Publications

Membrane proteins are sorted to the plasma membrane (PM) via Golgi-dependent trafficking. However, our recent studies challenged the essentiality of Golgi in the biogenesis of specific transporters. Here, we investigate the trafficking mechanisms of membrane proteins by following the localization of the polarized R-SNARE SynA versus the non-polarized transporter UapA, synchronously co-expressed in wild-type or isogenic genetic backgrounds repressible for conventional cargo secretion. In wild-type, the two cargoes dynamically label distinct secretory compartments, highlighted by the finding that, unlike SynA, UapA does not colocalize with the late-Golgi. In line with early partitioning into distinct secretory carriers, the two cargoes collapse in distinct ERES in a background. Trafficking via distinct cargo-specific carriers is further supported by showing that repression of proteins essential for conventional cargo secretion does not affect UapA trafficking, while blocking SynA secretion. Overall, this work establishes the existence of distinct, cargo-dependent, trafficking mechanisms, initiating at ERES and being differently dependent on Golgi and SNARE interactions.

On September 4, 2023, Storm Daniel moved inland from the Ionian Sea, intensifying due to the warmth of the post-summer Mediterranean Sea, resulting in intense rainfall and thunderstorms over the Balkans. Central Greece was particularly affected, experiencing the highest daily rainfall totals recorded in the region.The storm caused widespread devastation, especially in the Thessaly region, with significant impacts including intense erosion, mass movement phenomena triggered by rainfall, damages from strong winds, inundation, agricultural land damage, loss of life and injuries, impacts on residences and businesses, as well as a substantial toll on the environment and cultural sites.This study focuses on Storm Daniel and its effects in Thessaly, Greece, by creating a database of distinct impact elements based on field surveys and public records. Through this archive, the study explores the range of its impacts, developing a systematic categorization to provide an in-depth understanding of the types and mechanisms of these impacts.Examining extreme storms through post-flood surveys and emphasizing their impacts can enhance our comprehension of associated risks. This knowledge will facilitate more accurate predictions and strategic planning for such events, contributing to improved emergency management and recovery efforts. Anticipating the impacts becomes crucial, particularly in the context of the projected increase in the frequency of such events due to climate change, thereby strengthening our preparedness.

Several studies have evaluated different versions of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO) around the world and some shortened versions of the instrument have also been constructed. The aim of this study was to develop the first brief Greek-language version of the IPO (IPO-Brief-GR) to be used for clinical screening and research purposes regarding personality pathology defined according to Kernberg's object relations model of personality organization. Data were collected from a community sample of 543 Greek emerging adults aged 18–29 years (M = 21.45, SD = 2.51) with the 83-item IPO, from which a 30-item version was constructed, based on confirmatory factor analysis of the full measure. The psychometric properties of the IPO-Brief-GR were then examined. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a four-factor structure best fitted the data, that is, primitive defenses/identity diffusion, reality testing, aggression, and moral values. Criterion validity and internal consistency reliability were also supported. Measurement invariance across gender using an exact protocol approach (i.e., configural, metric, scalar) was found allowing latent mean comparisons. These preliminary findings support the reliability and validity of the IPO-Brief-GR for the assessment of borderline personality organization and indicate the need for further research into the psychometric properties and clinical utility of this measure.

The work is part of a larger project of teaching interdisciplinary teaching of physics concepts in biology within the science education class. It concerns the application of a thought experiment (ThE) about the movement of water in tracheophytes under different gravity conditions, i.e., the behavior of plants on another planet, forexample the Moon or Mars. The ThE was designed and implemented in a science class of 25 students who were instructed to perform it in a simulation environment using a software file that we created with the help of Interactive Physics software. The evaluation of the ThE carried out with a written questionnaire showed that theuse of such educational procedures can significantly help students to better understand the concepts related to capillary phenomena, the way water is transported to plants from roots to leaves and, generally, to contribute tothe interdisciplinary teaching of physics concepts in modules related to the teaching of biological phenomena and functions.

The Pomegranate: the magazine for children (To Rodi: to periodiko gia paidia) was a highly popular Greek children’s magazine that was in circulation during the last two decades of the 20th century and still holds a prominent position in Greek children’s literature. In this paper, we attempted to index and classify the literary and non-literary texts that were included in this magazine during its first edition, from December 1977 to December 1982. The analysis of these texts highlighted the wide range of literary genres that were included in the magazine, as well as the wide range of topics they covered. The texts were classified into 22 thematic categories, among which those appearing with the highest frequency were the following: “History and homeland”, “Books and magazines”, “Child and child experiences”, “Environment and ecology”, and “Ethics and virtues”. The relevance of these thematic categories to the aims of the magazine, to the developmental needs of young readers and to the Greek historical context of the late 20th century is also discussed. The magazine made a significant contribution, both quantitatively and qualitatively, in Greek children’s literature. Through this magazine, remarkable literary works came to the fore. The magazine undoubtedly enhanced children’s and adolescents’ love of reading and promoted the development of their identity as readers.

Motivated by the increasing demand for alternative assets that can contribute to reducing portfolio risk under inflationary environments, this paper examines the volatility spillovers between collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) and various assets used for protection against inflation, including equities, bonds, crude oil, commodities, gold, bitcoin, shipping and real estate. The applied methodology comprehends the time-varying parameter vector autoregressive (TVP-VAR) model of Antonakakis et al (2020), which relies on the classical Diebold and Yilmaz (2012) approach, for the period from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2021. The empirical findings show moderate levels of dynamic connectedness; albeit several external shocks, such as the oil price plummet, the US-China trade war and COVID-19, strengthened the interconnection among the assets. Equities, commodities, bitcoin, real estate and gold form the net senders of spillovers, whereas bonds, shipping, CLOs and crude oil absorb the spread shocks. Moreover, we evaluate the hedging ability of CLOs within a portfolio of inflation hedges by estimating hedge ratios and optimal weights by utilizing conditional variance estimations (DCC). Our results indicate that CLOs possess impeccable hedging ability, as the short position in their volatility provides high hedging effectiveness for all investors holding long-positions in the volatility of the remaining assets. Our analysis highlights the importance of CLOs and their relevance to portfolio diversification.

Kalymnos Island features extensive vertical limestone cliffs that span throughout the entire onshore area, establishing it as one of the world's premier locations for sports climbing. Drawing thousands of tourists and climbers annually, Kalymnos captivates with its unparalleled natural beauty and unique geomorphological relief. The absence of vegetation and the prevalence of large limestone vertical cliffs contribute to a distinctive geological setting, showcasing detached boulders throughout the island and positioning it as an ideal site for studying rockfall events worldwide. To investigate this peculiar geological landscape, contemporary close-range remote sensing techniques such as UAS images photogrammetric processing, terrestrial LiDAR point clouds, and high-resolution satellite imagery within a GIS platform are employed. This integrated approach facilitates the creation of detailed terrain models and enables the identification of spatial boulder distribution on the downslope areas of steep carbonate cliffs. Moreover, the diachronic study of the detected high-risk locations delineated the surface changes at the foot of the steep slopes where several back analyses were performed. Utilizing these quantitative techniques provides valuable information for designing protective measures for the stability of the slopes, highlighting the safe climbing routes for the athletes and the infrastructure at the cliff bases. Strategies involve anchoring individual rock blocks, removing unsafe rock masses, and implementing restraining nets or dynamic rockfall barriers at strategic locations along the route trail to mitigate risks effectively.

Federations of Infrastructure Service Providers (InfSPs) has emerged as a practice to successfully serve demanding applications in cloud- and edge-computing environments, by overcoming the limitations of each such provider (in terms of available resources, geographic coverage etc.). In this paper, we develop innovative effective mechanisms and policies for the decentralized management of InfSP federations, considering the needs both for resource allocation meeting service composition requirements and for performing a fair and efficient distribution of profits. Resource allocation is performed by means of a greedy algorithm that includes an opportunistic and an adjustment phase. For determining the payments of participating InfSPs, we introduce an innovative sealed-bid reverse auction that combines VCG and first-price auction mechanisms; these are coupled with a sophisticated federation wallet management mechanism serving as a sink for the federation revenues. This hybrid mechanism possesses several nice properties including efficiency, long-term budget balance, truthfulness and individual rationality. Moreover, we present how our solution can be implemented in a decentralized, privacy-preserving and trustworthy manner over a blockchain, achieving bid privacy, non-repudiation and public verifiability. Our approach is evaluated by means of extensive experiments, the results of which reveal that resource allocation is either optimal or very close thereto, while individual InfSP profits as well as total federation profits are maximized. Moreover, the results confirm that the VCG mechanism alone cannot guarantee budget balance, thus justifying the necessity for our hybrid sophisticated solution.

Given the increasing importance of adjusting to university life and achieving happiness, identifying the effective role of emotional intelligence and psychological needs’ satisfaction in enhancing students’ well-being is crucial. This study investigated the relation between emotional intelligence, psychological need satisfaction, and university students’ happiness. Data were collected from 205 university students (mean age: 23.35; predominantly female) at the University of Crete. Participants completed the Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, and the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale. The analysis began with a correlation matrix to explore preliminary relations among the key variables. A multiple-linear regression analysis was then conducted to predict happiness levels based on observed correlations. Following this, a multiple-mediation analysis examined how emotional intelligence affects happiness through psychological needs satisfaction. The results indicated a positive association between emotional intelligence and happiness, with psychological needs’ satisfaction also positively correlating with happiness. Specifically, the use and regulation of emotion, competence, and autonomy significantly predicted happiness. Path analysis revealed that emotional intelligence indirectly influences happiness, particularly through competence. The results indicate that high emotional intelligence, through the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, is significantly associated with university students’ happiness. The study suggests that institutions should guide students in emotional intelligence and competence to increase happiness during their studies.

The present paper addresses employment and occupational prospects in Greece, in the period 2011-2022, highlighting the dynamic, stagnant and declining occupations and it also  addresses employment and occupational prospects in the near future (2022-2030). The role that Lifelong Learning  can play in an environment of abrupt changes is also discussed. The study reveals that in the period 2011-2022, the total employment rates in Greece increased by 1.0%, with the creation of 43,002 new jobs. A large number of jobs was created for general and keyboard clerks, health professionals and information and communication technology professionals but on the other hand, a large number of jobs were destructed. Therefore, the employment and occupational prospects in Greece in the near future require further attention. The estimates presented in this paper concern the time period 2022-2030, in a two-digit occupation code and they are derived from the application of the Oxford model (Oxford Global Economic Model - GEM), which is managed by NKUA, in the framework of its eLearning program. In this time period, according to relevant estimates, the total employment rates in Greece are expected to decrease by 3.4%, with a loss of 143,998 jobs in total. This negative development, that is expected to take place in an environment of increased production (estimates of the Oxford model), indicate a paradox that is  a period of economic growth which is not followed by the creation of new jobs (jobless growth). In light of this evidence, employment and occupational prospects and Lifelong learning are interlinked and often considered a favored topic for researchers, practitioners, policy makers and politicians. As occupations, dynamic, stagnant or declining, include certain tasks and skills, their evolution (and mainly in the dynamic ones) provide the necessary information areas in which long term strategy of Lifelong Learning should target. However, there seems to be a distance between policy, strategy and action. The paper suggests a more careful mapping of the job market, the lifelong learning programmes and the trainees’ prospective profiles. It also addresses the need to focus on those who rarely participate in lifelong learning programmes and are considered to also be the dropout rates from formal educational processes.

Forthcoming (cite as):  Kamberidou, Irene (2024). Engendering Technology in the Digital Age: Women’s Agency, Entrepreneurship and Multitasking Whirlpool. Presentation at the international conference Politics of Technologies in the Digital Age, Nov. 21-23, 2024. Organizers: University of Ioannina (Department of Philosophy), the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Department of Sociology), and Ionian University (Department of History): https://politicsoftechnologies.org/ https://pergamos.lib.uoa.gr/uoa/dl/object/3420001   

It is well established that the preoperative nutritional status of gastric cancer (GC) patients significantly affects the prognosis of the operated patients, their overall survival, as well as the disease-specific survival. Existing data support that preoperative assessment of nutritional status and early correction of nutritional deficiencies exert a favorable effect on early postoperative outcomes. A variety of relevant indices are used to assess the nutritional status of GC patients who are candidates for surgery. The guidelines of almost all international organizations recommend the use of oral enteral nutrition (EN). Oncologically acceptable types of gastrectomy and methods of patient rehabilitation should take into account the expected postoperative nutritional status. The majority of data support that perioperative EN reduces complications and hospital stay, but not mortality. Oral EN in the postoperative period, albeit in small amounts, helps to reduce the weight loss that is a consequence of gastrectomy. Iron deficiency with or without anemia and low serum levels of vitamin B12 are common metabolic sequelae after gastrectomy and should be restored. EN also significantly helps patients undergoing neoadjuvant or adjuvant antineoplastic therapy. The occurrence of the so-called "postgastrectomy syndromes" requires dietary modifications and drug support. This review attempts to highlight the benefits of EN in GC patients undergoing gastrectomy and to emphasize the type of necessary nutritional management, based on current literature data.

Context. During four all-sky surveys (eRASS1-4), eROSITA, the soft X-ray instrument aboard Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) detected a new supersoft X-ray source, eRASSU J060839.5−704014, in the direction of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Aims: We arranged follow-up observations in the X-ray and optical wavelengths and further searched in archival observations to reveal the nature of the object. Methods: Using X-ray observations with XMM-Newton we investigated the temporal and spectral behaviour of the source. Results: We discover pulsations at 374 s with a pulse profile consistent with 100% modulation. We identify two other periodicities in the eROSITA data, which we establish as aliases due to the sampling of the eROSITA light curve. We identify a multi-wavelength counterpart to the X-ray source in UVW1 and g, r, i, and z images obtained by the optical/UV monitor on XMM-Newton and the Dark Energy Camera at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. The timing and spectral characteristics of the source are consistent with a double degenerate ultra-compact binary system in the foreground of the LMC. eRASSU J060839.5−704014 belongs to a rare class of AM CVns, which are important to study in the context of progenitors of SN Ia and for persistent gravitational wave detection. Conclusions: We identify eRASSU J060839.5−704014 as a new double degenerate ultra-compact binary located in the foreground of the LMC. Based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and NASA.

Context. During four all-sky surveys (eRASS1--4), eROSITA, the soft X-ray instrument aboard Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) detected a new supersoft X-ray source, eRASSU J060839.5-704014, in the direction of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Methods. We arranged follow-up observations in the X-ray and optical wavelengths and further searched in archival observations to reveal the nature of the object. Results. We discover pulsations at ~374 s with a pulse profile consistent with 100% modulation. We identify two other periodicities in the eROSITA data, which we establish as aliases due to the sampling of the eROSITA light curve. We identify a multi-wavelength counterpart to the X-ray source in UVW1 and g, r, i, and z images obtained by the optical/UV monitor on XMM-Newton and the Dark Energy Camera at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. The timing and spectral characteristics of the source are consistent with a double degenerate ultra-compact binary system in the foreground of the LMC. eRASSU J060839.5-704014 belongs to a rare class of AM CVns, which are important to study in the context of progenitors of SN Ia and for persistent gravitational wave detection. Conclusions. We identify eRASSU J060839.5-704014 as a new double degenerate ultra-compact binary located in the foreground of the LMC.

El estudio examina los estereotipos culturales sobre España entre aprendices griegos de español, evaluando si reflejan la realidad actual española y su alcance global. Para ello, se aplica una prueba de disponibilidad léxica a estudiantes griegos de nivel B2, analizando sus respuestas sobre "España" en dos niveles. Primero, se examinan las respuestas más disponibles según su grado de novedad para comprobar si representan el pasado o la realidad actual española. Luego, se comparan los vocablos más disponibles de los estudiantes griegos con las respuestas de participantes de otros estudios de diferentes nacionalidades para determinar si son estereotipos localizados o globalizados. Los resultados indican que la mayoría de los estudiantes griegos ven a España de forma estereotipada y tradicional, y que esta visión es global.

Although Schema Therapy has emerged as an effective treatment for a large range of psychopathology, there is limited research on its effectiveness with children and adolescents, especially for preventive purposes, in individual or group settings and with the involvement of parents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of a newly developed group prevention program based on Schema Therapy (rationale, principles, and techniques) for children and their parents. It is a psychoeducational, developmentally-appropriate program addressing core emotional needs, early maladaptive schemas, schema modes, coping styles, and parent-child relationship with the aim of preventing the emergence of psychopathology in children. Participants were 90 Greek children (aged 9-13) who attended 16 weekly meetings and their parents who attended 10 biweekly meetings. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated with pre-and-post-intervention assessment (i.e., pre-experimental design). Children’s early maladaptive schemas (self-reports) and strengths and difficulties (self- and parent-reports), as well as parents’ early maladaptive schemas (self-reports) were assessed. Results showed a significant decrease in most early maladaptive schemas of children and in many early maladaptive schemas of parents. A significant decrease was found in children’s emotional symptoms, peer relationship problems and total difficulties score and a significant increase in prosocial behavior. The supporting evidence for the effectiveness of the program and the necessity of evidence-based prevention programs based on Schema Therapy for children and parents are discussed.

{Human existence and progress hinge on sustainability and resilience, especially in the Anthropocene Era, where the diversity of nature plays a critical role. Central to this endeavor is the realm of geoethics, which not only reshapes the role of geosciences but also fosters the development of ethical behavior and practices in our interaction with the Earth. This paper presents a conceptual framework that integrates the seemingly disparate domains of geoethics, geoenvironmental education, and the sense of place. By conducting a systematic review using the keywords “Geoethics AND Education” and “Geoethics AND place” across global databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and JSTOR, up to October 2023, we seek to uncover evidence illuminating the potential connections between these concepts. Out of n = 98 records identified

The aim of this study is to understand the family history of people pathologically engaging in gambling in rural Greece along with the factors and effects (suicidal thoughts/attempts) related thereto, according to participants’ perspective. Qualitative in nature, the study was based on 32 semi-structured interviews carried out with adults who attended a Treatment Facility for pathological gambling in Heraklion Crete, in Greece. A past family history of excessive gambling was reported by most of the participants, while in many cases were reported a family history of alcohol misuse. Participants perceived self-characteristics, losses/traumatic experiences, paternal and nuclear family characteristics, work-related problems, peers who also gamble and upbringing practices influenced by culture as principal pathological gambling factors. Participants also reported that pathological gambling has various effects on one’s psychological mood, behavior, and relationship patterns with self and others. Most participants also reported having suicidal thoughts, whereas a few of them mentioned at least one suicide attempt. The study concludes that pathological gambling in the current population is associated with a past family history of excessive gambling or alcohol misuse. Multiple factors also seem to contribute to its manifestation and to such adverse effects, such as suicidal thoughts and attempts.

Understanding the geochemistry and contamination of rivers affected by anthropogenic activities is paramount to water resources management. The Asopos river basin in central Greece is facing environmental quality deterioration threats due to industrial, urban and agricultural activities. Here, the geochemistry of river sediments and adjacent soil in terms of major and trace elements (Al, Ca, Mg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) and the geochemical composition of surface water in terms of major ions, trace elements and nutrients along the Asopos river basin were determined. In addition, this study characterized potential nitrate sources through the analysis of stable isotope composition of NO3− (δ15Ν-ΝΟ3− and δ18Ο-ΝΟ3−). Results indicated that specific chemical constituents including nutrients (NO2−, NH4+, PO43−) and major ions (Na+, Cl−) were highest in the urban, industrialized and downstream areas. On the other hand, nitrate (NO3−) concentration in river water (median 7.9 mg/L) showed a decreasing trend from the upstream agricultural sites to the urban area and even more in the downstream of the urban area sites. Ionic ratios (NO3−/Cl−) and δ15Ν-ΝΟ3− values (range from +10.2 ‰ to +15.7 ‰), complemented with a Bayesian isotope mixing model, clearly showed the influence of organic wastes from septic systems and industries operating in the urban area on river nitrate geochemistry. The interpretation of geochemical data of soil and river sediment samples demonstrated the strong influence of local geology on Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni content, with isolated samples showing elevated concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, mostly within the industrialized urban environment. The calculation of enrichment factors based on the national background concentrations provided limited insights into the origin of geogenic metals. Overall, this study highlighted the need for a more holistic approach to assess the impact of the geological background and anthropogenic activities on river waters and sediments.

This paper explores an innovative educational program designed to protect and promote the geocultural heritage of Minoan Crete. The program applies environmental education and sustainability principles while integrating theater in education, a novel approach that significantly impacts participants’ perspectives. By effectively combining these elements, the program fosters environmental awareness, deepens cultural appreciation, and instills sustainable behaviors in both the local population and visitors. This interdisciplinary approach, blending geocultural heritage into environmental education, promotes an understanding of the delicate balance between nature and human interaction during the Minoan era. The paper also examines the program’s potential for broader community engagement and policy influence, emphasizing how its educational outcomes could result in meaningful changes at both community and policy levels. We advocate for the preservation of Minoan Crete’s geocultural heritage and its sustainable future through a unique blend of educational strategies, marking a milestone in heritage conservation.

On 6 February 2023, East Anatolia was devastated by two major earthquakes resulting in hundreds of thousands of collapses and tens of thousands of human casualties, and injured and homeless people. These high numbers are attributed to the extensive heavy and very heavy structural damage corresponding to damage grades 4 and 5 in terms of the European Macroseismic Scale EMS-98 that were caused in the earthquake-affected area.The obvious reasons that contributed to the disaster comprised the large magnitude of the earthquakes, the generation of the first earthquake during the night that found the majority of the population in their homes, the demographic characteristics of the region that include densely built-up and populated areas as well as the proximity of many residential areas to the ruptured faults. Furthermore, the synergy of significant factors, which are strongly related to the seismotectonic setting of the area, the earthquake environmental effects (EEEs) and the characteristics of the affected structures resulted in one of the largest earthquake disasters in the modern history of the country.The aim of this study is to highlight the factors related to building properties and the generation of EEEs that control the grade and the spatial distribution of building damage in the studied earthquake-affected areas of southeastern Turkey. The results of this study are based on field surveys conducted by the authors shortly after the earthquakes (7 to 11 February) and after almost 2 months (31 March to 6 April). The field survey comprising conventional methods of geological mapping and modern and innovative methodologies such as deployment of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).In regards to the building construction properties, the loose enforcement of the building code, the random urban planning solutions and the poor construction standards are the main construction deficiencies that led to one of the largest disasters in Turkey’s recent history.Regarding geological factors, the triggering of primary and secondary EEEs largely shaped the grade and distribution of damage. Where coseismic surface ruptures intersected with the built environment, heavy to very heavy structural damage was observed. This was evident in many cases along the ruptured segments of the East Anatolian Fault Zone. Liquefaction observed close to waterbodies caused damage typical of building foundation load-bearing capacity loss. The earthquake-triggered landslides affected mainly mountainous and semi-mountainous settlements characterized with pre-earthquake high related susceptibility. The high susceptibility to generation of EEEs was extensively confirmed in many cases resulting in extensive damage.

On 6 February 2023, the Eastern Anatolia experienced significant devastation due to two major seismic events, leading to the collapse of hundreds of thousands of structures and causing tens of thousands of human casualties, injuries, and homeless people. The substantial magnitude of these impacts is attributed to the extensive occurrence of heavy and very heavy structural damage, categorized as damage grades 4 and 5 according to the European Macroseismic Scale EMS-98, within the earthquake-affected area.The discernible factors contributing to the disaster encompassed the substantial magnitude of the earthquakes, the occurrence of the initial seismic event during nighttime, thereby locating a considerable portion of the population within their residences, and the demographic attributes of the region characterized by densely constructed and populated zones, coupled with the close proximity of numerous residential areas to the ruptured faults. Additionally, the confluence of significant factors, closely associated with the seismotectonic context of the region, the effects of earthquake environmental effects, and the characteristics of the impacted structures, culminated in one of the most extensive earthquake disasters in the recent history of Turkey.This study aims to highlight the factors controlling associated with building properties and the manifestation of earthquake environmental effects that govern the severity and spatial dispersion of structural damage within the earthquake-affected regions under study in the southeastern Turkey. The findings presented herein derive from field surveys undertaken by the authors in the immediate aftermath of the seismic events (7th to 11th February) and subsequently, almost two months later (31st March to 6th April). The field surveys included conventional techniques of geological mapping alongside innovative methodologies, including the deployment of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).With regard to building construction characteristics, insufficient adherence to building codes, arbitrary urban planning solutions, and substandard construction practices constitute primary deficiencies contributed to the disaster. Concerning geological factors, the generation of both primary and secondary earthquake environmental effects significantly influenced the intensity and distribution of damage. Locations where coseismic surface ruptures intersected with built-up areas exhibited heavy to very heavy structural damage, as evidenced along the ruptured segments of the East Anatolian Fault Zone. Liquefaction proximal to water bodies resulted in damage indicative of building foundation load-bearing capacity. Earthquake-triggered landslides predominantly impacted mountainous and semi-mountainous villages and areas characterized by pre-existing susceptibility. The substantial susceptibility to EEEs generation was extensively corroborated in numerous cases, leading to widespread damage. The presented information highlights the pivotal role of such studies in informing hazard mitigation and facilitating disaster risk reduction measures.

Η μελέτη διερευνά την ερμηνεία του στίχου περί της δωρεάς του Αγίου Πνεύματος στους μαθητές από τον αναστάντα Ιησού μετά την Ανάστασή του στο Ιω. 20:22 από την πατερική γραμματεία του τέταρτου και του πέμπτου αιώνα, εστιάζοντας αντιπροσωπευτικά στις ερμηνείες των Κυρίλλου Ιεροσολύμων, Ιερωνύμου, Ιωάννη Χρυσοστόμου, Αυγουστίνου και Κυρίλλου Αλεξανδρείας. Από τη διερεύνηση αυτή προκύπτουν τα εξής συμπεράσματα: 1) Δεν υπάρχει ουσιαστική διαφοροποίηση μεταξύ δυτικής και ανατολικής, λατινόφωνης και ελληνόφωνης, αντιοχειανής και αλεξανδρινής εξήγησης. Όπως φαίνεται, έχουν επικρατήσει στη χριστιανική εκκλησία της εποχής συγκεκριμένες τάσεις μιας χριστολογικής και πνευματολογικής ερμηνείας του Ιωα 20:22, παρά λίγες επιμέρους διαφοροποιήσεις και παραλλαγές. Το λεγόμενο Filioque εμφανίζεται μόνο στον Αυγουστίνο σε μια πρώιμη μορφή του, διακριτή από την αντίληψη περί «οικονομικού filioque» των ανατολικών Πατέρων της Εκκλησίας. Σχεδόν όλοι οι εξεταζόμενοι στη μελέτη Πατέρες συνδέουν την εμφύσηση του Αγίου Πνεύματος με την ιστορία της δημιουργίας (Γεν 2:7), αλλά διαφοροποιούν το Πνεύμα από την ανθρώπινη ψυχή. Εξάλλου στηρίζονται σε παράλληλα βιβλικά κείμενα και όχι σε άλλους εκκλησιαστικούς συγγραφείς καθιστώντας έτσι, παρά τη δεδομένη μεταξύ τους αλληλεπίδραση, τη Βίβλο καθεαυτήν την κατεξοχήν αναμφισβήτητη θεολογική αυθεντία της εποχής τους. Για την ερμηνεία τους, λόγω ακριβώς του δογματικού ενδιαφέροντός της, αποφεύγουν να χρησιμοποιήσουν τις μεθόδους της αλληγορίας και της τυπολογίας. Τέλος, θεωρούν ότι οι διηγήσεις περί της δωρεάς του Αγίου Πνεύματος στο κατά Ιωάννην Ευαγγέλιο και στις Πράξεις των Αποστόλων αναφέρονται σε δύο διαφορετικά γεγονότα και όχι στο ίδιο γεγονός, αν και βέβαια τονίζουν ότι πρόκειται για το ίδιο Πνεύμα, το οποίο όμως παρέχει στους αποστόλους σε κάθε ένα από τα δύο αυτά περιστατικά διαφορετικά χαρίσματα. Αναδεικνύοντας και υπογραμμίζοντας η μελέτη τα βασικά θεολογικά μοτίβα της ερμηνείας του Ιωα 20:22 στην πατερική παράδοση φωτίζει τις θεολογικές τάσεις και συζητήσεις μιας άκρως σημαντικής για την ιστορία του Χριστιανισμού περιόδου, κατά την οποία τίθενται τα δογματικά θεμέλια της ανάπτυξής του μέχρι και τη νεότερη εποχή.  This study investigates the interpretation of John 20:22, concerning the risen Jesus’ bestowal of the Holy Spirit upon his disciples, as reflected in the patristic literature of the fourth and fifth centuries. It focuses on the representative exegeses of Cyril of Jerusalem, Jerome, John Chrysostom, Augustine of Hippo, and Cyril of Alexandria. The investigation yields the following conclusions: There is no substantial differentiation between Western and Eastern, Latin and Greek, Antiochian and Alexandrian interpretations. Certain trends of Christological and pneumatological exegesis of John 20:22 had already become predominant in the Christian Churches of the time, despite minor variations and differences. The concept of the Filioque appears solely in Augustine, in an early form distinct from the “economic Filioque” perspective of the Eastern Fathers. Nearly all the Church Fathers examined in the study associate Jesus’ breathing of the Holy Spirit with the creation narrative of Genesis 2:7. However, they make a clear distinction between the Holy Spirit and the human soul. The patristic authors base their interpretations on parallel biblical texts rather than on other ecclesiastical writers. Thus, despite the evident interaction among them, the Bible itself emerges as the preeminent and unquestionable theological authority of their era. Due to the doctrinal nature of their interpretations, the Fathers refrain from employing allegory or typology in their analyses. They unanimously consider the Johannine and Lukan accounts of the giving of the Holy Spirit as referring to two distinct events rather than to the same occurrence. However, they emphasize that the same Spirit is involved in both instances, though it imparts different gifts to the apostles in each case. By highlighting the theological motifs of John 20:22 in the patristic tradition, the study sheds light on the theological trends and discussions of a critical period in Christian history, during which the doctrinal foundations for Christianity's development into the modern era were established.

We are presenting a geopolitical analysis of power redistribution in the Geopolitical Complex of the Eastern Mediterranean, as defned by the Greek-Cypriot-Turkish-Israeli-Egyptian pentagon. The factor causing the reallocation of power in the Geopolitical Complex examined isTurkey’s policy in the Eastern Mediterranean, with a focus on the illegal Turkish-Libyan Memorandum of Understanding. Therefore, this analysis covers bilateral relations and tensions between Greece and Turkey andother international poles of power (France, Italy, Germany, the USA, and Russia) and their projection in the Eastern Mediterranean. Under the aforementioned perspective, we examine the converging factors upon which this analysis is focused: (a) the debate concerning the direct or indirect projection of power in the area, (b) the opportunities for cooperation between Greece and France in the defensesector, and (c) the advantages of creating a new Southeastern Mediterranean architecture of security in the context of NATO.

This study investigates the impact of green roof (GR) implementations as a mitigation strategy for urban heating during an extreme heat wave event in Athens, Greece, from 28 July to 5 August 2021. Three GR scenarios were simulated, namely 100% grass coverage, 100% sedum coverage, and 50% grass coverage, using the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) in conjunction with the multi-layer urban-canopy-model BEP&BEM (Building Effect Parameterization/Building Energy Model) and extra urban land-use categories from Local Climate Zones (LCZ). Based on the results, GRs alter the local heat balance in the Greater Area of Athens (GAA), leading to a total temperature reduction. The 100% grass coverage proved to be the most effective, particularly during daytime, reducing the 2 m temperature field by approximately 0.7 ∘C (mean value) in the GAA. In some locations, temperature reductions exceeded 2 ∘C, depending on the local characteristics and the direction of the prevailing winds. Grass offered superior cooling effects compared to sedum, although sedum is more resilient to dry and moderate climates. The extent of vegetation coverage played an important role in the effectiveness of GRs. Reducing the coverage by 50% significantly reduced the cooling benefits, highlighting the importance of maximizing vegetation coverage to achieve notable temperature reductions.

Purpose: To examine nocturnal sleep patterns, napping behaviors, and subjective wellness responses of elite water polo players within an in-season week and to identify whether sleeping patterns differ between men and women. Methods: Sleep characteristics of 10 male and 17 female professional water polo players were objectively assessed during 1 week of the in-season period, including 5 training days, 1 match day, and 1 day of rest. Internal load (rating of perceived exertion × duration of training or match) was assessed 30 minutes posttraining or postmatch, and the total quality of recovery was recorded every morning. A series of multilevel models were used to analyze the data. Results: Time in bed and wake-up time were earlier on both training (P < .001) and rest days (P < .001) than on the day of the match. Internal workload did not predict any of the players' sleeping patterns. Midday naps predicted less time in bed (P = .03) and likely less sleep time (P = .08). The total quality of recovery was predicted only by the total sleep time (P < .01).Women exhibited higher sleep efficiency (P < .001), less waking after sleep onset (P = .01), and a lower number of awakenings (P = .02) than men. Conclusions: The current results indicate that the nocturnal sleep patterns of elite water polo players are not associatedwith internal load and thatwomen display better nocturnal sleep quality compared with men. As long naps interfere with nocturnal sleep, and total nocturnal sleep time predicts total quality of recovery, we suggest that athletes follow hygiene sleep strategies to facilitate adequate nocturnal sleep and next-day recovery. © 2024 Human Kinetics Publishers Inc.. All rights reserved.

The Byzantine Commonwealth stands out in the annals of history as an indelible construct which exercised a profound influence on the preservation and continual reinvigoration of the Greek cultural heritage. Functioning as the custodian of ancient Greek legacies, it served as a bulwark against the tides of time and also facilitated the dissemination of these cultural elements to the burgeoning civilizations of the Medieval Age. As the ultimate bastion of the Hellenistic tradition, the Commonwealth evolved into a “crucible”, wherein profound Christian theological inquiries flourished, thus laying the groundwork for an authentically ecumenical Orthodoxy. This epochal transformation served as the cornerstone for the delineation of the spiritual and intellectual contours that came to define the Eastern world in its entirety. Hellenism served not only as a cultural foundation but also as a dynamic force in fostering national consciousness and resistance against conquering powers. In the end, the resilience of Byzantine culture contributed significantly to the formation of modern Neo-Hellenic/Neo-Byzantine identities, influencing contemporary sociopolitical movements and policies. This paper offers a review of key historical events and philosophical shifts which defined this long process and shaped the development of modern East European nations. It also highlights the complex interplay between historical heritage and modern national identity

The stability of nonlinear systems in the control domain has been extensively studied using different versions of the algebraic Riccati equation (ARE). This leads to the focus of this work: the search for the time-varying quaternion ARE (TQARE) Hermitian solution. The zeroing neural network (ZNN) method, which has shown significant success at solving time-varying problems, is used to do this. We present a novel ZNN model called ’ZQ-ARE’ that effectively solves the TQARE by finding only Hermitian solutions. The model works quite effectively, as demonstrated by one application to quadrotor control and three simulation tests. Specifically, in three simulation tests, the ZQ-ARE model finds the TQARE Hermitian solution under various initial conditions, and we also demonstrate that the convergence rate of the solution can be adjusted. Furthermore, we show that adapting the ZQ-ARE solution to the state-dependent Riccati equation (SDRE) technique stabilizes a quadrotor’s flight control system faster than the traditional differential-algebraic Riccati equation solution.

A fraction of the active supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies in our Universe are capable of launching extreme kiloparsec-long relativistic jets. These jets are known multiband (radio to γ-ray) and multimessenger (neutrino) emitters, and some of them have been monitored over decades at all accessible wavelengths. However, several open questions remain unanswered about the processes powering these highly energetic phenomena. These jets intrinsically produce soft-to-hard X-ray emission that extends from E>0.1keV up to E>100keV, and simultaneous broadband X-ray coverage, combined with excellent timing and imaging capabilities, is required to uncover the physics of jets. Indeed, truly simultaneous soft-to-hard X-ray coverage, in synergy with current and upcoming high-energy facilities (such as IXPE, COSI, CTAO, etc.) and neutrino detectors (e.g., IceCube), would enable us to disentangle the particle population responsible for the high-energy radiation from these jets. A sensitive hard X-ray survey (F20−80keV<10−15ergcm−2s−1) could unveil the bulk of their population in the early Universe. Acceleration and radiative processes responsible for the majority of their X-ray emission would be pinned down by microsecond timing capabilities at both soft and hard X-rays. Furthermore, imaging jet structures for the first time in the hard X-ray regime could unravel the origin of their high-energy emission. The proposed Probe-class mission concept High Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P) combines all these required capabilities, making it the crucial next-generation X-ray telescope in the multi-messenger, time-domain era. HEX-P will be the ideal mission to unravel the science behind the most powerful accelerators in the Universe.

Since the early days of its professionalization, in the aftermath of the Second World War, the history of science has been seen as a bridge between the natural sciences and the humanities. However, only one aspect of this triadic nexus, the relations between the history of science and the natural sciences, has been extensively discussed. The other aspect, the relations between the history of science and the humanities, has been less commented upon. With this paper I hope to make a small step towards redressing this imbalance, by discussing the relationships between the history of science and two other humanistic disciplines that have been historically and institutionally associated with it: the philosophy of science and general history. I argue that both of these relationships are marked by the characteristics of an unrequited friendship: on the one hand, historians of science have ignored, for the most part, calls for collaboration from their philosopher colleagues; and, on the other hand, historians specializing in other branches of history have been rather indifferent, again for the most part, to the efforts of historians of science to understand science as a historical phenomenon. I attempt to offer a diagnosis of this regrettable situation and a suggestion for overcoming it.

In light of the recent research in low-dimensional bismuth structures as spin-active materials and topological insulators, we present a comprehensive characterization of the Bi/Au(111) interface. The nuanced evolution of Bi phases upon deposition in ultrahigh vacuum (UHC) on a Au(111) surface is investigated from semidisordered clusters to few-layer Bi(110) thin films. Particular attention is devoted to the high-coverage, submonolayer phases, commonly grouped under the (P×√3) nomenclature. We bring forth a new model, refining the current iunderstanding of the Bi/Au(111) interface and demonstrating the existence of submonolayer moiré superstructures, whose geometry and superperiodicity depend on their coverage. This tuneable periodicity paves the way for their use as tailored buffer and templating layers for epitaxial growth of thin films on Au(111). Finally, we clarify the growth mode of multilayer Bi(110) as bilayer-by-bilayer, allowing precise thickness control of anisotropically strained thin films. This holistic understanding of the structural properties of the material was enabled by the synergy of several experimental techniques, namely low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM, STS), and X-ray standing waves (XSW), further corroborated by density functional theory (DFT) simulations.

We investigate conditions for the extendibility of continuous algebra homomorphisms ϕ from the Fourier algebra A(F ) of a locally compact group F to the Fourier-Stieltjes algebra B(G) of a locally compact group G to maps between the corresponding L∞ algebras which are weak* continuous. When ϕ is completely bounded and F is amenable, it is induced by a piecewise affine map α : Y → F where Y ⊆ G. We show that extendibility of ϕ is equivalent to α being an open map. We also study the dual problem for contractive homomorphismsϕ : L1 (F ) → M (G). We show that ϕ induces a w* continuous homomorphism between the von Neumann algebras of the groups if and only if the naturally associated map θ (Greenleaf [1965], Stokke [2011]) is a proper map.

Glucocorticoids are important for proper organ maturation, and their levels are tightly regulated during development. Here, we use human cerebral organoids and mice to study the cell-type-specific effects of glucocorticoids on neurogenesis. We show that glucocorticoids increase a specific type of basal progenitors (co-expressing PAX6 and EOMES) that has been shown to contribute to cortical expansion in gyrified species. This effect is mediated via the transcription factor ZBTB16 and leads to increased production of neurons. A phenome-wide Mendelian randomization analysis of an enhancer variant that moderates glucocorticoid-induced ZBTB16 levels reveals causal relationships with higher educational attainment and altered brain structure. The relationship with postnatal cognition is also supported by data from a prospective pregnancy cohort study. This work provides a cellular and molecular pathway for the effects of glucocorticoids on human neurogenesis that relates to lasting postnatal phenotypes.

Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA) is a rare neurodegenerative condition, characterized by the bilateral loss of vision due to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. Its primary cause is linked to mutations in OPA1 gene, which ultimately affect mitochondrial structure and function. The current lack of successful treatments for ADOA emphasizes the need to investigate the mechanisms driving disease pathogenesis and exploit the potential of animal models for preclinical trials. Among such models, Caenorhabditis elegans stands out as a powerful tool, due its simplicity, its genetic tractability, and its relevance to human biology. Despite the lack of a visual system, the presence of mutated OPA1 in the nematode recapitulates ADOA pathology, by stimulating key pathogenic features of the human condition that can be studied in a fast and relatively non-laborious manner. Here, we provide a detailed guide on how to assess the therapeutic efficacy of chemical compounds, in either small or large scale, by evaluating three crucial phenotypes of humanized ADOA model nematodes, that express pathogenic human OPA1 in their GABAergic motor neurons: axonal mitochondria number, neuronal cell death and defecation cycle time. The described methods can deepen our understanding of ADOA pathogenesis and offer a practical framework for developing novel treatment schemes, providing hope for improved therapeutic outcomes and a better quality of life for individuals affected by this currently incurable condition.

For air quality management, while numerical tools are mainly evaluated to assess their performances on absolute concentrations, this study assesses the impact of their settings on the robustness of model responses to emission reduction strategies for the main criteria pollutants. The effect of the spatial resolution and chemistry schemes is investigated. We show that whereas the spatial resolution is not a crucial setting (except for NO2), the chemistry scheme has more impact, particularly when assessing hourly values of the absolute potential of concentrations. The analysis of model responses under the various configurations triggered an analysis of the impact of using online models, like WRF-chem or WRF-CHIMERE, which accounts for the impact of aerosol concentrations on meteorology. This study informs the air quality modeling community on what extent some model settings can affect the expected model responses to emission changes. We suggest to not activate online effects when analyzing the effect of an emission reduction strategy to avoid any confusion in the interpretation of results even if an online simulation should represent better the reality.

There is limited research on the role of childhood trauma in personality pathology according to Kernberg’s psychodynamic model of internalized object relations. Because childhood trauma reflects the disruptions of these relations, it is expected to predict borderline personality organization, especially at the threshold of adulthood. Therefore, the main aim of this retrospective study was to examine the impact of childhood trauma on borderline personality organization in a community sample of emerging adults. Participants were 543 Greek individuals aged 18-29 (M = 21.45; 58.6% females; 85.1% university students). They completed the Greek versions of the Traumatic Antecedents Questionnaire (TAQ) and the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO), which were tested for their factorial structure, reliability, and measurement invariance across gender, as few empirical data exist on the psychometric properties of these measures. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the TAQ consisted of four factors, namely positive experiences, abuse, traumatic life events, and family chaos. The five-factor theoretical structure of the IPO, namely primitive defenses, identity diffusion, reality testing, aggression, and moral values, was confirmed. Low to moderate links between childhood trauma and borderline personality organization were found, with stronger links emerging for abuse and family chaos. Structural equation modeling showed that the various forms of childhood trauma across the age periods studied (i.e., 0-6, 7-12, 13-18) significantly and differentially predicted the dimensions of borderline personality organization. The finding that stronger links emerged when trauma occurred in older ages may be attributed to the retrospective method of the study. Gender differences were also found; for example, personality pathology was more likely in men when abuse and traumatic life events occurred in younger ages and abuse was a more important risk factor for personality pathology in women. This study highlights the impact of childhood adversity on personality pathology in emerging adulthood, provides empirical support for Kernberg’s psychodynamic model, and has useful implications for trauma-informed early screening, prevention, and intervention regarding personality pathology in young people. Limitations of this study and suggestions for future research are outlined.

The projected increase in frequency of flood extremes, attributed to climate change, poses a significant threat to coastal regions throughout the Mediterranean. Consequences encompass extensive geomorphological changes, infrastructural degradation, property damage, pollution of the aquatic environment, and other adverse socio-economic impacts, also threating the blue economy—a vital economic driver of the region. Acknowledging the pivotal role of coastal areas as critical nodes for both economic activities and ecologically valuable natural landscapes, it becomes imperative to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms and extents to which extreme flood events can impact these vulnerable coastal zones. This work focuses on exploring the impacts on the coastline of recent extreme storm events in the Eastern Mediterranean. The study aims to explore and classify the typology of effects, the severity of impacts and examine their spatial distribution as means to contribute to an improved understanding of extreme storm and flooding consequences in the region.

A family of zeroing neural networks based on new nonlinear activation functions is proposed for solving various time-varying linear matrix equations (TVLME). The proposed neural network dynamical systems, symbolized as Li-VPZNN1 and Li-VPZNN2, include an exponential parameter in nonlinear activation function (AF) that leads to faster convergence to the theoretical result compared to previous categories of nonlinearly activated neural networks. Theoretical analysis as well as numerical tests in MATLAB's environment confirm the efficiency and accelerated convergence property of the novel dynamics.

Cultural logic is a set of cultural scripts and patterns organized around a central theme. The cultural logics of dignity, honor, and face describe different ways of evaluating a person’s worth and maintaining cooperation. These cultural logics vary in prevalence across cultures. In this study, we collaboratively develop and validate a measure capturing these cultural logics, which will allow us to map world cultures based on the prevalence of these logics. We will further explore the interrelationsof dignity, honor, and face with prosocial behavior, values, moral beliefs, and religiosity as well as examine the generalizability of these relationships across cultures. Finally, we will explore historical antecedents (e.g., resource scarcity) and current correlates (e.g., inequality) of the country-level prevalence of these cultural logics. This study will generate a new dataset of country scores for dignity, honor, and face that will be available for future comparative research. It will also providetheoretical insights for researchers and practitioners interested in cooperation and social behavior within and between cultures.

Although teachers’ autonomy support and structure are considered essential elements of the classroom environment to promote effective learning strategies, prior research has sometimes provided conflicting results. This inconsistency may stem from how autonomy support and structure relate to some outcomes but not others. Alternatively, this variability might be attributed to nonlinear relations, which have been scarcely tested thus far. In this cross-sectional study, we revisited this issue by examining both the linear and curvilinear relations of autonomy support and structure to challenge-seeking, novelty avoidance, and procrastination. Participants were 3,271 adolescents (Mage = 15.91, SD = 0.34 years; 59.8% females) from 116 classrooms. Multilevel polynomial regression analyses revealed that, compared to structure, autonomy support was a more reliable predictor of challenge-seeking, both at the student and the classroom levels. In contrast, structure predicted novelty avoidance and procrastination more reliably at both levels than autonomy support. Response surface analyses indicated that the most desired pattern existed at the line of congruence. Our findings suggest that both autonomy support and structure are needed to enhance students’ learning strategies. However, the degree of necessity may vary for specific outcomes, with one potentially being more crucial than the other. © 2024 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Anthropogenic global challenges and environmental pressures are increasingly significant. Developing pro-environmental behavior and geoethics is crucial for enhancing awareness, action capability, and respect for natural systems. UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps) play a vital role in conserving geological and biological diversity while aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This quasi-experimental study, conducted during the 4th Summer School of Environmental Education on Geotopes and Sustainability at the Sitia UGGp, uses a pre–post design and comprehensive questionnaire to explore changes in participants’ sense of place and geoethical awareness. Results indicate significant improvements in place attachment, place meaning, and geoethical awareness. These findings suggest that stronger emotional bonds and deeper personal meanings related to the Sitia UGGp correlate with increased geoethical awareness. This research highlights the role of psychological connections in influencing geoenvironmental ethics and underscores the importance of place-based emotional and cognitive bonds in fostering geoethical thinking. However, this study’s limited sample size and the specific geographic context of Sitia UGGp may limit the generalizability of the findings. Despite these limitations, this study provides insights into the interplay of emotions, meanings, and geoethics within the sustainability and resilience spectrum.

Η μελέτη αντιμετωπίζει το πρόβλημα της ασάφειας στη χρήση του όρου Ιουδαίοι και των υποκατηγοριών του (κυρίως πιστεύοντες Ιουδαίοι, Φαρισαίοι, Ιεροσολυμίτες, άλλοι, κόσμος και όχλος) στα κεφ. 7-8 του κατά Ιωάννην Ευαγγελίου. Τα κεφάλαια αυτά, και πρωτίστως ο στίχος 8:44, περιλαμβάνουν ορισμένους από τους πλέον οξείς αντιιουδαϊκούς χαρακτηρισμούς στην ιστορία του Χριστιανισμού και έχουν χρησιμοποιηθεί διαχρονικά προκειμένου να θεμελιώσουν αντιιουδαϊκές θέσεις και συμπεριφορές. Σκοπός της μελέτης είναι η αποσαφήνιση της ταυτότητας των εκάστοτε συνομιλητών του Ιησού στα κεφ. 7-8 και των μεταβαλλόμενων τοποθετήσεών τους απέναντί του. Το θέμα προσεγγίζεται από τη σκοπιά της αφηγηματικής κριτικής. Η μελέτη διαιρείται με βάση την αφηγηματική δομή του κειμένου (7:1-9, 10-44, 45-52; 8:12-59). Συμπερασματικά προκύπτει ότι η εναλλαγή των συνομιλητών του Ιησού και η ενίοτε ασάφειά τους εξυπηρετεί τον στόχο του ευαγγελιστή να τους αφήσει σε κάποιον βαθμό απροσδιόριστους, ώστε τελικά να τους προβάλει συνολικά ως εκπροσώπους του αντίθεου κόσμου. Παρατηρείται επίσης ότι η εχθρότητα όλων των αναφερόμενων στο κείμενο ιουδαϊκών ομάδων, καθώς και των Ιουδαίων συνολικά, έναντι του Ιησού αυξάνεται σταδιακά και κορυφώνεται στις εκ μέρους τους απόπειρες σύλληψης και λιθοβολισμού του, χωρίς βέβαια να αποκλείεται και η ύπαρξη κάποιας ομάδας, η οποία απλώς δεν εκδηλώνει τη διαφωνία της με τις απόπειρες αυτές). Ωστόσο είναι σαφές ότι τα κεφάλαια 7-8 δεν λένε την τελευταία λέξη για την τοποθέτηση των Ιουδαίων και των υποκατηγοριών τους έναντι του Ιησού. Αντίθετα, θεωρούμενο συνολικά το κατά Ιωάννην Ευαγγέλιο, δείχνει ότι η εξέλιξη της στάσης αυτών των ομάδων έναντι του Ιησού, και επομένως η σωτηρία τους, παραμένει ανοικτή υπόθεση, όχι μόνο εντός, αλλά ακόμη και εκτός του κόσμου της αφήγησης. Αυτό σημαίνει ότι η εν προκειμένω αποτυχία των Ιουδαίων να πιστέψουν αληθινά στον Ιησού και η εχθρότητά τους απέναντί του δεν αποτελούν παρά ένα επιμέρους επεισόδιο σε μια συνεχιζόμενη πορεία, η οποία μπορεί τελικά να οδηγήσει πολλούς εξ αυτών στην πίστη. Επομένως, είναι παντελώς εσφαλμένη η θεώρηση του συγκεκριμένου κειμένου ως μιας στατικής και οριστικής καταδίκης των Ιουδαίων από τον ευαγγελιστή.The study addresses the issue of ambiguity in the use of the term "Jews" and its subcategories (mainly "believing Jews," "Pharisees," "Jerusalemites," "others," the "world," and the "crowd") in chapters 7-8 of the Gospel of John. These chapters, particularly verse 8:44, contain some of the most acute anti-Jewish characterizations in the history of Christianity and have been used over time to justify anti-Jewish positions and behaviors. The study aims to clarify the identity of Jesus' interlocutors in chapters 7-8 and their changing attitudes towards him. The topic is approached from a narrative-critical perspective. The study is divided based on the text's narrative structure (7:1-9, 10-44, 45-52; 8:12-59). In conclusion, the alternation of Jesus' interlocutors and their occasional ambiguity serves the evangelist's goal of leaving them undefined to a certain degree, thus presenting them collectively as representatives of the godless world. It is also observed that the hostility of all the Jewish groups mentioned in the text, as well as the "Jews" as a whole, towards Jesus gradually increases and culminates in their attempts to arrest and stone him, although the existence of a silent group that disagrees with these attempts is not excluded. However, it is clear that chapters 7-8 do not provide the final word on the "Jews'" and their subcategories' stance towards Jesus. On the contrary, considering the Gospel of John as a whole, the development of these groups' attitudes towards Jesus, and therefore their salvation, remains open, not only within but even outside the narrative world. This means that the "Jews'" failure to truly believe in Jesus and their hostility towards him is merely a part of an ongoing journey, which may ultimately lead many of them to faith. Therefore, it is entirely unjustified to view this text as a static and definitive condemnation of the Jews by the evangelist.

El vocabulario forma parte integral del sistema lingüístico y constituye un indicador importante de la competencia comunicativa del hablante de lengua extranjera. Sin embargo, la evaluación de ese vocabulario es una tarea especialmente compleja debido a las múltiples dimensiones que supone el conocimiento léxico. La prueba de disponibilidad léxica es una herramienta útil al aportar diferentes tipos de información relacionados con los conocimientos léxicos del aprendiz de lengua extranjera. Reconociendo el potencial de dicha herramienta para recoger respuestas pertenecientes a diferentes clases de palabras, el presente estudio persiguió explorar cómo se relacionan las características cognitivas de diferentes centros de interés con la categoría gramatical de las respuestas de aprendices de español como lengua extranjera (ELE) en una prueba de disponibilidad léxica. En concreto, se examinó cómo varía la categoría gramatical de las respuestas a partir de siete estímulos pertenecientes a diferentes categorías cognitivas a medida que se avanza en la competencia lingüística en ELE. Participaron en el estudio 140 estudiantes griegos de ELE de los niveles de referencia A, B y C, quienes llevaron a cabo una prueba de disponibilidad léxica en la modalidad escrita. En dicha prueba, se incluyeron los centros de interés ‘La casa’, ‘Comida y bebida’, ‘Profesiones y oficios’, ‘El campo’, ‘La ciudad’, ‘Celebraciones y fiestas’ y ‘Acciones diarias’. Tras cuantificar las diferentes categorías gramaticales en cada centro de interés en los tres niveles de referencia, los resultados mostraron que la categoría gramatical de las respuestas se ve influida por las características cognitivas tanto de las respuestas como de los centros de interés.

La presse hellénique éditée à Paris initialement en langue grecque voit émerger, à partir de la seconde moitié du xixe siècle, des périodiques rédigés en français. Ce choix peut être imputé aux conditions du paysage médiatique français après 1881 propices à l’émergence de nouveaux titres. L’adoption du français comme langue d’expression reflète également les besoins et les pratiques sociales de la communauté grecque ainsi que sa volonté d’occidentalisation. La langue française est aussi perçue par les éditeurs et journalistes grecs installés à Paris comme un outil susceptible de leur permettre d’intervenir dans le dialogue entamé sur le sort du pays au niveau européen. Quoique très hétérogène, cette presse témoigne des aspirations des émigrés et présente une cohérence idéologique qui détermine largement ses contenus éditoriaux. Elle constitue un puissant vecteur de propagande au service de la nation grecque et devient un lieu actif de transferts culturels entre la France et la Grèce.

El objeto del presente trabajo es examinar cómo el nivel lingüístico de los aprendices de una lengua extranjera afecta a las asociaciones léxicas que realizan estos en su lexicón mental. El lexicón mental es un sistema altamente estructurado y organizado de distintas formas en redes interrelacionadas. Entre las palabras se establecen asociaciones de diferentes tipos (p.e. semánticas, fonológicas, enciclopédicas). No obstante, estas asociaciones no son estables, ya que el lexicón mental es un sistema dinámico que crece y se reorganiza cada vez que se almacena una nueva unidad léxica o cada vez que se aprende una nueva información sobre una palabra ya almacenada. Con el fin de examinar dichas asociaciones y su evolución, utilizamos una prueba asociativa, la cual permite la activación del léxico productivo mediante una palabra estímulo, haciendo posible de este modo la observación de cómo se organiza el lexicón mental. En nuestro trabajo sometemos a dos grupos de participantes de diferente nivel lingüístico a la realización de una prueba de disponibilidad léxica. Más específicamente, analizamos las respuestas de un grupo de alumnos griegos de ELE de nivel B1 y otro de nivel C1. Evaluamos aspectos cuantitativos y cualitativos de las respuestas en el centro de interés “Comida y bebida”. Los resultados del estudio indican que el nivel lingüístico en lengua extranjera afecta a la cantidad de las asociaciones léxicas realizadas por los participantes, mientras que no influye de una manera decisiva en el tipo de asociaciones léxicas generadas.

FurE is a H symporter specific for the cellular uptake of uric acid, allantoin, uracil, and toxic nucleobase analogues in the fungus nidulans. Being member of the NCS1 protein family, FurE is structurally related to the APC-superfamily of transporters. APC-type transporters are characterised by a 5+5 inverted repeat fold made of ten transmembrane segments (TMS1-10) and function through the rocking-bundle mechanism. Most APC-type transporters possess two extra C-terminal TMS segments (TMS11-12), the function of which remains elusive. Here we present a systematic mutational analysis of TMS11-12 of FurE and show that two specific aromatic residues in TMS12, Trp473 and Tyr484, are essential for ER-exit and trafficking to the plasma membrane (PM). Molecular modeling shows that Trp473 and Tyr484 might be essential through dynamic interactions with residues in TMS2 (Leu91), TMS3 (Phe111), TMS10 (Val404, Asp406) and other aromatic residues in TMS12. Genetic analysis confirms the essential role of Phe111, Asp406 and TMS12 aromatic residues in FurE ER-exit. We further show that co-expression of FurE-Y484F or FurE-W473A with wild-type FurE leads to a dominant negative phenotype, compatible with the concept that FurE molecules oligomerize or partition in specific microdomains to achieve concentrative ER-exit and traffic to the PM. Importantly, truncated FurE versions lacking TMS11-12 are unable to reproduce a negative effect on the trafficking of co-expressed wild-type FurE. Overall, we show that TMS11-12 acts as an intramolecular chaperone for proper FurE folding, which seems to provide a structural code for FurE partitioning in ER-exit sites.

Within the framework of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), basic psychological need satisfaction predicts quality of motivation which in turn predicts study efforts. Although studies focusing on interpersonal differences have repeatedly shown this sequence of relations, only a few have examined its stability at the intra-personal level. In this diary study, we recruited 141 university students (Mage = 20.80, SD = 2.20 years) to investigate the degree of confluence among week-to-week need satisfaction, quality of motivation, learning strategies, and procrastination for four weeks. Multilevel structural equation modelling showed that need satisfaction covaried positively with autonomous motivation. In turn, week-to-week autonomous motivation predicted positively week-to-week critical thinking and effort regulation and negatively procrastination. These relations emerged even after controlling for gender, age, and study hours per week. Further, contextual autonomous motivation predicted higher mean levels of critical thinking and effort regulation and lower ones of procrastination. Interestingly, a cross-level interaction supported the sensitivity hypothesis as the negative relation between need satisfaction and controlled motivation was only true among students who were high in contextual (pre-diary assessed) controlled motivation. These findings highlight the importance of contextual motivation and the need to establish academic environments that consistently satisfy students' psychological needs, thus promoting the quality of motivation and adaptive learning strategies. © 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Context. Recent associations of high-energy neutrinos with active galactic nuclei (AGN) have revived the interest in leptohadronic models of radiation from astrophysical sources. The rapid increase in the amount of acquired multi-messenger data will require fast numerical models that may be applied to large source samples. Aims: We develop a time-dependent leptohadronic code, LeHaMoC, that offers several notable benefits compared to other existing codes, such as versatility and speed. Methods: LeHaMoC solves the Fokker-Planck equations of photons and relativistic particles (i.e. electrons, positrons, protons, and neutrinos) produced in a homogeneous magnetized source that may also be expanding. The code utilizes a fully implicit difference scheme that allows fast computation of steady-state and dynamically evolving physical problems. Results: We first present test cases where we compare the numerical results obtained with LeHaMoC against exact analytical solutions and numerical results computed with ATHEvA, a well-tested code of similar philosophy but a different numerical implementation. We find a good agreement (within 10-30%) with the numerical results obtained with ATHEvA without evidence of systematic differences. We then demonstrate the capabilities of the code through illustrative examples. First, we fit the spectral energy distribution from a jetted AGN in the context of a synchrotron-self Compton model and a proton-synchrotron model using Bayesian inference. Second, we compute the high-energy neutrino signal and the electromagnetic cascade induced by hadronic interactions in the corona of NGC 1068. Conclusions: LeHaMoC is easily customized to model a variety of high-energy astrophysical sources and has the potential to become a widely utilized tool in multi-messenger astrophysics. Instructions for downloading the code, accessing online documentation, and reproducing applications presented in this paper can be found at https://github.com/mariapetro/LeHaMoC Github repository.

LeHaMoC simulates high-energy astrophysical sources. It simulates the behavior of relativistic pairs, protons interacting with magnetic fields, and photons in a spherical region. The package contains numerous physical processes, including synchrotron emission and self-absorption, inverse Compton scattering, photon-photon pair production, and adiabatic losses. It also includes proton-photon pion production, proton-photon (Bethe-Heitler) pair production, and proton-proton collisions. LeHaMoC can model expanding spherical sources with a variable magnetic field strength. In addition, three types of external radiation fields can be defined: grey body or black body, power-law, and tabulated.

Plasmonic photocatalysis based on metal-semiconductor heterojunctions is considered a key strategy to evade the inherent limitations of poor light harvesting and charge separation of semiconductor photocatalysts. It can be profitably combined with three-dimensional photonic crystals (PCs) that offer an ideal scaffold for loading plasmonic nanoparticles and a unique architecture to intensify photon capture. In this work{,} Mo-doped BiVO4 inverse opals were applied as visible light-responsive photonic hosts of Ag and/or Au plasmonic nanoparticles in order to exploit the synergy of plasmonic and photonic amplification effects with interfacial charge transfer for the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of recalcitrant pharmaceutical contaminants under visible light. Photoelectrochemical evaluation indicated a major contribution from hot spot-assisted local field enhancement{,} most pronounced for Ag/Mo-BiVO4 PCs due to the spectral overlap of the localized surface plasmon resonance with the electronic absorption and blue-edge slow photon region of Mo-BiVO4 PCs{,} in contrast to weak plasmonic sensitization effects for the Au-modified PCs. The diverse band alignment at the metal-semiconductor interfaces resulted in the enhanced photoelectrocatalytic degradation of tetracycline broad spectrum antibiotic by Ag/Mo-BiVO4 and the refractory ibuprofen drug by (Ag{,}Au)/Mo-BiVO4{,} attributed to the enhanced charge separation by electron transfer toward Ag nanoparticles. Combination of visible light activated semiconductor PCs and plasmonic nanoparticles with suitable band alignment and photonic band gap may provide a versatile approach for the rational design of efficient plasmonic-photonic photoeletrocatalysts.

A minimalist approach to the linear stability problem in fluid dynamics is developed that ensures efficiency by utilizing only the essential elements required to find the eigenvalues for given boundary conditions. It is shown that the problem is equivalent to a single first-order ordinary differential equation, and that studying the argument of the unknown complex function in the eigenvalue space is sufficient to find the dispersion relation. The method is applied to a model for relativistic magnetized astrophysical jets.

In this study, we attempt to provide insight into the complex interplay between loneliness/solitude and the writing gift from the early years of life. Theories and research on giftedness, loneliness/solitude, and on the links between them suggest that creative literary production and loneliness/solitude are associated. To further illustrate these associations, we briefly discuss loneliness and solitude in childhood, adult life, and work of four gifted writers: Hans Christian Andersen, Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Beatrix Helen Potter. The theoretical framework of this study is twofold: various psychoanalytic formulations and Bruner’s social constructivist and intersubjective conceptualisation of the narrative gift. The main conclusion of this study is that gifted writers have, paradoxically, an intense experience of both painful and beneficial aloneness, which is the inevitable outcome of the writing gift but also becomes the inspiration and motive force for ars poetica.

The recent unprecedented progress in ageing research and drug discovery brings together fundamental research and clinical applications to advance the goal of promoting healthy longevity in the human population. We, from the gathering at the Aging Research and Drug Discovery Meeting in 2023, summarised the latest developments in healthspan biotechnology, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI), biomarkers and clocks, geroscience, and clinical trials and interventions for healthy longevity. Moreover, we provide an overview of academic research and the biotech industry focused on targeting ageing as the root of age-related diseases to combat multimorbidity and extend healthspan. We propose that the integration of generative AI, cutting-edge biological technology, and longevity medicine is essential for extending the productive and healthy human lifespan.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder representing a major burden on families and society. Some of the main pathological hallmarks of AD are the accumulation of amyloid plaques (Aβ) and tau neurofibrillary tangles. However, it is still unclear how Aβ and tau aggregates promote specific phenotypic outcomes and lead to excessive oxidative DNA damage, neuronal cell death and eventually to loss of memory. Here we utilized a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model of human tauopathy to investigate the role of DNA glycosylases in disease development and progression. Transgenic nematodes expressing a pro-aggregate form of tau displayed altered mitochondrial content, decreased lifespan, and cognitive dysfunction. Genetic ablation of either of the two DNA glycosylases found in C. elegans, NTH-1 and UNG-1, improved mitochondrial function, lifespan, and memory impairment. NTH-1 depletion resulted in a dramatic increase of differentially expressed genes, which was not apparent in UNG-1 deficient nematodes. Our findings clearly show that in addition to its enzymatic activity, NTH-1 has non-canonical functions highlighting its modulation as a potential therapeutic intervention to tackle tau-mediated pathology.

Mitophagy, the selective removal of dysfunctional mitochondria, is pivotal for the maintenance of neuronal function and survival. MEC-12/α-tubulin contributes to neuronal physiology through the regulation of microtubule assembly, intracellular transport and mitochondrial distribution. However, its role in mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy remains obscure. Here, we demonstrate that MEC-12 influences mitochondrial morphology under basal conditions and regulates the axonal mitochondrial population. Impairment of MEC-12 results in compromised axonal mitophagy under both basal conditions and oxidative stress. Our results uncover the critical role of MEC-12/α-tubulin for maintaining a healthy mitochondrial population in axons and highlight the complex interplay between microtubules, mitophagy and neuronal health.

Unhealthy aging poses a global challenge with profound healthcare and socioeconomic implications. Slowing down the aging process offers a promising approach to reduce the burden of a number of age-related diseases, such as dementia, and promoting healthy longevity in the old population. In response to the challenge of the aging population and with a view to the future, Norway and the United Kingdom are fostering collaborations, supported by a "Money Follows Cooperation agreement" between the 2 nations. The inaugural Norway-UK joint meeting on aging and dementia gathered leading experts on aging and dementia from the 2 nations to share their latest discoveries in related fields. Since aging is an international challenge, and to foster collaborations, we also invited leading scholars from 11 additional countries to join this event. This report provides a summary of the conference, highlighting recent progress on molecular aging mechanisms, genetic risk factors, DNA damage and repair, mitophagy, autophagy, as well as progress on a series of clinical trials (eg, using NAD+ precursors). The meeting facilitated dialogue among policymakers, administrative leaders, researchers, and clinical experts, aiming to promote international research collaborations and to translate findings into clinical applications and interventions to advance healthy aging.

The use of nature-based solutions (NbS) to address the risks posed by hydro-meteorological hazards have not yet become part of the mainstream policy response, and one of the main reasons cited for this, is the lack of evidence that they can effectively reduce disaster risk. This paper addresses this issue, by providing model-based evidence from five European case studies which demonstrate the effectiveness of five different NbS in reducing the magnitude of the hazard and thus risk, in present-day and possible future climates. In OAL-Austria, the hazard is a deep-seated landslide, and the NbS analysed is afforestation. Modelling results show that in today's climate and a landcover scenario of mature forest, a reduction in landslide velocity of 27.6% could be achieved. In OAL-Germany, the hazard is river flooding and the NbS analysed is managed grazing with removal of woody vegetation. Modelling results show that the NbS could potentially reduce maximum flood water depth in the near-future (2031-2060) and far-future (2070-2099), by 0.036m and 0.155m, respectively. In OAL-Greece, the hazard is river flooding, and the NbS is upscaled natural storage reservoirs. Modelling results show that in a possible future climate the upscaled NbS show most potential in reducing the total flooded area by up to 1.26 km2. In OAL-Ireland, the hazard is surface and river flooding, and the NbS is green roofs. Results from a modelled upscaling analysis under two different climate scenarios show that both maximum flood water depth, and total flooded area were able to be reduced. In OAL-UK, the hazard is shallow landslides, and the NbS is high-density planting of two different tree species. Modelling results under two different climate scenarios show that both tree species were able to improve slope stability, and that this increased over time as the NbS matured. The significance of these results is discussed within the context of the performance of the NbS over time, to different magnitude type events, impact with stakeholders in engendering wider support for the adoption of the NbS in the OALs, and the uncertainty in the modelling analyses.

This study aims to address the challenges associated with rockfall assessment and monitoring, focusing on the coastal cliffs of “Navagio Shipwreck Beach” in Zakynthos. A complete time-series analysis was conducted using state-of-the-art methodologies including a 2020 survey using unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and two subsequent surveys, incorporating terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and UAS survey techniques in 2023. Achieving high precision and accuracy in georeferencing involving direct georeferencing, the utilization of pseudo ground control points (pGCPs), and integrating post-processing kinematics (PPK) with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) permanent stations’ RINEX data is necessary for co-registering the multitemporal models effectively. For the change detection analysis, UAS surveys were utilized, employing the multiscale model-to-model cloud comparison (M3C2) algorithm, while TLS data were used in a validation methodology due to their very high-resolution model. The synergy of these advanced technologies and methodologies offers a comprehensive understanding of rockfall dynamics, aiding in effective assessment and monitoring strategies for coastal cliffs prone to rockfall risk.

Museums are called to respond to contemporary challenges and contribute to the formation of more progressive societies. One of the major challenges of our time is climate change and sustainability, and museums could construct cocreated narratives around climate and implement targeted actions for the audiences through their sensorial and affective experiences. More specifically, Geology and Paleontology museums are repositories of knowledge on geoheritage and geoconservation, recognized for their scientific, pedagogical, cultural, and recreational values. The educational potential of geological and paleontological exhibits could be used in informal education activities regarding the climate emergency and the need for sustainability. Taking the above into consideration, this study focuses on both the creation and the evaluation of an educational program for the Natural History Museum of Arsakeio Campus in Psychicko. According to our findings, students really enjoyed their experience in the Museum, gained knowledge regarding mass extinctions driven by climate change, and suggested ways to tackle the current problems and promote our planet’s sustainability.

The pincer complexes [NiIIBr(CNC)]Br (4), [CrIIIBr3(CNC)] (5 a) and [CrIIIBr2.3Cl0.7(CNC)] (5 b), where CNC=3,3′-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(1-mesityl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene), were obtained from the novel ligand CNC, generated in situ from the precursor (CHNCH)Br2 and [NiIIBr2(PPh3)2] or from [CrII{N(SiMe3)2}2(THF)2] and (CHNCH)Br2 by aminolysis, respectively. The tetrahedrally distorted square planar (τ4≅0.30) geometry and the singlet ground state of Ni in 4 were attributed to steric constraints of the CNC backbone. Computational methods highlighted the dependence of the coordination geometry and the singlet-triplet energy difference on the size of the N-substituent of the tetrahydropyrimidine wingtips and contrasted it to the situation in 5-membered imidazolin-2-ylidene pincer analogues. The octahedral CrIII metal center in 5 a and 5 b is presumably formed after one electron oxidation from CH2Cl2. 4/MAO and 5 a/MAO were catalysts of moderate activity for the oligomerization and polymerization of ethylene, respectively. The analogous (CH^N^CH)Br2 precursor, where (CH^N^CH)=3,3′-(pyridine-2,6-diylbis(methylene))bis(1-mesityl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-1-ium), was also prepared, however its coordination chemistry was not studied due to the inherent instability of the resulting free C^N^C ligand.

Ideas concerning the role, function, and nature of labor unions and their leadership can be found in 19th century economics literature. Even since this early period, a division between orthodox and non-orthodox approaches toward the study of labor unions can be discerned.  The orthodox framework was formed in the late 19th century with the gradual establishment of Marginalism, and it consolidated itself with the dominance of early neoclassical economics. Orthodox economic theory did not devote much attention to the economic analysis of unions. On the contrary and during the same period, non-orthodox economists such as Sidney and Beatrice Webb and early institutionalists (e.g. Richard Ely), had paid considerable attention to the study of unions, perceiving them as politico-economic organizations and emphasizing their wider role as social institutions (McNulty, 1980). The legacy of those two approaches continued in the 20th century and contemporary analyses of labor unions. The orthodox approach (originating mainly from the work of John Dunlop), generally conceives unions as purely economic units, analogous to firms, which can be studied by applying the standard tools of microeconomic theory. In this framework, the notion of union leadership plays a minimum role. In contrast, the non-orthodox viewpoint (originating mainly from Arthur Ross’ works), embraces a holistic, institutional-political-based attitude to labor unionism (Kaufman, 2002).

The aim of this study was to investigate whether an epistemological adequacy (knowledge of the Nature of Science, NOS) contributes to a better understanding and the acceptance of the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection (ThENS). It was performed in two parts with the help of two questionnaires: 1. with students of Education, with a minimum familiarity to ThENS and NOS, before and after the application of a general biology course, and 2. with 200 Science Education teachers of various specialties who teach or have taught biology-related subjects. The education students showed some moderate levels of profi ciency regarding NOS that was improved statistically signifi cantly, even after a limited teaching intervention. An interesting founding was that, while their understanding of the ThENS was not very much improved by the course, it was found a positive correlation between their NOS familiarity and acceptance of evolution. As for the Science teachers, besides the above queries, some other variables were additionally investigated: E.g. to what extent, a better Epistemological Adequacy (knowledge of the Nature of Science) can infl uence their understanding and acceptance of the ThENS, or whether this affi liation could have been affected by their college or university instruction. The results showed a positive correlation between their epistemological adequacy and the acceptance and understanding of ThENS.

OBJECTIVE: Nutritional guidelines for postmenopausal women differ. This study aimed to assess postmenopausal women's knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding nutrition during menopause and their dietary habits. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a menopause clinic, and data from 105 women were analyzed. A nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) questionnaire was designed, structured, and piloted before implementation, based on the Hellenic dietary guidelines. International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Greek version, MedDietScore, and Menopause-specific Quality of Life questionnaires were administered. RESULTS: The mean ± SD age of the women was 56.9 ± 4.6 years. The mean ± SD KAP score was 12.2 ± 3.5. Those who lived in rural areas had lower KAP scores than those who lived in urban areas ( P = 0.004). Of all the women, 74.5{%} knew the Mediterranean diet pyramid, whereas 9.8{%} knew the Hellenic dietary guidelines. Women who had read the guidelines showed better knowledge of Mediterranean diet food groups (Pearson, 0.309; P = 0.039). Knowledge of dairy services was correlated with consumption of dairy products ( P = 0.002). Furthermore, 76.4{%} were willing to participate in nutrition education programs. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire score was positively correlated with years of smoking ( P = 0.002). Physical activity correlated with adherence to the Mediterranean diet ( P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of postmenopausal Greek women in this study were unaware of the Hellenic dietary guidelines. In general, women's knowledge of nutrition during menopause was moderate. Greek postmenopausal women are willing to participate in nutrition education programs, which should raise awareness of healthy lifestyles through nutrition, exercise, and smoking cessation.

Accurate modelling of air-sea processes is essential for reliable forecasts of Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones (also known as “Medicanes”). Medicanes occasionally develop in the Mediterranean causing extreme weather conditions with catastrophic potential due to excessive precipitation, windstorms, and coastal flooding. In this work, we investigate how the complexity of ocean-wave-atmosphere coupling and model initialization affect the simulated track and intensity of the Medicane Ianos (2020). Results indicate that the model's initial conditions and the cyclone's development stage are the main drivers of track position errors, while ocean and wave feedback have a significant impact on the intensity and evolution of the cyclone. Compared with an atmosphere-only simulation, an atmosphere-ocean coupled system reproduces the cyclone's SST cooling effect (up to 3.7 °C), in agreement also with the satellite observations thus, reducing the cyclone intensity, as estimated by the minimum MSLP, the 10-m wind speed and the surface enthalpy flux. Adding a wave model to the coupled system, further increases the magnitude of ocean cooling (by about 1.2 °C), due to increased sea surface roughness leading to increased wind stress and enhanced upper ocean mixing. Overall, surface waves are shown to have competing effects on cyclone intensity i.e., negative feedback via increasing the surface momentum flux and positive feedback via increasing the enthalpy flux, the latter being more sensitive to surface roughness rather than to SST modifications brought by the wave coupled system. The turbulent air-sea fluxes under high winds, appear to be very sensitive to sea-state patterns resolved by the coupled models, highlighting the need to improve forecasting systems for extreme weather events in the Mediterranean.

Accurate modelling of air-sea processes is essential for reliable forecasts of Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones (also known as “Medicanes”). Medicanes occasionally develop in the Mediterranean causing extreme weather conditions with catastrophic potential due to excessive precipitation, windstorms, and coastal flooding. In this work, we investigate how the complexity of ocean-wave-atmosphere coupling and model initialization affect the simulated track and intensity of the Medicane Ianos (2020). Results indicate that the model's initial conditions and the cyclone's development stage are the main drivers of track position errors, while ocean and wave feedback have a significant impact on the intensity and evolution of the cyclone. Compared with an atmosphere-only simulation, an atmosphere-ocean coupled system reproduces the cyclone's SST cooling effect (up to 3.7 °C), in agreement also with the satellite observations thus, reducing the cyclone intensity, as estimated by the minimum MSLP, the 10-m wind speed and the surface enthalpy flux. Adding a wave model to the coupled system, further increases the magnitude of ocean cooling (by about 1.2 °C), due to increased sea surface roughness leading to increased wind stress and enhanced upper ocean mixing. Overall, surface waves are shown to have competing effects on cyclone intensity i.e., negative feedback via increasing the surface momentum flux and positive feedback via increasing the enthalpy flux, the latter being more sensitive to surface roughness rather than to SST modifications brought by the wave coupled system. The turbulent air-sea fluxes under high winds, appear to be very sensitive to sea-state patterns resolved by the coupled models, highlighting the need to improve forecasting systems for extreme weather events in the Mediterranean.

Natural products are attractive components to tailor environmentally friendly advanced new materials. We present surface-confined metallosupramolecular engineering of coordination polymers using natural dyes as molecular building blocks: indigo and the related Tyrian purple. Both building blocks yield identical, well-defined coordination polymers composed of (1 dehydroindigo : 1 Fe) repeat units on two different silver single crystal surfaces. These polymers are characterized atomically by submolecular resolution scanning tunnelling microscopy, bond-resolving atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. On Ag(100) and on Ag(111), the trans configuration of dehydroindigo results in N,O-chelation in the polymer chains. On the more inert Ag(111) surface, the molecules additionally undergo thermally induced isomerization from the trans to the cis configuration and afford N,N- plus O,O-chelation. Density functional theory calculations confirm that the coordination polymers of the cis-isomers on Ag(111) and of the trans-isomers on Ag(100) are energetically favoured. Our results demonstrate post-synthetic linker isomerization in interfacial metal-organic nanosystems.

Theory and experiment went hand in hand in the work of Lord Rayleigh, in which the quest for rigor was a ubiquitous theme. To Rayleigh’s mind, though, and in contrast to mathematicians, physicists could proceed in their investigations without seeking absolute rigor. In his experimental practice, pursuing rigor involved the application of control strategies, which pervaded his work at various levels. Moreover, experimental control had various aims, such as standardizing measurement units in determining the ohm and validating experimental results in the discovery of argon. In the former case, Rayleigh and his team varied the design of their apparatus to control the experimental conditions. Dealing with errors was the main aim of their control practices and lay at the heart of their methodology. In the latter case, control was present in every step of the discovery process: the detection of discrepancies between the densities of atmospheric and “chemical” nitrogen, the identification of argon as a constituent of the atmosphere, and the subsequent exploration of its properties. The aim of this paper is to investigate and contrast the strategies of control employed in those two cases and to clarify their various purposes.

Super-Eddington accretion onto stellar-mass compact objects powers fast outflows in Ultra-Luminous X-ray sources (ULXs). Such outflows, which can reach mildly relativistic velocities, are often observed forming bubble structures. Wind bubbles are expected to develop strong wind termination shocks, sites of great interest for diffusive shock acceleration. We develop a model of diffusive shock acceleration in the wind bubbles powered by ULXs. We find that the maximum energy in these objects can easily reach the PeV range, promoting ULX winds as a new class of PeVatrons. We specialize our model in the context of the Galactic source SS 433 and show that high-energy protons in the bubble might explain the highest energy photons (>100 TeV) and their morphology recently observed by LHAASO. We discuss the detectability of such a source in neutrinos and we analyze the possible radio counterpart of ULXs focusing on the case of W50, the nebula surrounding SS 433. We finally discuss the possible contribution of Galactic ULXs to the cosmic-ray flux at the knee concluding that their role might be substantial.

In this paper we study periodicity phenomena for modular extensions between Weyl modules and between Weyl and simple modules of the general linear group that are associated to adding a power of the characteristic to the first parts of the involved partitions.

The Magellanic Clouds are our closest star-forming galaxies with low Galactic foreground absorption. This makes them a unique laboratory to study the population of high-energy sources. The SMC hosts a large population of Be/X-ray binaries associated with high star formation activity 25-40 Myr ago. It has been proposed that the HMXB population in the LMC is associated with more recent star formation. However, due to the large angular extent and resulting insufficient coverage of the LMC, this association with SFR is not well established yet. An essential asset for studying the HMXB population in the entire LMC was the launch of eROSITA. eROSITA scans the sky in great circles crossing at the ecliptic poles. Due to the vicinity of the south-ecliptic pole, sources in the LMC are monitored for up to several weeks during each all-sky survey, leading to a deep total exposure and the possibility of studying long-term temporal behaviour. This allowed us to discover several new HMXBs, verify candidate HMXBs and construct a complete, flux-limited catalogue. During my presentation, I will first focus on HMXB population properties in the LMC. Then I will discuss individual systems we discovered with eROSITA, such as a Be-WD and an SFXT candidate.

The Magellanic Clouds are our closest star-forming galaxies with low Galactic foreground absorption and well determined distances. In addition, a low metallicity environment makes them a unique laboratory to study the population of high-energy sources. The SMC hosts a large population of Be/X-ray binaries associated with high star formation activity 25-40 Myr ago. The HMXB population in the LMC is associated with a star formation period at an earlier epoch and a lower HMXB formation efficiency. The Magellanic Bridge is thought to be a product of the tidal interaction between the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC). It contains both gas and stellar components, with young stellar components (therefore HMXBs) which is thought to have formed in situ, as well as an older population of stars (e.g. LMXBs) mostly stripped from the SMC by the LMC. The recent eROSITA all-sky survey marks the first comprehensive X-ray coverage of the entire Magellanic system, offering a broad band X-ray coverage in 0.2-10 keV. Proximity to the south-ecliptic pole facilitates extended monitoring of LMC sources during each survey, enabling a deep total exposure and the exploration of long-term temporal behavior. This presentation will unveil the findings from our study of the X-ray binary population across the entire Magellanic system through the SRG/eROSITA all-sky survey. Additionally, we will showcase unique discoveries, including an X-ray burster in the Magellanic Bridge and an ultra-compact binary system in the direction of the LMC.

PURPOSE: Variants in the GNB1 gene, which encodes for the beta-1 subunit of G proteins, have been associated with intellectual development disorder (OMIM: 616973), characterized by developmental delay, infantile hypotonia, seizures, and psychiatric problems. GNB1 variants may also cause a multisystem disorder, with symptoms such as hearing and vision impairment, gastrointestinal disorders, genitourinary abnormalities, and growth delay. CASE PRESENTATIONS: We present two pediatric patients with two novel GNB1 variants. The first patient is a 12-year old Caucasian European female with a history of neonatal hypotonia, feeding difficulties, and failure to thrive for the first 2 years of life. Subsequently, she developed grade 3 obesity, hyperphagia, and autoimmune thyroiditis. Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) revealed a novel likely pathogenic variant in the GNB1 gene (NM{\_}002074.5:c.93{\_}94del, p.Gln32AspfsTer46), which is predicted to result in a loss or disruption of normal protein function through nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) or protein truncation. The second patient is a 2-year old Roma female with severe failure to thrive during infancy, congenital hypothyroidism, and transient hyperoxaluria. No developmental delay was identified. Genetic testing excluded primary hyperoxaluria and WES revealed to be a novel likely pathogenic variant {\{}NM{\_}002074.5:c.183G {\textgreater} T (NP{\_}002065.1:p.Met61Ile), which is predicted to have a damaging effect on the gene or gene product. CONCLUSION: We present two rare pediatric cases with novel GNB1 variants which highlight the phenotypic variability associated with disrupted GNB1 expression. GNB1 may serve as a candidate gene for severe early onset obesity, hyperphagia, neurodevelopmental delay, and other metabolic and endocrine disorders.}

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications are the most common cause of death after surgery. This study aimed to derive and externally validate a novel prognostic model that can be used before elective surgery to estimate the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications and to support resource allocation and prioritisation during pandemic recovery. METHODS: Data from an international, prospective cohort study were used to develop a novel prognostic risk model for pulmonary complications after elective surgery in adult patients (aged ≥18 years) across all operation and disease types. The primary outcome measure was postoperative pulmonary complications at 30 days after surgery, which was a composite of pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and unexpected mechanical ventilation. Model development with candidate predictor variables was done in the GlobalSurg-CovidSurg Week dataset (global; October, 2020). Two structured machine learning techniques were explored (XGBoost and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator [LASSO]), and the model with the best performance (GSU-Pulmonary Score) underwent internal validation using bootstrap resampling. The discrimination and calibration of the score were externally validated in two further prospective cohorts: CovidSurg-Cancer (worldwide; February to August, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic) and RECON (UK and Australasia; January to October, 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic). The model was deployed as an online web application. The GlobalSurg-CovidSurg Week and CovidSurg-Cancer studies were registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04509986 and NCT04384926. FINDINGS: Prognostic models were developed from 13 candidate predictor variables in data from 86 231 patients (1158 hospitals in 114 countries). External validation included 30 492 patients from CovidSurg-Cancer (726 hospitals in 75 countries) and 6789 from RECON (150 hospitals in three countries). The overall rates of pulmonary complications were 2·0% in derivation data, and 3·9% (CovidSurg-Cancer) and 4·7% (RECON) in the validation datasets. Penalised regression using LASSO had similar discrimination to XGBoost (area under the receiver operating curve [AUROC] 0·786, 95% CI 0·774-0·798 vs 0·785, 0·772-0·797), was more explainable, and required fewer covariables. The final GSU-Pulmonary Score included ten predictor variables and showed good discrimination and calibration upon internal validation (AUROC 0·773, 95% CI 0·751-0·795; Brier score 0·020, calibration in the large [CITL] 0·034, slope 0·954). The model performance was acceptable on external validation in CovidSurg-Cancer (AUROC 0·746, 95% CI 0·733-0·760; Brier score 0·036, CITL 0·109, slope 1·056), but with some miscalibration in RECON data (AUROC 0·716, 95% CI 0·689-0·744; Brier score 0·045, CITL 1·040, slope 1·009). INTERPRETATION: This novel prognostic risk score uses simple predictor variables available at the time of a decision for elective surgery that can accurately stratify patients' risk of postoperative pulmonary complications, including during SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks. It could inform surgical consent, resource allocation, and hospital-level prioritisation as elective surgery is upscaled to address global backlogs. FUNDING: National Institute for Health Research.

The Promise of Ecumenical Interpretation pursues its ecumenical goals by allowing the Bible itself to serve as the point of commonality. The volume retains the Bible's centrality as a guideline for individual faith and for the institutional design of churches in the context of contemporary social conflicts. The authors--one Protestant, one Catholic, one Orthodox--present ten unifying theses on the understanding and function of a conception of Scripture under the sign of Sola Scriptura. They agree that only Scripture, when correctly understood, bears witness to good news for everyone, and that only a shared, expectant, and critical turn to Scripture makes sustainable ecumenism possible. This is the basis for bringing biblical insights to the conditions that make community life possible amid the global and local, ecclesiastical and social conflicts of the present.

This paper discusses certain aspects of the dominant cultural heritage discourse in Greece, and their effects on the construction, preservation, and diffusion of public memory; although my case studies will not be archaeological as such, I will be discussing the materialities political power is imbued with, and the ways in which it regenerates itself at their expense (a process in which Greek archaeology often interferes). Focusing on what we generally call “alien monuments,” that is, monuments that do not form part of the hegemonic culture, the paper discusses minority legacies, as they strive to rescue themselves from centrally waged wars on memory, and oblivion.

INTRODUCTION: Tanzania has a high adolescent birth rate and many sexually active adolescents do not have access to effective contraception. Teenage pregnancy is considered a high-risk pregnancy. Furthermore, it leads to social inequalities for both mother and offspring. METHODS: We conducted semistructured interviews with 12 adolescent mothers during their stay in the postnatal ward of the maternity department of a tertiary hospital in Zanzibar. The study took place between November and December 2022. Data were then analyzed qualitatively. RESULTS: The main theme that emerged from the interview data was that pregnancy seemed to affect the lives of young girls in a negative way. The majority of pregnancies were unplanned, and the girls reported low family planning uptake. Another recurring theme was that girls had many οbstacles in their education prior to pregnancy, which left them uncertain about their future. Finally, despite the advice of local doctors, the majority of the girls received minimal prenatal care, mostly because they did not regard obstetric care to be a priority. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent pregnancy remains an important public health issue in Tanzania, despite significant measures by authorities to reduce it. Educational changes and professional opportunities as well as family planning services may enable young girls to achieve professional and personal goals while delaying motherhood into adulthood.

The long-standing tension between the two North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, Greece and Turkey, and their recurrent spats has often made them the subject of Western diplomatic and political attention. There are three external actors, the United States, NATO and the EU which have been particularly interested in Greek-Turkish relations and the security situation in the eastern Mediterranean. Of these three parties NATO has had the least significant role to play, while between the United States and the EU the former has the longer period of involvement in this part of the world and today continues to play a major, though arguably, less committed role. This chapter examines the overall US response to the turbulence between its two allies since the 1950s by placing it within the larger context of US foreign policy.

The synthesis, isolation, and characterisation of well-defined low-valent actinide complexes are reviewed with a main focus on compounds featuring uranium and thorium metal centres in formal oxidation states ≤ +3. The importance of the ligand environment in enabling access to these highly reactive species, as well as its influence on ground state electronic configurations and their reactivity, are emphasised. Furthermore, we highlight cyclic voltammetry (C.V.) studies as a more widely used method that can guide the synthesis of these highly reducing species.

The present paper focuses on the recall of childhood experiences of adults who had at least one parent misusing alcohol and/or drugs. The study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the recall of these experiences in adulthood and their effect on relationships with significant others. Twelve (12) adults, who had experienced as children in their family’s drug and alcohol misuse were interviewed and their interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of the qualitative study suggest that adults recall in their childhood the reversal of family roles and traumas that seem to affect their current relationships. The research findings indicate the necessity of supporting early enough children who grow up in families where alcohol and drug misuse are part of daily life and to create a therapeutic alliance in adult life in order to advance in their relationship with self and others.

Context. Relativistic shocks are present in all high-energy astrophysical processes involving relativistic plasma outflows interacting with their ambient medium. While they are well understood in the context of relativistic hydrodynamics and ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), there is a limited understanding of the properties related to their propagation in media characterized by finite electrical conductivity. Aims: This work presents a systematic method for the derivation and solution of the jump conditions for relativistic shocks propagating in MHD media with finite electrical conductivity. This method is applied to the numerical solution of the Riemann problem and the determination of the conditions inside the blastwave that is formed when ultrarelativistic magnetized ejecta interact with the circumburst medium during a gamma-ray burst. Methods: We derived the covariant relations expressing the jump conditions in a frame-independent manner. The resulting algebraic equations expressing the Rankine-Hugoniot conditions in the propagation medium's frame were then solved numerically. A variable adiabatic index equation of state was used in order to obtain a realistic description of the post-shock fluid's thermodynamics. This method was then employed for the solution of the Riemann problem for the case of a forward and a reverse shock, both of which form during the interaction of a gamma-ray burst ejecta with the circumburst medium. This allowed us to determine the kinematics of the resulting blastwave and the dynamical conditions in its interior. Results: Our solutions clearly depict the impact of the plasma's electrical conductivity in the properties of the post-shock medium. Two characteristic regimes are identified with respect to the value of a dimensionless parameter that has a linear dependence on the conductivity. For small values of this parameter, the shock affects only the hydrodynamic properties of the propagation medium and leaves its electromagnetic field unaffected. No current layer forms in the shock front; thus, we refer to this as the current-free regime. For large values of this parameter, the ideal MHD regime has been retrieved. We also show that the assumption of a finite electrical conductivity can lead to higher efficiencies in the conversion of the ejecta energy into thermal energy of the blastwave through the reverse shock. The theory developed in this work can be applied to the construction of Riemann solvers for resistive relativistic MHD (RR4MHD).

Alan Weinstein remarked that, working in the framework of diffeology, a construction from Noncommutative Differential Geometry might provide the non-trivial representations required for the geometric quantisation of a symplectic structure which is not integral. In this note we show that the construction we gave with P. Antonini does indeed provide non-trivial representations.

The carnation Dianthus fruticosus L. ssp. fruticosus (Caryophyllaceae) is a range-restricted perennial, endemic plant that grows on cliffs, rocks, ravines, terraces, and boulders on Serifos Island in the Cyclades in the Aegean archipelago (Greece), possessing an impressive, aesthetic blossoming during the dry season. This indigenous carnation of Serifos has attracted the interest of naturalists andscientists. Specimens of this subspecific taxon from the island of Serifos (Greece) were collected during botanical explorations in preindustrial times by the French naturalist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (1702) and in the late eighteenth century by the English Professor of Botany at the University of Oxford John Sibthorp (1787). Those specimens, documented in relevant publications and labelled with different names (i.e., Caryophyllus Graecus arboreus and Caryophyllus arboreus Seriphius in the early eighteenth century and Dianthus fruticosus in the early nineteenth century), are related to aspects of vegetation history, linking the past to the present and (most probably) to the future. Today, a thorough understanding of the in situ development and functionality of this endemic carnation is still required, as is a framework of its sustainability and management in small-scale insular habitats. The timeless perception of the emblematic wild carnation Dianthus fruticosus ssp. fruticosus, which is still growing on inland and coastal sites of Serifos and neighboring islands in the Cyclades (Greece), is also a reminder that a native plant is often a repository to which local communities may look when crafting their identity.

The projected increase in the frequency of extreme flood events in the Eastern Mediterranean region signifies profound societal impacts of various types beyond the actual inundated areas and across different sectors. However, the extent and complexity of the various cascade effects remain inadequately understood. This work focuses on collecting new evidence on the types and extent of these cascade effects drawing on recent and historical flood disasters in the region, in an effort to improve our understanding of the nature, the extent, the propagation mechanisms and the consequences of these far-rearching repercussions, Additionally, the study examines the interplay between various impacts to provide insights useful for enhancing preparedness and response strategies to mitigate the associated risks.

This manuscript presents a multidisciplinary study that proposes a methodology for delineating and categorizing vulnerability at rockfall risk areas to avoid human injuries and infrastructure damage caused by rockfalls. The presented workflow includes (i) classical geological mapping, (ii) the interpretation of high-resolution satellite data for observing the spatial distribution of fallen boulders, (iii) analytical hierarchy processing of spatial information within a Geographical Information System (GIS) platform, (iv) close-range remote sensing campaigns with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs), and (v) integrated simulation of rockfall events. This methodology was applied to Kalymnos Island, which belongs to the Dodecanese Islands complex of the southeastern Aegean Sea in Greece. It is characterized by unique geomorphological features, including extensive vertical limestone cliffs that span the island. These cliffs make it one of the world’s most densely concentrated areas for sport climbing. The results highlighted the areas that the local authorities need to focus on and suggested measures for increasing the safety of climbers and infrastructure.

This study investigated the influence of language – first language (L1)versus second language (L2) – on the experience and the expression ofthe emotion of guilt. Fifty-two Greek – Spanish bilinguals read twomoral scenarios that induced guilt in their L2 (Spanish) and rated theintensity with which they felt a series of emotions (moral scenario task).Then they were asked to recall and write about a real-life event thatmade them feel guilty in their L2 (autobiographical memory task). Amonth later they performed the same tasks in their L1. Content analysisand emotional vocabulary analysis were conducted to examine crosslinguisticdifferences in the expression of guilt. Overall, these bilingualsexperienced higher levels of guilt and regret when they read the moralscenarios in their L1 Greek. They also used a greater number of emotionwords in their autobiographical memories in L1. However, theyappeared to be more willing to talk about sensitive topics (e.g.infidelity, homosexuality, and death) in their L2. These findings haveimplications for both psychotherapy and L2 instruction.

Theoretical arguments as well as observations of young stellar objects (YSO) support the presence of a diversified circumstellar environment. A stellar jet is thought to account for most of the stellar spin down and disk wind outflow for the observed high mass loss rate, thus playing a major role in the launching of powerful jets. RY Tau, for instance, is an extensively studied intermediate mass pre-main sequence star. Observational data reveal a small scale jet called microjet. Nevertheless, it is not clear how the microjet shapes the jet observed at a large scale. The goal is to investigate the spatial stability and structure of the central jet at a large scale by mixing the stellar and disk components. We mix two existing analytical self-similar models for the disk and the stellar winds to build the initial set-ups. Instead of using a polytropic equation of state, we map from the analytical solutions, the heating and cooling sources. The heating exchange rate is controlled by two parameters, its spatial extent and its intensity. The central jet and the surrounding disk are strongly affected by these two parameters. We separate the results in three categories, which show different emissivity, temperature, and velocity maps. We reached this categorization by looking at the opening angle of the stellar solution. For cylindrically, well collimated jets, we have opening angles as low as 10 degrees between 8 and 10 au, and for the wider jets, we can reach 30 degrees with a morphology closer to radial solar winds. Our parametric study shows that the less heated the outflow is, the more collimated it appears. We also show that recollimation shocks appear consistently with UV observations in terms of temperature but not density.

The purpose of this research is to create a typology of the long-distance running community of Greece. The sample consisted of 3228 participants/runners in the "Athens Marathon. The Authentic". The variables used for the segmentation included the demographic, social, attitudinal, and behavioral characteristics of the individuals participating in running as a leisure time physical activity. A cluster analysis was implemented using Python K-Mode by creating a code and using the Elbow method because all the variables were categorical. The analysis yields five (5) different clusters, with some similarities but discernible differences, which distinguish each one of the clusters, making them unique. According to the recorded differences, each one of the clusters was assigned a name. The first cluster was named Leisure Health-Oriented Joggers, the second cluster Older Competitive Marathon Runners, the third Health Oriented Experienced Marathon Runners, the fourth Lonely Marathon Runners, and the fifth Sports Oriented Social Marathon Runners.  This is the first-ever presentation of a typology of the Greek running community. Moreover, such a typology could benefit the private and public sectors. Specifically, the segmentation of the running community could influence the sport industry in regard to services, products or merchandise as well as entrepreneurial initiatives. By focusing on the characteristics of each distinctive cluster, the public sector could use this as a guide in planning and implementing new physical activity policies, projects and programs.   Keywords: Marathon, Running movement, Physical Activity, Segmentation, Habits, Attitudes, Sport industry, Market segmentation, Gender gap  

Organometallic complexes of the formula [Ru(N^N)(p-cymene)Cl][X] (N^N = bidentate polypyridyl ligands, p-cymene = 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-benzene, X = counter anion), are currently studied as possible candidates for the potential treatment of cancer. Searching for new organometallic compounds with good to moderate cytotoxic activities, a series of mononuclear water-soluble ruthenium(II)–arene complexes incorporating substituted pyridine–quinoline ligands, with pending -CH2OH, -CO2H and -CO2Me groups in the 4-position of quinoline ring, were synthesized, for the first time, to study their possible effect to modulate the activity of the ruthenium p-cymene complexes. These include the [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(pqhyme)Cl][X] (X = Cl− (1-Cl), PF6− (1-PF6), pqhyme = 4-hydroxymethyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline), [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(pqca)Cl][Cl] ((2-Cl), pqca = 4-carboxy-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline), and [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(pqcame)Cl][X] (X = Cl− (3-Cl), PF6− (3-PF6), pqcame = 4-carboxymethyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline) complexes, respectively. Identification of the complexes was based on multinuclear NMR and ATR-IR spectroscopic methods, elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, UV–Vis spectroscopic, and ESI-HRMS techniques. The solid-state structures of 1-PF6 and 3-PF6 have been elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealing a three-legged piano stool geometry. This is the first time that the in vitro cytotoxic activities of these complexes are studied. These were conducted in HEK293T (human embryonic kidney cells) and HeLa cells (cervical cancer cells) via the MTT assay. The results show poor in vitro anticancer activities for the HeLa cancer cell lines and 3-Cl proved to be the most potent (IC50 > 80 μΜ). In both cell lines, the cytotoxicity of the ligand precursor pqhyme is significantly higher than that of cisplatin.

Organometallic ruthenium complexes with p-cymene = 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-benzene and N^N = bidentate polypyridyl ligands constitute interesting candidates with biological and catalytic properties. Towards this aim, we have synthesized four ruthenium(II)–arene complexes of the type [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(N^N)Cl][X] (N^N = Br-Qpy = 6-bromo-4-phenyl-2-pyridin-2-yl-quinoline, X = Cl− (1a); PF6− (1b); N^N = OH-Ph-Qpy = 4-(4-phenyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinolin-6-yl)phenol, X = Cl− (2a); PF6− (2b)). This is the first report of ruthenium(II) p-cymene complexes incorporating substituted pyridine–quinoline ligands, with –Br and –C6H4OH groups in the 6-position of quinoline. We also refer to the cytotoxicity of the ligands and their possible effect of modulating the activity of the ruthenium(II) complexes. These were characterized by a combination of spectroscopic methods (ATR-IR, UV–Vis, multinuclear NMR), elemental analysis, and conductivity measurements. The solid-state structure of 2b, determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, reveals a three-legged piano-stool geometry. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of the new complexes were evaluated in HEK293T (human embryonic kidney cells) and in HeLa cells (cervical cancer cells), via the MTT assay. Poor in vitro anticancer activities were observed for the HeLa cancer cell line, with 2a being the most potent (IC50 = 75 μΜ). The cytotoxicity of Br-Qpy in HEK293T is comparable to that of cisplatin. Both complexes 1a and 1b successfully catalyze the transfer hydrogenation of benzophenone to benzhydrol by 2-propanol at 82 °C. The catalytic performance of 1a in the ratio of S:Cat:B = 400:1:40 (S = substrate, Cat = catalyst, B = base = KOiPr) leads to a conversion of 94%, within 3 h of reaction. Presumably, catalytic transformation takes place via ruthenium(II) hydride species being the active catalyst.

Background: School health education (SHE) serves as a primary pedagogical aspect of public health. This study aims to explore the curricula of preservice schoolteachers, examining whether graduate courses in Greek universities include SHE, how it is structured, and whether critical pedagogy principles are integrated. Methods: A corpus of n = 21 documents was compiled, encompassing all educational departments in Greek higher education, including Departments of Early Childhood Education and Care (n = 3), Departments of Preschool Education (n = 9), and Departments of Primary Education (n = 9). Results: Content analysis revealed the presence of SHE in 11 out of 21 educational departments. Thematic analysis uncovered significant variability in the curricula, with greater emphasis placed on health-related topics rather than the methodologies and values of SHE. Critical pedagogy principles were not explicitly evident in the curricula, while a persistent biomedical orientation left little room for the development of concepts related to social justice. Conclusions: This study represents the first of its kind in Greece and among the few internationally to examine preservice training for schoolteachers in SHE. The findings underscore the need for revisions to align with the key lessons learned from the major public health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is imperative to acknowledge that vulnerabilities have been exacerbated, and inequalities widened, necessitating a reassessment of current approaches to health education within teacher training programs.

Blazars—a subclass of active galaxies—are intrinsically time-variable broadband sources of electromagnetic radiation. In this contribution, we explored relativistic proton (hadronic) signatures in the time domain blazar emission and searched for those parameter combinations that unveil their presence during flaring epochs. We generated time series for key model parameters, like magnetic field strength and the power-law index of radiating particles, which were motivated from a simulated time series with statistical properties describing the observed GeV gamma-ray flux. We chose the TeV blazar Mrk 501 as our test case, as it had been the study ground for extensive investigations during individual flaring events. Using the code LeHaMoC, we computed the electromagnetic and neutrino emissions for a period of several years that contained several flares of interest. We show that for both of those particle distributions the power-law index variations that were tied to moderate changes in the magnetic field strength of the emitting region might naturally lead to hard X-ray flares with very-high-energy γ-ray counterparts. We found spectral differences measurable by the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory at sub-TeV energies, and we computed the neutrino fluence over 14.5 years. The latter predicted ∼0.2 muon and anti-muon neutrinos, consistent with the non-detection of high-energy neutrinos from Mrk 501.

Neuropsychiatric disorders, which are associated with stress hormone dysregulation, occur at different rates in men and women. Moreover, nowadays, preclinical and clinical evidence demonstrates that sex and gender can lead to differences in stress responses that predispose males and females to different expressions of similar pathologies. In this curated review, we focus on what is known about sex differences in classic mechanisms of stress response, such as glucocorticoid hormones and corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), which are components of the hypothalamicpituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis. Then, we present sex differences in neurotransmitter levels, such as serotonin, dopamine, glutamate and GABA, as well as indices of neurodegeneration, such as amyloid β and Tau. Gonadal hormone effects, such as estrogens and testosterone, are also discussed throughout the review. We also review in detail preclinical data investigating sex differences caused by recentlyrecognized regulators of stress and disease, such as the immune system, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, as well neurosteroids. Finally, we discuss how understanding sex differences in stress responses, as well as in pharmacology, can be leveraged into novel, more efficacious therapeutics for all. Based on the supporting evidence, it is obvious that incorporating sex as a biological variable into preclinical research is imperative for the understanding and treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety and Alzheimer's disease.

The paper explores the potential of sound to repoliticize theatre and performance. By examining the activity and dramaturgical practices of the multimedia art collective Medea Electronique (Greece), it highlights contradictions of contemporary art, particularly the continuous transition from ‘everything is political’ to ‘no, not everything is political’ and vice versa. From a post-Brechtian perspective, the political function of art lies in preserving the diverse sensibilities at the core of art’s autonomy. This entails avoiding that art be reduced to a post-political gesture or aligning it too closely with everyday aestheticized experiences.

François-René de Chateaubriand occupe une place particulière dans la mémoire collective de la Grèce moderne. Il est inscrit dans les lettres grecques modernes au double titre de philhellène et d’homme de lettres, aux côtés d’autres écrivains et philhellènes européens tels que Byron et Victor Hugo ou encore Béranger. À sa mort, en juillet 1848, les journaux grecs saluent unanimement un fidèle ami de la Grèce. Mais dans quelle mesure son œuvre littéraire était-elle connue du public grec ? Quelles œuvres étaient traduites et quelle en fut leur réception ? La présente étude tente un premier recensement des traductions grecques de Chateaubriand au XIXe siècle et une périodisation de la présence de son œuvre en Grèce. Si dans un premier temps les lecteurs de Chateaubriand appartiennent à une élite intellectuelle francophone susceptible de pouvoir le lire dans l’original, le cercle des lecteurs s’élargit progressivement grâce notamment à des traductions intégrales mais aussi grâce à des traductions partielles insérées dans les revues littéraires du XIXe siècle.

Remotely sensed data play a crucial role in monitoring the El Niño/La Niña Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which is an oceanic-atmospheric phenomenon occurring quasi-periodically with several impacts worldwide, such as specific biological and global climate responses. Since 1980, Earth has witnessed three strong ENSO events (1982–1983, 1997–1998, 2015–2016). In September 2022, La Niña entered its third year and was unlikely to continue through 2024. Instead, since 2022, forecasts have pointed to a transition from La Niña to a Neutral phase in the summer or late 2023. The onset of El Niño occurred around April 2023, and it is anticipated by sophisticated models to be a strong event through the Northern Hemisphere winter (December 2023–February 2024). The aim of this study is to demonstrate the ability of the combination of two new methods to improve the accuracy of the above claim because El Niño apart from climate anomalies, significantly impacts Earth’s ecosystems and human societies, regulating the spread of diseases by insects (e.g., malaria and dengue fever), and influencing nutrients, phytoplankton biomass, and primary productivity. This is done by exploring first the previous major El Niño events in the period January 1876–July 2023. Our calculations show that the ongoing 2023–2024 El Niño will not be the strongest.

Active tuning of the scattering of particles and metasurfaces is a highly sought-after property for a host of electromagnetic and photonic applications, but it normally requires challenging-to-control tunable (reconfigurable) or active (gain) media. Here, we introduce the concepts of anisotropic virtual gain and oblique Kerker effect, where a completely lossy anisotropic medium behaves exactly as its anisotropic gain counterpart upon excitation by a synthetic complex-frequency wave. The strategy allows one to largely tune the magnitude and angle of a particle’s scattering simply by changing the shape (envelope) of the incoming radiation, rather than by an involved medium-tuning mechanism. The so-attained anisotropic virtual gain enables directional super-scattering at an oblique direction with fine-management of the scattering angle. Our study is based on analytical techniques that allow multipolar decomposition of the scattered field in agreement with full-wave simulations, and lays the foundations for a light management method.

The inevitable feedback between the environmental and energy crisis within the next decades can probably trigger and/or promote a global imbalance in both financial and public health terms. To handle this difficult situation, in the last decades, many different classes of materials have been recruited to assist in the management, production, and storage of so-called clean energy. Probably, ferromagnets, superconductors and ferroelectric/piezoelectric materials stand at the frontline of applications that relate to clean energy. For instance, ferromagnets are usually employed in wind turbines, superconductors are commonly used in storage facilities and ferroelectric/piezoelectric materials are employed for the harvesting of stray energy from the ambient environment. In this work, we focus on the wide family of ferroelectric/piezoelectric materials, reviewing their physical properties in close connection to their application in the field of clean energy. Among other compounds, we focus on the archetypal compound Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (or PZT), which is well studied and thus preferred for its reliable performance in applications. Also, we pay special attention to the advanced ferroelectric relaxor compound (1−x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3−xPbTiO3 (or PMN-xPT) due to its superior performance. The inhomogeneous composition that many kinds of such materials exhibit at the so-called morphotropic phase boundary is reviewed in connection to possible advantages that it may bring when applications are considered.

In the past two decades, index-near-zero (INZ) modes and materials, with their spatial phase invariance and super coupling, gained increasing attention for applications in all-optical/quantum computing and communication. However, the modulation of INZ modes is typically complex and discontinuous, often achieved through intricate experimental methods, thereby hindering their widespread application. Here, we propose two deep-subwavelength magneto-optical one-way waveguides and discover three broadband tunable INZ modes, exhibiting predict able behavior dependent on the external magnetic field (EMF). By utilizing these INZ modes, we design broadband tunable all-optical phase modulators through straightforward EMF control. The tunable and predictable nature of INZ modes, combined with deep-subwavelength phase modulators, may advance miniaturized all-optical communication and computation.

Metasurfaces are capable of fully reshaping the wavefronts of incident beams in desiredmanners.However,therequirementforexternallightexcitationand the resonant nature of their meta-atoms, make challenging their on-chip integration. Here, we introduce the conceptanddesignofafreshclassof metasurfaces, driven by unidirectional guided waves, capable of arbitrary wavefront control based on the uniquedispersion properties of unidirectional guided waves rather than resonant meta-atoms. Upon experimentally demonstrating the feasibility of our designs in the microwave regime, we numerically validate the introduced principle through the design of several microwave meta-devices using metal-air-gyromagnetic unidirectional surface magneto-plasmons, agilely converting unidirectional guided modes into the wavefrontsof3DBesselbeams,focusedwaves,andcontrollablevortexbeams. We, further, numerically demonstrate sub-diffraction focusing, which is beyond the capability of conventional metasurfaces. Our unfamiliar yet prac tical designs may enable full, broadband manipulation of electromagnetic waves on deep subwavelength scales.

We aim to identify the key drivers of capital depletion under the adverse scenario by reverse engineering the EU-wide stress tests. Our sample consists of the banks that participated in the 2016, 2018 and 2021 EU-wide stress tests. We use three separate sets of variables, namely the bank-specific indicators, the macroeconomic parameters, and the banks’ exposures per loan portfolio. The results demonstrate that banks that are more profitable, more efficient, smaller, more exposed to corporate clients, less exposed to governments and having booked more impairments beforehand experience lower capital depletion under the adverse scenario. In addition, high rates of inflation imply more severe capital reductions, while high GDP leads to mild capital depletion. The asset mix on banks' balance sheets significantly affects the impact of stress test under the adverse scenario. Results are robust to alternative econometric approaches and provide important implications for both supervisors and banks.

Nanoparticle formation by Spark Discharge Aerosol Generation offers low-cost fabrication of nanoparticles, without the use of chemicals or vacuum. It produces aerosol particles of a few nanometers in size with high purity. In this work, copper-based - CuO (tenorite) and Cu- nanoparticles are produced, characterized and used to modify face mask air filters, achieving the introduction of antibacterial and antiviral properties. A range of characterization techniques have been employed, down to the atomic level. The majority of the particles are CuO (of a few nanometers in size that agglomerate to form aggregates), the remainder being a small number of larger Cu particles. The particles were deposited on various substrates, mainly fiber filters in order to study them and use them as biocidal agents. On face masks, their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E.coli) results in a 100% decrease in bacteria cell viability. Their antiviral activity on face masks results in a 90% reduction of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viability, 15 minutes post the application of the virus stock solution. This highlights the effectiveness of this approach, its simplicity, its low cost and its excellent environmental credentials.

Context. A correlation has been reported between the arrival directions of high-energy IceCube events and γ-ray blazars classified as intermediate- and high-synchrotron-peaked BL Lacs. Subsequent studies have investigated the optical properties of these sources, compiled and analyzed public multiwavelength data, and constrained their individual neutrino emission based on public IceCube point-source data. Aims. We provide a theoretical interpretation of public multiwavelength and neutrino point source data for the 32 BL Lac objects in the sample previously associated with an IceCube alert event. We combined the individual source results to draw conclusions regarding the multimesssenger properties of the sample and the required power in relativistic protons. Methods. We performed particle interaction modeling using open-source numerical simulation software. We constrained the model parameters using a novel and unique approach that simultaneously describes the host galaxy contribution, the observed synchrotron peak properties, the average multiwavelength fluxes, and, where possible, the IceCube point source constraints. Results. We show that a single-zone leptohadronic model can describe the multiwavelength broadband fluxes from all 32 IceCube candidates. In some cases, the model suggests that hadronic emission may contribute a considerable fraction of the γ-ray flux. The required power in relativistic protons ranges from a few percent to a factor of ten of the Eddington luminosity, which is energetically less demanding compared to other leptohadronic blazar models in recent literature. The model can describe the 68% confidence level IceCube flux for a large fraction of the masquerading BL Lacs in the sample, including TXS 0506+056; whereas, for true BL Lacs, the model predicts a low neutrino flux in the IceCube sensitivity range. Physically, this distinction is due to the presence of photons from broad line emission in masquerading BL Lacs, which increase the efficiency of hadronic interactions. The predicted neutrino flux peaks between a few petaelectronvolt and 100 PeV and scales positively with the flux in the gigaelectronvolt, megaelectronvolt, X-ray, and optical bands. Based on these results, we provide a list of the brightest neutrino emitters, which can be used for future searches targeting the 10–100 PeV regime.

Consider the general linear group $G=GL_{n}(K)$ defined over an infinite field $K$ of positive characteristic $p$. We denote by $\Delta(\lambda)$ the Weyl module of $G$ which corresponds to a partition $\lambda$. Let $\lambda, \mu$ be partitions of $r$ and let $\gamma$ be partition with all parts divisible by $p$. In the first main result of this paper, we find sufficient conditions on $\lambda, \mu and \gamma$ so that $Hom_G(\Delta(\lambda),\Delta(\mu)) \simeq Hom_G(\Delta(\lambda +\gamma),\Delta(\mu +\gamma))$, thus providing an answer to a question of D. Hemmer. As corollaries we obtain stability and periodicity results for homomorphism spaces. In the second main result we find related sufficient conditions on $\lambda, \mu$ and $p$ so that $Hom_G(\Delta(\lambda),\Delta(\mu))$ is nonzero. An explicit map is provided that corresponds to the sum of all semistandard tableaux of shape $\mu$ and weight $\lambda$.

In this edited volume, renowned scholars from around the globe rethink and update important political communication concepts in the light of the most recent changes that have been occurring in media environments. In particular, the authors discuss those caused by the use of social media in politics, e.g. prevalent disinformation, populism, political polarization, etc. This collection of key texts addresses the major concerns that arise in our rapidly changing media and political environments and provides a basis for discussions on the current state of political communication research. This makes this volume a must-read for students, researchers, and scholars of political communication, interested in a better understanding of key concepts and the current state of the research in the field. 

Static waste heat recovery, by means of thermoelectric generator (TEG) modules, constitutes a fast-growing energy harvesting technology on the way towards greener transportation. Many commercial solutions are already available for small internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, whereas further development and cost reductions of TEG devices expand their applicability at higher-power transportation means (i.e., ships and aircrafts). In this light, the integration of waste heat recovery based on TEG modules in a shipboard distribution network is studied in this work. Several voltage step-up techniques are considered, whereas the most suitable ones are assessed via the LTspice simulation platform. The design procedure of the selected LLC resonant converter is presented and analyzed in detail. Furthermore, a flexible control strategy is proposed, capable of either output voltage regulation (constant voltage) or maximum power point tracking (MPPT), according to the application demands. Finally, both simulations and experiments (on a suitable laboratory testbench) are performed. The obtained measurements indicate the high efficiency that can be achieved with the LLC converter for a wide operating area as well as the functionality and adequate performance of the control scheme in both operating conditions.

Teachers face many issues when trying to integrate digital resources (DR) into mathematics classes. This article applies an identity-based perspective to understand teachers’ roles in the practices that evolve in such classes. We focus on Victor, a Greek mathematics teacher, who, when viewed from levels beyond the classroom, experienced to become a reform-oriented teacher and a designer of DR. We explore how these experiences of professional identity shapes and is shaped by his work with DR at the classroom level. We show how Victor’s identity changed from ‘being a Mathematics teacher who struggles with inquiry-based teaching’ to ‘becoming a mathematics Teacher who uses DR to support inquiry-based learning’ and outline what fuelled these changes. Our results suggest the importance of connecting an identity perspective to classroom interactions and mathematics.

Health literacy is a significant element of education and is inextricably linked to children’s and adolescents’ growth and prosperity. It is critical to monitor students’ health literacy on a nationwide scale and identify the factors that influence it in order to create policies that advance it. The purpose of this study was to determine the health literacy level of Greek secondary school students and to correlate it with possible determinants such as personal and family characteristics, social support and personal and/or family illness experiences. A representative sample of 2749 seventh-, ninth-, and tenth-grade students was involved. Results showed that a higher motivation to learn about health topics and having positive social interactions and support were strongly associated with a higher level of health literacy. Gender, high academic achievement, absence of learning disabilities, gender, preference for biology and informatics and primary source of health information were also found to influence the skills’ level. In order to enhance health literacy, the Greek educational system should take measures to include health literacy skills development goals in their curricula.

Oxidative stress refers to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species and is often associated with numerous pathological conditions. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a widely used enzyme for evaluating oxidative stress, with numerous methods being developed for its detection in biological specimens like blood, urine, and saliva. In this study, a simple metal-assisted chemical etching method was employed for the fabrication of nanostructured silicon surfaces decorated with either silver dendrites or silver aggregates. Those surfaces were used as substrates for the immunochemical determination of SOD in synthetic saliva through surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF). The immunoassay was based on a 3-step competitive assay format, which included, after the immunoreaction with the specific anti-SOD antibody, a reaction with a biotinylated secondary antibody and streptavidin. Streptavidin labeled with peroxidase was used in combination with a precipitating tetramethylbenzidine substrate for detection through SERS, whereas for SEF measurements, streptavidin labeled with the fluorescent dye Rhodamine Red-X was utilized. Both immunoassays were sensitive, with a detection limit of 0.01 μg/mL and a linear dynamic range from 0.03 to 3.3 μg/mL, enabling the evaluation of the oxidative stress status of an organism.

Oxidative stress is defined by an imbalance between the generation of reactive oxygen species and the biological system’s ability to neutralize them. This condition is commonly linked to various pathological conditions [1]. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a widely used enzyme to assess oxidative stress, and various techniques have been developed for its detection in biological samples such as blood, urine, and saliva [2]. Surface-enhanced photoluminescence (PL) is a particularly sensitive method, offering minimal interference from the sample matrix [3]. In this work, silver nanostructured surfaces were implemented as substrates for the immunochemical determination of SOD in synthetic saliva through PL. The substrates were prepared using a single-step metal-assisted chemical etching method (MACE), resulting in the formation of silicon nanowires decorated with silver dendrites of approximately 1.5 μm in height [4]. For SOD detection, a three-step competitive immunoassay configuration was followed. Briefly, SOD was immobilized onto the substrates and then the functionalized substrates were incubated with mixtures of SOD with anti-SOD primary antibody, prepared either in assay buffer or synthetic saliva. Then, a solution of biotinylated anti-species specific antibody was added, followed by a reaction with streptavidin labelled with the fluorescent dye Rhodamine Red-X, and the signal was determined through an in-house developed optical set-up. The developed method presents similar or slightly lower sensitivity (detection limit 0.05 μg/mL) compared to the literature; however, it does not require labor-intensive sample pretreatment steps [5,6]. The aforementioned findings demonstrate the capability of the developed method to detect superoxide dismutase in natural saliva, in order to evaluate the oxidative stress status of an organism.

In this work, silicon nanowires were constructed by metal-assisted chemical etching and decorated with silver nanoparticles and used as substrates for the SERS determination of oxidative stress markers, namely glutathione, malondialdehyde and catalase. The assays were sensitive, with detection limits of 50 and 3.2 nM for glutathione and malondialdehyde, respectively, and 0.5 μg/mL for catalase, indicating the capability of the proposed substrates to be implemented for the determination of various oxidative stress markers.

The synergetic effects of electromagnetic and chemical enhancements via the combination of semiconductor nanomaterials with noble metal nanoparticles is crucial to the performance of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Here, WO3/TiO2 photonic crystal films in the form of three-dimensional inverse opals were fabricated via the co-assembly of polymer colloidal templates with water-soluble precursors in order to simultaneously grow both constituent metal oxides with tailored electronic properties and photonic band gaps. The surface modification of compositionally tuned WO3/TiO2 inverse opals by Ag nanoparticles is demonstrated to be an efficient method to boost SERS efficiency in the detection of 4−mercaptobenzoic acid via the synergy of plasmonic effects with charge transfer and slow-light trapping.

Carbene-metal-amide (CMA) complexes of gold, silver, and copper have been studied extensively for their photochemical/photocatalytic properties and as potential (pre-)catalysts in organic synthesis. Herein, the design, synthesis, and characterization of five bench-stable Au-, Ag-, and Cu-NHC complexes bearing the benzotriazolyl anion as an amide donor, are reported. All complexes are synthesized in a facile and straightforward manner, using mild conditions. The catalytic activity of the Ag and Cu complexes was studied in propargylamide cycloisomerization and carbonyl hydrosilylation reactions. Both CMA-catalyzed transformations proceed under mild conditions and are highly efficient for a range of propargylamides and carbonyl compounds, respectively, affording the desired corresponding products in good to excellent yields.

The goal of the study presented in this paper is to evaluate the performance of a proposed adaptive beamforming approach in cell-free massive multiple input multiple output (CF-mMIMO) orientations. To this end, mobile stations (MSs) can be served by multiple access points (APs) simultaneously. In the same context, the performance of a dynamic physical resource block (PRB) allocation approach isevaluated as well, where the set of assigned PRBs per active MS is constantly updated according to their signal strength and the amount of interference that cause to the rest of the co-channel MSs. Performance evaluation takes place in a two-tier wireless orientation, employing a system-level simulator designed for parallel Monte Carlo simulations. According to the presented results, a significant gain in energy efficiency (EE) can be achieved for medium data rate services when comparing the cell-free (CF) resource allocation approach to single AP links (non-CF). This is made feasible via cooperative beamforming, where on one hand, the radiation figures of the APs that serve a particularMSare jointly updated to ensure quality of service(QoS), and on the other hand, the effects of these updates on the other MSs are evaluated as well. Although EE for high data rate services decreases compared to the non-CF scenario, the proposed dynamic PRB allocation strategy significantly lowers the number of active radiating elements required to meet minimumQoS standards, thereby reducing both hardware and computational demands.

The recent discovery of astrophysical neutrinos from the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068 suggests the presence of nonthermal protons within a compact "coronal" region close to the central black hole. The acceleration mechanism of these nonthermal protons remains elusive. We show that a large-scale magnetic reconnection layer, of the order of a few gravitational radii, may provide such a mechanism. In such a scenario, rough energy equipartition between magnetic fields, X-ray photons, and nonthermal protons is established in the reconnection region. Motivated by recent 3D particle-in-cell simulations of relativistic reconnection, we assume that the spectrum of accelerated protons is a broken power law, with the break energy being constrained by energy conservation (i.e., the energy density of accelerated protons is at most comparable to the magnetic energy density). The proton spectrum is ${{dn}}_{p}/{{dE}}_{p}\propto {E}_{p}^{-1}$ below the break and ${{dn}}_{p}/{{dE}}_{p}\propto {E}_{p}^{-s}$ above the break, with IceCube neutrino observations suggesting s ≃ 3. Protons above the break lose most of their energy within the reconnection layer via photohadronic collisions with the coronal X-rays, producing a neutrino signal in good agreement with the recent observations. Gamma rays injected in photohadronic collisions are cascaded to lower energies, sustaining the population of electron-positron pairs that makes the corona moderately Compton thick.

Context. Very high-energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) observations of the blazar Mrk 501 with MAGIC in 2014 provided evidence for an unusual narrow spectral feature at about 3 TeV during an extreme X-ray flaring activity. The one-zone synchrotron-self Compton scenario, widely used in blazar broadband spectral modeling, fails to explain the narrow TeV component. Aims: Motivated by this rare observation, we propose an alternative model for the production of narrow features in the VHE spectra of flaring blazars. These spectral features may result from the decay of neutral pions (π0 bumps) that are in turn produced via interactions of protons (of tens of TeV energy) with energetic photons, whose density increases during hard X-ray flares. Methods: We explored the conditions needed for the emergence of narrow π0 bumps in VHE blazar spectra during X-ray flares reaching synchrotron energies ∼100 keV using time-dependent radiative transfer calculations. We focused on high-synchrotron peaked (HSP) blazars, which comprise the majority of VHE-detected extragalactic sources. Results: We find that synchrotron-dominated flares with peak energies ≳100 keV can be ideal periods for the search of π0 bumps in the VHE spectra of HSP blazars. The flaring region is optically thin to photopion production, its energy content is dominated by the relativistic proton population, and the inferred jet power is highly super-Eddington. Application of the model to the spectral energy distribution of Mrk 501 on MJD 56857.98 shows that the VHE spectrum of the flare is described well by the sum of a synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) component and a distinct π0 bump centered at 3 TeV. Spectral fitting of simulated SSC+π0 spectra for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) show that a π0 bump could be detected at a 5σ significance level with a 30-min exposure. Conclusions: A harder VHE γ-ray spectrum than the usual SSC prediction or, more occasionally, a distinct narrow bump at VHE energies during hard X-ray flares, can be suggestive of a relativistic hadronic component in blazar jets that otherwise would remain hidden. The production of narrow features or spectral hardenings due to π0 decay in the VHE spectra of blazars is testable with the advent of CTA.

We model the spectral formation occurring in the binary X-ray pulsar (XRP) RX J0209.6‑7427 during the 2019 super-Eddington outburst. Using a theoretical model previously developed by the authors, we are able to produce spectra that closely resemble the phase-averaged X-ray spectra observed using the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array and Insight-HXMT during low- and high-luminosity states of the outburst, respectively. The theoretical model simulates the accretion of fully ionized gas in a dipole magnetic field and includes a complete description of the radiation hydrodynamics, matter distribution, and spectral formation. Type II X-ray outbursts provide an opportunity to study accretion over a large range of luminosities for the same neutron star. The analysis performed here represents the first time both the outburst low and high states of an accretion-powered XRP are modeled using a physics-based model rather than standard phenomenological fitting with arbitrary mathematical functions. We find that the outer polar cap radius remains constant and the column is more fully filled with increasing luminosity, Comptonized bremsstrahlung dominates the formation of the phase-averaged X-ray spectrum, and a negative correlation exists between cyclotron centroid energy and luminosity, as expected. The super-Eddington nature of the outburst is rendered possible owing to the low scattering cross section for photons propagating parallel to the magnetic field. We also find that emission through the column top dominates in both the low and high states, implying that the pulse profiles should have a roughly sinusoidal shape, which agrees with observed properties of ultraluminous XRPs.

We theoretically investigated the electron–surface optical phonon interaction across the long-range Fröhlich coupling in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides, such as WS2, WSe2, MoS2, and MoSe2 monolayers, on SiC and hexagonal BN dielectric substrates. We employed the effective Hamiltonian in the K+(K−) valley of the hexagonal Brillouin zone to assess the electronic energy shifts induced by the interaction between electronic states and surface polar optical phonons. Our results indicate that the interaction between electrons and surface optical phonons depends upon the polar nature of the substrate. We have also calculated the polaronic oscillator strength, as well as the polaronic scattering rate of the lower polaron state in monolayer WS2, WSe2, MoS2, and MoSe2 on SiC and hexagonal BN dielectric substrates. As a result, we have theoretically proved the following: firstly, the enhancement of the polaronic scattering rate with temperature, and secondly, the notable influence of the careful selection of surrounding dielectrics on both the polaronic oscillator strength and the polaronic scattering rate. Thus, optimal dielectrics would be those exhibiting both elevated optical phonon energy and a high static dielectric constant.

This study delves into the exploration of wave propagation in spatially homogeneous systems governed by a Klein-Gordon–type equation with a periodically time-varying cutoff frequency. Through a combination of analytical calculations and numerical simulations, intriguing and distinctive features in the dispersion diagram of these systems are uncovered. Notably, the examined configurations demonstrate some remarkable transitions as the modulation frequency increases. These transitions encompass a transformation from a frequency gap to a wave-number (q) gap around q=0, with the transition point corresponding to a gapless Dirac dispersion with an exceptional point of degeneracy. Subsequently, the q gap undergoes a bifurcation into two symmetric gaps at positive and negative wave numbers. At this second transition point, the dispersion diagram takes the form of an imaginary Dirac dispersion relation and exhibits an isolated exceptional point at the center of the q=0 gap. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of wave dynamics in periodically modulated media, uncovering tunable phenomena.

The evolution of technology, particularly the integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), earth observation datasets, and historical data such as aerial photographs, stand as fundamental tools for comprehending and reconstructing surface evolution and potential environmental changes. In addition, the active geodynamic phenomena in conjunction with climate crisis and the increasing frequency of extreme weather phenomena can cause abrupt events such as rockfalls and landslides, altering completely the morphology on both small and large scales.This study deals generally with the temporal evolution of landscapes and specifically focuses on the detection and quantification of a significant rockfall event that occurred at Kalamaki Beach on Zakynthos Island, Greece – a very popular summer destination. Utilizing UAS surveys conducted in July 2020 and July 2023, this research revealed a rockfall that has significantly altered the coastal morphology. During this period, two severe natural phenomena occurred, one of which could potentially be the cause of this rockfall event. Initially, the Mediterranean hurricane (‘medicane’) ‘Ianos’ made landfall in September 2020, affecting a large part of the country including the Ionian Islands. The result was severe damage to property and infrastructures, along with human casualties, induced by intense precipitation, flash flooding, strong winds, and wave action. Second, in September of 2022, an ML=5.4 earthquake struck between Cephalonia and Zakynthos Islands in the Ionian Sea, triggering considerable impact in both islands. The study employs satellite images postdating these natural disasters, to detect the source of the rockfall in Kalamaki Beach. Additionally, historical analog aerial images from 1996 and 2010 were used as assets for understanding the surface’s evolution. For the quantitative analysis, we applied 3D semi-automated change detection techniques such as the M3C2 algorithm, to estimate the volume of the rockfall.The results provide insights into the complex interplay between natural disasters and geological processes, shedding light on the dynamic nature of landscapes and the potential implications for visitor-preferred areas.This research not only contributes to our understanding of landscape evolution but also underscores the importance of integrating modern and historical datasets to decipher the dynamic processes shaping the Earth's surface. The methodology proposed, serves as a valuable approach for assessing and managing geological hazards in coastal regions affected by both climatic events and geodynamic activities.

Transacting entities online may still become victims of fraud, cyber-threats, low quality or performance, privacy loss, unfair pricing, biases in matching offers to requests, among others. Blockchain and other decentralized technologies may provide remedy towards trustworthy online transactions. This paper proposes a blockchain-based market framework that enables trustworthy transactions. We first define the functionalities that such a market framework should combine, namely mechanisms for service discovery, decentralized reputation, price determination, self-sovereign identities and verifiable credentials, fair exchanges, anonymity, asset digitization, cryptocurrencies, invoicing, and more. Then, we describe blockchain-based solutions for addressing each one of these functionalities. Finally, we exemplify the operation of the market in three real-world use cases.

Στη μελέτη αυτήν παρουσιάζεται εισαγωγικά η βιολογική λειτουργία των ορμονών σεροτονίνη και ωκυτοκίνη. Η πρώτη ορμόνη προωθεί και ανταμείβει μεταξύ άλλων την άνοδο στην κοινωνική ιεραρχία, ενώ η δεύτερη τους κοινωνικούς και διαπροσωπικούς δεσμούς. Ενώ οι μηχανισμοί αυτοί έχουν αναπτυχθεί βιολογικά για να ευνοούν την επιβίωση, δεν την εγγυώνται, καθώς η προσπάθεια για συνεχή κοινωνική άνοδο μπορεί να δημιουργήσει εχθρούς, ενώ οι δεσμοί εμπιστοσύνης μπορούν να διαρραγούν με διάφορες αφορμές. Στο πρώτο μέρος της μελέτης περιγράφεται η κατάσταση του ιωάννειου κόσμου με έμφαση στη συνεχή πάλη του για αυτοεπιβεβαίωση και δημιουργία δεσμών ως το υπόβαθρο της εν γένει δραστηριότητας του Ιησού. Στο δεύτερο μέρος εξετάζεται το νέο μοντέλο της εξασφάλισης μια αναβαθμισμένης κοινωνικής θέσης και μόνιμων δεσμών αγάπης και εμπιστοσύνης μέσα στην οικογένεια του Θεού, σύμφωνα με τη διδασκαλία και το παράδειγμα του Ιησού. Στο τρίτο μέρος παρουσιάζεται η ιστορία του Σίμωνος Πέτρου ως αφηγηματικού χαρακτήρα, προκειμένου να φανεί η πορεία της πνευματικής μετάβασης και μεταμόρφωσης από την πραγματικότητα του ιωάννειου κόσμου σε αυτήν της οικογένειας του Θεού. Συμπερασματικά, η μελέτη καταλήγει στο ότι το κατά Ιωάννην Ευαγγέλιο καταγράφει τις εντός του κόσμου και της κοινότητας των ακολούθων του Ιησού τάσεις αυτοεπιβεβαίωσης αφενός και δημιουργίας διαπροσωπικών και κοινωνικών δεσμών αφετέρου. Ωστόσο μέσα στον κόσμο οι τάσεις αυτοεπιβεβαίωσης και επικράτησης δημιουργούν συγκρούσεις και καθίστανται καταστροφικές, ενώ αντίστοιχα οι όποιες συμμαχίες και δεσμοί έχουν επιφανειακό και ασταθή χαρακτήρα, καθώς καταρρέουν, όταν δεν εξυπηρετούν συγκεκριμένα συμφέροντα. Από την άλλη πλευρά η αυτοθυσιαστική αγάπη του Ιησού μεταμορφώνει αυτές  τις ανθρώπινες τάσεις και συμπεριφορές. Έτσι, οι ακόλουθοι του Ιησού ανέρχονται όχι εντός κοσμικών δομών, αλλά μέσα στην οικογένεια του Θεού ως τα αναγεννημένα παιδιά του. Στην οικογένεια αυτή δεν υπάρχουν ανταγωνιστικές σχέσεις, αλλά αντίθετα η αυτοθυσιαστική αγάπη προς τους άλλους είναι το κριτήριο και η προϋπόθεση της ανόδου κοντά στον Θεό. Ο αφηγηματικός χαρακτήρας του Πέτρου αποτελεί χαρακτηριστικό παράδειγμα μαθητή ο οποίος, παρά την αναμφισβήτητη αφοσίωσή του στον Ιησού, διέπεται από το πνεύμα του κόσμου, καθότι προσπαθεί διαρκώς να αυτοεπιβεβαιωθεί αποδεικνύοντας την υπεροχή του έναντι των άλλων μαθητών. Αφού αποτύχει οικτρά, αρνούμενος τον Ιησού, συνειδητοποιεί ότι μόνο διά της εμπιστοσύνης προς αυτόν μπορεί να γίνει αληθινός μαθητής του. Προϋπόθεση γι' αυτή την εμπιστοσύνη είναι η παραμονή του στην αγαπητική κοινωνία της οικογένειας του Θεού.This study begins with an introduction to the biological functions of the hormones serotonin and oxytocin. The former promotes and rewards ascension within social hierarchies, while the latter facilitates social and interpersonal bonding. While these mechanisms have evolved biologically to enhance survival, they do not guarantee it. Efforts to achieve continuous social ascent may create enemies, while bonds of trust can be broken under various circumstances. The first part of the study describes the state of the Johannine "world," emphasizing its constant struggle for self-assertion and the formation of bonds as the backdrop to Jesus’ overall activity. The second part examines the new model proposed by Jesus’ teaching and example for attaining an elevated social position and permanent bonds of love and trust within God’s family. The third part focuses on the narrative character of Simon Peter as a case study, illustrating the process of spiritual transition and transformation from the Johannine world’s reality into that of God’s family. The study concludes that the Gospel of John portrays tendencies for self-assertion and the formation of social and interpersonal bonds both within the world and the community of Jesus’ followers. However, in the world, the drive for self-assertion and dominance generates conflicts and ultimately proves destructive. Similarly, alliances and bonds are superficial and unstable, dissolving when they no longer serve specific self-interests. Conversely, Jesus’ self-sacrificial love transforms these human tendencies and behaviors. His followers ascend not within worldly structures but within God’s family as his reborn children. In this family, there are no competitive relationships; instead, self-sacrificial love toward others becomes the criterion and prerequisite for drawing closer to God.

Introduction is paper explores the potential impact of Fr. omas Joseph White’s impressive new book on the Trinity for the ecumenical dialogue between the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox Churches. 1 In doing so, the paper responds to the editors’ kind request for an explicitly ecumenical approach to the book. erefore, this paper concentrates on the issue of the Trinity from an ecumenical perspective. But this is not a simple task. Before reading the book, the reader might have thought that Eastern and Western theologians had somehow reached a gentlemen’s agreement that the insertion of the Filioque clause in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed had happened sometime somewhere in the Wild West (namely, at the local Council of Toledo in 589). Building on an honest misunderstanding, the Latin Church gradually added to the initial statement of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, according to which the …

The synthesis and characterization of a homologous series of T-shaped {MNO}10 nitrosyl complexes of the form [M(PR3)2(NO)]+ (M = Pd, Pt; R = tBu, Ad) are reported. These diamagnetic nitrosyls are obtained from monovalent or zerovalent precursors by treatment with NO and NO+, respectively, and are notable for distinctly bent M-NO angles of ∼123° in the solid state. Adoption of this coordination mode in solution is also supported by the analysis of isotopically enriched samples by 15N NMR spectroscopy. Effective oxidation states of M0/NO+ are calculated, and metal-nitrosyl bonding has been interrogated using DFT-based energy decomposition analysis techniques. While a linear nitrosyl coordination mode was found to be electronically preferred, the M-NO and P-M-P angles are inversely correlated to the extent that binding in this manner is prevented by steric repulsion between the bulky ancillary phosphine ligands.

This study examines the impact of different turbidity products on the Aegean Sea surface physical characteristics, by performing twin-experiment simulations using a high-resolution regional ocean model. The turbidity products used include an in-situ based diffuse attenuation coefficient dataset at 490 nm (kd490, in m− 1) and a satellite derived kd490 product. Satellite turbidity products are broadly used in ocean simulations due to their spatiotemporal coverage and algorithm universality. Their validation and empirical components are trained mainly in phytoplankton driven regions and this may cause systematic differences in oligotrophic areas of variable optical properties’ composition. In the Aegean Sea, the in-situ based turbidity product accounts for the contribution of suspended particles in the solar heating profile, having further implications in the surface characteristics. The Aegean Sea upper-ocean thermohaline characteristics and general circulation patterns, reveal distinct differences between the twin-experiment simulations, showcasing mesoscale to locally induced impact of the turbidity variations. The turbidity impact on the air-sea interaction fluxes affects both thermodynamic processes i.e., solar radiation penetration and absorption in the water column, as well as dynamic processes i.e., momentum fluxes due to changes of the sea surface temperature and subsequently to the momentum drag coefficient. The Aegean Sea surface characteristics in the in-situ based turbidity product simulation, show a stronger decoupling between the North and the South Aegean Sea, when compared with the satellite derived turbidity product simulation. These results highlight the importance of incorporating more realistic turbidity products in ocean models, especially for optically complex regions such as the Aegean Sea.

This study examines the impact of different turbidity products on the Aegean Sea surface physical characteristics, by performing twin-experiment simulations using a high-resolution regional ocean model. The turbidity products used include an in-situ based diffuse attenuation coefficient dataset at 490 nm (kd490, in m- 1) and a satellite derived kd490 product. Satellite turbidity products are broadly used in ocean simulations due to their spatiotemporal coverage and algorithm universality. Their validation and empirical components are trained mainly in phytoplankton driven regions and this may cause systematic differences in oligotrophic areas of variable optical properties’ composition. In the Aegean Sea, the in-situ based turbidity product accounts for the contribution of suspended particles in the solar heating profile, having further implications in the surface characteristics. The Aegean Sea upper-ocean thermohaline characteristics and general circulation patterns, reveal distinct differences between the twin-experiment simulations, showcasing mesoscale to locally induced impact of the turbidity variations. The turbidity impact on the air-sea interaction fluxes affects both thermodynamic processes i.e., solar radiation penetration and absorption in the water column, as well as dynamic processes i.e., momentum fluxes due to changes of the sea surface temperature and subsequently to the momentum drag coefficient. The Aegean Sea surface characteristics in the in-situ based turbidity product simulation, show a stronger decoupling between the North and the South Aegean Sea, when compared with the satellite derived turbidity product simulation. These results highlight the importance of incorporating more realistic turbidity products in ocean models, especially for optically complex regions such as the Aegean Sea.

Metamaterials are a fascinating class of photonic materials since they allow us to control optical responses (largely) at will. Besides being an intellectual challenge, adding time variations into spatial metamaterials increases the degrees of freedom to tune their effective response, which motivates their exploration. However, to exploit such materials in the future design of functional devices, we may wish to treat them at the effective level to avoid considering all the mesoscopic details. To permit such effective treatment, we describe here an eigenmode-based approach to homogenize spatiotemporal metamaterials composed of a periodic arrangement of scatterers made from a time-varying material. Practically, we consider the periodic arrangement of spheres within one layer. In our two-step homogenization scheme, we first temporally homogenize that metasurface using the eigenmodes of the bulk time-varying material. Following this, we perform spatial homogenization by inverting the Fresnel coefficients of a slab made from a stationary material. These steps effectively describe the optical response of the spatiotemporal metasurface as a homogeneous slab. We validate our results by comparing the optical observables, i.e., reflectivity and transmissivity, of the metasurface with those of the homogenized slab, and we assess the limitations of the homogenization.

Categorization and identification of typical exemplars within semantic categories is a universal skill of human cognition which is involved in language development. However, cultural, and experiential aspects might influence typicality effects. This paper examines the role of native language and culture on that categorization process and on typicality effects. Towards that objective, we had Spanish native speakers and Spanish FL learners whose mother tongue is Greek complete a category generation word association task. Data were analyzed within a network and graph theory framework as the best fitting for this type of data, bearing in mind previous descriptions of semantic memory. Results showed how, indeed, native speakers and learners of varying proficiency levels differ in their availability and production of typical exemplars, especially in slot-filler categories versus taxonomic categories. Lexical access during category generation might be determined by native language and culture. Additionally, natives’ mental lexicon seems to feature denser connections responsible for more efficient access.

Uncertainty profoundly shapes modern production models and the institutional framework of economies. This study investigates the assumption that heightened uncertainty leads to reduced innovation outcomes. Using an unbalanced panel dataset of 143 countries from 1997 to 2020, the analysis reveals that increased uncertainty significantly affects economies' innovation performance. Economic institutions play a critical role in this process, acting as safeguards or enhancers under high uncertainty. Uncertainty and economic institutions work in synergy, with uncertainty exerting a more prominent impact. In advanced economies, uncertainty and economic institutions negatively influence innovation outcomes, but these economies counteract uncertainty by increasing research and development (R&D) spending. Economic institutions may limit R&D expenditure but create an environment conducive to higher researcher employment. On the other hand, developing economies experience a stronger negative effect of uncertainty compared to advanced economies, and economic institutions require support to foster innovation production. Moreover, these economies have limited capacity to mitigate uncertainty through R&D investments. Overall, this study underscores the complex relationship between uncertainty, economic institutions, and innovation outcomes across different types of economies.

Coastal cliffs are one of the cases of steep terrains naturally vulnerable to a range of erosional processes, with rockfalls emerging as one of the most prevalent and hazardous. Although predicting rockfall occurrences remains challenging due to multi-faceted triggering factors such as extreme weather events, seismic activity, erosion, and human actions, technological advancements offer promising avenues for developing more robust and effective risk assessment methodologies. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), photogrammetry from Unmanned Aerial System images, and satellite imagery, coupled with the evolution of artificial intelligence, have revolutionized the field of rockfall assessment by enabling precise detection and quantification of 3D topographic changes, offering insights into rockfall dynamics.

Preparing prospective mathematics teachers to become teachers who recognize andrespond to students’ mathematical needs is challenging. In this study, we use the construct of critical incident as a tool to support prospective mathematics teachers’ reflection on their authentic fieldwork activities, notice students’ thinking, and link it to the complexity of mathematics teaching. Particularly, we aim to explore the characteristics and evolution of prospective mathematics teachers’ noticing of students’ mathematical thinking when critical incidents trigger reflective discussions. Critical incidents are moments in which students’ mathematical thinking becomes apparent and can provide teachers with opportunities to delve more deeply into the mathematics discussed in the lesson. In the study, twenty-two prospective mathematics teachers participated in fieldwork activities that included observing and teaching secondary school classrooms. The prospective teachers identified critical incidents from their observations and teaching, which were the foci for reflective discussion in university sessions. By characterizing the prospective teachers’ reflective talk in these discussions, we demonstrate the discussion’s evolution.In it, participants questioned learning and teaching mathematics and suggested alternate explanations. This characterization also shows that using critical incidents in the university discussions enabled the prospective teachers to link students’ thinking with the teacher’s teaching practices while supporting their reflection using classroom evidence. We emphasize the importance of descriptive talk in the discussion, which allows for deepening the prospective teachers’ reflections. Further, we explore the teacher educator’s contributions in those discussions, showing that the teacher educator mainly maintained the reflective talk by contextualizing the critical incidents and pressing the participants to explain further issues they raised in the discussions. Implications for mathematics teacher education are discussed.

The issue of interpersonal comparisons of utility is about the possibility (or not) of comparing the utility or welfare or the mental states in general, of different individuals. Embedded in the conceptual framework of utilitarianism, interpersonal comparisons were admissible in economics as part of the theoretical justification of welfare policies until the first decades of the twentieth century. Under the strong influence of the scientific philosophy of positivism as reflected in the works of early neoclassical economists and as epitomized by Lionel Robbins, utility comparisons were subsequently rejected as a value judgement. Robbins’ methodological stance is still prevalent among mainstream economists. Despite the explicit rejection of comparability by the majority of economists, interpersonal comparisons are necessary for many key policy issues, such as progressive taxation, social welfare policies, GDP-based welfare comparisons, cost–benefit analysis, and public goods provision. In this paper, the case of interpersonal utility comparisons is discussed as an illustrative example of the usefulness of the study of the role of value judgements, and generally of the interrelationship between ethics and economics. It is argued that the current tension between theory and policy practice might be resolved through the efforts of prominent economists and philosophers to challenge positivism, and especially its problematic treatment of value judgements and of ethical assumptions in general. The discussion also provides more strength to the view that policy makers and their economic advisers cannot avoid ethical questions in their analysis of the workings of the economic system

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The growing energy demand has intensified interest in marine renewable sources. This study assesses wave energy potential in the Mediterranean and Black Seas using a 15-year (2010–2024) wave hindcast with the WaveWatch III model. It examines the spatial and temporal distribution of significant wave height, wave energy period, and overall wave energy resources at a basin-wide scale. The findings identify the western Mediterranean—particularly the area west of Sardinia and from the Gulf of Lion to the Algerian coast— as having considerable wave energy potential, primarily due to the Mistral winds during winter. Other regions, such as the Alboran Sea, central-south Aegean Sea, and western Black Sea, show lower wave energy levels but remain promising for wave energy converter development due to moderate wave power variability over time. To assess the impact of wave-current interactions on wave power estimation, additional simulations were performed over a 5-year sub-period without current forcing. Results indicate that currents can reduce extreme wave power values in the most energetic areas by up to 5 kWm</span>^{<span style="font-weight: 400;">-1</span>}<span style="font-weight: 400;">. This study establishes a baseline wave-only simulation to aid future research using a regional coupled ocean-atmosphere-wave system for more precise wave power assessments.</span></p>

Cost reduction is a component that contributes to both the profitability and longevity of a corporation, especially in the case of a financial institution, and can be accomplished through greater client retention. Particularly, credit card customers comprise a volatile subset of a bank's client base. As such, banks would like to predict in advance which of those clients are likely to attrite, so as to approach them with proactive marketing campaigns. Credit card attrition is generally a poorly investigated subtopic with a variety of challenges, like highly imbalanced datasets. This article utilizes neural networks to address the challenges of credit card attrition since they have found great application in many classification problems. More particularly, to overcome the shortcomings of traditional back propagation neural networks, we construct a multi-input trigonometrically activated weights and structure determination (MTA-WASD) neural network which incorporates structure trimming as well as other techniques that boost its training speed as well as diminish the danger and the subsequent detrimental effects of overfitting. When applied to three publicly available datasets, the MTA-WASD neural network demonstrated either superior or highly competitive performance across all metrics, compared to some of the best-performing classification models that MATLAB's classification learner app offers.

What makes people to take important decisions in their lives, such as marriage? To answer this question, we relied on theory of planned behavior to examine the degree to which peoples' attitudes, subjective-norms, and behavioral control perceptions predict their intentions to marry. Furthermore, we used self-regulatory focus theory to examine whether such attitudes, norms, and perceptions could be partly explained by peoples' focus on pursuing-gains versus securing non-losses. We conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey with a sample of 699 Turkish young adults (70.7% females; Mage =24.89 years, SD = 4.31). The results of the structural equation modeling showed that promotion-focus positively and prevention-focus negatively related to perceived behavioral control, which in turn negatively related to intentions to marry. Intentions also related positively to attitudes but not to subjective-norms, which however related positively to promotion-focus and negatively to prevention-focus. Gender and age differences were also found. The results are discussed in light of the two theories. © 2024 The Authors. Turkish Journal of Counseling Psychology and Guidance is published by Turkish Psychological Counselling and Guidance Association.

The integration of renewable rnergy sources (RESs) into the power grid involves operational challenges due to the inherent RES energy-production variability. Imbalances between actual power generation and scheduled production can lead to grid instability and revenue loss for RES operators and aggregators. To address this risk, in this paper, we introduce a mutually beneficial bilateral trading scheme between a RES and a DR aggregator to internally offset real-time energy imbalances before resorting to the flexibility market. We consider that the DR aggregator manages the energy demand of users, characterized by uncertainty in their participation in DR events and thus the actual provision of flexibility, subject to their offered monetary incentives. Given that the RES aggregator faces penalties according to dual pricing for positive or negative imbalances, we develop an optimization framework to achieve the required flexibility while addressing the trade-off between maximizing the profit of the RES and DR aggregators and appropriately incentivizing the users. By using appropriate parameterization of the solution, the achievable revenue for the imbalance offsetting can be shared between the RES and the DR aggregators while keeping users satisfied. Our analysis highlights the interdependencies of the demand–production energy imbalance on user characteristics and the RES and DR aggregator profits. Based on our results, we show that a win–win outcome (for the RES and DR aggregators and the users) is possible for a wide range of cases, and we provide guidelines so that such bilateral agreements between RES and DR aggregators could emerge in practical settings.

An X-ray brightening of a source likely associated with the Be X-ray binary candidate RX J0032.9-7348 in the SMC (Kahabka, Pietsch 1996, A & A 312, 919) was recently discovered with the Einstein Probe mission (EP, ATel#16880).

Generalized inverses are extremely effective in many areas of mathematics and engineering. The zeroing neural network (ZNN) technique, which is currently recognized as the state-of-the-art approach for calculating the time-varying Moore-Penrose matrix inverse, is investigated in this study as a solution to the problem of calculating the time-varying minimum rank outer inverse (TV-MROI) with prescribed range and/or TV-MROI with prescribed kernel. As a result, four novel ZNN models are introduced for computing the TV-MROI, and their efficiency is examined. Numerical tests examine and validate the effectiveness of the introduced ZNN models for calculating TV-MROI with prescribed range and/or prescribed kernel.

 Αποτελεί μια ανθρωπολογική έρευνα, μια εις βάθος μελέτη των ανθρώπινων αντιλήψεων και ηθικών διλημμάτων σχετικά με τις ευκαιρίες, προκλήσεις αλλά και τους κινδύνους της τεχνητής νοημοσύνης ευρύτερα και πιο ειδικά στην τέχνη και παιδαγωγική εφαρμογή του χορού.Η έρευνα θέτει τις βάσεις της σε τέσσερις μεθοδολογικές στρατηγικές ώστε να ανιχνεύσει τις θέσεις του δείγματος, της επισκόπησης, της διερευνητικής, της επεξηγηματικής, της περιγραφικής και της αιτιολογικής. Προσεγγίζονται οι σημαντικότερες σχετικές θεωρητικές προσεγγίσεις ηθικής και αισθητικής σκέψης από την αρχαιότητα ως την εποχή του φιλοσοφικού μετανθρωπισμού.Η ερευνήτρια επιχειρεί να κατανοήσει τις ενέργειες, τις σχέσεις και τις επιλογές των συμμετεχόντων μέσα από τη δική τους οπτική, χωρίς να επιβάλλει μη αντικειμενικές ερμηνείες. Όπως αναφέρουν χαρακτηριστικά η ερευνήτρια κ. Μάστορα και η επόπτρια κ. Λάζου «οι όροι «συνείδηση» και «μορφή» - ως ηθικά προσδιοριζόμενος ο πρώτος και ως αισθητικά ο δεύτερος εφαρμόζονται στο αντικείμενο του χορού αντλώντας στοιχεία από την φιλοσοφία του νου, την φιλοσοφική ανθρωπολογία και τη σύγχρονη αισθητική και νευροαισθητική». Ο συνδυασμός ποιοτικών και ποσοτικών μεθόδων, ενισχύει την εγκυρότητα και την αξιοπιστία των αποτελεσμάτων της έρευνας, τα οποία αναμένουν με ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον διεθνείς φορείς.

Η μέθοδος διδασκαλίας της αρχαίας όρχησης της Άννας Λάζου – αρχαία όρχηση - αποτελεί διδακτική προσέγγιση (Brousseau 1998), και όταν εξετάζεται από τη σκοπιά μιας διαρκούς νομικής οντολογίας, προσφέρει ένα μοναδικό και πρωτογενές πλαίσιο ανάλυσης, στο οποίο η γνώση και οι πρακτικές διδασκαλίας μπορούν και γίνονται αντιληπτές μέσα από το πρίσμα του δικαίου και της οντολογίας. Αυτή η νομική θεώρηση υπερβαίνει την απλή μετάδοση γνώσεων και εντάσσεται σε μια κανονιστική και δομική λογική, όπου οι διαδικασίες διδασκαλίας και μάθησης ερμηνεύονται ως πράξεις δημιουργίας και διατήρησης μιας σταθερής και ρυθμιζόμενης διδακτικής πραγματικότητας. Αυτή η προοπτική είναι επίσης οντολογική, καθώς θεωρεί τις διδακτικές μεθόδους όχι ως απλά εργαλεία, αλλά ως οντότητες με δική τους ύπαρξη, που ρυθμίζουν τη διαρκή και επαναλαμβανόμενη αλληλεπίδραση μεταξύ του διδάσκοντος, του ορχηστή και της γνώσης.

CITE AS: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2024). Γυναικείες Μαρτυρίες: "Η Χορευτική Μανία" των Ποντίων της Σινώπης το 1870. Εισήγηση στην Ημερίδα της Ένωσης Ποντίων Νίκαιας - Κορυδαλλού με θέμα: «Σέρρα-Πυρρίχιος: Όψεις, χρήσεις και καταχρήσεις», 2024/3/30 Νίκαια. Ημερίδα υπό την αιγίδα της Παμποντιακής Ομοσπονδίας Ελλάδος, του Θεάτρου Ελληνικών χορών «Δόρα Στράτου» και του Τμήματος Αθηνών του Παγκοσμίου Συμβουλίου χορού CID UNESCO.****Βλέπε Ημερίδα στο YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6AcLCxlZaM 

The significance of social skills for both, integration in the labor market and job retention, has been long recognized in the international literature (Suarta et al., 2017). The need to adapt to current demands is linked with the investment in social skills (Harvey, 2010). However, recent studies suggest that social skills are increasingly rare in the job market (Schislyaeva & Saychenko, 2022). The current paper focuses on the issues surrounding the cultivation of social skills in the workplace.

 Forthcoming (cite as): Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2024). Η πολυεθνική δουλεία του οθωμανικού χαρεμιού και το παιδικό χαρέμι. Εισήγηση στο 9ο Συνέδριο της Ελληνικής Κοινωνιολογικής Εταιρείας/ΕΚΕ σε συνεργασία με το Τμήμα Κοινωνιολογίας του ΕΚΠΑ και το  Εθνικό Κέντρο Κοινωνικών Ερευνών, «Κοινωνία και Κοινωνιολογία στην Ελλάδα πενήντα χρόνια από την αποκατάσταση της δημοκρατίας»,  Αθήνα, 30 Οκτωβρίου – 1 Νοεμβρίου 2024. Εισήγηση στην ενότητα «Δίκαιο-δικαιώματα και κοινωνικός έλεγχος» (Αίθουσα 1:  12.30 - 14.00, 31/10/2024).

The present study focuses on specific socially vulnerable groups that face more risks for social and educational exclusion and stigma. These groups include Roma, people with mental health issues, prisoners and people who abuse drugs. The obstacles and motivation to participate in Lifelong Learning Programmes are discussed in addition with the availability of human and other resources, the state and media position on fighting stigma, the training of trainers and capacity building.

The present study aims to investigate questions related, on one hand, to the degree of familiarity that SecondaryScience Education teachers show with the Nature of Science and, on the other hand, to their understanding ofthe Theory of Evolution through Natural Selection. To what extent, e.g. better Epistemological Adequacy(knowledge of the Nature of Science) can influence the understanding and acceptance of the Evolution Theorythrough Natural Selection. Employing a closed-ended electronic questionnaire, the epistemologicalperceptions, understanding, and knowledge of the Evolution Theory via natural selection were assessed amonga cohort of 200 secondary education educators who teach or have taught biology-related subjects. The analysisreveals a positive correlation between epistemological adequacy and the acceptance and understanding ofevolutionary theory via natural selection. (12) (PDF) Μελετώντας τη Σχέση Αποδοχής και Κατανόησης της Θεωρίας της Εξέλιξης μέσω Φυσικής Επιλογής σε σχέση με τη Γνώση της Φύσης της Επιστήμης: Η Περίπτωση των Ελλήνων εκπαιδευτικών. Περίληψη. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381341712_Meletontas_te_Schese_Apodoches_kai_Katanoeses_tes_Theorias_tes_Exelixes_meso_Physikes_Epiloges_se_schese_me_te_Gnose_tes_Physes_tes_Epistemes_E_Periptose_ton_Ellenon_ekpaideutikon_Perilepse?channel=doi&linkId=6669d54185a4ee7261bf2034&showFulltext=true#fullTextFileContent [accessed Jun 12 2024].

Ἡ θεολογικὴ παραγωγὴ τοῦ Μαξίμου Μαργουνίου, καὶ ἰδιαιτέρως ἡ Πνευματολογία του, τὴν ὁποία προσπαθήσαμε νὰ ἰχνηλατήσουμε στὴν ἀνὰ χεῖρας μελέτη, παραμένει αὐστηρὰ Ὀρθόδοξη ἀκόμα καὶ ὅταν ἡ πληθωρικὴ ἀνάλυση τοῦ Ἐπισκόπου Κυθήρων δανείζεται ἐπιχειρήματα ἀπὸ τὴν «ἑνωτικὴ» φιλολογία ἢ/καὶ ἀπὸ τὴν Σχολαστικὴ Θεολογία. Γνώμονάς του παραμένει ἡ ἀνάγκη τῆς ἑνώσεως τῶν δύο Ἐκκλησιῶν καὶ μὲ αὐτὴν τὴν προοπτικὴ πραγματεύεται ἕνα εἶδος θεολογικῆς διπλωματίας, ποὺ ὡς βάση ἔχει τὴν Πατερικὴ ὁμοφωνία τῆς ἀδιαίρετης Χριστιανοσύνης. Μολοντοῦτο ἡ θεολογία του ἀκολουθεῖ καὶ ταυτίζεται μὲ τὴν Τριαδολογικὴ ἀντίληψη τοῦ Παλαμᾶ καὶ τῶν ἐπιγόνων του, τὴν ὁποία προσπαθεῖ νὰ ἀποδώση μὲ πνεῦμα κατευνασμοῦ καὶ συμφιλιώσεως. Ἡ ρήση του «Ἡ Ῥώμη φιλέλλην οὐδέποτε· εἰ δέ ποτε, ἀλλ’ οὐ πολὺν χρόνον» ἀποδεικνύει ὅτι, παρὰ τὴν θεολογικὴ προσπάθεια προσεγγίσεως, παρέμενε κριτικὸς ἔναντι τῶν Λατίνων, ἀναγνωρίζοντας τὴν ψυχολογικὴ ἀπόσταση ποὺ δημιουργοῦσαν τὰ ἱστορικὰ προηγούμενα. Τέλος, ἂν καὶ δὲν κατάφερε νὰ ἀναβιώση τὴν διάθεση τῶν ἐκκλησιαστικῶν ταγῶν γιὰ τὴν ἕνωση, κατέλειπε λαμπρὴ μνήμη τόσο γιὰ τὴν ἀγαθότητα τῶν προθέσεών του στὴν διακονία τῆς καταλλαγῆς, ὅσο καὶ γιὰ τὴν ὑψηλὴ ποιότητα τοῦ ἔργου του.

Το 2010, εγκαινιάστηκε μια σειρά διαλέξεων στη Θεολογική Σχολή Αθηνών με θέμα τους δεσμούς μεταξύ Ποίησης και Θεολογίας. Έλληνες ποιητές και στοχαστές εγνωσμένου βεληνεκούς έδωσαν έτσι το «παρών» στη Θεολογική Σχολή, παραδίδοντας καθένας τη δική του πρόσληψη αυτής της μακραίωνης και πολύπτυχης σχέσης. Στον Τόμο αυτόν περιλαμβάνονται οι διαλέξεις που δόθηκαν μέχρι και το 2023, με σκοπό να αποτελέσει μια απεικόνιση αφενός των βασικών τομών μεταξύ της Θεολογίας και της Τέχνης του λόγου και αφετέρου των εν γένει δυναμικών που ξεκλειδώνουν νέες προοπτικές για τον θεολογικό διάλογο της μετανεωτερικής εποχής. Συγγραφείς Δημήτρης ΚοσμόπουλοςΝάσος ΒαγενάςΙουλίτα ΗλιοπούλουΚατερίνα Αγγελάκη-ΡουκΧάρης ΒλαβιανόςΧρήστος ΓιανναράςΚυριάκος ΧαραλαμπίδηςΑντώνης ΦωστιέρηςΕλένη ΛαδιάΣταύρος ΖουμπουλάκηςΒασίλης ΚαραποστόληςΘανάσης ΧατζόπουλοςΣτέλιος Ράμφος Επιμέλεια Τόμου: Κίρκη ΚεφαλέαISBN: 978-960-466-328-6

The present book is a narrative and theological commentary on the Gospel of John, one of the most important theological and influential texts of the New Testament. In the preface, the reader is informed about the basic scholarly problems concerning the Gospel of John: the genre, its structure and content, its relation to the synoptic gospels, the author, the place, time and aim of its composition, as well as important milestones in Johannine research, and the basic scholarly bibliography. Then, a detailed narrative and a theological analysis of the text beginning with the hymn of the prologue follow. After the analysis of the gospel's narrative introduction up to Jesus' first sign at Cana of Galilee, His public activity, consisting mainly of extensive discourses and a series of representative signs, is analysed in the following chapters. In this part, the structure of the commentary follows the succession of Jewish festivals around which the narrative unfolds. Finally, the farewell discourses of Jesus and the narratives of the Passion and Resurrection are analysed. As it will be shown by the analysis, throughout his gospel the author uses narrative devices to guide the recipients of his text in gradually grasping his theological teaching as to the true identity of the person and the deeper significance of Jesus' work, in contrast to various messianic-eschatological concepts of the time. From a methodological point of view, the commentary presupposes and combines knowledge and methods from the fields of history, literature, narratology, and theology, aiming to offer readers the possibility of a comprehensive understanding of an emblematic early Christian text and the world in which it was composed.Το παρόν σύγγραμμα είναι ένα αφηγηματικό και θεολογικό υπόμνημα στο κατά Ιωάννην Ευαγγέλιο, ένα από τα πιο σημαντικά και επιδραστικά θεολογικά κείμενα της Καινής Διαθήκης. Αρχικά, ο αναγνώστης ενημερώνεται για τα βασικά επιστημονικά προβλήματα του κατά Ιωάννην Ευαγγελίου: το κειμενικό είδος, τη δομή και το περιεχόμενό του, τη σχέση του με τα συνοπτικά ευαγγέλια, τον συγγραφέα, τον τόπο, τον χρόνο και τον σκοπό της συγγραφής του, σημαντικούς σταθμούς της ιωάννειας έρευνας και τη βασική επιστημονική βιβλιογραφία. Ακολουθούν η αναλυτική αφηγηματική και η θεολογική ερμηνεία του κειμένου αρχής γενομένης από τον ύμνο του προλόγου. Μετά την ανάλυση της αφηγηματικής εισαγωγής του ευαγγελίου μέχρι και το πρώτο σημείο του Ιησού στην Κανά της Γαλιλαίας, αναλύεται σε διαδοχικά κεφάλαια η δημόσια δραστηριότητά του, η οποία απαρτίζεται κυρίως από εκτενείς ομιλίες, καθώς και από μια σειρά αντιπροσωπευτικών σημείων του. Η δόμηση του υπομνήματος ακολουθεί στο μέρος αυτό την αλληλοδιαδοχή των ιουδαϊκών εορτών στο πλαίσιο των οποίων εκτυλίσσεται η αφήγηση. Τέλος, αναλύονται οι αποχαιρετιστήριοι λόγοι του Ιησού και οι διηγήσεις του Πάθους και της Αναστάσεως. Όπως θα φανεί από την ανάλυση, σε όλη την έκταση του ευαγγελίου ο συγγραφέας του χρησιμοποιεί αφηγηματικά μέσα, ώστε να καθοδηγήσει τους παραλήπτες του κειμένου του στο να αντιληφθούν βαθμιαία τη θεολογική διδασκαλία του ως προς την πραγματική ταυτότητα του προσώπου και τη βαθύτερη σημασία του έργου του Ιησού, σε αντιδιαστολή προς διάφορες μεσσιανικές-εσχατολογικές αντιλήψεις της εποχής. Από μεθοδολογικής πλευράς, το υπόμνημα προϋποθέτει και συνδυάζει γνώσεις και μεθόδους από τους χώρους της ιστορίας, της φιλολογίας, της αφηγηματολογίας και της θεολογίας αποσκοπώντας στο να προσφέρει στους αναγνώστες τη δυνατότητα μιας σφαιρικής κατανόησης ενός εμβληματικού πρωτοχριστιανικού κειμένου, καθώς και του κόσμου εντός του οποίου αυτό συντάχθηκε.

Στην επιλογή των μελετών και των άρθρων που θα βρείτε στον δεύτερο τόμο της περιοδικής έκδοσης ακολουθείται η ίδια αρχή αξιολόγησης με τον πρώτο τόμο (2023- 2024), καθώς επιλέχθηκαν οι εργασίες που θεωρήθηκε ότι εξελίσσουν και διαδίδουν την ιδέα αυτής της έρευνας δημιουργώντας γόνιμα εδάφη μελλοντικών ανακαλύψεων. Όπως και στην έναρξη της σειράς, που ευελπιστούμε να έχει σταθερή πορεία στον κόσμο των περιοδικών εκδόσεων, οι εργασίες έχουν τοποθετηθεί με τέτοιο τρόπο, ώστε από διαφορετικά σημεία να προσεγγίζεται και να αγκαλιάζεται το κυρίως θέμα και ο κεντρικός μας στόχος -η θεραπεία στις διάφορες εμπειρικές και πρακτικές εκδοχές της, υπό το φως της φιλοσοφίας και της τέχνης. Από την διαρκώς βαθύνουσα γνώση οδηγούμαστε σε νέες μεθόδους, σε νέες και αποτελεσματικές πρακτικές.

Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2024). Φύλο και επιχειρηματικότητα στην ψηφιακή εποχή:  Η  δίνη των πολλαπλών υποχρεώσεων και η έμφυλη κόπωση 1974-2024. Εισήγηση στο 9ο Συνέδριο της Ελληνικής Κοινωνιολογικής Εταιρείας/ΕΚΕ σε συνεργασία με το Τμήμα Κοινωνιολογίας του ΕΚΠΑ και το  Εθνικό Κέντρο Κοινωνικών Ερευνών, «Κοινωνία και Κοινωνιολογία στην Ελλάδα πενήντα χρόνια από την αποκατάσταση της δημοκρατίας»,  Αθήνα, 30 Οκτωβρίου – 1 Νοεμβρίου 2024. Εισήγηση στην ενότητα «Κοινωνιολογία της εργασίας ΙΙ» (αίθουσα 3: 10.45 - 12.15, 31/10/2024). https://pergamos.lib.uoa.gr/uoa/dl/object/3419842 

The present-day geotectonic regime of Crete Island is mainly controlled by the processes occurring along the seismically active Hellenic subduction zone, e.g., the fast convergence between Africa - Eurasian plates (at a rate of 36 mm/yr) and the simultaneous SSW-ward retreat of the subducting slab. The result is a large south-facing orogenic wedge extending from the southern coast of Crete up to the Hellenic subduction trench to the South. Contractional structures (thrusts, folds, and duplexes) have formed in the deeper parts of the wedge and caused the thickening of the crust. This has led to substantial regional uplift and extension of the upper part of the wedge. Hence, two significant arc-parallel and arc-normal sets of active normal faults crosscut the Cretan mainland, affecting the entire alpine nappe pile. These faults have created a characteristic basin and range topography expressed through impressive E-ESE and N-NNE horst and graben structures bounded by fault zones with segments ranging from 5 to more than 20 km. Detailed fault mapping of the Mirabello Gulf – Ierapetra Basin depression revealed a dominant NNE-SSW fault system, occupying the central and northern part, and a subordinate E-W to ESE-WNW system, observed mainly along the southern coastal zone. In the ESE margin, the deformation is localized mainly along the 30 km long NNE-SSW Kavousi – Ieraptera fault zone. On the other hand, in the WNW margin, the deformation is distributed in a larger population of relatively minor faults, organizing in more complex second-order horst and graben structures. In the southern part of the Ierapetra Basin, the E-W to ESE-WSW faults are significantly less and concern 2-3 specific zones. Specific morphological structures such as the remarkable range high, the deep V-shaped gorges, the large scree thickness, and the prominent post-glacial fault scarps produced along the basin margins indicate the intensive activity of these faults during the Quaternary. The NNE-SSW fault system seems to be younger and more active, given that i) intersects the E-W or ESE-WNW faults of the southern part, ii) produces significant fault scarps and polished fault surfaces in the cemented scree along the fault zone, and iii) kinematically is compatible with the recent and present-day focal mechanisms (e.g., the 2021 Arkalochori earthquakes). In conclusion, the Ierapetra Basin has formed and developed through an overall E-W extension parallel to the present-day geometry of the arc.

of teacher design in collaborative settings in the light of the new opportunities that digital resources (DRs) offer. Taking into account the growing research interest into the collective dimension of teachers’ design-work, our aim is to answer what are the forms, conditions, and products of teachers’ collective design-work with DRs as well as what and how the individual teacher learns by participating in collaborative work with DRs. We also aim to answer what theoretical and analytical perspectives are used by researchers to study teachers’ collective design-work with DRs. To answer these questions, we conducted a systematic literature study leading finally to 36 peer-reviewed publications. Our first thematic analysis resulted in two main themes (the process of teacher collaboration, the impact of teacher collaboration on teacher professional learning) and corresponding subthemes. The next step of our analysis focused on: the context, the product, the purpose, and the processes of the design-work; the theoretical and methodological approaches by which it was studied; and the main findings. The final synthesis indicates that (a) teachers’ collaborative design-work has usually positive learning outcomes for individual teachers, (b) the role of DRs in the collaboration depends on their affordances, and (c) the collective-individual interplay has been studied mainly by a focus on the effects of the collaboration on the individual teacher and not the other way around. Areas of further research are also discussed.

This study aimed to systematically review research findings regarding the relationship between adult friendship and wellbeing. A multidimensional scope for wellbeing and its components with the use of the PERMA theory was adopted. A total of 38 research articles published between 2000 and 2019 were reviewed. In general, adult friendship was found to predict or at least be positively correlated with wellbeing and its components. In particular, the results showed that friendship quality and socializing with friends predict wellbeing levels. In addition, number of friends, their reactions to their friend's attempts of capitalizing positive events, support of friend's autonomy, and efforts to maintain friendship are positively correlated with wellbeing. Efforts to maintain the friendship, friendship quality, personal sense of uniqueness, perceived mattering, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, and subjective vitality mediated this relationship. However, research findings highlighted several gaps and limitations of the existing literature on the relationship between adult friendship and wellbeing components. For example, for particular wellbeing components, findings were non-existent, sparse, contradictory, fragmentary, or for specific populations only. Implications of this review for planning and implementing positive friendship interventions in several contexts, such as school, work, counseling, and society, are discussed.

Rhodococcus is perhaps the most promising biodesulfurization genus and is able to withstand the harsh process conditions of a biphasic biodesulfurization process. In the present work, we constructed an advanced biocatalyst harboring a combination of three genetic modifications, namely, an operon rearrangement, a promoter exchange, and a gene overlap removal. ABSTRACT Biodesulfurization poses as an ideal replacement to the high cost hydrodesulfurization of the recalcitrant heterocyclic sulfur compounds, such as dibenzothiophene (DBT) and its derivatives. The increasingly stringent limits on fuel sulfur content intensify the need for improved desulfurization biocatalysts, without sacrificing the calorific value of the fuel. Selective sulfur removal in a wide range of biodesulfurization strains, as well as in the model biocatalyst Rhodococcus qingshengii IGTS8, occurs via the 4S metabolic pathway that involves the dszABC operon, which encodes enzymes that catalyze the generation of 2-hydroxybiphenyl and sulfite from DBT. Here, using a homologous recombination process, we generate two recombinant IGTS8 biocatalysts, harboring native or rearranged, nonrepressible desulfurization operons, within the native dsz locus. The alleviation of sulfate-, methionine-, and cysteine-mediated dsz repression is achieved through the exchange of the native promoter Pdsz, with the nonrepressible Pkap1 promoter. The Dsz-mediated desulfurization from DBT was monitored at three growth phases, through HPLC analysis of end product levels. Notably, an 86-fold enhancement of desulfurization activity was documented in the presence of selected repressive sulfur sources for the recombinant biocatalyst harboring a combination of three targeted genetic modifications, namely, a dsz operon rearrangement, a native promoter exchange, and a dszA-dszB overlap removal. In addition, transcript level comparison highlighted the diverse effects of our genetic engineering approaches on dsz mRNA ratios and revealed a gene-specific differential increase in mRNA levels. IMPORTANCE Rhodococcus is perhaps the most promising biodesulfurization genus and is able to withstand the harsh process conditions of a biphasic biodesulfurization process. In the present work, we constructed an advanced biocatalyst harboring a combination of three genetic modifications, namely, an operon rearrangement, a promoter exchange, and a gene overlap removal. Our homologous recombination approach generated stable biocatalysts that do not require antibiotic addition, while harboring nonrepressible desulfurization operons that present very high biodesulfurization activities and are produced in simple and low-cost media. In addition, transcript level quantification validated the effects of our genetic engineering approaches on recombinant strains’ dsz mRNA ratios and revealed a gene-specific differential increase in mRNA levels. Based on these findings, the present work can pave the way for further strain and process optimization studies that could eventually lead to an economically viable biodesulfurization process.

Medical imaging modalities, like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have enabled efficient diagnosis of various conditions, including cancer, lung disease, and brain tumors. With the advancements in machine learning, AI-based medical image segmentation and classification systems have emerged, potentially replacing human diagnosis. However, the security and robustness of these systems are crucial, as they are vulnerable to adversarial attacks, as demonstrated in previous studies. In this respect, the current work explores the one-pixel attack’s impact on the reliable VGG16 model, the effectiveness of combining the one-pixel attack with the FGSM attack, the potential of using the squeezing color bits detector to counter the one-pixel attack, and the possibility of using a combination of the squeezing color bits and PCA whitening detectors to protect against the aforementioned attacks.

Aging is the major risk factor for several life-threatening pathologies and impairs the function of multiple cellular compartments and organelles. Age-dependent deterioration of nuclear morphology is a common feature in evolutionarily divergent organisms. Lipid droplets have been shown to localize in most nuclear compartments, where they impinge on genome architecture and integrity. However, the significance of progressive nuclear lipid accumulation and its impact on organismal homeostasis remain obscure. Here, we implement non-linear imaging modalities to monitor and quantify age-dependent nuclear lipid deposition in Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that lipid droplets increasingly accumulate in the nuclear envelope, during aging. Longevity-promoting interventions, such as low insulin signaling and caloric restriction, abolish the rate of nuclear lipid accrual and decrease the size of lipid droplets. Suppression of lipotoxic lipid accumulation in hypodermal and intestinal nuclei is dependent on the transcription factor HLH-30/TFEB and the triglyceride lipase ATGL-1. HLH-30 regulates the expression of ATGL-1 to reduce nuclear lipid droplet abundance in response to lifespan-extending conditions. Notably, ATGL-1 localizes to the nuclear envelope and moderates lipid content in long-lived mutant nematodes during aging. Our findings indicate that the reduced ATGL-1 activity leads to excessive nuclear lipid accumulation, perturbing nuclear homeostasis and undermining organismal physiology, during aging.

 

This book explores the major challenges that the long-standing and diversely debated demise of postmodernism signifies for American literature, art, culture, history, and politics, in the present, third decade of the twenty-first century. Its scope comprises a vigorous discussion of all these diverse fields undertaken by distinguished scholars as well as junior researchers, U.S. Americanists and European Americanists alike. Focusing on socio-political and cultural developments in the contemporary U.S., their contributions highlight the interconnectedness of the geopolitical, economic, environmental and technological crises that define the historical present on global scale.

Tourism is an important economic activity for many countries and the ability of understanding visitor needs as they evolve over time is a priority for all involved stakeholders. The analysis of textual reviews written by travelers on various online platforms may be a valuable tool in this direction. In this work, we showcase the potential of this idea by examining 8 well-known attractions in the City of Athens, Greece. After retrieving the relevant data from two popular online services, we employ a state-of-the-art transformer-based language model for two tasks; the extraction of distinctive keywords and phrases out of the free-text reviews and the assignment of a sentiment score to each review. Based on this information, we can associate certain keywords and phrases with specific sentiment values and monitor their evolution over time, in the context of specific touristic {&} cultural places. The analysis that follows explores the potential of this idea in more detail.

In this paper, I discuss the notion of “repatriation” of antiquities that have been illicitly excavated and exported, against the backdrop of Greece’s attempts to achieve their return. Taking the British Museum Caryatid as my primary case study, I survey recent Greek theatre plays and children’s storybooks in order to examine how the stolen statue is invariably portrayed as the nation’s missing “daughter” or “sister”, suffering in solitary exile and eagerly awaiting “her” return. Based on this discussion, I proceed to claim that the repatriation narrative serves as a means to reconfirm Greece’s whiteness, and the Greek nation’s rightful place as part of the West. Employing the methodological tools of coloniality and crypto-coloniality, as well as the parallel modern example of Egypt, I argue that it is through such attempts at partial representation that political communities in the periphery of the West imagine themselves into being.

As a discipline deeply rooted in the turbulent nation-building days of the “long 19th c.”, archaeology is closely entangled with political discourse. Modernity, however, has also effected a breed of politics carried out through the use of archaeology, and the past’s grip on the ways we perceive our present. This paper is not a discussion of the political aspects of archaeological praxis in contemporary societies but an exploration of politics carried out through an archaeological way of thinking and acting. I call this breed of archaeologically informed politics over life “Archaeopolitics”. My main case study come from present-day Greece, and South-Eastern Europe at large, though – as my first example is bound to show – what I am describing here may be observed in many other regions of the world and in a timeframe much wider than the later 20th – early 21st c.

The present study aims to present the results of a near-surface geophysical investigation carried out ata construction site in the area of Goudi (Athens) along with its contribution to the determination of thegeotechnical characteristics. For this purpose, the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), ElectricalResistivity Tomography (ERT), Seismic Refraction Tomography (SRT) and Multichannel Analysis ofSurface Waves (MASW) techniques were implemented in the area. The cores of three geotechnicalboreholes existing in the area have also been taken into account. The application of the GPR and ERTtechniques did not reached a satisfactory investigation depth, however the existence of a possiblemechanically degraded zone have been adumbrated at the south part of the excavation area. Throughthe application of the SRT and MASW techniques, the seismic waves velocities of the investigatedlithological formations were calculated and the subsurface structure of the study area was outlined.Additionally, lateral variations in the P-wave seismic velocities, especially in the first investigatedseismic layer, provided further evidence for the existence of mechanically unstable zones, whichnecessitate a more detailed investigation. Finally, from the laboratory determination of the formations’densities and their seismic wave velocities, their elastic moduli and geotechnical parameters have beencalculated.

The sensitivity of air quality model responses to modifications in input data (e.g. emissions, meteorology and boundary conditions)or model configurations is recognized as an important issue for air quality modelling applications in support of air qualityplans. In the framework of FAIRMODE (Forum of Air Quality Modelling in Europe, https:// fairm ode. jrc. ec. europa. eu/) adedicated air quality modelling exercise has been designed to address this issue. The main goal was to evaluate the magnitudeand variability of air quality model responses when studying emission scenarios/projections by assessing the changes of modeloutput in response to emission changes. This work is based on several air quality models that are used to support model usersand developers, and, consequently, policy makers. We present the FAIRMODE exercise and the participating models, andprovide an analysis of the variability of O3and PM concentrations due to emission reduction scenarios. The key novel feature,in comparison with other exercises, is that emission reduction strategies in the present work are applied and evaluated at urbanscale over a large number of cities using new indicators such as the absolute potential, the relative potential and the absolutepotency. The results show that there is a larger variability of concentration changes between models, when the emission reductionscenarios are applied, than for their respective baseline absolute concentrations. For ozone, the variability between modelsof absolute baseline concentrations is below 10%, while the variability of concentration changes (when emissions are similarlyperturbed) exceeds, in some instances 100% or higher during episodes. Combined emission reductions are usually more efficientthan the sum of single precursor emission reductions both for O3and PM. In particular for ozone, model responses, in terms oflinearity and additivity, show a clear impact of non-linear chemistry processes. This analysis gives an insight into the impact ofmodel’ sensitivity to emission reductions that may be considered when designing air quality plans and paves the way of morein-depth analysis to disentangle the role of emissions from model formulation for present and future air quality assessments.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether specific genetic polymorphisms affect the response to intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment in patients with macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). METHODS: Participants in this prospective study were 50 patients with macular oedema secondary to RVO, who were treated with intravitreal ranibizumab or aflibercept, and were followed-up for 12 months after initiation of treatment. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from three different genes (APOE, PON1, SDF-1) were examined as potential predictors for treatment response to intravitreal anti-VEGF agents. RESULTS: Patients with the LL genotype of the PON1 L55M SNP had significantly higher reduction in central subfield thickness (CST) at month 12 after initiation of intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment (101.63 +/- 56.80 mum in LL vs. 72.44 +/- 39.41 mum in LM vs. 40.25 +/- 19.33 mum in MM, p = .026). Patients with the M allele of the PON1 L55M SNP were significantly associated with lower reduction in CST compared to non-carriers (68.29 +/- 38.77 mum in LM + MM vs. 101.63 +/- 56.80 mum in LL, p = .032). CONCLUSION: PON1 L55M SNP may serve as a promising genetic biomarker for predicting response to intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment in patients with macular oedema due to RVO

As a critical reflection to the discourse surrounding the ‘Berlin Republic’ and the demand for a redefinition of the German national identity, the last two decades have seen the emergence of various works by artists labeled as ‘migration background’ that deal with German historical and memory culture. Fatih Akin’s political thriller Aus dem Nichts and Feridun Zaimoglu’s novel German Amok examine migration from a genuinely postmigrant perspective. This broadening of the perspectival focus generates a different understanding of history and society, which through its disillusioning and irritating effect allows a critical examination of social power relations and deficits in norms and values.

In this study, we present a method to estimate posterior distributions for standard accretion torque model parameters and binary orbital parameters for X-ray binaries using a nested sampling algorithm for Bayesian parameter estimation. We study the spin evolution of two Be X-ray binary systems in the Magellanic Clouds, RX J0520.5-6932 and RX J0209-7427, during major outbursts, in which they surpassed the Eddington limit. Moreover, we apply our method to the recently discovered Swift J0243.6+6124, the only known Galactic pulsating ultra-luminous X-ray source. This is an excellent candidate for studying the disc evolution at super-Eddington accretion rates, because its luminosity spans several orders of magnitude during its outburst, with a maximum LX that exceeded the Eddington limit by a factor of ~10. Our method, when applied to RX J0520.5-6932 and RX J0209-7427, is able to identify the more favourable torque model for each system, while yielding meaningful ranges for the NS and orbital parameters. Our analysis for Swift J0243.6+6124 illustrates that, contrary to the standard torque model predictions, the magnetospheric radius (Rm) and the Alfvén radius (RA) are not proportional to each other when surpassing the Eddington limit. Reported distance estimates of this source range between 5 and 7 kpc. Smaller distances require non-typical neutron star properties (i.e. mass and radius) and possibly lower radiative efficiency of the accretion column.

Authored by a diverse group of contributors, Big Science in the 21st Century offers a multifaceted view of the challenges, merits, and transformations of Big Science across different disciplines and geographical boundaries. It delves into the transformative role of Big Science in shaping the world we live in, from its historical roots in the aftermath of the Second World War to its contemporary interdisciplinary and international nature. The book is organized in five parts, each offering unique insights into the impact of Big Science. The first part looks at lessons from Big Science organizations and best practices in increasing the return of benefits to society. The second part offers the voice of key economists who have worked on assessment exercises concerning the socioeconomic benefits of large-scale research infrastructures. The third part traces the development of Big Science in the aftermath of World War II. The fourth part focus on the educational and cultural impacts that Big Science has beyond the laboratory, from the art gallery to the school classroom. The last part brings a more global perspective with contributions from other continents outside North America and Western Europe. The book is aimed at professionals involved in science policy and administration, economists interested in evaluating the results of scientific research, historians of science and technology, and anyone with an interest in scientific outreach and communication. 

The names of plants cited in Hypnerotomachia Poliphili have been re-examined. According to our survey, we suggest increasing the previously published botanical entities quoted in this book; therefore, 46 botanical entities and 100 textual passages linked to botanical entries are presented, completing the previously published botanical content of Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. The botanical section of the novel Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, which constitutes a literary source of information, includes in total 331 botanical entities associated with 772 textual passages, providing aesthetic, cultural, symbolic and physical pathways that animated the world of plants.

Context. The Magellanic Clouds are our nearest star-forming galaxies. While the population of high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) in the Small Magellanic Cloud is relatively well studied, our knowledge about the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is far from complete given its large angular extent and the insufficient coverage with X-ray observations. Aims: We conducted a search for new HMXBs in the LMC using data from eROSITA, the soft X-ray instrument on board the Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma satellite. Methods: After confirming the nature of eRASSU J052914.9−662446 as a hard X-ray source that is positionally coincident with an early-type star, we followed it up with optical spectroscopic observations from the South African Large Telescope (SALT) and a dedicated NuSTAR observation. Results: We study the broadband timing and spectral behaviour of the newly discovered HMXB eRASSU J052914.9−662446 through eROSITA, Swift, and NuSTAR data in X-rays and the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) and SALT RSS data at the optical wavelength. We report the detection of a spin period at 1412 s and suggest that the orbital period of the system is ∼151 days. We thereby establish that eRASSU J052914.9−662446 is an accreting pulsar. Furthermore, through optical spectroscopic observations and the detection of Hα emission, the source is identified as a Be X-ray binary pulsar in the LMC. We also investigated the variability of the source in the optical and X-ray regime over the past decades and provide estimates of the possible magnetic field strength of the neutron star.

This study examines the impact of light absorption from biomass burning (BB) brown carbon (BrC) in the Mediterranean basin from local and distant fire incidents during a typical fire season in August 2019 and under severe fire activity in August 2021. The approaches of Saleh et al. (2014) and Wang et al. (2018) are used to describe the BrC absorption within the WRF-Chem model. Focusing on three regions in the Mediterranean (around the islands of Sicily, Malta, and Crete) that are most affected by BB activity, BrC absorption approximates 5 Mm−1 in OC concentrations up to 3 μg m−3 and can approach 15 Mm−1 in extreme conditions (up to 10 μg m−3). When photochemical bleaching is considered, BrC undergoes almost immediate bleaching upon emission due to high levels of OH radical in the Mediterranean atmosphere during summertime, decreasing light absorption between 56% and 75% under both average and extreme BB conditions. Cloud formation is facilitated above the PBL due to moisture increase induced by BrC at the area of fire events, while transported drier and warmer air masses tend to dissipate cloud formation further away from the BB source. The impact of BrC absorption on irradiances is small (up to −6 W m−2 in extreme conditions) and is often overlapped by the absorption from water vapour variations. BrC direct radiative effect (DRE) is estimated at 0.04 W m−2 (∼10% of BC) in average and 0.18 W m−2 in extreme BB activity under clear sky. Under all sky, low-level clouds dissipation in 2019 with average BB emissions enhances DRE (at 0.15 W m−2), while the higher clouds dissipation in 2021 limits DRE (at 0.11 W m−2) resulting in lower DRE despite the extreme BB conditions.

Nanostructured noble metal surfaces enhance the photoluminescence emitted by fluorescent molecules, permitting the development of highly sensitive fluorescence immunoassays. To this end, surfaces with silicon nanowires decorated with silver nanoparticles in the form of dendrites or aggregates were evaluated as substrates for the immunochemical detection of two ovarian cancer indicators, carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) and human epididymis protein 4 (HE4). The substrates were prepared by metal-enhanced chemical etching of silicon wafers to create, in one step, silicon nanowires and silver nanoparticles on top of them. For both analytes, non-competitive immunoassays were developed using pairs of highly specific monoclonal antibodies, one for analyte capture on the substrate and the other for detection. In order to facilitate the identification of the immunocomplexes through a reaction with streptavidin labeled with Rhodamine Red-X, the detection antibodies were biotinylated. An in-house-developed optical set-up was used for photoluminescence signal measurements after assay completion. The detection limits achieved were 2.5 U/mL and 3.12 pM for CA125 and HE4, respectively, with linear dynamic ranges extending up to 500 U/mL for CA125 and up to 500 pM for HE4, covering the concentration ranges of both healthy and ovarian cancer patients. Thus, the proposed method could be implemented for the early diagnosis and/or prognosis and monitoring of ovarian cancer.

Charge injection and transport interlayers play a crucial role in many classes of optoelectronics, including organic and perovskite ones. Here, we demonstrate the beneficial role of carbon nanodots, both pristine and nitrogen-functionalized, as electron transport materials in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic solar cells (OSCs). Pristine (referred to as C-dots) and nitrogen-functionalized (referred to as NC-dots) carbon dots are systematically studied regarding their properties by using cyclic voltammetry, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy in order to reveal their energetic alignment and possible interaction with the organic semiconductor’s emissive layer. Atomic force microscopy unravels the ultra-thin nature of the interlayers. They are next applied as interlayers between an Al metal cathode and a conventional green-yellow copolymer—in particular, (poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-co-(1,4-benzo-{2,1′,3}-thiadiazole)], F8BT)—used as an emissive layer in fluorescent OLEDs. Electrical measurements indicate that both the C-dot- and NC-dot-based OLED devices present significant improvements in their current and luminescent characteristics, mainly due to a decrease in electron injection barrier. Both C-dots and NC-dots are also used as cathode interfacial layers in OSCs with an inverted architecture. An increase of nearly 10% in power conversion efficiency (PCE) for the devices using the C-dots and NC-dots compared to the reference one is achieved. The application of low-cost solution-processed materials in OLEDs and OSCs may contribute to their wide implementation in large-area applications.

Wine differs from other alcoholic beverages due to the abundance of the presence of various groups of phenolic compounds. Phenolics are of high technological importance since they can directly affect the sensory and health-promoting properties of wines. This chapter is divided into four sections. In the first section, the phenolic composition of grapes is described along with their extraction during the various stages of wine production: processing of raw material, alcoholic fermentation, stabilization, aging, bottling, and storage. The second section focuses on the utilization of the wineries' by-products for the production of innovative and functional foods. Section three is dedicated to the description of the simple analytical methods, mainly those that are based on chromatography and spectroscopy, that can be applied to determine the phenolic composition and the antioxidant activity of the wine. Finally, in section four, the health benefits associated with the consumption of wine phenolic compounds are discussed. 

Here, we present an olfactory-dependent chemotaxis assay for evaluating changes in memory-like behavior in both wild-type and Alzheimer's-disease-like C. elegans models. We describe steps for synchronizing and preparing C. elegans populations and for performing isoamyl alcohol conditioning during starvation and chemotaxis assaying. We then detail counting and quantification procedures. This protocol is applicable to mechanistic exploration and drug screening in neurodegenerative diseases and brain aging.

Earth Observation (EO) is widely recognized as a powerful tool for Climate Change and Sustainability Education (CCSE); however, the uptake of EO data in schools is still limited due to technical, motivational, or informational barriers. A major factor for the exploitation of EO in schools is the availability of curriculum-relevant pedagogical content that is attractive and personally meaningful to learners. Here, we examine whether an EO-based learning scenario developed for primary schools and implemented by EO novice teachers and students, based solely on written instructions, can serve as an effective entry point for incorporating EO into schools and addressing CCSE objectives. Our study showed that: (a) cloud-based EO tools are suitable for EO-novice teachers and students, who quickly become familiar with them and grasp basic EO concepts; (b) the combined use of EO-based and place-based learning helps students bridge the local and the global perspective of Climate Change (CC) impacts; (c) EO-based educational material stimulates students’ interest for satellites and EO technology; (d) the phenomenon-based approach grabs students’ attention, provokes their curiosity, and acts as a springboard for scientific inquiry on CC impacts; and (e) our scenario’s learning approaches promoted teachers’ upskilling and intra-school collaboration.

Geomorphological and sedimentological indicators are often used to reconstruct not only coastal evolution, but also relative sea level changes. In this work, we studied the coastal sediments of Psatha bay (Alkyonides Gulf, Greece) and beachrock outcrops in order to reconstruct the coastal evolution of the area. The drillings analysis included stratigraphy, sediment texture and radiocarbon dating. Detailed mapping of the beachrocks was accomplished using DGPS-GNSS, as well as mineralogical analysis and OSL dating of beachrock samples. The new beachrock index points indicate a sea level that fell by 0.64 ± 0.13 m since 2200 ± 210 years BP and by 0.95 ± 0.13 m since 4160 ± 320 years BP, as a direct result of its location near the uplifting footwall of Psatha fault, suggesting further a rate of tectonic uplift of ~0.26 mm/yr for the late Holocene.

Geomorphological and sedimentological indicators are often used to reconstruct not only coastal evolution, but also relative sea level changes. In this work, we studied the coastal sediments of Psatha bay (Alkyonides Gulf, Greece) and beachrock outcrops in order to reconstruct the coastal evolution of the area. The drillings analysis included stratigraphy, sediment texture and radiocarbon dating. Detailed mapping of the beachrocks was accomplished using DGPS-GNSS, as well as mineralogical analysis and OSL dating of beachrock samples. The new beachrock index points indicate a sea level that fell by 0.64 ± 0.13 m since 2200 ± 210 years BP and by 0.95 ± 0.13 m since 4160 ± 320 years BP, as a direct result of its location near the uplifting footwall of Psatha fault, suggesting further a rate of tectonic uplift of ~0.26 mm/yr for the late Holocene.

Contribution to Book Forum on The instrument of science: Scientific anti-realism revitalised by Darrell Rowbottom

In this paper, we present a systematic GIS-based approach for producing updated, upscaled, unified and reevaluated maps for the Ionian Islands of Greece, which is an area of great geological interest. In particular, Cephalonia and Lefkada are two islands with an increased and intense seismicity. Therefore, a common GIS geodatabase was produced for handling the geoinformation of the area. New upscaled (scale 1:50,000) geotechnical and seismotectonic maps of these islands were produced based on older ones. On the other hand, the corresponding maps of the islands, based on the categories of the Greek antiseismic code and Eurocode 8, were produced in an effort to correlate them. Beyond that, all the available isoseismal maps of the earthquakes that hit the Ionian Islands were gathered in an effort to evaluate them and to find possible correlations with the other types of maps. Based on the correlation results, the consideration of the Vs30 parameter in the Greek antiseismic code is proposed for a better categorization of the geological formations.

In this paper, we present a systematic GIS-based approach for producing updated, upscaled, unified and reevaluated maps for the Ionian Islands of Greece, which is an area of great geological interest. In particular, Cephalonia and Lefkada are two islands with an increased and intense seismicity. Therefore, a common GIS geodatabase was produced for handling the geoinformation of the area. New upscaled (scale 1:50,000) geotechnical and seismotectonic maps of these islands were produced based on older ones. On the other hand, the corresponding maps of the islands, based on the categories of the Greek antiseismic code and Eurocode 8, were produced in an effort to correlate them. Beyond that, all the available isoseismal maps of the earthquakes that hit the Ionian Islands were gathered in an effort to evaluate them and to find possible correlations with the other types of maps. Based on the correlation results, the consideration of the Vs30 parameter in the Greek antiseismic code is proposed for a better categorization of the geological formations.

In several MIMO system applications, the deviations of some output performance variables from their nominal values are required to be controlled independently, while the other performance variables are required to remain at their nominal value. This problem, named noninteracting control with simultaneous partial output zeroing, is important in the case of the common design of multi-model systems. To this end, the problem of a common noninteracting control with simultaneous common partial output zeroing is formulated. The present paper aims to develop a solution to the problem of multi-model normal linear time-invariant systems via regular and static measurement output feedback. The present approach follows the method developed for the solution of the common I/O decoupling problem. The main results of the paper are the introduction and the formulation of the problem at hand, the establishment of the necessary and sufficient conditions for its solvability, and the derivation of the respective general solution of the controller matrices. For the resulting closed-loop system, the additional design requirement of approximate command following a simultaneous I/O stabilizability is studied using a composite norm 2 type cost function and a metaheuristic algorithm for the derivation of the free parameters of the controller. The present results are illustrated through a numerical example of a nonlinear process with two operating points. Moreover, all the above results are successfully applied to the two-model description of a robot-tracked UGV, using a common controller feeding back measurements of the motor currents and the orientation of the vehicle.

This article considers the rituals and ceremonies celebrating the French pro-communist activist, Eugénie Cotton, president of the Union des Femmes françaises (UFF – Union of French Women) and of the Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF), and the way Cotton was elevated to the rank of universal authority, exemplifying virtues not unrelated to the model of the Virgin Mary. This exploration of the enactment of the female version of the cult of the leader in the communist world during the Cold War contrasts with the masculine focus of the substantial historiographical production of the last twenty years on this topic. The paper examines the circumstances that gave birth to the “Cotton cult,” the key moments in its evolution, the mechanisms of its diffusion, and the gender shifts in the process of its invention.

INTRODUCTION: Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (FHA) has been associated with excessive-chronic stress, eating disorders, and weight loss. A common feature is the increased serum cortisol, but its measurement has many limitations. Currently, salivary cortisol (SC) has been proposed as a more sensitive and adequate index. AIM: To investigate the SC alterations through a 24-h period and the possible correlation with the severity of stress in women with FHA. METHODS: Between July 2019 and March 2021, 12 FHA women and 12 healthy controls of comparable age were included. Psychological, eating, and physical abnormalities were evaluated by applying equivalent validated self-questionnaires. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between FHA women and healthy individuals with respect to morning (8:00 am) serum cortisol and ACTH (522.5 ± 162.2 vs 442 ± 138.5 nmol/l; p = 0.204 and 37 ± 44.8 vs 17.4 ± 10.8 pg/ml; p = 0.186, respectively). Women with FHA had statistically significant higher morning SC compared to control subjects (21.8 ± 5.9 nmol/l vs 12.8 ± 3.8 nmol/l; p {\textless} 0.001), while no significant differences were found regarding the afternoon (4:00 pm) and midnight (12:00 am) SC. A significant positive correlation was found between morning SC and morning serum cortisol (rho = 0.532; p = 0.007), EAT-26 (rho = 0.527; p = 0.008) and HADS-Anxiety score (rho = 0.471; p = 0.02). Additionally, a significant negative correlation between morning SC and BMI was observed (rho = -0.53; p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Compared to serum cortisol, SC seems to express better the hypercortisolemic state of women with FHA and correlates well with the underlying contributing factors. Larger studies are needed in order to confirm these results and validate the optimal SC cut-off value associated with the development of FHA.

Pancreatoduodenectomy remains a complex abdominal operation for hpb surgeons. Significant complications keep on occurring to many patients undergoing Whipple procedure. We present ten patients, who required completion pancreatectomy in the early postoperative period after Whipples procedure, due to postoperative complications. Indications for completion pancreatectomy included: Sepsis secondary to uncontrolled GRADE C postoperative pancreatic fistula, pancreatic leak and bleeding, postoperative hemorrhage, pancreatic leak with gastrointestinal anastomosis dehiscence, and hepaticojejunal anastomosis dehiscence combined with hemorrhage. Completion pancreatectomy was carried out at a mean interval of 9 days following Whipple procedure. Six patients (60%) survived the operation and discharged from the hospital, with a median survival of 21.3 months. Four patients (40%) died in the early post-operative period due to sepsis (10%) and multiple organ failure (30%). Completion pancreatectomy after pancreatoduodenectomy is rarely indicated and it can be considered as a salvage procedure in the management of severe life-threatening post pancreatic surgery complications.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE (S): Completion pancreatectomy (C.P.) is one acceptable treatment of choice in clinical scenarios such as management of post-pancreatectomy complications and recurrence in the pancreatic remnant. Studies referring to completion pancreatectomy as a distinct operation are limited, without emphasizing at the operation itself, rather reporting completion pancreatectomy as a possible option for treatment of various diseases. The identification of indications of CP in various pathologies and the clinical outcomes are therefore mandatory. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed in the Pubmed and Scopus Databases (February 2020),guided by the PRISMA protocol, for all studies reporting CP as a surgical procedure with reference at indications for performing it combined with postoperative morbidity and/or mortality. RESULTS: Out of 1647 studies, 32 studies from 10 countries with 2775 patients in total, of whom 561 (20.2%) CPs met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Inclusion year ranged from 1964 to 2018 and were published from 1992 until 2019. 17 studies with a total number of 249 CPs were performed for post-pancreatectomy complications. Mortality rate was 44.5% (111 out of 249). Morbidity rate was (72.6%). 12 studies with 225 CPs were performed for isolated local recurrence after initial resection with a morbidity rate of 21.5% and 0% mortality rate in the early postoperative period. Two studies with a total number of 12 patients reported CP as a treatment option for recurrent neuroendocrine neoplasms. The mortality in those studies was 8% (1/12) and the mean morbidity rate was 58.3% (7/12). Finally, CP for refractory chronic pancreatitis was presented in one study with morbidity and mortality rates of 19% and 0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Completion pancreatectomy is a distinct treatment option for various pathologies. Morbidity and mortality rates depend on the indications of performing CP, the status performance of the patients and whether the operation is performed electively or urgently

Neutron star high mass X-ray binaries that exhibit superorbital variability offer an opportunity to study the geometry and stability of warped accretion disks. The high mass X-ray binary SMC X-1 is an ideal system in which to investigate these questions because the supeorbital period has epochs of instability known as excursions likely caused by disk instability. Using the high resolution spectral and timing capabilities of the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) we examined the high state of four different superorbital cycles of SMC X-1 to search for short term changes in spectral shape and any connection to the unstable accretion disk geometry. We performed phase averaged and phase resolved spectroscopy, as well as principal component analysis to closely compare the spectral characteristics and any cycle-to-cycle variations. While soft, disk-related spectral components showed variations with time, the accretion column related parameters (i.e. photon index) remained mostly constant, indicating that the disk instability does not significantly change SMC X-1's accretion process.

Neutron star high-mass X-ray binaries with superorbital modulations in luminosity host warped inner accretion disks that occult the neutron star during precession. In SMC X-1, the instability in the warped disk geometry causes superorbital period "excursions": times of instability when the superorbital period decreases from its typical value of 55 to ~40 days. Disk instability makes SMC X-1 an ideal system in which to investigate the effects of variable disk geometry on the inner accretion flow. Using the high-resolution spectral and timing capabilities of the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer, we examined the high state of four different superorbital cycles of SMC X-1 to search for changes in spectral shape and connections to the unstable disk geometry. We performed pulse phase-averaged and phase-resolved spectroscopy to closely compare the changes in spectral shape and any cycle-to-cycle variations. While some parameters, including the photon index and absorbing column density, show slight variations with superorbital phase, these changes are most evident during the intermediate state of the superorbital cycle. Few spectral changes are observed within the high state of the superorbital cycle, possibly indicating the disk instability does not significantly change SMC X-1's accretion process.

The Athenet network is the network of the Seismological Laboratory of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. We present the geophysical investigation that has been carried out at six seismological stations of the Athenet network for their site characterization. More specifically, at the location of each seismological station, four geophysical methods have been carried out: Seismic Refraction Tomography (SRT), Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW), the Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) technique, and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT). The applied geophysical survey provided important information regarding the site characterization at the selected seismological stations, including key parameters such as the fundamental frequency fo, the shear-wave velocity VS, the average shear-wave velocity for the upper 30 m depth (VS30), the seismic bedrock depth, the soil type, and the subsurface geology. Moreover, selected elastic moduli (Poisson’s ratio, shear, bulk, and Young moduli) have been calculated. The site characterization information contributes to the determination of the amplification factors for each site that can lead to more accurate calculation of Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) or Peak Ground Velocity (PGV) and, therefore, trustworthy Probabilistic and Stochastic Seismic Hazard Assessments. The derived fundamental frequency for the seismological stations of VILL, LOUT, THAL, and EPID have been determined to be equal to 10.4, 2.7, 1.4, and 7.1 Hz and their amplification factors to be 1.9, 3.1, 1.7, and 2.6, respectively. For stations MDRA and ATAL, these parameters could not be determined.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible correlation between peripheral blood biomarkers and morphological characteristics of retinal imaging in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). METHODS: Participants in this cross-sectional observational study were 65 consecutive patients (65 eyes) with treatment-naive RVO, who underwent spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). In addition, peripheral blood samples were taken to evaluate full blood count and biochemical parameters. The association between imaging characteristics and laboratory parameters was examined. RESULTS: Eyes with subretinal fluid presented significantly higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (p = 0.028). Hyperreflective foci on SD-OCT were found to be associated with higher triglyceride levels (p = 0.024). The presence of cysts on SD-OCT was associated with significantly higher triglycerides (p = 0.010). Central subfield thickness (CST) higher than 464 mum was associated with higher lymphocyte count (p = 0.016) and higher urea (p = 0.015). No significant associations were found between laboratory parameters and intraretinal fluid, ellipsoid zone and external limiting membrane condition, or epiretinal membrane and macular ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: Specific imaging morphological characteristics were found to be associated with laboratory parameters in patients with RVO. These findings may help reveal the pathophysiology of RVO and its correlation with the development of specific clinical signs, while they could guide individualized treatment

Cosmetic labiaplasty is a form of Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery (FGCS) that is performed with the deliberate intent to alter the appearance and morphology of the external genitalia in the absence of medical concerns. Over the last decade, there is an increasing demand for FGCS and the industry behind it is constantly growing. Adolescents comprise an extremely vulnerable population, with labiaplasties in this particular age group having also increased. However, labiaplasty has been widely contested due to the irrevocable alteration of a psychosexually significant body part on minors too young to consent. Besides, the changes that occur during pubertal development in the genital area can significantly alter pediatric surgical results. Genital anatomy is more diverse than we previously thought and there is evidence to suggest that the labia minora with their rich innervation play an important role in sexual arousal and pleasure. Education regarding the wide range of normal genital appearance suffices in most cases to dissolve concerns regarding body self-image. Mental health issues should always be explored and, if identified, the girl should be referred to an experienced professional for their resolution. Postponing labiaplasty until adulthood is strongly recommended to help adolescents achieve a well-informed decision regarding an irreversible procedure with possible adverse esthetic and functional outcomes.

Background: While hospital-based Palliative Care services are usually covered through the main funding healthcare framework, traditional reimbursement methods have been criticized for their appropriateness. The present study investigates for the first time the case of treating end-of-life cancer patients in a Greek public hospital in terms of cost and reimbursement. Methods: This retrospective observational study used health administrative data of 135 deceased cancer patients who were hospitalized in the end of their lives. Following the cost estimation procedure, which indentified both the individual patient and overhead costs, we compared the relevant billing data and reimbursement requests to the estimated costs. Results: The average total cost per patient per day was calculated to be 97 EUR, with equal participation of individual patient's and overhead costs. Length of stay was identified as the main cost driver. Reimbursement was performed either by per-diem fees or by Diagnosis Related Groups’ (DRGs), which were correspondingly associated with under or over reimbursement risks. In the case of the combined use of the two available reimbursement alternatives a cross-subsidization phenomenon was described. Conclusion: Although the cost of end-of-life care proved to be quite low, the national per-diem rate fails to cover it. DRGs designed for acute care needs are rather unsuitable for such sub acute hospitalizations. Policy summary: There is a concrete need for reconsidering the current reimbursement schemes for this group of patients as part of any national plan concerning the integration and reformation of Palliative Care services. Otherwise, there is a serious danger for public institutions’ reluctance to admit them with a serious impact on access and equity of end-of-life cancer care. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that serve as the primary cellular energy-generating system. Apart from ATP production, they are essential for many biological processes, including calcium homeostasis, lipid biogenesis, ROS regulation and programmed cell death, which collectively render them invaluable for neuronal integrity and function. Emerging evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction and altered mitochondrial dynamics are crucial hallmarks of a wide variety of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions. At the same time, the gut microbiome has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders due to the bidirectional communication between the gut and the central nervous system, known as the gut-brain axis. Here we summarize new insights into the complex interplay between mitochondria, gut microbiota and neurodegeneration, and we refer to animal models that could elucidate the underlying mechanisms, as well as novel interventions to tackle age-related neurodegenerative conditions, based on this intricate network.

On October 30, 2020, 11:51 UTC, a large shallow earthquake of moment magnitude Mw7.0 ruptured the eastern Aegean Sea area and affected several Greek islands, mainly Samos, as well as the Izmir area, western Turkey. A moderate damaging tsunami followed the earthquake and inundated many coastal zones in the area. At 12:15 UTC, the Greek Civil Protection sent to the residents of the eastern Aegean Sea Greek islands a tsunami alert via SMS through the single European emergency phone number 112. It has been the first time that a tsunami warning was publicly issued in the frame of the North-East Atlantic and Mediterranean Tsunami Warning System (NEAMTWS/IOC/UNESCO) since the system became operational during the summer of 2012. Through an on-line questionnaire survey conducted soon after the event we investigated the impact the tsunami 112 alert message had among the population. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the 112 number as a tool for tsunami early warning, to look after possible weaknesses that may need future improvements and to better understand the level of tsunami risk awareness among the population. The response received from 344 citizens clearly indicates that the particular tsunami alert in general had positive impact to the message recipients, but highlights several weaknesses of the tsunami emergency management chain in Greece and demonstrates some aspects of the 112 system that need improvement.

This study introduces an innovative Cumulative Link Modeling approach to monitor crop progress over large areas using remote sensing data. The models utilize the predictive attributes of calendar time, thermal time, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Two distinct issues are tackled: real-time crop progress prediction, and completed season fitting. In the context of prediction, the study presents two model variations, the standard one based on the Multinomial distribution and a novel one based on the Multivariate Binomial distribution. In the context of fitting, random effects are incorporated to capture the inherent inter-seasonal variability, allowing the estimation of biological parameters that govern crop development and determine stage completion requirements. Theoretical properties in terms of consistency, asymptotic normality, and distribution-misspecification are reviewed. Model performance was evaluated on eight crops, namely corn, oats, sorghum, soybeans, winter wheat, alfalfa, dry beans, and millet, using in-situ data from Nebraska, USA, spanning a 20-year period. The results demonstrate the wide applicability of this approach to different crops, providing real-time predictions of crop progress worldwide, solely utilizing open-access data. To facilitate implementation, an ecosystem of R packages has been developed and made publicly accessible under the name Ages of Man.

We report comprehensive spectral and temporal properties of the Be/X-ray binary pulsar SMC X-2 using X-ray observations during the 2015 and 2022 outbursts. The pulse profile of the pulsar is unique and strongly luminosity dependent. It evolves from a broad-humped into a double-peaked profile above luminosity 3 × 1038 erg s-1. The pulse fraction of the pulsar is found to be a linear function of luminosity as well as energy. We also studied the spectral evolution of the source during the latest 2022 outburst with NICER. The observed photon index shows a negative and positive correlation below and above the critical luminosity, respectively, suggesting evidence of spectral transition from the sub-critical to supercritical regime. The broad-band spectroscopy of four sets of NuSTAR and XRT/NICER data from both outbursts can be described using a cut-off power-law model with a blackbody component. In addition to the 6.4 keV iron fluorescence line, an absorption-like feature is clearly detected in the spectra. The cyclotron line energy observed during the 2015 outburst is below 29.5 keV, however latest estimates in the 2022 outburst suggest a value of 31.5 keV. Moreover, an increase of 3.4 keV is detected in the cyclotron line energy at equal levels of luminosity observed in 2022 with respect to 2015. The observed cyclotron line energy variation is explored in terms of accretion induced screening mechanism or geometrical variation in line forming region.

Darwin and Newton: Lives (Non) Parallels. On the 20th of March, we are to honor the death of Isaac Newton as we celebrated previously, Darwin's Day in middle February. Much has been written about their work, but I just want to remind that in 1859 Darwin published his findings in the book "The Origin of Species", arguing that the species of living organisms do not remain unchanged, as Aristotle and the book of Genesis argued, but have a common origin and through natural selection evolve over millennia. This position generated strong reactions from the first moment, mainly from the Church, who believes that the creation of the world is the result of Divine Grace. Darwin was labeled an atheist and mocked as a descendant of monkeys, while some of his supporters were dragged to court (Trial of the Apes). Today, more than a century after his death, the scientific community has accepted his theory, which has since been verified through numerous observations and newer discoveries. A recent visit to the Mausoleum at Westminster in London made me think and led me to write this text

École Giffard, Institut supérieur d’études françaises, Institut français d’Athènes ou Institut français de Grèce… l’établissement fondé en 1907 par l’École française d’Athènes a connu plusieurs dénominations et de nombreuses mutations, mais n’a jamais failli à ses missions fondamentales : non seulement travailler à la diffusion de la langue française en Grèce, mais aussi et surtout favoriser le dialogue entre les cultures des deux pays. Depuis sa création, au début du XXe siècle, ses transformations accompagnent l’évolution de la société grecque, grâce à l’action déterminée de tous ceux qui le dirigent et l’animent. Autrefois fréquenté par des dizaines de milliers d’élèves et doté d’un vaste réseau d’annexes, il est aujourd’hui un acteur essentiel de la vie culturelle grecque : nombreux sont les écrivains, peintres, sculpteurs, musiciens et metteurs en scènes, ainsi que les scientifiques de toutes les disciplines, qui ont franchi et franchissent encore ses portes. Cet ouvrage, qui s’appuie sur un vaste éventail de sources inédites et de documents d’archives, retrace les grandes étapes de cette histoire commune.

On 6 February 2023, southeastern Turkey was struck by two major earthquakes that devastated 11 provinces. Tens of thousands of buildings collapsed and more were later demolished. During post-event field surveys conducted by the authors, several disposal sites set up in the most affected provinces were detected and checked for suitability. Based on field observations on the properties of sites and their surrounding areas as well as on the implemented debris management activities, it is concluded that all sites had characteristics that did not allow them to be classified as safe for earthquake debris management. This inadequacy is mainly attributed to their proximity to areas, where thousands of people reside. As regards the environmental impact, these sites were operating within or close to surface water bodies. This situation reveals a rush for rapid recovery resulting in serious errors in the preparation and implementation of disaster management plans. In this context, measures for effective debris management are proposed based on the existing scientific knowledge and operational experience. This paper aims to highlight challenges during earthquakes debris management and related threats posed to public health and the environment in order to be avoided in future destructive events.

The tool assesses natural factors and the impact of human activities as well as the available mitigation measures in a cost-benefit perspective and with a view to mitigating the impacts of climate change. Therefore, the tool is designed to respond to both erosion (as a natural disaster) and erosion due to human (inappropriate) intervention, as well as CM&D (eg, sea level rise, extreme wave events). The innovation of the project is based on the creation of a multi-parameter decision making tool (ILIDA_KIT) related to climate change mitigation and resilience to coastal erosion and extreme wave events in the context of integrated coastal zone management. ILIDA_KIT relies on a multi-disciplinary interactive platform in a GIS environment that through the development of a set of appropriate indicators (environmental, anthropogeographic, economic) can be parameterised. The ultimate purpose of the tool is to select the most appropriate intervention (intensity, size, time horizon) measure, based on the costbenefit analysis, considering both the protection and the sustainable development of the coastal zone.

Wastewater analysis is the most attractive alternative way for the quantification and variant profiling of SARS-CoV-2. Infection dynamics can be monitored by RT-qPCR assays while NGS can provide evidence for the presence of existing or new emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Herein, apart from the infection dynamic in Attica since June 1st, 2021, the monitoring of 9 mutations of the omicron and 4 mutations of the delta SARS-CoV-2 variants, utilizing both novel Nested-Seq and RT-PCR, is reported and the substitution of the delta variant (B.1.617.2) by the omicron variant (B.1.1.529) in Attica, Greece within approximately one month is highlighted. The key difference between the two methodologies is discovery power. RT-PCR can only detect known sequences cost-effectively, while NGS is a hypothesis-free approach that does not require prior knowledge to detect novel genes. Overall, the potential of wastewater genomic surveillance for the early discovery and monitoring of variants important for disease management at the community level is underlined. This is the first study, reporting the SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamic for an extended time period and the first attempt to monitor two of the most severe variants with two different methodologies in Greece.

Cellular and molecular immune components play a crucial role in the development and perpetuation of human malignancies, shaping anti-tumor responses. A novel immune regulator is interleukin-37 (IL-37), already shown to be involved in the inflammation associated with the pathophysiology of many human disorders, including cancer. The interplay between tumor and immune cells is of great importance, especially for highly immunogenic tumors such as bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA). This study aimed to investigate the potential of IL-37 and its receptor SIGIRR (single immunoglobulin IL-1-related receptor) to serve as prognostic and/or diagnostic markers in patients with BLCA. To this end, a series of bioinformatics tools processing -omics datasets and specifically designed qPCR assays on human BLCA tumors and cancer cell lines were utilized. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that IL-37 levels correlate with BLCA tumor development and are higher in patients with longer overall survival. Furthermore, mutations on SIGIRR are associated with enhanced infiltration of the tumor by regulatory T cells and dendritic cells. Based on the qPCR validation experiments, BLCA epithelial cells express the IL-37c and IL-37e isoforms, while the latter is the predominant variant detected in tumor biopsies, also associated with higher grade and the non-muscle-invasive type. This is the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that IL-37 and SIGIRR levels have been assessed in BLCA tumor lesions, and associations with pathological and survival parameters are described, while a transcript variant-specific signature is indicated to have a diagnostic potential. These data strongly indicate the need for further investigation of the involvement of this cytokine and interconnected molecules in the pathophysiology of the disease and its prospective as a therapeutic target and biomarker for BLCA.

The diffuse attenuation coefficient is an indicator of light availability in the surface layer, and is used in a broad range of applications, including numerical simulations, for the parameterization of the light transmission in the water column. In this study, a new dataset of the diffuse attenuation coefficient for the Eastern Mediterranean Sea test case is developed using an existing optical dataset of 2614 beam attenuation coefficient profiles. This method introduces a way of overcoming the difficulty of measuring the diffuse attenuation coefficient in-situ by utilizing the most routinely measured variable, the beam attenuation coefficient. The proposed approach uses existing semi-analytical relationships and a neural network. The neural network, a multi-layer perceptron regression model, is trained and validated with a dataset of 29398 concurrent bio-optical in-situ measurements from the PROSOPE cruise and remotely sensed surface variables. The model is applied to the Eastern Mediterranean dataset and the results are interpolated into a gridded gap-free field, with a grid resolution of 0.0416° x 0.0416°, which is assessed and compared with a satellite-derived product, investigating their significant differences. The resulting field's mean value is slightly reduced with respect to the satellite product, showing regions of higher turbidity, with the most prominent located in the northern Aegean Sea in regions of excess colored dissolved organic matter and around mesoscale features and in the Cretan and Levantine Sea in regions of higher mesoscale activity.

Light Detection And Range (LiDAR) data have been used in numerous case studies, related to fast-developing landslides and rockfalls, producing remarkably precise Digital Terrain Models (DTMs). When these models are coupled to classic near-surface geophysical methods, they result in the high-accuracy mapping of the open surface and subsurface morphology, an essential element for a modern coastal management study. In this work, we introduce the diachronic monitoring and detection of alterations on the surface of the active fault of Psatha (Greece), via a multiple-phase study within a period of 11 years, by using terrestrial LiDAR scans and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT).The successful combination of these techniques is being used to reveal and quantify the landscape evolution involving the surface alterations at the fault adjacent coastal zone, the sea intrusion, and even the coastline displacement, in any coastal area characterized by similar features.

Light Detection And Range (LiDAR) data have been used in numerous case studies, related to fast-developing landslides and rockfalls, producing remarkably precise Digital Terrain Models (DTMs). When these models are coupled to classic near-surface geophysical methods, they result in the high-accuracy mapping of the open surface and subsurface morphology, an essential element for a modern coastal management study. In this work, we introduce the diachronic monitoring and detection of alterations on the surface of the active fault of Psatha (Greece), via a multiple-phase study within a period of 11 years, by using terrestrial LiDAR scans and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT). The successful combination of these techniques is being used to reveal and quantify the landscape evolution involving the surface alterations at the fault adjacent coastal zone, the sea intrusion, and even the coastline displacement, in any coastal area characterized by similar features.

Credit card customers comprise a volatile subset of a banks' client base. As such, banks would like to predict in advance which of those clients are likely to attrite, so as to approach them with proactive marketing campaigns. Neuronets have found great application in many classification problems. Credit card attrition is a poorly investigated subtopic that poses many challenges, such as highly imbalanced datasets. The goal of this research is to construct a feed-forward neuronet that can overcome such obstacles and thus accurately classify credit card attrition. To this end, we employ a weights and structure determination (WASD) algorithm that facilitates the development of a competitive and all around robust classifier whilst accounting for the shortcomings of traditional back propagation neuronets. This is supported by the fact that when compared with some of the best performing classification models that MATLAB's classification learner app offers, the power softplus activated WASD neuronet demonstrated either superior or highly competitive performance across all metrics.

Let $K$ be an infinite field of characteristic $p>0$ and let $\lambda, \mu$ be partitions, where $\mu$ has two parts. We find sufficient arithmetic conditions on $p, \lambda, \mu$ for the existence of a nonzero homomorphism $\Delta(\lambda) \to \Delta (\mu)$ of Weyl modules for the general linear group $GL_n(K)$. Also for each $p$ we find sufficient conditions so that the corresponding homomorphism spaces have dimension at least 2.

Στόχος του άρθρου αυτού είναι να υπογραμμίσει ότι η σημερινή χρήση του πάρκου αντιβαίνει στους ιδεολογικούς και λειτουργικούς στόχους τηςδημιουργίας του, όπως αυτοί καθορίστηκαν από τον Frederick Law Olmsted. Όχι μόνο αλλοιώνεται η ταυτότητά του, αλλά η εκχώρηση αποφασιστικών αρμοδιοτήτων ενός τόσο σημαντικού φυσικού και  ιστορικού μνημείου της πόλης στην ιδιωτική, μη κυβερνητική οργάνωση γνωστή ως Central Park Conservancy τείνει να εμπορευματοποιήσει τη χρήση του, γεγονός το οποίο οδηγεί στην τουριστικοποίησή του και στην παραγωγή πολιτικής, κοινωνικής και οικονομικής υπεραξίας. Μέσα από τη μελέτη λογοτεχνικών και κινηματογραφικών αναπαραστάσεων και άλλων καλλιτεχνικών αφηγήσεων, διαφαίνεται ανάγλυφα η σύνδεση ανάμεσα στη νοηματοδότηση και ερμηνεία του πάρκου και τους τρόπους διαχείρισης, εκμετάλλευσης και ελέγχου του. Ωστόσο, επειδή ο γεωγραφικός χώρος δεν είναι στατικός και κανένας τόπος δεν διεκδικεί μια και μοναδική διαχρονική ταυτότητα, ο χώρος του Σέντραλ Παρκ γίνεται πεδίο συγκρουόμενων απόψεων σχετικά με την παρούσα και τη μελλοντική του λειτουργία.

INTRODUCTION: Antidepressants are widely used for the pharmacological treatment of anxiety and mood disorders. Since the eruption of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic and the later development of targeted treatments against COVID-19, inevitably many patients receive antidepressants as well as targeted treatments against COVID-19 against COVID-19. Co-administration of antidepressants with COVID-19 therapeutics has the potential of drug-drug interactions, of varying severity and clinical significance. AREAS COVERED: This is a curated narrative review of the current state of the art regarding drug-drug interactions between COVID-19 therapeutics and medications licensed for the pharmacotherapy of depression. A systematic search of electronic databases, using as keywords the international nonproprietaty names of currently approved COVID-19 therapeutics and antidepressants was performed, and additionally online interaction checker tools were consulted. Derived data were synthesized for each COVID-19 therapeutic and presented with up-to-date guidance. EXPERT OPINION: Several COVID-19 therapeutics have potential for drug-drug interactions with antidepressants. Remdesivir and Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir have the higher risk, whereas several monoclonal antibodies appear safer. The most serious drug-drug interactions (serotonin syndrome and QTc prolongation) require close monitoring; however, DDI toward reducing the efficacy of antidepressants may be difficult to recognize. As COVID-19 treatment protocols take precedence, psychiatrists should exert flexibility in antidepressant use and proactively monitor treatment progress.

We present the first results for the dust-scattering rings of GRB 221009A, coined as the gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) of the century, as observed by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. We perform analysis of both time resolved observations and stacked data. The former approach enable us to study the expansion of the most prominent rings, associate their origin with the prompt X-ray emission of the GRB and determine the location of the dust layers. The stacked radial profiles increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the data and allows detection of fainter and overlapping peaks in the angular profile. We find a total of 16 dust concentrations (with hints of even more) that span about 15kpc in depth and could be responsible for the highly structured X-ray angular profiles. By comparing the relative scattered fluxes of the five most prominent rings we show that the layer with the largest amount of dust is located at about 0.44 kpc away from us. We finally compare the location of the dust layers with results from experiments that study the 3D structure of our Galaxy via extinction or CO radio observations, and highlight the complementarity of dust X-ray tomography to these approaches.

We report on NICER observations of the Be X-ray binary 4U 0115+63 during the rise of the source's current historic outburst, which began around 2023 March 28 and is the brightest recorded in 27 years.

On 6 February 2023, East Anatolia was devastated by two major earthquakes resulting in hundreds of thousands of collapses and tens of thousands of human casualties. This paper investigates the factors related to building properties and earthquake environmental effects (EEEs) that contributed to the building damage grade and distribution in southeastern Turkey. In regards to the building construction properties, the loose enforcement of the building code, the random urban planning solutions and the poor construction standards are the main construction deficiencies that led to one of the largest disasters in Turkey’s recent history. Regarding geological factors, the triggering of primary and secondary EEEs largely shaped the grade and distribution of damage. Where coseismic surface ruptures intersected with the built environment, heavy to very heavy structural damage was observed. This was evident in many cases along the ruptured segments of the East Anatolian Fault Zone (EAFZ). Liquefaction observed close to waterbodies caused damage typical of building foundation load-bearing capacity loss. The earthquake-triggered landslides affected mainly mountainous and semi-mountainous settlements characterized with pre-earthquake high related susceptibility. The high susceptibility to generation of EEEs was extensively confirmed in many cases resulting in extensive damage. The provided information highlights the importance of such studies for hazard mitigation and disaster risk reduction.

This paper explores the efficacy of the geoeducational assessment method (GEOAM) in evaluating the geoeducational potential of geosites. Leveraging a case study involving four geotopes on the island of Samos, Aegean Sea, Greece, this study examines the strengths and limitations of the GEOAM approach, aiming to comprehensively elucidate its efficacy. The assessment outcomes illuminate the vital role of targeted strategies in enhancing the educational and sustainable impact of geosites, thereby fostering geological understanding and responsible environmental engagement. A prominent finding is the urgency to address the gap in foundational geological knowledge, underscored by the need for robust geoeducation programs at schools and the augmented presence of geologists. While acknowledging potential limitations, including subjectivity in scoring and data availability constraints, this study underscores the method’s broader contribution to societal goals. By integrating geoethic principles, GEOAM offers a comprehensive framework aligning with the objectives of geological comprehension and environmentally conscious practices.

This paper investigates the relationship between investors' attention, as measured by Google search queries, and equity implied volatility during the COVID-19 outbreak. Recent studies show that search investors' behavior data is an extremely abundant repository of predictive data, and investor-limited attention increases when the uncertainty level is high. Our study using data from thirteen countries across the globe during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (January–April 2020) examines whether the search “topic and terms” for the pandemic affect market participants’ expectations about future realized volatility. With the panic and uncertainty about COVID-19, our empirical findings show that increased internet searches during the pandemic caused the information to flow into the financial markets at a faster rate and thus resulting in higher implied volatility directly and via the stock return-risk relation. More specifically for the latter, the leverage effect in the VIX becomes stronger as Google search queries intensify. Both the direct and indirect effects on implied volatility, highlight a risk-aversion channel that operates during the pandemic. We also find that these effects are stronger in Europe than in the rest of the world. Moreover, in a panel vector autoregression framework, we show that a positive shock on stock returns may soothe COVID-related Google searches in Europe. Our findings suggest that Google-based attention to COVID-19 leads to elevated risk aversion in stock markets.

Defining efficient families of recurrent neural networks (RNN) models for solving time-varying nonlinear equations is an interesting research topic in applied mathematics. Accordingly, one of the underlying elements in designing RNN is the use of efficient nonlinear activation functions. The role of the activation function is to bring out an output from a set of input values that are supplied into a node. Our goal is to define new family of activation functions consisting of a fixed gain parameter and a functional part. Corresponding zeroing neural networks (ZNN) is defined, termed as varying-parameter improved zeroing neural network (VPIZNN), and applied to solving time-varying nonlinear equations. Compared with previous ZNN models, the new VPIZNN models reach an accelerated finite-time convergence due to the new time-varying activation function which is embedded into the VPIZNN design. Theoretical results and numerical experiments are presented to demonstrate the superiority of the novel VPIZNN formula. The capability of the proposed VPIZNN models are demonstrated in studying and solving the Van der Pol equation and finding the root $$\root m \of {a(t)}$$.

How should we treat the liar and kindred paradoxes? A Theory of Truth argues that we should diverge from classical logic, and presents a new formal theory of truth. The theory does not incorporate contradictions and is not substructural, but deviates from classical logic significantly. It endorses principles like ‘No sentence is both true and false’ and ‘No sentence is neither true nor false’.The book starts with an introduction to the paradoxes, suitable for newcomers to the subject, before presenting its approach. Four versions of the theory are covered, extending the theory to a determinacy operator and to a full first-order language with quantifiers. Each includes all Tarskian biconditionals that can be formulated in its language. The author uses original methods to prove the consistency of each version and compares the theory to alternative non-classical theories, including Field’s paracomplete approach, Ripley’s nontransitive system and Zardini’s contraction-free calculus.

In recent years, advances in science and technology have improved our quality of life, enabling us to tackle diseases and increase human life expectancy. However, longevity is accompanied by an accretion in the frequency of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, creating a growing burden, with pervasive social impact for human societies. The cost of managing such chronic disorders and the lack of effective treatments highlight the need to decipher their molecular and genetic underpinnings, in order to discover new therapeutic targets. In this effort, the nematode serves as a powerful tool to recapitulate several disease-related phenotypes and provides a highly malleable genetic model that allows the implementation of multidisciplinary approaches, in addition to large-scale genetic and pharmacological screens. Its anatomical transparency allows the use of co-expressed fluorescent proteins to track the progress of neurodegeneration. Moreover, the functional conservation of neuronal processes, along with the high homology between nematode and human genomes, render extremely suitable for the study of human neurodegenerative disorders. This review describes nematode models used to study neurodegeneration and underscores their contribution in the effort to dissect the molecular basis of human diseases and identify novel gene targets with therapeutic potential.

The literature on emotion regulation (ER) is vast and insightful, but little is known about the proactive regulation of positive emotions. Herein we coin the term emotion crafting (EC), which is defined as proactively aiming to strengthen one’s positive emotions through two sequential components: being aware of what can make one feel good (i.e., awareness component) and proactively engaging in behaviors to initiate, maintain, or increase positive emotions (i.e., action component). We present a self-report measure of EC [i.e., the Emotion Crafting Scale (ECS)] and provide details on its discriminant and concurrent validity. Data were collected among a sample of 326 Norwegian adults (49.7% female; Mage = 42.90 years, SD = 14.76) who were representative in terms of age (between 18 and 70), gender, and geographical location within Norway. Results yielded evidence for a 2-factor structure consisting of the components Awareness and Action, which related in an expected way to other measures of ER. Subsequent structural equation modeling showed that the awareness component related positively to indicators of well-being and negatively to internalizing symptoms via higher levels of EC action and positive affect, even after controlling for other measures of ER. These promising findings not only support favorable reliability and validity of the ECS, but also underscore the importance of examining proactive regulation of positive emotions as a potential predictor of mental health. Future research is needed to examine the etiological role of EC in individuals’ psychological functioning. © 2023, The Author(s).

The book Ottoman Monuments in Greece: Heritages Under Negotiation approaches the Ottoman monuments of Greece as the heritage of a historical period that lends itself to multiple readings. This collective work brings together and array of studies, covering a wide range of disciplines, including history of art, archaeology, architecture, and urban studies. Through rich unpublished archival, photographic, and epigraphic material, the authors of this edited volume, enrich our knowledge of the emblematic Ottoman monuments of Greece cities and foreground unknown aspects of the architecture of rural Greece. In the pages of the book Ottoman Monuments in Greece: heritages under negotiation, the stories of places, buildings, and people from Ottoman era to present days come alive. These stories constitute a major contribution to the dialogue on the status and role of this special heritage for Modern Greece. The critical analyses featured in this edited volume renew and broaden the research conducted in the fields of Ottoman studies and cultural heritage.

The volume offers an innovative and systematic exploration of the diverse ways in which Later Greek Epic interacts with the Latin literary tradition. Taking as a starting point the premise that it is probable for the Greek epic poets of the Late Antiquity to have been familiar with leading works of Latin poetry, either in the original or in translation, the contributions in this book pursue a new form of intertextuality, in which the leading epic poets of the Imperial era (Quintus of Smyrna, Triphiodorus, Nonnus, and the author of the Orphic Argonautica) engage with a range of models in inventive, complex, and often covert ways. Instead of asking, in other words, whether Greek authors used Latin models, we ask how they engaged with them and why they opted for certain choices and not for others. Through sophisticated discussions, it becomes clear that intertexts are usually systems that combine ideology, cultural traditions, and literary aesthetics in an inextricable fashion. The book will prove that Latin literature, far from being distinct from the Greek epic tradition of the imperial era, is an essential, indeed defining, component within a common literary and ideological heritage across the Roman empire.

Ένα νέο βιβλίο πολιτισμικής θεωρίας, αφιερωμένο στη συνύφανση της αρχαιολογίας και της αρχαιοφιλίας με τον πολιτικό λόγο, επίσημο και ανεπίσημο, στην Ελλάδα του 21ου αι. Σύμφωνα με τον συγγραφέα, η αρχαιοπολιτική αναδύεται ως μια σύνθετη μορφή βιοπολιτικής, εδραιωμένη στην πεποίθηση ότι οι υλικότητες του παρελθόντος καθορίζουν τον τρόπο που βιώνουμε το παρόν. Υπό αυτήν την έννοια, η αρχαιολογία συμβάλλει στη συγκρότηση του εθνικού βιο-προτύπου, οργανώνοντας τα σώματα των εθνικών υποκειμένων και καθορίζοντας τους τρόπους με τους οποίους οι πολίτες θα αφομοιώσουν αφηγήματα του εθνικού παρελθόντος στο δικό τους παρόν. Έτσι, η αρχαιοπολιτική συμβάλλει στον βιολογικό καθαρμό του εθνικού σώματος και στην αναγνώριση της κλασικής αρχαιότητας ως μιας λευκής πολιτισμικής κληρονομιάς.

Transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) occurs in a significant percentage of patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to examine the association of serum angiopoetin-2 (Ang2) levels and the presence of antibodies against angiotensin II type 1 (AT1R) and ndothelin A Recreptor (ETAR) with the outcome of patients with TMA and/or graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allo-SCT. Analysis of our data showed that elevated serum Ang2 levels at the time of TMA diagnosis are significantly associated with increased non-relapse mortality and decreased overall survival. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating an association between raised Ang2 levels and poor outcomes in patients with TMA. Antibodies against AT1R (AT1R-Abs) and ETAR (ETAR-Abs) were detected in 27% and 23% of the patients, respectively, but there was no association between the presence of autoantibodies and the outcome of patients with TMA. However, a significant finding was the strong positive correlation between the presence of AT1R-Abs with the occurrence of chronic fibrotic GVHD, such as scleroderma and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, raising the possibility of the contribution of autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of fibrotic GVHD manifestations

In this study, we developed active substrates consisting of Ag-decorated silicon nanowires on a Si substrate using a single-step Metal Assisted Chemical Etching (MACE) process, and evaluated their performance in the identification of low concentrations of Rhodamine 6G using surface-enhanced photoluminescence spectroscopy. Different structures with Ag-aggregates as well as Ag-dendrites were fabricated and studied depending on the etching parameters. Moreover, the addition of Au nanoparticles by simple drop-casting on the MACE-treated surfaces can enhance the photoluminescence significantly, and the structures have shown a Limit of Detection of Rhodamine 6G down to 10−12 M for the case of the Ag-dendrites enriched with Au nanoparticles.