The uric acid/xanthine H(+) symporter, UapA, is a high-affinity purine transporter from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Here we present the crystal structure of a genetically stabilized version of UapA (UapA-G411VΔ1-11) in complex with xanthine. UapA is formed from two domains, a core domain and a gate domain, similar to the previously solved uracil transporter UraA, which belongs to the same family. The structure shows UapA in an inward-facing conformation with xanthine bound to residues in the core domain. Unlike UraA, which was observed to be a monomer, UapA forms a dimer in the crystals with dimer interactions formed exclusively through the gate domain. Analysis of dominant negative mutants is consistent with dimerization playing a key role in transport. We postulate that UapA uses an elevator transport mechanism likely to be shared with other structurally homologous transporters including anion exchangers and prestin.
Performance at school is affected not only by students' achievement goals but also by emotional exchanges among classmates and their teacher. In this study, we investigated relationships between students' achievement goals and emotion perception ability and class affect and performance. Participants were 949 Greek adolescent students in 49 classes and their Greek language and mathematics teachers. Results from multilevel analyses indicated that students' mastery-approach and performance-approach goals were positively related to positive affect whereas performance-avoidance goals were negatively related to positive affect. At class-level, relationships between achievement goals and affect were moderated by students' emotion perception ability. These findings highlight the importance of emotion abilities and their role in motivational processes for class-level outcomes.
Sea level indicators, such as tidal notches and beachrocks, may provide valuable information for the relative sea level changes of an area. Beachrocks in particular have received various arguments concerning their use as reliable sea level indicators and their formation environment. This work focuses on the coasts of East Attica in order to trace the palaeoshorelines of the Upper Holocene through the study of beachrocks. The coastal zone was surveyed in detail by snorkelling and diving, in order to locate, map and sample beachrocks. The samples were studied under a SEM, which showed that the beachrocks are mainly composed of quartz grains, a few calcites and feldspars, while the carbonate cement is characterized with the presence of MgO at percentages between 5 and 7.8%. Based on correlations with published drillings in the study area, the studied beachrocks should not be older than 2000 years BP.
As a geographical method of analyzing power redistribution, Systemic GeopoliticalAnalysis (according to Ioannis Th. Mazis theoretical basis) proposes a multi-dimensional, interdisciplinary research pattern, which embraces economic, cultural, political and defensive facts. The amount of data produced combining these attributes is extremely large and complex. One of the solutions to explore and analyze this data is clustering it. In this work, two clustering algorithms were used, namely DBSCAN and the k-means techniques which both of them cluster data according to its characteristics. While DBSCAN groups data based on the minimum size of participating objects per cluster and the minimum required distance between them, k-means clusters the data objects according the pre-desired number of groups. Thus, since the two methods use different roads to group the data objects, they form different clusters but each one has its importance depending on the characteristics of the applied method. As a result, in this work a comparative study is presented.
Preketes-Sigalas K, Lagoyannis A, Axiotis M, Harissopulos S, Kokkoris M, Mertzimekis TJ, Paneta V, Provatas G. Study of the reaction for {PIGE} applications. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. 2016;368:71–74.Abstract
Abstract The differential cross sections of the 2125 keV $\gamma$–ray, emitted by the $^{11}$B(p, p'$\gamma$)$^{11}$B reaction were measured at six (6) angles and at proton energies from 2.5 to 5.0 MeV. The experimental setup consisted of three (3) 100% relative efficiency \{HPGe\} detectors placed on a motorized turntable. The comparison between the present measurements, which have an overall uncertainty of $\sim$8%, and previous ones from literature gives contradictory results. While there are large differences with previous differential cross-section measurements from literature, there is good agreement with previous thick-target yield ones. Additional thick-target measurements were performed in an effort to explain the observed discrepancies.
Magnetoresistance effects observed in superconductor/ferromagnet (SC/FM) hybrids, SC/FM bilayers and FM/SC/FM trilayers, have attracted much interest in recent years. Here we focus on the stray-fields-based superconducting magnetoresistance effect (sMRE) observed in Co(d(Co))/Nb(d(Nb))/Co(d(Co)) trilayers with sufficiently thick Co outer layers so that out-of-plane magnetic domains (MDs) and MDs walls (MDWs) emerge all over their surface when subjected to a parallel external magnetic field, H-ex equal to the coercive field, H-c. Asking for the optimum conditions to maximize the sMRE, we explore the interference between three basic length scales of the SC and FM structural units: the thickness of the SC interlayer (d(SC)), the zero-temperature coherence length (xi(0)) and the width of out-of-plane MDs (D-MDs). To this effect, simulations-based modeling of the transverse stray dipolar fields, H-z,H-dip that emerge at the interior of the out-of-plane MDs is performed. Both cases of homogeneous and inhomogeneous micromagnetic characteristics (saturation magnetization, M-sat and width, DMDs) of the out-of-plane MDs are investigated. Furthermore, the influence of the microstructure of the bottom and top Co layers on the macroscopic coercive field of the TLs is addressed. The obtained modeling results respond well when tested against experimental data. The generic criteria reported here on the optimum matching of d(SC), xi(0) and D-MDs aiming to maximize the sMRE magnitude in relevant FM/SC/FM trilayers, can assist the design of relevant cryogenic devices. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Recently it has been shown that surface magnetic doping of topological insulators induces backscattering of Dirac states which are usually protected by time-reversal symmetry {[}Sessi et al., Nat. Commun. 5, 5349 (2014)]. Here we report on quasiparticle interference measurements where, by improved Fermi level tuning, strongly focused interference patterns on surface Mn-doped Bi2Te3 could be directly observed by means of scanning tunneling microscopy at 4 K. Ab initio and model calculations reveal that their mesoscopic coherence relies on two prerequisites: (i) a hexagonal Fermi surface with large parallel segments (nesting) and (ii) magnetic dopants which couple to a high-spin state. Indeed, x-ray magnetic circular dichroism shows superparamagnetism even at very dilute Mn concentrations. Our findings provide evidence of strongly anisotropic Dirac-fermion-mediated interactions and demonstrate how spin information can be transmitted over long distances, allowing the design of experiments and devices based on coherent quantum effects in topological insulators.
PSR J1119-6127 is a rotationally-powered (RP) pulsar whose pulsations are detected in radio, X-rays and gamma-rays. It is a high magnetic field neutron star, with an inferred dipole field strength of about 4 & sdot;1013 G. On July 27 it exhibited a strong X-ray burst, detected by Swift/BAT (ATel #9274) and Fermi/GBM (GCN Circular #19736).
Nanogels based on biocompatible, dual pH- and temperature-sensitive poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl) methacrylate (PDEAEMA) have been successfully used as nanocontainers for the encapsulation of magnetite, Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). For this purpose, citric acid-coated MNPs were encapsulated into previously synthesized PDEAEMA-based nanogels using a poly(ethyleneglycol)-based stabilizer. After the encapsulation of the magnetite MNPs, the so-called magneto-nanogels (MNGs) were proved to be multiresponsive on temperature, pH, and magnetic field and colloidally stable. Moreover, preliminary studies on the biocompatibility of these MNGs with cells of human peripheral blood were performed and evidenced quite tolerable biocompatibility, thus suggesting potential use in biomedical applications. (C) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Exposure to chronic stress is frequently accompanied by cognitive and affective disorders in association with neurostructural adaptations. Chronic stress was previously shown to trigger Alzheimer's-like neuropathology, which is characterized by Tau hyperphosphorylation and missorting into dendritic spines followed by memory deficits. Here, we demonstrate that stress-driven hippocampal deficits in wild-type mice are accompanied by synaptic missorting of Tau and enhanced Fyn/GluN2B-driven synaptic signaling. In contrast, mice lacking Tau [Tau knockout (Tau-KO) mice] do not exhibit stress-induced pathological behaviors and atrophy of hippocampal dendrites or deficits of hippocampal connectivity. These findings implicate Tau as an essential mediator of the adverse effects of stress on brain structure and function.
Exposure to chronic stress is frequently accompanied by cognitive and affective disorders in association with neurostructural adaptations. Chronic stress was previously shown to trigger Alzheimer's-like neuropathology, which is characterized by Tau hyperphosphorylation and missorting into dendritic spines followed by memory deficits. Here, we demonstrate that stress-driven hippocampal deficits in wild-type mice are accompanied by synaptic missorting of Tau and enhanced Fyn/GluN2B-driven synaptic signaling. In contrast, mice lacking Tau [Tau knockout (Tau-KO) mice] do not exhibit stress-induced pathological behaviors and atrophy of hippocampal dendrites or deficits of hippocampal connectivity. These findings implicate Tau as an essential mediator of the adverse effects of stress on brain structure and function.
The aim of this paper is to show that the knowledge of the history of Greek after the New Testament and the knowledge of its outcome, i.e. Modern Greek, can provide the tools for a better understanding of some of the linguistic problems presented by New Testament Greek. The testing ground for this claim will be aspect and its relationship to Aktionsart and tense. The paper starts with a brief overview of the Modern Greek verbal system in comparison to the Classical Greek verb, continues with a brief discussion of a theoretical approach to tense and aspect and its application to Modern Greek, and proceeds retrospectively, examining the situation in Early, Classical and New Testament Greek in the light of the Modern Greek data .
Vito Acconci’s early artistic practice combines textuality, visuality, and the involvement with the physical body. It also revolves around the tension between the transience of the performance and the various forms with which the artist’s activities have been devised, recorded, and documented. The voluminous archive that was assembled by Gregory Volk in the Diary of a Body 1969-1973 is worth examining in that respect, since these visual and verbal documents are not only secondary to the event, but make up an integral part of the artist’s early work. Therefore this essay revisits Vito Acconci’s notes and photographs as an assemblage that preserves the experiential substance of the artist’s practice, and also speaks of its in/transitive character, inviting reflection on the connections between writing, performance, and the ground of experience. A paratext to the performances and a continuation of his early writings, the diary is a storehouse that has a documentary value against the grain, which the essay dwells on.
Blazars, a subclass of active galactic nuclei, are prime candidate sources for the high energy neutrinos recently detected by IceCube. Being one of the brightest sources in the extragalactic X-ray and γ-ray sky as well as one of the nearest blazars to Earth, Mrk 421 is an excellent source for testing the scenario of the blazar-neutrino connection, especially during flares where time-dependent neutrino searches may have a higher detection probability. Here, we model the spectral energy distribution of Mrk 421 during a 13-day flare in 2010 with unprecedented multi-wavelength coverage, and calculate the respective neutrino flux. We find a correlation between the >1 PeV neutrino and photon fluxes, in all energy bands. Using typical IceCube through-going muon event samples with good angular resolution and high statistics, wederive the mean event rate above 100 TeV (∼0.57 evt/yr) and show that it is comparable to that expected from a four-month quiescent period in 2009. Due to the short duration of the flare, an accumulation of similar flares over several years would be necessary to produce a meaningful signal for IceCube. To better assess this, we apply the correlation between the neutrino and γ-ray fluxes to the 6.9 yr Fermi-LAT light curve of Mrk 421. We find that the mean event count above 1 PeV for the full IceCube detector livetime is 3.59 ± 0.60 (2.73 ± 0.38) νμ +νbarμ with (without) major flares included in our analysis. This estimate exceeds, within the uncertainties, the 95% (90%) threshold value for the detection of one or more muon (anti-)neutrinos. Meanwhile, the most conservative scenario, where no correlation of γ-rays and neutrinos is assumed, predicts 1.60 ± 0.16νμ +νbarμ events. We conclude that a non-detection of high-energy neutrinos by IceCube would probe the neutrino/γ-ray flux correlation during major flares or/and the hadronic contribution to the blazar emission.
BACKGROUND: Despite recent advances the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease remains incompletely understood. A variety of animal models have been utilized in an effort to provide further insights and develop more therapeutic options. In order to simulate, to an extent, the pathogenesis and the clinical course of the disease, TNBS induced colitis is often used. Various approaches for inducing TNBS -colitis have been described in the literature.
METHODS/RESULTS: In this review, we sought to present the animal model of TNBS induced colitis and outline the pathogenesis, pathophysiology, clinical course and pathological characteristics of the model. Furthermore, we describe the differences among those protocols regarding types of animals and colitis induction.
DATA SOURCES: The MEDLINE database was thoroughly searched using the keywords: TNBS, colitis, Crohn's disease, animal model. Two investigators independently reviewed the abstracts and appropriate articles were included in this review. Additional articles were gathered and evaluated.
CONCLUSION: The aim of this study was to thoroughly present an updated review of the TNBS-induced colitis protocols that are implemented by researchers.
Tchoumtchoua J, Theocharis S, Halabalaki M, Efstathiou A, Gaboriaud-Kolar N, Smirlis D, Konstantinidou AE, Patsouris ES, Skaltsounis AL. Toxicological study of the indirubin derivative 7BIO. Planta Medica. 2016;81(S 01):P952.
Background: We investigated the impact of PIK3CA and TP53 mutations and p53 protein status on the outcome of patients who had been treated with adjuvant anthracycline-taxane chemotherapy within clinical trials in the pre- and post-trastuzumab era. Results: TP53 and PIK3CA mutations were found in 380 (21.5%) and 458 (25.9%) cases, respectively, including 104 (5.9%) co-mutated tumors; p53 immunopositivity was observed in 848 tumors (53.5%). TP53 mutations (p < 0.001) and p53 protein positivity (p = 0.001) were more frequent in HER2-positive and triple negative (TNBC) tumors, while PIK3CA mutations were more frequent in Luminal A/B tumors (p < 0.001). TP53 mutation status and p53 protein expression but not PIK3CA mutation status interacted with trastuzumab treatment for disease-free survival; patients with tumors bearing TP53 mutations or immunopositive for p53 protein fared better when treated with trastuzumab, while among patients treated with trastuzumab those with the above characteristics fared best (interaction p = 0.017 for mutations; p = 0.015 for IHC). Upon multivariate analysis the above interactions remained significant in HER2-positive patients; in the entire cohort, TP53 mutations were unfavorable in patients with Luminal A/B (p = 0.003) and TNBC (p = 0.025); p53 immunopositivity was strongly favorable in patients treated with trastuzumab (p = 0.009). Materials and Methods: TP53 and PIK3CA mutation status was examined in 1766 paraffin tumor DNA samples with informative semiconductor sequencing results. Among these, 1585 cases were also informative for p53 protein status assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC; 10% positivity cut-off). Conclusions: TP53 mutations confer unfavorable prognosis in patients with Luminal A/B and TNBC tumors, while p53 immunopositivity may predict for trastuzumab benefit in the adjuvant setting.
Background: We investigated the impact of PIK3CA and TP53 mutations and p53 protein status on the outcome of patients who had been treated with adjuvant anthracycline-taxane chemotherapy within clinical trials in the pre- and post-trastuzumab era. Results: TP53 and PIK3CA mutations were found in 380 (21.5%) and 458 (25.9%) cases, respectively, including 104 (5.9%) co-mutated tumors; p53 immunopositivity was observed in 848 tumors (53.5%). TP53 mutations (p < 0.001) and p53 protein positivity (p = 0.001) were more frequent in HER2-positive and triple negative (TNBC) tumors, while PIK3CA mutations were more frequent in Luminal A/B tumors (p < 0.001). TP53 mutation status and p53 protein expression but not PIK3CA mutation status interacted with trastuzumab treatment for disease-free survival; patients with tumors bearing TP53 mutations or immunopositive for p53 protein fared better when treated with trastuzumab, while among patients treated with trastuzumab those with the above characteristics fared best (interaction p = 0.017 for mutations; p = 0.015 for IHC). Upon multivariate analysis the above interactions remained significant in HER2-positive patients; in the entire cohort, TP53 mutations were unfavorable in patients with Luminal A/B (p = 0.003) and TNBC (p = 0.025); p53 immunopositivity was strongly favorable in patients treated with trastuzumab (p = 0.009). Materials and Methods: TP53 and PIK3CA mutation status was examined in 1766 paraffin tumor DNA samples with informative semiconductor sequencing results. Among these, 1585 cases were also informative for p53 protein status assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC; 10% positivity cut-off). Conclusions: TP53 mutations confer unfavorable prognosis in patients with Luminal A/B and TNBC tumors, while p53 immunopositivity may predict for trastuzumab benefit in the adjuvant setting.
BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that baseline drug resistance patterns may influence the outcome of antiretroviral therapy. Therefore, guidelines recommend drug resistance testing to guide the choice of initial regimen. In addition to optimizing individual patient management, these baseline resistance data enable transmitted drug resistance (TDR) to be surveyed for public health purposes. The SPREAD program systematically collects data to gain insight into TDR occurring in Europe since 2001.
METHODS: Demographic, clinical, and virological data from 4140 antiretroviral-naive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals from 26 countries who were newly diagnosed between 2008 and 2010 were analyzed. Evidence of TDR was defined using the WHO list for surveillance of drug resistance mutations. Prevalence of TDR was assessed over time by comparing the results to SPREAD data from 2002 to 2007. Baseline susceptibility to antiretroviral drugs was predicted using the Stanford HIVdb program version 7.0.
RESULTS: The overall prevalence of TDR did not change significantly over time and was 8.3% (95% confidence interval, 7.2%-9.5%) in 2008-2010. The most frequent indicators of TDR were nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) mutations (4.5%), followed by nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) mutations (2.9%) and protease inhibitor mutations (2.0%). Baseline mutations were most predictive of reduced susceptibility to initial NNRTI-based regimens: 4.5% and 6.5% of patient isolates were predicted to have resistance to regimens containing efavirenz or rilpivirine, respectively, independent of current NRTI backbones.
CONCLUSIONS: Although TDR was highest for NRTIs, the impact of baseline drug resistance patterns on susceptibility was largest for NNRTIs. The prevalence of TDR assessed by epidemiological surveys does not clearly indicate to what degree susceptibility to different drug classes is affected.
A novel hydrocarbon-soluble trifunctional organolithium initiator, with no polar-additive requirements, has been synthesized for use in anionic polymerization. The complete synthesis of the unsaturated tri-diphenylethylene compound, 4,4,4-(ethane-1,1,1-triyl)tris(((3-(1-phenylvinyl)benzyl)oxy)benzene) (I), is described and the efficiency of the new initiator is evaluated using 1H NMR and Nano-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (NALDI-TOF MS). Activation of precursor I, was performed in situ using stoichiometric amounts of sec-BuLi in benzene. Three-arm polystyrene and polyisoprene stars with narrow molecular weight distributions were obtained in the case of relatively high total anion concentration, [sec-BuLi]0 > 3.8 × 10−3 mol L−1 (3 × [I]0). At low total anion concentrations, uncontrolled molecular weight and broad/bimodal distributions were obtained, plausibly attributed to the presence of partially solvated aggregation dynamics complicating the propagation. The ‘living’ nature of the polymerization was confirmed by the sequential polymerization of styrene, and isoprene. The viscometric branching factor g’ values of the final branched polymers were measured and compared to g’ values of three-arm stars reported in the literature.
Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and characterization of vulnerable carotid plaque remains the spearhead of scientific research. Plaque destabilization, the key factor that induces the series of events leading to the clinical symptoms of carotid artery disease, is a consequence of complex mechanical, structural and biochemical processes. Novel imaging and molecular markers have been studied as predictors of disease outcome with promising results. The aim of this review is to present the current state of research on the association between ultrasound-derived echogenicity indices and blood parameters indicative of carotid plaque stability and activity. Bibliographic research revealed that there are limited available data. Among the biomarkers studied, those related to oxidative stress, lipoproteins and diabetes/insulin resistance are associated with echolucent plaques, whereas adipokines are associated with echogenic plaques. Biomarkers of inflammation and coagulation have not exhibited any conclusive relationship with plaque echogenicity, and it is not possible to come to any conclusion regarding calcification-, apoptosis- and neo-angiogenesis-related parameters because of the extremely limited bibliographic data.
The estimation of cardiovascular tissue motion from ultrasound images is a task of considerable importance but has remained difficult in clinical practice, mainly due to the limitations of ultrasound imaging and the complexity of tissue motion. This paper presents a survey of methodologies, along with physiologically relevant findings, regarding the estimation of motion of the myocardium and of central and peripheral arteries. Speckle tracking and modeling, and registration are the dominant methods used to calculate tissue displacements from sequences of images. Kinematic and mechanical indices are extracted from these displacements, which can provide valuable functional information about the cardiovascular system in normal and diseased conditions. An important application of motionbased strain indices involves the estimation of elastograms of the cardiovascular tissue. Motion analysis methods can be used to estimate a number of regional mechanical phenomena representing functional tissue properties, which are more sensitive to early changes due to ageing or disease. The importance of these methods lies in their potential to quantify in vivo tissue properties and to identify novel noninvasive personalized disease markers, toward early detection and optimal management of disease, along with increased patient safety. Their clinical usefulness remains to be demonstrated in larg trials.
The Aegean-west Anatolian orocline formed due to mainly post-15 Ma opposite rotations of its western and eastern limbs, which contributed to the opening of the Aegean back-arc basin. Stretching lineations in exhumed metamorphic complexes in this back-arc basin mimic the regional vertical axis rotation patterns and suggests that the oppositely rotating domains are bounded by the ‘Mid-Cycladic Lineament’, the tectonic nature of which is enigmatic. Some authors have proposed this lineament to be extensional fault accommodating orogen-parallel extension, while others considered it a transform fault. The island of Paros hosts the only exposure of the Mid-Cycladic Lineament: the northwest of the island contains E-trending and the southeast contains N trending stretching lineations. Here, we show new paleomagnetic results from isotropic, ~16 Ma granitoids that intruded both domains. These demonstrate that the trend difference resulted from post-16 Ma ~90° clockwise and 10° counterclockwise rotation of the northwest and southeast blocks, respectively. We show that a greenschist facies, semi-ductile to brittle, low-angle, southeast dipping normal fault zone, here identified as the Elitas Shear Zone that we interpret as the Mid-Cycladic Lineament accommodates this rotation difference on Paros. We conclude a two-stage exhumation history for Paros that is consistent with regional Aegean reconstructions. Between ~23 and 16 Ma, the metamorphic rocks of Paros exhumed from amphibolite-facies to greenschist facies conditions along a top-to-the-north detachment. The Elitas shear zone then started to exhume the northwestern clockwise rotating domain from below the southeastern, counterclockwise rotating domain since 16 Ma. We demonstrate at the only location at which a structure coinciding with Mid-Cycladic Lineament is exposed, it is extensional in nature, consistent with geometrical predictions that Aegean oroclinal bending must have been accommodated by combined orogen-normal and orogen-parallel extension.
On 2014 April 23, the Swift satellite responded to a hard X-ray transient detected by its Burst Alert Telescope, which turned out to be a stellar flare from a nearby, young M dwarf binary DG CVn. We utilize observations at X-ray, UV, optical, and radio wavelengths to infer the properties of two large flares. The X-ray spectrum of the primary outburst can be described over the 0.3-100 keV bandpass by either a single very high-temperature plasma or a nonthermal thick-target bremsstrahlung model, and we rule out the nonthermal model based on energetic grounds. The temperatures were the highest seen spectroscopically in a stellar flare, at T X of 290 MK. The first event was followed by a comparably energetic event almost a day later. We constrain the photospheric area involved in each of the two flares to be >1020 cm2, and find evidence from flux ratios in the second event of contributions to the white light flare emission in addition to the usual hot, T ∼ 104 K blackbody emission seen in the impulsive phase of flares. The radiated energy in X-rays and white light reveal these events to be the two most energetic X-ray flares observed from an M dwarf, with X-ray radiated energies in the 0.3-10 keV bandpass of 4 × 1035 and 9 × 1035 erg, and optical flare energies at E V of 2.8 × 1034 and 5.2 × 1034 erg, respectively. The results presented here should be integrated into updated modeling of the astrophysical impact of large stellar flares on close-in exoplanetary atmospheres.
On April 23, 2014, the Swift satellite responded to a hard X-ray transient detected by its Burst Alert Telescope, which turned out to be a stellar flare from a nearby, young M dwarf binary DG~CVn. Observations at X-ray, UV and optical wavelengths of the main impulsive flare and subsequent smaller events reveal a complex pattern of flare events extending over about three weeks. We find that the X-ray spectrum of the primary outburst can be adequately described by either a single very high temperature plasma or a nonthermal thick-target bremmstrahlung model. By evaluating accompanying data of this event and analysis of a second brightening, we argue that the thermal interpretation is more likely on energetic grounds. The primary outburst lasted a few hours and produced the highest temperature thermal plasmas ever seen spectroscopically over the 0.3-100 keV range in a stellar flare, at TX of 300 MK. The X-ray luminosity of the main flare exceeded the bolometric luminosity of the brighter component (LX >1.6Lbol) for ~360 seconds. The first event was followed by a comparably energetic event almost a day later, whose coverage at X-ray and optical wavelengths enables inferences about it and the first event. In particular we find evidence for stellar radius-sized coronal loops filled with dense (ne>1012 cm-3) coronal plasma. The radiated energy in X-rays and white light reveal these first two events to be some of the most energetic X-ray and white light flares from an M dwarf. These structures require large coronal magnetic field strengths (a few kG for the first event, hundreds of Gauss for the second) to confine the plasma, and we thus predict an extremely high photospheric magnetic field strength of several kiloGauss.
The processing of all available XMM-Newton data in the LMC region, and those of the VLP survey in particular, was done with the data reduction pipeline developed in our research group over several years. Various non-X-ray data were used to supplement the XMM-Newton observations. They allow us to assess e.g. the relation between the population of SNRs and large scale structure of the LMC, or to evaluate doubtful candidates in the sample compilation. We compiled a sample of 59 definite SNRs, cleaned of misclassified objects and doubtful candidates. (2 data files).
{Several epidemiological studies have shown an association between particulate air pollution and adverse health effects. The consensus among the scientific community is that suspended particulate matter is one of the most harmful pollutants, particularly the inhalable particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less than 10 mu m (PM10) causing respiratory health effects and heart diseases. The effects of aerosols on human health are determined by both their size and their chemical composition. Average daily concentrations exceeding the EU daily threshold concentration appear, among other cases, during Sahara dust episodes, a natural phenomenon that degrades the air quality in the urban area of Volos. The city of Volos is a coastal city of medium size in the eastern seaboard of Central Greece. The main objective of this work is the study of the temporal evolution and the assessment of weekend effect in particulate matter concentration levels in the centre of the city of Volos. PM10 data obtained by a fully automated station that was established by the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy, for a 5-year period (2010-2014) are analyzed in order to study the day-of-week variations during the cold and warm period of the year. As these variations are mostly expected to be due to the human working cycle, a strong weekly cycle would be indicative of the dominance of anthropogenic particles.}
We call monomer a B-DNA base pair and study, analytically and numerically, electron or hole oscillations in monomers, dimers and trimers. We employ two tight binding (TB) approaches: (I) at the base-pair level, using the on-site energies of the base pairs and the hopping parameters between successive base pairs i.e. a wire model, and (II) at the single-base level, using the on-site energies of the bases and the hopping parameters between neighbouring bases, specifically between (a) two successive bases in the same strand, (b) complementary bases that define a base pair, and (c) diagonally located bases of successive base pairs, i.e. an extended ladder model since it also includes the diagonal hoppings (c). For monomers, with TB II, we predict periodic carrier oscillations with frequency –550 THz. For dimers, with TB I, we predict periodic carrier oscillations with –100 THz. For trimers made of identical monomers, with TB I, we predict periodic carrier oscillations with –33 THz. In other cases, either with TB I or TB II, the oscillations may be not strictly periodic, but Fourier analysis shows similar frequency content. For dimers and trimers, TB I and TB II are successfully compared giving complementary aspects of the oscillations.
We report the X-ray detections of three novae in observations of the M31 northern disk by XMM-Newton in January 2016. In continuation of earlier observations described in ATels #8227 and #8228, a further two 100-ks observations were carried out on 2016-01-01 (ObsID 0763120401) and 2016-01-21 (ObsID 0763120201).
We report on the first detection of X-ray dust-scattered rings from the Galactic low-mass X-ray binary V404 Cyg. The observation of the system with Swift/XRT on 2015 June 30 revealed the presence of five concentric ring-like structures centred at the position of V404 Cyg. Follow-up Swift/XRT observations allowed a time-dependent study of the X-ray rings. Assuming that these are the result of small-angle, single X-ray scattering by dust grains along the line of sight, we find that their angular size scales as θ ∝ √{t} in agreement with theoretical predictions. The dust grains are concentrated in five dust layers located at about 2.12, 2.05, 1.63, 1.50 and 1.18 kpc from the observer. These coincide roughly with locations of enhanced extinction as determined by infrared photometry. Assuming that the grain size distribution is described by a generalized Mathis-Rumpl-Nordsieck model, we find that the power-law index of the most distant cloud is q ∼ 4.4, while q ∼ 3.5-3.7 in all other clouds. We constrain at a 3σ level the maximum grain size of the intermediate dust layers in the range 0.16-0.20 μm and set a lower limit of ∼ 0.2 μm in the other clouds. Hints of an exponential cutoff at the angular intensity profile of the outermost X-ray ring suggest that the smallest grains have sizes 0.01 ≤ αmin ≲ 0.03 μm. Based on the relative ratios of dust column densities we find the highest dust concentration at ∼1.6 kpc. Our results indicate a gradient in the dust properties within 1 kpc from V404 Cyg.
XMMU J004855.5-734946 is a candidate BeXRB system in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC, Haberl & Sturm 2016, A & A, 586, 81). The system was detected in a recent 45 s Swift/XRT observation on 2016-06-24 as part of a routine Swift/XRT survey of the SMC (ATel #9197).
The Magellanic Clouds (MCs) offer an ideal laboratory for the study of the SNR population in star-forming galaxies, since they are relatively nearby and free of large absorption. Both the LMC and SMC have been targeted by large XMM-Newton surveys, which, combined with archival observations, provide the best dataset to systematically study the X-ray emission of their numerous SNRs (∼ 60 in the LMC, ∼ 20 in the SMC). In this talk, I will highlight the results from this homogeneous analysis, which allows for the first time meaningful comparisons of temperature, chemical composition, and luminosity of SNRs in the MCs. The SNRs can be used as probes of their host galaxies: We measured chemical abundances in the hot phase of the LMC, and constrained the ratio of core-collapse to type Ia SN rates. The X-ray luminosity function of SNRs in the MCs are compared to those in other Local Group galaxies with different metallicities and star formation properties. Finally, we present a new population of evolved type Ia SNRs that was discovered recently in the MCs via their iron-rich X-ray emission.
Καμπερίδου Ειρήνη. ΑΘΛΗΤΙΣΜΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗ ΕΝΣΩΜΑΤΩΣΗ. Αναρτημένη Ανακοίνωση (με δίλεπτη προφορική παρουσίαση) στο 2ο Διεθνές Συνέδριο Αθλητικών Επιστημών, Θεσσαλονίκη 25-27 Νοεμβρίου 2016, Κέντρο Δ. 2016:1-5.Abstract
Αυτή η εργασία επικεντρώνετε στον κρίσιμο ρόλο του Αθλητισμού στην προώθηση της κοινωνικής ενσωμάτωσης: τη χρήση του αθλητισμού για την αντιμετώπιση κοινωνικών ζητημάτων που σχετίζονται με την εξάλειψη κοινωνικών διακρίσεων, τη διερεύνηση τεχνικών αντιμετώπισης συγκρούσεων και την κοινωνική ένταξη. Αρχικά, στην πρώτη ενότητα, εξετάζεται ο διεθνής διάλογος, πρόσφατα αποτελέσματα ερευνών, για κοινωνικά φαινόμενα όπως ο ρατσισμός και η ξενοφοβία. Παρατηρείτε ότι οι αντιλήψεις για τους μετανάστες και πρόσφυγες (και στη χώρα μας) προκαλούν ανησυχίες για εκείνους που ασχολούνται με την πολυπολιτισμικότητα, το σεβασμό για τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα, τη φυλετική και την έμφυλη πολυμορφία, την κοινωνική ισότητα και ισονομία, το νόημα του έθνους, της πατρίδας κ.ά. Η διεθνής βιβλιογραφία δείχνει ότι όσο ισχυρότερο είναι το κοινωνικό κεφάλαιο των μεταναστών, τόσο περισσότερο διευκολύνεται η κοινωνική τους ένταξη. Τα τελευταία 25 χρόνια η Ελλάδα έχει μετατραπεί σε χώρα μαζικής υποδοχής μεταναστών. Ωστόσο, η αναγνώριση του γεγονότος ότι οι μετανάστες αποτελούν μόνιμη πραγματικότητα στη χώρα μας είναι πρόσφατη και ο δημόσιος διάλογος σχετικά με την κοινωνική και οικονομική τους ενσωμάτωση εξελίσσεται. Στη δεύτερη ενότητα διερευνάται η χρήση του Αθλητισμού (και της φυσικής αγωγής) ως μέσου για την καλλιέργεια μιας κουλτούρας/παιδείας ειρήνης (peace education) ή ως εργαλείου για την επίλυση συγκρούσεων, ιδιαίτερα ενόψει των αυξανόμενων διαφωνιών και συγκρούσεων που σχετίζονται με τη διαχείριση της προσφυγικής κρίσης— που πλήττει κατά 60% τις γυναίκες και τα παιδιά— για την οποία κρίση η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση δεν έχει ολοκληρωμένη πολιτική διαχείρισης. Εντούτοις, αναδεικνύεται ότι ο Αθλητισμός μπορεί να συμβάλλει ουσιαστικά στην κοινωνική ενσωμάτωση των μεταναστών. Πρόσφατη έρευνα της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής (Σεπτ. 2016)—που συμπεριλαμβάνει 63 «καλές πρακτικές» (good practices)— τεκμηριώνει τη συμβολή του Αθλητισμού στην κοινωνική ενσωμάτωση τον μεταναστών και προσφύγων στην Ευρώπη.
Ο τόμος περιλαμβάνει τις ακαδημαϊκές συμβολές επιστημόνων που συνεργάστηκαν ή/και μαθήτευσαν με τον Δημήτρη Ματθαίου. Αποτελείται από μια («επιλεκτική», όπως χαρακτηριστικά αναφέρεται) εισαγωγή στο έργο και τις ιδέες του και αποτελείται από πέντε κύριες ενότητες, οι οποίες αντιπροσωπεύουν επιστημονικά πεδία με τα οποία ασχολήθηκε ο τιμώμενος. Συγκεκριμένα αποτελείται από τις ενότητες «Στοχασμοί για την εκπαίδευση», «Ζητήματα εκπαιδευτικής πολιτικής», «Ανώτατη εκπαίδευση», «Διοίκηση της εκπαίδευσης» και «Συγκριτική σπουδή της εκπαίδευσης».Οι επιμελητές του τόμου είχαν την ευθύνη της πρόσκλησης των συγγραφέων, της κατανομής τους σε ενότητες και την επιμέλεια των κειμένων. Οι τρεις εκ των επιμελητών (Κ. Φασούλης, Ι. Ρουσσάκης, Α. Σαμαρά) ανέλαβαν την ευθύνη συγγραφής του εισαγωγικού κεφαλαίου.
Το βιβλίο εξετάζει σε βάθος τη δυναμική και τη διεργασία των ομάδων και των οργανισμών, τον ρόλο τους στην αντιμετώπιση των εσωτερικών κρίσεων αλλά και των πιέσεων που προέρχονται από ένα ασταθές και διαρκώς αβέβαιο εξωτερικό περιβάλλον. Ο ρόλος της ηγεσίας, οι συγκρούσεις, η εσωστρέφεια και η παθογένεια, αλλά και θέματα που αφορούν στην εκπαίδευση, την έρευνα και την εποπτεία των ομάδων εξετάζονται σε συνάρτηση με τη δυνατότητα των πάσης φύσεως ομάδων να μετεξελιχθούν από κλειστά σε ανοικτά συστήματα.
«Έγραψα μόνη μου την Εφημερίδα μου από την πρώτη ως την όγδοην σελίδα. Φυσικά υπό διάφορα ψευδώνυμα. Δεν είχα ούτε μία συνεργάτιδα. Είχα φέρει ένα Ιταλικόν ασήμαντον περιοδικό, καθώς και το Γαλλικόν του Léon Richer των Γυναικείων Δικαιωμάτων. Από αυτό είχα μεταφράσει μίαν μελέτη δια μίαν δημοσιογράφον Αμερικανίδα. […] Είναι 6 Μαρτίου του 1887. Το φύλλον είναι έτοιμον.» Αν και η ιδρύτρια της Εφημερίδος των Κυριών - λαμβάνοντας υπόψη της τον εθνικιστικό λόγο της εποχής της - είχε επισταμένως φροντίσει, μέσα από κείμενα και δημόσιες παρεμβάσεις, να τονίσει και να αποδείξει την «ελληνικότητα» και την εθνική αποστολή του αγώνα της υπέρ των δικαιωμάτων των γυναικών προτείνοντας μια εναλλακτική νομιμοποιητική αφήγηση καθαρή από όποιες επείσακτες συνδηλώσεις, η μαρτυρία της αυτή γραμμένη στα 1915 είναι δηλωτική του ρόλου που έπαιξαν τα δυτικά πρότυπα της γυναικείας αμφισβήτησης τόσο στη συγκρότηση μιας φεμινιστικής συνείδησης στην Ελλάδα όσο και στην οργάνωση της εγχώριας συλλογικής γυναικείας κίνησης. Την αμφίθυμη και εν πολλοίς "αποσιωπημένη" αυτή σχέση του ελληνικού και του δυτικού φεμινιστικού κινήματος κατά τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες του 19ου αιώνα φιλοδοξεί να αναδείξει η παρούσα ανακοίνωση. Με επίκεντρο τον διάλογο που αναπτύσσεται προνομιακά με τη γαλλική γυναικεία κίνηση - πιο οικεία λόγω και της έντονης επιρροής του γαλλικού πολιτισμού στον ελληνικό χώρο εκείνη την περίοδο -, επιχειρείται μια πρώτη καταγραφή των πρωτοβουλιών και ενεργειών της Καλλιρόης Παρρέν και των συνεργατριών της (συστηματική παρακολούθηση των ξένων γυναικείων επιτευγμάτων και κατακτήσεων, συνεπής παρουσία στις διεθνείς συναντήσεις, επαφές με τα μέλη παλαιών και νέων φεμινιστικών δικτύων) με στόχο την ένταξη τους σε μια ευρύτερη οργάνωση, μια παγκόσμια «γυναικεία αδελφότητα» στο πλαίσιο της οποίας όμως η ελληνική συμμετοχή, σε ρόλο διαμεσολάβησης μεταξύ Δύσης και Ανατολής, φεμινισμού και ελληνισμού, φιλοδοξεί να διατηρήσει την ιδιαιτερότητά της.
Στο παρόν κείμενο εξετάζονται τρεις υποθέσεις: α) η υπόθεσις όπου η Ρωσία κατισχύει δια του Πατριαρχείου της επί του Ορθοδόξου Χριστιανικού κόσμου, γεγονός το οποίο συνεπάγεται τη θραύση του Rimland στον άξονα Βαλκανικής Χερσονήσου-Μεσογείου, β) η υπόθεσις όπου το δίπολο Λονδίνου-Ουάσινγκτον συνεχίζει δια του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχίου τον έλεγχον της εξόδου της Μόσχας στη Μεσόγειο και γ) η υπόθεσις όπου η Μόσχα και η Ουάσινγκτον συγκλίνουν για την αντιμετώπιση της κινεζικής προβολής ισχύος στην Μεσόγειο και όχι μόνον.
Πώς η Αμερική επηρεάζει την ελληνική κουλτούρα; Με ποιους τρόπους η Ελλάδα αφομοιώνει, επεξεργάζεται και μετουσιώνει την αμερικανική πολιτισμική επιρροή; Το βιβλίο εξετάζει την πολιτισμική σχέση Ελλάδας και Αμερικής, συνδυάζοντας διαφορετικές επιστημονικές προσεγγίσεις και εστιάζοντας στις πολλαπλές διαδικασίες μέσω των οποίων οι δυο κουλτούρες αλληλοτροφοδοτούνται και συνδιαλέγονται. Η διεξοδική ανάλυση των τρόπων με τους οποίους η Ελλάδα συναλλάσσεται με την αμερικανική κουλτούρα αποκαλύπτει όχι μόνο την αδιαμφισβήτητη παρουσία της αμερικανικής πολιτισμικής επιρροής στη χώρα μας, αλλά και ότι αυτή εμπλουτίζει, αντί να υποσκάπτει και να περιορίζει, όπως πολλοί πιστεύουν, την πολιτισμική έκφραση των Ελλήνων. Στο βιβλίο περιέχονται κείμενα συγγραφέων και ειδικών από τον χώρο της ιστορίας, της λογοτεχνικής θεωρίας, της ιστορίας της τέχνης, της γλωσσολογίας, της φιλοσοφίας και των μέσων μαζικής επικοινωνίας
Τα επιτραπέζια παιχνίδια μπορούν να αποκτήσουν εκπαιδευτικό χαρακτήρα στο πλαίσιο των μαθημάτων του σχολείου, με σημαντικά μαθησιακά αποτελέσματα. Κατά βάση συνεργάζονται σε ομάδες μαθητές με διαφορετικό επίπεδο γνώσεων, διαφορετικά κίνητρα και ικανότητες, διαφορετικό πολιτισμικό κεφάλαιο και οικονομικοκοινωνικό υπόβαθρο, για να κατανοήσουν και να μάθουν μέσω της επικοινωνίας, που αναπτύσσεται στο πλαίσιο ενός παιχνιδιού. Στην έρευνα που παρουσιάζεται στο παρόν μελετάται η διαδικασία του παιχνιδιού στην τάξη, η λειτουργία των ομάδων, η επικοινωνία των μελών τους, καθώς και η επίτευξη των προσδοκώμενων αποτελεσμάτων του μαθήματος που διδάσκεται μέσω του παιχνιδιού. Έγινε προσαρμογή ενός επιτραπέζιου παιχνιδιού (φιδάκι) στο εκπαιδευτικό περιβάλλον της Θρησκευτικής Εκπαίδευσης (μάθημα Θρησκευτικών) στο Γυμνάσιο με σκοπό την κατανόηση και μάθηση (γνώσεις και δεξιότητες). Μελετήθηκε η εφαρμογή του σε τμήμα της Β ́, στο 1ο Γυμνάσιο Αχαρνών, τη σχολική χρονιά 2013-14 μέσω παρατήρησης, ημερολογίων, ερωτηματολογίων και κριτηρίων αξιολόγησης. Η ανάλυση των αποτελεσμάτων, αφήνει πολλά περιθώρια να συμπεράνει κανείς την υψηλή παιδαγωγική-μετασχηματιστική αξία του επιτραπέζιου παιχνιδιού στη διδασκαλία.
Στο άρθρο αυτό γίνεται πρώτα λόγος για τη Θρησκευτική Εκπαίδευση στον ευρωπαϊκό χώρο, με ταυτόχρονες αναφορές στις διεθνείς συμβάσεις και συστάσεις του Συμβουλίου της Ευρώπης. Παράλληλα καταγράφεται και το ελληνικό νομοθετικό πλαίσιο, που διέπει τα θέματα της παροχής ΘΕ, της ανάπτυξης της θρησκευτικής συνείδησης σε σχέση με τη θρησκευτική ελευθερία, καθώς και το επίκαιρο ζήτημα των απαλλαγών από το μάθημα. Καταγράφονται, ακόμα, τα επιχειρήματα που σχετίζονται με την υποχρεωτική ή μη παρουσία της ΘΕ στον δημόσιο χώρο και διερευνάται το θέμα της αναγκαιότητάς της από παιδαγωγικής, κοινωνικής και πολιτισμικής πλευράς. Γίνεται, τέλος, αναφορά στον ιδιαίτερο χαρακτήρα (επιστημονικό –παιδαγωγικό) που έχουν τα νέα Προγράμματα Σπουδών της ΘΕ (2011, 2014, 2015), τα οποία φαίνεται να αποτελούν πρόταση που μπορεί να οδηγήσει, με τις λιγότερες κατά το δυνατό αντιδράσεις ή ασυμφωνίες, σε ένα ασφαλές μέλλον για την υποχρεωτική ΘΕ στην Ελλάδα με παιδαγωγικούς όρους.
ISSN 2529-1580.
Η παρούσα δημοσίευση αποτελεί την εισήγησή μας στο 2ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο ΕΕΠΕΚ για την εκπαιδευτική καινοτομία στη Λάρισα και περιλαμβάνει την περιγραφή και αναδρομή στα τέσσερα σχολικά έτη της εκπόνησης προγραμμάτων σχολικών δραστηριοτήτων σε γυμνάσια της Θεσσαλονίκης σχετικά με τη διδασκαλία για τα σύγχρονα βιοηθικά ζητήματα σε μαθητές της Γ΄ Γυμνασίου με καινοτόμα διδασκαλία, όπως με μορφές της Τέχνης (θέατρο-εικαστικά-αφήγηση) και ενεργοποίηση ρόλων (συμμετοχή σε εικονικές επιτροπες βιοηθικής).
Κουκουνάρας- Λιάγκης Μ, Βαλλιανάτος Α, Ζιάκα Α. Θρησκεία και Διαπολιτισμική Εκπαίδευση. In: Διαπολιτισμική Θρησκευτική Εκπαίδευση και Ισλαμικές Σπουδές: Προκλήσεις και Προοπτικές σε Ελλάδα, Ευρώπη, ΗΠΑ. Δίγλωσση έκδοση// Intercultural Religious Education and Islamic Studies: Challenges and Prospects in Greece, Europe, USA. Αθήνα: Μαΐστρος; 2016. pp. 132-149 και 150-166.
Κεφάλαιο 1.1. Για την επιστηµονική µέθοδο: ιστορική διαδροµή. Από τον επιστηµονικό θετικισµό στον µεταθετικισµό. 1.1.1. Λογικός Θετικισµός. Στις αρχές του 20ού αιώνα κάνει την εµφάνισή του στη Βιέννη, το ρεύµα του Λογικού Θετικισµού, που ταυτίζεται µε µια οµάδα φιλοσόφων και διανοητών που είναι γνωστή ως ο «Κύκλος της Βιέννης». Το 1929 ο κύκλος της Βιέννης δηµοσίευσε τη διακήρυξή του µε τίτλο «Η επιστηµονική αντίληψη του κόσµου» γνωστοποιώντας στο κοινό τις φιλοσοφικές απόψεις του. Οι λογικοί θετικιστές απορρίπτουν τη µεταφυσική και προσπαθούν να αναγάγουν όλες τις δηλώσεις και τις προτάσεις στην καθαρή λογική. Ιδρυτές του θεωρούνται οι Hahn, Frank και Neurath. Η προσθήκη των Carnap, Feigl, Schlick κ.ά. οδήγησε στη συγκρότηση του «Κύκλου της Βιέννης», που αποτέλεσε την οµάδα που ταυτίστηκε και προώθησε τον Λογικό Θετικισµό.
Καμιά μορφή της Καινής Διαθήκης, πλην βεβαίως του Ιησού και της Θεοτόκου, δεν υπήρξε τόσο ισχυρός πόλος έλξης για τους ποιητές όσο η μορφή της Μαγδαληνής. Και καμιάς άλλης μορφής της Καινής Διαθήκης η ιστορία δεν παραποιήθηκε τόσο όσο η δικής της. Μείζονες, ελάσσονες και ασήμαντοι ποιητές βρίσκουν στο πρόσωπο της Μαγδαληνής στοιχεία πρόσφορα για την έκφραση ορισμένων βασικών συναισθημάτων τους και, όταν δεν τα βρίσκουν, τα εφευρίσκουν.Η πλην ολίγων εξαιρέσεων απεικόνιση από τους Έλληνες ποιητές της Μαγδαληνής ως μεταμεληθείσας αμαρτωλής οφείλεται σε σημαντικό βαθμό στην επίδραση των δυτικών λογοτεχνικών απεικονίσεων της Μαγδαληνής. Αν, ωστόσο, λάβουμε υπόψη ότι ποιητές όπως ο Σικελιανός, ο Βάρναλης, ο Καζαντζάκης, ο Ρίτσος ή ο Καρούζος ήταν βαθείς γνώστες του ευαγγελικού λόγου και της ελληνικής θρησκευτικής παράδοσης, δεν μπορούμε να μη σκεφτούμε ότι ο αριθμός των νεοελληνικών απεικονίσεων της Μαγδαληνής ως πρώην αμαρτωλής είναι υπερβολικά μεγάλος· και ότι το πλήθος αυτών των απεικονίσεων θα πρέπει να απορρέει και από το γεγονός ότι το θέμα της επανελθούσας στην οδό της αρετής γυναίκας είναι ποιητικά ελκυστικότερο από το θέμα της γυναίκας που σπάστηκε τον χριστιανισμό, όσο και αν αυτή ευεργετήθηκε από τον Χριστό ή όσο μεγάλη και αν υπήρξε η αγάπη της για Εκείνον.
In June 1946 George Seferis, the eminent Greek poet who was goingto become the Nobel-laureate patriarch of Greek modernist poetry by1963, witnessed the re-excavation of the statues and vases until thenhidden in the vaults of the National Museum in Athens in order toprevent their damage, or looting, by the Germans during the occupation.As he observes the bronze statue of Zeus, a fifth-century BC work thatis still considered one of the masterpieces in the Museum’s collectionand of Greek art at large, the poet fantasizes the god’s lovemaking witha woman whom Seferis himself “would love”, as he unashamedly informsus in his diary from that day. In the paper, I use the concept ofhomosociality in order to explore the ways in which Seferis and manyof his contemporaries view classical antiquity and proceed to deploy itas a bio-political tool in order to claim a centralized role in Greekintellectual and political life. To this end, I re-visit Seferis’s two chief“archaeological” poems –The King of Asine and Engomi – in an effortto investigate the ways in which his sensory archaeologies manifestthemselves.
Στο παρόν παρουσιάζεται η έρευνα ενός προγράμματος σχολικής δραστηριότητας (πολιτιστικών θεμάτων) που βασίζεται στη δημιουργία μαθητικής ραδιοφωνικής ομάδας στο 1ο Γενικό Λύκειο Ηρακλείου Αττικής και στην εβδομαδιαία παραγωγή τρίωρης εκπομπής στον Δημοτικό Ραδιοφωνικό Σταθμό, Επικοινωνία 94 Fm, με τίτλο «Σχολικά Παράσιτα». Σκοπός της έρευνας είναι η αξιολόγηση των μαθησιακών αποτελεσμάτων του προγράμματος και η βιωσιμότητα αυτών με βάση τη θεωρία της αναστοχαστικότητας, της βιωματικής-επικοινωνιακής παιδαγωγικής και της μετασχηματιστικής εκπαίδευσης. Με στοιχεία έρευνας-δράσης οι εκπαιδευτικοί από την πρώτη σχολική χρονιά παρακολούθησαν και διαμορφωτικά αξιολόγησαν την ανάπτυξη του προγράμματος, στο οποίο συμμετείχαν περισσότεροι από 300 μαθητές (το πρόγραμμα συνεχίζεται μέχρι σήμερα). Στο παρόν παρουσιάζονται συνοπτικά τα αποτελέσματα και συμπεράσματα της έρευνας από το 2010 έως 2013, τα οποία υπογραμμίζουν την υψηλή παιδαγωγική αποτελεσματικότητα του προγράμματος σε επίπεδο ανάπτυξης δεξιοτήτων πρωτίστως και δευτερευόντως απόκτησης νέων γνώσεων καθώς και τη μακροπρόθεσμη διατήρηση της γνώσης, όπως αυτή θεωρήθηκε στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος με όρους κονστρουκτιβιστικής προσέγγισης της μάθησης.
Diakoumis G, Galanis P, Galanaki C, Kriari A, Frengidou E, Bilali A, Theodorou M. Ποιότητα ζωής γυναικών με οστεοπόρωση. Nursing Care & Research/Nosileia kai Ereuna. 2016;8(45).
Συμμετοχή στο ΣΥΜΠΟΣΙΟ με τίτλο: «Σύγχρονη Γυναίκα και Άθληση: Συμμετοχή, Προκλήσεις, Προοπτικές» της Πανελλήνιας Ένωσης για την Προώθηση των Γυναικών στον Αθλητισμό και τα Σπορ (ΠΕΠΓΑΣ) της Σχολής Επιστημών Φυσικής Αγωγής και Αθλητισμού του Αριστοτελείου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης (ΑΠΘ), 25/11/2016, στο ΚΕΔΕΑ/Α.Π.Θ. [Επισυνάπτεται βεβαίωση συμμετοχής] Προσκεκλημένη στο πραναφερόμενο συμπόσιο μετά την προφορική ανακοίνωσή:Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη. (2016). ΦΥΛΟ ΚΑΙ ΗΓΕΤΙΚΕΣ ΔΕΞΙΟΗΤΕΣ: ΤΟ ΑΘΛΗΤΙΚΟ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΕΙΝ. Προφορική Ανακοίνωση στο 2ο Διεθνές Συνέδριο Αθλητικών Επιστημών, Θεσσαλονίκη 25-27 Νοεμβρίου 2016, Κέντρο Διάδοσης Ερευνητικών Αποτελεσμάτων (ΚΕΔΕΑ). Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης (ΑΠΘ). Copy at http://www.tinyurl.com/gtggejd
Καμπερίδου Ειρήνη. ΦΥΛΟ ΚΑΙ ΗΓΕΤΙΚΕΣ ΔΕΞΙΟΗΤΕΣ: ΤΟ ΑΘΛΗΤΙΚΟ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΕΙΝ. Προφορική Ανακοίνωση στο 2ο Διεθνές Συνέδριο Αθλητικών Επιστημών, Θεσσαλονίκη 25-27 Νοεμβρίου 2016, Κέντρο Διάδοσης Ερευνητικών Αποτελεσμάτων (ΚΕΔΕΑ). 2016.Abstract
Ερευνητικά δεδομένα τεκμηριώνουν ότι οι γυναίκες βρίσκονται ένα βήμα μπροστά από τους άντρες αναφορικά με κάποιες δεξιότητες, αποκαλούμενες στο παρελθόν «γυναικείες αρετές» ή«θηλυκές δεξιότητες» τις οποίες υιοθετούν όλο και περισσότεροι άνδρες επιχειρηματίες και στελέχη επιχειρήσεων σήμερα. Έρευνες που αφορούν την παραγωγικότητα δείχνουν ότι εταιρείες που απασχολούν και προωθούν γυναίκες σε ηγετικούς ρόλους εμφανίζουν, κατά μέσο όρο, περισσότερα κέρδη και μεγαλύτερη βιωσιμότητα. Με βάση τα αποτελέσματα μιας σχετικής με το ζήτημα φύλο και επιχειρηματικότητα ποιοτικής έρευνας, η μελέτη αυτή στοχεύει να αναδείξει σημαντικούς συσχετισμούς μεταξύ αθλητικής εμπειρίας και πετυχημένης επιχειρηματικότητας. Ερευνητικά στοιχεία τεκμηριώνουν ότι ένα ιστορικό αθλητικής εμπειρίας, ειδικά η συμμετοχή σε ομαδικά αθλήματα, αποτελεί χρήσιμο εργαλείο όσον αφορά στην καλλιέργεια ηγετικών δεξιοτήτων και στην ανέλιξη επιχειρηματικών δράσεων. Σχετικές έρευνες και συνεντεύξεις που πραγματοποιήθηκαν με εν ενεργεία και πρώην αθλήτριες, πρωταθλήτριες και ολυμπιονίκες πιστοποιούν ότι ο αθλητισμός προάγει δεξιότητες που είναι σημαντικές για το επιχειρείν. Θεωρείται ότι η αθλητική επιχειρηματικότητα αποτελεί ανδρικό φαινόμενο. Ωστόσο, Ελληνίδες αθλήτριες, γυμνάστριες, επιχειρηματίες και ακτιβίστριες που έχουν διαπρέψει στο αθλητικό επιχειρείν, μετά από σειρά συνεντεύξεων, μας παρέχουν πολύτιμες συμβουλές (tips-μέθοδοι-εργαλεία ενδυνάμωσης δεξιοτήτων)για επαγγελματική επιτυχία. [Proceedings page 68—Πρακτικά 2ου Διεθνούς Συνεδρίου Αθλητικών Επιστημών (ICSS 2016) http://icss2016.web.auth.gr/el/proceedings/icss2016 (σελίδα 68) ]
Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2017). Φύλο και Ηγετικές Δεξιότητες: Γεφυρώνοντας το Έμφυλο Χάσμα. LWB-LeadingWomeninBusiness, σελ. 98-99. Κεφάλαιο: Αρθρογραφία Επιφανών Λειτουργών και της ICAP για τη Γυναικεία Επιχειρηματικότητα. Εκδότης: ΙCAP GROUP Α.Ε. ISSN 2241-4126 [e-book: http://dir.icap.gr/mailimages/e-books/LWB/index.html]
Η διανομή της έκδοσης πραγματοποιήθηκε αρχικά με «ΤΑ ΝΕΑ του Σαββατοκύριακου» στην Αττική (πριν την Πρωτοχρονιά, 30/12/2016) και με τη «ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ» (σε CD) στη Θεσσαλονίκη. Επιπρόσθετα, θα μοιραστεί στην επίσημη εκδήλωση “High Heels on High Hills” το 2017 και σε άλλες εκδηλώσεις που διοργανώνει ή συμμετάσχει η ICAP. Τέλος, θα διανεμηθεί σε φορείς της γυναικείας επιχειρηματικότητας (σε Αττική και Βόρεια Ελλάδα), καθώς και σε 2.000 εταιρείες και ακαδημαϊκά ιδρύματα, ως χρηστικό εργαλείο επί των εργασιών τους.............................................
Kamberidou, Irene (2016). Gender and Leadership Skills: Bridging the Gender Gap, pp. 98-99 inLWB-LeadingWomeninBusiness.Publisher: ICAP GROUP A.E.ISSN 2241-4126 [e-book: http://dir.icap.gr/mailimages/e-books/LWB/index.html]The book circulated, for the first time on Dec. 30, 2016 in Athens with the daily newspaper TA NEA, and as a CD in Thessaloniki with the daily MACEDONIA. It will also be distributed at the 2017 “High Heels on High Hills” and other events and conferences organized by the ICAP Group. To assist researchers, students and entrepreneurs it will also be sent to 2.000 companies and academic institutions throughout Greece.
Η εργασία αυτή στοχεύει να αναδείξει σημαντικούς συσχετισμούς μεταξύ αθλητικής εμπειρίας και πετυχημένης επιχειρηματικότητας. Ερευνητικά στοιχειά τεκμηριώνουν ότι ένα ιστορικό αθλητικής εμπειρίας, ειδικά η συμμετοχή σε ομαδικά αθλήματα, αποτελεί χρήσιμο εργαλείο όσον αφορά στην καλλιέργεια ηγετικών δεξιοτήτων και την ανέλιξη επιχειρηματικών δράσεων. Η διεθνής έρευνα – που συμπεριλαμβάνει συνεντεύξεις με πρώην αθλήτριες και ολυμπιονίκες—δείχνει ότι ο αθλητισμός προαγάγει δεξιότητες που είναι σημαντικές για το επιχειρείν. Όσον αφορά στην Ελληνική πραγματικότητα, επτά Ελληνίδες αθλήτριες, γυμνάστριες και ακτιβίστριες που έχουν διαπρέψει στο αθλητικό επιχειρείν, μετά από σειρά συνεντεύξεων, επιβεβαιώνουν τη σχέση μεταξύ αθλητικής εμπειρίας και πετυχημένης επιχειρηματικότητάς και παρέχουν πολύτιμες συμβουλές για επαγγελματική επιτυχία.
Λέξεις-κλειδιά: αθλητική ταυτότητα, επιχειρηματικότητα, γυναίκα, έμφυλο χάσμα, ηγεσία.
Ответный ход Путина: господин Путин, однако, хочет поставить мат НАТО, и если понадобится, он с готовностью принесет в жертву «сумасшедшего». Это является единственным ходом, доступным Путину: он требует, чтобы Турция максимально быстро вышла из НАТО! В противном случае Эрдоган станет разменной монетой! Дилемма: примет ли или нет господин Эрдоган требование Путина, в конце этой истории его ждет Большой Курдистан. Разница заключается лишь в том, что, если он примет предложение Путина, то обеспечит себе пожизненный отпуск на даче, где-то в Крыму или в Сочи, покинув Турцию навсегда. В противоположном случае, впрочем, его ждет вилла в Саудовской Аравии! Его место почти наверняка займут «запасные политики» вроде Абдуллы Гюля или Ахмета Давутоглу, причем Турция останется инструментом США в «Евразийских Балканах». В обоих случаях обе супердержавы выигрывают: а) 50% территории через создаваемый Большой Курдистан б) развертывание сил на ближний средний восток в) богатые ресурсы г) Сирия получает небольшую долю от выигрыша США, России и Израиля. Партия Путин-США, похоже, заканчивается вничью. Однако нет, поскольку господин Путин серьезно нарастил противостояние юго-восточному крылу НАТО и перераспределил мощности на Ближнем и Среднем Востоке, наращивая несущественное, до недавнего времени, присутствие его сил на этой территории, путем пожертвования «бешеной пешки» в Ближневосточной шахматной игре.
BACKGROUND: 18-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) scan is useful for diagnosis of osteoarticular infections. Whether (18)F-FDG PET/CT scanning may be used for therapeutic monitoring is not clear. The objective of this study was to develop (18)F-FDG PET/CT scanning for monitoring therapeutic response to antimicrobials in experimental Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis.
METHODS: A total of 22 rabbits were studied. In 20 animals, the right tibia was inoculated intraoperatively with S. aureus. Two control animals were inoculated with normal saline. A needle was placed in the tibia as a foreign body. Infection was allowed to develop for 21 days when (18)F-FDG PET/CT was performed, the needle was removed, and bone specimens were cultured to confirm infection. Antimicrobial therapy with daptomycin was initiated in all successfully infected animals for 1, 3, or 6 weeks. Following completion of treatment, a second (18)F-FDG PET/CT was performed, animals were euthanized, and infected tibias were harvested for quantitative cultures and histology. A positive scan was defined as (18)F-FDG signal activity greater in the infected tibia than that of the contralateral non-infected control tibia. Therapeutic response was measured by the change of (18)F-FDG signal activity in the infected tibia.
RESULTS: All successfully infected animals (n = 14), with microbiologically and/or histologically confirmed osteomyelitis, had positive (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans, while the two control animals had negative scans despite the presence of the foreign body [mean maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) (±SD) values 2.96 (±0.80) vs. 1 (±1.10), respectively, P = 0.04]. In the 14 successfully infected animals, the mean SUVmax was significantly higher in the infected compared to the uninfected tibia (P < 0.0001). A SUVmax of 1.4, when used as a cutoff for infection, yielded a diagnostic accuracy of 93 %. At the end of treatment, successfully treated animals and saline controls had a negative (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan (n = 4), while animals with persistent infection despite treatment (n = 12) had a positive (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan (SUVmax 1.0-3.0) (p < 0.001). SUVmax values were significantly reduced after 42 days of treatment from 3.15 ± 0.5 (day 7) to 1.71 ± 0.37 (day 42) (p = 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan is a sensitive and specific tool in therapeutic monitoring of experimental foreign-body osteomyelitis.
OBJECTIVE: Hypertensive patients with CKD present an increased risk for cardiovascular mortality. Among the proteins synthesized and released from adipose tissue, resistin is a cytokine whose physiologic role has been the subject of much research and controversy. We and others have demonstrated that serum resistin levels are higher in patients with CKD and correlate directly with inflammatory markers, including TNF-α and hsCRP. Since inflammation has been consistently linked to atherosclerosis, death, and cardiovascular (CV) events, our goal was to investigate the interaction between resistin levels and long term all-cause and CV mortality in elderly non-obese and non-diabetic with hypertension.
DESIGN AND METHOD: We studied 80 patients (52 men/28 women) 70.9 ± 8.6 years of age with hypertension and CKD. Exclusion criteria was obesity and diabetes mellitus, active infection, acute illness, chronic inflammatory disease or cancer, and immunosuppresive, anti-inflammatory or anti-lipidemic drugs. Demographic data, clinical information and blood samples were collected prospectively. The patients were observed for 5 years.
RESULTS: During the follow-up 28 of 80 (35%) patients died: 16 (57%) deaths due to CV events and 12 (43%) of other causes. Patients who died were older and had higher DBP, compared to survivors, but had no differences in BMI, smoking, SBP and HR. Deceased patients had higher WBC, hsCRP, BUN, creatinine, cystatin C, phosphate, magnesium and potassium levels and lower eGFR, Hct/Hg, T3, T4, total cholesterol, LDL-C, albumin and sodium levels compared to survivors. No significant differences in platelet count, TNF-α, fibrinogen, oxLDL, ADMA, HgA1C and HOMA-index were revealed between the groups. eceased patients had significantly higher resistin levels than survivors at baseline (p = 0.025), but adiponectin, visfatin and leptin did not differ between the two groups. Five variables, namely resistin, sodium, cholesterol, T3 and WBC remained significantly associated with survival and were used in the multivariate Cox regression analysis, which revealed that only resisitin, cholesterol and WBC maintained their discriminatory ability, as independent predictors of mortality both by forward and backward stepwise analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum resistin was a significant independent biomarker of CV and all-cause mortality in elderly, non-diabetic CKD patients with hypertension.
A model that contains a massive BH binary was proposed to explain the double peaked quasi-periodical (roughly about 12 years) outbursts of the blazar OJ287.
We present the results of a spectroscopic, photometric and orbital period variation analysis of the detached eclipsing binary V482 Per. We derived the absolute parameters of the system (M1 = 1.51 M⊙, M2 = 1.29 M⊙, R1 = 2.39 R⊙, R2 = 1.45 R⊙, L1 = 10.15 L⊙, L2 = 3.01 L⊙) for the first time in literature, based on an analysis of our own photometric and spectroscopic observations. We confirm the nature of the variations observed in the system's orbital period, suggested to be periodic by earlier works. A light time effect due to a physically bound, star-sized companion (M3 = 2.14 M⊙) on a highly eccentric (e = 0.83) orbit, seems to be the most likely cause. We argue that the companion can not be a single star but another binary instead. We calculated the evolutionary states of the system's components, and we found that the primary is slightly evolving after the main sequence, while the less massive secondary lies well inside it.
In this chapter, we focus on recommender systems that are enhanced with social information in the form of trust statements between their users. The trust information may be processed in a number of ways, including the random walks in the social graph, where every step in the walk is chosen almost uniformly at random from the available choices. Although this strategy yields satisfactory results in terms of the novelty and the diversity of the produced recommendations, it exhibits poor accuracy because it does not fully exploit the similarity information among users and items. Our work tries to model user-to-user and user-to-item relation as a probability distribution using a novel approach based on Rejection Sampling in order to decide its next step (biased random walk). Some initial results on reference datasets indicate that a satisfying trade-off among accuracy, novelty, and diversity is achieved.
Higher body mass index and adiposopathy have been associated with increased risk of hematologic malignancies such as leukemia, multiple myeloma, myeloproliferative disorders, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and myelodysplastic syndromes. Adiponectin is a multimeric protein of the white adipose tissue presenting anti-inflammatory, insulin-sensitizing, anti-atherogenic, cardioprotective, and anti-neoplastic properties. Its anti-neoplastic actions are manifested via two mechanisms: (i) direct action on tumor cells by enhancing receptor-mediated signaling pathways and (ii) indirect action by regulating inflammatory responses, influencing cancer angiogenesis, and modulating insulin sensitivity at the target tissue site. In the bone marrow milieu, adiponectin and its main receptors are expressed by the majority of bone marrow stromal cell populations influencing hematopoietic stem cells function. Adiponectin may represent a molecular mediator relating adiposopathy with leukemogenesis and myelomagenesis. Several epidemiological studies conducted to date relate hypoadiponectinemia to the risk of myeloid-derived hematopoietic cancer and multiple myeloma. Adiponectin may be a promising biomarker with potential diagnostic and prognostic utility in determining the likelihood of myeloma and leukemia progression in certain cohorts of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance patients and in myeloid hematologic malignancies, respectively. This review summarizes experimental and epidemiologic data regarding the role of adiponectin in hematologic malignancies in the context of adiposopathy. Enhancement of endogenous adiponectin, adiponectin replacement, or manipulation of adiponectin receptor sensitivity may be an attractive goal for prevention and an effective therapeutic strategy against hematopoietic cancer, specifically in overweight/obese individuals. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of the bone marrow microenvironment adiponectin in complex interactions involved in preleukemic and leukemic states.
In two short-term diary studies, conducted in an educational and a sport context, we investigated whether adolescents' domain-specific and situation-specific self-determined motivation, along with future time perspective, could explain intrapersonal variation of and interpersonal differences in psychological functioning. In both studies intrapersonal fluctuation of self-determined motivation related positively to desired outcomes, with perceived autonomy operating as a predictor of situation-specific self-determined motivation (Study 2). Moreover, in both Study 1 ( N = 57 high-school students) and Study 2 ( N = 63 athletes participating in a three-week basketball camp) we found interpersonal differences in domain-specific autonomous motivation and future time perspective to predict positively mean levels of most of the positive outcomes. These results underscore the key role of self-determined motivation and future time perspective in the prediction of psychological functioning and the importance of looking not only at the interpersonal differences but also at the underlying motivational dynamics operating at the within-person level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Copyright of Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology is the property of Guilford Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Aretaeus of Cappadocia did not deal systematically with the study of anatomy, as it can be assumed from the thorough study of his remaining work, as well as the references to the topics and the fragments of his lost treatises. We could also extract useful information on anatomy through his analytical descriptions about the various diseases in his remaining work. A perfect example is the anatomy of the upper and inferior vena cava exposed in his work on acute diseases.
We present results from the application of Kopal's method for eclipsing binaries to the analysis of the transit light curve of exoplanet HD 209458, using very accurate photometric observations made with the Hubble Space Telescope. The fitting of the model parameters to the data was achieved by use of the Simulated Annealing algorithm. Furthermore, we utilized a transformation of the limb darkening coefficients that negates the need to specify limits for their values (uninformative sampling), yet still yield physically plausible results.
Nowadays, Early Warning Systems (EWSs) are of great importance for urban seismic risk and emergency management. In this work, we describe the development and combination of a series of approaches for constructing a database of earthquake spatial effects towards creating a EWS for the Lefkada old town, situated in one of the most seismically active areas of the Mediterranean region. The geospatial information presented regards the earthquake damage probability at the target site and it is derived from seismic scenarios developed by combining seismic sources, vulnerability of buildings and site effects.Vulnerability was assessed empirically for individual buildings through a field survey.Site effects were determined using dense ambient noise HVSR measurements atselected points in Lefkada old town and available data from geotechnical boreholes.1D viscoelastic soil models were determined for each point by inverting the HVSRcurves using a Monte Carlo approach. Peak ground acceleration was assessed at each point using the point-source stochastic simulation scheme, by applying the siteamplification deduced from the 1D viscoelastic models. Seismic risk scenarios weredeveloped assuming two seismic sources (a) the earthquake on August 14th 2003 with M6.2 at a distance of 13 km from Lefkada old town and (b) a future nearest maximum credible earthquake with M7 at the same distance.The discrete damage probability was resolved by formulating a beta distribution of an average damage grade related to the vulnerability and the simulated PGA through empirical equations. The obtained models are found to be comparable with co-seismic observations during the 2003 earthquake and hence they are likely appropriate for preparing future emergency plans for the target site. An adaptable Arc-GIS automated procedure to map earthquake damage scenarios is currently being developed by implementing the above mentioned methods.
OBJECTIVES: Infections caused by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae are increasing worldwide, especially in ICUs, and have been associated with high mortality rates. However, unequivocally demonstrating causality of such infections to death is difficult in critically ill patients because of potential confounding and competing events. Here, we quantified the effects of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae carriage on patient outcome in two Greek ICUs with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae endemicity.
DESIGN: Observational cohort study.
SETTING: Two ICUs with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae endemicity.
PATIENTS: Patients admitted to the ICU with an expected length of ICU stay of at least 3 days were included.
INTERVENTIONS: None.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae colonization was established through screening in perineum swabs obtained at admission and twice weekly and inoculated on chromogenic plates. Detection of carbapenemases was performed phenotypically, with confirmation by polymerase chain reaction. Risk factors for ICU mortality were evaluated using cause-specific hazard ratios and subdistribution hazard ratios, with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae colonization as time-varying covariate. One thousand seven patients were included, 36 (3.6%) were colonized at admission, and 96 (9.5%) acquired carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae colonization during ICU stay, and 301 (29.9%) died in ICU. Of 132 carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates, 125 (94.7%) were Klebsiella pneumoniae and 74 harbored K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (56.1%), 54 metallo-β-lactamase (40.9%), and four both (3.0%). Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae colonization was associated with a statistically significant increase of the subdistribution hazard ratio for ICU mortality (subdistribution hazard ratio=1.79; 95% CI, 1.31-2.43), not explained by an increased daily hazard of dying (cause-specific hazard ratio for death=1.02; 95% CI, 0.74-1.41), but by an increased length of stay (cause-specific hazard ratio for discharge alive=0.73; 95% CI, 0.51-0.94). Other risk factors in the subdistribution hazard model were Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (subdistribution hazard ratio=1.13; 95% CI, 1.11-1.15), female gender (subdistribution hazard ratio=1.29; 95% CI, 1.02-1.62), presence of solid tumor (subdistribution hazard ratio=1.54; 95% CI, 1.15-2.06), hematopoietic malignancy (subdistribution hazard ratio=1.61; 95% CI, 1.04-2.51), and immunodeficiency (subdistribution hazard ratio=1.59; 95% CI, 1.11-2.27).
CONCLUSIONS: Patients colonized with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae have on average a 1.79 times higher hazard of dying in ICU than noncolonized patients, primarily because of an increased length of stay.
Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) refers to an indolent cutaneous lymphoma. The association of prognostic clinicopathological risk factors with a second hematologic malignancy has not yet been determined. We investigated the prognostic effect of clinicopathological characteristics on the occurrence of a second lymphoma, as well as the first-line treatment, in 24 patients diagnosed with LyP using logistic regression models. We showed that lymphoma occurrence was associated with a lower mean age at onset of LyP symptoms, histological types B and C, head-located LyP lesions and a higher frequency of LyP recurrences. In multivariate analyses, histologic type A was associated with a lower risk of second lymphoma (odds ratio [OR] = 0.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.014-0.98; p = 0.045) adjusting for age of LyP first symptomatology, and an important increased lymphoma-free survival rate (long-rank test; p = 0.06). Clinicopathological characteristics are important in defining the clearance or persistence of LyP lesions and may predict the occurrence of a second lymphoma.
The new research initiative APAPES (http://apapes.physics.uoc.gr/) has already established a new experimental station with a beam line dedicated for atomic collisions physics research, at the 5 MV TANDEM accelerator of the National Research Centre "Demokritos" in Athens, Greece. A complete zero-degree Auger projectile spectroscopy (ZAPS) apparatus has been put together to perform high resolution studies of electrons emitted in ion-atom collisions. A single stage hemispherical spectrometer with a 2-dimensional Position Sensitive Detector (PSD) combined with a doubly-differentially pumped gas target will be used to perform a systematic isoelectronic investigation of K-Auger spectra emitted from collisions of preexcited and ground state He-like ions with gas targets using novel techniques. Our intention is to provide a more thorough understanding of cascade feeding of the 1s2s2p 4 P metastable states produced by electron capture in collisions of He-like ions with gas targets and further elucidate their role in the non-statistical production of excited three-electron 1s2s2p states by electron capture, recently a field of conflicting interpretations awaiting further resolution. At the moment, the apparatus is being completed and the spectrometer will soon be fully operational. Here we present the project progress and the recent high resolution spectrum obtained in collisions of 12 MeV C 4+ on a Neon gas target.
The Barremian and Aptianwere times of global plate reconfiguration and profound changes in the ocean–climate system, culminating in the worldwide deposition of lower Aptian black shale layers (OAE 1a). Based on high resolution lithostratigraphic and micropaleontological analyses, precursor conditions and timing of the anoxia are here reconstructed along a 33.06 m thick section in the proposed Barremian/Aptian boundary GSSP stratotype at Gorgo a Cerbara (Umbria–Marche Basin, Italy).
A non-uniform history of benthic foraminiferal diversification is interrupted by the Selli Level (= OAE 1a) and by three turnover points for both benthic and planktic organisms, each highlighted by prominent breaks in lithology and outcrop morphology. The first two points, at ~1.1 Myr and ~20–50 kyr prior to the onset of the OAE 1a, correspond respectively to the nannoconid (=bathypelagic calcareous nannofossils) ‘decline’ and ‘crisis’ events, and separate: (a) pelagic limestone/chert-claystone lithological cycles of the uppermost Maiolica Formation, showing frequencies reminiscent of orbital eccentricity and containing an oligotrophic Barremian benthic and planktic assemblage, dominated by k-selected nannoconids and Rhizammina; (b) greenish-grey cherty marls of the lowermost Marne a Fucoidi Formation, associated to declining sedimentation rates and eutrophic early Aptian assemblages dominated by radiolarians and lituolid benthic foraminifera; and (c) anoxic radiolarites and shales of the carbonate-free Selli Level. High magnitude and frequency assemblage fluctuations occur between the nannoconid crisis (~25 cm below the lowermost OAE 1a black shale layer) and the Selli Level base, with suggestions of bottom-water acidification. At ~800 kyr after the OAE 1a end, a third turnover point in the basal reddish member of the Marne a Fucoidi highlights ‘middle’ Aptian assemblages characterized by a bloom of early macroperforate planktic foraminifera (Hedbergella spp.) and appearances of new benthic species, marking a shift towards better oxygenation.
OAE 1a oxygen and pelagic carbonate factory crises are here suggested to have been step-wise and linked to global warming conditions.
We present the spectral signatures of the Bethe-Heitler pair production (pe) process on the spectral energy distribution (SED) of blazars, in scenarios where the hard γ-ray emission is of photohadronic origin. If relativistic protons interact with the synchrotron blazar photons producing γ rays through photopion processes, we show that, besides the ∼2-20 PeV neutrino emission, the typical blazar SED should have an emission feature due to the synchrotron emission of pe secondaries that bridges the gap between the low- and high-energy humps of the SED, namely in the energy range 40 keV-40 MeV. We first present analytical expressions for the photopion and pe loss rates in terms of observable quantities of blazar emission. For the pe loss rate in particular, we derive a new approximate analytical expression for the case of a power-law photon distribution, which has an excellent accuracy with the numerically calculated exact one, especially at energies much above the threshold for pair production. We show that for typical blazar parameters, the photopair synchrotron emission emerges in the hard X-ray/soft γ-ray energy range with a characteristic spectral shape and non-negligible flux, which may even be comparable to the hard γ-ray flux produced through photopion processes. We argue that the expected `pe bumps' are a natural consequence of leptohadronic models, and as such, they may indicate that blazars with a three-hump SED are possible emitters of high-energy neutrinos.
We present the spectral signatures of the Bethe-Heitler pair production (pe) process on the spectral energy distribution (SED) of blazars, in scenarios where the hard γ-ray emission is of photohadronic origin. If relativistic protons interact with the synchrotron blazar photons producing γ rays through photopion processes, we show that, besides the ∼2-20 PeV neutrino emission, the typical blazar SED should have an emission feature due to the synchrotron emission of pe secondaries that bridges the gap between the low- and high-energy humps of the SED, namely in the energy range 40 keV-40 MeV. We first present analytical expressions for the photopion and pe loss rates in terms of observable quantities of blazar emission. For the pe loss rate in particular, we derive a new approximate analytical expression for the case of a power-law photon distribution, which has an excellent accuracy with the numerically calculated exact one, especially at energies much above the threshold for pair production. We show that for typical blazar parameters, the photopair synchrotron emission emerges in the hard X-ray/soft γ-ray energy range with a characteristic spectral shape and non-negligible flux, which may even be comparable to the hard γ-ray flux produced through photopion processes. We argue that the expected `pe bumps' are a natural consequence of leptohadronic models, and as such, they may indicate that blazars with a three-hump SED are possible emitters of high-energy neutrinos.
Big Events are processes like macroeconomic transitions that have lowered social well-being in various settings in the past. Greece has been hit by the global crisis and experienced an HIV outbreak among people who inject drugs. Since the crisis began (2008), Greece has seen population displacement, inter-communal violence, cuts in governmental expenditures, and social movements. These may have affected normative regulation, networks, and behaviors. However, most pathways to risk remain unknown or unmeasured. We use what is known and unknown about the Greek HIV outbreak to suggest modifications in Big Events models and the need for additional research.
Big Events are processes like macroeconomic transitions that have lowered social well-being in various settings in the past. Greece has been hit by the global crisis and experienced an HIV outbreak among people who inject drugs. Since the crisis began (2008), Greece has seen population displacement, inter-communal violence, cuts in governmental expenditures, and social movements. These may have affected normative regulation, networks, and behaviors. However, most pathways to risk remain unknown or unmeasured. We use what is known and unknown about the Greek HIV outbreak to suggest modifications in Big Events models and the need for additional research.
Bone defects can be congenital or acquired resulting from trauma, infection, neoplasm and failed arthroplasty. The osseous reconstruction of these defects is challenging. Unfortunately, none of the current techniques for the repair of bone defects has proven to be fully satisfactory. Bone tissue engineering (BTE) is the field of regenerative medicine (RM) that focuses on alternative treatment options for bone defects that will ideally address all the issues of the traditional techniques in treating large bone defects. However, current techniques of BTE is laborious and have their own shortcomings. More recently, 2D and 3D bone printing has been introduced to overcome most of the limitations of bone grafts and BTE. So far, results are extremely promising, setting new frontiers in the management of bone defects.
BACKGROUND: Current clinical guidelines consider regimens consisting of either ritonavir-boosted atazanavir or ritonavir-boosted lopinavir and a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) backbone among their recommended and alternative first-line antiretroviral regimens. However, these guidelines are based on limited evidence from randomized clinical trials and clinical experience.
METHODS: We compared these regimens with respect to clinical, immunologic, and virologic outcomes using data from prospective studies of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals in Europe and the United States in the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration, 2004-2013. Antiretroviral therapy-naive and AIDS-free individuals were followed from the time they started a lopinavir or an atazanavir regimen. We estimated the 'intention-to-treat' effect for atazanavir vs lopinavir regimens on each of the outcomes.
RESULTS: A total of 6668 individuals started a lopinavir regimen (213 deaths, 457 AIDS-defining illnesses or deaths), and 4301 individuals started an atazanavir regimen (83 deaths, 157 AIDS-defining illnesses or deaths). The adjusted intention-to-treat hazard ratios for atazanavir vs lopinavir regimens were 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], .53-.91) for death, 0.67 (95% CI, .55-.82) for AIDS-defining illness or death, and 0.91 (95% CI, .84-.99) for virologic failure at 12 months. The mean 12-month increase in CD4 count was 8.15 (95% CI, -.13 to 16.43) cells/µL higher in the atazanavir group. Estimates differed by NRTI backbone.
CONCLUSIONS: Our estimates are consistent with a lower mortality, a lower incidence of AIDS-defining illness, a greater 12-month increase in CD4 cell count, and a smaller risk of virologic failure at 12 months for atazanavir compared with lopinavir regimens.
BACKGROUND: Aside from the known role of common bacteria, there is a paucity of data regarding the possible role of atypical bacteria and viruses in exacerbations of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible role of atypical bacteria (namely, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as causative agents of bronchiectasis exacerbations.
METHODS: A cohort of 33 patients was studied over a two-year period (one year follow-up for each patient). Polymerase chain reaction for the detection of M pneumoniae, C pneumoniae and RSV in bronchoalveolar lavage samples were performed during all visits. Antibody titres (immunoglobulin [Ig]M and IgG) against the aforementioned pathogens were also measured. In addition, cultures for common bacteria and mycobacteria were performed from the bronchoalveolar lavage samples.
RESULTS: Fifteen patients experienced a total of 19 exacerbations during the study period. Although RSV was detected by polymerase chain reaction during stable visits in four patients, it was never detected during an exacerbation. M pneumoniae and C pneumoniae were never detected at stable visits or during exacerbations. IgM antibody titres for these three pathogens were negative in all patient visits.
CONCLUSIONS: Atypical pathogens and RSV did not appear to be causative agents of bronchiectasis exacerbations.
BACKGROUND: Aberrant calcium signaling is considered one of the key mechanisms contributing to arrhythmias, especially in the context of heart failure. In human heart failure, there is significant down-regulation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) protein junctin, and junctin deficiency in mice is associated with stress-induced arrhythmias. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the increased SR Ca(2+) leak and arrhythmias associated with junctin ablation may be associated with increased calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) activity and phosphorylation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) and whether pharmacologic inhibition of CaMKII activity may prevent these arrhythmias. METHODS: Using a combination of biochemical, cellular, and in vivo approaches, we tested the ability of KN-93 to reverse aberrant CaMKII phosphorylation of RyR2. Specifically, we performed protein phosphorylation analysis, in vitro cardiomyocyte contractility and Ca(2+) kinetics, and in vivo ECG analysis in junctin-deficient mice. RESULTS: In the absence of junctin, RyR2 channels displayed CaMKII-dependent hyperphosphorylation. Notably, CaMKII inhibition by KN-93 reduced the in vivo incidence of stress-induced ventricular tachycardia by 65% in junctin null mice. At the cardiomyocyte level, KN-93 reduced the percentage of junctin null cells exhibiting spontaneous Ca(2+) aftertransients and aftercontractions under stress conditions by 35% and 37%, respectively. At the molecular level, KN-93 blunted the CaMKII-mediated hyperphosphorylation of RyR2 and phospholamban under stress conditions. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that CaMKII inhibition is effective in preventing arrhythmogenesis in the setting of junctin ablation through modulation of both SR Ca(2+) release and uptake. Thus, it merits further investigation as promising molecular therapy.
AIMS: H2S is known to confer cardioprotection; however, the pathways mediating its effects in vivo remain incompletely understood. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the contribution of cGMP-regulated pathways in the infarct-limiting effect of H2S in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: Anaesthetized rabbits were subjected to myocardial ischaemia (I)/reperfusion (R), and infarct size was determined in control or H2S-exposed groups. The H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, an agent that generates H2S) increased cardiac cGMP and reduced the infarct size. The cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG)-I inhibitor DT2 abrogated the protective effect of NaHS, whereas the control peptide TAT or l-nitroarginine methyl ester (l-NAME) did not alter the effect of NaHS. Moreover, the KATP channel inhibitor, glibenclamide, partially reversed the effects of NaHS, whereas inhibition of mitochondrial KATP did not modify the NaHS response. NaHS enhanced phosphorylation of phospholamban (PLN), in a PKG-dependent manner. To further investigate the role of PLN in H2S-mediated cardioprotection, wild-type and PLN KO mice underwent I/R. NaHS did not exert cardioprotection in PLN KO mice. Unlike what was observed in rabbits, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of eNOS abolished the infarct-limiting effect of NaHS in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate (i) that administration of NaHS induces cardioprotection via a cGMP/PKG/PLN pathway and (ii) contribution of nitric oxide to the H2S response is species-specific.
Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene variants are a major contributor to pigmentation characteristics and the modulation of sporadic basal cell carcinoma (BCC) risk. This is a hospital-based, case-control study to investigate the association of MC1R variants and pigmentary characteristics with the risk of BCC development in a Southern European population in Greece. In total, 141 patients with BCC and 166 controls were studied. Increased BCC risk was found for the presence of 2 or more MC1R variants (OR:3.07, 95% CI:1.13-8.34), or 2 or more variants of which at least 1 was major function (OR:7.15, 95% CI:1.37-5.52), after adjustment for the 'red hair colour' (RHC) phenotype. Increased BCC risk persisted in the presence of 2 or more MC1R variants (OR:4.15, 95% CI:1.35-12.72), after adjustment for potential confounding factors including skin color (P:0.237) and atypical nevi (OR:9.57, 95% CI:2.19-41.81, P:0.003). MC1R genotype is a risk factor for the development of BCC in Greek patients independently of pigmentary characteristics, and the combination of MC1R variants may modulate this risk.
We consider estimation and goodness–of–fit tests in GARCH models with innovations following a heavy–tailed and possibly asymmetric distribution. Although the method is fairly general and applies to GARCH models with arbitrary innovation distribution, we consider as special instances the stable Paretian, the variance gamma and the normal inverse Gaussian distribution. Exploiting the simple structure of the characteristic function of these distributions we propose minimum distance estimation based on the empirical characteristic function of properly standardized GARCH–residuals. The finite–sample results presented facilitate comparison with existing methods, while the new procedures are also applied to real data from the financial market.
Abstract The operation of a phosphate fertilizer industry in Drapetsona, near Piraeus port (Greece), resulted in the deposition of 10 million tons of phosphogypsum (PG) into an old limestone quarry, in the period 1979-1989. The whole deposit has been recently remediated using geomembranes and thick soil cover with vegetation. The purpose of the present study was to characterize representative samples of that phosphogypsum, using diffraction (powder-XRD), microscopic (SEM-EDS), analytical (ICP-MS), and spectroscopic techniques (High-resolution γ-ray spectrometry and XRF). The material contains crystalline gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) and Ca-Si-Al-S-F (chukhrovite-type/meniaylovite) phases. The natural radioactivity is mainly due to the $^{238}$U series and particularly $^{226}$Ra (average: 462 Bq/kg), which is relatively low compared to PG from the rest of the world. Furthermore, leaching experiments using local (Attica) rainwater, together with ICP-MS, were performed to assess the potential release of elements in the environment.
The main objective of this study is to investigate the variability of the thermohaline characteristics of the deep-water masses in the Aegean Sea and the possible impact of the regional atmospheric forcing variability by analyzing the available oceanographic and atmospheric datasets for the period of 1960–2012. During this period the variability of the deep water characteristics of the Aegean sub-basins is found to be very large as well as the diversity of the deep water characteristics among the sub-basins. The Central Aegean seems to play the key role in the Aegean deep water formation processes. Due to its small size, the Aegean Sea surface responds rapidly to the meteorological changes and/or the variability of the lateral fluxes and this variability propagates in the thermohaline characteristics of the deep water masses of the basin through deep water formation processes. There are many episodes characterized by a tight coupling of the atmosphere and the ocean during the examined period, with the Eastern Mediterranean Transient (EMT) being the most prominent case. We suggest that deep water formation is triggered mostly by the combination of preconditioning during early winter and/or previous winters together with the number of subsequent extreme events during present winter and not only by the total amount of the extreme heat loss winter days.
We document surface coccolithophore species composition along a N-S transect from New Zealand to the Ross Sea, across the fronts of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Emiliania huxleyi is the most abundant coccolithophore species throughout, with high concentration in the northernmost samples, in the Polar Frontal Zone and at the Polar Front. Three E. huxleyi morphotypes, A, B/C and O were recognized and show different biogeographic distributions along the investigated transect. Coccolithophore distribution appears to be strongly controlled by the location of oceanographic fronts, with minor species (Calcidiscus leptoporus, Syracosphaera spp., Acanthoica quattrospina, Umbellosphaera tenuis, Corisphaera strigilis and other holococcolithophores) largely restricted to the northern Sub-Antarctic Zone, only showing minor occurrence in the southern Sub-Antarctic Zone and being very rare in the Polar Frontal Zone. Our data confirm previous findings and add new information on the biogeography of minor coccolithophore species in relation with oceanographic features. Overall, integration with previous data on the southern extent distribution of E. huxleyi showed no significant temporal shifts in the polar dynamic perspective of the species since early observations.
Numerous specimens of coccolithophore combination coccospheres in water samples collected from the North Aegean and Tyrrhenian (Mediterranean Sea) have been photographed using the scanning electron microscope.As a consequence a series of taxonomic revisions are proposed, in which the names of the heterococcolithophores and holococcolithophores involved in the same life-cycle are synonymized. This has resulted in synonymizing the genus Coronosphaera with Syracosphaera and establishing one new combination; Syracosphaera arethusae (Kamptner 1941) comb. nov.
In 2012 Markarian 421 underwent the largest flare ever observed in this blazar at radio frequencies. In the present study, we start exploring this unique event and compare it to a less extreme event in 2013. We use 15 GHz radio data obtained with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory 40-m telescope, 95 GHz millimetre data from the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-Wave Astronomy, and GeV γ-ray data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The radio light curves during the flaring periods in 2012 and 2013 have very different appearances, in both shape and peak flux density. Assuming that the radio and γ-ray flares are physically connected, we attempt to model the most prominent sub-flares of the 2012 and 2013 activity periods by using the simplest possible theoretical framework. We first fit a one-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model to the less extreme 2013 flare and estimate parameters describing the emission region. We then model the major γ-ray and radio flares of 2012 using the same framework. The 2012 γ-ray flare shows two distinct spikes of similar amplitude, so we examine scenarios associating the radio flare with each spike in turn. In the first scenario, we cannot explain the sharp radio flare with a simple SSC model, but we can accommodate this by adding plausible time variations to the Doppler beaming factor. In the second scenario, a varying Doppler factor is not needed, but the SSC model parameters require fine-tuning. Both alternatives indicate that the sharp radio flare, if physically connected to the preceding γ-ray flares, can be reproduced only for a very specific choice of parameters.
BACKGROUND: Recommendations have differed nationally and internationally with respect to the best time to start antiretroviral therapy (ART). We compared effectiveness of three strategies for initiation of ART in high-income countries for HIV-positive individuals who do not have AIDS: immediate initiation, initiation at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per μL, and initiation at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per μL.
METHODS: We used data from the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration of cohort studies in Europe and the USA. We included 55,826 individuals aged 18 years or older who were diagnosed with HIV-1 infection between January, 2000, and September, 2013, had not started ART, did not have AIDS, and had CD4 count and HIV-RNA viral load measurements within 6 months of HIV diagnosis. We estimated relative risks of death and of death or AIDS-defining illness, mean survival time, the proportion of individuals in need of ART, and the proportion of individuals with HIV-RNA viral load less than 50 copies per mL, as would have been recorded under each ART initiation strategy after 7 years of HIV diagnosis. We used the parametric g-formula to adjust for baseline and time-varying confounders.
FINDINGS: Median CD4 count at diagnosis of HIV infection was 376 cells per μL (IQR 222-551). Compared with immediate initiation, the estimated relative risk of death was 1·02 (95% CI 1·01-1·02) when ART was started at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per μL, and 1·06 (1·04-1·08) with initiation at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per μL. Corresponding estimates for death or AIDS-defining illness were 1·06 (1·06-1·07) and 1·20 (1·17-1·23), respectively. Compared with immediate initiation, the mean survival time at 7 years with a strategy of initiation at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per μL was 2 days shorter (95% CI 1-2) and at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per μL was 5 days shorter (4-6). 7 years after diagnosis of HIV, 100%, 98·7% (95% CI 98·6-98·7), and 92·6% (92·2-92·9) of individuals would have been in need of ART with immediate initiation, initiation at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per μL, and initiation at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per μL, respectively. Corresponding proportions of individuals with HIV-RNA viral load less than 50 copies per mL at 7 years were 87·3% (87·3-88·6), 87·4% (87·4-88·6), and 83·8% (83·6-84·9).
INTERPRETATION: The benefits of immediate initiation of ART, such as prolonged survival and AIDS-free survival and increased virological suppression, were small in this high-income setting with relatively low CD4 count at HIV diagnosis. The estimated beneficial effect on AIDS is less than in recently reported randomised trials. Increasing rates of HIV testing might be as important as a policy of early initiation of ART.
FUNDING: National Institutes of Health.
This study presents the species composition of living coccolithophore communities in the Aegean Sea (northeastern Mediterranean), investigating their spatial and temporal variations in various environmental conditions from mesotrophic to ultra- oligotrophic regions. Coccolithophores of the photic zone in the Aegean Sea are relatively diverse (65 heterococcolithophores and 34 holococcolithophores) and dominated mostly by Emiliania huxleyi, Syracosphaera spp., Rhabdosphaeraceae and holococcolithophores. Hierarchical classification using R-mode cluster analysis distinguished five coccolithophore groups: Group Ia (Emiliania huxleyi, Syracosphaera molischii and Syracosphaera ossa) prevails in the high cell density and low diversity assemblages during the winter and early spring, when low temperatures and high nutrient concentrations are prevailing. Particularly in the north Aegean, E. huxleyi is dominating the upper photic zone being affected by the Black Sea Water inflow and the associated control on the water column stratification. Group Ib (Florisphaera profunda, Algirosphaera robusta, Syracosphaera anthos and Syracosphaera lamina) becomes important in the lower photic zone, making up the typical deep assemblages, whereas Group Ic (mainly Helicosphaera carteri and Gephyrocapsa oceanica) implies an opportunistic behavior in distinctly polluted neritic regions. Group IIa (Rhabdosphaera clavigera, Syracosphaera protrudens, Syracosphaera halldalii and numerous holococcolithophores) dominates the late spring-early autumn low cell density and high diversity assemblages, mainly in the thermally-stratified south Aegean and/or shallow, coastal environments with normal/ oligotrophic conditions, while Group IIb (Umbellosphaera tenuis and Syracosphaera pulchra) dominates the coccolithophore assemblages mainly during the early autumn in the north Aegean, thus reflecting the influence of Levantine Intermediate Water masses in the middle-lower photic zone. Our results suggest that abundance and variability in Aegean Sea coccolithophore assemblages are primarily controlled by surface water circulation and the associated water column stratification,with the sea temperature gradient affecting species composition.
Markopoulos G, Karasimos A, Sgarbas K, Christofidou A. Computational Linguistics Terminology. In: The Bulletin for Scientific Terminology and Neologisms. Vol. 13. Athens: Academy of Athens; 2015. pp. 245-354.
In this paper we take as our point of departure Kostas Gavroglu and Yorgos Goudaroulis’s insight that, in the process of describing and explaining novel phenomena, scientific concepts are taken “out of” their original theoretical context, acquire additional meaning, and become relatively autonomous. We first present their account of how concepts are re-contextualized and, in the process, extended and/or revised. We then situate it within its philosophical context, and discuss how it broke with a long-standing philosophical tradition about concepts. Finally, we argue that recent developments in science studies can flesh out and vindicate the “concepts out of contexts” idea. In particular, historical and philosophical studies of experimentation and cognitive-historical studies of modeling practices indicate various ways in which concepts are formed and articulated “out of context”.
We present a method of constraining the properties of the γ-ray emitting region in flat spectrum radio quasars in the one-zone proton synchrotron model, where the γ-rays are produced by synchrotron radiation of relativistic protons. We show that for low enough values of the Doppler factor δ, the emission from the electromagnetic (EM) cascade which is initiated by the internal absorption of high-energy photons from photohadronic interactions may exceed the observed ∼GeV flux. We use that effect to derive an absolute lower limit of δ; first, an analytical one, in the asymptotic limit where the external radiation from the broad-line region (BLR) is negligible, and then a numerical one in the more general case that includes BLR radiation. As its energy density in the emission region depends on δ and the region's distance from the galactic centre, we use the EM cascade to determine a minimum distance for each value of δ. We complement the EM cascade constraint with one derived from variability arguments and apply our method to the FSRQ 3C 273. We find that δ ≳ 18-20 for B ≲ 30 G and ∼day time-scale variability; the emission region is located outside the BLR, namely at r ≳ 10RBLR ∼ 3 pc; the model requires at pc-scale distances stronger magnetic fields than those inferred from core shift observations; while the jet power exceeds by at least one order of magnitude the accretion power. In short, our results disfavour the proton synchrotron model for the FSRQ 3C 273.
Contact binaries are the most frequently observed type of eclipsing star system. They are small, cool, low-mass binaries belonging to a relatively old stellar population. They follow certain empirical relationships that closely connect a number of physical parameters with each other, largely because of constraints coming from the Roche geometry. As a result, contact binaries provide an excellent test of stellar evolution, specifically for stellar merger scenarios. Observing campaigns by many authors have led to the cataloging of thousands of contact binaries and enabled statistical studies of many of their properties. A large number of contact binaries have been found to exhibit extraordinary behavior, requiring follow-up observations to study their peculiarities in detail. For example, a doubly-eclipsing quadruple system consisting of a contact binary and a detached binary is a highly constrained system offering an excellent laboratory to test evolutionary theories for binaries. A new observing project was initiated at the University of Athens in 2012 in order to investigate the possible lower limit for the orbital period of binary systems before coalescence, prior to merging.
Impaired mitochondrial maintenance in disparate cell types is a shared hallmark of many human pathologies and ageing. How mitochondrial biogenesis coordinates with the removal of damaged or superfluous mitochondria to maintain cellular homeostasis is not well understood. Here we show that mitophagy, a selective type of autophagy targeting mitochondria for degradation, interfaces with mitochondrial biogenesis to regulate mitochondrial content and longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that DCT-1 is a key mediator of mitophagy and longevity assurance under conditions of stress in C. elegans. Impairment of mitophagy compromises stress resistance and triggers mitochondrial retrograde signalling through the SKN-1 transcription factor that regulates both mitochondrial biogenesis genes and mitophagy by enhancing DCT-1 expression. Our findings reveal a homeostatic feedback loop that integrates metabolic signals to coordinate the biogenesis and turnover of mitochondria. Uncoupling of these two processes during ageing contributes to overproliferation of damaged mitochondria and decline of cellular function.
A number of genetic mutations is associated with cardiomyopathies. A mutation in the coding region of the phospholamban (PLN) gene (R14del) is identified in families with hereditary heart failure. Heterozygous patients exhibit left ventricular dilation and ventricular arrhythmias. Here we generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a patient harbouring the PLN R14del mutation and differentiate them into cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). We find that the PLN R14del mutation induces Ca(2+) handling abnormalities, electrical instability, abnormal cytoplasmic distribution of PLN protein and increases expression of molecular markers of cardiac hypertrophy in iPSC-CMs. Gene correction using transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) ameliorates the R14del-associated disease phenotypes in iPSC-CMs. In addition, we show that knocking down the endogenous PLN and simultaneously expressing a codon-optimized PLN gene reverses the disease phenotype in vitro. Our findings offer novel strategies for targeting the pathogenic mutations associated with cardiomyopathies.
Nikolaos Patsantaras (2015) Cosmopolitanism: An alternative way of thinking in the contemporary Olympics, European Journal for Sport and Society, 12:2, 215-238, DOI: 10.1080/16138171.2015.11687963 ......................................ABSTRACT: This contribution offers an alternative theoretical approach in examining the modern Olympics, using a cosmopolitan perspective. The vast literature and repeated discussions on cosmopolitanism are supplementary reactions to globalisation. The development of Olympic sport is closely linked to globalisation. A great number of controversial issues affecting the Olympics have already been analysed using globalisation concepts and theories that tend to ignore the potential cosmopolitan effects that the contemporary Olympics could have as a global phenomenon and as a common global culture. This paper endeavours to rethink the relationship between the Olympics and cosmopolitanism today, using a cosmopolitan lens.
Keywords: Olympics, cosmopolitanism, cosmopolitanisation, environment, Olympic competition
Maintenance of mitochondrial function and energy homeostasis requires both generation of newly synthesized and elimination of dysfunctional mitochondria. Impaired mitochondrial function and excessive mitochondrial content are major characteristics of aging and several human pathophysiological conditions, highlighting the pivotal role of the coordination between mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy. However, the cellular and molecular underpinnings of mitochondrial mass homeostasis remain obscure. In our recent study, we demonstrate that DCT-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of mammalian BNIP3 and BNIP3L/NIX, is a key mediator of mitophagy promoting longevity under stress. DCT-1 acts downstream of the PINK-1-PDR-1/Parkin pathway and is ubiquitinated upon mitophagy-inducing conditions to mediate the removal of damaged mitochondria. Accumulation of damaged mitochondria triggers SKN-1 activation, which initiates a bipartite retrograde signaling pathway stimulating the coordinated induction of both mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy genes. Taken together, our results unravel a homeostatic feedback loop that allows cells to adjust their mitochondrial population in response to environmental and intracellular cues. Age-dependent decline of mitophagy both inhibits removal of dysfunctional or superfluous mitochondria and impairs mitochondrial biogenesis resulting in progressive mitochondrial accretion and consequently, deterioration of cell function.
In the last decades, many superconductor-based devices have been utilized in practical applications that refer to the production/sensing of ultra-high/low magnetic fields, resistive storage of data, etc. The superconducting magnetoresistance effect (sMRE) observed in ferromagnetic/superconducting/ferromagnetic trilayers (TLs) has been widely studied in the literature. Here, we investigate Ni80Fe20/Nb/Ni80Fe20 and Co/Nb/Co TLs on a comparative basis and we provide technical guidelines that empower us to design magnetic field sensors and magnetic field-controlled supercurrent switches for cryogenic applications. The performance of these TLs has been studied in great detail. It turned out that Ni80Fe20-based TLs are applicable in the regime of low magnetic fields (on the order of a few hundred Oe) due to their magnetically soft character, while Co-based ones are effective at relatively higher magnetic fields (on the order of a few thousand Oe) owing to their magnetically harder behavior. The Ni80Fe20-based TLs exhibit a sMRE magnitude, (R-max - R-min)/R-nor x 100 %, on the order of 30-50 % and a field sensitivity, dR(H)/dH, on the order of 4.0-6.0 mOhm/Oe. The Co-based TLs have higher sMRE magnitude on the order of 30-100 %; however, they exhibit lower field sensitivity on the order of 0.3-0.6 mOhm/Oe. Finally, the Co-based TLs exhibit an abnormal behavior of the upper critical field line, H-c2(T), at low magnetic fields. This feature is absent in the Ni80Fe20-based TLs. Due to the differences outlined above, the Ni80Fe20-based and Co-based TLs can be possibly utilized in two distinct categories of devices, namely magnetic field sensors and magnetic field-controlled supercurrent switches, respectively.
List of contributions from the CTA Consortium presented at the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference, 30 July - 6 August 2015, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Recent developments in the treatment of multiple myeloma have led to improvements in response rates and to increased survival; however, relapse is inevitable in almost all patients. Recurrence of myeloma is typically more aggressive with each relapse, leading to the development of treatment-refractory disease, which is associated with a shorter survival. Several phase II and III trials have demonstrated the efficacy of recently approved agents in the setting of relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma, including immunomodulatory agents, such as lenalidomide and pomalidomide, and proteasome inhibitors, such as bortezomib and carfilzomib. Currently, however, there is no standard treatment for patients with relapsed and/or refractory disease. This Review discusses the current treatment landscape for patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma and highlights disease-related and patient-related factors - such as pre-existing comorbidities or toxicities - that are important considerations for clinicians when selecting an appropriate treatment regimen.
The evolution of hepatitis B virus (HBV), particularly its origins and evolutionary timescale, has been the subject of debate. Three major scenarios have been proposed, variously placing the origin of HBV in humans and great apes from some million years to only a few thousand years ago (ka). To compare these scenarios, we analyzed 105 full-length HBV genome sequences from all major genotypes sampled globally. We found a high correlation between the demographic histories of HBV and humans, as well as coincidence in the times of origin of specific subgenotypes with human migrations giving rise to their host indigenous populations. Together with phylogenetic evidence, this suggests that HBV has co-expanded with modern humans. Based on the co-expansion, we conducted a Bayesian dating analysis to estimate a precise evolutionary timescale for HBV. Five calibrations were used at the origins of F/H genotypes, D4, C3 and B6 from respective indigenous populations in the Pacific and Arctic and A5 from Haiti. The estimated time for the origin of HBV was 34.1ka (95% highest posterior density interval 27.6-41.3ka), coinciding with the dispersal of modern non-African humans. Our study, the first to use full-length HBV sequences, places a precise timescale on the HBV epidemic and also shows that the "branching paradox" of the more divergent genotypes F/H from Amerindians is due to an accelerated substitution rate, probably driven by positive selection. This may explain previously observed differences in the natural history of HBV between genotypes F1 and A2, B1, and D.
Public companies were classified according to whether they remain public or they have been delisted voluntarily or not. Proxy variables were separated according to accounting and/or market information and an ordered polytomous logit model was then applied in order to estimate the probability of delisting. Companies with poor liquidity, high leverage, big stock price decline and lack of interest from investors’ point of view (low trading activity) have higher probability to be delisted, voluntarily or not.
AIMS: To (i) describe an intervention implemented in response to the HIV-1 outbreak among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in Greece (ARISTOTLE programme), (ii) assess its success in identifying and testing this population and (iii) describe socio-demographic characteristics, risk behaviours and access to treatment/prevention, estimate HIV prevalence and identify risk factors, as assessed at the first participation of PWIDs.
DESIGN: A 'seek, test, treat, retain' intervention employing five rounds of respondent-driven sampling.
SETTING: Athens, Greece (2012-13).
PARTICIPANTS: A total of 3320 individuals who had injected drugs in the past 12 months.
INTERVENTION: ARISTOTLE is an intervention that involves reaching out to high-risk, hard-to-reach PWIDs ('seek'), engaging them in HIV testing and providing information and materials to prevent HIV ('test') and initiating and maintaining anti-retroviral and opioid substitution treatment for those testing positive ('treat' and 'retain').
MEASUREMENTS: Blood samples were collected for HIV testing and personal interviews were conducted.
FINDINGS: ARISTOTLE recruited 3320 PWIDs during the course of 13.5 months. More than half (54%) participated in multiple rounds, resulting in 7113 visits. HIV prevalence was 15.1%. At their first contact with the programme, 12.5% were on opioid substitution treatment programmes and the median number of free syringes they had received in the preceding month was 0. In the multivariable analysis, apart from injection-related variables, homelessness was a risk factor for HIV infection in male PWIDs [odds ratio (OR) yes versus no = 1.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.41, 2.52] while, in female PWIDS, the number of sexual partners (OR for > 5 versus one partner in the past year = 4.12, 95% CI = 1.93, 8.77) and history of imprisonment (OR yes versus no = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.43, 5.31) were associated with HIV.
CONCLUSIONS: In Athens, Greece, the ARISTOTLE intervention for identifying HIV-positive people among people who inject drugs (PWID) facilitated rapid identification of a hidden population experiencing an outbreak and provided HIV testing, counselling and linkage to care. According to ARISTOTLE data, the 2011 HIV outbreak in Athens resulted in 15% HIV infection among PWID. Risk factors for HIV among PWID included homelessness in men and history of imprisonment and number of sexual partners in women.
AIMS: To (i) describe an intervention implemented in response to the HIV-1 outbreak among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in Greece (ARISTOTLE programme), (ii) assess its success in identifying and testing this population and (iii) describe socio-demographic characteristics, risk behaviours and access to treatment/prevention, estimate HIV prevalence and identify risk factors, as assessed at the first participation of PWIDs. DESIGN: A 'seek, test, treat, retain' intervention employing five rounds of respondent-driven sampling. SETTING: Athens, Greece (2012-13). PARTICIPANTS: A total of 3320 individuals who had injected drugs in the past 12 months. INTERVENTION: ARISTOTLE is an intervention that involves reaching out to high-risk, hard-to-reach PWIDs ('seek'), engaging them in HIV testing and providing information and materials to prevent HIV ('test') and initiating and maintaining anti-retroviral and opioid substitution treatment for those testing positive ('treat' and 'retain'). MEASUREMENTS: Blood samples were collected for HIV testing and personal interviews were conducted. FINDINGS: ARISTOTLE recruited 3320 PWIDs during the course of 13.5 months. More than half (54%) participated in multiple rounds, resulting in 7113 visits. HIV prevalence was 15.1%. At their first contact with the programme, 12.5% were on opioid substitution treatment programmes and the median number of free syringes they had received in the preceding month was 0. In the multivariable analysis, apart from injection-related variables, homelessness was a risk factor for HIV infection in male PWIDs [odds ratio (OR) yes versus no = 1.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.41, 2.52] while, in female PWIDS, the number of sexual partners (OR for > 5 versus one partner in the past year = 4.12, 95% CI = 1.93, 8.77) and history of imprisonment (OR yes versus no = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.43, 5.31) were associated with HIV. CONCLUSIONS: In Athens, Greece, the ARISTOTLE intervention for identifying HIV-positive people among people who inject drugs (PWID) facilitated rapid identification of a hidden population experiencing an outbreak and provided HIV testing, counselling and linkage to care. According to ARISTOTLE data, the 2011 HIV outbreak in Athens resulted in 15% HIV infection among PWID. Risk factors for HIV among PWID included homelessness in men and history of imprisonment and number of sexual partners in women.
Over the past few years, the use of electronic sources for studies by students and teaching staff has been rapidly increased. The digital information gives the opportunity of personal and interactive information. Nevertheless, much of health information is unable to be identified from existing search tools. The aim of this paper is to propose a system which enables academic members of the Faculty of Nursing of the University of Athens to immediate access information that improves patient care and the daily nursing practice. First of all, in order to achieve this goal, an on-line research was conducted on Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar. Afterwards, the appropriate digital library software package was selected. This work presents the institutional repository "Ariadne". This repository is a new service which intends to establish new conditions to archiving of graduate and doctoral dissertations. The "Ariadne" repository is not just a tool for strengthening the educational process but also a tool for further progress of nursing science.
BACKGROUND: Collagen XI is a key structural component of the extracellular matrix and consists of three alpha chains. One of these chains, the alpha1 (XI), is encoded by the COL11A1 gene and is transcribed to four different variants at least (A, B, C and E) that differ in the propensity to N-terminal domain proteolysis and potentially in the way the extracellular matrix is arranged. This could affect the ability of tumor cells to invade the remodeled stroma and metastasize. No study in the literature has so far investigated the expression of these four variants in breast cancer nor does a method for their accurate quantitative detection exist. METHODS: We developed a conventional PCR for the general detection of the general COL11A1 transcript and real-time qPCR methodologies with dual hybridization probes in the LightCycler platform for the quantitative determination of the variants. Data from 90 breast cancer tissues with known histopathological features were collected. RESULTS: The general COL11A1 transcript was detected in all samples. The developed methodologies for each variant were rapid as well as reproducible, sensitive and specific. Variant A was detected in 30 samples (33 %) and variant E in 62 samples (69 %). Variants B and C were not detected at all. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the presence of variant E and lymph nodes involvement (p = 0.037) and metastasis (p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: With the newly developed tools, the possibility of inclusion of COL11A1 variants as prognostic biomarkers in emerging multiparameter technologies examining tissue RNA expression should be further explored
The present work constitutes the first part of a multi-parametric research for the representation of damage scenarios in Lefkada old town. The study area lies in the most seismically active zone of Greece and has suffered several devastating earthquakes. Most of its old buildings were built by local practices incorporating elements of earthquake resistance and have been designated as particular earthquake resistant constructions by the European Council Cultural Heritage Unit. The most recent earthquake of {\$}{\$}{\backslash}hbox {\{}M{\}}{\_}{\backslash}mathrm{\{}w{\}}=6.2{\$}{\$}Mw=6.2that occurred on 14 August 2003, located about 10 km from the town, caused moderate damage to its buildings and substantial geotechnical failures. Investigations on the coseismic effects yielded extensive literature information, which initially motivated our investigations. This paper deals with the empirical vulnerability assessment of the buildings in Lefkada old town based on basic structural characteristics such as the type and material of the structural system, the period of construction, the number of storeys, etc. Those characteristics, primarily available from the most recent available census were further exploited by an in-situ survey, during which all 1,420 buildings in the old town were inspected. Following, each building was indexed with an EMS-98 vulnerability class. Expert decisions on the damage scale due to the 14 August 2003 event were reassessed and converted into damage grades of EMS-98. The full data set was also analysed in ArcGIS producing detailed maps of the 14 August 2003 earthquake damage distribution by structural typology and vulnerability class in Lefkada old town.
In the course of a photometric campaign undertaken at the University of Athens Observatory, the target 1SWASP J093010.78+533859.5 was observed and found to be a doubly-eclipsing quadruple system. This system was known as a contact binary since 2013, with an orbital period of 0.2277 days, and a detached binary lies along the same direction. Hipparcos astrometric observations confirm this finding, showing two stars with a common proper motion and an angular separation of only 1.7 arcsec. This favors the scenario of a true quadruple system, making 1SWASP J093010.78+533859.5 one of the very rare doubly-eclipsing quadruple systems known to date.
We report cm-size dynamic displacements of continuous GPS stations onshore the island of Cephalonia, Ionian Sea, Greece, following the passage of seismic waves from two (2) shallow earthquakes on Jan 26, 2014 and Feb 3, 2014, respectively. First, we estimated the displacements from the high-rate GPS data collected at NOA station VLSM, near to the epicenters, by using state-of-art data processing strategies. The time series of displacements were analyzed both in time and frequency domains. From the dynamic analysis of 1Hz data it is shown that the second event was recorded at station VLSM with higher amplitudes on both horizontal components, despite its smaller (22 %) moment magnitude, possibly due to its shallower depth. The static field of deformation is characterized by cm-size permanent motion in opposing directions between stations KIPO (western Cephalonia) and VLSM (eastern Cephalonia), in agreement with the right-lateral kinematics of both ruptures. The 7.4 cm northward motion of station KIPO implies that the western peninsula of Cephalonia island (Paliki) belongs to a separate crustal block with respect to the rest of the island. The northward motion of KIPO also implies that the Cephalonia Transform Fault (CTF) did not rupture during the 2014 events, because KIPO is located at the hanging wall of CTF. It is possible that the amount of accumulated strain along CTF since 1983 (M=6.8) can be released by a seismic event of M6.5-6.7, at any time.
Abstract The formation of iron sulphide minerals exerts significant control on the behaviour of trace elements in sediments. In this study, three short sediment cores, retrieved from the remote Antinioti lagoon (N. Kerkyra Island, \{NW\} Greece), are investigated concerning the solid phase composition, distribution, and partitioning of major (Al, Fe) and trace elements (Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn). According to $^{210}$Pb, the sediments sampled correspond to depositions of the last 120 years. The high amounts of organic carbon (4.1–27.5%) result in the formation of Fe sulphides, predominantly pyrite, already at the surface sediment layers. Pyrite morphologies include monocrystals, polyframboids, and complex FeS–FeS$_2$ aggregates. According to synchrotron-generated micro X-ray fluorescence and X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectra, authigenically formed, Mn-containing, Fe(III) oxyhydroxides (goethite type) co-exist with pyrite in the sediments studied. Microscopic techniques evidence the formation of galena, sphalerite and CuS, whereas sequential extractions show that carbonates are important hosts for Mn, Cd, and Zn. However, significant percentages of non-lattice held elements are bound to Fe/Mn oxyhydroxides that resist reductive dissolution (on average 60% of Pb, 46% of Cd, 43% of Zn and 9% of Cu). The partitioning pattern changes drastically in the deeper part of the core that is influenced by freshwater inputs. In these sediments, the post-depositional pyritization mechanism, illustrated by overgrowths of Fe monosulphides on pre-existing pyrite grains, results in relatively high degree of pyritization that reaches 49% for Cd, 66% for Cu, 32% for Zn and 7% for Pb.
. Finance Research Letters [Internet]. 2015;14:128-134.
This paper examines the effects of quantitative easing (QE) announcements by the European Central Bank (ECB), the Bank of England (BoE) and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) on the intraday volatility transmissions among EUR, GBP and JPY. The empirical results indicate: (i) an increased volatility transmission from EUR to JPY and GBP around the ECB announcements, and from GBP to EUR over the BoE announcements, (ii) the ECB and BoE announcements significantly increase the volatility of EUR and JPY, and (iii) a ‘‘calming down’’ impact on the volatility of EUR and GBP from the BoJ and the ECB announcements, respectively.
BACKGROUND: There is substantial unexplained geographical and surgeon-to-surgeon variation in rates of surgery. One would expect surgeons to treat patients and themselves similarly based on best evidence and accounting for patient preferences.
QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Are surgeons more likely to recommend surgery when choosing for a patient than for themselves? (2) Are surgeons less confident in deciding for patients than for themselves?
METHODS: Two hundred fifty-four (32%) of 790 Science of Variation Group (SOVG) members reviewed 21 fictional upper extremity cases (eg, distal radius fracture, De Quervain tendinopathy) for which surgery is optional answering two questions: (1) What treatment would you choose/recommend: operative or nonoperative? (2) On a scale from 0 to 10, how confident are you about this decision? Confidence is the degree that one believes that his or her decision is the right one (ie, most appropriate). Participants were orthopaedic, trauma, and plastic surgeons, all with an interest in treating upper extremity conditions. Half of the participants were randomized to choose for themselves if they had this injury or illness. The other half was randomized to make treatment recommendations for a patient of their age and gender. For the choice of operative or nonoperative, the overall recommendation for treatment was expressed as a surgery score per surgeon by dividing the number of cases they would operate on by the total number of cases (n = 21), where 100% is when every surgeon recommended surgery for every case. For confidence, we calculated the mean confidence for all 21 cases per surgeon; overall score ranges from 0 to 10 with a higher score indicating more confidence in the decision for treatment.
RESULTS: Surgeons were more likely to recommend surgery for a patient (44.2% ± 14.0%) than they were to choose surgery for themselves (38.5% ± 15.4%) with a mean difference of 6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1%-9.4%; p = 0.002). Surgeons were more confident in deciding for themselves than they were for a patient of similar age and gender (self: 7.9 ± 1.0, patient: 7.5 ± 1.2, mean difference: 0.35 [CI, 0.075-0.62], p = 0.012).
CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons are slightly more likely to recommend surgery for a patient than they are to choose surgery for themselves and they choose for themselves with a little more confidence. Different perspectives, preferences, circumstantial information, and cognitive biases might explain the observed differences. This emphasizes the importance of (1) understanding patients' preferences and their considerations for treatment; (2) being aware that surgeons and patients might weigh various factors differently; (3) giving patients more autonomy by letting them balance risks and benefits themselves (ie, shared decision-making); and (4) assessing how dispassionate evidence-based decision aids help inform the patient and influences their decisional conflict.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, diagnostic study.
We carry out density functional theory calculations which demonstrate that the electron dynamics in the Skyrmion phase of Fe-rich Mn1-xFexGe alloys is governed by Berry phase physics. We observe that the magnitude of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction directly related to the mixed space-momentum Berry phases, changes sign and magnitude with concentration x in direct correlation with the data of Shibata et al. {[}Nat. Nanotechnol. 8, 723 (2013)]. The computed anomalous and topological Hall effects in FeGe are also in good agreement with available experiments. We further develop a simple tight-binding model able to explain these findings. Finally, we show that the adiabatic Berry phase picture is violated in the Mn-rich limit of the alloys.
Background. To evaluate the effect of timing of management and intervention on outcomes of bile duct injury. Materials and Methods. We retrospectively analyzed 92 patients between 1991 and 2011. Data concerned patient’s demographic characteristics, type of injury (according to Strasberg classification), time to referral, diagnostic procedures, timing of surgical management, and final outcome. The endpoint was the comparison of postoperative morbidity (stricture, recurrent cholangitis, required interventions/dilations, and redo reconstruction) and mortality between early (less than 2 weeks) and late (over 12 weeks) surgical reconstruction. Results. Three patients were treated conservatively, two patients were treated with percutaneous drainage, and 13 patients underwent PTC or ERCP. In total 74 patients were operated on in our unit. 58 of them underwent surgical reconstruction by end-to-side Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, 11 underwent primary bile duct repair, and the remaining 5 underwent more complex procedures. Of the 56 patients, 34 patients were submitted to early reconstruction, while 22 patients were submitted to late reconstruction. After a median follow-up of 93 months, there were two deaths associated with BDI after LC. Outcomes after early repairs were equal to outcomes after late repairs when performed by specialists. Conclusions. Early repair after BDI results in equal outcomes compared with late repair. BDI patients should be referred to centers of expertise and experience.
Purpose: Maximizing the response rate to first-line therapy in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) is important because it leads to improved outcome. Gene-expression studies have identified prognostic gene sets in patients receiving bortezomib-based therapy. Comparison of the lists of genes derived from two gene-expression-based models (GEP70, GEP80) showed that they overlap in three genes, namely PSMD4, BIRC5, and KIAA1754. An unanswered question is whether early gene-expression changes can be used as predictors of the response to first-line bortezomib. In this study we aimed to examine the predictive value of gene expression changes for the depth of response after bortezomib-based therapy in newly diagnosed MM. Methods: We prospectively assessed the relation between early PSMD4, BIRC5, and KIAA1754 gene expression changes (before therapy and one week later) and the response rate after bortezomib-based therapy in 25 patients with newly diagnosed MM. Gene expression was studied by RT-PCR on CD138-selected plasma cells, and changes were recorded as upregulation, downregulation, or unchanged. Results: Whereas baseline prognostic factors including genetic lesions and stage were not predictive of the response rate, we found that early BIRC5 and KIAA1754 gene-expression changes were significantly associated with the depth of response to bortezomib (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). PSMD4 was not predictive of the depth of response. KIAA1754 upregulation was linked to complete remission (CR) or very good partial remission (VGPR). BIRC5 upregulation was linked to stable disease (SD) or progressive disease (PD). We also observed that BIRC5 upregulation was associated with worse progression-free survival (PFS). Conclusions: Our results suggest that BIRC5 and KIAA1754 gene-expression changes may predict the response to bortezomib-based therapy. These data may have relevance for the stratification and early adaptation of first-line treatment in patients with newly diagnosed MM.
"It also may be said that in our travels we saw only the bright side of Islam. Well! That is just what we desired to see; … The fact of it is, we had heard quite enough of the dark side of Islam, so we determined to pursue our studies on the side looking to the sun … Is it right, fair, or just, to visit other people in their homes, or in their countries, wherever they dwell, and come away to decry them? No! It is not right!" argues Emilie Hayacinthe Loyson, after her travels in Oriental lands in the years 1894-1896. Women travellers from Great Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and America explored, visited, worked and resided in regions of the East that were considered “proper and safe for dynamic men only” (Smith, 1887). The mammoth body of writings by women travellers of the 18th and 19th centuries, that claim to be eyewitness descriptions of the female microcosmos, provide a rich and detailed interpretation of the Orient, including a feminine version, a female gaze. European and American women identified with the so-called Other, expressed their solidarity and participated in Muslim women’s daily domestic life, customs, female social gatherings, religious celebrations and feasts. As a result, they accused male travellers- who had written about domestic manners in the East and the position of women in Islam of misinforming or mis or misleading their readers, stressing that their accounts were based on second or third-hand information, their unrestrained imagination and exotic fantasies.
Living on islands entails numerous challenges for animals, among which resource scarcity stands out. In order to survive, animals have to optimize energy acquisition. We examined the impact of insularity on digestion comparing a series of physiological and morphological traits of adult males between insular and mainland populations of the Balkan green lizard. Island lizards had longer gastrointestinal tracts and gut passage times and higher digestive efficiencies. The dissection of the hindgut revealed an unexpected finding, the presence of cecal valves that were more frequent in island lizards. Thanks to all above islanders retain food for longer periods and thus maximize energy income and increase the amount of the extracted nutrients. That way, they secure energy income from the limited, in time and quantity, food resources of the islands.
El objeto del presente trabajo es buscar las diferencias en la transferencia léxica de la producción escrita en dos grupos de estudiantes griegos de español diferentes que tienen el mismo nivel lingüístico en lengua extranjera pero siguen un enfoque educativo distinto: aprendizaje tradicional de lengua extranjera frente al aprendizaje integrado de contenido. Para ello, han realizado una prueba de producción escrita, y después se han localizado sus errores léxicos (formales y semánticos) debidos a la transferencia léxica. El método de investigación que se ha utilizado para identificar dichos errores es el Análisis de Errores. Los resultados han mostrado que la producción escrita del grupo que sigue un acercamiento integrado de contenido presenta menos errores léxicos formales debidos a la transferencia léxica que la del grupo que sigue el enfoque tradicional. Mientras que los errores léxicos semánticos generados por la transferencia léxica tienen una presencia más fuerte en la producción escrita del grupo que sigue el aprendizaje integrado de contenido. La explicación se basa en el tipo y la cantidad de exposición a la lengua extranjera.
e-learning systems are advanced systems that are used to improve students learning capabilities as well as their accessibility by utilizing information and communication technology tools. The objective of this paper is to describe the methods which are used for the process of e-learning education in the program of distance learning at the National University of Athens for the course "Hospital Information Systems". These methods include the designing of the program, the development of the courses and the exercises and finally the availability of the courses to the students through the Rea education management system. The study also outlines the difficulties and the limitations occurred during the development of the program and suggests alternative options for future improvements.
ELNAIS is a dynamic online information platform aiming to collect and report spatial information on Aquatic Alien Species in Greek waters. It covers freshwater, marine and estuarine waters, including not only established aliens but also casual records and cryptogenic species. The ELNAIS system includes: News, List of Greek experts, Literature of findings in Greece, List of species with information on their first introduction date and source as well as photos and distribution maps. Data providers are the scientific community (publications, grey literature, and databases) as well as citizen scientists. ELNAIS provides a useful tool towards national obligations and commitments under both the European and global frameworks in respect to Non Indigenous Species (CBD, WFD, MSFD).
This book is an introductory handbook to the historical and ethnomusicological study of the musical traditions of the Islamic world. The aim of the book is to introduce its readers to the role and status of music in societies where Islam has historically been the predominant religion. The book is structured around three basic themes: Sources, Perspectives, Practices. Among the topics that are being explored is the relation between music, religion and ritual, the ways music is transmitted, musical orality and literacy, philosophical approaches to music and its conception as science and as art, its performative nature etc. Music is approached in relation to other forms of art (literature, iconography, architecture etc.) and to the various fields in which creativity is expressed in the Islamic world. Overall, the book aims to to contribute to a deeper and broader understanding of Islamic culture.
Multidimensionnelle, l’histoire de la formation des francisants en Grècel’est incontestablement. Elle n’est pas que hellénique : elle articule lenational et l’international.Elle déborde également le cadre d’un simple épisode d’histoire universitaireet allie inextricablement le culturel au politique, le symbolique au matériel.C’est encore une histoire d’hommes et de femmes, de passeurs de cultureaussi. Relevant le défi posé, ce livre s’engage dans les méandres despéripéties d’une institution en devenir.Quelque cent cinquante ans d’une histoire de la formation des francisantsen Grèce sont ici explorés et analysés, au fi l d’une étude qui dépasse le seulcadre pédagogique, et s’étend aux champs de la politique, de la diplomatieou encore du genre. Fruit d’un long travail de recherche, de documentationet de synthèse, cet essai, rigoureux et exemplaire dans sa progression, authème inédit et inspirant, interroge avec perspicacité les phases, acteurs ettensions d’une histoire méconnue.Comptes rendus1. https://journals.openedition.org/dhfles/42542. https://journals.openedition.org/histoire-education/4074
The aim of the current paper is the imparting of useful information to both patients and people in general regarding the development of mental conditions based on drug addictions, through e-health. It will provide all related information in order to achieve the empowerment of the selected sample regarding their conditions in terms of conceptualizing their health status. The general part is consisting of an overview on patient empowerment and e-health. The special part refers to the details of developing and presenting the above mentioned website. The information presented in the web site is addressing the general population and not only patients suffering a mental condition or addiction. The website contains the related articles and information obtained from the related bibliographical search. The main goal of the website is to impart concise information on the related issues.
Διερευνώντας συστηματικά τις θεματικές διαμεσολάβησης, πρόσληψης, ποικιλόμορφων επιρροών και αλληλεπιδράσεων, οι εργασίες του συλλογικού αυτού τόμου θέτουν ως στόχο τη μελέτη των ελληνογαλλικών πολιτισμικών ανταλλαγών από την αρχαιότητα έως τη σύγχρονη εποχή, στις διάφορες εκφάνσεις αυτών, προτείνουν γόνιμους προβληματισμούς και ενθαρρύνουν περαιτέρω την επιστημονική έρευνα σχετικά με τον διάλογο των πολιτισμών Ελλάδας και Γαλλίας.
BACKGROUND: A significant increase in HIV-1 diagnoses was reported among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in the Athens (17-fold) and Bucharest (9-fold) metropolitan areas starting 2011.
METHODS: Molecular analyses were conducted on HIV-1 sequences from IDUs comprising 51% and 20% of the diagnosed cases among IDUs during 2011-2013 for Greece and Romania, respectively. Phylodynamic analyses were performed using the newly developed birth-death serial skyline model which allows estimating of important epidemiological parameters, as implemented in BEAST programme.
RESULTS: Most infections (>90%) occurred within four and three IDU local transmission networks in Athens and Bucharest, respectively. For all Romanian clusters, the viral strains originated from local circulating strains, whereas in Athens, the local strains seeded only two of the four sub-outbreaks. Birth-death skyline plots suggest a more explosive nature for sub-outbreaks in Bucharest than in Athens. In Athens, two sub-outbreaks had been controlled (Re<1.0) by 2013 and two appeared to be endemic (Re∼1). In Bucharest one outbreak continued to expand (Re>1.0) and two had been controlled (Re<1.0). The lead times were shorter for the outbreak in Athens than in Bucharest.
CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced molecular surveillance proved useful to gain information about the origin, causal pathways, dispersal patterns and transmission dynamics of the outbreaks that can be useful in a public health setting.
BACKGROUND: A significant increase in HIV-1 diagnoses was reported among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in the Athens (17-fold) and Bucharest (9-fold) metropolitan areas starting 2011. METHODS: Molecular analyses were conducted on HIV-1 sequences from IDUs comprising 51% and 20% of the diagnosed cases among IDUs during 2011-2013 for Greece and Romania, respectively. Phylodynamic analyses were performed using the newly developed birth-death serial skyline model which allows estimating of important epidemiological parameters, as implemented in BEAST programme. RESULTS: Most infections (>90%) occurred within four and three IDU local transmission networks in Athens and Bucharest, respectively. For all Romanian clusters, the viral strains originated from local circulating strains, whereas in Athens, the local strains seeded only two of the four sub-outbreaks. Birth-death skyline plots suggest a more explosive nature for sub-outbreaks in Bucharest than in Athens. In Athens, two sub-outbreaks had been controlled (Re<1.0) by 2013 and two appeared to be endemic (Re approximately 1). In Bucharest one outbreak continued to expand (Re>1.0) and two had been controlled (Re<1.0). The lead times were shorter for the outbreak in Athens than in Bucharest. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced molecular surveillance proved useful to gain information about the origin, causal pathways, dispersal patterns and transmission dynamics of the outbreaks that can be useful in a public health setting.
A model of floral reflectance of petals with conically-shaped epidermal cells is presented for Nerium oleander and Oxalis pes-caprae. The model was achieved by combined microscopic-scale structures and optical properties of petals; the model theory was based on concepts of physical laws, analytic geometry, vector analysis and micro-optics. The model is shown to fit experimental data of floral reflectance. Conically shaped, adaxial, epidermal cells of petals have focal regions, where incident light rays are focused on the centre of cells. Within tissues light is selectively channelled into sites containing light absorbing pigments. Particular attention was given to consequences of focusing of light within conical, epidermal cells of petals with respect to blossoming regulated by photoperiod, which acts to insure that flower opening occurs during suitable, environmental conditions.
Accurate diagnosis and treatment rates for chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) infections are usually missing. Aim of this study was to estimate the HBV and HCV treatment cascade (proportion and absolute numbers of tested, aware/unaware, infected and treated) in Greek adults. A telephone survey was conducted in a sample representative of the Greek adult general population. Prevalence rates were age-standardized for the Greek adult population and corrected for high-risk individuals not included in the survey. Of the 9974 participants, 5255 (52.7%) had been tested for HBV and 2062 (20.7%) for HCV with the proportion varying according to age and being higher in middle-age groups (P < 0.001). HBsAg was reported positive in 111/5255 (2.11%) and anti-HCV in 26/2062 (1.26%) tested cases. The age-adjusted prevalence was estimated to be 2.39% for HBV and 1.79% for HCV. Taking into account individuals at high risk for viral hepatitis not included in the survey, the 'true' prevalence was estimated to be 2.58% for HBV and 1.87% for HCV. Anti-HBV and anti-HCV treatment had been taken by 36/111 (32.4%) chronic HBV and 15/26 (57.7%) chronic HCV patients. In conclusion, almost 50% of chronic HBV and 80% of chronic HCV patients in Greece may be unaware of their infection, while only 32% or 58% of diagnosed chronic HBV or HCV patients, respectively, have been ever treated. Therefore, intensive efforts are required to improve the efficacy of screening for HBV and particularly for HCV as well as to reduce the barriers to treatment among diagnosed patients.
The 17beta-estradiol (E2)/estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) signaling pathway is one of the most important pathways in hormone-dependent breast cancer. E2 plays pivotal roles in cancer cell growth, survival, and architecture as well as in gene expression regulatory mechanisms. In this study, we established stably transfected MCF-7 cells by knocking down the ERalpha gene (designated as MCF-7/SP10+ cells), using specific shRNA lentiviral particles, and compared them with the control cells (MCF-7/c). Interestingly, ERalpha silencing in MCF-7 cells strongly induced cellular phenotypic changes accompanied by significant changes in gene and protein expression of several markers typical of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Notably, these cells exhibited enhanced cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Moreover, ERalpha suppression strongly affected the gene and protein expression of EGFR and HER2 receptor tyrosine kinases, and various extracellular matrix (ECM) effectors, including matrix metalloproteinases and their endogenous inhibitors (MMPs/TIMPs) and components of the plasminogen activation system. The action caused by E2 in MCF-7/c cells in the expression of HER2, MT1-MMP, MMP1, MMP9, uPA, tPA, and PAI-1 was abolished in MCF-7/SP10+ cells lacking ERalpha. These data suggested a regulatory role for the E2/ERalpha pathway in respect to the composition and activity of the extracellular proteolytic molecular network. Notably, loss of ERalpha promoted breast cancer cell migration and invasion by inducing changes in the expression levels of certain matrix macromolecules (especially uPA, tPA, PAI-1) through the EGFR-ERK signaling pathway. In conclusion, loss of ERalpha in breast cancer cells results in a potent EMT characterized by striking changes in the expression profile of specific matrix macromolecules highlighting the potential nodal role of matrix effectors in breast cancer endocrine resistance.
OBJECTIVES: In the past decade there have been extensive discussions on the potential utility of entheseal changes (EC) as activity markers. Nevertheless, no study to date has compared different EC recording protocols with respect to their correlation to activity patterns.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This article records changes on fibrocartilaginous entheses of the upper limbs of 90 male skeletons from the documented Athens Collection using the Hawkey and Merbs (Int J Osteoarchaeol 5 (1995) 324-338), Mariotti et al. (Collegium Antropol 28 (2004) 145-159), and Villotte et al. (Am J Phys Anthropol 142 (2010) 224-234) recording schemes in order to determine which one exhibits the highest correlation with activity. Activity is assessed by means of the recorded profession of each individual, as well as employing cross-sectional geometric properties. Generalized Linear Models are used to explore the impact of age, body mass, and activity on EC expression.
RESULTS: Our results agree with previous studies that age is the primary factor determining EC, whereas body mass is the second most influential factor. In contrast, activity in the form of profession or cross-sectional geometry rarely showed a significant correlation to EC expression and no clear pattern could be discerned irrespective of the recording technique. However, bilateral differences in the impact of age and body mass in EC expression were traced and may relate to activity patterns.
CONCLUSIONS: The differences found in the bilateral impact of age and body mass highlight the fact that the activity patterns of the individuals under examination must play an underlying role to EC expression, though current recording schemes for EC do not capture this, rendering further work in the direction of developing more elaborate recording standards imperative.
This work intends to psychometrically evaluate the newly developed Children’s Solitude Scale (CSS), a measure of voluntary aloneness in childhood. The scale assesses individual differences on what children prefer to do when they want to be alone, a rather neglected, although important developmental issue. Participants were 833 fourth and sixth graders from Athens, Greece. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated four factors, although with a less-than-optimal fit: Self-Reflection, Autonomy/Privacy, Activities and Concentration. The scale showed adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability as well as convergent and divergent validity (i.e., positive association with positive attitude towards aloneness and ability to be alone, no association with negative attitude towards aloneness, and low positive correlation with loneliness and social dissatisfaction). The results indicated the suitability of the CSS to assess reasons or motives for solitude during middle and late childhood and the necessity to further examine the structure of this type of solitude experiences in this age period.
