Publications

Stress exposure triggers cognitive and behavioral impairments that influence decision-making processes. Decisions under a context of uncertainty require complex reward-prediction processes that are known to be mediated by the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system in brain areas sensitive to the deleterious effects of chronic stress, in particular the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Using a decision-making task, we show that chronic stress biases risk-based decision-making to safer behaviors. This decision-making pattern is associated with an increased activation of the lateral part of the OFC and with morphological changes in pyramidal neurons specifically recruited by this task. Additionally, stress exposure induces a hypodopaminergic status accompanied by increased mRNA levels of the dopamine receptor type 2 (Drd2) in the OFC; importantly, treatment with a D2/D3 agonist quinpirole reverts the shift to safer behaviors induced by stress on risky decision-making. These results suggest that the brain mechanisms related to risk-based decision-making are altered after chronic stress, but can be modulated by manipulation of dopaminergic transmission.

Stress exposure triggers cognitive and behavioral impairments that influence decision-making processes. Decisions under a context of uncertainty require complex reward-prediction processes that are known to be mediated by the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system in brain areas sensitive to the deleterious effects of chronic stress, in particular the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Using a decision-making task, we show that chronic stress biases risk-based decision-making to safer behaviors. This decision-making pattern is associated with an increased activation of the lateral part of the OFC and with morphological changes in pyramidal neurons specifically recruited by this task. Additionally, stress exposure induces a hypodopaminergic status accompanied by increased mRNA levels of the dopamine receptor type 2 (Drd2) in the OFC; importantly, treatment with a D2/D3 agonist quinpirole reverts the shift to safer behaviors induced by stress on risky decision-making. These results suggest that the brain mechanisms related to risk-based decision-making are altered after chronic stress, but can be modulated by manipulation of dopaminergic transmission.

Composite magnetoplasmonic nanoparticles with a core-shell morphology exhibit intriguing optical properties and offer impressive opportunities for tailoring in a controllable manner the light-matter interaction at subwavelength dimensions. These properties are usually analyzed in the framework of the quasi-static approximation, which, however, is often inadequate; thus, a full electrodynamic treatment is required. In this respect, we developed a rigorous method for an accurate description of electromagnetic scattering by a gyrotropic sphere coated with a nongyrotropic concentric spherical shell, based on the full multipole expansion of the wave field. The method was applied to specific examples of core-shell cobalt-silver spherical nanoparticles, where the occurrence of strong circular dichroism induced by magnetoplasmonic interaction, which largely exceeds that of homogeneous noble metal nanoparticles in an external magnetic field, was found. Our results were also explained by reference to the quasi-static approximation, which, though it reproduces the main features of the absorption spectra, strongly overestimates circular dichroism in the cases we studied.

Amyloid deposits to the islets of Langerhans are responsible for the gradual loss of pancreatic β-cells leading to type II diabetes mellitus. Human mature islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), a 37-residue pancreatic hormone, has been identified as the primary component of amyloid fibrils forming these deposits. Several individual segments along the entire sequence length of hIAPP have been nominated as regions with increased amyloidogenic potential, such as regions 8–20, 20–29, and 30–37. A smaller fragment of the 8–20 region, spanning residues 8–16 of hIAPP has been associated with the formation of early transient α-helical dimers that promote fibrillogenesis and also as a core part of hIAPP amyloid fibrils. Utilizing our aggregation propensity prediction tools AmylPred and AmylPred2, we have identified the high aggregation propensity of the 8–16 segment of hIAPP. A peptide analog corresponding to this segment was chemically synthesized and its amyloidogenic properties were validated using electron microscopy, X-ray fiber diffraction, ATR FT-IR spectroscopy, and polarized microscopy. Additionally, two peptides introducing point mutations L12R and L12P, respectively, to the 8–16 segment, were chemically synthesized. Both mutations disrupt the α-helical properties of the 8–16 region and lower its amyloidogenic potential, which was confirmed experimentally. Finally, cytotoxicity assays indicate that the 8–16 segment of hIAPP shows enhanced cytotoxicity, which is relieved by the L12R mutation but not by the L12P mutation. Our results indicate that the chameleon properties and the high aggregation propensity of the 8–16 region may significantly contribute to the formation of amyloid fibrils and the overall cytotoxic effect of hIAPP. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 104: 196–205, 2015.

Abstract – The study described in this paper is a part of a cross-sectional study which focuses on Greek children in preschool and middle school age and to primary school teachers' concepts and classifications regarding animals and the associated values attached in concepts and classifications; i.e. which entities categorize as animals and which are the categorization criteria they use and if they differ with the course of age. The research was conducted with group and individual interviews and proper modifications of Interview about Instances (IaI) technique. Various groups of children and primary school teachers as a representative group of adults were interviewed for the meaning of the concept "animal", and the constant comparative method was employed to analyze data. Key findings in children ideas are the recording of a limited range of entities, which are categorized as animals, the use of sensory criteria mainly for deciding about the categorization, and especially the humanoriented course of perceptions. Findings indicate that the meaning of the concept of "animal" that both, children and teachers possess is restricted and anthropocentric, as it appears a universal denial of human categorization in animal kingdom. Nonetheless, it seems that the anthropocentric ideas of school children and adults differs qualitatively, as school children, besides taking more anthropocentric stands compared to adults, they are not led so much by ideological and ethical motives in their decisions, a fact that seems to be developed in lateral stages of life. Keywords – Preschool Children, Primary School Pupils, Primary School Teachers, Ideas, Conceptions, Animal.

Relativistic jets in active galactic nuclei (AGN) are among the most powerful astrophysical objects discovered to date. Indeed, jetted AGN studies have been considered a prominent science case for SKA, and were included in several different chapters of the previous SKA Science Book (Carilli & Rawlings 2004). Most of the fundamental questions about the physics of relativistic jets still remain unanswered, and await high-sensitivity radio instruments such as SKA to solve them. These questions will be addressed specially through analysis of the massive data sets arising from the deep, all-sky surveys (both total and polarimetric flux) from SKA1. Wide-field very-long-baseline-interferometric survey observations involving SKA1 will serve as a unique tool for distinguishing between extragalactic relativistic jets and star forming galaxies via brightness temperature measurements. Subsequent SKA1 studies of relativistic jets at different resolutions will allow for unprecedented cosmological studies of AGN jets up to the epoch of re-ionization, enabling detailed characterization of the jet composition, magnetic field, particle populations, and plasma properties on all scales. SKA will enable us to study the dependence of jet power and star formation on other properties of the AGN system. SKA1 will enable such studies for large samples of jets, while VLBI observations involving SKA1 will provide the sensitivity for pc-scale imaging, and SKA2 (with its extraordinary sensitivity and dynamic range) will allow us for the first time to resolve and model the weakest radio structures in the most powerful radio-loud AGN.

Relativistic jets in active galactic nuclei (AGN) are among the most powerful astrophysical objects discovered to date. Indeed, jetted AGN studies have been considered a prominent science case for SKA, and were included in several different chapters of the previous SKA Science Book (Carilli & Rawlings 2004). Most of the fundamental questions about the physics of relativistic jets still remain unanswered, and await high-sensitivity radio instruments such as SKA to solve them. These questions will be addressed specially through analysis of the massive data sets arising from the deep, all-sky surveys (both total and polarimetric flux) from SKA1. Wide-field very-long-baseline-interferometric survey observations involving SKA1 will serve as a unique tool for distinguishing between extragalactic relativistic jets and star forming galaxies via brightness temperature measurements. Subsequent SKA1 studies of relativistic jets at different resolutions will allow for unprecedented cosmological studies of AGN jets up to the epoch of re-ionization, enabling detailed characterization of the jet composition, magnetic field, particle populations, and plasma properties on all scales. SKA will enable us to study the dependence of jet power and star formation on other properties of the AGN system. SKA1 will enable such studies for large samples of jets, while VLBI observations involving SKA1 will provide the sensitivity for pc-scale imaging, and SKA2 (with its extraordinary sensitivity and dynamic range) will allow us for the first time to resolve and model the weakest radio structures in the most powerful radio-loud AGN.

The present paper presents measurements of water flow and suspended particulate material of Pinios River (Thessaly) during the hydrological year 2013/2014. The measurements were carried out in two positions before Pinios enters the agricultural deltaic plain and one inside the delta. Furthermore, an effort is made to estimate the water contribution to Pinios by the springs of Tempi valley and the quantity of water being diverted to the old river bed for irrigation purposes. These measurements were compared to corresponding data from the hydrological year 2012/13 and the significant differences that arose can be attributed to decreased rainfall and probably to the operation of a gate valve in Girtoni, that was initiated in the dry period of 2014.

Sulfate is an essential nutrient with pronounced regulatory effects on cellular metabolism and proliferation. Little is known, however, about how sulfate is sensed by cells. Sul1 and Sul2 are sulfate transporters in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, strongly induced upon sulfur starvation and endocytosed upon addition of sulfate. We reveal Sul1,2-dependent activation of protein kinase A (PKA) targets upon sulfate-induced exit from growth arrest after sulfur starvation. We provide two major arguments in favor of Sul1 and Sul2 acting as transceptors for signaling to PKA. First, the sulfate analogue, D-glucosamine 2-sulfate, acted as a non-transported agonist of signaling by Sul1 and Sul2. Second, mutagenesis to Gln of putative H+-binding residues, Glu427 in Sul1 or Glu443 in Sul2, abolished transport without affecting signaling. Hence, Sul1,2 can function as pure sulfate sensors. Sul1E427Q and Sul2E443Q are also deficient in sulfate-induced endocytosis, which can therefore be uncoupled from signaling. Overall, our data suggest that transceptors can undergo independent conformational changes each responsible for triggering different downstream processes. The Sul1 and Sul2 transceptors are the first identified plasma membrane sensors for extracellular sulfate. High-affinity transporters induced upon starvation for their substrate may generally act as transceptors during exit from starvation.

Magnetoresistance effects observed in ferromagnet/superconductor (FM/SC) hybrids, FM/SC bilayers (BLs) and FM/SC/FM trilayers (TLs), have attracted much interest. Here, we focus on the stray-fields-based superconducting magnetoresistance effect (sMRE) observed in Co(d(Co))/Nb(d(Nb))/Co(d(Co)) TLs with sufficiently thick Co outer layers so that out-of-plane magnetic domains (MDs) and MDs walls (MDWs) emerge all over their surface when subjected to a parallel external magnetic field, H-ex, equal to the coercive field, H-c. To explore the conditions necessary for maximization of the sMRE, we focus on the different kinds of the stray dipolar fields, H-dip, that emerge at the interior of the out-of-plane MDs and at the boundaries of MDWs; these have a different inherent tendency to create straight and semi-loop vortices, respectively. In the recent literature, the creation of straight and semi-loop vortices has been addressed at some extent both theoretically [Laiho et al., Phys. Rev. B 67, 144522 (2003)] and experimentally [Bobba et al., Phys. Rev. B 89, 214502 (2014)] for the case of FM/SC BLs. Here, we address these issues in FM/SC/FM TLs in connection to the sMRE. Specifically, we focus on an experimental finding reported recently [D. Stamopoulos and E. Aristomenopoulou, J. Appl. Phys. 116, 233908 (2014)]; strong magnetostatic coupling of the FM outer layers is accompanied by an intense sMRE in TLs in which the thickness of the SC interlayer, d(SC), matches the width of MDWs, D-MDWs. To investigate this finding, we employ simulations-modeling and energy-considerations and propose two quantitative criteria that facilitate the creation of straight vortices over semi-loop ones. The first focuses on the maximization of the stray H-dip that occur at the interior of the out-of-plane MDs. The second enables the estimation of a crossover between the preferable creation of one kind of vortices over the other. Both criteria respond well, when tested against experimental results. These generic criteria on the interference between d(SC) and D-MDWs can assist the design of cryogenic devices based on FM/SC/FM TLs. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.

Magnetoresistance is a multifaceted effect reflecting the diverse transport mechanisms exhibited by different kinds of plain materials and hybrid nanostructures; among other, giant, colossal, and extraordinary magnetoresistance versions exist, with the notation indicative of the intensity. Here we report on the superconducting magnetoresistance observed in ferromagnet/superconductor/ ferromagnet trilayers, namely Co/Nb/Co trilayers, subjected to a parallel external magnetic field equal to the coercive field. By manipulating the transverse stray dipolar fields that originate from the out-of-plane magnetic domains of the outer layers that develop at coercivity, we can suppress the supercurrent of the interlayer. We experimentally demonstrate a scaling of the magnetoresistance magnitude that we reproduce with a closed-form phenomenological formula that incorporates relevant macroscopic parameters and microscopic length scales of the superconducting and ferromagnetic structural units. The generic approach introduced here can be used to design novel cryogenic devices that completely switch the supercurrent 'on' and 'off', thus exhibiting the ultimate magnetoresistance magnitude 100% on a regular basis.

We report the detection of three novae in recent XMM-Newton observations of the M31 disk (see also ATel #8227). Two 100-ks observations were carried out on 2015-06-28 (ObsID 0763120101; June) and 2015-08-11 (ObsID 0763120301; August) and have been analysed using the standard data reduction software.

We consider a two node supply chain with a rational manufacturer-retailer pair, in which the retailer has private information that affects the nodes[U+05F3] reservation levels. Quantity discounts offered by the manufacturer is the mechanism we propose in order to achieve reduced costs for both supply chain nodes. We derive analytical expressions of the quantity discounts that minimize the manufacturer[U+05F3]s costs, while enabling the establishment of the business. Furthermore, we show that perfect coordination is possible even under asymmetric information. Sensitivity analysis and numerical examples offer evidence of the robustness of the results and of the potential of the approach for applications to real-life business ventures. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Syndecan-1 is a proteoglycan that acts as co-receptor through its heparan sulfate (HS) chains and plays important roles in cancer. HS chains are highly variable in length and sulfation pattern. This variability is enhanced by the SULF1/2 enzymes, which remove 6-O-sulfates from HS. We used malignant mesothelioma, an aggressive tumor with poor prognosis, as a model and demonstrated that syndecan-1 over-expression down-regulates SULF1 and alters the HS biosynthetic machinery. Biochemical characterization revealed a 2.7-fold reduction in HS content upon syndecan-1 over-expression, but an overall increase in sulfation. Consistent with low SULF1 levels, trisulfated disaccharides increased 2.5-fold. ERK1/2 activity was enhanced 6-fold. Counteracting ERK activation, Akt, WNK1, and c-Jun were inhibited. The net effect of these changes manifested in G1 cell cycle arrest. Studies of pleural effusions showed that SULF1 levels are lower in pleural malignancies compared to benign conditions and inversely correlate with the amounts of syndecan-1, suggesting important roles for syndecan-1 and SULF1 in malignant mesothelioma.

In tectonically active areas, such as in the northwest Peloponnese of western Greece, geomorphic processes are strongly influenced by active faulting; in many cases such faults cannot be easily identified. In this paper we apply multidisciplinary analysis (morphotectonic indices, neotectonic mapping, geophysical surveys and remote sensing techniques) to map the recently-recognized east–west trending Pineios River normal fault zone with a high degree of accuracy, and to better understand its contribution to the evolution of the ancient region of Elis during Holocene time. Fault activity seems to be related to frequent changes in river flow patterns and to displacements of the nearby shoreline. We argue that fault activity is the main reason for migration of Pineios river mouth as documented for several time periods during historical time. Quantitative constraints on deformation caused by the faulting were applied through the application of the morphotectonic indices proposed in this paper, including drainage network asymmetry and sinuosity, and mountain front sinuosity, all of which indicate that this is a highly active structure. Slip rates calculated to be as high as 0.48 mm/yr for the last 209 ka (based on previously published dating) were verified by applied geophysical methods. The fault surface discontinuity was identified at depth using vertical electrical resistivity measurements and depositional layers of different resistivity were found to be clearly offset. Displacement increases toward the west, reaching an observed maximum of 110 m. The most spectacular landform alteration due to surface deformation is the north–south migration of the river estuary into completely different open sea areas during the late Quaternary, mainly during the Holocene. The sediment transport path has been altered several times due to these changes in river geometry with and the most recent seeming to have occurred almost 2000 years ago. The river estuary migrated to its contemporary position along the southern coast, settled on the hanging wall, inducing retrograding of the northern coast, and settled on the foot wall, with rates reaching the order of 0.52 m/yr, as concluded from historical and recently-acquired remote sensing data.

In tectonically active areas, such as in the northwest Peloponnese of western Greece, geomorphic processes are strongly influenced by active faulting; in many cases such faults cannot be easily identified. In this paper we apply multidisciplinary analysis (morphotectonic indices, neotectonic mapping, geophysical surveys and remote sensing techniques) to map the recently-recognized east–west trending Pineios River normal fault zone with a high degree of accuracy, and to better understand its contribution to the evolution of the ancient region of Elis during Holocene time. Fault activity seems to be related to frequent changes in river flow patterns and to displacements of the nearby shoreline. We argue that fault activity is the main reason for migration of Pineios river mouth as documented for several time periods during historical time. Quantitative constraints on deformation caused by the faulting were applied through the application of the morphotectonic indices proposed in this paper, including drainage network asymmetry and sinuosity, and mountain front sinuosity, all of which indicate that this is a highly active structure. Slip rates calculated to be as high as 0.48 mm/yr for the last 209 ka (based on previously published dating) were verified by applied geophysical methods. The fault surface discontinuity was identified at depth using vertical electrical resistivity measurements and depositional layers of different resistivity were found to be clearly offset. Displacement increases toward the west, reaching an observed maximum of 110 m. The most spectacular landform alteration due to surface deformation is the north–south migration of the river estuary into completely different open sea areas during the late Quaternary, mainly during the Holocene. The sediment transport path has been altered several times due to these changes in river geometry with and the most recent seeming to have occurred almost 2000 years ago. The river estuary migrated to its contemporary position along the southern coast, settled on the hanging wall, inducing retrograding of the northern coast, and settled on the foot wall, with rates reaching the order of 0.52 m/yr, as concluded from historical and recently-acquired remote sensing data.

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.A number of leaving groups, including arylsulfonates, triazoles, 3-nitrotriazoles, and tetrazoles, have been studied for the substitution reaction by aryl and alkyl amines at the 4-position of $\beta$-D-glucopyranosyluracils. Examination of the stability, ease of purification and reactivity in the substitution reaction led to a number of optimized conditions with the most convenient involving substitution of triazole derivatives under microwave conditions in the presence of silica gel. Under these conditions, a number of N4-aryl-substituted $\beta$-D-glucopyranosylcytosines were prepared as potential inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase, a molecular target for type-2 diabetes mellitus.

This paper studies subjective priorities for the data amounts in the processing of geopolitical data according to Mazis Ioannis Th., theoretical paradigm of Systemic Geopolitical Analysis. After defining geopolitical plans and geopolitical focus sets, they are introduced geopolitical preferences and geopolitical management capacities. The geopolitical rational choice is studied, as well as the geopolitical preference -capacity distributions. Then, they are investigated geopolitical contrasts of subjective priorities by several geopolitical operators, and it is shown that there are cores and equilibrium of geopolitical contrasts, the study of which may provide useful information.

Relativistic jets can be modeled as magnetohydrodynamic flows. We analyze the related equations and discuss the involved acceleration mechanisms, their relation to the collimation, to the jet confinement by its environment, and to possible rarefaction waves triggered by pressure imbalances.

Relativistic jets can be modeled as magnetohydrodynamic flows. We analyze the related equations and discuss the involved acceleration mechanisms, their relation to the collimation, to the jet confinement by its environment, and to possible rarefaction waves triggered by pressure imbalances.

Survival for patients with multiple myeloma has increased. Both melphalan and lenalidomide are associated with subsequent development of myelodysplasia. We reviewed the cases of all patients with multiple myeloma who had subsequent development of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) during a 12-year period in three centers. Of 55 patients identified, two received only lenalidomide before myelodysplasia developed. The median time between the diagnoses of multiple myeloma and MDS/ANLL was 52.7 months. Median survival after the diagnosis of MDS or ANLL was 6.7 months. Treatment of MDS comprised allogeneic stem cell transplant in eight patients (median survival, 219 days; one patient alive at 624 days) and a hypomethylating agent in 21 patients (response of stable or better in five patients). Myelodysplasia remains a devastating complication of therapy for multiple myeloma, with short survival and poor response rates to available modalities. © 2014 Informa UK, Ltd.

Robust Dye Sensitized Solar Cells have been prepared employing liquid electrolytes using ethyl isopropyl sulfone (EiPS) high boiling point solvent. The cells were tested for their durability under harsh thermal stressing conditions of 85 °C and prolonged ageing time, 3000 h in the dark. The use of EiPS outperforms stability-wise the typical methoxypropionitrile MPN solvent, improving the cell stability from 38 to 75%. For both solvents, the physicochemical analysis infers the thermal degradation of the cell with the main changes occurring in the first 300 h of ageing. This was attributed to partial triiodide loss which reduces short circuit photocurrent and leads to formation of luminescent species in the electrolyte that affects the TiO2 surface and reduces open circuit photovoltage. The degradation effects were notably supressed by the use of the more stable EiPS solvent, where it was possible to optimize the iodine content in the redox mediator. It has been thus confirmed that iodine concentration as low as 0.05 M in the EiPS electrolyte is slightly preferable in terms of stability and device performance, comparing with higher concentrations, 0.1 and 0.15 M, respectively. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

We call monomer a B-DNA base-pair and study electron or hole oscillations in monomers, dimers and trimers. We employ two Tight Binding (TB) approaches: (I) at the base-pair level, using the on-site energies of the base-pairs and the hopping parameters between successive base-pairs and (II) at the single-base level, using the on-site energies of the bases and the hopping parameters between neighboring bases. With (II), for monomers, we predict oscillations with frequency f ≈ 50-550 THz. With (I), for dimers, we predict oscillations with f ≈ 0.25-100THz, for trimers made of identical monomers f ≈ 0.5-33 THz. In other cases, the oscillations may be not strictly periodic, but Fourier analysis shows similar frequency content. For dimers, we compare approaches (I) and (II). Finally, we present calculations with (III) RealTime Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (RT-TDDFT) for the adenine-thymine (A-T) and the guanine-cytosine (G-C) base-pairs. It seems that a non conventional source or receiver of electromagnetic radiation with f from fractions to THz to just below PHz could be envisaged. 

• ISSN: 15599450
• ISBN: 978-193414230-1

Biomedical & Health Informatics (BMHI) is relatively new in Arab States. However, several programs/ tracks are running, with high promises of expansion. Programs are evaluated by national authorities, not by a specialized body/association. This does not always mean that the program is of an international standard. One of the possible ways of ensuring the quality of these programs is to be evaluated by international agencies. The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) has the expertise in the evaluation BMHI education programs. Accredited programs staffs will have the opportunities for Internationalization and to be engaged with other top-notch organizations, which will have great impacts on the overall implementations of the BMHI in the Arab World. The goal of this document is to show to Arab Universities (pilot: Egypt) how to apply for IMIA Accreditation for their programs.

Combined antiretroviral treatment (cART) modifications are often required due to treatment failure or side effects. We investigate cART regimens' durability, frequency of treatment-limiting adverse events, and potential risk factors and temporal trends. Data were derived from the Athens Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (AMACS). Statistical analyses were based on survival techniques, allowing for multiple contributions per individual. Overall, 2,756 individuals, aged >15 years, initiated cART. cART regimens were grouped by their initiation date into four calendar periods (1995-1998, 1999-2002, 2003-2006, and 2007+). Median [95% confidence interval (CI)] time to first treatment modification was 2.11 (1.95-2.33) years; cumulative probabilities at 1 year were 31.6%, 29.0%, 33.1%, and 29.6% for the four periods, respectively. cART modifications were less frequent in more recent years (adjusted HR=0.96 per year; p<0.001). Longer treatment duration was associated with lower HIV-RNA, higher CD4 counts, and being previously ART naive. cART modifications due to treatment failure became less frequent in recent years (adjusted HR=0.91 per year; p<0.001). Estimated (95% CI) 1 year cumulative probabilities of treatment-limiting side effects were 16.4% (12.0-21.3%), 19.3% (15.6-23.3%), 24.9% (20.3-29.7%), and 21.1% (13.4-29.9%) for the four periods, respectively, with no significant temporal trends. Risk of side effects was lower in nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based regimens or triple nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-based cART regimens. Treatment modifications have become less frequent in more recent years. This could be partly attributed to the lower risk for side effects of NNRTI-based cART regimens and mainly to the improved efficacy of newer drugs. However, the rate of drugs substitutions due to adverse events remains substantially high.

Over the last few decades, significant improvement in outcomes has been observed for myeloma patients, mainly as a result of the use of currently available approved antimyeloma agents, along with combining autologous stem cell transplantation in the treatment of myeloma. With more targeted agents in development, the treatment of a myeloma patient at relapse has become complicated and, as a consequence, results in vast heterogeneity in treatment patterns. Although a consensus on the timing of initiation of treatment, the choice of agents to be used, and the role of transplant is less clear, we describe an evidence-based approach and the factors to consider upon relapse. We describe additional newer agents and targets that are under development, with the goal of achievement of durable remissions for myeloma patients. © 2015 by The American Society of Hematology.

We call monomer a B-DNA base pair and examine, analytically and numerically, electron or hole oscillations in monomer and dimer polymers, i.e., periodic sequences with repetition unit made of one or two monomers. We employ a tight-binding (TB) approach at the base-pair level to readily determine the spatiotemporal evolution of a single extra carrier along a N base-pair B-DNA segment. We study highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital eigenspectra as well as the mean over time probabilities to find the carrier at a particular monomer. We use the pure mean transfer rate k to evaluate the easiness of charge transfer. The inverse decay length β for exponential fits k(d), where d is the charge transfer distance, and the exponent η for power-law fits k(N) are computed; generally power-law fits are better. We illustrate that increasing the number of different parameters involved in the TB description, the fall of k(d) or k(N) becomes steeper and show the range covered by β and η. Finally, for both the time-independent and the time-dependent problems, we analyze the palindromicity and the degree of eigenspectrum dependence of the probabilities to find the carrier at a particular monomer.

Accurate prognosis is a key factor in establishing optimal therapeutic decisions; yet in the case of bladder cancer (BlCa) current prognostic indicators cannot ensure optimal disease management. Here, we aimed to evaluate the previously unexplored clinical potential of the urological cancer-related miR-145, miR-143 and miR-224 in BlCa. A total of 279 bladder tissue specimens were included in this study (133 BlCa, 107 adjacent normal and 39 healthy samples). Total RNA was extracted from tissues, it was polyadenylated and reverse transcribed to cDNA. The expression of target molecules was measured via quantitative real-time PCR. The expression levels of both miR-143 and miR-145 were significantly decreased, whereas those of miR-224 were increased in BlCa. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated a significant discriminatory capacity for miR-143/miR-145 levels. Important associations with disease aggressiveness were observed for all three microRNAs; elevated levels were observed in tumors of higher stage and grade, as well as in 'high-risk' TaT1 patients. More importantly, high miR-143/145 levels could effectively prognose inferior overall survival for muscle-invasive patients and could independently predict the progression of superficial tumors. Finally, the combination of miR-143/145 overexpression with the widely used prognostic markers of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-risk groups or recurrence at the first follow-up cystoscopy resulted to a superior positive prediction of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer short-term progression compared with the use of the abovementioned markers alone. The cancer-related miR-143, miR-145 and miR-224 were investigated for the first time in the clinical setting of BlCa, and miR-143/145 cluster constitutes a novel marker helpful for providing an enhanced prediction of oncologic outcome for BlCa patients.

Introduction: Lenalidomide, an immunomodulatory agent with unique mechanism of action, represents the cornerstone in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) providing rapid and sustained control of the disease with a manageable safety profile.Areas covered: This review article, synthesizing all available data coming from trials and evaluating the efficacy and safety of lenalidomide in patients with MM, tries to provide to the clinicians with an easy-to-grasp synopsis of recent and clinically meaningful advances on the field.Expert opinion: Lenalidomide combined with dexamethasone is a safe and effective option for newly diagnosed MM patients ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Long-term administration of the agent as continuous treatment for ineligible for ASCT patients or maintenance therapy after ASCT has documented unprecedented progression-free survival improvements, whereas lenalidomide in combination with dexamethasone has shown deep and durable remissions for patients with relapsed and/or refractory disease. © 2015 Informa UK, Ltd.

Different types of sea level indicators, (e.g. geomorphological, biological and archaeological) have been used in the Eastern Mediterranean in order to assess Late Quaternary coastal evolution and relative sea level (RSL) changes. Among them, beachrocks have often been used to assess Holocene shoreline evolution and tectonically induced RSL changes in the Aegean sea. Open debate about the cementation environment and the accuracy of beachrocks as sea level indicators is still present in literature: However, in several recent studies beachrocks have been proven useful in the absence of other sea level indicators or when coupled with other available sea level indicators. In particular, the combined analysis of erosional (e.g. tidal notches) and depositional sea level indicators has great significance given the fact that erosional indicators, although more precise for RSL studies, rarely preserve dateable materials, which are more frequent in depositional landforms. In this context, we carried out a detailed mapping of beachrocks in Paros and Naxos islands (Cyclades, Central Aegean Sea). In most sites, multiple generations of beachrocks were identified, at depths varying between the present mean sea level and -6.3 m. Beachrock slabs were also sampled and thin sections were carried out for petrographic and microstratigraphic analyses, aiming to characterize the constituents, the presence of bioclasts as well as the type of the cements. In order to provide an age estimate for sea level changes in the study area during the late Holocene, beachrock samples were dated using the Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) method. The study focused on both quartz and feldspar. The first OSL age estimates are presented in this study. In the last 15 years, a number of geomorphological and geoarchaeological investigations were carried out to assess the relative sea level changes in this area. Therefore, we correlated beachrocks with previously published data such as submerged tidal notches, cores on coastal lagoons and submerged archaeological remains. Here we present the results of this multiproxy study. Our results allowed both to identify the Holocene palaeoshorelines and to place a chronological framework to the sea level changes in the broad area of central Cyclades.

© Springer-Verlag London 2015. Aim: To critically evaluate treatment options for patients with vaginal aplasia and present an algorithm taking into account the complexity, the advantages and the potential risks of each vaginoplasty method.Brief description of the reviewed data: Current available techniques for creating a neovagina range from conservative to complex surgical. No comparative studies exist between methods and at present most centers appear to prefer one method over another. Based on the best available evidence, it seems that vaginal dilation, being risk free and non-invasive, is the first line treatment option for patients with a vaginal dimple present and no previous perineal surgery. Patients with failed vaginal dilation should be directed to surgical traction techniques or peritoneal vaginoplasty depending on the presence or not of a vaginal dimple and on the familiarity of the surgical team with these techniques. Peritoneal vaginoplasty could be also applied in cases of failed surgical traction. Skin and intestinal vaginoplasties should be kept only for failures of other surgical techniques and for complex cases.Clinical implications: While the superiority of each method remains to be assessed objectively, we propose indications for each available method and a treatment algorithm.Open issues for further research: Evidenced based comparisons in the form of randomized controlled trials are required in order to objectively assess the place and superiority of each available method.

Capillary electrophoresis is a separation technique with high resolving power and sensitivity with applications in glycosaminoglycan analysis. In this chapter, we present validated protocols for determining the variously sulfated chondroitin or dermatan sulfate-derived disaccharides. These approaches involve degradation of the polysaccharides with specific chondro/dermato-lyases and electrophoretic analysis with capillary zone electrophoresis in a low pH operating buffer and reversed polarity. This methodology has been applied to drug/nutraceutical formulations or to biologic samples (blood serum, lens capsule) and has been validated. Analysis of biologic tissue samples is often more demanding in terms of detection sensitivity, and thus concentration pretreatment steps and/or a derivatization step with 2-aminoacridone are often advisable.

© 2014 by The North American Menopause Society. Objective This study aims to evaluate the potential effects of renal function variations on vascular structure before the development of hypertension. Methods This pilot study included 141 postmenopausal women without evidence of renal dysfunction or hypertension. Markers of renal function and levels of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) - using standard calculations (GFR based on levels of creatinine [GFR epi ]) and newer creatinine and/or cystatin calculations (GFR based on levels of creatinine and cystatin [GFR cr cystatin ] and GFR based on levels of cystatin [GFR cystatin ]) - were associated with hemodynamic parameters and markers of vascular structure (intima-media thickness [IMT] and presence of atheromatous plaques in carotid and femoral arteries). Results Levels of GFR epi, GFR cr cystatin, and GFR cystatin exhibited a significant negative correlation with femoral artery IMT, whereas levels of GFR epi correlated significantly with mean carotid bulb (CB) IMT. Multivariate analysis showed that CB-IMT was predicted by GFR epi levels and age (β-coefficient = -0.212, P = 0.020), whereas femoral artery IMT was predicted by GFR epi levels (β-coefficient = -0.293, P = 0.001). GFR epi levels lower than the 25th percentile were associated with higher CB-IMT (P = 0.009), femoral artery IMT (P = 0.001), and combined IMT (P = 0.035) compared with higher GFR epi levels. Moreover, GFR epi levels greater than the 25th percentile were associated with lower odds for the presence of atherosclerotic plaques at the CB and carotid arteries combined (CB: odds ratio, 0.146; P = 0.006; combined: odds ratio, 0.249; P = 0.043) compared with lower GFR epi levels. Conclusions A mild decrease in renal function within normal limits of GFR is independently associated with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in a sample of apparently healthy young postmenopausal women. Assessment of GFR using creatinine (vs cystatin C) levels is a more sensitive marker of its association with IMT and atherosclerotic plaques in this postmenopausal population.

In this article we provide evidence that the verbalizing v head in Greek has a morphological exponence in many more verbs than is apparent. Although, at first sight, verbs in the traditional second conjugation inflectional class (which exhibit non-root stress, e.g., aɣap-ó ‘I love’, poθ-ó ‘I desire’) do not seem to contain an overt piece of verbalizing morphology, we show that they take a vocalic extension consisting of an abstract vocalic slot. This slot, which can either be filled in with vocalic material or remain empty, undertakes the function of a verbalizer. Two major gains of this analysis is that it provides solid evidence for a v head as a verbalizer and not as a composite Voice-verbalizing head and that it proposes a unified treatment of the Greek verb morphology without extensively retreating to stem allomorphy.

This paper deals with the acoustic analysis of timbral andrhythmic patterns of the Cicada Orni sound activity, collectedat the Plato Academy archaeological site during thesummer period of 2014, comprising the Tettix soundscapedatabase.The main purpose here is to use sound analysis for understandingthe basic patterns of cicada calls and shrillingsounds, and subsequently use the raw material providedby the Tettix database in a statistical modeling frameworkfor creating virtual sounds of cicadas, allowing the controlof synthesis parameters spanning micro, meso and macrotemporal levels.

In view of the relentless increase in antibiotic resistance in human pathogens, efforts are needed to safeguard our future therapeutic options against infectious diseases. In addition to regulatory changes in our antibiotic use, this will have to include the development of new therapeutic compounds. One area that has received growing attention in recent years is the possibility to treat or prevent infections by targeting the virulence mechanisms that render bacteria pathogenic. Antivirulence targets include bacterial adherence, secretion of toxic effector molecules, bacterial persistence through biofilm formation, quorum sensing and immune evasion. Effective small-molecule compounds have already been identified that suppress such processes. In this review, we discuss the susceptibility of such compounds to the development of resistance, by comparison with known resistance mechanisms observed for classical bacteriostatic or bacteriolytic antibiotics, and by review of available experimental case studies. Unfortunately, appearance of resistance mechanisms has already been demonstrated for some, showing that the quest of new, lasting drugs remains complicated.

Quantitative analyses of calcareous nannofossils in the sediments of Pissouri South section on the island of Cyprus have produced a paleoceanographic record reflecting the paleoclimatic conditions during the Zanclean/Piacenzian transition. Pissouri South cyclical lithological alternations between organic-rich laminated layers and grey marls reflect the Earth’s orbital precession. According to the calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy which has been performed, the studied section is correlated with MNN14/15 and MNN16 calcareous nannofossil biozones and is astronomically dated between 4.065 and 3.217 Ma. Intervals of increased organic carbon content, along with the positive values ofFlorisphaera profunda, Helicosphaera sellii, Discoaster spp. and the subsequent increase of stratification S-index, correspond to the sapropel deposition during periods of wetter climate and intense continental runoff, especially from the river Nile. These layers alternate with grey marly intervals, featured by the increased values of small placoliths of Reticulofenestra and Gephyrocapsaspecies, which are indicative of eutrophic conditions during intense surface-water mixing. Our data support the prevalence of a generally warm phase characterized by the absence of high-frequency climate variations in the southeastern Mediterranean during the Zanclean/Piacenzian (Early/Late Pliocene) transition.

Quantitative analyses of calcareous nannofossils in the sediments of Pissouri South section on the island of Cyprus have produced a paleoceanographic record reflecting the paleoclimatic conditions during the Zanclean/Piacenzian transition. Pissouri South cyclical lithological alternations between organic-rich laminated layers and grey marls reflect the Earth’s orbital precession. According to the calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy which has been performed, the studied section is correlated with MNN14/15 and MNN16 calcareous nannofossil biozones and is astronomically dated between 4.065 and 3.217 Ma. Intervals of increased organic carbon content, along with the positive values ofFlorisphaera profunda, Helicosphaera sellii, Discoaster spp. and the subsequent increase of stratification S-index, correspond to the sapropel deposition during periods of wetter climate and intense continental runoff, especially from the river Nile. These layers alternate with grey marly intervals, featured by the increased values of small placoliths of Reticulofenestra and Gephyrocapsaspecies, which are indicative of eutrophic conditions during intense surface-water mixing. Our data support the prevalence of a generally warm phase characterized by the absence of high-frequency climate variations in the southeastern Mediterranean during the Zanclean/Piacenzian (Early/Late Pliocene) transition.

Προσκεκλημένη ομιλήτρια (της HEPIS, του ECWT και του Δήμου Πεύκης-Λυκόβρυσης): «Στη χώρα μας, και όχι μόνο, παρατηρείτε τεχνοφοβία ή ψηφιακός αναλφαβητισμός που σχετίζετε ειδικά με το φύλο, υπογράμμισε στην εισήγησή της στο συνέδριο ACTIVE WOMEN η Ειρήνη Καμπερίδου, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια Κοινωνιολογίας του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών και  μέλος της Εκτελεστικής Επιτροπής του European Centre for Women and Technology (ECWT). Αναφέρθηκε και στην έρευνα της Δρ. Όλγας Παντούλη, η οποία στο νέο βιβλίο της με τίτλο «Αφηγήσεις ζωής Ελληνίδων επιστημόνων: η εξέλιξη στους τομείς της Φυσικής, των Μαθηματικών, της Μηχανικής και της Τεχνολογίας», επισημαίνει ότι οι περισσότεροι φοιτητές/τριες που επισκέπτονται τις ακαδημαϊκές βιβλιοθήκες μας αποφεύγουν ή δυσκολεύονται να χειριστούν τον υπολογιστή για αναζήτηση βιβλιογραφίας, κ.ά.   Από την άλλη πλευρά, η κυρία Καμπερίδου τόνισε ότι "τα ερευνητικά δεδομένα δείχνουν ότι οι γυναίκες βρίσκονται ένα βήμα μπροστά από τους άντρες όσον αφορά κάποιες δεξιότητες, όπως η επικοινωνιακή-κοινωνική  νοημοσύνη: ξέρουν να ακούν, να μοιράζονται και να δέχονται την κριτική, έχουν ανοιχτό μυαλό και ομαδικό πνεύμα, δεν είναι αυταρχικές, χτίζουν συναίνεση, αναλαμβάνουν τον ρόλο του διαμεσολαβητή-ειρηνοποιού και δημιουργούν κίνητρα συνεργασίας. Η σημερινή οικονομία απαιτεί αυτές τις αποκαλούμενες ‘θηλυκές δεξιότητες’, τις οποίες υιοθετούν όλο και περισσότεροι άνδρες επιχειρηματίες και στελέχη σήμερα, δεδομένου ότι εταιρείες που απασχολούν γυναίκες εμφανίζουν κατά μέσο όρο περισσότερα κέρδη και βιωσιμότητα."  Ωστόσο,  όπως υπογράμμισε στην εισήγησή της η κυρία Καμπερίδου, μολονότι έρευνες τεκμηριώνουν ότι η συλλογική νοημοσύνη μιας ομάδας αυξάνεται όταν συμμετέχουν γυναίκες, «δεν μπορούμε να τα κάνουμε όλα! Δεν υπάρχει η superwoman όπως δεν υπάρχει ο  superman!», τονίζει ότι το multi-tasking, δηλαδή η ταυτόχρονη εκτέλεση πολλών εργασιών/υποχρεώσεων, στο οποίο συνήθως επιδίδεται το γυναικείο φύλο οδηγεί στην αποτυχία. Καταλήγοντας, παρουσίασε συμβουλές (tips) από πετυχημένες και καταξιωμένες γυναίκες επιχειρηματίες και στελέχη  της χώρας μας.» (Η Τεχνολογία στην Υπηρεσία των Γυναικών, 13 Οκτωβρίου 2015: Business News / Τεχνολογία  http://www.businessnews.gr/article/21615/i-tehnologia-stin-ypiresia-ton-gynaikon   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2015). «Γυναίκα και Τεχνολογία: η Ελληνική πραγματικότητα». Εισήγηση  στο συνέδριο "Active Women":  Η Τεχνολογία στην Υπηρεσία των Γυναικών,   Δημαρχείο Λυκόβρυσης-Πεύκης,  28/9/2015.  Διοργάνωση: Δίκτυο Επαγγελματιών Πληροφορικής (HePIS) με τη στήριξη του Δήμου Λυκόβρυσης-Πεύκης και του  ECWT – European Centre for Women and Technology (http://www.ecwt.eu) https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.895337420552195.1073741905.100002278359788&type=1&l=e35f9250fa   Kamberidou, Irene (2015).  “Women and Technology in Greek society”. Presentation at the conference  “Active Women”: Technology in the Service of Women, at the Municipality of Lykovirtssi-Pefki, Greece, Sept. 28, 2015. Organized by the Hellenic Professionals Informatics Society (HePIS) with the support of the ECWT and the Municipality of Lykovrisi-Pefki. [presentation in Greek] https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.895337420552195.1073741905.100002278359788&type=1&l=e35f9250fa  

Στο παρόν επιχειρείται η συνάντηση θεολογίας και επιστήμης στο πλαίσιο της διδακτικής μεθοδολογίας μαθημάτων της Πρωτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης. Προτείνεται η πολύπλευρη μελέτη εννοιών (διαθεματικότητα) και η σύνδεση επιστημονικών πεδίων (διεπιστημονικότητα), όπως των μαθηματικών και της θεολογίας ώστε οι μαθητές να αντιλαμβάνονται επαρκώς τη συνάφεια των αντικειμένων και τη συμβολή τους σε όλες τις εκφάνσεις της ζωής. Προτείνονται θεολογικά κείμενα που μπορούν να αξιοποιηθούν για τη διδασκαλία μαθηματικών εννοιών, ώστε ο μαθητής να αντιμετωπίζει τη γνώση ως ενιαία ολότητα και σχετική με τη ζωή του.

Στόχος του βιβλίου είναι η σύνδεση γνωσιοθεωρίας και φιλοσοφίας της επιστήμης με τη διδακτική μεθοδολογία των φυσικών επιστημών. Η πορεία από τη γνωσιοθεωρία και τη φιλοσοφία της επιστήμης, που σκιαγραφείται στις σελίδες του βιβλίου, εκβάλλει στα προγράμματα τα οποία σχεδιάζονται σήμερα για την εκπαίδευση των φυσικών επιστημών: (α) στο πρόγραμμα που βασίζεται στη συμβολή της ιστορίας και της φιλοσοφίας των επιστημών στη διδασκαλία των φυσικών επιστημών το οποίο στις μέρες μας επικεντρώνεται στη διδασκαλία για τη φύση της επιστήμης, και (β) στο πρόγραμμα που βασίζεται στη θεώρηση για την αλληλεπίδραση της επιστήμης με την τεχνολογία και την κοινωνία και το οποίο μετεξελίσσεται ενσωματώνοντας στοιχεία από την πολιτισμική προσέγγιση και την κριτική θεωρία.

Αυτή η εργασία προβαίνει σε ένα προβληματισμό ο οποίος έχει να κάνει με τη σχέση του αθλητισμού και το «επιχερείν», και ειδικά την ενδυνάμωση ηγετικών δεξιοτήτων  μέσω του  Αθλητισμού. Θα αναζητήσουμε απάντηση στο ερώτημα αν ο αθλητισμός προάγει στοιχεία που είναι σημαντικά για το «επιχειρείν», δηλαδή για την επιχειρηματικότητα και την επαγγελματική επιτυχία μετά το πέρας της αθλητικής καριέρας.  Πράγματι, υπάρχουν  πολλά παραδείγματα για το πώς ο αθλητισμός συμβάλλει στην ανάπτυξη ηγετικών δεξιοτήτων και στη βελτίωση της εταιρικής επίδοσης.  Το γεγονός αυτό  αναδεικνύεται και σε πρόσφατες έρευνες και συνεντεύξεις με πρώην αθλητές και αθλήτριες που ακολούθησαν άλλη καριέρα μετά το πέρας της αθλητικής τους σταδιοδρομίας.  Ερευνητικά στοιχεία τεκμηριώνουν ότι ένας αθλητικός προσανατολισμός , ή ένα ιστορικό αθλητικής εμπειρίας μπορεί να αποτελέσει χρήσιμο εργαλείο, όσον αφορά στην επιχειρηματικότητα και ειδικά όσον αφορά στην καλλιέργεια και ανάπτυξη ηγετικών δεξιοτήτων.  Ερευνητικά στοιχεία αναδυκνείουν ότι οι  δεξιότητες που κάνουν τους ανθρώπους πετυχημένους  ηγέτες (leaders) συνδέονται άμεσα με τον ομαδικό αθλητισμό και με τον υψηλό ανταγωνισμό: αυτοπεποίθηση,  δημιουργικότητα, να οραματίζεσαι το στόχο σου, αποφασιστικότητα, επιμονή,  αφοσίωση, επικοινωνία, διαίσθηση,  οργανωτικές ικανότητες, κ.ά.  Αναλυτικότερα, πως ο αθλητισμός συμβάλλει στην ανάπτυξη της επιχειρηματικών και ηγετικών δεξιοτήτων ¨ τη γυναικεία συμμετοχή ¨ Τι σημαίνει επιχειρηματικότητα (entrepreneurship) σήμερα; ¨ Αθλητική ή Ολυμπιακή επιχειρηματικότητα (Olympic or sport entrepreneur /sport entrepreneurship) ¨ «Επιχειρώντας αλλιώς»: κοινωνική επιχειρηματικότητα (social entrepreneurs- social entrepreneurship-social enterprises) ¨ Γυναικεία Επιχειρηματικότητα. Επισυνάπτεται διαφάνεια: ΕΝΔΥΝΑΜΩΣΗ ΗΓΕΤΙΚΩΝ ΔΕΞΙΟΤΗΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΘΛΗΤΙΣΜΟΣ . ---------------------------------------------------------------------------When citing/ για παραπομπή:   Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2015). «Η Γυναικεία Αθλητική και Κοινωνική Επιχειρηματικότητα στην Εποχή της Κρίσης: Ενδυνάμωση Ηγετικών Δεξιοτήτων & Αθλητισμός». Εισήγηση στην Ημερίδα ΑΘΛΗΤΙΣΜΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑ, του Τομέα Θεωρητικών Επιστημών της Σχολής Επιστήμης, Φυσικής Αγωγής και Αθλητισμού (Σ.Ε.Φ.Α.Α.), ΤΕΦΑΑ του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών (ΕΚΠΑ), 14/03/2015, Δάφνη  ***Kamberidou, I. (2015). “Women’s sport and social entrepreneurship in times of crisis: empowering leadership skills & Sport”. Presentation at the Sport & Society Workshop, March 14, 2015, organized by the Theoretical and Social Sciences Department of the School of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Athens (UOA) [in Greek]. sport_and_social_entrepreneurs_1.3.2015.pdf

Το ζήτημα της κατάρτισης του διδακτικού προσωπικού δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης είναιευρύ και πολυεπίπεδο. Στην Ελλάδα, έχει απασχολήσει κυρίως την παιδαγωγική καικοινωνιολογική έρευνα, απότοκο της οποίας είναι μια πλούσια βιβλιογραφική παραγωγή. Οιιστορικές προσεγγίσεις, πιο περιορισμένες σε αριθμό, συνδέονται σε μεγάλο βαθμό με τηνπανεπιστημιακή ιστοριογραφία. Αυτή η τελευταία εστιάζει κυρίως στη μελέτη τουπανεπιστημιακού θεσμού με κύριους άξονες τη λειτουργία του, τη συμβολή του στο δημόσιοβίο, τη φυσιογνωμία του διδακτικού προσωπικoύ, τη σύνθεση του φοιτητικού πληθυσμού˙εξετάζει επίσης, αν και σπανιότερα, την έμφυλη διάσταση της ιστορίας του. Ειδικότερα, οιμελέτες που ερευνούν επιμέρους καθηγητικές σχολές θέτουν στο επίκεντρο κυρίως ζητήματαπου αφορούν στην εκπαιδευτική λειτουργία, όπως είναι η συγκρότηση γνωστικώναντικειμένων, τα προγράμματα σπουδών, η φιλοσοφία τους και ο ρόλος τους στηδιαμόρφωση της εθνικής ιδεολογίας, οι μέθοδοι διδασκαλίας.Παρά τη γονιμότητα αυτής της ιστοριογραφικής δραστηριότητας, υπάρχουν πλευρές τηςιστορικής πορείας του ελληνικού πανεπιστημιακού θεσμού, που παραμένουν ανεξερεύνητες.Η εργασία αυτή αφορά σε ένα ζήτημα ανοικτό: την κατάρτιση των εκπαιδευτικών ξένης γλώσσας. Στην ελληνικήβιβλιογραφία, η ιστορία της εκπαίδευσης των καθηγητών αυτής της ειδικότητας αγνοείταιαπό τη μεγάλη πλειοψηφία των ευρύτερων ερευνών της ιστορίας της εκπαίδευσης. Θίγεταιδε, εκτός ελαχίστων εξαιρέσεων, σε πολύ περιορισμένο βαθμό και εξαιρετικάαποσπασματικά σε μελέτες με κύριο αντικείμενο τη διδασκαλία των ξένων γλωσσών στηδημόσια δευτεροβάθμια ή τριτοβάθμια ελληνική εκπαίδευση.Η σχετική απουσία του ιστορικού ενδιαφέροντος για το θέμα ίσως συνδέεται με τηνιδιαιτερότητα που παρουσιάζει στην Ελλάδα η συγκρότηση των ξένων φιλολογιών καιπολιτισμών σε γνωστικό αντικείμενο πανεπιστημιακών σπουδών. Αυτή αποτυπώνεται στησχετικά πρόσφατη (εκκινώντας από τη δεκαετία του 1950) δημιουργία στη ΦιλοσοφικήΣχολή των Πανεπιστημίων Αθηνών και Θεσσαλονίκης ειδικών τμημάτων γι αυτό το σκοπό.Η καθυστέρηση/υστέρηση αυτή, αν και δεν αποτελεί ελληνική ιδιοτυπία, ξαφνιάζειδεδομένου ότι η γαλλική γλώσσα διδάσκεται στα δημόσια Ελληνικά σχολεία και Γυμνάσιαήδη από την ίδρυση του ελληνικού κράτους, η δε αγγλική και γερμανική, ουσιαστικά από τιςαρχές του 20ού αιώνα, στις εμπορικές κυρίως σχολές. Όμως ακριβώς επειδή οισυγκεκριμένες σπουδές άργησαν να ενταχθούν στον ακαδημαϊκό χώρο, η ιστορία τηςεκπαίδευσης του αντίστοιχου διδακτικού προσωπικού υπερβαίνει τα όρια εκείνης τουπανεπιστημίου καθότι, ανάλογα με την περίοδο που κάθε φορά εξετάζεται, διαμορφώνεται ήσυνδιαμορφώνεται από φορείς εξωπανεπιστημιακούς και μάλιστα ετεροεθνείς. Επομένως,δεδομένης της εμπλοκής ξένων εκπαιδευτικών ιδρυμάτων στην κατάρτιση Ελλήνωνδημοσίων λειτουργών, η γένεση του ζητήματος της επαγγελματικής μόρφωσης τωνκαθηγητών/τριών αυτής της ειδικότητας και η θεσμική πορεία του συνδιαλέγονται άμεσα μετην ευρύτερη πολιτική και διπλωματική συγκυρία. Η ιστορία της δημιουργίαςσυγκροτημένων δομών προετοιμασίας για τη διδασκαλία ξένων γλωσσών στη δημόσιαεκπαίδευση, στο μέτρο που συνδέεται κατ’ έναν τρόπο με τις έμφυλες μεταβολές πουπαρατηρούνται στη σύνθεση του συγκεκριμένου καθηγητικού σώματος, επιδέχεται και μίαακόμη ανάγνωση, η οποία προσδίδει μια επιπλέον διάσταση στο ζήτημα, εκείνης του φύλου.Στόχος της παρούσας εισήγησης είναι η οριοθέτηση ενός πολυδιάστατου πεδίου έρευνας, πουεγγράφεται, λοιπόν, στα όρια της ιστορίας της εκπαίδευσης, της διπλωματικής ιστορίας αλλάκαι εκείνης του φύλου. Η τριπλή αυτή προσέγγιση υπαγορεύεται από την αναγκαιότηταδιεύρυνσης και σε άλλους ερευνητικούς χώρους του πεδίου παρατήρησης ενός ζητήματοςπου εντάσσεται, βέβαια, καταρχήν, στο πλαίσιο της ελληνικής πανεπιστημιακής ιστορίας.Αναδεικνύει δε την πολλαπλότητα των επιπέδων της ιστορικής ανάλυσης και επιτρέπει τηνεισαγωγή μεθοδολογικών και ερμηνευτικών εργαλείων από διαφορετικά πεδία της ιστορικήςέρευνας. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, επιδιώκεται μια πρώτη ιστοριογραφική καταγραφή˙ μιααποτίμηση, τέλος, των προοπτικών-οπτικών που ανοίγονται για την έρευνα στην ιστορία τηςεκπαίδευσης.

Εισαγωγή: Η Πετοσφαίριση είναι ένα άθλημα το οποίο απαιτεί συνεχείς επαναλαμβανόμενες προσπάθειες υψηλής έντασης (Kuslinger et al, 1987) ενώ παράλληλα περιλαμβάνει πολλές κινητικές δεξιότητες. Σύμφωνα με τους Ziv & Lidor (2010) η σημαντικότερη παράμετρος στην Πετοσφαίριση είναι το κατακόρυφο άλμα. Σε αντίθεση οι Gabbett et al (2007) απέδειξαν ότι οι τεχνικές επιδεξιότητες συνεισφέρουν περισσότερο καθώς μπορούν να προβλέπουν καλύτερα την επιλογή ή όχι εφήβων ταλαντούχων παικτών. Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης ήταν να προσδιοριστούν οι μεταβλητές που σχετίζονται περισσότερομε την επιλογή νεαρών πετοσφαιριστών για την Εθνική ομάδα Παμπαίδων (14-15ετών).Μέθοδος: Το δείγμα αποτέλεσαν αθλητές της κατηγορίας Παμπαίδων (n=43) οι οποίοι υποβλήθηκαν σε σωματομετρήσεις (σωματικό ύψος και βάρος, ύψος με το χέρι στην ανάταση, σωματικό λίπος) και κινητικά τεστ (κατακόρυφο άλμα (CMJ), άλμα μπλοκ, άλμα επίθεσης, τεστ ευκινησίας 505, δρόμος ταχύτητας 10m). Τέσσερις έμπειροι προπονητές βαθμολόγησαν τον κάθε παίκτη με κλίμακα 0-100κατά τη διάρκεια αγώνων διαχωρίζοντας τους αθλητές σε επιλεγόμενους και μη. Πραγματοποιήθηκε διακριτική ανάλυση για να εκτιμήσει ποιές αξιολογούμενες μεταβλητές μπορούν να προβλέψουν την εκτίμηση των προπονητών. Αποτελέσματα: Από την ανάλυση προέκυψε μια διακριτική συνάρτηση που διαχώρισε σημαντικά τις ομάδες (λ=0.69; Χ2=15.12; p=0.001; η2=0.12). Το κατακόρυφο άλμα (CMJ) ήταν η μόνη σημαντική παράμετρος που φόρτισε τη συνάρτηση (r=0.85). Η ακρίβεια της διακριτικής εξίσωσης ήταν υψηλή καθώς το ποσοστό σωστού διαχωρισμού με την προσέγγιση της διασταυρούμενης επικύρωσης ήταν 72.1%. Συζήτηση: Τα αποτελέσματα της μελέτης δείχνουν ότι το κατακόρυφο άλμα μπορεί να διαχωρίσει με επιτυχία νεαρούς Πετοσφαιριστές ηλικίας 14-15 ετών σε επιλεγόμενους ή μη για το επίπεδο Εθνικής ομάδας Παμπαίδων και ίσως αποτελεί τη σημαντικότερη παράμετρο αξιολόγησης στην εύρεση νέων ταλέντων στην Πετοσφαίριση.

Ἡ τουρκικὴ πολιτικὴ ἡγεσία Νταβούτογλου-Ἐρντογὰν (μὲ αὐτὴν τὴν ἱεραρχικὴ σειρά), ἀντιλαμβάνεται τήν, σὲ βάθος χρόνου, μείωση τῆς στρατηγικῆς σημασίας τῆς Τουρκίας γιὰ τὴν ∆ύση καὶ τὸ ΝΑΤΟ. Ἡ μείωσις αὐτὴ ὀφείλεται στὴν τήξη τῶν πάγων κατὰ μῆκος τοῦ Βορειοανατολικοῦ Περάσματος (Βερίγγειος Πορθμὸς) ποὺ θὰ ἐπιτρέπει σὲ μερικὰ χρόνια στὴν Ρωσσία νὰ πρoσεγγίζει τὰ στρατηγικὰ σημεῖα τοῦ Εἰρηνικοῦ σὲ τρεῖς φορὲς ὀλιγώτερον χρόνο ἀφ' ὅτι οἱ ΗΠΑ. Τὸ γεγονὸς αὐτὸ ὑπονομεύει, προϊόντος τοῦ χρόνου, τὴν σπουδαιότητα τῆς Τουρκίας ὡς ἀνασχετικοῦ παράγοντος (μαζῇ μὲ τὴν Ἑλλάδα), τῆς καθόδου τῆς Ρωσσίας στὰ θερμὰ ὕδατα τῆς Μεσογείου καὶ μειώνει σὲ σημαντικὸ βαθμὸ τὸν συνολικὸ ρόλο τῆς Νοτιοανατολικῆς Πτέρυγος τοῦ ΝΑΤΟ. Ἕνα ρόλο ὁ ὁποῖος ἐπικοινωνιακῶς καλύπτεται ἀπὸ τὸ ἠθικο-ἰδεολογικὸ «emballage» τῆς «ἑλληνοτουρκικῆς φιλίας». Μιᾶς φιλίας ποὺ δὲν παύει νὰ δοκιμάζεται ἀπὸ τὴν Ἄγκυρα στὸ Αἰγαῖο Πέλαγος καὶ στὴν ΑΟΖ / ΕΕΖ τῆς, ὑπὸ τουρκικὴν κατοχὴ κατὰ τὸ 38% τοῦ ἐδάφους της, Κυπριακῆς ∆ημοκρατίας, κράτους-μέλους τῆς ΕΕ. Το παρόν άρθρο, περιγράφει τη συμπεριφορά της Τουρκίας στη σύγχρονη γεωπολιτική συγκυρία.

Στο άρθρο αυτό επιχειρείται η ανάπτυξη παιδαγωγικής θεωρίας για τη λειτουργική σχέση «Θεάτρου στην Εκπαίδευση» και σχολικής ηθικής αγωγής με βάση τη γνωσιακή επιστήμη. Αναδεικνύονται, έτσι, οι διαφορετικές προσεγγίσεις της γνώσης στο πλαίσιο της εκπαίδευσης (γνωστικής και οικολογικής) και το φιλοσοφικό και επιστημονικό υπόβαθρό τους. Η ένταξη του «Θεάτρου στην Εκπαίδευση», μέσω του Προγράμματος Σπουδών, στην καθημερινότητα του σχολείου και στη μαθησιακή διαδικασία μπορεί να αποτελέσει εργαλείο απελευθέρωσης, αλλά και υποδούλωσης ανάλογα με τους φιλοσοφικούς και πολιτικούς προσανατολισμούς των υπεύθυνων της εκπαίδευσης (ειδικοί, εμπειρογνώμονες) και της εκπαιδευτικής πράξης στην τάξη (εκπαιδευτικοί). Στο παρόν μελετώνται ερευνητικά οι διαφορές μεταξύ των δύο προσεγγίσεων και γίνονται αναφορές στα εμπειρικά δεδομένα της Ελλάδας και άλλων χωρών που θεμελιώνουν την παιδαγωγική λειτουργικότητα του θεάτρου στην διαμόρφωση της προσωπικής ταυτότητας και του ήθους του μαθητή από την προσχολική και σε όλη τη διάρκεια της εκπαίδευσής του. Σκοπός είναι να απαντηθεί το βασικό ερώτημα που απασχολεί τον ερευνητή και προκαλεί κάθε ειδικό και εκπαιδευτικό να πάρει θέση, πριν συμφωνήσει, χωρίς πολλές διατυπώσεις, με την παιδαγωγική αξία του «Θεάτρου στην Εκπαίδευση»: Με ποιες παιδαγωγικές, φιλοσοφικές και πολιτικές προϋποθέσεις το θέατρο, ως ασφαλής, μαθητοκεντρική και χειραφετητική μέθοδος και τεχνική, μπορεί να ενταχθεί στην απελευθερωτική εκπαίδευση με σκοπό την ηθική αγωγή μέσω των μαθημάτων του Προγράμματος Σπουδών;

Η εργασία αυτή προβαίνει σε μια ανασκόπηση των θεωρητικών προσεγγίσεων περί κοινωνικού κεφαλαίου, γεφυροποιού και αποκλειστικού, με σκοπό την προσέγγιση της κοινωνικής περιοχής του αθλητισμού και του φύλου υπό την οπτική της ανάλυσης του κοινωνικού κεφαλαίου και κατ’ επέκταση τη συμβολή της αθλήτριας στην παραγωγή του κοινωνικού κεφαλαίου. Η διεθνής βιβλιογραφία στο θέμα «ο αθλητισμός ως κοινωνικό κεφάλαιο» μολονότι περιορισμένη, αποδεικνύει ότι όσο ισχυρότερο είναι το κοινωνικό κεφάλαιο που αποκτάται στο πεδίο του αθλητισμού, τόσο διευκολύνεται και προωθείται η κοινωνική ενσωμάτωση. Στις μέχρι τώρα εργασίες για το κοινωνικό κεφάλαιο έχει παραμεληθεί και η παράμετρος φύλο. Η έρευνα της έμφυλης διάστασης του κοινωνικού κεφαλαίου, μολονότι περιορισμένη, δείχνει ότι οι γυναίκες παίζουν σημαντικό ρόλο στην ανάπτυξη του κοινωνικού κεφαλαίου. Το κοινωνικό κεφάλαιο αναφέρεται στη συλλογική αξία των κοινωνικών δικτύων, στην άρση των κοινωνικών αποκλεισμών, που αφορούν την έμφυλη, εθνική και φυλετική πολυμορφία (diverity), μεταξύ άλλων. Συμπερασματικά, είναι απαραίτητο να συμπεριληφθεί η διάσταση του φύλου και ειδικά ο ρόλος της αθλήτριας στις συζητήσεις για το κοινωνικό κεφάλαιο. Η έμφυλη διάσταση λειτουργεί ως «κοινωνική κόλλα», ως ανεκμετάλλευτη πηγή κοινωνικής ενέργειας που συμβάλλει δυναμικά στην αναγνώριση και την ενεργοποίηση κοινωνικών διεργασιών.   Λέξεις-κλειδιά: γεφυροποιό και αποκλειστικό κοινωνικό κεφάλαιο, «κοινωνική κόλλα», έμφυλη διάσταση, αθλητισμός, φύλο, γυναίκες, κοινωνικά δίκτυα  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη; Παπαδοπούλου, Σοφία (2014). Κοινωνικό Κεφάλαιο, Φύλο και Αθλητισμός. Γυναίκα & Άθληση. Τόμος  ΙΧ , 2013/2014, σελ. 7-14. Έκδοση της Πανελλήνιας Ένωσης για τον Αθλητισμό και τα Σπορ (ΠΕΠΓΑΣ).       *** Kamberidou, I. ; Papadopoulou, Sophia (2014). Social Capital, Gender and Sport (published in Greek). Women & Sport, a publication of the Hellenic Union for the Advancement of Women and Girls in Sport (PEPGAS), volume ΙΧ , 2013/2014, σελ. 7-14.--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Social Capital, Gender and Sport: This paper explores the concept of social capital—bridging and exclusive— so as to apply it as an analytical category to sport and gender, and subsequently the female athlete’s contributions in social capital production. International research on sport as social capital, although limited, indicates that sport promotes social inclusion. Research on the gender dimension of social capital, although limited, shows that women have been playing a major role in social capital production. Social capital refers to the collective value of social networks, the elimination of social exclusions, respect for ethnic, racial and gender diversity, among other things. In conclusion, it is essential to incorporate the gender perspective, and especially the role of the female athlete, in the discussions on social capital. The gender dimension provides the ‘social glue’ or untapped energy source that contributes dynamically in acknowledging and activating social processes. Keywords: bridging and exclusive social capital, "social glue", gender dimension, sport, gender perspective, women, social networks.

Κανένα βιβλίο της Παλαιάς Διαθήκης δεν έχει δεχτεί τόσες ποικίλες ερμηνείες και παρερμηνείες όσο το "΄Ασμα Ασμάτων". Το ποιητικό αυτό έργο διακρίνεται για τον πλούτο και τη χάρη των εικόνων του, για τη ζωηρότητα των χρωμάτων του, για την ένταση και το βάθος του αισθήματός του, γι' αυτό και κατέχει εξέχουσα θέση στην παγκόσμια λυρική ποίηση. Έχει συσσωρευθεί μεγάλος αριθμός μελετών μέσα στον 20ό αιώνα για το θέμα αυτό. Η παρούσα μονογραφία χωρίζεται σε τρία μέρη: στο πρώτο μέρος της πραγματεύεται τις λογοτεχνικές μεταγραφές-αποδόσεις του έργου στα νέα ελληνικά, στο δεύτερο μέρος εξετάζονται έξι δραματικές μεταγραφές του και στο τρίτο επιχειρείται μια διεξοδική μελέτη της απήχησης του βιβλικού αυτού κειμένου στο έργο των Νεοελλήνων ποιητών.

Το παρόν κείμενο αποτελεί άρθρο του Καθηγητή Ιωάννη Μάζη, σε συνεργασία με τον Κυριάκο Πατραγά και αναφέρεται, στο ρόλο τῶν παλαιφάτων ὀρθοδόξων πατριαρχείων, στον ἰσλαμικὸ κόσμο.

Στη παρούσα συλλογική προσπάθεια των ειδικών επιστημόνων και εμπειγνωμόνων, η συμβολή μας έγκειται στις ενότητες της Γ’ Λυκείου, οι οποίες περιλαμβάνουν τις έννοεις της Επιστήμης, της Τεχνολογία και της Γενετικής. Επιπλέον, υπήρξε συνεργασία και για την έννοια της Βιοηθικής της Β’ Λυκείου με τη συνάδελφο κ. Ρόη Ακανθοπούλου. Σημαντική είναι η  συμβολή του γράφοντος στη δημιουργία του Δειγματικού Σχεδίου Διδασκαλίας στην ενότητα Διλήμματα και στην έννοια της Γ’ Λυκείου ΓΕΝΕΤΙΚΗ και συγκεκριμένα στην προβολή ορθόδοξων βιοηθικολόγων στα προτεινόμενα φύλλα εργασίας.

Η απόφαση της ΣτΕ (Ολ.) 2287/2015 κρίνει ότι επιβάλλεται η εκπόνηση μελέτης οικονομικών και κοινωνικών επιπτώσεων πριν από την επιβολή περικοπών στις συντάξεις. Απαιτείται να εκτιμηθούν συνολικά οι επιπτώσεις από τα φορολογικά και ασφαλιστικά μέτρα. Η απόφαση συνάδει με όσα έχουν γίνει δεκτά από τον Διεθνή Οργανισμό Εργασίας και το Συμβούλιο της Ευρώπης όσον αφορά στη συμμόρφωση της Ελλάδας στις διεθνείς της υποχρεώσεις. Ωστόσο, η απόφαση εσφαλμένα δέχεται ότι τα μέτρα που έχουν ληφθεί κατά τη διάρκεια της κρίσης δεν είναι διαρθρωτικά. Η άποψη της μειοψηφίας στο σημείο αυτό είναι περισσότερο πειστική. Τέλος, στην παρούσα εξαιρετικά κρίσιμη οικονομική συγκυρία και λαμβάνοντας υπόψη ότι η αναφερόμενη στην απόφαση μελέτη των επιπτώσεων απαιτείται το πρώτον, θα έπρεπε να είχε ταχθεί προθεσμία στο Δημόσιο για να προσκομίσει, έστω και εκ των υστέρων, ως συμπληρωματική απόδειξη τη μελέτη αυτή.

Παρουσίαση του βιβλίου της Ειρήνης Καμπερίδου από το Λύκειο των Ελληνίδων (και προσκεκλημένη ομιλήτρια):   Αυτή η παρουσίαση [της Ειρήνης Καμπερίδου] εξετάζει τη δουλική φύση της οσμανικής κοινωνίας που διατρέχει όλη την ιεραρχία των διαπροσωπικών σχέσεων στο ιδιωτικό βίο  και στο δημόσιο. Αναδεικνύει ότι το χαρέμι δεν ήταν ο εξωτικός, αισθησιακός χώρος που παρουσίαζαν οι ζωγράφοι και οι περιηγητές του 18ου και 19ου αιώνα.  Μαθαίνουμε, χάρη στις μαρτυρίες των δυτικών περιηγητριών καθώς και των έγκλειστων στα χαρέμια γυναικών, ότι το 19ο αιώνα το χαρέμι απαρτιζόταν από Ελληνίδες, Κιρκάσιες, Γεωργιανές, γυναίκες της Αφρικής και της Αραβίας. Αναφέρονται και Ευρωπαίες—Αγγλίδες, Ιταλίδες, Γαλλίδες, μαύροι εξισλαμισμένοι ευνούχοι, ευνουχισμένα αγόρια και άνδρες. Το πολυεθνικό - Οθωμανικό χαρέμι ήταν ο κόσμος της απόλυτης απομόνωσης και του απόλυτου περιορισμού και εγκλεισμού του γυναικείου φύλου ως μία συλλογική οντότητα (ταυτότητα) μέσα σ’ έναν χώρο (δηλαδή Χαρέμι) όπου όλες οι γυναίκες ανήκαν μόνο σ’ έναν άνδρα  [είτε με την ιδιότητα της συζύγου, της κόρης, της σκλάβας οδαλίσκης, της μητέρας, της προστατευόμενης).  Αυτός ο συλλογικός εγκλεισμός των γυναικών ως μία οντότητα και ο αποκλεισμός τους από τον δημόσιο-κοινωνικό βίο, ήταν προϊόν ή καρπός του θεσμού της δουλείας, των επεκτατικών βλέψεων του Ισλάμ. Όμηροι αυτού του συστήματος απομόνωσης υπήρξαν , όχι μόνο τα κορίτσια και οι γυναίκες, αλλά και οι γιοι των έγκλειστων γυναικών, καθώς και οι μικροί αρσενικοί δούλοι και οι ευνούχοι .  Η δουλεία, αλλά και το δουλεμπόριο, υπήρξαν θεσμοί που το Ισλάμ είχε αναγνωρίσει και προάγει.  «Αχ, θα μπορούσα να συγχωρήσω σχεδόν τα πάντα στους Τούρκους. Δε θα τους καταδικάσω που αφαίρεσαν το σήμα το σταυρού από την Αγιά Σοφιά, που έκαναν τον Παρθενώνα αποθήκη πυρομαχικών ή που έσφαξαν τους Χριστιανούς, αλλά ένα πράγμα δεν μπορώ να συγχωρήσω: το ότι καταδικάζουν τις γυναίκες τους σε μία ζωή ματαιότητας, άγνοιας, ανηθικότητας, και πρόωρου θανάτου. […] πεθαίνουν πρόωρα, κατά εκατοντάδες, από την υπερκατανάλωση ουσιών, από τα δεκαοχτώ ως τα τριάντα τους χρόνια, ως αποτέλεσμα αυτού του μη-φυσιολογικού και ανθυγιεινού τρόπου ζωής στο Χαρέμι…» (Anna Vivanti 1865: 116-117, μετάφραση Ειρήνη Καμπερίδου).  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2015). Στο Θερμοκήπιο του Ανταγωνισμού και της Αντιζηλίας  [In the yoke of the harem- hotbed of rivalry and jealousy]. Παρουσίαση στο Πνευματικό Κέντρο «Εκάβη», διοργάνωση: Λύκειο των Ελληνίδων Κατερίνης, στο πλαίσιο της παρουσίασης του βιβλίου "Επιτέλους Αναπνέω Ελεύθερη! Γυναικείες Μαρτυρίες"       *** Kamberidou, Irene (2015). In the yoke of the harem- hotbed of rivalry and jealousy.  Presentation at the Cultural Center EKAVI,  Katerini, Greece  on the occasions of the circulation of Irene Kamberidou’s book entitled  "Finally Free to Breathe", Women’s Accounts: women travellers of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Publisher: Telethrio S.A., Athens

Στὴν παροῦσα Εἰσήγηση ἀναφερόμεθα καὶ ἐμβαθύνομε σὲ ὡρισμένες πτυχὲς τοῦ ζητήματος τῆς ἐπιλύσεως τοῦ Κυπριακοῦ ἀναφορικῶς πρὸς τὰ Πλάσματα ∆ικαίου τὰ χρησιμοποιούμενα ἀπὸ φορεῖς τῆς διεθνοῦς, λεγομένης, κοινότητος πρὸς ἐπίλυσιν τοῦ Κυπριακοῦ μέσῳ τῆς λεγομένης ∆∆Ο, ὅπως καὶ τὰ ∆ιεθνῆ ἐγκλήματα ποὺ τὰ ἀνωτέρω πλάσματα δικαίου συγκαλύπτουν καὶ νομιμοποιοῦν, μὲ ἀποτέλεσμα νὰ δημιουργοῦν προϋποθέσεις γιὰ χαοτικὴ διχοτόμηση στὴν καταργηθησομένη "μετεξελιχθεῖσα" Κυπριακὴ ∆ημοκρατία. 1) Ὑποστηρίζομε ὅτι βασικοὶ πυλῶνες τῶν διαφόρων σχεδίων καὶ προτάσεων ἐπιλύσεως τοῦ Κυπριακοῦ, οἱ ὁποῖοι διαχρονικῶς ἀποτελοῦν τὴν βάση τῶν διαπραγματεύσεων, συνιστοῦν δικαϊκὰ πλάσματα. Θὰ παρουσιασθεῖ τί μπορεῖ νὰ ὑποδηλώνει ἡ ἀνάγκη χρήσεως τόσων πλασμάτων δικαίου, καὶ μάλιστα ἐπὶ θεμελιωδῶν ρυθμίσεων ἐπιλύσεως τοῦ Κυπριακοῦ, καὶ πῶς μπορεῖ τὸ γεγονὸς αὐτὸ νὰ ἐπηρεάσει τὴν λειτουργικότητα τοῦ προτεινομένου ὑποδείγματος ἱδρύσεως καὶ διακυβερνήσεως. 2) Παραλλήλως, ἐξετάζεται τὸ ζήτημα τῆς ἐκ τῶν ὑστέρων νομιμοποιήσεως παρανόμων καταστάσεων καὶ πῶς ἡ διαχείρισις καὶ ἐπίλυσις τοῦ Κυπριακοῦ μπορεῖ νὰ λειτουργήσει δικαιοπαραγωγικῶς. 3) Ἐπὶ πλέον, ἀναλύεται τὸ ζήτημα τῆς συνεχίσεως ἢ διαδοχῆς τῆς Κυπριακῆς ∆ημοκρατίας, καὶ ἐξετάζεται τὶ μπορεῖ νὰ συνεπάγεται γιὰ τὴν νομικὴ ἀντιμετώπιση τῶν τελεσθέντων ἀπὸ τὴν τουρκικὴ πλευρὰ διεθνῶν ἐγκλημάτων στὴν Κύπρο.

The fundamental beliefs and principles underlying the curriculum of a subject in the school system are very important. Philosophy provides curriculum specialists and stakeholders with a framework for building the curriculum. It helps them answer the question what is knowledge, what is of value for learning, how students learn, what methods to use, what are the outcomes of education and what is the role of the teacher in the earning process etc. Different philosophies, such as Idealism, Realism, Critical Realism, Pragmatism and Existentialism provide different answers. The author in this paper is concerned with the Religious Education curriculum for the three last years of High School (Lyceum in Greece). He argues that the curriculum should be defined as the total learning experiences of the individual. For that, Pragmatism which pervades John Dewey’s work and his definition of experience and education, and in some cases Existentialism, should be the basis on which the Religious Education curriculum ought to be constructed. Along similar lines, he argues that pragmatism should be considered with Βahktin’s ‘dialogical self’, Geertz’s ‘grammar of culture’ and the Orthodox theology of the Person. The study puts forward the view that Religious Education might be a modern, not confessional subject, educating adolescents with a ‘religious language’ of themselves and their societies and aiming towards a critical religiosity’, where otherness is a part of ourselves.

We present 105 times of minima of 33 eclipsing binaries.

Disc winds originating from the inner parts of accretion discs are considered as the basic component of magnetically collimated outflows. The only available analytical magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) solutions to describe disc-driven jets are those characterized by the symmetry of radial self-similarity. However, radially self-similar MHD jet models, in general, have three geometrical shortcomings: (i) a singularity at the jet axis, (ii) the necessary assumption of axisymmetry and (iii) the non-existence of an intrinsic radial scale, i.e. the jets formally extend to radial infinity. Hence, numerical simulations are necessary to extend the analytical solutions towards the axis, by solving the full three-dimensional equations of MHD and impose a termination radius at finite radial distance. We focus here on studying the effects of relaxing the (ii) assumption of axisymmetry, i.e. of performing full 3D numerical simulations of a disc wind crossing all MHD critical surfaces. We compare the results of these runs with previous axisymmetric 2.5D simulations. The structure of the flow in all simulations shows strong similarities. The 3D runs reach a steady state and stay close to axisymmetry for most of the physical quantities, except for the poloidal magnetic field and the toroidal velocity which slightly deviate from axisymmetry. The latter quantities show signs of instabilities, which, however, are confined to the region inside the fast magnetosonic separatrix surface. The forces present in the flow, both of collimating and accelerating nature, are in good agreement in both the 2.5D and the 3D runs. We conclude that the analytical solution behaves well also after relaxing the basic assumption of axisymmetry.

Disc winds originating from the inner parts of accretion discs are considered as the basic component of magnetically collimated outflows. The only available analytical magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) solutions to describe disc-driven jets are those characterized by the symmetry of radial self-similarity. However, radially self-similar MHD jet models, in general, have three geometrical shortcomings: (i) a singularity at the jet axis, (ii) the necessary assumption of axisymmetry and (iii) the non-existence of an intrinsic radial scale, i.e. the jets formally extend to radial infinity. Hence, numerical simulations are necessary to extend the analytical solutions towards the axis, by solving the full three-dimensional equations of MHD and impose a termination radius at finite radial distance. We focus here on studying the effects of relaxing the (ii) assumption of axisymmetry, i.e. of performing full 3D numerical simulations of a disc wind crossing all MHD critical surfaces. We compare the results of these runs with previous axisymmetric 2.5D simulations. The structure of the flow in all simulations shows strong similarities. The 3D runs reach a steady state and stay close to axisymmetry for most of the physical quantities, except for the poloidal magnetic field and the toroidal velocity which slightly deviate from axisymmetry. The latter quantities show signs of instabilities, which, however, are confined to the region inside the fast magnetosonic separatrix surface. The forces present in the flow, both of collimating and accelerating nature, are in good agreement in both the 2.5D and the 3D runs. We conclude that the analytical solution behaves well also after relaxing the basic assumption of axisymmetry.

This contribution presents the development of medical informatics education in Europe. It does not discuss all developments that took place. Rather it discerns several themes that indicate the progress in the field, starting from the initiation phase to the final quality control phase.

Artificial (CoO-)Co/Nb/Co trilayers (TLs) are studied by means of magnetization, transport, and magnetic force microscopy measurements. By using these TLs as a model system, we provide definite means to distinguish the exchange-fields and stray-fields based magnetoresistance effects observed in relevant Ferromagnetic/Superconducting/Ferromagnetic (FM/SC/FM) structures. Accordingly, we isolate and exclusively focus on the stray-fields version, to report a complete supercurrent switch, Delta R/R-nor approximate to 100%, achieved at operating temperature T > 4.2 K. Detailed series of Co(60 nm)/Nb(d(Nb))/Co(60 nm) TLs are studied, in which all crucial parameters that relate to the outer Co layers and to the Nb interlayer were systematically varied to unveil the factors that motivate and/or promote the observed effect. We propose a compact model that fairly captures the underlying physics of the Co(60 nm)/Nb(d(Nb))/Co(60 nm) TLs studied here and can be generalized to assist understanding of the relevant processes in every kind of FM/SC/FM TLs. The presented results and accompanying model are both provocative for basic research and attractive for the design of cryogenic devices. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

BACKGROUND: Allergic reactions to food can have serious consequences. This systematic review summarizes evidence about the immediate management of reactions and longer-term approaches to minimize adverse impacts. METHODS: Seven bibliographic databases were searched from their inception to September 30, 2012, for systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, quasi-randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, controlled before-and-after and interrupted time series studies. Experts were consulted for additional studies. There was no language or geographic restrictions. Two reviewers critically appraised the studies using the appropriate tools. Data were not suitable for meta-analysis due to heterogeneity so were narratively synthesized. RESULTS: Eighty-four studies were included, but two-thirds were at high risk of potential bias. There was little evidence about acute management for non-life-threatening reactions. H1-antihistamines may be of benefit, but this evidence was in part derived from studies on those with cross-reactive birch pollen allergy. Regarding long-term management, avoiding the allergenic food or substituting an alternative was commonly recommended, but apart from for infants with cow's milk allergy, there was little high-quality research on this management approach. To reduce symptoms in children with cow's milk allergy, there was evidence to recommend alternatives such as extensively hydrolyzed formula. Supplements such as probiotics have not proved helpful, but allergen-specific immunotherapy may be disease modifying and therefore warrants further exploration. CONCLUSIONS: Food allergy can be debilitating and affects a significant number of people. However, the evidence base about acute and longer-term management is weak and needs to be strengthened as a matter of priority.

Aromatase inhibitors block the conversion of androgens to oestrogens and are used for the treatment of hormone-responsive breast cancer in menopause and recently also in premenopausal women. We investigate whether decreased oestrogen synthesis following aromatase inhibition leads to a depressive-like behavioural response in cycling female rats. Using the forced swim test (FST) we estimate the response of acute (three injections in 24 h) and sustained (7 d) letrozole and fluoxetine administration. Acute aromatase inhibition decreases immobility duration in the FST, indicating its antidepressant potential. Instead, sustained aromatase inhibition did not show such antidepressant potential. Testosterone elevation associates with the decreased depressive behaviour in the FST following acute letrozole treatment, but interestingly progesterone explains the increased swimming behaviour. Present findings may have potential implications for women treated with aromatase inhibitors, especially before menopause, as well as for the role of gonadal hormones in the expression of depressive symptoms and antidepressant response.

Aromatase inhibitors block the conversion of androgens to oestrogens and are used for the treatment of hormone-responsive breast cancer in menopause and recently also in premenopausal women. We investigate whether decreased oestrogen synthesis following aromatase inhibition leads to a depressive-like behavioural response in cycling female rats. Using the forced swim test (FST) we estimate the response of acute (three injections in 24 h) and sustained (7 d) letrozole and fluoxetine administration. Acute aromatase inhibition decreases immobility duration in the FST, indicating its antidepressant potential. Instead, sustained aromatase inhibition did not show such antidepressant potential. Testosterone elevation associates with the decreased depressive behaviour in the FST following acute letrozole treatment, but interestingly progesterone explains the increased swimming behaviour. Present findings may have potential implications for women treated with aromatase inhibitors, especially before menopause, as well as for the role of gonadal hormones in the expression of depressive symptoms and antidepressant response.

The legislative framework in Greece regarding environmental flows is based mostly on hydromorphological criteria with little respect to the biotic elements of the rivers ecosystem. Nevertheless, the European Framework Directive (2000/60) outlines the importance of several groups of aquatic organisms that can be used as indices and provide valuable information about the water needs of the riverine ecosystem. Towards this direction, a habitat modelling approach was applied in this study to simulate and assess the alterations of the Weighted Usable Area (WUA) using existing habitat suitability criteria (HSC) for brown trout (adults and juvenile). Brown trout was selected because it is the most recreationally and economically important species in the study areas. Habitat models are designed for a wide variety of planning applications where habitat ecology is an important consideration in the decision process. Habitat Suitability Index curves used in this study describe the instream suitability of the habitat variables most closely related to stream hydraulics and channel structure (e.g., velocity, depth) for two life stages of the brown trout (adults and juvenile). The Brown Trout data are used provisionally to the complete absence of any local HSI development. For this preliminary application, depth and velocity values were converted into their corresponding habitat suitability index values using a GIS software. Among the HSC examined here, there were those that were cited by Boove (1978) and Raleigh et al (1986) and their development is based on literature sources or professional opinion. The demonstration applied here clearly identifies some of the utility in using HSC to potentially identify critical low-flow periods, where additional flow reductions may adversely affect water use, recreation, and aquatic species. The proposed method should be complemented with the ecological information of native fish species, and tested for transferability in other regions of Greece.

Two specimens of the coccolithophore Calyptrolithophora pappilifera associated with single exothecal and endothecal coccoliths of Syracosphaera histrica, collected from the North Aegean Sea (NE Mediterranean), have been verified by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The two specimens strengthen previous reported hints that Syracosphaera histrica and Calyptrolithophora pappilifera represent a life-cycle association, documenting accordingly the relationships between the different phases within the genus Syracosphaera.

Adolescent gynaecology is increasingly recognized as an area in which specific knowledge and expertise is required to ensure that patients achieve the best outcome. Gynaecological problems in adolescents are common, and although serious pathology is rare, distress and discomfort can be significant. Adolescent girls are under greater pressure than ever before, particularly in terms of examination performance; they find menstrual dysfunction particularly difficult to manage. Careful and sympathetic assessment is crucial, and simple treatment remedies may be all that is required. However, complex and rare medical conditions can also occur and must not be missed. Some congenital disorders present for the first time in adolescence. Early detection and appropriate treatment will ensure the best possible outcomes in terms of sexual function and potential fertility. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Evidence suggests that consuming light-to-moderate amounts of alcohol reduces the risk of dementia and is associated better cognitive function and less cardiovascular disease, relative to those consuming no or heavy alcohol. There are only minimal data on the association between alcohol and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers. This study aimed to examine the association between alcohol and brain structure measured with MRI. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, high-resolution structural MRI was collected on 589 multi-ethnic community residents of New York aged ≥65 with available alcohol intake assessments via a food frequency questionnaire. Total brain volume (TBV), white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV), and presence of infarcts were derived from MRI scans with established methods. We examined the association of alcohol intake with these imaging markers using regression models adjusted for demographic, clinical, and vascular risk factors. RESULTS: Compared to non-drinking, light-to-moderate total alcohol (b = 0.007, p = 0.04) or wine (b = 0.008, p = 0.05) intake, but not beer or liquor intake, was associated with larger TBV. Further analysis showed a dose-response association between alcohol (p-trend = 0.03) or wine (p-trend = 0.006) and TBV. Overall, alcohol intake was not associated with WMHV or brain infarcts. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that among older adults in the community, light-to-moderate alcohol intake, in particular wine, is associated with larger TBV. These findings suggest that light to moderate alcohol consumption is potentially beneficial for brain aging, but replication is needed.

Asthma and allergic diseases have become one of the epidemics of the 21st century in developed countries. Much of the success of other areas of Medicine, such as infectious diseases, lies on preventive measures. Thus, much effort is also being placed lately in the prevention of asthma and allergy. This manuscript reviews the current evidence, divided in four areas of activity. Interventions modifying environmental exposure to allergens have provided inconsistent results, with multifaceted interventions being more effective in the prevention of asthma. Regarding nutrition, the use of hydrolysed formulas in high risk infants reduces the incidence of atopic dermatitis, while there is for now not enough evidence to recommend other dietary modifications, prebiotics, probiotics, or other microbial products. Pharmacologic agents used until now for prevention have not proved useful, while there is hope that antiviral vaccines could be useful in the future. Allergen-specific immunotherapy is effective for the treatment of allergic patients with symptoms; the study of its value for primary and secondary prevention of asthma and allergy is in its very preliminary phases. The lack of success in the prevention of these disorders lies on their complexity, which involves many genetic, epigenetic and environmental interactions. There is a need to identify target populations, involved mechanisms and interactions, and the best interventions. These must be effective, feasible, implementable and affordable. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Tornadoes have been reported in Greece during the last few decades and recent studies have given evidence that western Greece is an area vulnerable to tornadoes, waterspouts and funnel clouds In this study, the composite means and anomalies of synoptic conditions for tornadic events (tornadoes, waterspouts and funnel clouds) over western Greece are analyzed and discussed. The daily composite means of synoptic conditions were based on the National Centers for Environmental Prediction-National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP-NCAR) reanalysis data sets, for the period 12 August 1953 to 31 December 2012. The daily composite anomalies were calculated with respect to 30 years of climatological study (1981-2010) of the synoptic conditions. The analysis was carried out in terms of seasonal and monthly variability of composite means and anomalies of synoptic conditions for specific isobaric levels of 500, 700, 850, 925 hPa and the sea level pressure (SLP). In addition, an analysis and discussion about the dynamic lifted index from NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data sets is presented. The daily composite mean analysis of 500 hPa revealed a trough line across the northern Adriatic Sea and central Italy, associated with a SW upper-air stream over western Greece. The maximum composite anomalies were depicted at the isobaric level of 500 hPa during autumn, spring and summer, against winter when the anomaly appeared at 925 hPa isobaric level. In addition, 48% of tornado events during the autumn season occurred in pre-frontal weather conditions (cold fronts) and 27% developed after the passage of the cold front. Furthermore, the main difference in synoptic patterns between tornado and waterspout days along western Greece during the autumn season is the maximum daily composite anomaly over the Gulf of Taranto. © Author(s) 2014. CC Attribution 3.0 License.

A geophysical research was carried out to investigate the lithostarigraphic substratum characteristics of the dune field of the central Kyparissiakos Gulf (W. Peloponnese, Greece), which is characterised by the presence of four dune lines. For this purpose, the geophysical techniques of Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) were applied, along with detailed morphological mapping and the collection of geological and geomorphological information. The processing of the geophysical data that were collected from two ERT soundings, perpendicular to the general direction of the dune lines, and seven geoelectrical soundings revealed four geoelectrical layers with the two surficial resistive layers adumbrating the extent and thickness of the four sand dune ridges and the associated slags. The third layer, corresponding to the underlying geoelectrical formation of 50–75 Ohm.m, is interpreted as a layer of transgressive Holocene deposits saturated with fresh water, while the deepest geoelectrically identified layer seems to correspond to the “Neda” formation, which consists of marls, sandy marls and conglomerates. It is concluded that the combined application of the aforementioned techniques has the potential to provide valuable data for the investigation of complex coastal depositional environments.

The existence of sexual dimorphism in individual elements of the human skeleton allows sex determination and significantly enhances the identification of fragmentary skeletal material. Traditionally, the pelvis and the skull are used for an accurate sex determination. Sometimes they are not available and alternative methods have to be used. The aim of this work is to study the sexual dimorphism of the proximal portion of the posterior femur by analyzing the biometric data of the Purkait's triangle. The studied sample comprises 203 individuals (112 males and 91 females) from the Modern Human Skeletal Reference Collection (The Athens Collection) of the Department of Animal & Human Physiology (National & Kapodistrian University of Athens). The biometric data were analyzed by Discriminant Analysis and equations were generated for sex determination, which gave an overall correct classification of 78.3%. For the right and the left femur the percentages of correct classification were 77.8% and 75.9% respectively. These accuracy rates were compared to those of an Indian population and were found to be lower (86.5% for males and 86.3% for females). The study of sexual dimorphism (SD) in Greek, Indian, European-American and African-American populations gave interesting results. The AB diameter in the Greek sample shows the lowest degree of SD while the AC diameter shows the highest. In the other three population samples, the BC diameter shows the highest degree of SD. We assume that the femur anatomy of the Greeks is the major cause that the Purkait method does not give high rates of correct classification. It is therefore advisable that practitioners exercise caution when using this method on skeletal material from Greece, especially in forensic contexts.

On 10 April 2007, three moderate earthquakes with Mw=4.9–5.1 occurred in the vicinity of Trichonis Lake (W. Greece). A local network composed of 12 three-component digital seismographs was installed in the epicentral area and recorded more than 1600 events. The double-difference algorithm HYPODD, incorporating both catalog and waveform cross-correlation differential travel-time data, was applied for the successful relocation of 1490 earthquakes. The latter led to the distinction of a main NW-SE trending and NE-dipping zone, as well as of three neighboring faults; a conjugate NW-SE striking and SW-dipping marginal fault mapped along the northeastern flanks of the lake; a E-W trending and south-dipping low-angle normal fault, possibly related to the major Agrinio Fault Zone (AFZ), parallel to the northern bank of the lake; a NE-SW striking and NW-dipping normal fault, likely related to a segment of the active Evinos fault, located south of the lake. Calculation of the Coulomb stress induced by the combination of the 1975 Mw=6.0 event and the three largest events of 10 April 2007 on the inferred structures, reveals that most of the seismicity lies within the “stress-loaded” region, except for the westernmost activity, which probably belongs to the deep part of the AFZ. A total of 178 reliable focal mechanisms were determined by regional and local body-wave modeling (5 largest events) and P-wave first motion polarity data. The types of the obtained focal mechanisms are predominantly normal and strike-slip, however, numerous earthquakes were found to exhibit reverse faulting. Inversion of focal mechanism data showed that the prevailing principal horizontal component σ3 is quite homogeneous throughout the activated area with a roughly NW-SE trend, parallel to the strike of the Hellenides. On the contrary, the compressional field σ1 appears in two patterns: NE-SW trending onshore and NW-SE trending beneath the lake. This apparent rotation of σ1 by 90° reveals a complex system enclosed by the suggested NW-SE trending antithetic faults in depths between 7 and 9km. The calculated stress ratios beneath the lake imply that vertical forces are close to the overburden pressure. The overall inferred stress pattern is rather linked to topographic variations, locally imposing increase or decrease of the vertical forces. The presence of the water in the lake possibly plays an additional important role, penetrating through the bedrock, reducing the friction coefficient, while the pore pressure and, consequently, the effective stress increase. Thus, shearing along mature fractures is enhanced, likely yielding the observed diversity.

Extreme daily precipitation events are involved in significant environmental damages, even in life loss, because of causing adverse impacts, such as flash floods, in urban and sometimes in rural areas. Thus, long-term forecast of such events is of great importance for the preparation of local authorities in order to confront and mitigate the adverse consequences. The objective of this study is to estimate the possibility of forecasting the maximum daily precipitation for the next coming year. For this reason, appropriate prognostic models, such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) were developed and applied. The data used for the analysis concern annual maximum daily precipitation totals, which have been recorded at the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), during the long term period 1891-2009. To evaluate the potential of daily extreme precipitation forecast by the applied ANNs, a different period for validation was considered than the one used for the ANNs training. Thus, the datasets of the period 1891-1980 were used as training datasets, while the datasets of the period 1981-2009 as validation datasets. Appropriate statistical indices, such as the coefficient of determination (R2), the index of agreement (IA), the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and the Mean Bias Error (MBE), were applied to test the reliability of the models. The findings of the analysis showed that, a quite satisfactory relationship (R2=0.482, IA=0.817, RMSE=16.4mm and MBE=+5.2mm) appears between the forecasted and the respective observed maximum daily precipitation totals one year ahead. The developed ANN seems to overestimate the maximum daily precipitation totals appeared in 1988 while underestimate the maximum in 1999, which could be attributed to the relatively low frequency of occurrence of these extreme events within GAA having impact on the optimum training of ANN. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Health care and information technology in health care is advancing at tremendous speed. We analysed whether the prognoses by Haux et al. - first presented in 2000 and published in 2002 - have been fulfilled in 2013 and which might be the reasons for match or mismatch. Twenty international experts in biomedical and health informatics met in May 2013 in a workshop to discuss match or mismatch of each of the 71 prognoses. After this meeting a web-based survey among workshop participants took place. Thirty-three prognoses were assessed matching; they reflect e.g. that there is good progress in storing patient data electronically in health care institutions. Twenty-three prognoses were assessed mismatching; they reflect e.g. that telemedicine and home monitoring as well as electronic exchange of patient data between institutions is not established as widespread as expected. Fifteen prognoses were assessed neither matching nor mismatching. ICT tools have considerably influenced health care in the last decade, but in many cases not as far as it was expected by Haux et al. in 2002. In most cases this is not a matter of the availability of technical solutions but of organizational and ethical issues. We need innovative and modern information system architectures which support multiple use of data for patient care as well as for research and reporting and which are able to integrate data from home monitoring into a patient centered health record. Since innovative technology is available the efficient and wide-spread use in health care has to be enabled by systematic information management.

The objective of this study was to assess and analyze the human bioclimatic conditions of Crete Island, by applying two human thermal indices: physiological equivalent temperature (PET), derived from the Munich Energy-balance Model for Individuals human energy balance model, and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), based on the Fiala multi-node model of human thermoregulation. Human bioclimatic studies provide a framework for considering the effects of climatic conditions on human beings and highlighting the social/economic factors that mitigate or amplify the consequences of environmental changes. In order to estimate the thermal effect of the environment on the human body, it has been considered that the total effects of all thermal components, not only of individual parameters, should be taken into account. The climatic data (air temperature, relative humidity, cloudiness, wind speed) used in this study were acquired from the archives of the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, regarding ten meteorological stations in Crete Island. These data, covering the 30-year period 1975–2004, were used for the calculation of PET and UTCI in order to assess thermo-physiological stress levels. The findings of this analysis, such as bioclimatic diagrams, temporal and spatial distributions of PET and UTCI as well as trends and variability, will help stake holders to understand and interpret the island’s current bioclimate, in order to make any necessary adaptations and become more resilient to the foreseen climate change. © 2013, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

The 7 kilometers long coastline of Marathon Gulf (East Attica, Greece), has been chosen for this study, in order to classify its coastal erosion, using the Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) through GIS technology, since several incidents of erosion have been identified during the past decades in the area. The CVI index is used for assessing the vulnerability of a coast to an anticipated future sea-level rise. It relates geological (coastal geomorphology, historical changes of coastline’s position, coastal slopes) and oceanographic (wave height, run up and tidal range) variables in a semi-quantitative manner. We combined different kinds of datasets extracted from high resolution panchromatic aerial photographs of several time periods (1960-2010) and traced the contemporary shoreline by high accuracy surveying with Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS equipment. The interpretation of all shorelines required geo-statistical analysis in a Geographical Information System, in order to estimate the rate of shoreline change for a period of 53 years. Retreating rates were calculated for each section reaching the value of 0.6 m/yr. According to the produced CVI values (10.61- 39.52), it is found that 46% of the coast has very high vulnerability, 20% high vulnerability, whilst 29% have low vulnerability. The area named “Plesti” at the southern part of the study area, a large segment at the coast of Nea Makri, the northern part of Agios Panteleimonas beach and the eastern estuary of the Inois river are those with the higher risk. These conclusions are in full agreement with the field observations.

The purpose of this study was the overview of current knowledge regarding the use of survivin and its isoforms in prognosis and treatment of breast cancer. An advanced search of Medline was performed using the following search strategy: "(survivin isoforms) OR (survivin transcript variants) AND (breast cancer) AND (neoplasm OR tumor OR cancer OR carcinoma)". Relevant studies were retrieved and processed thoroughly in order to analyze the related data. Besides wild-type survivin full-length transcript, another six splice variants have been identified. Overexpression of survivin and its isoforms leads to shorter overall and disease-free survival; the transcript variants are correlated with apoptosis and could assist prognosis prediction. It has been proved through numerous studies that inhibiting survivin isoforms might become a promising target of drug therapy of carcinomas. Use of small molecule YM155 could offer new therapy for triple negative breast cancer patients, while, chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil + epirubicin + cyclophosphamide and Tax-Epi could be guided by survivin splice variants measurements. Survivin transcript variants could become prognostic biomarkers and could provide information about clinical management of patients suffering from breast cancer

We studied tissue mRNA levels of VEGF-Axxxa angiogenic versus VEGF-Axxxb anti-angiogenic isoforms by means of specially designed PCR assays in two parallel cohorts of metastatic breast cancer patients, one treated with taxane (Cohort A) and one treated with taxaneDbevacizumab (Cohort B). Tissue mRNA expression of angiogenic VEGF-Axxxa isoforms was retrospectively associated with adverse prognosis in the absence of bevacizumab and with favorable outcome when bevacizumab was administered. Background: The prognostic utility of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) splice variants in patients with advanced breast cancer treated with bevacizumab has not been studied. Patients and Methods: A total of 111 patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with weekly docetaxel or ixabepilone without bevacizumab (cohort A) and 100 treated with weekly paclitaxel and bevacizumab (cohort B) were studied. Formalin-fixed tumors were macrodissected for reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction relative quantification of VEGF-A165, -189, and -206 isoforms spliced at exon 8 proximal splice site (VEGF-Axxxa) and at exon 8 distal splice site (VEGF-Axxxb). Results: For high VEGF-Axxxa, the hazard ratios (HRs) for progression were 1.08 (P = .71) in non-bevacizumab-treated patients (cohort A) and 0.66 (P = .22) in bevacizumab-treated patients (cohort B), and the HRs for death were 1.45 (P = .13) and 0.50 (P = .049), respectively. The interaction of VEGF-Axxxa with bevacizumab administration was significant (P = .011) for overall survival (OS). High tissue VEGF-Axxxb was not prognostic in cohort A but was predictive for bevacizumab benefit in cohort B (HR for progression, 0.57 [P = .04]; HR for death, 0.51 [P = .02]). Exploratory analyses done only in cohort B suggested that abundance of VEGFR1 messenger RNA (mRNA) in peripheral blood and low VEGFR2 mRNA in tissue correlated with poor outcome. In multivariate analysis, high tissue mRNA of angiogenic VEGFAxxxa in the presence of bevacizumab therapy predicted for favorable progression-free survival (HR for progression, 0.39; P = .0227) and OS (HR for death, 0.32; P = .0140). Conclusion: Tissue mRNA expression of angiogenic VEGFAxxxa isoforms was retrospectively associated with adverse prognosis in the absence of bevacizumab and with favorable outcome when bevacizumab was administered in patients with advanced breast cancer. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.

In recent years the microstructure, mechanical and magnetic properties of Eurofer-97 steel are studied intensively due to its application in nuclear fusion power plants. Its microstructure is usually accessed by means of electron microscopy. Here we present an alternative approach utilizing Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to study as-received Eurofer-97 steel. We recorded both the Height Signal (HS) and Phase Signal (PS) that provided information on the morphologic and inelastic topography, respectively. With the HS we detected spherical particles (SPs) of size 50-2000 nm. Interestingly, micrometer SPs (0.1-2.0 mu m) are randomly distributed, while nanometer SPs (50-100 nm) are sometimes arranged in correlation to grain boundaries. The PS clearly revealed that the micrometer SPs exhibit inelastic properties. Though we cannot identify the elemental composition of the SPs with AFM, based on relevant electron microscopy data we ascribe the nanometer ones to the TaC, TiN and VN and the coarse micrometer ones to M23C6 (M=Cr, Fe). The latter class of SPs can probably be active sites that influence the mechanical properties of Eurofer-97 steel upon annealing as observed in relevant electron microscopy based studies.

The reduction in electronic recombination losses by the passivation of surfaces is a key factor enabling high-efficiency solar cells. Here a strategy to passivate surface trap states of TiO2 films used as cathode interlayers in organic photovoltaics (OPVs) through applying alumina (Al2O3) or zirconia (ZrO2) insulating nanolayers by thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) is investigated. The results suggest that the surface traps in TiO2 are oxygen vacancies, which cause undesirable recombination and high electron extraction barrier, reducing the open-circuit voltage and the short-circuit current of the complete OPV device. It is found that the ALD metal oxides enable excellent passivation of the TiO2 surface followed by a downward shift of the conduction band minimum. OPV devices based on different photoactive layers and using the passivated TiO2 electron extraction layers exhibit a significant enhancement of more than 30% in their power conversion efficiencies compared to their reference devices without the insulating metal oxide nanolayers. This is a result of significant suppression of charge recombination and enhanced electron extraction rates at the TiO2/ALD metal oxide/organic interface. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The thyroid gland is mainly supplied by the superior and inferior thyroid arteries, with the latter being its principal arterial supply in adults. The inferior thyroid artery usually arises from the thyrocervical trunk, and less frequently from the subclavian artery. Rarely, it may originate from the vertebral artery or the common carotid artery. In the present report, we describe a unique case of a 56-year-old patient, undergoing total thyroidectomy and level VI lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma, with aberrant origin of both inferior thyroid arteries from the common carotid arteries.

INTRODUCTION: It is our impression that many biomechanical studies invest substantial resources studying the obvious: that more and larger metal is stronger. The purpose of this study is to evaluate if a subset of biomechanical studies comparing fixation constructs just document common sense. METHODS: Using a web-based survey, 274 orthopaedic surgeons and 81 medical students predicted the results of 11 biomechanical studies comparing fracture fixation constructs (selected based on the authors' sense that the answer was obvious prior to performing the study). Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated according to standard formulas. The agreement among the observers was calculated by using a multirater kappa, described by Siegel and Castellan. RESULTS: The accuracy of predicting outcomes was 80% or greater for 10 of 11 studies. Accuracy was not influenced by level of experience (i.e., time in practice and medical students vs. surgeons). There were substantial differences in accuracy between observers from different regions. The overall categorical rating of inter-observer reliability according to Landis and Koch was moderate (κ=0.55; standard error (SE)=0.01). CONCLUSION: The results of a subset of biomechanical studies comparing fracture fixation constructs can be predicted prior to doing the study. As these studies are time and resource intensive, one criterion for proceeding with a biomechanical study should be that the answer is not simply a matter of common sense.

The limits of validity of the linear photoelastic model are investigated in a one-dimensional dual photonic-phononic cavity, formed by alternating layers of a chalcogenide glass and a polymer homogeneous and isotropic material, which supports both optical and acoustic resonant modes localized in the same region. It is shown that the linear-response regime breaks down when either the acoustic excitation increases or the first-order acousto-optic interaction coupling element vanishes by symmetry, giving rise to the manifestation of multiphonon absorption and emission processes by a photon. Our results provide a consistent interpretation of different aspects of the underlying physics relating to nonlinear acousto-optic interactions that can occur in such cavities.

This research examines the order of acquisition of words of four different classes: verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs in three different levels of proficiency in the FL. We apply the procedure of Error Analysis to a corpus of written compositions and analyze the interlingual and intralingual lexical errors (formal and semantic) of the Greek students of Spanish as a Foreign Language (SFL). Our results have shown us that there is relationship between the type of word and the production of lexical errors and that the lexical errors present different trend in the different word classes. Additionally, our results lead us to the conclusion that the word class as a stronger predictor of lexical error type than proficiency level.

Carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains (CP-Kps) are currently among the most important nosocomial pathogens. An observational study was conducted during 2009 to 2010 in two hospitals located in a high-prevalence area (Athens, Greece). The aims were (i) to evaluate the clinical outcome of patients with CP-Kp bloodstream infections (BSIs), (ii) to identify predictors of mortality, and (iii) to evaluate the various antibiotic schemes employed. A total of 205 patients with CP-Kp BSIs were identified: 163 (79.5%) were infected with KPC or KPC and VIM, and 42 were infected with VIM producers. For definitive treatment, 103 patients received combination therapy (two or more active drugs), 72 received monotherapy (one active drug), and 12 received therapy with no active drug. The remaining 18 patients died within 48 h after the onset of bacteremia. The all-cause 28-day mortality was 40%. A significantly higher mortality rate was observed in patients treated with monotherapy than in those treated with combination therapy (44.4% versus 27.2%; P=0.018). The lowest mortality rate (19.3%) was observed in patients treated with carbapenem-containing combinations. In the Cox proportion hazards model, ultimately fatal disease (hazards ratio [HR], 3.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.51 to 7.03; P=0.003), the presence of rapidly fatal underlying diseases (HR, 4.20; 95% CI, 2.19 to 8.08; P<0.001), and septic shock (HR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.16 to 3.96; P=0.015) were independent predictors of death. Combination therapy was strongly associated with survival (HR of death for monotherapy versus combination, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.23 to 3.51; P=0.006), mostly due to the effectiveness of the carbapenem-containing regimens.

Carotid atherosclerosis is the main cause of fatal cerebral ischemic events, thereby posing a major burden for public health and state economies. We propose a web-based platform named CAROTID to address the need for optimal management of patients with carotid atherosclerosis in a twofold sense: (a) objective selection of patients who need carotid-revascularization (i.e., high-risk patients), using a multifaceted description of the disease consisting of ultrasound imaging, biochemical and clinical markers, and (b) effective storage and retrieval of patient data to facilitate frequent follow-ups and direct comparisons with related cases. These two services are achieved by two interconnected modules, namely the computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) tool and the intelligent archival system, in a unified, remotely accessible system. We present the design of the platform and we describe three main usage scenarios to demonstrate the CAROTID utilization in clinical practice. Additionally, the platform was evaluated in a real clinical environment in terms of CAD performance, end-user satisfaction and time spent on different functionalities. CAROTID classification of high- and low-risk cases was 87%; the corresponding stenosis-degree-based classification would have been 61%. Questionnaire-based user satisfaction showed encouraging results in terms of ease-of-use, clinical usefulness and patient data protection. Times for different CAROTID functionalities were generally short; as an example, the time spent for generating the diagnostic decision was 5min in case of 4-s ultrasound video. Large datasets and future evaluation sessions in multiple medical institutions are still necessary to reveal with confidence the full potential of the platform.

Expression in Escherichia coli represents the simplest and most cost effective means for the production of recombinant proteins. This is a routine task in structural biology and biochemistry where milligrams of the target protein are required in high purity and monodispersity. To achieve these criteria, the user often needs to screen several constructs in different expression and purification conditions in parallel. We describe a pipeline, implemented in the Center for Optimized Structural Studies, that enables the systematic screening of expression and purification conditions for recombinant proteins and relies on a series of logical decisions. We first use bioinformatics tools to design a series of protein fragments, which we clone in parallel, and subsequently screen in small scale for optimal expression and purification conditions. Based on a scoring system that assesses soluble expression, we then select the top ranking targets for large-scale purification. In the establishment of our pipeline, emphasis was put on streamlining the processes such that it can be easily but not necessarily automatized. In a typical run of about 2 weeks, we are able to prepare and perform small-scale expression screens for 20-100 different constructs followed by large-scale purification of at least 4-6 proteins. The major advantage of our approach is its flexibility, which allows for easy adoption, either partially or entirely, by any average hypothesis driven laboratory in a manual or robot-assisted manner.

The lipid profile of elite basketball and soccer athletes was evaluated and compared with that of inactive individuals. Total cholesterol (T-C), low and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C and HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) concentration were measured in the morning and after a soccer or a basketball match. All parameters of lipid profile measured at a fasted and resting state, except HDL-C, were lower in the athletes compared with the controls (p < 0.01). The soccer match resulted in a greater decrease in TG (78.3 ± 6.7 to 70.7 ± 6.3, p < 0.01), T-C (179.3 ± 10.7 to 171.6 ± 9.6, p < 0.01), LDL-C (110.9 ± 8.9 to 103.5 ± 7.5, p < 0.01) compared with the basketball match that resulted only in a decrease in LDL-C (126.8 ± 9.5 to 117.3 ± 9.1, p < 0.01) and an increase in HDL-C that was similar to that observed after the soccer match (9-12%). These findings support the beneficial effects of basketball and soccer on cardiovascular health. © 2013 © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

The lipid profile of elite basketball and soccer athletes was evaluated and compared with that of inactive individuals. Total cholesterol (T-C), low and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C and HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) concentration were measured in the morning and after a soccer or a basketball match. All parameters of lipid profile measured at a fasted and resting state, except HDL-C, were lower in the athletes compared with the controls (p < 0.01). The soccer match resulted in a greater decrease in TG (78.3 ± 6.7 to 70.7 ± 6.3, p < 0.01), T-C (179.3 ± 10.7 to 171.6 ± 9.6, p < 0.01), LDL-C (110.9 ± 8.9 to 103.5 ± 7.5, p < 0.01) compared with the basketball match that resulted only in a decrease in LDL-C (126.8 ± 9.5 to 117.3 ± 9.1, p < 0.01) and an increase in HDL-C that was similar to that observed after the soccer match (9-12%). These findings support the beneficial effects of basketball and soccer on cardiovascular health. © 2013 © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

The lipid profile of elite basketball and soccer athletes was evaluated and compared with that of inactive individuals. Total cholesterol (T-C), low and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C and HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) concentration were measured in the morning and after a soccer or a basketball match. All parameters of lipid profile measured at a fasted and resting state, except HDL-C, were lower in the athletes compared with the controls (p < 0.01). The soccer match resulted in a greater decrease in TG (78.3 ± 6.7 to 70.7 ± 6.3, p < 0.01), T-C (179.3 ± 10.7 to 171.6 ± 9.6, p < 0.01), LDL-C (110.9 ± 8.9 to 103.5 ± 7.5, p < 0.01) compared with the basketball match that resulted only in a decrease in LDL-C (126.8 ± 9.5 to 117.3 ± 9.1, p < 0.01) and an increase in HDL-C that was similar to that observed after the soccer match (9-12%). These findings support the beneficial effects of basketball and soccer on cardiovascular health. © 2013 © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

This study is aimed at exploring the errors of a regional model of the Bay of Biscay, a regional zoom of the IBI configuration of the ocean model NEMO, with the ultimate objective of guiding the choice and implementation of a data assimilation system in that region. An ensemble experiment was carried out by randomly perturbing winds along a base of EOFs with the aim to mimic a potential source of error in the model forecasts. A characterisation was attempted with proxy forecast errors by using statistical moments of order 1 to 4. The temporal variability of model correction patterns in a hypothetical data assimilation system was also illustrated. Significant departures from linear/Gaussian response were found, as well as well-marked non-stationarities in the error patterns. Within the limits of the experimental protocol, this could be technically applicable to other coastal areas as the study illustrates the likely limits of stationary/Gaussian data assimilation approaches in the Bay of Biscay.

In this contribution we present some preliminary findings on the chemical quality of groundwaters of the deltaic plain of R. Pinios (Thessaly), as part of the implementation of the project THALISDAPHNE. Samples were obtained from 13 groundwater drillings on a seasonal basis during the hydrological year 2012 - 2013 and analyzed for major ions, nutrients, dissolved organic carbon and trace metals. Temperature, pH, conductivity and salinity were measured in situ. In order to evaluate the groundwater quality, we compare the data obtained against the Hellenic legislation threshold values and FAO guidelines for irrigation waters. Conductivity ranged from 230 to 9180 μS/cm. Exceedance of the 700 μS/cm threshold (Type I water FAO) in 71% of the samples suggests slight to moderate restrictions in irrigation. In two drillings (No 10, 13) maximum permissible limits of conductivity, sodium and chloride concentrations were exceeded particularly in summer and autumn. Some exceedances of guidelines were also identified for nitrates and ammonium. Concentrations of dissolved trace metals, were generally below the limits, with the exception of Zn, however some concern has been raised in terms of increased levels of total dissolved Cr in drilling No. 15 (8.3 - 37.9 μg/L). On the basis of our results degradation of groundwater quality was identified together with seasonal salinization; these two factors corroborate to the need for sustainable groundwater use especially in months with increased demands for water supplies.

The Chicago consensus statement of 2005 was created at the point of cumulative criticisms and debates around the clinical practice of childhood genital surgery. It was drawn up at a time when it had become clearer that medically non-essential paediatric genital operations were associated with poor adult cosmetic outcomes and sexual functioning. However, data were not available for non-intervention. Therefore, parents and clinicians had no reliable information on how a child growing up with atypical genitalia might fare. The most positive recommendation in the consensus statement was the strong recommendation for decisions to be reached by a multidisciplinary team in collaboration with affected families. Importantly, the value of user groups was likewise formally acknowledged. For many services, there has been a sea change in the way surgeons work. Whilst some surgeons may continue with the standard practice of childhood genital surgery, it is becoming clearer that with adequate support, more individuals and families choose to postpone elective interventions. However, these are our observations only. Authoritative evidence must be based on high-quality multi-centre multidisciplinary research to prospectively monitor the long-term multiple outcomes of surgery and no surgery. There is as yet no obvious move towards such an endeavour. © 2013 © 2013 Taylor {&} Francis.

Melphalan is one of the most active chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). However, the mechanism underlying differential patient responses to melphalan therapy is unknown. METHODS :Chromatin structure, transcriptional activity and DNA damage response signals were examined following ex vivo treatment with melphalan of both malignant bone marrow plasma cells (BMPCs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of MM patients, responders (n=57) or non-responders (n=28) to melphalan therapy. PBMCs from healthy controls (n=25) were also included in the study. In both BMPCs and PBMCs, the local chromatin looseness, transcriptional activity and repair efficiency of the transcribed strand (TS) were significantly higher in non-responders than in responders and lowest in healthy controls (all P<0.05). Moreover, we found that melphalan-induced apoptosis inversely correlated with the repair efficiency of the TS, with the duration of the inhibition of mRNA synthesis, phosphorylation of p53 at serine 15 and apoptosis rates being higher in responders than in non-responders (all P<0.001). Our findings provide a mechanistic basis for the link between DNA repair efficiency and response to melphalan therapy. Interestingly, the observation of these phenomena in PBMCs provides a novel approach for the prediction of response to anti-myeloma therapy.

CONTEXT: A proteomic analysis has proposed fetuin-A (alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein) as a new potential marker for pancreatic cancer (PC). OBJECTIVE: Circulating fetuin-A levels in patients with PC. METHODS: Serum fetuin-A was measured in 81 cases with PC and 81 matched controls before the initiation of any treatment. RESULTS: Serum fetuin-A was not independently associated with the presence of PC. Although there was a trend with higher fetuin-A levels across PC stages, comparisons of fetuin-A in patients within different PC prognostic stages revealed no differences. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating fetuin-A was similar between patients and controls and was not associated with the disease severity.

In this study, the climatology of tornadoes, waterspouts and funnel clouds over Greece is presented for the period 1709-2012. The climatology consists of two datasets. An historical dataset (1709-1999) is based on newspaper archives, historical archives, published tornado literature, administrative records and reports of Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS). A recent dataset (2000-2012) is based on newspaper articles, eyewitness reports to the media, HNMS's reports and an open-ended online tornado report database which has been developed and maintained by the Laboratory of Climatology & Atmospheric Environment of the University of Athens. Altogether, 612 Greek tornadic events compose the climatology: 171 tornadoes, 374 waterspouts and 67 funnel clouds. Tornadic events during the past 13years (2000-2012) have occurred all over the Greek territory and there is frequent tornadic occurrence over north Crete and Corfu Island. Tornadoes are more frequent to occur over NW Peloponnesus followed by south parts of Corfu Island. However, waterspouts are more frequent over north Crete followed by Corfu Island. Tornadic monthly variability depicts a maximum during October, followed by September and November. October is the month with the highest tornado frequency, followed by November and July. The highest waterspout frequency month is September followed by October and December. Tornadoes most commonly develop during the warm time of the day, as more than 75% of all cases occur during 08:00-15:00hours UTC with a maximum at 12:00hours UTC. Waterspout frequency of occurrence has two maxima during the day, the first early in the morning (07:00-09:00hours UTC) and the second after the noon time period (14:00-15:00hours UTC). The dominant (27.7% of total cases) intensity of tornadoes in Greece is T4 based on the T-scale during the 300-year period (1709-2012); there have been at least 114 injured and 29 deaths. © 2013 Royal Meteorological Society.

Solitary plasmacytoma (SP) is a rare plasma cell dyscrasia characterized by the presence of bone or extramedullary plasma cell tumors. The treatment of choice is local radiotherapy (R/T)±surgical excision. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy (C/T) or novel agents (NA) is uncertain. Data related to prognostic factors are inconclusive. Herein, we describe the clinical features, survival and prognosis of 97 consecutive patients, 65 with bone SP (SBP), and 32 with extramedullary SP (SEP), diagnosed and treated in 12 Greek Myeloma Centers. Objective response rate (≥PR) and complete response (CR) was 91.8% and 61.9%, respectively, and did not differ between the 2 groups. Overall, 38 patients relapsed or progressed to multiple myeloma (MM). After a median follow-up of 60 months, 5 and 10-year overall survival (OS) probability was 92% and 89% in SEP and 86% and 69% in SBP, respectively (P=0.2). The 5- and 10-year MM-free survival (MMFS) probability was 90% and 70% for patients with SEP vs. 59% and 50% for patients with SBP, respectively (P=0.054). Overall, the 5- and 10-year OS probability, plasmacytoma relapse-free survival (PRFS), progression-free survival and MMFS was 84% and 78%, 72% and 58%, 58% and 43%, and 70% and 59%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, prolonged PRFS and young age were positive predictors of OS. Achievement of CR was the only positive predictor of PRFS. Immunoparesis was the only negative predictor of progression to MM. The addition of C/T or NA-based treatment increased toxicity without offering any survival advantage over R/T. Am. J. Hematol. 89:803-808, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

BACKGROUND: Within a large prospective study, the Global Asthma and Allergy European Network (GA(2) LEN) has collected skin prick test (SPT) data throughout Europe to make recommendations for SPT in clinical settings. OBJECTIVE: To improve clinical interpretation of SPT results for inhalant allergens by providing quantitative decision points. METHODS: The GA(2) LEN SPT study with 3068 valid data sets was used to investigate the relationship between SPT results and patient-reported clinical relevance for each of the 18 inhalant allergens as well as SPT wheal size and physician-diagnosed allergy (rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, food allergy). The effects of age, gender, and geographical area on SPT results were assessed. For each allergen, the wheal size in mm with an 80% positive predictive value (PPV) for being clinically relevant was calculated. RESULTS: Depending on the allergen, from 40% (blatella) to 87-89% (grass, mites) of the positive SPT reactions (wheal size ≥ 3 mm) were associated with patient-reported clinical symptoms when exposed to the respective allergen. The risk of allergic symptoms increased significantly with larger wheal sizes for 17 of the 18 allergens tested. Children with positive SPT reactions had a smaller risk of sensitizations being clinically relevant compared with adults. The 80% PPV varied from 3 to 10 mm depending on the allergen. CONCLUSION: These 'reading keys' for 18 inhalant allergens can help interpret SPT results with respect to their clinical significance. A SPT form with the standard allergens including mm decision points for each allergen is offered for clinical use.

BACKGROUND: suPAR, the soluble form of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor, has been identified as a biomarker of infection in adults but its properties in neonatal infection are not known. METHODS: Plasma suPAR levels were determined by ELISA in 47 term neonates with infection (19 bacterial and 28 viral) and in 18 healthy neonates as controls. Thirteen out of 47 infected neonates were septic. In all infected neonates, suPAR levels were repeated at 24 hours, 48 hours, 3-5 days, and 7-10 days following admission. RESULTS: Plasma suPAR levels were significantly increased in infected neonates upon admission, whereas they were highest in septic neonates, in comparison with controls (P < 0.001) and correlated positively with serum CRP levels (P = 0.001). At infection subsidence, suPAR concentrations decreased significantly in comparison with baseline (P < 0.001) but remained higher than in controls (P = 0.01). Receiver operating characteristic analysis resulted in significant areas under the curve for detecting either infected or septic neonates, but not for discriminating between bacterial and viral cause of infection. CONCLUSIONS: suPAR is a diagnostic biomarker of infection or sepsis in term neonates; however, it cannot discriminate bacterial from viral infections and also its utility for monitoring the response to treatment is questioned.

The CO2 capture efficiency of nine newly synthesized ionic liquids (ILs), both in their pure states as well as in binary and ternary systems with water and amines, was investigated. The study encompassed ILs with fluorinated and tricyanomethanide anions as well as ILs that interact chemically with CO2 such as those with amino acid and acetate anions. Compared to amines, some of the novel ILs exhibited a majority of important advantages for CO2 capture such as enhanced chemical and thermal stabilities and negligible vapor pressure; the previous features counterbalance the disadvantages of lower CO2 absorption capacity and rate, making these ILs promising CO2 absorbents that could partially or totally replace amines in industrial scale processes. In addition to their ability to capture CO2, important issues including corrosivity and ecotoxicity were also examined. A thorough investigation of the capture efficiency and corrosion properties of several solvent formulations proved that some of the new ILs encourage future commercial-scale applications for appropriate conditions. ILs with a tricyanomethanide anion confirmed a beneficial effect of water addition on the CO2 absorption rate (ca. 10-fold) and capacity (ca. 4-fold) and high efficiency for corrosion inhibition, in contrast with the negative effect of water on the CO2 absorption capacity of ILs with the acetate anion. ILs with a fluorinated anion showed high corrosivity and an almost neutral effect of water on their efficiency as CO2 absorbents. ILs having amino acid anions presented a reduced toxicity and high potential to completely replace amines in solutions with water but, in parallel, showed thermal instability and degradation during CO2 capture. Tricyanomethanide anion-based ILs had a beneficial effect on the capture efficiency, toxicity, and corrosiveness of the standard amine solutions. As a consolidated output, we propose solvent formulations containing the tricyanomethanide anion-based ILs and less than 10 vol % of primary or secondary amines. These solvents exhibited the same CO2 capture performance as the 20-25 vol % standard amine solutions. The synergetic mechanisms in the capture efficiency, induced by the presence of the examined ILs, were elucidated, and the results obtained can be used as guidance for the design and development of new ILs for more efficient CO2 capture. © 2014 American Chemical Society.

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) exhibit enhanced selectivity and increased CO2 uptake due to the incorporation of functional imidazolate units in their structure as well as their extensive porosity and ring flexibility. In situ Raman investigation of a representative host compound, ZIF-69, in practical CO2 pressure and temperature regimes (0-10 bar and 0-64 °C) correlates well with corresponding macroscopic CO2 sorption data and shows clear clear spectroscopic evidence of CO2 uptake. Significant positive shift of the 159 cm-1 phenyl bending mode of the benzimidazole moiety indicates weak hydrogen bonding with CO 2 in the larger cavities of the ZIF matrix. Raman spectroscopy is shown to be an easy and sensitive tool for quantifying CO2 uptake, identifying weak host-guest interactions and elucidating CO2 sorption mechanism in ZIFs. Are you Raman enough? In situ Raman investigation of the interactions of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) with CO2 in practical pressure and temperature regimes (0-10 bar and 0-64 °C) correlates well with corresponding macroscopic CO2 sorption data and shows clear spectroscopic evidence of CO2 uptake (see image). Raman is found to be an easy and sensitive tool for quantifying CO2 uptake, identifying weak host-guest interactions, and elucidating CO2 sorption mechanism in ZIFs. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

H Συλλογική Νοημοσύνη αυξάνεται όταν συμμετέχουν Γυναίκες και ο Μύθος ότι μπορούμε να τα κάνουμε όλα! (Καμπερίδου, 2014): Τι σημαίνει επαγγελματική επιτυχία σήμερα. Αυτό το άρθρο υποστηρίζει ότι η σημερινή οικονομία απαιτεί τις αποκαλούμενες θηλυκές δεξιότητες, τις οποίες υιοθετούν όλο και περισσότεροι άνδρες επιχειρηματίες, δεδομένου ότι εταιρείες που απασχολούν γυναίκες εμφανίζουν κατά μέσο όρο περισσότερα κέρδη και βιωσιμότητα (Sandberg 2013, Kamberidou 2013, Salamouris 2012, SheSpeaks 2011, Cox-Wittenberg & Maitland 2009). Tα αποτελέσματα διαδικτυακής έρευνας σε 3.963 γυναίκες υπογραμμίζουν ότι οι γυναίκες βρίσκονται ένα βήμα μπροστά από τους άντρες όσον αφορά στις επικοινωνιακές-κοινωνικές δεξιότητες. Ερευνητικά στοιχεία τεκμηριώνουν ότι η συλλογική νοημοσύνης μιας ομάδας αυξάνεται όταν συμμετέχουν περισσότερες γυναίκες. Οι  γυναίκες είναι λιγότερο προβλέψιμες και πιο εφευρετικές από τους άνδρες, πλεονεκτούν στο να προσελκύουν άτομα για συζήτηση, συνεργάζονται και προσαρμόζονται εύκολα στις ανάγκες των πελατών και  πολλές περιγράφουν τη δημιουργία της επιχείρησής τους ως τη δημιουργία μιας ομάδας. Ωστόσο, να προσπαθούμε να τα κάνουμε όλα (multitasking) και να περιμένουμε ότι όλα μπορούν να γίνουν σωστά είναι συνταγή απογοήτευσης, όπως  διαβεβαιώνει και η διευθύντρια του Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg  η οποία δείχνει πως επωφελούνται οι άνδρες όταν υποστηρίζουν και στηρίζουν τις γυναίκες στον  εργασιακό χώρο, και όχι μόνο. Προτείνει: «κάντε το σύντροφό σας  πραγματικό σύντροφο».    ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη. (2014). H Συλλογική Νοημοσύνη αυξάνεται όταν συμμετέχουν Γυναίκες και ο Μύθος ότι μπορούμε να τα κάνουμε όλα! Collective Intelligence Rises when Women Participate and the Myth that we can have it All ! [in Greek]. LWB- leading women in business, ICAP Group (www.icap.gr), σελ.  126-127. Ενθετο/ΒΙΒΛΙΟ στην εφημερίδα ΤΑ ΝΕΑ, Σάββατο, 20 Δεκεμβρίου 2014, http://dir.icap.gr/mailimages/e-books/LWB/index.html  Also see: http://www.i. icap._ta_nea_20.12.2014._kamberidou.pdf

The combination of lenalidomide plus dexamethasone (RD) is very effective for patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma. However, the effect of RD on bone metabolism has not been previously evaluated in these patients. To address this issue, we initially performed a retrospective study in 106 consecutive patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma who received RD. We measured the following bone indices on Cycle 1/Day 1 and then on Cycles 3 and 6/Day 28: dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1), sRANKL, osteoprotegerin (OPG), bone resorption markers (C-telopeptide of collagen type-I, CTX and TRACP-5b) and bone formation markers (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase-bALP and osteocalcin). RD produced a reduction of CTX only in responders, with no effect on bone formation. To validate these results, we then evaluated prospectively 99 patients who received either RD (n=50) or VRD (bortezomib + RD, n=49). RD reduced CTX, mainly in responders but showed no effect on bone formation, confirming the result of the retrospective study. However, the addition of bortezomib to RD (VRD arm) reduced Dkk-1, sRANKL/OPG, and CTX, while it increased bALP and OC after six cycles of therapy. These changes were irrespective of treatment response, which was similar between treatment arms. No skeletal-related events were observed in the VRD arm while two, nonresponding patients treated with RD developed a vertebral fracture. We conclude that RD reduces bone resorption only in responding patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma but has no effect on bone formation. Combination with bortezomib, which enhances bone formation, seems to be preferred for the management of myeloma patients with osteolytic disease. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Total knee replacement (TKR) is a widely used operation that has radically improved the quality of life of millions of people during the last few decades. However, some technical details, concerning the surgical procedure and the rehabilitation following total knee arthroplasty, are still a matter of a strong debate. In this review of the literature, we have included the best evidence available of the last decade, in an effort to shed light on some of the most controversial subjects related to TKR surgery. Posterior-stabilized or cruciate-retaining prosthesis? To use a tourniquet during operation or not? Do patients need continuous passive motion for their post-surgery rehabilitation? To resurface patella or not? These are some of the most controversial topics that until now have been persistent dilemmas for the orthopedic surgeon. Results of this systematic review of the literature are highly controversial. These conflicting results are an indication that larger and more well conducted high quality trials are needed in order to gain more secure answers. At the same time, it is becoming apparent that a meticulous operative technique, respecting the soft tissue envelope and knowing the principles of alignment and soft tissue balancing, are some of the parameters that might contribute more to achieving the optimal results for the patients.

We introduce a scheme where a time-dependent source excites "complex-frequency" modes in uniform plasmonic heterostructures, enabling complete and dispersionless stopping of light pulses, resilient to realistic levels of dissipative, radiative, and surface-roughness losses. Using transparent conducting oxides at telecommunication wavelengths we show how, without increasing optical losses, multiple light pulses can decay with time precisely at their injection points, unable to propagate despite the complete absence of barriers in front or behind them. Our results theoretically demonstrate extraordinary large light-deceleration factors (of the order of 1.5×107) in integrated nanophotonic media, comparable only to those attainable with ultracold atomic vapors or with quantum coherence effects, such as coherent population oscillations, in ruby crystals. © 2014 American Physical Society.

Nowadays, Ferromagnetic/Superconducting/Ferromagnetic trilayers (FM/SC/FM TLs) are intensively studied. Here, based on (CoO-) Co/Nb/Co TLs of thin Nb interlayer (below 30 nm) we introduce two classes of low-T-c SC-based cryogenic devices, depending on the thickness of the Co outer layers and the presence of a CoO underlayer. An extended range of Co thickness (from 10 to 80 nm) was investigated and an underlayer of CoO was selectively employed, practically aiming to control in-plane and out-of-plane magnetization processes through utilization of shape anisotropy and exchange bias. To this effect magnetic force microscopy, magnetization and magnetoresistance data are presented. Ancillary atomic force microscopy and Rutherford back scattering data are presented, as well. CoO-Co/Nb/Co TLs of the first class have thin Co outer layers (10-30 nm) and are further assisted by the presence of a CoO underlayer to behave as efficient spin valves (Delta R/R-nor = 1.5% and Delta R/R-min = 2.4%) under the action of the FMs in-plane exchange fields; the effect is termed superconducting Spin-Valve Effect (sSVE). Co/Nb/Co TLs of the second class have thick Co outer layers (50-80 nm) and without the need of a CoO underlayer act as almost absolute supercurrent switches (Delta R/R-nor = 97.7% and Delta R/R-min = 28000%) under the action of FMs out-of-plane stray fields; the effect is termed superconducting Magneto-Resistance Effect (sMRE). The properties of these (CoO-) Co/Nb/Co TLs resemble the behavior of standard FM/normal-metal/FM and FM/insulator/FM TLs that exhibit the effects giant (GMR) and tunnel (TMR) magnetoresistance, respectively. Aiming to utilize the FM/SC/FM TLs studied here into cryogenic applications we thoroughly surveyed their operational H-T phase diagram and discuss how can be used to realize binary ('0'-'1') elemental devices for information management in both read heads and memory units. The underlying physical mechanisms responsible for the sSVE and sMRE observed in the two different classes of TLs, that is CoO-Co/Nb/Co and Co/Nb/Co, respectively and the technical requisites that the SC and FM ingredients should meet are discussed.

The use of intravenous bisphosphonates (pamidronate or zoledronic acid) is the cornerstone for the management of multiple myeloma-(MM-) related bone disease. However, osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a rare, but sometimes difficult to manage, adverse effect of bisphosphonates therapy. A retrospective review of all MM patients who were treated with bisphosphonates in our department, from 2003 to 2013, and developed ONJ was performed. According to inclusion criteria, 38 patients were studied. All these patients were treated as conservatively as possible according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons criteria. Patients were managed with observation, oral antibacterial mouth rinse with chlorhexidine, oral antibiotics, pain control with analgesics, nonsurgical sequestrectomy with or without simultaneous administration of antibiotics, or major surgery with or without antibiotics. Healing of the lesions was achieved in 23 (60%) patients who were treated with conservative measures; the median time to healing was 12 months (95% CI: 4-21). The number of bisphosphonates infusions influenced the time to healing: the median time to healing for patients who received <16 infusions was 7 months and for those with >16 infusions was it 14 months P=0.017. We conclude that a primarily nonsurgical approach appears to be a successful management strategy for bisphosphonate-related ONJ. © 2014 Pelagia I. Melea et al.

Background: Fusarium oxysporum is among the few filamentous fungi that have been reported of being able to directly ferment biomass to ethanol in a consolidated bioprocess. Understanding its metabolic pathways and their limitations can provide some insights on the genetic modifications required to enhance its growth and subsequent fermentation capability. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis reported previously that phosphoglucomutase and transaldolase are metabolic bottlenecks in the glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway of the F. oxysporum metabolism. Results: Both enzymes were homologously overexpressed in F. oxysporum F3 using the gpdA promoter of Aspergillus nidulans for constitutive expression. Transformants were screened for their phosphoglucomutase and transaldolase genes expression levels with northern blot. The selected transformant exhibited high mRNA levels for both genes, as well as higher specific activities of the corresponding enzymes, compared to the wild type. It also displayed more than 20 and 15% higher specific growth rate upon aerobic growth on glucose and xylose, respectively, as carbon sources and 30% higher biomass to xylose yield. The determination of the relative intracellular amino and non-amino organic acid concentrations at the end of growth on glucose revealed higher abundance of most determined metabolites between 1.5- and 3-times in the recombinant strain compared to the wild type. Lower abundance of the determined metabolites of the Krebs cycle and an 68-fold more glutamate were observed at the end of the cultivation, when xylose was used as carbon source. Conclusions: Homologous overexpression of phosphoglucomutase and transaldolase in F. oxysporum was shown to enhance the growth characteristics of the strain in both xylose and glucose in aerobic conditions. The intracellular metabolites profile indicated how the changes in the metabolome could have resulted in the observed growth characteristics.

In this paper, we present a detailed study of a shallow seismic swarm which took place in the area of Oichalia (SW Peloponnesus), between August and December 2011. The seismic crisis started on 14/8/2011 with an Mw=4.8 earthquake and was followed by more than 1600 events, several of which having magnitude over 4.0. The activity was recorded by local temporary and regional permanent seismic stations. Thousands of records were collected and routinely analyzed. P- and S-wave arrival times were manually picked and incorporated in the HYPOINVERSE algorithm together with a new optimum local velocity model. Hypocentral solutions were improved by applying a double-difference method. Focal mechanisms show that the activated fault zone is dominated by dip-slip normal faulting, trending NNW–SSE, with the average T-axes orientation being N70°E, consistent with regional tectonics. We have investigated towards stress triggering and fluid diffusion, by employing Coulomb stress transfer, spatio-temporal and Frequency–Magnitude Distribution (FMD) analyses. The negligible Coulomb stress transfer and seismicity rate changes that were calculated imply for a stress deficit in the broader study area, hence an external triggering mechanism is required to justify the observed pattern. The b-values increase towards the SSE, compatible with the similarly directed migration of seismicity, showed that the Oichalia swarm could possibly be adapted to an Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequence model (ETAS). Fluid diffusion is reflected in the spatio-temporal hypocenter migration. Clustering analysis, combined with the temporal distribution of b-values, has shown that the swarm evolved in three major phases, the first two being initiated by major events, which were probably triggered externally due to fluid injection that brought the seismogenic volume into a critical state, likely followed by afterslip. The last phase signified a relaxation period, with dispersed seismicity throughout the area and the b-values gently diminishing towards unity.

In this paper, we present a detailed study of a shallow seismic swarm which took place in the area of Oichalia (SW Peloponnesus), between August and December 2011. The seismic crisis started on 14/8/2011 with an Mw=4.8 earthquake and was followed by more than 1600 events, several of which having magnitude over 4.0. The activity was recorded by local temporary and regional permanent seismic stations. Thousands of records were collected and routinely analyzed. P- and S-wave arrival times were manually picked and incorporated in the HYPOINVERSE algorithm together with a new optimum local velocity model. Hypocentral solutions were improved by applying a double-difference method. Focal mechanisms show that the activated fault zone is dominated by dip-slip normal faulting, trending NNW–SSE, with the average T-axes orientation being N70°E, consistent with regional tectonics. We have investigated towards stress triggering and fluid diffusion, by employing Coulomb stress transfer, spatio-temporal and Frequency–Magnitude Distribution (FMD) analyses. The negligible Coulomb stress transfer and seismicity rate changes that were calculated imply for a stress deficit in the broader study area, hence an external triggering mechanism is required to justify the observed pattern. The b-values increase towards the SSE, compatible with the similarly directed migration of seismicity, showed that the Oichalia swarm could possibly be adapted to an Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequence model (ETAS). Fluid diffusion is reflected in the spatio-temporal hypocenter migration. Clustering analysis, combined with the temporal distribution of b-values, has shown that the swarm evolved in three major phases, the first two being initiated by major events, which were probably triggered externally due to fluid injection that brought the seismogenic volume into a critical state, likely followed by afterslip. The last phase signified a relaxation period, with dispersed seismicity throughout the area and the b-values gently diminishing towards unity.

In the region of the deltaic field of Pinios River in Thessaly and under an applied geoenvironmental research, a preliminary geophysical survey was developed. In this direction, an attempt was made to develop a grid of positions-measurements that would be able to cover the whole field in order to adumbrate the general “image” of the geoelectric parameters. From the conducted bibliographic research, it seems that it is the first time that such a coordinated and extensive geophysical survey has been made in the area. In this project and in the direction of the evaluation of the geoelectric parameters of lithology present in the deltaic area, displays of the horizontal and vertical distribution of electrical resistivity are presented. This knowledge will contribute to the emergence of new data and information on the subsurface structure of the field of the deltaic plain. The geoelectrical method with the Sclumberger array was applied, for the vertical investigation of the distribution of electrical resistivity, in order to investigate the geoelectrical parameters. These arrays are best suited, as a preliminary subsurface investigation method in such geo-environments. Thirty seven soundings were developed in an almost 'normalized' grid, aiming to the greatest possible depth of investigation. Towards this direction, despite the very difficult condition of accessibility, the development of the electrode current (AB or C1C2) reached 1.100 meters, with an investigation depth >250 meters. From the sections and the constructed maps, conductive geoelectric distributions structures detected, with a resistivity ranging in 5-30 Ohm.m, in almost the whole subsurface field of deltaic plain. From this general view, seems to differentiate the coastal zone for shallow depths (<4.5 m) of investigation, the regions of the southern part of the deltaic plain with larger resistivity values for large depths (> 100 m) and the western region (Pyrgetos), with generally high values even from the shallow depths of investigation. Finally, the overall picture of the distribution of the geoelectric parameters in the field of study appears to outline potential area of the palaeogeographic development of the Pinios River delta.

Controlled surface functionalization is demonstrated by nitric acid hydrothermal oxidation on multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The formation and evolution of oxygen functional groups were systematically investigated as a function of the HNO3 concentration on MWCNTs with different structural and morphological characteristics, employing temperature-programmed desorption coupled with mass spectrometry, thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, Raman spectroscopy and N2 porosimetry analysis. Hydrothermal treatment provides controlled MWCNT modification by specific oxygen functionalities at amounts determined by the morphology, texture and crystallinity of the pristine materials. Hydrothermal oxidation competes well with the harsh boiling nitric acid treatment regarding the total amount of oxygen functionalities, while requiring much lower amounts of oxidizing agent and, most importantly, reducing amorphous carbon deposits on the MWCNT surface, a major drawback of aggressive liquid phase oxidation methods. Detailed pore structure analysis revealed a progressive increase of the surface area upon hydrothermal functionalization, whereas the mesopore structure varied consistently with the intrinsic MWCNT properties related to the packing of the nanotube bundles and the reduction of amorphous carbon. These advantageous features render nitric acid hydrothermal oxidation an efficient functionalization process to fine tune and optimize the surface chemistry of MWCNTs for target applications, circumventing the need for additional purification post-processing. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The synthesis and molecular structures of a range of uranium(iii) mixed sandwich complexes of the type [U(η8-C8H 6(1,4-SiMe3)2)(η5-Cp Me)4R] (R = Me, Et, iPr, tBu) and their reactivity towards CO2 are reported. The nature of the R group on the cyclopentadienyl ring in the former has a significant effect on the outcome of CO2 activation: when R = Me, the products are the bridging oxo complex {U[η8-C8H6(1,4-SiMe 3)2](η5-CpMe5)} 2(μ-O) and the bridging oxalate complex {U[η8- C8H6(1,4-SiMe3)2](η5- CpMe5)}2(μ-η2: η2-C2O4); for R = Et or iPr, bridging carbonate {U[η8-C8H6(1,4-SiMe 3)2](η5-CpMeR4)} 2(μ-η1:η2-CO3) and bridging oxalate complexes {U[η8-C8H 6(1,4-SiMe3)2](η5-Cp MeR4)}2(μ-η2: η2-C2O4) are formed in both cases; and when R = tBu the sole product is the bridging carbonate complex {U[η8-C8H6(1,4-SiMe3) 2](η5-CpMetBu4)} 2(μ-η1:η2-CO3). Electrochemical studies on both the uranium(iii) complexes and the dimeric uranium(iv) CO2 reduction products have been carried out and all exhibit quasi reversible redox processes; in particular, the similarities in the U(iii)/U(iv) redox couples suggest that the selectivity in the outcome of CO2 reductive activation by these complexes is steric in origin rather than electronic. The latter conclusion is supported by a detailed computational DFT study on the potential mechanistic pathways for reduction of CO2 by this system. © 2014 the Partner Organisations.

The changes of regulations affect the development of all sports. In volleyball one of the key changes in the 1998 regulations was that players were allowed to pass the float serve with upper head pass technique. The outcome of this change was the use of this as main technique by numerous players mostly in float serve. At the last congress of the FIVB proposed repealing regulation, ' as in volleyball on sand, but was not accepted. Reception serve is part of the syndrome 1 Volleyball and important to the success of attack, but also for the game success, while the speed of the attack in Volleyball Men is a predictor for the final result of the game.The purpose of this research is to highlight the differences in the effectiveness of the attack syndrome1 Volleyball depending on the type of pass to the float serve or jump from the ground. The data comes from recording the technical skill of the pass after float serve (N >15.500) of 176 games performance teams (88 races for 2 groups) of the season 2012‐13 A1 National Men category . The technical skills are assessed (dropping to 5‐level ordinal scale) the type of pass used (with U.h or L.h) , the zone in which the passer is located (in nominal scale six levels) , the zone of which the attack took place (in nominal range 5 levels) ,and the efficiency of theattack (on regular 3‐level scale) . The interatomic control of reliability was tested with the log Cohen K coefficient and weighted Coehn K.For the statistical processing of data applied logistic regression by the method of maximum probabilities. Results showed that all the passes with L.h technique were more than the total passes with UH technique and efficacy of attack after the L.h is better, than the effectiveness of the attack after the UH pass technique.

OBJECTIVES: The 2D:4D ratio is sexually dimorphic and is considered a proxy of prenatal androgen levels, or, according to recent evidence, is related to genes involved in ocular and palate development. Our aim was to investigate correlation between the 2D:4D ratio and the shape of the craniofacial skeleton in a population of prepubertal children. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a group of 58 male and 59 female prepubertal children aged 7-12 years. Craniofacial shape was evaluated using 15 skeletal landmarks on lateral cephalometric radiographs and fingers were measured with a computer-assisted procedure that involved tracing the finger outline. Geometric morphometric analysis was applied to the craniofacial landmarks and multivariate regression between digit ratios and craniofacial shape was computed in shape space and form space. RESULTS: The male 2D:4D ratio was smaller than the female ratio (Cohen's d: 0.275 left hand, 0.126 right hand), but the difference was not statistically significant. Craniofacial shape did not show sexual dimorphism, but males were larger than females. No correlation was found between digit ratio and craniofacial shape in prepubertal children, either for the whole sample or for any of the two sex groups. CONCLUSIONS: As several factors might be involved in the development and growth of both the craniofacial complex and fingers, the 2D:4D ratio, a putative proxy for fetal sex-hormone levels, is probably unable to impose a measurable effect within the variation of a normal population. Future research needs to examine an adult sample for potential covariation arising after the pubertal growth spurt.

During the implementation of fieldwork for the “Ecoflow” Cooperation project, in Acheloos River, Trikala Prefecture, Central Greece, 10 unstructured sediment samples were extracted from 3 sites along the river banks for measurements and analysis. The samples were taken from the areas of Drosochori (DR 1, DR 2 & DR 3), Aspropotamos (ASP 1 & ASP 3) and Mesochora (KOR 1, KOR 2, MES 1, MES 2, & MES 4). For granulometric analysis of the samples, the Folk &Ward method (2222) was used. As it was resulted, all samples are classified as gravelly sands to sandy gravels, poorly to very poorly sorted, very coarse to very fine skewed and platykurtic to mesokurtic. The ΧRD mineralogical analysis showed that in all the samples quartz is the major component. Calcite or dolomite [one sample] content is ranging between major through medium values. The presence of the magnesian calcite, which was found in two samples, is most likely attributed to biological sources (i.e. epiphytes, shells, etc), as commonly occur white colonies of small coral-like assemblages stack on the permanently wet pebbles observed close to the river banks. Sodium feldspars predominantly albite] are present in half of the samples as medium component and as trace component in the other half. By contrast, potassium feldspars [mainly orthoclase] are always present in minor/trace amounts. The presence of clay minerals, when considered as a group, is that of a medium or minor component. As the clay minerals content increases, the water has more suspended particles, so the river's turbidity during stormy events is strongly influenced. The higher content of clay minerals in the samples of Mesochora (downstream) indicates a different source of sediment from that of the other samples. By comparing the mineralogical analysis results with river water chemical analysis results from the same sampling sites, it becomes evident that the analyzed sediments do not provide the river waters with ions, as can be deduced from the low content of alkalies and alkaline earth metals. Sulphates and chlorides were detected in trace amounts in the water samples, whereas no sulphate minerals or halides there were detected in the sediments analysed. It is therefore concluded that there is not any buried evsaporite source in the vicinity of the sampling areas. In addition, the significantly low content of nitrates, nitrites and ammonia demonstrate the nonexistent contamination from biogenic factors. Another factor that plays a crucial role in the ecological status of the river is the availability of sediment for the development and maintenance of suitable habitats for the icthyofauna. The composition and structure of sediments affect their transportation and deposition behaviour which impacts the substrate of the river habitats. To assess this aspect in the study area, habitat suitability curves for specific fish species have been used that describe the best substrate for the necessary river habitats to support the breeding and reproduction of the particular fish species. The representation of the sample sediments in the substrate types required has been estimated by combining the results from habitat mapping, suitability curves and the sediment analyses. The results indicated that the type of material available in the particular river segments is appropriate for the maintenance and development of the habitat types that are required for a good ecological status.

{The corrosion behaviour of mild steel (MS) was systematically investigated as a function of the alkyl chain length in the cation of 1-alkyl-3- methylimidazolium tricyanomethanide ([Cnmim]TCM

Young stellar object observations suggest that some jets rotate in the opposite direction with respect to their disk. In a recent study, Sauty et al. showed that this does not contradict the magnetocentrifugal mechanism that is believed to launch such outflows. Motion signatures that are transverse to the jet axis, in two opposite directions, have recently been measured in M87. One possible interpretation of this motion is that of counter-rotating knots. Here, we extend our previous analytical derivation of counter-rotation to relativistic jets, demonstrating that counter-rotation can indeed take place under rather general conditions. We show that both the magnetic field and a non-negligible enthalpy are necessary at the origin of counter-rotating outflows, and that the effect is associated with a transfer of energy flux from the matter to the electromagnetic field. This can be realized in three cases: if a decreasing enthalpy causes an increase of the Poynting flux, if the flow decelerates, or if strong gradients of the magnetic field are present. An illustration of the involved mechanism is given by an example of a relativistic magnetohydrodynamic jet simulation.

Young stellar object observations suggest that some jets rotate in the opposite direction with respect to their disk. In a recent study, Sauty et al. showed that this does not contradict the magnetocentrifugal mechanism that is believed to launch such outflows. Motion signatures that are transverse to the jet axis, in two opposite directions, have recently been measured in M87. One possible interpretation of this motion is that of counter-rotating knots. Here, we extend our previous analytical derivation of counter-rotation to relativistic jets, demonstrating that counter-rotation can indeed take place under rather general conditions. We show that both the magnetic field and a non-negligible enthalpy are necessary at the origin of counter-rotating outflows, and that the effect is associated with a transfer of energy flux from the matter to the electromagnetic field. This can be realized in three cases: if a decreasing enthalpy causes an increase of the Poynting flux, if the flow decelerates, or if strong gradients of the magnetic field are present. An illustration of the involved mechanism is given by an example of a relativistic magnetohydrodynamic jet simulation.

In hormone-dependent breast cancer, estrogen receptors are the principal signaling molecules that regulate several cell functions either by the genomic pathway acting directly as transcription factors in the nucleus or by the non-genomic pathway interacting with other receptors and their adjacent pathways like EGFR/IGFR. It is well established in literature that EGFR and IGFR signaling pathways promote cell proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, recent data indicate the cross-talk between ERs and EGFR/IGFR signaling pathways causing a transformation of cell functions as well as deregulation on normal expression pattern of matrix molecules. Specifically, proteoglycans, a major category of extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell surface macromolecules, are modified during malignancy and cause alterations in cancer cell signaling, affecting eventually functional cell properties such as proliferation, adhesion and migration. The on-going strategies to block only one of the above signaling effectors result cancer cells to overcome such inactivation using alternative signaling pathways. In this article, we therefore review the underlying mechanisms in respect to the role of ERs and the involvement of cross-talk between ERs, IGFR and EGFR in breast cancer cell properties and expression of extracellular secreted and cell bound proteoglycans involved in cancer progression. Understanding such signaling pathways may help to establish new potential pharmacological targets in terms of using ECM molecules to design novel anticancer therapies.

Phospholipase A2s generate lipid mediators that constitute an important component of the integrated response of macrophages to stimuli of the innate immune response. Because these cells contain multiple phospholipase A2 forms, the challenge is to elucidate the roles that each of these forms plays in regulating normal cellular processes and in disease pathogenesis. A major issue is to precisely determine the phospholipid substrates that these enzymes use for generating lipid mediators. There is compelling evidence that group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2α) targets arachidonic acid–containing phospholipids but the role of the other cytosolic enzyme present in macrophages, the Ca2+-independent group VIA phospholipase A2 (iPLA2β) has not been clearly defined. We applied mass spectrometry–based lipid profiling to study the substrate specificities of these two enzymes during inflammatory activation of macrophages with zymosan. Using selective inhibitors, we find that, contrary to cPLA2α, iPLA2β spares arachidonate-containing phospholipids and hydrolyzes only those that do not contain arachidonate. Analyses of the lysophospholipids generated during activation reveal that one of the major species produced, palmitoyl-glycerophosphocholine, is generated by iPLA2β, with minimal or no involvement of cPLA2α. The other major species produced, stearoyl-glycerophosphocholine, is generated primarily by cPLA2α. Collectively, these findings suggest that cPLA2α and iPLA2β act on different phospholipids during zymosan stimulation of macrophages and that iPLA2β shows a hitherto unrecognized preference for choline phospholipids containing palmitic acid at the sn-1 position that could be exploited for the design of selective inhibitors of this enzyme with therapeutic potential.

The frequent occurrence of cyanobacterial harmful blooms due to eutrophication necessitates the development of appropriate water treatment technologies for the released cyanotoxins. In this study, nanoparticles composed of anatase-brookite-rutile polymorphic titanium dioxide (PM-TiO2) were synthesized using a modified sol-gel method with a low temperature oil bath for the photocatalytic degradation of cylindrospermopsin (CYN), an important cyanotoxin that has been only little explored with respect to water treatment technologies. The physiochemical properties of synthesized PM-TiO2 nanoparticles, such as the formation of heteronanostructure (with 66% anatase, 22% brookite and 12% rutile), high surface area (207 m2/g), small particle size (∼5 nm), and bandgap (Eg = 3.0 eV), endow PM-TiO2 to be an effective photocatalyst for CYN treatment under UV-Vis irradiation. Moreover, the impacts of certain process parameters (i.e. photocatalyst loading, pH and presence of natural organic matter (NOM)) were examined and discussed in detail. It was found that the presence of NOM decreased the observed reaction rate constants by 52% and 95% compared to clean water samples when 2 and 10 mg/L NOM were applied, respectively. In particularly, when two natural water samples from East Fork Lake and Toledo Water Plant were applied as the matrices in the photocatalytic experiments, the degradation rate constants were reduced by 90% and 75%, respectively. This work demonstrates that the polymorphic TiO2 containing three phases can be effective photocatalyst for cyanotoxin treatment, however, the degradation kinetics are inhibited significantly in the presence of NOM. Therefore, pretreatment is necessary to remove NOM before the photocatalytic treatment of surface water containing CYN. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Low-dimensional hybrid structures of heterogeneous constituents usually exhibit abnormal properties, a fact that makes such hybrids attractive for various cryogenic and room-temperature applications. Here, we studied Co/(1 - x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-xPbTiO(3)/Co (Co/PMN-xPT/Co) with x = 0.29 and 0.30, specifically focusing on the evolution of the remanent ferromagnetic state, m(rem) of the Co outer layers in the whole temperature range from 300K down to 10 K, upon application of an external electric field, E-ex. We observed that m(rem) was vulnerable to degradation through the occurrence of electric field-induced magnetic instabilities (EMIs) that appeared only when E-ex not equal 0 kV/cm and were facilitated as E-ex increases. However, EMIs completely ceased below a characteristic temperature T-ces = 170 K even for the maximum vertical bar E-ex vertical bar = 5 kV/cm applied in this work. A direct comparison of the magnetization data of the Co/PMN-xPT/Co hybrids reported here with the electromechanical properties of the parent PMN-xPT crystals plausibly indicates that EMIs are motivated by the coupling of the ferromagnetic domains of the Co outer layers with the ferroelectric domains of the PMN-xPT crystal. These results highlight the drawback of EMIs in relevant hybrids and delimit the temperature regime for the reliable operation of the Co/PMN-xPT/Co ones studied here. (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

Intraoperative conventional bacteriological cultures were compared with different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods in patients with total joint arthroplasties. The isolated bacteria were investigated for biofilm formation, and the biofilm forming strains, in their planktonic and biofilm forms, were further tested for their antimicrobial resistance against several clinically important antimicrobials. Forty four bone and joint samples were included and classified as infected or non-infected according to standard criteria for periprosthetic hip and knee infections. For the bacteriological diagnosis, conventional culture, two types of universal PCR and species specific PCR for three selected pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were applied. Biofilm formation determination was performed by the tissue culture plate method. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the planktonic bacteria was performed by the minimal inhibitory concentration determination and, of the biofilm forms, by the minimal inhibitory concentration for bacterial regrowth from the biofilm. Twenty samples were culture positive, with S. epidermidis, S. aureus, or P. aeruginosa. All PCR methods were very ineffective in detecting only one pathogen. All isolates were biofilm positive and their biofilm forms, were highly resistant. In this study, compared to PCR, culture remains the "gold standard." The biofilm formation by the causative bacteria and the concomitant manifold increased antimicrobial resistance may explain the clinical failure of treatment in some cases and should be considered in the future for therapeutic planning.

The Exchange Bias (EB) effect is observed at the interface of Antiferromagnet/Ferromagnet (AF/FM) structures and depends on the interface roughness (IR). Until today, only low IR values, usually below 10 nm, have been investigated. Here we investigate an extended range of IR through controlling the surface roughness (SR) of the employed substrates. We employ CoO/Co bilayers (thickness within 10-60 nm), a classic AF/FM structure that exhibits intense EB. ZnO was employed as the substrate in both film and bulk forms, enabling us to vary the SR up to 840 nm. Our data reveal a strong relative decrease, ranging within 20-65%, of both the shift H-shift(EB) and coercive H-c(EB) fields upon increase of SR (IR), for both parallel and normal magnetic field-sample configurations. For the explanation of these findings we propose that in thin AF/FM structures deposited on rough substrates the local magnetization, M-f of the FM is 'locked' mainly in-layer due to shape anisotropy, thus it is forced to follow the morphologically rough landscape of the substrate. This imposes misalignment between M-f, that is 'directionally random', and H-ex, that is 'directionally oriented'. This weakens the biasing potential of H-ex on M-f and reduces the relative macroscopic parameters H-shift(EB) and HcEB

The aim of this paper was to investigate the association of three well-recognised dietary patterns with cognitive change over a 3-year period. Five hundred and twenty-seven healthy participants from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle study of ageing completed the Cancer Council of Victoria food frequency questionnaire at baseline and underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment at baseline, 18 and 36 months follow-up. Individual neuropsychological test scores were used to construct composite scores for six cognitive domains and a global cognitive score. Based on self-reported consumption, scores for three dietary patterns, (1) Australian-style Mediterranean diet (AusMeDi), (2) western diet and (3) prudent diet were generated for each individual. Linear mixed model analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between diet scores and cognitive change in each cognitive domain and for the global score. Higher baseline adherence to the AusMeDi was associated with better performance in the executive function cognitive domain after 36 months in apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 allele carriers (P<0.01). Higher baseline western diet adherence was associated with greater cognitive decline after 36 months in the visuospatial cognitive domain in APOE ɛ4 allele non-carriers (P<0.01). All other results were not significant. Our findings in this well-characterised Australian cohort indicate that adherence to a healthy diet is important to reduce risk for cognitive decline, with the converse being true for the western diet. Executive function and visuospatial functioning appear to be particularly susceptible to the influence of diet.Molecular Psychiatry advance online publication, 29 July 2014; doi:10.1038/mp.2014.79.

In order to investigate for possible differences between paediatric and adult invasive Streptococcus pyogenes (iGAS) infections, a total of 142 cases were identified in 17 Greek hospitals during 2003-2007, of which 96 were children and 46 adults. Bacteraemia, soft tissue infections, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), and necrotizing fasciitis were the main clinical presentations (67·6%, 45·1%, 13·4%, and 12·0% of cases, respectively). Bacteraemia and lymphadenitis were significantly more frequent in children (P=0·019 and 0·021, respectively), whereas STSS was more frequent in adults (P=0·017). The main predisposing factors in children were varicella and streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis (25% and 19·8%, respectively), as opposed to malignancy, intravenous drug abuse and diabetes mellitus in adults (19·6%, 15·2% and 10·9%, respectively). Of the two dominant emm-types, 1 and 12 (28·2% and 8·5%, respectively), the proportion of emm-type 12 remained stable during the study period, whereas emm-type 1 rates fluctuated considerably. Strains of emm-type 1 from children were associated with erythromycin susceptibility, STSS and intensive-care-unit admission, whereas emm-type 12 isolates from adults were associated with erythromycin and clindamycin resistance. Finally, specific emm-types were detected exclusively in adults or in children. In conclusion, several clinical and epidemiological differences were detected, that could prove useful in designing age-focused strategies for prevention and treatment of iGAS infections.

We identify a new candidate for a Be/X-ray binary in the XMM-Newton slew survey and archival Swift observations that is located in the transition region of the Wing of the Small Magellanic Cloud and the Magellanic Bridge. We investigated and classified this source with follow-up XMM-Newton and optical observations. We model the X-ray spectra and search for periodicities and variability in the X-ray observations and the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment I-band light curve. The optical counterpart has been classified spectroscopically, with data obtained at the South African Astronomical Observatory 1.9 m telescope, and photometrically, with data obtained using the Gamma-ray Burst Optical Near-ir Detector at the MPG 2.2 m telescope. The X-ray spectrum is typical of a high-mass X-ray binary with an accreting neutron star. We detect X-ray pulsations, which reveal a neutron-star spin period of Ps = (264.516 ± 0.014) s. The source likely shows a persistent X-ray luminosity of a few 1035 erg s-1 and in addition type-I outbursts that indicate an orbital period of ∼146 d. A periodicity of 0.867 d, found in the optical light curve, can be explained by non-radial pulsations of the Be star. We identify the optical counterpart and classify it as a B1-2II-IVe star. This confirms SXP 265 as a new Be/X-ray binary pulsar originating in the tidal structure between the Magellanic Clouds.

This is one of seven interlinked systematic reviews undertaken on behalf of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology as part of their Guidelines for Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis, which focuses on instruments developed for IgE-mediated food allergy. Disease-specific questionnaires are significantly more sensitive than generic ones in measuring the response to interventions or future treatments, as well as estimating the general burden of food allergy. The aim of this systematic review was therefore to identify which disease-specific, validated instruments can be employed to enable assessment of the impact of, and investigations and interventions for, IgE-mediated food allergy on health-related quality of life (HRQL). Using a sensitive search strategy, we searched seven electronic bibliographic databases to identify disease-specific quality of life (QOL) tools relating to IgE-mediated food allergy. From the 17 eligible studies, we identified seven disease-specific HRQL instruments, which were then subjected to detailed quality appraisal. This revealed that these instruments have undergone formal development and validation processes, and have robust psychometric properties, and therefore provide a robust means of establishing the impact of food allergy on QOL. Suitable instruments are now available for use in children, adolescents, parents/caregivers, and adults. Further work must continue to develop a clinical minimal important difference for food allergy and for making these instruments available in a wider range of European languages.

Aim: To determine the more effective dosing sequence of intermittent erlotinib and docetaxel for treating chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Patients and Methods: Patients were randomized to receive daily erlotinib for 12 consecutive days prior to docetaxel (Arm A) or after docetaxel (Arm B). Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary end-point; secondary end-points were overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR). Results: Fifty eligible patients received a total of 226 treatment cycles (median: 3). Median PFS and OS were 3.6 months and 10.5 months, respectively (differences were not statistically significant between the two arms). Neutropenia grade 3 and 4 occurred in 15 patients, while two patients developed grade 3 diarrhea. There were two treatment-related deaths (pulmonary embolism and non-neutropenic sepsis). Conclusion: Intermittent administration of erlotinib does not appear to improve the clinical outcome of single-agent docetaxel chemotherapy in unselected patients with NSCLC in the first-line setting. © 2014, International Institute of Anticancer Research. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION: Distal radius fractures are very common upper limb injuries irrespective of the patient's age. The aim of our study is to evaluate the reliability of the three systems that are often used for their classification (AO - Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Association for the Study of Internal Fixation, Fernandez and Universal) and to assess the need for computed tomography (CT) scan to improve inter- and intra-observer agreement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five orthopaedic surgeons and two hand surgeons classified radiographs and CT scans of 26 patients using the Fernandez, AO and Universal systems. All data were recorded using MS Excel and Kappa statistics were performed to determine inter- and intra-observer agreement and to evaluate the role of CT scan. RESULTS: Fair-to-moderate inter-observer agreement was noted with the use of X-rays for all classification systems. Intra-observer reproducibility did not improve with the addition of CT scans, especially for the senior hand surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: The agreement rates observed in the present study show that currently there is no classification system that is fully reproducible. Adequate experience is required for the assessment and treatment of these injuries. CT scan should be requested only by experienced hand surgeons in order to help guide treatment, as it does not significantly improve inter- and intra-observer agreement for all classification systems.

Background: Dose-dense sequential chemotherapy including anthracyclines and taxanes has been established in the adjuvant setting of high-risk operable breast cancer. However, the preferable taxane and optimal schedule of administration in a dose-dense regimen have not been defined yet.Methods: From July 2005 to November 2008, 1001 patients (990 eligible) were randomized to receive, every 2 weeks, 3 cycles of epirubicin 110 mg/m2 followed by 3 cycles of paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 followed by 3 cycles of intensified CMF (Arm A; 333 patients), or 3 cycles of epirubicin followed by 3 cycles of CMF, as in Arm A, followed 3 weeks later by 9 weekly cycles of docetaxel 35 mg/m2 (Arm B; 331), or 9 weekly cycles of paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 (Arm C; 326). Trastuzumab was administered for one year to HER2-positive patients post-radiation.Results: At a median follow-up of 60.5 months, the 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 86%, 90% and 88%, for Arms A, B and C, respectively, while the 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 96% in all arms. No differences were found in DFS or OS between the combined B and C Arms versus Arm A (DFS: HR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.59-1.11, P = 0.20; OS: HR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.55-1.30, P = 0.43). Among the 255 patients who received trastuzumab, 189 patients (74%) completed 1 year of treatment uneventfully. In all arms, the most frequently reported severe adverse events were neutropenia (30% vs. 27% vs. 26%) and leucopenia (12% vs. 13% vs. 12%), while febrile neutropenia occurred in fifty-one patients (6% vs. 4% vs. 5%). Patients in Arm A experienced more often severe pain (P = 0.002), neurological complications (P = 0.004) and allergic reactions (P = 0.004), while patients in Arm B suffered more often from severe skin reactions (P = 0.020).Conclusions: No significant differences in survival between the regimens were found in the present phase III trial. Taxane scheduling influenced the type of severe toxicities. HER2-positive patients demonstrated comparable 3-year DFS and OS rates with those reported in other similar studies.Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12610000151033. © 2014 Fountzilas et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Thermal comfort under non-steady-state conditions primarily deals with rapid environmental transients and significant alterations of the meteorological conditions, activity, or clothing pattern within the time scale of some minutes. In such cases, thermal history plays an important role in respect to time, and thus, a dynamic approach is appropriate. The present study aims to investigate the dynamic thermal adaptation process of a human individual, after his transition from a typical indoor climate to an outdoor hot environment. Three scenarios of thermal transients have been considered for a range of hot outdoor environmental conditions, employing the dynamic two-node IMEM model. The differences among them concern the radiation field, the activity level, and the body position. The temporal pattern of body temperatures as well as the range of skin wettedness and of water loss have been investigated and compared among the scenarios and the environmental conditions considered. The structure and the temporal course of human energy fluxes as well as the identification of the contribution of body temperatures to energy fluxes have also been studied and compared. In general, the simulation results indicate that the response of a person, coming from the same neutral indoor climate, varies depending on the scenario followed by the individual while being outdoors. The combination of radiation field (shade or not) with the kind of activity (sitting or walking) and the outdoor conditions differentiates significantly the thermal state of the human body. Therefore, 75 % of the skin wettedness values do not exceed the thermal comfort limit at rest for a sitting individual under the shade. This percentage decreases dramatically, less than 25 %, under direct solar radiation and exceeds 75 % for a walking person under direct solar radiation. © 2014 ISB.

Food allergy can result in considerable morbidity, impact negatively on quality of life, and prove costly in terms of medical care. These guidelines have been prepared by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology's (EAACI) Guidelines for Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Group, building on previous EAACI position papers on adverse reaction to foods and three recent systematic reviews on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of food allergy, and provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of food allergy. While the primary audience is allergists, this document is relevant for all other healthcare professionals, including primary care physicians, and pediatric and adult specialists, dieticians, pharmacists and paramedics. Our current understanding of the manifestations of food allergy, the role of diagnostic tests, and the effective management of patients of all ages with food allergy is presented. The acute management of non-life-threatening reactions is covered in these guidelines, but for guidance on the emergency management of anaphylaxis, readers are referred to the related EAACI Anaphylaxis Guidelines.

Food allergy can have significant effects on morbidity and quality of life and can be costly in terms of medical visits and treatments. There is therefore considerable interest in generating efficient approaches that may reduce the risk of developing food allergy. This guideline has been prepared by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology's (EAACI) Taskforce on Prevention and is part of the EAACI Guidelines for Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis. It aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for primary prevention of food allergy. A wide range of antenatal, perinatal, neonatal, and childhood strategies were identified and their effectiveness assessed and synthesized in a systematic review. Based on this evidence, families can be provided with evidence-based advice about preventing food allergy, particularly for infants at high risk for development of allergic disease. The advice for all mothers includes a normal diet without restrictions during pregnancy and lactation. For all infants, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for at least first 4-6 months of life. If breastfeeding is insufficient or not possible, infants at high-risk can be recommended a hypoallergenic formula with a documented preventive effect for the first 4 months. There is no need to avoid introducing complementary foods beyond 4 months, and currently, the evidence does not justify recommendations about either withholding or encouraging exposure to potentially allergenic foods after 4 months once weaning has commenced, irrespective of atopic heredity. There is no evidence to support the use of prebiotics or probiotics for food allergy prevention.

Individuals suffering from IgE-mediated food allergy usually have to practise life-long food allergen avoidance. This document aims to provide an overview of recent evidence-based recommendations for allergen risk assessment and management in the food industry and discusses unmet needs and expectations of the food allergic consumer in that context. There is a general duty of care on the food industry and obligations in European Union legislation to reduce and manage the presence of allergens alongside other food hazards. Current evidence enables quantification of allergen reference doses used to set-up reliable food safety management plans for some foods. However, further work is required to include a wider variety of foods and to understand the impact of the food matrix as well as additional factors which affect the progression and severity of symptoms as a function of dose. Major concerns have been raised by patients, carers and patient groups about the use of precautionary 'may contain' labelling to address the issue of unintended presence of allergens; these therefore need to be reconsidered. New and improved allergen detection methods should be evaluated for their application in food production. There is an urgent requirement for effective communication between healthcare professionals, patient organizations, food industry representatives and regulators to develop a better approach to protecting consumers with food allergies.

© 2014 Informa UK Ltd. All rights reserved. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hormone therapy (HT) in the endothelial function of 46,XY disorders of sexual development (DSD) patients with female phenotype. Biochemical and ultrasound measurements were performed in 20 patients at initiation of oral 2mg 17β-estradiol/1mg norethisterone acetate, and after 6 months of therapy. Lipid profile, including total cholesterol (TC), LDL, HDL, triglycerides (TG) and Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), as well as levels of VE-Cadherin, E-Selectin, Thrombomodulin and vWf were determined. Ultrasonographic examinations included evaluation of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and measurement of Carotid and Femoral Intima Media Thickness (IMT). HT raised HDL (35.4mg/dl versus 40.1mg/dl, p=0.019) while lowering TG (166mg/dl versus 109mg/dl, p=0.026) and AIP (0.24 versus 0.04, p=0.007). No changes were noted in TC and LDL (215.7mg/dl versus 192.25mg/dl and 87.46mg/dl versus 76.35mg/dl, respectively). There was significant reduction of VE-Cadherin (4.05ng/ml versus 2.20ng/ml, p=0.002) and E-selectin (73.98ng/ml versus 56.73ng/ml, p=0.004). No change was observed in Thrombomodulin and vWf (11.76ng/ml versus 13.90ng/ml and 80.75% versus 79.55%, respectively). FMD improved significantly (5.4% versus 8.15%, p=0.003), while only carotid bulb IMT decreased significantly (0.65mm versus 0.60mm, p=0.018). Overall, HT was found to improve biochemical and ultrasound markers of endothelial function in 46,XY DSD patients with female phenotype.

The effects of solvent on the synthesis of visible light-activated, sulfur-doped TiO2 (S-TiO2) films were studied. Four different polar, protic solvents, isopropanol, 1-butanol, ethanol, and methanol (iPrOH, BtOH, EtOH, and MeOH), were chosen as the solvent in four titania sol-gel preparations. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Ultraviolet (UV)-vis diffuse reflectance, and porosimetry. The structural, morphological, and porous characteristics of the sulfur-doped TiO2 films were correlated with solvent physical properties such as the dielectric constant (D-value) and the saturated vapor pressure. According to XPS and FT-IR, S6+/S4+ cations replaced Ti4+ ions in the lattice of TiO2, resulting in the formation of localized states within the bandgap of TiO2. The optical absorption edge for all S-TiO2 films was significantly shifted toward the visible light region. The solvent D-value has a negligible effect on the bandgap energy change and the doping states of the prepared S-TiO2 samples. S-TiO 2 films synthesized using MeOH (S-TiO2-MeOH), despite their lower Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) surface area and porosity compared to the other films, showed the highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of the hepatotoxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) under visible light irradiation due to their high surface roughness and large pore size. The tailor-designed structure of the S-TiO2-MeOH film contributed to the high photocatalytic degradation rates of MC-LR. The larger pore size of the S-TiO2-MeOH films allowed easier transport of MC-LR inside the porous film, while the higher film surface roughness could increase nano-interfacial interactions between MC-LR and surface active sites. These results indicate that the structural and morphological properties of S-TiO2 photocatalysts can be tailor-designed using different solvents in the sol-gel synthesis, while inducing negligible effects on the sulfur doping and the visible light activation of TiO2. Therefore, the enhancement of photocatalytic activity of S-TiO2 films can be achieved by judicious choice of the main solvent for the sol-gel method. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

This study examined the effects of baseline flexibility and vertical jump ability on straight leg raise range of motion (ROM) and counter-movement jump performance (CMJ) following different volumes of stretching and potentiating exercises. ROM and CMJ were measured after two different warm-up protocols involving static stretching and potentiating exercises. Three groups of elite athletes (10 male, 14 female artistic gymnasts and 10 female rhythmic gymnasts) varying greatly in ROM and CMJ, performed two warm-up routines. One warm-up included short (15 s) static stretching followed by 5 tuck jumps, while the other included long static stretching (30 s) followed by 3x5 tuck jumps. ROM and CMJ were measured before, during and for 12 min after the two warm-up routines. Three-way ANOVA showed large differences between the three groups in baseline ROM and CMJ performance. A type of warm-up x time interaction was found for both ROM (p = 0.031) and CMJ (p = 0.016). However, all athletes, irrespective of group, responded in a similar fashion to the different warm-up protocols for both ROM and CMJ, as indicated from the lack of significant interactions for group (condition x group, time x group or condition x time x group). In the short warm-up protocol, ROM was not affected by stretching, while in the long warm-up protocol ROM increased by 5.9% ± 0.7% (p = 0.001) after stretching. Similarly, CMJ remained unchanged after the short warm-up protocol, but increased by 4.6 ± 0.9% (p = 0.012) 4 min after the long warmup protocol, despite the increased ROM. It is concluded that the initial levels of flexibility and CMJ performance do not alter the responses of elite gymnasts to warm-up protocols differing in stretching and potentiating exercise volumes. Furthermore, 3 sets of 5 tuck jumps result in a relatively large increase in CMJ performance despite an increase in flexibility in these highly-trained athletes. © Journal of Sports Science and Medicine.

This study examined the effects of baseline flexibility and vertical jump ability on straight leg raise range of motion (ROM) and counter-movement jump performance (CMJ) following different volumes of stretching and potentiating exercises. ROM and CMJ were measured after two different warm-up protocols involving static stretching and potentiating exercises. Three groups of elite athletes (10 male, 14 female artistic gymnasts and 10 female rhythmic gymnasts) varying greatly in ROM and CMJ, performed two warm-up routines. One warm-up included short (15 s) static stretching followed by 5 tuck jumps, while the other included long static stretching (30 s) followed by 3x5 tuck jumps. ROM and CMJ were measured before, during and for 12 min after the two warm-up routines. Three-way ANOVA showed large differences between the three groups in baseline ROM and CMJ performance. A type of warm-up x time interaction was found for both ROM (p = 0.031) and CMJ (p = 0.016). However, all athletes, irrespective of group, responded in a similar fashion to the different warm-up protocols for both ROM and CMJ, as indicated from the lack of significant interactions for group (condition x group, time x group or condition x time x group). In the short warm-up protocol, ROM was not affected by stretching, while in the long warm-up protocol ROM increased by 5.9% ± 0.7% (p = 0.001) after stretching. Similarly, CMJ remained unchanged after the short warm-up protocol, but increased by 4.6 ± 0.9% (p = 0.012) 4 min after the long warmup protocol, despite the increased ROM. It is concluded that the initial levels of flexibility and CMJ performance do not alter the responses of elite gymnasts to warm-up protocols differing in stretching and potentiating exercise volumes. Furthermore, 3 sets of 5 tuck jumps result in a relatively large increase in CMJ performance despite an increase in flexibility in these highly-trained athletes. © Journal of Sports Science and Medicine.

The presence of blue or red-brown substrate on the tank bottom has been previously reported as an efficient means of environmental enrichment for gilthead seabream. The present study aimed to investigate whether this enrichment is still beneficial when gilthead seabream is reared under different social conditions (i.e. a lower 4.9 kg m(-3) and a higher 9.7 kg m(-3) density). Water exchange was adjusted according to fish biomass to exclude density effects on water quality. In the enriched tanks single-colour glass gravel was used as substrate (blue and red-brown substrate, or BS and RBS respectively), while control tanks had no gravel. Growth, aggressive behaviour and size distribution results indicated that the lower density created a less favourable social environment. In both densities studied, BS enhanced growth, suppressed aggression and reduced brain serotonergic activity. In the condition of intense social interactions (i.e. the lower density) BS also reduced brain dopaminergic activity. These results along with the negative correlations observed between brain monoamines and fish body mass, indicated that substrate and density effects are socially-induced. However, there may be several biotic and/or abiotic factors interfering with substrate effects that should be investigated before the practical use of a substrate in land-based intensive aquaculture.

Overweight and obesity are widespread nutritional disorders. Their treatment aims at effective weight loss (WL) and weight loss maintenance (WLM). Previous systematic reviews show weight regain, after recommended exercise and diet combined. However, certain experimental and methodological inconsistencies in the original studies and in these reviews left space for a substantial revisit of this problem. This study aimed at systematically re-reviewing the effectiveness of exercise combined with diet on WLM in overweight and obese adults. Literature was searched through Embase and Sport Discus (up to 2008), and PubMed (Medline) and ISI Web of science (up to 2012). 14 randomized clinical trials (RCT) were retained, their quality was assessed by the Jadad scale, and detailed methodological and statistical characteristics were evaluated. Overall estimations showed a WL of 11.1 kg (about 13%) after an average of about 4 months from baseline, a WLM of 5.8 kg (about 52%) and a weight regain of 5.1 kg after an average period of about 21 months. WL was successful but almost half of it (about 48%) was regained, which agrees with previous findings. The Jadad score showed very good to excellent quality for all 14 studies. However, further assessment revealed serious weakness such as high average dropout (>20%), not estimating experimental power or not using a control group in more than half of the studies, possible lack of adherence and variability in demographic traits. Future studies may focus on improving these limitations for more accurate results in this crucial research field.

This study investigated the effects of muscle action type during conditioning activity (half-squat) on subsequent vertical jump performance. Fourteen track and field athletes (relative half-squat of 2.3 ± 0.3 times their body weight) completed 4 main trials in a randomized and counterbalanced order 5-7 days apart: (a) concentric (CON) halfsquats: 7.5 ± 1.2 repetitions against 90% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM), (b) eccentric (ECC) half-squats: 9.3 ± 1.5 repetitions against 70% of 1RM, and (c) 3 sets of 3-second maximal isometric (ISO) half-squats, (d) a control (CTRL) trial, where subjects rested for 10 minutes. The number of repetitions in CON and ECC was adjusted so that the impulse of the vertical ground reaction force was similar to ISO. Countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) performance was evaluated for 21 minutes after each main trial. Countermovement vertical jump performance in ISO was higher than CTRL from the second to the 10th minute of recovery, whereas CMJ performance in ECC was higher than CTRL from the sixth and 10th minute of recovery. Analysis of the peak individual responses revealed an increase in CMJ performance compared with baseline only in ISO (3.06 1.2%; p = 0.045), whereas no significant increases were observed in ECC and CON. Peak CMJ performance for all subjects in ISO and ECC was achieved within 2-10 minutes after the conditioning muscle actions. Isometric were more effective than CON and ECC muscle actions in increasing explosive leg performance when the impulse of the ground reaction force of the conditioning exercise was equated. © 2014 National Strength and Conditioning Association.

This study investigated the effects of muscle action type during conditioning activity (half-squat) on subsequent vertical jump performance. Fourteen track and field athletes (relative half-squat of 2.3 ± 0.3 times their body weight) completed 4 main trials in a randomized and counterbalanced order 5-7 days apart: (a) concentric (CON) half-squats: 7.5 ± 1.2 repetitions against 90% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM), (b) eccentric (ECC) half-squats: 9.3 ± 1.5 repetitions against 70% of 1RM, and (c) 3 sets of 3-second maximal isometric (ISO) half-squats, (d) a control (CTRL) trial, where subjects rested for 10 minutes. The number of repetitions in CON and ECC was adjusted so that the impulse of the vertical ground reaction force was similar to ISO. Countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) performance was evaluated for 21 minutes after each main trial. Countermovement vertical jump performance in ISO was higher than CTRL from the second to the 10th minute of recovery, whereas CMJ performance in ECC was higher than CTRL from the sixth and 10th minute of recovery. Analysis of the peak individual responses revealed an increase in CMJ performance compared with baseline only in ISO (3.0 ± 1.2%; p = 0.045), whereas no significant increases were observed in ECC and CON. Peak CMJ performance for all subjects in ISO and ECC was achieved within 2-10 minutes after the conditioning muscle actions. Isometric were more effective than CON and ECC muscle actions in increasing explosive leg performance when the impulse of the ground reaction force of the conditioning exercise was equated.

This study investigated the effects of muscle action type during conditioning activity (half-squat) on subsequent vertical jump performance. Fourteen track and field athletes (relative half-squat of 2.3 ± 0.3 times their body weight) completed 4 main trials in a randomized and counterbalanced order 5-7 days apart: (a) concentric (CON) halfsquats: 7.5 ± 1.2 repetitions against 90% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM), (b) eccentric (ECC) half-squats: 9.3 ± 1.5 repetitions against 70% of 1RM, and (c) 3 sets of 3-second maximal isometric (ISO) half-squats, (d) a control (CTRL) trial, where subjects rested for 10 minutes. The number of repetitions in CON and ECC was adjusted so that the impulse of the vertical ground reaction force was similar to ISO. Countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) performance was evaluated for 21 minutes after each main trial. Countermovement vertical jump performance in ISO was higher than CTRL from the second to the 10th minute of recovery, whereas CMJ performance in ECC was higher than CTRL from the sixth and 10th minute of recovery. Analysis of the peak individual responses revealed an increase in CMJ performance compared with baseline only in ISO (3.06 1.2%; p = 0.045), whereas no significant increases were observed in ECC and CON. Peak CMJ performance for all subjects in ISO and ECC was achieved within 2-10 minutes after the conditioning muscle actions. Isometric were more effective than CON and ECC muscle actions in increasing explosive leg performance when the impulse of the ground reaction force of the conditioning exercise was equated. © 2014 National Strength and Conditioning Association.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of power training with light vs. heavy loads during the tapering phases of a double periodized training year on track and field throwing performance. Thirteen track and field throwers aged 16-26 years followed 8 months of systematic training for performance enhancement aiming at 2 tapering phases during the winter and the spring competition periods. Athletes performed tapering with 2 different resistance training loads (counterbalanced design): 7 athletes used 30% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) light-load tapering (LT), and 6 athletes used the 85% of 1RM heavy-load tapering (HT), during the winter tapering. The opposite was performed at the spring tapering. Before and after each tapering, throwing performance, 1RM strength, vertical jumping, rate of force development (RFD), vastus lateralis architecture, and rate of perceived exertion were evaluated. Throwing performance increased significantly by 4.8 ± 1.0% and 5.6 ± 0.9% after LT and HT, respectively. Leg press 1RM and squat jump power increased more after HT than LT (5.9 ± 3.2% vs. -3.4 ± 2.5%, and 5.1 ± 2.4% vs. 0.9 ± 1.4%, respectively, p ≤ 0.05). Leg press RFD increased more in HT (38.1 ± 16.5%) compared with LT (-2.9 ± 6.7%), but LT induced less fatigue than HT (4.0 ± 1.5 vs. 6.7 ± 0.9, p ≤ 0.05). Muscle architecture was not altered after either program. These results suggest that performance increases similarly after tapering with LT or HT in track and field throwers, but HT leads to greater increases in strength, whole body power, and RFD.

Data from two randomized pivotal, phase 3 trials evaluating the combination of lenalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) were pooled to characterize the subset of patients who achieved long-term benefit of therapy (progression-free survival ≥3 years). Patients with long-term benefit of therapy (n = 45) had a median duration of treatment of 48.1 months and a response rate of 100%. Humoral improvement (uninvolved immunoglobulin A) was more common in patients with long-term benefit of therapy (79% vs 55%; P = 0.002). Significant predictors of long-term benefit of therapy in multivariate analysis were age < 65 years (P = 0.03), β2-microglobulin <2.5 mg/l (P = 0.002) and fewer prior therapies (P = 0.002). The exposureadjusted incidence rate (EAIR) of grade 3-4 neutropenia was lower in patients with long-term benefit of therapy (13.9 vs 38.2 per 100 patient-years). The EAIR for invasive second primary malignancy was the same in patients with long-term benefit of therapy and other patients (1.7 per 100 patient-years). These findings indicate that patients with RRMM can experience long-term benefit with lenalidomide and dexamethasone treatment with manageable side effects. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved.

El presente trabajo se centra en el uso de las Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación en la enseñanza del español como lengua extranjera. Nos referimos a una herramienta digital en particular: el blog. Veremos de qué se trata, cómo se puede aprovechar y cuáles son las ventajas de su uso en dicho campo. Por último, presentaremos algunos blogs dedicados a la enseñanza del español, que pueden utilizar tanto los docentes como los mismos estudiantes.   

The paper aims to examine the data envelopment analysis (DEA) and stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) results in order to facilitate a common understanding about the adequacy of these methods, defining any differences in healthcare efficiency estimation. A two-stage bootstrap DEA method and the Translog formula of the SFA were performed. Multi-inputs and multi-outputs were used in both of the approaches assuming two scenarios either including environmental variables or not. Thirty-two Greek public hospital units constitute the sample. DEA and SFA were found to yield divergent efficiency estimates due to many factors such as the nature of the environmental variables, the measurement error and other random factors. Environmental variables being hospital status and geographical position were found significantly correlating with inefficiency. The analysis concludes that the choice of the appropriate mathematical form depends on the expertise of the researcher and the purpose of the evaluation. Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Taking the period from the end of the 1970s to the end of the 1990s, this book critically examines the evolution of the strategic relationship between the US and Turkey during this period, with a particular focus on the Middle Eastern context. Strategic Relations Between the US and Turkey employs interviews with US, Turkish and Israeli officials and archival research in order to offer an alternative reading of the realities that shaped bilateral co-operation through multi-level analysis. The unraveling of these realities enlightens the reader about the past course of events but also aids the understanding of the dynamics of the relationship today. Essential reading for students and scholars of U.S. and Turkish foreign policy, this study of co-operation between a super-power and a relatively weak state in the international system will also be of use to those interested in International Relations, Diplomatic History and World Politics more broadly.

• (2014). Κωνσταντίνα Γογγάκη – Ιωάννης Γ. Καλογεράκος (επιμ.). Φιλοσοφία και Αθλητισμός. Πρακτικά Β’ Φιλοσοφικού Συμποσίου, Αθήνα, 16 Μαΐου 2014. Έκδοση Σπουδαστηρίου Φιλοσοφίας του Αθλητισμού του ΤΕΦΑΑ Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Παν/μίου Αθηνών, εκδόσεις Παπαηλιού, Αθήνα.

It is generally accepted that environmental enrichment enhances the performance and improves welfare of animals kept in captivity. Similar results have been obtained for fish. It has been previously reported that the presence of Blue or Red-Brown Substrate (BS and RBS respectively) on tank bottom resulted in growth enhancement and suppression of aggressive behavior of gilthead seabream Sparus aurata compared to Green Substrate (GS) and tanks without modifications (Control-C). In an attempt to identify the underlying mechanisms, in the present study the effects of this environmental enrichment on brain monoamine neurotransmitters and fatty acids of gilthead seabream were evaluated. BS and RBS fish had lower serotonergic activity (5-HIAA/5-HT), resulting mainly from lower 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels. BS fish also had lower serotonin levels compared to all other treatments. Brain noradrenaline (NA) levels did not show significant differences between substrate treatments and control. Brain dopamine (DA) levels were lowest in BS and RBS fish, higher in GS fish and highest in C fish. No differences were observed for dopamine metabolites or dopaminergic activity. Moreover, brain NA was negatively correlated with body weight in BS fish and positively correlated in RBS and C fish. A positive correlation was also observed for brain DA with body weight in RBS fish. No differences were observed for brain fatty acids. Present results support the hypothesis that the beneficial effects of the presence of BS and RBS are related to altered social interactions and indicate the establishment of a less stressful social organization in enriched-reared fish groups.

Ecofascism as a tradition in Environmental Ethics seems to burgeoning with potential. The roots of Ecofascism can be traced back to the German Romantic School, to the Wagnerian narration of the Nibelungen saga, to the works of Fichte and Herder and, finally, to the so-called völkisch movement.Those who take pride in describing themselves as ecofascists grosso modo tend to prioritize the moral value of the ecosphere, while, at the same time, they almost entirely devalue species and individuals. Additionally, these ecofascists are eager to reject democracy, the idea of progress in its entirety, as well as industrialization and urbanization. They also seem to be hostile towards individual autonomy and free will. In this short essay I will present and discuss Kaarlo Pentti Linkola’s approach to environmental ethics, one that could be well described as the epitome of Ecofascism. I will argue that his arguments are neither sound nor documented, and I will conclude that Linkola’s overall approach is, in my view, contrary to the purpose as well as to the very essence of morality.

part and the Karvouni mountain in the central part. The Geology of Samos consists of a metamorphic substratum, a non metamorphic unit, neogene and quaternary sediments. This island has been affected many times by natural hazards, such as forest fires, soil erosion, flash floods and gravity movements. The aim of this paper is to create an erosion risk map of Samos Island. This has been achieved by a series of separate stages, such as the creation of a database of geological, geomorphological and topographic data, extensive field observations and analyses of aerial photos and satellite images, within a GIS based platform. The final step involves the application of a functional relationship based on a probability model to input data consisting of the lithology, slope, mean altitude, and the vegetation-land use for each drainage basin to produce the final erosion risk map.

A geophysical survey was carried out in the archaeological site of Kyparissia (Megalopolis, Greece) applying the Very Low Frequency technique, as preliminary combined with highly detailed Electrical Resistivity Tomography. Settlements of the ancient city of Trapezous (limestone slabs 0.5m height × 0.5m width) have already been uncovered from the local Ephorate of Prehistorical and Classical Antiquities, revealing a regularly planned town of the classical period. The geophysical research was performed at the non-excavated area of the plain, vicinal to the already exposed remaining, where, according to the expected geometry, the buried walls and drainage channel should be continued to. Fifteen parallel sections with distance 5m and spacing interval 1m were carried out. The processing with the application of Fraser and Karous-Hjelt filters led to the construction of respective maps, indicating some resistive lineation which could be a result of the buried settlements. Moreover, two detailed ERT sections were carried out with spacing 0.20 and 0.25m and total length 200m. The processing using the robust inversion, which is indicated for such environments, adumbrates quite clearly a sharp resistive target that could be the limestone slabs of the ancient walls or drainage channels, confirming the expected lineated geometry of the town.

Using a vector network analyzer equipped with a calibrated rectangular wave guide the electric permittivity and the element of the magnetic permeability tensor for Y3Fe5O12, ZnFe2O4 and NiFe2O4 are measured. The electric permittivity can be estimated from the body resonances (d = n lambda/2) if a sufficient long sample is used. The estimation of the magnetic permeability tensors' parameters can be estimated comparing the experimental results with computer simulations using the magnetic properties of the materials as derived from the magnetic measurements.

Multiple myeloma management has undergone profound changes in the past thanks to advances in our understanding of the disease biology and improvements in treatment and supportive care approaches. This article presents recommendations of the European Myeloma Network for newly diagnosed patients based on the GRADE system for level of evidence. All patients with symptomatic disease should undergo risk stratification to classify patients for International Staging System stage (level of evidence: 1A) and for cytogenetically defined high- versus standard-risk groups (2B). Novel-agent-based induction and up-front autologous stem cell transplantation in medically fit patients remains the standard of care (1A). Induction therapy should include a triple combination of bortezomib, with either adriamycin or thalidomide and dexamethasone (1A), or with cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (2B). Currently, allogeneic stem cell transplantation may be considered for young patients with high-risk disease and preferably in the context of a clinical trial (2B). Thalidomide (1B) or lenalidomide (1A) maintenance increases progression-free survival and possibly overall survival (2B). Bortezomib-based regimens are a valuable consolidation option, especially for patients who failed excellent response after autologous stem cell transplantation (2A). Bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone or melphalan-prednisone-thalidomide are the standards of care for transplant-ineligible patients (1A). Melphalan-prednisone-lenalidomide with lenalidomide maintenance increases progression-free survival, but overall survival data are needed. New data from the phase III study (MM-020/IFM 07-01) of lenalidomide-low-dose dexamethasone reached its primary end point of a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival as compared to melphalan-prednisone-thalidomide and provides further evidence for the efficacy of lenalidomide-low-dose dexamethasone in transplant-ineligible patients (2B). © 2013 Ferrata Storti Foundation.

The treatment of multiple myeloma has undergone significant changes and has resulted in the achievement of molecular remissions, the prolongation of remission duration, and extended survival becoming realistic goals, with a cure being possible in a small but growing number of patients. In addition, nowadays it is possible to categorize patients more precisely into different risk groups, thus allowing the evaluation of therapies in different settings and enabling a better comparison of results across trials. Here, we review the evidence from clinical studies, which forms the basis for our recommendations for the management of patients with myeloma. Treatment approaches depend on "fitness," with chronological age still being an important discriminator for selecting therapy. In younger, fit patients, a short three drug-based induction treatment followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains the preferred option. Consolidation and maintenance therapy are attractive strategies not yet approved by the European Medicines Agency, and a decision regarding post-ASCT therapy should only be made after detailed discussion of the pros and cons with the individual patient. Two- and three-drug combinations are recommended for patients not eligible for transplantation. Treatment should be administered for at least nine cycles, although different durations of initial therapy have only rarely been compared so far. Comorbidity and frailty should be thoroughly assessed in elderly patients, and treatment must be adapted to individual needs, carefully selecting appropriate drugs and doses. A substantial number of new drugs and novel drug classes in early clinical development have shown promising activity. Their introduction into clinical practice will most likely further improve treatment results. © AlphaMed Press.

The education in First Aid through health education programs can help in promoting the health of the population. Meanwhile, the development of alternative forms of education with emphasis on distance learning implemented with e-learning creates an innovative system of knowledge and skills in different population groups. The main purpose of this research proposal is to investigate the effectiveness of the educational program to candidates educators about knowledge and emergency preparedness at school. The study used the Solomon four group design (2 intervention groups and 2 control groups). Statistical analysis showed significant difference within the four groups. Intervention groups had improved significantly their knowledge showing that the program was effective and that they would eventually deal with a threatening situation with right handlings. There were no statistical significant findings regarding other independent variables (p>0,05).The health education program with the implementation of synchronous distance learning succeeded to enhance the knowledge of candidates educators.

The ascomycete Paecillomyces variotii was evaluated for the first time as a candidate species for the production of bioethanol from lignocellulose through consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) approaches. The examined strain (ATHUM 8891) revealed all the necessary phenotypic characteristics required for 2nd generation biofuel production. The fungus is able to efficiently ferment glucose and xylose to ethanol, with yields close to the theoretical maximum. Nitrogen supplementation greatly affected ethanol production with nitrate-nitrogen presenting the best results. Notably, ethanol yield on xylose fermentation was higher than that of glucose, while in co-fermentation of glucose–xylose mixtures no distinguished diauxic behavior was observed. Furthermore, the fungus seems to possess the necessary enzyme factory for the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass, as it was able to grow and produce ethanol on common agro-industrial derivatives. Overall, the results of our study indicate that P. variotii is a new and possibly powerful candidate for CBP applications.

Marine and terrestrial biological and biogeochemical proxies in three sediment cores from North and SE Aegean and northern Levantine Seas record continuous warm and humid conditions between 5.5 and 4.0 ka BP related to the establishment of relatively stratified conditions in the upper water column. These conditions may have resulted from the concordant albeit weak Mid-Holocene South Asian monsoon forcing, combined with lighter Etesian winds. During this interval, sea surface temperatures fluctuate in the Aegean Sea, although exhibiting a strong positive shift at*4.8 ka BP. The warm and humid climatic conditions triggered upper water column stratification and enhancement of the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM), leading to dysoxic conditions and the deposition of a sapropel-like layer, but only in the SE Aegean site. In contrast to the shallow water SE Aegean, the deeper North Aegean and the northern Levantine sites, although experiencing stratification in the upper parts of the water column, did not achieve bottom-water dysoxia. Thus, a top–bottom mechanism of stratification–DCM development accompanied by fast transport and burial of organic matter is a likely explanation for the preservation of productivity signal in the shallow sites of the SE Aegean and establishment of sapropelic conditions during the warm and humid Mid-Holocene. The termination of the Mid-Holocene warm and humid phase coincides with the ‘‘4.2 ka’’ climate event. Our data exhibit an N–S time transgressive aridification gradient around the Aegean Sea, most probably associated with the reorganization of the general atmospheric circulation during the Mid-Holocene.

Marine and terrestrial biological and biogeochemical proxies in three sediment cores from North and SE Aegean and northern Levantine Seas record continuous warm and humid conditions between 5.5 and 4.0 ka BP related to the establishment of relatively stratified conditions in the upper water column. These conditions may have resulted from the concordant albeit weak Mid-Holocene South Asian monsoon forcing, combined with lighter Etesian winds. During this interval, sea surface temperatures fluctuate in the Aegean Sea, although exhibiting a strong positive shift at*4.8 ka BP. The warm and humid climatic conditions triggered upper water column stratification and enhancement of the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM), leading to dysoxic conditions and the deposition of a sapropel-like layer, but only in the SE Aegean site. In contrast to the shallow water SE Aegean, the deeper North Aegean and the northern Levantine sites, although experiencing stratification in the upper parts of the water column, did not achieve bottom-water dysoxia. Thus, a top–bottom mechanism of stratification–DCM development accompanied by fast transport and burial of organic matter is a likely explanation for the preservation of productivity signal in the shallow sites of the SE Aegean and establishment of sapropelic conditions during the warm and humid Mid-Holocene. The termination of the Mid-Holocene warm and humid phase coincides with the ‘‘4.2 ka’’ climate event. Our data exhibit an N–S time transgressive aridification gradient around the Aegean Sea, most probably associated with the reorganization of the general atmospheric circulation during the Mid-Holocene.

An underwater geomorphological survey along the coasts of six Cycladic islands (Sifnos, Antiparos, Paros, Naxos, Iraklia and Keros) revealed widespread evidence of seven submerged tidal notches. At least seven former shorelines were identified at depths between 280 ± 20 and 30 ± 5 cm below modern sea level. The vertical succession of several submerged notches suggests the occurrence of rapid subsidence events, potentially of seismic origin. Comparison with other sea-level indicators from Naxos and Delos islands indicates that these relative sea-level changes took place after 3300 BP and provides a rough estimate of the time of development of several submerged shorelines. The submergence of the uppermost notch at −30 ± 5 cm is ascribed to effects of the recent global sea-level rise occurred during the last two centuries and, at least in part, to effects of recent earthquakes. Potential effects of the 1956 Amorgos earthquake with regard to coseismic and post-seismic vertical displacement have been recently investigated using a modellistic approach. According to the above, the lower shorelines should result from repetitive subsidence events and not from gradual subsidence.

We report on the increase of up to 37.5% in conversion efficiency of a Si-based solar cell after deposition of light-emitting Cd-free, CuInS 2/ZnS core shell quantum dots on the active area of the cell due to the combined effect of down-conversion and the anti- reflecting property of the dots. We clearly distinguished the effect of down-conversion from anti-reflection and estimated an enhancement of up to 10.5% in the conversion efficiency due to down-conversion. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

The properties of multiferroic and specifically piezoelectric (PE) materials are, nowadays, intensively investigated by means of well established, however relatively complicate methods. In this work we present a method for the direct visual demonstration of the underlying electro-mechanical processes occurring in PE materials and the estimation of the respective coefficients d(ij). The method is based on the utilization of optical microscopy for the local observation of the deformation of a PE specimen upon application of an electric field. The direct comparison of the snapshots obtained before and after application of the electric field and simple algebraic calculations enables the estimation of the d(ij) coefficients. The method was evaluated in unpoled single crystals of 0.71Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-0.29PbTiO(3), at room temperature. Various locations of each crystal surface were surveyed. Non-homogeneous electro-mechanical response was observed. Accordingly, the estimated d(ij) coefficients depended on the specific location of the crystal surface. Specifically, the d(zx) coefficient ranged within 500-1000 pm/V over the investigated locations (for electric fields E<1kV/mm). The present method directly unveils non-homogeneous electro-mechanical processes occurring at the surface of PE crystals and clarifies how these observations can be quantified through the respective d(ij) coefficients.

In this report, a panel of European myeloma experts discuss the role of pomalidomide in the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Based on the available evidence, the combination of pomalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone is a well-tolerated and effective treatment option for patients with RRMM who have exhausted treatment with lenalidomide and bortezomib. The optimal starting dose of pomalidomide is 4 mg given on days 1-21 of each 28-day cycle, whereas dexamethasone is administered at a dose of 40 mg weekly (reduced to 20 mg for patients aged >75 years). The treatment should continue until evidence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Dose-modification schemes have been established for patients who develop neutropenia, thrombocytopaenia and other grade 3-4 adverse events during pomalidomide therapy. Guidance on the prevention and management of infections and venous thromboembolism is provided, based on the available clinical evidence and the experience of panel members. The use of pomalidomide in special populations, such as patients with advanced age, renal impairment or unfavourable cytogenetic features, is also discussed. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.

Olive oil is an important lipid source of the Mediterranean diet which has been associated with lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases whereas olive pomace (OP), a natural by-product of olive oil production, has been found to contain micro constituents with antioxidant, antithrombotic and antiatherogenic activities. The evaluation of OP in order to produce sustainable functional food and neutraceuticals has been the subject of research over the last years. All recent data, focusing on the anti-inflammatory properties of olive oil derived from olive (Olea europaea) and OP along with the potential production of sustainable functional food and neutraceuticals, are presented in this review.

The Health Information Technology can improve public health, quality of health care etc. Thus, it is important for professionals to be well educated by training programs. The aim of this paper is to record all the educational programs with specializations in Health Informatics, Medical Informatics, Bioinformatics, Biomedical Informatics and Biomedical Engineering in European Universities and Institutions. An on-line research was conducted on Scopus, PubMed, Scholar Google, and Google. More than 150 universities and colleges in Europe conduct educational programs for these domains. The majority them, expertise in Biomedical Engineering (31%), 22% of the educational programs correspond to Bioinformatics, while Health Informatics studies have 18%. On the last few years, a growth of Health informatics professionals has been observed in Europe.

This study focuses on analyzing the extreme aerosol loading and the mechanisms, source areas and meteorological conditions that favored the abnormal dust exposure towards Arabian Sea during June 2008. The analysis reveals that the spatial-averaged aerosol optical depth (AOD) over Arabian Sea in June 2008 is 0.5 (78.2%) higher than the 2000-2013 mean June value and is mostly attributed to the enhanced dust activity and several (18) dust storms originated from the Sistan region (Iran-Afghanistan borders). Landsat images show that the marshy lakes in Sistan basin got dried during the second half of June 2008 and the alluvial silt and saline material got easily eroded by the intense Levar winds, which were stronger (>15-20ms-1) than the climatological mean for the month of June. These conditions led to enhanced dust exposure from Sistan that strongly affected the northern and central parts of the Arabian Sea, as forward air-mass trajectories show. The NCEP/NCAR reanalysis reveals an abnormal intensification and spatial expansion of the Indian low pressure system towards northern Arabian Sea in June 2008. This suggests strengthening of the convection over the arid southwest Asia and exposure of significant amount of dust, which can reach further south over Arabian Sea favored by the enhanced cyclonic circulation. MODIS imagery highlighted several dust storms originated from Sistan and affecting Arabian Sea during June 2008, while the SPRINTARS model simulations of increased AOD and dust concentration over Sistan and downwind areas are in agreement with ground-based and satellite observations. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) due to their hydrophilic character and high anionic charge densities play important roles in various (patho)physiological processes. The identification and quantification of GAGs in biological samples and tissues could be useful prognostic and diagnostic tools in pathological conditions. Despite the noteworthy progress in the development of sensitive and accurate methodologies for the determination of GAGs, there is a significant lack in methodologies regarding sample preparation and reliable fast analysis methods enabling the simultaneous analysis of several biological samples. In this report, developed protocols for the isolation of GAGs in biological samples were applied to analyze various sulfated chondroitin sulfate- and hyaluronan-derived disaccharides using fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (FACE). Applications to biologic samples of clinical importance include blood serum, lens capsule tissue and urine. The sample preparation protocol followed by FACE analysis allows quantification with an optimal linearity over the concentration range 1.0-220.0 microg/mL, affording a limit of quantitation of 50 ng of disaccharides. Validation of FACE results was performed by capillary electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography techniques.

In the MM-015 trial, melphalan-prednisone-lenalidomide followed by lenalidomide maintenance (MPR-R) significantly prolonged progression-free survival versus melphalan-prednisone (MP) in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma aged ≥ 65 years. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), a secondary endpoint of MM-015, was also improved with MPR-R. This sub-analysis evaluated the impact of individual predictive factors on HRQoL. Patients completed HRQoL questionnaires at baseline, every third cycle and at progressive disease (PD)/treatment discontinuation. In a mixed-effects model female gender, advanced age and PD negatively affected HRQoL while better treatment responses showed positive effects. Compared to PD, HRQoL during MPR-R treatment was statistically significantly better in two of six preselected domains both of which were also clinically meaningful. HRQoL scores at end of treatment were all either improved or not statistically significantly different versus baseline. In conclusion, continuous treatment with MPR-R, which delays PD, appears to be associated with clinically meaningful improvements in HRQoL. © 2014 Informa UK, Ltd.

Postoperative fast-track recovery protocols combine various methods to support immediate care of patients who undergo major surgery. These protocols include control of postoperative pain and early beginning of oral diet and mobilization. The combination of these approaches may reduce the rate of postoperative complications and facilitate hospital discharge. The aim of this study was to evaluate progress and parameters of fast-track recovery after major liver and pancreatic resection. A descriptive bibliographical review from 2001 to 2012 via electronic databases such as MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar was undertaken. Articles that focused on a fast-track protocol were studied. Reports focusing on the implementation of a fast-track protocol in the postoperative recovery of patients after major hepatectomy or pancreatectomy were selected. Fast-track protocols may be applicable to patients recovering after major liver or pancreatic resection. Future research should be focused on particular parameters of the fast-track protocol separately.

Zymomonas mobilis subsp. mobilis is one of the most rigorous ethanol-producing organisms known to date, considered by many to be the prokaryotic alternative to yeast. The two most applied Z. mobilis subsp. mobilis strains, ZM4 and CP4, derive from Recife, Brazil, and have been isolated from sugarcane fermentations. Of these, ZM4 was the first Z. mobilis representative strain to be sequenced and analyzed. Here, we report the finishing of the genome sequence of strain CP4, which is highly similar but not identical to that of ZM4.