Το βιβλίο εξετάζει σε βάθος τη δυναμική και τη διεργασία των ομάδων και των οργανισμών, τον ρόλο τους στην αντιμετώπιση των εσωτερικών κρίσεων αλλά και των πιέσεων που προέρχονται από ένα ασταθές και διαρκώς αβέβαιο εξωτερικό περιβάλλον. Ο ρόλος της ηγεσίας, οι συγκρούσεις, η εσωστρέφεια και η παθογένεια, αλλά και θέματα που αφορούν στην εκπαίδευση, την έρευνα και την εποπτεία των ομάδων εξετάζονται σε συνάρτηση με τη δυνατότητα των πάσης φύσεως ομάδων να μετεξελιχθούν από κλειστά σε ανοικτά συστήματα.
«Έγραψα μόνη μου την Εφημερίδα μου από την πρώτη ως την όγδοην σελίδα. Φυσικά υπό διάφορα ψευδώνυμα. Δεν είχα ούτε μία συνεργάτιδα. Είχα φέρει ένα Ιταλικόν ασήμαντον περιοδικό, καθώς και το Γαλλικόν του Léon Richer των Γυναικείων Δικαιωμάτων. Από αυτό είχα μεταφράσει μίαν μελέτη δια μίαν δημοσιογράφον Αμερικανίδα. […] Είναι 6 Μαρτίου του 1887. Το φύλλον είναι έτοιμον.» Αν και η ιδρύτρια της Εφημερίδος των Κυριών - λαμβάνοντας υπόψη της τον εθνικιστικό λόγο της εποχής της - είχε επισταμένως φροντίσει, μέσα από κείμενα και δημόσιες παρεμβάσεις, να τονίσει και να αποδείξει την «ελληνικότητα» και την εθνική αποστολή του αγώνα της υπέρ των δικαιωμάτων των γυναικών προτείνοντας μια εναλλακτική νομιμοποιητική αφήγηση καθαρή από όποιες επείσακτες συνδηλώσεις, η μαρτυρία της αυτή γραμμένη στα 1915 είναι δηλωτική του ρόλου που έπαιξαν τα δυτικά πρότυπα της γυναικείας αμφισβήτησης τόσο στη συγκρότηση μιας φεμινιστικής συνείδησης στην Ελλάδα όσο και στην οργάνωση της εγχώριας συλλογικής γυναικείας κίνησης. Την αμφίθυμη και εν πολλοίς "αποσιωπημένη" αυτή σχέση του ελληνικού και του δυτικού φεμινιστικού κινήματος κατά τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες του 19ου αιώνα φιλοδοξεί να αναδείξει η παρούσα ανακοίνωση. Με επίκεντρο τον διάλογο που αναπτύσσεται προνομιακά με τη γαλλική γυναικεία κίνηση - πιο οικεία λόγω και της έντονης επιρροής του γαλλικού πολιτισμού στον ελληνικό χώρο εκείνη την περίοδο -, επιχειρείται μια πρώτη καταγραφή των πρωτοβουλιών και ενεργειών της Καλλιρόης Παρρέν και των συνεργατριών της (συστηματική παρακολούθηση των ξένων γυναικείων επιτευγμάτων και κατακτήσεων, συνεπής παρουσία στις διεθνείς συναντήσεις, επαφές με τα μέλη παλαιών και νέων φεμινιστικών δικτύων) με στόχο την ένταξη τους σε μια ευρύτερη οργάνωση, μια παγκόσμια «γυναικεία αδελφότητα» στο πλαίσιο της οποίας όμως η ελληνική συμμετοχή, σε ρόλο διαμεσολάβησης μεταξύ Δύσης και Ανατολής, φεμινισμού και ελληνισμού, φιλοδοξεί να διατηρήσει την ιδιαιτερότητά της.
Στο παρόν κείμενο εξετάζονται τρεις υποθέσεις: α) η υπόθεσις όπου η Ρωσία κατισχύει δια του Πατριαρχείου της επί του Ορθοδόξου Χριστιανικού κόσμου, γεγονός το οποίο συνεπάγεται τη θραύση του Rimland στον άξονα Βαλκανικής Χερσονήσου-Μεσογείου, β) η υπόθεσις όπου το δίπολο Λονδίνου-Ουάσινγκτον συνεχίζει δια του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχίου τον έλεγχον της εξόδου της Μόσχας στη Μεσόγειο και γ) η υπόθεσις όπου η Μόσχα και η Ουάσινγκτον συγκλίνουν για την αντιμετώπιση της κινεζικής προβολής ισχύος στην Μεσόγειο και όχι μόνον.
Πώς η Αμερική επηρεάζει την ελληνική κουλτούρα; Με ποιους τρόπους η Ελλάδα αφομοιώνει, επεξεργάζεται και μετουσιώνει την αμερικανική πολιτισμική επιρροή; Το βιβλίο εξετάζει την πολιτισμική σχέση Ελλάδας και Αμερικής, συνδυάζοντας διαφορετικές επιστημονικές προσεγγίσεις και εστιάζοντας στις πολλαπλές διαδικασίες μέσω των οποίων οι δυο κουλτούρες αλληλοτροφοδοτούνται και συνδιαλέγονται. Η διεξοδική ανάλυση των τρόπων με τους οποίους η Ελλάδα συναλλάσσεται με την αμερικανική κουλτούρα αποκαλύπτει όχι μόνο την αδιαμφισβήτητη παρουσία της αμερικανικής πολιτισμικής επιρροής στη χώρα μας, αλλά και ότι αυτή εμπλουτίζει, αντί να υποσκάπτει και να περιορίζει, όπως πολλοί πιστεύουν, την πολιτισμική έκφραση των Ελλήνων. Στο βιβλίο περιέχονται κείμενα συγγραφέων και ειδικών από τον χώρο της ιστορίας, της λογοτεχνικής θεωρίας, της ιστορίας της τέχνης, της γλωσσολογίας, της φιλοσοφίας και των μέσων μαζικής επικοινωνίας
Τα επιτραπέζια παιχνίδια μπορούν να αποκτήσουν εκπαιδευτικό χαρακτήρα στο πλαίσιο των μαθημάτων του σχολείου, με σημαντικά μαθησιακά αποτελέσματα. Κατά βάση συνεργάζονται σε ομάδες μαθητές με διαφορετικό επίπεδο γνώσεων, διαφορετικά κίνητρα και ικανότητες, διαφορετικό πολιτισμικό κεφάλαιο και οικονομικοκοινωνικό υπόβαθρο, για να κατανοήσουν και να μάθουν μέσω της επικοινωνίας, που αναπτύσσεται στο πλαίσιο ενός παιχνιδιού. Στην έρευνα που παρουσιάζεται στο παρόν μελετάται η διαδικασία του παιχνιδιού στην τάξη, η λειτουργία των ομάδων, η επικοινωνία των μελών τους, καθώς και η επίτευξη των προσδοκώμενων αποτελεσμάτων του μαθήματος που διδάσκεται μέσω του παιχνιδιού. Έγινε προσαρμογή ενός επιτραπέζιου παιχνιδιού (φιδάκι) στο εκπαιδευτικό περιβάλλον της Θρησκευτικής Εκπαίδευσης (μάθημα Θρησκευτικών) στο Γυμνάσιο με σκοπό την κατανόηση και μάθηση (γνώσεις και δεξιότητες). Μελετήθηκε η εφαρμογή του σε τμήμα της Β ́, στο 1ο Γυμνάσιο Αχαρνών, τη σχολική χρονιά 2013-14 μέσω παρατήρησης, ημερολογίων, ερωτηματολογίων και κριτηρίων αξιολόγησης. Η ανάλυση των αποτελεσμάτων, αφήνει πολλά περιθώρια να συμπεράνει κανείς την υψηλή παιδαγωγική-μετασχηματιστική αξία του επιτραπέζιου παιχνιδιού στη διδασκαλία.
Στο άρθρο αυτό γίνεται πρώτα λόγος για τη Θρησκευτική Εκπαίδευση στον ευρωπαϊκό χώρο, με ταυτόχρονες αναφορές στις διεθνείς συμβάσεις και συστάσεις του Συμβουλίου της Ευρώπης. Παράλληλα καταγράφεται και το ελληνικό νομοθετικό πλαίσιο, που διέπει τα θέματα της παροχής ΘΕ, της ανάπτυξης της θρησκευτικής συνείδησης σε σχέση με τη θρησκευτική ελευθερία, καθώς και το επίκαιρο ζήτημα των απαλλαγών από το μάθημα. Καταγράφονται, ακόμα, τα επιχειρήματα που σχετίζονται με την υποχρεωτική ή μη παρουσία της ΘΕ στον δημόσιο χώρο και διερευνάται το θέμα της αναγκαιότητάς της από παιδαγωγικής, κοινωνικής και πολιτισμικής πλευράς. Γίνεται, τέλος, αναφορά στον ιδιαίτερο χαρακτήρα (επιστημονικό –παιδαγωγικό) που έχουν τα νέα Προγράμματα Σπουδών της ΘΕ (2011, 2014, 2015), τα οποία φαίνεται να αποτελούν πρόταση που μπορεί να οδηγήσει, με τις λιγότερες κατά το δυνατό αντιδράσεις ή ασυμφωνίες, σε ένα ασφαλές μέλλον για την υποχρεωτική ΘΕ στην Ελλάδα με παιδαγωγικούς όρους.
ISSN 2529-1580.
Η παρούσα δημοσίευση αποτελεί την εισήγησή μας στο 2ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο ΕΕΠΕΚ για την εκπαιδευτική καινοτομία στη Λάρισα και περιλαμβάνει την περιγραφή και αναδρομή στα τέσσερα σχολικά έτη της εκπόνησης προγραμμάτων σχολικών δραστηριοτήτων σε γυμνάσια της Θεσσαλονίκης σχετικά με τη διδασκαλία για τα σύγχρονα βιοηθικά ζητήματα σε μαθητές της Γ΄ Γυμνασίου με καινοτόμα διδασκαλία, όπως με μορφές της Τέχνης (θέατρο-εικαστικά-αφήγηση) και ενεργοποίηση ρόλων (συμμετοχή σε εικονικές επιτροπες βιοηθικής).
Κουκουνάρας- Λιάγκης Μ, Βαλλιανάτος Α, Ζιάκα Α. Θρησκεία και Διαπολιτισμική Εκπαίδευση. In: Διαπολιτισμική Θρησκευτική Εκπαίδευση και Ισλαμικές Σπουδές: Προκλήσεις και Προοπτικές σε Ελλάδα, Ευρώπη, ΗΠΑ. Δίγλωσση έκδοση// Intercultural Religious Education and Islamic Studies: Challenges and Prospects in Greece, Europe, USA. Αθήνα: Μαΐστρος; 2016. pp. 132-149 και 150-166.
Κεφάλαιο 1.1. Για την επιστηµονική µέθοδο: ιστορική διαδροµή. Από τον επιστηµονικό θετικισµό στον µεταθετικισµό. 1.1.1. Λογικός Θετικισµός. Στις αρχές του 20ού αιώνα κάνει την εµφάνισή του στη Βιέννη, το ρεύµα του Λογικού Θετικισµού, που ταυτίζεται µε µια οµάδα φιλοσόφων και διανοητών που είναι γνωστή ως ο «Κύκλος της Βιέννης». Το 1929 ο κύκλος της Βιέννης δηµοσίευσε τη διακήρυξή του µε τίτλο «Η επιστηµονική αντίληψη του κόσµου» γνωστοποιώντας στο κοινό τις φιλοσοφικές απόψεις του. Οι λογικοί θετικιστές απορρίπτουν τη µεταφυσική και προσπαθούν να αναγάγουν όλες τις δηλώσεις και τις προτάσεις στην καθαρή λογική. Ιδρυτές του θεωρούνται οι Hahn, Frank και Neurath. Η προσθήκη των Carnap, Feigl, Schlick κ.ά. οδήγησε στη συγκρότηση του «Κύκλου της Βιέννης», που αποτέλεσε την οµάδα που ταυτίστηκε και προώθησε τον Λογικό Θετικισµό.
Καμιά μορφή της Καινής Διαθήκης, πλην βεβαίως του Ιησού και της Θεοτόκου, δεν υπήρξε τόσο ισχυρός πόλος έλξης για τους ποιητές όσο η μορφή της Μαγδαληνής. Και καμιάς άλλης μορφής της Καινής Διαθήκης η ιστορία δεν παραποιήθηκε τόσο όσο η δικής της. Μείζονες, ελάσσονες και ασήμαντοι ποιητές βρίσκουν στο πρόσωπο της Μαγδαληνής στοιχεία πρόσφορα για την έκφραση ορισμένων βασικών συναισθημάτων τους και, όταν δεν τα βρίσκουν, τα εφευρίσκουν.Η πλην ολίγων εξαιρέσεων απεικόνιση από τους Έλληνες ποιητές της Μαγδαληνής ως μεταμεληθείσας αμαρτωλής οφείλεται σε σημαντικό βαθμό στην επίδραση των δυτικών λογοτεχνικών απεικονίσεων της Μαγδαληνής. Αν, ωστόσο, λάβουμε υπόψη ότι ποιητές όπως ο Σικελιανός, ο Βάρναλης, ο Καζαντζάκης, ο Ρίτσος ή ο Καρούζος ήταν βαθείς γνώστες του ευαγγελικού λόγου και της ελληνικής θρησκευτικής παράδοσης, δεν μπορούμε να μη σκεφτούμε ότι ο αριθμός των νεοελληνικών απεικονίσεων της Μαγδαληνής ως πρώην αμαρτωλής είναι υπερβολικά μεγάλος· και ότι το πλήθος αυτών των απεικονίσεων θα πρέπει να απορρέει και από το γεγονός ότι το θέμα της επανελθούσας στην οδό της αρετής γυναίκας είναι ποιητικά ελκυστικότερο από το θέμα της γυναίκας που σπάστηκε τον χριστιανισμό, όσο και αν αυτή ευεργετήθηκε από τον Χριστό ή όσο μεγάλη και αν υπήρξε η αγάπη της για Εκείνον.
In June 1946 George Seferis, the eminent Greek poet who was goingto become the Nobel-laureate patriarch of Greek modernist poetry by1963, witnessed the re-excavation of the statues and vases until thenhidden in the vaults of the National Museum in Athens in order toprevent their damage, or looting, by the Germans during the occupation.As he observes the bronze statue of Zeus, a fifth-century BC work thatis still considered one of the masterpieces in the Museum’s collectionand of Greek art at large, the poet fantasizes the god’s lovemaking witha woman whom Seferis himself “would love”, as he unashamedly informsus in his diary from that day. In the paper, I use the concept ofhomosociality in order to explore the ways in which Seferis and manyof his contemporaries view classical antiquity and proceed to deploy itas a bio-political tool in order to claim a centralized role in Greekintellectual and political life. To this end, I re-visit Seferis’s two chief“archaeological” poems –The King of Asine and Engomi – in an effortto investigate the ways in which his sensory archaeologies manifestthemselves.
Στο παρόν παρουσιάζεται η έρευνα ενός προγράμματος σχολικής δραστηριότητας (πολιτιστικών θεμάτων) που βασίζεται στη δημιουργία μαθητικής ραδιοφωνικής ομάδας στο 1ο Γενικό Λύκειο Ηρακλείου Αττικής και στην εβδομαδιαία παραγωγή τρίωρης εκπομπής στον Δημοτικό Ραδιοφωνικό Σταθμό, Επικοινωνία 94 Fm, με τίτλο «Σχολικά Παράσιτα». Σκοπός της έρευνας είναι η αξιολόγηση των μαθησιακών αποτελεσμάτων του προγράμματος και η βιωσιμότητα αυτών με βάση τη θεωρία της αναστοχαστικότητας, της βιωματικής-επικοινωνιακής παιδαγωγικής και της μετασχηματιστικής εκπαίδευσης. Με στοιχεία έρευνας-δράσης οι εκπαιδευτικοί από την πρώτη σχολική χρονιά παρακολούθησαν και διαμορφωτικά αξιολόγησαν την ανάπτυξη του προγράμματος, στο οποίο συμμετείχαν περισσότεροι από 300 μαθητές (το πρόγραμμα συνεχίζεται μέχρι σήμερα). Στο παρόν παρουσιάζονται συνοπτικά τα αποτελέσματα και συμπεράσματα της έρευνας από το 2010 έως 2013, τα οποία υπογραμμίζουν την υψηλή παιδαγωγική αποτελεσματικότητα του προγράμματος σε επίπεδο ανάπτυξης δεξιοτήτων πρωτίστως και δευτερευόντως απόκτησης νέων γνώσεων καθώς και τη μακροπρόθεσμη διατήρηση της γνώσης, όπως αυτή θεωρήθηκε στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος με όρους κονστρουκτιβιστικής προσέγγισης της μάθησης.
Diakoumis G, Galanis P, Galanaki C, Kriari A, Frengidou E, Bilali A, Theodorou M. Ποιότητα ζωής γυναικών με οστεοπόρωση. Nursing Care & Research/Nosileia kai Ereuna. 2016;8(45).
Συμμετοχή στο ΣΥΜΠΟΣΙΟ με τίτλο: «Σύγχρονη Γυναίκα και Άθληση: Συμμετοχή, Προκλήσεις, Προοπτικές» της Πανελλήνιας Ένωσης για την Προώθηση των Γυναικών στον Αθλητισμό και τα Σπορ (ΠΕΠΓΑΣ) της Σχολής Επιστημών Φυσικής Αγωγής και Αθλητισμού του Αριστοτελείου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης (ΑΠΘ), 25/11/2016, στο ΚΕΔΕΑ/Α.Π.Θ. [Επισυνάπτεται βεβαίωση συμμετοχής] Προσκεκλημένη στο πραναφερόμενο συμπόσιο μετά την προφορική ανακοίνωσή:Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη. (2016). ΦΥΛΟ ΚΑΙ ΗΓΕΤΙΚΕΣ ΔΕΞΙΟΗΤΕΣ: ΤΟ ΑΘΛΗΤΙΚΟ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΕΙΝ. Προφορική Ανακοίνωση στο 2ο Διεθνές Συνέδριο Αθλητικών Επιστημών, Θεσσαλονίκη 25-27 Νοεμβρίου 2016, Κέντρο Διάδοσης Ερευνητικών Αποτελεσμάτων (ΚΕΔΕΑ). Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης (ΑΠΘ). Copy at http://www.tinyurl.com/gtggejd
Καμπερίδου Ειρήνη. ΦΥΛΟ ΚΑΙ ΗΓΕΤΙΚΕΣ ΔΕΞΙΟΗΤΕΣ: ΤΟ ΑΘΛΗΤΙΚΟ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΕΙΝ. Προφορική Ανακοίνωση στο 2ο Διεθνές Συνέδριο Αθλητικών Επιστημών, Θεσσαλονίκη 25-27 Νοεμβρίου 2016, Κέντρο Διάδοσης Ερευνητικών Αποτελεσμάτων (ΚΕΔΕΑ). 2016.Abstract
Ερευνητικά δεδομένα τεκμηριώνουν ότι οι γυναίκες βρίσκονται ένα βήμα μπροστά από τους άντρες αναφορικά με κάποιες δεξιότητες, αποκαλούμενες στο παρελθόν «γυναικείες αρετές» ή«θηλυκές δεξιότητες» τις οποίες υιοθετούν όλο και περισσότεροι άνδρες επιχειρηματίες και στελέχη επιχειρήσεων σήμερα. Έρευνες που αφορούν την παραγωγικότητα δείχνουν ότι εταιρείες που απασχολούν και προωθούν γυναίκες σε ηγετικούς ρόλους εμφανίζουν, κατά μέσο όρο, περισσότερα κέρδη και μεγαλύτερη βιωσιμότητα. Με βάση τα αποτελέσματα μιας σχετικής με το ζήτημα φύλο και επιχειρηματικότητα ποιοτικής έρευνας, η μελέτη αυτή στοχεύει να αναδείξει σημαντικούς συσχετισμούς μεταξύ αθλητικής εμπειρίας και πετυχημένης επιχειρηματικότητας. Ερευνητικά στοιχεία τεκμηριώνουν ότι ένα ιστορικό αθλητικής εμπειρίας, ειδικά η συμμετοχή σε ομαδικά αθλήματα, αποτελεί χρήσιμο εργαλείο όσον αφορά στην καλλιέργεια ηγετικών δεξιοτήτων και στην ανέλιξη επιχειρηματικών δράσεων. Σχετικές έρευνες και συνεντεύξεις που πραγματοποιήθηκαν με εν ενεργεία και πρώην αθλήτριες, πρωταθλήτριες και ολυμπιονίκες πιστοποιούν ότι ο αθλητισμός προάγει δεξιότητες που είναι σημαντικές για το επιχειρείν. Θεωρείται ότι η αθλητική επιχειρηματικότητα αποτελεί ανδρικό φαινόμενο. Ωστόσο, Ελληνίδες αθλήτριες, γυμνάστριες, επιχειρηματίες και ακτιβίστριες που έχουν διαπρέψει στο αθλητικό επιχειρείν, μετά από σειρά συνεντεύξεων, μας παρέχουν πολύτιμες συμβουλές (tips-μέθοδοι-εργαλεία ενδυνάμωσης δεξιοτήτων)για επαγγελματική επιτυχία. [Proceedings page 68—Πρακτικά 2ου Διεθνούς Συνεδρίου Αθλητικών Επιστημών (ICSS 2016) http://icss2016.web.auth.gr/el/proceedings/icss2016 (σελίδα 68) ]
Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2017). Φύλο και Ηγετικές Δεξιότητες: Γεφυρώνοντας το Έμφυλο Χάσμα. LWB-LeadingWomeninBusiness, σελ. 98-99. Κεφάλαιο: Αρθρογραφία Επιφανών Λειτουργών και της ICAP για τη Γυναικεία Επιχειρηματικότητα. Εκδότης: ΙCAP GROUP Α.Ε. ISSN 2241-4126 [e-book: http://dir.icap.gr/mailimages/e-books/LWB/index.html]
Η διανομή της έκδοσης πραγματοποιήθηκε αρχικά με «ΤΑ ΝΕΑ του Σαββατοκύριακου» στην Αττική (πριν την Πρωτοχρονιά, 30/12/2016) και με τη «ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ» (σε CD) στη Θεσσαλονίκη. Επιπρόσθετα, θα μοιραστεί στην επίσημη εκδήλωση “High Heels on High Hills” το 2017 και σε άλλες εκδηλώσεις που διοργανώνει ή συμμετάσχει η ICAP. Τέλος, θα διανεμηθεί σε φορείς της γυναικείας επιχειρηματικότητας (σε Αττική και Βόρεια Ελλάδα), καθώς και σε 2.000 εταιρείες και ακαδημαϊκά ιδρύματα, ως χρηστικό εργαλείο επί των εργασιών τους.............................................
Kamberidou, Irene (2016). Gender and Leadership Skills: Bridging the Gender Gap, pp. 98-99 inLWB-LeadingWomeninBusiness.Publisher: ICAP GROUP A.E.ISSN 2241-4126 [e-book: http://dir.icap.gr/mailimages/e-books/LWB/index.html]The book circulated, for the first time on Dec. 30, 2016 in Athens with the daily newspaper TA NEA, and as a CD in Thessaloniki with the daily MACEDONIA. It will also be distributed at the 2017 “High Heels on High Hills” and other events and conferences organized by the ICAP Group. To assist researchers, students and entrepreneurs it will also be sent to 2.000 companies and academic institutions throughout Greece.
Η εργασία αυτή στοχεύει να αναδείξει σημαντικούς συσχετισμούς μεταξύ αθλητικής εμπειρίας και πετυχημένης επιχειρηματικότητας. Ερευνητικά στοιχειά τεκμηριώνουν ότι ένα ιστορικό αθλητικής εμπειρίας, ειδικά η συμμετοχή σε ομαδικά αθλήματα, αποτελεί χρήσιμο εργαλείο όσον αφορά στην καλλιέργεια ηγετικών δεξιοτήτων και την ανέλιξη επιχειρηματικών δράσεων. Η διεθνής έρευνα – που συμπεριλαμβάνει συνεντεύξεις με πρώην αθλήτριες και ολυμπιονίκες—δείχνει ότι ο αθλητισμός προαγάγει δεξιότητες που είναι σημαντικές για το επιχειρείν. Όσον αφορά στην Ελληνική πραγματικότητα, επτά Ελληνίδες αθλήτριες, γυμνάστριες και ακτιβίστριες που έχουν διαπρέψει στο αθλητικό επιχειρείν, μετά από σειρά συνεντεύξεων, επιβεβαιώνουν τη σχέση μεταξύ αθλητικής εμπειρίας και πετυχημένης επιχειρηματικότητάς και παρέχουν πολύτιμες συμβουλές για επαγγελματική επιτυχία.
Λέξεις-κλειδιά: αθλητική ταυτότητα, επιχειρηματικότητα, γυναίκα, έμφυλο χάσμα, ηγεσία.
Ответный ход Путина: господин Путин, однако, хочет поставить мат НАТО, и если понадобится, он с готовностью принесет в жертву «сумасшедшего». Это является единственным ходом, доступным Путину: он требует, чтобы Турция максимально быстро вышла из НАТО! В противном случае Эрдоган станет разменной монетой! Дилемма: примет ли или нет господин Эрдоган требование Путина, в конце этой истории его ждет Большой Курдистан. Разница заключается лишь в том, что, если он примет предложение Путина, то обеспечит себе пожизненный отпуск на даче, где-то в Крыму или в Сочи, покинув Турцию навсегда. В противоположном случае, впрочем, его ждет вилла в Саудовской Аравии! Его место почти наверняка займут «запасные политики» вроде Абдуллы Гюля или Ахмета Давутоглу, причем Турция останется инструментом США в «Евразийских Балканах». В обоих случаях обе супердержавы выигрывают: а) 50% территории через создаваемый Большой Курдистан б) развертывание сил на ближний средний восток в) богатые ресурсы г) Сирия получает небольшую долю от выигрыша США, России и Израиля. Партия Путин-США, похоже, заканчивается вничью. Однако нет, поскольку господин Путин серьезно нарастил противостояние юго-восточному крылу НАТО и перераспределил мощности на Ближнем и Среднем Востоке, наращивая несущественное, до недавнего времени, присутствие его сил на этой территории, путем пожертвования «бешеной пешки» в Ближневосточной шахматной игре.
BACKGROUND: 18-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) scan is useful for diagnosis of osteoarticular infections. Whether (18)F-FDG PET/CT scanning may be used for therapeutic monitoring is not clear. The objective of this study was to develop (18)F-FDG PET/CT scanning for monitoring therapeutic response to antimicrobials in experimental Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis.
METHODS: A total of 22 rabbits were studied. In 20 animals, the right tibia was inoculated intraoperatively with S. aureus. Two control animals were inoculated with normal saline. A needle was placed in the tibia as a foreign body. Infection was allowed to develop for 21 days when (18)F-FDG PET/CT was performed, the needle was removed, and bone specimens were cultured to confirm infection. Antimicrobial therapy with daptomycin was initiated in all successfully infected animals for 1, 3, or 6 weeks. Following completion of treatment, a second (18)F-FDG PET/CT was performed, animals were euthanized, and infected tibias were harvested for quantitative cultures and histology. A positive scan was defined as (18)F-FDG signal activity greater in the infected tibia than that of the contralateral non-infected control tibia. Therapeutic response was measured by the change of (18)F-FDG signal activity in the infected tibia.
RESULTS: All successfully infected animals (n = 14), with microbiologically and/or histologically confirmed osteomyelitis, had positive (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans, while the two control animals had negative scans despite the presence of the foreign body [mean maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) (±SD) values 2.96 (±0.80) vs. 1 (±1.10), respectively, P = 0.04]. In the 14 successfully infected animals, the mean SUVmax was significantly higher in the infected compared to the uninfected tibia (P < 0.0001). A SUVmax of 1.4, when used as a cutoff for infection, yielded a diagnostic accuracy of 93 %. At the end of treatment, successfully treated animals and saline controls had a negative (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan (n = 4), while animals with persistent infection despite treatment (n = 12) had a positive (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan (SUVmax 1.0-3.0) (p < 0.001). SUVmax values were significantly reduced after 42 days of treatment from 3.15 ± 0.5 (day 7) to 1.71 ± 0.37 (day 42) (p = 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan is a sensitive and specific tool in therapeutic monitoring of experimental foreign-body osteomyelitis.
OBJECTIVE: Hypertensive patients with CKD present an increased risk for cardiovascular mortality. Among the proteins synthesized and released from adipose tissue, resistin is a cytokine whose physiologic role has been the subject of much research and controversy. We and others have demonstrated that serum resistin levels are higher in patients with CKD and correlate directly with inflammatory markers, including TNF-α and hsCRP. Since inflammation has been consistently linked to atherosclerosis, death, and cardiovascular (CV) events, our goal was to investigate the interaction between resistin levels and long term all-cause and CV mortality in elderly non-obese and non-diabetic with hypertension.
DESIGN AND METHOD: We studied 80 patients (52 men/28 women) 70.9 ± 8.6 years of age with hypertension and CKD. Exclusion criteria was obesity and diabetes mellitus, active infection, acute illness, chronic inflammatory disease or cancer, and immunosuppresive, anti-inflammatory or anti-lipidemic drugs. Demographic data, clinical information and blood samples were collected prospectively. The patients were observed for 5 years.
RESULTS: During the follow-up 28 of 80 (35%) patients died: 16 (57%) deaths due to CV events and 12 (43%) of other causes. Patients who died were older and had higher DBP, compared to survivors, but had no differences in BMI, smoking, SBP and HR. Deceased patients had higher WBC, hsCRP, BUN, creatinine, cystatin C, phosphate, magnesium and potassium levels and lower eGFR, Hct/Hg, T3, T4, total cholesterol, LDL-C, albumin and sodium levels compared to survivors. No significant differences in platelet count, TNF-α, fibrinogen, oxLDL, ADMA, HgA1C and HOMA-index were revealed between the groups. eceased patients had significantly higher resistin levels than survivors at baseline (p = 0.025), but adiponectin, visfatin and leptin did not differ between the two groups. Five variables, namely resistin, sodium, cholesterol, T3 and WBC remained significantly associated with survival and were used in the multivariate Cox regression analysis, which revealed that only resisitin, cholesterol and WBC maintained their discriminatory ability, as independent predictors of mortality both by forward and backward stepwise analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum resistin was a significant independent biomarker of CV and all-cause mortality in elderly, non-diabetic CKD patients with hypertension.
A model that contains a massive BH binary was proposed to explain the double peaked quasi-periodical (roughly about 12 years) outbursts of the blazar OJ287.
We present the results of a spectroscopic, photometric and orbital period variation analysis of the detached eclipsing binary V482 Per. We derived the absolute parameters of the system (M1 = 1.51 M⊙, M2 = 1.29 M⊙, R1 = 2.39 R⊙, R2 = 1.45 R⊙, L1 = 10.15 L⊙, L2 = 3.01 L⊙) for the first time in literature, based on an analysis of our own photometric and spectroscopic observations. We confirm the nature of the variations observed in the system's orbital period, suggested to be periodic by earlier works. A light time effect due to a physically bound, star-sized companion (M3 = 2.14 M⊙) on a highly eccentric (e = 0.83) orbit, seems to be the most likely cause. We argue that the companion can not be a single star but another binary instead. We calculated the evolutionary states of the system's components, and we found that the primary is slightly evolving after the main sequence, while the less massive secondary lies well inside it.
In this chapter, we focus on recommender systems that are enhanced with social information in the form of trust statements between their users. The trust information may be processed in a number of ways, including the random walks in the social graph, where every step in the walk is chosen almost uniformly at random from the available choices. Although this strategy yields satisfactory results in terms of the novelty and the diversity of the produced recommendations, it exhibits poor accuracy because it does not fully exploit the similarity information among users and items. Our work tries to model user-to-user and user-to-item relation as a probability distribution using a novel approach based on Rejection Sampling in order to decide its next step (biased random walk). Some initial results on reference datasets indicate that a satisfying trade-off among accuracy, novelty, and diversity is achieved.
Higher body mass index and adiposopathy have been associated with increased risk of hematologic malignancies such as leukemia, multiple myeloma, myeloproliferative disorders, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and myelodysplastic syndromes. Adiponectin is a multimeric protein of the white adipose tissue presenting anti-inflammatory, insulin-sensitizing, anti-atherogenic, cardioprotective, and anti-neoplastic properties. Its anti-neoplastic actions are manifested via two mechanisms: (i) direct action on tumor cells by enhancing receptor-mediated signaling pathways and (ii) indirect action by regulating inflammatory responses, influencing cancer angiogenesis, and modulating insulin sensitivity at the target tissue site. In the bone marrow milieu, adiponectin and its main receptors are expressed by the majority of bone marrow stromal cell populations influencing hematopoietic stem cells function. Adiponectin may represent a molecular mediator relating adiposopathy with leukemogenesis and myelomagenesis. Several epidemiological studies conducted to date relate hypoadiponectinemia to the risk of myeloid-derived hematopoietic cancer and multiple myeloma. Adiponectin may be a promising biomarker with potential diagnostic and prognostic utility in determining the likelihood of myeloma and leukemia progression in certain cohorts of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance patients and in myeloid hematologic malignancies, respectively. This review summarizes experimental and epidemiologic data regarding the role of adiponectin in hematologic malignancies in the context of adiposopathy. Enhancement of endogenous adiponectin, adiponectin replacement, or manipulation of adiponectin receptor sensitivity may be an attractive goal for prevention and an effective therapeutic strategy against hematopoietic cancer, specifically in overweight/obese individuals. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of the bone marrow microenvironment adiponectin in complex interactions involved in preleukemic and leukemic states.
In two short-term diary studies, conducted in an educational and a sport context, we investigated whether adolescents' domain-specific and situation-specific self-determined motivation, along with future time perspective, could explain intrapersonal variation of and interpersonal differences in psychological functioning. In both studies intrapersonal fluctuation of self-determined motivation related positively to desired outcomes, with perceived autonomy operating as a predictor of situation-specific self-determined motivation (Study 2). Moreover, in both Study 1 ( N = 57 high-school students) and Study 2 ( N = 63 athletes participating in a three-week basketball camp) we found interpersonal differences in domain-specific autonomous motivation and future time perspective to predict positively mean levels of most of the positive outcomes. These results underscore the key role of self-determined motivation and future time perspective in the prediction of psychological functioning and the importance of looking not only at the interpersonal differences but also at the underlying motivational dynamics operating at the within-person level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Copyright of Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology is the property of Guilford Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Aretaeus of Cappadocia did not deal systematically with the study of anatomy, as it can be assumed from the thorough study of his remaining work, as well as the references to the topics and the fragments of his lost treatises. We could also extract useful information on anatomy through his analytical descriptions about the various diseases in his remaining work. A perfect example is the anatomy of the upper and inferior vena cava exposed in his work on acute diseases.
We present results from the application of Kopal's method for eclipsing binaries to the analysis of the transit light curve of exoplanet HD 209458, using very accurate photometric observations made with the Hubble Space Telescope. The fitting of the model parameters to the data was achieved by use of the Simulated Annealing algorithm. Furthermore, we utilized a transformation of the limb darkening coefficients that negates the need to specify limits for their values (uninformative sampling), yet still yield physically plausible results.
Nowadays, Early Warning Systems (EWSs) are of great importance for urban seismic risk and emergency management. In this work, we describe the development and combination of a series of approaches for constructing a database of earthquake spatial effects towards creating a EWS for the Lefkada old town, situated in one of the most seismically active areas of the Mediterranean region. The geospatial information presented regards the earthquake damage probability at the target site and it is derived from seismic scenarios developed by combining seismic sources, vulnerability of buildings and site effects.Vulnerability was assessed empirically for individual buildings through a field survey.Site effects were determined using dense ambient noise HVSR measurements atselected points in Lefkada old town and available data from geotechnical boreholes.1D viscoelastic soil models were determined for each point by inverting the HVSRcurves using a Monte Carlo approach. Peak ground acceleration was assessed at each point using the point-source stochastic simulation scheme, by applying the siteamplification deduced from the 1D viscoelastic models. Seismic risk scenarios weredeveloped assuming two seismic sources (a) the earthquake on August 14th 2003 with M6.2 at a distance of 13 km from Lefkada old town and (b) a future nearest maximum credible earthquake with M7 at the same distance.The discrete damage probability was resolved by formulating a beta distribution of an average damage grade related to the vulnerability and the simulated PGA through empirical equations. The obtained models are found to be comparable with co-seismic observations during the 2003 earthquake and hence they are likely appropriate for preparing future emergency plans for the target site. An adaptable Arc-GIS automated procedure to map earthquake damage scenarios is currently being developed by implementing the above mentioned methods.
OBJECTIVES: Infections caused by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae are increasing worldwide, especially in ICUs, and have been associated with high mortality rates. However, unequivocally demonstrating causality of such infections to death is difficult in critically ill patients because of potential confounding and competing events. Here, we quantified the effects of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae carriage on patient outcome in two Greek ICUs with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae endemicity.
DESIGN: Observational cohort study.
SETTING: Two ICUs with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae endemicity.
PATIENTS: Patients admitted to the ICU with an expected length of ICU stay of at least 3 days were included.
INTERVENTIONS: None.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae colonization was established through screening in perineum swabs obtained at admission and twice weekly and inoculated on chromogenic plates. Detection of carbapenemases was performed phenotypically, with confirmation by polymerase chain reaction. Risk factors for ICU mortality were evaluated using cause-specific hazard ratios and subdistribution hazard ratios, with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae colonization as time-varying covariate. One thousand seven patients were included, 36 (3.6%) were colonized at admission, and 96 (9.5%) acquired carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae colonization during ICU stay, and 301 (29.9%) died in ICU. Of 132 carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates, 125 (94.7%) were Klebsiella pneumoniae and 74 harbored K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (56.1%), 54 metallo-β-lactamase (40.9%), and four both (3.0%). Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae colonization was associated with a statistically significant increase of the subdistribution hazard ratio for ICU mortality (subdistribution hazard ratio=1.79; 95% CI, 1.31-2.43), not explained by an increased daily hazard of dying (cause-specific hazard ratio for death=1.02; 95% CI, 0.74-1.41), but by an increased length of stay (cause-specific hazard ratio for discharge alive=0.73; 95% CI, 0.51-0.94). Other risk factors in the subdistribution hazard model were Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (subdistribution hazard ratio=1.13; 95% CI, 1.11-1.15), female gender (subdistribution hazard ratio=1.29; 95% CI, 1.02-1.62), presence of solid tumor (subdistribution hazard ratio=1.54; 95% CI, 1.15-2.06), hematopoietic malignancy (subdistribution hazard ratio=1.61; 95% CI, 1.04-2.51), and immunodeficiency (subdistribution hazard ratio=1.59; 95% CI, 1.11-2.27).
CONCLUSIONS: Patients colonized with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae have on average a 1.79 times higher hazard of dying in ICU than noncolonized patients, primarily because of an increased length of stay.
Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) refers to an indolent cutaneous lymphoma. The association of prognostic clinicopathological risk factors with a second hematologic malignancy has not yet been determined. We investigated the prognostic effect of clinicopathological characteristics on the occurrence of a second lymphoma, as well as the first-line treatment, in 24 patients diagnosed with LyP using logistic regression models. We showed that lymphoma occurrence was associated with a lower mean age at onset of LyP symptoms, histological types B and C, head-located LyP lesions and a higher frequency of LyP recurrences. In multivariate analyses, histologic type A was associated with a lower risk of second lymphoma (odds ratio [OR] = 0.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.014-0.98; p = 0.045) adjusting for age of LyP first symptomatology, and an important increased lymphoma-free survival rate (long-rank test; p = 0.06). Clinicopathological characteristics are important in defining the clearance or persistence of LyP lesions and may predict the occurrence of a second lymphoma.
The new research initiative APAPES (http://apapes.physics.uoc.gr/) has already established a new experimental station with a beam line dedicated for atomic collisions physics research, at the 5 MV TANDEM accelerator of the National Research Centre "Demokritos" in Athens, Greece. A complete zero-degree Auger projectile spectroscopy (ZAPS) apparatus has been put together to perform high resolution studies of electrons emitted in ion-atom collisions. A single stage hemispherical spectrometer with a 2-dimensional Position Sensitive Detector (PSD) combined with a doubly-differentially pumped gas target will be used to perform a systematic isoelectronic investigation of K-Auger spectra emitted from collisions of preexcited and ground state He-like ions with gas targets using novel techniques. Our intention is to provide a more thorough understanding of cascade feeding of the 1s2s2p 4 P metastable states produced by electron capture in collisions of He-like ions with gas targets and further elucidate their role in the non-statistical production of excited three-electron 1s2s2p states by electron capture, recently a field of conflicting interpretations awaiting further resolution. At the moment, the apparatus is being completed and the spectrometer will soon be fully operational. Here we present the project progress and the recent high resolution spectrum obtained in collisions of 12 MeV C 4+ on a Neon gas target.
The Barremian and Aptianwere times of global plate reconfiguration and profound changes in the ocean–climate system, culminating in the worldwide deposition of lower Aptian black shale layers (OAE 1a). Based on high resolution lithostratigraphic and micropaleontological analyses, precursor conditions and timing of the anoxia are here reconstructed along a 33.06 m thick section in the proposed Barremian/Aptian boundary GSSP stratotype at Gorgo a Cerbara (Umbria–Marche Basin, Italy).
A non-uniform history of benthic foraminiferal diversification is interrupted by the Selli Level (= OAE 1a) and by three turnover points for both benthic and planktic organisms, each highlighted by prominent breaks in lithology and outcrop morphology. The first two points, at ~1.1 Myr and ~20–50 kyr prior to the onset of the OAE 1a, correspond respectively to the nannoconid (=bathypelagic calcareous nannofossils) ‘decline’ and ‘crisis’ events, and separate: (a) pelagic limestone/chert-claystone lithological cycles of the uppermost Maiolica Formation, showing frequencies reminiscent of orbital eccentricity and containing an oligotrophic Barremian benthic and planktic assemblage, dominated by k-selected nannoconids and Rhizammina; (b) greenish-grey cherty marls of the lowermost Marne a Fucoidi Formation, associated to declining sedimentation rates and eutrophic early Aptian assemblages dominated by radiolarians and lituolid benthic foraminifera; and (c) anoxic radiolarites and shales of the carbonate-free Selli Level. High magnitude and frequency assemblage fluctuations occur between the nannoconid crisis (~25 cm below the lowermost OAE 1a black shale layer) and the Selli Level base, with suggestions of bottom-water acidification. At ~800 kyr after the OAE 1a end, a third turnover point in the basal reddish member of the Marne a Fucoidi highlights ‘middle’ Aptian assemblages characterized by a bloom of early macroperforate planktic foraminifera (Hedbergella spp.) and appearances of new benthic species, marking a shift towards better oxygenation.
OAE 1a oxygen and pelagic carbonate factory crises are here suggested to have been step-wise and linked to global warming conditions.
We present the spectral signatures of the Bethe-Heitler pair production (pe) process on the spectral energy distribution (SED) of blazars, in scenarios where the hard γ-ray emission is of photohadronic origin. If relativistic protons interact with the synchrotron blazar photons producing γ rays through photopion processes, we show that, besides the ∼2-20 PeV neutrino emission, the typical blazar SED should have an emission feature due to the synchrotron emission of pe secondaries that bridges the gap between the low- and high-energy humps of the SED, namely in the energy range 40 keV-40 MeV. We first present analytical expressions for the photopion and pe loss rates in terms of observable quantities of blazar emission. For the pe loss rate in particular, we derive a new approximate analytical expression for the case of a power-law photon distribution, which has an excellent accuracy with the numerically calculated exact one, especially at energies much above the threshold for pair production. We show that for typical blazar parameters, the photopair synchrotron emission emerges in the hard X-ray/soft γ-ray energy range with a characteristic spectral shape and non-negligible flux, which may even be comparable to the hard γ-ray flux produced through photopion processes. We argue that the expected `pe bumps' are a natural consequence of leptohadronic models, and as such, they may indicate that blazars with a three-hump SED are possible emitters of high-energy neutrinos.
We present the spectral signatures of the Bethe-Heitler pair production (pe) process on the spectral energy distribution (SED) of blazars, in scenarios where the hard γ-ray emission is of photohadronic origin. If relativistic protons interact with the synchrotron blazar photons producing γ rays through photopion processes, we show that, besides the ∼2-20 PeV neutrino emission, the typical blazar SED should have an emission feature due to the synchrotron emission of pe secondaries that bridges the gap between the low- and high-energy humps of the SED, namely in the energy range 40 keV-40 MeV. We first present analytical expressions for the photopion and pe loss rates in terms of observable quantities of blazar emission. For the pe loss rate in particular, we derive a new approximate analytical expression for the case of a power-law photon distribution, which has an excellent accuracy with the numerically calculated exact one, especially at energies much above the threshold for pair production. We show that for typical blazar parameters, the photopair synchrotron emission emerges in the hard X-ray/soft γ-ray energy range with a characteristic spectral shape and non-negligible flux, which may even be comparable to the hard γ-ray flux produced through photopion processes. We argue that the expected `pe bumps' are a natural consequence of leptohadronic models, and as such, they may indicate that blazars with a three-hump SED are possible emitters of high-energy neutrinos.
Big Events are processes like macroeconomic transitions that have lowered social well-being in various settings in the past. Greece has been hit by the global crisis and experienced an HIV outbreak among people who inject drugs. Since the crisis began (2008), Greece has seen population displacement, inter-communal violence, cuts in governmental expenditures, and social movements. These may have affected normative regulation, networks, and behaviors. However, most pathways to risk remain unknown or unmeasured. We use what is known and unknown about the Greek HIV outbreak to suggest modifications in Big Events models and the need for additional research.
Big Events are processes like macroeconomic transitions that have lowered social well-being in various settings in the past. Greece has been hit by the global crisis and experienced an HIV outbreak among people who inject drugs. Since the crisis began (2008), Greece has seen population displacement, inter-communal violence, cuts in governmental expenditures, and social movements. These may have affected normative regulation, networks, and behaviors. However, most pathways to risk remain unknown or unmeasured. We use what is known and unknown about the Greek HIV outbreak to suggest modifications in Big Events models and the need for additional research.
Bone defects can be congenital or acquired resulting from trauma, infection, neoplasm and failed arthroplasty. The osseous reconstruction of these defects is challenging. Unfortunately, none of the current techniques for the repair of bone defects has proven to be fully satisfactory. Bone tissue engineering (BTE) is the field of regenerative medicine (RM) that focuses on alternative treatment options for bone defects that will ideally address all the issues of the traditional techniques in treating large bone defects. However, current techniques of BTE is laborious and have their own shortcomings. More recently, 2D and 3D bone printing has been introduced to overcome most of the limitations of bone grafts and BTE. So far, results are extremely promising, setting new frontiers in the management of bone defects.
BACKGROUND: Current clinical guidelines consider regimens consisting of either ritonavir-boosted atazanavir or ritonavir-boosted lopinavir and a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) backbone among their recommended and alternative first-line antiretroviral regimens. However, these guidelines are based on limited evidence from randomized clinical trials and clinical experience.
METHODS: We compared these regimens with respect to clinical, immunologic, and virologic outcomes using data from prospective studies of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals in Europe and the United States in the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration, 2004-2013. Antiretroviral therapy-naive and AIDS-free individuals were followed from the time they started a lopinavir or an atazanavir regimen. We estimated the 'intention-to-treat' effect for atazanavir vs lopinavir regimens on each of the outcomes.
RESULTS: A total of 6668 individuals started a lopinavir regimen (213 deaths, 457 AIDS-defining illnesses or deaths), and 4301 individuals started an atazanavir regimen (83 deaths, 157 AIDS-defining illnesses or deaths). The adjusted intention-to-treat hazard ratios for atazanavir vs lopinavir regimens were 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], .53-.91) for death, 0.67 (95% CI, .55-.82) for AIDS-defining illness or death, and 0.91 (95% CI, .84-.99) for virologic failure at 12 months. The mean 12-month increase in CD4 count was 8.15 (95% CI, -.13 to 16.43) cells/µL higher in the atazanavir group. Estimates differed by NRTI backbone.
CONCLUSIONS: Our estimates are consistent with a lower mortality, a lower incidence of AIDS-defining illness, a greater 12-month increase in CD4 cell count, and a smaller risk of virologic failure at 12 months for atazanavir compared with lopinavir regimens.
BACKGROUND: Aside from the known role of common bacteria, there is a paucity of data regarding the possible role of atypical bacteria and viruses in exacerbations of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible role of atypical bacteria (namely, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as causative agents of bronchiectasis exacerbations.
METHODS: A cohort of 33 patients was studied over a two-year period (one year follow-up for each patient). Polymerase chain reaction for the detection of M pneumoniae, C pneumoniae and RSV in bronchoalveolar lavage samples were performed during all visits. Antibody titres (immunoglobulin [Ig]M and IgG) against the aforementioned pathogens were also measured. In addition, cultures for common bacteria and mycobacteria were performed from the bronchoalveolar lavage samples.
RESULTS: Fifteen patients experienced a total of 19 exacerbations during the study period. Although RSV was detected by polymerase chain reaction during stable visits in four patients, it was never detected during an exacerbation. M pneumoniae and C pneumoniae were never detected at stable visits or during exacerbations. IgM antibody titres for these three pathogens were negative in all patient visits.
CONCLUSIONS: Atypical pathogens and RSV did not appear to be causative agents of bronchiectasis exacerbations.
BACKGROUND: Aberrant calcium signaling is considered one of the key mechanisms contributing to arrhythmias, especially in the context of heart failure. In human heart failure, there is significant down-regulation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) protein junctin, and junctin deficiency in mice is associated with stress-induced arrhythmias. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the increased SR Ca(2+) leak and arrhythmias associated with junctin ablation may be associated with increased calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) activity and phosphorylation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) and whether pharmacologic inhibition of CaMKII activity may prevent these arrhythmias. METHODS: Using a combination of biochemical, cellular, and in vivo approaches, we tested the ability of KN-93 to reverse aberrant CaMKII phosphorylation of RyR2. Specifically, we performed protein phosphorylation analysis, in vitro cardiomyocyte contractility and Ca(2+) kinetics, and in vivo ECG analysis in junctin-deficient mice. RESULTS: In the absence of junctin, RyR2 channels displayed CaMKII-dependent hyperphosphorylation. Notably, CaMKII inhibition by KN-93 reduced the in vivo incidence of stress-induced ventricular tachycardia by 65% in junctin null mice. At the cardiomyocyte level, KN-93 reduced the percentage of junctin null cells exhibiting spontaneous Ca(2+) aftertransients and aftercontractions under stress conditions by 35% and 37%, respectively. At the molecular level, KN-93 blunted the CaMKII-mediated hyperphosphorylation of RyR2 and phospholamban under stress conditions. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that CaMKII inhibition is effective in preventing arrhythmogenesis in the setting of junctin ablation through modulation of both SR Ca(2+) release and uptake. Thus, it merits further investigation as promising molecular therapy.
AIMS: H2S is known to confer cardioprotection; however, the pathways mediating its effects in vivo remain incompletely understood. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the contribution of cGMP-regulated pathways in the infarct-limiting effect of H2S in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: Anaesthetized rabbits were subjected to myocardial ischaemia (I)/reperfusion (R), and infarct size was determined in control or H2S-exposed groups. The H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, an agent that generates H2S) increased cardiac cGMP and reduced the infarct size. The cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG)-I inhibitor DT2 abrogated the protective effect of NaHS, whereas the control peptide TAT or l-nitroarginine methyl ester (l-NAME) did not alter the effect of NaHS. Moreover, the KATP channel inhibitor, glibenclamide, partially reversed the effects of NaHS, whereas inhibition of mitochondrial KATP did not modify the NaHS response. NaHS enhanced phosphorylation of phospholamban (PLN), in a PKG-dependent manner. To further investigate the role of PLN in H2S-mediated cardioprotection, wild-type and PLN KO mice underwent I/R. NaHS did not exert cardioprotection in PLN KO mice. Unlike what was observed in rabbits, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of eNOS abolished the infarct-limiting effect of NaHS in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate (i) that administration of NaHS induces cardioprotection via a cGMP/PKG/PLN pathway and (ii) contribution of nitric oxide to the H2S response is species-specific.
Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene variants are a major contributor to pigmentation characteristics and the modulation of sporadic basal cell carcinoma (BCC) risk. This is a hospital-based, case-control study to investigate the association of MC1R variants and pigmentary characteristics with the risk of BCC development in a Southern European population in Greece. In total, 141 patients with BCC and 166 controls were studied. Increased BCC risk was found for the presence of 2 or more MC1R variants (OR:3.07, 95% CI:1.13-8.34), or 2 or more variants of which at least 1 was major function (OR:7.15, 95% CI:1.37-5.52), after adjustment for the 'red hair colour' (RHC) phenotype. Increased BCC risk persisted in the presence of 2 or more MC1R variants (OR:4.15, 95% CI:1.35-12.72), after adjustment for potential confounding factors including skin color (P:0.237) and atypical nevi (OR:9.57, 95% CI:2.19-41.81, P:0.003). MC1R genotype is a risk factor for the development of BCC in Greek patients independently of pigmentary characteristics, and the combination of MC1R variants may modulate this risk.
We consider estimation and goodness–of–fit tests in GARCH models with innovations following a heavy–tailed and possibly asymmetric distribution. Although the method is fairly general and applies to GARCH models with arbitrary innovation distribution, we consider as special instances the stable Paretian, the variance gamma and the normal inverse Gaussian distribution. Exploiting the simple structure of the characteristic function of these distributions we propose minimum distance estimation based on the empirical characteristic function of properly standardized GARCH–residuals. The finite–sample results presented facilitate comparison with existing methods, while the new procedures are also applied to real data from the financial market.
Abstract The operation of a phosphate fertilizer industry in Drapetsona, near Piraeus port (Greece), resulted in the deposition of 10 million tons of phosphogypsum (PG) into an old limestone quarry, in the period 1979-1989. The whole deposit has been recently remediated using geomembranes and thick soil cover with vegetation. The purpose of the present study was to characterize representative samples of that phosphogypsum, using diffraction (powder-XRD), microscopic (SEM-EDS), analytical (ICP-MS), and spectroscopic techniques (High-resolution γ-ray spectrometry and XRF). The material contains crystalline gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) and Ca-Si-Al-S-F (chukhrovite-type/meniaylovite) phases. The natural radioactivity is mainly due to the $^{238}$U series and particularly $^{226}$Ra (average: 462 Bq/kg), which is relatively low compared to PG from the rest of the world. Furthermore, leaching experiments using local (Attica) rainwater, together with ICP-MS, were performed to assess the potential release of elements in the environment.
The main objective of this study is to investigate the variability of the thermohaline characteristics of the deep-water masses in the Aegean Sea and the possible impact of the regional atmospheric forcing variability by analyzing the available oceanographic and atmospheric datasets for the period of 1960–2012. During this period the variability of the deep water characteristics of the Aegean sub-basins is found to be very large as well as the diversity of the deep water characteristics among the sub-basins. The Central Aegean seems to play the key role in the Aegean deep water formation processes. Due to its small size, the Aegean Sea surface responds rapidly to the meteorological changes and/or the variability of the lateral fluxes and this variability propagates in the thermohaline characteristics of the deep water masses of the basin through deep water formation processes. There are many episodes characterized by a tight coupling of the atmosphere and the ocean during the examined period, with the Eastern Mediterranean Transient (EMT) being the most prominent case. We suggest that deep water formation is triggered mostly by the combination of preconditioning during early winter and/or previous winters together with the number of subsequent extreme events during present winter and not only by the total amount of the extreme heat loss winter days.
We document surface coccolithophore species composition along a N-S transect from New Zealand to the Ross Sea, across the fronts of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Emiliania huxleyi is the most abundant coccolithophore species throughout, with high concentration in the northernmost samples, in the Polar Frontal Zone and at the Polar Front. Three E. huxleyi morphotypes, A, B/C and O were recognized and show different biogeographic distributions along the investigated transect. Coccolithophore distribution appears to be strongly controlled by the location of oceanographic fronts, with minor species (Calcidiscus leptoporus, Syracosphaera spp., Acanthoica quattrospina, Umbellosphaera tenuis, Corisphaera strigilis and other holococcolithophores) largely restricted to the northern Sub-Antarctic Zone, only showing minor occurrence in the southern Sub-Antarctic Zone and being very rare in the Polar Frontal Zone. Our data confirm previous findings and add new information on the biogeography of minor coccolithophore species in relation with oceanographic features. Overall, integration with previous data on the southern extent distribution of E. huxleyi showed no significant temporal shifts in the polar dynamic perspective of the species since early observations.
Numerous specimens of coccolithophore combination coccospheres in water samples collected from the North Aegean and Tyrrhenian (Mediterranean Sea) have been photographed using the scanning electron microscope.As a consequence a series of taxonomic revisions are proposed, in which the names of the heterococcolithophores and holococcolithophores involved in the same life-cycle are synonymized. This has resulted in synonymizing the genus Coronosphaera with Syracosphaera and establishing one new combination; Syracosphaera arethusae (Kamptner 1941) comb. nov.
In 2012 Markarian 421 underwent the largest flare ever observed in this blazar at radio frequencies. In the present study, we start exploring this unique event and compare it to a less extreme event in 2013. We use 15 GHz radio data obtained with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory 40-m telescope, 95 GHz millimetre data from the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-Wave Astronomy, and GeV γ-ray data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The radio light curves during the flaring periods in 2012 and 2013 have very different appearances, in both shape and peak flux density. Assuming that the radio and γ-ray flares are physically connected, we attempt to model the most prominent sub-flares of the 2012 and 2013 activity periods by using the simplest possible theoretical framework. We first fit a one-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model to the less extreme 2013 flare and estimate parameters describing the emission region. We then model the major γ-ray and radio flares of 2012 using the same framework. The 2012 γ-ray flare shows two distinct spikes of similar amplitude, so we examine scenarios associating the radio flare with each spike in turn. In the first scenario, we cannot explain the sharp radio flare with a simple SSC model, but we can accommodate this by adding plausible time variations to the Doppler beaming factor. In the second scenario, a varying Doppler factor is not needed, but the SSC model parameters require fine-tuning. Both alternatives indicate that the sharp radio flare, if physically connected to the preceding γ-ray flares, can be reproduced only for a very specific choice of parameters.
BACKGROUND: Recommendations have differed nationally and internationally with respect to the best time to start antiretroviral therapy (ART). We compared effectiveness of three strategies for initiation of ART in high-income countries for HIV-positive individuals who do not have AIDS: immediate initiation, initiation at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per μL, and initiation at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per μL.
METHODS: We used data from the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration of cohort studies in Europe and the USA. We included 55,826 individuals aged 18 years or older who were diagnosed with HIV-1 infection between January, 2000, and September, 2013, had not started ART, did not have AIDS, and had CD4 count and HIV-RNA viral load measurements within 6 months of HIV diagnosis. We estimated relative risks of death and of death or AIDS-defining illness, mean survival time, the proportion of individuals in need of ART, and the proportion of individuals with HIV-RNA viral load less than 50 copies per mL, as would have been recorded under each ART initiation strategy after 7 years of HIV diagnosis. We used the parametric g-formula to adjust for baseline and time-varying confounders.
FINDINGS: Median CD4 count at diagnosis of HIV infection was 376 cells per μL (IQR 222-551). Compared with immediate initiation, the estimated relative risk of death was 1·02 (95% CI 1·01-1·02) when ART was started at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per μL, and 1·06 (1·04-1·08) with initiation at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per μL. Corresponding estimates for death or AIDS-defining illness were 1·06 (1·06-1·07) and 1·20 (1·17-1·23), respectively. Compared with immediate initiation, the mean survival time at 7 years with a strategy of initiation at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per μL was 2 days shorter (95% CI 1-2) and at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per μL was 5 days shorter (4-6). 7 years after diagnosis of HIV, 100%, 98·7% (95% CI 98·6-98·7), and 92·6% (92·2-92·9) of individuals would have been in need of ART with immediate initiation, initiation at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per μL, and initiation at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per μL, respectively. Corresponding proportions of individuals with HIV-RNA viral load less than 50 copies per mL at 7 years were 87·3% (87·3-88·6), 87·4% (87·4-88·6), and 83·8% (83·6-84·9).
INTERPRETATION: The benefits of immediate initiation of ART, such as prolonged survival and AIDS-free survival and increased virological suppression, were small in this high-income setting with relatively low CD4 count at HIV diagnosis. The estimated beneficial effect on AIDS is less than in recently reported randomised trials. Increasing rates of HIV testing might be as important as a policy of early initiation of ART.
FUNDING: National Institutes of Health.
This study presents the species composition of living coccolithophore communities in the Aegean Sea (northeastern Mediterranean), investigating their spatial and temporal variations in various environmental conditions from mesotrophic to ultra- oligotrophic regions. Coccolithophores of the photic zone in the Aegean Sea are relatively diverse (65 heterococcolithophores and 34 holococcolithophores) and dominated mostly by Emiliania huxleyi, Syracosphaera spp., Rhabdosphaeraceae and holococcolithophores. Hierarchical classification using R-mode cluster analysis distinguished five coccolithophore groups: Group Ia (Emiliania huxleyi, Syracosphaera molischii and Syracosphaera ossa) prevails in the high cell density and low diversity assemblages during the winter and early spring, when low temperatures and high nutrient concentrations are prevailing. Particularly in the north Aegean, E. huxleyi is dominating the upper photic zone being affected by the Black Sea Water inflow and the associated control on the water column stratification. Group Ib (Florisphaera profunda, Algirosphaera robusta, Syracosphaera anthos and Syracosphaera lamina) becomes important in the lower photic zone, making up the typical deep assemblages, whereas Group Ic (mainly Helicosphaera carteri and Gephyrocapsa oceanica) implies an opportunistic behavior in distinctly polluted neritic regions. Group IIa (Rhabdosphaera clavigera, Syracosphaera protrudens, Syracosphaera halldalii and numerous holococcolithophores) dominates the late spring-early autumn low cell density and high diversity assemblages, mainly in the thermally-stratified south Aegean and/or shallow, coastal environments with normal/ oligotrophic conditions, while Group IIb (Umbellosphaera tenuis and Syracosphaera pulchra) dominates the coccolithophore assemblages mainly during the early autumn in the north Aegean, thus reflecting the influence of Levantine Intermediate Water masses in the middle-lower photic zone. Our results suggest that abundance and variability in Aegean Sea coccolithophore assemblages are primarily controlled by surface water circulation and the associated water column stratification,with the sea temperature gradient affecting species composition.
Markopoulos G, Karasimos A, Sgarbas K, Christofidou A. Computational Linguistics Terminology. In: The Bulletin for Scientific Terminology and Neologisms. Vol. 13. Athens: Academy of Athens; 2015. pp. 245-354.
In this paper we take as our point of departure Kostas Gavroglu and Yorgos Goudaroulis’s insight that, in the process of describing and explaining novel phenomena, scientific concepts are taken “out of” their original theoretical context, acquire additional meaning, and become relatively autonomous. We first present their account of how concepts are re-contextualized and, in the process, extended and/or revised. We then situate it within its philosophical context, and discuss how it broke with a long-standing philosophical tradition about concepts. Finally, we argue that recent developments in science studies can flesh out and vindicate the “concepts out of contexts” idea. In particular, historical and philosophical studies of experimentation and cognitive-historical studies of modeling practices indicate various ways in which concepts are formed and articulated “out of context”.
We present a method of constraining the properties of the γ-ray emitting region in flat spectrum radio quasars in the one-zone proton synchrotron model, where the γ-rays are produced by synchrotron radiation of relativistic protons. We show that for low enough values of the Doppler factor δ, the emission from the electromagnetic (EM) cascade which is initiated by the internal absorption of high-energy photons from photohadronic interactions may exceed the observed ∼GeV flux. We use that effect to derive an absolute lower limit of δ; first, an analytical one, in the asymptotic limit where the external radiation from the broad-line region (BLR) is negligible, and then a numerical one in the more general case that includes BLR radiation. As its energy density in the emission region depends on δ and the region's distance from the galactic centre, we use the EM cascade to determine a minimum distance for each value of δ. We complement the EM cascade constraint with one derived from variability arguments and apply our method to the FSRQ 3C 273. We find that δ ≳ 18-20 for B ≲ 30 G and ∼day time-scale variability; the emission region is located outside the BLR, namely at r ≳ 10RBLR ∼ 3 pc; the model requires at pc-scale distances stronger magnetic fields than those inferred from core shift observations; while the jet power exceeds by at least one order of magnitude the accretion power. In short, our results disfavour the proton synchrotron model for the FSRQ 3C 273.
Contact binaries are the most frequently observed type of eclipsing star system. They are small, cool, low-mass binaries belonging to a relatively old stellar population. They follow certain empirical relationships that closely connect a number of physical parameters with each other, largely because of constraints coming from the Roche geometry. As a result, contact binaries provide an excellent test of stellar evolution, specifically for stellar merger scenarios. Observing campaigns by many authors have led to the cataloging of thousands of contact binaries and enabled statistical studies of many of their properties. A large number of contact binaries have been found to exhibit extraordinary behavior, requiring follow-up observations to study their peculiarities in detail. For example, a doubly-eclipsing quadruple system consisting of a contact binary and a detached binary is a highly constrained system offering an excellent laboratory to test evolutionary theories for binaries. A new observing project was initiated at the University of Athens in 2012 in order to investigate the possible lower limit for the orbital period of binary systems before coalescence, prior to merging.
Impaired mitochondrial maintenance in disparate cell types is a shared hallmark of many human pathologies and ageing. How mitochondrial biogenesis coordinates with the removal of damaged or superfluous mitochondria to maintain cellular homeostasis is not well understood. Here we show that mitophagy, a selective type of autophagy targeting mitochondria for degradation, interfaces with mitochondrial biogenesis to regulate mitochondrial content and longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that DCT-1 is a key mediator of mitophagy and longevity assurance under conditions of stress in C. elegans. Impairment of mitophagy compromises stress resistance and triggers mitochondrial retrograde signalling through the SKN-1 transcription factor that regulates both mitochondrial biogenesis genes and mitophagy by enhancing DCT-1 expression. Our findings reveal a homeostatic feedback loop that integrates metabolic signals to coordinate the biogenesis and turnover of mitochondria. Uncoupling of these two processes during ageing contributes to overproliferation of damaged mitochondria and decline of cellular function.
A number of genetic mutations is associated with cardiomyopathies. A mutation in the coding region of the phospholamban (PLN) gene (R14del) is identified in families with hereditary heart failure. Heterozygous patients exhibit left ventricular dilation and ventricular arrhythmias. Here we generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a patient harbouring the PLN R14del mutation and differentiate them into cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). We find that the PLN R14del mutation induces Ca(2+) handling abnormalities, electrical instability, abnormal cytoplasmic distribution of PLN protein and increases expression of molecular markers of cardiac hypertrophy in iPSC-CMs. Gene correction using transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) ameliorates the R14del-associated disease phenotypes in iPSC-CMs. In addition, we show that knocking down the endogenous PLN and simultaneously expressing a codon-optimized PLN gene reverses the disease phenotype in vitro. Our findings offer novel strategies for targeting the pathogenic mutations associated with cardiomyopathies.
Nikolaos Patsantaras (2015) Cosmopolitanism: An alternative way of thinking in the contemporary Olympics, European Journal for Sport and Society, 12:2, 215-238, DOI: 10.1080/16138171.2015.11687963 ......................................ABSTRACT: This contribution offers an alternative theoretical approach in examining the modern Olympics, using a cosmopolitan perspective. The vast literature and repeated discussions on cosmopolitanism are supplementary reactions to globalisation. The development of Olympic sport is closely linked to globalisation. A great number of controversial issues affecting the Olympics have already been analysed using globalisation concepts and theories that tend to ignore the potential cosmopolitan effects that the contemporary Olympics could have as a global phenomenon and as a common global culture. This paper endeavours to rethink the relationship between the Olympics and cosmopolitanism today, using a cosmopolitan lens.
Keywords: Olympics, cosmopolitanism, cosmopolitanisation, environment, Olympic competition
Maintenance of mitochondrial function and energy homeostasis requires both generation of newly synthesized and elimination of dysfunctional mitochondria. Impaired mitochondrial function and excessive mitochondrial content are major characteristics of aging and several human pathophysiological conditions, highlighting the pivotal role of the coordination between mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy. However, the cellular and molecular underpinnings of mitochondrial mass homeostasis remain obscure. In our recent study, we demonstrate that DCT-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of mammalian BNIP3 and BNIP3L/NIX, is a key mediator of mitophagy promoting longevity under stress. DCT-1 acts downstream of the PINK-1-PDR-1/Parkin pathway and is ubiquitinated upon mitophagy-inducing conditions to mediate the removal of damaged mitochondria. Accumulation of damaged mitochondria triggers SKN-1 activation, which initiates a bipartite retrograde signaling pathway stimulating the coordinated induction of both mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy genes. Taken together, our results unravel a homeostatic feedback loop that allows cells to adjust their mitochondrial population in response to environmental and intracellular cues. Age-dependent decline of mitophagy both inhibits removal of dysfunctional or superfluous mitochondria and impairs mitochondrial biogenesis resulting in progressive mitochondrial accretion and consequently, deterioration of cell function.
In the last decades, many superconductor-based devices have been utilized in practical applications that refer to the production/sensing of ultra-high/low magnetic fields, resistive storage of data, etc. The superconducting magnetoresistance effect (sMRE) observed in ferromagnetic/superconducting/ferromagnetic trilayers (TLs) has been widely studied in the literature. Here, we investigate Ni80Fe20/Nb/Ni80Fe20 and Co/Nb/Co TLs on a comparative basis and we provide technical guidelines that empower us to design magnetic field sensors and magnetic field-controlled supercurrent switches for cryogenic applications. The performance of these TLs has been studied in great detail. It turned out that Ni80Fe20-based TLs are applicable in the regime of low magnetic fields (on the order of a few hundred Oe) due to their magnetically soft character, while Co-based ones are effective at relatively higher magnetic fields (on the order of a few thousand Oe) owing to their magnetically harder behavior. The Ni80Fe20-based TLs exhibit a sMRE magnitude, (R-max - R-min)/R-nor x 100 %, on the order of 30-50 % and a field sensitivity, dR(H)/dH, on the order of 4.0-6.0 mOhm/Oe. The Co-based TLs have higher sMRE magnitude on the order of 30-100 %; however, they exhibit lower field sensitivity on the order of 0.3-0.6 mOhm/Oe. Finally, the Co-based TLs exhibit an abnormal behavior of the upper critical field line, H-c2(T), at low magnetic fields. This feature is absent in the Ni80Fe20-based TLs. Due to the differences outlined above, the Ni80Fe20-based and Co-based TLs can be possibly utilized in two distinct categories of devices, namely magnetic field sensors and magnetic field-controlled supercurrent switches, respectively.
List of contributions from the CTA Consortium presented at the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference, 30 July - 6 August 2015, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Recent developments in the treatment of multiple myeloma have led to improvements in response rates and to increased survival; however, relapse is inevitable in almost all patients. Recurrence of myeloma is typically more aggressive with each relapse, leading to the development of treatment-refractory disease, which is associated with a shorter survival. Several phase II and III trials have demonstrated the efficacy of recently approved agents in the setting of relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma, including immunomodulatory agents, such as lenalidomide and pomalidomide, and proteasome inhibitors, such as bortezomib and carfilzomib. Currently, however, there is no standard treatment for patients with relapsed and/or refractory disease. This Review discusses the current treatment landscape for patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma and highlights disease-related and patient-related factors - such as pre-existing comorbidities or toxicities - that are important considerations for clinicians when selecting an appropriate treatment regimen.
The evolution of hepatitis B virus (HBV), particularly its origins and evolutionary timescale, has been the subject of debate. Three major scenarios have been proposed, variously placing the origin of HBV in humans and great apes from some million years to only a few thousand years ago (ka). To compare these scenarios, we analyzed 105 full-length HBV genome sequences from all major genotypes sampled globally. We found a high correlation between the demographic histories of HBV and humans, as well as coincidence in the times of origin of specific subgenotypes with human migrations giving rise to their host indigenous populations. Together with phylogenetic evidence, this suggests that HBV has co-expanded with modern humans. Based on the co-expansion, we conducted a Bayesian dating analysis to estimate a precise evolutionary timescale for HBV. Five calibrations were used at the origins of F/H genotypes, D4, C3 and B6 from respective indigenous populations in the Pacific and Arctic and A5 from Haiti. The estimated time for the origin of HBV was 34.1ka (95% highest posterior density interval 27.6-41.3ka), coinciding with the dispersal of modern non-African humans. Our study, the first to use full-length HBV sequences, places a precise timescale on the HBV epidemic and also shows that the "branching paradox" of the more divergent genotypes F/H from Amerindians is due to an accelerated substitution rate, probably driven by positive selection. This may explain previously observed differences in the natural history of HBV between genotypes F1 and A2, B1, and D.
Public companies were classified according to whether they remain public or they have been delisted voluntarily or not. Proxy variables were separated according to accounting and/or market information and an ordered polytomous logit model was then applied in order to estimate the probability of delisting. Companies with poor liquidity, high leverage, big stock price decline and lack of interest from investors’ point of view (low trading activity) have higher probability to be delisted, voluntarily or not.
AIMS: To (i) describe an intervention implemented in response to the HIV-1 outbreak among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in Greece (ARISTOTLE programme), (ii) assess its success in identifying and testing this population and (iii) describe socio-demographic characteristics, risk behaviours and access to treatment/prevention, estimate HIV prevalence and identify risk factors, as assessed at the first participation of PWIDs.
DESIGN: A 'seek, test, treat, retain' intervention employing five rounds of respondent-driven sampling.
SETTING: Athens, Greece (2012-13).
PARTICIPANTS: A total of 3320 individuals who had injected drugs in the past 12 months.
INTERVENTION: ARISTOTLE is an intervention that involves reaching out to high-risk, hard-to-reach PWIDs ('seek'), engaging them in HIV testing and providing information and materials to prevent HIV ('test') and initiating and maintaining anti-retroviral and opioid substitution treatment for those testing positive ('treat' and 'retain').
MEASUREMENTS: Blood samples were collected for HIV testing and personal interviews were conducted.
FINDINGS: ARISTOTLE recruited 3320 PWIDs during the course of 13.5 months. More than half (54%) participated in multiple rounds, resulting in 7113 visits. HIV prevalence was 15.1%. At their first contact with the programme, 12.5% were on opioid substitution treatment programmes and the median number of free syringes they had received in the preceding month was 0. In the multivariable analysis, apart from injection-related variables, homelessness was a risk factor for HIV infection in male PWIDs [odds ratio (OR) yes versus no = 1.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.41, 2.52] while, in female PWIDS, the number of sexual partners (OR for > 5 versus one partner in the past year = 4.12, 95% CI = 1.93, 8.77) and history of imprisonment (OR yes versus no = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.43, 5.31) were associated with HIV.
CONCLUSIONS: In Athens, Greece, the ARISTOTLE intervention for identifying HIV-positive people among people who inject drugs (PWID) facilitated rapid identification of a hidden population experiencing an outbreak and provided HIV testing, counselling and linkage to care. According to ARISTOTLE data, the 2011 HIV outbreak in Athens resulted in 15% HIV infection among PWID. Risk factors for HIV among PWID included homelessness in men and history of imprisonment and number of sexual partners in women.
AIMS: To (i) describe an intervention implemented in response to the HIV-1 outbreak among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in Greece (ARISTOTLE programme), (ii) assess its success in identifying and testing this population and (iii) describe socio-demographic characteristics, risk behaviours and access to treatment/prevention, estimate HIV prevalence and identify risk factors, as assessed at the first participation of PWIDs. DESIGN: A 'seek, test, treat, retain' intervention employing five rounds of respondent-driven sampling. SETTING: Athens, Greece (2012-13). PARTICIPANTS: A total of 3320 individuals who had injected drugs in the past 12 months. INTERVENTION: ARISTOTLE is an intervention that involves reaching out to high-risk, hard-to-reach PWIDs ('seek'), engaging them in HIV testing and providing information and materials to prevent HIV ('test') and initiating and maintaining anti-retroviral and opioid substitution treatment for those testing positive ('treat' and 'retain'). MEASUREMENTS: Blood samples were collected for HIV testing and personal interviews were conducted. FINDINGS: ARISTOTLE recruited 3320 PWIDs during the course of 13.5 months. More than half (54%) participated in multiple rounds, resulting in 7113 visits. HIV prevalence was 15.1%. At their first contact with the programme, 12.5% were on opioid substitution treatment programmes and the median number of free syringes they had received in the preceding month was 0. In the multivariable analysis, apart from injection-related variables, homelessness was a risk factor for HIV infection in male PWIDs [odds ratio (OR) yes versus no = 1.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.41, 2.52] while, in female PWIDS, the number of sexual partners (OR for > 5 versus one partner in the past year = 4.12, 95% CI = 1.93, 8.77) and history of imprisonment (OR yes versus no = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.43, 5.31) were associated with HIV. CONCLUSIONS: In Athens, Greece, the ARISTOTLE intervention for identifying HIV-positive people among people who inject drugs (PWID) facilitated rapid identification of a hidden population experiencing an outbreak and provided HIV testing, counselling and linkage to care. According to ARISTOTLE data, the 2011 HIV outbreak in Athens resulted in 15% HIV infection among PWID. Risk factors for HIV among PWID included homelessness in men and history of imprisonment and number of sexual partners in women.
Over the past few years, the use of electronic sources for studies by students and teaching staff has been rapidly increased. The digital information gives the opportunity of personal and interactive information. Nevertheless, much of health information is unable to be identified from existing search tools. The aim of this paper is to propose a system which enables academic members of the Faculty of Nursing of the University of Athens to immediate access information that improves patient care and the daily nursing practice. First of all, in order to achieve this goal, an on-line research was conducted on Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar. Afterwards, the appropriate digital library software package was selected. This work presents the institutional repository "Ariadne". This repository is a new service which intends to establish new conditions to archiving of graduate and doctoral dissertations. The "Ariadne" repository is not just a tool for strengthening the educational process but also a tool for further progress of nursing science.
BACKGROUND: Collagen XI is a key structural component of the extracellular matrix and consists of three alpha chains. One of these chains, the alpha1 (XI), is encoded by the COL11A1 gene and is transcribed to four different variants at least (A, B, C and E) that differ in the propensity to N-terminal domain proteolysis and potentially in the way the extracellular matrix is arranged. This could affect the ability of tumor cells to invade the remodeled stroma and metastasize. No study in the literature has so far investigated the expression of these four variants in breast cancer nor does a method for their accurate quantitative detection exist. METHODS: We developed a conventional PCR for the general detection of the general COL11A1 transcript and real-time qPCR methodologies with dual hybridization probes in the LightCycler platform for the quantitative determination of the variants. Data from 90 breast cancer tissues with known histopathological features were collected. RESULTS: The general COL11A1 transcript was detected in all samples. The developed methodologies for each variant were rapid as well as reproducible, sensitive and specific. Variant A was detected in 30 samples (33 %) and variant E in 62 samples (69 %). Variants B and C were not detected at all. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the presence of variant E and lymph nodes involvement (p = 0.037) and metastasis (p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: With the newly developed tools, the possibility of inclusion of COL11A1 variants as prognostic biomarkers in emerging multiparameter technologies examining tissue RNA expression should be further explored
The present work constitutes the first part of a multi-parametric research for the representation of damage scenarios in Lefkada old town. The study area lies in the most seismically active zone of Greece and has suffered several devastating earthquakes. Most of its old buildings were built by local practices incorporating elements of earthquake resistance and have been designated as particular earthquake resistant constructions by the European Council Cultural Heritage Unit. The most recent earthquake of {\$}{\$}{\backslash}hbox {\{}M{\}}{\_}{\backslash}mathrm{\{}w{\}}=6.2{\$}{\$}Mw=6.2that occurred on 14 August 2003, located about 10 km from the town, caused moderate damage to its buildings and substantial geotechnical failures. Investigations on the coseismic effects yielded extensive literature information, which initially motivated our investigations. This paper deals with the empirical vulnerability assessment of the buildings in Lefkada old town based on basic structural characteristics such as the type and material of the structural system, the period of construction, the number of storeys, etc. Those characteristics, primarily available from the most recent available census were further exploited by an in-situ survey, during which all 1,420 buildings in the old town were inspected. Following, each building was indexed with an EMS-98 vulnerability class. Expert decisions on the damage scale due to the 14 August 2003 event were reassessed and converted into damage grades of EMS-98. The full data set was also analysed in ArcGIS producing detailed maps of the 14 August 2003 earthquake damage distribution by structural typology and vulnerability class in Lefkada old town.
In the course of a photometric campaign undertaken at the University of Athens Observatory, the target 1SWASP J093010.78+533859.5 was observed and found to be a doubly-eclipsing quadruple system. This system was known as a contact binary since 2013, with an orbital period of 0.2277 days, and a detached binary lies along the same direction. Hipparcos astrometric observations confirm this finding, showing two stars with a common proper motion and an angular separation of only 1.7 arcsec. This favors the scenario of a true quadruple system, making 1SWASP J093010.78+533859.5 one of the very rare doubly-eclipsing quadruple systems known to date.
We report cm-size dynamic displacements of continuous GPS stations onshore the island of Cephalonia, Ionian Sea, Greece, following the passage of seismic waves from two (2) shallow earthquakes on Jan 26, 2014 and Feb 3, 2014, respectively. First, we estimated the displacements from the high-rate GPS data collected at NOA station VLSM, near to the epicenters, by using state-of-art data processing strategies. The time series of displacements were analyzed both in time and frequency domains. From the dynamic analysis of 1Hz data it is shown that the second event was recorded at station VLSM with higher amplitudes on both horizontal components, despite its smaller (22 %) moment magnitude, possibly due to its shallower depth. The static field of deformation is characterized by cm-size permanent motion in opposing directions between stations KIPO (western Cephalonia) and VLSM (eastern Cephalonia), in agreement with the right-lateral kinematics of both ruptures. The 7.4 cm northward motion of station KIPO implies that the western peninsula of Cephalonia island (Paliki) belongs to a separate crustal block with respect to the rest of the island. The northward motion of KIPO also implies that the Cephalonia Transform Fault (CTF) did not rupture during the 2014 events, because KIPO is located at the hanging wall of CTF. It is possible that the amount of accumulated strain along CTF since 1983 (M=6.8) can be released by a seismic event of M6.5-6.7, at any time.
Abstract The formation of iron sulphide minerals exerts significant control on the behaviour of trace elements in sediments. In this study, three short sediment cores, retrieved from the remote Antinioti lagoon (N. Kerkyra Island, \{NW\} Greece), are investigated concerning the solid phase composition, distribution, and partitioning of major (Al, Fe) and trace elements (Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn). According to $^{210}$Pb, the sediments sampled correspond to depositions of the last 120 years. The high amounts of organic carbon (4.1–27.5%) result in the formation of Fe sulphides, predominantly pyrite, already at the surface sediment layers. Pyrite morphologies include monocrystals, polyframboids, and complex FeS–FeS$_2$ aggregates. According to synchrotron-generated micro X-ray fluorescence and X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectra, authigenically formed, Mn-containing, Fe(III) oxyhydroxides (goethite type) co-exist with pyrite in the sediments studied. Microscopic techniques evidence the formation of galena, sphalerite and CuS, whereas sequential extractions show that carbonates are important hosts for Mn, Cd, and Zn. However, significant percentages of non-lattice held elements are bound to Fe/Mn oxyhydroxides that resist reductive dissolution (on average 60% of Pb, 46% of Cd, 43% of Zn and 9% of Cu). The partitioning pattern changes drastically in the deeper part of the core that is influenced by freshwater inputs. In these sediments, the post-depositional pyritization mechanism, illustrated by overgrowths of Fe monosulphides on pre-existing pyrite grains, results in relatively high degree of pyritization that reaches 49% for Cd, 66% for Cu, 32% for Zn and 7% for Pb.
. Finance Research Letters [Internet]. 2015;14:128-134.
This paper examines the effects of quantitative easing (QE) announcements by the European Central Bank (ECB), the Bank of England (BoE) and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) on the intraday volatility transmissions among EUR, GBP and JPY. The empirical results indicate: (i) an increased volatility transmission from EUR to JPY and GBP around the ECB announcements, and from GBP to EUR over the BoE announcements, (ii) the ECB and BoE announcements significantly increase the volatility of EUR and JPY, and (iii) a ‘‘calming down’’ impact on the volatility of EUR and GBP from the BoJ and the ECB announcements, respectively.
BACKGROUND: There is substantial unexplained geographical and surgeon-to-surgeon variation in rates of surgery. One would expect surgeons to treat patients and themselves similarly based on best evidence and accounting for patient preferences.
QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Are surgeons more likely to recommend surgery when choosing for a patient than for themselves? (2) Are surgeons less confident in deciding for patients than for themselves?
METHODS: Two hundred fifty-four (32%) of 790 Science of Variation Group (SOVG) members reviewed 21 fictional upper extremity cases (eg, distal radius fracture, De Quervain tendinopathy) for which surgery is optional answering two questions: (1) What treatment would you choose/recommend: operative or nonoperative? (2) On a scale from 0 to 10, how confident are you about this decision? Confidence is the degree that one believes that his or her decision is the right one (ie, most appropriate). Participants were orthopaedic, trauma, and plastic surgeons, all with an interest in treating upper extremity conditions. Half of the participants were randomized to choose for themselves if they had this injury or illness. The other half was randomized to make treatment recommendations for a patient of their age and gender. For the choice of operative or nonoperative, the overall recommendation for treatment was expressed as a surgery score per surgeon by dividing the number of cases they would operate on by the total number of cases (n = 21), where 100% is when every surgeon recommended surgery for every case. For confidence, we calculated the mean confidence for all 21 cases per surgeon; overall score ranges from 0 to 10 with a higher score indicating more confidence in the decision for treatment.
RESULTS: Surgeons were more likely to recommend surgery for a patient (44.2% ± 14.0%) than they were to choose surgery for themselves (38.5% ± 15.4%) with a mean difference of 6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1%-9.4%; p = 0.002). Surgeons were more confident in deciding for themselves than they were for a patient of similar age and gender (self: 7.9 ± 1.0, patient: 7.5 ± 1.2, mean difference: 0.35 [CI, 0.075-0.62], p = 0.012).
CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons are slightly more likely to recommend surgery for a patient than they are to choose surgery for themselves and they choose for themselves with a little more confidence. Different perspectives, preferences, circumstantial information, and cognitive biases might explain the observed differences. This emphasizes the importance of (1) understanding patients' preferences and their considerations for treatment; (2) being aware that surgeons and patients might weigh various factors differently; (3) giving patients more autonomy by letting them balance risks and benefits themselves (ie, shared decision-making); and (4) assessing how dispassionate evidence-based decision aids help inform the patient and influences their decisional conflict.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, diagnostic study.
We carry out density functional theory calculations which demonstrate that the electron dynamics in the Skyrmion phase of Fe-rich Mn1-xFexGe alloys is governed by Berry phase physics. We observe that the magnitude of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction directly related to the mixed space-momentum Berry phases, changes sign and magnitude with concentration x in direct correlation with the data of Shibata et al. {[}Nat. Nanotechnol. 8, 723 (2013)]. The computed anomalous and topological Hall effects in FeGe are also in good agreement with available experiments. We further develop a simple tight-binding model able to explain these findings. Finally, we show that the adiabatic Berry phase picture is violated in the Mn-rich limit of the alloys.
Background. To evaluate the effect of timing of management and intervention on outcomes of bile duct injury. Materials and Methods. We retrospectively analyzed 92 patients between 1991 and 2011. Data concerned patient’s demographic characteristics, type of injury (according to Strasberg classification), time to referral, diagnostic procedures, timing of surgical management, and final outcome. The endpoint was the comparison of postoperative morbidity (stricture, recurrent cholangitis, required interventions/dilations, and redo reconstruction) and mortality between early (less than 2 weeks) and late (over 12 weeks) surgical reconstruction. Results. Three patients were treated conservatively, two patients were treated with percutaneous drainage, and 13 patients underwent PTC or ERCP. In total 74 patients were operated on in our unit. 58 of them underwent surgical reconstruction by end-to-side Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, 11 underwent primary bile duct repair, and the remaining 5 underwent more complex procedures. Of the 56 patients, 34 patients were submitted to early reconstruction, while 22 patients were submitted to late reconstruction. After a median follow-up of 93 months, there were two deaths associated with BDI after LC. Outcomes after early repairs were equal to outcomes after late repairs when performed by specialists. Conclusions. Early repair after BDI results in equal outcomes compared with late repair. BDI patients should be referred to centers of expertise and experience.
Purpose: Maximizing the response rate to first-line therapy in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) is important because it leads to improved outcome. Gene-expression studies have identified prognostic gene sets in patients receiving bortezomib-based therapy. Comparison of the lists of genes derived from two gene-expression-based models (GEP70, GEP80) showed that they overlap in three genes, namely PSMD4, BIRC5, and KIAA1754. An unanswered question is whether early gene-expression changes can be used as predictors of the response to first-line bortezomib. In this study we aimed to examine the predictive value of gene expression changes for the depth of response after bortezomib-based therapy in newly diagnosed MM. Methods: We prospectively assessed the relation between early PSMD4, BIRC5, and KIAA1754 gene expression changes (before therapy and one week later) and the response rate after bortezomib-based therapy in 25 patients with newly diagnosed MM. Gene expression was studied by RT-PCR on CD138-selected plasma cells, and changes were recorded as upregulation, downregulation, or unchanged. Results: Whereas baseline prognostic factors including genetic lesions and stage were not predictive of the response rate, we found that early BIRC5 and KIAA1754 gene-expression changes were significantly associated with the depth of response to bortezomib (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). PSMD4 was not predictive of the depth of response. KIAA1754 upregulation was linked to complete remission (CR) or very good partial remission (VGPR). BIRC5 upregulation was linked to stable disease (SD) or progressive disease (PD). We also observed that BIRC5 upregulation was associated with worse progression-free survival (PFS). Conclusions: Our results suggest that BIRC5 and KIAA1754 gene-expression changes may predict the response to bortezomib-based therapy. These data may have relevance for the stratification and early adaptation of first-line treatment in patients with newly diagnosed MM.
"It also may be said that in our travels we saw only the bright side of Islam. Well! That is just what we desired to see; … The fact of it is, we had heard quite enough of the dark side of Islam, so we determined to pursue our studies on the side looking to the sun … Is it right, fair, or just, to visit other people in their homes, or in their countries, wherever they dwell, and come away to decry them? No! It is not right!" argues Emilie Hayacinthe Loyson, after her travels in Oriental lands in the years 1894-1896. Women travellers from Great Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and America explored, visited, worked and resided in regions of the East that were considered “proper and safe for dynamic men only” (Smith, 1887). The mammoth body of writings by women travellers of the 18th and 19th centuries, that claim to be eyewitness descriptions of the female microcosmos, provide a rich and detailed interpretation of the Orient, including a feminine version, a female gaze. European and American women identified with the so-called Other, expressed their solidarity and participated in Muslim women’s daily domestic life, customs, female social gatherings, religious celebrations and feasts. As a result, they accused male travellers- who had written about domestic manners in the East and the position of women in Islam of misinforming or mis or misleading their readers, stressing that their accounts were based on second or third-hand information, their unrestrained imagination and exotic fantasies.
Living on islands entails numerous challenges for animals, among which resource scarcity stands out. In order to survive, animals have to optimize energy acquisition. We examined the impact of insularity on digestion comparing a series of physiological and morphological traits of adult males between insular and mainland populations of the Balkan green lizard. Island lizards had longer gastrointestinal tracts and gut passage times and higher digestive efficiencies. The dissection of the hindgut revealed an unexpected finding, the presence of cecal valves that were more frequent in island lizards. Thanks to all above islanders retain food for longer periods and thus maximize energy income and increase the amount of the extracted nutrients. That way, they secure energy income from the limited, in time and quantity, food resources of the islands.
El objeto del presente trabajo es buscar las diferencias en la transferencia léxica de la producción escrita en dos grupos de estudiantes griegos de español diferentes que tienen el mismo nivel lingüístico en lengua extranjera pero siguen un enfoque educativo distinto: aprendizaje tradicional de lengua extranjera frente al aprendizaje integrado de contenido. Para ello, han realizado una prueba de producción escrita, y después se han localizado sus errores léxicos (formales y semánticos) debidos a la transferencia léxica. El método de investigación que se ha utilizado para identificar dichos errores es el Análisis de Errores. Los resultados han mostrado que la producción escrita del grupo que sigue un acercamiento integrado de contenido presenta menos errores léxicos formales debidos a la transferencia léxica que la del grupo que sigue el enfoque tradicional. Mientras que los errores léxicos semánticos generados por la transferencia léxica tienen una presencia más fuerte en la producción escrita del grupo que sigue el aprendizaje integrado de contenido. La explicación se basa en el tipo y la cantidad de exposición a la lengua extranjera.
e-learning systems are advanced systems that are used to improve students learning capabilities as well as their accessibility by utilizing information and communication technology tools. The objective of this paper is to describe the methods which are used for the process of e-learning education in the program of distance learning at the National University of Athens for the course "Hospital Information Systems". These methods include the designing of the program, the development of the courses and the exercises and finally the availability of the courses to the students through the Rea education management system. The study also outlines the difficulties and the limitations occurred during the development of the program and suggests alternative options for future improvements.
ELNAIS is a dynamic online information platform aiming to collect and report spatial information on Aquatic Alien Species in Greek waters. It covers freshwater, marine and estuarine waters, including not only established aliens but also casual records and cryptogenic species. The ELNAIS system includes: News, List of Greek experts, Literature of findings in Greece, List of species with information on their first introduction date and source as well as photos and distribution maps. Data providers are the scientific community (publications, grey literature, and databases) as well as citizen scientists. ELNAIS provides a useful tool towards national obligations and commitments under both the European and global frameworks in respect to Non Indigenous Species (CBD, WFD, MSFD).
This book is an introductory handbook to the historical and ethnomusicological study of the musical traditions of the Islamic world. The aim of the book is to introduce its readers to the role and status of music in societies where Islam has historically been the predominant religion. The book is structured around three basic themes: Sources, Perspectives, Practices. Among the topics that are being explored is the relation between music, religion and ritual, the ways music is transmitted, musical orality and literacy, philosophical approaches to music and its conception as science and as art, its performative nature etc. Music is approached in relation to other forms of art (literature, iconography, architecture etc.) and to the various fields in which creativity is expressed in the Islamic world. Overall, the book aims to to contribute to a deeper and broader understanding of Islamic culture.
Multidimensionnelle, l’histoire de la formation des francisants en Grècel’est incontestablement. Elle n’est pas que hellénique : elle articule lenational et l’international.Elle déborde également le cadre d’un simple épisode d’histoire universitaireet allie inextricablement le culturel au politique, le symbolique au matériel.C’est encore une histoire d’hommes et de femmes, de passeurs de cultureaussi. Relevant le défi posé, ce livre s’engage dans les méandres despéripéties d’une institution en devenir.Quelque cent cinquante ans d’une histoire de la formation des francisantsen Grèce sont ici explorés et analysés, au fi l d’une étude qui dépasse le seulcadre pédagogique, et s’étend aux champs de la politique, de la diplomatieou encore du genre. Fruit d’un long travail de recherche, de documentationet de synthèse, cet essai, rigoureux et exemplaire dans sa progression, authème inédit et inspirant, interroge avec perspicacité les phases, acteurs ettensions d’une histoire méconnue.Comptes rendus1. https://journals.openedition.org/dhfles/42542. https://journals.openedition.org/histoire-education/4074
The aim of the current paper is the imparting of useful information to both patients and people in general regarding the development of mental conditions based on drug addictions, through e-health. It will provide all related information in order to achieve the empowerment of the selected sample regarding their conditions in terms of conceptualizing their health status. The general part is consisting of an overview on patient empowerment and e-health. The special part refers to the details of developing and presenting the above mentioned website. The information presented in the web site is addressing the general population and not only patients suffering a mental condition or addiction. The website contains the related articles and information obtained from the related bibliographical search. The main goal of the website is to impart concise information on the related issues.
Διερευνώντας συστηματικά τις θεματικές διαμεσολάβησης, πρόσληψης, ποικιλόμορφων επιρροών και αλληλεπιδράσεων, οι εργασίες του συλλογικού αυτού τόμου θέτουν ως στόχο τη μελέτη των ελληνογαλλικών πολιτισμικών ανταλλαγών από την αρχαιότητα έως τη σύγχρονη εποχή, στις διάφορες εκφάνσεις αυτών, προτείνουν γόνιμους προβληματισμούς και ενθαρρύνουν περαιτέρω την επιστημονική έρευνα σχετικά με τον διάλογο των πολιτισμών Ελλάδας και Γαλλίας.
BACKGROUND: A significant increase in HIV-1 diagnoses was reported among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in the Athens (17-fold) and Bucharest (9-fold) metropolitan areas starting 2011.
METHODS: Molecular analyses were conducted on HIV-1 sequences from IDUs comprising 51% and 20% of the diagnosed cases among IDUs during 2011-2013 for Greece and Romania, respectively. Phylodynamic analyses were performed using the newly developed birth-death serial skyline model which allows estimating of important epidemiological parameters, as implemented in BEAST programme.
RESULTS: Most infections (>90%) occurred within four and three IDU local transmission networks in Athens and Bucharest, respectively. For all Romanian clusters, the viral strains originated from local circulating strains, whereas in Athens, the local strains seeded only two of the four sub-outbreaks. Birth-death skyline plots suggest a more explosive nature for sub-outbreaks in Bucharest than in Athens. In Athens, two sub-outbreaks had been controlled (Re<1.0) by 2013 and two appeared to be endemic (Re∼1). In Bucharest one outbreak continued to expand (Re>1.0) and two had been controlled (Re<1.0). The lead times were shorter for the outbreak in Athens than in Bucharest.
CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced molecular surveillance proved useful to gain information about the origin, causal pathways, dispersal patterns and transmission dynamics of the outbreaks that can be useful in a public health setting.
BACKGROUND: A significant increase in HIV-1 diagnoses was reported among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in the Athens (17-fold) and Bucharest (9-fold) metropolitan areas starting 2011. METHODS: Molecular analyses were conducted on HIV-1 sequences from IDUs comprising 51% and 20% of the diagnosed cases among IDUs during 2011-2013 for Greece and Romania, respectively. Phylodynamic analyses were performed using the newly developed birth-death serial skyline model which allows estimating of important epidemiological parameters, as implemented in BEAST programme. RESULTS: Most infections (>90%) occurred within four and three IDU local transmission networks in Athens and Bucharest, respectively. For all Romanian clusters, the viral strains originated from local circulating strains, whereas in Athens, the local strains seeded only two of the four sub-outbreaks. Birth-death skyline plots suggest a more explosive nature for sub-outbreaks in Bucharest than in Athens. In Athens, two sub-outbreaks had been controlled (Re<1.0) by 2013 and two appeared to be endemic (Re approximately 1). In Bucharest one outbreak continued to expand (Re>1.0) and two had been controlled (Re<1.0). The lead times were shorter for the outbreak in Athens than in Bucharest. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced molecular surveillance proved useful to gain information about the origin, causal pathways, dispersal patterns and transmission dynamics of the outbreaks that can be useful in a public health setting.
A model of floral reflectance of petals with conically-shaped epidermal cells is presented for Nerium oleander and Oxalis pes-caprae. The model was achieved by combined microscopic-scale structures and optical properties of petals; the model theory was based on concepts of physical laws, analytic geometry, vector analysis and micro-optics. The model is shown to fit experimental data of floral reflectance. Conically shaped, adaxial, epidermal cells of petals have focal regions, where incident light rays are focused on the centre of cells. Within tissues light is selectively channelled into sites containing light absorbing pigments. Particular attention was given to consequences of focusing of light within conical, epidermal cells of petals with respect to blossoming regulated by photoperiod, which acts to insure that flower opening occurs during suitable, environmental conditions.
Accurate diagnosis and treatment rates for chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) infections are usually missing. Aim of this study was to estimate the HBV and HCV treatment cascade (proportion and absolute numbers of tested, aware/unaware, infected and treated) in Greek adults. A telephone survey was conducted in a sample representative of the Greek adult general population. Prevalence rates were age-standardized for the Greek adult population and corrected for high-risk individuals not included in the survey. Of the 9974 participants, 5255 (52.7%) had been tested for HBV and 2062 (20.7%) for HCV with the proportion varying according to age and being higher in middle-age groups (P < 0.001). HBsAg was reported positive in 111/5255 (2.11%) and anti-HCV in 26/2062 (1.26%) tested cases. The age-adjusted prevalence was estimated to be 2.39% for HBV and 1.79% for HCV. Taking into account individuals at high risk for viral hepatitis not included in the survey, the 'true' prevalence was estimated to be 2.58% for HBV and 1.87% for HCV. Anti-HBV and anti-HCV treatment had been taken by 36/111 (32.4%) chronic HBV and 15/26 (57.7%) chronic HCV patients. In conclusion, almost 50% of chronic HBV and 80% of chronic HCV patients in Greece may be unaware of their infection, while only 32% or 58% of diagnosed chronic HBV or HCV patients, respectively, have been ever treated. Therefore, intensive efforts are required to improve the efficacy of screening for HBV and particularly for HCV as well as to reduce the barriers to treatment among diagnosed patients.
The 17beta-estradiol (E2)/estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) signaling pathway is one of the most important pathways in hormone-dependent breast cancer. E2 plays pivotal roles in cancer cell growth, survival, and architecture as well as in gene expression regulatory mechanisms. In this study, we established stably transfected MCF-7 cells by knocking down the ERalpha gene (designated as MCF-7/SP10+ cells), using specific shRNA lentiviral particles, and compared them with the control cells (MCF-7/c). Interestingly, ERalpha silencing in MCF-7 cells strongly induced cellular phenotypic changes accompanied by significant changes in gene and protein expression of several markers typical of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Notably, these cells exhibited enhanced cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Moreover, ERalpha suppression strongly affected the gene and protein expression of EGFR and HER2 receptor tyrosine kinases, and various extracellular matrix (ECM) effectors, including matrix metalloproteinases and their endogenous inhibitors (MMPs/TIMPs) and components of the plasminogen activation system. The action caused by E2 in MCF-7/c cells in the expression of HER2, MT1-MMP, MMP1, MMP9, uPA, tPA, and PAI-1 was abolished in MCF-7/SP10+ cells lacking ERalpha. These data suggested a regulatory role for the E2/ERalpha pathway in respect to the composition and activity of the extracellular proteolytic molecular network. Notably, loss of ERalpha promoted breast cancer cell migration and invasion by inducing changes in the expression levels of certain matrix macromolecules (especially uPA, tPA, PAI-1) through the EGFR-ERK signaling pathway. In conclusion, loss of ERalpha in breast cancer cells results in a potent EMT characterized by striking changes in the expression profile of specific matrix macromolecules highlighting the potential nodal role of matrix effectors in breast cancer endocrine resistance.
OBJECTIVES: In the past decade there have been extensive discussions on the potential utility of entheseal changes (EC) as activity markers. Nevertheless, no study to date has compared different EC recording protocols with respect to their correlation to activity patterns.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This article records changes on fibrocartilaginous entheses of the upper limbs of 90 male skeletons from the documented Athens Collection using the Hawkey and Merbs (Int J Osteoarchaeol 5 (1995) 324-338), Mariotti et al. (Collegium Antropol 28 (2004) 145-159), and Villotte et al. (Am J Phys Anthropol 142 (2010) 224-234) recording schemes in order to determine which one exhibits the highest correlation with activity. Activity is assessed by means of the recorded profession of each individual, as well as employing cross-sectional geometric properties. Generalized Linear Models are used to explore the impact of age, body mass, and activity on EC expression.
RESULTS: Our results agree with previous studies that age is the primary factor determining EC, whereas body mass is the second most influential factor. In contrast, activity in the form of profession or cross-sectional geometry rarely showed a significant correlation to EC expression and no clear pattern could be discerned irrespective of the recording technique. However, bilateral differences in the impact of age and body mass in EC expression were traced and may relate to activity patterns.
CONCLUSIONS: The differences found in the bilateral impact of age and body mass highlight the fact that the activity patterns of the individuals under examination must play an underlying role to EC expression, though current recording schemes for EC do not capture this, rendering further work in the direction of developing more elaborate recording standards imperative.
This work intends to psychometrically evaluate the newly developed Children’s Solitude Scale (CSS), a measure of voluntary aloneness in childhood. The scale assesses individual differences on what children prefer to do when they want to be alone, a rather neglected, although important developmental issue. Participants were 833 fourth and sixth graders from Athens, Greece. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated four factors, although with a less-than-optimal fit: Self-Reflection, Autonomy/Privacy, Activities and Concentration. The scale showed adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability as well as convergent and divergent validity (i.e., positive association with positive attitude towards aloneness and ability to be alone, no association with negative attitude towards aloneness, and low positive correlation with loneliness and social dissatisfaction). The results indicated the suitability of the CSS to assess reasons or motives for solitude during middle and late childhood and the necessity to further examine the structure of this type of solitude experiences in this age period.
OBJECTIVES: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a promising biomarker for acute kidney injury. NGAL can be measured in both blood and urine. Apart from kidney injury, NGAL levels in both plasma and urine can be influenced by various pathological situations. Accurate evaluation and comparison of results deriving from clinical studies require robust assays, appropriate specimen handling and reference intervals that will reflect its levels in a healthy population for both biological matrices. METHODS: We report the analytical validation of a latex particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (PETIA) aimed to measure NGAL in plasma and urine on an automated biochemistry analyzer (ABBOTT-Architect-8000). Assay performance characteristics were evaluated using standard protocols. Urine and plasma specimen storage requirements were determined and reference ranges for blood and urine were determined using healthy controls. RESULTS: The assay is precise (total CV%<4.8%), and sensitive (limit of quantification: 8.4 ng/mL for plasma and 9.0 ng/mL for urine), showing no hook effect. Calibration is stable for at least 30 days. The assay showed excellent linearity over the studied interval (20-4450 ng/mL). The analyte is stable at 4 degrees C for at least 5 days, and at 20 degrees C for 4h. Gender specific reference ranges for plasma (male: 38.7-157.6 ng/mL, female: 24.4-142.5 ng/mL) and unisex for urine (<9.0-49.41 ng/mL) are proposed. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that NGAL can be measured with adequate precision and sensitivity on automated biochemistry analyzers and its measurement could easily be added to a standard panel to screen kidney diseases
This study compares the differences in effectiveness of the five volleyball skills (serve, reception, attack, block, and dig) between men and women in high- level tournament games played at the last four consecutive Olympics. Results showed that men's and women's volleyball games are completely differentiated by two outcome measures. The first one is the higher proportion of faulty serves performed by men which is essentially attributable to the 19 cm difference in net height, while the second one derives from the fact that men outperform women at the execution of the attack.
Αντικείμενο του βιβλίου είναι η ανθρωπολογική μελέτη των κινητοποιήσεων στην πλατεία Συντάγματος το 2011, οι οποίες έγιναν γνωστές στον Τύπο ως το κίνημα των "Αγανακτισμένων". Σκοπός είναι η ανάδειξη της εμπειρίας των ανθρώπων που συμμετείχαν στην καθημερινότητα της ζωής στην Πλατεία και η σύνδεσή της με τα συναισθήματα και τη μουσική. Το βιβλίο βασίζεται στο εθνογραφικό υλικό που συλλέχθηκε από συνεντεύξεις και επιτόπια συμμετοχική παρατήρηση κατά τη διάρκεια των κινητοποιήσεων από τον Μάιο έως τον Αύγουστο του 2011.Η μουσική και τα συναισθήματα αποτελούν τους αναλυτικούς φακούς του βιβλίου. Ενισχύοντας σύγχρονες θεωρητικές τάσεις που υποστηρίζουν ότι τα συναισθήματα αποτελούν βασικό αντικείμενο έρευνας των κοινωνικών κινημάτων, το βιβλίο εστιάζει στην ποικιλία των συναισθημάτων που εκφράστηκαν στο Σύνταγμα και που δεν περιορίστηκαν στην "αγανάκτηση". Σε αντίθεση με τη σχετική βιβλιογραφία για τα κοινωνικά κινήματα που αποδίδει κυρίαρχο ρόλο στο τραγούδι, στο Σύνταγμα κυριάρχησε ο συλλογικός μουσικός και ρυθμικός αυτοσχεδιασμός.Η πλατεία Συντάγματος αποτελεί ξεκάθαρα μια "ζώνη πολιτισμικού αυτοσχεδιασμού", όπως την ορίζει ο ανθρωπολόγος Ντέιβιντ Γκραίμπερ, καθώς ετερόκλητοι άνθρωποι θέλησαν να βρουν τρόπους να συνυπάρξουν, παρά τις διαφορές τους, να "πειραματιστούν" και να "αυτοσχεδιάσουν" χωρίς να ταυτίζονται ιδεολογικά. Το πολιτικό συμπορεύτηκε με το μουσικό, συνθέτοντας μια νέα κουλτούρα κοινωνικής συνύπαρξης και εκφράζοντας μια νέα σχέση των ανθρώπων με τα κοινά. (Από την παρουσίαση στο οπισθόφυλλο του βιβλίου)
Papadopoulos VP, Zhan P, Sofianos SS, Raitsos DE, Qurban M, Abualnaja Y, Bower A, Kontoyiannis H, Pavlidou A, Asharaf TTM, et al.Factors governing the deep ventilation of the Red Sea. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans [Internet]. 2015;120:7493-7505. Website
The fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) protein superfamily of metabolic enzymes comprises a diverse set of enzymatic functions, including ss-diketone hydrolases, decarboxylases, and isomerases. Of note, the FAH superfamily includes many prokaryotic members with very distinct functions that lack homologs in eukaryotes. A prokaryotic member of the FAH superfamily, referred to as Cg1458, was shown to encode a soluble oxaloacetate decarboxylase (ODx). Based on sequence homologies to Cg1458, we recently identified human FAH domain containing protein-1 (FAHD1) as the first eukaryotic oxaloacetate decarboxylase. The physiological functions of ODx in eukaryotes remain unclear. Here we have probed the function of fahd-1, the nematode homolog of FAHD1, in the context of an intact organism. We found that mutation of fahd-1 resulted in reduced brood size, a deregulation of the egg laying process and a severe locomotion deficit, characterized by a reduced frequency of body bends, reduced exploratory movements and reduced performance in an endurance exercise test. Notably, mitochondrial function was altered in the fahd-1(tm5005) mutant strain, as shown by a reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential and a reduced oxygen consumption of fahd-1(tm5005) animals. Mitochondrial dysfunction was accompanied by lifespan extension in worms grown at elevated temperature; however, unlike in mutant worms with a defect in the electron transport chain, the mitochondrial unfolded protein response was not upregulated in worms upon inactivation of fahd-1. Together these data establish a role of fahd-1 to maintain mitochondrial function and consequently physical activity in nematodes.
Employing first-principles electronic-structure calculations in conjunction with the frozen-magnon method, we calculate exchange interactions, spin-wave dispersion, and spin-wave stiffness constants in inverse-Heusler-based spin gapless semiconductor (SGS) compounds Mn2CoAl, Ti2MnAl, Cr2ZnSi, Ti2CoSi, and Ti2VAs. We find that their magnetic behavior is similar to the half-metallic ferromagnetic full-Heusler alloys, i.e., the intersublattice exchange interactions play an essential role in the formation of the magnetic ground state and in determining the Curie temperature T-c. All compounds, except Ti2CoSi, possess a ferrimagnetic ground state. Due to the finite energy gap in one spin channel, the exchange interactions decay sharply with the distance, and hence magnetism of these SGSs can be described considering only nearest-and next-nearest-neighbor exchange interactions. The calculated spin-wave dispersion curves are typical for ferrimagnets and ferromagnets. The spin-wave stiffness constants turn out to be larger than those of the elementary 3d ferromagnets. Calculated exchange parameters are used as input to determine the temperature dependence of the magnetization and Tc of the SGSs. We find that the Tc of all compounds is much above the room temperature. The calculated magnetization curve for Mn2CoAl as well as the Curie temperature are in very good agreement with available experimental data. This study is expected to pave the way for a deeper understanding of the magnetic properties of the inverse-Heusler-based SGSs and enhance the interest in these materials for application in spintronic and magnetoelectronic devices.
The recent revision of ISO15189 has further strengthened its position as the standard for accreditation for medical laboratories. Both for laboratories and their customers it is important that the scope of such accreditation is clear. Therefore the European co-operation for accreditation (EA) demands that the national bodies responsible for accreditation describe the scope of every laboratory accreditation in a way that leaves no room for doubt about the range of competence of the particular laboratories. According to EA recommendations scopes may be fixed, mentioning every single test that is part of the accreditation, or flexible, mentioning all combinations of medical field, examination type and materials for which the laboratory is competent. Up to now national accreditation bodies perpetuate use of fixed scopes, partly by inertia, partly out of fear that a too flexible scope may lead to over-valuation of the competence of laboratories, most countries only use fixed scopes. The EA however promotes use of flexible scopes, since this allows for more readily innovation, which contributes to quality in laboratory medicine. In this position paper, the Working Group Accreditation and ISO/CEN Standards belonging to the Quality and Regulation Committee of the EFLM recommends using an approach that has led to successful introduction of the flexible scope for ISO15189 accreditation as intended in EA-4/17 in The Netherlands. The approach is risk-based, discipline and competence-based, and focuses on defining a uniform terminology transferable across the borders of scientific disciplines, laboratories and countries
In preclinical studies screening for novel antidepressants, male and female animals should be used. However, in a widely used antidepressant test, the forced swim test (FST), sex differences between males and females are not consistent. These discrepancies may discourage the inclusion of females in FST studies. In order to overcome this problem and provide a detailed insight regarding the use of female animals in the FST, we designed the following experiment and we performed a thorough analysis of the relevant literature. Male and female Wistar adult rats were subjected to the FST and sertraline was used as an antidepressant in two doses (10 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg, 3 injections in 24 h). Rodents were subjected in the two FST sessions during all possible combinations of the estrous cycle stages. We found that females exhibited higher levels of immobility than males and this sex difference was alleviated following antidepressant treatment. Sertraline at both doses enhanced swimming in both sexes, but females appeared more responsive to lower sertraline doses regarding immobility levels. Surprisingly, the high sertraline dose enhanced climbing particularly in proestrous and diestrous. Marked sex differences were also observed in the frequency of head swinging, with females exhibiting lower counts than males. Conclusively, when screening for new antidepressants, it is recommended to use standard FST procedures and if possible to include females in all phases of the cycle. Using only one dose of an investigational drug in females in certain phases of the cycle could result to false negative results.
In preclinical studies screening for novel antidepressants, male and female animals should be used. However, in a widely used antidepressant test, the forced swim test (FST), sex differences between males and females are not consistent. These discrepancies may discourage the inclusion of females in FST studies. In order to overcome this problem and provide a detailed insight regarding the use of female animals in the FST, we designed the following experiment and we performed a thorough analysis of the relevant literature. Male and female Wistar adult rats were subjected to the FST and sertraline was used as an antidepressant in two doses (10 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg, 3 injections in 24 h). Rodents were subjected in the two FST sessions during all possible combinations of the estrous cycle stages. We found that females exhibited higher levels of immobility than males and this sex difference was alleviated following antidepressant treatment. Sertraline at both doses enhanced swimming in both sexes, but females appeared more responsive to lower sertraline doses regarding immobility levels. Surprisingly, the high sertraline dose enhanced climbing particularly in proestrous and diestrous. Marked sex differences were also observed in the frequency of head swinging, with females exhibiting lower counts than males. Conclusively, when screening for new antidepressants, it is recommended to use standard FST procedures and if possible to include females in all phases of the cycle. Using only one dose of an investigational drug in females in certain phases of the cycle could result to false negative results.
Gardikas K. The Fragmented Environment of Interwar Halkidiki. In: Gounaris BC Gounaris, Basil C. ed. Mines, Olives and Monasteries. Aspects of Halkidiki's Environmental History. Thessaloniki: Epikentro, Pharos Books; 2015. pp. 163-183.
In the scope of the France-Greek program PLATON n° 30409XH “EMerChanCy”, this work focuses on the beachrocks of Paros and Naxos Islands, in central Cyclades, Aegean Sea, Greece, in an attempt to study their geochemistry and interpret their palaeoenvironmental significance. Beachrocks are coastal sedimentary formations, consisting of beach sediments that are relatively quickly cemented through the precipitation of CaCO3. However, debate still exists concerning their depositional environment, and therefore, their use as indicators for sea-level changes. For the aim of the present study, representative bulk samples from both islands were analyzed for their mineralogical (XRD) and chemical compositition (SEM). Chemical analyses were performed by XRF . The cement agent and the fine sand/clay fraction of the samples mainly consist of authigenic magnesian calcite, which commonly precipitates in shallow marine environments, especially in high concentration of Ca2+(>4 mol% CaCO3 or 1.2 wt.%). Furthermore, a series of clastic silicate and alumino-silicate minerals are detected. The predominant coarse fragments hosted within cement material are quartz, albite and K-feldspar. The texture of the beachrock samples varies from almost homogeneous sandstone to a mixture of lithologies, such as massive gravel, sandstone and claystone. Most of the grains are flattened and only rarely angular pieces of siliceous rocks occur, hosted in the fine-grained Mg-calcite cement. This grain size and shape is indicative of the genetic environment of beachrocks, implying the maturity level of cementation from early stage to modern situation. The beachrock samples derived from various depositional periods and depths, from the front and end slabs. The beachrocks were also correlated with stratigraphical material from boreholes and archaeological remains from the study area in an attempt to understand the coastal changes during the late Holocene in Central Cyclades.
We conducted a pooled analysis of 869 individual newly diagnosed elderly patient data from 3 prospective trials. At diagnosis, a geriatric assessment had been performed. An additive scoring system (range 0-5), based on age, comorbidities, and cognitive and physical conditions, was developed to identify 3 groups: fit (score = 0, 39%), intermediate fitness (score = 1,31%), and frail (score ≥2, 30%). The 3-year overall survivalwas 84%in fit, 76% in intermediate-fitness (hazard ratio [HR], 1.61; P = .042), and 57% in frail (HR, 3.57; P < .001) patients. Thecumulative incidence of grade ≥3 nonhematologic adverse events at 12 months was 22.2%in fit, 26.4%in intermediate-fitness (HR, 1.23; P = .217), and 34.0%in frail (HR, 1.74; P < .001) patients. The cumulative incidence of treatment discontinuation at 12months was 16.5%in fit, 20.8%in intermediate-fitness (HR, 1.41; P = .052), and 31.2% in frail (HR, 2.21; P < .001) patients. Our frailty score predicts mortality and the risk of toxicity in elderly myeloma patients. The International Myeloma Working group proposes this score for the measurement of frailty in designing future clinical trials. These trials are registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01093136 (EMN01), #NCT01190787 (26866138MMY2069), and #NCT01346787 (IST-CAR-506).
BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype CRF01_AE originated in Africa and then passed to Thailand, where it established a major epidemic. Despite the global presence of CRF01_AE, little is known about its subsequent dispersal pattern.
METHODS: We assembled a global data set of 2736 CRF01_AE sequences by pooling sequences from public databases and patient-cohort studies. We estimated viral dispersal patterns, using statistical phylogeographic analysis run over bootstrap trees estimated by the maximum likelihood method.
RESULTS: We show that Thailand has been the source of viral dispersal to most areas worldwide, including 17 of 20 sampled countries in Europe. Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, and other Asian countries have played a secondary role in the viral dissemination. In contrast, China and Taiwan have mainly imported strains from neighboring Asian countries, North America, and Africa without any significant viral exportation.
DISCUSSION: The central role of Thailand in the global spread of CRF01_AE can be probably explained by the popularity of Thailand as a vacation destination characterized by sex tourism and by Thai emigration to the Western world. Our study highlights the unique case of CRF01_AE, the only globally distributed non-B clade whose global dispersal did not originate in Africa.
This paper investigates two tense-based constructions in English and Greek and one complementation construction in Greek, whose import is to effect a deictic shift and allow narration to proceed from the point of view of the narrated events and a participant therein. In addition to the individual formal and discourse-pragmatic properties of the patterns at hand, I focus on properties of the embedding context, showing that these unrelated constructions impose similar formal and interpretational requirements. This, in turn, supports the statement of generalizations at the level of genre, in this case ‘empathetic narration’ as a special kind of narration that departs from the default past narrative deictically anchored to the narrator and the conversational coordinates. While the analysis adopts a bottom-up, language-driven approach to genre, it also refutes an exhaustive equation with linguistic conventions, arguing that a Bakhtinian view of genre, which includes both linguistic and socio-cultural dimensions, is more appropriate for the data at hand.
Eberl H, Spanos VC. {GravitinoPack and late decays involving gravitinos}. {18th International Conference From the Planck Scale to the Electroweak Scale (Planck 2015) Ioannina, Greece, May 25-29, 2015}. 2015;PLANCK2015:124.
Markopoulos G, Varlokosta S, Kakavoulia M, Karasimos A, Goutsos D, Economou A, Stamouli S, Fyntanis V, Nerantzini M, Pantoula A. Greek Corpus of Aphasic Discourse: Annotation Manual. Athens: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; 2015 pp. 23.
The aim of the current study was to compare the biological activities of total polar lipids (TPL) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) polar lipid fractions of sardine fillet and cod liver oil against atherogenesis. TPL and TLC polar lipid fractions obtained from these two sources were assessed for their ability to inhibit the platelet-activating-factor (PAF)-induced platelet aggregation (PAF-antagonists) or to induce platelet aggregation (PAF-agonists), since PAF plays a crucial role in the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. This study focused on the polar lipids since previous studies have underlined that the antithrombotic properties of foodstuffs are mainly attributed to polar lipid micro-constituents. TPL of sardine fillet induced platelet aggregation, while TPL of cod liver had a bimodal effect on platelets. TLC polar lipid fractions of both samples exhibited in vitro aggregatory and inhibitory activity towards platelets. However, TLC sardine polar lipid fractions showed stronger in vitro antithrombotic activities than the cod liver oil ones. These data constitute evidence of the putative contribution of fish polar lipids against cardiovascular diseases, underling firstly the beneficial effect of fish and fish lipids as functional foodstuffs against atherogenesis and secondly the more important role of sardine polar lipids as opposed to cod liver oil.
This study aims to analyse the economic efficiency of Greek small and medium retail enterprises before and after the crisis that started in 2008. Based on the Accounting Equation, we use Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to estimate variable returns of scale efficiency scores and to conclude on specific characteristics that efficient companies have, for example, on capital structure. Our results from the DEA application show a high degree of inefficiency. We found that SMEs on the islands are more efficient than those on the mainland and that SMEs in the cities are the least efficient. Size seems to be important, more so on the islands and on the mainland than in the cities. We conclude that companies should act more conservatively in terms of operating cost when the first signs of a recession appear. In addition, during a recession period, companies that have evidences that their operations will continue positively should strengthen their operations by raising more own capital. Finally, our study clarifies four issues: the efficiency of retail companies in a period of growth and a period of recession, focusing on SMEs that operate in different regions, connecting Accounting Equation and DEA and adding acid ratio as an output in our model.
In recent years the costs of hospital care in developed countries absorbed a high proportion of total health resources. In Greece, after the establishment of the National Health System (NHS), funding for hospitals comes mainly from the state budget, and social insurance, therefore auditing of hospital cost is imperative to ensure their viability, especially at this time when the country is tested by economic crisis. Overtime many factors for the increase of hospital cost have been mentioned, such as the rapid development of medical technology, the low level of organization of the hospital system and the low productivity of human resources. The problem of rising health expenditure over the past decades is a worldwide phenomenon and it has brought about many changes in traditional retrospective methods for financing in the hospital sector, with prospective financial forms that combine patient composition and needs, and the productive activity of hospital need to the rationalization and contain expenditures. The system of Diagnosis Related Groups was a revolutionary success over the past decades and has now achieved worldwide recognition.
Factors associated with information retrieval have been tested in the present pilot project, suggested an appropriate instrument chosen from previous research. The purpose of this paper is to access the internal validity and the internal consistency reliability of the research instrument. The questionnaire determine the information needs, information seeking behavior, the adequacy of online information sources, examine access, training received, barriers in using information technology and research utilization. The pilot questionnaire was distributed to nurses and physicians working in Greek hospitals and was tested for its validity and reliability coefficients.
Despite the fact that several natural products (e.g. crude extracts or purified compounds) have been found to activate cell antioxidant responses and/or delay cellular senescence the effect(s) of small peptides on cell viability and/or modulation of protective mechanisms (e.g. the proteostasis network) remain largely elusive. We have thus studied a hexapeptide (Hexapeptide-11) of structure Phe-Val-Ala-Pro-Phe-Pro (FVAPFP) originally isolated from yeast extracts and later synthesized by solid state synthesis to high purity. We show herein that Hexapeptide-11 exhibits no significant toxicity in normal human diploid lung or skin fibroblasts. Exposure of fibroblasts to Hexapeptide-11 promoted dose and time-dependent activation of proteasome, autophagy, chaperones and antioxidant responses related genes. Moreover, it promoted increased nuclear accumulation of Nrf2; higher expression levels of proteasomal protein subunits and increased proteasome peptidase activities. In line with these findings we noted that Hexapeptide-11 conferred significant protection in fibroblasts against oxidative-stress-mediated premature cellular senescence, while at in vivo skin deformation assays in human subjects it improved skin elasticity. Finally, Hexapeptide-11 was found to induce the activity of extracellular MMPs and it also suppressed cell migration. Our presented findings indicate that Hexapeptide-11 is a promising anti-ageing agent.
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of liver related morbidity and mortality. In many countries, there is a lack of comprehensive epidemiological data that are crucial in implementing disease control measures as new treatment options become available. Published literature, unpublished data and expert consensus were used to determine key parameters, including prevalence, viremia, genotype and the number of patients diagnosed and treated. In this study of 15 countries, viremic prevalence ranged from 0.13% in the Netherlands to 2.91% in Russia. The largest viremic populations were in India (8 666 000 cases) and Russia (4 162 000 cases). In most countries, males had a higher rate of infections, likely due to higher rates of injection drug use (IDU). Estimates characterizing the infected population are critical to focus screening and treatment efforts as new therapeutic options become available.
Objectives. We examined HIV prevalence and risk factors among injection drug users (IDUs) in Athens, Greece, during an HIV outbreak. Methods. We used respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit 1404 IDUs to the Aristotle intervention in August to October 2012. We interviewed participants and tested for HIV. We performed bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results. Estimated HIV prevalence was 19.8% (RDS-weighted prevalence = 14.8%). Odds of infection were 2.3 times as high in homeless as in housed IDUs and 2.1 times as high among IDUs who injected at least once per day as among less frequent injectors (both, P < .001). Six percent of men and 23.5% of women reported transactional sex in the past 12 months, and condom use was low. Intercourse with non-IDUs was common (53.2% of men, 25.6% of women). Among IDUs who had been injecting for 2 years or less the estimated incidence rate was 23.4 new HIV cases per 100 person-years at risk. Conclusions. Efforts to reduce HIV transmission should address homelessness as well as scaling up prevention services, such as needle and syringe distribution and other risk reduction interventions.
Objectives. We examined HIV prevalence and risk factors among injection drug users (IDUs) in Athens, Greece, during an HIV outbreak. Methods. We used respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit 1404 IDUs to the Aristotle intervention in August to October 2012. We interviewed participants and tested for HIV. We performed bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results. Estimated HIV prevalence was 19.8% (RDS-weighted prevalence = 14.8%). Odds of infection were 2.3 times as high in homeless as in housed IDUs and 2.1 times as high among IDUs who injected at least once per day as among less frequent injectors (both, P < .001). Six percent of men and 23.5% of women reported transactional sex in the past 12 months, and condom use was low. Intercourse with non-IDUs was common (53.2% of men, 25.6% of women). Among IDUs who had been injecting for 2 years or less the estimated incidence rate was 23.4 new HIV cases per 100 person-years at risk. Conclusions. Efforts to reduce HIV transmission should address homelessness as well as scaling up prevention services, such as needle and syringe distribution and other risk reduction interventions.
A hallmark of human and experimental heart failure is deficient sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca-uptake reflecting impaired contractile function. This is at least partially attributed to dephosphorylation of phospholamban by increased protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) activity. Indeed inhibition of PP1 by transgenic overexpression or gene-transfer of constitutively active inhibitor-1 improved Ca-cycling, preserved function and decreased fibrosis in small and large animal models of heart failure, suggesting that inhibitor-1 may represent a potential therapeutic target. We recently identified a novel human polymorphism (G109E) in the inhibitor-1 gene with a frequency of 7% in either normal or heart failure patients. Transgenic mice, harboring cardiac-specific expression of G109E inhibitor-1, exhibited decreases in contractility, Ca-kinetics and SR Ca-load. These depressive effects were relieved by isoproterenol stimulation. Furthermore, stress conditions (2Hz +/- Iso) induced increases in Ca-sparks, Ca-waves (60% of G109E versus 20% in wild types) and after-contractions (76% of G109E versus 23% of wild types) in mutant cardiomyocytes. Similar findings were obtained by acute expression of the G109E variant in adult cardiomyocytes in the absence or presence of endogenous inhibitor-1. The underlying mechanisms included reduced binding of mutant inhibitor-1 to PP1, increased PP1 activity, and dephosphorylation of phospholamban at Ser16 and Thr17. However, phosphorylation of the ryanodine receptor at Ser2808 was not altered while phosphorylation at Ser2814 was increased, consistent with increased activation of Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), promoting aberrant SR Ca-release. Parallel in vivo studies revealed that mutant mice developed ventricular ectopy and complex ventricular arrhythmias (including bigeminy, trigeminy and ventricular tachycardia), when challenged with isoproterenol. Inhibition of CaMKII activity by KN-93 prevented the increased propensity to arrhythmias. These findings suggest that the human G109E inhibitor-1 variant impairs SR Ca-cycling and promotes arrhythmogenesis under stress conditions, which may present an additional insult in the compromised function of heart failure carriers.
We report first results from our XMM-Newton observation of IGR J01217-7257 performed on November 7, 2015. This transient in the Small Magellanic Cloud (Coe et al. 2014, ATel #5806) was found to be in a new outburst during Integral observations end of October 2015 (Coe et al. 2015, ATel #8246).
The elucidation of the molecular mechanisms that lead to the development of metabolic syndrome, a complex of pathological conditions including type-2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, is an important issue with high biological significance and requires accurate methods capable of monitoring lipid storage distribution and dynamics in vivo. In this study, the nonlinear phenomena of second and third harmonic generation (SHG, THG) have been employed simultaneously as label-free, nondestructive diagnostic techniques, for the monitoring and the complementary three-dimensional (3D) imaging and analysis of the muscular areas and the lipid content localization. THG microscopy was used as a quantitative tool in order to record the accumulation of lipids in nonadipose tissues in the pharyngeal muscles of 18 Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) specimens, while the SHG imaging provided the detailed anatomical information about the structure of the muscles. The ectopic accumulation of fat on the pharyngeal muscles increases in wild-type (N2) C. elegans between 1 and 9 days of adulthood. This suggests a correlation of ectopic fat accumulation with the process of aging. Our results can contribute to the unraveling of the link between the deposition of ectopic fat and aging, but mainly to the validation of SHG and THG microscopy modalities as new, noninvasive tools to localize and quantify selectively lipid formation and distribution.
The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) is the world body for biomedical and health informatics (BMHI). IMIA accreditation program allows the health and medical informatics programs around the world to reach to an international level. Staffs (professors, students, education programmes directors, others) that work on the accredited BMHI programs will have the opportunity to be engaged with organizations that possess a world-class research and education profile from other countries, which will have great impacts on their field at their institutions, within their country providing the high quality overall health services. IMIA accreditation procedure is usually a long process and slightly complicated. The goal of this paper is to illustrate and to simplify the IMIA accreditation process to increase the success of the applicants. Toward more dynamic IMIA accreditation procedure, the paper presents 4 steps: translation, IMIA-Accreditation Step by Step Guideline, Questions and Answers, and finally the (new) Labelling System.
The growing period of the deep-rooted, winter-deciduous Capparis spinosa (caper) coincides with the dry season, in the Mediterranean Basin. Roots of wild shrubs of C. spinosa penetrated cracks of a pumice substrate and lengthened in the subterranean environment of the ancient catacombs of Milos Island (Greece); therein, they reached depths of up to 20 m and exploited water present in deep soil layers. Elevated water potential (Ψ) was measured in root segments (Ψr = −0.35 ± 0.06 MPa), a few centimetres from the root apices of C. spinosa found in the catacombs during the dry season. Also, estimates of foliar predawn water potential and gas exchange components, as well as of nocturnal floral water potential of C. spinosa grown on slopes above the subterranean monument were high and reflected the efficiency of roots in retaining acquisition of water from deep soil layers, during the dry season.
