absorption. In: MODELING IN BIOPHARMACEUTICS, PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS: HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION. Vol. 30. 233 SPRING STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013, UNITED STATES: SPRINGER; 2016. pp. 109-158.
OJ287 goes through large optical flares twice each 12 years. The times of these flares have been predicted successfully now 5 times using a black hole binary model. In this model a secondary black hole goes around a primary black hole, impacting the accretion disk of the latter twice per orbital period, creating a thermal flare. Together with 6 flares from the historical data base, the set of flare timings determines uniquely the 7 parameters of the model: the two masses, the primary spin, the major axis, eccentricity and the phase of the orbit, plus a time delay parameter that gives the extent of time between accretion disk impacts and the related optical flares. Based on observations by the OJ287-15/16 Collaboration, OJ287 went into the phase of rapid flux rise on November 25, on the centenary of Einstein’s General Relativity, and peaked on December 5. At that time OJ287 was the brightest in over 30 years in optical wavelengths. The flare was of low polarization, and did not extend beyond the optical/UV region of the spectrum. On top of the main flare there were a number of small flares; their excess brightness correlates well with the simultaneous X-ray data. With these properties the main flare qualifies as the marker of the orbit of the secondary going around the primary black hole. Since the orbit solution is strongly over-determined, its parameters are known very accurately, at better than one percent level for the masses and the spin. The next flare is predicted to peak on July 28, 2019.Detailed monitoring of this event should allow us to test, for the first time, the celebrated black hole no-hair theorem for a massive black hole at the 10% level. The present data is consistent with the theorem only at a 30% level. The main difficulty in observing OJ287 from Earth at our predicted epoch is its closeness to the sun. Therefore, it is desirable to monitor OJ287 from a space-based telescope not in the vicinity of Earth. Unfortunately, this unique opportunity for testing the above celebrated theorem of General Relativity using OJ287 will not be available again until after several orbital cycles.The full list of participants in the OJ287-15/16 Collaboration is found in ApJL 819, L37, 2016.
HIV strains continuously evolve, tend to recombine, and new circulating variants are being discovered. Novel strains complicate efforts to develop a vaccine against HIV and may exhibit higher transmission efficiency and virulence, and elevated resistance to antiretroviral agents. The United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) set an ambitious goal to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030 through comprehensive strategies that include epidemiological input as the first step of the process. In this context, molecular epidemiology becomes invaluable as it captures trends in HIV evolution rates that shape epidemiological pictures across several geographical areas. This review briefly summarizes the molecular epidemiology of HIV among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Europe and Asia. Following high transmission rates of subtype G and CRF14_BG among PWID in Portugal and Spain, two European countries, Greece and Romania, experienced recent HIV outbreaks in PWID that consisted of multiple transmission clusters including subtypes B, A, F1, and recombinants CRF14_BG and CRF35_AD. The latter was first identified in Afghanistan. Russia, Ukraine, and other Former Soviet Union (FSU) states are still facing the devastating effects of epidemics in PWID produced by A(also known as IDU-A), B(known as IDU-B), and CRF03_AB. In Asia, CRF01_AE and subtype B (Western B and Thai B) travelled from PWID in Thailand to neighboring countries. Recombination hotspots in South China, Northern Myanmar, and Malaysia have been generating several intersubtype and inter-CRF recombinants (e.g. CRF07_BC, CRF08_BC, CRF33_01B etc.), increasing the complexity of HIV molecular patterns.
Ποιες είναι οι απαρχές των εκπαιδευτικών συστημάτων; Ποιες αρχές καθόρισαν τις «πειθαρχίες» και τη «γραμματική του σχολείου»; Πως διαγράφονται οι σχέσεις «εξουσίας-γνώσης» στο χώρο της εκπαίδευσης; Ποιες ιδέες επηρέασαν και διαμόρφωσαν τον παιδαγωγικό «λόγο» και τις εκπαιδευτικές «πρακτικές»; Ποιος είναι ο ρόλος της εκπαίδευσης στις σύγχρονες «οικονομίες και κοινωνίες της γνώσης»; Πώς καθορίζεται το σύγχρονο πλαίσιο των «ικανοτήτων» των μαθητών και των «προσόντων» των εκπαιδευτικών; Ποιοι είναι οι σύγχρονοι «λόγοι» και οι «πρακτικές» που χαρακτηρίζουν το σχολείο ως «οργανισμό και ως κοινότητα μάθησης»;
Τα παραπάνω είναι μερικά από τα βασικά ερωτήματα που διατρέχουν τα κεφάλαια του παρόντος βιβλίου. Σκοπός των συγγραφέων είναι να αναλύσουν τη μετάβαση από την αρχαιολογία της εκπαίδευσης στη γενεαλογία του εκπαιδευτικού θεσμού. Στο βιβλίο παρουσιάζονται αναλυτικά θεωρήσεις και πολιτικές που επηρέασαν τη διαμόρφωση του παιδαγωγικού «λόγου» και των εκπαιδευτικών πρακτικών κατά τη διάρκεια του 19ου και του 20ου αιώνα. Έμφαση δίδεται στην ανάλυση των σχέσεων «εξουσίας-γνώσης» στο χώρο της εκπαίδευσης, και στις σχέσεις μεταξύ του εκπαιδευτικού «λόγου» και των κοινωνικών πρακτικών. Εξετάζονται οι επιδράσεις της «παγκοσμιοποίησης» και της «κοινωνίας της γνώσης» στον εκπαιδευτικό θεσμό. Αναλύονται οι σύγχρονες «πολιτικές της γνώσης» που συνδέονται με νέες θεωρίες και διαδικασίες μάθησης, με τη μετάβαση από το γνωσιοκεντρικό στο «ικανοκεντρικό» μοντέλο μάθησης, με τον μεταβαλλόμενο ρόλο και τις αλλαγές στα προσόντα των εκπαιδευτικών, με τον μετασχηματισμό του σχολείου σε «οργανισμό και σε κοινότητα μάθησης», με τη μετάβαση από τις «πειθαρχικές κοινωνίες» στις «κοινωνίες ελέγχου» και την προοπτική μιας ολοκληρωτικά παιδαγωγούμενης κοινωνίας.
πάνω είναι μερικά από τα βασικά ερωτήματα που διατρέχουν τα κεφάλαια του παρόντος βιβλίου. Σκοπός των συγγραφέων είναι να αναλύσουν τη μετάβαση από την αρχαιολογία της εκπαίδευσης στη γενεαλογία του εκπαιδευτικού θεσμού. Στο βιβλίο παρουσιάζονται αναλυτικά θεωρήσεις και πολιτικές που επηρέασαν τη διαμόρφωση του παιδαγωγικού ≪λόγου≫ και των εκπαιδευτικών πρακτικών κατά τη διάρκεια του 19ου και του 20ου αιώνα. Έμφαση δίδεται στην ανάλυση των σχέσεων ≪εξουσίας-γνώσης≫ στο χώρο της εκπαίδευσης, και στις σχέσεις μεταξύ του εκπαιδευτικού ≪λόγου≫ και των κοινωνικών πρακτικών. Εξετάζονται οι επιδράσεις της ≪παγκοσμιοποίησης≫ και της ≪κοινωνίας της γνώσης≫ στον εκπαιδευτικό θεσμό. Αναλύονται οι σύγχρονες ≪πολιτικές της γνώσης≫ που συνδέονται με νέες θεωρίες και διαδικασίες μάθησης, με τη μετάβαση από το γνωσιοκεντρικό στο ≪ικανοκεντρικό≫ μοντέλο μάθησης, με τον μεταβαλλόμενο ρόλο και τις αλλαγές στα προσόντα των εκπαιδευτικών, με τον μετασχηματισμό του σχολείου σε ≪οργανισμό και σε κοινότητα μάθησης≫, με τη μετάβαση από τις ≪πειθαρχικές κοινωνίες≫ στις ≪κοινωνίες ελέγχου≫ και την προοπτική μιας ολοκληρωτικά παιδαγωγούμενης κοινωνίας.
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Ποιες είναι οι απαρχές των εκπαιδευτικών συστημάτων; Ποιες αρχές καθόρισαν τις ≪πειθαρχίες≫ και τη ≪γραμματική του σχολείου≫; Πως διαγράφονται οι σχέσεις ≪εξουσίας-γνώσης≫ στο χώρο της εκπαίδευσης; Ποιες ιδέες επηρέασαν και διαμόρφωσαν τον παιδαγωγικό ≪λόγο≫ και τις εκπαιδευτικές ≪πρακτικές≫; Ποιος είναι ο ρόλος της εκπαίδευσης στις σύγχρονες ≪οικονομίες και κοινωνίες της γνώσης≫; Πώς καθορίζεται το σύγχρονο πλαίσιο των ≪ικανοτήτων≫ των μαθητών και των ≪προσόντων≫ των εκπαιδευτικών; Ποιοι είναι οι σύγχρονοι ≪λόγοι≫ και οι ≪πρακτικές≫ που χαρακτηρίζουν το σχολείο ως ≪οργανισμό και ως κοινότητα μάθησης≫;
Τα παραπάνω είναι μερικά από τα βασικά ερωτήματα που διατρέχουν τα κεφάλαια του παρόντος βιβλίου. Σκοπός των συγγραφέων είναι να αναλύσουν τη μετάβαση από την αρχαιολογία της εκπαίδευσης στη γενεαλογία του εκπαιδευτικού θεσμού. Στο βιβλίο παρουσιάζονται αναλυτικά θεωρήσεις και πολιτικές που επηρέασαν τη διαμόρφωση του παιδαγωγικού ≪λόγου≫ και των εκπαιδευτικών πρακτικών κατά τη διάρκεια του 19ου και του 20ου αιώνα. Έμφαση δίδεται στην ανάλυση των σχέσεων ≪εξουσίας-γνώσης≫ στο χώρο της εκπαίδευσης, και στις σχέσεις μεταξύ του εκπαιδευτικού ≪λόγου≫ και των κοινωνικών πρακτικών. Εξετάζονται οι επιδράσεις της ≪παγκοσμιοποίησης≫ και της ≪κοινωνίας της γνώσης≫ στον εκπαιδευτικό θεσμό. Αναλύονται οι σύγχρονες ≪πολιτικές της γνώσης≫ που συνδέονται με νέες θεωρίες και διαδικασίες μάθησης, με τη μετάβαση από το γνωσιοκεντρικό στο ≪ικανοκεντρικό≫ μοντέλο μάθησης, με τον μεταβαλλόμενο ρόλο και τις αλλαγές στα προσόντα των εκπαιδευτικών, με τον μετασχηματισμό του σχολείου σε ≪οργανισμό και σε κοινότητα μάθησης≫, με τη μετάβαση από τις ≪πειθαρχικές κοινωνίες≫ στις ≪κοινωνίες ελέγχου≫ και την προοπτική μιας ολοκληρωτικά παιδαγωγούμενης κοινωνίας.
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BACKGROUND & AIMS: Risk scores for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed in Asians offer poor-moderate predictability in Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This nine center cohort study aimed to develop and validate an accurate HCC risk score in Caucasian CHB patients treated with the current oral antivirals, entecavir/tenofovir. METHODS: We included 1815 adult Caucasians with CHB and no HCC at baseline who received entecavir/tenofovir for 12 months. Using data from eight centers (derivation dataset, n=1325), a HCC risk score was developed based on multivariable Cox models and points system for simplification. Harrell's c-index was used as discrimination, bootstrap for internal validation and the data from the 9(th) and largest center (validation dataset, n=490) for external validation. RESULTS: The 5-year cumulative HCC incidence rates were 5.7% and 8.4% in the derivation and validation dataset, respectively. In the derivation dataset, age, gender, platelets and cirrhosis were independently associated with HCC. The PAGE-B score was developed based on age, gender and platelets (c-index=0.82, 0.81 after bootstrap validation). The addition of cirrhosis did not substantially improve the discrimination (c-index=0.84). The predictability of PAGE-B score was similar (c-index=0.82) in the validation dataset. Patients with PAGE-B 9, 10-17, 18 had 5-year cumulative HCC incidence rates of 0%, 3%, 17% in the derivation and 0%, 4%, 16% in the validation dataset. CONCLUSION: PAGE-B, which is based only on baseline patients' age, gender and platelets, represents a simple and reliable score for prediction of the 5-year HCC risk in Caucasian CHB patients under entecavir/tenofovir.
All orthopaedic fluoroscopic procedures performed using C-arm guidance were monitored for 1 y. The type of procedure, fluoroscopy time (T), kerma-area product (KAP) values and number of radiographs (F) were recorded. The two most often performed techniques were as follows: intramedullary nailing (IMN) of intertrochanteric/peritrochanteric (IP) fractures (101 cases, 49.3 %) and antergrade IMN of femur or tibia shaft (TS) fractures (28 cases, 13.7 %). For the remaining procedures, none accounted for >5 %, categorised as 'various' (76 cases, 37 %). Large variations in T, KAP and F were observed. For IMN of IP fractures, antergrade IMN of femur and TS fractures and for various procedures, respectively, median values were T--2.1, 2.2 and 0.6 min, KAP--6.3, 6.3 and 0.6 Gy cm(-2) and F--21, 2.2 and 6.7. The patient doses during fluoroscopically guided procedures are relatively low compared with other interventional procedures.
The aim of the study was to examine whether physical and technical performance deterioration after a water polo game is related to the athletes' conditioning level. Blood lactate concentration was measured during a 5 × 200-m incremental swimming test in 10 male water polo athletes to calculate the velocities corresponding to 4.0, 5.0, and 10.0 mmol·L lactate concentration (V4, V5, and V10, respectively) and define their conditioning level. All athletes participated in 5 competitive water polo games. Before (Pre), at half time (Mid), and after (Post) the first 2 games, handgrip strength and repeated sprint ability (8 × 20-m) were measured. Pre and Post the next 2 games, ball throwing velocity, shooting accuracy, and 400-m swim were evaluated. Pre, Mid, and Post the last game, the eggbeater kick test was performed. Handgrip strength, repeated sprint ability, 400-m swim performance, and ball shooting accuracy decreased after the game (8.4 ± 6.2%, 6.3 ± 3.4%, 7.0 ± 4.1%, and 20.3 ± 23.4%, respectively, p ≤ 0.05). V4, V5, and V10 were not significantly correlated with changes in physical or technical performance after the game. Performance in 400-m swim correlated with V4 and V5 whereas changes in 400-m swim Pre-Post, correlated with changes in ball shooting accuracy and throwing velocity (r = 0.73 and r = 0.80, p ≤ 0.05). These data suggest that V4, V5, and V10 may not correlate with performance decline in water polo. Interestingly, the 400-m swim test is connected with the decline in repeated sprints, ball shooting accuracy, and throwing velocity after a water polo game in well-trained athletes.
INTRODUCTION: We present a case of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) port placement where the catheter had been malpositioned to the persistent left superior vena cava.
METHODS: Despite the obvious elevation of the P-wave signaling proximity of the catheter tip to the sinus node, the catheter was not in the desired location within the superior vena cava or the right atrium, because of the presence of a persistent left superior vena cava. Computed tomography was used in order to locate the catheter.
RESULTS: The catheter was located in the persistent left superior vena cava.
CONCLUSIONS: Malpositioning of the catheter in the persistent left superior vena cava occurs in 0.3%-0.5% of patients. The catheter was subsequently removed.
We investigated the phase behavior of thin film, thickness h 100 nm, mixtures of a polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) diblock copolymer with star-shaped polystyrene (SPS) molecules of varying functionalities f, where 4 < f < 64, and molecular weights per arm Marm. The miscibility of the system and the surface composition varied appreciably with Marm and f. For large values of Marm, regardless of f, the miscibility of the system was qualitatively similar to that of linear chain PS/PS-b-P2VP mixtures – the copolymer chains aggregate to form micelles, each composed of an inner P2VP core and PS corona, which preferentially segregate to the free surface. On the other hand, for large f and small Marm, SPS molecules preferentially resided at the free surface. Moreover, blends containing SPS molecules with the highest values of f and lowest values of Marm were phase separated. These observations are rationalized in terms of competing entropic interactions and the dependence of the surface tension of the star shaped molecules on Marm and f.
An extension of the layer-multiple-scattering method to phononic crystals of poroelastic spheres immersed in a fluid medium is developed. The applicability of the method is demonstrated on specific examples of close-packed fcc crystals of submerged water-saturated meso- and macroporous silica microspheres. It is shown that, by varying the pore size and/or the porosity, the transmission, reflection, and absorption spectra of finite slabs of these crystals are significantly altered. Strong absorption, driven by the slow waves in the poroelastic material and enhanced by multiple scattering, leads to negligible transmittance over an extended frequency range, which might be useful for practical applications in broadband acoustic shielding. The results are analyzed by reference to relevant phononic dispersion diagrams in the viscous and inertial coupling limits, and a consistent interpretation of the underlying physics is provided.
In this paper, we present a combined photometric, spectroscopic, and orbital period study of three early-type eclipsing binary systems: XZ Aql, UX Her, and AT Peg. As a result, we have derived the absolute parameters of their components and, on that basis, we discuss their evolutionary states. Furthermore, we compare their parameters with those of other binary systems and with theoretical models. An analysis of all available up-to-date times of minima indicated that all three systems studied here show cyclic orbital changes; their origin is discussed in detail. Finally, we performed a frequency analysis for possible pulsational behavior, and as a result we suggest that XZ Aql hosts a δ Scuti component.
Blobs, or quasi-spherical emission regions containing relativistic particles and magnetic fields, are often assumed ad hoc in emission models of relativistic astrophysical jets, yet their physical origin is still not well understood. Here, we employ a suite of large-scale 2D particle-in-cell simulations in electron-positron plasmas to demonstrate that relativistic magnetic reconnection can naturally account for the formation of quasi-spherical plasmoids filled with high-energy particles and magnetic fields. Our simulations extend to unprecedentedly long temporal and spatial scales, so we can capture the asymptotic physics independently of the initial setup. We characterize the properties of the plasmoids, continuously generated as a self-consistent by-product of the reconnection process: they are in rough energy equipartition between particles and magnetic fields; the upper energy cutoff of the plasmoid particle spectrum is proportional to the plasmoid width w, corresponding to a Larmor radius ∼0.2 w; the plasmoids grow in size at ∼0.1 of the speed of light, with most of the growth happening while they are still non-relativistic (`first they grow'); their growth is suppressed once they get accelerated to relativistic speeds by the field line tension, up to the Alfvén speed (`then they go'). The largest plasmoids reach a width wmax ∼ 0.2 L independently of the system length L, they have nearly isotropic particle distributions and contain the highest energy particles, whose Larmor radius is ∼0.03 L. The latter can be regarded as the Hillas criterion for relativistic reconnection. We briefly discuss the implications of our results for the high-energy emission from relativistic jets and pulsar winds.
The conditions for the occurrence of strong magnetotransverse anisotropy in light scattering by a single gyrotropic sphere are investigated by means of rigorous full electrodynamic multipole calculations. It is shown that composite magnetoplasmonic spherical scatterers with a core–shell morphology can induce large and tunable plasmon-driven Hall photon currents, which appear even in the case of subwavelength particles. Explicit results for silver-coated bismuth-substituted yttrium iron garnet nanospheres are presented and analyzed.
Lake Ohrid is located at the border between FYROM (Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia) and Albania and formed during the latest phases of Alpine orogenesis. It is the deepest, the largest and the oldest tectonic lake in Europe. To better understand the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental evolution of Lake Ohrid, deep drilling was carried out in 2013 within the framework of the Scientific Collaboration on Past Speciation Conditions (SCOPSCO) project that was funded by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP). Preliminary results indicate that lacustrine sedimentation of Lake Ohrid started between 1.2 and 1.9 Ma ago. Here we present new pollen data (selected percentage and concentration taxa/groups) of the uppermost ∼ 200 m of the 569 m long DEEP core drilled in the depocentre of Lake Ohrid. The study is the fruit of a cooperative work carried out in several European palynological laboratories. The age model of this part of the core is based on 10 tephra layers and on tuning of biogeochemical proxy data to orbital parameters. According to the age model, the studied sequence covers the last ∼ 500 000 years at a millennial-scale resolution ( ∼ 1.6 ka) and records the major vegetation and climate changes that occurred during the last 12 (13 only pro parte) marine isotope stages (MIS). Our results indicate that there is a general good correspondence between forested/non-forested periods and glacial–interglacial cycles of the marine isotope stratigraphy. The record shows a progressive change from cooler and wetter to warmer and drier interglacial conditions. This shift in temperature and moisture availability is visible also in vegetation during glacial periods. The period corresponding to MIS11 (pollen assemblage zone OD-10, 428–368 ka BP) is dominated by montane trees such as conifers. Mesophilous elements such as deciduous and semi-deciduous oaks dominate forest periods of MIS5 (PASZ OD-3, 129–70 ka BP) and MIS1 (PASZ OD-1, 14 ka BP to present). Moreover, MIS7 (PASZ OD-6, 245–190 ka) shows a very high interglacial variability, with alternating expansions of montane and mesophilous arboreal taxa. Grasslands (open vegetation formations requiring relatively humid conditions) characterize the earlier glacial phases of MIS12 (PASZ OD-12, 488–459 ka), MIS10 (corresponding to the central part of PASZ OD-10, 428–366 ka) and MIS8 (PASZ OD-7, 288–245 ka). Steppes (open vegetation formations typical of dry environments) prevail during MIS6 (OD-5 and OD-4, 190–129 ka) and during MIS4-2 (PASZ OD-2, 70–14 ka). Our palynological results support the notion that Lake Ohrid has been a refugium area for both temperate and montane trees during glacials. Closer comparisons with other long southern European and Near Eastern pollen records will be achieved through ongoing high-resolution studies.
Aims: We present a comprehensive X-ray study of the population of supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Using primarily XMM-Newton observations, we conduct a systematic spectral analysis of LMC SNRs to gain new insight into their evolution and the interplay with their host galaxy. Methods: We combined all the archival XMM-Newton observations of the LMC with those of our Very Large Programme LMC survey. We produced X-ray images and spectra of 51 SNRs, out of a list of 59 objects compiled from the literature and augmented with newly found objects. Using a careful modelling of the background, we consistently analysed all the X-ray spectra and measure temperatures, luminosities, and chemical compositions. The locations of SNRs are compared to the distributions of stars, cold gas, and warm gas in the LMC, and we investigated the connection between the SNRs and their local environment, characterised by various star formation histories. We tentatively typed all LMC SNRs, in order to constrain the ratio of core-collapse to type Ia SN rates in the LMC. We also compared the column densities derived from X-ray spectra to H I maps, thus probing the three-dimensional structure of the LMC. Results: This work provides the first homogeneous catalogue of the X-ray spectral properties of SNRs in the LMC. It offers a complete census of LMC remnants whose X-ray emission exhibits Fe K lines (13% of the sample), or reveals the contribution from hot supernova ejecta (39%), which both give clues to the progenitor types. The abundances of O, Ne, Mg, Si, and Fe in the hot phase of the LMC interstellar medium are found to be between 0.2 and 0.5 times the solar values with a lower abundance ratio [α/Fe] than in the Milky Way. The current ratio of core-collapse to type Ia SN rates in the LMC is constrained to NCC/NIa=1.35(-0.24+0.11), which is lower than in local SN surveys and galaxy clusters. Our comparison of the X-ray luminosity functions of SNRs in Local Group galaxies (LMC, SMC, M31, and M33) reveals an intriguing excess of bright objects in the LMC. Finally, we confirm that 30 Doradus and the LMC Bar are offset from the main disc of the LMC to the far and near sides, respectively. Based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and NASA.
On July 17, 2015 a forest fire that broke out in the southern part of Epidavros Limira peninsula (Laconia, southeastern Peloponnese), expanded rapidly due to strong winds blowing in the area and raged out of control for two days, inducing substantial damage to agriculture, livestock farming, buildings and infrastructure and causing one fatality. Innovative GIS-based methods were developed and implemented for the first time in a fire-affected area in Greece for mapping the post-fire erosion, flood and landslide hazards and risks. Geomorphological, geological, tectonic, hydrological, meteorological and land-use data along with a WorldView-2 satellite image and post-fire field observations were evaluated and used. A newly developed method was applied for assessing the erosion hazard. Analytic Hierarchy Process and Weighted Linear Combination methods were used for assessing the post-fire landslide susceptibility. The HEC-RAS model was used for hydraulic simulation and assessment of flood risk under post-fire conditions. Post-fire erosion, flood and landslide hazard and risk maps were constructed for the affected area delineating locations with very low, low, moderate, high or very high hazard and risk of erosion, flood and landslide respectively. The developed methodology is a useful post-fire hazard and risk assessment tool and can be applied by state authorities to assess the geo-environmental impact of fire disasters in areas with similar environmental conditions.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence and its clinical characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in a specialized psoriasis clinic of a University Hospital.
METHODS: In this retrospective study, 278 patients with psoriasis were evaluated between 2011 and 2013.
RESULTS: The study included 278 patients with psoriasis: 144 (52%) were male and 134 (48%) female. Their median age was 51.41 with median psoriasis presenting age of 34.52 years. Referring to the type of psoriasis, 86% presented with plaque psoriasis, 5% guttate, 2% palms and soles, 2% inverse, 1% pustular and 4% with psoriasis of more than one type. Nail disease appeared in 121 patients (43.5%) and scalp disease in 175 (63%). Of these patients, 85 (30%) had PsA, whereas 51% of patients with PsA had psoriatic nail disease. With reference to the PsA type, 43 (51%) patients presented with polyarthritis, 10 (12%) with oligoarthritis, 7 (8%) with axial arthritis, whereas the rest 25 of them (31%) had PsA of more than one type. The subgroup of patients with PsA had significantly higher rates of comorbidities including arterial hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia compared to non-PsA patients with 41% vs. 17% (P = 0.001), 20% vs. 8% (P = 0.021) and 41% vs. 19% (P = 0.004), respectively.
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PsA among patients with psoriasis was relatively higher in Greece compared to other ethnic-based studies. Comorbidities related to life expectancy were more frequent. As there is a high percentage of undiagnosed cases with active arthritis among patients with psoriasis, dermatologists should be aware of PsA clinical signs in order to recognize it earlier and provide successful treatment.
OJ 287 is a quasi-periodic quasar with roughly 12 year optical cycles. It displays prominent outbursts that are predictable in a binary black hole model. The model predicted a major optical outburst in 2015 December. We found that the outburst did occur within the expected time range, peaking on 2015 December 5 at magnitude 12.9 in the optical R-band. Based on Swift/XRT satellite measurements and optical polarization data, we find that it included a major thermal component. Its timing provides an accurate estimate for the spin of the primary black hole, χ =0.313+/- 0.01. The present outburst also confirms the established general relativistic properties of the system such as the loss of orbital energy to gravitational radiation at the 2% accuracy level, and it opens up the possibility of testing the black hole no-hair theorem with 10% accuracy during the present decade.
