Publications

The vertical structure of surface cyclonic tracks affecting the eastern Mediterranean region is studied on a climatological basis for the cold period of the year. The dataset used is the 1° × 1° ERA-40 Reanalysis for a 40-year period (1962-2001). The vertical tracking of surface cyclonic tracks was performed with the aid of the Melbourne University Vertical Tracking Algorithm. It was found that about 83 % of the cyclones were extended up to the 500-hPa level and almost 65 % up to 200-hPa level, implying that the cyclones are in general well organized. The surface tracks that originate within the examined area exhibit the smallest vertical extension, intensity, radius, and depth compared to the cyclones originating in the other sectors. Moreover, the 500-hPa counterparts for the said cyclones are mainly located to the north-west or south-west of the surface cyclone position, consistent with the baroclinic character of the Mediterranean cyclones. The zonal (eastward) component of motion predominates both at the surface and at 500 hPa. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.

Vitamin D receptor's (VDR) genotypes have been associated both with the development of bone disease and the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed to evaluate the association between the presence of Bsm1 restriction fragment length polymorphism of VDR and bone loss in ambulatory patients with MS. This cross-sectional study included 82 adult patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Fasting blood samples were obtained for biochemical-hormonal assessment and genotyping. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed at the lumbar spine (LS) and the femoral neck (FN), using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Possible associations between VDR's genotypes and BMD levels as well as biochemical and hormonal indices were evaluated. Among premenopausal women and men, carriers of the B allele exhibited higher BMD and Z score at the FN and a trend toward higher BMD at the LS, compared to patients with the bb genotype, after adjusting for age, BMI, sex, EDSS scoring, interferon administration, duration of MS and total steroids intake. Among postmenopausal women, the presence of the B allele was not associated with BMD or T score at any site, whereas carriers of the B allele exhibited higher levels of calcium (p value 0.008, univariate). No other significant differences were exhibited between levels of electrolytes, parathormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 and the genotype of VDR, in any of the groups. VDR's Bsm1 polymorphism is associated with a mild effect on BMD in younger patients with MS. Larger studies are necessary to corroborate these findings. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Italia.

The present study is based on observations obtained with the 1.3m Warsaw telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory, Chile, during phase III of the OGLE project, between 2001 and 2009 (Soszynski et al., 2010, cat. J/AcA/60/165) (3 data files).

The XMM-Newton survey of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) yields a complete coverage of the bar and eastern wing in the 0.2-12.0keV band. This catalogue comprises 3053 unique X-ray point sources and sources with moderate extent that have been reduced from 5236 individual detections found in observations between April 2000 and April 2010. Sources have a median position uncertainty of 1.3" (1σ) and limiting fluxes down to ~1*10-14erg/s/cm2 in the 0.2-4.5keV band, corresponding to 5*1033erg/s for sources in the SMC. Sources have been classified using hardness ratios, X-ray variability, and their multi-wavelength properties. In addition to the main-field (5.58deg2) available outer fields have been included in the catalogue, yielding a total field area of 6.32deg2. X-ray sources with high extent (>40", e.g. supernova remnants and galaxy cluster) have been presented by Haberl et al. (2012, Cat. J/A+A/545/A128) (2 data files).

For all Chandra HRC-I observations a source catalogue was created and the energy flux of each source in each observation was derived. Fluxes were calculated assuming a generic power law spectrum and Galactic foreground absorption for each source. (5 data files).

Background: We aimed to assess efficacy and tolerability of vorinostat in combination with bortezomib for treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Methods: In our randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial, we enrolled adults (≥18 years) at 174 university hospitals in 31 countries worldwide. Eligible patients had to have non-refractory multiple myeloma that previously responded to treatment (one to three regimens) but were currently progressing, ECOG performance statuses of 2 or less, and no continuing toxic effects from previous treatment. We excluded patients with known resistance to bortezomib. We randomly allocated patients (1:1) using an interactive voice response system to receive 21 day cycles of bortezomib (1·3 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1, 4, 8, and 11) in combination with oral vorinostat (400 mg) or matching placebo once-daily on days 1-14. We stratified patients by baseline tumour stage (International Staging System stage 1 or stage ≥2), previous bone-marrow transplantation (yes or no), and number of previous regimens (1 or ≥2). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) in the intention-to-treat population. We assessed adverse events in all patients who received at least one dose of study drug. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number 00773747. Findings: Between Dec 24, 2008, and Sept 8, 2011, we randomly allocated 317 eligible patients to the vorinostat group (315 of whom received at least one dose) and 320 to the placebo group (all of whom received at least one dose). Median PFS was 7·63 months (95% CI 6·87-8·40) in the vorinostat group and 6·83 months (5·67-7·73) in the placebo group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·77, 95% CI 0·64-0·94; p=0·0100). 312 (99%) of 315 patients in the vorinostat group and 315 (98%) of 320 patients in the placebo group had adverse events (300 [95%] adverse events in the vorinostat group and 282 [88%] in the control group were regarded as related to treatment). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were thrombocytopenia (143 [45%] patients in the vorinostat group vs 77 [24%] patients in the placebo group), neutropenia (89 [28%] vs 80 [25%]), and anaemia (53 [17%] vs 40 [13%]). Interpretation: Although the combination of vorinostat and bortezomib prolonged PFS relative to bortezomib and placebo, the clinical relevance of the difference in PFS between the two groups is not clear. Different treatment schedules of bortezomib and vorinostat might improve tolerability and enhance activity. Funding: Merck. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the vulnerability to ground shaking of the building stock in the old town of Lefkada Island (Ionian Sea, W. Greece). The study area lies in the most seismically active zone of Greece region. Most of its buildings were built with local practices and have been designated by the European Council Cultural Heritage Unit as representative earthquake resistant constructions. Within the context of this research we conducted an in-situ survey, of all buildings in the old town. In addition, the 2001 buildings census catalogue elaborated by the National Statistical Service of Greece was employed, as well as the damage inspection data following the 2003 earthquake. The collected data, after a detailed processing, were projected as they would have been prior to the August, 14, 2003, Mw=6.2 Lefkada earthquake. Each building was indexed by an EMS-98 vulnerability class. All results were combined in an ArcGIS scheme in order to compute the lateral vulnerability distribution and to compare it with the 14/8/2003 earthquake effects.

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia is a neoplastic disorder of the B lymphocytes that is characterized by the infiltration of the bone marrow by a lymphoplasmatic clone that produces a monoclonal immunoglobulin which is always of the IgM type. WM is named after Jan Waldenström, a Swedish physician who first described two patients who presented with oronasal bleeding, lymphadenopathy, anemia and thrombocytopenia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, high serum viscosity, normal bone radiographs, and bone marrow showing predominantly lymphoid cells. At that time electrophoresis of the serum proteins was not available; however, he attributed the hyperviscosity to an abnormal high-molecular-weight serum protein, which subsequently was shown to be a monoclonal immunoglobulin of the M class (IgM). Indeed, these two first patients presented with several of the most common features of WM, as have been subsequently described. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York. All rights reserved.

The paper presents a semi-supervised weather classification method based on 850-hPa isobaric level maps. A preprocessing step is employed, where isolines of geopotential height are extracted from weather map images via an image processing procedure. Α feature extraction stage follows where two techniques are applied. The first technique implements phase space reconstruction, and yields multidimensional delay distributions. The second technique is based on chain code representation of signals, from which histogram features are derived. Similarity measures are used to compare multidimensional data and the k-means algorithm is applied in the final stage. The method is applied over the area of Greece, and the resulting catalogues are compared to a subjective classification for this area. Numerical experiments with datasets derived from the European Meteorological Bulletin archives exhibit an up to 91 % accurate agreement with the subjective weather patterns. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Wien.

The sexually transmitted diseases are a group of infectious diseases with increasing incidence worldwide. In recent years, these diseases have taken epidemic proportions in many countries and huge efforts have been made to prevent them. The gonococcus infections, the HPV virus, AIDS, chlamydia, herpes genitalia, hepatitis B and C, the trichomonas and syphilis are the most common sexually transmitted diseases. This paper describes the clinical and epidemiological symptoms and the preventive measures that should be taken for each disease. lt also presents the dimensions of the sexually transmitted diseases in adolescents who are particularly a "sensitive" group. One of the most important and widely disseminated measures of prevention is the use of condoms. We can also see the importance of and other preventive measures which can be taken against sexually transmitted diseases. Finally, it is noted also the role of the state to treat these diseases, which are unfortunately quite common, and the measures taken by it to prevent and treat them.

Asthma and obesity are chronic multifactorial conditions that are associated with gene-environment interaction and immune function. Although the data are not fully consistent, it seems that obesity increases the risk of asthma and compromises asthma control.|To investigate the impact that weight changes have on asthma.|We carried out a systematic review of three large biomedical databases. Studies were scrutinized and critically appraised according to agreed exclusion and inclusion criteria. Quality assessment of eligible papers was conducted using the GRADE method. Meta-analyses of comparable studies were carried out.|Thirty studies met the eligibility criteria of the review. Interventions were limited to dietary manipulation in three studies, one of which also used anti-obesity drugs, and bariatric surgery in four. All the other studies reported observational data. Becoming obese increased the odds for incident asthma by 1.82 (95% CI 1.47, 2.25) in adults and 1.98 (95% CI 0.71, 5.52) in children. Weight loss was associated with significant improvement in mean scores for symptoms, rescue medication score, and asthma exacerbations in the only randomized controlled trial. Similarly, evidence gathered from observational studies, with follow-up ranging between 8 weeks to 1 year, and from changes 1 year after bariatric surgery showed improvements in all asthma control-related outcomes. Changes in lung function were reported in one randomized controlled and eight observational studies of asthmatic subjects, with conflicting results. Either improvement after weight loss, decline with weight gain, or no effects at all were reported. Changes in airway inflammation and responsiveness were reported only by observational studies.|Weight increases above the obesity threshold significantly increase the risk of asthma. The available studies show weak evidence of benefits from weight reduction on asthma outcomes.

Gait speed is associated with multiple adverse outcomes of aging. White matter hyperintensities (WMH) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been associated with gait speed, though few studies have examined changes in gait speed over time in population-based studies comprising participants from diverse cultural backgrounds. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between a decline in gait speed and total and regional WMH volumes in a community-based study of aging. Participants (n = 701) underwent gait-speed measurement via a 4-m walk test at the time of initial enrollment and MRI at a second time interval (mean 4.7 [SD = 0.5] years apart). Logistic regression was used to examine the association between large WMH volume and regional WMH volume with gait speed <0.5 m/s (abnormal speed), and a transition to abnormal gait speed. Analyses were adjusted for demographic and clinical factors. Large WMH volume was associated with abnormal gait speed and a transition to abnormal gait speed between the two visits, but not after adjustment for modifiable vascular disease risk factors. Increased frontal lobe WMH volume was associated with abnormal gait speed and transition to abnormal gait speed, but not in adjusted models. WMH are associated with slowing of gait over time. Prevention of WMH presents a potential strategy for the prevention of gait speed decline.

What is being done to support female entrepreneurship and in particular promote the ways in which information and communication technologies (ICTs) can encourage and facilitate it? Is today's business climate more inviting to women entrepreneurs? Are women equipped to thrive in this digital age? Current, future, and aspiring women entrepreneurs responded to these questions, and many more, at the recent European conference in Athens, Greece ‘More Technologies? More Women entrepreneurs!’ at which Madi Sharma, member of the European Economic and Social Committee argued that ‘we cannot have change unless we have men in the room.’ The European conference showed women - and men - the advantages and opportunities that ICTs can offer them for the development of their business initiatives. It also presented 12 European projects that focus on women's entrepreneurship and how ICT facilitates and fosters it. The European Commission is dynamically promoting, supporting, and encouraging female entrepreneurship. Europe needs more women entrepreneurs and actions are being taken to overcome the obstacles and change mindsets. This paper examines discussions and research on female entrepreneurial activity and provides Tips from successful women entrepreneurs who tell how they have been using new technologies - and social media in particular - to excel in their careers and balance their professional and family lives. Accordingly, this paper begins with an examination of the current research findings on social women’s new models of work, levels of engagement, and transformational leadership styles. Women share content in multiple ways, and working online has been a financial windfall for many, including stay-at-home moms and homemakers. More women are doing what comes ‘naturally’, taking advantage of their so-called natural strengths, such as ‘listening’, sharing, building relationships, and creating a culture of collaboration.   Keywords: Gender, Technology, Women entrepreneurs, ‘Feminine’ skills, Leadership qualities, Social media

What is being done to support female entrepreneurship and in particular promote the ways in which information and communication technologies (ICTs) can encourage and facilitate it? Is today's business climate more inviting to women entrepreneurs? Are women equipped to thrive in this digital age? Current, future, and aspiring women entrepreneurs responded to these questions, and many more, at the recent European conference in Athens, Greece ‘More Technologies? More Women entrepreneurs!’ at which Madi Sharma, member of the European Economic and Social Committee argued that ‘we cannot have change unless we have men in the room.’ The European conference showed women - and men - the advantages and opportunities that ICTs can offer them for the development of their business initiatives. It also presented 12 European projects that focus on women's entrepreneurship and how ICT facilitates and fosters it. The European Commission is dynamically promoting, supporting, and encouraging female entrepreneurship. Europe needs more women entrepreneurs and actions are being taken to overcome the obstacles and change mindsets. This paper examines discussions and research on female entrepreneurial activity and provides Tips from successful women entrepreneurs who tell how they have been using new technologies - and social media in particular - to excel in their careers and balance their professional and family lives. Accordingly, this paper begins with an examination of the current research findings on social women’s new models of work, levels of engagement, and transformational leadership styles. Women share content in multiple ways, and working online has been a financial windfall for many, including stay-at-home moms and homemakers. More women are doing what comes ‘naturally’, taking advantage of their so-called natural strengths, such as ‘listening’, sharing, building relationships, and creating a culture of collaboration.   Keywords: Gender, Technology, Women entrepreneurs, ‘Feminine’ skills, Leadership qualities, Social media------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cite this article as:

Kamberidou, I. J Innov Entrep (2013) 2: 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/2192-5372-2-6

• DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/2192-5372-2-6
• Publisher Name Springer Berlin Heidelberg
• Online ISSN 2192-5372

• About this journal
• Reprints and Permissions

Cite this article as:

Kamberidou, I. J Innov Entrep (2013) 2: 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/2192-5372-2-6

• DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/2192-5372-2-6
• Publisher Name Springer Berlin Heidelberg
• Online ISSN 2192-5372

• About this journal
• Reprints and Permissions

Context. Local-Group galaxies provide access to samples of X-ray source populations of whole galaxies. The XMM-Newton survey of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) completely covers the bar and eastern wing with a 5.6 deg2 area in the (0.2-12.0) keV band. Aims: To characterise the X-ray sources in the SMC field, we created a catalogue of point sources and sources with moderate extent. Sources with high extent (≥40'') have been presented in a companion paper. Methods: We searched for point sources in the EPIC images using sliding-box and maximum-likelihood techniques and classified the sources using hardness ratios, X-ray variability, and their multi-wavelength properties. Results: The catalogue comprises 3053 unique X-ray sources with a median position uncertainty of 1.3'' down to a flux limit for point sources of ~10-14 erg cm-2 s-1 in the (0.2-4.5) keV band, corresponding to 5 × 1033 erg s-1 for sources in the SMC. We discuss statistical properties, like the spatial distribution, X-ray colour diagrams, luminosity functions, and time variability. We identified 49 SMC high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXB), four super-soft X-ray sources (SSS), 34 foreground stars, and 72 active galactic nuclei (AGN) behind the SMC. In addition, we found candidates for SMC HMXBs (45) and faint SSSs (8) as well as AGN (2092) and galaxy clusters (13). Conclusions: We present the most up-to-date catalogue of the X-ray source population in the SMC field. In particular, the known population of X-ray binaries is greatly increased. We find that the bright-end slope of the luminosity function of Be/X-ray binaries significantly deviates from the expected universal high-mass X-ray binary luminosity function. Based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and NASACatalogue is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/558/A3

Nearby galaxies are well suited for investigating X-ray source populations in different environments than in our own Galaxy. Moreover, sources in these galaxies have well determined distances and are less absorbed than sources in the galactic plane. The Large (LMC) and the Small (SMC) Magellanic Clouds (MC) are the nearest gas-rich star-forming galaxies and their gravitational interactions are believed to have tidally triggered recent bursts of star formation. The XMM-Newton large program for the SMC, together with archival observations covers an area of 5.5 square degrees and has already produced significant results. The XMM-Newton large program for the LMC has just been completed and has covered an even bigger area of about 10 square degrees. Both surveys reach a limiting luminosity of 1032 erg/s and provide a unique data set for X-ray source population studies. The two surveys have allowed us to derive hardness ratios for the point sources and conduct spectral classification. For the brightest sources, we performed spectral and timing analysis. By complementing these results with surveys at other wavelengths we have managed to extend our understanding of the nature of individual sources as well as providing complete data-sets of X-ray source populations (X-ray Binaries, supersoft sources, supernova remnants, background active galactic nuclei and foreground galactic sources). From the classification of the sources we have constructed luminosity functions which will allow as to compare X-ray populations in the different environments that the MCs provide. Here, we present an overview of these two surveys together with the highlights of the most interesting sources that they have produced so far (e.g. Be/X-ray binaries).

A Swift observation performed on 2013 January 13 as part of the LMC UV survey (PI: S. Immler) detected the high-mass X-ray binary candidate RX J0520.5-6932 in a moderately bright X-ray outburst. Assuming a power-law spectrum with a photon index of 0.9 and absorption of 1021 cm-2, we derive a 0.2-12 keV flux of 1.67 × 10-12 erg s-1 cm-2. This flux is ~25 times higher than measured during a recent XMM-Newton observation (see below).

Context. The central field of the Andromeda galaxy (M 31) was monitored from 2006 to 2012 using the Chandra HRC-I detector (about 0.1-10 keV energy range) with the main aim of detecting X-rays from optical novae. We present a systematic analysis of all X-ray sources found in the 41 nova monitoring observations, along with 23 M 31 central field HRC-I observations available from the Chandra data archive starting in December 1999. Aims: Based on these observations, we studied the X-ray long-term variability of the source population and especially of X-ray binaries in M 31. Methods: We created a catalogue of sources detected in the 64 available observations that adds up to a total exposure time of about 1 Ms. To study the variability, we developed a processing pipeline to derive long-term Chandra HRC-I light curves for each source over the 13 years of observations. We also searched for extended X-ray sources in the merged images. Results: We present a point-source catalogue containing 318 X-ray sources with detailed long-term variability information, 28 of which are published for the first time. The spatial and temporal resolution of the catalogue allows us to classify 115 X-ray binary candidates showing high X-ray variability or even outbursts, as well as 14 globular cluster X-ray binary candidates showing no significant variability. The analysis may suggest that outburst sources are less frequent in globular clusters than in the field of M 31. We detected seven supernova remnants, one of which is a new candidate, and also resolved the first X-rays from a known radio supernova remnant. In addition to 33 known optical nova/X-ray source correlations, we discovered one previously unknown super-soft X-ray outburst and several new nova candidates. Conclusions: The catalogue contains a large sample of detailed long-term X-ray light curves in the M 31 central field, which helps in understanding the X-ray population of our neighbouring spiral galaxy M 31. Tables 1 and 2 are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/555/A65

A plethora of analytical studies have addressed the physical mechanisms of jet launching and propagation in young stellar objects. However, their link to observations is still missing due to the complexity of the emission processes involved. In this work we address this issue, by presenting MHD simulations of two-component YSO jet models that are based on analytical disk and stellar outflow solutions. We include ionization and optically thin radiation losses during the temporal evolution of the flow and we post process the output files to generate synthetic emission maps. Our results are confronted to observational data and we find that our models predict the correct range of values for the density, temperature and velocity of YSO jets. Moreover, the synthetic emission maps of the - 39 - doublets [OI], [N II] and [S II] outline a well collimated and knot-structured jet, which is surrounded by a less dense and slower wind, not observable in these lines. The jet is found to have a small opening angle and a radius that is also comparable to observations.

Βλ. στο λίνκ http://www.pemptousia.gr/analekta_issues/bioethik_paid/index.html Η παρούσα δημοσίευση περιγράφει το πρόγραμμα σχολικών δραστηριοτήτων αγωγής υγείας που εκπονήθηκε στο 2ο Γυμνάσιο Τούμπας το σχολικό έτος 2012-13 και παρουσιάσθηκε στην ΑΕΑΘ στο μάθημα της Βιοηθικής του καθηγητή κ. Νικολάου Κόιου. Η δημοσίευση περιλαμβάνεται στο περιοδικό Ανάλεκτα με τίτλο τεύχους: «Βιοηθική Παιδεία».

Στην παρούσα εργασία παρουσιάζεται ένα πρόγραμμα μουσικοκινητικής αγωγής Carl Orff (Orff-Schulwerk) για μαθητές με προβλήματα ακοής – κωφούς και βαρήκοους μαθητές. Το πρόγραμμα βασίζεται στη θέση ότι η ακουστική απώλεια δεν αποκλείει το αναπτυσσόμενο άτομο από τη δυνατότητα ενασχόλησής του με τη μουσική. Η χρησιμότητα και η πρωτοτυπία του προγράμματος έγκειται στο ότι αποτελεί μία από τις πρώτες προσπάθειες στην Ελλάδα για μουσικοκινητική αγωγή κωφών και βαρήκοων μαθητών, η οποία είναι μέρος του ωρολογίου προγράμματος του σχολείου. Μέχρι πριν από λίγα χρόνια, η μουσική αγωγή των ατόμων με προβλήματα ακοής αντιμετωπιζόταν με επιφυλάξεις και προκαταλήψεις ως προς την αναγκαιότητα και την αποτελεσματικότητά της. Παρουσιάζονται οι θεωρητικές αρχές στις οποίες βασίστηκε το πρόγραμμα, οι στόχοι και τα μέσα του προγράμματος, καθώς και ο τρόπος αξιολόγησης των μαθητών. Τονίζεται η συμβολή της παιδαγωγικής προσέγγισης Orff στο συγκεκριμένο πρόγραμμα, καθώς οι βασικοί άξονες του προγράμματος συνάδουν με τις θεωρητικές αρχές της φιλοσοφίας Orff και έχουν υιοθετηθεί στην πράξη τα μέσα, οι παιδαγωγικές τεχνικές και τα όργανα της ορχήστρας αυτής της παιδαγωγικής προσέγγισης.

In this paper, we examine the relation between psychic trauma in the first years of life and loneliness. We selected a representative sample of important ''natural experiments'', as revealed in the work of Anna Freud, René Spitz as well as James and Joyce Robertson. The adverse effects of child neglect, abuse, abandonment, war, separation from parents, life in inappropriate institutions, and hospitalization are presented and discussed. Our analysis shows that among children with early and multiple trauma, the quality of loneliness, the normal fear of loneliness, separation anxiety in the relations with parents, siblings and peers, ways of coping with loneliness (e.g., forming relationships, play, fantasies, defense mechanisms), the capacity to be alone and the creative use of solitude, suffer and constitute major problems of traumatized children. We suggest that trauma can be healed through binding, as a restitution of the break in the continuity resulting from trauma, as well as sharing.

(2013). Η ανάγκη διαμόρφωσης μιας νέας ηθικής του Ολυμπισμού και του αθλητισμού. Ο αθλητισμός, αποτελώντας μιὰ πολιτιστικὴ εκδήλωση, δεν είναι αποκομμένη απὸ το κοινωνικο και πολιτικὸ περιβάλλον, εντὸς του οποίου λαμβάνει υπόσταση. Οι αθλητὲς και οι παράγοντες του αθλητισμού, ως άνθρωποι και ως πολίτες, επηρεάζονται άμεσα απὸ το σύνολο των αξιών, οι οποίες διέπουν τη ζωὴ της πολιτικής κοινωνίας. Ο αθλητισμός, όπως και κάθε άλλη επιμέρους έκφανση της πολιτιστικής δραστηριότητας, έχει βεβαίως τις δικές του αξίες, καθὼς και όλες εκείνες τις αρετές που περιέχονται σε μια τέτοιας φύσεως ειρηνικὴ εκδήλωση. Όμως όπως και στην κοινωνία έτσι και στο χώρο του αθλητισμού, ενώ προβάλλεται η δικαιοσύνη, η εντιμότητα και η ισότητα, ωστόσο η καθημερινὴ πρακτικὴ βεβαιώνει την διάπραξη αδικιών και παρανομιών. Αντίστοιχα, ο αθλητισμὸς έγινε πρωταθλητισμός, ενώ η ευγενής άμιλλα έγινε ανόσιος ανταγωνισμός, ο οποίος συχνά χρησιμοποιεί κάθε άνομο μέσο, προκειμένου να επιτύχει τη νίκη. Οι πράξεις που φθείρουν το πνεύμα του αθλητισμού συνδέονται, επομένως, με τη δομή της παγκόσμιας κοινωνίας, η οποία στο όνομα του οικονομικού συμφέροντος ανέχεται τη νόθευση αρχών διαχρονικού κύρους. Η υπονόμευση, όμως, του αθλητικού πνεύματος έχει σχέση και με την ίδια τη φύση του ανθρώπου, καθώς αυτός αναλώνεται για την κατάκτηση μιας θέσης στην κοινωνική ιεραρχία. Εν τέλει, ο θρίαμβος της αγοραίας ηθικής και λογικής που χαρακτηρίζει συνολικά τη δυτική κοινωνία, αντανακλάται και στον αθλητισμό. Είναι αναγκαία, επομένως, η αναζήτηση μιας νέας αθλητικής φιλοσοφίας, που σε συνδυασμό με την απομυθοποίηση των επίπλαστων ειδώλων, αντί για την πρωτιά θα εστιάζει στο καλύτερο που μπορεί να προσφέρει ένας νέος, βασισμένος στη φυσική του υπόσταση. Η ουσιαστική μετατροπή της ποιότητας του αθλητισμού είναι εφικτή, υπό την προϋπόθεση της πλήρους ανατροπής του υπάρχοντος οικονομικού και πολιτικού συστήματος και του ρόλου της παιδείας.  

(2013). Η εθνική πολιτική στον αθλητισμό και η παγκόσμια πολιτισμική κρίση. Η παγκόσμια οικονομική και πολιτισμική κρίση επηρεάζει, όπως είναι φυσικό, και τον αθλητισμό, ως ανθρωπολογική δραστηριότητα. Η αντιμετώπιση του αθλητισμού ως προσοδοφόρου επαγγέλματος, αντί για χώρου παιχνιδιού και ευχαρίστησης, μετατρέπει τον αθλητή από άνθρωπο σε εμπόρευμα και τον αθλητισμό από ελεύθερη επιλογή σε επαγγελματικό καθήκον. Η πρακτική της επίσημης πολιτείας αποκαλύπτει την υποστήριξή της στον αθλητισμό κορυφής, από τον οποίο αναμένει και επιδιώκει εθνικά οφέλη. Έτσι, «επενδύει» στον ανταγωνιστικό αθλητισμό, σαν να επρόκειτο για μετοχή του χρηματιστηρίου, προκειμένου να μεταφράσει τις νίκες σε κατάλληλη προπαγάνδα για την δήθεν επιτυχή πολιτική της. Για το λόγο αυτό συνάπτει ένα είδος συμβολαίου με τον επίδοξο αθλητή ή τον προπονητή του, βρίσκοντας ως καίριο σύμμαχο τα μέσα μαζικής επικοινωνίας, τα οποία είναι έτοιμα να συμβάλλουν στη μεγιστοποίηση του στόχου, διογκώνοντας το μέγεθος της επιτυχίας. Στον ελληνικό αθλητισμό ειδικότερα, από την εποχή της Χούντας έως σήμερα, ο τρόπος με τον οποίο το πολιτικό σύστημα δείχνει να αντιλαμβάνεται την αξία της αθλητικής επιτυχίας, έχει λειτουργήσει κάπως σαν κληρονομιά. Πέρα, όμως, από τις ελάχιστες περιπτώσεις πρωταθλητών, ο αθλητισμός αποτελεί στην Ελλάδα ένα άδειο τοπίο, ενώ και ο αθλητισμός στο σχολείο θυμίζει μάλλον τεχνικές σε αυλές του Μεσαίωνα, παρά παιχνίδι και φυσική άσκηση για τους νέους. Την ίδια στιγμή στην παγκόσμια σκηνή, όπου ο άνθρωπος καλείται σήμερα να δράσει, κυριαρχεί η διαφθορά, η ωμότητα, η κάθε είδους βία και ο κυνισμός. Λίγο-πολύ ο παγκόσμιος αθλητισμός απηχεί ένα πολιτικό και κοινωνικό σύστημα που διαθέτει ανάλογα χαρακτηριστικά. Η πολιτεία, όμως, παρά τα προβλήματα, θα πρέπει να συνειδητοποιήσει την αξία του αθλητισμού, για όλους, και ειδικά για τους νέους κατά την περίοδο της σχολικής εκπαίδευσης. Δια του αθλητισμού μπορεί να αναπτύξει τις αρχές που οφείλει να τηρήσει ο αθλητής για να μη χάσει το όριο της αρετής του. Εξάλλου, εκτός από την αξιολόγηση του αθλητισμού, μπορεί να προβεί και στην αναζήτηση εκείνων των ηθικών χαρακτηριστικών, που η ίδια η πολιτεία θεωρεί αδιαπραγμάτευτα για τη διασφάλιση της ποιότητάς του. 

• (2013). Η ειδωλολατρία του τέλειου σώματος και το ντόπινγκ της γειτονιάς ως απόρροια του υλικού πολιτισμού

  Το ντόπινγκ δεν περιορίζεται, πλέον, μόνο σε όσους αθλούνται συστηματικά, αλλά επεκτείνεται στη γειτονιά, με πολύ πιο ταπεινά κίνητρα από αυτό του ολυμπιακού μεταλλίου. Οι νέοι συχνά διακατέχονται από την επιθυμία της κατασκευής ενός «σώματος εξώφυλλου», με αποτέλεσμα να λαμβάνουν ουσίες ύποπτες ή παράνομες, από τις οποίες υπάρχουν πολλές παρενέργειες. Η πώληση τέτοιων ουσιών από τα γυμναστήρια ή το διαδίκτυο συνιστά, στην πραγματικότητα, μια μορφή λαθρεμπορίου, ενώ από τη χρήση των προϊόντων αυτών υπάρχουν κίνδυνοι οι οποίοι θέτουν σε άμεση απειλή την υγεία, ιδίως των νέων, που χαρακτηρίζονται και από άγνοια των κινδύνων. Το «μυώδες σώμα» συνιστά, πάντως, ένα «must» για το σύγχρονο δυτικό πολιτισμό, αρκούντως προβαλλόμενο και στη χώρα μας. Τα ερεθίσματα που καθορίζουν το σωματικό πρότυπο βομβαρδίζουν τον πολίτη από παντού, δημιουργώντας την βασική ψευδαίσθηση πως η επιτυχία είναι ταυτόσημη με τη σωματική ομορφιά. Ένα ολόκληρο σύστημα αθλητικής βιομηχανίας επιστρατεύεται, προκειμένου να προσδώσει σάρκα και οστά στο όνειρο του ‘τέλειου’ σώματος. Η φαντασίωση αυτή, ωστόσο, είτε δεν πραγματώνεται ποτέ, είτε επιτυγχάνεται για λίγο, οπότε η απογοήτευση οδηγεί σε αυτοδιάψευση, η οποία ωθεί σε νέα απέλπιδα απόπειρα, ενώ το ιδανικό σώμα παραμένει στη σφαίρα του ανικανοποίητου, εξιδανικεύεται και μετατρέπεται σε «φετίχ».   Η φετιχοποίηση του σώματος έχει αναχθεί σε ιδεολογία και σε τρόπο ζωής στο δυτικό πολιτισμό, μετατρέποντας σε καταπίεση την ευχαρίστηση της σχόλης. Η σωματική λατρεία αντιμετωπίζει, όμως, το σώμα όχι ανθρωπιστικά, αλλά ως λατρευτικό προϊόν. Επιπλέον, η αυταπάτη της σωματικής τελειότητας ως μέσου πληρότητας, υπονομεύει τις άλλες, ψυχικές και πνευματικές, ανάγκες, καθόσον καθιστά τον ίδιο τον άνθρωπο ένα «άλογο ζώο» κατά τον Γαληνό, που έχει μόνο σωματικά χαρακτηριστικά κατά τον Λουκιανό. Το αντίθετο της σωματικής φετιχοποίησης είναι ο ‘ανθρωπισμός του σώματος’, ο οποίος βασίζεται σε μια και μοναδική αξία: στον σεβασμό. Οτιδήποτε θέτει το σώμα έξωθεν των ορίων του, όχι με φυσικό, αλλά με τεχνητό τρόπο, παραποιώντας το με σκοπό την επίδοσή του, συνιστά κακοποίηση της ισορροπίας της φύσης. Η κουλτούρα των μυών, η κυριαρχία της εξωτερικής εικόνας επάνω στην προσωπικότητα, ευνοούν, εν τέλει, μια ιδεολογία που υποβαθμίζει το πολυτιμότερο τμήμα του ανθρώπινου σώματος: το νου. Το πρότυπο της καπιταλιστικής ευφορίας είναι ευρέως διαδεδομένο στον σύγχρονο πολτισμό, συρρικνώνοντας αντίστοιχα τις αληθινές αξίες. Ο νέος για να είναι «in», πρέπει να είναι ο «πρώτος», ο πιο έξυπνος, ο πιο πλούσιος, ο πιο ωραίος, ο πιο δυνατός, με οποιοδήποτε τίμημα. Ο υλικός ευδαιμονισμός φαντάζει λαμπερός και κατάφωτος, οδεύοντας προς το μέλλον της πληθώρας. Ο δυτικός πολιτισμός, αχόρταγος, άπληστος, ανικανοποίητος, όπως και ο material άνθρωπός του, ζητά και καταναλώνει ολοένα και περισσότερα, επιβεβαιώνοντας ότι ένας τέτοιος πολιτισμός είναι το αντίθετο της ολιγάρκειας, της μεσότητας και του υγιούς μέτρου.

(2013). Η ηθική του σύγχρονου αθλητισμού υπό το πρίσμα της κρίσης των αξιών. Η τοπική και η παγκόσμια κοινότητα αντιμετωπίζoυν σήμερα μια βαθύτατη κρίση, η οποία ουσιαστικά εδράζεται στην κακοποίηση και την αλλοτρίωση των ηθικών αξιών. Το εγωκεντρικό και ωφελιμιστικό πνεύμα που επικρατεί σήμερα σε κάθε έκφανση της ζωής υπεισήλθε και μόλυνε και το πνεύμα του αθλητισμού - το οποίο στην αυθεντική του μορφή είναι πνεύμα άμιλλας και υπέρβασης των ανθρώπινων δυνατοτήτων. Έτσι, υπάρχει μια ανισοκρατία στην άμιλλα, ενώ η θήρα του αθέμιτου ανταγωνισμού και του κέρδους έφθειραν και ακόμη φθείρουν το πνεύμα του αθλητισμού. Η τάση, αναίρεσης, ωστόσο, των αρχών του καλώς αγωνίζεσθαι, διαμορφώνεται από την παρεχόμενη προς τους νέους «παιδεία», που υποθάλπει τον γρήγορο και εύκολο πλουτισμό ή την με οποιοδήποτε τίμημα προβολή των ανθρώπων. Το αποτέλεσμα είναι, αντί για την, μετά από δίκαιο αγώνα, ηθική ανύψωση του αθλούμενου, και αντί για τον καθαρό αγώνα εντός του σταδίου, να επιβραβεύεται ο δόλος, τα σκοτεινά παρασκήνια και η συνολική αλλοτρίωση της ιδέας του αθλητισμού ως αξίας. Η υποκειμενική αποτίμηση της αθλητικής νίκης έχει αντικαταστήσει το φιλοσοφικό της περιεχόμενο με την οικονομική της αξία. Η αθλητική νίκη υπό το κριτήριο αυτό θεωρείται ως καρπός της κυριαρχίας της υποκειμενικότητας, κυριαρχία την οποία η αυθεντική φιλοσοφική σκέψη οφείλει να υπερβεί. Η οπτική γωνία δεν μπορεί να είναι η βούληση για δύναμη, αλλά η άρνηση της ιδιοτέλειας, καθώς επίσης και η βούληση για άρση πάσης μορφής δύναμης που οδηγεί σε πλάσματα κυριαρχίας, άρα στην καταπίεση της ίδιας της ζωής. Η κακοποίηση των ηθικών αξιών φαίνεται πως οφείλεται, επομένως, κυρίως στην εναλλαγή των τιμών έντασης των αξιών αυτών, οι οποίες, ωστόσο, πάντα προσφέρουν τη δυνατότητα να αξιολογηθούν από τις επερχόμενες γενιές περισσότερο αυθεντικά από ό,τι ισχύει σήμερα.

This article provides the constructivist approach of religious education in Greek schools. As religious literacy is essential in interpretation of the contemporary world issues, religious education seems to be indispensable in schools according to international and European surveys and pedagogical theories. However, E.U. recommends a compulsory religious education provided to be objective and non-confessional, as it is in Greece according to the two recent curriculums of 2003 and 2011. The author imposes constructivist approach of religious education because it meets the attainments of the education generally and especially a post modern religious education. He also suggests a stage pedagogical strategy of the instruction, posing a particular proposal for the forthcoming change of religious education in the 4th, 5th and 6th years of High School (Lyceum).

(2013). Η ιδέα της ατομικής ελευθερίας ως υπόβαθρο του Ολυμπισμού Το σύγχρονο αθλητικό περιβάλλον, όπου οι μετέχοντες προσπαθούν να κερδίσουν το πλεονέκτημα από τους αντιπάλους τους καταφεύγοντας σε παράνομες φαρμακευτικές ουσίες, συνεπάγεται όχι μόνο την παράβαση του γράμματος του νόμου, αλλά και την ακύρωση του ίδιου του ολυμπιακού πνεύματος. Η μοντέρνα ολυμπιακή ιδεολογία δεν προήλθε, όμως, από παρθενογένεση, αλλά είναι απόρροια της κυρίαρχης κοινωνικής και πολιτικής ιδεολογίας, οι οποίες ευνοούν τον ακραίο ανταγωνισμό, την κοινωνική επιθετικότητα, τις ταξικές αντιθέσεις και την ιδιοτέλεια. Η αφιλοκερδής ένταξη, ωστόσο, σ’ έναν σκοπό, η εντιμότητα στον αγώνα, ο σεβασμός στον αντίπαλο -και όχι εχθρό- ο αυτοέλεγχος, η συμμετοχή για προσωπική ικανοποίηση και όχι για την εκπλήρωση αλλότριων προσδοκιών, είναι αξιολογικές προϋποθέσεις, που μειώνουν τον ατομισμό και τον ωφελιμισμό. Κυρίως, όμως, η αξιολογική συνεισφορά της ομαδικότητας του αθλητισμού συνίσταται στο ότι η συμμετοχή του ανθρώπου στον αγώνα αποτελεί πράξη εθελοντική και εκούσια. Ο Ολυμπισμός, επομένως, συνδέεται με τον αυθορμητισμό, την αυθεντικότητα, την αυτενέργεια, και όχι με την υποχρέωση, το καθήκον, και τον ηθικό ή υλικό εξαναγκασμό. Κατά συνέπεια, η ιδέα του Ολυμπισμού έχει ως υπόβαθρο την ιδέα της ατομικής ελευθερίας. Ο αθλητής συμμετέχει με πλήρη συνείδηση της ατομικότητάς του, προκειμένου να δώσει τον εαυτό του σε μια υπόθεση που τον αφορά, επειδή ο ίδιος την επέλεξε, και είναι έτοιμος να προσμετρηθεί με τον έτερο, γνωρίζοντας, όμως, οτι δεν πρόκειται για μια υπόθεση ζωής, αλλά για μια προσωρινή δοκιμασία, απ’ την οποία μπορεί κάθε στιγμή να εξέλθει. Αν, όμως, υπάρχουν πιέσεις και οικονομικά κίνητρα, τότε η προσωπική ελευθερία του αθλητή μεταμορφώνεται σε γενικευμένη δέσμευση. Η «άδολη», φαινομενικά, χαρά για το επίτευγμα της αθλητικής νίκης, διαθέτει τον μηχανισμό της, καθώς η μεγιστοποίηση της αθλητικής νίκης οδηγεί σε λάθος αίσθηση και σε αλλοίωση ή αλλοτρίωση των αληθινών αξιών.*** http://edopanepistimio.uoa.gr/index.php?p=opinions&id=632

The objective of the present paper is to present an alternative method of foreign language learning, the tandem. We try to define it, we refer to the way that it can work and how it can be applied in language learning. Next, we are focusing our interest on the electronic tandem and analyze certain digital tools that are used in implementing this particular process. The tools are categorized by the type of communication (synchronous or asynchronous) that they achieve and their presentation includes information about what these tools are, how they are used and whether their use is easy, the way they can help the participants throughout the process, but also the problems associated with their use. More specifically, we refer to the chat, the videoconference and the virtual worlds which are considered tools of synchronous communication. We also analyze the e mail and the blog, which are tools of asynchronous communication. Finally, we refer to the use of the social media in the tandem process, which are considered tools that combine synchronous with asynchronous communication Our final objective is to inform the teachers and students of the foreign languages about the possibilities that the tandem offers and to motivate educational institutions to incorporate the particular method in their educational programs.    

Στο βιβλίο αυτό εξετάζεται ο τρόπος συγκρότησης και μετασχηματισμού των αναλυτικών προγραμμάτων της δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης της περιόδου 1950-1980. σε μεθοδολογικό επίπεδο, επιχειρείται η σύνδεση της μικρο- με τη μακρο-ανάλυση μέσα από τη συνάρτηση των διαδικασιών συγκρότησης και μετασχηματισμών στο κοινωνικό επίπεδο (δομικές σχέσεις, θεσμικοί ρόλοι, φορείς δράσης κτλ.) με τις διαδικασίες συγκρότησης και μετασχηματισμών των αναλυτικών προγραμμάτων. Τα αναλυτικά προγράμματα προσεγγίζονται τόσο από την πλευρά των δομών και λειτουργιών (η σχέση τους με τα δομικά πεδία και η λειτουργία που επιτελούν) όσο και από την πλευρά των φορέων (ποιοι φορείς δραστηριοποιούνται και με ποιον τρόπο κατά τις διαδικασίες συγκρότησης και μετασχηματισμού τους). Στη συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση, το ιδεολογικό και το πολιτικό πλαίσιο φαίνεται να κυριαρχούν στις διαδικασίες συγκρότησης της σχολικής γνώσης, ενώ, αντιθέτως, το οικονομικό πλαίσιο δε φαίνεται να επιδρά. Ως εκ τούτου, τα αναλυτικά προγράμματα της περιόδου αυτής δε θα μπορούσαν να θεωρηθούν ως άμεση αντανάκλαση και επιβολή των συμφερόντων της αστικής τάξης στο ιδεολογικό-επομένως και στο εκπαιδευτικό-πεδίο. Συνεπώς, ως προς τη μεθοδολογική διάσταση, αυτό που φαίνεται να προκύπτει μέσα από την παραπάνω προσέγγιση είναι η εξέταση των αναλυτικών προγραμμάτων της συγκεκριμένης περιόδου, λόγω του ιδιαίτερου τρόπου σχηματισμού - και μετασχηματισμού- των κοινωνικών δομών και της ιδιότυπης διαδικασίας συγκρότησης του κράτους και των ιδεολογιών που το νομιμοποίησαν (ιδίως κατά τις πρώτες μεταπολεμικές δεκαετίες), χρήζει μιας διαφορετικής προσέγγισης, πέρα από τις συνήθεις, κατά βάση στρουκτουραλιστικές προσεγγίσεις.

Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2013).  «Μετάφραση Αποσπασμάτων από την έρευνα της Ειρήνης Καμπερίδου "Γυναίκες Επιχειρηματίες: Δεν μπορούμε να έχουμε αλλαγή αν δεν συμμετέχουν και οι άνδρες," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 2013, a Springer Open Journal»,  σελ. 20-22. Ημερομηνία δημοσίευσης, 2013/12, ICAP Marketing Solutions. LWB- Leading Women in Business / οι γυναίκες Ηγέτες των επιχειρήσεων στην Ελλάδα. [ΕΝΘΕΤΟ ΣΤΑ ΝΕΑ]. C.0.  in Apella

Στὸ παρὸν κείμενο θὰ προβοῦμε σὲ μία σύντομη παρουσίαση τῆς διαδρομῆς σὲ θεωρία καὶ ἐφαρμογὴ τῶν ἐπόψεων τοῦ Ἀχμὲτ Νταβούτογλου, ὅπως αὐτὲς ἐμφανίζονται στὸ ἔργον του «Stratejik Derinlik. Türkiye’ nin Uluslararasi Konumu», Küre Yayinlari, Istanbul, 182004 (1η ἔκδοσις 2001) καὶ στὶς ἀντίστοιχες μεταφράσεις μέρους τῶν κείμενων αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τὸν συνάδελφο ∆ρα Κωνστ. Γῶγο, ὅπως καὶ στὴν ἀντίστοιχο μετάφραση τοῦ συγκεκριμένου ἔργου ἀπὸ τὸν ἐκδοτικὸν οἶκο Ποιότητα τοῦ ἔτους 2010. Θὰ παρουσιάσομε τὸ πρὶν ἀπὸ αὐτὸ ὑπάρχον ἰδεολογικὸ ἰσλαμικὸ καὶ νεοοθωμανικὸ ὑπόβαθρο, ὅπως καὶ τοὺς κυρίους πολιτικοὺς ὑποστηρικτάς του σὲ ἐπίπεδο τουρκικῆς πολιτικῆς ἐξουσίας. Κατόπιν θὰ παρουσιάσομε τὰ κύρια σημεῖα τῆς γεωπολιτικῆς του προσεγγίσεως, τὰ ὁποῖα κινοῦνται στὴν σφαῖρα τῶν κλασικῶν γεωστρατηγιστῶν/γεωπολιτικῶν τῆς γερμανικῆς καὶ ἀγγλοσαξωνικῆς σχολῆς. Ὁ Νταβούτογλου ἀποτελεῖ κλασικὸ παράδειγμα ἐρευνητοῦ τοῦ διεθνοῦς γίγνεσθαι μὲ σημαντικὰ ἐπιστημολογικὰ καὶ μεθοδολογικὰ ἐλλείμματα: δὲν ἔχει διακρίνει οὔτε αὐτὸς τὴν διαφορὰ μεταξὺ τῆς Γεωπολιτικῆς Ἀναλύσεως καὶ τῆς Γεωστρατηγικῆς Συνθετικῆς προτασεολογίας. Πρόκειται γιὰ πραγματικότητα, ἡ ὁποία ἀνακύπτει, ὅταν ὁ ἴδιος ἀναφέρεται στὰ ἠθικὰ καὶ ἐπιστημονικὰ διλήμματα τῶν κοινωνικῶν ἐπιστημόνων. Ἡ στάσις αὐτὴ ἐπιφέρει σοβαρὸ πλῆγμα στὴν ὅλη γεωπολιτική του ἀνάλυση καὶ ἐντάσσει τὴν μεθοδολογία του, ὅπως καὶ τὸ συγκεκριμένο ἔργο του, ἐξ ἀρχῆς στὴν γεωστρατηγικὴ ἐπιστημολογικὴ σφαῖρα τῶν —ὁπωσδήποτε, συστηματικῶν καὶ ἐμβριθῶν— προτάσεων πολιτικῆς. Τέλος θὰ καταλήξομε μὲ τὴν —γενικῆς μορφῆς— ἀνάδειξη ἐκείνων τῶν σημείων μεγέθους ‘Υποσυστήματος τῆς νταβουτογλιανῆς γεωπολιτικῆς καὶ γεωστρατηγικῆς προσεγγίσεως, τὰ ὁποῖα ὑπὸ τὸ φῶς τῆς συστημικῆς γεωπολιτικῆς ἀναλύσεως κρίνονται ὡς γεωστρατηγικῶς ἐπικίνδυνα γιὰ τὰ ἑλληνικὰ ἐθνικὰ συμφέροντα. Τὸ παρὸν κείμενο, θὰ ἀποτελέσει ἔναυσμα γιὰ βαθυτέραν καὶ πληρεστέραν μελέτη τοῦ νταβουτογλιανοῦ ἔργου εἰς τὸ ἐγγὺς μέλλον.

Το παρόν κείμενο αποτελεί άρθρο του Καθηγητή Ιωάννη Μάζη, σε συνεργασία με τον Αναστάσιο Μαρίνο και τον Κυριάκο Νικολάου-Πατραγα και αναφέρεται στον ἀπαλλακτικὸ ὅρκο, ὡς ἀποδεικτικὸν μέσον, στην ἰσλαμικῇ δίκῃ.

Πρακτικά Α´ Μεσανατολικού Συνεδρίου του Αθήνησι Πανεπιστημίου

The aim of this research was to investigate children’s reading preferences as related to gender, age, socio-economic level, general academic achievement and reading achievement. Participants were 1,136 fourth- and sixth-grade students from public schools in Athens. They completed the Greek adaptation of The Reading Preferences Survey (Bundy, 1982). The data indicated statistically significant differences among all variables studied. Results are discussed in the framework of the existing research literature on reading preferences of primary school children and in relation to well-known theoretical formulations about children’s reading. Finally, on the basis of the data, suggestions for promoting children’s love of reading are presented.

Στο πλαίσιο του Προγράμματος Ημερίδων και Επιμορφωτικών Διαλέξεων 2013 του Τμήματος Επιστήμης Φυσικής Αγωγής και Αθλητισμού (ΤΕΦΑΑ) του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών, ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον παρουσίασα, στις 20/3/2013 το θέμα: «Διαχρονική προσέγγιση του γυναικείου αποκλεισμού: Ο αθλητισμός ως πεδίο κοινωνικής χειραφέτησης». Είδαμε ότι οι πραγματικά υφιστάμενες βιολογικές διαφορές μεταξύ των φύλων -οι οποίες φυσικά υπάρχουν- αποτέλεσαν κατά το παρελθόν αφορμή, δικαιολογία, πρόφαση ή πάτημα για τον αποκλεισμό της γυναίκας από τα αθλητικά δρώμενα και κυρίως την υποεκπροσώπησή της στην ιεραρχία των αθλητικών θεσμών μέχρι και σήμερα, πχ. Διεθνούς Ολυμπιακή Επιτροπή (ΔΟΕ). Η αθλητική ταυτότητα συνδέεται με διάφορες κοινωνικο-πολιτισμικές έννοιες-νοήματα από την αρχή των Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων, τον 19ο αιώνα, όταν οι γυναίκες ήταν αποκλεισμένες όχι μόνο από τον αθλητισμό, αλλά και από τον ευρύτερο κοινωνικό-δημόσιο τομέα. Παρατηρείται ότι ο ολυμπιακός αθλητισμός εμφανίζεται από τις αρχές της κοινωνικής του παρουσίας ως εκείνος ο θεσμός ο οποίος περιθωριοποίησε τις γυναικείες αξιώσεις για συμμετοχή. Από την άλλη πλευρά αποτέλεσε και πεδίο κοινωνικής χειραφέτησης για την γυναίκα. Αρχικά εξέτασα πως παγιώθηκαν και αναπαράγονται τα στερεότυπα περί ασθενές φύλου, τις κυρίαρχες «επιστημονικές», κοινωνικές και εθιμοτυπικές αντιλήψεις του 19ου και αρχές 20ου αιώνα, σύμφωνα με τις οποίες η ενασχόληση της γυναίκας με τον αγωνιστικό αθλητισμό θεωρείτο βιολογικά και ψυχικά επιβλαβής. Ασφαλώς και η στάση της ΔΟΕ, της ανδροκρατούμενης επιτροπής, απηχούσε γενικότερες κοινωνικές αντιλήψεις γύρω από τη σχέση των γυναικών με τη γυμναστική και τα σπορ. Δηλαδή, προσαρμοσμένοι στο πνεύμα της εποχής τους οι εκπρόσωποι των σημαντικότερων θεσμών του αθλητισμού των επιδόσεων, ήταν απορριπτικοί έως εχθρική όσον αφορά στη συμμετοχή των γυναικών. Η αντίληψη ότι ο κοινωνικός ρόλος της γυναίκας εξαντλείται στο πλαίσιο της οικογένειας βρήκε αντίθετες πολλές γυναίκες και αθλήτριες του 19ου και αρχές του 20ου αιώνα, όπως την Σταματία Ροβίθυ από τη Σύρο και την Κερκυραία Μελπομένη, οι οποίες το 1896 ως ένδειξη διαμαρτυρίας και αντίδρασης για τον αποκλεισμό των γυναικών από τους πρώτους σύγχρονους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες, διήνυσαν την επίσημη μαραθώνια ολυμπιακή διαδρομή, από τον Μαραθώνα μέχρι το Παναθηναϊκό στάδιο, σε 5½ ώρες και 4 ½ ώρες αντίστοιχα. Ωστόσο, εξαιρετικό ενδιαφέρον παρουσιάζει η γυναικεία επιχειρηματικότητα της Γαλλίδας αθλήτρια-ακτιβίστρια, Alice Milliat, η οποία διοργάνωσε τις γυναικείες Ολυμπιάδες, γνωστοί ως «Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες Γυναικών» (1921-1936), καθώς και άλλα γυναικεία αθλητικά events και πρωταθλήματα, όπως γυναικείο ποδόσφαιρο και ποδηλασία, σε εποχές που η αθλητική δραστηριότητα των γυναικών στιγματιζόταν κοινωνικά. Οι γυναικείες Ολυμπιάδες ήταν η απάντηση φεμινιστικών κύκλων και της Γυναικείας Διεθνούς Αθλητικής Ομοσπονδίας (Féderation Sportive Féminine Internationale), απέναντι στις συνεχείς αρνήσεις της ΔΟΕ και της Διεθνούς Ομοσπονδίας Ερασιτεχνικού Αθλητισμού να επιτραπεί στις γυναίκες να συμμετάσχουν σε ολυμπιακά αθλήματα, θεωρούμενα κατ' εξοχήν ανδρικά, όπως οι αγώνες δρόμου. Η Milliat, ως Πρόεδρος της Γυναικείας Διεθνούς Αθλητικής Ομοσπονδίας, μετά από την μεγάλη επιτυχία των «Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων Γυναικών» στο Παρίσι το 1922, ξεκίνησε διαπραγματεύσεις με τη ΔΟΕ, στις οποίες απαιτούσε την ισότιμη συμμετοχή των γυναικών και ένα ολοκληρωμένο πρόγραμμα γυναικείων αθλημάτων στους ΟΑ, διαφορετικά θα συνεχιζόταν η διοργάνωση των γυναικείων Ολυμπιάδων. Αυτό που κατάφερε, μεταξύ άλλων, ήταν τη συμμετοχή των γυναικών στο στίβο για τους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες του Άμστερνταμ το 1928 σε πέντε αθλήματα. Στη δεύτερη ενότητα της εισήγησής της η κυρία Καμπερίδου ανέδειξε ότι ο Ολυμπιακός αθλητισμός αποτέλεσε και αποτελεί πεδίο κοινωνικής χειραφέτησης όχι μόνο για την γυναίκα, αλλά και για πολλές μη-προνομιούχες κοινωνικές/εθνικές ομάδες. Παρέχει το κοινωνικό πλαίσιο για την προβολή/ορατότητα, τη γνωστοποίηση και τη διακήρυξη αιτημάτων, διαμαρτυριών και αντιθέσεων με το κατεστημένο. Εν ολίγοις, ο Ολυμπιακός αθλητισμός αποτελεί μέσο γνωστοποίησης των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων. Παρέχει αρένα διαμαρτυρίας κατά της κοινωνικής, πολιτικής, ρατσιστικής και φυλετικής βίας. Για παράδειγμα, οι μαζικές διαδηλώσεις διαμαρτυρίας για την καταπάτηση των ανθρώπινων δικαιωμάτων στην Κίνα και στο Θιβέτ που πραγματοποιήθηκαν πριν, κατά τη διάρκεια και μετά τους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες του Πεκίνου το 2008 (Καμπερίδου, 2013)------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Η αθλητική ταυτότητα συνδέεται με διάφορες κοινωνικο-πολιτισμικές έννοιες-νοήματα από την αρχή των Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων, τον 19ο αιώνα, όταν οι γυναίκες ήταν αποκλεισμένες όχι μόνο από τον αθλητισμό, αλλά και από τον ευρύτερο κοινωνικό-δημόσιο τομέα. Παρατηρείται ότι ο ολυμπιακός αθλητισμός εμφανίζεται από τις αρχές της κοινωνικής του παρουσίας ως εκείνος ο θεσμός ο οποίος περιθωριοποίησε τις γυναικείες αξιώσεις για συμμετοχή. Από την άλλη πλευρά αποτέλεσε και πεδίο κοινωνικής χειραφέτησης για την γυναίκα. Η Γαλλίδα αθλήτρια-ακτιβίστρια, Alice Milliat Milliat, ως Πρόεδρος της Γυναικείας Διεθνούς Αθλητικής Ομοσπονδίας, μετά από την μεγάλη επιτυχία των «Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων Γυναικών» στο Παρίσι το 1922, ξεκίνησε διαπραγματεύσεις με τη ΔΟΕ, στις οποίες απαιτούσε την ισότιμη συμμετοχή των γυναικών και ένα ολοκληρωμένο πρόγραμμα γυναικείων αθλημάτων στους ΟΑ, διαφορετικά θα συνεχιζόταν η διοργάνωση των γυναικείων Ολυμπιάδων. Αυτό που κατάφερε, μεταξύ άλλων, ήταν τη συμμετοχή των γυναικών στο στίβο για τους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες του Άμστερνταμ το 1928 σε πέντε αθλήματα. Εξαιρετικό ενδιαφέρον παρουσιάζει η γυναικεία επιχειρηματικότητα της Milliat, η οποία διοργάνωσε τις γυναικείες Ολυμπιάδες, γνωστοί ως «Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες Γυναικών» (1921-1936), καθώς και άλλα γυναικεία αθλητικά events και πρωταθλήματα, όπως γυναικείο ποδόσφαιρο και ποδηλασία, σε εποχές που η αθλητική δραστηριότητα των γυναικών στιγματιζόταν κοινωνικά. Οι γυναικείες Ολυμπιάδες ήταν η απάντηση φεμινιστικών κύκλων και της Γυναικείας Διεθνούς Αθλητικής Ομοσπονδίας (Féderation Sportive Féminine Internationale), απέναντι στις συνεχείς αρνήσεις της ΔΟΕ και της Διεθνούς Ομοσπονδίας Ερασιτεχνικού Αθλητισμού να επιτραπεί στις γυναίκες να συμμετάσχουν σε ολυμπιακά αθλήματα, θεωρούμενα κατ' εξοχήν ανδρικά, όπως οι αγώνες δρόμου. Στη δεύτερη ενότητα θα δούμε ότι  ο Ολυμπιακός αθλητισμός αποτέλεσε και αποτελεί πεδίο κοινωνικής χειραφέτησης όχι μόνο για την γυναίκα, αλλά και για πολλές μη-προνομιούχες κοινωνικές/εθνικές ομάδες. Παρέχει το κοινωνικό πλαίσιο για την προβολή/ορατότητα, τη γνωστοποίηση και τη διακήρυξη αιτημάτων, διαμαρτυριών και αντιθέσεων με το κατεστημένο. Εν ολίγοις,  αναδεικνύτεαι ότι ο Ολυμπιακός αθλητισμός αποτελεί μέσο γνωστοποίησης των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων. Παρέχει αρένα διαμαρτυρίας κατά της κοινωνικής, πολιτικής, ρατσιστικής και φυλετικής βίας. Για παράδειγμα, οι μαζικές διαδηλώσεις διαμαρτυρίας για την καταπάτηση των ανθρώπινων δικαιωμάτων στην Κίνα και στο Θιβέτ που πραγματοποιήθηκαν πριν, κατά τη διάρκεια και μετά τους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες του Πεκίνου το 2008 (Καμπερίδου, 2011) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2013). "Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες Γυναικών" - Διαχρονική προσέγγιση του γυναικείου αποκλεισμού: ο αθλητισμός ως πεδίο κοινωνικής χειραφέτησης. Εισήγηση (20/3/2013) στο πλαίσιο του Προγράμματος Ημερίδων και Επιμορφωτικών Διαλέξεων 2013 του Τμήματος Επιστήμης Φυσικής Αγωγής και Αθλητισμού (ΤΕΦΑΑ) του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών (ΕΚΠΑ). [Women’s Olympic Games – historical perspective on women’s exclusion: sport as a social emancipation space, presentation at the seminars of the School of Physical Ed. & Sport Science, Athens, March 20, 2013  ]

The  aim  of  this  research  was  to  examine  school  bullying  and  victimization  among  young adolescents (12-15 years old) as well as its relation to age, gender, and area of residence.  Participants  were  536  seventh,  eighth,  and  ninth  graders  from  lower-secondary schools located at Athens and the city of Agrinio. Students completed the Revised  Olweus  Bully/Victim  Questionnaire  (Olweus,  2006).  Results  did  not  show  statistically  significant  differences  between  seventh,  eighth  and  ninth  graders  as  to  their  classification  in  the  categories  “bully”,  “victim”  and  “bully/victim”.  Indirect  types of bullying and victimization became more frequent with advancing age. Boys were  more  likely  to  be  categorized  as  bullies  compared  to  girls,  who  were  more  likely to be victimized. Adolescents living in the city of Agrinio were more likely to be victims and reported a higher tendency for bullying and victimization compared to adolescents living in Athens. Results are discussed in the framework of the exist-ing Greek and international research on bullying among young adolescents.

ΤΟ ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟ ΙΔΕΩΔΕΣ. ΠΑΓΚΟΣΜΙΑ ΚΡΙΣΗ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΟΠΤΙΚΕΣ ΓΟΓΓΑΚΗ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΑ, 2013, Αθήνα: Gutenberg Το ολυμπιακό ιδεώδες διέρχεται σήμερα κρίση εκ των πραγμάτων, διέρχεται, όμως, κρίση και από το πνεύμα της εποχής. Ο πολιτικός ανταγωνισμός που αναπτύσσεται μεταξύ των χωρών, το οικονομικό δέλεαρ έτσι όπως προβάλλεται από τον υλικό πολιτισμό, η τεχνολογική εξειδίκευση η οποία αντιμετωπίζει τον άνθρωπο ως animal machine κατά την ορολογία του Καρτέσιου, και μάλιστα βιονικό, έχουν ως αποτέλεσμα την διαμόρφωση ενός ανθρώπου μονοσήμαντου, κατά τον ορισμό του Μαρκούζε, και την φθορά και την απαξίωση της ολυμπιακής ιδέας ως αξίας. Το πνεύμα της ευγενούς άμιλλας υπονομεύεται από το ωφελιμιστικό και εγωκεντρικό πνεύμα της σύγχρονης τεχνοκρατικής κοινωνίας, αλλά έχει σχέση και με την ίδια την πολιτική κοινωνία. Η τάση προς επιλογές αναίρεσης των αρχών του ευ αγωνίζεσθαι, διαμορφώνεται από την παρεχόμενη προς τους νέους παιδεία που υποστηρίζει τον γρήγορο και εύκολο πλουτισμό και την με οποιοδήποτε τίμημα προβολή των ανθρώπων. Ο αθλητισμός, κατ' επέκταση και οι αθλητές, δεν αποκόπτονται από το κοινωνικό και πολιτικό περιβάλλον, συνεπώς και από τις αξίες που διέπουν την ζωή της πολιτικής κοινωνίας. Παρά τις επιφυλάξεις, υπάρχουν, ωστόσο, μηνύματα σθεναρής κριτικής, η οποία αποβλέπει στην διάσωση των θεμελιωδών αξιών, στην αποδοκιμασία των αρνητικών φαινομένων του σύγχρονου αθλητισμού, στον έλεγχο της απληστίας αλλά και της μονομέρειας, στην αντικατάσταση των προτύπων επιτυχίας από πρότυπα αξίας και στον σεβασμό της ανθρώπινης δισυπόστατης φύσης. (Από το οπισθόφυλλο του βιβλίου).                                                             

It is well established that women experience major depression at roughly twice the rate of men. Interestingly, accumulating clinical and experimental evidence shows that the responsiveness of males and females to antidepressant pharmacotherapy, and particularly to tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), is sex-differentiated. Herein, we investigated whether exposure of male and female rats to the chronic mild stress (CMS) model of depression, as well as treatment with the TCA clomipramine may affect serotonergic receptors' (5-HTRs) mRNA expression in a sex-dependent manner. Male and female rats were subjected to CMS for 4 weeks and during the next 4 weeks they concurrently received clomipramine treatment (10 mg/ml/kg). CMS and clomipramine's effects on 5-HT(1A)R, 5-HT(2A)R, and 5-HT(2C)R mRNA expression were assessed by in situ hybridization histochemistry in selected subfields of the hippocampus and in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), two regions implicated in the pathophysiology of major depression. CMS and clomipramine treatment induced sex-differentiated effects on rats' hedonic status and enhanced 5-HT(1A)R mRNA expression in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) hippocampal region of male rats. Additionally, CMS attenuated 5-HT(1A)R mRNA expression in the OFC of male rats and clomipramine reversed this effect. Moreover, 5-HT(2A)R mRNA levels in the OFC were enhanced in females but decreased in males, while clomipramine reversed this effect only in females. CMS increased 5-HT2CR mRNA expression in the CA4 region of both sexes and this effect was attenuated by clomipramine. Present data exposed that both CMS and clomipramine treatment may induce sex-differentiated and region-distinctive effects on 5-HTRs mRNA expression and further implicate the serotonergic system in the manifestation of sexually dimorphic neurobehavioral responses to stress.

Young infants are at increased risk for influenza-associated serious illness, onset of complications, utilization of health-care services, and hospitalization. We investigated the feasibility and acceptance of an influenza vaccination (cocooning) strategy by household contacts implemented in a maternity hospital and the neonatal unit of a pediatric hospital in Athens. A total of 224 mothers (mean age: 30.2 years) who gave birth to 242 neonates were studied. Of them, 165 (73.7%) mothers were vaccinated. Multiple logistic regression revealed that statistically significant factors associated with increased vaccination rates among mothers were: being of Roma origin (p-value=0.002), being an immigrant (p-value=0.025), giving birth to a neonate with birth weight <2500g (p-value=0.012), and residing in a family with >=4 family members (p-value=0.017). Of the 224 fathers, 125 (55.8%) received the influenza vaccine. Fathers of neonates whose mothers were vaccinated had 6-fold higher vaccination rates compared to fathers of neonates whose mothers refused vaccination (p-value<0.001). Overall, influenza vaccine was administered to 348 (46.9%) of a total of 742 household contacts of the 242 neonates. Upon entering the 2011-2012 influenza season, 51 (22.7%) of 224 families had all household contacts vaccinated against influenza (complete cocoon). Among parents, the statement "I do not want to receive the vaccine" was the prevalent reason for declining influenza vaccination, followed by the misconception "I am not at risk for contacting influenza" (41.1% and 38.2%, respectively).

Light control through elastic waves is a well established and mature technology. The underlying mechanism is the scattering of light due to the dynamic modulation of the refractive index and the material interfaces caused by an elastic wave, the so-called acousto-optic interaction. This interaction can be enhanced in appropriately designed structures that simultaneously localize light and elastic waves in the same region of space and operate as dual optical-elastic cavities, often called phoxonic or optomechanical cavities. Typical examples of phoxonic cavities are multilayer films with a dielectric sandwiched between two Bragg mirrors or, in general, defects in macroscopically periodic structures that exhibit dual band gaps for light and elastic waves. In the present work we consider dielectric particles as phoxonic cavities and study the influence of elastic eigenmode vibrations on the optical Mie resonances. An important issue is the excitation of elastic waves in such submicron particles and, in this respect, we analyze the excitation of high-frequency vibrations following thermal expansion induced by the absorption of a femtosecond laser pulse. For spherical particles, homogeneous thermalization leads to excitation of the particle breathing modes. We report a thorough study of the acousto-optic interaction, correct to all orders in the acousto-optic coupling parameter, by means of rigorous full electrodynamic and elastodynamic calculations, in both time and frequency domains. Our results show that, under double elastic-optical resonance conditions, strong acousto-optic interaction takes place and results in large dynamical shifts of the high-Q optical Mie resonances, manifested through multiphonon exchange mechanisms.

Optical metamaterials and nanoplasmonics bridge the gap between conventional optics and the nanoworld. Exciting and technologically important capabilities range from subwavelength focusing and stopped light to invisibility cloaking, with applications across science and engineering from biophotonics to nanocircuitry. A problem that has hampered practical implementations have been dissipative metal losses, but the efficient use of optical gain has been shown to compensate these and to allow for loss-free operation, amplification and nanoscopic lasing. Here, we review recent and ongoing progress in the realm of active, gain-enhanced nanoplasmonic metamaterials. On introducing and expounding the underlying theoretical concepts of the complex interaction between plasmons and gain media, we examine the experimental efforts in areas such as nanoplasmonic and metamaterial lasers. We underscore important current trends that may lead to improved active imaging, ultrafast nonlinearities on the nanoscale or cavity-free lasing in the stopped-light regime. © 2012 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease more appropriately seen as a syndrome rather than a single pathologic entity. Although it can remain quiescent for extended time periods, the inflammatory and remodeling processes affect the bronchial milieu and predispose to acute and occasionally severe clinical manifestations. The complexity underlying these episodes is enhanced during childhood, an era of ongoing alterations and maturation of key biological systems. In this review, the authors focus on such sudden-onset events, emphasizing on their diversity on the basis of the numerous asthma phenotypes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of countermovement jumping and sprinting on shot put performance in experienced shot putters. Ten shot putters (best performance 13.16-20.36 m) participated in the study. After a standard warm-up including jogging, stretching, and 4-6 submaximal puts, they performed 3 shot put attempts with maximum effort, separated with 1.5-minute interval. Three minutes later, they performed 3 maximal consecutive countermovement jumps (CMJs). Immediately after jumping, they performed 3 shot put attempts with maximum effort, separated with a 1.5-minute interval. One week later, they carried out a similar protocol, at similar external conditions, but they performed a bout of 20-m sprinting instead of the CMJs, to potentiate shot put performance. Muscular strength (1 repetition maximum in squat, snatch, bench press, incline bench press) and body composition (dual x-ray absorptiometry) were measured during the same training period (±10 days from the jumping and sprinting protocols). Shot put performance was significantly increased after the CMJs (15.45 ± 2.36 vs. 15.85 ± 2.41 m, p = 0.0003). Similarly, shot put performance was significantly increased after sprinting (15.34 ± 2.41 vs. 15.90 ± 2.46 m, p = 0.0007). The increase in performance after sprinting was significantly higher compared with the increase after jumping (2.64 ± 1.59 vs. 3.74 ± 1.88%, p = 0.02). In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that a standard warm-up protocol followed by 3 maximal bouts of shot put and either 3 consecutive countermovement jumps or a bout of 20-m sprinting induce an acute increase in shot put performance in experienced shot putters.

This study examined the effects of two different warm-up protocols on lower limb power and flexibility in high level athletes. Twenty international level fencers (10 males and 10 females) performed two warm-up protocols that included 5-min light jogging and either short (15s) or long (45s) static stretching exercises for each of the main leg muscle groups (quadriceps, hamstrings and triceps surae), followed by either 3 sets of 3 (short stretching treatment), or 3 sets of 5 tuck jumps (long stretching treatment), in a randomized crossover design with one week between treatments. Hip joint flexion was measured with a Lafayette goniometer before and after the 5-min warm-up, after stretching and 8 min after the tuck jumps, while counter movement jump (CMJ) performance was evaluated by an Ergojump contact platform, before and after the stretching treatment, as well as immediately after and 8 minutes after the tuck jumps. Three way ANOVA (condition, time, gender) revealed significant time (p < 0.001) and gender (p < 0.001) main effects for hip joint flexion, with no interaction between factors. Flexibility increased by 6.8 ± 1.1% (p < 0.01) after warm-up and by another 5.8 ± 1.6% (p < 0.01) after stretching, while it remained increased 8 min after the tuck jumps. Women had greater ROM compared with men at all time points (125 ± 8° vs. 94 ± 4° p<0.01 at baseline), but the pattern of change in hip flexibility was not different between genders. CMJ performance was greater in men compared with women at all time points (38.2 ± 1.9 cm vs. 29.8 ± 1.2 cm p < 0.01 at baseline), but the percentage of change CMJ performance was not different between genders. CMJ performance remained unchanged throughout the short stretching protocol, while it decreased by 5.5±0.9% (p <0.01) after stretching in the long stretching protocol However, 8 min after the tuck jumps, CMJ performance was not different from the baseline value (p = 0.075). In conclusion, lower limb power may be decreased after long periods of stretching, but performance of explosive exercises may reverse this phenomenon. © Journal of Sports Science and Medicine.

This study examined the effects of two different warm-up protocols on lower limb power and flexibility in high level athletes. Twenty international level fencers (10 males and 10 females) performed two warm-up protocols that included 5-min light jogging and either short (15s) or long (45s) static stretching exercises for each of the main leg muscle groups (quadriceps, hamstrings and triceps surae), followed by either 3 sets of 3 (short stretching treatment), or 3 sets of 5 tuck jumps (long stretching treatment), in a randomized crossover design with one week between treatments. Hip joint flexion was measured with a Lafayette goniometer before and after the 5-min warm-up, after stretching and 8 min after the tuck jumps, while counter movement jump (CMJ) performance was evaluated by an Ergojump contact platform, before and after the stretching treatment, as well as immediately after and 8 minutes after the tuck jumps. Three way ANOVA (condition, time, gender) revealed significant time (p < 0.001) and gender (p < 0.001) main effects for hip joint flexion, with no interaction between factors. Flexibility increased by 6.8 ± 1.1% (p < 0.01) after warm-up and by another 5.8 ± 1.6% (p < 0.01) after stretching, while it remained increased 8 min after the tuck jumps. Women had greater ROM compared with men at all time points (125 ± 8° vs. 94 ± 4° p<0.01 at baseline), but the pattern of change in hip flexibility was not different between genders. CMJ performance was greater in men compared with women at all time points (38.2 ± 1.9 cm vs. 29.8 ± 1.2 cm p < 0.01 at baseline), but the percentage of change CMJ performance was not different between genders. CMJ performance remained unchanged throughout the short stretching protocol, while it decreased by 5.5±0.9% (p <0.01) after stretching in the long stretching protocol However, 8 min after the tuck jumps, CMJ performance was not different from the baseline value (p = 0.075). In conclusion, lower limb power may be decreased after long periods of stretching, but performance of explosive exercises may reverse this phenomenon. © Journal of Sports Science and Medicine.

This study examined the effects of two different warm-up protocols on lower limb power and flexibility in high level athletes. Twenty international level fencers (10 males and 10 females) performed two warm-up protocols that included 5-min light jogging and either short (15s) or long (45s) static stretching exercises for each of the main leg muscle groups (quadriceps, hamstrings and triceps surae), followed by either 3 sets of 3 (short stretching treatment), or 3 sets of 5 tuck jumps (long stretching treatment), in a randomized crossover design with one week between treatments. Hip joint flexion was measured with a Lafayette goniometer before and after the 5-min warm-up, after stretching and 8 min after the tuck jumps, while counter movement jump (CMJ) performance was evaluated by an Ergojump contact platform, before and after the stretching treatment, as well as immediately after and 8 minutes after the tuck jumps. Three way ANOVA (condition, time, gender) revealed significant time (p < 0.001) and gender (p < 0.001) main effects for hip joint flexion, with no interaction between factors. Flexibility increased by 6.8 ± 1.1% (p < 0.01) after warm-up and by another 5.8 ± 1.6% (p < 0.01) after stretching, while it remained increased 8 min after the tuck jumps. Women had greater ROM compared with men at all time points (125 ± 8° vs. 94 ± 4° p<0.01 at baseline), but the pattern of change in hip flexibility was not different between genders. CMJ performance was greater in men compared with women at all time points (38.2 ± 1.9 cm vs. 29.8 ± 1.2 cm p < 0.01 at baseline), but the percentage of change CMJ performance was not different between genders. CMJ performance remained unchanged throughout the short stretching protocol, while it decreased by 5.5±0.9% (p <0.01) after stretching in the long stretching protocol However, 8 min after the tuck jumps, CMJ performance was not different from the baseline value (p = 0.075). In conclusion, lower limb power may be decreased after long periods of stretching, but performance of explosive exercises may reverse this phenomenon. © Journal of Sports Science and Medicine.

The Mediterranean diet (MeDi), due to its correlation with a low morbidity and mortality for many chronic diseases, has been widely recognised as a healthy eating model. We aimed to investigate, in a cross-sectional study, the association between adherence to a MeDi and risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in a large, elderly, Australian cohort. Subjects in the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle Study of Ageing cohort (723 healthy controls (HC), 98 MCI and 149 AD participants) completed the Cancer Council of Victoria Food Frequency Questionnaire. Adherence to the MeDi (0- to 9-point scale with higher scores indicating higher adherence) was the main predictor of AD and MCI status in multinominal logistic regression models that were adjusted for cohort age, sex, country of birth, education, apolipoprotein E genotype, total caloric intake, current smoking status, body mass index, history of diabetes, hypertension, angina, heart attack and stroke. There was a significant difference in adherence to the MeDi between HC and AD subjects (P < 0.001), and in adherence between HC and MCI subjects (P < 0.05). MeDi is associated with change in Mini-Mental State Examination score over an 18-month time period (P < 0.05) in HCs. We conclude that in this Australian cohort, AD and MCI participants had a lower adherence to the MeDi than HC participants.

Classification of weather maps at various isobaric levels as a methodological tool is used in several problems related to meteorology, climatology, atmospheric pollution and to other fields for many years. Initially the classification was performed manually. The criteria used by the person performing the classification are features of isobars or isopleths of geopotential height, depending on the type of maps to be classified. Although manual classifications integrate the perceptual experience and other unquantifiable qualities of the meteorology specialists involved, these are typically subjective and time consuming. Furthermore, during the last years different approaches of automated methods for atmospheric circulation classification have been proposed, which present automated and so-called objective classifications. In this paper a new method of atmospheric circulation classification of isobaric maps is presented. The method is based on graph theory. It starts with an intelligent prototype selection using an over-partitioning mode of fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithm, proceeds to a graph formulation for the entire dataset and produces the clusters based on the contemporary dominant sets clustering method. Graph theory is a novel mathematical approach, allowing a more efficient representation of spatially correlated data, compared to the classical Euclidian space representation approaches, used in conventional classification methods. The method has been applied to the classification of 850. hPa atmospheric circulation over the Eastern Mediterranean. The evaluation of the automated methods is performed by statistical indexes; results indicate that the classification is adequately comparable with other state-of-the-art automated map classification methods, for a variable number of clusters. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 composites (GOT) were prepared by liquid phase deposition followed by post-thermal reduction at different temperatures. The composite materials were systematically evaluated as photocatalysts for the degradation of an important pharmaceutical water pollutant, diphenhydramine (DP), and an azo-dye, methyl orange (MO), under both near-UV/Vis and visible light irradiation as a function of the graphene oxide (GO) content. A marked compositional dependence of the photocatalytic activity was evidenced for DP and MO pollutants degradation and mineralization under both UV/Vis and visible light. Especially under visible light, optimum photocatalytic performance was obtained for the composites treated at 200°C comprising 3.3-4.0wt.% GO, exceeding that of the benchmark P25 (Evonik) catalyst. According to scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and porosimetry analysis data, this was attributed to the optimal assembly and interfacial coupling between the reduced GO sheets and TiO2 nanoparticles. Almost total degradation and significant mineralization of DP and MO pollutants (in less than 60min) was achieved under near-UV/Vis irradiation for the optimum GOT composites. However, higher GO content and calcination temperatures (350°C) led to detrimental effects due to the GO excess and the disruption of the GO-TiO2 binding. Photocatalytic experiments employing sacrificial hole and radical scavenging agents revealed that photogenerated holes are the primary active species in DP degradation for both bare TiO2 and GOT under UV/Vis irradiation, while an enhanced contribution of radical mediated DP oxidation was evidenced under visible light. These results combined with the distinct quenching of the GO photoluminescence under visible and NIR laser excitation, indicate that reduced GO acts either as electron acceptor or electron donor (sensitizer) of TiO2 under UV and visible light, respectively. Fine-tuning of the reduced GO-TiO2 interface is concluded as a very promising route to alleviate electron-hole recombination and circumvent the inherently poor light harvesting ability of TiO2 in the visible range. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

In the past years, a wide range of epidemiological, clinical, and experimental studies have produced remarkable advances in the field of respiratory allergies in childhood. By the recent investigations on epidemiological trends, risk factors, and prevention of asthma and allergic rhinitis, various exiting concepts have been challenged, and novel innovative approaches have been developed. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (PAI), with a number of highly relevant contributions between 2010 and 2012, has become an important forum in this area. The prevalence of asthma in some developed countries may have reached a plateau, while in developing countries, where the prevalence was previously low, allergic diseases are still on the increase. A wide array of risk and protective factors, including hygiene, infections, outdoor and indoor air pollution, allergen exposure, breast-feeding practices, nutrition, and obesity, play a multifaceted role in shaping the observed worldwide trends of respiratory allergies. Under the guidance of recent research, prediction and prevention strategies in the clinical practice are progressively changing, the focus moving away from avoidance of allergen exposure and toward tolerance induction.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma represent global health problems for all age groups. Asthma and rhinitis frequently coexist in the same subjects. Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) was initiated during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999 (published in 2001). ARIA has reclassified AR as mild/moderate-severe and intermittent/persistent. This classification closely reflects patients' needs and underlines the close relationship between rhinitis and asthma. Patients, clinicians, and other health care professionals are confronted with various treatment choices for the management of AR. This contributes to considerable variation in clinical practice, and worldwide, patients, clinicians, and other health care professionals are faced with uncertainty about the relative merits and downsides of the various treatment options. In its 2010 Revision, ARIA developed clinical practice guidelines for the management of AR and asthma comorbidities based on the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. ARIA is disseminated and implemented in more than 50 countries of the world. Ten years after the publication of the ARIA World Health Organization workshop report, it is important to make a summary of its achievements and identify the still unmet clinical, research, and implementation needs to strengthen the 2011 European Union Priority on allergy and asthma in children.

The goal of this work is the analysis of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM10) recorded in the urban area of Volos, a medium-sized Greek coastal city on the eastern seaboard of Central Greece. For this purpose, concentration measurements of PM10, for a seven-year period (2001-2007) are analyzed. Air pollution data were obtained by a monitoring station, fully automated, that was established by the Hellenic Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climatic Change, in order to measure air pollution levels in Volos. The extracted findings showed that the mean diurnal variation of the examined air pollutant concentrations within the cold and the warm period of the year show a double peak structure with respect to morning and evening hours. Additionally, the intra annual variation of PM10 concentrations shows a double peak pattern. The dominant peak is observed in February and the secondary peak in May/June. Besides, the role of wind seems to be significant as the PM10 exceedances are strongly associated with predominant wind directions. © by PSP 2012.

Resumen: Aves sin nido y Los perros hambrientos son novelas representativas de la corriente indigenista de la literatura hispanoamericana de los siglos XIX y XX respectivamente. Ambas presentan el ambiente sociopolítico y los valores sociales de unas épocas concretas de la sociedad peruana. En Aves sin nido se presenta el ambiente social y la corrupción de los religiosos y de los representantes del poder. En Los perros hambrientos la sequía cambia el ambiente físico y determina el sistema de valores. El personaje del indígena, aunque víctima de su ambiente social, tiene altas cualidades humanas. Palabras claves: novela, hispanoamericana, indigenista, ambiente, valores Abstract: Aves sin nido and Los perros hambrientos are representative indigenous novels of Spanish American literature of the 19th and 20th centuries respectively. Both of them present the sociopolitical environment and the social values of particular times of the Peruvian society. In Aves sin nido, it is presented the corruption of the political and religious authorities. In Los perros hambrientos, the drought changes the setting and determines the value system. The Indian characters are the victims of the social environment and have high human qualities. Key words: novel, Spanish American, indigenous, environment, values

Purpose. Thorough understanding of biliary anatomy is required when performing surgical interventions in the hepatobiliary system. This study describes the anatomical variations of right bile ducts in terms of branching and drainage patterns, and determines their frequency. Methods. We studied 73 samples of cadaveric material, focusing on the relationship of the right anterior and posterior segmental branches, the way they form the right hepatic duct, and the main variations of their drainage pattern. Results. The anatomy of the right hepatic duct was typical in 65.75% of samples. Ectopic drainage of the right anterior duct into the common hepatic duct was found in 15.07% and triple confluence in 9.59%. Ectopic drainage of the right posterior duct into the common hepatic duct was discovered in 2.74% and ectopic drainage of the right posterior duct into the left hepatic duct in 4.11%. Ectopic drainage of the right anterior duct into the left hepatic ductal system and ectopic drainage of the right posterior duct into the cystic duct was found in 1.37%. Conclusion. The branching pattern of the right hepatic duct was atypical in 34.25% of cases. Thus, knowledge of the anatomical variations of the extrahepatic bile ducts is important in many surgical cases.

Philosophy, as Aristotle said, originates in wonder. And nonhumananimals have long been a source of wonder to humans,especially in regard to the treatment they deserve. The upshot isthat Western philosophy has been concerned with the way inwhich we ought to treat nonhuman animals since its origins withthe pre-Socratic philosophers.Animal ethics is a highly challenging fi
eld, as well as one of theliveliest areas of debate in ethics in recent years. Not only has thisarea issued in a range of attention-grabbing controversies, but ithas also led to the exploration o f novel and imaginativeapproaches to worn-out issues.This book is roughly evenly divided between the presentationand discussion of a range of influential past approaches toanimal ethics, and an equally signi
ficant range of contemporaryapproaches. We need to understand the legacy of the past andthe resources that it offers us while also forging new views thatare appropriate to our increasingly developed understanding ofthe nature of nonhuman animals.

The concept of anisotropy of spin relaxation in nonmagnetic metals with respect to the spin direction of the injected electrons relative to the crystal orientation is introduced. The effect is related to an anisotropy of the Elliott-Yafet parameter, arising from a modulation of the decomposition of the spin-orbit Hamiltonian into spin-conserving and spin-flip terms as the spin quantization axis is varied. This anisotropy, reaching gigantic values for uniaxial transition metals (e.g., 830% for hcp Hf) as density-functional calculations show, is related to extended ``spin-flip hot areas'' on the Fermi surface created by the proximity of extended sheets of the surface, or ``spin-flip hot loops'' at the Brillouin zone boundary, and has no theoretical upper limit. Possible ways of measuring the effect as well as consequences in application are briefly outlined.

An attempt is made to forecast the daily maximum surface ozone concentration for the next 24 hours, within the greater Athens area (GAA). For this purpose, we applied Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) models against a forecasting model based on Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach. The availability of basic meteorological parameters is of great importance in order to forecast the ozone's concentration levels. Modelling was based on recorded meteorological and air pollution data from thirteen monitoring sites within the GAA (network of the Hellenic Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change) over five years from 2001 to 2005. The evaluation of the performance of the constructed models, using appropriate statistical indices, shows clearly that in every aspect, the prognostic model by far is the ANN model. This suggests that the ANN model can be used to issue warnings for the general population and mainly sensitive groups. © 2012 K. P. Moustris et al.

Most recommender systems have too many items to propose to too many users based on limited information. This problem is formally known as the sparsity of the ratings' matrix, because this is the structure that holds user preferences. This paper outlines a Collaborative Filtering Recommender System that tries to amend this situation. After applying Singular Value Decomposition to reduce the dimensionality of the data, our system makes use of a dynamic Artificial Neural Network architecture with boosted learning to predict user ratings. Furthermore we use the concept of k-separability to deal with the resulting noisy data, a methodology not yet tested in Recommender Systems. The combination of these techniques applied to the MovieLens datasets seems to yield promising results.

The advent of microarrays over the past decade has transformed the way genome-wide studies are designed and conducted, leading to an unprecedented speed of acquisition and amount of new knowledge. Microarray data have led to the identification of molecular subclasses of solid tumors characterized by distinct oncogenic pathways, as well as the development of multigene prognostic or predictive models equivalent or superior to those of established clinical parameters. In the field of molecular-targeted therapy for cancer, in particular, the application of array-based methodologies has enabled the identification of molecular targets with 'key' roles in neoplastic transformation or tumor progression and the subsequent development of targeted agents, which are most likely to be active in the specific molecular setting. Herein, we present a summary of the main applications of whole-genome expression microarrays in the field of molecular-targeted therapies for solid tumors and we discuss their potential in the clinical setting. An emphasis is given on deciphering the molecular mechanisms of drug action, identifying novel therapeutic targets and suitable agents to target them with, and discovering molecular markers/signatures that predict response to therapy or optimal drug dose for each patient.

PURPOSE: We performed a prospective study to document, by intra-operative manipulation under anaesthesia (MUA) of the pelvic ring, the stability of lateral compression type 1 injuries that were managed in a Level-I Trauma Centre. The documentation of the short-term outcome of the management of these injuries was our secondary aim. METHODS: A total of 63 patients were included in the study. Thirty-five patients (group A) were treated surgically whereas 28 (group B) were managed nonoperatively. Intraoperative rotational instability, evident by more than two centimetres of translation during the manipulation manoeuvre, was combined with a complete sacral fracture in all cases. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was present between the length of hospital stay, the time to independent pain-free mobilisation, post-manipulation pain levels and opioid requirements between the two groups, with group A demonstrating significantly decreased values in all these four variables (p < 0.05). There was also a significant difference between the pre- and 72-hour post-manipulation visual analogue scale and analgesic requirements of the group A patients, whereas the patients in group B did not demonstrate such a difference. CONCLUSION: LC-1 injuries with a complete posterior sacral injury are inheritably rotationally unstable and patients presenting with these fracture patterns definitely gain benefit from surgical stabilisation.

The biomass degrading enzymatic potential of 101 thermophilic bacterial strains isolated from a volcanic environment (Santorini, Aegean Sea, Greece) was assessed. 80 % of the strains showed xylanolytic activity in Congo Red plates, while only eight could simultaneously hydrolyze cellulose. Fifteen isolates were selected on the basis of their increased enzyme production, the majority of which was identified as Geobacilli through 16S rDNA analysis. In addition, the enzymatic profile was evaluated in liquid cultures using various carbon sources, a procedure that revealed lack of correlation on xylanase levels between the two cultivation modes and the inability of solid CMC cultures to fully unravel the cellulose degrading potential of the isolates. Strain SP24, showing more than 99 % 16S DNA similarity with Geobacillus sp. was further studied for its unique ability to simultaneously exhibit cellulase, xylanase, β-glucosidase and β-xylosidase activities. The first two enzymes were produced mainly extracellularly, while the β-glycosidic activities were primarily detected in the cytosol. Maximum enzyme production by this strain was attained using a combination of wheat bran and xylan in the growth medium. Bioreactor cultures showed that aeration was necessary for both enhanced growth and enzyme production. Aeration had a strong positive effect on cellulase production while it negatively affected expression of β-glucosidase. Xylanase and β-xylosidase production was practically unaffected by aeration levels.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated an association between a Mediterranean-type diet and Alzheimer's risk. We assessed the association between Mediterranean-type diet adherence and Parkinson's disease (PD) status. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-seven PD participants and 198 controls completed the Willett semiquantitative questionnaire that quantifies diet during the past year. Scores were calculated using a 9-point scale; higher scores indicated greater adherence to the Mediterranean-type diet. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between PD status and Mediterranean-type diet, adjusting for caloric intake, age, sex, education, and ethnicity. Adjusted linear regression models were used to examine the association between Mediterranean-type diet adherence and PD age at onset. RESULTS: Higher Mediterranean-type diet adherence was associated with reduced odds for PD after adjustment for all covariates (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.77-0.97; P = .010). Lower Mediterranean-type diet score was associated with earlier PD age at onset (β = 1.09; P = .006). CONCLUSIONS: PD patients adhere less than controls to a Mediterranean-type diet. Dietary behavior may be associated with age at onset.

Background: We investigated the associations between second trimester amniotic fluid (AF) levels of human adiponectin and placental growth factor (PLGF) in small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses. Materials and Methods: Adiponectin and PLGF levels were determined by enzyme immunoassay in AF of 21 SGA, 13 LGA and 44 AGA fetuses between 15-22 weeks of gestation, derived from pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis. Results: Adiponectin and PLGF levels were detectable in AF. Median (25th-75th percentile) adiponectin levels were 16.1 (10.9-32.3) ng/ml in SGA, 19.5 (15.1-30.9) ng/ml in AGA, and 18.2 (14.7-30.8) ng/ml in LGA fetuses. Median (25th-75th percentile) PLGF levels were 24.2 (19.9-34.9) pg/nl in SGA, 26.4 (20.9-33.8) pg/ml in AGA and 33.5 (21.8-40.4) pg/ml in LGA fetuses. The differences were not statistically significant. Nevertheless, indication of differentiation of levels existed when SGA and LGA fetuses in the extremes of distribution were considered. Specifically, very severely SGA fetuses (≤2.5th percentile) tended to have high levels of adiponectin and reduced levels of PLGF in AF. Conclusion: This is the first study presenting adiponectin and PLGF concentrations in early second trimester amniotic fluid in AGA, SGA and LGA fetuses. The altered concentrations of adiponectin and PLGF in very severely SGA fetuses possibly result from the growth-promoting effect of these factors through the metabolic route and the vascular integrity of the placenta, respectively.

Aim: The association between two polymorphisms of ERCC1 and treatment outcomes after platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced urothelial cancer (UC) was examined. Materials & methods: Genotyping of 19007C>T and 8092C>A polymorphisms was determined by PCR amplification and RFLP in 113 advanced UC patients, treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Results: Seventy eight patients (69%) were carriers of the 19007T polymorphic allele: 51 (45%) heterozygotes and 27 (24%) homozygotes. Fifty three (47%) patients were carriers of the 8092A polymorphic allele: the frequencies of C/A and A/A genotypes were 37% and 10%, respectively. The T/T genotype was independently associated with prolonged median cancer-specific survival (not-reached vs 14.8 months; p = 0.026). There was no interaction between T/T or any other genotype with the type of platinum derivative (cisplatin/carboplatin). Conclusion: 19007C>T, especially in its homozygotic state, but not 8092C>A polymorphism, could be a useful prognostic marker in advanced UC treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Original submitted 17 July 2012; Revision submitted 21 September 201. © 2012 Future Medicine Ltd.

Policy makers consider that sport contributes to a wide range of ideals such as intercultural understanding, reconciliation, social integration. Grassroots programmes involving tens of thousands participants around the globe from visionaries, educators, civic acitivists, volunteers, etc. are using sport to tackle the most pressing problems of the developing world—from AIDS in Africa to violence in Rio and Haiti. Is this the vision of salvation through sport too grandiose? Can such projects make a lasting difference? Remarkable results have been documented by many NGOs that have been using sport as a tool to promote reconciliation and respect for ethnic diversity. Sport is considered a vital space, especially  in light of today’s xenophobic worldviews. (See proceedings) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Kamberidou, I. (2012). Athletes United for Peace: Reconciliation through Sport. Proceedings of the international conference SPORT AS A MEDIATOR BETWEEN CULTURES, pp. 187–202. International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE/CIEPSS), Hanns-Braun-Strase Friesenhaus II D-14053 Berlin. Editors Ronnie Lidor, Karl-Heinz Schneider & Katrin Koenen. ISBN 978-3-9811179-4-3 , copyright 2012 by ICSSPE. D.4 in Apella

Although the painful experience of loneliness has been largely investigated, attitude toward aloneness and ability to be alone during middle and late childhood remains a highly neglected research issue. The Ability to Be Alone Questionnaire (Berlin, 1990), and the Aversion to Aloneness and Affinity for Aloneness subscales of the Loneliness and Aloneness Scale for Children and Adolescents (Marcoen & Goossens, 1993) were used with 136 fourth and sixth graders (Study 1); also, a sentence completion task assessing feelings about aloneness (Coleman, 1974), and three questions assessing the ability to differentiate between aloneness and loneliness (Galanaki, 2004) (Study 2) were used with 108 fourth and sixth graders. All participants came from primary schools of Athens, Greece. Results showed a decrease from middle to late childhood in children’s aversion to aloneness, and an increase in their capacity to understand that loneliness may be experienced even in the presence of others. Ability to be alone and affinity for aloneness did not show any statistically significant increase with age. The majority of fourth graders were able to understand that “alone” does not necessarily means “lonely”, but had difficulties in accepting the state “feeling lonely even in the presence of others”. Empirical support for an ambivalent attitude toward aloneness during both these age periods also emerged. Gender differences were not found. Findings are discussed in the framework of the existing research on children’s understanding and experience of aloneness and solitude, and suggestions for future research are made.

Anxiety and depression are considered as stress-related disorders, which present considerable sex differentiation. In animal models of anxiety and depression sex differences have been described and linked to the sexually dimorphic hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenals (HPA) axis. The present study aimed to adjust corticosterone, the main HPA axis stress hormone, in male and female adrenalectomized rats with oral (25 μg/ml) corticosterone replacement (ADXR). Subsequently we investigated the behavioral performance of ADXR rats in the open field, light/dark and forced swim test (FST). Male ADXR rats showed less anxiety-like behavior when compared to sham-operated controls, despite adequate corticosterone replacement. They further showed increased swimming and reduced climbing behavior in the FST, while immobility duration did not differ from sham-operated males. On the contrary, adrenalectomy and corticosterone replacement did not have significant effects on the female behavioral response. Females were generally more active and presented less anxiety-like behavior than males, while they exhibited higher depressive-like symptomatology in the FST. ADXR affected behavioral responses predominantly in males, which in turn modified sex differences in the behavioral profile. Females in proestrous and estrous did not differ from females in diestrous and methestrous in any measured behavioral response. Present results suggest that the male and not the female behavioral responses in models of anxiety and depression were mainly affected by ADXR. These findings may play a significant role in explaining the differential coping strategy of the two sexes in response to stressful experiences. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Anxiety and Depression'.

Anxiety and depression are considered as stress-related disorders, which present considerable sex differentiation. In animal models of anxiety and depression sex differences have been described and linked to the sexually dimorphic hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenals (HPA) axis. The present study aimed to adjust corticosterone, the main HPA axis stress hormone, in male and female adrenalectomized rats with oral (25 μg/ml) corticosterone replacement (ADXR). Subsequently we investigated the behavioral performance of ADXR rats in the open field, light/dark and forced swim test (FST). Male ADXR rats showed less anxiety-like behavior when compared to sham-operated controls, despite adequate corticosterone replacement. They further showed increased swimming and reduced climbing behavior in the FST, while immobility duration did not differ from sham-operated males. On the contrary, adrenalectomy and corticosterone replacement did not have significant effects on the female behavioral response. Females were generally more active and presented less anxiety-like behavior than males, while they exhibited higher depressive-like symptomatology in the FST. ADXR affected behavioral responses predominantly in males, which in turn modified sex differences in the behavioral profile. Females in proestrous and estrous did not differ from females in diestrous and methestrous in any measured behavioral response. Present results suggest that the male and not the female behavioral responses in models of anxiety and depression were mainly affected by ADXR. These findings may play a significant role in explaining the differential coping strategy of the two sexes in response to stressful experiences. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Anxiety and Depression'.

Benthic foraminiferal composition of sedimentary successions during the last 7500 years, was investigated from boreholes drilled in three rather tectonically stable coastal areas of the Aegean Sea (Alykes Kitros, Lafrouda Thrace and Vravron Attica). The quantitative analysis of foraminiferal fauna enabled separation into two different groups that are supported by the analysis of modern benthic foraminiferal communities in the studied sites. Group A consists of Ammonia tepida and Haynesina germanica (closed lagoon assemblage), whereas the most common species of Group B (open lagoon assemblage) are Aubignyna perlucida, miliolids, Elphidium spp. and Ammonia spp. The foraminiferal composition integrated with radiometric dating provides information on Holocene paleoenvironmental changes in the studied coastal plains, related to seaeland interaction. Alykes Kitros and Lafrouda Thrace boreholes show a similar trend, with an open lagoonal fauna in the lower part, transitional upwards to closed lagoonal conditions. This environmental change has taken place after 6500 cal BP in Alykes Kitros and around 3000 cal BP at Lafrouda Thrace. The benthic communities of Vravron Attica borehole sediments seem to represent continuously an open lagoon/shallow marine environment from 4700 to 400 cal BP.

Morphological abnormalities of recent and fossil benthic foraminiferal tests may be caused by environmental stress resulting from anthropogenic pollution and/or natural effects. In the present paper we document and describe morphological abnormalities of Ammonia tepida and some additional foraminiferal species from Holocene sedimentary successions of the Aegean Sea (Alykes Kitros and Vravron Attica). The abnormality types are manifested largely by siamese twins, whereas distorted chamber arrangement, overdeveloped or protruding chambers and the presence of multiple apertures have also been observed. Our observations on the distribution of abnormal tests in comparison to the characters of the accompanying fauna suggest that malformation was caused mainly by rapid and intense salinity fluctuations. 

The aim of this work is to study the bioclimatic conditions as well as the air quality for three different regions of the greater Athens area (GAA), during the warm period of the year for the time period 2001-2005. Furthermore, the thermal discomfort and the air pollution persistence within 24 hours were studied. Finally, both the variability and the trend of the bioclimatic and air quality conditions during the examined period were studied. In order to determine the human thermal comfort-discomfort levels, a widely used biometeorological index, the Cooling Power Index, and microclimatic data (air temperature and wind speed) were used. On the other hand, data concerning the air pollutant concentrations surface ozone (O 3) and particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10μm (PM 10) measured over this area were used for the determination of the air quality levels. The performed analysis indicates throughout the examined area degradation of the air quality and intensive thermal discomfort episodes. More specifically, during the warm period of the year a relatively high frequency of days, in the city center of Athens showing thermal discomfort and air quality degradation, simultaneously, is observed. On the contrary, on the suburban GAA's monitoring sites a reduction of the frequency of days with thermal discomfort is observed while the number of days with air pollution exacerbations is relatively high. In any case, during the examined period the environmental conditions due to bioclimatic and air quality parameters seem to be rather degraded. © by PSP.

To explore the comparative performance of the recently proposed bioequivalence (BE) approaches, FDA(s) and EMA(s), by the FDA working group on highly variable drugs and the EMA, respectively; to compare the impact of the GMR-constraint on the two approaches; and to provide representative plots of % BE acceptance as a function of geometric mean ratio, sample size and variability. Simulated BE studies and extreme GMR versus CV plots were used. Three sequence, three period crossover studies with two treatments were simulated using four levels of within-subject variability. The FDA(s) and EMA(s) approaches were identical when variability was < 30%. In all other cases, the FDA(s) method was more permissive than EMA(s). The major discrepancy was observed for variability values > 50%. The GMR-constraint was necessary for FDA(s), especially for drugs with high variabilities. For EMA(s), the GMR-constraint only became effective when sample size was large and variability was close to 50%. A significant discrepancy in the performances of FDA(s) and EMA(s) was observed for high variability values. The GMR-constraint was essential for FDA(s), but it was of minor importance in case of the EMA(s).

Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide, is currently defined as a disturbance of the structural or functional integrity of the optic nerve that causes characteristic atrophic changes in the optic nerve, which may lead to specific visual field defects over time. This disturbance usually can be arrested or diminished by adequate lowering of intraocular pressure (IOP). Glaucoma can be divided roughly into two main categories, ' open angle ' and ' closed angle ' glaucoma.Open angle, chronic glaucoma tends to progress at a slower rate and patients may not notice loss of vision until the disease has progressed significantly. Primary open angle glaucoma(POAG) is described distinctly as a multifactorial optic neuropathy that is chronic and progressive with a characteristic acquired loss of optic nerve fibers. Such loss develops in the presence of open anterior chamber angles, characteristic visual field abnormalities, and IOP that is too high for the healthy eye. It manifests by cupping and atrophy of the optic disc, in the absence of other known causes of glaucomatous disease. Several biological markers have been implicated with the disease. The purpose of this study was to summarize the current knowledge regarding the non-genetic molecular markers which have been predicted to have an association with POAG but have not yet been validated

The present work investigates the concept of sound, in relation to the new means andsciences under different perspectives, ultimately providing an analysis of the newbornartistic movement of bioart. It deals with two parts. The first part of the study is basedupon reference, investigating the interconnection between art and science. Thismechanism is characterized by transformation processes in the interdisciplinarypractices that are applied mainly by various artists and movements of the second postworld war period. The expressive element seeks for an unworldly explanation throughaudio and visual conjunctions. This nature is obvious in Paul Klee’s reflections ofmusical elements in his paintings, Rimington’s attempts to marry audiovisual influencesin his “colour organs”, the experimentations of composers like Xenakis and Stockhausenat various locations with light and color proves the continuous quest to render sound bythe use of new means. Technology is a vital component of transformation as it enhancesthe syncretic creativity for various art domains like the ones that Fluxus deployed. ΝamJun Paik and Dick Higgins introduce radical techniques in their performances as theydetach their selves from the parameters that define composition and use the mind andpower of sentiment in order to identify reality aurally and optically. Towards the end ofthe 20th century we witness the appearance of new art forms like bioart. The humanbody, host of material and immaterial functions comes to the forefront of art practice. Itsrelation to elements such as oscillations and vibrations that express the energy flow areanalyzed through the model of spiritualism that came from eastern thought. The notionof digital embodiment is presented as a reminder, highlighting the importance oftechnology in biotechnology and genetics.The second part of the study involves an experiment. This is how the concept ofbiomusic is applied with the use of ECG data from the MIT PhysioNet database. Assound penetrates the entire human body, it can be analyzed in all of its phasma. Usingthat information we attempt to translate/transform that biological sound phenomena intomusic. The sound produced by the elaboration of data which result from biologicalfunctions, can be described as Biomusic. It can be transformed into frequencies relatedto time and be expressed into music themes. Sonification plays an important role in thisresearch as it constitutes a quick and precise rendering of the polymorphic information(in this case the E.C.G.) in musical notes. This modeling and musical attribution leads intwo distinguished results each one of them concerning different clinical cases (all databelong to a normal heart function and a pathological one). The invention of this novelsystem is suggested for the scientific as well as for the music discipline. It has the abilityto be implemented in an experimental form and obtain an educational character. Thetransformation process avoids compensation throughout the matching process inbetween E.C.G. functions and music, while focusing on the aesthetic factor at the sametime. Sound meets art in the world of Biomusic as it takes shape through technology,constituting a new medium to further evolve the model of ‘’biology into art’’transformation.

BACKGROUND: Pompe disease is an inherited metabolic disorder characterized by α-glycosidase deficiency, which leads to lysosomal glycogen accumulation in many different tissues. The infantile form is the most severe with a rapidly fatal outcome, while the late onset form has a greater phenotypic variability, characterized by skeletal muscle dysfunction and early respiratory involvement. Bone mineral density (BMD) has been recently reported to be reduced in many patients with both forms of the disease. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is now available with an undefined, impact on BMD in patients with late onset disease. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate BMD in patients with late onset form of Pompe disease before and after ERT initiation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was examined in four newly diagnosed patients with late onset Pompe disease and in four adults under ERT before and after ERT initiation with a treatment duration of 18 to 36 months. RESULTS: The initial DEXA showed normal total body BMD z-score in all the patients, while L2-L4 and femoral neck BMD was reduced in three and two patients, respectively. After ERT administration, two patients had an improvement in L2-L4 lumbar spine and one patient in femoral neck BMD z-score with values within normal range. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that regional BMD may moderately reduce in some patients with the late onset form of Pompe disease, although profound osteopenia was not observed. The improvement of measurements in L2-L4 and femoral neck BMD z-score in some patients with low pre-treatment values after ERT administration needs to be confirmed in larger scale studies.

We report on the calculation of the fundamental plasmon waveguide modes in linear periodic chains of finite silver nanorods, aligned perpendicular to the chain. The results of rigorous full-electrodynamic calculations by the layer-multiple-scattering method are discussed in conjunction with the results of the widely used coupled-dipole model and a critical evaluation of the latter is provided. More specifically, it is shown that both diameter and height of the nanorods must be much smaller than the interparticle distance; otherwise, for relatively long nanorods close to each other, the coupled-dipole model can fail completely to predict the waveguide dispersion diagram. Moreover, the model systematically underestimates the effect of dissipative losses and cannot describe the effect of a supporting substrate, which is always present in realistic cases and induces considerable changes in the waveguide dispersion diagram.

INTRODUCTION: Successful research management requirements include; equal teamwork and efficient coordination, in order to increase the impact of the research outcomes and provide added value knowledge. Aim of this paper is to discuss the strategies that have been followed during the RN4CAST study, the largest nursing multi-country research project ever conducted in Europe. The paper focuses on the core research strategies rather than on the administrative activities, which are inevitably also required for the success of a large scale research. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: This paper is an extension of a conference presentation in the International Conference of the European Federation for Medical Informatics (MIE) 2011 in Oslo, and was subsequently published in the Studies in Health Technology and Informatics book series (IOS Press) under the title "Research management: the case of RN4CAST." Management of a multicountry nursing survey requires the use of common data collection tools, applicable to every context, research protocols supporting the scope of the research, data models for multi-country analyses and global dissemination strategies. Challenges that may be faced during the implementation of the study include the individualized confrontation of obstacles during data collection, the coherence of national procedures (for example permissions for data collection) in European level, and the challenge to gain information of added value for the EU, by aggregating the national survey results through a powerful data analysis model. Communication strategies are also discussed.

This study analyses the weather conditions, the main pathways and transport mechanisms favouring the presence of specific aerosol types over Athens, Greece. On the basis of the aerosol optical depth at 550 nm (AOD 550) and fine mode (FM) values from a Terra-MODIS dataset in the period 2000-2005, three main aerosol types are identified (urban/industrial, UI; clean maritime, CM; and desert dust, DD), each one corresponding to different optical characteristics and source regions. The UI aerosols are associated with polluted air masses from Europe, the CM aerosols with clean Atlantic air masses and the DD aerosols with air masses from North African arid regions carrying significant amount of dust in certain cases. The comparison of the three aerosol types with the air masses from their favourable sector constitutes a first 'quick-validation' of the identification scheme. Thus, the incidence of transport from Europe explain 81% of the variability in the observed UI type, while the 73% of the Atlantic air masses correspond to the CM type; the 50% of the African air masses can be considered as DD aerosols over Athens. The mean synoptic meteorological patterns, favouring the presence of each aerosol type, are also investigated. Further analysing the air-mass trajectories at three altitudes, the transport mechanisms of the aerosol types are identified. The results clearly show that the UI aerosols are mainly transported within the boundary layer, while the CM conditions are associated with Atlantic air masses at higher altitudes. Moreover, the DD aerosols are transported either in the upper atmosphere or in the whole atmospheric column. This is among the first studies conducted over Athens aiming at investigating the weather conditions, pathways and transport mechanisms that favour the presence of aerosols of different characteristics. © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society.

Background: Activin-A is a transforming growth factor -β superfamily member, which seems to be implicated in the biology of osteolytic disease in multiple myeloma. Design and methods: Circulating activin-A was evaluated in 98 newly diagnosed myeloma patients (85 with symptomatic disease), in 40 patients with relapsed myeloma before and after four cycles of lenalidomide and dexamethasone (RD), in 27 healthy controls and in 10 monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance patients. Results: Patients with newly diagnosed symptomatic myeloma had increased circulating activin-A compared with controls (P < 0.001), while patients with relapsed disease had elevated activin-A even compared with symptomatic patients at diagnosis (P < 0.001). High activin-A correlated with advanced International Staging System stage (P = 0.002), increased bone resorption (P < 0.001) and extensive bone disease (P = 0.03). Low levels of activin-A (<442 pg/ml) were associated with superior median overall survival: not reached versus 59 months (P = 0.04), while activin-A inversely correlated with survival as a continuous variable (P < 0.001). RD did not alter circulating activin-A after four cycles of treatment, even in responders. Conclusions: High circulating activin-A correlates with advanced features of myeloma, supporting the rationale for the use of activin-A antagonists, such as sotatercept in myeloma. The inability of RD to reduce activin-A reveals RD as a good candidate for combination therapies with activin-A antagonists in myeloma. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved.

Although increasing evidence supports an association between endogenous sex hormones and cardiovascular disease, the results still remain controversial. This study aims to examine the association between endogenous sex hormones and indices of vascular function and structure. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and Δ4-androstenedione were measured in 120 healthy postmenopausal women aged 41 to 60 years. Possible associations with surrogate markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, arterial stiffness, and endothelial function were investigated. Indices of arterial structure included carotid and femoral intima-media thickness and atheromatous plaques presence. Indices of arterial function included flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), and augmentation index. Total testosterone and free androgen index (FAI) were the most important predictors of common carotid artery intima-media thickness (β = 0.376 and β = 0.236, P <.001 and P =.014, respectively). Similarly, FAI was the only significant independent predictor of PWV (β = 0.254, P =.027) after adjusting for age, smoking, body mass index, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and blood lipids. Free estrogen index showed a positive association with PWV, independently of age, smoking, and body mass index, but not of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and blood lipids. Age-adjusted levels of DHEAS exhibited a significant independent negative association with measures of augmentation index. Follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin, and Δ4-androstenedione were not associated with any of the vascular parameters independently of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Higher serum testosterone and FAI are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy recently menopausal women. This association is independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors or insulin resistance. On the contrary, serum DHEAS exhibits a negative association with arterial stiffness. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The circulating levels of several angiogenic cytokines [angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiogenin and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)] were evaluated in 174 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed, symptomatic, multiple myeloma (MM). Circulating levels of Ang-1/Ang-2 were reduced in myeloma patients compared to controls, whereas VEGF and angiogenin levels were increased. Reduced angiopoietin-1/angiopoietin-2 ratio correlated with advanced disease features including international staging system (ISS)-3 stage, renal impairment and extensive bone disease. Based on immunohistochemical results in 20 patients (10 with the higher and 10 with the lower values of circulating angiopoietin-2) we found that angiopoietin-2 is expressed by myeloma cells and correlates with increased microvessel density in subsets of patients. Furthermore, Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio correlated with survival. Patients with circulating Ang-1/Ang-2 below or equal to the median value (6.03) had a median survival of 26.3 months compared to 53 months of all others (p = 0.002). Interestingly, this was mainly observed in patients who received first-line therapy with novel agent-based regimens (65% of our patients). Furthermore, a subset of ISS-3 patients with serum Ang-1/Ang-2 above the median value had favourable prognosis (median survival: 45 months versus 17 months of all others; p = 0.0001). The multivariate analysis revealed that low Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio could independently predict for inferior survival in our cohort of patients (relative risk (RR) 2.07, 95% CI 1.50-2.42; p < 0.001). These results highlight the role of angiopoietins pathway in the biology of MM and reveal novel targets for the development of antimyeloma agents. Copyright © 2011 UICC.

We request multi-fiber optical spectroscopic observations (using the AAOmega/2dF spectrograph at AAT) of the central region of the Small Magellanic Cloud, in order to determine the donor type of the identified X-ray binaries (XRBs) detected in our large XMM survey of the same area. This way we will unambiguously classify the XRBs into Be (easily identifiable by their Hα emission) or supergiant systems. These observations will create a complete census of early-type line-emitting SMC stars down to V~19 mag, thus allowing to address: i) the fraction of early-type stars that exhibit Hα emission and the connection between their Hα excess and red excess or brightness, ii) the fraction of such sources that are observed in X-rays, which is important for constraining the formation rate of accreting binaries in an environment with well characterized stellar populations, and iii) the spectral-type distribution of low-luminosity XRBs.

M31 is our nearest spiral galaxy, at a distance of 780 kpc. Identification of X-ray sources in nearby galaxies is important for interpreting the properties of more distant ones, mainly because we can classify nearby sources using both X-ray and optical data, while more distant ones via X-rays alone. The XMM-Newton Large Project for M31 has produced an abundant sample of about 1900 X-ray sources in the direction of M31. Most of them remain elusive, giving us little signs of their origin. Our goal is to classify these sources using criteria based on properties of already identified ones. In particular we construct candidate lists of high mass X-ray binaries, low mass X-ray binaries, X-ray binaries correlated with globular clusters and AGN based on their X-ray emission and the properties of their optical counterparts, if any. Our main methodology consists of identifying particular loci of X-ray sources on X-ray hardness ratio diagrams and the color magnitude diagrams of their optical counterparts. Finally, we examined the X-ray luminosity function of the X-ray binaries populations.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of the appendix in a femoral hernia sac is known as de Garengeot's hernia. We report a rare case of an elderly woman with femoral hernia appendicitis and discuss the surgical pitfalls and considerations through a literature review. PRESENTATION OF CASE: An 83-year-old woman presented with fever and right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Clinical examination revealed a femoral hernia. Ultrasonography confirmed bowel was present in the hernia sac. In the operation room, an acutely inflamed appendix was recognized within the sac. The patient underwent appendectomy and hernia repair with sutures. DISCUSSION: Acute appendicitis within a femoral hernia is rare and multiple dilemmas exist regarding its treatment. An incision below the inguinal ligament is a reasonable choice in order to access the hernia sac. A mesh should be placed in non-infectious appendectomy while herniorrhaphy is preferred in cases of appendicitis. CONCLUSION: The presence of the vermiform appendix in a femoral hernia sac is rare but the surgeon should be aware of this clinical entity. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate surgical treatment is the key to avoid complications.

The results from a four-year systematic observational sky survey of eclipsing binaries, candidates for containing a delta Scuti component, are presented. More than a hundred systems were tested for a possible oscillating behavior, 17 out of which were found to show evidence of pulsating component and 8 more being ambiguous cases for further research. Data analysis and modelling methods are described step-by-step, and as an example the case of BO Her is presented in detail. Using the observational results of all known close binaries with a delta Scuti component collected from the literature and our own study, a total of 73 such systems is gathered. Correlations among their physical parameters (e.g. pulsation and orbital periods, evolutionary status) are also derived, extending significantly our knowledge of these systems.

Ocean acidification and the related changes in seawater chemistry may disrupt calcification by coccolithophores and departure from the normal growth process causing malformed coccoliths. Coccospheres with malformed were coccoliths collected from different locations in the Aegean Sea. Although most of these specimens in our work are restricted to Emiliania huxleyi, scarce coccospheres of Rhabdosphaera clavigera, Syracosphaera pulchra, Discosphaera tubifera and Calcidiscus quadriperforatus have also been detected. In this study we discuss our observations on malformed distribution in relation to seawater carbonate chemistry.

Nanoplasmonic metamaterials are an exciting new class of engineered media that promise a range of important applications, such as subwavelength focusing, cloaking, and slowing/stopping of light. At optical frequencies, using gain to overcome potentially not insignificant losses has recently emerged as a viable solution to ultra-low-loss operation that may lead to next-generation active metamaterials. Maxwell-Bloch models for active nanoplasmonic metamaterials are able to describe the coherent spatiotemporal and nonlinear gain-plasmon dynamics. Here, we extend the Maxwell-Bloch theory to a Maxwell-Bloch Langevin approach-a spatially resolved model that describes the light field and noise dynamics in gain-enhanced nanoplasmonic structures. Using the example of an optically pumped nanofishnet metamaterial with an embedded laser dye (four-level) medium exhibiting a negative refractive index, we demonstrate the transition from loss-compensation to amplification and to nanolasing. We observe ultrafast relaxation oscillations of the bright negative-index mode with frequencies just below the THz regime. The influence of noise on mode competition and the onset and magnitude of the relaxation oscillations is elucidated, and the dynamics and spectra of the emitted light indicate that coherent amplification and lasing are maintained even in the presence of noise and amplified spontaneous emission. © 2012 American Chemical Society.

BACKGROUND: A feature selection method in microarray gene expression data should be independent of platform, disease and dataset size. Our hypothesis is that among the statistically significant ranked genes in a gene list, there should be clusters of genes that share similar biological functions related to the investigated disease. Thus, instead of keeping N top ranked genes, it would be more appropriate to define and keep a number of gene cluster exemplars. RESULTS: We propose a hybrid FS method (mAP-KL), which combines multiple hypothesis testing and affinity propagation (AP)-clustering algorithm along with the Krzanowski & Lai cluster quality index, to select a small yet informative subset of genes. We applied mAP-KL on real microarray data, as well as on simulated data, and compared its performance against 13 other feature selection approaches. Across a variety of diseases and number of samples, mAP-KL presents competitive classification results, particularly in neuromuscular diseases, where its overall AUC score was 0.91. Furthermore, mAP-KL generates concise yet biologically relevant and informative N-gene expression signatures, which can serve as a valuable tool for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, as well as a source of potential disease biomarkers in a broad range of diseases. CONCLUSIONS: mAP-KL is a data-driven and classifier-independent hybrid feature selection method, which applies to any disease classification problem based on microarray data, regardless of the available samples. Combining multiple hypothesis testing and AP leads to subsets of genes, which classify unknown samples from both, small and large patient cohorts with high accuracy.

The paper Faivre et al. (2011) presents an interpretation of results deduced from two coastal cores that are trying to date the period of formation of a slightly submerged tidal notch often reported from the coasts of Istria. The development of a tidal notch in carbonate coasts is usually made possible by intertidal bioerosion processes during periods of relative sea-level stability (Pirazzoli, 1986). The inward depth of the tidal notch profile, that in Istria is often of about half a meter, may be used for a rough estimation of the duration of the period of relative sea-level stability, with assumptions on the bioerosion rates, that in the Mediterranean have been reported to vary generally between about 0.2 and 1.0 mm/y (Evelpidou et al., 2012). The profile of the Istrian tidal notch shows a well preserved roof, evidence that the notch was submerged by a rapid subsidence, probably coseismic (Evelpidou et al., 2011a, 2011b). Several publications, some of them co-signed by the same authors for the area between Porec and Zadar (Fouache et al., 2000; Faivre and Fouache, 2003), have reported, from correlation with archaeological remains, that the submerged notch corresponds, more or less, to the sea level in Roman times. Other data by Faivre et al. (2010), mention a tidal notch submerged by 0.5e0.7 m and a sea level rise from the first century AD that cannot have highly exceeded 1.0 m. Finally according to Fouache et al. (2011), the sea level rise indicated by archeological remains can be estimated at 1.0+-0.48 m since Roman times. Faivre et al. (2011) provide a new interpretation from the two cores, which is in complete contradiction with previous results, suggesting that the notch formed much later, between 1000 and 1500 AD. These two dates correspond to radiocarbon ages of two shells collected by the cores. However, apart from the depth of sampling, that nearly coincides to the base of the notch, not before but after its submergence, there is no clear evidence that the dated shells are really related to the sea level at which the notch developed before its submergence. Also, the assertion that the sample from one core would have been deposited at the beginning of the notch formation, while the sample at the same depth from the other core would just have preceded the coseismic subsidence, seems unconvincing. In fact, after the rapid subsidence of the area, the relative sea level became several decimeters higher in the areas of the Mirna River valley and of the Santa Marina Cove, permitting an acceleration in marine sediment deposition at the levels where they have been recently cored. In addition, the period between 1000 and 1500 AD seems too short for the development of the tidal notch considered, more specifically that this period seems very unfavorable to tidal notch development because the global sea-level rise that occurred until at least 1350 AD, at a rate of 0.6 mm/y (Kemp et al., 2011), has probably limited the possibilities of local bioerosion. Seismic evidence in the period around 1500 AD is also missing. If the rapid subsidence had a coseismic origin, the event is likely to have produced a tsunami in the northern Adriatic. It is hardly believable that a tsunami occurring about 1500 AD could escape notice in Venice and in the other lagoons and harbors of the western coast of the Adriatic. In short, a late Roman date, e.g. 361 AD, as suggested by Benac et al. (2004), seems more likely than a date around 1500 AD. As to the relative sea level stability necessary for the notch formation, it could have occurred in a period of balance for relative sea level changes between the eustatic, isostatic and tectonic factors (Pirazzoli, 2005), i.e. before and during Roman times, possibly in accordance with relative sea-level variations of the type of those predicted with the modelm-2byAntonioli et al. (2007, Fig. 9C or 9D).

Research on star clusters and associations includes the observation and theory of stellar groupings as they form and evolve, cluster disruption, stellar interactions inside clusters, and star formation in dense environments. In what follows, we list past, present and future meetings (http://www2.cadc-ccda.hia-iha.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/meetings/), publications statistics and important surveys, reviews, and databases about clusters.

This paper investigates the potential congruence between research and innovation intensity in a country and the role society plays in the adoption and dissemination of scientific results. Using descriptive reports it tries to quantify certain variables and finds a significant degree of coincidence between the two. This, however, does not indicate any causal relationship but suggests that a systematic exercise of this type is feasible and may lead to the creation of valuable time series that can form solid evidence for policy in the future and create an interesting database for further research and policy-making. Countries that rank higher in their ‘science in society’ performance compared to their innovation ranking may be used as models for imitation. Furthermore, the rating process indicated that there are significant differences between European member states but there is at least a minimum involvement in every country.

Motion of the carotid artery wall is important for the quantification of arterial elasticity and contractility and can be estimated with a number of techniques. In this paper, a framework for quantitative evaluation of motion analysis techniques from B-mode ultrasound images is introduced. Six synthetic sequences were produced using 1) a real image corrupted by Gaussian and speckle noise of 25 and 15 dB, and 2) the ultrasound simulation package Field II. In both cases, a mathematical model was used, which simulated the motion of the arterial wall layers and the surrounding tissue, in the radial and longitudinal directions. The performance of four techniques, namely optical flow (OF (HS)), weighted least-squares optical flow (OF (LK(WLS))), block matching (BM), and affine block motion model (ABMM), was investigated in the context of this framework. The average warping indices were lowest for OF (LK(WLS)) (1.75 pixels), slightly higher for ABMM (2.01 pixels), and highest for BM (6.57 pixels) and OF (HS) (11.57 pixels). Due to its superior performance, OF (LK(WLS)) was used to quantify motion of selected regions of the arterial wall in real ultrasound image sequences of the carotid artery. Preliminary results indicate that OF (LK(WLS)) is promising, because it efficiently quantified radial, longitudinal, and shear strains in healthy adults and diseased subjects.

Land snails usually exhibit cycles of activity and dormancy (aestivation or hibernation). The transition between these two states is accompanied by a range of behavioural and physiological responses to ensure their survival under adverse environmental conditions. Furthermore, aestivation plays an important role in shaping species' distribution patterns. We examined the seasonal patterns in biochemical tissue composition in relation to aspects of behavioural ecology in three land snail populations: one mainland and one insular population of the widespread Helix aspersa and a population (sympatric with the latter) of Helix figulina, a congeneric species with a narrow and declining distribution. Helix figulina aestivates in underground borrows, while H. aspersa spends the summer under stones and may interrupt aestivation when conditions become favourable. Prior to aestivation H. figulina accumulates metabolic fuels, which it consumes later during summer, and at the same time loses substantial body water and increases lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. The insular H. aspersa population follows a similar pattern (regarding metabolites and LDH activity), with the difference that water loss is limited. However, the mainland population of H. aspersa deviates from this model with energy metabolites and water levels showing little variation throughout the year, while LDH activity is reduced. These differences probably reflect the particular behavioural and physiological patterns adopted by each species. The specialist and range-restricted H. figulina shows a constant and more predictable seasonal pattern, which may be effective for surviving in its historical biogeographic range, but it seems to be more vulnerable to possibly changing environmental conditions. On the other hand the generalist and cosmopolitan H. aspersa adopts a more flexible pattern that compensates for the effects of adverse conditions during aestivation and permits a more effective exploitation of energy resources.

Zymomonas mobilis is an ethanologenic bacterium that has been studied for use in biofuel production. Of the sequenced Zymomonas strains, ATCC 29191 has been described as the phenotypic centrotype of Zymomonas mobilis subsp. mobilis, the taxon that harbors the highest ethanol-producing Z. mobilis strains. ATCC 29191 was isolated in Kinshasa, Congo, from palm wine fermentations. This strain is reported to be a robust levan producer, while in recent years it has been employed in studies addressing Z. mobilis respiration. Here we announce the finishing and annotation of the ATCC 29191 genome, which comprises one chromosome and three plasmids.

In this paper the author presents research into the role of religion in the modern world and into young people’s perspectives on the role of religion in European school systems attempting to justify compulsory Religious Education. International and European legislation, experiences of different countries and findings of researches in Greece published for the first time, provide a proposal for compulsory Religious Education which has to be based on the constructivist theory according to pedagogical practice in Europe.

In this study, we explored the factors related to acceptance of evolutionary theory among students/preservice preschool education teachers using conceptual ecology for biological evolution as a theoretical frame. We aimed to examine the acceptance and understanding of evolutionary theory and also the relationship of acceptance and understanding of the nature of science, thinking dispositions and religiosity as independent variables. We also studied the influence of teaching on the conceptual ecology of evolution acceptance. A class of 320 future teachers was surveyed using two questionnaires. According to our findings, students' understanding of evolutionary theory is positively correlated with a moderate acceptance of evolutionary theory. We found a weak positive correlation between the understanding of the nature of science and acceptance of evolution theory, and a positive correlation between open-minded thinking dispositions and evolution theory acceptance. The strength and the patterns of these correlations are miscellaneous and are examined carefully in this paper. We also found that systematic teaching may have a significant influence on evolution theory acceptance. Our findings stress the differences that exist between societies and how socio-cultural factors such as type of religion influence acceptance of evolution and have a strong influence on evolution education.

In this work, we study the properties of the overall accreting binary population of the Magellanic Clouds and the connection between star-formation (SF) activity and X-ray binary (XRB) formation and evolution. Understanding of the populations of compact objects and their connection with SF will allow us to investigate channels of XRB formation in a variety of environments and therefore help in studies of the X-ray source populations of star-forming galaxies outside our Local Group, and even enable their use as a SF diagnostic. By using surveys carried out with space-based X-ray and infrared observatories and ground-based telescopes, we address the demographics of the most common type of young XRBs in the two nearest star-forming galaxies. Our program makes use of multiwavelength data sets in order to provide better understanding of the physical parameters which influence the XRB formation rate and evolution, such as the metallicity and the age of the parent stellar populations. In the SMC, the dominant Be-XRB population appears to be linked to the increased SF activity at ~25-60 Myr ago, while in the Large Magellanic Cloud this activity is shifted to earlier ages (at only ~10-50 Myr). The similarity of this age with the age of maximum occurrence of the Be phenomenon (~40 Myr) indicates that the presence of a circumstellar decretion disk plays a significant role in the number of observed XRBs in the 10-100 Myr age range.

The issue under contemplation is whether the Constitution is able to prevent – andin what ways – the creation of huge fiscal deficits in such a manner as to ensure theeconomic and social rights of the citizens. Although it has a particularly onerousimpact on the population, the issue of limitation of social rights due to financialcrunch and economic recession is not under contemplation here since it emerges at asubsequent time. In a certain sense it is less interesting from a legal perspectivebecause the limitations on social rights, particularly in view of their financial nature,are addressed through a set of provisions pertaining to legislative and judicial assessmentson the presence of grounds of public interest and of compliance with the principlesof equality, proportionality and the protection of human value.2To this end, the example used in this essay is the Greek Constitution. The viewssupported below are the following: First, the way that the Constitution has beeninterpreted to date is not consistent with fundamental rules and views of the EU andthe IMF, which is why there are delays in taking the measures that were agreed uponwith these international organizations and why there are shortcomings in theirimplementation. Second, the constitutional provisions regarding the economy,public finance and financial control do not suffice at a quality or a quantity level forthe prevention of crises, such as the one which the country currently faces.

Self ordered nanotubular TiO 2 films of variable morphological characteristics were grown by electrochemical anodization in ethylene glycol based electrolytes. The films were incorporated in a continuous flow reactor and were evaluated for the UV photocatalytic oxidation of nitrogen oxide (NO) gas by varying the flow rate and the pollutant concentration in the 200-1000ppbv range. After a strong initial response, the photooxidation rate decreased and reached an equilibrium state. Strong dependence of the overall NO concentration on the morphological film parameters was observed which is related to the interplay of porosity and extended surface area. Saturation of the photocatalytic performance was evidenced for nanotubular films with thickness above 14μm, pointing out the limitations imposed by the UV light penetration depth and the diffusion of the gas pollutants and intermediates into the nanotube channels. Nitrates-nitrites were identified as the principle NO x photooxidation products. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.

BACKGROUND: Lenalidomide has tumoricidal and immunomodulatory activity against multiple myeloma. This double-blind, multicenter, randomized study compared melphalan-prednisone- lenalidomide induction followed by lenalidomide maintenance (MPR-R) with melphalan-prednisone-lenalidomide (MPR) or melphalan-prednisone (MP) followed by placebo in patients 65 years of age or older with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients who were ineligible for transplantation to receive MPR-R (nine 4-week cycles of MPR followed by lenalidomide maintenance therapy until a relapse or disease progression occurred [152 patients]) or to receive MPR (153 patients) or MP (154 patients) without maintenance therapy. The primary end point was progression-free survival. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 30 months. The median progression-free survival was significantly longer with MPR-R (31 months) than with MPR (14 months; hazard ratio, 0.49; P<0.001) or MP (13 months; hazard ratio, 0.40; P<0.001). Response rates were superior with MPR-R and MPR (77% and 68%, respectively, vs. 50% with MP; P<0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively, for the comparison with MP). The progression-free survival benefit associated with MPR-R was noted in patients 65 to 75 years of age but not in those older than 75 years of age (P = 0.001 for treatment-by-age interaction). After induction therapy, a landmark analysis showed a 66% reduction in the rate of progression with MPR-R (hazard ratio for the comparison with MPR, 0.34; P<0.001) that was age-independent. During induction therapy, the most frequent adverse events were hematologic; grade 4 neutropenia was reported in 35%, 32%, and 8% of the patients in the MPR-R, MPR, and MP groups, respectively. The 3-year rate of second primary tumors was 7% with MPR-R, 7% with MPR, and 3% with MP. CONCLUSIONS: MPR-R significantly prolonged progression-free survival in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who were ineligible for transplantation, with the greatest benefit observed in patients 65 to 75 years of age. (Funded by Celgene; MM-015 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00405756.) Copyright © 2012 Massachusetts Medical Society.

Active nanoplasmonic metamaterials support bright and dark modes that compete for gain. Using a Maxwell-Bloch approach incorporating Langevin noise we study the lasing dynamics in an active nanofishnet structure. We report that lasing of the bright negative-index mode is possible if the higher-Q dark mode is discriminated by gain, spatially or spectrally. The nonlinear competition during the transient phase is followed by steady-state emission where bright and dark modes can coexist. We analyze the influence of pump intensity and polarization and explore methods for mode control. © 2012 American Physical Society.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that visfatin is significantly elevated in patients with gastric carcinoma and postmenopausal breast cancer (PBC). We thus explored whether serum visfatin could be used as a potential diagnostic and prognostic tool for PBC, taking into account clinicopathological features, serum tumor markers, anthropometric and metabolic parameters. METHODS: Serum visfatin, tumor marker CA 15-3, carcinoembryonic antigen, metabolic and anthropometric parameters were determined in 103 postmenopausal women with pathologically confirmed, incident invasive breast cancer, 103 controls matched on age and time of diagnosis, and 51 patients with benign breast lesions (BBL). RESULTS: Mean serum visfatin was significantly higher in cases than in controls and patients with BBL (p<0.001). In cases, visfatin was significantly associated with CA 15-3 (p=0.03), hormone-receptor status (p<0.001), lymph node invasion (p=0.06) but not with metabolic and anthropometric variables (p>0.05). Multivariable regression analysis revealed that absence of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER-PR-) was the strongest significant determinant of serum visfatin (p<0.001) in cases adjusting for demographic, metabolic and clinicopathological features. Based upon receiver operator characteristic analysis, serum visfatin outperformed CA 15-3 only in discriminating between PBC cases with early cancer stage than those with late stage, and in differentiating particularly patients with ER-PR- breast tumors. CONCLUSION: Further prospective and longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether serum visfatin could be used as a prognostic tool in the armamentarium of PBC monitoring and management in conjunction with other biomarkers.

Introduction: Nowadays, reducing medication costs is vital for health care agencies. Prescription of generic drug products can help lower these expenses. A generally accepted assumption is that therapeutic equivalence, between a generic and a brand-name medication, can be claimed if bioequivalence is demonstrated. Areas covered: This article reviews the current regulatory procedures on bioequivalence testing. Special focus is placed on the guidelines recommended by the European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug administration. The authors also describe the evolution of these issues and the alternatives proposed in the literature. Expert opinion: Defining bioequivalence, as the condition of no significant differences in the extent and rate of absorption between the generic and the brand-name medication, sounds simple. However, the scientific and regulatory basis of bioequivalence appears rather complicated in practice. Even though the regulatory authorities have elucidated many issues, several aspects of bioequivalence assessment are still unresolved. Examples, of these open questions, in bioequivalence, include the assessment of complex drugs, such as biologics and iron-carbohydrates, the assessment of immunosuppressive agents as well as the role that pharmacogenomics plays in bioequivalence.

In July 2012, a confirmed case of cutaneous anthraxinfection in a stockbreeder in the prefecture of Larissa, Thessaly, Central Greece was reported. The investigation revealed five related deaths in animals (two dogs and three sheep). Control measures have been taken immediately in order to prevent further spread in humans and animals.

Twenty-four years of AVHRR-derived sea surface temperature (SST) data (1985–2008) and 35 years of NOCS (V.2) in situ-based SST data (1973–2008) were used to investigate the decadal scale variability of this parameter in the Mediterranean Sea in relation to local air–sea interaction and large-scale atmospheric variability. Satellite and in situ-derived data indicate a strong eastward increasing sea surface warming trend from the early 1990s onwards. The satellite-derived mean annual warming rate is about 0.037°C year–1 for the whole basin, about 0.026°C year–1 for the western sub-basin and about 0.042°C year–1 for the eastern sub-basin over 1985–2008. NOCS-derived data indicate similar variability but with lower warming trends for both sub-basins over the same period. The long-term Mediterranean SST spatiotemporal variability is mainly associated with horizontal heat advection variations and an increasing warming of the Atlantic inflow. Analysis of SST and net heat flux inter-annual variations indicates a negative correlation, with the long-term SST increase, driving a net air–sea heat flux decrease in the Mediterranean Sea through a large increase in the latent heat loss. Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of the monthly average anomaly satellite-derived time series showed that the first EOF mode is associated with a long-term warming trend throughout the whole Mediterranean surface and it is highly correlated with both the Eastern Atlantic (EA) pattern and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) index. On the other hand, SST basin-average yearly anomaly and NAO variations show low and not statistically significant correlations of opposite sign for the eastern (negative correlation) and western (positive correlation) sub-basins. However, there seems to be a link between NAO and SST decadal-scale variations that is particularly evidenced in the second EOF mode of SST anomalies. NOCS SST time series show a significant SST rise in the western basin from 1973 to the late 1980s following a large warming of the inflowing surface Atlantic waters and a long-term increase of the NAO index, whereas SST slowly increased in the eastern basin. In the early 1990s, there is an abrupt change from a very high positive to a low NAO phase which coincides with a large change in the SST spatiotemporal variability pattern. This pronounced variability shift is followed by an acceleration of the warming rate in the Mediterranean Sea and a change in the direction (from westward to eastward) of its spatial increasing tendency.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Acute infections in pregnant women may be transmitted to the fetus and cause severe illness. The purpose of this study was to establish a dedicated surveillance network (DSN) for congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) in Greece, in order to assess the birth prevalence of CT. METHODS: A DSN of thirty clinicians was established for reporting CT cases from hospitals throughout Greece. The clinicians were selected on the basis that there was a high possibility the suspected cases would be referred to them from district hospitals or private clinics. Suspected cases of CT were reported on a monthly basis with a zero reporting card during a surveillance period from April 2006 to December 2009. A questionnaire was sent for any suspected case to record information including demographic parameters, clinical signs and symptoms and laboratory results. Serological and molecular confirmation of cases was performed by the Pasteur Hellenic Institute. All newborns suspected of CT received treatment and were serologically and clinically followed up for one year. RESULTS: The monthly response rate reached 100%, although only after reminders sent to 65% of the participant physicians. Sixty-three suspected CT cases were recorded by the DSN during the study period including fourteen confirmed and seven probable cases. Ten cases (47.6%) presented with symptoms at birth. Chorioretinitis was the most prominent manifestation, occurring in five symptomatic CT cases (50%). No other symptoms appeared by the end of the one year clinical follow up. No case was recorded by the existing surveillance system of the Hellenic Center of Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP) during the same time period. Birth prevalence was estimated at 0.45, 0.51 and 0.51 per 10,000 births for 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively. The incidence rate of symptomatic CT at birth was estimated at 0.10 cases per 10,000 births per year in Greece (for the period 2007-2009). CONCLUSION: The DSN for CT proved to be more sensitive than the classical notification system, easy in application and very efficient in reporting rare diseases such as CT. Similar DSNs could be used to provide useful information on other rare diseases.

Together with impaired production of erythropoietin and iron deficiency, the decreased lifespan of red blood cells (RBCs) is a main factor contributing to the chronic anaemia observed in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Atomic force microscopy is employed in this work to thoroughly survey the membrane of intact RBCs (iRBCs) of HD patients in comparison to those of healthy donors, aiming to obtain direct information on the structural status of RBCs that can be related to their decreased lifespan. We observed that the iRBC membrane of the HD patients is overpopulated with extended circular defects, termed 'orifices', that have typical dimension ranging between 0.2 and 1.0 mu m. The 'orifice' index-that is, the mean population of 'orifices' per top membrane surface-exhibits a pronounced relative increase of order 54 +/- 12% for the HD patients as compared to healthy donors. Interestingly, for the HD patients, the 'orifice' index, which relates to the structural status of the RBC membrane, correlates strongly with urea concentration, which is a basic index of the uraemic milieu. Thus, these results indicate that the uraemic milieu downgrades the structural status of the RBC membrane, possibly triggering biochemical processes that result in their premature elimination from the circulation. This process could decrease the lifespan of RBCs, as observed in HD patients.

Recent high-power gyrotrons, capable of producing radio-frequency power above 1 MW, often suffer from parasitic oscillations in the beam tunnel, despite the presence of dielectric loading materials intended to prevent the growth of such modes. Such oscillations affect the operation and the efficiency of these devices significantly. Lately, a variety of dielectric materials have been used, with limited success, in ring-loaded beam tunnels to suppress unwanted oscillations. In this paper, we perform an extended parametric study of the effects of beam-tunnel geometry and lossy material properties on the damping of such oscillations.

In this study the authors introduce the utilisation of ferrimagnetic compounds into an antenna design and investigate the capability of controlling the antenna properties by means of an external magnetic field. After intensive study of the material properties, the ferrimagnetic compound yttrium iron garnet (YIG) was found to be the best candidate for the proposed novel antenna design. The authors provide a patch antenna design with a part of the dielectric substrate replaced by YIG compound. They have investigated the influence of this compound on the antenna's polarisation properties under the application of an external magnetic field. The authors clearly demonstrate that the type and the sense of the antenna polarisation are strongly influenced by the YIG substrate, because they change with respect to the direction and the magnitude of the external magnetic field. Moreover, the authors have proved that the presence of this material induces non-reciprocal properties in the antenna's operation, changing the antenna properties with respect to receiving or transmitting mode.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause for chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. The HCV-ARF/core+1 protein is an alternative product of HCV core-encoding sequence of unknown biological function. Highly purified HCV core and ARF/core+1 recombinant proteins from HCV genotype 1a and HCV-ARF/core+1 recombinant protein from HCV genotype 3a were expressed in Escherichia coli. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we assessed the prevalence of anti-ARF/core+1 antibodies in 90 chronic hepatitis C patients infected with HCV genotypes 1a/1b or 3a, treated with pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN-a-2a) plus ribavirin. Samples derived from 92 healthy blood donors were used as negative controls. All HCV-RNA-positive serum samples reacted with core 1a antigen, while 15 (37.5%) of 40 and 14 (28%) of 50 patients infected with HCV-1a/1b and HCV-3a, respectively, were found to have anti-ARF/core+1 antibodies into their serum before treatment initiation. These antibodies were persistently present during treatment follow-up and linked to elevated levels of HCV-RNA at baseline.

This paper presents the development of an expert system for the diagnosis of child autism and discusses potential benefits of its implementation in a clinical environment. The development of the expert system was based on a diagnostic algorithm supported by a developmental scale (PEDS) and a diagnostic tool of autism (CARS). Twelve nurses who work in pediatric hospital were asked to use the expert system for a session of 30 minutes and were asked to assess its usefulness, usability and diagnostic value. The majority of nurses agree that it is a useful and promising diagnostic tool for the clinical practice and for the identification of potential child autism cases.

AIM In order to develop and validate a simple, sensitive and rapid method for the quantitation of alkylating drug-induced DNA damage. METHODS HepG2 cells and blood samples were treated with alkylating drugs (melphalan, cisplatin, carboplatin). Gene-specific damage was examined using Southern blot and a multiplex long quantitative PCR (QPCR) carried out in a 7kb fragment (part of the p53 gene) and a 0.5kb fragment (part of the IFN-β1 sequence; internal standard). RESULTS The extent of PCR amplification of a p53 fragment was inversely proportional to the treatment concentrations of all anticancer drugs examined, indicating a dose-related inhibition by the DNA adducts formed. Parallel analysis of the same samples using both Southern blot and QPCR showed that the DNA adducts measured by QPCR corresponded to the interstrand cross-links in the case of melphalan, and to total drug-induced lesions in the case of the platinum drugs. The detection limit was ∼10-20 lesions/106 nucleotides using DNA from ∼8000 cells. The method is about 250 times more sensitive than the Southern blot-based method and the reproducibility is excellent, with an intraday coefficient of variance (CV) of 5-9% and an interday CV of 4-12%. Application of the QPCR assay to ex vivo melphalan-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from multiple myeloma patients, showed that the positive predictive value of this assay for clinical response to melphalan therapy was 92.9%. CONCLUSION The PCR-based assay developed in this study can be used for the selection of cancer patients more likely to benefit from therapeutic treatment with alkylating drugs. © 2012 The Authors. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology © 2012 The British Pharmacological Society.

The present study describes the development and validation of an instrument designed to examine athletes’ selective attention returning to competition following a musculoskeletal injury - the Attention Questionnaire of Rehabilitated Athletes Returning to Competition (AQ-RARC). Using a sample of 186 rehabilitated athletes, exploratory factor analysis revealed a 10-item model that examines functional attention and distraction attention. Confirmatory factor analysis further supported the factorial validity of the AQ-RARC with another sample of 184 rehabilitated athletes. The two subscales have good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The concurrent and discriminant validity of the new instrument were confirmed by examining correlations between the AQ-RARC with other constructs. It is concluded that the AQ-RARC is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used for clinical and research purposes. © 2012 Taylor and Francis.

Friedrich Ratzel’s interdisziplinäre politischgeographische Analyse widerspiegelt sich in den nachfolgenden Systemen von R. Kjellen, N. Spykman und I. Mazis. An diese Tradition knüpfend erforscht die griechische Systematische Geopolitische Analyse die Ausarbeitung einer haltbaren theoretischen Grundlage, welche die Kooperation aller sich mit den internationalen Entwicklungen beschäftigender wissenschaftlicher Felder ermöglicht und zur Entwicklung wissenschaftlicher Interdisziplinärer Analytischer Modelle (Interdisciplinary Analysis Models) führen kann.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of adjuvant dose-dense sequential chemotherapy with epirubicin, paclitaxel, and CMF in subgroups of patients with high-risk operable breast cancer, according to tumor subtypes defined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Materials and Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue samples from 1,039 patients participating in two adjuvant dose-dense sequential chemotherapy phase III trials were centrally assessed in tissue micro-arrays by IHC for 6 biological markers, that is, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), HER2, Ki67, cytokeratin 5 (CK5), and EGFR. The majority of the cases were further evaluated for HER2 amplification by FISH. Patients were classified as: luminal A (ER/PgR-positive, HER2-negative, Ki67low); luminal B (ER/PgR-positive, HER2-negative, Ki67high); luminal-HER2 (ER/PgR-positive, HER2-positive); HER2-enriched (ER-negative, PgR-negative, HER2-positive); triple-negative (TNBC) (ER-negative, PgR-negative, HER2-negative); and basal core phenotype (BCP) (TNBC, CK5-positive and/or EGFR-positive). Results: After a median follow-up time of 105.4 months the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 73.1% and 86.1%, respectively. Among patients with HER2-enriched tumors there was a significant benefit in both DFS and OS (log-rank test; p = 0.021 and p = 0.006, respectively) for those treated with paclitaxel. The subtype classification was found to be of both predictive and prognostic value. Setting luminal A as the referent category, the adjusted for prognostic factors HR for relapse for patients with TNBC was 1.91 (95% CI: 1.31-2.80, Wald's p = 0.001) and for death 2.53 (95% CI: 1.62-3.60, p<0.001). Site of and time to first relapse differed according to subtype. Locoregional relapses and brain metastases were more frequent in patients with TNBC, while liver metastases were more often seen in patients with HER2-enriched tumors. Conclusions: Triple-negative phenotype is of adverse prognostic value for DFS and OS in patients treated with adjuvant dose-dense sequential chemotherapy. In the pre-trastuzumab era, the HER2-enriched subtype predicts favorable outcome following paclitaxel-containing treatment. © 2012 Fountzilas et al.

We study, by means of full-electrodynamic calculations using the layer-multiple-scattering method, the effect of diffractive coupling on the enhancement of the local electromagnetic field in periodic arrays of nanolenses consisting of three silver spheres with progressively decreasing sizes and separations. The interaction between the hot-spot modes of an isolated nanolens with the Rayleigh–Wood anomalies of the periodic lattice leads to a further enhancement of the local field intensity, which can be controlled by an appropriate choice of the geometrical parameters involved.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and specific cytogenetic abnormalities offer important prognostic information for myeloma patients. However, limited data are available about the association between cytogenetic abnormalities and MRI patterns of marrow infiltration. To address this issue, we analyzed 228 consecutive newly diagnosed, symptomatic patients who were diagnosed and treated in a single center. On bone marrow MR images, 95 (41%) patients had diffuse, 94 (41%) had focal, 35 (15%) were normal, and 4 (1.7%) patients had variegated pattern of marrow infiltration. High risk cytogenetics were more commonly observed with diffuse MRI pattern (50% vs. 31% in focal and normal patterns). Patients with diffuse MRI pattern had poorer survival compared to others and responded better to novel agent-based therapies than to conventional chemotherapy (objective response: 88% vs. 46%, P < 0.001). There was a significant improvement of patients' survival with a diffuse MRI pattern when treated upfront with novel agents compared to conventional chemotherapy (47 vs. 24 months; P < 0.001). Diffuse MRI pattern along with ISS-3 and high risk cytogenetics could identify a very high risk group of patients with extremely poor median survival (21 months) and an only 35% probability of 3-year OS. Our study shows that symptomatic myeloma patients with a diffuse MRI pattern at diagnosis very often show high risk cytogenetic abnormalities and are benefiting from upfront novel agent-based therapies. Diffuse MRI pattern in combination with high risk cytogenetics and ISS-3 can identify a subset of myeloma patients with very poor prognosis who may need innovative treatment strategies and possibly more aggressive therapies. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc..

A new method for direct measurement of the oleocanthal and oleacein levels in olive oil by quantitative 1H NMR was developed. The method was applied to the study of 175 monovarietal commercial Greek and California olive oil samples. The main findings were as follows: (1) There was a significant variation concerning the concentrations of oleocanthal and oleacein among the studied samples. Their concentrations ranged from nondetectable to 355 mg/kg and their sum (index D1) from 0 to 501 mg/kg. (2) There are olive varieties that independent of geographic origin and harvest time produce oil that contains both compounds in low levels. (3) There is a positive correlation of a high level of oleocanthal and oleacein in olive oils with the early time of harvest. Although there is a need for more extensive study, a new index for the characterization of extra virgin olive oils, which is a combination of D1 = oleocanthal + oleacein level and D2 = oleocanthal/oleacein ratio, seems to be very useful. © 2012 American Chemical Society.

Division VII provides a forum for astronomers studying the Milky Way as a galactic system, as well as its constituents. It acts as an umbrella for two commissions, Commission 33 and Commission 37.

La présente étude traite des liens de Rousseau avec le voyage en Orient et étudie sa présence dans ses récits. Après avoir présenté, à travers les principales publications françaises sur l’Orient, sa connaissance à la fin du XVIIe et à la première moitié du XVIIIe siècle, nous analysons la théorie de Rousseau sur l’utilité du voyage analysant son Discours sur l’origine et les fondements de l’inégalité parmi les hommes. De plus, nous étudions la contribution des récits viatiques, en tant que sources, au développement de ses théories et de sa pensée philosophique. En outre, nous nous attardons sur sa méfiance concernant la vérité de leur propos et nous examinons son utilisation de la littérature viatique.  Par ailleurs,  nous nous référons aux occasions qu’il avait pour réaliser un voyage et son désir de voyager dans les îles grecques et en Orient. En outre, adoptant une approche comparative, Rousseau met en lumière les différents aspects de l’Orient et montre les faiblesses de la société française. Plus précisément, il traite de la place de la femme dans le harem, et étudie l’islam en réagissant aux stéréotypes contemporains. Dans les œuvres de Rousseau, l’Orient se présente surtout comme point de référence afin de comprendre l’altérité culturelle. Notre étude, s’appuie sur des récits du voyage du XVIIe et du XVIIIe siècle ainsi que sur des œuvres de Rousseau.

Aim Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) seems to be a critical molecule in cervical carcinogenesis. We aimed to investigate the possible associations between hormonal factors and VEGF expression in cervical epithelial cells from postmenopausal women. Method A total of 105 healthy postmenopausal women (aged 4568 years old) attending a university menopause clinic were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Pap smears were derived from current users of 17β-estradiol 1 mg + norethisterone acetate 0.5 mg (n = 28), tibolone 2.5 mg (n = 23), raloxifene HCl 60 mg (n = 21) and women not receiving treatment (n = 33). VEGF immunostaining was evaluated in squamous, glandular and metaplastic cells, using a semiquantitative method (rating scale: 03). Results Concerning endogenous hormones, higher Δ4-androstenedione levels were associated with more intense VEGF immunostaining in glandular (p = 0.041) and metaplastic cells (p = 0.004). Hormone therapy and raloxifene did not induce any changes in VEGF immunoreactivity in the examined cells. In contrast, tibolone administration was accompanied by diminished VEGF presence in metaplastic cells (p = 0.016 vs. controls). Conclusion Our findings may in part reflect the molecular processes contributing to the safe profile of hormone therapy, tibolone and raloxifene in cervical carcinogenesis. © 2012 International Menopause Society.

A chemical vapour deposition (CVD) based innovative approach was applied with the purpose to develop composite TiO 2 photocatalytic nanofiltration (NF) membranes. The method involved pyrolytic decomposition of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) vapor and formation of TiO 2 nanoparticles through homogeneous gas phase reactions and aggregation of the produced intermediate species. The grown nanoparticles diffused and deposited on the surface of γ-alumina NF membrane tubes. The CVD reactor allowed for online monitoring of the carrier gas permeability during the treatment, providing a first insight on the pore efficiency and thickness of the formed photocatalytic layers. In addition, the thin TiO 2 deposits were developed on both membrane sides without sacrificing the high yield rates. Important innovation was also introduced in what concerns the photocatalytic performance evaluation. The membrane efficiency to photo degrade typical water pollutants, was evaluated in a continuous flow water purification device, applying UV irradiation on both membrane sides. The developed composite NF membranes were highly efficient in the decomposition of methyl orange exhibiting low adsorption-fouling tendency and high water permeability. © 2011 Elsevier B.V..

An innovative solidified redox electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) was prepared by incorporating amorphous silica nanoparticles in a liquid system containing the Co2+/Co3+ shuttle dissolved in methoxypropionitrile; the novel material was characterized by Raman spectroscopy and its optical properties were examined by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Electrochemical properties (diffusion, conductivity, electrolyte compatibility with the cathode) were studied in symmetrical thin layer cells using polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. Quasi-solid DSCs were fabricated by incorporating this electrolyte and attained an efficiency of about 2.6% under 1 sun (under 1000 W m-2) AM1.5G illumination, corresponding to 73% of that gained by the reference liquid electrolyte; the cell efficiency depends on the light illumination conditions, significantly increased up to more than 4% under 0.23 sun. The solar cells were further characterized by EIS and intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) to investigate charge transport and recombination dynamics, possible conduction band edge shifts, alterations of the interfacial and ohmic resistances, and variations of the diffusion rate through the photoelectrode. It was confirmed that the solidified electrolyte-based DSC presented a slightly enhanced photopotential in comparison with that of the liquid electrolyte due to a negative TiO2 conduction band edge shift upon contact with the electrolyte, accompanied with a decreased photocurrent mainly stemming from the restricted diffusion of the Co3+ species through the pores of the TiO2 photoelectrode. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012.

Plasmonic metamaterials form an exciting new class of engineered media that promise a range of important applications, such as subwavelength focusing, cloaking and slowing/stopping of light. Recently it has been shown that the internal losses due to the natural absorption of metals at optical frequencies can be compensated by gain. Here, we employ a Maxwell-Bloch methodology which allows us to study the dynamics of the coherent plasmon-gain interaction, nonlinear saturation, field enhancement and radiative damping. Using numerical pump-probe experiments on a double-fishnet metamaterial with dye-molecule inclusions we investigate the buildup of the inversion and the formation of the plasmonic modes in the low-Q fishnet cavity. We find that loss compensation occurs in the negative-refractive-index regime and that, due to the loss compensation and the associated sharpening of the resonance, the real part of the refractive index of the metamaterial becomes more negative compared to the passive case. Furthermore, we investigate the behavior of the metamaterial above the lasing threshold, and we identify the occurrence of a far-field lasing burst and gain depletion. Our results provide deep insight into the internal processes that affect the macroscopic properties of active metamaterials. This could guide the development of amplifying and lasing plasmonic nanostructures. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.

Evidence suggests that gender differences appear in a variety of biological and psychological responses to stress and perhaps in coping with acute and chronic illness as well. Dysfunctional parenting is also thought to be involved in the process of coping with stress and illness; hence, the present study aimed to verify whether dysfunctional remembered parenting would influence psychological distress in a gender-specific manner in patients suffering from cancer. Patients attending an outpatient oncology clinic completed the Remembered Relationships with Parents (RRP), Hospital Anxiety and Depression and Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scales and the National Cancer Center Network Distress Thermometer. Although no baseline gender differences were detected, a multivariate analysis confirmed that anxiety and depression symptoms of men and women suffering from cancer are differentially affected by the RRP Control and Alienation scores. Women with remembered parental alienation and overprotection showed significantly more anxiety symptoms than men, whereas men were more vulnerable to remembered alienation than overprotection with regard to the Distress Thermometer scores. These results suggest that remembered dysfunctional parenting is crucially, and in a gender-specific manner, involved in the coping strategy adopted by male and female cancer patients.

Laboratory medicine's practitioners across the European community include medical, scientific and pharmacy trained specialists whose contributions to health and healthcare is in the application of diagnostic tests for screening and early detection of disease, differential diagnosis, monitoring, management and treatment of patients, and their prognostic assessment. In submitting a revised common syllabus for post-graduate education and training across the 27 member states an expectation is set for harmonised, high quality, safe practice. In this regard an extended 'Core knowledge, skills and competencies' division embracing all laboratory medicine disciplines is described. For the first time the syllabus identifies the competencies required to meet clinical leadership demands for defining, directing and assuring the efficiency and effectiveness of laboratory services as well as expectations in translating knowledge and skills into ability to practice. In a 'Specialist knowledge' division, the expectations from the individual disciplines of Clinical Chemistry/Immunology, Haematology/Blood Transfusion, Microbiology/Virology, Genetics and In Vitro Fertilisation are described. Beyond providing a common platform of knowledge, skills and competency, the syllabus supports the aims of the European Commission in providing safeguards to increasing professional mobility across European borders at a time when demand for highly qualified professionals is increasing and the labour force is declining. It continues to act as a guide for the formulation of national programmes supplemented by the needs of individual country priorities. © 2012 by Walter de Gruyter • Berlin • Boston.

Summary form only given. In high-power gyrotrons sweeping systems are used in order to distribute the energy of the spent beam in a larger area of the collector1. Currently, there are two common types of sweeping systems, the axial and transversal sweeping system2. In the first case, the sweeping coils surround the collector creating a harmonically varying magnetic field that is coaxial to the externally applied one. In the second one, the coils are distributed symmetrically around the collector creating a rotating magnetic field normal to the external one. In both cases the periodic variation of the magnetic field induces eddy currents in the conductive walls of the collector, which tend to cancel the magnetic field of the sweeping coils, reducing in this way the efficiency of the sweeping system.

To evaluate the effect of age upon QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube (QFT-IT) assay outcome among children examined for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI).|A cross-sectional study was conducted among 761 children (mean age ± SD: 7.84 ± 4.68 years) evaluated for LTBI. Participants were examined with both tuberculin skin test and QFT-IT (Cellestis, Australia) and categorized into 4 age groups. Multivariate logistic and linear regressions were used to evaluate the association between selected demographic and patient characteristics upon the qualitative and quantitative QFT-IT outcomes. Agreement between the tuberculin skin test and QFT-IT within groups was evaluated with the κ statistic.|QFT-IT indeterminate results occurred more frequently among young children (8.1%; P < .0001) and children (2.7%; P = .025) than adolescents (0.7%). Among QFT-IT positive patients, infants had higher mean (± SD) interferon-gamma (IFNγ) concentration than adolescents. QFT-IT positive (vs negative) outcome was associated with origin from a high tuberculosis endemicity setting (AOR = 4.54; 95% CI, 3.22-6.25) and lack of previous Bacille Calmette Guerin immunization (AOR = 2.70; 95% CI, 1.89-3.85), but not patient age (AOR = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.92-0.99). However, among QFT-IT positive patients, the IFNγ concentration was inversely associated with patient age (P = .009) and positively with mitogen response (P = .0002). Agreement between tests was not significantly different between younger and older children in the different risk groups.|Qualitative QFT-IT assay results are not affected by patient age. However, indeterminate results occur more frequently among younger children. Among patients with LTBI the quantitative QFT-IT result (ie, IFNγ) is inversely associated with patient age.

This paper investigates whether there is any association between the daily mortality for the wider region of Athens, Greece and the thermal conditions, for the 10-year period 1992-2001. The daily mortality datasets were acquired from the Hellenic Statistical Service and the daily meteorological datasets, concerning daily maximum and minimum air temperature, from the Hellinikon/Athens meteorological station, established at the headquarters of the Greek Meteorological Service. Besides, the daily values of the thermal indices Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) were evaluated in order to interpret the grade of physiological stress. The first step was the application of Pearson's χ 2 test to the compiled contingency tables, resulting in that the probability of independence is zero (p = 0. 000); namely, mortality is in close relation to the air temperature and PET/UTCI. Furthermore, the findings extracted by the generalized linear models showed that, statistically significant relationships (p < 0. 01) between air temperature, PET, UTCI and mortality exist on the same day. More concretely, on one hand during the cold period (October-March), a 10°C decrease in daily maximum air temperature, minimum air temperature, temperature range, PET and UTCI is related with an increase 13%, 15%, 2%, 7% and 6% of the probability having a death, respectively. On the other hand, during the warm period (April-September), a 10°C increase in daily maximum air temperature, minimum air temperature, temperature range, PET and UTCI is related with an increase 3%, 1%, 10%, 3% and 5% of the probability having a death, respectively. Taking into consideration the time lag effect of the examined parameters on mortality, it was found that significant effects of 3-day lag during the cold period appears against 1-day lag during the warm period. In spite of the general aspect that cold conditions seem to be favourable factors for daily mortality, the air temperature and PET/UTCI exceedances over specific thresholds depending on the distribution reveal that, very hot conditions are risk factors for the daily mortality. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.

{Asthma exacerbations are major contributors to asthma morbidity and rather difficult to treat. There is inconclusive evidence that macrolide antibiotics may have an effect on asthma exacerbations through their antibacterial and/or anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of clarithromycin on medium-term asthma activity when given as an add-on therapy in children with acute asthma.|This pilot, open-labeled, randomized, prospective study included 40 school-aged children, with intermittent or mild persistent asthma, presenting with an acute exacerbation. Children were randomized to receive 15 mg/kg of clarithromycin for 3 wk, in addition to their regular (GINA-guided) exacerbation treatment. The microbial trigger of exacerbations was assessed by serology and PCR. Children were followed up with diary cards for 12 wk; lung function was assessed at entry, 3, and 12 wk after the exacerbation.|Children in the clarithromycin group had significantly more symptom-free days (78 ± 2 vs. 69 ± 6 days, p < 0.00001) and less total number of periods with loss of control (9 vs. 19, respectively

Aging results in a significant decline in aerobic capacity and impaired mitochondrial function. We have tested the effects of moderate physical activity on aerobic capacity and a single bout of exercise on the expression profile of mitochondrial biogenesis, and fusion and fission related genes in skeletal muscle of human subjects. Physical activity attenuated the aging-associated decline in VO2 max (p<0.05). Aging increased and a single exercise bout decreased the expression of nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF1), while the transcription factor A (TFAM) expression showed a strong relationship with VO(2max) and increased significantly in the young physically active group. Mitochondrial fission representing FIS1 was induced by regular physical activity, while a bout of exercise decreased fusion-associated gene expression. The expression of polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) changed inversely in young and old groups and decreased with aging. The A2 subunit of cyclic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was induced by a single bout of exercise in skeletal muscle samples of both young and old subjects (p<0.05). Our data suggest that moderate levels of regular physical activity increases a larger number of mitochondrial biogenesis-related gene expressions in young individuals than in aged subjects. Mitochondrial fission is impaired by aging and could be one of the most sensitive markers of the age-associated decline in the adaptive response to physical activity.

Pompe disease is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficiency of acid α-glucosidase resulting in lysosomal accumulation of glycogen and abnormal autophagic function. The late-onset form of the disease is characterized by progressive skeletal and respiratory muscle dysfunction. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT, Genzyme Corporation, Cambridge, MA, USA) was recently introduced and resulted in significant prolongation of the life expectancy of the patients with the infantile form while the results were less significant for the late-onset form. It has been postulated that the weak influence of ERT in late-onset patients might be due to a non-effective delivery of the recombinant enzyme to the skeletal muscles perhaps due to the relatively low blood flow to the resting skeletal muscles during infusion. Exercise training acutely increases the blood flow to the exercising muscles. Thus, it was hypothesized that exercise training during enzyme infusion might increase the effectiveness of the ERT therapy. Five late-onset Pompe disease patients receiving ERT and following regular exercise training for approximately 10 months, followed a 6-month period of exercise training during infusion of the recombinant enzyme. Before and after this period, body composition, isometric strength and 6 minute walking distance were determined. Analysis of the results revealed that none of these parameters changed significantly after the 6-month intervention period (e.g. 6 minute walking distance before: 532±31 m, vs. after: 527±29 m, P=0.246). These results suggest that exercise training during infusion may not add significant functional changes in late-onset Pompe patients receiving ERT and undergoing regular exercise training.

The aim of this review was to examine the mechanisms by which physical activity and inactivity modify muscle fatigue. It is well known that acute or chronic increases in physical activity result in structural, metabolic, hormonal, neural, and molecular adaptations that increase the level of force or power that can be sustained by a muscle. These adaptations depend on the type, intensity, and volume of the exercise stimulus, but recent studies have highlighted the role of high intensity, short-duration exercise as a time-efficient method to achieve both anaerobic and aerobic/endurance type adaptations.The factors that determine the fatigue profile of a muscle during intense exercise include muscle fiber composition, neuromuscular characteristics, high energy metabolite stores, buffering capacity, ionic regulation, capillarization, and mitochondrial density. Muscle fiber-type transformation during exercise training is usually toward the intermediate type IIA at the expense of both type I and IIx myosin heavy-chain isoforms. High-intensity training results in increases of both glycolytic and oxidative enzymes, muscle capillarization, improved phosphocreatine resynthesis and regulation of K +, H +, and lactate ions. Decreases of the habitual activity level due to injury or sedentary lifestyle result in partial or even compete reversal of the adaptations due to previous training, manifested by reductions in fiber cross-sectional area, decreased oxidative capacity, and capillarization. Complete immobilization due to injury results in markedly decreased force output and fatigue resistance. Muscle unloading reduces electromyographic activity and causes muscle atrophy and significant decreases in capillarization and oxidative enzymes activity. The last part of the review discusses the beneficial effects of intermittent high-intensity exercise training in patients with different health conditions to demonstrate the powerful effect of exercise on health and well being. © 2012 Bogdanis.

El presente estudio pretende averiguar la influencia del cambio del tema de composición en la producción de errores léxicos generados por transferencia de la LM y otras L3. Para conseguir dicho objetivo analizamos la lengua escrita de 119 aprendientes griegos de español en dos temas de composición diferentes (narración – argumentación) aplicando el método de Análisis de Errores. Los resultados del análisis cuantitativo muestran que hay una variación tanto en la producción cuantitativa de los errores léxicos interlinguales como en el tipo de los errores léxicos interlinguales cometidos en los dos temas de composición. 

Este artículo presenta los distintos enfoques que se han adoptado en la instrucción dela producción escrita en LE observando su evolución a lo largo de la historia de laenseñanza de LE. La presentación de dicha información se puede considerar útil parala investigación científica en el ámbito de la didáctica de LE. Asimismo, se esperaque el presente trabajo sirva como base teórica para los enseñantes de LE a la hora deelegir el método que van a emplean para la enseñanza de la producción escrita en LE.

Sclerostin is a Wingless and Int-1 inhibitor, which is produced by osteocytes and inhibits osteoblast-driven bone formation. Sclerostin is implicated in the pathogenesis of bone loss in metabolic bone disorders but there is no information for its effect on multiple myeloma (MM)-related osteolytic disease. We evaluated circulating sclerostin in 157 newly diagnosed patients with symptomatic myeloma, in 25 with relapsed myeloma who received bortezomib monotherapy, in 21 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and in 21 healthy controls. Patients with active myeloma had elevated circulating sclerostin compared to MGUS patients and controls (p < 0.01). MM patients who presented with fractures at diagnosis (n = 34) had very high levels of circulating sclerostin compared with all others (p < 0.01), whereas sclerostin correlated negatively with bone specific alkaline phosphatase (a bone formation marker; r = -0.541, p < 0.0001) and positively with C-telopeptide of collagen type-1 (a bone resorption marker; r = 0.524, p < 0.0001). Patients with International Staging System (ISS)-3 disease had higher circulating sclerostin compared to ISS-1 and ISS-2 MM (p = 0.001). Furthermore, patients with high sclerostin (upper quartile, n = 40) had a median survival of 27 months versus 98 months of all others (p = 0.031). Relapsed MM patients had higher levels of circulating sclerostin even compared to newly diagnosed patients (p < 0.01). Bortezomib monotherapy resulted in a reduction of sclerostin by almost 50% in both responders and non-responders. These results suggest that patients with active myeloma have elevated circulating sclerostin, which correlated with advanced disease features including severe bone disease. Our study indicates sclerostin as a possible target for the development of novel therapies to enhance osteoblast function in myeloma. Copyright © 2011 UICC.

To develop a dose dependent version of BCS and identify a critical dose after which the amount absorbed is independent from the dose. We utilized a mathematical model of drug absorption in order to produce simulations of the fraction of dose absorbed (F) and the amount absorbed as function of the dose for the various classes of BCS and the marginal cases in between classes. Simulations based on the mathematical model of F versus dose produced patterns of a constant F throughout a wide range of doses for drugs of Classes I, II and III, justifying biowaiver claim. For Classes I and III the pattern of a constant F stops at a critical dose Dose(cr) after which the amount of drug absorbed, is independent from the dose. For doses higher than Dose(cr), Class I drugs become Class II and Class III drugs become Class IV. Dose(cr) was used to define an in vivo effective solubility as S-eff = Dose(cr)/250 ml. Literature data were used to support our simulation results. A new biopharmaceutic classification of drugs is proposed, based on F, separating drugs into three regions, taking into account the dose, and Dose(cr), while the regions for claiming biowaiver are clearly defined.

Leaf water status and photosynthetic characteristics were investigated in four evergreen species, i.e. Laurus nobilis, Ligustrum japonicum, Nerium oleander and Pittosporum tobira, grown under ambient conditions. The results reveal variations in photosynthetic traits in relation to the use of water, during the optimal period of growth, in the middle of the dry season, during the secondary growth period and in the middle of the cold and wet season. Photosynthesis was restricted by limitations of stomatal conductance, causing transpiration impairment in L. nobilis, L. aponicum and P. tobira; while, the opposite holds true for N. oleander . Stomatal conductance of N. oleander was higher than that of the three co-existing species, sustaining elevated rates of photosynthesis and transpiration, at the expense of water. As drought progressed, there was a reduction in photosynthesis and water use efficiency in L. japonicum and P. tobira . Leaf turgor of the four species was closely associated with leaf water potential and differences among species narrowed in the dry season. The results show that L. nobilis possess features that confer  advantage for the maintenance of this species in the driest sites, N. oleander maximises gas exchanges in the dry season by exhibiting a capacity for water acquisition, while L. japonicum and P. tobira may be limited to the moist sites .

In cancer biology angiogenesis plays a vital role in tumour growth and its subsequent metastatic potential. By targeting the angiogenic process, a new treatment strategy was added in the clinician's therapeutic armamentarium. On the other hand, numerous classic cytotoxic agents are currently considered as potential angiogenesis inhibitors, although they were not originally developed as such, representing the so-called "accidental" anti-angiogenic drugs. The discovery of these new properties of classic cytotoxic agents led to the re-evaluation of their effect on vascular cells, rendering thus the endothelium an appealing target for therapeutic intervention, either with chemotherapy alone or with combination of cytotoxics with molecular angiogenesis inhibitors. Moreover, current evidence supports that chemotherapy-induced endothelial dysfunction constitutes an integrating predictive marker of future cardiovascular events and correlates well with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. It has therefore been suggested that evaluation of endothelial function may be useful in identifying asymptomatic subjects at high risk for cardiovascular events as well as for risk stratification of patients with established cardiovascular disease. Integration of the assessment of endothelial function in the clinical setting will thus enable effective intervention strategies to prevent or minimize the impact of these late adverse effects and design accurate follow-up protocols focused on cardiovascular complications. In the current review we provide a comprehensive overview of the effects of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents on endothelial function and the clinical implications of chemotherapy-associated endothelial toxicity in patients with cancer. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

The aim of this study is to discuss demythification and the subversion of myth inChrista Wolf’s Cassandra Project (1983) and Medea. Stimmen (1996). Wolfconsiders literature as an archaeological project, as a quest for the truth and the“blind spots” in personal and social history. On this quest she turns her attention toGreek mythology. A myth is not a context, but a frame. It is a supertemporal,multidimensional phenomenon, which allows a writer to move into free spaces.Thus, Wolf’s versions revise the myth in some fundamental points. Her mainconcern is to shed light on the manipulation of truth and the discrimination of thestranger. The author does not write, however, against the myth per se. On the onehand she points out the close connection between myth and politics and on theother hand she tries to explore the potential of myths in order to understand thepresent situation better and to look for livable alternatives or yet untried patterns.The reminiscence on the origins of the alienation offers a matrix for theexplanation of today’s conditions and at the same time permits a glimpse into thefuture: “the escape backwards as an escape forwards”.

The management of multiple myeloma has undergone profound changes over the recent past as a result of advances in our understanding of the disease biology as well as improvements in treatment and supportive care strategies. Notably, recent years have seen a surge in studies incorporating the novel agents thalidomide, bortezomib, and lenalidomide into treatment for different disease stages and across different patient groups. This article presents an update to a previous review of European treatment practices and is based on discussions during an expert meeting that was convened to review novel agent data published or presented at medical meetings until the end of 2011 and to assess their impact on treatment strategies. ©AlphaMed Press.

It is unclear why some children develop food allergy. The EuroPrevall birth cohort was established to examine regional differences in the prevalence and risk factors of food allergy in European children using gold-standard diagnostic criteria. The aim of this report was to describe pre-, post-natal and environmental characteristics among the participating countries. In nine countries across four major European climatic regions, mothers and their newborns were enrolled from October 2005 through February 2010. Using standardized questionnaires, we assessed allergic diseases and self-reported food hypersensitivity of parents and siblings, nutrition during pregnancy, nutritional supplements, medications, mode of delivery, socio-demographic data and home environmental exposures. A total of 12,049 babies and their families were recruited. Self-reported adverse reactions to food ever were considerably more common in mothers from Germany (30%), Iceland, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands (all 20-22%) compared with those from Italy (11%), Lithuania, Greece, Poland, and Spain (all 5-8%). Prevalence estimates of parental asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema were highest in north-west (Iceland, UK), followed by west (Germany, the Netherlands), south (Greece, Italy, Spain) and lowest in central and east Europe (Poland, Lithuania). Over 17% of Spanish and Greek children were exposed to tobacco smoke in utero compared with only 8-11% in other countries. Caesarean section rate was highest in Greece (44%) and lowest in Spain (<3%). We found country-specific differences in antibiotic use, pet ownership, type of flooring and baby's mattress. In the EuroPrevall birth cohort study, the largest study using gold-standard diagnostic criteria for food allergy in children worldwide, we found considerable country-specific baseline differences regarding a wide range of factors that are hypothesized to play a role in the development of food allergy including allergic family history, obstetrical practices, pre- and post-natal environmental exposures.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health problem and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The aim of our study was: a) to determine the CEA, CA 19-9, EGFR, and EpCAM (GA733-2) levels both in healthy volunteers and in colorectal cancer patients, b) to evaluate the ELISA method for EGFR and EpCAM (GA733-2) measurement, and c) to correlate the tumor marker levels with clinicopathological findings in the CRC patients group. METHODS: Our study was conducted on 50 blood samples obtained from CRC patients and 40 blood samples from healthy individuals. CEA and CA 19-9 measurements were performed using electrochemiluminescence immune-assay technology, while EGFR and EpCAM (GA733-2) measurements were performed by an in-house enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: CEA, CA 19-9, and EpCAM (GA733-2) levels were higher in the CRC patients group than in the control group. EGFR levels were lower in the patients group than in the control group. The mean levels of CA 19-9 and EpCAM (GA733-2) vary at different colon cancer stages. CEA, CA19-9, and EpCAM (GA733-2) vary according to performance status. CONCLUSIONS: CEA, CA 19-9, and EpCAM (GA733-2) showed similar specificity (80%, 80% and 84%, respectively). EGFR showed the lowest sensitivity and specificity. CA 19-9 was the marker with the highest sensitivity. The need for convenient tumour marker tests with high sensitivity is of great importance for early diagnosis and monitoring of CRC

Electronic patient records are important for quality health services. Aim of this study is to support the trauma patient care with the development of an electronic system. A survey was conducted in the Emergency Department (ED) of a University hospital to study the effectiveness of an electronic monitoring system in a group of trauma patients, as well as the acceptance of this electronic system by the health professionals of the ED. A questionnaire collected information about the perceptions of 50 health professionals working in the ED on various aspects of patient care. The 86% (Nu=43) replied that there is lack of staff working in their department, 44% (N=22) is satisfied with the co-operation with other departments and 48% (N=24) believe that they spend precious time in administrative work during the care. For the purpose of a more efficient patient monitoring there was developed an electronic trauma patient monitoring system which was evaluated by the above mentioned professionals. The severity, length of care and the health outcomes of 200 trauma patients, were investigated. Half of the patients (N=100) have been monitored by the electronic system and the other 100 were monitored without the use of the system. The time between the admission and completion of the planned care was significantly lower in the electronic monitoring patient group (100±92 minutes) compared to the control group (149±29 minutes).

An underwater geomorphological survey along the coasts of six Cycladic islands (Sifnos, Antiparos, Paros, Naxos, Iraklia and Keros) revealed widespread evidence of a recent 30–40 cm submergence, part of which may have seismic origin. Comparison with information reported from earthquakes having affected the area suggests that at least part of the recent submergence might be an effect of the 1956 Amorgos earthquake. Modelling of the co-seismic and short-term post-seismic effects of the earthquake revealed that part of the observed subsidence may be explained in some of the islands by a fast post-seismic relaxation of a low-viscosity layer underlying the seismogenic zone. However far-field observations are underestimated by our model, and may be affected by a wider deformation field induced by the largest aftershock of the Amorgos sequence, or by other earthquakes.

We discuss the origin and evolution of low mass contact binaries with Porb shorter than 0.3 d that have properties somewhat different from the rest of the contact binaries. A comparison of an evolutionary model set with observations shows that both components are on the main sequence, the age of the binaries is at least several Gyr, while the contact phase lasts only less than 1 Gyr.

VFTS 682, a very massive and very hot Wolf-Rayet (WR) star recently discovered in the Large Magellanic Cloud near the famous star cluster R136, might be providing us with a glimpse of a missing link in our understanding of Long Gamma-Ray Bursts (LGRBs), including dark GRBs. It is likely its properties result from chemically homogeneous evolution (CHE), believed to be a key process for a massive star to become a GRB. It is also heavily obscured by dust extinction, which could make it a dark GRB upon explosion. Using Spitzer data we investigate the properties of interstellar dust in the vicinity of R136, and argue that its high obscuration is not unusual for its environment and that it could indeed be a slow runaway (``walkaway'') from R136. Unfortunately, based on its current mass loss rate, VFTS 682 is unlikely to become a GRB, because it will lose too much angular momentum at its death. If it were to become a GRB, it probably would also not be dark, either escaping or destroying its surrounding dusty region. Nevertheless, it is a very interesting star, deserving further studies, and being one of only three presently identified WR stars (two others in the Small Magellanic Cloud) that seems to be undergoing CHE.

Kidney impairment (KI) at the time of initial diagnosis is common in myeloma. The improvement of kidney function and the reversal of KI are of utmost importance. Recent advances have made it possible to reverse acute kidney damage due to myeloma in most patients, at least if treatment is immediately implemented. Immediate antimyeloma therapy and appropriate hydration are the most commonly used treatment modalities for the management of acute KI related to myeloma. Mechanical approaches can only temporarily reduce the free light-chain load, and without effective chemotherapy they are probably not able to significantly improve kidney function. However, the role of mechanical approaches together with effective chemotherapy is still being explored. Thalidomide, lenalidomide, and bortezomib have improved the survival of myeloma patients, but they have also improved the outcome of patients presenting with KI. Thalidomide is safe to use on patients with KI without dose adjustments. Lenalidomide needs dose modification, but it can improve kidney function in many patients. Bortezomib seems to be the agent of choice for most patients presenting with KI without dose modifications. This review focuses on the management of patients presenting with "myeloma kidney" using modern chemotherapy approaches, especially novel agents. © 2012 National Kidney Foundation, Inc.

The study attempts to develop an outpatient service quality scale by investigating the key dimensions which assess parental satisfaction and provides a recommendation on an improved health service delivery system. The survey was conducted in an Ear-Nose-Throat outpatient clinic of a Greek public pediatric hospital. A total of 127 parents in outpatient waiting areas were chosen; 74.8% of the sampled parents were under 40, and 78% were mothers. A factor analysis was performed; while a Fischer's exact test and multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted. All Cronbach's α exceeded 0.70 and all factor loadings exceeded 0.50. Twenty-three items were retained through the scale development process and seven factors were formed that appear to be statistically valid and clinically meaningful: access and convenience, doctor's attention, customization, reliability, assurance, satisfaction and loyalty. Findings were discussed in relation to parents' overall satisfaction and intention of reusing and recommending outpatient clinic. Satisfaction was found to be positively affected by access and convenience and doctors' attention. Staff attitude and the telephone procedure of scheduling the child's examination found positively correlated to the likelihood of recommending services to friends and relatives. Time and communication in the waiting room influenced parents' satisfaction. Overall, results reveal the measures that need to be taken in order to improve outpatient service quality. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Study Objective: The purpose of this study was the recording of physical activity and sedentary habits of adolescents with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Methods: We performed a structured interview to assess the level of physical activity and sedentary habits of girls with PCOS. We used a group of healthy adolescents as controls. All girls had their age, height, weight, hip and waist circumference measured and their BMI calculated. Results: 81 girls (35 with PCOS and 46 controls) participated in the study. Girls with PCOS engaged in physical activities less than controls. Even when they did, the frequency and intensity of exercise was less. Also, girls with PCOS were less likely to be aware of the positive effects of exercise on their health. Girls in both groups were sedentary in excess of the 4 hours per day limit, which has been linked with obesity. Conclusion: Healthy teenagers were involved in a sporting activity more often and more frequently than the PCOS group. Athletic and sedentary habits of adolescents with PCOS may interact with other factors leading to obesity. © 2012 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.

It is well known that low-dose metronomic chemotherapy has antiangiogenic activity. The aim of the present trial was to investigate the antiangiogenic properties of weekly docetaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer. In total, 157 metastatic breast cancer patients received 35 mg/m 2 docetaxel weekly as a recommended treatment. Blood samples were collected before the start of chemotherapy (baseline) and during treatment. Nitric oxide (NO) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) plasma levels were measured at baseline and during treatment, while VEGF-A, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and thrombospondin-1 (THBS-1) peripheral blood mRNA levels were measured at baseline, in 127 patients and 39 female healthy controls. In general, the treatment was well-tolerated. Sixty-one patients (38%) achieved an objective response (4% complete and 34% partial response), while 52 (33%) had stable disease and 27 (17%) progressed. At a median follow-up of 33.5 months (range 2.8-45.0), 118 patients (74%) demonstrated disease progression and 94 (59%) had died. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.8 months and median overall survival (OS) was 27.7 months. Median baseline level of plasma NO was significantly lower in patients than in healthy controls (p=0.010), while none of the plasma markers significantly changed upon docetaxel treatment. In addition, the median relative quantification value for THBS-1 mRNA was significantly higher (p<0.001) in patients as compared to healthy controls. NO plasma levels were positively associated with the number of organs involved (p=0.008). In multivariate analysis, low eNOS mRNA levels showed adverse prognostic significance for OS and high THBS-1 mRNA levels were found to be associated with shorter OS and PFS, independently from established clinical prognostic factors. Although an antiangiogenic activity of weekly docetaxel was not demonstrated in the present study, some interesting observations regarding the prognostic role of a number of blood angiogenic markers could be made.

We present an overview of recent advances within the field of slow- and stopped-light in metamaterial and plasmonic waveguides. We start by elucidating the mechanisms by which these configurations can enable complete stopping of light. Decoherence mechanisms may destroy the zero-group-velocity condition for real-frequency/complex-wavevector modes, but we show that metamaterial and nanoplasmonic waveguides also support complex-frequency/real-wavevector modes that uphold the light-stopping condition. A further point of focus is how, by using gain, dissipative losses can be overcome in the slow- and stopped-light regimes. To this end, on the basis of full-wave finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations and analytic transfer-matrix calculations, we show that the incorporation of thin layers made of an active medium, placed adjacently to the core layer of a negative-refractive-index waveguide, can fully remove dissipative losses in a slow- or stopped-light regime where the effective index of the guided lightwave remains negative. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Caregivers of patients with schizophrenia experience increased levels of psychological distress. This study investigated the impact of caring for patients with chronic schizophrenia on the mental health status of the caregivers and described the relationship between various socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and caregiving psychological distress.\n\nMETHODS: The study was carried out at the Psychiatric Hospital of Athens. The Symptom Check List Revised (SCL-90-R) was administered to 87 caregivers of chronic schizophrenia patients and 90 healthy controls. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was administered to schizophrenia patients in order to assess illness severity.\n\nRESULTS: The group of caregivers scored higher on the majority of symptom dimensions of the SCL-90-R than the control group. Clinical features of schizophrenia, i.e. duration of illness and PANSS positive and negative symptoms significantly predicted caregiving psychological distress. Caregivers' and patients' socio-demographic characteristics were not associated with caregivers' distress, with the exception of caregivers' sex: female caregivers experienced significantly higher levels of psychological distress than males.\n\nCONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that clinical features of schizophrenia influence distress levels in caregivers of patients with chronic schizophrenia. The stronger predictors of distress appear to be female caregiver's gender, duration of illness as well as positive and negative symptomatology.

ABSTRACT: The FAST project (Food Allergy Specific Immunotherapy) aims at the development of safe and effective treatment of food allergies, targeting prevalent, persistent and severe allergy to fish and peach. Classical allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT), using subcutaneous injections with aqueous food extracts may be effective but has proven to be accompanied by too many anaphylactic side-effects. FAST aims to develop a safe alternative by replacing food extracts with hypoallergenic recombinant major allergens as the active ingredients of SIT. Both severe fish and peach allergy are caused by a single major allergen, parvalbumin (Cyp c 1) and lipid transfer protein (Pru p 3), respectively. Two approaches are being evaluated for achieving hypoallergenicity, i.e. site-directed mutagenesis and chemical modification. The most promising hypoallergens will be produced under GMP conditions. After pre-clinical testing (toxicology testing and efficacy in mouse models), SCIT with alum-absorbed hypoallergens will be evaluated in phase I/IIa and IIb randomized double-blind placebo-controlled (DBPC) clinical trials, with the DBPC food challenge as primary read-out. To understand the underlying immune mechanisms in depth serological and cellular immune analyses will be performed, allowing identification of novel biomarkers for monitoring treatment efficacy. FAST aims at improving the quality of life of food allergic patients by providing a safe and effective treatment that will significantly lower their threshold for fish or peach intake, thereby decreasing their anxiety and dependence on rescue medication.

More analytically, the conference results -prepared by the conference Moderator, Dr. Irene Kamberidou of ECWT Executive Group are included : FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION  see attachement.Βλ. επίσης Συνέντευξη στοLWB-Leading Women in Business (ICAP) interview:https://eclass.uoa.gr/modules/document/file.php/PHED263/%CE%A4%CE%91%20%CE%9D%CE%95%CE%91%20%28KYRIAKATIKA.ENTHETO%29%2021.12.2012.pdf

Graphite oxide (GO) powder was irradiated in a microwave oven and lightweight expanded graphite oxide (EGO) powder with high BET surface area 1316 m2/g was obtained. Activation of EGO was performed by impregnation in KOH solution and high temperature treatment under Ar flow, followed by annealing in vacuum (t-EGO). KOH acted more as a reducing agent diminishing the defects than as a surface modifier for high porosity. EGO and t-EGO were further decorated with Ag nanoparticles (∼40 nm) applying solar light irradiation. Along with Ag deposition the structural defects of the graphene were reduced upon photo-irradiation. It was established that among the bare graphenes the EGO exhibited the highest capacitance. From the Ag-containing composites, the KOH activated EGO acted as a supercapacitor, while the non-activated EGO as a resistant.