BACKGROUND: Some (but not all) epidemiological studies have noted faster rates of progression in high education patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), which has been attributed to harbouring/tolerating a higher pathological burden at the time of clinical dementia for subjects with higher education. We wanted to assess the relationship between education and rates of decline in AD.
METHODS: During the course of a community based multiethnic prospective cohort study of individuals aged > or = 65 years living in New York, 312 patients were diagnosed with incident AD and were followed overall for 5.6 (up to 13.3) years. The subjects received an average of 3.7 (up to 9) neuropsychological assessments consisting of 12 individual tests. With the aid of a normative sample, a standardised composite cognitive score as well as individual cognitive domain scores were calculated. Generalised estimating equation models were used to examine the association between education and rates of cognitive decline.
RESULTS: Composite cognitive performance declined by 9% of a standard deviation per year. Rates of decline before and after AD incidence were similar. For each additional year of education there was 0.3% standard deviation lower composite cognitive performance for each year of follow up. The association between higher education and faster decline was noted primarily in the executive speed (0.6%) and memory (0.5%) cognitive domains and was present over and above age, gender, ethnicity, differential baseline cognitive performance, depression, and vascular comorbidity.
CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that higher education AD patients experience faster cognitive decline.
Aim of this study is the evaluation of the impact of preoperative informative session using a Multimedia Health Educational Program (MHEP) on patients undergoing elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) for cholelithiasis, preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain and nausea. Sixty consecutive patients scheduled for elective LC were considered for enrollment in the trial. Patients were assigned randomly to four groups: Group A included 15 patients, preoperatively informed regarding LC through the MHEP presented by a Registered Nurse (RN). Group B included 15 patients preoperatively informed through a leaflet (designed and developed using the exact contents of the MHEP). In Group C, there were 15 patients who were being informed verbally from the RN. Finally, the control Group D included 15 patients, who had the conventional preoperative information about the operation and postoperative course by the attending surgeon and anesthesiologist, as every other patient included in groups A, B, C. Preoperative assessment of patient's knowledge about cholelithiasis and LC was performed after informative session, and was based on a specifically developed "closed, true-false" questionnaire. Preliminary results suggest that conventional information provided by the attending surgeon (Group D) is inadequate. Specifically developed informative sessions with the contribution of MHEP seems to be effective on reducing preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain, in patients undergoing elective LC.
Severe grape allergy has been linked to lipid transfer protein (LTP) sensitization. LTPs are known to be resistant to pepsin digestion, although the effect of gastroduodenal digestion on its allergenicity has not been reported.|We sought to investigate the effect of gastric and gastroduodenal digestion on the allergenic activity of grape LTP.|The proteolytic stability of grape LTP was investigated by using an in vitro model of gastrointestinal digestion. The allergenicity of LTP and its digesta was assessed in vitro by means of IgE immunoblotting, RASTs, and in vivo skin prick tests in the same patients with grape allergy.|Grape LTP was resistant to gastric digestion, and yielded a 6000-d relative molecular mass C-terminally trimmed fragment after duodenal digestion. This fragment retained the in vitro IgE reactivity of the intact protein. Inclusion of phosphatidylcholine during gastric digestion protected the LTP to a limited extent against digestion. Digestion did not affect the in vivo (skin prick test) biologic activity of LTP.|The allergenic activity of grape LTP was highly resistant to in vitro digestion. This property might facilitate sensitization through the gastrointestinal tract and might also potentiate the ability of LTPs to elicit severe allergic reactions in sensitized individuals.|Purified natural allergens will facilitate the development of component-resolved diagnostic approaches, including allergen chips. This study contributes to our understanding of the role digestion plays in symptom elicitation in true food allergy.
The preventive use of medications has been proposed to be effective in the treatment of seasonal rhinitis.|To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate and nedocromil sodium nasal sprays as prophylactic treatment for moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).|Sixty-one patients were recruited from 3 referral allergy centers. Inclusion criteria were history of SAR for 2 years or longer, sensitization to relevant local pollen (grasses, Parietaria, and olive), and age older than 12 years.|An open-label, randomized, parallel-group, "real-life" study design was used. Patients received mometasone furoate nasal spray once daily or nedocromil sodium nasal spray 3 times daily starting 2 to 4 weeks before the pollen season and continuing for up to 4 months. Instructions regarding the use of additional medications were given. Diary cards recording symptoms, use of medication, and adverse events were kept by the patients.|All 61 patients completed the study. The prophylactic use of mometasone furoate vs nedocromil sodium led to significantly more days without symptoms (75.1% vs 54.5%; P < .001). The mometasone furoate group also had lower nasal symptom scores (mean, 1.4 vs 2.9; median, 0 vs 2; P < .001) and was more satisfied (93.1% vs 43.5%; P < .001). No serious adverse event was recorded, and there was no difference between the treatments in any adverse event.|Prophylactic administration of mometasone furoate before the pollen season is safe and may lead to improved control of SAR compared with the use of nedocromil sodium.
Ioannidis ZC, Dumbrajs O, Tigelis IG. {Eigenvalues and ohmic losses in coaxial gyrotron cavity}. In: Proceedings of the 14th Joint Workshop on Electron Cyclotron Emission and Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating. ; 2006. pp. 548–552.
The authors present the mathematical analysis for the calculation of the dispersion relation, the field distributions, and the ohmic losses for TEm,p modes in an infinite coaxial waveguide with a longitudinally corrugated insert. The method employed is based on an appropriate eigenfunction expansion, and its main advantage is the very fast convergence with a few spatial harmonics. The analysis is properly extended to include tapered cavities with varying, in respect to the z-coordinate, outer and/or inner radius. Numerical results are presented for several tapered cavity geometries and compared with already published methods
Intermetallic Heusler alloys are amongst the most attractive half-metallic systems due to their high Curie temperatures and their structural similarity to binary semiconductors. In this review we present all overview of the basic electronic and magnetic properties of both Heusler families: the so-called half-Heusler alloys like NiMnSb and the full-Heusler alloys like Co2MnGe. Ab initio results suggest that both the electronic and magnetic properties ill these compounds are intrinsically related to the appearance of the minority-spin gap. The total spin magnetic moment M-t scales linearly with the number of the valence electrons Z(t), such that M-t = Z(t) - 24 for the full-Heusler and M-t = Z(t) - 18 for the half-Heusler alloys, thus opening the way to engineer new half-metallic alloys with the desired magnetic properties.
OBJECTIVE: The determinants of serum homocysteine in healthy postmenopausal women remain uncertain. The aim of this study was the assessment of the association of endogenous sex steroids with serum homocysteine levels in healthy postmenopausal women not on hormone therapy. DESIGN: 484 postmenopausal women aged 43-69 years were studied in a cross-sectional design. Parameters assessed were serum FSH, estradiol, total testosterone, SHBG, Free Androgen Index, delta4-Androstendione, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, and homocysteine. RESULTS: Serum FSH correlated positively (r=0.23, p=0.01), while serum estradiol correlated negatively (r=-0.25, p=0.03) with circulating Hcy. This association remained statistically significant after adjustment for age, years since menopause, and BMI. Serum estradiol decreased, while FSH increased linearly with increasing homocysteine quartiles (p=0.04 and p=0.02, respectively). None of the serum androgens assessed correlated with circulating homocysteine. CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous estrogens and not androgens are related to serum homocysteine values in postmenopausal women. Whether this association has clinical implications remains to be clarified.
Two samples of the Zn2FeV3O11 compound were synthesized using different preparation routes: a solid state reaction of the ZnO-Fe2O3-V2O5 oxides and a direct reaction of the Zn2V2O7 and FeVO4 vanadates. In both cases the temperature dependences of the EPR spectra revealed a dominant contribution of antiferromagnetically coupled Fe3+ ions in the high-spin state. Specific differences in the EPR spectra of the two samples were recorded at all the investigated temperature intervals. A short range, or less likely, partial magnetic order involving a fraction of the Fe3+ distributed on the two octahedral crystallographic sites appeared to take place below 50 K. The differences observed between the EPR spectra of the two Zn2FeV3O11 samples might suggest the existence of small variations in the cation disorder phenomena of Fe3+ and Zn2+ ions or the presence of an oxygen deficiency process.
The post-Alpine sedimentation history in Greece is mainly characterized by thedevelopment of terrestrial, marine and lacustrine successions. During the UpperMiocene salinity crisis marine evaporites, mainly gypsum, were formed in severalbasins across Greece (i.e. Ionian Islands, Crete Island). These evaporites present simple mineralogy and they are almost insoluble. As a result, they appeared to be quite resistant in weathering process and they are easily identified in the field.On the contrary, Upper Miocene evaporites of lacustrine origin have a morecomplicated mineralogy and they are rare in field outcrops in a worldwide scale, since they are commonly easily weathered. Even though, the adjacent to Aegean Sea, Western Anatolia volcanic terrain hosts a series of lacustrine evaporites, the only similar deposit in Greece is that of Karlovassi Basin, in Samos Island.The aim of the present paper is to study the erosion risk of the Upper Mioceneevaporate - bearing formations of Karlovassi basin developing a GIS model based on Boolean logic. Some of the affecting parameters that were input into the model are: the vulnerability of the lithological formations, the run off model, the morphological slopes and the aspect, the tectonic discontinuities, the land use – land cover of the wider area and the man made intervention. The geographical distribution of the aforementioned parameters, along with their modelisation, resulted to an erosion risk map of the Karlovassi basin.
Steroids are generally viewed as transcription factors binding to intracellular receptors and activating gene transcription. Rapid cellular effects mediated via non-genomic mechanisms have however been identified and one report showed that injections of estradiol rapidly stimulate chemoinvestigation and mounting behavior in castrated male rats. It is not known whether such effects take place in other species and what are the cellular underlying mechanisms. We show here that a single injection of estradiol (500 microg/kg) rapidly and transiently activates copulatory behavior in castrated male quail pre-treated with a dose of testosterone behaviorally ineffective by itself. The maximal behavioral effect was observed after 15 min. In a second experiment, the brain of all subjects was immediately collected after behavioral tests performed 15 min after injection. The preoptic area--hypothalamus (HPOA), hindbrain, telencephalon and cerebellum were isolated and monoamines measured by HPLC-ED. Estradiol increased levels of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and 5-HIAA/serotonin ratios in the telencephalon and hindbrain independently of whether animals had mated or not. Estradiol also affected these measures in HPOA and cerebellum but this effect was correlated with the level of sexual activity so that significant effects of the treatment only appeared when sexual activity was used as a covariate. Interactions between estradiol effects and sexual activity were also observed for dopamine in the HPOA and for serotonin in the hindbrain and cerebellum. Together, these data demonstrate that a single estradiol injection rapidly activates male sexual behavior in quail and that this behavioral effect is correlated with changes in monoaminergic activity.
During the last years the major threat for the deforested areas of the Crete island,especially the area of Moussouron municipality, is the quick wash out of soil material. The wash out of soil material, due to logging activities or fire events, obstracts efforts for reforestation and natural reconstruction of the site. For the needs of our research, the field experiments were applied at a high slope area situated at Moussouron municipality (Crete island - South Greece), where majorfire events recently took place and caused serious damages at the vegetation. Inspecific, neighboring areas of approximately 2.6km2 and 3.2km2 have been burnt in2003 and 2004, respectively. This case study area is mainly characterized by the Mediterranean climate, having extended dry periods during summer (5% of total rainfall) and periods with intensive rainfall during winter (95% of total rainfall). The area presents high relief alterations with intense slopes (~65% of the area has slopes over 20 degrees) and lithologically is mainly characterized by two basic formations; carbonate rocks at higher and schists at the lower altitudes. The aforementioned characteristics have caused the soil to intensively wash out just after the fires occurred. The main purpose of this research is to evaluate the correspondence between the amount of eroded material and the rain intensity, at conditions of recently burnt areas. In order to approach the problem, tree trunks in a parallel to the contour lines arrangement, were installed. This way the study area was split in numerous plots with predefined dimensions and precisely measured slopes. Just after each intense rainfall, thickness measurements of accumulated material were performed at each one of the tree trunks, while the runoff material was also estimated at the lowest parts of each plot. Αt the same time, using a rain gauge, rain intensity was also measured, in order to correlate this factor to the overall soilwashout. The research, performed within a period of 20 months with a total of 18 intense rain events, concludes to the rates of denudation and soil washout at non protected deforested areas and at the same time at areas were tree trunks were put as a prevention method. Particular preservation strategies and research methodologies adjusted to the needs of specific areas, may indeed act in favour of natural resources and retain ecological balance.
Mammography is accepted as the most effective method to detect breast cancer. However, interpreting a mammogram is not easy for not experienced radiologists. The aim of computer aided detection techniques in breast cancer is to improve the chance that a malignant region is detected and appropriately evaluated. Breast microcalcifications have been considered as a very useful index of malignancy, which helps in the early detection of breast cancer. A system of computer aided diagnosis has been developed that is based on detailed analysis and evaluation of related features of individual microcalcifications and of formed clusters helping the doctor to make risk estimation for each microcalcification cluster as well as for isolated microcalcifications. This information is considered to be very useful to radiologists, giving them extra input before making their estimation of each case. The aforementioned system has been thoroughly tested using a number of real life cases provided from collaborating doctors. Each case, apart from the mammograms, was accompanied by a biopsy test result, the patient's demographic data and medical history. A total of 200 cases (147 benign and 53 malignant) have been examined and the results are presented as the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) performance and are quantified using the ROC curve. The system is showing high levels of sensitivity identifying correctly all malignant cases.
The COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 test (Roche Diagnostics) was compared with the LCx HIV RNA quantitative assay (Abbott Laboratories), the Versant HIV-1 RNA 3.0 (bDNA) assay (Bayer) and the COBAS Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor v1.5 test (Roche Diagnostics), using plasma samples of various viral load levels from HIV-1-infected individuals. In the comparison of TaqMan with LCx, TaqMan identified as positive 77.5% of the 240 samples versus 72.1% identified by LCx assay, while their overall agreement was 94.6% and the quantitative results of samples that were positive by both methods were strongly correlated (r=0.91). Similarly, in the comparison of TaqMan with bDNA 3.0, both methods identified 76.3% of the 177 samples as positive, while their overall agreement was 95.5% and the quantitative results of samples that were positive by both methods were strongly correlated (r=0.95). Finally, in the comparison of TaqMan with Monitor v1.5, TaqMan identified 79.5% of the 156 samples as positive versus 80.1% identified by Monitor v1.5, while their overall agreement was 95.5% and the quantitative results of samples that were positive by both methods were strongly correlated (r=0.96). In conclusion, the new COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 test showed excellent agreement with other widely used commercially available tests for the quantitation of HIV-1 viral load.
The Z-disk region defines the lateral boundary of the sarcomere and requires a high level of mechanical strength to provide a stable framework for large filamentous muscle proteins. The level of complexity at this area is reflected by a large number of protein-protein interactions. Recently, we unraveled how the N-terminus of the longest filament component, the giant muscle protein titin, is assembled into an antiparallel (2:1) sandwich complex by the N-terminal titin-binding segment of the Z-disk ligand telethonin/T-cap [Zou, P., Pinotsis, N., Lange, S., Song, Y.H., Popov, A., Mavridis, I., Mayans, O.M., Gautel, M., Wilmanns, M., 2006. Palindromic assembly of the giant muscle protein titin in the sarcomeric Z-disk. Nature 439, 229-233]. In this contribution, we present structural data of a related complex of the titin N-terminus with full-length telethonin. The C-terminus of telethonin remains invisible, suggesting that it does not fold into a defined structure even in the presence of titin. In contrast to the structure with truncated telethonin, a dimer of two titin/telethonin complexes is formed within the crystal environment, potentially indicating the formation of higher oligomers. We further investigated the structure and dynamics of this assembly by small-angle X-ray scattering, circular dichroism, and in vivo complementation data. The data consistently indicate the involvement of the C-terminal part of telethonin into the assembly of two titin/telethonin complexes.
Mylonas K, Gari A, Giotsa A, Pavlopoulos V, Panagiotopoulou P. [Families in] Greece. In: Families across cultures: A 30-nation psychological study. Cambridge University Press; 2006. pp. 344-352.
We present ab-initio calculations of the electronic structure of small Fe clusters (1-9 atoms) on Ni( 001), Ni( 111), Cu( 001) and Cu( 111) surfaces. Our focus is on the spin moments and their dependence on cluster size and shape. We derive a simple quantitative rule that relates the moment of each Fe atom linearly to its coordination number. Thus, for an arbitrary Fe cluster the spin moment of the cluster and of the individual Fe atoms can be readily found if the positions of the atoms are known.
We present follow-up observations of pulsating sdB stars as part of our efforts to resolve the pulsation spectra for use in asteroseismological analyses. This paper reports on our overall efforts, but specifically on our results for the pulsating sdB stars KPD 2109+4401 and PG 0154+182.
We present follow-up observations of pulsating sdB stars as part of our efforts to resolve the pulsation spectra for use in asteroseismological analyses. This paper reports on our overall efforts, but specifically on our results for the pulsating sdB stars PG 1618+563 and EC 05217-3914.
Patsantaras N, Tsopani D, Dallas G, Kamberidou I, Mitsi T. Gender Issues in Rhythmic Gymnastics. In: ANNOUNCEMENT at the 1st International Congress in Rhythmic Gymnastics, Convegno Internazionale Ginnastica Ritmica CSAM, Torino Italy, 6-7 April. Torino, Italy: Convegno Internazionale Ginnastica Ritmica CSAM, Torino Italy; 2006.Abstract
Patsantaras, N., Tsopani, D., Dallas, G., Kamberidou, I., & Mitsi, T. (2006). "Gender Issues in Rhythmic Gymnastics". In proceedings of the Convegno Internazionale Ginnastica Ritmica CSAM: Identita e propelmatiche di questo sport, (1st international Rhythmic Gymnastics Congress), 6-7 April 2006, Torino Italy. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3940.0164 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ABSTRACT:
Rhythmic Gymnastics (RG) is exclusively a woman’s sport, in other words, men are explicitly excluded access. However, the characteristically ‘female-dominated nature’ of this sport (RG) is not without cause. The sport has been formulated according to predominating and prevailing social views and social values, including gender stereotyping, and thus is considered inappropriate and unacceptable for the ‘masculine’ nature or image of ‘masculinity’, including the male body aesthetic. On the contrary, it is considered the ideal means for the construction, the structure, the constitution and the expression of ‘femaleness’, ‘femininity’, and ‘womanhood’, as defined when this sport emerged. Today, although women are not denied access to sports, men are excluded. Namely, they are denied access to rhythmic gymnastics on the competition level. Discrimination, due to biological gender, is an element of social exclusion and social elimination that is actively present—a factor that is inconsistent with prevailing social and sport values, such as gender equality and gender equity. The purpose of this study is to convey and examine the current gender views of rhythmic gymnasts, judges, trainers, members of the technical committees, the audience and journalists, regarding the potential or imminent entrance of men in this sport (RG). Methodology: two hundred and ninety-nine (299) participants— rhythmic gymnasts, trainers, judges, journalists, members of the technical committee, parents and spectators (audience)— responded to a closed questionnaire. The statistical evaluation of the data was prepared with the SPSS v. 13 statistical package-program. Results: In all the above-mentioned categories, the majority supports the entrance and participation of men in the sport of Rhythmic Gymnastics. A small differentiation is displayed in the responses concerning the proposed competition programs, whereas enormous and conflicting differences of opinion are indicated, concerning probable-imminent higher ratings due to the entrance and participation of men in the sport. The trainers, the judges, the rhythmic gymnasts, the administrative and technical members favor the participation of men in RG., in contrast to the parents, the audience and the journalists. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the gender issue concerning men’s access to RG must be examined, unreservedly by the members of the International Federation of Gymnasts. Today, social exclusions and social elimination based on biological gender, as observed in sports and sports competitions, are outdated and anachronistic, not only in relation to wider-broader social values, but also to the value system of sports.
Key words: ‘female-dominated’ sport, gender stereotyping, the male body aesthetic, men’s access/inclusion in RG.
Principal objective of the research was studying Roman landscapes with thecombinatory analysis of environmental, geomorphological data and with softcomputing applications such as GIS and algorithms, designed specifically forarchaeological purposes. The identification and the modeling of the possibleRoman cadastral systems via traditional methodological approaches comprised avital stimulus for the technological oriented approaches. Geomorphologicalanalysis of the landscape along with the implementation of the algorithmstrengthens the reliability of the output models and provides significantinformation for the palaeoenvironment. Modelling the spatial organisation of theRoman landscape in the area of Beziers (south France) pre-supposes acombinatory study of the physicogeographical, the geomorphological, thegeological and the archaeological characteristics of the area. Signifying the landboundaries and the road network of the area during Roman period indicates astraight forward human intervention on the landscape. Though, studying modernlandscape’s environmental settings may hinder conclusions about earlier periodsof use of the area, unless environmental data, to be added in the model, isevaluated in advance. Considering that the data collected and mapped nowadaysmay not be found in situ, emphasis is placed in the potential displacement of thearchaeological data to be input in the Roman cadastral models. In conjunctionwith the geomorphological analysis of the data, an erosion model, based onFractals philosophy, has been also developed assessing the consistency of dataused to derive possible models of Roman cadastres.
Given a Poisson manifold P, if there exists a symplectic manifold Σ and a surjective submersion Σ → P then it is possible to quantize Σ and then “push” the results to P. This method of quantizing a Poisson manifold is known as symplectic realisation. In this paper we illustrate how this method is related with the integrability of Lie algebroids.
This article argues that the forms in -ontas, labeled participles or gerunds in the literature are in reality verbal adverbs or converbs. This hypothesis is tested on the basis of the cross- linguistic criteria proposed in Ηaspelmath & Κönig (eds., 1995). Special emphasis is placed on finiteness, which creates problems for these forms if defined in terms of agreement and tense/aspect specification. Ιt is shown that the forms are specified for both aspect and relative tense, but it is argued that this does not prevent them from being non-finite; on a scale of finiteness they would in fact be placed at a rather low point both within Greek and cross-linguisticalΙy and this not only allows them to be categorized as converbs, given that they meet aΙl the other criteria, but places them among the prototypical exponents of the category.
Syriopoulos T, Theotokas I, Lekakou M, Pallis A, Tsamourgelis I. Greek shipping industry, employment and competitiveness. A study for the Panhellenic Seamen Federation. University of the Aegean, Business School, Department of Shipping Trade and Transport, Chios. 2006.
We present self-similar semi-analytical solutions obtained in the framework of general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) which describe steady and axisymmetric outflows from the system of a hot coronal magnetosphere of a Schwarzschild black hole and its surrounding accretion disk. The model allows to extend previous non relativistic MHD studies for coronal winds from young stars to spine jets from Active Galactic Nuclei surrounded by disk-driven outflows, The collimation depends critically on an energetic integral measuring the efficiency of the magnetic rotator, similarly to the non relativistic case. The outflows are thermally driven and magnetically (thermally) collimated if the magnetic rotator is efficient (inefficient). It is also shown that relativistic effects affect quantitatively the depth of the gravitational well and the coronal temperature distribution in the launching region of the outflow. Similarly to previous analytical and numerical studies, relativistic effects tend to increase the efficiency of the thermal driving but reduce the effect of magnetic self-collimation.
We present self-similar semi-analytical solutions obtained in the framework of general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) which describe steady and axisymmetric outflows from the system of a hot coronal magnetosphere of a Schwarzschild black hole and its surrounding accretion disk. The model allows to extend previous non relativistic MHD studies for coronal winds from young stars to spine jets from Active Galactic Nuclei surrounded by disk-driven outflows, The collimation depends critically on an energetic integral measuring the efficiency of the magnetic rotator, similarly to the non relativistic case. The outflows are thermally driven and magnetically (thermally) collimated if the magnetic rotator is efficient (inefficient). It is also shown that relativistic effects affect quantitatively the depth of the gravitational well and the coronal temperature distribution in the launching region of the outflow. Similarly to previous analytical and numerical studies, relativistic effects tend to increase the efficiency of the thermal driving but reduce the effect of magnetic self-collimation.
Guided and quasiguided elastic waves in a glass plate coated on one side with a periodic monolayer of polymer spheres, immersed in water, are studied by means of accurate numerical calculations using the on-shell layer-multiple-scattering method. This system supports, in addition to the modes of the bare plate, almost dispersionless, slow modes which originate from the array of spheres. We calculate and analyze in detail the dispersion diagrams of the interacting modes of the composite slab, and provide a consistent interpretation of the underlying physics.
The electronic structure of the VAs compound in the zinc-blende structure is investigated using a combined density-functional and dynamical mean-field theory approach. Contrary to predictions of a ferromagnetic semiconducting ground state obtained by density-functional calculations, dynamical correlations induce a closing of the gap and produce a half-metallic ferromagnetic state. These results emphasize the importance of dynamic correlations in materials suitable for spintronics.
Zavitsanou A, Sypsa V, Petrodaskalaki M, Psichogiou M, Katsoulidou A, Boletis J, Hadjiconstantinou V, Karalis D, Kalapothaki V, Hatzakis A. Human herpesvirus 8 infection in hemodialysis patients. Am J Kidney DisAm J Kidney DisAm J Kidney Dis. 2006;47:167-70.Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) seroprevalence in Greek hemodialysis patients. Patterns of change in HHV-8 serostatus (seroconversions and seroreversions) over time were also evaluated. METHODS: Serum samples obtained from a cohort of 485 Greek hemodialysis patients were tested for antibodies to HHV-8 by whole virus lysate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and reactive samples were confirmed by means of the orf-73 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HHV-8 seroprevalence at study entry and the incidence of seroreversions and seroconversions per 100 person-years were estimated. RESULTS: The prevalence of HHV-8 antibodies in Greek hemodialysis patients at enrollment was 7.2%. No univariate associations were established between HHV-8 serostatus and patients' characteristics. Incidences of seroreversions and seroconversions were 16.4/100 person-years (95% confidence interval, 7.1 to 32.3) and 0.28/100 person-years (95% confidence interval, 0.03 to 1.02), respectively. Patients 50 years and younger had an increased probability for seroreversion to HHV-8 antibodies than patients older than 50 years (log-rank test, P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: We observed a fair number of seroreversions and a low incidence of seroconversion to HHV-8 infection in hemodialysis patients in Greece. Our data provide indirect evidence that HHV-8 transmission in the hemodialysis setting is uncommon.
Frequent viral upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) are considered to be risk factors for otitis media with effusion (OME). Atopy has also been associated with both OME and viral infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of viruses in middle ear effusions (MEE) in children 2-7 yr old with OME, and to determine risk factors for virus detection in the MEE. MEE samples, collected at the time of myringotomy from 37 children with OME were assessed. Physical examination, skin prick tests and a standardized questionnaire on OME and allergy were also performed. Viral RNA was detected by the use of reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Fifteen samples (40.5%) were positive for rhinovirus (RV). One enterovirus and no other respiratory viruses were detected. Two out of five (40%), 3/7 (43%) and 10/25 (40%) were positive for RV in acute, subacute and chronic cases, respectively. Children with frequent episodes of OM, with early onset of OM (<2 yr old), and a positive family history of allergy had a statistically increased risk of RV detection. The two groups were comparable with respect to all other parameters examined. RV is the predominant virus recovered by RT-PCR in the middle ear cavity of children with asymptomatic OME, especially those with a history of longstanding OME or repeated episodes, or children with a family history of allergy. Interactions between allergy and RV infections are likely to predispose to middle ear disease.
Epidemiological evidence examining the role of atopy and/or allergy in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME) is inconclusive. The aim of this study was to assess any increased risk for OME attributable to allergy-related factors, in a well-characterized population using a case-control design and multivariate analysis.|Eighty-eight 1-7-year-old children with OME, diagnosed by clinical and tympanometric evaluation and 80 matched controls were enrolled. A standardized questionnaire was completed, in order to assess factors related to OME and allergy-related symptoms and diagnoses using strict clinical definitions. Specific IgE was measured by skin-prick tests and/or CAP-FEIA.|The patient and control groups were well matched. Factors conferring increased risk for OME in the univariate analysis included IgE sensitization, dyspnea, wheezing, asthma, paroxysmal sneezing, rhinitis, eczema, 'any allergic disease,' family history of otitis media, and family history of allergy. After multivariate analysis IgE sensitization, wheezing, nasal obstruction, family history of otitis, and child-care attendance remained as independent risk factors for development of OME.|IgE sensitization and respiratory allergy symptoms are independent risk factors for the development of OME, suggesting that both immunological and mechanical pathways may contribute to the development of the disease. Otitis heritability provides additional risk, as well as frequent exposure to viral upper respiratory tract infections in children attending daycare. Treatment and/or prevention of OME using anti-allergic medications should be further examined.
Many studies have investigated APOE-related differences in cerebral structure, blood flow, metabolism, and activation in an attempt to detect early brain changes in subjects at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Structural magnetic resonance imaging studies have produced conflicting results, with some failing to detect APOE-related differences and others suggesting that epsilon4 carriers have more pronounced atrophy, particularly at medial temporal structures. All functional imaging studies done during rest in middle-aged and elderly subjects have found decreased cerebral metabolism for epsilon4 carriers (mostly in areas that usually are affected by AD), and some have reported faster cerebral metabolic reductions over time. Areas with decreased resting cerebral perfusion and metabolism, in addition to other areas with increased perfusion, have been reported in young epsilon4 carriers. Imaging studies done during the performance of various cognitive tasks in middle-aged and elderly subjects, and a single study in young subjects, have produced mixed results with regionally nonspecific increased, decreased, or nondifferential APOE-related activations depending on the cognitive task used. APOE-related findings in imaging studies of nondemented subjects may be the result of incipient AD pathologic changes or of genetic heterogeneity in brain structure and function.
Shafi M, Zhang M, Smith PJ, Moustakas AL, Molisch AF. The impact of elevation angle on MIMO capacity. In: Proc. IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC). ; 2006. pp. 4155-4160.
Decisions regarding the introduction of influenza immunization in healthy children require an accurate evaluation of influenza disease burden not only in the inpatient but also in the outpatient setting. We prospectively examined the impact of virologically confirmed influenza in 1462 outpatient children (> or = 6 months to < 14 years) and their families, during two consecutive influenza seasons. Influenza was documented in 573/1462 (39%) outpatients with febrile respiratory illness and accounted for 13.5% of all outpatient visits during the 14 weeks of each season. Acute otitis media (AOM) was the most common complication (18.5%) and about 40% of influenza positive patients received antibiotics. AOM and antibiotic use were more common in children younger than 5 years of age who accounted for 58% of all patients. For each child sick with influenza a mean of 1.34 workdays were lost by the parents. Family members of influenza positive children were more likely to develop a secondary respiratory illness and to require medical visits and antibiotic prescriptions. Influenza is associated with a heavy morbidity burden in the community that may be reduced considerably with the implementation of immunization in children younger than 5 years of age.
The in vitro activity of tigecycline was compared with those of benzylpenicillin, piperacillin + tazobactam, cefoxitin, imipenem, metronidazole, clindamycin, and tetracycline against 249 Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria (158 Bacteroides fragilis group, 27 non-fragilis Bacteroides spp., 44 Prevotella spp., and 20 miscellaneous), recently isolated from 8 general hospitals in Athens, Greece. Overall tigecycline MIC(50) and MIC(90) were 0.25 and 2 mg/L, respectively, whereas B. fragilis group MIC(50) and MIC(90) were 0.5 and 4 mg/L, respectively. In total, 93% of the isolates were susceptible to tigecycline (MIC /= 32 mg/L) was detected. In addition, tigecycline exhibited good activity against metronidazole- and tetracycline-resistant isolates (MIC(90), 0.5 and 8 mg/L, respectively). In summary, tigecycline exhibits good in vitro activity against Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria isolated in Greece, as well as stability to the most common occurring resistance mechanisms, attributes that make this parenteral agent an attractive alternative for use against infections involving these microorganisms.
During recent observations it was possible to increase the field of view for the Cassegrain telescope at the Kryoneri Astronomical Station of the National Observatory of Athens. The very small area of sky observable with the existing CCD, is a problem when larger fields need to be observed. A focal reducer was installed on the telescope thus increasing the observed area by a factor of about 4. The advantage is faster photometry and detection of very faint stars (>20 mag). A permanent focal reducer should be mounted on the telescope for the benefit of all observers.
In this study an attempt is made to assess the indoor air quality status of clinics of the Athens University School of Dentistry with respect to VOCs and CC2. Measurements were collected for a period of approximately three months in three clinics with the aid of portable instrumentation. It was found that the levels of VOCs concentrations are high, being attributed to the use of acrylic substances and dental materials but also to the detergent products for cleaning the working surfaces. The VOCs levels depend on the number of occupants and the material use as well as on the number of open windows. The corresponding background values remain high in all clinics. The levels of the concentrations of CO2 are considered in general satisfactory as compared to the international standards, however, they can exceed the intervention limit at certain hours of the day, suggesting poor air renewal. The opening of the windows was found to improve the air quality status.
Inflammatory leiomyosarcoma is a rare morphologic expression of smooth muscle tumor, which is more often found in the trunk, extremities, and retroperitoneoum. We present a case of inflammatory leiomyosarcoma arising near the ankle joint, superior to the medial malleolus, in a 55-year-old man. Immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and cytogenetics were used in the differentiation of this rare morphologic expression of leiomyosarcoma. As in all soft tissue leiomyosarcomas, the accurate prediction of the clinical behavior of this morphologic expression often proves to be difficult. Age, vascular invasion, depth, grade, tumor disruption, size, and stage have prognostic value. Nevertheless, prognosis of inflammatory leiomyosarcoma seems to be favorable when treated early with wide excision of the tumor as in the case presented. Sixteen months after excision of the tumor the patient is doing well with no signs of recurrence.
New uniform response criteria are required to adequately assess clinicaloutcomes in myeloma. The European Group for Blood and Bone MarrowTransplant/International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry criteria have beenexpanded, clarified and updated to provide a new comprehensive evaluationsystem. Categories for stringent complete response and very good partialresponse are added. The serum free light-chain assay is included to allowevaluation of patients with oligo-secretory disease. Inconsistencies in priorcriteria are clarified making confirmation of response and disease progressioneasier to perform. Emphasis is placed upon time to event and duration ofresponse as critical end points. The requirements necessary to use overallsurvival duration as the ultimate end point are discussed. It is anticipatedthat the International Response Criteria for multiple myeloma will be widelyused in future clinical trials of myeloma.
New precise times of minimum light for several early-type eclipsing binaries were obtained at three observatories. The changes of period of the following measured binaries are discussed: V1182 Aql, LY Aur, SZ Cam, FZ CMa, QZ Car, LZ Cen, V606 Cen, AH Cep and TU~Mus.
The competitive binding of diflunisal and three well-known uraemic toxins (3-indoxyl sulfate, indole-3-acetic acid and hippuric acid) to bovine serum albumin (BSA), human serum albumin (HSA) and human plasma was studied by direct potentiometry. The method used the potentiometric drug ion-probe technique with a home-made ion sensor (electrode) selective to the drug anion. The site-oriented Scatchard model was used to describe the binding of diflunisal to BSA, HSA and human plasma, while the general competitive binding model was used to calculate the binding parameters of the three uraemic toxins to BSA. Diflunisal binding parameters, number of binding sites, n(i) and association constants for each class of binding site, K-i, were calculated in the absence and presence of uraemic toxins. Although diflunisal exhibits high binding affinity for site I of HSA and the three uraemic toxins bind primarily to site II, strong interaction was observed between the drug and the three toxins, which were found to affect the binding of diflunisal on its primary class of binding sites on both BSA and HSA molecules and on human plasma. These results are strong evidence that the decreased binding of diflunisal that occurs in uraemic plasma may not be solely attributed to the lower albumin concentration observed in many patients with renal failure. The uraemic toxins that accumulate in uraemic plasma may displace the drug from its specific binding sites on plasma proteins, resulting in increased free drug plasma concentration in uraemic patients.
We perform a numerical simulation of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) radially self-similar jets, whose prototype is the Blandford & Payne analytical example. The final steady state that is reached is valid close to the rotation axis and also at large distances above the disc where the classical analytical model fails to provide physically acceptable solutions. The outflow starts with a subslow magnetosonic speed, which subsequently crosses all relevant MHD critical points and corresponding magnetosonic separatrix surfaces. The characteristics are plotted together with the Mach cones and the superfast magnetosonic outflow satisfies MHD causality. The final solution remains close enough to the analytical one, which is thus shown to be topologically stable and robust for various boundary conditions.
We perform a numerical simulation of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) radially self-similar jets, whose prototype is the Blandford & Payne analytical example. The final steady state that is reached is valid close to the rotation axis and also at large distances above the disc where the classical analytical model fails to provide physically acceptable solutions. The outflow starts with a subslow magnetosonic speed, which subsequently crosses all relevant MHD critical points and corresponding magnetosonic separatrix surfaces. The characteristics are plotted together with the Mach cones and the superfast magnetosonic outflow satisfies MHD causality. The final solution remains close enough to the analytical one, which is thus shown to be topologically stable and robust for various boundary conditions.
Πρόκειται για το κείμενο της ανακοίνωσης στο συμπόσιο με θέμα «Das Argument in der Literaturwissenschaft» (Αθήνα, 21-22 Μαϊου 2005), στην οποία έγινε προσπάθεια να αντιπαρατεθούν αναλύσεις της κωμωδίας του Heinrich von Kleist Amphitryon. EinLustspielnachMolière[Αμφιτρύων. Μια κωμωδία κατά τον Μολιέρο] (1807), αντιπροσωπευτικές διαφορετικών σχολών ερμηνείας του λογοτεχνικού κειμένου. Η σφοδρή αντιπαράθεση γύρω από την περιγραφή και αξιολόγηση του κειμένου του Kleist ξεκινά ήδη με τη δημοσίευσή του, αφού στις αρχές του 19ου αιώνα ένα δραματικό έργο με θέμα μυθολογικό κρίνεται με βάση τις αισθητικές θεωρίες του γερμανικού κλασικισμού γύρω από την αρχαιότητα και τη νεωτερικότητα. Έτσι ο Goethe εκφράζεται αρνητικά για το έργο του Kleist, επειδή θεωρεί ατυχή τη σύνδεση αρχαιότητας (αφελής Σωσίας) και νεωτερικότητας (συναισθηματικός Δίας) που το χαρακτηρίζει. Ο Goethe ενστερνίζεται πάντως την άποψη του επιμελητή της πρώτης έκδοσης, Adam Müller, περί της σύνδεσης του αρχαίου μύθου – που αναφέρεται στη γέννηση του Ηρακλή – με τον χριστιανικό, εκφράζοντας ταυτόχρονα ενστάσεις για τη διαμόρφωση της τελικής σκηνής, όπου ο Δίας επιφέρει τη λύση του δράματος ως από μηχανής θεός αρχαίου δράματος. Για τον διορατικό κριτικό Goethe ο σύγχρονος τρόπος που χειρίζεται ο Kleist το μυθικό θέμα οδηγεί σε μια εντελώς ιδιόμορφη σύνθεση όπου κυριαρχεί το παράδοξο, η σύγχυση του συναισθήματος, η απορία του αναγνώστη. Σύμφωνα με τον ρομαντικό Ludwig Tieck η σύγκριση με το πρότυπο, με την ανάλαφρη και πνευματώδη κωμωδία του Μολιέρου Αμφιτρύων (1668), αποβαίνει εις βάρος του έργου του Γερμανού συγγραφέα, αφού αυτός προσέδωσε στο θέμα μυστηριακό βάθος και ανάρμοστη τραγικότητα, για την οποία κυρίως ευθύνεται ο «εντελώς ανεξήγητος έρωτας» του Δία (Tieck). Η εμφανής αντίφαση του τέλους του δράματος προβληματίζει τους κριτικούς: όλα εξηγούνται μεν και όλες οι παρεξηγήσεις διαλύονται, αλλά η αποκατάσταση της τάξης δεν είναι πειστική, εφόσον οι άνθρωποι (Αμφιτρύων, Αλκμήνη) συμπεριφέρονται στο τέλος ως δυστυχή έρμαια της θεϊκής βούλησης. Έτσι, η φευγαλέα υπόσχεση του Δία λίγο πριν την ανάληψή του, για την επικείμενη έλευση του Ηρακλή, αξιολογείται ως η ευτυχής λύση του δράματος, αντίληψη ιδιαίτερα ανθεκτική στο χρόνο, εφόσον επανέρχεται σε πολλές διαφορετικές ερμηνευτικές προσεγγίσεις του κειμένου μέχρι τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες του 20ού αιώνα.Η μορφή του Δία και η αναφορά του στην επικείμενη γέννηση του σωτήρα της ανθρωπότητας Ηρακλή, ως ανταμοιβή του Αμφιτρύωνα και έκφραση της θεϊκής ευαρέσκειας, βρίσκονται στο επίκεντρο των ερμηνευτικών προσεγγίσεων των εκπροσώπων της Ερμηνευτικής Peter Szondi (1961 και 1964), Hans Robert Jauss (1979 και 1981) και Karlheinz Stierle (1979 και 1997). Παρά τις διαφοροποιήσεις τους στα επιμέρους θέματα που θίγουν, οι απόψεις τους συγκλίνουν στην αναζήτηση του βαθύτερου νοήματος που διέπει και οργανώνει το έργο και στην ανάδειξη του οποίου αυτό στοχεύει. Για τον Szondi η μορφή του Ηρακλή συμβολίζει την ενότητα θεού και ανθρώπου που δεν επιτεύχθηκε μεν στο δράμα, αλλά θα συμβεί στο μέλλον και θα σημάνει την υπέρβαση της τραγικότητας που χαρακτηρίζει τα κεντρικά πρόσωπα του έργου κατά την αναζήτηση και υπεράσπιση της ταυτότητάς τους, και κυρίως την Αλκμήνη, την οποία αναγνωρίζει ο Szondi ως την κεντρική μορφή της δράσης. Άρα ο Kleist προσδίδει στο θέμα εκ νέου τις μυθικές του διαστάσεις, που ο Μολιέρος είχε απομονώσει προς όφελος της αφήγησης ενός επίγειου και χαρίεντος κοινωνικού συμβάντος. Ο Szondi επισημαίνει ταυτόχρονα τον ιδιόμορφο τρόπο με τον οποίο ο Kleist προσλαμβάνει και παραλλάσσει το κείμενο του Μολιέρου, μένοντας σε μεγάλο βαθμό πιστός σε αυτό, ως να επρόκειτο για μετάφρασή του, και υποδεικνύει την ανάγκη περαιτέρω έρευνας επί του θέματος, κάτι που θα συμβεί αργότερα στα πλαίσια της Διακειμενικότητας (Fjordevik 2004) με ενδιαφέροντα συμπεράσματα για την ποιητική του Kleist γενικότερα. Για τον Hans Robert Jauss το κείμενο του Kleist αποτελεί απάντηση στις αναζητήσεις της εποχής γύρω από το θέμα της συγκρότησης ταυτότητας, όπως τις διατύπωσε ο Hegel. Έτσι είναι η δυαδική, διυποκειμενική σχέση η βάση για τη συγκρότηση ταυτότητας και όχι η αυτοσυνείδηση, ενώ ο Δίας είναι η αρχή που θέτει την αυτοσυνείδηση υπό αμφισβήτηση και ωθεί στην διερεύνηση της ταυτότητας μέσω της διυποκειμενικότητας, αλλά εμπλέκεται τελικά και ο ίδιος σ’ αυτήν την αμφισβήτηση. Ο Jauss δεν εκλαμβάνει ως εκ τούτου την αναφορά στην έλευση του Ηρακλή ως αρμονική λύση του δράματος, οι άνθρωποι συνεχίζουν να βιώνουν την διάσπαση της ταυτότητάς τους και η θεϊκή παρέμβαση δεν σημαίνει την υπόσχεση μελλοντικής ευτυχίας, αλλά είναι το έναυσμα για τη διαδικασία συγκρότησης ταυτότητας. Για τον Karlheinz Stierle ο Δίας είναι το απόλυτο, αδιαμφισβήτητο και αδιάσπαστο Εγώ που επιζητεί το Εμείς, φθάνοντας έτσι στα όρια των δυνατοτήτων του, και ο Ηρακλής η μορφή που παραπέμπει στη μελλοντική αρμονία και εξάλειψη των αντιθέσεων, εδώ ο Stierle συμφωνεί με τον Szondi. Οι δοκιμασίες, στις οποίες υποβάλλονται τα πρόσωπα του δράματος, είναι αντιπροσωπευτικές για τη θεματική που γενικά χαρακτηρίζει τα έργα του Kleist, δηλαδή την προβληματική σχέση μεταξύ συνείδησης και πραγματικότητας, που όμως εδώ, στην κωμωδία, σύμφωνα με τον Stierle έχουν αίσιο τέλος. Η αναφορά του Stierle στο είδος της κωμωδίας γίνεται στα πλαίσια της υπεράσπισης της ερμηνευτικής του προσέγγισης, που προτείνει για το δράμα μια μεταφυσική διάσταση και ένα υπερβατικό τέλος, έναντι νεότερων μεταδομιστικών και ψυχαναλυτικών ερμηνειών (Λακάν), σύμφωνα με τις οποίες το κείμενο ουδόλως αναπαριστά την πορεία προς μιαν επιτυχή συγκρότηση του υποκειμένου αλλά αντίθετα παρουσιάζει το φευγαλέο και εν τέλει ανέφικτο μιας τέτοιας προσπάθειας.
BACKGROUND: Achalasia is a progressive motility disorder of the esophagus, without a definitive cure. The principal method of palliation is myotomy of the distal esophagus. We analyzed the 5-year experience at our institution with laparoscopic Heller myotomy without an antireflux procedure to determine its results, particularly regarding postoperative gastroesophageal reflux.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients, mean age 43 years (range, 29-62 years) with clinical, manometric, x-ray, and endoscopic proof of achalasia were operated on and followed up for 24 months. Prior to being referred to surgery they had all undergone at least one pneumatic balloon dilation. The operative technique was a 7-cm myotomy that included the lower esophageal sphincter but did not exceed 5 mm of the gastric cardia. Follow-up consisted of clinical observation, cineesophagography, and 24-hour pHmetry.
RESULTS: All patients reported satisfactory to excellent results regarding dysphagia and no heartburn two years after the operation. The 24-hour pHmetry and the radiographic investigation showed no evidence of gastroesophageal reflux.
CONCLUSION: It seems that the risk of gastroesophageal reflux is very low when the cardiomyotomy does not exceed the length of 5 mm. Our results are in accordance with other observational studies as well as larger cohort and meta-analysis studies. Prospective randomized studies are needed to clarify the role of an antireflux procedure after laparoscopic Heller myotomy.
BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic splenectomy is considered the standard of care for the removal of the spleen in benign diseases. There are not sufficient data for the routine application of this technique in patients with beta thalassemia major.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight consecutive beta thalassemia major patients who underwent elective splenectomy were randomized for open and laparoscopic splenectomy. Patient demographics, operative time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, conversion rate, transfusions, and length of stay were recorded.
RESULTS: There was no mortality in this series. There was no difference in complication rates between the two groups. Operative time was markedly increased in the group treated laparoscopically, as was the need for blood transfusions. Median hospital stay was decreased in the laparoscopic group (5 days) compared to the open group (6.5 days).
CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic splenectomy in patients with beta thalassemia major is feasible; however, it is more time consuming and bleeding occurs more often.
We present an extension of the layer-multiple-scattering method to photonic crystals of nonspherical particles in a homogeneous host medium. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated on a specific example of a crystal of metallic spheroids. We report a thorough analysis of the optical properties of this crystal and discuss aspects of the underlying physics that relate to the nonspherical shape of the particles.
When citing: Kamberidou, Irene (2006). Le Corps dans la Société Ottomane / the Body and Ottoman Society. MESOGEIOS: Mediterranee, Histoire, People, Langues, Cultures, vol. 28: 13-29. Editions Herodotos, Paris, France. https://www.mollat.com/livres/598882/mesogeios-n-28-2006-les-relations-greco-russes-les-philosophes-physiciens-dans-la-grece-antique
Στην εργασία αυτή εξετάζονται οι μαρτυρίες έγκλειστων εξισλαμισμένων γυναικών στα Οθωμανικά χαρέμια όπως αυτές καταγράφηκαν από δυτικές περιηγήτριες του 18ου και του 19ου αιώνα, στη Μικρά Ασία, στην Ελλάδα, στην Κύπρο, στην Αίγυπτο και σε άλλες κατεχόμενες περιοχές της Οθωμανικής Αυτοκρατορίας. Καταδεικνύεται ότι το υπερβολικό πάχος, η ακινησία και η έλλειψη χάρης στο ανάστημα και στην κίνηση και για τα δύο φύλα, αντανακλούσαν το ατομικό κοινωνικό καθεστώς και θεωρούνταν κοινωνικά ‘προνόμια’ που ανήκαν μόνο στις υψηλότερες τάξεις των Μουσουλμάνων. Ο χορός, η παντομίμα, η τέχνη της ακροβασίας, η φυσική δραστηριότητα και γενικά οποιοδήποτε μορφή καλλιτεχνικής ή σωματικής έκφρασης, κίνησης, ενέργειας ή εκγύμνασης, ήταν όλα σύμβολα κοινωνικής κατωτερότητας. Οι δραστηριότητες αυτές θεωρούνταν ασχολίες, ή εργασίες που ενέπιπταν στην αρμοδιότητα των εξισλαμισμένων σκλάβων, δηλαδή των πρώην μη-μουσουλμάνων που είχαν βίαια ή ‘ομαλά’ εξισλαμισθεί, καθώς και των υπόδουλων/υποτελών λαών, όπως των Ελλήνων, των Αρμενίων, των Εβραίων και των Τσιγγάνων (Kamberidou 2006).
Orbital period changes of the eclipsing binaries GO Cyg and GW Cep are explained by the light-time effect for the first time. New minima of the eclipsing binary AR Aur improve the predicted light-time orbit. The light-time orbit with the quadratic ephemeris of the binary matches the new observations of V505 Sgr better than the linear one. As the light-time effect fits in corresponding O - C diagrams of all four systems have been reaching extreme values, the observations of minima times in forthcoming years are highly desirable.
Cette étude traite de l’influence de Claudel sur le milieu enseignant féminin au cours de la période de l’entre-deux-guerres. Nombre d’enseignantes et de futures enseignantes du secondaire public, intellectuelles – terme décliné alors au masculin – nourries des valeurs d’une République laïque et soumises à la règle imposant la neutralité scolaire, participent aux débats intellectuels de leur temps marqués par un renouveau spirituel. Paul Claudel tient une place privilégiée au sein de cette effervescence intellectuelle. Ce travail prend donc acte de l’intérêt que suscite dans ce milieu laïc l’oeuvre claudélienne et tente de faire émerger un aspect du versant féminin du mouvement intellectuel de cette période.Dans une première partie l’analyse porte sur les Sévriennes. Des témoignages (lettres, écrits autobiographiques d’anciennes Sévriennes), le dépouillement de la rubrique « Lectures » du Bulletin de l’Association des élèves et anciennes élèves de Sèvres révèlent la participation des futures professeures aux grands débats portant sur Dieu ainsi que l’intérêt qu’elles manifestent pour les écrits de l’auteur – intérêt soutenu par l’enseignement du professeur Paul Desjardins.La deuxième partie de l’étude tente de mettre en relief les affinités éclectiques entre Claudel et trois enseignantes qui ont publié leurs écrits dans la première moitié du XXe siècle : la philosophe Simone Weil, la littéraire Marguerite Aron et la germaniste Jeanne Ancelet-Hustache. Cette partie s’attache surtout à faire émerger leurs itinéraires privés et intellectuels.
We discuss acoustic waveguiding through weakly coupled defects along a line in a three-dimensional phononic crystal which possesses an absolute frequency gap. A chain of appropriately chosen defect cells induces modes of the elastic field over a narrow band of frequencies within the gap. We introduce a model of this band in the manner of a tight-binding description of defect bands in semiconductors and demonstrate the applicability of this model through a specific example of phononic crystal: a bubbly liquid. This allows an exact, practically analytic solution and a deeper physical insight into the processes involved.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate long-term trajectories of direct cost of caring for patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and examine the effects of patients' characteristics on cost longitudinally.
METHODS: The sample is drawn from the Predictors Study, a large, multicenter cohort of patients with probable AD, prospectively followed up annually for up to 7 years in three university-based AD centers in the United States. Random effects models estimated the effects of patients' clinical and sociodemographic characteristics on direct cost of care. Direct cost included cost associated with medical and nonmedical care. Clinical characteristics included cognitive status (measured by Mini-Mental State Examination), functional capacity (measured by Blessed Dementia Rating Scale [BDRS]), psychotic symptoms, behavioral problems, depressive symptoms, extrapyramidal signs, and comorbidities. The model also controlled for patients' sex, age, and living arrangements.
RESULTS: Total direct cost increased from approximately 9,239 dollars per patient per year at baseline, when all patients were at the early stages of the disease, to 19,925 dollars by year 4. After controlling for other variables, a one-point increase in the BDRS score increased total direct cost by 7.7%. One more comorbid condition increased total direct cost by 14.3%. Total direct cost was 20.8% lower for patients living at home compared with those living in an institutional setting.
CONCLUSIONS: Total direct cost of caring for patients with Alzheimer disease increased substantially over time. Much of the cost increases were explained by patients' clinical and demographic variables. Comorbidities and functional capacity were associated with higher direct cost over time.
By using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques we show that for T < 30 K the La0.875Sr0.125MnO3 compound displays a nonuniform charge distribution, comprised of two interconnected Mn ion subsystems with different spin, orbital, and charge couplings. The NMR results agree very well with the two spin wave stiffness constants observed at small q values in the spin wave dispersion curves [Phys. Rev. B 67, 214430 (2003)]. This picture is probably related to a yet undetermined charge and orbital superstructure occurring in the ferromagnetic insulating state of the La0.875Sr0.125MnO3 compound.
The propagation of elastic waves in macroscopically periodic composites consisting of core-shell spherical scatterers in a homogeneous host medium is studied by means of numerical calculations using the layer-multiple-scattering method. By an appropriate choice of the constituent materials, these crystals exhibit wide absolute frequency gaps, over which no elastic wave can propagate in the composite medium, whatever the direction of its propagation. We analyze the detailed structure of transmission spectra of finite slabs of such crystals in conjunction with the corresponding complex-band-structure and density-of-states diagrams, and emphasize aspects of the underlying physics which have not been discussed previously.
There are limited reports of young patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who presented with multiple lytic bone lesions but without intervening infiltration of bone marrow, a pattern consisting of macrofocal MM. In order to clearly define the clinical and laboratory features and outcome of such patients, a retrospective analysis was performed of symptomatic patients with MM ≤40 years of age at diagnosis who received primary treatment over a 20-year period. Ten of 51 patients fulfilled the criteria of macrofocal MM. When compared to patients with typical MM, patients with macrofocal pattern were less anemic, none had hypercalcemia, renal impairment, elevated serum LDH or stage 3 according to the International Staging System (ISS). Patients with macrofocal MM usually had preserved the uninvolved immunoglobulins. An objective response to primary treatment was noted in 55% of patients with macrofocal MM and in 50% of patients without this pattern. The median survival of patients with typical MM was 57 months and is projected to exceed 8 years in patients with macrofocal MM (p = 0.087). With macrofocal MM despite multiple lytic bone lesions, patients have features of low tumor burden and improved survival when compared with young patients with typical MM.
Jets in active galactic nuclei are collimated, relativistic flows that emanate from accretion disks around supermassive black holes. Electromagnetic stresses are the most plausible candidate for extracting energy at the source and converting it into outflow kinetic energy. Questions that need to be answered in order for these processes to be well understood are: Can we explain parsec-scale accelerations that the observations infer? How the conditions near the disk are related to the terminal Lorentz factor of the jet and what is the asymptotic value of the Poynting-to-matter energy flux ratio? Can we model the apparent kinematics of the observed jet components? I present solutions of the ideal magnetohydrodynamic equations that help to shed light on these questions.
Jets in active galactic nuclei are collimated, relativistic flows that emanate from accretion disks around supermassive black holes. Electromagnetic stresses are the most plausible candidate for extracting energy at the source and converting it into outflow kinetic energy. Questions that need to be answered in order for these processes to be well understood are: Can we explain parsec-scale accelerations that the observations infer? How the conditions near the disk are related to the terminal Lorentz factor of the jet and what is the asymptotic value of the Poynting-to-matter energy flux ratio? Can we model the apparent kinematics of the observed jet components? I present solutions of the ideal magnetohydrodynamic equations that help to shed light on these questions.
The magnetic properties of the Mg2FeV3O11-x ternary vanadate, characterized by disorder between diamagnetic Mg2+ and high-spin Fe3+ ions, are studied using dc magnetization and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The dc susceptibility shows antiferromagnetic interactions between Fe3+ spins with a Curie-Weiss temperature of Θ = -50(1) K, followed by spin-glass-like freezing at Tf ≈ 2.8 K, suggesting significant spin frustration. Temperature-dependent EPR measurements confirm the antiferromagnetic coupling of Fe3+ spins at high temperatures, while a distinct divergence is observed at T ≈ 50 K. This behavior is associated with the formation of spin clusters providing two different energy scales for the magnetic interactions. The magnetic response of Mg2FeV3O11-x is similar to that of the Zn-analogue compound, though the observed differences of the implicated energy scales indicate that magnetic inhomogeneity depends on the extent of cation disorder.
In the present work we study experimentally the influence that the domain structure of a ferromagnet (FM) has on the properties of a superconductor (SC) in bilayers and multilayers of La0.60Ca0.40MnO3/Nb and FePt/Nb proximity hybrids. Specific experimental protocols that were employed in the performed magnetization measurements enabled us to directly uncover a generic property of FM/SC hybrids: In the absence of an external magnetic field, the multidomain structure of the FM promotes the nucleation of superconductivity, while its monodomain state strongly suppresses it. Our experimental findings support recent theoretical studies [A. I. Buzdin and A. S. Mel'nikov, Phys. Rev. B 67, 020503(R) (2003); T. Champel and M. Eschrig, Phys. Rev. B 71, 220506(R) (2005)] that suggest the formation of the so-called domain-wall superconductivity and propose that when an inhomogeneous exchange field is offered by the FM to the SC the superconducting pairs are not susceptible to pairbreaking. In contrast, when magnetic homogeneity is restored in the FM the SC's properties are strongly suppressed.
Results are presented on component masses and system angular momenta for over 100 low-temperature contact binaries. It is found that the secondary components in close binary systems are very similar in mass. Our observational evidence strongly supports the argument that the evolutionary process goes from near-contact binaries to A-type contact binaries, without any need of mass loss from the system. Furthermore, the evolutionary direction of A-type into W-type systems with a simultaneous mass and angular momentum loss is also discussed. The opposite direction of evolution seems to be unlikely, since it requires an increase of the total mass and the angular momentum of the system.
OBJECTIVES: The development of an ICNP web-based nursing documentation system, and its evaluation for its usability, and its user acceptance.
METHODS: A web-based nursing documentation system was designed and implemented by using the Greek translation of ICNP beta 2 version nursing terminology. The system integrates the steps of nursing process for providing and documenting nursing care, while ICNP terminology is used for the description of nursing concepts. The system was evaluated by nurses in a computer laboratory. We measured the user interaction satisfaction mainly by using questionnaires and scenarios.
RESULTS: The nurses who evaluated the system possessed adequate basic computer skills; but low-to-moderate experience in clinical or hospital information systems; and insufficient experience with nursing vocabularies, and especially ICNP. Overall, they were satisfied enough with the system's usability and usefulness, while the acceptance level increased as the level of their training in computers, nursing process and ICNP was also increased. The integration and use in the system of predefined, or standardized, nursing concepts and care plans seems to increase the acceptance of the documentation system and also the ICNP.
CONCLUSION: The subjective satisfaction and response of the users towards the system is specified. The described system was evaluated under "laboratory conditions" and revealed some of its strong and weak points and some of the factors that influenced its success and acceptance by its users.
Using molecular dynamics simulations, we have explored the mechanical strength of the titin Z1Z2-telethonin complex, namely, its ability to bear strong forces such as those encountered during passive muscle stretch. Our results show that not only does this complex resist considerable mechanical force through beta strand crosslinking, suggesting that telethonin is an important component of the N-terminal titin anchor, but also that telethonin distributes these forces between its two joined titin Z2 domains to protect the proximal Z1 domains from bearing too much stress. Our simulations also reveal that without telethonin, apo-titin Z1Z2 exhibits significantly decreased resistance to mechanical stress, and that the N-terminal segment of telethonin (residues 1-89) does not exhibit a stable fold conformation when it is unbound from titin Z1Z2. Consequently, our study sheds light on a key but little studied architectural feature of biological cells-the existence of strong mechanical links that glue separate proteins together.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) and Alzheimer disease (AD) in a different AD population and to investigate possible mediation by vascular pathways. Design, Setting, Patients, and
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A case-control study nested within a community-based cohort in New York, NY. Adherence to the MeDi (0- to 9-point scale with higher scores indicating higher adherence) was the main predictor of AD status (194 patients with AD vs 1790 nondemented subjects) in logistic regression models that were adjusted for cohort, age, sex, ethnicity, education, apolipoprotein E genotype, caloric intake, smoking, medical comorbidity index, and body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared). We investigated whether there was attenuation of the association between MeDi and AD when vascular variables (stroke, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, lipid levels) were simultaneously introduced in the models (which would constitute evidence of mediation).
RESULTS: Higher adherence to the MeDi was associated with lower risk for AD (odds ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.67-0.87; P<.001). Compared with subjects in the lowest MeDi tertile, subjects in the middle MeDi tertile had an odds ratio of 0.47 (95% confidence interval, 0.29-0.76) and those at the highest tertile an odds ratio of 0.32 (95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.59) for AD (P for trend <.001). Introduction of the vascular variables in the model did not change the magnitude of the association.
CONCLUSIONS: We note once more that higher adherence to the MeDi is associated with a reduced risk for AD. The association does not seem to be mediated by vascular comorbidity. This could be the result of either other biological mechanisms (oxidative or inflammatory) being implicated or measurement error of the vascular variables.
OBJECTIVE: Previous research in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has focused on individual dietary components. There is converging evidence that composite dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) is related to lower risk for cardiovascular disease, several forms of cancer, and overall mortality. We sought to investigate the association between MeDi and risk for AD.
METHODS: A total of 2,258 community-based nondemented individuals in New York were prospectively evaluated every 1.5 years. Adherence to the MeDi (zero- to nine-point scale with higher scores indicating higher adherence) was the main predictor in models that were adjusted for cohort, age, sex, ethnicity, education, apolipoprotein E genotype, caloric intake, smoking, medical comorbidity index, and body mass index.
RESULTS: There were 262 incident AD cases during the course of 4 (+/-3.0; range, 0.2-13.9) years of follow-up. Higher adherence to the MeDi was associated with lower risk for AD (hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.83-0.98; p=0.015). Compared with subjects in the lowest MeDi tertile, subjects in the middle MeDi tertile had a hazard ratio of 0.85 (95% confidence interval, 0.63-1.16) and those at the highest tertile had a hazard ratio of 0.60 (95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.87) for AD (p for trend=0.007).
INTERPRETATION: We conclude that higher adherence to the MeDi is associated with a reduction in risk for AD.
Individuals with melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene variants have been shown to carry an increased risk for the development of melanoma. In this study, we investigated the relationship of MC1R gene variants and the risk of melanoma in 123 melanoma patients and 155 control subjects from Greece. The entire MC1R gene was sequenced for polymorphisms and the results were correlated with host factors and pigmentary characteristics. MC1R polymorphisms were present in 59.4% of melanoma patients compared to 37.5% of controls, yielding an odds ratio (OR) of 2.43 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.50-3.96, P < 0.001) for melanoma among MC1R carriers. The risk of melanoma was enhanced in individuals carrying multiple variant alleles (OR = 6.97; 95% CI = 1.86-26.12, P = 0.004). Only the Val60Leu, Arg142His, and Arg151Cys variants were significantly associated with melanoma risk. In stratified analysis, the risk of melanoma among MC1R carriers was not influenced by skin phototype, skin color, or hair color. No association was found between MC1R genotype and the age of onset of melanoma, the tumor location, or the tumor thickness. In conclusion, MC1R polymorphisms are a predisposing factor of melanoma in a southern European population with a relatively low incidence of the disease.
Salpea KD, Tsarpalis KK, Kolovou GD, Anagnostopoulou KK, Pavlidis AN, Mikhailidis DP, Hoursalas IS, Cokkinos DV. Metabolic syndrome and gender differences in postprandial lipaemia. In: European Heart Journal. Vol. 27. OXFORD UNIV PRESS GREAT CLARENDON ST, OXFORD OX2 6DP, ENGLAND; 2006. pp. 940–940.
Gerolymatos PG, Manenkov AB, Tigelis IG, Amditis AJ. Metal iris influence on guided-mode diffraction. Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics and Image Science, and Vision [Internet]. 2006;23:1333-1339. Website
Karakostas V, Karamanos C, Papadimitriou E, Kassaras I, Makropoulos K. Microseismicity and faulting geometry in central Greece. 1st European Conference on Earthquake Engineering and Seismology 2006 (1st ECEES): Joint Event of the 13th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering and the 30th General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission, Geneva, Switzerland, 3–8/09/20 [Internet]. 2006;8:5779-5788. Publisher's VersionAbstract
During November 2004 – June 2005 a digital seismological network was deployed in the eastern part of central Greek mainland, in an area seismically active in the 20th century, particularly in the decade of fifties. The strongest earthquake (M=7.0) occurred in 1954, while the last strong one in 1980 (M=6.5). In total 18 Reftek digital loggers (both 72A–07 and R–130) were installed assembled with fifteen guralp CMG40T broadband and three Le_1Hz seismometers. The average spacing between stations was of the order of 20 km to ensure earthquake depth accuracy. Local earthquakes with P– and S– arrivals at four or more stations were located using HYPOINVERSE computer program. Data analysis using the Double Difference technique did not changeconsiderably the spatial distribution of the earthquake foci. The best–recorded earthquakes were used to define a reasonable crustal structure. Lateral variations of the crustal model taken into account, calculating time delays for each station. By this way, earthquakes inside the network or close to its boundaries were located with high accuracy in both the epicenter and focal depth. In addition, focal mechanisms of earthquakes with proper azimuthal coverage were computed. Seismicity covers most of the area and is distributed mainly in clusters along active structures. A magnitude M=3.9 earthquake, was the largest local one recorded by this network (5 December 2004, 17:58 UTC), close to the focal area of the 1980 strong earthquake. Several cross sectionsstriking normal to the trend of the clusters of the epicenters reveal the geometry of the active structures as well as the width of the seismogenic layer. Most of the focal mechanisms exhibit normal faulting and were used along with the microseismicity foci in the cross sections for the definition of the properties of the faults that activated during the experiment.
The complete sequence of the apiculate wine yeast Hanseniaspora uvarum mtDNA has been determined and analysed. It is an extremely compact linear molecule containing the shortest functional region ever found in fungi (11 094 bp long), flanked by Type 2 telomeric inverted repeats. The latter contained a 2704-bp-long subterminal region and tandem repeats of 839-bp units. In consequence, a population of mtDNA molecules that differed at the number of their telomeric reiterations was detected. The functional region of the mitochondrial genome coded for 32 genes, which included seven subunits of respiratory complexes and ATP synthase (the genes encoding for NADH oxidoreductase subunits were absent), two rRNAs and 23 tRNA genes which recognized codons for all amino acids. A single intron interrupted the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene. A number of reasons contributed towards its strikingly small size, namely: (1) the remarkable size reduction (by >40%) of the rns and rnl genes; (2) that most tRNA genes and five of the seven protein-coding genes were the shortest among known yeast homologs; and (3) that the noncoding regions were restricted to 5.1% of the genome. In addition, the genome showed multiple changes in the orientation of transcription and the gene order differed drastically from other yeasts. When all protein coding gene sequences were considered as one unit and were compared with the corresponding molecules from all other complete mtDNAs of yeasts, the phylogenetic trees constructed robustly supported its placement basal to the yeast species of the 'Saccharomyces complex', demonstrating the advantage of this approach over single-gene or multigene approaches of unlinked genes.
Time-series CCD photometry of the contact system V839 Oph on May, June and July 2004 showed a continuous brightening of the system in all phases of the light curve. A possible explanation of this brightening could be enhanced (magnetic) activity of the system, also noticed in the past. Mass transfer and/or energy exchange between the two components can explain the observed increase of brightness. All possible cases, concerning the location and shape of the spotted area, are discussed and the most probable model is presented.
Development of accurate and efficient models on erosion risk mapping are difficult to be applied on different environmental parameters, mainly due to the complexity of the integrated parameters. In this study the developed GIS model is based on the theory of Boolean logic. The rules integrate the main parameters for erosion, e.g. vulnerability, slope, drainage density, although it is easy for more parameters to be added. As case study area Penteli mountain (North-East Attiki) was selected, that suffers from intense erosion, mainly due to the last severe fire events. With the aim of restraining erosional processes, combinatory strategies, such as assignment of tree trunks parallel to contours, have been applied. The results of this study include a model for erosion, deposition and material transfer. Complementary, a GIS based model was developed so as to define the movement of eroded material within the different drainage basins of the area. The model defines the erosional and depositional sites and the results are confirmed by the measurements on the tree trunks.
In this work we study the modulation of superconductivity in combinatorial films (CFs) that are constructed by anisotropic CoPt ferromagnetic particles (FPs) randomly embedded in high-quality Nb layers of thickness 200 nm. In the constructed CFs the FPs are embedded in only half of the Nb layers. In this way we studied the modulation of superconductivity directly by performing transport measurements on the hybrid and pure superconducting areas of the CFs simultaneously under the application of the same dc current. Modulation of superconductivity and magnetic memory effects appeared only at the hybrid part of the CFs. This proves that superconductivity can be noticeably controlled under the action of the dipolar fields of FPs. The enhancement of the superconducting regime on the H-T operational diagram suggests that such hybrids can be attractive for current-carrying applications. In addition, magnetoresistive elemental superconducting devices could be based on our CFs. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
This study aimed to estimate the overall HCV genotype distribution and to reconstruct the HCV genotype-specific incidence in Greece during the recent decades. It also focused at the identification of genotype 4 subtype variability in Greek isolates. A total of 1686 chronically infected HCV patients with detectable serum HCV RNA by RT-PCR, belonging to different risk groups were studied. Amplified products from the 5'-noncoding region were typed using a commercially available assay based on the reverse hybridization principle. The HCV genotype-specific incidence was estimated using a previously described back calculation method. HCV genotype 1 was the most prevalent (46.9%) followed by genotype 3 (28.1%), 4 (13.2%), 2 (6.9%) and 5 (0.4%). A high prevalence of genotype 1 (66.3%) in haemophilia patients was recorded whereas HCV genotype 3 was found mainly among patients infected by I.V. drug use (58.2%). Data on the temporal patterns of HCV genotype-specific incidence in Greece revealed a moderate increase (1.3-1.6 times) for genotypes 1 and 4, and a decrease (1.5 times) for genotype 2 from 1970 to 1990, whereas there was a sharp (13-fold) increase for genotype 3. The molecular characterization of 41 genotype 4 HCV isolates belonging to various risk groups revealed that, subtype 4a was the most frequently detected (78%). Phylogenetic comparison of the Greek 4a isolates with all HCV-4a isolates reported worldwide so far revealed a topology which does not discriminate Greek isolates from the others. HCV-4 does not represent a recent introduction in Greece.
The morphological characteristics of a coastal reef that is observed along the Ammoudara beach (6 km to the west of the city of Heraklion, Crete) are investigated in relation to the sedimentology and modern evolution of the adjacent beach zone. The reef has a length close to 4 km, a mean width close to 35m and is located at a distance of 60 m from the shoreline at an average water depth of 2.6m, while the seaward water depth exceeds 3m. Its height above the seafloor, exceeds 80 cm, reaching in places less than 0.5 m from the sea surface. It has two layers; the lower one which consists of fine grained (sandy) material and is approximately 40 cm thick and the upper layer, around 30 cm thick, consisting of relatively coarse,grained material (gravel and sand). Moreover, on the surface of the upper layer, runnels are observed, whilst distinguished cross bedding, similar to that observed in aeolian deposits, exists within the bottom layer. The reef is not present in front of the active mouths of the rivers Gazanos and Xiropotamos which debouch in the coastal area of Ammoudara. The western end of this submerged reef is attached to the beach face, exhibiting the characteristics of a typical beach,rock formation. On the basis of the above, it is concluded that the reef under investigation it is a submerged beach rock which indicates the position of a former coastline that is now submerged due to a relative sea level rise of approximately 0,5m.
We studied by Mossbauer spectroscopy the Na0.82CoO2 compound using 1% 57 Fe as a local probe which substitutes for the Co ions. Mossbauer spectra at T = 300 K revealed two sites which correspond to Fe3+ and Fe4+. The existence of two distinct values of the quadrupole splitting instead of a continuous distribution should be related with the charge ordering of Co+3, Co+4 ions and ion ordering of Na(1) and Na(2). Below T = 10 K part of the spectrum area, corresponding to Fe4+ and all of Fe3+, displays broad magnetically split spectra arising either from short-range magnetic correlations or from slow electronic spin relaxation. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
We investigate the effect of an external magnetic field of variable orientation and magnitude (up to 20T) on the linear near-field optical absorption spectra of single and coupled III-V semiconductor quantum dots. We focus on the spatial as well as on the magnetic confinement, varying the dimensions of the quantum dots and the magnetic field. We show that the ground-state exciton binding energy can be manipulated utilizing the spatial and magnetic confinement. The effect of the magnetic field on the absorption spectra, increasing the near-field illumination spot, is also investigated. The zero-magnetic-field “structural” symmetry can be destroyed varying the magnetic field orientation and this affects the near-field spectra. The asymmetry induced (except for specific orientations along symmetry axes) by the magnetic field can be revealed in the near-field but not in the far-field spectra. We predict that near-field magnetoabsorption experiments, of realistic spatial resolution, will be in the position to bring to light the quantum dot symmetry. This exceptional symmetry-resolving power of the near-field magnetoabsorption is lost in the far field. The influence of the Coulomb interactions on the absorption spectra is also discussed. Finally, we show that certain modifications of the magnetoexcitonic structure can be uncovered using a realistically acute near-field probe of ≈20nm.
The central nervous system is often affected in patients with congenital toxoplasmosis. However, hypothalamo-pituitary dysfunction has rarely been reported in children with congenital toxoplasmosis, and no case with prolonged fever of central origin has been documented so far. We describe a newborn with congenital toxoplasmosis who presented with fever due to hypothalamo-pituitary dysregulation and combined hypothalamo-pituitary deficiencies consisting of central diabetes insipidus, hypothyroidism and ACTH deficiency.
We report on the results of a series of photometric observations of the low-amplitude δ Scuti star GSC 4778:0324, in the course of a multi-site campaign aiming at monitoring V1162 Ori. The two dominant frequencies, found in the previous analyses based on the 2000-2002 data, are confirmed and their amplitudes are found to be stable on a time-scale of a few years.
Primary lymphoma of the upper urinary tract is an extremely rare entity without specific clinical or laboratory findings. Thus, this particular diagnosis is rarely anticipated and might well be reached only after nephroureterectomy. We describe a patient with primary follicular and diffuse follicle center lymphoma arising in the renal pelvis that was treated with surgery and postoperative immunochemotherapy. Furthermore, we review the literature regarding the treatment and outcome of this rare disease.
Iannaccone G, Ungarelli C, Governale M, Macucci M, Gardelis S, Smith CG, Cooper J, Ritchie DA, Linfield EH, Jin Y. Non-Invasive charge detectors.; 2006 pp. 213-227. Website
Steady axisymmetric outflows originating at the hot coronal magnetosphere of a Schwarzschild black hole and surrounding accretion disk are studied in the framework of general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD). The assumption of meridional self-similarity is adopted for the construction of semi-analytical solutions of the GRMHD equations describing outflows close to the polar axis. In addition, it is assumed that relativistic effects related to the rotation of the black hole and the plasma are negligible compared to the gravitational and other energetic terms. The constructed model allows us to extend previous MHD studies for coronal winds from young stars to spine jets from Active Galactic Nuclei surrounded by disk-driven outflows. The outflows are thermally driven and magnetically or thermally collimated. The collimation depends critically on an energetic integral measuring the efficiency of the magnetic rotator, similarly to the non relativistic case. It is also shown that relativistic effects quantitatively affect the depth of the gravitational well and the coronal temperature distribution in the launching region of the outflow. Similarly to previous analytical and numerical studies, relativistic effects tend to increase the efficiency of the thermal driving but reduce the effect of magnetic self-collimation.
Purpose: (1) To develop novel scaled bioequivalence (BE) limits with levelling-off properties based solely on variability considerations and (2) to evaluate their performance in comparison to the classic unscaled BE limits 0.80-1.25, the expanded BE limits 0.75-1.33 and the recently proposed Geometric Mean Ratio (GMR)-dependent scaled BE limits BELscW (Karalis et al., Eur. J. Pharm. Sci., 26:54-61, 2005). Materials and Methods: Two model functions were used to ensure the gradual change of the BE limits from a starting value towards a predefined plateau value. Plots of the new BE limits and extreme GMR values ensuring BE as a function of the coefficient of variation (CV) were constructed. Two-period crossover BE studies with 12, 24, or 36 subjects were simulated assuming CV values from 10 to 60%. Power curves were constructed by recording the percentage of accepted BE studies as the true GMR was raised from 1.00 to 1.50. The percentage of the true GMR within the simulated BE limits vs. true GMR was used to evaluate the estimation accuracy of the scaled methods. Results: Depending on the parameters' values of the model functions, the scaled BE limits exhibit different performance. Four new scaled BE limits, showing favourable performance for the evaluation of average BE are presented. At low variability levels two of the novel BE limits show similar performance to the 0.80-1.25 criterion, while the other two (as expected from their design) appear to be less permissive. At high CV values (30, 40%) all new BE limits exhibit much higher statistical power than the 0.80-1.25 criterion. They show almost identical behavior with the expanded 0.75-1.33 limits and appear to be less permissive than BELscW. Finally, the percentage of the true GMR within the simulated BE limits vs. true GMR shows a sharp decline. Due to the absence of the GMR factor in the model functions a more accurate estimation of the new scaled BE limits, compared to BELscW, is observed. Conclusions: The new scaled BE limits appear to be highly effective at all levels of variation investigated and present satisfactory estimation accuracy.
We present a functional analysis of the last alpha-helical transmembrane segment (TMS12) of UapA, a uric acid-xanthine/H+ symporter in Aspergillus nidulans and member of the nucleobase-ascorbate transporter (NAT) family. First, we performed a systematic mutational analysis of residue F528, located in the middle of TMS12, which was known to be critical for UapA specificity. Substitution of F528 with non-aromatic amino acid residues (Ala, Thr, Ser, Gln, Asn) did not affect significantly the kinetics of UapA for its physiological substrates, but allowed high-capacity transport of several novel purines and pyrimidines. Allele-specific combinations of F528 substitutions with mutations in Q408, a residue involved in purine binding, led to an array of UapA molecules with different kinetic and specificity profiles. We propose that F528 plays the role of a novel-type selectivity filter, which, in conjunction with a distinct purine-binding site, control UapA-mediated substrate translocation. We further studied the role of TMS12 by analysing the effect of its precise deletion and chimeric molecules in which TMS12 was substituted with analogous domains from other NATs. The presence of any of the TMS12 tested was necessary for ER-exit while their specific amino acid composition affected the kinetics of chimeras.
Dumbrajs O, Kominis Y, Avramides KA, Hizanidis K, Vomvoridis JL. Numerical study of the hamiltonian gyrotron map. In: IRMMW-THz 2006 - 31st International Conference on Infrared and Millimeter Waves and 14th International Conference on Terahertz Electronics. ; 2006. pp. 199. Website
Composite materials with periodic variations of density and/or sound velocities, so-called phononic crystals, can exhibit bandgaps where propagation of acoustic waves is forbidden. Phononic crystals are the elastic analogue of the well-established photonic crystals and show potential for manipulating the flow of elastic energy. So far, the experimental realization of phononic crystals has been restricted to macroscopic systems with sonic or ultrasonic bandgaps in the sub-MHz frequency range. In this work, using high-resolution Brillouin spectroscopy we report the first observation of a hypersonic bandgap in face-centred-cubic colloidal crystals formed by self-assembly of polystyrene nanoparticles with subsequent fluid infiltration. Depending on the particle size and the sound velocity in the infiltrated fluid, the frequency and the width of the gap can be tuned. Promising technological applications of hypersonic crystals, ranging from tunable filters and heat management to acousto-optical devices, are anticipated.
BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is increasingly recognized in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Clinical and pathologic features overlap in frontotemporal lobar dementia and ALS. Demographics, respiratory status, bulbar site of onset, and disease severity are potential risk factors for cognitive impairment in ALS.
OBJECTIVES: To further delineate the frequency, nature, and implications of cognitive impairment in ALS and to assess previously identified risk factors.
DESIGN: Case-control and retrospective cohort study.
SETTING: Academic referral center.
PARTICIPANTS: Forty consecutive patients with ALS underwent baseline neurologic and neuropsychologic examinations. Cognitive test performance was compared in patients with ALS and matched controls. An exploratory analysis of the relationship between cognitive performance and ALS survival was performed.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neuropsychologic test performance, ALS severity, and survival.
RESULTS: Twelve patients (30%) showed evidence of cognitive impairment, including 9 (23%) who met the neuropsychologic criteria for dementia. No statistically significant differences were found between demented and nondemented ALS groups regarding demographics, family history, site of onset, bulbar dysfunction, or ALS severity. Only 1 patient with dementia had bulbar-onset disease. An association was observed between increasing ALS severity and declining verbal fluency performance. Demented patients with ALS showed predominant impairment in free recall, executive function, and naming, with relative preservation of attention, psychomotor speed, and visuospatial function. No association was observed between cognition and survival, controlling for ALS severity.
CONCLUSIONS: Nearly a third of the patients with ALS showed evidence of cognitive impairment in a pattern consistent with frontotemporal lobar dementia. Cognitive performance was not related to site of onset or survival.
Background: There is limited information about the benefit from systemic chemotherapy in non-pure Transitional Cell Carcinomas (TCCs) of the urothelial tract. In this study the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with pure squamous or mixed carcinomas was retrospectively analysed and compared with that in pure TCCs. Patients and Methods: Analysis included 446 consecutive patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. There were 389 (87%) patients with pure TCC, 15 (3.5%) with pure Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCC) and 42 (9.5%) patients had mixed histology (TCC+SCC) tumors. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics (gender, PS, haemoglobin, sites of metastases) although disease in the pelvis was more frequent in mixed tumors than in pure TCCs (46% vs. 30%, p=0.034). Median survival for patients with TCC histology was 11.3 months, for SCC patients 13.6 months and 10.4 months for patients with mixed histology (p=0.720). Response rates were 44% for patients with TCC, 27% for patients with SCC and 34% for mixed histology patients (p=0.210). Multivariate analysis showed that presence of visceral metastases and poor performance status, were associated with worse prognosis in mixed histology tumors. Conclusion: Non-transitional histology does not predict for an inferior survival after platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma. Well-known prognostic factors in transitional cell carcinomas were also associated with prognosis in mixed carcinomas.
. In: Sophie Linon-Chipon, VAj D Relations savantes. Voyages et discours scientifiques. PARIS: PUPS; 2006. pp. 51-63. Publisher's VersionAbstract
Au XVIIIe siècle, les savants français se sont intéressés à la flore et à la faune de l’Orient. L’État français a subventionné des expéditions et des voyages scientifiques, qui avaient comme objectif de décrire et d’étudier les richesses naturelles de l’Orient méditerranén. Souvent, les voyageurs, parmi lesquels figurent des médécins et des botanistes célébres essayaient d’identifier les plantes médicinales, qui étaient citées par les auteurs anciens et byzantins. De plus, ils cherchaient à découvrir des plantes médicinales rares, afin de s’en servir pour la fabrication de médicaments nouveaux. Menée essentiellement dans les archives du Muséum d’histoire naturelle de Paris, notre étude, qui s’appuie sur des récits et des traités des voyageurs et des savants, cherche à mettre en lumière la présence de l’histoire naturelle dans la littérature viatique et sa contribution au progrès et à l’avancement de la science. Notons que les auteurs des traités scientifiques, se sont servis du matériel réuni lors des voyages et expéditions scientifiques, qu’ils n’avaient pas été inclus dans leurs récits viatiques. La présente étude vise à situer les recherches sur la flore et la faune de l’Empire ottoman dans le cadre général de la circulation des idées du siècle des Lumières.
The Z-disk of striated and cardiac muscle sarcomeres is one of the most densely packed cellular structures in eukaryotic cells. It provides the architectural framework for assembling and anchoring the largest known muscle filament systems by an extensive network of protein-protein interactions, requiring an extraordinary level of mechanical stability. Here we show, using X-ray crystallography, how the amino terminus of the longest filament component, the giant muscle protein titin, is assembled into an antiparallel (2:1) sandwich complex by the Z-disk ligand telethonin. The pseudosymmetric structure of telethonin mediates a unique palindromic arrangement of two titin filaments, a type of molecular assembly previously found only in protein-DNA complexes. We have confirmed its unique architecture in vivo by protein complementation assays, and in vitro by experiments using fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The model proposed may provide a molecular paradigm of how major sarcomeric filaments are crosslinked, anchored and aligned within complex cytoskeletal networks.
Pancreatic tuberculosis is a rare clinical setting manifesting in various ways. Most often, enlarged peripancreatic lymph nodes or growing tuberculomas compress adjacent organs, leading to biliary tract or gastrointestinal obstruction. Clinical examination, laboratory data, and imaging are all unspecific. Diagnosis is frequently misguided toward neoplasia requiring surgical intervention. However, the role of surgery in pancreatic tuberculosis ends in tissue sampling, abscess drainage, and bypassing obstruction. We present three cases of pancreatic tuberculosis: two caused by obstructive jaundice and the third caused by gastric outlet obstruction. All patients were operated on. Whipple's procedure was performed in one patient, and biliary and duodenal bypassing in the remaining patients. Diagnosis was decided by histopathology in all three cases. Medical treatment was effective in all patients. Although pancreatic tuberculosis is a medical disease, surgery is frequently used. Maintaining a high level of suspicion can assist in avoiding unnecessary laparotomies and solving this medical dilemma.
Temporoparietal and posterior cingulate metabolism deficits characterize patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). A H(2)(15)O resting PET scan covariance pattern, derived by using multivariate techniques, was previously shown to discriminate 17 mild AD patients from 16 healthy controls. This AD covariance pattern revealed hypoperfusion in bilateral inferior parietal lobule and cingulate; and left middle frontal, inferior frontal, precentral, and supramarginal gyri. The AD pattern also revealed hyperperfusion in bilateral insula, lingual gyri, and cuneus; left fusiform and superior occipital gyri; and right parahippocampal gyrus and pulvinar. In an independent sample of 23 outpatients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) followed at 6-month intervals, the AD pattern score was evaluated as a predictor of cognitive decline. In this MCI sample, an H2(15)O resting PET scan was carried out at baseline. Mean duration of follow-up was 48.8 (SD 15.5) months, during which time six of 23 MCI patients converted to AD. In generalized estimating equations (GEE) analyses, controlling for age, sex, education, and baseline neuropsychological scores, increased AD pattern score was associated with greater decline in each neuropsychological test score over time (Mini Mental State Exam, Selective Reminding Test delayed recall, Animal Naming, WAIS-R digit symbol; Ps<0.01-0.001). In summary, a resting PET covariance pattern previously reported to discriminate AD patients from control subjects was applied prospectively to an independent sample of MCI patients and found to predict cognitive decline. Independent replication in larger samples is needed before clinical application can be considered.
The first complete CCD light curves of the eclipsing binary systems AX Virginis and V1034 Cygni have been obtained in the B, V, R, I and V, R, I filters, respectively, during the spring and summer of 2004 with the 40-cm telescope of the University of Athens Observatory. The light curves were analyzed with the W-D program in order to determine the geometrical and physical parameters of the systems.
The extensive long-term CCD and photoelectric photometric observations of the classical symbiotic star YY Her covering the period of its post-outburst activity (JD 2 451 823 -- 2 452 996) are presented. We explain the periodic variations of the brightness of YY Her by the eclipses of the components in the symbiotic system. The model with a deformed (non-homogeneous) envelope, surrounding the white dwarf is discussed. In addition, we observed a flare in about JD 2 452 440, during the primary minimum, that was later followed by an energetic outburst in JD 2 452 700.
Tsopani D, Dallas G, Patsantaras N, Kamberidou I, Tinto A, Louka A. Physical Appearance in Rhythmic Gymnastics: code of point and current perceptions. In: ANNOUNCEMENT at the Convegno Internazionale Ginnastia Ritmica: Identita e propelmatiche di questo sport, 6-7 Aprile 2006 (Torino Italy). Torino, Italy: Convegno Internazionale Ginnastia Ritmica (1st international Rhythmic Gymnastics Congress); 2006.Abstract
Tsopani, D., Dallas, G., Patsantaras, N., Kamberidou, I., Tinto, A., & Louka, A. (2006). "Physical Appearance in Rhythmic Gymnastics: code of point and current perceptions". Announcement in Proceedings of the Convegno Internazionale Ginnastia Ritmica: Identita e propelmatiche di questo sport, (1st international Rhythmic Gymnastics Congress), 6-7 April 2006, Torino Italy. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.1.1482.4161Physical Appearance in Rhythmic Gymnastics, April 2006, Torino Italy.pdf [K.6 in Apella]
New high-quality CCD photometric light curves for the W UMa-type systems V410 Aur, CK Boo, FP Boo, V921 Her, ET Leo, XZ Leo, V839 Oph, V2357 Oph, AQ Psc and VY Sex are presented. The new multicolor light curves, combined with the spectroscopic data recently obtained at David Dunlap Observatory, are analyzed with the Wilson-Devinney code to yield the physical parameters (masses, radii and luminosities) of the components. Our models for all ten systems resulted in a contact configuration. Four binaries (V921 Her, XZ Leo, V2357 Oph and VY Sex) have low, while two (V410 Aur and CK Boo) have high fill-out factors. FP Boo, ET Leo, V839 Oph and AQ Psc have medium values of the fill-out factor. Three of the systems (FP Boo, V921 Her and XZ Leo) have very bright primaries as a result of their high temperatures and large radii.
Burwitz V, Pietsch W, Stefanescu A, Schrey F, Hatzidimitriou D, Reig P, Papamastorakis G. Possible Nova in M31. [Internet]. 2006;884:1. WebsiteAbstract
We report the discovery of a possible nova in M31 on an R filter CCD image (2006 September 17.03741, 17.1 mag) obtained at the 1.3m Ritchey Chretien f/7.5 Telescope at Skinakas Observatory, Crete, Greece using the Roper CCD Camera (with a SITE 1k x 1k chip with 24um sq. pixels). The position obtained for the nova candidate is RA(2000) = 00h 42m 41.45s, Dec(2000) = +41° 14' 44.55" with an accuracy of 0.11".
Akman OH, Karadimas C, Gyftodimou Y, Grigoriadou M, Kokotas H, Konstantinidou A, Anninos H, Patsouris E, Thaker HM, Kaplan JB. Prenatal diagnosis of glycogen storage disease type IV. Prenatal diagnosis. 2006;26(10):951-955.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in breast cancer tissues. DESIGN AND METHODS: Four different PCR methods for detection and verification of genital HPVs were applied in frozen breast cancer specimens. Tumors were also evaluated for various histopathological parameters. RESULTS: Seventeen samples out of 107 tested positive (15.9%). HPV RFLP typing identified a total of 21 high-risk viruses: fourteen HPV 16 (67% of all detected HPV types), three HPV 59, two HPV 58, one HPV 73 and one HPV 82 (one sample with double infection and two samples with triple infection). Breast cancer patients harboring high-risk HPV DNA sequences in their tumor were younger than the rest of the patients. Furthermore, they were less estrogen-receptor-positive and more proliferative as observed in the corresponding indices: Ki-67 staining, S-phase/proliferative fractions and percentage of cells with DNA content over 5C. CONCLUSION: The presence of high-risk HPV DNA sequences in the breast cancer tissues studied was verified, and a possible association with acceleration of malignancy was examined
The aim of this retrospective study was to illustrate the clinicopathologic data and the treatment results in patients with primary gastrointestinal tract non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (GI NHL). Among 810 patients with NHL, 128 cases (15.8%) were diagnosed as primary GI tract NHL. There were 79 males and 49 females with median age of 62 years. The most common primary site was the stomach (68%). Overall, 67.2% of the patients were in stages I-II, and 32.8% in stages III-IV. Simultaneous involvement of the GI tract and other extranodal sites was observed in 26 patients (20%). Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MZBL) (i.e., low-grade lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type) accounted for 48.4% of lymphomas. Aggressive lymphomas (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [DLBL]) accounted for 44.5%. Eighty-three patients (67.5%) achieved complete response (CR), either by surgery (43/ 43 patients, 17 with DLBL and 25 with MZBL) or by primary chemotherapy (40/64 patients, 22 with DLBL and 17 with MZBL). Sixty-two patients remain in CR; 33/43 after surgical resection (13/17 with DLBL and 20/25 patients with MZBL), and 29/40 after only chemotherapy (18/22 with DLBL and 10/17 with MZBL). The major prognostic factor for outcome in the present study was the stage of the disease. Patients with localized lymphoma (stage I and II) had significantly longer DFS and OS (DFS and OS at 3-year: 83% and 87%, respectively) than patients with extended disease (stage III and IV) (DFS and OS at 3-year: 46% and 60%, respectively) (P < 0.0001). The International Prognostic Index (IPI) for patients with aggressive lymphomas was prognostic only for DFS (79% for low-risk patients [IPI score 0-1] vs 49% for higher risk groups [IPI score 0-1] at 3-year, P = 0.0131).
Thin films of Ag(111) with two-dimensional crystallinity of large lateral coherence grow on Ge(111), free of in-plane registry with the underlying substrate. Ag s-p electrons forming two-dimensional quantum well states scatter coherently at the buried interface potential, resulting in an unexpected set of new quasiparticle states, as observed by angle-resolved photoemission. These new features originate from interactions among Ag quantum well bands, gaining a momentum equivalent to a reciprocal vector of the substrate lattice.
Mertzimekis TJ. Probing the $T_z$=-3/2 nuclei via magnetic moment measurements. In: E. Mavrommatis, A. Karabarbounis SE, Tsapalis A Advances in Nuclear Physics. National & Kapodistrian University of Athens: Hellenic Nuclear Physics Society; 2006. pp. 144–148.
Purpose: Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma characterized by a relatively indolent course with median survival ranging from 5 years to 10 years in different series. Several clinical and laboratory variables have been associated with inferior survival, such as advanced age, hyperviscosity, presence of cytopenia, and hypoalbuminemia. Recent data indicate that serum β2-microglobulin (β2M) might also be significant. The purpose of our study was to assess possible correlations of β2M with clinical and laboratory variables and to further evaluate its association with cause-specific and overall survival (OS) of patients with WM requiring treatment. Patients and Methods: We analyzed 124 patients with WM with an available pretreatment value of β2M. Median age was 70 years (range, 28-89 years), and median survival was 105 months. Multiple clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated for their possible correlation with OS. Results: Patients with older age, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, and higher creatinine levels had significantly greater serum β2M levels. This variable was associated with impaired cause-specific survival and OS in the whole group of patients and in patients aged ≤ 70 years. More specifically, OS for all patients according to serum β2M > 4 mg/dL versus ≤ 4 mg/dL was 79 months versus 115 months (P = 0.01). Conclusion: Our data provide further evidence that high β2M levels are an important parameter associated with inferior OS and cause-specific survival of patients with WM requiring treatment. This parameter may be used to stratify patients involved in prospective clinical trials.
BACKGROUND: Although dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) may be one of most common forms of dementia, relatively little is known about its cognitive and functional course.
OBJECTIVE: To compare change over time in general cognitive status, memory test performance, psychiatric symptoms, neurological signs, and functional abilities in patients with probable DLB and probable Alzheimer disease (AD).
DESIGN: Twenty-eight patients who met diagnostic criteria for DLB were recruited into the study from 3 sites. Patients with AD (n = 55) were selected from a larger cohort and matched 2 to 1 to the patients with DLB on age and baseline global cognitive status. Patients were followed up at 6-month intervals for an average of 6.2 visits and assessed at each visit with tests of global cognitive functioning and verbal learning and memory and measures of psychiatric, neurological, and functional status.
RESULTS: At the baseline evaluation, patients with DLB performed more poorly on a measure of constructional praxis and all measures of functional status. They also had more severe psychiatric symptoms and neurological signs than the AD group. Despite these initial differences, generalized estimating equations applied to regression analyses with repeated measures determined that the only difference between the 2 groups in change in cognitive test performance was on a measure of recognition memory; patients with AD declined, while patients with DLB remained relatively stable. Patients with DLB had relatively stable behavioral symptoms and visual illusions, whereas patients with AD had a significant increase in these symptoms over time. Neurological and functional changes over time were similar in the 2 groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Both baseline and longitudinal differences between patients with DLB and patients with AD were noted; these have implications for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
A new sample of contact systems, consisting of more than 100 stars, was created for binaries for which the physical parameters have been determined using both photometric light curves and radial velocity measurements of both components. Properties of components are discussed including their evolutionary status.
The influence of the structural quality of a normal metal-superconductor interface on the strength of the proximity effect is studied for the cylindrical geometry of bulk Cu-Nb multifilamentary composite samples. In as-drawn Cu-Nb samples the superconducting properties induced to the Cu matrix due to its proximity with Nb filaments are manifested in the magnetization measurements through a pronounced peak positioned in the low-field regime. By systematic annealing in an extended temperature regime for various durations we changed the structural quality of the Cu-Nb interfaces and as a result their transparency to the superconducting carrier. The direct comparison of scanning electron microscopy images with magnetization data revealed that the distortion of the Cu-Nb interfaces is responsible for the suppression of the proximity effect. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Ο παρών συλλογικός τόμος αποτελεί προϊόν των εργασιών του Οικολογικού Εργαστηρίου που έλαβε χώρα στα Σεμινάρια της Ερμούπολης τον Ιούλιο του 2005, σε ένα διήμερο αφιερωμένο στη μνήμη του Νίκου Καίσαρη, με θέμα: «Η Πολιτική Οικολογία στην Ελλάδα». Το σεμινάριο συνδιοργανώθηκε από τα οικολογικά περιοδικά "Οικοτοπία" & "Δαίμων της Οικολογίας" και τις εργασίες προετοίμασαν και συντόνισαν οι Σάκης Κουρουζίδης, Λεωνίδας Λουλούδης, Γιάννης Σακιώτης και Γιάννης Σχίζας.Η Ευώνυμος Οικολογική Βιβλιοθήκη αποφάσισε την έκδοση των στοχασμών και προβληματισμών που ανέπτυξαν στο γόνιμο πνευματικά περιβάλλον των Σεμιναρίων της Ερμούπολης οι συγγραφείς του τόμου, αφενός για να τιμήσει τον αξέχαστο φίλο και συνεργάτη Νίκο Καίσαρη, πρωτεργάτη της πολιτικής οικολογίας στην Ελλάδα, αφετέρου πιστεύοντας ότι συμβάλλει στην καλλιέργεια ενός συστηματικού δημόσιου διαλόγου για την πορεία και τις προοπτικές της πολιτικής οικολογίας στη χώρα μας.
Psallas MICHAEL, Tentolouris N, Papadogiannis D, Doulgerakis D, Kokkinos A, Cokkinos DV, Katsilambros N. QT dağılımı Diyabette mikroalbüminüri ilişkisi ve. Journal of Diabetes and its Complition. 2006;2:75–86.
The aim of this study is to describe an alternative technique, using radio frequency energy to perform pericystectomy for hepatic echinococcosis. We present 3 patients with hepatic echinococcosis who were treated with radio frequency ablation (RFA)-assisted pericystectomy. A Radionics Cooltip Radio Frequency System (Tyco, Greece, Radionics) with a single shaft 15 cm long needle electrode and a 2 cm exposure tip, was used. The needle electrode was inserted in consecutive sites into the "healthy" hepatic parenchyma close to the cyst wall, so that a tissue zone around the cystic cavity was gradually ablated. The complete ablation of a site was followed by sharp division of the parenchyma. The operation completed successfully in all patients. Minor bleeding and/or bile leakage were successfully controlled with RFA coagulation. No other hemostatic method was used. The postoperative course was uneventful. No evidence of recurrent disease, or any other cause of morbidity, has been demonstrated at follow up (2 y). RFA-assisted pericystectomy for hepatic hydatid disease in experienced hands, might be useful to perform a "sterile" resection, eradicating single or multiple cysts and preventing local recurrence, with minimal morbidity.
Teixeira A, André P, Stevan Jr. S, Silveira T, Tzanakaki A, Tomkos I. Raman amplification based on multiple low-power lasers. In: Proceedings of the Advanced International Conference on Telecommunications and International Conference on Internet and Web Applications and Services, AICT/ICIW'06. Vol. 2006. ; 2006. pp. 85. Website
This paper we report on an interdisciplinary project for modelingGreek chant with real-time vocal synthesis. Building on previousresearch, we employ a hybrid musical instrument: Phonodeon(Georgaki et al. 2005), consisting of a MIDI-accordeon coupled toa real-time algorithmic interaction and vocal synthesis engine.The synthesis is based on data provided by the AOIDOS programdeveloped in the Department of the Computer science of theUniversity of Athens, investigating Greek liturgical chantcompared to bel canto singing. Phonodeon controls expressivevocal synthesis models based on formant synthesis andconcatenated filtered samples. Its bellows serve as hardwarecontrol device that is physically analogous to the human breathingmechanism [georgaki, 1998a], while the buttons of the right handcan serve multiple functions. This paper focuses on a particularaspect of control, namely that of playing in the traditional nontemperedand flexible interval structure of Greek modes (ήχοι:echoi) while using the 12-semitone piano-type keyboard of theleft hand. This enables the musical exploration of the relationshipbetween the spectral structure of the vocal timbre of Greek chantand characteristic intervals occuring in the modal structure of thechant. To implement that, we developed techniques forsuperimposing interval patterns of the modes on the keyboard ofthe phonodeon. The work is the first comprehensive interactivemodel of antique, medieval and modern near-eastern tunings. Thetechniques developed can be combined with techniques for othercontrol aspects, such as timbre and vocal expression control,phoneme or (expressive/ornamental/melodic pattern, inflection)sequence recall and combination, data record on/off, or others,which form part of the phonodeon project. This research can findapplications in many computer music fields such asalgorithmically controlled improvisation, microtonal music, musictheory and notation of (algorithmic/computerized) real-timeperformance, and computer modeling of experimental or nonwesternmusical styles.
Švancara I, Baldrianová L, Tesařová E, Hočevar SB, Elsuccary SAA, Economou A, Sotiropoulos S, Ogorevc B, Vytřas K. Recent advances in anodic stripping voltammetry with bismuth‐modified carbon paste electrodes. Electroanalysis: An International Journal Devoted to Fundamental and Practical Aspects of ElectroanalysisElectroanalysis: An International Journal Devoted to Fundamental and Practical Aspects of Electroanalysis. 2006;18:177-185.
There is a wide range of alternative approaches to study erosion processes. In this paper the construction of a model based in the interaction of Geographical Information System (GIS) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) is described. The neural model uses supervised competitive learning process. The whole procedure starts with the digitization of the data and the definition of the input variables: such as slope form and gradient, lithology and vegetation - landuse. The neural modeltransforms the input variables into the erosion risk output variable. Thus, the last stage regarded the creation of an erosion risk zones map. For case study was chosen the island of Corfu (Greece). The island consists of lithologies very vulnerable to erosion and receives considerable amounts of rainfall, especially if compared to the rest of the Greek territory. Finally, the whole model was tested and the proper function of the model was confirmed by field data observations.
Background. Lipoprotein(a), Lp(a), has been recognized as an atherogenic and thrombogenic lipoprotein in the general population and in hemodialysis (HD) patients. In addition, fibrinogen and fibronectin may promote atherothrombosis. The aim of this study was to investigate any possible relationship between Lp(a) and thrombogenic coagulation proteins in non-diabetic HD patients. Patients and Methods. Serum Lp(a) and plasma fibrinogen, plasminogen, and fibronectin levels were measured pre-HD in 60 uremic patients (30 male, 30 female) aged 58.6 ± 8.0 years who had been receiving HD treatment for 61.3 ± 50.7 months. The control group comprised 20 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. All patients were receiving erythropoietin treatment. Results. The mean serum Lp(a) (33.88 ± 34.12 mg/dL) and plasma fibrinogen (329.45 ± 80.62 mg/dL) levels were significantly higher in the HD patients compared with those in the controls (16.70 ± 10.36 and 254.00 ± 43.34 mg/dL, respectively; p < .05 and p < .001, respectively). Plasminogen levels did not differ between the HD patients (11.64 ± 3.22 mg/dL) and the control group (10.67 ± 1.41 mg/dL, p>.05). Fibronectin levels were slightly increased in the HD patients (33.96 ± 5.49 mg/dL) versus in the control group (30.9 ± 5.80 mg/dL, p < .05). There was a significant positive correlation between Lp(a) and fibrinogen levels (r = 0.305, p < .02), as well as between Lp(a) and fibronectin levels (r = 0.360, p < .01). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between fibrinogen and fibronectin levels (r = 0.587, p < .0001). Conclusions. According to our results, in non-diabetic HD patients, abnormal serum Lp(a) levels significantly correlated with abnormal levels of fibrinogen and fibronectin. There is a concern that the relationship between these atherogenic and thrombogenic acute-phase proteins may contribute to the increased incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in this patient population.
Jets in active galactic nuclei are collimated, relativistic flows that emanate from accretion disks around supermassive black holes. Electromagnetic stress- es are the most plausible candidate for extracting energy from the source and converting it into outflow kinetic energy. Questions that need to be answered in order for these processes to be well understood are: Can we explain parsec-scale accelerations that the observations infer? How the conditions near the disk are related to the terminal Lorentz factor of the jet and what is the asymptotic value of the Poynting-to-matter energy flux ratio? Can we model the apparent kinematics of the observed jet components? I present solutions of the ideal magnetohydrodynamic equations that help to shed light on these questions.
AGN are associated with relativistic winds and jets. We discuss the application of meridionally self-similar models to winds and jets from hot relativistic coronae, in particular in the central region of accretion disks. We try to understand the respective role of the disk and the central super massive black hole in the source of the jet as well as the classification of those jets. If the orientation of the jet respectively to the observer is one of the key to understand the standard classification, another parameter is the energy distribution of the magnetic rotator which efficiency should increase between jets from Seyferts and jets from Fanaroff Riley (FR) objects. Moreover the thermal confinement in FRI jets may turn out to be more important than in the magnetically confined FRII jets whose environment is clearly poorer. This scenario deduced from analytical modeling needs further investigation trough numerical simulations.
AGN are associated with relativistic winds and jets. We discuss the application of meridionally self-similar models to winds and jets from hot relativistic coronae, in particular in the central region of accretion disks. We try to understand the respective role of the disk and the central super massive black hole in the source of the jet as well as the classification of those jets. If the orientation of the jet respectively to the observer is one of the key to understand the standard classification, another parameter is the energy distribution of the magnetic rotator which efficiency should increase between jets from Seyferts and jets from Fanaroff Riley (FR) objects. Moreover the thermal confinement in FRI jets may turn out to be more important than in the magnetically confined FRII jets whose environment is clearly poorer. This scenario deduced from analytical modeling needs further investigation trough numerical simulations.
We present the results of extensive time-series photometry of the pulsating subdwarf B star KPD 2109 + 4401. Our data set consists of 29 data runs with a total length of 182.6h over 31d, collected at five observatories in 2004. These data comprised high signal-to-noise ratio observations acquired with larger telescopes and wider time-coverage observations obtained with smaller telescopes. They are sufficient to resolve the pulsation structure to 0.4 μHz and are the most extensive data set for this star to date. With these data, we identify eight pulsation frequencies extending from 4701 to 5481μHz, corresponding to periods of 182-213s. The pulsation frequencies and their amplitudes are examined over several time-scales with some frequencies showing amplitude variability.
A first approach on the reconstruction of the climate history of SE Aegean Sea during the last 18kyrs is recorded in the 400cm-long high sedimentation NS14 core collected in the vicinity of Nisyros Island. The results concerning the sea surface conditions during late Pleistocene-Holocene are acquainted through multi-proxy analyses of algal and organic biomarkers and comparison with pollen assemblages, defining eight paleoenvironmental units that imply their response to climatic changes.
The role of respiratory viral infection in the development of asthma remains unclear. A number of factors play crucial roles, including the type of virus, the severity of the disease, the time of the infection, and, most important, the host predisposition. On the other hand, there is little doubt that a strong association exists between viral respiratory infections and induction of wheezing illnesses and asthma exacerbations. The underlying mechanisms, although not fully clarified, are likely to be multifactorial, involving inflammation of the bronchial mucosa, which interacts under certain circumstances with allergic inflammation. In addition, repetitive infections play an important role in perpetuating inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness, especially in the presence of atopy, leading from childhood asthma to a more persistent asthma phenotype.
We present a first-principles Study of the unreconstructed (001) surfaces of the half-metallic ferromagnet NiMnSb. Both terminations (MnSb and Ni) are considered. We find that half-metallicity is lost at the surfaces. After a discussion of the geometric relaxations and the spin-polarized surface band structure, we focus on topography images which are expected to be found with spin-polarized scanning tunnelling microscopy. For the MnSb-terrninated surface we find that only the Sb atoms are visible, reflecting a geometric buckling caused by relaxations. For the Ni-terminated surface we find a strong contrast between the images of forward and reverse tip-sample-bias of 0.5 eV, as well as a stripe-like image for reverse bias. We interpret these findings in terms of highly directional Surface states which are formed in the spin-down gap region.
99mTc-2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) scintigraphy has been suggested in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. According to the International Staging System (ISS), serum b2-microglobulin (Sβ2M) and serum albumin (SA) are dominant predictive factors and different cut-off values of these factors can separate patients into various stages of the disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between ISS staging, by Sβ2M and SA, and the 99mTc-MIBI scan findings. Twenty-five MM patients have been studied. Eighteen patients were at stage I, three at stage II and four at stage III of MM. 99mTc-MIBI scans were obtained and scored according to intensity (I) and extent (E) of the radiotracer uptake. A summed score (S) for the 99mTc-MIBI scan was calculated for each patient. A statistically significant negative correlation between E, I and S uptake scores versus the SA levels (P=0.004, 0.049 and 0.018 respectively), as well as a statistically significant positive correlation between E and S scores and the Sβ2M levels (P=0.012 and 0.032) were detected. A statistically significant difference between the E and S uptake scores among the MM patients examined for every stage separately was also found (P=0.007 and 0.024 respectively). The gradual increase of the E and S scores across the three stages of MM was also significant (P=0.003 and 0.021 respectively), despite the relatively small number of patients in stages II and III. In seven patients who died at the end of the follow-up period all three scores were significantly increased as compared to the scores of the patients who remained alive at that time. In conclusion, this study provides additional evidence that 99mTc-MIBI scan not only reflects myeloma disease activity in bone marrow but it is also well correlated with the Sβ2M and SA levels according to ISS.
We report a case of septic arthritis due to Roseomonas mucosa in a rheumatoid arthritis patient receiving infliximab therapy. This is the first report of septic arthritis due to R. mucosa, and infliximab therapy might be a predisposing factor because this infection was never reported in the pre-anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha therapy period.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the alterations of serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C during pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG-IFNa) plus ribavirin (RIB) treatment and to correlate them with clinical and virological outcomes.
STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-two consecutive patients (29 males, age=41.2+/-14.7 years) with chronic HCV-related liver disease (six cirrhotics) were evaluated for PCT levels at baseline and during the treatment course (at week 12, 24, 48 and 72) with PEG-IFNa plus RIB. Sustained virological response (SVR) was confirmed by undetectable serum HCV-RNA at the end of treatment and again 6 months after completion of treatment.
RESULTS: Two patients exhibited culture-proved bacterial infections during the treatment course. Thirty-six patients (69.2%) exhibit SVR and 16 (30.8%) were non-responders. Serum PCT levels remained within normal limits (0.1-0.5 ng/mL) in all treated patients throughout the follow-up period except those two who exhibited bacterial infections during the treatment course. Virological responders exhibited significant decline of serum PCT levels over time compared to non-responders (p<0.001), even when adjusted for multiple baseline parameters (p=0.037).
CONCLUSION: Serum PCT levels decline in chronic hepatitis C patients during PEG-IFNa plus RIB treatment, especially in the sustained virological responder group, while they elevate only when bacterial infections complicate the treatment course.
We tested the hypothesis that age-related time production deficits are dopamine-mediated. The experiment was conducted double-blind, and with random assignment of 32 healthy aged and 32 healthy young participants to either inert placebo or levodopa (200 mg) groups. The procedure included training participants to produce two target time intervals (6 and 17 sec) in separate blocks, drug/placebo administration, a 1-hr delay, and then delayed free-recall time production retesting without feedback. Participants also performed a speeded choice reaction time (RT) task, as a control for potential dopaminergic and aging effects on attention and psychomotor speed. Results indicate that during retesting, aged participants show duration-dependent timing errors that are larger than those shown by the young participants. Levodopa administration yielded lengthened time production of both target intervals. The aging and levodopa effects did not interact. Also, aging slowed RT and increased RT variability, but levodopa had no effect on the RT. These results suggest that at this dosage and under these specific conditions, timing is dopamine-mediated but the effect of aging on time production is not. Moreover, the levodopa timing effect cannot be attributed to the effects of dopaminergic function on psychomotor speed.
The occupational health and safety management constitutes a field of increasing interest. Institutions in cooperation with enterprises make synchronized efforts to initiate quality management systems to this field. Computer networks can offer such services via TCP/IP which is a reliable protocol for workflow management between enterprises and institutions. A design of such network is based on several factors in order to achieve defined criteria and connectivity with other networks. The network will be consisted of certain nodes responsible to inform executive persons on Occupational Health and Safety. A web database has been planned for inserting and searching documents, for answering and processing questionnaires. The submission of files to a server and the answers to questionnaires through the web help the experts to make corrections and improvements on their activities. Based on the requirements of enterprises we have constructed a web file server. We submit files in purpose users could retrieve the files which need. The access is limited to authorized users and digital watermarks authenticate and protect digital objects. The Health and Safety Management System follows ISO 18001. The implementation of it, through the web site is an aim. The all application is developed and implemented on a pilot basis for the health services sector. It is all ready installed within a hospital, supporting health and safety management among different departments of the hospital and allowing communication through WEB with other hospitals.
We report on the influence of the microstructure on the AC and DC magnetic properties of Cu-3.5% Nb nanofilamentary wires. Samples obtained from a single Cu-3.5% Nb wire were subsequently submitted to different plastic strain levels via drawing so that their microstructure was altered. Noticeable differences are observed in their isothermal DC magnetization curves that present a double-peak structure. The first peak, which occurs at low magnetic fields, is attributed to superconductivity induced in the Cu matrix due to the proximity effect. It is argued that the second peak is related exclusively to niobium. The dependence of these two distinct peaks on the characteristic nanometre length scales of the samples, i.e. dimension of the Nb filaments and interfilamentary spacing, are discussed.
Nemaline myopathy (NM), the most common non-dystrophic congenital myopathy, is a variably severe neuromuscular disorder for which no effective treatment is available. Although a number of genes have been identified in which mutations can cause NM, the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to the phenotypes are poorly understood. To address this question, we examined gene expression patterns in an NM mouse model carrying the human Met9Arg mutation of alpha-tropomyosin slow (Tpm3). We assessed five different skeletal muscles from affected mice, which are representative of muscles with differing fiber-type compositions, different physiological specializations and variable degrees of pathology. Although these same muscles in non-affected mice showed marked variation in patterns of gene expression, with diaphragm being the most dissimilar, the presence of the mutant protein in nemaline muscles resulted in a more similar pattern of gene expression among the muscles. This result suggests a common process or mechanism operating in nemaline muscles independent of the variable degrees of pathology. Transcriptional and protein expression data indicate the presence of a repair process and possibly delayed maturation in nemaline muscles. Markers indicative of satellite cell number, activated satellite cells and immature fibers including M-Cadherin, MyoD, desmin, Pax7 and Myf6 were elevated by western-blot analysis or immunohistochemistry. Evidence suggesting elevated focal repair was observed in nemaline muscle in electron micrographs. This analysis reveals that NM is characterized by a novel repair feature operating in multiple different muscles.
We discuss a small polaron hopping model, in order to explain the intense temperature (T) dependence of the electrical conductivity (σ) observed at high temperatures along the DNA molecules. The model takes into account the one-dimensional character of the system as well as the presence of disorder in the DNA double helix. Theoretical considerations based on percolation lead to analytical expressions for the high temperature multiphonon-assisted small polaron hopping conductivity, the maximum hopping distance and their temperature dependence. For example, experimental data for the lambda-phage DNA, the poly(dA)-poly(dT) DNA, and the native wet-spun calf thymus Li-DNA, follow nicely the theoretically predicted behavior, EQUATION, over wide high-T ranges. In contrast to some previously presented theoretical suggestions, our model leads to realistic values for the maximum hopping distances, supporting the idea of multiphonon-assisted hopping of small polarons between next nearest neighbors of the DNA molecular “wire”. We also examine the low temperature case.
In the present work a detailed seismotectonic study of the broader area of the Mygdonia basin (N. Greece) is performed. Digital data for earthquakes which occurred in the broader Mygdonia basin and were recorded by the permanent telemetric network of the Geophysical Laboratory of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki during the period 1989-1999 were collected and fault plane solutions for 50 earthquakes which occurred in the study area were calculated with a modified first motions approach which incorporates amplitude and radiation pattern information. Fault plane solutions for the 3 main shocks of Volvi (23/05/78, MW = 5.8 and 20/06/78, MW = 6.5) and Arnaia (04/05/95, MW = 5.8) events and the 1978 aftershock sequence were additionally used. Moreover, data from two local networks established in the Mygdonia basin were also incorporated in the final dataset. Determination of the stress field was realized by the use of the method of Gephart and Forsyth [Gephart, J.W., Forsyth, D.W., 1984. An improved method for determining the regional stress tensor using earthquake focal mechanism data: application to the San Fernando earthquake sequence: Jour. Geophys. Res., v.89, no. B11, p. 9305-9320] for the stress tensor inversion and the results were compared with independent estimates based on the calculation of the average moment tensor [Papazachos, C.B.,Kiratzi, A.A., 1992. A formulation for reliable estimation of active crustal deformation and its application to central Greece. Geophys. J. Int. 111, 424-432]. The obtained stress results show a relatively good agreement between the two approaches, with differences in the azimuth of the dominant extension axis of the order of 10°. Furthermore, comparison with independent information for the mean stress axes provided by the study of kinematics on neotectonic faults [Mountrakis, D., Kilias, A., Tranos, M., Thomaidou, E., Papazachos, C., Karakaisis, G., Scordilis, E., Chatzidimitriou, P., Papadimitriou, E., Vargemezis, G., Aidona, E., Karagianni, E., Vamvakaris, D. Skarlatoudis, A. 2003. Determination of the settings and the seismotectonic behavior of the main seismic-active faults of Northern Greece area using neotectonic and seismological data. Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation (OASP) (in Greek)] shows a similar agreement with typical misfit of the order 10°. The stress inversion method was modified in order to select one or both nodal planes of the focal mechanism which corresponds to the "true" fault plane of the occurred earthquakes and was able to select a single fault plane in the majority of examined cases. Using this approach, the obtained fault plane rose diagrams are in agreement with results from various neotectonic studies. Moreover, several secondary active fault branches were identified, which are still not clearly observed in the field.
Kamberidou, I., & Patsantaras, N. (2006). "Social Capital and Gender Equity in Sports". Presentation at the International Conference on Social Capital and Sport Governance in Europe: Trust and the Use of Social Ties, 4-5/12/2006, Universitat. International Conference on Social Capital and Sport Governance in Europe: Trust and the Use of Social Ties, 4-5/12/2006, Milano, Italy. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3468.4642 K.3 in Apella ***Conference organized by the Universitat Commerciale Luigi Bocconi and IPAS-Institute of Public Administration and Health. Universitat Commerciale Luigi Bocconi and IPAS-Institute of Public Administration and Health Care Management ‘Carlo Masini’ in collaboration with the European Commission, Milano Italy.
Patsantaras N, Kamberidou I. Social Capital Dimensions and Civil Society: Inclusive vs. Exclusionary Social Capital in Sport Governance. In: Presentation at the international conference “Social Capital and Sport Governance in Europe: Trust and the Use of Social Ties”,4-5/12/2006, organized by the Universitat Commerciale Luigi Bocconi and IPAS-Institute of Public Administration and Health. Bocconi University, Milano, Italy: Universitat Commerciale Luigi Bocconi and IPAS-Institute of Public Administration and Health Care Management ‘Carlo Masini’ in collaboration with the European Commission, Milano Italy; 2006.Abstract
Presented by Irene Kamberidou 5/12/2006:Patsantaras, N., & Kamberidou, I. (2006). "Social Capital Dimensions and Civil Society: Inclusive vs. Exclusionary Social Capital in Sport Governance". Presentation at the international conference “Social Capital and Sport Governance in Europe: Trust and the Use of Social Ties”,4-5/12/2006, organized by the Universitat Commerciale Luigi Bocconi and IPAS-Institute of Public Administration and Health. Universitat Commerciale Luigi Bocconi and IPAS-Institute of Public Administration and Health Care Management ‘Carlo Masini’ in collaboration with the European Commission, Milano Italy. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2700.4644 [ K.5 in Apella and K.5.1 in Apella ]
Kamberidou, I. (2006). "The Social Gender and Sport Identity- SOCIO-CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION: a bio-socio-cultural interpretation". Presentation at the XIth International CESH Congress, Sport and the Construction of Identities. Session 18: National Comparisons and Globalisation, Sept. 18, 2006. 17-20 September 2006 ,Vienna Austria. CESH Congress Sport and the Construction of Identities, Vienna. Organized by the European Committee for Sports History (CESH) . sport_identity-powerpoint_22.11.2006.ppt K4 in Apella
The study focuses on the application of computing elements in the field of geoarchaeology. Emphasis is placed on the meaningful combination of geomorphological and environmental data along with archaeological features within Geographic Information Systems. Principal objective was the identification and the modeling of possible Roman cadastres in the area of Béziers, in southern France. For this purpose numerous technologies have been applied; GIS, GPS, Remote Sensing techniques and Digital Image Processing methods were used for the collection, storage, digitization and analysis of geoarchaeological data. Geographical Information System (G.I.S.) was used for the processing of primary data, the production of secondary information layers, the development of the digital elevation model and its derivative files and, in essence, for the spatial and the quantitative analysis of the data. The research concluded at 3 potential Roman cadastre grids establishing orientation and distance of axes as main criteria. Further processing of the data concluded in one final Roman cadastre grid for the area of Biterrois in France.
Ριζοπούλου Σοφία. Σχέσεις Νερού . Αθήνα: Δίαυλος; 2006.Abstract
Στο νερό άρχισε η ζωή. Διαμέσου του νερού και το πέρασμα στην άλλη όχθη... Διφυές και δισυπόστατο το νερό, έχει τη δύναμη του δωρητή και του τιμωρού (άμεσα ή έμμεσα), ρυθμίζει την επικοινωνία και το χωρισμό, τη σωτηρία και την απώλεια, σηματοδοτεί την αναγέννηση, διευθετεί την κάθαρση και τον εξαγνισμό, και μετακινείται υπακούοντας σε υδατικές σχέσεις. Το νερό προστατεύεται από παρουσίες θηλυκές κι η σχέση του με τη γη βρίσκει γονιμοποιό έκφραση στη βλάστηση (...). Στο βιβλίο αυτό περιγράφονται σχέσεις που άπτονται της μοίρας που αναλογεί στο νερό. Σχέσεις φόβου, επιθυμίας, εξαγνισμού. Υδατικές σχέσεις μυστικές, κρυφές, που απευθύνονται σε μύστες. Σχέσεις που διέπουν την κίνηση του νερού από τα υπόγεια ως τα υπέργεια τμήματα των φυτών, προμηνύοντας την αόρατη ροή του. Εποχικές σχέσεις του νερού που κρύβεται σε φυλλώματα θαλερά, σε άνθη έγχρωμα και σε ρίζες ανθεκτικές. Σχέσεις της ζωής του νερού». Στο πολυπρισματικό αυτό μελέτημα επιτάσσεται πλούσια βιβλιογραφία που κατατοπίζει τον αναγνώστη για τις πηγές της συγγραφέως, ενώ ταυτόχρονα του παρέχει τη δυνατότητα να ανατρέξει σε εξειδικευμένες μελέτες για επιμέρους θέματα [από "το Καποδιστριακό", 01/07/2007]
Global column ozone and tropospheric temperature observations made by ground-based (1964–2004) and satellite-borne (1978–2004) instrumentation are analyzed. Ozone and temperature fluctuations in small time-intervals are found to be positively correlated to those in larger time-intervals in a power-law fashion. For temperature, the exponent of this dependence is larger in the mid-latitudes than in the tropics at long time scales, while for ozone, the exponent is larger in tropics than in the mid-latitudes. In general, greater persistence could be a result of either stronger positive feedbacks or larger inertia. Therefore, the increased slope of the power distribution of temperature in mid-latitudes at long time scales compared to the slope in the tropics could be connected to the poleward increase in climate sensitivity predicted by the global climate models. The detrended fluctuation analysis of model and observed time series provides a helpful tool for visualizing errors in the treatment of long-range correlations, whose correct modeling would greatly enhance confidence in long-term climate and atmospheric chemistry modeling.
Vlachou E. Le puzzle des indéfinis en qu-. In: Indéfini et prédication. Paris: Presses de l’Université de Paris-Sorbonne; 2006. pp. 235-249.
Context.Recent surveys of the Local Group spiral Galaxies M 31 and M 33 with XMM-Newton yielded a large number of X-ray sources. Aims.As part of the effort to identify and classify the objects responsible for this X-ray emission, we have obtained optical spectra of the brightest optical counterparts of the identified X-ray sources, using the 1.3 m Skinakas Telescope. Most of these objects are foreground star candidates. The purpose of the present study is to confirm this identification and to explore the compatibility between the optical spectral classification and the observed X-ray properties of the sources. Methods.We have obtained optical spectra for the 14 brightest optical counterparts of X-ray sources identified by XMM-Newton in the direction of M 31 and for 21 optical counterparts in the direction of M 33, using the 1.3 m Skinakas telescope in Crete, Greece. Results.All of the M 31 sources and all but one of the M 33 sources were confirmed to be foreground stars, of spectral types between A and M. One of the stars is a late M dwarf with Hα emission, a flare star, also displaying strong X-ray variability. One of the M 33 sources (lying within the D25 ellipse) corresponds to a previously known background galaxy, LEDA 5899.
We report on the microstructure evolution in Cu-15% Nb multifilamentary wires upon annealing and the corresponding effects on their electrical and magnetic properties. During annealing at temperatures higher than 800 degrees C thermal instability mechanisms take place in the microstructure of the Cu-15%Nb composite, leading to spheroidization, followed by coarsening of niobium filaments. Such microstructural changes exert considerable influence on the magnitude of the normal electrical resistivity for the Cu-Nb composite. In addition, the annealing process leads to a double-peak structure in the isothermal DC magnetization curves of the composite, which is strongly dependent on the annealing time. This behavior suggests that the spheroidization kinetics can be obtained from M(H) curves.
This retrospective study aimed to estimate the value of spiral Computerized Tomography (sCT) in patients with suspected appendicitis who remained undiagnosed after 48 hours of expectant management. We assessed a cohort of 150 patients by focused unenhanced sCT. According to the clinical scenario we occasionally employed contrast media and extended the scanned area. The major radiological signs were appendiceal enlargement and inflammatory changes of periappendiceal tissue and mesenteric fat. Regarding acute appendicitis the examination was 95.8% sensitive, 97.4% specific, had a positive predictive value of 97.18%, a negative predictive value of 96.2% and an accuracy of 96.7%. It also provided alternative diagnoses in 55 patients leading correctly 31 of them to the theatre for a variety of abdominal surgical diseases. For abdominal surgical pathology in general, sCT was 97.1% sensitive, 95.7% specific, had a positive predictive value of 98% and a negative predictive value of 93.8%. The importance of good communication between the clinicians and radiologists was pointed out by the correct alternative diagnoses set by imaging in the 55 patients after modifying the sCT protocol and was highlighted by the unnecessary appendectomy of three patients with negative imaging. Our results verify the accuracy and value of unenhanced sCT in patients with a clinical picture which remains inconclusive after an initial period of expectant management.
The vortex-matter phase diagram of Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8+x single crystal superconductor has been studied, using bulk and local magnetization measurements. We observed a second magnetization peak in the temperature interval 20 K < T < 40 K. At 40 K the second peak splits into two peaks, termed the upper and lower second magnetization peaks (USP and LSP), respectively. In the magnetic field interval [H-LCP,H-UCP] we observed the clear signature of a first-order melting transition of the vortex lattice. This particular behavior is similar to a situation with two critical endpoints of the first-order melting line and one coexistence point, where the topological transition line ends on the first-order melting line.
A case of spontaneous peritonitis caused by Leminorella grimontii in a 63-year-old man with cirrhosis is reported. To our knowledge, L. grimontii has never been reported as a cause of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. The patient responded to antimicrobial therapy. Clinical and therapeutic implications are discussed.
The first BVRI CCD photometric observations of PY Lyrae were obtained at the Kryoneri Observatory in the summer of 2004. Five new times of minima and a new ephemeris were calculated. The light curves were analyzed with the Wilson-Devinney program, in order to derive the geometric and photometric elements of the system. A spot model was assumed in order to explain the pronounced O'Connell effect.
Malignant transformation of a mature ovarian cystic teratoma is the most serious complication of this relatively common neoplastic lesion. While any constituent tissue of the teratoma can undergo malignant transformation, squamous cell carcinoma represents approximately 80% of those malignancies. Furthermore, the synchronous occurrence of a second malignancy in that setting is extremely rare. Preoperative diagnosis of malignant transformation within a mature cystic teratoma is extremely difficult and poses a great challenge to current clinical surgical practice. The particularly aggressive behavior of this rare tumor, also poses significant surgical managing dilemmas. We present a case report of a premenopausal woman with an invasive squamous cell carcinoma arising in a mature cystic teratoma and a synchronous invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast.
Aims.We analyse the influence of the stochastic particle acceleration for the evolution of the electron spectrum. We assume that all investigated spectra are generated inside a spherical, homogeneous source and also analyse the synchrotron and inverse Compton emission generated by such an object. Methods: .The stochastic acceleration is treated as the diffusion of the particle momentum and is described by the momentum-diffusion equation. We investigate the stationary and time dependent solutions of the equation for several different evolutionary scenarios. The scenarios are divided into two general classes. First, we analyse a few cases without injection or escape of the particles during the evolution. Then we investigate the scenarios where we assume continuous injection and simultaneous escape of the particles. Results: .In the case of no injection and escape the acceleration process, competing with the radiative cooling, only modifies the initial particle spectrum. The competition leads to a thermal or quasi-thermal distribution of the particle energy. In the case of the injection and simultaneous escape the resulting spectra depend mostly on the energy distribution of the injected particles. In the simplest case, where the particles are injected at the lowest possible energies, the competition between the acceleration and the escape forms a power-law energy distribution. We apply our modeling to the high energy activity of the blazar Mrk 501 observed in April 1997. Calculating the evolution of the electron spectrum self-consistently we can reproduce the observed spectra well with a number of free parameters that is comparable to or less than in the "classic stationary" one-zone synchrotron self-Compton scenario.
Η εργασία επιδιώκει νε καλύψει την παρουσίαση της ιστορίας με την έκθεση των τάσεων και των εκφραστών τους που εμφανίστηκαν στη θεολογική επιστήμη και συγκεκριμένα στο αντικείμενο της Χριστιανικής Ηθικής από την Απελευθέρωση μέχρι τις μέρες μας. Τα ερευνητικά όρια της μελέτης είναι εκτεταμένα και ως εκ τούτου μια τέτοια προσπάθεια δεν αρκεί για να καλύψει το σύνολο του αρχικού προβληματισμού.
Η εργασία χωρίζεται σε δύο μέρη. Στο πρώτο εξετάζεται ο ηθικός προβληματισμός στη θεολογία από την Απελευθέρωση μέχρι τα χρόνια του Μεσοπολέμου (1925-1942). Στο σημείο αυτό διευκρινίζουμε ότι θέτουμε ως αφετηριακό χρονικό σημείο το έτος 1837, δηλαδή την ίδρυση της Θεολογικής Σχολής του Οθώνειου Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών και ως τέλος το έτος 1942, που ταυτίζεται με την ίδρυση της Θεολογικής Σχολής Θεσσαλονίκης.
Στην πραγμάτευση του θέματος κρίθηκε σωστό να γίνει σύντομη αναφορά στο θέμα της λειτουργίας των Πανεπιστημίων στην Ευρώπη και την Ελλάδα, στην παρουσίαση της Ηθικής ως επιστήμης και στη σχέση της με τα άλλα θεολογικά αντικείμενα, καθώς επίσης και στις συνήθεις τάσεις που εμφανίζονται στην ορθόδοξη Θεολογία. Επίσης, παρουσιάζονται τρείς λόγιοι, οι οποίοι επηρέασαν την περίοδο την οποία εξετάζουμε για διαφορετικούς λόγους ο καθένας. Αυτοί είναι ο Αδαμάντιος Κοραής(1748-1833), ο Θεόφιλος Κάϊρης (1784-1853) και ο Κωνσταντίνος Οικονόμος ο έξ Οικονόμων (1780-1857). Ο πρώτος θα επηρεάσει την σκέψη των διανοητών της εποχής της Απελευθέρωσης, ο δεύτερος θά προβληματίσει για τη «νέα πίστη» που εισήγαγε και ο τρίτος θα αντισταθεί στον ακαδημαϊκό Θεόκλητο Φαρμακίδη για το ζήτημα του Αυτοκεφάλου της Ελλαδικής Εκκλησίας.
Στη συνέχεια παρουσιάζονται οι διδάσκοντες το αντικείμενο της Χριστιανικής Ηθικής στη Θεολογική Σχολή της Αθήνας, ενώ γίνεται σύντομη αναφορά στις σχολές της Χάλκης, του Τιμίου Σταυρού Ιεροσολύμων και της Ριζαρείου σε σχέση πάντοτε με τη διδασκαλία του μαθήματος της Χριστιανικής Ηθικής. Θεολογικά φαινόμενα με την εισαγωγή νέων απόψεων, όπως του Απόστολου Μακράκη, η γένεση και δημιουργία των εκκλησιαστικών οργανώσεων, αλλά και ακαδημαϊκοί θεολόγοι που στιγμάτισαν το τελευταίο τέταρτο του 19ου και τις αρχές του 20ου αιώνα, απασχολούν στη συνέχεια την εργασία μας. Επιπρόσθετα, η Ρωσική Θεολογία που εμφανίστηκε την εποχή του Μεσοπολέμου μετά τη Ρωσική Επανάσταση του 1917 και εκφράστηκε από τους Ρώσους εμιγκρέδες διανοητές σε Ευρώπη και ΗΠΑ δεν περνά απαρατήρητη ως θεολογική τάση.
Το δεύτερο μέρος ξεκινά με χρονικό σημείο το 1942 και φτάνει ως τις μέρες μας. Παρουσιάζονται οι διδάσκοντες την Χριστιανική Ηθική στή Θεολογική Σχολή Θεσσαλονίκης και της αντίστοιχης του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών. Ακολουθεί σύντομη αναφορά στη Θεολογική αναγέννηση του '60, παραθέτοντας τις δύο κυρίαρχες τάσεις, της προβολής της Θεολογίας του προσώπου και της ευχαριστιακής Θεολογίας ως κέντρου της ορθόδοξης λατρείας, αλλά και της δυναμικής Θεολογίας που εκφράζεται από τον Νίκο Ματσούκα. Επίσης τονίζεται η αναλογική μέθοδος στην εξέταση των σύγχρονων ηθικών προβλημάτων.
Επιπλέον, αναφέρεται η τάση που προήλθε από τη θεολογία της Απελευθέρωσης και οδήγησε στην ενασχόληση με τα κοινωνικά ζητήματα, στην οικολογική ηθική, στην επανάσταση της γενετικής, στην εμφάνιση της βιοηθικής και στις προοπτικές του νέου αιώνα στην Ενωμένη Εύρώπη.
Τέλος, η εργασία κλείνει με τα συμπεράσματα, την παράθεση της βιβλιογραφίας και ενός σύντομου παραρτήματος με τους διδάξαντες καθηγητές το αντικείμενο της Χριστιανικής Ηθικής στις δύο Θεολογικές Σχολές Αθηνών και Θεσσαλονίκης (έως και τις αρχές του 2006).
Επίκειται αναθεωρημένη έκδοση, στην οποία προβλέπονται να γίνουν οι αναγκαίες προσθήκες και οι επικαιροποιήσεις για τους διδάσκοντες το μάθημα της Ηθικής-Βιοηθικής μέχρι σήμερα σε Αθήνα και Θεσσαλονίκη (π.χ. Απόστολος Νικολαϊδης, Νικ. Γεωργοπούλου, Νίκη Παπαγεωργίου, Χρήστος Τσιρώνης), καθώς και οι διορθώσεις οι οποίες επισημάνθηκαν για εμφανή λάθη, όπως για παράδειγμα στη σελίδα 29 για την προφανώς λανθασμένη συμπερίληψη του Ευγένιου Βούλγαρη στους εκπροσώπους της Φιλοκαλικής αναγέννησης του 18ου αιώνα, ο οποίος όμως ορθά σημειώνεται ότι ακολουθεί τον χωρισμό δογματικής και ηθικής. Καλόπιστες κριτικές, παρατηρήσεις και προσθήκες θα συμπεριληφθούν για τη βελτίωση του δημοσιευμένου έργου.
ISBN 960- 7814-26-6.
The structure of the 2[4Fe-4S] ferredoxin (PaFd) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which belongs to the Allochromatium vinosum (Alvin) subfamily, has been determined by X-ray crystallography at 1.32-A resolution, which is the highest up to now for a member of this subfamily of Fds. The main structural features of PaFd are similar to those of AlvinFd. However, the significantly higher resolution of the PaFd structure makes possible a reliable comparison with available high-resolution structures of [4Fe-4S]-containing Fds, in an effort to rationalize the unusual electrochemical properties of Alvin-like Fds. Three major factors contributing to the reduction potential values of [4Fe-4S]2+/+ clusters of Fds, namely, the surface accessibility of the clusters, the N-H...S hydrogen-bonding network, and the volume of the cavities hosting the clusters, are extensively discussed. The volume of the cavities is introduced in the present work for the first time, and can in part explain the very negative potential of cluster I of Alvin-like Fds.
Tsopani D, Patsantaras N, Dallas G, Kamberidou I. Stuctural Trends and Prospects of Male Participation in Rhythmic Gymnastics. In: Proceedings of the 1st International Congress in Rhythmic Gymnastics, Convegno Internazionale Ginnastica Ritmica CSAM, Torino Italy, 6-7 April. Torino, Italy: Convegno Internazionale Ginnastica Ritmica CSAM; 2006. pp. 35–39.Abstract
Tsopani, D., Patsantaras, N., Dallas, G., & Kamberidou, I. (2006). "Stuctural Trends and Prospects of Male Participation in Rhythmic Gymnastics". Proceedings of the 1st International Congress in Rhythmic Gymnastics, Convegno Internazionale Ginnastica Ritmica CSAM, Torino Italy, 6-7 April, pp. 35–39. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4529.8405 K.8 in Apella
Rhythmic Gymnastics has been established as an exclusively female sport. Current issues and questions repeatedly arise concerning women´s participation in all sports, namely access into all traditionally male dominated sports, whereas they have not been developed in reference to the participation of men in rhythmic gymnastics. The purpose of this study is to explore and investigate these gender issues and present the views and perceptions of rhythmic gymnastics´ internal environment (structural elements: scoring of evaluations codes, judges, etc) as well those of the external environment (audiences, journalists, etc) concerning a) the imminent participation on men in rhythmic gymnastics, b) rules and regulations pertaining to the female gymnast's appearance. In this study 299 individuals from around the world, representing different social groups (journalists, trainers/coaches, parents, etc), responded to a closed questionnaire during an international championship. The results showed that the overwhelming majority (76.5%) of the responds favor the participation of men in rhythmic gymnastics. Additionally, the results reveal the necessity for redefinition, in other words that the restrictive character of the regulations concerning the appearance of female gymnasts must be redefined, as well as the possibility, prospect or opportunity for access to men, particularly in the framework of recent issues concerning gender in sports.
The aim at this paper is to study the historical allouviation of the area ofThessaloniki using mainly archeological data. Such data has been found in manyplaces in this area. These findings (buildings, castles, road traces, fortifications) dateback from Neolithic up to Ottoman period. We have approached this problem bystudying the geomorphologic processes of this area and by mapping in detail theallouviation of the ancient monuments. A spatial database has been created attributing geological, geomorphological, hydrological, other environmental and archaeological data along with all the measurements undertaken during fieldwork. Apart from contemporary data, older topographical maps of the area have also been input and analysed in the GIS together with the rest datasets. A specific methodology was applied in view of recording and studying the erosion-deposition rates. The derivative results have indicated that deposition rates vary within diverse temporal and spatial conditions. This is due to the topography, the lithology and the climate changes of this area. The study, also, reported that in some places vertical depositions rates at about 0, 5 cm/year. The applied model tracing erosional processes and deposition rates can be implemented in any other location irrespective of the environmental, spatial, or archaeological data characterizing the area.
Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SFN) of the newborn is an uncommon disorder of the adipose tissue, mostly affecting full-term or post-term newborns who experience perinatal distress. The lesions of SFN typically occur during the first six weeks of life; they are usually self-limited and no specific therapy is required. The disorder may be rarely complicated with hypercalcaemia. We present the case of a neonate with perinatal asphyxia who manifested SFN followed by hypocalcaemia instead of hypercalcaemia and a biochemical profile of pseudohypoparathyroidism four weeks after the eruption of skin lesions. The infant was treated with alfacalcidiol. Blood biochemistry was normalized within one week and serum parathyroid hormone levels declined to normal over the next two months. It is suggested that perinatal asphyxia was the common etiopathogenetic factor for the development of both SFN and pseudohypoparathyroidism.
In the present work we study extensively the manipulation of superconductivity through ferromagnetism in a new category of hybrids. The studied hybrids consist of antiferromagnetic/ ferromagnetic (AF/FM) [La0.33Ca0.67MnO3/La0.60Ca0.40MnO3](15) multilayers (MLs) in contact with a low-T-c Nb superconductor (SC). In these hybrids a relatively thick FM buffer layer was used as a reservoir for the generation of stray fields that influence the SC intensively. Our results show that in the parallel field configuration the SC becomes ferromagnetically coupled to the ML when field-cooled through its T-c(SC). Thus, although the SC should behave diamagnetically in respect to the externally applied magnetic field, its bulk magnetization behaves ferromagnetically and switches together with the magnetization of the ML when its coercive field is exceeded (switching effect). By employing specific experiments, where the ML was selectively exchange biased or not, we clearly demonstrate that the ML structure, separating the FM buffer and the SC layers, inflicts its magnetic properties on the whole hybrid. Thus, in such ML/SC hybrids the exchange bias mechanism can be used for regulating the switching of the SC magnetization. By employing specific experimental protocols for our magnetization measurements we directly uncover that the multidomain magnetic state of the ML strongly suppresses both the transition's height and the critical temperature of the SC. Simple FM/SC bilayers have also been studied. In these samples the switching effect is observed only for zero external field, while it is absent when a magnetic field is applied. This indicates that the ML structure is an essential ingredient for the generic observation of the switching effect. Our experimental results support recent theoretical studies referring to the mutual proximity effect (Kharitonov et al 2006 Phys. Rev. B 73 054511), to the possible formation of spin-triplet superconductivity (Bergeret et al 2001 Phys. Rev. Lett. 86 4096), and to the influence of an FM domain state on the properties of an SC (Buzdin and Mel'nikov 2003 Phys. Rev. B 67 020503( R)) in relevant hybrids. Apart from their importance for theory, our results are valuable for the design of spin-valve devices that recently have attracted great interest.
We present the spectral and temporal radiative signatures expected within the ``supercritical pile'' model of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). This model is motivated by the need for a process that provides the dissipation necessary in GRBs and presents a well-defined scheme for converting the energy stored in the relativistic protons of the relativistic blast waves (RBWs) associated with GRBs into radiation; at the same time, it leads to spectra that exhibit a peak in the burst νFν distribution at an energy Epeak~=1 MeV in the observer's frame, in agreement with observations and largely independent of the Lorentz factor Γ of the associated relativistic outflow. Furthermore, this scheme does not require (but does not preclude) acceleration of particles at the shock other than that provided by the isotropization of the flow bulk kinetic energy in the RBW frame. In the present paper we model in detail the evolution of protons, electrons, and photons from a RBW to produce detailed spectra of the prompt GRB phase as a function of time from across a very broad range in frequency, spanning roughly 4logΓ decades. The model spectra are in general agreement with observations and provide a means for delineating the model parameters through direct comparison with trends observed in GRB properties.
When surface-state electrons scatter at perturbations, such as magnetic or nonmagnetic adatoms or clusters on surfaces, an electronic resonance, localized at the adatom site, can develop below the bottom of the surface-state band for both spin channels. In the case of adatoms, these states have been found very recently in scanning tunneling spectroscopy experiments for the Cu(111) and Ag(111) surfaces. Motivated by these experiments, we carried out a systematic theoretical investigation of the electronic structure of these surface states in the presence of magnetic and nonmagnetic atoms on Cu(111). We found that Ca and all 3d adatoms lead to a split-off state at the bottom of the surface band which is, however, not seen for the sp elements Ga and Ge. The situation is completely reversed if the impurities are embedded in the surface: Ga and Ge are able to produce a split-off state whereas the 3d impurities are not. The resonance arises from the s state of the impurities and is explained in terms of strength and the interaction nature (attraction or repulsion) of the perturbing potential.
The long-term CCD and photoelectric observations of YY Her covering the period of its post-outburst activity (JD 2 451 823 -- 2 452 996) are presented. We explain the periodic variations of the brightness of YY Her by the eclipses of the components in the system. The model with a deformed (non-homogeneous) envelope, surrounding the white dwarf is discussed. In addition, we observed a flare in about JD 2 452 440, during the primary minimum, that was later followed by an energetic outburst in JD 2 452 700.
Rhinoviruses (RV), the major trigger of acute asthma exacerbations, are able to infect bronchial epithelium and induce production of pro-inflammatory, but also angiogenic and pro-fibrotic mediators. Fluticasone propionate (FP) and salmeterol (S) are clinically effective and act synergistically in controlling persistent asthma; however, their effect on virus-associated asthma is less clear.|The aim of this study was to assess the individual and combined effects of FP and S on RV-induced epithelial production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2).|Bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were exposed in vitro to RV and were subsequently treated with FP and S, at physiologically relevant concentrations, alone or in combination. VEGF and FGF-2 were measured in the supernatants of these cultures using ELISA.|FP was able to reduce RV-induced VEGF production in a dose-dependent manner. S also induced a smaller reduction; addition of both factors inhibited VEGF synergistically. FGF-2 production was not inhibited by either FP or S alone, but was significantly reduced when both substances were present in the culture.|This study demonstrates that FP and S may synergistically inhibit the production of angiogenic and/or pro-fibrotic factors that are induced after RV infection of BEAS-2B and are implicated in airway remodelling, suggesting that this combination may represent an important therapeutic option on virus-induced asthma.
Cokkinos DV. A Synopsis. In: Myocardial Ischemia. Springer, Boston, MA; 2006. pp. 199–200.
Nucleophilic substitutions of the reactive chlorine atoms in cyanuric chloride by the bridging 4,4'-bipyridine in refluxing toluene lead to quaternarization of the latter and the subsequent formation of a pi-conjugate, covalent layered network. The network is composed of central 1,3,5-triazine units with 4,4'-bipyridinium rings covalently attached and balanced by the released chloride ions. Due to the extremely high electron deficiency of the triazine rings, the material undergoes partial reduction by its compensated chloride ions resulting in a radical concentration of 1 X 1020 spin g(-1), according to EPR quantitative analysis. In this instance, the radicals provide stability to the organic network by minimizing its electron deficiency. The material exhibits thermal and electrochemical stability, as evidenced by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and cyclic voltammetry techniques. As such, the pi-conjugate organic material displays low band gaps and electrical conductivity in the range of 10(-4)-10(-5) S cm(-1) at room temperature. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PLA2 is an important signaling enzyme that generates multiple downstream effectors, such as arachidonic acid and PAF, which are key mediators of inflammation as well as other pathophysiological conditions. Inhibition of PLA2 is potentially an effective therapy for several inflammatory diseases. In this review, we discuss the various classes of synthetic inhibitors of Group IVA and Group VIA phospholipase A2.
Chatgilialoglu C, Caminal C, Altieri A, Vougioukalakis GC, Mulazzani QG, Gimisis T, Guerra M. {Tautomerism in the guanyl radical}. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006;128:13796–13805.Abstract
Despite a few decades of intense study, a full description of tautomers of one-electron-oxidized guanine remains to be achieved. Here we show that two of these tautomers are produced by the protonation of an 8-haloguanine electron adduct. The rate constants for the reactions of hydrated electrons (e(aq)(-)) with a variety of 8-substituted guanine derivatives have been measured by a pulse radiolysis technique and correlated with both inductive and resonance components of the substituents. The fate of electron adducts was investigated by radiolytic methods coupled with product studies and addressed computationally by means of time-dependent DFT (TD-B3LYP/6-311G**//B1B95/6-31+G**) calculations. The reaction of e(aq)(-) with 8-haloguanosine or 8-halo-2'-deoxyguanosine produces the first observable transient species that decay unimolecularly (k = 1 x 10(5) s(-1) at 22 degrees C) to give the one-electron oxidized guanosine or 2'-deoxyguanosine. Theory suggests that the electron adducts of 8-bromoguanine derivatives protonated at C8 form a pi-complex, with the Br atom situated above the molecular plane, that is prompt to eject Br-. The two short- lived intermediates, which show a substantial difference in their absorption spectra, are recognized to be the two purine tautomers (i.e., iminic 7 and aminic 3 forms). The spin density distributions of the two tautomers are quite different at the O6 and N10 positions, whereas they are very similar at the N3, C5, and C8 positions. The resonance structures of the two tautomers are discussed in some detail. B1B95/6-31+G** calculations show also that the tautomerization from the iminic (7) to the aminic (3) arrangement is a water-assisted process.
We present a test-study of the ``seeing'' at the Kryonerion Station of the National Observatory of Athens. We used a Differential Image Motion Monitor (DIMM) during July and October 2002 and found a median ``seeing'' of 0.68 arcseconds and 1.42 arcseconds, respectively. We also compared the technique against the Hartmann-version of the ESO-type DIMM method and found similar results within 0.05 arcseconds. For some reason, which is under investigation by international teams, the measurements of our ESO-type DIMM are underestimated by ~ 10% compared to ESO-standard DIMM measurements. Simultaneous ESO-type DIMM measurements and standard gauss-fitting-technique measurements, taken with the Kryonerion 1.2m telescope (inside the dome) indicate that the ``seeing'', as measured by the telescope is by 1 arcsecond larger. The above tests were performed in order to calibrate, test and make a brief sampling of the ``seeing'' at the Kryonerion Station with the aim to move eventually the equipment to the Emilios Harlaftis Astronomical Station the site of the new 2.3m ARISTARCHOS telescope - for a long-term ``seeing'' monitoring. As a by-product of this project, a new DIMM Station became operational at Mt. Holomon, in the premises of the University of Thessaloniki, in 2004.
We propose two novel approaches to study the temperature dependence of the magnetization and the spin polarization at the Fermi level in magnetic compounds, and apply them to half-metallic ferromagnets. We reveal a new mechanism, where the hybridization of states forming the half-metallic gap depends on thermal spin fluctuations and the polarization can drop abruptly at temperatures much lower than the Curie point. We verify this for NiMnSb by ab initio calculations. The thermal properties are studied by mapping ab initio results to an extended Heisenberg model which includes longitudinal fluctuations and is solved by a Monte Carlo method.
Background: Intrauterine fetal development is characterized by increased rates of proliferation and apoptosis, while both these processes may be attenuated post-natally. Aim: Tissue polypeptide specific antigen and sFas serum concentrations were determined during pregnancy and post-natally, in order to evaluate their alterations during these crucial periods. Materials and Methods: Forty-seven healthy pregnant women, their full-term newborns and 35 healthy adults (controls) were included in the study. Markers were measured: a) in maternal serum (MS), during the 1st, 2nd, 3rd trimester and at the 1st stage of labor; b) in the umbilical cord (UC), during the 2nd stage of labor; c) in neonatal serum in the 1st (1N) and 5th (5N) day after birth; and d) in controls. Results: The serum TPS concentrations in MS increased significantly with gestational age, being higher in the 3rd trimester and labor, than those in controls (p<0.001). TPS values were significantly lower in the UC, compared to those in MS (p<0.001), while they were markedly elevated in 1N, compared to MS and UC (p<0.001), and subsequently decreased in 5N (p<0.001), remaining higher, than those in the controls (p<0.001). Serum sFas concentrations in the MS depended significantly on gestational age (p<0.001), being significantly lower in the first trimester, than those in the second (p<0.003), the third (p<0.03), in labor and controls (p<0.005). sFas concentrations in the UC were significantly lower than in MS and controls (p<0.001), while they increased significantly in 5 N samples (p<0.01). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate: a) a higher apoptosis rate in the first trimester of pregnancy, possibly affecting maternal immuno-tolerance, followed by a down-regulation during the post-natal period; b) a progressively increased proliferation from the first trimester to parturition, reflecting the fetal and placental growth and development, that seems to be thereafter moderated.
