Publications

Abstract Spectroscopic methods such as absorption spectroscopy in ultraviolet (UV), visible (Vis), near-infrared (NIR), or mid-infrared (MIR) or their combinations have been used for nondestructive, fast, real-time, off/online monitoring of olive oil quality parameters, and for detection and determination of olive oil adulterants as well as geographic origin. These methods have also been used in the industrial sector to analyze the quality of olive fruit with respect to oil content, moisture, color, and fatty acid content. This chapter considers several applications of UV-Vis-NIR or/and MIR spectroscopy in off/on-line monitoring of olive oil functional compounds and oxidation status in combination with appropriately used spectral preprocessing and data analysis (chemometrics). The UV-Vis-NIR and MIR spectroscopic methods have the advantages of minimal or no sample preparation and the ability of a very simple and rapid simultaneous analysis of several constituents. They constitute one of the most promising and useful on/in-line detection methods for olive oil quality control.

Achievement goal theory is an important framework to understand students' achievement goals, motivation, and engagement in academic situations and to study teachers' instructional practices. There has been a debate about whether optimal motivation involves the pursuit of mastery goals only (i.e., mastery goal perspective) or the combined pursuit of mastery and performance-approach goals (i.e., multiple goal perspective; Barron & Harackiewicz, 2001, 2003). In the present correlational research we tested these two goal perspectives in two Peruvian samples of high school students (Sample 1: N = 1505; Sample 2: N = 551) and further examined whether students in classes, in which teachers were perceived to promote mastery goals only or performance-approach goals, would display the most optimal learning pattern. After controlling for learners' performance-avoidance goal pursuit, results provided only slim evidence for the additive goal perspective, as the effects of students' pursuit of mastery goals were more robust and consistent across both samples and outcomes (i.e., learning strategies and math grades). Along similar lines, at the class level, perceived teacher-promoted mastery goals positively predicted deep-level learning strategies, while class-level perceived teacher-promoted performance-avoidance goals related to lower academic achievement. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The purpose is to: 1) foster the national BioMedical Informatics (BMI) foundation aligning with the international medical informatics association (IMIA) in order to remodel the national strategies; 2) structure the BMHI strategic plans in Egypt and Jordan as models for other Arab States; 3) define the requirements for new joint EU-Mediterranean BMHI projects and initiatives; and 4) encourage and support the BMHI centres of excellence in Egypt and Jordan. BIOMed will synergistically apply up-to-date European and International methodologies & standards. The pre-defined challenges were integrating multiple segregated BMHI initiatives and policies; overcoming obstructions- socio, political, economic; recommendation adaptation, assessing the current and proposed solutions; defining the national health systems real demands; identifying different European best practices. Political instability in the Middle East after the Arab Spring in 2011 added further challenges as well as improved the importance of the EU-MENA (EU and Middle East and North Africa) cooperation.

The aim of this study is to spatially assess fire severity and to explore the relationship between the Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from WorldView- 2 imagery and the field-based fire severity index “Composite Burn Index” (CBI) on a recent large fire that occurred on the island of Chios, Greece, in 2016. The statistical analysis indicated a relatively strong linear relationship between the NDVI and the CBI (R2 = 0.71). Predictive local thresholds of NDVI values have been determined for accurate thematic classification and mapping of fire severity classes. The overall classification accuracy based on NDVI from WorldView-2 was relatively high (71%), pointing to the potential of using such data for mapping forest fires in the Mediterranean as well as for assessing their severity. The application of the classification thresholds calculated in this study over other forest fire events on similar ecosystem types, could support the rapid assessment of fire severity and hence could enable the decisions needed for proper post-fire management.

This paper examines the dynamic linkages among major exchange rates during the Global Financial Crisis and Eurozone Sovereign Debt Crisis. We extend the previous literature on volatility spillover linkages among the currencies by taking into account the uncovered interest-rate parity hypothesis for 2004–2015. The results indicate that the Canadian Dollar and Great British Pound were affected mainly by the US Dollar across the two crises due to strong financial and economic ties among the three economies, while the Japanese Yen shows evidence of a safe-haven currency. We also provide evidence of varying vulnerability of currencies to both crises, implying increased portfolio diversification benefits, since holding a portfolio with diverse currencies is less subject to systematic risk. These results show that the policy makers need to adopt a stricter form of monetary policy coordination among central banks, since the different vulnerability of currencies across turbulent periods reveals possible non-cooperative monetary policies.

The popularity of recommendation systems has made them a substantial component of many applications and projects. This work proposes a framework for package recommendations that try to meet users' preferences as much as possible through the satisfaction of several criteria. This is achieved by modeling the relation between the items and the categories these items belong to aiming to recommend to each user the top-k packages which cover their preferred categories and the restriction of a maximum package cost. Our contribution includes an optimal and a greedy solution. The novelty of the optimal solution is that it combines the collaborative filtering predictions with a graph based model to produce recommendations. The problem is expressed through a minimum cost flow network and is solved by integer linear programming. The greedy solution performs with a low computational complexity and provides recommendations which are close to the optimal solution. We have evaluated and compared our framework with a baseline method by using two popular recommendation datasets and we have obtained promising results on a set of widely accepted evaluation metrics.

Although there is rich evidence for human occupation of Paros’ coastline, there is a lack of data regarding the evolution of the island’s coastal palaeoenvironments. Paros Island is part of the Cyclades Islands complex, in the central Aegean Sea. It is the third largest island of the Cyclades. The Island is of great geoarchaeological significance, with the earliest evidence of occupation dating back around the 5th millennium BC, while the nearby island of Saliagos has yielded a Neolithic settlement. The studied site, Livadia, is located in the northwestern part of Paros Island, near the modern capital, Paroikia.For the purposes of this work, a multiproxy analysis was undertaken, which included sedimentological and biostratigraphic analyses of Late Holocene coastal deposits from lagoonal environment, aiming to reconstruct the evolution of coastal landscapes in Paroikia Bay (Paros Island, Greece). In order provide insights into the coastal evolution and the RSL changes of this sector of the Aegean, the dated samples of this study were compared with already published archaeological data, geomorphological sea level indicators and with the RSL curve derived from the glacio-hydro-isostatic model for the region.

Abstract Species occurring in sympatry have to effectively segregate their niche in order to co-exist. In the case of ectotherms in particular, the very important parameter of thermal biology has to be taken into account. Here we investigated the thermoregulatory effectiveness (E) of two endemic Greek lizards (Hellenolacerta graeca and Podarcis peloponnesiacus) that live syntopically on a rocky cliff in the Peloponnese. We presumed that the two species would select different microhabitats, to avoid interspecific competition, and follow a similar thermoregulation pattern as they experience the same conditions. We also expected that E values for both species would differ depending on the season. Overall, we found that the two species had similar E values for each season but differentiated partial thermoregulatory attributes. Though they both occurred in the same types of microhabitat, H. graeca selected higher sites (average 99cm above ground) than P. peloponnesiacus (average 44cm). Also, the latter achieved higher preferred temperatures during summer and winter. Finally, the effectiveness of thermoregulation for both species varied interseasonally and received its highest values during summer, in response to the lowest thermal quality that was observed then. Similar studies stress the importance of thermal shifts for ectotherm co-existence.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications (SSRIs) are the first lines of treatment for maternal affective disorders, and are prescribed to up to 10% of pregnant women. Concern has been raised about how perinatal exposure to these medications affect offspring neurobehavioral outcomes, particularly those related to social interactions, as recent research has reported conflicting results related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk in children prenatally exposed to SSRIs. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the effects of perinatal exposure to the SSRI fluoxetine on social play behaviors and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal system, using a model of pre-gestational maternal stress. We also investigated synaptic proteins in the CA2, CA3, and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, as well as number of immature neurons in the granule cell layer, as both measures of plasticity in the hippocampus have been linked to social behaviors. In pre-adolescent male and female Sprague-Dawley rat offspring, main findings show that perinatal fluoxetine prevents the negative effect of maternal stress on sibling play behavior. However, perinatal fluoxetine increased social aggressive play with a novel conspecific in both sexes and decreased time grooming a novel conspecific in males only. Perinatal fluoxetine also increased serum corticosteroid binding globulin levels, 5-HT levels in the hippocampus, and pre-synaptic density assessed via synaptophysin in the dentate gyrus. Social interaction was significantly correlated with changes in plasticity in the CA2 region of the hippocampus. Pre-gestational maternal stress exposure resulted in significantly decreased rates of hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptophysin density in the dentate gyrus of pre-adolescent males, but not females. Together, these results further characterize the role of perinatal SSRIs, maternal stress prior to conception, and sex/gender on developing social behaviors and related plasticity in the hippocampus of pre-adolescent offspring.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications (SSRIs) are the first lines of treatment for maternal affective disorders, and are prescribed to up to 10% of pregnant women. Concern has been raised about how perinatal exposure to these medications affect offspring neurobehavioral outcomes, particularly those related to social interactions, as recent research has reported conflicting results related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk in children prenatally exposed to SSRIs. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the effects of perinatal exposure to the SSRI fluoxetine on social play behaviors and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal system, using a model of pre-gestational maternal stress. We also investigated synaptic proteins in the CA2, CA3, and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, as well as number of immature neurons in the granule cell layer, as both measures of plasticity in the hippocampus have been linked to social behaviors. In pre-adolescent male and female Sprague-Dawley rat offspring, main findings show that perinatal fluoxetine prevents the negative effect of maternal stress on sibling play behavior. However, perinatal fluoxetine increased social aggressive play with a novel conspecific in both sexes and decreased time grooming a novel conspecific in males only. Perinatal fluoxetine also increased serum corticosteroid binding globulin levels, 5-HT levels in the hippocampus, and pre-synaptic density assessed via synaptophysin in the dentate gyrus. Social interaction was significantly correlated with changes in plasticity in the CA2 region of the hippocampus. Pre-gestational maternal stress exposure resulted in significantly decreased rates of hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptophysin density in the dentate gyrus of pre-adolescent males, but not females. Together, these results further characterize the role of perinatal SSRIs, maternal stress prior to conception, and sex/gender on developing social behaviors and related plasticity in the hippocampus of pre-adolescent offspring.

Salmeterol (SAL) is a long-acting beta 2-adrenergic agonist, which is widely used in the therapy of asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics (PK) of inhaled salmeterol in asthma patients using two different dry powder inhalers. This analysis was based on data from 45 subjects who participated in a two-sequence, four-period crossover bioequivalence (BE) study after single administration of the test (T) and reference (R) products. In order to mimic more closely the real treatment conditions, activated charcoal was not co-administered. Plasma concentration-time (C-t) data were initially analysed using classic non-compartmental PK approaches, while the main objective of the study was to apply population PK modeling. The relative fraction of the dose absorbed via the lungs (R-L) was set as a parameter in the structural model. The plasma C-t profiles of salmeterol showed a biphasic time course indicating a parallel pulmonary and gastrointestinal (GI) absorption. A two-compartment disposition model with first order absorption from the GI and very rapid absorption from lungs (like an i.v. bolus) was found to describe successfully the C-t profiles of salmeterol. The estimated R-L value was 13% suggesting a high gut deposition of inhaled salmeterol. Women were found to exert less capability to eliminate salmeterol than men, while body weight (in allometric form) was found to be an important covariate on the peripheral volume of distribution.

Precise Ca cycling through the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), a Ca storage organelle, is critical for proper cardiac muscle function. This cycling initially involves SR release of Ca via the ryanodine receptor, which is regulated by its interacting proteins junctin and triadin. The sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca ATPase (SERCA) pump then refills SR Ca stores. Histidine-rich Ca-binding protein (HRC) resides in the lumen of the SR, where it contributes to the regulation of Ca cycling by protecting stressed or failing hearts. The common Ser96Ala human genetic variant of HRC strongly correlates with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. However, the underlying molecular pathways of this disease remain undefined. Here, we demonstrate that family with sequence similarity 20C (Fam20C), a recently characterized protein kinase in the secretory pathway, phosphorylates HRC on Ser96. HRC Ser96 phosphorylation was confirmed in cells and human hearts. Furthermore, a Ser96Asp HRC variant, which mimics constitutive phosphorylation of Ser96, diminished delayed aftercontractions in HRC null cardiac myocytes. This HRC phosphomimetic variant was also able to rescue the aftercontractions elicited by the Ser96Ala variant, demonstrating that phosphorylation of Ser96 is critical for the cardioprotective function of HRC. Phosphorylation of HRC on Ser96 regulated the interactions of HRC with both triadin and SERCA2a, suggesting a unique mechanism for regulation of SR Ca homeostasis. This demonstration of the role of Fam20C-dependent phosphorylation in heart disease will open new avenues for potential therapeutic approaches against arrhythmias.

The interaction of visible and near-infrared light with spin waves in appropriately designed dual nanocavities, for both photons and magnons, is investigated by means of rigorous calculations, correct to arbitrary order in the magneto-optical coupling parameter. It is shown that the concurrent localization of the interacting photon and magnon fields in the same region of space for a long period of time enhances their mutual interaction, provided that specific selection rules are fulfilled. Our results provide evidence for the occurrence of strong effects, beyond the linear response approximation, which lead to enhanced modulation of light by spin waves through multimagnon absorption and emission processes by a photon.

Type IIn supernovae (SNe), a rare subclass of core collapse SNe, explode in dense circumstellar media that have been modified by the SNe progenitors at their last evolutionary stages. The interaction of the freely expanding SN ejecta with the circumstellar medium gives rise to a shock wave propagating in the dense SN environment, which may accelerate protons to multi-PeV energies. Inelastic proton-proton collisions between the shock-accelerated protons and those of the circumstellar medium lead to multimessenger signatures. Here, we evaluate the possible neutrino signal of Type IIn SNe and compare with IceCube observations. We employ a Monte Carlo method for the calculation of the diffuse neutrino emission from the SN IIn class to account for the spread in their properties. The cumulative neutrino emission is found to be ∼10 per cent of the observed IceCube neutrino flux above 60 TeV. Type IIn SNe would be the dominant component of the diffuse astrophysical flux, only if 4 per cent of all core collapse SNe were of this type and 20-30 per cent of the shock energy was channeled to accelerated protons. Lower values of the acceleration efficiency are accessible by the observation of a single Type IIn SN as a neutrino point source with IceCube using up-going muon neutrinos. Such an identification is possible in the first year following the SN shock breakout for sources within 20 Mpc.

A ferrocene containing o-aminoanilide, N1-(2-aminophenyl)-N8-ferrocenyloctanediamide (2b, Pojamide) displayed nanomolar potency vs HDAC3. In comparison to RGFP966, a potent and selective HDAC3 inhibitor, Pojamide displayed superior activity in HCT116 colorectal cancer cell invasion assays; however, TCH106 and romidepsin, potent HDAC1 inhibitors, outperformed Pojamide in cellular proliferation and colony formation assays. Together, these data suggest that HDAC1,3 inhibition is desirable to achieve maximum anticancer benefits. Additionally, we explored Pojamide-induced redox pharmacology. Indeed, treating HCT116 cells with Pojamide, SNP (sodium nitroprusside), and glutathione (GSH) led to greatly enhanced cytotoxicity and DNA damage, attributed to activation to an Fe(III) species.

We report optical photometric and polarimetric observations of the blazar OJ 287 gathered during 2016/17. The high level of activity, noticed after the General Relativity Centenary flare, is argued to be part of the follow-up flares that exhibited high levels of polarization and originated in the primary black hole jet. We propose that the follow-up flares were induced as a result of accretion disk perturbations, travelling from the site of impact towards the primary SMBH. The timings inferred from our observations allowed us to estimate the propagation speed of these perturbations. Additionally, we make predictions for the future brightness of OJ 287.

Climate evolution of the Mediterranean region during the Holocene exhibits strong spatial and temporal variability, which is notoriously difficult for models to reproduce. We propose here a new proxy-based climate synthesis synthesis and its comparison – at a regional (∼ 100 km) level – with a regional climate model to examine (i) opposing northern and southern precipitation regimes and (ii) an east-to-west precipitation dipole during the Holocene across the Mediterranean basin. Using precipitation estimates inferred from marine and terrestrial pollen archives, we focus on the early to mid-Holocene (8000 to 6000 cal yr BP) and the late Holocene (4000 to 2000 cal yr BP), to test these hypotheses on a Mediterranean-wide scale. Special attention was given to the reconstruction of season-specific climate information, notably summer and winter precipitation. The reconstructed climatic trends corroborate the north–south partition of precipitation regimes during the Holocene. During the early Holocene, relatively wet conditions occurred in the south–central and eastern Mediterranean regions, while drier conditions prevailed from 45° N northwards. These patterns then reverse during the late Holocene. With regard to the existence of a west–east precipitation dipole during the Holocene, our results show that the strength of this dipole is strongly linked to the reconstructed seasonal parameter; early-Holocene summers show a clear east–west division, with summer precipitation having been highest in Greece and the eastern Mediterranean and lowest over Italy and the western Mediterranean. Summer precipitation in the east remained above modern values, even during the late-Holocene interval. In contrast, winter precipitation signals are less spatially coherent during the early Holocene but low precipitation is evidenced during the late Holocene. A general drying trend occurred from the early to late Holocene, particularly in the central and eastern Mediterranean.For the same time intervals, pollen-inferred precipitation estimates were compared with model outputs, based on a regional-scale downscaling (HadRM3) of a set of global climate-model simulations (HadAM3). The high-resolution detail achieved through the downscaling is intended to enable a better comparison between site-based paleo-reconstructions and gridded model data in the complex terrain of the Mediterranean; the model outputs and pollen-inferred precipitation estimates show some overall correspondence, though modeled changes are small and at the absolute margins of statistical significance. There are suggestions that the eastern Mediterranean experienced wetter summer conditions than present during the early and late Holocene; the drying trend in winter from the early to the late Holocene also appears to be simulated. The use of this high-resolution regional climate model highlights how the inherently patchy nature of climate signals and paleo-records in the Mediterranean basin may lead to local signals that are much stronger than the large-scale pattern would suggest. Nevertheless, the east-to-west division in summer precipitation seems more marked in the pollen reconstruction than in the model outputs. The footprint of the anomalies (like today, or dry winters and wet summers) has some similarities to modern analogue atmospheric circulation patterns associated with a strong westerly circulation in winter (positive Arctic Oscillation–North Atlantic Oscillation (AO–NAO)) and a weak westerly circulation in summer associated with anticyclonic blocking; however, there also remain important differences between the paleo-simulations and these analogues. The regional climate model, consistent with other global models, does not suggest an extension of the African summer monsoon into the Mediterranean. Therefore, the extent to which summer monsoonal precipitation may have existed in the southern and eastern Mediterranean during the mid-Holocene remains an outstanding question.

Women suffer from depression and anxiety disorders more often than men, and as a result they receive antidepressants to a greater extent. Sex differences in antidepressant response in humans have been modestly studied, and results have been controversial. At the same time, preclinical studies on animal models of depression and antidepressant response have provided insights with regard to sex differences that could be useful for the design and interpretation of future clinical trials. This Mini-Review discusses such sex-differentiated findings with regard to the presentation of depression, endophenotypes, and antidepressant response. In particular, men and women differ in symptomatology of depression, and animal models of depression have revealed sex differences in behavioral indices. However, although in experimental studies behavioral indices and models are adjusted to identify sex differences properly, this is not the case in the use of depression rating scales in clinical studies. Accordingly, preclinical studies highlight the importance of sex differences at the baseline behavioral response and the underlying mechanisms that often converge after antidepressant treatment. This is also a neglected issue in human studies. Finally, preclinical research suggests that, in the quest for potential biomarkers for depression, sex should be an important factor to consider. Careful consideration of sex differences in preclinical research could facilitate and ameliorate the design and quality of clinical studies for disease biomarkers and novel fast-acting antidepressants that are so essential for both men and women suffering from depression. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Women suffer from depression and anxiety disorders more often than men, and as a result they receive antidepressants to a greater extent. Sex differences in antidepressant response in humans have been modestly studied, and results have been controversial. At the same time, preclinical studies on animal models of depression and antidepressant response have provided insights with regard to sex differences that could be useful for the design and interpretation of future clinical trials. This Mini-Review discusses such sex-differentiated findings with regard to the presentation of depression, endophenotypes, and antidepressant response. In particular, men and women differ in symptomatology of depression, and animal models of depression have revealed sex differences in behavioral indices. However, although in experimental studies behavioral indices and models are adjusted to identify sex differences properly, this is not the case in the use of depression rating scales in clinical studies. Accordingly, preclinical studies highlight the importance of sex differences at the baseline behavioral response and the underlying mechanisms that often converge after antidepressant treatment. This is also a neglected issue in human studies. Finally, preclinical research suggests that, in the quest for potential biomarkers for depression, sex should be an important factor to consider. Careful consideration of sex differences in preclinical research could facilitate and ameliorate the design and quality of clinical studies for disease biomarkers and novel fast-acting antidepressants that are so essential for both men and women suffering from depression. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Metamaterials provide functionalities that are not present in naturally occurring materials, including negative refraction, super-lenses or hyper-lens, cloaking, and ultraslow and stopped light [1-5]. Usually, both the electric permittivity and the magnetic permeability need to be controlled to realize metamaterials. © 2017 IEEE.

HIV remains an important public health issue worldwide. However, new prevention approaches have recently been developed and are very promising. Antiretroviral treatment as prevention, or as a prophylaxis after exposure to HIV, has been shown to reduce the likelihood of HIV acquisition. Over the last years, animal studies and randomized clinical trials in humans showed that antiretrovirals can also be efficacious and safe if used once daily, or intermittently, as prophylaxis before an individual is exposed to HIV (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis - PrEP). Fears about development of resistant strains have not been justified insofar given the accumulated evidence from research studies. Demonstration projects are ongoing and first results indicate that interests in the uptake of PrEP are high and adherence is satisfactory. Models suggest that PrEP could be a cost-effective or cost-saving approach under certain provisions including delivery to people at high risk of HIV infection, using less expensive medications, delivery in high HIV prevalence settings, short-term use for periods of higher risk, and evaluation in a longer-term period. The current review summarizes evidence on efficacy, safety and effectiveness of PrEP, and discusses future challenges and perspectives.

In this paper we discuss the preliminary results of the Transient Electromagnetic Method (TEM) that was applied in the area of Karla Lake, located in the East Thessaly basin. A grid of 71 TEM soundings was planned and executed in order to investigate the subsurface lithological and hydrogeological conditions of the area. The geological regime of the area is comprised of the alpine basement (marbles, gneisses and schists), ophiolites, transgression formations and finally a package of post-alpine deposits with respectful thickness. Resistivity maps for certain depths of investigation along with a pseudo-3D representation were produced, based on the processed TEM data. The vertical distribution of the resistivity values revealed important information about the lithological succession of the area and the hydrogeological status of the post-alpine sediments covering the basin. Moreover, the limits of the former Karla Lake were delineated and the alpine bedrock was also adumbrated under the thick Tertiary and Quaternary deposits. Finally, taking into account older piezometric maps of 2009 and our geophysical results, we managed to indicate the decline of the groundwater level since then, in the central part of the study area and the broader area of Kileler settlement.

© 2017 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Study Objective To study the presentation and causes of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) in adolescents. Design Retrospective notes review. Setting Tertiary referral outpatient clinic for pediatric and adolescent gynecology. Participants Adolescents with POI. Interventions Standard POI evaluation. Main Outcome Measures Age and clinical symptoms at presentation, causative factors for POI, if identified. Results We identified 22 girls with POI, with a mean age of 15.6 years. Eight of them presented with delayed puberty, 3 with primary amenorrhea, and the remainder presented with either irregular bleeding (n = 9) or secondary amenorrhea (n = 2). For those who presented with delayed puberty, only 3 were found to have a sex chromosome abnormality. A clear cause for the POI was identified in 3 further cases. Conclusion Although POI in adolescents traditionally is associated with primary amenorrhea and delayed puberty, a proportion of girls will present with irregular bleeding that might be mistaken for expected menstrual disturbances of puberty, thus delaying the diagnosis. We identified a clear cause for POI in 6 cases. Although there were no familial cases of POI, it remains a possibility that genetic reasons might be involved in the pathogenesis.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of HIV-1 drug resistance among treatment-naïve patients ranges between 8.3% and 15% in Europe and North America. Previous studies showed that subtypes A and B were the most prevalent in the Greek HIV-1 epidemic. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of resistance among drug naïve patients in Greece and to investigate the levels of transmission networking among those carrying resistant strains. METHODS: HIV-1 sequences were determined from 3428 drug naïve HIV-1 patients, in Greece sampled during 01/01/2003-30/6/2015. Transmission clusters were estimated by means of phylogenetic analysis including as references sequences from patients failing antiretroviral treatment in Greece and sequences sampled globally. RESULTS: The proportion of sequences with SDRMs was 5.98% (n=205). The most prevalent SDRMs were found for NNRTIs (3.76%), followed by N(t)RTIs (2.28%) and PIs (1.02%). The resistance prevalence was 22.2% based on all mutations associated with resistance estimated using the HIVdb resistance interpretation algorithm. Resistance to NNRTIs was the most common (16.9%) followed by PIs (4.9%) and N(t)RTIs (2.8%). The most frequently observed NNRTI resistant mutations were E138A (7.7%), E138Q (4.0%), K103N (2.3%) and V179D (1.3%). The majority of subtype A sequences (89.7%; 245 out of 273) with the dominant NNRTI resistance mutations (E138A, K103N, E138Q, V179D) were found to belong to monophyletic clusters suggesting regional dispersal. For subtype B, 68.1% (139 out of 204) of resistant strains (E138A, K103N, E138Q V179D) belonged to clusters. For N(t)RTI-resistance, evidence for regional dispersal was found for 27.3% and 21.6% of subtype A and B sequences, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The TDR rate based on the prevalence of SDRM is lower than the average rate in Europe. However, the prevalence of NNRTI resistance estimated using the HIVdb approach, is high in Greece and it is mostly due to onward transmissions among drug-naïve patients.

We consider a transportation station, where customers arrive according to a Poisson process, observe the delay information and the fee imposed by the administrator and decide whether to use the facility or not. A transportation facility visits the station according to a renewal process and serves all present customers at each visit. We assume that every customer maximizes her individual expected utility and the administrator is a profit maximizer. We model this situation as a two‐stage game among the customers and the administrator, where customer strategies depend on the level of delay information provided by the administrator. We consider three cases distinguished by the level of delay information: observable (the exact waiting time is announced), unobservable (no information is provided) and partially observable (the number of waiting customers is announced). In each case, we explore how the customer reward for service, the unit waiting cost, and the intervisit time distribution parameters affect the customer behavior and the fee imposed by the administrator. We then compare the three cases and show that the customers almost always prefer to know their exact waiting times whereas the administrator prefers to provide either no information or the exact waiting time depending on system parameters.

Background: Successful application of programmed death 1 (PD1) checkpoint inhibitors in the clinic may ultimately benefit from appropriate patient selection based upon predictive biomarkers. Molecular characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTC) is crucial for the investigation of molecular-targeted therapies while predictive biomarkers for response to PD1 checkpoint inhibitors are lacking. We sought to assess whether overexpression of PD-L1 in CTCs could be detected at baseline and at different timepoints during treatment in a prospective cohort of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients and used to predict clinical outcome after treatment with curative intent. Patients and methods: We developed a highly sensitive, specific and robust RT-qPCR assay for PD-L1 mRNA expression in EpCAM(+) CTCs. In a prospective cohort of 113 locally advanced HNSCC patients treated with curative intent we evaluated PD-L1 expression in the EpCAM(+) CTC fraction at baseline, after 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy (week 6) and at the end of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (week 15). Results: PD-L1 overexpression was found in 24/94 (25.5%) patients at baseline, 8/34 (23.5%) after induction chemotherapy and 12/54 (22.2%) patients at the end of treatment. Patients with CTCs overexpressing PD-L1 at end of treatment had shorter progression-free survival (P = 0.001) and overall survival (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that PD-L1 overexpression at end of treatment was independent prognostic factor for progression-free survival and overall survival. The absence of PD-L1 overexpression at the end of treatment was strongly associated with complete response with an odds ratio = 16.00 (95% CI = 2.76-92.72, P = 0.002). Conclusions: We demonstrate that detection of CTCs overexpressing PD-L1 is feasible and may provide important prognostic information in HNSCC. Our results suggest that adjuvant PD1 inhibitors deserve evaluation in HNSCC patients in whom PD-L1(+) CTCs are detected at the end of curative treatment.

We present a detailed study of the properties of the molecular gas in the fast outflow driven by the active galactic nucleus (AGN) in the nearby radio-loud Seyfert galaxy IC 5063. By using ALMA observations of a number of tracers of the molecular gas (12CO(1-0), 12CO(2-1), 12CO(3-2), 13CO(2-1) and HCO+(4-3)), we map the differences in excitation, density and temperature of the gas as function of position and kinematics. The results show that in the immediate vicinity of the radio jet, a fast outflow, with velocities up to 800 km s-1, is occurring of which the gas has high excitation with excitation temperatures in the range 30-55 K, demonstrating the direct impact of the jet on the ISM. The relative brightness of the 12CO lines, as well as that of 13CO(2-1) vs. 12CO(2-1), show that the outflow is optically thin. We estimate the mass of the molecular outflow to be at least 1.2 × 106 M⊙ and likely to be a factor between two and three larger than this value. This is similar to that of the outflow of atomic gas, but much larger than that of the ionised outflow, showing that the outflow in IC 5063 is dominated by cold gas. The total mass outflow rate we estimated to be 12 M⊙ yr-1. The mass of the outflow is much smaller than the total gas mass of the ISM of IC 5063. Therefore, although the influence of the AGN and its radio jet is very significant in the inner regions of IC 5063, globally speaking the impact will be very modest. We used RADEX non-LTE modelling to explore the physical conditions of the molecular gas in the outflow. Models with the outflowing gas being quite clumpy give the most consistent results and our preferred solutions have kinetic temperatures in the range 20-100 K and densities between 105 and 106 cm-3. The resulting pressures are 106-107.5 K cm-3, about two orders of magnitude higher than in the outer quiescent disk. The highest densities and temperatures are found in the regions with the fastest outflow. The results strongly suggest that the outflow in IC 5063 is driven by the radio plasma jet expanding into a clumpy gaseous medium and creating a cocoon of (shocked) gas which is pushed away from the jet axis resulting in a lateral outflow, very similar to what is predicted by numerical simulations.

We present a detailed study of the properties of the molecular gas in the fast outflow driven by the active galactic nucleus (AGN) in the nearby radio-loud Seyfert galaxy IC 5063. By using ALMA observations of a number of tracers of the molecular gas (12CO(1-0), 12CO(2-1), 12CO(3-2), 13CO(2-1) and HCO+(4-3)), we map the differences in excitation, density and temperature of the gas as function of position and kinematics. The results show that in the immediate vicinity of the radio jet, a fast outflow, with velocities up to 800 km s-1, is occurring of which the gas has high excitation with excitation temperatures in the range 30-55 K, demonstrating the direct impact of the jet on the ISM. The relative brightness of the 12CO lines, as well as that of 13CO(2-1) vs. 12CO(2-1), show that the outflow is optically thin. We estimate the mass of the molecular outflow to be at least 1.2 × 106 M☉ and likely to be a factor between two and three larger than this value. This is similar to that of the outflow of atomic gas, but much larger than that of the ionised outflow, showing that the outflow in IC 5063 is dominated by cold gas. The total mass outflow rate we estimated to be 12 M☉ yr-1. The mass of the outflow is much smaller than the total gas mass of the ISM of IC 5063. Therefore, although the influence of the AGN and its radio jet is very significant in the inner regions of IC 5063, globally speaking the impact will be very modest. We used RADEX non-LTE modelling to explore the physical conditions of the molecular gas in the outflow. Models with the outflowing gas being quite clumpy give the most consistent results and our preferred solutions have kinetic temperatures in the range 20-100 K and densities between 105 and 106 cm-3. The resulting pressures are 106-107.5 K cm-3, about two orders of magnitude higher than in the outer quiescent disk. The highest densities and temperatures are found in the regions with the fastest outflow. The results strongly suggest that the outflow in IC 5063 is driven by the radio plasma jet expanding into a clumpy gaseous medium and creating a cocoon of (shocked) gas which is pushed away from the jet axis resulting in a lateral outflow, very similar to what is predicted by numerical simulations.

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases that generate important health-related direct and indirect socio-economic costs. They are characterized by severe neuronal losses in several disease-specific brain regions associated with deposits of aggregated proteins. In Alzheimer's disease, beta-amyloid peptide-containing plaques and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau are the two main neuropathological lesions, while Parkinson's disease is defined by the presence of Lewy Bodies that are intraneuronal proteinaceous cytoplasmic inclusions. alpha-Synuclein has been identified as a major protein component of Lewy Bodies and heavily implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. In the past few years, evidence has emerged to explain how these aggregate-prone proteins can undergo spontaneous self-aggregation, propagate from cell to cell, and mediate neurotoxicity. Current research now indicates that oligomeric forms are probably the toxic species. This article discusses recent progress in the understanding of the pathogenesis of these diseases, with a focus on the underlying mechanisms of protein aggregation, and emphasizes the pathophysiological molecular mechanisms leading to cellular toxicity. Finally, we present the putative direct link between beta-amyloid peptide and tau in causing toxicity in Alzheimer's disease as well as alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's disease, along with some of the most promising therapeutic strategies currently in development for those incurable neurodegenerative disorders.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is the main cellular proteolytic system responsible for the degradation of normal and abnormal (e.g. oxidised) proteins. Under catabolic conditions characterised by chronic inflammation, the UPS is activated resulting in proteolysis, muscle wasting and impaired muscle function. Milk proteins provide sulphur-containing amino acid and have been proposed to affect muscle inflammation. However, the response of the UPS to aseptic inflammation and protein supplementation is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate how milk protein supplementation affects UPS activity and skeletal muscle function under conditions of aseptic injury induced by intense, eccentric exercise. In a double-blind, cross-over, repeated measures design, eleven men received either placebo (PLA) or milk protein concentrate (PRO, 4×20 g on exercise day and 20 g/d for the following 8 days), following an acute bout of eccentric exercise (twenty sets of fifteen eccentric contractions at 30°/s) on an isokinetic dynamometer. In each trial, muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle at baseline, as well as at 2 and 8 d post exercise, whereas blood samples were collected before exercise and at 6 h, 1 d, 2 d and 8 d post exercise. Muscle strength and soreness were assessed before exercise, 6 h post exercise and then daily for 8 consecutive days. PRO preserved chymotrypsin-like activity and attenuated the decrease of strength, facilitating its recovery. PRO also prevented the increase of NF-κB phosphorylation and HSP70 expression throughout recovery. We conclude that milk PRO supplementation following exercise-induced muscle trauma preserves proteasome activity and attenuates strength decline during the pro-inflammatory phase.

This study presents detrital zircon U-Pb analyses of 23 samples of the Cycladic Blueschist Unit (CBU) from Kea, Kythnos, and Serifos islands, as well as the Lavrion Peninsula of SE Attica. The maximum depositional ages (MDA) and age distributions of detrital zircon U-Pb dates are used to correlate metasediments between the islands considered herein and infer their provenance. Two distinct detrital zircon U-Pb age distributions are found in CBU metasediments: “Proterozoic,” comprised of >40% Neoproterozoic zircons with Triassic-Early Jurassic maximum depositional ages and “Paleozoic,” containing >30% Paleozoic zircons and yielding Late Jurassic-Cretaceous MDAs. Proterozoic affinity metasediments are rift margin deposits derived from the northern Gondwanan margin. Paleozoic metasediments are flysch sediments most probably sourced from the Internal Hellenides. This metamorphosed flysch forms a distinct marker horizon found in a similar structural position in Lavrion, Kythnos, and Serifos. Based on lithologic correlation, sediment provenance, and MDA estimates, the CBU of Kythnos is correlative to the Lavrion Schists of Attica. On the islands of Serifos and Kythnos and within the Lavrion Schists only young-on-old relationships exist between rocks based on MDA estimates.

PURPOSE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) represents a breathing disorder during sleep with significant health consequences. Few studies have examined the prevalence of OSA in psoriatic patients and whether OSA may be associated with psoriasis risk. We aimed to explore: (1) the inverse relationship, that is whether psoriasis might represent an independent predictor of OSA and its severity considering important predisposing factors and (2) the psoriatic phenotype related to severe OSA. METHODS: In a large hospital-based case-control study, we examined a total of 253 patients with OSA and a control group of 104 subjects without OSA, who underwent full nocturnal polysomnography and dermatologic examination. RESULTS: The prevalence of psoriasis was significantly greater in OSA patients than in controls (p = 0.03). Psoriasis was associated with OSA risk (p = 0.04) but not severity of OSA, sleepiness severity or sleep efficiency, independently from age, gender, anthropometric features, and significant comorbidities. The phenotype of a psoriatic patient suffering from severe OSA is not different from that of a patient with severe OSA and is not associated with psoriasis severity indexes. OSA psoriatic patients were not compliant with CPAP treatment in comparison with OSA patients without psoriasis. CONCLUSION: Psoriasis may represent an independent risk factor for OSA above and beyond significant comorbidities, anthropometric and metabolic parameters. Physicians should be aware of the bi-directional association of psoriasis and OSA. Managing psoriasis may be a potential target for preventing OSA as well as the potential cardiovascular mortality related to OSA and psoriasis.

Η πολιτική οικολογία ασχολείται με ένα μεγάλο εύρος θεμάτων, όπως μεταξύ άλλων, τη θεωρητική και φιλοσοφική ανάλυση της σχέσης κοινωνίας-φύσης, την άνιση πρόσβαση στους φυσικούς πόρους, την υφαρπαγή των κοινών αγαθών, τις πολιτικές διαχείρισης του περιβάλλοντος, τις ποικίλες "διακινδυνεύσεις", τους γεωπολιτικούς ανταγωνισμούς για την εκμετάλλευση πόρων και τα κοινωνικά κινήματα τα οποία αντιστέκονται στα ή/και διεκδικούν τα παραπάνω. Η σημαντική διαφορά με την κυρίαρχη οικολογική σκέψη είναι η πολιτικοποίηση των προβλημάτων, η αναζήτηση κερδισμένων και χαμένων κοινωνικών ομάδων και περιοχών και η επιμονή στα ερωτήματα "γιατί, πώς και πού".Ο τόμος περιλαμβάνει ορισμένες από τις εισηγήσεις που έγιναν στο ομότιτλο σεμινάριο που οργάνωσε το Τμήμα Γεωγραφίας του Χαροκόπειου Πανεπιστημίου στην Αθήνα την περίοδο 2013-2014, ως τμήμα των δράσεων του ευρωπαϊκού προγράμματος ENTITLE.

We carried out a pilot campaign of radio and optical band intra-day variability (IDV) observations of five blazars (3C66A, S5 0716+714, OJ287, B0925+504 and BL Lacertae) on 2015 December 18-21 by using the radio telescope in Effelsberg (Germany) and several optical telescopes in Asia, Europe and America. After calibration, the light curves from both 5 GHz radio band and the optical R band were obtained, although the data were not smoothly sampled over the sampling period of about four days. We tentatively analyse the amplitudes and time-scales of the variabilities, and any possible periodicity. The blazars vary significantly in the radio (except 3C66A and BL Lacertae with only marginal variations) and optical bands on intra- and inter-day time-scales, and the source B0925+504 exhibits a strong quasi-periodic radio variability. No significant correlation between the radio- and optical-band variability appears in the five sources, which we attribute to the radio IDV being dominated by interstellar scintillation whereas the optical variability comes from the source itself. However, the radio- and optical-band variations appear to be weakly correlated in some sources and should be investigated based on well-sampled data from future observations.

Radiatively inefficient accretion flow models have been shown to accurately account for the spectrum and luminosity observed from Sgr A* in the X-ray regime down to mm wavelengths. However, observations at a few GHz cannot be explained by thermal electrons alone but require the presence of an additional non-thermal particle population. Here, we propose a model for the origin of such a population in the accretion flow via means of a pulsar orbiting the supermassive black hole in our Galaxy. Interactions between the relativistic pulsar wind with the disc lead to the formation of a bow shock in the wind. During the pulsar's transit through the accretion disc, relativistic pairs, accelerated at the shock front, are injected into the disc. The radio-emitting particles are long lived and remain within the disc long after the pulsar's transit. Periodic pulsar transits through the disc result in regular injection episodes of non-thermal particles. We show that for a pulsar with spin-down luminosity Lsd ∼ 3 × 1035 erg s-1 and a wind Lorentz factor of γw ∼ 104 a quasi-steady synchrotron emission is established with luminosities in the 1-10 GHz range comparable to the observed one.

This randomized, phase III, open-label, multicenter study compared carfilzomib monotherapy against low-dose corticosteroids and optional cyclophosphamide in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients were randomized (1:1) to receive carfilzomib (10-min intravenous infusion; 20 mg/m 2 on days 1 and 2 of cycle 1; 27 mg/m 2 thereafter) or a control regimen of low-dose corticosteroids (84 mg of dexamethasone or equivalent corticosteroid) with optional cyclophosphamide (1400 mg) for 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Three-hundred and fifteen patients were randomized to carfilzomib (n=157) or control (n=158). Both groups had a median of five prior regimens. In the control group, 95% of patients received cyclophosphamide. Median OS was 10.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 8.4-14.4) vs 10.0 months (95% CI 7.7-12.0) with carfilzomib vs control (hazard ratio=0.975; 95% CI 0.760-1.249; P=0.4172). Progression-free survival was similar between groups; overall response rate was higher with carfilzomib (19.1 vs 11.4%). The most common grade ≥3 adverse events were anemia (25.5 vs 30.7%), thrombocytopenia (24.2 vs 22.2%) and neutropenia (7.6 vs 12.4%) with carfilzomib vs control. Median OS for single-agent carfilzomib was similar to that for an active doublet control regimen in heavily pretreated RRMM patients. © 2017 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature.

This randomized, phase III, open-label, multicenter study compared carfilzomib monotherapy against low-dose corticosteroids and optional cyclophosphamide in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients were randomized (1:1) to receive carfilzomib (10-min intravenous infusion; 20 mg/m 2 on days 1 and 2 of cycle 1; 27 mg/m 2 thereafter) or a control regimen of low-dose corticosteroids (84 mg of dexamethasone or equivalent corticosteroid) with optional cyclophosphamide (1400 mg) for 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Three-hundred and fifteen patients were randomized to carfilzomib (n=157) or control (n=158). Both groups had a median of five prior regimens. In the control group, 95% of patients received cyclophosphamide. Median OS was 10.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 8.4-14.4) vs 10.0 months (95% CI 7.7-12.0) with carfilzomib vs control (hazard ratio=0.975; 95% CI 0.760-1.249; P=0.4172). Progression-free survival was similar between groups; overall response rate was higher with carfilzomib (19.1 vs 11.4%). The most common grade ≥3 adverse events were anemia (25.5 vs 30.7%), thrombocytopenia (24.2 vs 22.2%) and neutropenia (7.6 vs 12.4%) with carfilzomib vs control. Median OS for single-agent carfilzomib was similar to that for an active doublet control regimen in heavily pretreated RRMM patients. © 2017 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature.

Background.: A "seek-test-treat" intervention (ARISTOTLE) was implemented in response to an outbreak of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in Athens. We assess trends in HIV incidence, prevalence, risk behaviors and access to prevention/treatment. Methods.: Methods included behavioral data collection, provision of injection equipment, HIV testing, linkage to opioid substitution treatment (OST) programs and HIV care during 5 rounds of respondent-driven sampling (2012-2013). HIV incidence was estimated from observed seroconversions. Results.: Estimated coverage of the target population was 88% (71%-100%; 7113 questionnaires/blood samples from 3320 PWID). The prevalence of HIV infection was 16.5%. The incidence per 100 person-years decreased from 7.8 (95% confidence interval, 4.6-13.1) (2012) to 1.7 (0.55-5.31) (2013; P for trend = .001). Risk factors for seroconversion were frequency of injection, homelessness, and history of imprisonment. Injection at least once daily declined from 45.2% to 18.8% (P < .001) and from 36.8% to 26.0% (P = .007) for sharing syringes, and the proportion of undiagnosed HIV infection declined from 84.3% to 15.0% (P < .001). Current OST increased from 12.2% to 27.7% (P < .001), and 48.4% of unlinked seropositive participants were linked to HIV care through 2013. Repeat participants reported higher rates of adequate syringe coverage, linkage to HIV care and OST. Conclusions.: Multiple evidence-based interventions delivered through rapid recruitment in a large proportion of the population of PWID are likely to have helped mitigate this HIV outbreak.

Background: A "seek-test-treat" intervention (ARISTOTLE) was implemented in response to an outbreak of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in Athens. We assess trends in HIV incidence, prevalence, risk behaviors and access to prevention/treatment. Methods: Methods included behavioral data collection, provision of injection equipment, HIV testing, linkage to opioid substitution treatment (OST) programs and HIV care during 5 rounds of respondent-driven sampling (2012-2013). HIV incidence was estimated from observed seroconversions. Results: Estimated coverage of the target population was 88% (71%-100%; 7113 questionnaires/blood samples from 3320 PWID). The prevalence of HIV infection was 16.5%. The incidence per 100 person-years decreased from 7.8 (95% confidence interval, 4.6-13.1) (2012) to 1.7 (0.55-5.31) (2013; P for trend = .001). Risk factors for seroconversion were frequency of injection, homelessness, and history of imprisonment. Injection at least once daily declined from 45.2% to 18.8% (P < .001) and from 36.8% to 26.0% (P = .007) for sharing syringes, and the proportion of undiagnosed HIV infection declined from 84.3% to 15.0% (P < .001). Current OST increased from 12.2% to 27.7% (P < .001), and 48.4% of unlinked seropositive participants were linked to HIV care through 2013. Repeat participants reported higher rates of adequate syringe coverage, linkage to HIV care and OST. Conclusions: Multiple evidence-based interventions delivered through rapid recruitment in a large proportion of the population of PWID are likely to have helped mitigate this HIV outbreak.

The foundation of NATO on April 4th, 1949 marked in the most exquisite manner the disintegration of the alliance of the US, Great Britain and USSR which lasted during WWII. At the same time it coincided with the introduction of a new post-war system of power equilibrium, with the Cold War as its main characteristic. This total geopolitical confrontation of the two superpowers and their respective satellites extended around the globe, begun in the ruins of post-war Europe, where the long-standing geopolitical ambitions of both sides manifested themselves, reinforced through the reproduction of established myths and stereotypes, as well as national interests. This power equilibrium was based on the framework of values and principles put forth by the UN Charter in 1945 as the bedrock of the postwar international system. The guiding principles of the UN Charter prescribe the delegitimization of the use of violence in international relations as an accepted way of solving international disputes (Articles 2.3 and 2.4), respect of the domestic jurisdiction of any state (Article 2.7), and the right of self-defense, even in its version of collective self defense, as defined in Article 51 (and thereafter in the corresponding Article 5 of the NATO Charter and the corresponding provisions of the Warsaw Pact). The new post-war world order was built amidst an atmosphere of insecurity, fear, distrust and even hate, emanating from both sides. As a consequence Germany was divided between two states, while the whole of Europe was divided between two blocs. The so-called West and the USSR came to a confrontation through the blockade of Berlin by the Soviets (1948-1949). It was during that period that ΝΑΤΟ was created.

HCV global sequences have been classified into 7 genotypes, several subtypes and a number of unassigned sequences. Our aim was to perform an in depth investigation of the taxonomic relationships of the unclassified CYHCV025 strain by means of phylogenetic analysis. Phylogenetic tree reconstructions were performed using ML methods on full-length genomic and partial HCV alignments. Phylogenetic analysis of full-length sequences revealed that CYHCV025 clustered close to the root node of genotype 1, showing distant genetic relationships to all previously classified subtypes and unclassified sequences. Single section analysis using the SSE showed that the distances between the query and all subtypes were much higher than distances within and between subtypes of genotype 1 (p<0.05). Recombination analysis revealed no evidence for intersubtype or genetic mixing between the query and the references from different genotype 1 subtypes. Different analyses revealed that CYHCV025 is the most genetically divergent within genotype 1, showing no high- or low-level clustering with any of the previous subtypes or unclassified sequences. Identification of a single lineage within a genotype without any late branching can be explained by "genetic isolation" until the late stage of HCV epidemic spread.

Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) belong to a novel class of antiretroviral agents that have emerged as the new first-line treatments. Three such compounds are currently available, raltegravir, elvitegravir, dolutegravir and two more under development, bictegravir and cabotegravir. These compounds share the same mode of action but exhibit different pharmacokinetic/ pharmacodynamic properties, and drug-drug interactions. A series of studies in the past decade have established their efficacy compared to previous regimens, both in treatment- naïve and experienced patients. INSTIs have demonstrated a favorable safety profile with fewer adverse events and low rates of virological failure. Emergence of resistance to these agents, however, is a worrying concern, particularly for elvitegravir and raltegravir that display a lower genetic barrier than dolutegravir. On-going trials aim at establishing INSTIs as part of dual-drug HIV treatments or even monotherapy. New long-acting, injectable formulations are under investigation for treatment or prevention.

This study investigates fluid-driven seismicity in the Western Greece area. The region is characterized by the subduction of the Nubia (Africa) plate beneath the Aegean (Eurasia) plate (convergence rate of 40 mm/yr.) and is offset by the right-lateral active Cephalonia transform fault. The Ionian sedimentary basin is composed of thick Jurassic-Eocene carbonate and clastic sedimentary sequences underlain by Triassic evaporites that are thought to intrude through cataclastic zones generating diapiric structures. Due to the active tectonic and the abundance of fluids seeping in this region (with emphasis onshoreWestern Peloponnese) seismicity is often expressed as seismic swarms.To better constrain and investigate the evolution of (possible) fluid-driven seismic sequences we deployed from September 2016 to April 2017 a seismic network spanning 200 km from North to South and about 150 km from east to west. The network is composed of 14 temporary installations, while 9 permanent seismological stations are also considered in our analyses. We present results of accurate earthquake locations using a 1D velocity model developed using VELEST, highlighting regions where seismic activity is focused, and fault plane solutions derived from moment tensor inversion and first motion polarities. During the deployment we recorded several regional earthquakes (i.e. larger than M4.0) that allowed us to verify the effects of incoming seismic energy in this region.

BACKGROUND: Medical informatics, or biomedical and health informatics (BMHI), has become an established scientific discipline. In all such disciplines there is a certain inertia to persist in focusing on well-established research areas and to hold on to well-known research methodologies rather than adopting new ones, which may be more appropriate. OBJECTIVES: To search for answers to the following questions: What are research fields in informatics, which are not being currently adequately addressed, and which methodological approaches might be insufficiently used? Do we know about reasons? What could be consequences of change for research and for education? METHODS: Outstanding informatics scientists were invited to three panel sessions on this topic in leading international conferences (MIE 2015, Medinfo 2015, HEC 2016) in order to get their answers to these questions. RESULTS: A variety of themes emerged in the set of answers provided by the panellists. Some panellists took the theoretical foundations of the field for granted, while several questioned whether the field was actually grounded in a strong theoretical foundation. Panellists proposed a range of suggestions for new or improved approaches, methodologies, and techniques to enhance the BMHI research agenda. CONCLUSIONS: The field of BMHI is on the one hand maturing as an academic community and intellectual endeavour. On the other hand vendor-supplied solutions may be too readily and uncritically accepted in health care practice. There is a high chance that BMHI will continue to flourish as an important discipline; its innovative interventions might then reach the original objectives of advancing science and improving health care outcomes.

Whether there is a change of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence in chronic hepatitis B patients under long-term therapy with potent nucleos(t)ide analogues is currently unclear. We therefore assessed the HCC incidence beyond year 5 of entecavir/tenofovir (ETV/TDF) therapy and tried to determine possible factors associated with late HCC occurrence. This European, 10-center, cohort study included 1,951 adult Caucasian chronic hepatitis B patients without HCC at baseline who received ETV/TDF for >/=1 year. Of them, 1,205 (62%) patients without HCC within the first 5 years of therapy have been followed for 5-10 (median, 6.8) years. HCCs have been diagnosed in 101/1,951 (5.2%) patients within the first 5 years and 17/1,205 (1.4%) patients within 5-10 years. The yearly HCC incidence rate was 1.22% within and 0.73% after the first 5 years (P = 0.050). The yearly HCC incidence rate did not differ within and after the first 5 years in patients without cirrhosis (0.49% versus 0.47%, P = 0.931), but it significantly declined in patients with cirrhosis (3.22% versus 1.57%, P = 0.039). All HCCs beyond year 5 developed in patients older than 50 years at ETV/TDF onset. Older age, lower platelets at baseline and year 5, and liver stiffness >/=12 kPa at year 5 were independently associated with more frequent HCC development beyond year 5 in multivariable analysis. No patient with low Platelets, Age, Gender-Hepatitis B score at baseline or year 5 developed HCC. CONCLUSION: The HCC risk decreases beyond year 5 of ETV/TDF therapy in Caucasian chronic hepatitis B patients, particularly in those with compensated cirrhosis; older age (especially >/=50 years), lower platelets, and liver stiffness >/=12 kPa at year 5 represent the main risk factors for late HCC development. (Hepatology 2017;66:1444-1453).

Osteoarthritis is a slowly progressive disease which includes the intervention of several cytokines, macrophage metalleinoproteinases reaction, leading to the degradation of the local cartilage but also having an impact on the serum acute phase proteins (APPs). Subsequently, biomarkers seem to be essential to estimate its progression and the need for any surgical intervention such as total arthroplasty, but also can be used as therapeutic agents. Recently, among APPs, fetuin A drew attention regarding its possible anti-inflammatory role in animal models but also as a therapeutic agent in the inflammatory joint disease in clinical trials. In contrast with other APPs such as C-reactive protein, fetuin A appears to be lower in the serum of patients with degenerative joint disease in comparison with the healthy ones, and also acts as an antagonist of the anti-proliferative potential of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) cytokines. Because of its lower serum levels in arthritis, an unregulated binding of TGF-β and bone morphogenetic proteins takes place leading to further arthritic lesions. The purpose of the present review is to assess the current evidence regarding the multipotent role of the alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein or as also known Fetuin-a in animal models but also as a biomarker of the degenerative joint arthritis in clinical trials.

Glycosaminoglycans are integral part of the dynamic extracellular matrix (ECM) network that control crucial biochemical and biomechanical signals required for tissue morphogenesis, differentiation, homeostasis and cancer development. Breast cancer cells communicate with stromal ones to modulate ECM mainly through release of soluble effectors during cancer progression. The intracellular cross-talk between cell surface receptors and estrogen receptors is important for the regulation of breast cancer cell properties and production of ECM molecules. In turn, reorganized ECM-cell surface interface modulates signaling cascades, which regulate almost all aspects of breast cell behavior. Heparan sulfate chains present on cell surface and matrix proteoglycans are involved in regulation of breast cancer functions since they are capable of binding numerous matrix molecules, growth factors and inflammatory mediators thus modulating their signaling. In addition to its anticoagulant activity, there is accumulating evidence highlighting various anticancer activities of heparin and nano-heparin derivatives in numerous types of cancer. Importantly, heparin derivatives significantly reduce breast cancer cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo models as well as regulates the expression profile of major ECM macromolecules, providing strong evidence for therapeutic targeting. Nano-formulations of the glycosaminoglycan heparin are possibly novel tools for targeting tumor microenvironment. In this review, the role of heparan sulfate/heparin and its nano-formulations in breast cancer biology are presented and discussed in terms of future pharmacological targeting.

AbstractWe employ Real-Time Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory to study hole oscillations within a B-DNA monomer (one base pair) or dimer (two base pairs). Placing the hole initially at any of the bases which make up a base pair, results in THz oscillations, albeit of negligible amplitude. Placing the hole initially at any of the base pairs which make up a dimer is more interesting: For dimers made of identical monomers, we predict oscillations with frequencies in the range f≈ 20–40 THz, with a maximum transfer percentage close to 1. For dimers made of different monomers, f≈ 80–400 THz, but with very small or small maximum transfer percentage. We compare our results with those obtained recently via our Tight-Binding approaches and find that they are in good agreement.

X-ray surveys are believed to be the most efficient way to detect AGN. Recently though, optical variability studies are claimed to probe even fainter AGN. We are presenting results from an HST study aimed to identify Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) through optical variability selection in the CDFS.. This work is part of the 'Hubble Catalogue of Variables'project of ESA that aims to identify variable sources in the Hubble Source Catalogue.' In particular, we used Hubble Space Telescope (HST) z-band images taken over 5 epochs and performed aperture photometry to derive the lightcurves of the sources. Two statistical methods (standard deviation & interquartile range) resulting in a final sample of 175 variable AGN candidates, having removed the artifacts by visual inspection and known stars and supernovae. The fact that the majority of the sources are extended and variable indicates AGN activity. We compare the efficiency of the method by comparing with the 7Ms Chandra detections. Our work shows that the optical variability probes AGN at comparable redshifts but at deeper optical magnitudes. Our candidate AGN (non detected in X-rays) have luminosities of L_x<6×10^{40} erg/sec at z∼0.7 suggesting that these are associated with low luminosity Seyferts and LINERS.

The site response during a strong earthquake event may be proven crucial for earthquake hazard assessment and risk mitigation. Two moderate magnitude earthquakes that occurred in early 2014 in Cephalonia produced the largest ground motion values ever recorded in Greece, highly exceeding the provisions of the effective seismic code implying for local effects. This motivated the investigation of site response in the epicentral area presented herein.

Haumea—one of the four known trans-Neptunian dwarf planets—is a very elongated and rapidly rotating body. In contrast to other dwarf planets, its size, shape, albedo and density are not well constrained. The Centaur Chariklo was the first body other than a giant planet known to have a ring system, and the Centaur Chiron was later found to possess something similar to Chariklo’s rings. Here we report observations from multiple Earth-based observatories of Haumea passing in front of a distant star (a multi-chord stellar occultation). Secondary events observed around the main body of Haumea are consistent with the presence of a ring with an opacity of 0.5, width of 70 kilometres and radius of about 2,287 kilometres. The ring is coplanar with both Haumea’s equator and the orbit of its satellite Hi’iaka. The radius of the ring places it close to the 3:1 mean-motion resonance with Haumea’s spin period—that is, Haumea rotates three times on its axis in the time that a ring particle completes one revolution. The occultation by the main body provides an instantaneous elliptical projected shape with axes of about 1,704 kilometres and 1,138 kilometres. Combined with rotational light curves, the occultation constrains the three-dimensional orientation of Haumea and its triaxial shape, which is inconsistent with a homogeneous body in hydrostatic equilibrium. Haumea’s largest axis is at least 2,322 kilometres, larger than previously thought, implying an upper limit for its density of 1,885 kilograms per cubic metre and a geometric albedo of 0.51, both smaller than previous estimates. In addition, this estimate of the density of Haumea is closer to that of Pluto than are previous estimates, in line with expectations. No global nitrogen- or methane-dominated atmosphere was detected.

Photonic band gap engineered TiO2 inverse opals were fabricated using self-assembled polystyrene films as sacrificial templates with controlled optical properties, aimed at the identification of the slow-photon effect on dye sensitized TiO2 photocatalysis. The materials’ photocatalytic efficiency was evaluated using Raman spectroscopy, on methylene blue photodegradation following both UVA and monochromatic visible light illumination. Contrary to UVA, where no photonic effect could be traced, laser irradiation within the slow-photon energy range of the TiO2 inverse opals, resulted in a marked increase of the dye photosensitized degradation rate, outperforming not only compact nanocrystalline films but also the benchmark mesoporous Aeroxide® P25 TiO2 films. This effect provides direct evidence for the presence of slow photons that amplify the interaction of visible light with the adsorbed dye molecules on the periodically structured TiO2 film. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.

Photonic band gap engineered TiO2 inverse opals were fabricated using self- assembled polystyrene films as sacrificial templates with controlled optical properties, aimed at the identification of the slow-photon effect on dye sensitized TiO2 photocatalysis. The materials’ photocatalytic efficiency was evaluated using Raman spectroscopy, on methylene blue photodegradation following both UVA and monochromatic visible light illumination. Contrary to UVA, where no photonic effect could be traced, laser irradiation within the slow-photon energy range of the TiO2 inverse opals, resulted in a marked increase of the dye photosensitized degradation rate, outperforming not only compact nanocrystalline films but also the benchmark mesoporous Aeroxide® P25 TiO2 films. This effect provides direct evidence for the presence of slow photons that amplify the interaction of visible light with the adsorbed dye molecules on the periodically structured TiO2 film.

This study investigated the relationship between somatotype, level of competition, and performance in attack in elite level male volleyball players. The objective was to test for the potential covariation of competition level (Division A1 vs. A2) and playing position (hitters vs. centers vs. opposites) considering performance in attack. Anthropometric, body composition and somatotype variables were measured according to the Heath-Carter method. The attack actions of 144 players from 48 volleyball matches were analyzed and their performance was rated using a 5-point numerical scale. Results showed that players of Division A1 were taller, heavier, more muscular, and less endomorphic compared to those of Division A2. MANOVA and follow-up discriminant function analysis revealed somatotype differences among playing positions with centers and opposites being endomorph-ectomorph and hitters being central. Centers performed constantly better than hitters and opposites regardless of division and somatotype. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that variables defining ectomorph and endomorph players, centers, and players of Division A1 significantly determined the relative performance superiority and were able to explain the variation in performance by almost 25%. These results could be taken into account by coaches when assigning players to particular playing positions or when designing individualized position-specific training programs.

Abstract We present a kinematic slip model from the inversion of 1 Hz GPS, strong motion, and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data for the 2015 Mw6.5 Lefkada, Greece, earthquake. We will show that most of the slip during this event is updip of the hypocenter (10.7 km depth) with substantial slip (>0.5 m) between 5 km depth and the surface. The peak slip is  1.6 m, and the inverted rake angles show predominantly strike-slip motion. Slip concentrates mostly to the south of the hypocenter, and the source time function indicates a total duration of  17 s with peak moment rate at  6 s. We will show that a 65° dipping geometry is the most plausible due to a lack of polarity reversals in the InSAR data and good agreement with Coulomb stress modeling, aftershock locations, and regional moment tensors. We also note that there was an  20 cm peak-to-peak tsunami observed at one tide gauge station 300 km away from the earthquake. We will discuss tsunami modeling results and study the possible source of the amplitude discrepancy between the modeled and the observed data at far-field tide gauges.

Developments in ELF research in the past several years have raised implications for many different domains surrounding the use, teaching and learning of English involving non-native speakers. What this research has offered is a fresh way of looking at English-medium communications that include non-native users, raising serious implications about the nature of the very notion of ‘English’ (Jenkins et al., 2011; Seidlhofer, 2011, p. 105; Widdowson, 1997). In this chapter, we focus on implications of ELF research for teacher education. As ELT situations around the world abound, we put forward the notion of ELF-aware teacher learning and development (our term) and suggest ways in which it can impact teacher development through appropriate teacher education. To that end, we present a framework for teacher education programmes aiming to raise teachers’ ELF awareness.

This edited volume seeks ways to present a unifying picture of TESOL policies and practices from different contexts in the broader Mediterranean basin and beyond. The book is divided into three major sections: (i) English language education; (ii) English language teacher education and recruitment policy; (iii) English language testing policies and practices in different contexts. Each chapter has a different research focus (e.g., CLIL, English as an international lingua franca in education, English for specific purposes, etc.), but aims at drawing informed and balanced conclusions with regard to a series of TESOL concerns. Essentially, what this volume provides, and what makes it unique as an edited publication in the field of ESOL education, is a principled awareness of the need to communicate research in one specific domain of teaching and learning to a broader area of ESOL education that is not necessarily delimited by familiar educational practices but can be generalized for other contexts as well.

Inlerlingual Perspectives (http://en.metafraseis.enl.uoa.gr/interlingual-perspectives-e-volume/contents-of-the-e-volume.html)/Διαγλωσσικές Θεωρήσεις (http://metafraseis.enl.uoa.gr/metafraseologikos-h-tomos-diaglwssikes-8ewrhseis/periexomena-toy-h-tomoy.html) is a bilingual e-volume comprising occasional research articles (2010- ) focusing on the interaction of Greek with other languages through translation. Ιt invites contributions from various theoretical perspectives in translation studies (and beyond) which may shed light to the study of phenomena that are treated diffrerently cross-culturally.  The volume invites original research papers which highlight socio-cultural features of Greek in juxtaposition to other languages, as traced through translation of any type of genre: political, literary, theatrical, scientific, commercial, technical etc.   It foregrounds the potential of translators to register, in discourse, perspectives which realize dominant (or peripheral) ideological positions or narratives reverberating in a target society, whether public narratives or personal socio-political positions. The e-volume welcomes perspectives drawing on various theoretical approaches in translation studies, which may shed light on aspects of the difference of Greek vs. other languages (not necessarily the hegemonic ones). The e-volume hopes to broaden perception of interlingual variation as it is manifested through translation or interpreting. Highlighting difference in a translation context foregrounds aspects of the character of Greek vs. those of other languages, contriburing to identity awareness, aspects of translators' roles highlighting their potential to affect target culture (and the responsibility this potential assumes), while it develops competencies (professional and/or linguitic) in both languages.

Earthquake hazards comprise any natural phenomenon associated withearthquakes. Earthquakes are known as the shaking of the Earth’s surface,producing significant impacts on both physical and urban environments withsevere socioeconomic aspects. Most of the earthquakes are generated at theboundaries of the lithospheric plates, which float over the mantle’s asthenosphere, converging or diverging. Friction caused by the plates interaction builds up stresses that, when released, produce ground faulting that radiates through the lithosphere producing complex seismic waves, which, in turn, can affect the near built environment. Although earthquakes mainly control the morphology of the Earth’s surface,they would unlikely be considered of major significance in the absence of theireffects on the anthropogenic environment, primary and secondary. Primaryearthquake hazards at a site regard the ground shaking due to the passage of theseismic waves (dynamic deformation) and/or the ground displacements (staticdeformation) in the vicinity of the causative fault. Secondary earthquake hazardsare the after-earthquake effects caused by the primary ones and may often bemore catastrophic. Such hazards are ground failures, fire, landslides, rock andsnow avalanches, liquefaction, flooding, tsunamis and seiche that have beenfrequently reported to follow the occurrence of strong earthquakes. The measureof earthquake hazards at a site mainly depends on the size and type of the seismic rupture, its distance from the site and the geological structure between the source and the site’s surface that may impact the seismic energy. Given that earthquake prediction is still infeasible, the major task in seismologicalresearch is the understanding of earthquake phenomena and their consequences on  the natural and anthropogenic environment, with the purpose of mitigating themby providing valid and timely information, to be used for effective earthquakeplanning and decision-making processes. Primary and secondary effects arerelated with vulnerability, which is defined as a set of prevailing or consequentialphysical and sociopolitical conditions that affect a community’s ability to mitigate,prepare for, or respond to an earthquake hazard (ADCP, 2003). Earthquakehazards, structural vulnerabilities and exposed values, when combined, yield aregion’s exposure to seismic risk.

Recent global changes seem to have affected fire regimes by inducing more severe larger fires in the thermomediterranean vegetation zone but also more frequent incidents in territories of higher altitudes. Cephalonia island hosts Mt Ainos, one of the most important National Parks of Greece, focal geographical area of the non-fire adapted endemic fir Abies cephalonica. The island has suffered several fires in the past. The aim of this work is to introduce a framework for assessing spatial fire risk and exposure of biodiversity hot spot areas, using Cephalonia as a pilot case study. Fuel parameters in representative vegetation types were measured across the island for models development as well as for collecting training and validation points for satellite data classification. The Minimum Travel Time algorithm, as it is embedded in FlamMap spatial fire simulation software, was applied in order to assess critical fire behavior parameters and exposure of the island’s biodiversity hotspots under three different meteorological and fuel moisture scenarios simulating predicted climate changes. In addition, the risk of change in the island's ecological value due to biodiversity loss was studied under the same scenarios. According to the analysis, loss of all biodiversity values was found under the severe meteorological and fuel moisture scenario and was estimated to be higher in the endemic fir forests. The outputs of this study may be used as an application of quantitative and probabilistic risk assessment for biodiversity conservation planning, prioritization and management of high value natural and cultural resources.

Nearby galaxies are well suited for investigating X-ray source populations in environments different to our own Galaxy. Sources in these galaxies have well determined distances and are less absorbed than sources in the Galactic plane. The Large and the Small Magellanic Clouds (MC) are the nearest gas-rich star-forming galaxies and their gravitational interactions are believed to have tidally triggered recent bursts of star formation. Here, we will focus on the X-ray spectral and temporal properties of three Be/X-ray binary pulsars located in the MC that have been observed in the recent years with XMM-Newton during super-Eddington outbursts. Phase-resolved spectral analysis has revealed the presence of a non-pulsating soft component. By analysing multiple observations, corresponding to different luminosity levels, we argue that this component could not originate from the surface of a traditional thin disk, but most probably this emission is a result of reprocessed emission from material located near the NS magnetospheric radius. Interestingly, we find that the temperature of this component does not change much with the luminosity of the system, in contrast to its size that increases with increasing luminosity. We argue that this indicates the formation and expansion of an envelope around the magnetosphere of the NS.

We consider the single-server Markovian queue with infinite waiting space and assume that there exists a certain reward-cost structure that reflects the customers’ desire for service and their dislike for waiting. The system is unobservable for the customers at their arrival instants, but the administrator provides them with periodic announcements of their current positions at rate (Formula presented.), so that they may renege if it is preferable for them to do so. The customers are strategic, and their decision problem is whether to join or not the system upon arrival and whether to stay or renege later. Their strategies are specified by a join probability q and a reneging threshold n. We determine the equilibrium strategies (Formula presented.) and study the socially optimal strategies (Formula presented.). Extensive numerical experiments provide interesting qualitative insight about the model. In particular, the equilibrium throughput of the system is a unimodal function of (Formula presented.). Moreover, despite the fact that we have an avoid-the-crowd situation, it is possible that (Formula presented.), in contrast to the classical unobservable model. © 2017 Springer Science+Business Media New York

The increasing utilization of n-alkanes as plant-derived paleo-environmental proxies calls for improved chemotaxonomic control of the modern flora in order to calibrate fossil sediment records to modern analogues. Several recent studies have investigated long-chain n-alkane concentrations and chain-length distributions in species from various vegetation biomes, but up to date, the Mediterranean flora is relatively unexplored in this respect. Here, we analyse the n-alkane concentrations and chain-length distributions in some of the most common species of the modern macchia and phrygana vegetation in south western Peloponnese, Greece. We show that the drought adapted phrygana herbs and shrubs, as well as some of the sclerophyll and gymnosperm macchia components, produce high concentrations of n-alkanes, on average more than double n-alkane production in local wetland reed vegetation. Furthermore, the chain-length distribution in the analysed plants is related to plant functionality, with longer chain lengths associated with higher drought adaptive capacities, probably as a response to long-term evolutionary processes in a moisture limited environment. Furthermore, species with relatively higher average chain lengths (ACL) showed more enriched carbon isotope composition in their tissues (δ13Cplant), suggesting a dual imprint from both physiological and biochemical drought adaptation. The findings have bearings on interpretation of fossil sedimentary biomarker records in the Mediterranean region, which is discussed in relation to a case study from Agios Floros fen, Messenian plain, Peloponnese. The 6000 year long n-alkane record from Agios Floros (ACL, δ13Cwax) is linked to the modern analogue and then evaluated through a comparison with other regional-wide as well as local climate and vegetation proxy-data. The high concentration of long chain n-alkanes in phrygana vegetation suggests a dominating imprint from this vegetation type in sedimentary archives from this ecotone.

Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. L. pneumophila pathogenicity relies on secretion of more than 300 effector proteins by a type IVb secretion system. Among these Legionella effectors, WipA has been primarily studied because of its dependence on a chaperone complex, IcmSW, for translocation through the secretion system, but its role in pathogenicity has remained unknown. In this study, we present the crystal structure of a large fragment of WipA, WipA435. Surprisingly, this structure revealed a serine/threonine phosphatase fold that unexpectedly targets tyrosine-phosphorylated peptides. The structure also revealed a sequence insertion that folds into an alpha-helical hairpin, the tip of which adopts a canonical coiled-coil structure. The purified protein was a dimer whose dimer interface involves interactions between the coiled coil of one WipA molecule and the phosphatase domain of another. Given the ubiquity of protein-protein interaction mediated by interactions between coiled-coils, we hypothesize that WipA can thereby transition from a homodimeric state to a heterodimeric state in which the coiled-coil region of WipA is engaged in a protein-protein interaction with a tyrosine-phosphorylated host target. In conclusion, these findings help advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of an effector involved in Legionella virulence and may inform approaches to elucidate the function of other effectors.

FurE, a member of the NCS1 transporter family in Aspergillus nidulans, is specific for allantoin, uric acid, uracil and related analogues. Herein, we show that C- or N-terminally truncated FurE transporters (FurE-ΔC or FurE-ΔΝ) present increased protein stability, but also inability for uric acid transport. To better understand the role of cytoplasmic terminal regions, we characterized genetic suppressors that restore FurE-ΔC-mediated uric acid transport. Suppressors map in the periphery of the substrate-binding site (Thr133 in TMS3 and Val343 in TMS8), an outward-facing gate (Ser296 in TMS7, Ile371 in TMS9, Tyr392 and Leu394 in TMS10) or in flexible loops (Asp26 in LN, Gly222 in L5, Asn308 in L7). Selected suppressors were shown to also restore the wild-type specificity of FurE-ΔΝ, suggesting that both C- and/or N-terminal domains are involved in intramolecular dynamics critical for substrate selection. A direct, substrate-sensitive, interaction of C- and/or N-terminal domains was supported by bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. To our knowledge, this is the first case where not only the function, but also, the specificity of a eukaryotic transporter is regulated by its terminal cytoplasmic regions.

Double pyramidal lobe is a scarce anatomical variation of the thyroid gland. Its presence impinges on the completeness of total and subtotal thyroidectomy and the postoperative treatment. Surgeons should be always aware of this variation in order to perform sufficient resection of the thyroid gland and minimize the possibility of recurrence of benign and malignant thyroidopathies.

We report on the X-ray spectral and temporal properties of the Be/X-ray binary system XMMU J004855.5-734946 located in the Small Magellanic Cloud. The system was monitored by Swift/XRT during a moderate outburst in 2016 July, while an unanticipated Chandra target of opportunity observation was triggered when the luminosity of the system was greater than 1036 erg s-1 allowing a detailed study of X-ray properties of the systems. Specifically, its X-ray spectrum, as observed during the outburst, is well modelled by an absorbed power law (Γ = 0.58). Timing analysis of the collected photon events revealed coherent X-ray pulsations with a period of ∼15.64 s, thus confirming XMMU J004855.5-734946 as a high-mass X-ray binary pulsar. By analysing archival XMM-Newton observations, we determined the long-term spin period evolution of the neutron star, showing that the compact star has spun-up by \dot{P}∼ -0.0028 s yr^{-1}. By modelling the X-ray pulsed emission as detected by Chandra, we set constraints on the inclination of the magnetic and rotation axis of the neutron star, as well to its compactness (I.e. (M/M⊙)/(R/km) = 0.095 ± 0.007).

Syndecans are a small family of four transmembrane proteoglycans in mammals. They have similar structural organization, consisting of an N-terminal ectodomain, single transmembrane domain and C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. Over the years, the association between syndecans and the actin cytoskeleton has been established, which has consequences for the regulation of cell adhesion and migration. Specifically, ecto- and cytoplasmic domains are responsible for the interaction with extracellular matrix molecules and intracellular kinases, respectively. These interactions indicate syndecans as key molecules during cancer initiation and progression. Particularly syndecans interact with other cell surface receptors, such as growth factor receptors and integrins, which lead to activation of downstream signaling pathways, which are critical for the cellular behavior. Moreover, this review describes the key role of syndecans in intracellular calcium regulation and homeostasis. The syndecan-mediated regulation of calcium metabolism is highly correlated with cells' adhesion phenotype through the actin cytoskeleton and formation of junctions, with implications during differentiation and disease progression.

In newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM), patients ineligible for front-line autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), melphalan and prednisone (MP) with thalidomide (MPT) or bortezomib (VMP) are standard first-line therapeutic options. Despite new treatment regimens incorporating bortezomib or lenalidomide, MM remains incurable. The FIRST study demonstrated significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the combination of lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone (Rd) until progression vs. MPT in transplant-ineligible ndMM patients. However, to date no head-to-head randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have compared Rd or MPT versus VMP. We conducted a network meta-analysis using RCTs identified through a systematic literature review to evaluate the relative efficacy of Rd versus other regimens on survival endpoints in previously untreated MM patients ineligible for ASCT. In this analysis, Rd was associated with a significant PFS and survival advantage versus other first-line treatments (VMP, MPT, MP), challenging the role of alkylators in this setting. © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

In newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM), patients ineligible for front-line autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), melphalan and prednisone (MP) with thalidomide (MPT) or bortezomib (VMP) are standard first-line therapeutic options. Despite new treatment regimens incorporating bortezomib or lenalidomide, MM remains incurable. The FIRST study demonstrated significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the combination of lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone (Rd) until progression vs. MPT in transplant-ineligible ndMM patients. However, to date no head-to-head randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have compared Rd or MPT versus VMP. We conducted a network meta-analysis using RCTs identified through a systematic literature review to evaluate the relative efficacy of Rd versus other regimens on survival endpoints in previously untreated MM patients ineligible for ASCT. In this analysis, Rd was associated with a significant PFS and survival advantage versus other first-line treatments (VMP, MPT, MP), challenging the role of alkylators in this setting. © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

In caudal autotomy, lizards shed their tail to escape from an attacking predator. Since the tail serves multiple functions, caudal regeneration is of pivotal importance. However, it is a demanding procedure that requires substantial energy and nutrients. Therefore, lizards have to increase energy income to fuel the extraordinary requirements of the regenerating tail. We presumed that autotomized lizards would adjust their digestion to acquire this additional energy. To clarify the effects of tail regeneration on digestion, we compared the digestive performance before autotomy, during regeneration, and after its completion. Tail regeneration indeed increased gut passage time but did not affect digestive performance in a uniform pattern: though protein income was maximized, lipid and sugar acquisition remained stable. This divergence in proteins may be attributed to their particular role in tail reconstruction, as they are the main building blocks for tissue formation.

Ap Librae is one out of a handful of low-frequency peaked blazars to be detected at TeV γ-rays and the only one with an identified X-ray jet. Combined observations of Fermi-LAT at high energies (HE) and of H.E.S.S. at very high energies (VHE) revealed a striking spectral property of Ap Librae; the presence of a broad high-energy component that extends more than nine orders of magnitude in energy and is, therefore, hard to be explained by the usual single-zone synchrotron self-Compton model. We show that the superposition of different emission components related to photohadronic interactions can explain the γ-ray emission of Ap Librae without invoking external radiation fields. We present two indicative model fits to the spectral energy distribution of Ap Librae where the VHE emission is assumed to originate from a compact, sub-pc scale region of the jet. A robust prediction of our model is VHE flux variability on time-scales similar to those observed at X-rays and HE γ-rays, which can be further used to distinguish between a sub-pc or kpc scale origin of the TeV emission. We thus calculate the expected variability signatures at X-rays, HE and VHE γ-rays and show that quasi-simultaneous flares are expected, with larger amplitude flares appearing at γ-rays. We assess the detectability of VHE variability from Ap Librae with CTA, next generation of IACT. We show that ∼h time-scale variability at Eγ > 0.1 TeV could be detectable at high significance with shorter exposure times than current Cherenkov telescopes.

Creating a tech tool to promote European Traditional Sports and Games from an intergenerational and inclusive perspective, ERASMUS PLUS Small Collaborative Partnership-GEO-LUDENS:  ©Discussion-proposals-Greek team’s contribution for upcoming meetings in Zaragoza Spain, Feb. 9-10, 2017***Also attached: Kick-off MEETING AGENDA, 9-10 February, 2017.  Universidad San Jorge. Campus Villanueva de Gállego (Zaragoza), Spain

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the time characteristics four consecutive Olympic Games after the implementation of the new regulations, both in men and women. Data concerns the points and the duration of the set and the match as well and the total match duration, from Olympic volleyball games (Sidney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012). In total 312 matches were analyzed. Results indicated a continuous significant increase in the set and accordingly match durations, both in men and women. Overall the mean set duration for each of the first four sets increased from around 22 minutes in Sydney to 26 minutes in London and the fifth sets increased from around 15 minutes to 17.5 minutes respectively. This may be is a consequence of the teams' primary commitment to performance improvement in the defense tactics and the special attention given to the avoidance of faults. In conclusion, the implementation of the new rules since 2000, especially those related with the change to the rally point system, with each set played to 25 points and the introduction of rule for libero player have forced volleyball coaches and players to reevaluate their strategies and tactics in the goal of winning a rally, a set and a game. The collateral prolongation of the rallies and the increased uncertainty of the outcome have undeniably made the game more spectacular and intriguing to watch.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the time characteristics four consecutive Olympic Games after the implementation of the new regulations, both in men and women. Data concerns the points and the duration of the set and the match as well and the total match duration, from Olympic volleyball games (Sidney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012). In total 312 matches were analyzed. Results indicated a continuous significant increase in the set and accordingly match duration's, both in men and women. Overall the mean set duration for each of the first four sets increased from around 22 minutes in Sydney to 26 minutes in London and the fifth sets increased from around 15 minutes to 17.5 minutes respectively. This may be is a consequence of the teams’ primary commitment to performance improvement in the defense tactics and the special attention given to the avoidance of faults. In conclusion, the implementation of the new rules since 2000, especially those related with the change to the rally point system, with each set played to 25 points and the introduction of rule for libero player have forced volleyball coaches and players to reevaluate their strategies and tactics in the goal of winning a rally, a set and a game. The collateral prolongation of the rallies and the increased uncertainty of the outcome have undeniably made the game more spectacular and intriguing to watch.Keywords: Volleyball; Time characteristics; Rules.

AIM: The investigation of the association between total arterial compliance (CT)-estimated by a novel technique-with left ventricular mass (LVM) and hypertrophy (LVH). Our hypothesis was that CT may be better related to LVM compared to the gold-standard regional aortic stiffness. Within the frame of the ongoing cross-sectional study "SAFAR," 226 subjects with established hypertension or with suspected hypertension underwent blood pressure (BP) assessment, carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), and echocardiographic measurement of LVM. LVM index (LVMI) was calculated by the ratio of LVM to body surface area. CT was estimated by a previously proposed and validated formula: CT = 36.7 /cf-PWV2 [ml/mmHg]. LVMI was related to age (r = 0.207, p = 0.002), systolic BP (r = 0.248, p < 0.001), diastolic BP (r = 0.139, p = 0.04), mean BP (r = 0.212, p = 0.002), pulse pressure (r = 0.212, p = 0.002), heart rate (r = -0.172, p = 0.011), cf-PWV (r = 0.268, p < 0.001), and CT (r = -0.317, p < 0.001). The highest correlation was observed for CT that was significantly stronger than the respective correlation of cf-PWV (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, CT was a stronger determinant, compared to cf-PWV, of LVMI and LVH. It remains to be further explored whether CT has also a superior prognostic value beyond and above local or regional (segmental) estimates of pulse wave velocity.

PURPOSE: The contradictory long-term results following D2 lymphadenectomy have revealed the necessity for a more tailored lymphadenectomy in cases of gastric cancer. Among the patients who had undergone a modified D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer, we further analyzed the subgroup in which histologically and immunohistochemically solitary lymph node metastases were detected. Classifying the primary tumors as towards to the lesser and towards to the grater curvature, we propose possible routes of lymphatic spread and possible clinical implications. METHOD: Between January 2007 and December 2016, 212 patients suffering from gastric adenocarcinoma underwent a modified D2 lymphadenectomy. Solitary lymph node metastases were detected by histology in 14 patients (7 skip metastases) and by immunohistochemistry in an additional 10 patients (5 skip micrometastases). RESULTS: The incidence of the histologically detected solitary lymph node metastases was 6.6% for the whole cohort, increasing to 11.3% with the use of immunohistochemistry. The incidence of the histologically detected skip solitary lymph node metastases was 3.3% for the whole cohort, increasing to 5.7% with the use of immunohistochemistry. Tumors of the lower and middle third of the stomach were equally drained both to the level I and II lymph node stations. However, tumors towards the lesser curvature were mainly drained in the level II lymph node stations (12 out of 19; 63%), while tumors towards the greater curvature were all drained in the level I lymph node stations (5 out of 5; 100%). CONCLUSION: Primary gastric tumors towards the lesser curvature should be treated by a modified D2 lymphadenctomy. However, for tumors towards the greater curvature, a D1(+) lymphadenectomy always including the no. 7 & 9 lymph node stations complex, might be enough.

Beachrocks represent a significant paleo-environmental proxy because they can record both the vertical and the horizontal evolution of the shoreline. They have often been used to assess Holocene shoreline evolution and crustally induced Relative Sea-Level (RSL) changes in the Mediterranean Sea. In this paper, we used submerged beachrocks from Paros and Naxos Islands (Aegean Sea, Greece) to reconstruct the shoreline modification and provide new insights on the RSL evolution in central Cyclades. Paros and Naxos Islands are of great importance in terms of archaeological evidence of coastal occupation. However, the evolution of their coastlines was seldom explored. In this study, we coupled detailed underwater surveys, analysis of aerial photogrammetry, microstratigraphic analysis and luminescence dating to study beachrock outcrops found down to about 6 m below the present sea-level. We, then, spatially and chronologically constrained some major palaeogeographical changes of a number of coastal sectors of the two islands. Furthermore, the multiple analyses of beachrocks, sediment coring and archaeological data suggested that RSL rose by at least 3.8 m in the last 4.0 ka and that RSL variation in the last 2.0 ka did not exceed 2 m with respect to the present mean sea level.

The presence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) drug resistance among drug-naïve patients remains stable, although the proportion of patients with virological failure to therapy is decreasing. The dynamics of transmitted resistance among drug-naïve patients remains largely unknown. The prevalence of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) resistance was 16.9% among treatment-naïve individuals in Greece. We aimed to investigate the transmission dynamics and the effective reproductive number () of the locally transmitted NNRTI resistance. We analyzed sequences with dominant NNRTI resistance mutations (E138A and K103N) found within monophyletic clusters (local transmission networks (LTNs)) from patients in Greece. For the K103N LTN, thewas >1 between 2008 and the first half of 2013. For all E138A LTNs, thewas >1 between 1998 and 2015, except the most recent one (E138A_4), where thewas >1 between 2006 and 2011 and approximately equal to 1 thereafter. K103N and E138A_4 showed similar characteristics with a more recent origin, higherduring the first years of the sub-epidemics, and a declining trend in the number of transmissions during the last two years. In the remaining LTNs the epidemic was still expanding. Our study highlights the added value of molecular epidemiology to public health.

AIMS: To project the impact of scaling-up oral anti-viral therapy and harm reduction on chronic hepatitis C (CHC) prevalence and incidence among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Greece, to estimate the relationship between required treatment levels and expansion of harm reduction programmes to achieve specific targets and to examine whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination among PWID is possible in this high-prevalence setting. DESIGN: A dynamic discrete time, stochastic individual-based model was developed to simulate HCV transmission among PWID incorporating the effect of HCV treatment and harm reduction strategies, and allowing for re-infection following treatment. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: The population of 8300 PWID in Athens Metropolitan area. MEASUREMENTS: Reduction in HCV prevalence and incidence in 2030 compared with 2016. FINDINGS: Moderate expansion of HCV treatment (treating 4-8% of PWID/year), with a simultaneous increase of 2%/year in harm reduction coverage (from 44 to 72% coverage over 15 years), was projected to reduce CHC prevalence among PWID in Athens by 46.2-94.8% in 2030, compared with 2016. CHC prevalence would reduce to below 10% within the next 4-5 years if annual HCV treatment numbers were increased up to 16-20% PWID/year. The effect of harm reduction on incidence was more pronounced under lower treatment rates. CONCLUSIONS: Based on theoretical model projections, scaled-up hepatitis C virus treatment and harm reduction interventions could achieve major reductions in hepatitis C virus incidence and prevalence among people who inject drugs in Athens, Greece by 2030. Chronic hepatitis C could be eliminated in the next 4-5 years by increasing treatment to more than 16% of people who inject drugs per year combined with moderate increases in harm reduction coverage.

BACKGROUND: As ancient Greeks started looking for deities that could fulfill the pragmatic needs of common people, local heroes started being mythologized and worshipped through cults. METHODS: The most widespread such example was Asclepius, possibly a skilled war surgeon who followed military expeditions to Colchis and Troy. Our study investigates the possibility of the early neurosurgery to have been started inside Asclepieia by Asclepius and his followers. RESULTS: Asclepius was worshipped at religious temples called Asclepieia where certain specific medical and surgical techniques were followed. The most advanced technique was skull trepanation, which was most likely done as an acute operation to release intracranial pressure. The contemporary Hippocratic corpus provided extensive descriptions of the technique, and archaeologic evidence has shown that many patients survived the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Decompressive craniectomy techniques have been practiced for millennia but it is possible that they were first systematized as a neurosurgical innovation through the Ancient Greek religious cult followed in Asclepieia.

Within the context of Turkey's relationship with Israel, the 1950s are remembered largely as the decade when bilateral relations developed dramatically reflecting the US orientation of Adnan Menderes's foreign policy. On closer observation, however, one cannot fail to notice that there was more ebb than flow in Turkey's policy towards Israel which already assumed the double-faced profile (cold or reproachful in public/positive behind closed doors), which is usually associated with the next two decades. Drawing on substantial research in official US and British archives, this article explores the multiple considerations which informed the approach of the Menderes government towards Tel-Aviv. Crucially, it places the Turks’ approach within their broader Middle Eastern policy with the aim of showing that it was shaped not only by their relationship with their powerful ally, the United States, but also by the need to look after relations with neighbourly Arab regimes.

There has recently been a surge of interest in the physics and applications of broadband ultraslow waves in nanoscale structures operating below the diffraction limit. They range from light waves or surface plasmons in nanoplasmonic devices to sound waves in acoustic-metamaterial waveguides, as well as fermions and phonon polaritons in graphene and van der Waals crystals and heterostructures.We review the underlying physics of these structures, which upend traditional wave-slowing approaches based on resonances or on periodic configurations above the diffraction limit. Light can now be tightly focused on the nanoscale at intensities up to  1000 times larger than the output of incumbent near-field scanning optical microscopes, while exhibiting greatly boosted density of states and strong wave-matter interactions. We elucidate the general methodology by which broadband and, simultaneously, large wave decelerations, well below the diffraction limit, can be obtained in the above interdisciplinary fields.We also highlight a range of applications for renewable energy, biosensing, quantum optics, high-density magnetic data storage, and nanoscale chemical mapping.

Aims: In light of recent discoveries of pulsating ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) and recently introduced theoretical schemes that propose neutron stars (NSs) as the central engines of ULXs, we revisit the spectra of eighteen well known ULXs, in search of indications that favour this newly emerging hypothesis. Methods: We examine the spectra from high-quality XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations. We use a combination of elementary black body and multicolour disk black body (MCD) models, to diagnose the predictions of classic and novel theoretical models of accretion onto NSs. We re-interpret the well established spectral characteristics of ULXs in terms of accretion onto lowly or highly magnetised NSs, and explore the resulting parameter space for consistency. Results: We confirm the previously noted presence of the low-energy (≲6 keV) spectral rollover and argue that it could be interpreted as due to thermal emission. The spectra are well described by a double thermal model consisting of a "hot" (≳1 keV) and a "cool" (≲0.7 keV) multicolour black body (MCB). Under the assumption that the "cool" MCD emission originates in a disk truncated at the neutron star magnetosphere, we find that all ULXs in our sample are consistent with accretion onto a highly magnetised (B ≳ 1012 G) neutron star. We note a strong correlation between the strength of the magnetic field, the temperature of the "hot" thermal component and the total unabsorbed luminosity. Examination of the NuSTAR data supports this interpretation and also confirms the presence of a weak, high-energy (≳15 keV) tail, most likely the result of modification of the MCB emission by inverse Compton scattering. We also note that the apparent high-energy tail, may simply be the result of mismodelling of MCB emission with an atypical temperature (T) versus radius (r) gradient, using a standard MCD model with a fixed gradient of T r-0.75. Conclusions: We have offered a new and robust physical interpretation for the dual-thermal spectra of ULXs. We find that the best-fit derived parameters of our model, are in excellent agreement with recent theoretical predictions that favour super-critically accreting NSs as the engines of a large fraction of ULXs. Nevertheless, the considerable degeneracy between models and the lack of unequivocal evidence cannot rule out other equally plausible interpretations. Deeper broadband observations and time-resolved spectroscopy are warranted to further explore this newly emerging framework.

In light of recent discoveries of pulsating ULXs and recently introduced models placing neutron stars as the central engines of ULXs, we revisit the spectra of seventeen ULXs, in search of indications that favor this hypothesis. To this end we examined the spectra from XMM-Newton observations of all seventeen sources in our sample. For six sources, these were complimented with spectra from public NuSTAR observations. We demonstrate that the notable ({>}6 keV) spectral curvature observed in most ULXs, is most likely due to thermal emission, with T{>} 1keV. More importantly, we find that a double thermal model (comprised of a 'cool' and 'hot' thermal component) - often associated with emission from neutron star X-ray binaries - describes all ULX spectra in our list. We propose that the dual thermal spectrum is the result of accretion onto highly magnetized NSs, as predicted in recent theoretical models (Mushtukov et al. 2017). We further argue that this finding offers an additional and compelling argument in favor of neutron stars as prime candidates for powering ULXs, as has been recently suggested (King & Lasota 2016; King et al. 2017). In my talk I will discuss the implications of our interpretation along with its merits and shortcomings.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an RNA positive strand virus, member of the Flaviviridae family. The HCV viral particle is composed of a capsid containing the genome, surrounded by an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-derived lipid bilayer where E1 and E2 are assembled as heterodimers. However, different forms of viral particles have been identified in the serum of HCV-infected patients, including non-enveloped particles. Previous reports have demonstrated that HCV non-enveloped capsid-like particles (HCVne) can be generated by HCV core protein sequence. This sequence possesses a highly conserved $\Upsilon$ΧΧ$\Phi$ motif and distal di-leucine motifs that confer primary endocytosis signals, enabling HCVne to enter hepatic cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Although HCV core's primary function is to encapsidate the viral genome, it also interacts with a variety of cellular proteins in order to regulate host cell functions such as gene transcription, lipid metabolism, apoptosis and several signaling pathways. In this report, we demonstrate that the YXX$\Phi$ motif of HCV core protein is crucial for the architectural integrity of the particulate form of HCVne. Moreover, we show that the YXX$\Phi$ motif in the HCV core sequence plays a pivotal role in the signaling events following HCVne clathrin-mediated endocytosis by inducing the AP-2 clathrin adaptor protein, which in turn redirect HCVne trafficking to the lipid droplets (LDs) via the endosomal-lysosomal pathway. HCVne and LDs co-localization affects the HCV life cycle by enhancing viral replication.

© 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. Purpose: The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) is an effective method of contraception, while also providing various non-contraceptive benefits. Although targeted primarily to adults, there is increasing experience in its use in adolescence. The aim of this review is to assess the available information on LNG-IUS usage in adolescence. Methods: We conducted an online search on MEDLINE and SCOPUS from inception to May 24, 2015. All studies that examined LNG-IUS use in teen populations were eligible for inclusion. Primary outcome measures included description of indications for LNG-IUS usage and relevant efficacy. Secondary outcomes included complications, such as device-related problems (perforation and expulsion) and other adverse events (pelvic inflammatory disease, PID). Acceptability of the LNG-IUS was also estimated through evaluation of continuation rate and reasons for removal were assessed. Results: Twenty-one studies met our inclusion criteria. We identified only one randomized controlled trial (RCT). All other twenty studies were observational. Pregnancy rates ranged from 0 to 2.7{%}. Management of heavy or/and painful periods was successful in 92–100{%}. Menstrual manipulation in patients with developmental delay was achieved in over 93{%} of cases. Expulsion rates ranged from 0 to 13{%} and pelvic infection/cervicitis between 0 and 2.7{%}. There were no reported uterine perforations. Conclusion: Usage of the LNG-IUS in teen populations appears to be safe and efficacious both in terms of contraception and menstrual management. However, more robust evidence is needed so as to provide firm confirmation on benefits and potential side effects.

The presence of a supermassive binary black hole (BBH) central engine in OJ287 is revealed by impact flares which arise from the secondary impacting the accretion disk of the primary. These flares have been observed since 1913 from the study of old photographic plates and from recent observational campaigns, 9 events in total. In addition, the secondary induces flares by affecting the accretion rate of the primary. The records for the latter events start in 1900, and they have been observed for each of the 10 cycles since then. Because of orbital precession, the impact flares times do not follow any simple rule. However, since the BBH - accretion disk impact model was proposed in 1995, the optical flux behavior of OJ287 has become highly predictable. The latest predictions were given for the late 2015 - early 2017 season. These have now been verified. The impact flare started on 2015 November 25, during the Centenary of Einstein’s General Relativity, followed by induced accretion flares which peaked on 2016 March and 2016 October. The nine impact flares specify the two parameters of the standard accretion disk and the 6 parameters of the BBH orbit uniquely. The main remaining uncertainty has to do with the exact way the gravitational wave (GW) emission affects the orbit. The impact flare observations demand that the GW emission is a combination of the instantaneous and hereditary effects appearing at the Post Newtonian orders 2.5PN, 3.5PN and 4PN, and all of them have to be incorporated while modeling the dynamics of the central engine BBH in OJ287. Previously, only the standard 2.5PN “Newtonian” GW terms have been used. We develop a simplified way of incorporating the higher order General Relativistic effects and obtain revised estimates for various BBH parameters. The improved BBH dynamics makes specific predictions for the occurrences of the expected impact flares in future and thereby provide additional strong field tests of General Relativity.

The Aegean-west Anatolian orocline formed due to Neogene opposite rotations of its western and eastern limbs during opening of the Aegean back-arc basin. Stretching lineations in exhumed metamorphic complexes in this basin mimic the regional vertical-axis rotation patterns and suggest that the oppositely rotating domains are sharply bounded along a Mid-Cycladic lineament, the tectonic nature of which is enigmatic. Some have proposed this lineament to be an extensional fault accommodating orogen-parallel extension, while others have considered it to be a transform fault. The island of Paros hosts the only exposure of the E- to NE-trending lineations characterizing the NW Cyclades and the N-trending lineations of the SE Cyclades. Here, we show new paleomagnetic results from isotropic, ca. 16 Ma granitoids that intruded both domains and demonstrate that the trend difference resulted from post-16 Ma $\sim$90° clockwise and 10° counterclockwise rotation of the NW and SE blocks, respectively. We interpret the semiductile to brittle, low-angle, SE-dipping Elitas shear zone that accommodated this rotation difference to reflect the Mid-Cycladic lineament. We conclude a two-stage exhumation history for Paros that is consistent with regional Aegean reconstructions. Between ca. 23 and 16 Ma, the metamorphic rocks of Paros were exhumed from amphibolite-facies to greenschist-facies conditions along a top-to-the-N detachment. The Elitas shear zone then started to exhume the northwestern, clockwiserotating domain from below the southeastern, counterclockwise rotating domain since 16 Ma. From this, we infer that the Mid-Cycladic lineament is an extensional shear zone, consistent with geometric predictions that Aegean oroclinal bending was accommodated by orogennormal and orogen-parallel extension.

Virtual environments (VE) are virtual social spaces that provide powerful means for creating, activating and modifying virtual bodies—Avatars—without dependencies on biological factors,formal rules and explicit conventions. VE offer unlimited possibilities to create the desired body and express personal bodily preference in virtual sport spaces without restrictions regarding established roles and behavioural expectations. Such a VE is Second Life (SL) in which the user is represented by an Avatar. This study focuses on a virtual sport space: the Fitness Club of Second Life. It examines the rules and regulations of this virtual space along with the role of 26 Avatars as bodily representations, including their bodily behaviours-exercises-practices in the SL Fitness Club. The data for this study was selected through systematic observation of 26 Avatars (apx. 180 hours) during March, April and May 2015, followed by detailed descriptions of single phenomena. Regarding the structure of space and bodily behavior, the results indicate less differences between sport virtual spaces and sport physical spaces, the opposite of what we had originally assumed. According to the results, the Avatar Fitness Club appears to be a highly individualistic and narcissistic environment. Moreover, every user can perform his/her bodily activities in a rather liberating way, occasionally surpassing biological limitations. When the Avatars exercise they imitate the movements of the physical sport world, namely they mimic the physical body. Further studies are needed to show the influence of an Avatar’s performance-bodily exercises on the real user, the individual behind the computer screen.

RN24_09a_P: Science, Technology, Innovation & Society II (Time: 01/Sep/2017: 11:00am-12:30pm) ABSTRACT:  Virtual environments (VE) are virtual social spaces that provide powerful means for creating, activating and modifying virtual bodies—Avatars—without dependencies on biological factors,formal rules and explicit conventions. VE offer unlimited possibilities to create the desired body and express personal bodily preference in virtual sport spaces without restrictions regarding established roles and behavioural expectations. Such a VE is Second Life (SL) in which the user is represented by an Avatar. This study focuses on a virtual sport space: the Fitness Club of Second Life. It examines the rules and regulations of this virtual space along with the role of 26 Avatars as bodily representations, including their bodily behaviours-exercises-practices in the SL Fitness Club. The data for this study was selected through systematic observation of 26 Avatars (apx. 180 hours) during March, April and May 2015, followed by detailed descriptions of single phenomena. Regarding the structure of space and bodily behavior, the results indicate less differences between sport virtual spaces and sport physical spaces, the opposite of what we had originally assumed. According to the results, the Avatar Fitness Club appears to be a highly individualistic and narcissistic environment. Moreover, every user can perform his/her bodily activities in a rather liberating way, occasionally surpassing biological limitations. When the Avatars exercise they imitate the movements of the physical sport world, namely they mimic the physical body. Further studies are needed to show the influence of an Avatar’s performance-bodily exercises on the real user, the individual behind the computer screen. KEYWORDS: Avatars, Fitness Club, Second Life, bodily exercisesAlso see:https://www.conftool.pro/esa2017/index.php?page=browseSessions&print=head&form_session=1625

We have determined and examined the astrometric data for 19 open clusters, ranging from the Hyades at just under 47pc to NGC 2422 at nearly 440pc. The clusters are : the Hyades, Coma Berenices, the Pleiades, Praesepe, alpha Per, IC 2391, IC 2602, Blanco 1, NGC 2451, NGC 6475, NGC 7092, NGC 2516, NGC 2232, IC 4665, NGC 6633, Collinder 140, NGC 2422, NGC 3532 and NGC 2547. (2 data files).

Data for GES are taken with the Fiber Large Array Multi-Element Spectrograph (FLAMES) on the VLT at the European Southern Observatory. FLAMES has two instruments, the medium-resolution multi-object spectrograph GIRAFFE and the high-resolution Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph (UVES). For intermediate-age OCs with prominent red clumps, GES targets are selected as follows: likely clump stars are observed with UVES, so that the most time-intensive targets are most likely to be members, followed by probable red giants if the clump is sparse. Main sequence stars down to V=19 are observed with GIRAFFE, using the HR9B setup primarily for stars of spectral type A to F and the HR15N setup for cooler stars. General GES target selection methods are outlined in Bragaglia et al. (in prep.). (6 data files).

Young plants of Ceratonia siliqua L., Myrtus communis L., Nerium oleander L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Ligustrum japonicum Thunb. and Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) Aiton were grown in long tubes as well in rhizotrons. After a period of acclimation to the conditions of the experimental construction under normal watering conditions, some plants were watered whereas other plants remained unwatered for a period of one month. During the studying period the plants have been observed and regular measurements of roots and above ground parts development were taken. The results show the resistance of the Mediterranean plants (C. siliqua, M. communis, N. oleander) to water deficit in comparison to plants that are often used in parks and urban horticulture (L. japonicum, P. tobira), whereas R. officinalis shows an intermediate stage of endurance to drought.

In this article, I explore the value of philosophy of science for history of science. I start by introducing a distinction between two ways of integrating history and philosophy of science: historical philosophy of science (HPS) and philosophical history of science (PHS). I then offer a critical discussion of Imre Lakatos’s project to bring philosophy of science to bear on historical interpretation. I point out certain flaws in Lakatos’s project, which I consider indicative of what went wrong with PHS in the past. Finally, I put forward my own attempt to bring out the historiographical potential of philosophy of science. Starting from Norwood Russell Hanson’s insight that historical studies of science involve metascientific concepts, I argue that philosophical reflection on those concepts can be (and, indeed, has been) historiographically fruitful. I focus on four issues (epistemic values, experimentation, scientific discovery and conceptual change) and discuss their significance and utility for historiographical practice.

In the current evolving landscape of myeloma therapies, no recommended salvage strategy exists for patients with relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) after initial successful autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and therapeutic options extend from conventional chemotherapy and novel agents to second autologous and allogeneic transplants. In this article, we summarize the documented evidence about the utilization of second ASCT in patients with relapsed MM after a primary auto-graft and discuss the correct timing for such a salvage approach, the individual characteristics of patients who will benefit more, as well as the therapeutic role of second ASCT in the modern era of forthcoming anti-myeloma treatments. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

In the current evolving landscape of myeloma therapies, no recommended salvage strategy exists for patients with relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) after initial successful autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and therapeutic options extend from conventional chemotherapy and novel agents to second autologous and allogeneic transplants. In this article, we summarize the documented evidence about the utilization of second ASCT in patients with relapsed MM after a primary auto-graft and discuss the correct timing for such a salvage approach, the individual characteristics of patients who will benefit more, as well as the therapeutic role of second ASCT in the modern era of forthcoming anti-myeloma treatments. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

The development of the students’ research competence in a Distance Postgraduate Program is the main question of our report. Its investigation was attempted through the study of the postgraduate students’ representations in the Module French as Foreign/International Language Program of Hellenic Open University. Particularly, the questionnaire sent to the students of this Program, focused on the role of Written Essays carried out during it, in terms of the development of students’ research competence.

The XMM-Newton survey of M31 revealed extended diffuse emission in the northern disk of M31, which is well correlated with the star-forming ring of the galaxy. The stellar population of this part of M31 has been extensively studied in the optical in the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) survey. We have observed the northern disk of M31 in areas within the PHAT footprint in deep XMM-Newton pointings. We have thus obtained a map of the X-ray emission of the hot interstellar medium (ISM) in a spiral galaxy like our own on arcmin scales and a complete list of X-ray sources down to the confusion limit of a few 10^{34} erg/s, with variability and spectral information for most of the sources. We will present the first results of the study of the X-ray source population and that of the hot ISM.

 Ένα από τα σημαντικότερα ζητήματα που έχει να αντιμετωπίσει σήμερα η εκπαιδευτική κοινότητα είναι αυτό του εκφοβισμού (bullying). Ερευνητικά δεδομένα υπογραμμίζουν ότι το φαινόμενο του εκφοβισμού στο σχολικό περιβάλλον ανατροφοδοτείται με έναν περίπλοκο τρόπο και είναι άρρηκτα συνδεδεμένο με εξωσχολικούς παράγοντες όπως οι αλλαγές στη δομή της οικογένειας και στην ποιότητα των ενδο-οικογενειακών και διαπροσωπικών σχέσεων, η συνεχής και αυξανόμενη έκθεση των παιδιών στη βία τόσο αναφορικά με τα ΜΜΕ όσο και κατά την ενασχόλησή τους με συγκεκριμένα ηλεκτρονικά παιχνίδια κ.α. Από ένα μεγάλο αριθμό διερευνητικών προσεγγίσεων επισημαίνεται ότι η ποιότητα του σχολικού κλίματος, η σχολική συνοχή καθώς και ο άμεσα περιβάλλων χώρος του σχολείου παίζουν σημαντικό ρόλο στην εκδήλωση επιθετικών ενεργειών. Στον ελλαδικό χώρο, παρ’ όλο που έχουν πραγματοποιηθεί πολλές έρευνες για τον εκφοβισμό ως μορφή ενδοσχολικής βίας, δεν υπάρχουν ακόμα αρκετές μελέτες, που να διαπραγματεύονται και να διερευνούν το ζήτημα αυτό στις προοπτικές του μαθήματος της Φυσικής Αγωγής (ΦΑ). Η παρούσα μελέτη –ως επιμέρους προσπάθεια μιας εν εξελίξει εμπειρικής έρευνας— βασίζεται σε ανασκόπηση της σύγχρονης ερευνητικής βιβλιογραφίας και έχει σκοπό να αναδείξει και να επισημάνει τους σημαντικότερους  παράγοντες που συμβάλλουν στην εκδήλωση του εκφοβισμού στις προοπτικές του μαθήματος της ΦΑ στον ελληνικό χώρο. Σύμφωνα με τη διεθνή βιβλιογραφία το μάθημα ΦΑ συμβάλλει θετικά στην ομαλή κοινωνικοποίηση και ενσωμάτωση των μαθητών στο σχολείο. Στις προοπτικές αυτές επισημαίνεται ότι οι Καθηγητές/τριες Φυσικής Αγωγής διαδραματίζουν καθοριστικό ρόλο στη δημιουργία θετικού κλίματος εφαρμόζοντας στρατηγικές και προγράμματα διαχείρισης διαπροσωπικών σχέσεων και συγκρούσεων. Ωστόσο από την άλλη πλευρά όπως διαπιστώνεται από τις σχετικές με αυτό το ζήτημα έρευνες που πραγματοποιήθηκαν σε άλλες χώρες, οι αθλητικές ή παιγνιώδεις ομαδικές δραστηριότητες που κατ’ εξοχήν χρησιμοποιούνται ως εκπαιδευτικό εργαλείο στη ΦΑ, δημιουργούν ευκαιρίες για στοχοποίηση κάποιων μαθητών/τριών εξαιτίας, μεταξύ άλλων, κάποιων ατομικών χαρακτηριστικών (π.χ. σωματικό βάρος, σεξουαλικό προσανατολισμό, φύλο, μειωμένο επίπεδο κινητικών δεξιοτήτων)  τόσο από τους συμμαθητές/τριες όσο και από τον εκπαιδευτικό της ΦΑ. Η στοχοποίηση αυτής της μορφής αναδεικνύεται ως ένας καταλυτικός και ουσιαστικός παράγοντας εκδήλωσης εκφοβιστικών συμπεριφορών.  Όπως προκύπτει από τα διεθνή ερευνητικά δεδομένα η ΦΑ αποτελεί ένα μέσον –ανάλογα με τον τρόπο που το οργανώνουμε και το διαχειριζόμαστε— τόσο για την καλλιέργεια και εκδήλωση του φαινομένου του εκφοβισμού όσο και για την άμβλυνσή του.   Βιβλιογραφικές Πηγές Bejerot, S., J. Edgar & B.M. Humble, (2010), “Poor performance in physical education – a risk factor for bully victimization. A case–control study”. In Acta Pædiatrica, 100: 413–419 Hicky, C., H. (2008), “Physical education, sport and hyper-masculinity in schools”. In Sport, Education and Society, 13(2): 147-161 Kamberidou, I. (2012). New Realms of Agency: Promoting Peace Education and Gender Equity through Sport. In Sport Science and Physical Education, [Ed. Luminita Georgescu],  Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems, Eolss Publishers, Oxford ,UK. Developed under the Auspices of UNESCO Oliver, K.L. & M. Hamzeh (2010), “The boys won't let us play” fifth-grade mestizas challenge physical activity discourse at school”. In Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 81(1): 38-51 

Στην περίπτωση που ο χρήστης διαθέτει adobe acrobat ακολουθούν αναλυτικές οδηγίες με τον τρόπο ψηφιακής υπογραφής (digital sign) ενός pdf εγγράφου και συγκεκριμένα του εξαγόμενου pdf με την απογραφή του ΤΠΕ εξοπλισμού του σχολείου.

Το παρόν κείμενο εξετάζει συγκριτικά τα απαιτήματα-συμπεράσματα της θεωρίας του N. J. Spyman (1943) με την απόρρητη έκθεση (1945) του καθηγητού της Σορβόννης Alexandre Kojève προς τον στρατηγό Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle, περί δημιουργίας της ΕΚΑΧ και μετάπειτα ΕΟΚ και ΕΕ, υπό το φως της δημιουργίας μιας "Λατινικής Αυτοκρατορίας" αποτελουμένης από την προεξάρχουσα εις αυτήν Γαλλία, την Ιταλία και την Ισπανία, με τις αποικίες τους, οι οποίες θα λειτουγούσαν ως ενδιάμεση ζώνη ασφαλείας μεταξύ της "Αγγλοσαξωνικής Αυτοκρατορίας" και τις Σλαβοορθοδόξου Σοβιετικής Αυτοκρατορίας.

Στὸ Γεωπολιτικὸ Σύμπλοκο τῆς Μεσογείου παρατηρεῖται τοὺς τελευταίους μῆνες μιὰ ἔντονη, ὅσο καὶ ἐπικίνδυνη, κινητικότητα στὸ τμῆμα τῶν ∆υτικῶν Βαλκανίων ἐντὸς τοῦ γεωπολιτικοῦ Ὑποσυστήματος τῶν Βαλκανίων. Ἡ χώρα μας ἔχει τὸ θλιβερὸν προνόμιον νὰ ἀποτελεῖ τὴν τομὴν τῶν δύο ἀσταθῶν Ὑποσυστημάτων τοῦ Μεσογειακοῦ Γεωπολιτικοῦ Συμπλόκου: α) τοῦ Ὑποσυστήματος τῶν Βαλκανίων καὶ β) τοῦ Ὑποσυστήματος Τουρκίας-Ἐγγύς Ἀνατολῆς. Θὰ ἀποδείξομε ἀφ' ἐνὸς ὅτι τὰ δύο αὐτὰ Ὑποσυστήματα εὑρίσκονται σὲ ἔντονη ὅσο καὶ ἀσταθῆ συλλειτουργία στὴν παροῦσα συγκυρία, καὶ ἀφ' ἑτέρου θὰ ἀναδειχθεῖ ὁ κύριος γεωπολιτικὸς παράγων, γενεσιουργὸς τῆς ἀσταθείας αὐτῆς, ὁ ὁποῖος εἶναι ἡ Ἐνεργειακὴ Ἀσφάλεια. Ἐπίσης θὰ καταδειχθοῦν οἱ βασικοὶ πόλοι διεθνοῦς ἰσχύος, ἡ Μόσχα καὶ ἡ Οὐάσιγκτων, ὁ νεοψυχροπολεμικοῦ τύπου ἀνταγωνισμὸς τῶν ὁποίων θέτει σὲ ἀποσταθεροποιητικὴ δυναμικὴ τὸ Γεωπολιτικὸ σύμπλοκο τῆς Μεσογείου μὲ κύρια ἑστία τὰ ∆υτικὰ Βαλκάνια. Ὁ ὅρος "νεοψυχροπολεμικοῦ τύπου" χρησιμοποιεῖται γιὰ νὰ τονισθεῖ τὸ γεγονὸς ὅτι ὑπάρχει σημαντικὴ ἰδεολογικὴ ἀπόστασις μεταξὺ τῶν δύο αὐτῶν πόλων (καὶ φυσικὰ —ἀλλὰ περισσότερον συγκεκαλυμμένος— μεταξὺ Οὐάσιγκτων καὶ Πεκίνου), ὅπως κατὰ τὴν περίοδον τοῦ Ψυχροῦ Πολέμου. Ἡ ἰδεολογικὴ διαφορὰ στὴν περίπτωση αὐτὴν ἔγκειται στὴν δυτικὴ κοσμοπολιτικὴ καὶ ἀκραίως νεοφιλελεύθερη δυτικὴ προσέγγιση καὶ τὴν ἐθνο-ταὐτοτικὴ συντηρητικὴ προσέγγιση τῆς Ἀνατολῆς, μὲ προεξάρχοντα πόλο τὴν Μόσχα. Τὸ θεωρητικὸ ὑπόβαθρο τῆς παρούσης ἀναλύσεως εἶναι αὐτὸ τῆς κλασικῆς ἀγγλοσαξωνικῆς γεωπολιτικῆς σχολῆς μὲ ὑπόδειγμα αὐτὸ τοῦ Ν. J. Spykman ὅπως ἐξελίχθηκε ἀπὸ τὶς προσεγγίσεις τοῦ Ζ. Brzezinsky καὶ ἡ μεθοδολογικὴ προσέγγισις αὐτὴ τῆς Συγχρόνου Συστημικῆς Γεωπολιτικῆς Ἀναλύσεως.

Εισαγωγή:. Στηv Πετοσφαίριση η αγωνιστική απόδοση εξαρτάται από την επίδοση των αθλητών στις τεχνικές δεξιότητες του παιχνιδιού (Marcelino, Mesquita, & Alfonso, 2008) και η αθλητική επιτυχία μπορεί να ποσοτικοποιηθεί με βάση την αγωνιστική απόδοση (Lobietti, Michele, & Merni, 2006). Με τη χρήση δεδομένων από μία αγωνιστική περίοδο, βρέθηκε υψηλή συσχέτιση μεταξύ της αγωνιστικής επιτυχίας (σύνολο πόντων σε πρωτάθλημα), με το άθροισμα των δεικτών αποτελεσματικότητας σερβίς και επίθεσης (Drikos, Kountouris, Laios, & Laios, 2009). Η παρούσα μελέτη εξετάζει την αγωνιστική επιτυχία (τελική κατάταξη στην 1η τετράδα της κανονικής περιόδου) σε σχέση με την αγωνιστική απόδοση, στη διάρκεια 11 συνεχών αγωνιστικών περιόδων του πρωταθλήματος Πετοσφαίρισης Ανδρών Ελλάδος. Μέθοδος:. Τα δεδομένα προήλθαν από την καταγραφή της αγωνιστικής απόδοσης των ομάδων (Ν=131), που συμμετείχαν στις κανονικές αγωνιστικές περιόδους (2005- 6 έως 2015-16) των πρωταθλημάτων Α1 κατηγορίας Ανδρών, σε τέσσερις βασικές τεχνικές δεξιότητες του παιχνιδιού (επίθεση, σερβίς, υποδοχή σερβίς και μπλοκ). Η αξιολόγηση της εκτέλεσης των τεχνικών δεξιοτήτων πραγματοποιήθηκε με τακτική κλίμακα 6 επιπέδων. Η αξιοπιστία μεταξύ των βαθμολογητών ελέγχθηκε με σταθμισμένο δείκτη Κ Cohen και ήταν Adjusted Κ= .85, πολύ καλή (Altman, 1991). Η στατιστική επεξεργασία των δεδομένων έγινε μέσω πολυμεταβλητής ανάλυσης διακύμανσης και διακριτής ανάλυσης, για τον προσδιορισμό των διαφορών ανάμεσα στις ομάδες των θέσεων 1-4, 5-8 και 9-12 και των δεξιοτήτων που κατατάσσουν με επιτυχία τις παρατηρήσεις. Αποτελέσματα:. Υπήρξε στατιστικά σημαντική διαφορά των μέσων όρων στις ομάδες 1-4 σε σχέση με τις υπόλοιπες, σε όλες τις τεχνικές δεξιότητες, εκτός από την υποδοχή σερβίς και στις ομάδες 5-8 με τις αντίστοιχες 9-12 στην επίθεση μετά από υποδοχή σερβίς και στo μπλοκ. Οι μεταβλητές με συντελεστή συσχέτισης >|.3| με τη διαχωριστική συνάρτηση, ήταν οι δείκτες αποτελεσματικότητας σερβίς (-.42), επίθεσης μετά από υποδοχή σερβίς (.90), επίθεσης μετά από άμυνα (.60) Η διαχωριστική συνάρτηση κατέταξε με επιτυχία για το σύνολο του δείγματος το 72% των παρατηρήσεων Για τις θέσεις 1-4 η επιτυχημένη κατάταξη ήταν 87,5%, ενώ για τα γκρουπ 5-8 και 9-12 ήταν 65% αντίστοιχα.Συμπεράσματα: Οι ομάδες των θέσεων 1-4 αποδίδουν καλύτερα σε όλες τις δεξιότητες που κατακτούν πόντο. Η αγωνιστική επιτυχία μπορεί να ερμηνευθεί με τη χρήση των δεικτών αποτελεσματικότητας, λόγω της καλής προσαρμογής του μοντέλου.

Η παρούσα επιστημονική δημοσίευση, αποτελεί εφαρμογή απλών και σύνθετων γεωπολιτικών δεικτών, των τεσσάρων γεωπολιτικών πυλώνων στη μεθοδολογία της συστημικής γεωπολιτικής αναλύσεως. Ως περίπτωση εξετάζεται η Συριακή Κρίση.

Ἡ κατάστασις σήμερα πιέζει γιὰ τὴ δημιουργίαν-πλησίον τῆς ἰσχυρᾶς καὶ εὐημερούσης οἰκονομικῶς Ἀρμενίας-καὶ ἑνὸς ἀνεξαρτήτου πλέον Κουρδιστάν. Τὸ νέο αὐτὸ κράτος λειτουργῶντας ὡς «buffer state/état tampon» μεταξὺ Ἀράβων, Ἰρανῶν, Σύρων καὶ Ἰρακινῶν καὶ ἐν συνδυασμῷ πρὸς μιὰ ἀπαραιτήτως ἰσχυρὰν Ἀρμενία καὶ τὸ ἤδη ἰσχυρὸ καὶ σταθερὸ ὡς πρὸς τὶς διεθνεῖς του σχέσεις Ἰσραήλ, μποροῦν νὰ ἐγγυηθοῦν τὸ ἀπαραίτητο καθεστὼς ἀσφαλείας στὴν Κεντρικὴ Ἀσία. Ἡ Ρωσσία τοῦ Ποῦτιν, ἡ ἀμερικὴ τῶν Ὀμπάμα καὶ Τρὰμπ ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ Νετανιάχου ἐπιθυμοῦν διακαῶς μιὰν ἀνάλογη λύση. Ἡ  καθεμία πλευρὰ γιὰ τοὺς δικούς της γεωστρατηγικοὺς λόγους. Ἡ Ρωσσία γιὰ νὰ ἀπομακρύνει τὸν ἰσλαμιστικὸν κίνδυνο ἀπὸ τὰ ἐδάφη τοῦ «ἐγγὺς ἐξωτερικοῦ»της στὴν Κεντρικὴ Ἀσία. Οἱ ΗΠΑ γιὰ νὰ ἀποκτήσουν ἕνα φερέγγυο σύμμαχο καὶ προβολέα ἰσχύος στὴν Μέση Ἀνατολή, στὸν Ἀραβοπερσικὸ Κόλπο καὶ τὸ κέντρο τοῦ ∆ρόμου τοῦ Μεταξιοῦ. Τὸ Ἰσραὴλ γιὰ νὰ ἀποκτήσει χερσαῖο στρατηγικὸ βάθος σὲ ἕνα ἐπισφαλὲς ἰρανο-ἀραβικὸ ἰσλαμιστικὸ περιβάλλον. Ἡ ἐγκατάλειψις τῆς εἰρήνης στὰ χέρια μιᾶς παντουρκιστικῆς τουρκικῆς πολιτικῆς, ἀπὸ πλευρᾶς ∆ύσεως, θὰ σημάνει τὴν ἔναρξη μιᾶς σειρᾶς ἁλυσιδωτῶν ἐκρήξεων μεταξὺ τῶν ἀλλοϋποβλεπομένων δρώντων στὴν περιοχή, ὅπως τὸ Ἰράν, τὸ Πακιστάν, ἡ Ρωσσία, ἡ Σ. Ἀραβία, ἡ Αἴγυπτος καὶ τὸ ἀπολύτως ἀσταθὲς Ἀφγανιστάν. Τὰ ἀποτελέσματα θὰ εἶναι δεινὰ γιὰ τὴν εἰρήνη καὶ τὸν δυτικὸ πολιτικὸ πολιτισμὸ εἰς τὴν γεωπολιτικὴν αὐτὴν ζώνη. Καὶ αὐτὸ διότι ὁ προϊὼν ἰσλαμιστικὸς χαρακτὴρ τῆς Ἀγκύρας ὁ ὁποῖος ἔχει ἐνταχθεῖ στὸ εὐρύτερο ριζοσπατικὸ ἰσλαμιστικὸ ὄχημα τῆς «διεθνοῦς» τῶν Ἀδελφῶν Μουσουλμάνων9, σίγουρα θὰ προωθήσει τὴν ἐξαγωγὴ τῆς «ἰσλαμικῆς ἐπαναστάσεως» καὶ τῶν ἱεροπολεμικῶν ἀντιλήψεων καὶ στὴν ζώνη τῶν Βαλκανίων. Στὴν φάση ὅμως αὐτὴν ἡ Τουρκία δὲν θὰ κατωρθώσει νὰ πείσει οὔτε κἂν τὸν ἑαυτόν της εἰς ὅ,τι ἀφορᾷ τὶς δημοκρατικές της πεποιθήσεις, καὶ ὁ Χάρτης τῆς Εὐρυτέρας Μέσης Ἀνατολῆς ἀναδιατάσσεται ἔχοντας αὐτὸ ὡς δεδομένο. Ἴσως τώρα ἦλθε ἡ ὥρα νὰ ἀντιληφθοῦν οἱ «μαθητευόμενοι μάγοι» τῶν διεθνῶν μητροπολιτικῶν ἐπιτελείων τὰ μέχρι σήμερα λάθη τους. Ἐλπίζομε ὅμως νὰ μὴ εἶναι εἶναι ἀργὰ καὶ γι' αὐτούς, ἀλλὰ κυρίως γιὰ ὁλόκληρη τὴν ἀνθρωπότητα. Ὁ συστηματικὸς διωγμὸς τῶν χριστιανικῶν πληθυσμῶν στὴν Μέση Ἀνατολὴ ἀπὸ τὶς ριζοσπαστικὲς ἰσλαμιστικὲς τάσεις καὶ ὀργανώσεις, οἱ ὁποῖες ἐξετράφησαν καὶ ἐξωπλίσθησαν ἀπὸ τὴν ∆ύση καὶ τοὺς συμμάχους τους στὴν Μέση Ἀνατολὴ ἐπιδεικνύουν τὴν κατεύθυνση πρὸς τὴν κεντρικὴ Ἀσία τῶν ἰσλαμιστικῶν βλέψεών τους. Ἀνάχωμα σὲ αὐτὲς τὶς βλέψεις στὸν Καύκασο καὶ τὴν περιοχὴ τῆς Κασπίας καὶ τοῦ Εὐξείνου Πόντου ἀποτελεῖ ἡ Ἀρμενία. Ἂν ἡ Ἀρμενία ὑποχωρήσει, τὰ Βαλκάνια εἶναι μιὰ χαμένη ὑπόθεσις γιὰ τὴν ∆ύση καὶ ἕνα νέο Ἐμιρᾶτο γιὰ τὸ ριζοσπαστικὸ Ἰσλὰμ τοῦ ΙSIS καὶ τῶν παρακλαδιῶν τῆς ἀλ Κάϊντα καὶ τῶν Ἀδελφῶν Μουσουλμάνων.

Η συνδρομή μας στην παρούσα πρωτότυπη εισήγηση και εργασία με κριτές στον εν λόγω συνέδριο στην Αθήνα έγκειται στην επισήμανση της ανάγκης  για τη διδασκαλία της ηθικής και της ακεραιότητας στην έρευνα γενικά, και της ακεραιότητας του ερευνητή ειδικά, στη δευτεροβάθμια εκπαίδευση.SBN 978-960-466-174-9,  

Γίνεται σήμερα λόγος για την αλλαγή στο μάθημα των Θρησκευτικών στην Ελλάδα. Η συζήτηση για το θέμα έχει ξεκινήσει από τη δεκαετία του 1990 και η αλλαγή έχει γίνει από τον Σεπτέμβριο του 2016 με τη δημοσίευση σε ΦΕΚ των Προγράμματα Σπουδών Δημοτικού-Γυμνασίου και Λυκείου(στο εξής ΠΣ) και με την εφαρμογή τους ή μη εφαρμογή τους τησχολική αυτή χρονιά. Γνωρίζουμε, βέβαια όλοι και όλες ότι με την προσωπική αντίδραση του Αρχιεπισκόπου της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδας κ. Ιερώνυμου (Κουκουνάρας Λιάγκης, 2016), της οποίας το χρονικό αδυνατούμε εδώ να αναλύσουμε, διενεργήθηκε διάλογος μεταξύ Πολιτείας και Εκκλησίας τους προηγούμενους μήνες και μετά από αναθεώρηση, θα προκύψουν νέες δημοσιεύσεις σε ΦΕΚ των δύο ΠΣ και θα ισχύσουν τη σχολική χρονιά 2017-18. Παράλληλα γνωρίζουμε ότι ομάδες εμπειρογνωμόνωντων δύο ΠΣ και εκπαιδευτικών της τάξης από την Πρωτοβάθμια και Δευτεροβάθμια εκπαίδευση εργάσθηκαν αμισθί και συνέθεσαν Φακέλους Μαθητή με διδακτικό υλικό, για κάθε τάξη Δημοτικού, Γυμνασίου και Λυκείου, σύμφωνα με τις παιδαγωγικές και διδακτικές αρχές των νέων ΠΣ και αυτοί θα δοθούν στους μαθητές και μαθήτριες τη νέα σχολική χρονιά.Τέλος, από τον διάλογο Πολιτείας και Εκκλησίας προέκυψε ρητή διαβεβαίωση της Πολιτείας ότι με την αλλαγή των ΠΣ υφίσταται το εκπαιδευτικό, παιδαγωγικό και πολιτικό περιβάλλον όχι μόνο για τη διατήρηση της υποχρεωτικότητας του μαθήματος, αλλά και για τη συμπερίληψή του στα βασικά και υποχρεωτικά μαθήματα του νέου Λυκείου, που θα ισχύσει τα επόμενα χρόνια.

Ἡ γνῶσις τῆς γεωπολιτικῆς πραγματικότητος ἀπετέλεσε, ἀποτελεῖ καὶ θὰ ἀποτελεῖ πάντοτε πρόκληση πρὸς τοὺς πολιτικοὺς καὶ πνευματικοὺς ταγούς. Οἱ κρατοῦντες εἰς τὸν Πλανήτη διαθέτουν ἰσχυρὰ κέντρα μελέτης τῆς γεωπολιτικῆς πραγματικότητος, ὥστε λαμβάνοντες ὑπ' ὄψιν τὰ προκύπτοντα γεωπολιτικὰ ὑποδείγματα νὰ προβοῦν στὴν χάραξη τῶν ἀντιστοίχων ἡγεμονικῶν ἢ κυριαρχικῶν διεθνῶν στρατηγικῶν τους. Το παρόν κείμενο αναφέρεται στη χρήση της γνώσεως στις γεωπολιτικές επιδιώξεις των κρατούντων της γης.

Με το εγχείρημά μας αυτό προσπαθήσαμε να δώσουμε μια γενεαλογική διάσταση στην αφήγηση της ιστορίας της εκπαίδευσης. Αναφερθήκαμε σε δομικά ζητήματα (οικονομικοί και κοινωνικοί μετασχηματισμοί), σε θεσμικές ρυθμίσεις (κατασκευή της εκπαίδευσης μέσα από την απόσχισή της από άλλο προϋπάρχοντα θεσμό), σε πολιτικά προβλήματα, σε ιδέες που διαμορφώθηκαν από συγκεκριμένους διανοούμενους, σε συγκεκριμένες συνθήκες (είτε προσωπικές, είτε ευρύτερες). Προφανώς, η ιστορία δεν είναι πλήρης, με την έννοια ότι δεν αναφερθήκαμε σε «όλα» όσα συνέβησαν, δεν αναφέραμε όλους όσοι ενεπλέκησαν, δεν επιμείναμε σε κάθε λεπτομέρεια. Αυτό είναι ούτως ή άλλως αδύνατο. Η ιστορική αφήγηση είναι ένα νοηματικό σχήμα που καλύπτει υπό μία θεώρηση το παρελθόν. Είναι αδύνατο να γράψει κανείς για «όλα» όσα συνέβησαν: αν το κάνει θα είναι μια απλή γεγονοτογραφία. Αν επιχειρήσει να ερμηνεύσει, τότε αναγκαστικά θα περιοριστεί σε κάποια από τα συμβάντα (θα τα αναδείξει, δηλαδή, ως ιστορικά τεκμήρια). Άρα, εκ των πραγμάτων, δεν χρειάζεται να αναφερθεί σε «όλα». Αυτό που μπορούμε να δούμε ως ένα πρώτο συμπέρασμα μέσα από αυτό το αφήγημα της εκπαίδευσης είναι ότι η ανάγκη του ανθρώπου για να προσδιοριστεί είναι σημαντική, και αυτό προσπάθησε να κάνει στο διάβα της ιστορίας. Η εκπαίδευση φαίνεται να δίνει εκείνα τα στοιχεία της ταυτότητάς μας, με τα οποία αναγνωρίζουμε τον εαυτό μας, τους άλλους, το πλαίσιο στο οποίο κινούμαστε. Αυτή η ταυτότητα, ωστόσο, είναι, όπως διαμορφώνεται μέσα από την εκπαίδευση, μια επιβαλλόμενη ταυτότητα: εμπεριέχει προγενέστερες ρυθμίσεις, ρυθμίσεις άλλων σύγχρονών μας. Εμπεριέχει, όμως, και τις δικές μας προθέσεις, προτιμήσεις, ανάγκες, διαθέσεις. Εν κατακλείδι, θα μπορούσαμε να πούμε ότι η εκπαίδευση είναι ο χώρος όπου διαμορφώνεται διαλεκτικά (άρα και συγκρουσιακά) η ταυτότητά μας: είναι ένα διαρκές «γίγνεσθαι», στο οποίο συμμετέχουμε. Όσο πιο πολύ συμμετέχουμε, τόσο περισσότερο ολοκληρώνεται, εμπλουτίζεται, εμβαθύνεται η ταυτότητά μας. Συνεπώς, η εκπαίδευση είναι το ιδανικό πεδίο στο οποίο μπορεί να βρει έκφραση η «πράξη» (praxis), η πολιτική πράξη της διαπραγμάτευσης με τη γνώση.

Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2017). Κοινωνικό κεφάλαιο, φύλο και αθλητισμός: από την ‘έμφυλη κόπωση’ στην έμφυλη ενέργεια. Εισήγηση στην ΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ ΦΥΛΟ & ΑΘΛΗΤΙΣΜΟΣ. Ημερομηνία διοργάνωσης: Τετάρτη 15 Νοεμβρίου 2017, ώρα 9:30. Τόπος διεξαγωγής: Κέντρο Διάδοσης Ερευνητικών Αποτελεσμάτων (ΚΕΔΕΑ), ΑΠΘ. Διοργάνωση της Επιτροπής Φύλου & Ισότητας του ΑΠΘ σε συνεργασία με την Πανελλήνια Ένωση για την Προώθηση των Γυναικών στον Αθλητισμό και τα Σπορ (ΠΕΠΓΑΣ) & το Πανελλήνιο Αθλητικό Σωματείο Γυναικών  ‘ΠΑΣΓ ΚΑΛΛΙΠΑΤΕΙΡΑ’ Υπό την αιγίδα του ΤΕΦΑΑ – ΑΠΘ. (upcoming in Nov. 15, 2017).

Σπέγγα, Α.,  Καμπερίδου,  Ει.,  & Πατσαντάρας, Ν. (2017).  "Παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν τη συμμετοχή των μαθητριών Γυμνασίου και Λυκείου στο μάθημα της Φυσικής Αγωγής / Factors that influence female high school and junior high school students’ participation in physical education classes". Ανακοίνωση στα πρακτικά του 4ου Συνεδρίου Αθλητικής Επιστήμης «Η Φυσική Αγωγή και ο Αθλητισμός στο Σύγχρονο Κόσμο: Παιδεία - Κοινωνία – Πολιτισμός», σελ. 99. Σχολή Επιστήμης Φυσικής Αγωγής και Αθλητισμού (ΣΕΦΑΑ), Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών (ΕΚΠΑ).  

Οι έρευνες της έμφυλης διάστασης του κοινωνικού κεφαλαίου, μολονότι περιορισμένες, δείχνουν  ότι οι γυναίκες παίζουν σημαντικό ρόλο στην ανάπτυξη και αναπαραγωγή του, αναλαμβάνοντας κυρίως εθελοντικές δράσεις κοινωνικής προσφοράς και δράσεις κοινωνικής επιχειρηματικότητας που συντελούν καταλυτικά στην κοινωνική και οικονομική ευημερία. Επιπρόσθετα τα αποτελέσματα μεγάλου αριθμού ποιοτικών ερευνών, οι οποίες επικεντρώνουν το ενδιαφέρον τους στις αλληλεπιδράσεις μεταξύ  φύλου, αθλητισμού και επιχειρηματικότητας, δείχνουν μια θετική συσχέτιση μεταξύ των παραμέτρων αθλητική εμπειρία και επιτυχημένη ηγεσία. Η διερευνητική αυτή προσπάθεια  προσεγγίζει τον αθλητισμό στις προοπτικές της θεώρησης περί κοινωνικού κεφαλαίου. Βασιζόμενη σε μια ενδελεχή ανασκόπηση της διεθνούς σχετικής βιβλιογραφίας, και στα αποτελέσματα ποιοτικής έρευνας (8 ημι-δομημένες συνεντεύξεις) που διενεργήθηκε το 2016-2017, στοχεύει να εξηγήσει το ζήτημα της υποεκπροσώπησης των γυναικών όσον αφορά στις θέσεις διοικητικής ευθύνης στους αθλητικούς θεσμούς και κυρίως να αναδείξει τα εμπόδια που λειτουργούν καταλυτικά για την εμφάνιση αυτής της υποεκπροσώπησης.  Επικεντρώνει το ενδιαφέρον της στη γυναικεία συμμετοχή, που κατά κανόνα παραμένει μια  ανεκμετάλλευτη πηγή κοινωνικής ενέργειας και η οποία υπό συνθήκες μπορεί να διευκολύνει ποικίλες διαδικασίες κοινωνικής ενσωμάτωσης.  Επίσης διερευνά πιθανούς συσχετισμούς μεταξύ αθλητικής εμπειρίας και επιχειρηματικής δραστηριότητας. Υποκείμενα της έρευνας ήταν οκτώ εν ενεργεία και πρώην Ελληνίδες αθλήτριες, πρωταθλήτριες, ολυμπιονίκες και ακτιβίστριες—που έχουν διαπρέψει στην αθλητική ηγεσία και στο αθλητικό επιχειρείν. Τα αποτελέσματα δείχνουν ότι ο αθλητισμός προάγει δεξιότητες που είναι σημαντικές για την επιχειρηματικότητα και την ανάληψη δραστηριοτήτων διοικητικής μέριμνας και ευθύνης.  Ωστόσο οι γυναίκες που ενεργοποιούνται στο χώρο του αθλητισμού και επιδιώκουν να αναρριχηθούν σε θέσεις διοικητικής ευθύνης ή να ασκήσουν επιχειρηματικότητα στον χώρο αυτό, έχουν να υπερβούν πολλά εμπόδια. Μεταξύ άλλων επισημαίνονται: (1) οι προκαταλήψεις και τα στερεότυπα που ακόμα είναι κυρίαρχα και προκύπτουν από τις ανδροκεντρικές καταβολές του αθλητισμού, (2) η έλλειψη γυναικών μεντόρων, (3) η  έλλειψη γυναικών προτύπων, (4) οι άνισες ευκαιρίες εξέλιξης στην αθλητική ηγεσία σε σύγκριση με τους άνδρες, (5) η  έλλειψη ισορροπίας μεταξύ επαγγελματικής και ιδιωτικής/οικογενειακής ζωής. Απάντηση σε αυτή την υποεκπροσώπηση αποτελούν προγράμματα που προωθούν, προβάλλουν, και δημιουργούν γυναίκες μέντορες και κοινωνικά πρότυπα όπως εκείνο της Ελληνικής Ολυμπιακής Επιτροπής (ΕΟΕ) και του Συλλόγου Ελλήνων Ολυμπιονικών (ΣΕΟ) «Κάνουμε Χώρο για περισσότερες γυναίκες στην Αθλητική Συμμετοχή, την Προπονητική  Καθοδήγηση, και ειδικά τη Διοικητική Στελέχωση».   Λέξεις κλειδιά: κοινωνική ενσωμάτωση, φύλο, αθλητισμός, ηγεσία, επιχειρηματικότητα, «έμφυλη κόπωση» (gender fatigue), «σπατάλη ταλέντου» (wastage of talent),  «καμπύλη  ηλιθιότητας» (Stupid Curve), εξισορρόπηση επαγγελματικής και ιδιωτικής ζωής  

Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2017). Το Ανεκμετάλλευτο Κοινωνικό Κεφάλαιο του Αθλητισμού: Η Γυναίκα Αθλήτρια. Δεύτερη Έκδοση Βιβλίο Πρακτικών του 4ου Συνεδρίου Αθλητικής Επιστήμης «Η Φυσική Αγωγή και ο Αθλητισμός στο Σύγχρονο Κόσμο: Παιδεία - Κοινωνία – Πολιτισμός», σελ. 33-37. Σχολή Επιστήμης Φυσικής Αγωγής & Αθλητισμού του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών (ΕΚΠΑ).............................................................:  ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ -- ABSTRACT Οι έρευνες της έμφυλης διάστασης του κοινωνικού κεφαλαίου, μολονότι περιορισμένες, δείχνουν  ότι οι γυναίκες παίζουν σημαντικό ρόλο στην ανάπτυξη και αναπαραγωγή του, αναλαμβάνοντας κυρίως εθελοντικές δράσεις κοινωνικής προσφοράς και δράσεις κοινωνικής επιχειρηματικότητας που συντελούν καταλυτικά στην κοινωνική και οικονομική ευημερία. Επιπρόσθετα τα αποτελέσματα μεγάλου αριθμού ποιοτικών ερευνών, οι οποίες επικεντρώνουν το ενδιαφέρον τους στις αλληλεπιδράσεις μεταξύ  φύλου, αθλητισμού και επιχειρηματικότητας, δείχνουν μια θετική συσχέτιση μεταξύ των παραμέτρων αθλητική εμπειρία και επιτυχημένη ηγεσία. Η διερευνητική αυτή προσπάθεια  προσεγγίζει τον αθλητισμό στις προοπτικές της θεώρησης περί κοινωνικού κεφαλαίου. Βασιζόμενη σε μια ενδελεχή ανασκόπηση της διεθνούς σχετικής βιβλιογραφίας, και στα αποτελέσματα ποιοτικής έρευνας (8 ημι-δομημένες συνεντεύξεις) που διενεργήθηκε το 2016-2017, στοχεύει να εξηγήσει το ζήτημα της υποεκπροσώπησης των γυναικών όσον αφορά στις θέσεις διοικητικής ευθύνης στους αθλητικούς θεσμούς και κυρίως να αναδείξει τα εμπόδια που λειτουργούν καταλυτικά για την εμφάνιση αυτής της υποεκπροσώπησης.  Επικεντρώνει το ενδιαφέρον της στη γυναικεία συμμετοχή, που κατά κανόνα παραμένει μια  ανεκμετάλλευτη πηγή κοινωνικής ενέργειας και η οποία υπό συνθήκες μπορεί να διευκολύνει ποικίλες διαδικασίες κοινωνικής ενσωμάτωσης.  Επίσης διερευνά πιθανούς συσχετισμούς μεταξύ αθλητικής εμπειρίας και επιχειρηματικής δραστηριότητας. Υποκείμενα της έρευνας ήταν οκτώ εν ενεργεία και πρώην Ελληνίδες αθλήτριες, πρωταθλήτριες, ολυμπιονίκες και ακτιβίστριες—που έχουν διαπρέψει στην αθλητική ηγεσία και στο αθλητικό επιχειρείν. Τα αποτελέσματα δείχνουν ότι ο αθλητισμός προάγει δεξιότητες που είναι σημαντικές για την επιχειρηματικότητα και την ανάληψη δραστηριοτήτων διοικητικής μέριμνας και ευθύνης.  Ωστόσο οι γυναίκες που ενεργοποιούνται στο χώρο του αθλητισμού και επιδιώκουν να αναρριχηθούν σε θέσεις διοικητικής ευθύνης ή να ασκήσουν επιχειρηματικότητα στον χώρο αυτό, έχουν να υπερβούν πολλά εμπόδια. Μεταξύ άλλων επισημαίνονται: (1) οι προκαταλήψεις και τα στερεότυπα που ακόμα είναι κυρίαρχα και προκύπτουν από τις ανδροκεντρικές καταβολές του αθλητισμού, (2) η έλλειψη γυναικών μεντόρων, (3) η  έλλειψη γυναικών προτύπων, (4) οι άνισες ευκαιρίες εξέλιξης στην αθλητική ηγεσία σε σύγκριση με τους άνδρες, (5) η  έλλειψη ισορροπίας μεταξύ επαγγελματικής και ιδιωτικής/οικογενειακής ζωής. Απάντηση σε αυτή την υποεκπροσώπηση αποτελούν προγράμματα που προωθούν, προβάλλουν, και δημιουργούν γυναίκες μέντορες και κοινωνικά πρότυπα όπως εκείνο της Ελληνικής Ολυμπιακής Επιτροπής (ΕΟΕ) και του Συλλόγου Ελλήνων Ολυμπιονικών (ΣΕΟ) «Κάνουμε Χώρο για περισσότερες γυναίκες στην Αθλητική Συμμετοχή, την Προπονητική  Καθοδήγηση, και ειδικά τη Διοικητική Στελέχωση». Λέξεις κλειδιά: κοινωνική ενσωμάτωση, φύλο, αθλητισμός, ηγεσία, επιχειρηματικότητα, «έμφυλη κόπωση» (gender fatigue), «σπατάλη εσωτερικού ταλέντου» (wastage of internal talent),  «καμπύλη  ηλιθιότητας» (Stupid Curve), εξισορρόπηση επαγγελματικής και ιδιωτικής ζωής, γεφυρώνοντας το έμφυλο χάσμα     -Βλ. ολόκληρο το άρθρο / full pdf at http://www.tinyurl.com/k69yg56   στις σελίδες  31-40. -UoA scholar:  Το Ανεκμετάλλευτο Κοινωνικό Κεφάλαιο του Αθλητισμού: Η Γυναίκα Αθλήτρια , και στο -RG: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316990102_To_Anekmetalleuto_Koinoniko_Kephalaio_tou_Athletismou_E_Gynaika_Athletria  

We present 106 times of minima of 27 eclipsing binaries.

We present 107 times of minima of 19 eclipsing binaries.

Cytosolic GIVA phospholipase A2 (GIVA cPLA2) initiates the eicosanoid pathway of inflammation and thus inhibitors of this enzyme constitute novel potential agents for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Traditionally, GIVA cPLA2 inhibitors have suffered systemically from high lipophilicity. We have developed a variety of long chain 2-oxoamides as inhibitors of GIVA PLA2. Among them, AX048 was found to produce a potent analgesic effect. We have now reduced the lipophilicity of AX048 by replacing the long aliphatic chain with a chain containing an ether linked aromatic ring with in vitro inhibitory activities similar to AX048.

The study "3,000 Years of East Mediterranean Sea Levels" investigates whether trends observed during this period in Israel from archaeological indications can be corroborated and strengthened by comparing them with relative sea levels observed in Greece. The process is comprised of three questions: 1) What types of archaeological sea-level indicators in Greece and Israel have the highest level of reliability for dating and sea-level evaluation? 2) What are the overall trends of sea-level change in Greece and Israel during the last 3,000 years, and what degree of error do these curves have? 3) What if any regional trends can be identified from the combined Greek and Israeli data? To answer the above questions, three objectives are pursued: 1) Identify archaeological RSL indicators of the last 3,000 years in Israel and Greece, including already published indicators with adequate measurements, those published but in need of new measurements, and unpublished potential indicators. 2) Assess the reliability of indicators using a consistent scoring system, correction for isostatic and tectonic effects, more precise measurements from indicators, and by exploring new methods to determine the chronology of rock carved indicators in Israel. 3) Using the assembled data, create a sea-level reconstruction for Greece, and combine the data with existing reconstructions from Israel for an analysis of matching trends. The study began with research of published sources and was supplemented by field activity. Surveys in Greece including Crete to assess both published and potential indicators occurred. Ruins from Chersonisos and Matala in Crete were examined and new measurements were taken from the latter. Fieldwork was also performed in Israel, including measurements from Caesarea for functional elevations on water channels at the promontory palace pool, at Achziv's fishpond, and around Tel Dor. The survey collected nearly 140 indicators from Israel and about 120 from Greece (excluding those outside the project's chronological scope). Of the Israeli indicators, some 120 were deemed reliable enough for reconstructions, whereas in Greece only 40 were, and not all of these from tectonically stable areas. The higher reliability of the Israeli dataset may stem from a smaller coastline and more focused sea-level research over the past few decades. In Greece, many measurements were taken by archaeologists in the 20th century before precise surveying methods were available, and published without sufficient metadata. Since then some of the sites have also become inaccessible to sea-level researchers. Analysis of indicators revealed gaps and disparities between the two regional datasets. Israel has a very strong set of many indicators from the Roman Period (~2000BP) to present, but fewer from 3000-2000BP. Greek indicators are strongly clustered in the Classical and Hellenistic Periods (2500-2000BP) with fewer before or after. These disparities make it difficult to effectively compare sea level between regions, but results suggest some correspondence of the curves. Analysis supports the work of previous Israeli researchers and suggests a relatively stable sea level there for the last 2000 years, with possible fluctuations not exceeding half a meter above or below current sea level at ~1500BP and ~750BP respectively. Both regions indicate a sea level rise between 2500-2000BP, but more data from Israel is needed to confirm this, while data from 3000-2500BP in Israel and Greece alike is scarce. In addition to the overall regional RSL comparisons, the current study also identifies the need for ongoing research and data collection: Continuing the search for sea-level indicators in Israel from 3000-2000BP, and in Greece from 3000-2500BP and from 2000BP to present, particularly in areas of reported tectonic stability like the Cyclades.

Strong motion data recorded during the 15-year operation of the CORinth Gulf Soft Soil Array (CORSSA) in the highly seismic region of Aegion have been homogenized and organized in a MySQL database. In the present work we describe the contents of the database and the web portal through which these data are publicly accessible. CORSSA comprises one surface and four downhole 3-D broadband accelerometric stations. It was installed in 2002, in the framework of European project CORSEIS, aiming at gathering data for studying site effects, liquefaction, and non-linear behaviour of soils, as well as earthquake source properties. To date, the array has recorded 549 local and regional events with magnitudes ranging from 1.1 to 6.5. Although the vast majority of the recorded events caused weak ground motion at the CORSSA site, the scientific value of the data set pertains to the sparsity of this kind of infrastructure in most parts of the world.

Background The work is part of a wider research project wherein we are trying to further explore the conceptual ecology of evolutionary theory of present and prospective teachers in Greece. Methods Quantitative and qualitative research was applied. In the former a questionnaire was answered by 318 secondary school teachers who teach biology. We further interviewed eight of the teachers by means of semi structured interviews and analyzed the interviews using the QSR nVivo program. Results Acceptance of evolution levels was found moderate both in the total cohort and among science teachers; on the one hand, this was correlated with the prevalence of low level of knowledge and understanding due to lack of previous instruction; on the other hand, their type of religiosity was not a serious obstacle to accepting evolution, since it was correlated with a high degree of thinking dispositions. Conclusions The results are in agreement with our previous findings that the type of religiosity is crucial for the acceptance or rejection of evolution, particularly when it does not prevent someone from being “open-minded”. At the same time, the fact that geologists who teach science showed the highest level of acceptance of evolution, indicates, when paired with other evidence, that the geological data are the most convincing evidence to help students and teachers to make a first step in their multistep route towards accepting and understanding the theory of evolution.

BACKGROUND: Accreditation is a valuable resource for medical laboratories. The development of quality systems based on ISO 15189 has taken place in many laboratories in the European countries but data about accreditation remain scarce. The EFLM Working Group "Accreditation and ISO/CEN standards" conducted a survey that reviews the current state of the accreditation process in European countries. METHODS: An on-line questionnaire was addressed to delegates of 39 EFLM scientific societies in March 2014. One answer by country was taken into account. The survey was dealing with mandatory status, number of accredited medical laboratories in each country, possibility of flexible scope and concerned medical fields. The status of point-of-care testing (POCT) in each country was also studied. RESULTS: Twenty-nine responses (74%) were registered. All the assessed countries (100%) have begun an accreditation process in various ways. All the national accreditation bodies (NAB) offer or are working to offer an ISO 15189 accreditation. The accreditation process most often concerns all phases of the examination and various medical fields. Medical laboratories are responsible for POCT in 20 (69%) countries. The accreditation process for POCT, according to ISO 15189 and ISO 22870, is also developing. CONCLUSIONS: While there are several variations in the approaches to accreditation of medical laboratories in the European countries, the ISO 15189 accreditation project has been widely accepted. The use of a unique standard and the cooperation among countries due to scientific societies, EFLM, accreditation bodies and EA enable laboratory professionals to move toward uniform implementation of the accreditation concept

BACKGROUND: Chronic aerobic exercise training is associated with improved endothelial function and arterial stiffness and favourable long-term cardiovascular effects. DESIGN: We investigated the acute effects of continuous moderate intensity aerobic exercise (CAE) and high intensity interval aerobic exercise (hIAE) on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in healthy participants. METHODS: Twenty healthy men were recruited to this cross-over study. They participated in two exercise sessions: (a) CAE, volume at 50% of maximum aerobic work for 30 minutes; and (b) hIAE, interval maximum aerobic work for 30 minutes. Endothelial function was evaluated by flow-mediated dilation in the brachial artery. The carotid femoral pulse wave velocity and the femoral dorsalis pedis pulse wave velocity were measured as indices of central aortic and peripheral arterial stiffness. Measurements were carried out before and immediately after each exercise session. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the baseline measurements before CAE and hIAE with respect to flow-mediated dilation, the carotid femoral pulse wave velocity and the femoral dorsalis pedis pulse wave velocity (p = NS). Both CAE and hIAE significantly improved the flow-mediated dilation compared with baseline (p < 0.001). Similarly, the femoral dorsalis pedis pulse wave velocity was improved after CAE and hIAE (p < 0.005), whereas the carotid femoral pulse wave velocity was not significantly affected (p = NS). CONCLUSION: Both CAE and hIAE can favourably affect endothelial function, suggesting another cardioprotective effect of acute exercise. These types of aerobic exercise have a different impact on the central and peripheral arterial stiffness.

OBJECTIVES: Whilst physical activity is linked to cardiovascular health, it has lately been recognized that different types of exercise exert diverse effects on the cardiovascular system. Therefore, we investigated the acute effects of continuous moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (CAE) and high-intensity interval aerobic exercise (hIAE) on arterial function and inflammation. METHODS: Twenty healthy men (mean age 22.6 ± 3.3 years) were recruited in this crossover study. Each of the 20 volunteers participated in two separate sessions (hIAE and CAE). The augmentation index (AIx) of aortic pressure waveforms and serum levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) were measured before and after each exercise session. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline hemodynamic and inflammatory measurements before CAE and hIAE. Compared to baseline, AIx was significantly improved after CAE (p = 0.04), while there was no significant change after hIAE (p = 0.65). Serum levels of IL-17 were significantly elevated after CAE (p = 0.042), while hIAE had no significant effect on IL-17 levels (p = 0.47). Interestingly, there was an inverse association between the elevation of IL-17 levels and the AIx improvement after CAE (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings provide additional evidence concerning the cardiovascular effects of different types of exercise training through modification of peripheral hemodynamics and the inflammatory process.

Tsoukos, A, Bogdanis, GC, Terzis, G, and Veligekas, P. Acute improvement of vertical jump performance after isometric squats depends on knee angle and vertical jumping ability. J Strength Cond Res 30(8): 2250-2257, 2016-This study examined the acute effects of maximum isometric squats at 2 different knee angles (90 or 140°) on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance in power athletes. Fourteen national-level male track and field power athletes completed 3 main trials (2 experimental and 1 control) in a randomized and counterbalanced order 1 week apart. Countermovement jump performance was evaluated using a force-plate before and 15 seconds, 3, 6, 9, and 12 minutes after 3 sets of 3 seconds maximum isometric contractions with 1-minute rest in between, from a squat position with knee angle set at 90 or 140°. Countermovement jump performance was improved compared with baseline only in the 140° condition by 3.8 ± 1.2% on the 12th minute of recovery (p = 0.027), whereas there was no change in CMJ height in the 90° condition. In the control condition, there was a decrease in CMJ performance over time, reaching -3.6 ± 1.2% (p = 0.049) after 12 minutes of recovery. To determine the possible effects of baseline jump performance on subsequent CMJ performance, subjects were divided into 2 groups ("high jumpers" and "low jumpers"). The baseline CMJ values of "high jumpers" and "low jumpers" differed significantly (CMJ: 45.1 ± 2.2 vs. 37.1 ± 3.9 cm, respectively, p = 0.001). Countermovement jump was increased only in the "high jumpers" group by 5.4 ± 1.4% (p = 0.001) and 7.4 ± 1.2% (p = 0.001) at the knee angles of 90 and 140°, respectively. This improvement was larger at the 140° angle (p = 0.049). Knee angle during isometric squats and vertical jumping ability are important determinants of the acute CMJ performance increase observed after a conditioning activity.

Mountain Ainos is the highest mountain of the Ionian Islands with a maximum elevation of 1628 m. Its National Park is characterized by rich flora including endemic species such as Greek fir. In order to exploit fully its touristic potential, it is necessary to examine the mountain climate. However in situ measurements of climatic parameters in mountain areas pose difficulties as far as to access areas of interest. The current study addresses one specific object: Estimating the air temperature at different altitudes of the southeastern side of Mt. Ainos, having air temperature data at the exact same altitudes of the northwestern side which is more easily accessible. We performed linear regression analysis to estimate the mean, maximum and minimum daily air temperature of the southeastern sites from data measured at the northwestern one. The results are considered satisfactory in air temperature estimation at all examined altitudes. More accurate estimations were provided in the case of the mean air temperature at the altitude of 1580 m. Also, linear models indicated noticeable estimations of the minimum temperatures at 1300 and 1580 m.

Using CO (4-3) and (2-1) Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) data, we prove that the molecular gas in the jet-driven winds of the galaxy IC 5063 is more highly excited than the rest of the molecular gas in the disk of the same galaxy. On average, the CO(4 - 3) /CO(2 - 1) flux ratio is 1 for the disk and 5 for the jet accelerated or impacted gas. Spatially-resolved maps reveal that in regions associated with winds, the CO(4 - 3) /CO(2 - 1) flux ratio significantly exceeds the upper limit of 4 for optically thick gas. It frequently takes values between 5 and 11, and it occasionally further approaches the upper limit of 16 for optically thin gas. Excitation temperatures of 30-100 K are common for the molecules in these regions. If all of the outflowing molecular gas is optically thin, at 30-50 K, then its mass is 2 × 106 M⊙. This lower mass limit is an order of magnitude below the mass derived from the CO(2 - 1) flux in the case of optically thick gas. Molecular winds can thus be less massive, but more easily detectable at high z than they were previously thought to be.

Using CO (4-3) and (2-1) Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) data, we prove that the molecular gas in the jet-driven winds of the galaxy IC 5063 is more highly excited than the rest of the molecular gas in the disk of the same galaxy. On average, the CO(4 - 3) /CO(2 - 1) flux ratio is 1 for the disk and 5 for the jet accelerated or impacted gas. Spatially-resolved maps reveal that in regions associated with winds, the CO(4 - 3) /CO(2 - 1) flux ratio significantly exceeds the upper limit of 4 for optically thick gas. It frequently takes values between 5 and 11, and it occasionally further approaches the upper limit of 16 for optically thin gas. Excitation temperatures of 30-100 K are common for the molecules in these regions. If all of the outflowing molecular gas is optically thin, at 30-50 K, then its mass is 2 × 106 M☉. This lower mass limit is an order of magnitude below the mass derived from the CO(2 - 1) flux in the case of optically thick gas. Molecular winds can thus be less massive, but more easily detectable at high z than they were previously thought to be.

The fatiguing effect of long-distance running has been examined in the context of a variety of parameters. However, there is scarcity of data regarding its effect on the vertical jump mechanics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the alterations of countermovement jump (CMJ) mechanics after a half-marathon mountain race. Twenty-seven runners performed CMJs before the race (Pre), immediately after the race (Post 1) and five minutes after Post 1 (Post 2). Instantaneous and ensemble-average analysis focused on jump height and, the maximum peaks and time-to-maximum peaks of: Displacement, vertical force (Fz), anterior-posterior force (Fx), Velocity and Power, in the eccentric (tECC) and concentric (tCON) phase of the jump, respectively. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used for statistical analysis (p ≤ 0.05). The jump height decrease was significant in Post 2 (-7.9%) but not in Post 1 (-4.1%). Fx and Velocity decreased significantly in both Post 1 (only in tECC) and Post 2 (both tECC and tCON). Α timing shift of the Fz peaks (earlier during tECC and later during tCON) and altered relative peak times (only in tECC) were also observed. Ensemble-average analysis revealed several time intervals of significant post-race alterations and a timing shift in the Fz-Velocity loop. An overall trend of lowered post-race jump output and mechanics was characterised by altered jump timing, restricted anterior-posterior movement and altered force-velocity relations. The specificity of mountain running fatigue to eccentric muscle work, appears to be reflected in the different time order of the post-race reductions, with the eccentric phase reductions preceding those of the concentric one. Thus, those who engage in mountain running should particularly consider downhill training to optimise eccentric muscular action.

Pomalidomide + low-dose dexamethasone is effective and well tolerated for refractory or relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma after bortezomib and lenalidomide failure. The phase III trial MM-003 compared pomalidomide + low-dose dexamethasone with high-dose dexamethasone. This subanalysis grouped patients by baseline creatinine clearance ≥ 30 - < 60 mL/min (n=93, pomalidomide + low-dose dexamethasone; n=56, high-dose dexamethasone) or ≥ 60 mL/min (n=205, pomalidomide + low-dose dexamethasone; n=93, high-dose dexamethasone). Median progression-free survival was similar for both subgroups and favored pomalidomide + low-dose dexamethasone versus high-dose dexamethasone: 4.0 versus 1.9 months in the group with baseline creatinine clearance ≥ 30 - < 60 mL/min (P<0.001) and 4.0 versus 2.0 months in the group with baseline creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min (P<0.001). Median overall survival for pomalidomide + low-dose dexamethasone versus high-dose dexamethasone was 10.4 versus 4.9 months (P=0.030) and 15.5 versus 9.2 months (P=0.133), respectively. Improved renal function, defined as an increase in creatinine clearance from < 60 to ≥ 60 mL/min, was similar in pomalidomide + low-dose dexamethasone and high-dose dexamethasone patients (42% and 47%, respectively). Improvement in progression-free and overall survival in these patients was comparable with that in patients without renal impairment. There was no increase in discontinuations of therapy, dose modifications, and adverse events in patients with moderate renal impairment. Pomalidomide at a starting dose of 4 mg + low-dose dexamethasone is well tolerated in patients with refractory or relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, and of comparable efficacy if moderate renal impairment is present. © 2016 Ferrata Storti Foundation.

BACKGROUND: The anterior component of occlusal force (ACF), considered to result from the mesial inclination of teeth relative to the occlusal plane, has been estimated by indirectly measuring contact point tightness (CPT) through interproximal insertion of metal strips. ACF has been observed concurrently with a posterior component, whose theoretical origin is difficult to explain. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate ACF by measuring CPT directly, and integrate current data to propose a theoretical basis for ACF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample comprised 14 females (age: 22.3±2.8) and 16 males (age: 20.8±2.5). Our device consisted of two force sensors: one for measuring maximum bite force (MBF) (overall thickness: 4mm), and one for measuring CPT directly (0.2mm thick), inserted between the lower first molar and second premolar. ACF was computed as the difference in CPT between the biting (at 75 per cent of MBF) and non-biting conditions. RESULTS: Averages of MBF, CPT, and ACF were 666.67 [standard deviation (SD): 36.06], 6.74 (SD: 1.17), and 20.59 (SD: 4.60) N, respectively. ACF, CPT, and MBF were higher in males by approximately 28, 18 and 7 per cent, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between ACF and MBF (R (2): 0.64). CPT was also significantly correlated to MBF (R (2): 0.40). Biomechanical analysis indicates that previously offered explanations do not unriddle the concurrent increase of CPT at anterior and posterior contact points. CONCLUSIONS: ACF was related to bite force by a logarithmic model. We speculate that CPT increases during biting through a combination of mesial tipping of teeth and mandibular bending.

HIV is responsible for one of the largest viral pandemics in human history. Despite a concerted global response for prevention and treatment, the virus persists. Thus, urgent public health action, utilizing novel interventions, is needed to prevent future transmission events, critical to eliminating HIV. For public health planning to prove effective and successful, we need to understand the dynamics of regional epidemics and to intervene appropriately. HIV molecular epidemiology tools as implemented in phylogenetic, phylodynamic and phylogeographic analyses have proven to be powerful tools in public health planning across many studies. Numerous applications with HIV suggest that molecular methods alone or in combination with mathematical modelling can provide inferences about the transmission dynamics, critical epidemiological parameters (prevalence, incidence, effective number of infections, Re, generation times, time between infection and diagnosis), or the spatiotemporal characteristics of epidemics. Molecular tools have been used to assess the impact of an intervention and outbreak investigation which are of great public health relevance. In some settings, molecular sequence data may be more readily available than HIV surveillance data, and can therefore allow for molecular analyses to be conducted more easily. Nonetheless, classic methods have an integral role in monitoring and evaluation of public health programmes, and should supplement emerging techniques from the field of molecular epidemiology. Importantly, molecular epidemiology remains a promising approach in responding to viral diseases.

Το άρθρο στα αγγλικά περιλαμβάνει τα αποτελέσματα της συζήτησης των μαθητών στην εκδήλωση στο Ευρωπαϊκό Σχολείο ΙΙΙ Βρυξέλλες που πραγματοποιήθηκε στις 11 Μαρτίου 2016.

The objective of the study is to assess the human thermal comfort at a University Campus in the metropolitan area of Athens. The equipment setup consists of all the necessary sensors for human thermal comfort estimation along with a high resolution GPS, mounted on a cargo bicycle. The experiment was carried out for midday and night on July 29, 2015. Besides, long term 5 min measurements from a meteorological station, established on the roof of a building within the University Campus, were also used to quantify the mean thermal environment. The densely carried out bicycle measurements every 5 s was the input data utilized by the ENVI-met model; a three-dimensional microclimate model designed to simulate the surface-plant-air interactions in urban environment. The in situ measurements along with the model's output results reveal the thermal comfort regime of the selected area and the ability of the model to estimate accurately the micrometeorological conditions.

Only a few red dwarf flaring stars in the solar neighbourhood have undergone exceptional events called superflares. They have been detected with high-energy satellites (Swift) and have been proven to be powerful events (both in intensity and energy) and potentially hazardous for any extraterrestial life. The physics of these events can be understood as an extrapolation of the (much) weaker activity already occurring in the most powerful solar flares occurring in the Sun. Nevertheless, the origin (why?) of these superflares occur is currently unknown. A recent study presents the optical and X-ray long-term evolution of the emission by the super-flare from the red-dwarf star DG CVn undertaken in 2 014. In that paper we comment on the context of these observations and on the properties that can be derived through the analysis of them.

We consider the multi-armed bandit problem under a cost constraint. Successive samples from each population are i.i.d. with unknown distribution and each sample incurs a known population-dependent cost. The objective is to design an adaptive sampling policy to maximize the expected sum of n samples such that the average cost does not exceed a given bound sample-path wise. We establish an asymptotic lower bound for the regret of feasible uniformly fast convergent policies, and construct a class of policies, which achieve the bound. We also provide their explicit form under Normal distributions with unknown means and known variances. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016