Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) is characterised by vast genetic diversity. Globally circulating HIV-1 viruses are classified into distinct phylogenetic strains (subtypes, sub-subtypes) and several recombinant forms. Here we describe the characteristics and evolution of European HIV-1 epidemic over time through a review of published literature and updated queries of existing HIV-1 sequence databases. HIV-1 in Western and Central Europe was introduced in the early-1980s in the form of subtype B, which is still the predominant clade. However, in Eastern Europe (Former Soviet Union (FSU) countries and Russia) the predominant strain, introduced into Ukraine in the mid-1990s, is subtype A (A) with transmission mostly occurring in People Who Inject Drugs (PWID). In recent years, the epidemic is evolving towards a complex tapestry with an increase in the prevalence of non-B subtypes and recombinants in Western and Central Europe. Non-B epidemics are mainly associated with immigrants, heterosexuals and females but more recently, non-B clades have also spread amongst groups where non-B strains were previously absent - non-immigrant European populations and amongst men having sex with men (MSM). In some countries, non-B clades have spread amongst the native population, for example subtype G in Portugal and subtype A in Greece, Albania and Cyprus. Romania provides a unique case where sub-subtype F1 has predominated throughout the epidemic. In contrast, HIV-1 epidemic in FSU countries remains more homogeneous with Aclade predominating in all countries. The differences between the evolution of the Western epidemic and the Eastern epidemic may be attributable to differences in transmission risk behaviours, lifestyle and the patterns of human mobility. The study of HIV-1 epidemic diversity provides a useful tool by which we can understand the history of the pandemic in addition to allowing us to monitor the spread and growth of the epidemic over time.
OBJECTIVES: The European epidemiology of MRSA is changing with the emergence of community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) and livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA). In this study, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of MRSA during 2 years in 13 ICUs in France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Luxemburg, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.
METHODS: Surveillance cultures for MRSA from nose and wounds were obtained on admission and twice weekly from all patients admitted to an ICU for ≥3 days. The first MRSA isolate per patient was genotyped in a central laboratory by MLST, spa typing, agr typing and SCCmec (sub)typing. Risk factors for patients with an unknown history of MRSA colonization were identified.
RESULTS: Overall, 14 390 ICU patients were screened, of whom 8519 stayed in an ICU for ≥3 days. Overall MRSA admission prevalence was 3.9% and ranged from 1.0% to 7.0% for individual ICUs. Overall MRSA acquisition rate was 2.5/1000 patient days at risk and ranged from 0.2 to 8/1000 patient days at risk per ICU. In total, 557 putative MRSA isolates were submitted to the central laboratory for typing, of which 511 (92%) were confirmed as MRSA. Each country had a distinct epidemiology, with ST8-IVc (UK-EMRSA-2/-6, USA500) being most prevalent, especially in France and Spain, and detected in ICUs in five of eight countries. Seventeen (3%) and three (<1%) isolates were categorized as CA-MRSA and LA-MRSA, respectively. Risk factors for MRSA carriage on ICU admission were age >70 years and hospitalization within 1 year prior to ICU admission.
CONCLUSIONS: The molecular epidemiology of MRSA in 13 European ICUs in eight countries was homogeneous within, but heterogeneous between, countries. CA-MRSA and LA-MRSA genotypes and Panton-Valentine leucocidin-producing isolates were detected sporadically.
Molecular spontaneous emission and fluorescence depend strongly on the emitter local environment. Plasmonic nanoparticles provide excellent templates for tailoring fluorophore emission, as they exhibit potential for both fluorescence enhancement and quenching, depending on emitter positioning in the nanoparticle vicinity. Here we explore the influence of hitherto disregarded nonclassical effects on the description of emitter–plasmon hybrids, focusing on the roles of the metal nonlocal response and especially size-dependent plasmon damping. Through extensive modelling of metallic nanospheres and nanoshells coupled to dipole emitters, we show that within a purely classical description a remarkable fluorescence enhancement can be achieved. However, once departing from the local-response approximation, and particularly by implementing the recent generalised nonlocal optical response theory, which provides a more complete physical description combining electron convection and diffusion, we show that not only are fluorescence rates dramatically reduced compared to the predictions of the local description and the common hydrodynamic Drude model, but the optimum emitter–nanoparticle distance is also strongly affected. In this respect, experimental measurements of fluorescence, the theoretical description of which requires a precise concurrent evaluation of far- and near-field properties of the system, constitute a novel, more sensitive probe for assessing the validity of state-of-the-art nonclassical theories.
AIM: A morphometric analysis of the odontoid process of the A2 vertebra, in the Greek population, was conducted using CT scan. We aimed to determine the feasibility to use one or two screws when treating fractures of this anatomic element.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and fifteen patients (57 men) of a mean age of 48 years (16-95 years) underwent a cervical spine CT scan examination. The anterior-posterior and transverse diameters of the odontoid process were measured from the base, at 1-mm interval upward on axial CT images. The length from the tip of the odontoid process to the anterior-inferior angle of the body of the axis was calculated. Data concerning the height and weight of the examined patients were collected.
RESULTS: The mean transverse and anterior-posterior distances were found to be 11.46 and 10.45 mm, respectively, for the upper end of the odontoid process. At the neck level of the odontoid process, the equivalent mean values were 11.12 and 8.73 mm, respectively, while at the base, these distances were found to be 13.84 and 12.3 mm, respectively. The mean distance from the tip of the odontoid to its base was 17.25 and 17.28 mm, respectively, while the mean distance from the tip of the dens to the anterior-inferior corner of the axis' body was 39.2 mm. Men showed greater values than women.
CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was shown that in the Greek population there is enough room for one 4.5-mm or one 3.5-mm cannulated screw to be used. The application of two 3.5-mm screws is feasible in 58.6 % of the male and 26.3 % of the female population. This confirms that the knowledge of the true dimensions of the odontoid process is of paramount importance before the proper management of fractured dens using the anterior screw technique.
This study attempts to analyse the narrative function and the theological significance of Jesus’ mother for the overall theology of the fourth gospel, mainly based on the exegetical method of narrative criticism.In the first part, the problem of the anonymity of Jesus’ mother in juxtapposition with the anonymity of the beloved disciple is dealt with. The second part consists of a detailed exegetical approach to the narrative of Jesus’ first sign in Cana within the Johannine narrative context as a whole. On this basis, in the third part a response to further relevant questions about the significance of Jesus’ mother according to the overall fourth gospel’s witness is attempted. The article is concluded with a summary of exegetical and theological positions, including a hypothesis about a possible Johannine background of the current Orthodox understanding of Theotokos.
Biophysical restoration or rehabilitation measures of land have demonstrated to be effective in many scientific projects and small-scale environmental experiments. However circumstances such as poverty, weak policies, or inefficient scientific knowledge transmission can hinder the effective upscaling of land restoration and the long term maintenance of proven sustainable use of soil and water. This may be especially worrisome in lands with harsh environmental conditions. This review covers recent efforts in landscape restoration and rehabilitation with a functional perspective aiming to simultaneously achieve ecosystem sustainability, economic efficiency, and social wellbeing. Water management and rehabilitation of ecosystem services in croplands, rangelands, forests, and coastlands are reviewed. The joint analysis of such diverse ecosystems provides a wide perspective to determine: (i) multifaceted impacts on biophysical and socio-economic factors; and (ii) elements influencing effective upscaling of sustainable land management practices. One conclusion can be highlighted: voluntary adoption is based on different pillars, i.e. external material and economic support, and spread of success information at the local scale to demonstrate the multidimensional benefits of sustainable land management. For the successful upscaling of land management, more attention must be paid to the social system from the first involvement stage, up to the long term maintenance.
We report the discovery of the new multi-periodic variable star GSC 0476-1362. Analysis of the observed light curves shows a complex variability pattern, as a result of a multi-periodic behaviour.
We report on the results of a ∼40-d multi-wavelength monitoring of the Be X-ray binary system IGR J05007-7047 (LXP 38.55). During that period the system was monitored in the X-rays using the Swift telescope and in the optical with multiple instruments. When the X-ray luminosity exceeded 1036 erg s-1 we triggered an XMM-Newton ToO observation. Timing analysis of the photon events collected during the XMM-Newton observation reveals coherent X-ray pulsations with a period of 38.551(3) s (1σ), making it the 17th known high-mass X-ray binary pulsar in the LMC. During the outburst, the X-ray spectrum is fitted best with a model composed of an absorbed power law (Γ = 0.63) plus a high-temperature blackbody (kT ∼2 keV) component. By analysing ∼12 yr of available OGLE optical data we derived a 30.776(5) d optical period, confirming the previously reported X-ray period of the system as its orbital period. During our X-ray monitoring the system showed limited optical variability while its IR flux varied in phase with the X-ray luminosity, which implies the presence of a disc-like component adding cooler light to the spectral energy distribution of the system.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV), fiber type composition, and power performance in participants with different training background.
METHODS: Thirty-eight young males with different training background participated: sedentary (n = 10), endurance runners (n = 9), power trained (n = 10), and strength trained (n = 9). They performed maximal countermovement jumps (CMJ) and maximal isometric leg press for the measurement of the rate of force development (RFD). Resting vastus lateralis MFCV was measured with intramuscular microelectrodes on a different occasion, whereas muscle fiber type and cross-sectional area (CSA) of vastus lateralis were evaluated through muscle biopsies 1wk later.
RESULTS: MFCV, CMJ power, RFD, and % CSA of type II and type IIx fibers were higher for the power-trained group (P < 0.001). No difference was found between sedentary participants and endurance runners in these variables, but both of these groups performed worse than strength/power participants. Close correlations were found between MFCV and fiber CSA as well as the % CSA of all fiber types as well as with RFD and CMJ power (r = 0.712-0.943, P < 0.005). Partial correlations revealed that the % CSA of IIx fibers dictates a large part of the correlation between MFCV and RFD, power performance. Significant models for the prediction of the % CSA of type IIa and type II as well as the CSA of all muscle fibers based upon MFCV, RFD, and CMJ were revealed (P = 0.000).
CONCLUSION: MFCV is closely associated with muscle fiber % CSA. RFD and jumping power are associated with the propagation of the action potentials along the muscle fibers. This link is regulated by the size and the distribution of type II, and especially type IIx muscle fibers.
Early treatment, soon after infection, reduces HIV transmissions and benefits patients. The Transmission Reduction Intervention Project (TRIP) evaluated a network intervention to detect individuals recently infected (in the past 6 months). TRIP was conducted in Greece (2013-2015) and focused on drug injector networks. Based on HIV status, testing history, and the results of an assay to detect recent infections, TRIP classified drug injector "Seeds" into groups: Recent Seeds (RS), and Control Seeds with Long-term HIV infection (LCS). The network members of RS and LCS were traced for two steps. The analysis included 23 RS, 171 network members of the RS, 19 LCS, and 65 network members of the LCS. The per-seed number of recents detected in the network of RS was 5 times the number in the network of LCS (Ratio RS vs. LCS: 5.23; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.54-27.61). The proportion of recents among HIV positives in the network of RS (27%) was approximately 3 times (Ratio RS vs. LCS: 3.30; 95% CI: 1.04-10.43) that in the network of LCS (8%). Strategic network tracing that starts with recently infected persons could support public health efforts to find and treat people early in their HIV infection.
Early treatment, soon after infection, reduces HIV transmissions and benefits patients. The Transmission Reduction Intervention Project (TRIP) evaluated a network intervention to detect individuals recently infected (in the past 6 months). TRIP was conducted in Greece (2013-2015) and focused on drug injector networks. Based on HIV status, testing history, and the results of an assay to detect recent infections, TRIP classified drug injector "Seeds" into groups: Recent Seeds (RS), and Control Seeds with Long-term HIV infection (LCS). The network members of RS and LCS were traced for two steps. The analysis included 23 RS, 171 network members of the RS, 19 LCS, and 65 network members of the LCS. The per-seed number of recents detected in the network of RS was 5 times the number in the network of LCS (Ratio RS vs. LCS: 5.23; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.54-27.61). The proportion of recents among HIV positives in the network of RS (27%) was approximately 3 times (Ratio RS vs. LCS: 3.30; 95% CI: 1.04-10.43) that in the network of LCS (8%). Strategic network tracing that starts with recently infected persons could support public health efforts to find and treat people early in their HIV infection.
Here we report the first set of new and recurrent X-ray transients found in two XMM-Newton 100-ks pointings of the M31 northern disk on Jan 1 and 21 (see ATel #8825).
Here we report the second set of new and recurrent X-ray transients found in two XMM-Newton 100-ks pointings of the M31 northern disk on Jan 1 and 21 (see ATels #8825, #8826).
OJ287 has been monitored in the optical wavelength with small telescopes since the beginning of September, 2015. In November and December, an unprecedented outburst in the optical band was noticed (ATels: 8382, 8395, 8401, 8411, 8438), with OJ287 reaching 12.9 mag in the R filter.
Macheras P, Iliadis A. Nonclassical Pharmacodynamics. In: MODELING IN BIOPHARMACEUTICS, PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS: HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION. Vol. 30. 233 SPRING STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013, UNITED STATES: SPRINGER; 2016. pp. 361-403.
Macheras P, Iliadis A. Nonlinear Dynamics. In: MODELING IN BIOPHARMACEUTICS, PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS: HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION. Vol. 30. 233 SPRING STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013, UNITED STATES: SPRINGER; 2016. pp. 37-49.
The commingling of human remains often hinders forensic/physical anthropologists during the identification process, as there are limited methods to accurately sort these remains. This study investigates a new method for pair-matching, a common individualization technique, which uses digital three-dimensional models of bone: mesh-to-mesh value comparison (MVC). The MVC method digitally compares the entire three-dimensional geometry of two bones at once to produce a single value to indicate their similarity. Two different versions of this method, one manual and the other automated, were created and then tested for how well they accurately pair-matched humeri. Each version was assessed using sensitivity and specificity. The manual mesh-to-mesh value comparison method was 100 % sensitive and 100 % specific. The automated mesh-to-mesh value comparison method was 95 % sensitive and 60 % specific. Our results indicate that the mesh-to-mesh value comparison method overall is a powerful new tool for accurately pair-matching commingled skeletal elements, although the automated version still needs improvement.
This work describes the outcome of two field surveys in Lefkada Island, after the 17.11.2015 earthquake of Mw6.4 at its southwestern peninsula. Geo-environmental effects were observed throughout the western flanks of the mountain massif, parallel to the activated fault. Structural damage was mainly observed in the epicentral area where macroseismic intensity was assessed as VIII, based on registered damage and assumed vulnerability per building typology. Both modern and traditional buildings exhibited notable seismic performance. The distribution of the damage per building category present in the affected area is presented, based on site surveys and post-seismic usability characterization by the local Earthquake Rehabilitation Organization. The survey highlights the frequent presence of the so-called “pontelo” dual system at both ground floor and two-story stone masonry buildings at the western mountain villages. This structural type, unique within the Greek territory, revealed significant seismic performance and the need of engineering restoration measures is underlined.
This work deals with the effects of the 17.11.2015 earthquake with Mw6.4 occurred onshore at the SW part of Lefkada Island. The earthquake produced a large co-seismic horizontal displacement u=40 cm towards a SSW direction (N210), recorded at a near-field, permanent GPS station of NOA (PONT). Extensive geo-environmental and limited structural impacts were caused. Seismic effects have been extensively investigated during several in-situ surveys conducted by our research group and a thorough damage databank was constructed. Comparisonwith damage due to the previous strong event with Mw=6.2 occurred on 14.8.2003, showed that the effects of the current quake were significantly lower.Geo-environmental effects were observed throughout the western flanks of the mountain massif of the mainland, related with slope failures, rock falls, rock mass slides, leading thus to significant damage of several vital infrastructures. The building stock of the island comprising both modern and traditional buildings exhibited notable seismic performance during this earthquake. Structural damage was concentrated in the epicentral area where macroseismic intensity was assessed VIII, based on registered damage and vulnerability. The analysis of 3D strong ground motion recordings at two permanent accelerometric stations on the island and of the GNSS 1 Hz three-component data at PONT indicate directional dynamic effects, parallel with the T- principal axis of the event’s stress field and the regional slope dip that may likely have triggered extensive landslides. Moreover, the ground motion pattern indicates a rupture complexity involving two discrete sources. Besides the exceptional behavior of the buildings across the island, the spectral content of the strong ground motion has been found to be discrete from the elastic response of the low-rise traditional constructions, thus favoring amenablestructural damage distribution.The damage databank compiled in this work has been employed into a holistic building-by-building GIS scheme applying a vector base-map of the buildings footprints in the epicentral area available by the analysis of optical satellite imagery, undertaken within the framework of the RASOR project (http://www.rasor-project.eu). Thereafter, the poly-thematic outcome of the present study may be considered a valuable tool for the scientific community toward studying the seismic risk of Lefkada.
Matsangouras IT, Avgoustoglou E, Gofa F, Pytharoulis I, Nastos PT, Bluestein HW. Numerical Modeling Analysis of Tornadoes Using the COSMO.GR Model Over Greece. In: {Karacostas TS, Bais AF, Nastos PT} PERSPECTIVES ON ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES. {PO BOX 17, 3300 AA DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS}: {Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Phys, Lab Atmospher Phys; Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Geol, Dept Meteorol & Climatol; Hellen Meteorol Soc; Mariolopoulos Kanaginis Fdn Environm Sci}; 2016. pp. 123-128.Abstract
{The COnsortium for Small-scale MOdeling (COSMO) was formed in October 1998, and its general goal is to develop, improve and maintain a non-hydrostatic limited-area atmospheric model, while the Hellenic National Meteorological Service joined the consortium in 1999. The COSMO model has been designed both for operational numerical weather prediction (NWP) as well as various scientific applications on the meso-beta and meso-c scale. Two tornado case studies were selected to investigate the ability of COSMO model to depict the characteristics of severe convective weather, which favored the development of the associated storms. The first tornado occurred, close to Ag. Ilias village, 8 km northwestern from Aitoliko city over western Greece on February 7, 2013, while the second tornado developed close to Palio Katramio village, 8 km southern from Xanthi city over northern Greece on November 25, 2015. Although both tornadoes had a short lifetime, they caused significant impacts. The COSMO. GR atmospheric model was initialized with analysis boundary conditions obtained from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The resulting numerical products with spatial resolution of 0.020 degrees (similar to 2 km) over the geographical domain of Greece depicted very well the severe convective conditions close to tornadoes formation.}
Mylonas MP, Nastos PT, Matsangouras IT. Numerical Modeling of a Tornado Event at Skala, Lakonia, Peloponnese in September 2015. In: {Karacostas TS, Bais AF, Nastos PT} PERSPECTIVES ON ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES. {PO BOX 17, 3300 AA DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS}: {Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Phys, Lab Atmospher Phys; Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Geol, Dept Meteorol & Climatol; Hellen Meteorol Soc; Mariolopoulos Kanaginis Fdn Environm Sci}; 2016. pp. 81-86.Abstract
{Towards the evaluation of the thermodynamic characteristics of a high impact tornadic event in Skala Lakonia, southern Peloponnese, in September 21, 2015, Weather Research and Forecasting (AR-WRF) mesoscale model was used. For the particular model setup used in this study, different configurations were pre-tested based on different spatial resolution and parameterization schemes. The current study downscales ECMWF reanalysis initial and boundary conditions to 300 m spatial resolution to assess the convective available potential energy (CAPE), the reflectivity perceived by radar (dBZ) and the energy helicity index (EHI). The validation was conducted using in situ and remote sensing observations of the surrounding area. The results illustrate deep convective activity with CAPE values indicating a strong instability in the region of interest. Furthermore, the model seems to capture well the southwesterly-northeasterly front propagation of the convective initiation of the storm, as well as the troughs that affected the south part of Peloponnese, assessing the pre-frontal nature of the particular tornadic event. Finally, the EHI values demonstrate the tornadic activity in the region of Skala Lakonia, as the model appears to simulate accurately the low pressure system along the east coast of the Lakonia Gulf.}
Pytharoulis I, Matsangouras IT, Tegoulias I, Kotsopoulos S, Karacostas TS, Nastos PT. Numerical Study of the Medicane of November 2014. In: {Karacostas TS, Bais AF, Nastos PT} PERSPECTIVES ON ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES. {PO BOX 17, 3300 AA DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS}: {Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Phys, Lab Atmospher Phys; Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Geol, Dept Meteorol & Climatol; Hellen Meteorol Soc; Mariolopoulos Kanaginis Fdn Environm Sci}; 2016. pp. 115-121.Abstract
{A hurricane-like cyclone with an `eye', eyewall convection and strong winds affected central Mediterranean basin on 7-8 November 2014. The maximum observed sustained wind speed was 22 m/s (tropical storm strength) at Lampedusa. Significant damages were reported from this island and the coastal regions of eastern Sicily. Thus, it is essential to study medicanes and calibrate the numerical weather prediction models in order to simulate them adequately. Operational ECMWF analyses are used together with the non-hydrostatic Weather Research and Forecasting numerical model with the Advanced Research dynamic solver (WRF-ARW ver 3.7.1). The aims of this study are to simulate the system and investigate the sensitivity of the model on the microphysical scheme, the number of vertical levels and the global input dataset. The main characteristics of the medicane are represented in good agreement with observations and analyses, but, no single setup is able to provide the best reproduction of all its features.}
Pavlakis EP. Onelio Jorge Cardoso: vida y obra en breve. In: Pavlakis EP Nuevas perspectivas en los cuentos de Onelio Jorge Cardoso. Madrid: Ediciones del Orto; 2016. pp. 7-12.
Abstract Measurements of nuclear magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments are considered quite important for the understanding of nuclear structure both near and far from the valley of stability. The recent advent of radioactive beams has resulted in a plethora of new, continuously flowing, experimental data on nuclear structure – including nuclear moments – which hinders the information management. A new, dedicated, public and user friendly online database (http://magneticmoments.info) has been created comprising experimental data of nuclear electromagnetic moments. The present database supersedes existing printed compilations, including also non-evaluated series of data and relevant meta-data, while putting strong emphasis on bimonthly updates. The scope, features and extensions of the database are reported.
Online bibliographic databases constitute the access to information supporting evidence-based practice. The purpose of the present survey is to evaluate the awareness, the use and the impact that online evidences have in clinical practice. An online survey was conducted using a 25 item questionnaire which was completed by 263 healthcare practitioners (nurses and doctors). Chi-square analysis and t-tests were used and comparisons between both groups were made. Multiple logistic regression to predict databases use was employed. Ninety-three percent (n = 206) of participants had heard about the online bibliographic databases; 5.7% of participant sample have heard about online databases but they do not use them. 18.3% was the total sample of non-users (n = 48). The main reason of using was filling a knowledge gap (50.7%), and the main reasons of not using were both that they use another information source and they don't need them to do their job. Both nurses and doctors believe that the use of online databases improves patient care it is a part of their legitimate clinical role. They need more training to improve their searching skills, enhancing them in everyday clinical place.
The competitive nature of ferromagnetism and superconductivity in Ferromagnet/Superconductor (FM/SC) hybrids has attracted much interest in the last decades. In particular, the superconducting magnetoresistance (SMR) observed in FM/SC/FM trilayers (TLs) is related to the manipulation of the transport properties of the SC interlayer by the magnetic domain structure of the FM outer layers with out-of-plane anisotropy. In our recent work [Sci. Rep. 5, 13420 (2015)], a phenomenological model was proposed that describes successfully the scaling of the SMR magnitude with the relevant macroscopic parameters and microscopic length scales of the SC and FM structural units. Based on this model, here we investigate the contribution of the parameters that affect indirectly the SMR magnitude and do not appear in the original model. To this end, the parameters of both the SC interlayer (i.e., the thickness, dSC, the mean free path, l, the coherence length, xi(0), etc.) and the FM outer layers (i.e., the thickness, d(FM)) are examined. The theoretical simulations presented here and experimental data unveil the indirect contribution of these parameters on the magnitude of the SMR and confirm the predictive power of the original phenomenological model. Accordingly, this model can be employed as a generic formula to combine successfully all involved parameters in every kind of FM/SC/FM TLs, ultimately optimizing the magnitude of the SMR. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.
The ferroelectric compound family Pb(ZrxTi1-x,)O-3 (PZT) is one of the most investigated and widely used piezoelectric materials. Optimization of the piezoelectric coefficients is observed for x similar to 0.52 (Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3) and is further promoted by the increase of grain size (OS). However, in some cases the piezoelectric properties of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3 deteriorate upon processing due to the decrease of density, p, that is mostly ascribed to the appearance of byproduct phases. In the present study we discuss the influence of the processing conditions on the piezoelectric properties for polycrystalline Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3, specifically focusing on the sintering temperature, 1100 degrees C Tsin <= 1250 degrees C. To this end, we use atomic force microscopy (AFM), Archimedes' method, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and a newly introduced local technique, based on a conventional optical microscope, which is further developed here to accommodate non-clamped specimens. The data obtained via this technique in the regime of relatively high electric fields evidence that the absolute piezoelectric coefficients, 141(i = x, y) show a non -monotonic behavior with an unexpectedly high maximum value broken vertical bar d broken vertical bar similar to 1100 pm V 1 at 7 = 1180 degrees C. These features are accompanied by a progressive increase of coercivity, reaching maximum value Ecj 4.5-5.0 kV cm I (i = x, y) at Tsin = 1250 degrees C. 'lb explain these findings, the Idzil coefficients are compared with the microstructure and compositional information, coming from AFM, Archimedes' method and XRD data. We conclude that the significantly high 141 values observed for samples prepared at Tsin = 1180 degrees C are motivated by the increase of mean GS, < GS >, while for Tsin > 1180 degrees C the decrease of density, p, ascribed to the appearance of byproduct phases, dominates and deteriorates Id2 I. These experimental results on broken vertical bar d broken vertical bar(T-sin) are reliably reproduced by a phenomenological model with reasonable assumptions for < GS > (7) 1 and rho(T(si)n). The unexpectedly high piezoelectric coefficients, broken vertical bar d(zi)broken vertical bar similar to 1100 pm V-1, reported here for the first time, are provocative and call for utilization of the introduced approach in the investigation of the respective properties of other compounds.
Macheras P, Iliadis A. Oral Drug Absorption. In: MODELING IN BIOPHARMACEUTICS, PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS: HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION. Vol. 30. 233 SPRING STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013, UNITED STATES: SPRINGER; 2016. pp. 109-158.
OJ287 goes through large optical flares twice each 12 years. The times of these flares have been predicted successfully now 5 times using a black hole binary model. In this model a secondary black hole goes around a primary black hole, impacting the accretion disk of the latter twice per orbital period, creating a thermal flare. Together with 6 flares from the historical data base, the set of flare timings determines uniquely the 7 parameters of the model: the two masses, the primary spin, the major axis, eccentricity and the phase of the orbit, plus a time delay parameter that gives the extent of time between accretion disk impacts and the related optical flares. Based on observations by the OJ287-15/16 Collaboration, OJ287 went into the phase of rapid flux rise on November 25, on the centenary of Einstein’s General Relativity, and peaked on December 5. At that time OJ287 was the brightest in over 30 years in optical wavelengths. The flare was of low polarization, and did not extend beyond the optical/UV region of the spectrum. On top of the main flare there were a number of small flares; their excess brightness correlates well with the simultaneous X-ray data. With these properties the main flare qualifies as the marker of the orbit of the secondary going around the primary black hole. Since the orbit solution is strongly over-determined, its parameters are known very accurately, at better than one percent level for the masses and the spin. The next flare is predicted to peak on July 28, 2019.Detailed monitoring of this event should allow us to test, for the first time, the celebrated black hole no-hair theorem for a massive black hole at the 10% level. The present data is consistent with the theorem only at a 30% level. The main difficulty in observing OJ287 from Earth at our predicted epoch is its closeness to the sun. Therefore, it is desirable to monitor OJ287 from a space-based telescope not in the vicinity of Earth. Unfortunately, this unique opportunity for testing the above celebrated theorem of General Relativity using OJ287 will not be available again until after several orbital cycles.The full list of participants in the OJ287-15/16 Collaboration is found in ApJL 819, L37, 2016.
HIV strains continuously evolve, tend to recombine, and new circulating variants are being discovered. Novel strains complicate efforts to develop a vaccine against HIV and may exhibit higher transmission efficiency and virulence, and elevated resistance to antiretroviral agents. The United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) set an ambitious goal to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030 through comprehensive strategies that include epidemiological input as the first step of the process. In this context, molecular epidemiology becomes invaluable as it captures trends in HIV evolution rates that shape epidemiological pictures across several geographical areas. This review briefly summarizes the molecular epidemiology of HIV among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Europe and Asia. Following high transmission rates of subtype G and CRF14_BG among PWID in Portugal and Spain, two European countries, Greece and Romania, experienced recent HIV outbreaks in PWID that consisted of multiple transmission clusters including subtypes B, A, F1, and recombinants CRF14_BG and CRF35_AD. The latter was first identified in Afghanistan. Russia, Ukraine, and other Former Soviet Union (FSU) states are still facing the devastating effects of epidemics in PWID produced by A(also known as IDU-A), B(known as IDU-B), and CRF03_AB. In Asia, CRF01_AE and subtype B (Western B and Thai B) travelled from PWID in Thailand to neighboring countries. Recombination hotspots in South China, Northern Myanmar, and Malaysia have been generating several intersubtype and inter-CRF recombinants (e.g. CRF07_BC, CRF08_BC, CRF33_01B etc.), increasing the complexity of HIV molecular patterns.
Ποιες είναι οι απαρχές των εκπαιδευτικών συστημάτων; Ποιες αρχές καθόρισαν τις «πειθαρχίες» και τη «γραμματική του σχολείου»; Πως διαγράφονται οι σχέσεις «εξουσίας-γνώσης» στο χώρο της εκπαίδευσης; Ποιες ιδέες επηρέασαν και διαμόρφωσαν τον παιδαγωγικό «λόγο» και τις εκπαιδευτικές «πρακτικές»; Ποιος είναι ο ρόλος της εκπαίδευσης στις σύγχρονες «οικονομίες και κοινωνίες της γνώσης»; Πώς καθορίζεται το σύγχρονο πλαίσιο των «ικανοτήτων» των μαθητών και των «προσόντων» των εκπαιδευτικών; Ποιοι είναι οι σύγχρονοι «λόγοι» και οι «πρακτικές» που χαρακτηρίζουν το σχολείο ως «οργανισμό και ως κοινότητα μάθησης»;
Τα παραπάνω είναι μερικά από τα βασικά ερωτήματα που διατρέχουν τα κεφάλαια του παρόντος βιβλίου. Σκοπός των συγγραφέων είναι να αναλύσουν τη μετάβαση από την αρχαιολογία της εκπαίδευσης στη γενεαλογία του εκπαιδευτικού θεσμού. Στο βιβλίο παρουσιάζονται αναλυτικά θεωρήσεις και πολιτικές που επηρέασαν τη διαμόρφωση του παιδαγωγικού «λόγου» και των εκπαιδευτικών πρακτικών κατά τη διάρκεια του 19ου και του 20ου αιώνα. Έμφαση δίδεται στην ανάλυση των σχέσεων «εξουσίας-γνώσης» στο χώρο της εκπαίδευσης, και στις σχέσεις μεταξύ του εκπαιδευτικού «λόγου» και των κοινωνικών πρακτικών. Εξετάζονται οι επιδράσεις της «παγκοσμιοποίησης» και της «κοινωνίας της γνώσης» στον εκπαιδευτικό θεσμό. Αναλύονται οι σύγχρονες «πολιτικές της γνώσης» που συνδέονται με νέες θεωρίες και διαδικασίες μάθησης, με τη μετάβαση από το γνωσιοκεντρικό στο «ικανοκεντρικό» μοντέλο μάθησης, με τον μεταβαλλόμενο ρόλο και τις αλλαγές στα προσόντα των εκπαιδευτικών, με τον μετασχηματισμό του σχολείου σε «οργανισμό και σε κοινότητα μάθησης», με τη μετάβαση από τις «πειθαρχικές κοινωνίες» στις «κοινωνίες ελέγχου» και την προοπτική μιας ολοκληρωτικά παιδαγωγούμενης κοινωνίας.
πάνω είναι μερικά από τα βασικά ερωτήματα που διατρέχουν τα κεφάλαια του παρόντος βιβλίου. Σκοπός των συγγραφέων είναι να αναλύσουν τη μετάβαση από την αρχαιολογία της εκπαίδευσης στη γενεαλογία του εκπαιδευτικού θεσμού. Στο βιβλίο παρουσιάζονται αναλυτικά θεωρήσεις και πολιτικές που επηρέασαν τη διαμόρφωση του παιδαγωγικού ≪λόγου≫ και των εκπαιδευτικών πρακτικών κατά τη διάρκεια του 19ου και του 20ου αιώνα. Έμφαση δίδεται στην ανάλυση των σχέσεων ≪εξουσίας-γνώσης≫ στο χώρο της εκπαίδευσης, και στις σχέσεις μεταξύ του εκπαιδευτικού ≪λόγου≫ και των κοινωνικών πρακτικών. Εξετάζονται οι επιδράσεις της ≪παγκοσμιοποίησης≫ και της ≪κοινωνίας της γνώσης≫ στον εκπαιδευτικό θεσμό. Αναλύονται οι σύγχρονες ≪πολιτικές της γνώσης≫ που συνδέονται με νέες θεωρίες και διαδικασίες μάθησης, με τη μετάβαση από το γνωσιοκεντρικό στο ≪ικανοκεντρικό≫ μοντέλο μάθησης, με τον μεταβαλλόμενο ρόλο και τις αλλαγές στα προσόντα των εκπαιδευτικών, με τον μετασχηματισμό του σχολείου σε ≪οργανισμό και σε κοινότητα μάθησης≫, με τη μετάβαση από τις ≪πειθαρχικές κοινωνίες≫ στις ≪κοινωνίες ελέγχου≫ και την προοπτική μιας ολοκληρωτικά παιδαγωγούμενης κοινωνίας.
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Ποιες είναι οι απαρχές των εκπαιδευτικών συστημάτων; Ποιες αρχές καθόρισαν τις ≪πειθαρχίες≫ και τη ≪γραμματική του σχολείου≫; Πως διαγράφονται οι σχέσεις ≪εξουσίας-γνώσης≫ στο χώρο της εκπαίδευσης; Ποιες ιδέες επηρέασαν και διαμόρφωσαν τον παιδαγωγικό ≪λόγο≫ και τις εκπαιδευτικές ≪πρακτικές≫; Ποιος είναι ο ρόλος της εκπαίδευσης στις σύγχρονες ≪οικονομίες και κοινωνίες της γνώσης≫; Πώς καθορίζεται το σύγχρονο πλαίσιο των ≪ικανοτήτων≫ των μαθητών και των ≪προσόντων≫ των εκπαιδευτικών; Ποιοι είναι οι σύγχρονοι ≪λόγοι≫ και οι ≪πρακτικές≫ που χαρακτηρίζουν το σχολείο ως ≪οργανισμό και ως κοινότητα μάθησης≫;
Τα παραπάνω είναι μερικά από τα βασικά ερωτήματα που διατρέχουν τα κεφάλαια του παρόντος βιβλίου. Σκοπός των συγγραφέων είναι να αναλύσουν τη μετάβαση από την αρχαιολογία της εκπαίδευσης στη γενεαλογία του εκπαιδευτικού θεσμού. Στο βιβλίο παρουσιάζονται αναλυτικά θεωρήσεις και πολιτικές που επηρέασαν τη διαμόρφωση του παιδαγωγικού ≪λόγου≫ και των εκπαιδευτικών πρακτικών κατά τη διάρκεια του 19ου και του 20ου αιώνα. Έμφαση δίδεται στην ανάλυση των σχέσεων ≪εξουσίας-γνώσης≫ στο χώρο της εκπαίδευσης, και στις σχέσεις μεταξύ του εκπαιδευτικού ≪λόγου≫ και των κοινωνικών πρακτικών. Εξετάζονται οι επιδράσεις της ≪παγκοσμιοποίησης≫ και της ≪κοινωνίας της γνώσης≫ στον εκπαιδευτικό θεσμό. Αναλύονται οι σύγχρονες ≪πολιτικές της γνώσης≫ που συνδέονται με νέες θεωρίες και διαδικασίες μάθησης, με τη μετάβαση από το γνωσιοκεντρικό στο ≪ικανοκεντρικό≫ μοντέλο μάθησης, με τον μεταβαλλόμενο ρόλο και τις αλλαγές στα προσόντα των εκπαιδευτικών, με τον μετασχηματισμό του σχολείου σε ≪οργανισμό και σε κοινότητα μάθησης≫, με τη μετάβαση από τις ≪πειθαρχικές κοινωνίες≫ στις ≪κοινωνίες ελέγχου≫ και την προοπτική μιας ολοκληρωτικά παιδαγωγούμενης κοινωνίας.
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BACKGROUND & AIMS: Risk scores for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed in Asians offer poor-moderate predictability in Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This nine center cohort study aimed to develop and validate an accurate HCC risk score in Caucasian CHB patients treated with the current oral antivirals, entecavir/tenofovir. METHODS: We included 1815 adult Caucasians with CHB and no HCC at baseline who received entecavir/tenofovir for 12 months. Using data from eight centers (derivation dataset, n=1325), a HCC risk score was developed based on multivariable Cox models and points system for simplification. Harrell's c-index was used as discrimination, bootstrap for internal validation and the data from the 9(th) and largest center (validation dataset, n=490) for external validation. RESULTS: The 5-year cumulative HCC incidence rates were 5.7% and 8.4% in the derivation and validation dataset, respectively. In the derivation dataset, age, gender, platelets and cirrhosis were independently associated with HCC. The PAGE-B score was developed based on age, gender and platelets (c-index=0.82, 0.81 after bootstrap validation). The addition of cirrhosis did not substantially improve the discrimination (c-index=0.84). The predictability of PAGE-B score was similar (c-index=0.82) in the validation dataset. Patients with PAGE-B 9, 10-17, 18 had 5-year cumulative HCC incidence rates of 0%, 3%, 17% in the derivation and 0%, 4%, 16% in the validation dataset. CONCLUSION: PAGE-B, which is based only on baseline patients' age, gender and platelets, represents a simple and reliable score for prediction of the 5-year HCC risk in Caucasian CHB patients under entecavir/tenofovir.
All orthopaedic fluoroscopic procedures performed using C-arm guidance were monitored for 1 y. The type of procedure, fluoroscopy time (T), kerma-area product (KAP) values and number of radiographs (F) were recorded. The two most often performed techniques were as follows: intramedullary nailing (IMN) of intertrochanteric/peritrochanteric (IP) fractures (101 cases, 49.3 %) and antergrade IMN of femur or tibia shaft (TS) fractures (28 cases, 13.7 %). For the remaining procedures, none accounted for >5 %, categorised as 'various' (76 cases, 37 %). Large variations in T, KAP and F were observed. For IMN of IP fractures, antergrade IMN of femur and TS fractures and for various procedures, respectively, median values were T--2.1, 2.2 and 0.6 min, KAP--6.3, 6.3 and 0.6 Gy cm(-2) and F--21, 2.2 and 6.7. The patient doses during fluoroscopically guided procedures are relatively low compared with other interventional procedures.
The aim of the study was to examine whether physical and technical performance deterioration after a water polo game is related to the athletes' conditioning level. Blood lactate concentration was measured during a 5 × 200-m incremental swimming test in 10 male water polo athletes to calculate the velocities corresponding to 4.0, 5.0, and 10.0 mmol·L lactate concentration (V4, V5, and V10, respectively) and define their conditioning level. All athletes participated in 5 competitive water polo games. Before (Pre), at half time (Mid), and after (Post) the first 2 games, handgrip strength and repeated sprint ability (8 × 20-m) were measured. Pre and Post the next 2 games, ball throwing velocity, shooting accuracy, and 400-m swim were evaluated. Pre, Mid, and Post the last game, the eggbeater kick test was performed. Handgrip strength, repeated sprint ability, 400-m swim performance, and ball shooting accuracy decreased after the game (8.4 ± 6.2%, 6.3 ± 3.4%, 7.0 ± 4.1%, and 20.3 ± 23.4%, respectively, p ≤ 0.05). V4, V5, and V10 were not significantly correlated with changes in physical or technical performance after the game. Performance in 400-m swim correlated with V4 and V5 whereas changes in 400-m swim Pre-Post, correlated with changes in ball shooting accuracy and throwing velocity (r = 0.73 and r = 0.80, p ≤ 0.05). These data suggest that V4, V5, and V10 may not correlate with performance decline in water polo. Interestingly, the 400-m swim test is connected with the decline in repeated sprints, ball shooting accuracy, and throwing velocity after a water polo game in well-trained athletes.
INTRODUCTION: We present a case of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) port placement where the catheter had been malpositioned to the persistent left superior vena cava.
METHODS: Despite the obvious elevation of the P-wave signaling proximity of the catheter tip to the sinus node, the catheter was not in the desired location within the superior vena cava or the right atrium, because of the presence of a persistent left superior vena cava. Computed tomography was used in order to locate the catheter.
RESULTS: The catheter was located in the persistent left superior vena cava.
CONCLUSIONS: Malpositioning of the catheter in the persistent left superior vena cava occurs in 0.3%-0.5% of patients. The catheter was subsequently removed.
We investigated the phase behavior of thin film, thickness h 100 nm, mixtures of a polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) diblock copolymer with star-shaped polystyrene (SPS) molecules of varying functionalities f, where 4 < f < 64, and molecular weights per arm Marm. The miscibility of the system and the surface composition varied appreciably with Marm and f. For large values of Marm, regardless of f, the miscibility of the system was qualitatively similar to that of linear chain PS/PS-b-P2VP mixtures – the copolymer chains aggregate to form micelles, each composed of an inner P2VP core and PS corona, which preferentially segregate to the free surface. On the other hand, for large f and small Marm, SPS molecules preferentially resided at the free surface. Moreover, blends containing SPS molecules with the highest values of f and lowest values of Marm were phase separated. These observations are rationalized in terms of competing entropic interactions and the dependence of the surface tension of the star shaped molecules on Marm and f.
An extension of the layer-multiple-scattering method to phononic crystals of poroelastic spheres immersed in a fluid medium is developed. The applicability of the method is demonstrated on specific examples of close-packed fcc crystals of submerged water-saturated meso- and macroporous silica microspheres. It is shown that, by varying the pore size and/or the porosity, the transmission, reflection, and absorption spectra of finite slabs of these crystals are significantly altered. Strong absorption, driven by the slow waves in the poroelastic material and enhanced by multiple scattering, leads to negligible transmittance over an extended frequency range, which might be useful for practical applications in broadband acoustic shielding. The results are analyzed by reference to relevant phononic dispersion diagrams in the viscous and inertial coupling limits, and a consistent interpretation of the underlying physics is provided.
In this paper, we present a combined photometric, spectroscopic, and orbital period study of three early-type eclipsing binary systems: XZ Aql, UX Her, and AT Peg. As a result, we have derived the absolute parameters of their components and, on that basis, we discuss their evolutionary states. Furthermore, we compare their parameters with those of other binary systems and with theoretical models. An analysis of all available up-to-date times of minima indicated that all three systems studied here show cyclic orbital changes; their origin is discussed in detail. Finally, we performed a frequency analysis for possible pulsational behavior, and as a result we suggest that XZ Aql hosts a δ Scuti component.
Blobs, or quasi-spherical emission regions containing relativistic particles and magnetic fields, are often assumed ad hoc in emission models of relativistic astrophysical jets, yet their physical origin is still not well understood. Here, we employ a suite of large-scale 2D particle-in-cell simulations in electron-positron plasmas to demonstrate that relativistic magnetic reconnection can naturally account for the formation of quasi-spherical plasmoids filled with high-energy particles and magnetic fields. Our simulations extend to unprecedentedly long temporal and spatial scales, so we can capture the asymptotic physics independently of the initial setup. We characterize the properties of the plasmoids, continuously generated as a self-consistent by-product of the reconnection process: they are in rough energy equipartition between particles and magnetic fields; the upper energy cutoff of the plasmoid particle spectrum is proportional to the plasmoid width w, corresponding to a Larmor radius ∼0.2 w; the plasmoids grow in size at ∼0.1 of the speed of light, with most of the growth happening while they are still non-relativistic (`first they grow'); their growth is suppressed once they get accelerated to relativistic speeds by the field line tension, up to the Alfvén speed (`then they go'). The largest plasmoids reach a width wmax ∼ 0.2 L independently of the system length L, they have nearly isotropic particle distributions and contain the highest energy particles, whose Larmor radius is ∼0.03 L. The latter can be regarded as the Hillas criterion for relativistic reconnection. We briefly discuss the implications of our results for the high-energy emission from relativistic jets and pulsar winds.
The conditions for the occurrence of strong magnetotransverse anisotropy in light scattering by a single gyrotropic sphere are investigated by means of rigorous full electrodynamic multipole calculations. It is shown that composite magnetoplasmonic spherical scatterers with a core–shell morphology can induce large and tunable plasmon-driven Hall photon currents, which appear even in the case of subwavelength particles. Explicit results for silver-coated bismuth-substituted yttrium iron garnet nanospheres are presented and analyzed.
Lake Ohrid is located at the border between FYROM (Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia) and Albania and formed during the latest phases of Alpine orogenesis. It is the deepest, the largest and the oldest tectonic lake in Europe. To better understand the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental evolution of Lake Ohrid, deep drilling was carried out in 2013 within the framework of the Scientific Collaboration on Past Speciation Conditions (SCOPSCO) project that was funded by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP). Preliminary results indicate that lacustrine sedimentation of Lake Ohrid started between 1.2 and 1.9 Ma ago. Here we present new pollen data (selected percentage and concentration taxa/groups) of the uppermost ∼ 200 m of the 569 m long DEEP core drilled in the depocentre of Lake Ohrid. The study is the fruit of a cooperative work carried out in several European palynological laboratories. The age model of this part of the core is based on 10 tephra layers and on tuning of biogeochemical proxy data to orbital parameters. According to the age model, the studied sequence covers the last ∼ 500 000 years at a millennial-scale resolution ( ∼ 1.6 ka) and records the major vegetation and climate changes that occurred during the last 12 (13 only pro parte) marine isotope stages (MIS). Our results indicate that there is a general good correspondence between forested/non-forested periods and glacial–interglacial cycles of the marine isotope stratigraphy. The record shows a progressive change from cooler and wetter to warmer and drier interglacial conditions. This shift in temperature and moisture availability is visible also in vegetation during glacial periods. The period corresponding to MIS11 (pollen assemblage zone OD-10, 428–368 ka BP) is dominated by montane trees such as conifers. Mesophilous elements such as deciduous and semi-deciduous oaks dominate forest periods of MIS5 (PASZ OD-3, 129–70 ka BP) and MIS1 (PASZ OD-1, 14 ka BP to present). Moreover, MIS7 (PASZ OD-6, 245–190 ka) shows a very high interglacial variability, with alternating expansions of montane and mesophilous arboreal taxa. Grasslands (open vegetation formations requiring relatively humid conditions) characterize the earlier glacial phases of MIS12 (PASZ OD-12, 488–459 ka), MIS10 (corresponding to the central part of PASZ OD-10, 428–366 ka) and MIS8 (PASZ OD-7, 288–245 ka). Steppes (open vegetation formations typical of dry environments) prevail during MIS6 (OD-5 and OD-4, 190–129 ka) and during MIS4-2 (PASZ OD-2, 70–14 ka). Our palynological results support the notion that Lake Ohrid has been a refugium area for both temperate and montane trees during glacials. Closer comparisons with other long southern European and Near Eastern pollen records will be achieved through ongoing high-resolution studies.
Aims: We present a comprehensive X-ray study of the population of supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Using primarily XMM-Newton observations, we conduct a systematic spectral analysis of LMC SNRs to gain new insight into their evolution and the interplay with their host galaxy. Methods: We combined all the archival XMM-Newton observations of the LMC with those of our Very Large Programme LMC survey. We produced X-ray images and spectra of 51 SNRs, out of a list of 59 objects compiled from the literature and augmented with newly found objects. Using a careful modelling of the background, we consistently analysed all the X-ray spectra and measure temperatures, luminosities, and chemical compositions. The locations of SNRs are compared to the distributions of stars, cold gas, and warm gas in the LMC, and we investigated the connection between the SNRs and their local environment, characterised by various star formation histories. We tentatively typed all LMC SNRs, in order to constrain the ratio of core-collapse to type Ia SN rates in the LMC. We also compared the column densities derived from X-ray spectra to H I maps, thus probing the three-dimensional structure of the LMC. Results: This work provides the first homogeneous catalogue of the X-ray spectral properties of SNRs in the LMC. It offers a complete census of LMC remnants whose X-ray emission exhibits Fe K lines (13% of the sample), or reveals the contribution from hot supernova ejecta (39%), which both give clues to the progenitor types. The abundances of O, Ne, Mg, Si, and Fe in the hot phase of the LMC interstellar medium are found to be between 0.2 and 0.5 times the solar values with a lower abundance ratio [α/Fe] than in the Milky Way. The current ratio of core-collapse to type Ia SN rates in the LMC is constrained to NCC/NIa=1.35(-0.24+0.11), which is lower than in local SN surveys and galaxy clusters. Our comparison of the X-ray luminosity functions of SNRs in Local Group galaxies (LMC, SMC, M31, and M33) reveals an intriguing excess of bright objects in the LMC. Finally, we confirm that 30 Doradus and the LMC Bar are offset from the main disc of the LMC to the far and near sides, respectively. Based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and NASA.
On July 17, 2015 a forest fire that broke out in the southern part of Epidavros Limira peninsula (Laconia, southeastern Peloponnese), expanded rapidly due to strong winds blowing in the area and raged out of control for two days, inducing substantial damage to agriculture, livestock farming, buildings and infrastructure and causing one fatality. Innovative GIS-based methods were developed and implemented for the first time in a fire-affected area in Greece for mapping the post-fire erosion, flood and landslide hazards and risks. Geomorphological, geological, tectonic, hydrological, meteorological and land-use data along with a WorldView-2 satellite image and post-fire field observations were evaluated and used. A newly developed method was applied for assessing the erosion hazard. Analytic Hierarchy Process and Weighted Linear Combination methods were used for assessing the post-fire landslide susceptibility. The HEC-RAS model was used for hydraulic simulation and assessment of flood risk under post-fire conditions. Post-fire erosion, flood and landslide hazard and risk maps were constructed for the affected area delineating locations with very low, low, moderate, high or very high hazard and risk of erosion, flood and landslide respectively. The developed methodology is a useful post-fire hazard and risk assessment tool and can be applied by state authorities to assess the geo-environmental impact of fire disasters in areas with similar environmental conditions.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence and its clinical characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in a specialized psoriasis clinic of a University Hospital.
METHODS: In this retrospective study, 278 patients with psoriasis were evaluated between 2011 and 2013.
RESULTS: The study included 278 patients with psoriasis: 144 (52%) were male and 134 (48%) female. Their median age was 51.41 with median psoriasis presenting age of 34.52 years. Referring to the type of psoriasis, 86% presented with plaque psoriasis, 5% guttate, 2% palms and soles, 2% inverse, 1% pustular and 4% with psoriasis of more than one type. Nail disease appeared in 121 patients (43.5%) and scalp disease in 175 (63%). Of these patients, 85 (30%) had PsA, whereas 51% of patients with PsA had psoriatic nail disease. With reference to the PsA type, 43 (51%) patients presented with polyarthritis, 10 (12%) with oligoarthritis, 7 (8%) with axial arthritis, whereas the rest 25 of them (31%) had PsA of more than one type. The subgroup of patients with PsA had significantly higher rates of comorbidities including arterial hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia compared to non-PsA patients with 41% vs. 17% (P = 0.001), 20% vs. 8% (P = 0.021) and 41% vs. 19% (P = 0.004), respectively.
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PsA among patients with psoriasis was relatively higher in Greece compared to other ethnic-based studies. Comorbidities related to life expectancy were more frequent. As there is a high percentage of undiagnosed cases with active arthritis among patients with psoriasis, dermatologists should be aware of PsA clinical signs in order to recognize it earlier and provide successful treatment.
OJ 287 is a quasi-periodic quasar with roughly 12 year optical cycles. It displays prominent outbursts that are predictable in a binary black hole model. The model predicted a major optical outburst in 2015 December. We found that the outburst did occur within the expected time range, peaking on 2015 December 5 at magnitude 12.9 in the optical R-band. Based on Swift/XRT satellite measurements and optical polarization data, we find that it included a major thermal component. Its timing provides an accurate estimate for the spin of the primary black hole, χ =0.313+/- 0.01. The present outburst also confirms the established general relativistic properties of the system such as the loss of orbital energy to gravitational radiation at the 2% accuracy level, and it opens up the possibility of testing the black hole no-hair theorem with 10% accuracy during the present decade.
The International Committee for the Taxonomy and Nomenclature of Viruses does not rule on virus classifications below the species level. The definition of species for viruses cannot be clearly defined for all types of viruses. The complex and interesting epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Viruses demands a detailed and informative nomenclature system, while at the same time it presents challenges such that many of the rules need to be flexibly applied or modified over time. This review outlines the nomenclature system for primate lentiviruses and provides an update on new findings since the last review was written in 2000.
The absolute power of a relativistic black hole jet includes the power in the magnetic field, the leptons, the hadrons, and the radiated photons. A power analysis of a relativistic radio/γ-ray blazar jet leads to bifurcated leptonic synchrotron-Compton (LSC) and leptohadronic synchrotron (LHS) solutions that minimize the total jet power. Higher Doppler factors with increasing peak synchrotron frequency are implied in the LSC model. Strong magnetic fields {B}\prime ≳ 100 {{G}} are found for the LHS model with variability times ≲ {10}3 {{s}}, in accord with highly magnetized, reconnection-driven jet models. Proton synchrotron models of ≳ 100 {GeV} blazar radiation can have sub-Eddington absolute jet powers, but models of dominant GeV radiation in flat spectrum radio quasars require excessive power.
We request a 50 ks observation of a pulsating (P~170 s), accretingwhite dwarf binary located in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The systemwas serendipitously detected off-axis during analysis of an archivalXMM-Newton observation (2013) that was severely contaminated by highbackground. Such objects are thought to be candidates for the progenitorsof type Ia supernovae, or may alternatively undergo accretion-inducedcollapse to form the neutron stars in some millisecond pulsars. Thenature of their short period oscillations remains unknown. The on-axisXMM-Newton observation proposed below would deliver a much improvedspectrum, allowing precise characterisation of the system.
Diakoumis G, Galanis P, Galanaki C, Kriari A, Frengidou E, Bilali A, Theodorou M. Quality of life in female with osteoporosis. Nursing Care & Research/Nosileia kai Ereuna. 2016.
Diakoumis G, Galanis P, Galanaki C, Kriari A, Frengidou E, Bilali A, Theodorou M. Quality of life in female with osteoporosis. Nursing Care & Research/Nosileia kai Ereuna. 2016;(45).
Several supernovae (SNe) with an unusually dense circumstellar medium (CSM) have been recently observed at radio frequencies. Their radio emission is powered by relativistic electrons that can be either accelerated at the SN shock (primaries) or injected as a by-product (secondaries) of inelastic proton-proton collisions. We investigate the radio signatures from secondary electrons, by detailing a semi-analytical model to calculate the temporal evolution of the distributions of protons, primary and secondary electrons. With our formalism, we track the cooling history of all the particles that have been injected into the emission region up to a given time, and calculate the resulting radio spectra and light curves. For an SN shock propagating through the progenitor wind, we find that secondary electrons control the early radio signatures, but their contribution decays faster than that of primary electrons. This results in a flattening of the light curve at a given radio frequency that depends only upon the radial profiles of the CSM density and of the shock velocity, υ0. The relevant transition time at the peak frequency is {∼ } {190} d K_ep,-3^{-1} A_{w, 16}{/β _{0, -1.5}^2}, where Aw is the wind mass-loading parameter, β0 = υ0/c and Kep are the electron-to-proton ratio of accelerated particles. We explicitly show that late peak times at 5 GHz (I.e. tpk ≳ 300-1000 d) suggest a shock wave propagating in a dense wind (Aw ≳ 1016-1017 gr cm-1), where secondary electrons are likely to power the observed peak emission.
The rate of force development (RFD) is an essential component for performance in explosive activities, although it has been proposed that muscle architectural characteristics might be linked with RFD and power performance. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between RFD, muscle architecture, and performance in young track and field throwers. Twelve young track and field throwers completed 10 weeks of periodized training. Before (T1) and after (T2) training performance was evaluated in competitive track and field throws, commonly used shot put tests, isometric leg press RFD, 1 repetition maximum (1RM) strength as well as vastus lateralis architecture and body composition. Performance in competitive track and field throwing and the shot put test from the power position increased by 6.76 ± 4.31% (p < 0.001) and 3.58 ± 4.97% (p = 0.019), respectively. Rate of force development and 1RM strength also increased (p ≤ 0.05). Vastus lateralis thickness and fascicle length increased by 5.95 ± 7.13% (p = 0.012) and 13.41 ± 16.15% (p = 0.016), respectively. Significant correlations were found at T1 and T2, between performance in the shot put tests and both RFD and fascicle length (p ≤ 0.05). Close correlations were found between RFD, muscle thickness, and fascicle length (p ≤ 0.05). Significant correlations were found between the % changes in lean body mass and the % increases in RFD. When calculated together, the % increase in muscle thickness and RFD could predict the % increase in shot put throw test from the power position (p = 0.019). These results suggest that leg press RFD may predict performance in shot put tests that are commonly used by track and field throwers.
The last 3,000 years of relative sea level (RSL) in Israel are derived primarily from archaeological indicators with additional bio-construction indicators (Dendropoma petraeum reefs at the edge of the abrasion platform along the Israeli coast). The current study examines whether sea-level fluctuations (above and mainly below present-day MSL) observed along the coast of Israel can also be observed in other East Mediterranean areas like Greece so that better evaluations can be made of local and regional driving mechanisms. There are three objectives for achieving this goal: 1) Identify new and already published archaeological and biological RSL indicators from this period
in Israel and Greece; 2) Assess the reliability of both existing and new indicators using consistent standards to determine which types most accurately indicate ancient RSL and with what degree of uncertainty; 3) Correct the data for isostatic and tectonic effects. The survey collected nearly 140 archaeological indicators from Israel and about 120 from Greece. Of the Israeli indicators, some 120 were deemed reliable enough for reconstructions, whereas in Greece only 40 were, and not all of these from tectonically stable areas. The Israeli data includes 31 dates obtained from Dendropoma reefs in Israel. The higher reliability of the Israeli dataset may stem from a smaller coastline and more focused SL research over the past few decades. In Greece, many measurements were taken before precise surveying methods
were available, and published without sufficient metadata. The two regional datasets reveal chronological gaps and disparities: Israel has a strong set of many indicators from the Roman Period (2000BP) to present, but fewer from 3000-2000BP, while Greek indicators are strongly clustered in the Classical to Hellenistic Periods (2500-2000BP). On-going research is focusing now also on the last Millennial Greek sea levels (mainly the ‘Venetian’ period). Results however suggest some correspondence and support previous Israeli conclusions
suggesting somewhat lower levels around 2500BP and in the first half of the last Millennium: The Crusader period in Israel (11th to 13th century AD) and the Venetian period in Greece (12th to 15th century AD). Near-present, stable levels are indicated during most other periods, despite indications of slightly higher sea levels in the late Roman/Byzantine period.
We present results from the latest outburst of the Be/X-ray binary system SMC X-2, which in late 2015 entered it's first X-ray outburst since 2000. SMC X-2 was first discovered in 1977 by the SAS-3 satellite, and hosts a 2.37s period pulsar. Regular, almost daily, Swift observations of SMC X-2 were performed during the entirety of the latest outburst, from first detection by MAXI to it’s rapid turn off and return back to quiescence. These observations have allowed us to measure with the flux, spectral and temporal properties of SMC X-2. Timing analysis of observation by the Swift X-ray telescope allowed us to track the evolution of the pulsar spin period, and in addition modeling of the orbital parameters of the system by measuring changes in the pulsar spin period due to Doppler effects. In addition we report on an observation of SMC X-2 taken with NuSTAR, which allowed both to better measure the continuum fit above 10 keV, and to perform a sensitive measure of the pulse profile and period of the source.
This document is based on the original recommendation of the Expert Panel on the Theory of Reference Values of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC), updated guidelines were recently published under the auspices of the IFCC and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). This document summarizes proposals for recommendations on: (i) The terminology, which is often confusing, noticeably concerning the terms of reference limits and decision limits. (ii) The method for the determination of reference limits according to the original procedure and the conditions, which should be used. (iii) A simple procedure allowing the medical laboratories to fulfill the requirements of the regulation and standards. The updated document proposes to verify that published reference limits are applicable to the laboratory involved. Finally, the strengths and limits of the revised recommendations (especially the selection of the reference population, the maintenance of the analytical quality, the choice of the statistical method used...) will be briefly discussed
OBJECTIVE: Although our understanding of viral transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID) has improved, we still know little about when and how many times each injector transmits HIV throughout the duration of infection. We describe HIV dynamics in PWID to evaluate which preventive strategies can be efficient.
DESIGN: Due to the notably scarce interventions, HIV-1 spread explosively in Russia and Ukraine in 1990s. By studying this epidemic between 1995 and 2005, we characterized naturally occurring transmission dynamics of HIV among PWID.
METHOD: We combined publicly available HIV pol and env sequences with prevalence estimates from Russia and Ukraine under an evolutionary epidemiology framework to characterize HIV transmissibility between PWID. We then constructed compartmental models to simulate HIV spread among PWID.
RESULTS: In the absence of interventions, each injector transmits on average to 10 others. Half of the transmissions take place within 1 month after primary infection, suggesting that the epidemic will expand even after blocking all the post-first month transmissions. Primary prevention can realistically target the first month of infection, and we show that it is very efficient to control the spread of HIV-1 in PWID. Treating acutely infected on top of primary prevention is notably effective.
CONCLUSION: As a large proportion of transmissions among PWID occur within 1 month after infection, reducing and delaying transmissions through scale-up of harm reduction programmes should always form the backbone of HIV control strategies in PWID. Growing PWID populations in the developing world, where primary prevention is scarce, constitutes a public health time bomb.
We analyzed a large number of focal mechanisms and relocated earthquake hypocenters to investigate the geodynamics of western Greece, the most seismically active part of the Aegean plate-boundary zone. This region was seismically activated multiple times during the last decade, providing a large amount of enhanced quality new information that was obtained by the Hellenic Unified Seismological Network (HUSN). Relocated seismicity appears concentrated above 25 km depth, exhibiting spatial continuity along the convergence boundary andbeing clustered elsewhere. Earthquakes are confined within the accreted sediments escarpment of the down-going African plate against the un-deformed Pindos hinterland. The data arrangement shows that Pindos constitutes a seismic boundary along which large stress heterogeneities occur. Surprisingly, in Cephalonia no seismicity related with the offshore Cephalonia Transform Fault (CTF) is observed. Onshore, N-S crustal extension dominates, while in central and south Peloponnesus the stress field appears rotated by 90°. Shearing-stress obliquity by 30° is indicated along the major strike-slip faults, consistent with clockwise crustal rotation. Within the lower crust, the stress field appears constrained by plate kinematics and the distributed deformation, which guide the geodynamics of the area.Seismic velocity anomalies have been resolved by regional body-wave traveltime tomography applying an iterative tomographic inversion scheme using phase data from more than 5,000 seismic events recorded by the Hellenic Unified Seismological Network (HUSN), analyzed by the Seismological Laboratory of the Universityof Athens. Preliminary 3D tomographic models indicate the presence of gross structures related with Pindus hinterland, the Tethys subduction beneath the Aegean, and shear zones related with the CTF and the Andravida fault. A predominant NE-SW oriented low velocity zone in central Peloponnesus is related with the rotation of the extensional stress field and dextral strike-slip faulting.
A fully automatic remote telescope and dome control system has been installed at the University of Athens Observatory (UOAO) in August 2012. It was constructed in the Laboratory of Astronomy and Applied Optics of the department and incorporated the already existing automation for observations and data gathering techniques. The system proved to be reliable and functions faultlessly up to date, enabling the astronomers to observe remotely from any place, using the network. The observing nights have been increased significantly after the first year of remote operation, reaching the number of 280 observing nights per year (77% annual usage), half of which are characterized as photometric nights of highest quality. This utility favours long-term monitoring projects of blazars and long periodic variables in general.
During the current historical coincidence, the geostrategic conjunction of Greece-Cyprus- Israel is a reality, in order for the three states to cope in the best possible manner with the contemporary and future challenges in the arena of international and regional relations. Having a common strategic perception of the geopolitical sub-system of the southeastern Mediterranean, Athens, Nicosia and Jerusalem strengthen day by day their political, diplomatic, economic and military relations, aiming at the preservation of stability in the area, against any revisionist factor. For the aforementioned strategic alliance, the discovery, extraction and exploitation of the hydrocarbon neo-reserves within the Greek, Cypriot and Israeli consecutive Exclusive Economic Zones, (EEZs), is the dynamic catalyst that reinforces even further the allied cooperation and effectiveness. Amidst the geopolitical transformation of the wider region of North Africa, Middle and Near East, the construction of the East Mediterranean Pipeline, (East-Med), is a common pursuit of the outmost significance, for the strategic alliance. Indeed, if the East-Med is realized, it will be able to transfer, in the first phase, the Israeli and Cypriot hydrocarbons from the off-shore neo-reserves via Greek sovereign territory and EEZ to Italy and central Europe, signaling EU’s gradual disengagement from the dependence on the Russian natural gas, allowing the EU to make its first steps of energy emancipation. Despite Ankara’s attempt for rapprochement with Jerusalem, the official Israeli position heavily leans towards an Israel-Greek-Cypriot strategic alignment, as Israel’s national security constitute the ultimate long-term priority for Jerusalem. Above all, such a development will upgrade the geopolitical status of all the three states of the strategic alliance in the regional geopolitical as well as the supra-geopolitical system.
The aim of the study was to examine the correlation between muscle morphology and jumping, sprinting, and throwing performance in participants with different power training duration experience. Thirty-six power-trained young men were assigned to 3 groups according to the length of their power training: less experienced (<1 year), moderately experienced (1-3 years), and experienced (4-7 years). All participants performed countermovement and squat jumps, 60-m sprint, and shot throws twice. Lean body mass (LBM) was evaluated with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) with anthropometry. The vastus lateralis architecture and fiber type composition were evaluated with ultrasonography and muscle biopsies, respectively. When all subjects were considered as 1 group (n = 36), jumping performance was correlated with LBM, fascicle length, and type II fiber CSA; sprinting performance was correlated with estimated thigh muscle CSA alone; and shot throwing was correlated with LBM and type I, IIA fiber CSA. In the least experienced group, the LBM of the lower extremities was the most significant contributor for power performance, whereas in the moderately experienced group, the LBM, architectural properties, and type II fiber percentage CSA were the most significant contributors. For the experienced group, fascicle length and type II fiber percentage CSA were the most significant factors for power performance. These data suggest that jumping performance is linked with muscle morphology, regardless of strength or power training. The vastus lateralis muscle morphology could only partially explain throwing performance, whereas it cannot predict sprinting performance. Power performance in experienced participants rely more on the quality of the muscle tissue rather than the quantity.
We analyse the light curve in the R band of the blazar OJ287, gathered during the 2015/2016 observing season. We did a search for quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) using several methods over a wide range of timescales. No statistically significant periods were found in the high-frequency domain both in the ground-based data and in Kepler observations. In the longer-period domain, the Lomb-Scargle periodogram revealed several peaks above the 99% significance level. The longest one—about 95 days—corresponds to the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) period of the more massive black hole. The 43-day period could be an alias, or it can be attributed to accretion in the form of a two-armed spiral wave.
Feloni E, Nastos PT, Matsangouras IT. Seasonal Synoptic Characteristics of Heavy Rain Events in the Attica Region. In: {Karacostas TS, Bais AF, Nastos PT} PERSPECTIVES ON ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES. {PO BOX 17, 3300 AA DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS}: {Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Phys, Lab Atmospher Phys; Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Geol, Dept Meteorol & Climatol; Hellen Meteorol Soc; Mariolopoulos Kanaginis Fdn Environm Sci}; 2016. pp. 391-396.Abstract
{The objective of this study is the analysis of heavy precipitation events occurred in Attica region during the period 2007-2013, along with the determination of their characteristics depending on the season and their corresponding impact. These events were selected according to two criteria; the lightning occurrence-information that was acquired from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service Precision Lightning Sensors Network (HNMS-PLN)-and the high rainfall intensity, provided by the Hydrological Observatory of Athens (HOA) rainfall network. On the one hand, the composite means and anomalies of the respective synoptic conditions, which were based on the reanalysis data sets acquired from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction-National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP-NCAR), along with the frontal activity over Greece, have been analyzed. On the other hand, special attention has been given to the configuration of specific instability indices, during the examined rainfall events. The aforementioned study is an effort to shed light to the rainfall events' features, with respect to their seasonal incidence and their relation to phenomena such as floods and hail.}
Kazantzidou-Firtinidou D, Kassaras I, Ganas A, Tsimi C, Sakellariou N, Mourloukos S, Stoumpos P, Michalaki K, Giannaraki G. SEISMIC DAMAGE SCENARIOS IN KALAMATA (S. GREECE). Bulletin of the Geological Society of Greece [Internet]. 2016;50:1495–1505} doi = {10.12681/bgsg.11862. Publisher's VersionAbstract
Damage scenarios are necessary tools for stakeholders, in order to prepare protection strategies and a total emergency post-earthquake plan. To this aim, four seismic hazard models were developed for the city of Kalamata, according to stochastic simulation of the ground motion, using site amplification functions derived from ambient noise HVSR measurements. The structural vulnerability of the city was assessed following an empirical macroseismic model, developed for the European urban environment (EMS-98). The impact of the vulnerability due to the seismic hazard potential is also investigated by means of synthetic response spectral ratios at 108 sites of the city. The expected damage grade per building block, is calculated by combining vulnerability with the respective seismic intensities, derived for the four seismic sources. The importance of the followed methodology for implementing microzonation studies is emphasized, since the expected influence of the ground motion amplification due to local soil conditions has been approximated in detail. Moreover, new fragility curves for the main structural types in Kalamata are proposed for each seismic scenario.
A catalogue of relocated earthquake hypocenters and focal mechanisms was constructed and evaluated in order to examine the tectonics of the western Hellenic Arc. The major part of the analysed dataset includes seismic activity that was recorded during the last decade. This is due to the occurrence of several moderate to strong earthquakes in the area and to the integration of the Hellenic Unified Seismological Network (HUSN), which provided adequate coverage with high quality waveform records that were analyzed by the Seismological Laboratory ofthe University of Athens. Additionally, phase data available by local networks were employed. The concept of double differences was applied to achieve improved relative hypocentral locations. Relocated seismicity appears concentrated at depths above 25 km, exhibiting spatial continuity along the convergence boundary and being clustered elsewhere. Earthquakes are confined within the accreted sediments escarpment of the down-going African plate against the un-deformed Pindos hinterland.Stress tensor inversion of ~2000 relocated focal mechanisms reveals predominantly strike-slip faulting in NNE-SSW to NE-SW direction and normal faulting in E-W or N-S directions. The heterogeneity of the stress field appears to be unusually high, particularly in the region of the northernmost tip of the Hellenic subduction and in thevicinity of the Cephalonia-Lefkada transform fault zone, an area of high seismic risk that was activated recently, with the generation of two strong earthquakes of Mw=6.1 and 5.9 at the western part of the Cephalonia Island in January-February 2014 and an Mw=6.4 event that occurred onshore SW Lefkada Island in November 2015. The stress field distribution implies that Pindos constitutes a seismic boundary along which large heterogeneities occur. Onshore western Greece, N-S crustal extension dominates, while in central and south Peloponnesus the stress field appears rotated by 90°. Shearing-stress obliquity by 30° is indicated along the major strike-slip faults. At larger depths, within the lower crust, the stress field becomes more homogeneous, consistent with well-known large scale kinematics of the Aegean region.
The aim of this study is to assess sexual dimorphism of adult crania in the vault and midsagittal curve of the vault using three-dimensional geometric morphometric methods. The study sample consisted of 176 crania of known sex (94 males, 82 females) belonging to individuals who lived during the 20th century in Greece. The three-dimensional co-ordinates of 31 ecto-cranial landmarks and 30 semi-landmarks were digitized using a MicroScribe 3DX contact digitizer. Generalized Procrustes analysis (GPA) was used to obtain size and shape variables for statistical analysis. Shape, size and form analyses were carried out by logistic regression and three discriminant function analyses. Results indicate that there are shape differences between sexes. Females in the region of the parietal bones are narrower and the axis forming the frontal and occipital bones is more elongated; the frontal bone is more vertical. Sex-specific shape differences give better classification results in the vault (79%) compared with the midsagittal curve of the neurocranium (68.8%). Size alone yielded better results for cranial vault (82%), while for the midsagittal curve of the vault the result is poorer (68.1%). As anticipated, the classification accuracy improves when both size and shape are combined (89.2% for vault, and 79.4% for midsagittal curve of the vault). These latter findings imply that, in contrast to the midsagittal curve of the neurocranium, the shape of the cranial vault can be used as an indicator of sex in the modern Greek population.
SUMMARY: The purpose of the present study is to define which regions of the cranium, the upper-face, the orbits and the nasal are the most sexually dimorphic, by using three-dimensional geometric morphometric methods, and investigate the effectiveness of this method in determining sex from the shape of these regions. The study sample consisted of 176 crania of known sex (94 males, 82 females) belonging to individuals who lived in Greece during the 20(th) century. The three-dimensional co-ordinates of 31 ecto-cranial landmarks were digitized using a MicroScribe 3DX contact digitizer. Goodall's F-test was performed in order to compare statistical differences in shape between males and females. Generalized Procrustes Analysis (GPA) was used to obtain size and shape variables for statistical analysis. Shape, Size and Form analyses were carried out by logistic regression and discriminant function analysis. The results indicate that there are shape differences between the sexes in the upper-face and the orbits. The highest shape classification rate was obtained from the upper-face region. The centroid size of the caraniofacial and the orbital regions was smaller in females than males. Moreover, it was found that size is significant for sexual dimorphism in the upper-face region. As anticipated, the classification accuracy improves when both size and shape are combined. The findings presented here constitute a firm basis upon which further research can be conducted.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to quantify the patterns of shape variability and the extent and patterns of shape covariation between the upper and lower dental arch in an orthodontic population.
METHODS: Dental casts of 133 white subjects (61 males, 72 females; ages 10.6-26.6) were scanned and digitized in three dimensions. Landmarks were placed on the incisal margins and on the cusps of canines, premolars, and molars. Geometric morphometric methods were applied (Procrustes superimposition and principal component analysis). Sexual dimorphism and allometry were evaluated with permutation tests and age-size and age-shape correlations were computed. Two-block partial least squares analysis was used to assess covariation of shape.
RESULTS: The first four principal components represented shape patterns that are often encountered and recognized in clinical practice, accounting for 6-31 per cent of total variance. No shape sexual dimorphism was found, nevertheless, there was statistically significant size difference between males and females. Allometry was statistically significant, but low (upper: R(2) = 0.0528, P < 0.000, lower: R (2) = 0.0587, P < 0.000). Age and shape were weakly correlated (upper: R(2) = 0.0370, P = 0.0001, lower: R (2) = 0.0587, P = 0.0046). Upper and lower arches covaried significantly (RV coefficient: 33 per cent). The main pattern of covariation between the dental arches was arch width (80 per cent of total covariance); the second component related the maxillary canine vertical position to the mandibular canine labiolingual position (11 per cent of total covariance).
LIMITATIONS: Results may not be applicable to the general population. Age range was wide and age-related findings are limited by the cross-sectional design. Aetiology of malocclusion was also not considered.
CONCLUSIONS: Covariation patterns showed that the dental arches were integrated in width and depth. Integration in the vertical dimension was weak, mainly restricted to maxillary canine position.
The long term change of the shoreline is a phenomenon, which is factored in the design of construction projects along the coastal zone. This study presents a meth-odology that aims to quantify the shoreline displacement rate. The described meth-odology involves the interpretation of different remote sensing data types, which make up a quite dense time series of representations for the coastline spanning from 1987 to 2012. The representation of the shoreline is based on geometrically corrected (ortho-rectified), historical, analogue, panchromatic, high resolution aerial photos of the area (1987, 1996) and latest generation, digital, multispectral, high resolution satellite images (2000, 2008, 2012). In all cases the images were digitally processed and optically optimized in order to produce a highly accurate representation of the shoreline in each time period. All the data were imported in a Geographic Information System platform, where they were subjected to comparison and geo-statistical analysis. A large number of sections perpendicular to the coast (every 100 meters) was drawn and the relative motion of the coastline was calcu-lated for each of them. The average rate of the calculated erosion is in the order of 24mm/year whilst extreme rates of 1m/year were also observed in specific posi-tions.
A thorough study of localized surface plasmons and associated strong circular dichroism, which can occur in silver-coated metallic and dielectric magnetic nanospheres, is reported by means of both quasistatic and full electrodynamic calculations taking into account the actual (magneto) optical response of the constituent materials, including dispersion and losses. It is shown that such composite magnetoplasmonic nanoparticles offer a versatile platform for engineering hybrid plasmon modes that give rise to sharp absorption resonances and subject to large magneto-optic splitting, leading to giant magnetic circular dichroism signals, by properly choosing the different materials and tuning the geometrical parameters involved.
The objective of this paper was to explore whether and how the main capital structure determinants of SMEs affected capital structure determination in different ways during the years of economic crisis. We used panel data of 8,052 SMEs operating in Greece during 2009–2012. We found that the effect of capital structure determinants on leverage does not change in an environment of economic crisis; larger SMEs continued to show higher debt ratios, the relationship between profitability and tangibility of assets with leverage continued to be negative, and growth was positively related to leverage.
Ιn a sample of Turkish adolescents (N = 1614), we investigated whether pursuing social demonstration-approach goals (to attain popularity), next to social development goals (to cultivate meaningful relationships), explains differences in need satisfaction and frustration and coping. Cluster analysis showed that students who favored social development over social demonstration-approach goals reported less need frustration and defensive coping than students who favored both goals. These results were replicated with a prospective analysis with part of the initial sample (N = 425) as students who endorsed both goals reported more defensive coping five months later than students who mainly favored social development goals over social demonstration-approach goals.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Over the past two decades there was an upsurge of the use of Internet in human life. With this continuous development, Internet users are able to communicate with any part of the globe, to shop online, to use it as a mean of education, to work remotely and to conduct financial transactions. Unfortunately, this rapid development of the Internet has a detrimental impact in our life, which leads to various phenomena such as cyber bullying, cyber porn, cyber suicide, Internet addiction, social isolation, cyber racism etc. The main purpose of this paper is to record and analyze all these social and psychological effects that appears to users due to the extensive use of the Internet.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review study was a thorough search of bibliography data conducted through Internet and library research studies. Key words were extracted from search engines and data bases including Google, Yahoo, Scholar Google, PubMed.
FINDINGS: The findings of this study showed that the Internet offers a quick access to information and facilitates communication however; it is quite dangerous, especially for young users. For this reason, users should be aware of it and face critically any information that is handed from the website.
Published archaeological, palaeoenvironmental, and palaeoclimatic data from the Peloponnese in Greece are compiled, discussed and evaluated in order to analyse the interactions between humans and the environment over the last 9000 years. Our study indicates that the number of human settlements found scattered over the peninsula have quadrupled from the prehistoric to historical periods and that this evolution occurred over periods of climate change and seismo–tectonic activity. We show that societal development occurs both during periods of harsh as well as favourable climatic conditions. At some times, some settlements develop while others decline. Well-known climate events such as the 4.2 ka and 3.2 ka events are recognizable in some of the palaeoclimatic records and a regional decline in the number and sizes of settlements occurs roughly at the same time, but their precise chronological fit with the archaeological record remains uncertain. Local socio-political processes were probably always the key drivers behind the diverse strategies that human societies took in times of changing climate. The study thus reveals considerable chronological parallels between societal development and palaeoenvironmental records, but also demonstrates the ambiguities in these correspondences and, in doing so, highlights some of the challenges that will face future interdisciplinary projects. We suggest that there can be no general association made between societal expansion phases and periods of advantageous climate. We also propose that the relevance of climatic and environmental regionality, as well as any potential impacts of seismo-tectonics on societal development, need to be part of the interpretative frameworks.
Mazis I. Причины создания НАТО. In: Доклад на Конференции, посвященной 71-й годовщине Великой Победы . Athens, Greece: Greek-Russian Friendship Club "Dialogos"; 2016.Abstract
Основание НАТО 4 апреля 1949 года драматическим образом ознаменовало окончательный распад альянса трех великих держав - США, Великобритании и СССР, созданного во время Второй мировой войны. Вместе с тем, это стало началом новой, послевоенной биполярной системе баланса сил, главным проявлением которой стала Холодная война. Это тотальное политическое противостояние между двумя сверхдержавами и их сателлитами, распространившееся на большую часть нашей планеты, началось на послевоенных руинах Старого Света, где столкнулись исторически противоположные геополитические устремления обеих сторон - противостояние, усиленное ростом числа откровенных мистификаций, скрытые мотивов и стереотипов, а также конфликтом национальных интересов. В фундаменте этого противостояния лежат принципы и ценности, с 1945 года взятые Уставом ООН в качестве основы для создания послевоенной международной системы. Главные пункты этого Устава объявляют применение насилия в международных отношениях как способ разрешения международных споров нелегитимным (статьи 2.3 и 2.4), обязывают уважать внутренние дела государства (статья 2.7), а также определяют право государств на индивидуальную или коллективную самооборону (как «соПейме зе!^-сЫепсе») - это определяется в статье 21 Устава ООН (а также, позже, в статье 5 Устава НАТО, и в соответствующих статьях Варшавского договора). Задуманное, как это часто бывает, с благими намерениями, в конце концов все это превратилось в гигантский ком неуверенности, страха и взаимного недоверия, а порой и открытой ненависти с обеих сторон. Первым последствием стало разделение Германии, что придало последующему разделению Европы «официальный». Это стало знаковым событием, обнажившим конфликт интересов между Западом и СССР - блокада Берлина советскими войсками (19481949), после чего было создано НАТО.
Ugo Foscolo, was an Italian poet whose works rank among the masterpieces of Italian literature. Talented and well educated in philosophy, classics, and Italian literature, Foscolo gave literary expression to his ideological aspirations and to the numerous amorous experiences in odes, sonnets, plays, poems and an epistolary novel. Concurrent with his rich literary output, Foscolo’s correspondence represents a unique perspective from which to monitor his literary and political views and investigate aspects of his everyday life. Among other interesting information, one can find elements of Foscolo’s medical history which is generally unknown. In the present article we investigate the possibility that chronic bladder outlet obstruction and the consequent renal insufficiency was attributed to the death of Ugo Foscolo.
Προσκεκλημένη-συμμετοχή στην Ημερίδα Meet up – Κοινωνική Επιχειρηματικότητα Συμβουλές & Σύμβουλοι. «Διαδραστική Συνάντηση Ενδυνάμωσης Δεξιοτήτων». Europe Direct City of Athens, Sesbo-social enterprise skills, IKY, Funded by Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, Αθήνα, 25 Οκτωβρίου 2016.
At scales much longer than the deterministic predictability limits (about 10 days), the statistics of the atmosphere undergoes a drastic transition, the high-frequency weather acts as a random forcing on the lower-frequency macroweather. In addition, up to decadal and centennial scales the equivalent radiative forcings of solar, volcanic and anthropogenic perturbations are small compared to the mean incoming solar flux. This justifies the common practice of reducing forcings to radiative equivalents (which are assumed to combine linearly), as well as the development of linear stochastic models, including for forecasting at monthly to decadal scales. In order to clarify the validity of the linearity assumption and determine its scale range, we use last millennium simulations, with both the simplified Zebiak–Cane (ZC) model and the NASA GISS E2-R fully coupled GCM. We systematically compare the statistical properties of solar-only, volcanic-only and combined solar and volcanic forcings over the range of timescales from 1 to 1000 years. We also compare the statistics to multiproxy temperature reconstructions. The main findings are (a) that the variability in the ZC and GCM models is too weak at centennial and longer scales; (b) for longer than ≈ 50 years, the solar and volcanic forcings combine subadditively (nonlinearly) compounding the weakness of the response; and (c) the models display another nonlinear effect at shorter timescales: their sensitivities are much higher for weak forcing than for strong forcing (their intermittencies are different) and we quantify this with statistical scaling exponents.
Στον ελληνικό περιοδικό τύπο του 19ου αιώνα κυριαρχεί η αρθρογραφία για την Ελληνική αρχαιότητα αντανακλώντας το φλέγον ζητούμενο της εποχής, τη σύνδεση του νεώτερου Ελληνισμού με την ελληνική αρχαιότητα, με σκοπό την δημιουργία μιας εθνικής ταυτότητας, την πολυπόθητη διαμόρφωση της εθνικής συνείδησης, συνυφασμένη με τον ευρωπαϊσμό. Η ελληνική αρχαιότητα αποκαλύπτεται στους φιλομαθείς του νεοσύστατου κρατιδίου μέσα από τις μεταφράσεις άρθρων των αρχαιολατρών μελετητών της Δύσης. Ήδη από τα μέσα του 18ου αι. η δυτική αρχαιοφιλία απασχολείται συστηματικά με όλες τις εκφάνσεις του αρχαιοελληνικού πολιτισμού, τις οποίες –ως επακόλουθο- ενσωματώνει στη σύγχρονη ευρωπαϊκή σκέψη και πνευματική δημιουργία, παράγοντας διακείμενα σε όλους τους τομείς των γραμμάτων και των τεχνών (φιλοσοφία, λογοτεχνία, θέατρο, μουσική, καλές τέχνες, αρχιτεκτονική). Το άρθρο πραγματεύεται μία δημοσίευση στην Ιωνική Μέλισσα στις 16/11/1850, το οποίο τιτλοφορείται «Οιδίπους Τύραννος» και υπογράφεται από τον «Πείσανδρο», πιθανό ψευδώνυμο –δίχως να έχει επιβεβαιωθεί η πληροφορία- του Ικέσιου Λάτρη (1799 - 1881), Σμυρναίου λόγιου, αγωνιστή του 1821 και πολιτικού της νεοσύστατης Ελλάδας. Στο εν λόγω άρθρο, το οποίο αναφέρεται στα θέματα της πρόσληψης του αρχαίου θεάτρου, αναπτύσσεται ένας πρώιμος προβληματισμός, για τον οποίον όμως προτάσσονται λύσεις και περιγράφεται ο τρόπος υλοποίησης μίας πολιτικής στρατηγικής.
Talented and well educated in philosophy, classics and Italian literature, Foscolo gave literary expression to his ideological aspirations and to his numerous amorous experiences in odes, sonnets, plays, poems and an epistolary novel. Concurrent with his rich literary output, Foscolo's correspondence represents a unique perspective from which to monitor his literary and political views and investigate aspects of his everyday life. Among other interesting information, one can find elements of Foscolo medical history which is generally unknown. In the present article we investigate the longstanding lower urinary tract symptoms as reported by the poet in his correspondence to his family and friends.
We analyzed a large number of focal mechanisms and relocated earthquake hypocenters to investigate the geodynamics of western Greece, the most seismically active part of the Aegean plate-boundary zone. This region was seismically activated multiple times during the last decade, providing a large amount of enhanced quality new information that was obtained by the Hellenic Unified Seismological Network (HUSN). Relocated seismicity using a double-difference method appears to be concentrated above ∼35 km depth, exhibiting spatial continuity along the convergence boundary and being clustered elsewhere. Earthquakes are confined within the accreted sediments escarpment of the down-going African plate against the un-deformed Eurasian hinterland. The data arrangement shows that Pindos constitutes a seismic boundary along which large stress heterogeneities occur. In Cephalonia no seismicity is found to be related with the offshore Cephalonia Transform Fault (CTF). Onshore, NS crustal extension dominates, while in central and south Peloponnesus the stress field appears rotated by 90°. Shearing-stress obliquity by 30° is indicated along the major strike-slip faults, consistent with clockwise crustal rotation. Within the lower crust, the stress field appears affected by plate kinematics and distributed deformation of the lower crust and upper mantle, which guide the regional geodynamics.
Using the Boltzmann formalism based on the first principles electronic structure and scattering rates, we investigate the current-induced spin accumulation and spin-orbit torques in FePt/Pt and Co/Cu bilayers in the presence of substitutional impurities. In FePt/Pt bilayers we consider the effect of intermixing of Fe and Pt atoms in the FePt layer and find a crucial dependence of spin accumulation and spin-orbit torques on the details of the distribution of these defects. In Co/Cu bilayers we predict that the magnitude and sign of the spin-orbit torque and spin accumulation depend very sensitively on the type of the impurities used to dope the Cu substrate. Moreover, simultaneously with impurity-driven scattering, we consider the effect of an additional constant quasiparticle broadening of the states at the Fermi surface to simulate phonon scattering at room temperature and discover that even a small broadening of the order of 25 meV can drastically influence the magnitude of the considered effects. We explain our findings based on the analysis of the complex interplay of several competing Fermi surface contributions to the spin accumulation and spin-orbit torques in these structurally and chemically nonuniform systems.
We explain and motivate Stefan–Sussmann singular foliations, and by replacing the tangent bundle of a manifold with an arbitrary Lie algebroid, we introduce singular subalgebroids. Both notions are defined using compactly supported sections. The main results of this note are an equivalent characterization, in which the compact support condition is removed, and an explicit description of the sheaf associated to any Stefan–Sussmann singular foliation or singular subalgebroid.
The synthesis and molecular structures of a U(v) neutral terminal oxo complex and a U(v) sodium uranium nitride contact ion pair are described. The synthesis of the former is achieved by the use of tBuNCO as a mild oxygen transfer reagent, whilst that of the latter is via the reduction of NaN3. Both mono-uranium complexes are stabilised by the presence of bulky silyl substituents on the ligand framework that facilitate a 2e- oxidation of a single U(iii) centre. In contrast, when steric hindrance around the metal centre is reduced by the use of less bulky silyl groups, the products are di-uranium, U(iv) bridging oxo and (anionic) nitride complexes, resulting from 1e- oxidations of two U(iii) centres. SQUID magnetometry supports the formal oxidation states of the reported complexes. Electrochemical studies show that the U(v) terminal oxo complex can be reduced and the [U(iv)O]- anion was accessed via reduction with K/Hg, and structurally characterised. Both the nitride complexes display complex electrochemical behaviour but each exhibits a quasi-reversible oxidation at ca. -1.6 V vs. Fc+/0.
Macheras P, Iliadis A. Stochastic Compartmental Models. In: MODELING IN BIOPHARMACEUTICS, PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS: HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS APPROACHES, 2ND EDITION. Vol. 30. 233 SPRING STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013, UNITED STATES: SPRINGER; 2016. pp. 255-339.
We consider a fluid queue with two modes of service, that represents a production facility, where the processing of the customers (units) is typically carried out at a much faster time-scale than the machine-related processes. We examine the strategic behavior of the customers, regarding the joining/balking dilemma, under two levels of information upon arrival. Specifically, just after arriving and before making the decision, a customer observes the level of the fluid, but may or may not get informed about the state of the server (fast/slow). Assuming that the customers evaluate their utilities based on a natural reward/cost structure, which incorporates their desire for processing and their unwillingness to wait, we derive symmetric equilibrium strategy profiles. Moreover, we illustrate various effects of the information level on the strategic behavior of the customers. The corresponding social optimization problem is also studied and the inefficiency of the equilibrium strategies is quantified via the Price of Anarchy (PoA) measure.
This article explores patterns of accentuation that are profoundly af- fected by the morphosyntactic structure and, especially, by the way the constituents of a word are assembled and concomitantly processed by the PF component. We first review well-known cases of stress-affecting affixation in English from various theoretical perspectives in order to discover key aspects of the architectural and/or lexical item-specific conditions that instigate accentual dominance, that is, the attraction of stress by certain morphological constituents. We propose a path of analysis along the lines of Embick’s (2014) phase-based approach to the morphosyntax/phonology interface, according to which the ability of the exponent of a morpheme to trigger a cyclic phonological rule (phonological cyclicity) is dissociated from the phase status of the morpheme (phase cyclicity) and becomes an unpredictable property of its exponent. Based on an examination of the more intricate pat- terns of accentual dominance exhibited by a group of lexical stress systems—namely Greek, Vedic Sanskrit and Yakima Sahaptin—we propose that dominance emanates from both the architectural properties of the Grammar and the idiosyncratic lexical properties of the exponents of the morphosyntactic constituents, but not in a totally arbitrary way as predicted by Embick’s approach. Notably, our study reveals that a set of significant, so far unnoticed, implicational relations between phasehood and phonological cyclicity apply: No system has dominant exponents of non-phase heads without having dominant exponents of phase heads; and, moreover, no system has dominant accentless exponents without having dominant accented ones.
Although its involvement in prion replication and neurotoxicity during transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is undisputed, the physiological role of the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) remains enigmatic. A plethora of functions have been ascribed to PrP(C) based on phenotypes of Prnp(-/-) mice. However, all currently available Prnp(-/-) lines were generated in embryonic stem cells from the 129 strain of the laboratory mouse and mostly crossed to non-129 strains. Therefore, Prnp-linked loci polymorphic between 129 and the backcrossing strain resulted in systematic genetic confounders and led to erroneous conclusions. We used TALEN-mediated genome editing in fertilized mouse oocytes to create the Zurich-3 (ZH3) Prnp-ablated allele on a pure C57BL/6J genetic background. Genomic, transcriptional, and phenotypic characterization of Prnp(ZH3/ZH3) mice failed to identify phenotypes previously described in non-co-isogenic Prnp(-/-) mice. However, aged Prnp(ZH3/ZH3) mice developed a chronic demyelinating peripheral neuropathy, confirming the crucial involvement of PrP(C) in peripheral myelin maintenance. This new line represents a rigorous genetic resource for studying the role of PrP(C) in physiology and disease.
We have continued monitoring the blazar OJ287 in the optical at several sites after its November/December, 2015 outburst. After a further large outburst that started in the beginning of February, 2016 (Atels #8667, #8697, #8705) OJ287 remained brighter than 14th magnitude [in R] for the rest of the month.
Spin dephasing by the Dyakonov-Perel mechanism in metallic films deposited on insulating substrates is revealed, and quantitatively examined by means of density functional calculations combined with a kinetic equation. The surface-to-substrate asymmetry, probed by the metal wave functions in thin films, is found to produce strong spin-orbit fields and a fast Larmor precession, giving a dominant contribution to spin decay over the Elliott-Yafet spin relaxation up to a thickness of 70 nm. The spin dephasing is oscillatory in time with a rapid (subpicosecond) initial decay. However, parts of the Fermi surface act as spin traps, causing a persistent tail signal lasting 1000 times longer than the initial decay time. It is also found that the decay depends on the direction of the initial spin polarization, resulting in a spin-dephasing anisotropy of 200% in the examined cases.
The methodological foundations of mainstream economics have been cited as one of the main reasons for its failure to account for the economic crisis of 2008. In spite of this, the status of economic methodology has not been elevated. It is argued that this is due to the persistent aversion towards methodological discourse by most mainstream economists. This attitude has a long presence as exemplified in Frank Hahn’s (1992) work. After focusing on the debate originating after the publication of Hahn’s arguments, the paper offers a categorization of the main explanations for mainstream methodological aversion. Subsequently, it suggests an explanation based on the role of the physics scientific ideal, arguing that the endeavour to achieve the high scientific status of physics by following the methods of physics, contributed to the negative mainstream attitude towards economic methodology. The relevant writings of the extremely influential mainstream economists Irwin Fisher and Milton Friedman, reinforce the assertion that the alleged hard science status of economics renders methodological discussions and especially methodological criticism, rather pointless. The paper also calls for a more systematic discussion of this issue, especially in the wake of the line of argument that links the recent failings of mainstream to its methodological basis
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.
