Publications

Synoptic climatology relates the atmospheric circulation with the surface environment. The aim of this study is to examine the variability of the surface meteorological patterns, which are developing under different synoptic scale categories over a suburban area with complex topography. Multivariate Data Analysis techniques were performed to a data set with surface meteorological elements. Three principal components related to the thermodynamic status of the surface environment and the two components of the wind speed were found. The variability of the surface flows was related with atmospheric circulation categories by applying Correspondence Analysis. Similar surface thermodynamic fields develop under cyclonic categories, which are contrasted with the anti-cyclonic category. A strong, steady wind flow characterized by high shear values develops under the cyclonic Closed Low and the anticyclonic H-L categories, in contrast to the variable weak flow under the anticyclonic Open Anticyclone category. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.

Pollen assemblages recovered from a 5 m sediment core from the Vravron coastal marsh suggest a close correlation between vegetation development and human presence in Attica, and provide the first complete record of middle to late Holocene vegetation history. Correlation of pollen with archaeological data attempts to decode the man–environment relations of the past, within the context of the known climatic variability of the mid late Holocene, in the vicinity of ancient Athens, an area of high historical significance. The pollen record of Vravron denotes a rather variable landscape where open Mediterranean evergreen pine woods alternated with maquis shrublands and grasslands, where human activities and climate have left their imprints on vegetation. During the last 5,000 years agricultural practices displayed several variations: cereal cultivation appears more intense during the Bronze Age, especially in the Mycenaean, while a spread of Olea is observed during Geometric to Classical times. The gradual abandonment of Olea cultivation evidenced in our pollen diagram came as a result of the displacement of human activities in the interior of Mesogaia in Hellenistic and Roman times. Olea and cereal cultivation intensification is observed again during the Mesobyzantine period. In the upper part of the core evidence of intense soil erosion and expansion of Vravron wetland was recorded, coinciding with the Little Ice Age climatic event and the introduction of Arvanites populations in the area.

Background:Vascular endothelial growth factor action in tumour angiogenesis is well characterised; nevertheless, it functions as a key element in the promotion of the immune systems evasion by tumours. We sought to investigate the possible direct effect of VEGF on T-cell activation and through which type of VEGF receptor it exerts this effect on cells isolated from ovarian cancer patients ascites.Methods:T cells isolated from the ascites of ovarian cancer patients were cultured with anti-CD3 and IL-2, with or without VEGF for 14 days and the number of viable T cells was counted. Cytotoxic activity of cultured T cells and expression of VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), was assayed.Results:The addition of VEGF in cultures significantly reduced the number and proliferation rate of T cells in a dose-dependent manner and CD3 T cells expressed VEGFR-2 on their surface upon activation. Experiments with specific anti-VEGFR-2 antibodies revealed that the direct suppressive effect of VEGF on T-cell proliferation is mediated by VEGFR-2. We also showed that VEGF significantly reduced the cytotoxic activity of T cells.Conclusion:Our study showed that ascites-derived T cells secrete VEGF and express VEGFR-2 upon activation. Vascular endothelial growth factor directly suppresses T-cell activation via VEGFR-2. © 2012 Cancer Research UK.

The role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in tumor angiogenesis is well characterized; nevertheless, it is also a key element in promoting tumor evasion of the immune system by downregulating dendritic cell maturation and thus T cell activation. We sought to investigate the possible direct effect of VEGF on T cell activation and through which type of VEGF receptor (VEGFR) it exerts this effect. Circulating T cells from healthy donors and ovarian cancer patients were expanded in cultures with anti-CD3 and IL-2 with or without VEGF for 14 days, and the number of T cells was assessed. Cultured T cells were also tested for their cytotoxic activity in a standard 4-hr 51Cr-release assay, and the expression of VEGFRs 1, 2 and 3 was assayed by flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. To assess the ability of activated T cells to secrete VEGF, levels in culture supernatants were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The addition of VEGF in cultures significantly reduced T cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Protein expression studies demonstrated that CD3 + T cells express VEGFR-2 on their surface upon activation. Experiments with anti-VEGFR-2 antibodies showed that the direct suppressive effect of VEGF on T cell proliferation is mediated by VEGFR-2. We also showed that VEGF significantly reduced the cytotoxic activity of T cells and that activated T cells secrete VEGF in the culture environment. Overall, our study shows that T cells secret VEGF and expresses VEGFR-2 upon activation. VEGF directly suppresses T cell activation via VEGF receptor type 2. © 2011 UICC.

Context. It is well established that some YSO jets (e.g. RW Aur) display different propagation speeds between their blue and red shifted parts, a feature possibly associated with the central engine or the environment in which the jet propagates. Aims: To understand the origin of asymmetric YSO jet velocities, we investigate the efficiency of two candidate mechanisms, one based on the intrinsic properties of the system and the other on the role of the external medium. In particular, a parallel or anti-parallel configuration between the protostellar magnetosphere and the disk magnetic field is considered, and the resulting dynamics examined both in an ideal and in a resistive magneto-hydrodynamical (MHD) regime. Moreover, we explore the effects of a potential difference in the pressure of the environment, as a consequence of the nonuniform density distribution of molecular clouds. Methods: Ideal and resistive axisymmetric numerical simulations were carried out for a variety of models, all of which are based on a combination of two analytical solutions, a disk wind and a stellar outflow. The initial two-component jet is modified by either inverting the orientation of its inner magnetic field or imposing a constant surrounding pressure. The velocity profiles are studied by assuming steady flows as well as after strong time variable ejection is incorporated. Results: Discrepancies between the speeds of the two outflows in opposite directions can indeed occur both due to unaligned magnetic fields and different outer pressures. In the former case, the asymmetry appears only on the dependence of the velocity on the cylindrical distance, but the implied observed value is significantly altered when the density distribution is also taken into account. On the other hand, a nonuniform medium collimates the two jets unevenly, directly affecting their propagation speed. A further interesting feature of the pressure-confined outflow simulations is the formation of static knots whose spacing seems to be associated with the ambient pressure. Conclusions: Jet velocity asymmetries are anticipated both when multipolar magnetic moments are present in the star-disk system and when nonuniform environments are considered. The latter is an external mechanism that can easily explain the large timescale of the phenomenon, whereas the former naturally relates it to the YSO intrinsic properties.

An attempt is made to explore the vertical structure of the surface explosive cyclones in the Mediterranean on a climatological basis during the cold period of the year in order to get a better insight in the interaction between the upper and lower levels responsible for the genesis and evolvement of the phenomenon. The vertical profile of the explosive cyclones was examined with the aid of the vertical tracing software of the University of Melbourne Cyclone Tracking Algorithm, using the 1 × 1° spatial resolution of ERA-40 reanalysis data. It was found that about 57 % of the track steps of surface explosive cyclones extend up to 500 hPa. The north-westward tilting of the surface cyclones with height during the stage of explosive cyclogenesis, with a mean distance of 350 km between mean sea and 500 hPa levels, confirms the importance of baroclinicity. About 45 % of the surface explosive cyclones reached their maximum depth before their 500 hPa counterparts, implying the role of surface processes. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.

Composite TiO 2 photocatalytic ultrafiltration (UF) membranes were developed through chemical vapour layer-by-layer deposition (LBL/CVD) of TiO 2. The technique comprised chemisorption or physisorption of the titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) vapour and a subsequent oxidative treatment in order to promote the precursor condensation and generate new adsorption sites for the accomplishment of the successive adsorption/surface reaction steps. Both membrane sides were covered with TiO 2 photocatalyst without affecting the high water recovery efficiency. For reasons of comparison, one of the membranes was prepared through TiO 2 nanoparticle growth (NPG/CVD), a procedure extensively studied in a previous work of our group. The membrane efficiency in photo degradation of methyl orange was evaluated in an innovative continuous flow reactor, applying UV irradiation on the annular and bore surfaces. The membranes developed through the physisorption path were highly efficient in the decomposition of azo-dye pollutant, exhibiting low adsorption-fouling tendency and high water permeability. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare two single agents paclitaxel (intravenous) versus vinorelbine (oral) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with performance status (PS):2. Patients and Methods: The patients were randomized to receive either oral vinorelbine 60 mg/m 2 on days I, 8, 15 every 4 weeks for 4 cycles (group A) or paclitaxel 90 mg/m 2 intravenously for 1 h on days 1, 8, 15 every 4 weeks for a total of 4 cycles (group B). Results: Among the 74 eligible patients (36 in arm A and 38 in arm B) in arm A, two (6%) had a partial response (95% Cl, 0.7-18.7) and 5 (14%) had stable disease (95% CI, 4.7-29.5). In arm B, five (13%) had a partial response (95% CI, 4.4-28.1) and 7 (18%) had stable disease (95% CI, 7.7-34.3). No significant difference was found in terms of clinical benefit between the two groups after two cycles of treatment except for appetite in favour of paclitaxel (p=0.01). Median survival was 3.1 months (95% CI, 2.2-4.0) for arm A and 5.1 months (95% CI, 2.7-7.6) for arm B (p=0.95). Toxicity was mild and only alopecia was more profound in the patients of arm B (p=0.008). Conclusion: No significant difference was found in clinical benefit between PS:2 NSCLC patients treated with either vinorelbine or paclitaxel.

We present a catalog of photometric and spectroscopic data collected during and around of EE Cep eclipses in 1997, 2003 and 2008/9. The photometric data were obtained with 25 different instruments, mainly in Johnson-Cousins UBV(RI)C bands, and some small sets of the data were obtained with narrow interference filters, placed on, or around of H-alpha and H-beta lines. The photometry from the last two eclipses have been compiled into the set of consistent photometric data in UBV(RI)C bands, that has been used in the paper to modelling of the eclipses in EE Cep system. The 100 of spectra released in this catalog were obtained with 8 of different spectrographs at low, medium and high resolutions (R in range ~2000-48000). About half of them (54 spectra) cover narrow ranges of order 200 Angstroms with H-alpha, H-beta lines or NaI dublet, and the second part (46 spectra) cover longer ranges of wavelengths - several thousands of Angstroms in the visual domain or in the near infrared. (7 data files).

This study is based on observations obtained with the 1.3-m Warsaw telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory, Chile, during the OGLE-II and OGLE-III projects, between 1997 and 2008. (4 data files).

X-ray mosaic images from combined EPIC pn and MOS data of the SMC region centred at RA=01:00:30, DE=-72:28:00 (J2000). The three images were produced in the three energy bands 0.2-1.0keV, 1.0-2.0keV, and 2.0-4.5keV. The images are exposure-corrected and for EPIC pn out-of-time event subtracted, but not detector-background subtracted and not vignetting-corrected. (4 data files).

The serum levels of several angiogenic cytokines are increased in patients withWaldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). Angiopoietin-2 is also increased and the balance of angiopoietin-1/angiopoietin-2, which antagonize for the receptor tyrosine kinase Tie-2 is in favor of angiopoietin-2. Lymphoplasmacytic cells may produce VEGF, but they also produce large amounts of CCL-3 which attracts macrophages, and probably mast cells. Mast cells support lymphoplasmacytic cells and may also produce VEGF. VWF is stored in the Weibel-Palade bodies together with several other mediators, including angiopoietin-2. The endothelial cells (ECs) release the content of Weibel-Palade bodies in response to stimuli, such as VEGF and VWF and other molecules (such as angiopoitein-2) are released simultaneously. VWF may also have an inhibitory activity in the constitutive VEGFR-2-dependent pathway(s), which promote EC migration.

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a distinct B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder that is characterized by infiltration of the bone marrow with lymphoplasmacytic cells and by an IgM monoclonal gammopathy. Both type I and type II cryoglobulins may be associated with WM. About 10-20% of patients with the diagnosis of WM have cryoglobulins, but clinically evident type I cryoglobulinemia occurs in less than 5% of WM patients. In type I cryoglobulinemia, the signs and symptoms are mainly related to the physicochemical properties of the monoclonal IgM and immune phenomena do not develop. In type II cryoglobulinemia, the symptoms are related to the immune phenomena, with vasculitis of small and medium-sized vessels as the most common finding. However, the clinical features of types I and II cryoglobulinemia may overlap. Plasmapheresis/plasma exchange is very effective for the immediate reduction of the amount of circulating type I cryoglobulins and immediate anti-lymphoma treatment with highly effective regimens should be considered concomitantly or following plasma exchange. In WM patients with type II cryoglobulinemia, plasmapheresis may not be as effective and immunosuppressive therapies should be considered, including rituximab. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Italia. All rights reserved.

Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide that is widely used as stabilizer and thickener with many industrial applications in food industry. Our aim was to estimate the ability of Xanthomonas campestris ATCC 13951 for the production of xanthan gum by using whey as a growth medium, a by-product of dairy industry. X. campestris ATCC 13951 has been studied in batch cultures using a complex medium for the determination of the optimal concentration of glucose, galactose and lactose. In addition, whey was used under various treatment procedures (de-proteinated, partially hydrolyzed by β-lactamase and partially hydrolyzed and de-proteinated) as culture medium, to study the production of xanthan in a 2 l bioreactor with constant stirring and aeration. A production of 28 g/l was obtained when partially hydrolysed β-lactamase was used, which proved to be one of the highest xanthan gum production reported so far. At the same time, an effort has been made for the control and selection of the most appropriate procedure for the preservation of the strain and its use as inoculant in batch cultures, without loss of its viability and its capability of xanthan gum production. The pre-treatment of whey (whey permeate medium hydrolyzed, WPH) was very important for the production of xanthan by the strain X. campestris ATCC 13951 during batch culture conditions in a 2 l bioreactor. Preservation methods such as lyophilization, cryopreservation at various glycerol solution and temperatures have been examined. The results indicated that the best preservation method for the producing strain X. campestris ATCC 13951 was the lyophilization. Taking into account that whey permeate is a low cost by-product of the dairy industry, the production of xanthan achieved under the studied conditions was considered very promising for industrial application.

Context. Although numerous archival XMM-Newton observations existed towards the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) before 2009, only a fraction of the whole galaxy had been covered. Aims: Between May 2009 and March 2010, we carried out an XMM-Newton survey of the SMC, to ensure a complete coverage of both its bar and wing. Thirty-three observations of 30 different fields with a total exposure of about one Ms filled the previously missing parts. Methods: We systematically processed all available SMC data from the European Photon Imaging Camera. After rejecting observations with very high background, we included 53 archival and the 33 survey observations. We produced images in five different energy bands. We applied astrometric boresight corrections using secure identifications of X-ray sources and combined all the images to produce a mosaic covering the main body of the SMC. Results: We present an overview of the XMM-Newton observations, describe their analysis, and summarise our first results, which will be presented in detail in follow-up papers. Here, we mainly focus on extended X-ray sources, such as supernova remnants (SNRs) and clusters of galaxies, that are seen in our X-ray images. Conclusions: Our XMM-Newton survey represents the deepest complete survey of the SMC in the 0.15 - 12.0 keV X-ray band. We propose three new SNRs that have low surface brightnesses of a few 10-14 erg cm-2 s-1 arcmin-2 and large extents. In addition, several known remnants appear larger than previously measured at either X-rays or other wavelengths extending the size distribution of SMC SNRs to larger values. Based on observations with XMM-Newton, an ESA Science Mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member states and the USA (NASA).Table 1 is available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.orgFITS images are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/545/A128

In the course of the XMM-Newton survey of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), two new bright X-ray sources were discovered exhibiting the spectral characteristics of high-mass X-ray binaries - but revealing only weak evidence for pulsations in just one of the objects (at 153 s in XMMU J010743.1-715953). The accurate X-ray source locations permit the identification of these X-ray sources with Be stars, thereby strongly suggesting that these systems are new Be/X-ray binaries. From blue spectra the proposed classification for XMMU J010633.1-731543 is B0.5-1Ve and for XMMU J010743.1-715953 it is B2IV-Ve.

We review recent results of the first dedicated monitoring programme for supersoft X-ray source (SSS) states of classical novae (CNe) in the central region of the Andromeda galaxy ({M 31}), performed in high-cadence campaigns with {XMM-Newton } and Chandra. After the first three years we had detected 21 novae in X-rays (17 new), thereby discovering peculiar objects and increasing the number of known {M 31} novae with SSS state to 60. This is the largest sample known in any galaxy and we used it to carry out the first statistical analysis of novae in X-rays. We found several correlations between optical and SSS parameters, and carried out a simulation on the completeness of our monitoring as well as the first nova population study in X-rays. This shows that X-ray surveys of CNe populations are a powerful tool to address the open questions connected to these objects.

Το παρόν κείμενο αποτελέι άρθρο του Καθηγητή Ιωάννη Μάζη, σε συνεργασία με τον Κυριάκο Πατραγά, για τις προϋποθέσεις κηρύξεως τοῦ γκεχάντ και την ἀπόλυτη ἐξουσία τοῦ χαλίφη, σύμφωνα με το ισλαμικό δίκαιο.

Στόχος της μελέτης αυτής είναι, υπό το πρίσμα της σύγχρονης θεωρίας και έρευνας της αναπτυξιακής ψυχολογίας και της αναπτυξιακής ψυχοπαθολογίας, να εντοπίσει και να αναδείξει τα σημεία επαφής ανάμεσα στην αναδυόμενη ενηλικίωση και στις γνωσιακές συμπεριφοριστικές προσεγγίσεις, ή, με άλλα λόγια, να δείξει ότι η γνωσιακή συμπεριφοριστική θεραπεία είναι μια αναπτυξιακά κατάλληλη μέθοδος θεραπείας για την αναδυόμενη ενηλικίωση. Υπενθυμίζεται ότι κύριες αρχές της γνωσιακής συμπεριφοριστικής θεραπείας γενικά είναι ότι (α) η γνωστική δραστηριότητα επηρεάζει τη συμπεριφορά, (β) η γνωστική δραστηριότητα είναι δυνατόν να τροποποιηθεί και (γ) η επιθυμητή αλλαγή στη συμπεριφορά είναι δυνατόν να επιτευχθεί μέσω της γνωστικής αλλαγής (Dobson & Dozois, 2000). Έχει υποστηριχθεί (Reinecke, Dattilio, & Freeman, 1996) ότι η γνωσιακή συμπεριφοριστική θεραπεία ενέχει τέτοια δυναμική, που της επιτρέπει να προσαρμόζεται στις αναπτυξιακές απαιτήσεις κάθε περιόδου, ωστόσο δεν έχουν γίνει ακόμη αρκετές προσπάθειες προς αυτή την κατεύθυνση. Η μελέτη διαρθρώνεται σε δύο μέρη. Στο πρώτο μέρος, περιγράφονται η φύση και τα αναπτυξιακά χαρακτηριστικά της αναδυόμενης ενηλικίωσης και παρουσιάζονται, ενδεικτικά, ερευνητικά ευρήματα από πρόσφατη σχετική έρευνα στην Ελλάδα. Επίσης, γίνονται αναφορές στην ψυχική υγεία γενικά κατά την περίοδο αυτή και στην κατάθλιψη, ως παράδειγμα, ειδικά (με μια μικρή παρένθεση για το ρόλο της τριτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης στην περίοδο αυτή). Στο δεύτερο μέρος, αναλύονται με μεγαλύτερη αμεσότητα οι λόγοι για τους οποίους η γνωσιακή συμπεριφοριστική θεραπεία είναι σύστοιχη με τις αναπτυξιακές ανάγκες και τις κοινωνικές απαιτήσεις της αναδυόμενης ενηλικίωσης.

Πρόκειται για την έκδοση των πρακτικών του διεθνούς συνεδρίου για τον Friedrich Schiller, το οποίο έλαβε χώρα στην Αθήνα, στις 5 και 6 Νοεμβρίου 2010. Την έκδοση των πρακτικών επιμελήθηκαν η Κατερίνα Μητραλέξη και η Αναστασία Αντωνοπούλου, οι οποίες υπογράφουν και την εκτενή εισαγωγή του τόμου των πρακτικών. Το συνέδριο αυτό διοργανώθηκε από το Τμήμα Γερμανικής Γλώσσας και Φιλολογίας του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών, με αφορμή τους εορτασμούς ανά την Ευρώπη της επετείου των 250 χρόνων από τη γέννηση του ποιητή, δραματουργού και στοχαστή Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805), αλλά κυρίως προκειμένου να προωθήσει  την έρευνα του έργου του, μετά τη διαπίστωση ότι, παρά την αξιοσημείωτη απήχηση που ανέκαθεν απολάμβανε το έργο του Σίλλερ στην Ελλάδα, από τις αρχές του 19ου αιώνα έως πρόσφατα, παρατηρείται έλλειψη εξειδικευμένων μελετών πάνω σε σημαντικούς τομείς του πολύπλευρου έργου του. Η επιστημονική-οργανωτική επιτροπή του συνεδρίου επεδίωξε ως εκ τούτου την ανάδειξη πτυχών του δραματικού, λυρικού, ιστορικού και φιλοσοφικού/αισθητικού του έργου. Έτσι εξετάζεται το πολυδιάστατο έργο του Σίλλερ στο πλαίσιο των διαφόρων συστημάτων σκέψης του 18ου αιώνα, στο πλαίσιο του γερμανικού κλασικισμού, αλλά και των απαρχών του γερμανικού ρομαντισμού, ενώ δίδεται έμφαση στη σχέση του Σίλλερ με την ελληνική αρχαιότητα και την αρχαία ελληνική τέχνη. Παρουσιάζεται επίσης η πρόσληψή του στην Ελλάδα μέσω των μεταφράσεων και των θεατρικών παραστάσεων. Ο τόμος των πρακτικών περιλαμβάνει τις εισηγήσεις δεκατεσσάρων ερευνητών. Η Αναστασία Αντωνοπούλου διερευνά την πρόσληψη της αρχαίας ελληνικής τέχνης από τον Φρήντριχ Σίλλερ και τη συσχετίζει με την ευρύτερη αντίληψη για την αρχαιότητα κατά τον 18ο αιώνα. Ο Γιώργος Ξηροπαΐδης επιχειρεί να δείξει ότι στα αισθητικά κείμενα του Σίλλερ, ενός από τους πιο οξυδερκείς και λεπταίσθητους αναγνώστες του Καντ, συναντάμε τα πρώτα ίχνη μιας πρόσληψης της καντιανής θεωρίας για το υψηλό, η οποία παρακάμπτει σχεδόν πλήρως τον κριτικό χαρακτήρα της. Η Κατερίνα Μητραλέξη διερευνά τη δραστηριότητα του Σίλλερ ως ιστορικού, αφού ο Σίλλερ δεν υπήρξε μόνον ποιητής, δραματουργός και φιλόσοφος, αλλά και αναγνωρισμένος στον καιρό του ιστορικός, διάσταση του έργου του, προς την οποία η έρευνα μόλις τα τελευταία χρόνια έστρεψε το ενδιαφέρον της. Ο Ρολφ-Πέτερ Γιαντς εξετάζει τα κείμενα περί ερασιτεχνισμού, που συνέταξαν οι Σίλλερ και Γκαίτε περί τα τέλη του 18ου αιώνα, και τα θεωρεί ως μια φιλόδοξη προσπάθεια να διεκδικήσουν οι δύο συγγραφείς, στο όνομα των βασικών αρχών του κλασικισμού, την ερμηνευτική κυριαρχία επί των τεχνών της εποχής τους, η κατάσταση των οποίων τους φαινόταν αξιοθρήνητη. Ο Στέφαν Λίντινγκερ εξετάζει αναλυτικά, με βάση κυρίως παραδείγματα από την λυρική ποίηση, τη σημασία της έννοιας της αρμονίας στον Σίλλερ, και τη συσχετίζει με την γενικότερη έννοια του όρου. Ο Γιόαχιμ Τάιζεν θέτει στην εισήγησή του το ερώτημα: Ποιος δικαιούται εντέλει να διαβάζει Σίλλερ; Ποιος είναι – κατά την άποψη του Σίλλερ – ο ιδανικός αναγνώστης για τον οποίο αξίζει να γράφει κανείς; Ο Μαρκ Μιχάλσκι εξετάζει την πρόσληψη του Σίλλερ στο πλαίσιο εκείνων των προσπαθειών ιστοριογράφησης της γερμανικής φιλοσοφίας, οι οποίες καταπιάνονται με τη γερμανική φιλοσοφία στο σύνολό της, προσπαθώντας να την κατανοήσουν στη ροή των διαφόρων εποχών της και ως προς τον ειδικό εθνικό της χαρακτήρα. Ο Μίχαελ Βάις επιχειρεί στο άρθρο του να αναδείξει τη λογική μιας αστικής νοοτροπίας με αφορμή το θεατρικό έργο του Φρήντριχ Σίλλερ Έρωτας και ραδιουργία (1784), αφού το έργο πραγματεύεται και αντιπαραθέτει δύο διαφορετικά πρότυπα ζωής: Το εγκώμιο μιας ζωής στηριγμένης στη φρόνηση αντιτίθεται προς ένα πρότυπο ζωής στηριγμένης στην ευαισθησία. Ο Γιάννης Πάγκαλος εξετάζει το δραματικό έργο του Σίλλερ μέσα από το πρίσμα της αλληλεπίδρασης της λογοτεχνίας με τον κινηματογράφο, εστιάζοντας σε τέσσερεις κινηματογραφικές μεταφορές του αστικού δράματος Έρωτας και ραδιουργία, των ετών 1922, 1959, 2005 και 2009. Η Ευαγγελία Τσιαβού ασχολείται στην ανακοίνωσή της με το υψηλό στο μεταίχμιο μεταξύ αισθητικής, ιδεαλισμού, μεταφυσικής και ψυχανάλυσης. Η Κατερίνα Καρακάση παρουσιάζει τον Σίλλερ ως πρόδρομο του γερμανικού ρομαντισμού, τοποθετώντας στο επίκεντρο της εισήγησής της το ημιτελές μυθιστόρημά του Φαντάσματα, το οποίο δημοσιεύτηκε σε συνέχειες μεταξύ των ετών 1787 και 1789 στο περιοδικό «Thalia». Στο μυθιστόρημα αυτό ο Σίλλερ πραγματεύεται μεν σημαντικά ζητήματα που απασχολούν τον Διαφωτισμό, ταυτόχρονα όμως προλειαίνει το έδαφος για την έλευση του ρομαντισμού. Η  Δήμητρα Νικολαΐδου-Μπαλτά αναλύει στην εισήγησή της και συγκρίνει μεταξύ τους τα θεατρικά έργα Έρωτας και ραδιουργία του Σίλλερ και Ο Βασιλικός του Αντωνίου Μάτεσι, που γράφτηκε μεταξύ 1829-30. Με την ανάλυση και τη σύγκριση επιδιώκεται η διερεύνηση των συγκλίσεων και των αποκλίσεων ανάμεσα στα δύο έργα και μέσω αυτής η αποσαφήνιση του αν και κατά πόσο ο Μάτεσις έχει επηρεαστεί από το έργο του Σίλλερ. Η Αναστασία Δασκαρόλη διερευνά την πρόσληψη του ιστορικού δράματος Μαρία Στούαρτ (1800), που αποδεικνύεται ένα από τα πλέον προσφιλή έργα του Σίλλερ στην Ελλάδα. Εξετάζονται επιλεγμένες μεταφράσεις του έργου. Η Αγλαΐα Μπλιούμη, βασιζόμενη σε σύγχρονες θεωρίες της διδακτικής, παρουσιάζει πως θα μπορούσε να ενσωματωθεί η διδασκαλία κειμένων του Σίλλερ στη διδασκαλία της γερμανικής ως ξένης γλώσσας.  

Εἰς τὸ παρὸν κείμενον ἐπιχειρεῖται ἡ συστημικὴ ἀνάλυσις τοῦ γεωσυμπλόκου τῆς Εὐρυτέρας Μέσης Ἀνατολῆς μὲ γνώμονα τὸν γεωπολιτικὸν παράγοντα τοῦ ἰσλαμιστικοῦ κινήματος, σηιτικοῦ τε καὶ σονιτικοῦ. Ἡ ὑποστηριζομένη ἔποψις εἶναι ὅτι ἡ ἀσκουμένη γεωστρατηγικὴ ἀπὸ τοὺς ἀγγλοσαξωνικοὺς δρῶντες τοῦ ὑπερσυστήματος τοῦ συγκεκριμένου γεωσυμπλόκου ἀποσκοπεῖ τὴν στρατηγικὴν ἀναχαιτίσεως (containment) τοῦ ρωσσικοῦ καὶ κινεζικοῦ δρῶντος ἀπὸ τὸ μεσογειακὸν ὑποσύστημα μὲ συμμάχους τὸ Κάταρ, τὴν Τουρκία, τὴν Σαουδικὴν Ἀραβία καὶ ἔνια ἐκ τῶν Ἡνωμένων Ἀραβικῶν Ἐμιράτων (ὅπως π.χ. τὸ Ἄμπου Ντάμπυ). Παραλλήλως, μὲ τὴν ἄνοδον εἰς τὴν ἐξουσίαν τῶν σονιτικῶν ἰσλαμιστικῶν κυβερνήσεων, ἐπιχειρεῖται ἡ «ἐκ τοῦ μακρόθεν» ἄσκησις ἀπειλῆς ἐναντίον τῶν δύο προαναφερθέντων δρώντων πρὸς αὔξησιν τοῦ διαπραγματευτικοῦ ὀφέλους τοῦ διπόλου τῆς Εἰδικῆς Σχέσεως Λονδίνου-Οὐάσιγκτων ἐνώπιον τῆς προκαλουμένης ἐπαναχαράξεως τῶν συνόρων τοῦ παλαιοῦ ἐθνικο-κρατικοῦ καθε στῶτος. Ἐπίσης, ἀποκαλύπτεται ἡ διάθεσις τῶν ΗΠΑ νὰ δημιουργήσουν ἰσχυρὰ καὶ μόνιμα ἐδαφικὰ στρατηγικὰ ἐρείσματα εἰς τὴν περιοχὴν τῆς Μέσης Ἀνατολῆς, τὰ ὁποῖα θὰ διασφαλίσουν τὸ ἐπιθυμητὸν διὰ τὴν ἀσφάλειάν του χερσαῖο στρατηγικὸ βάθος γιὰ τὸ Ἰσραὴλ ἀλλὰ καὶ γιὰ τὶς ΗΠΑ. Ἀναφερόμεθα εἰς τὸ βαθμηδὸν ἀναπτυσσόμενο στρατηγικὸ σχέδιο δημιουργίας ἐλευθέρου Κουρδιστάν, τὸ ὁποῖον δύναται νὰ ἐξυπηρετήσει τὰ συμφέροντα ἀσφαλείας, ὅπως καὶ τὰ ἐνεργειακὰ συμφέροντα τῶν ἀγγλοσαξωνικῶν καὶ εὐρωπαϊκῶν consortia πετρελαίων ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν προβολὴν ἰσχύος τῆς Οὐάσιγκτων εἰς τὸ Ἐγγὺς Ρωσσικὸν Ἐξωτερικὸν (near abroad), ὅπως καὶ στὸ Σὶν Κιὰνγκ (Β/∆ Κίνα) ἐνισχύοντας καὶ πάλιν τὴν διαφορὰν ἰσχύος πρὸς ὄφελος τῶν ΗΠΑ στὸ κέντρον τοῦ Ἀναχωματικοῦ ∆ακτυλίου (Rimland).

The aim of this research was to examine the associations between bullying/victimization and loneliness in the peer group and in the family. Participants were 202 fifth-grade students from five public schools located in the south section of Athens. They completed the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire-Revised Edition (Olweus, 2006) and the Relational Provisions Loneliness Questionnaire (RPLQ - Hayden, 1989; Terrell-Deutsch, 1999), which showed adequate internal consistency. Almost one out of five children participated in bullying situations. More boys than girls were bullies and bullies/victims. Linear regression analyses indicated that the tendency to be bullied and the tendency to bully other students predicted loneliness in the peer group better than loneliness in the family. The type of victimization with the strongest predictive value for loneliness was social exclusion. Loneliness in the peer group was associated with the victim role, whereas loneliness in the family with the bully role. Results are discussed in relation to the social nature of bullying/victimization and to the subjective distress of involved children.

Ἐντρυφῶντας στὴν ἐξέταση τῆς δομῆς τῆς προϊσλαμιαίας ἀραβικῆς κοινωνίας καὶ εἰδικώτερα στὰ δικαϊκά της θέσμια, μὲ ὅσες διαφορὲς καὶ ἂν εἶχαν μεταξὺ βορρᾶ καὶ νότου, διαπιστώνομε ὅτι κοινὸς παρονομαστής των ὑπῆρξε ἡ πλήρης ὑποβάθμισις, μέχρις ὁριστικοῦ ἀφανισμοῦ τοῦ ρόλου τῆς γυναικὸς ὡς αὐτοτελοῦς ὑπάρξεως ἐντὸς αὐτῶν.Το παρόν άρθρο του Καθηγητή Ιωάννη Μάζη, αναφέρεται στη θέση των φύλων στο Ισλάμ.

Οι αρχές της οικονομικής βιωσιμότητας και της ανταποδοτικότητας ως στοιχεία της έννοιας του θεσμού της κοινωνικής ασφάλισης. Οι αρχές αυτές σε συνδυασμό με τις ήδη καθιερωθείσες αρχές της κοινωνικής αλληλεγγύης και της εκπόνησης αναλογιστικών μελετών, διασφαλίζουν την οικονομική λειτουργία του θεσμού της κοινωνικής ασφάλισης και την εκπλήρωση του κοινωνικού του σκοπού.

Το έναυσμα για την παρούσα μελέτη δόθηκε πριν από αρκετά χρόνια, το 1997, με αφορμή την επέτειο για τη συμπλήρωση των 200 χρόνων από τη γέννηση του γερμανού ποιητή Χάινριχ Χάινε (Heinrich Heine, 1797-1856). Στο πλαίσιο των συνεδρίων και εκδηλώσεων κατά τη διάρκεια του επετειακού αυτού έτους το Ινστιτούτο «Heinrich Heine» της γενέθλιας πόλης Düsseldorf διοργάνωσε και παρουσίασε και στην Ελλάδα, όπως και αλλού στην Ευρώπη, μεγάλη έκθεση ντοκουμέντων για τον ποιητή, με στόχο να αναδείξει τη διεθνή εμβέλεια του έργου του,  τη σημασία του όχι μόνο για τη γερμανική, αλλά και για την ευρωπαϊκή και παγκόσμια λογοτεχνία, αφού η απήχησή του υπήρξε επί μακρόν κατά πολύ μεγαλύτερη εκτός παρά εντός των γερμανικών συνόρων. Είχε τότε ζητηθεί από την γράφουσα να διεξαγάγει βιβλιογραφική έρευνα για την πρόσληψη του έργου του στην Ελλάδα, με στόχο να προστεθεί η σχετική διάσταση στην εν λόγω έκθεση, η οποία στην Αθήνα διοργανώθηκε από το Τμήμα Γερμανικής Γλώσσας και Φιλολογίας του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών και το Ινστιτούτο Goethe Αθηνών, με την επιμέλεια της ερευνήτριας του έργου τού ποιητή κυρίας Sabine Bierwirth και της γράφουσας. Η έκθεση έλαβε χώρα τον Οκτώβριο του 1997 (8 έως 27 Οκτωβρίου, Κτήριο «Κωστή Παλαμά») και η ανταπόκριση του αθηναϊκού κοινού υπήρξε μεγάλη, κάτι που έστρεψε εμφατικά την προσοχή στο γεγονός ότι ο Χάινε είχε, και κατά τα φαινόμενα εξακολουθούσε να έχει, μεγάλη απήχηση και στην Ελλάδα. Η τότε διεξαχθείσα βιβλιογραφική έρευνα ανέδειξε και τεκμηρίωσε την ύπαρξη πληθώρας μεταφράσεων από το πολύπλευρο έργο του, από τα μέσα του 19ου αιώνα και εντεύθεν, και παρείχε ικανές ενδείξεις για το γεγονός ότι το έργο του Χάινε υπήρξε σημαντικό και καθοριστικό για πολλούς Έλληνες ποιητές κατά τις αποφασιστικές για τη διαμόρφωση της νεοελληνικής λογοτεχνίας και ποίησης δεκαετίες του τέλους του 19ου και των αρχών του 20ού αιώνα. Σχετικές υποθέσεις έχουν διατυπώσει παλαιότερα ο Κ. Θ. Δημαράς (1972) και ο Γιώργος Βελουδής (1983), πρόσφατα δε η Άννα Χρυσογέλου-Κατσή (2005), και η Ιωάννα Ναούμ (2007), όμως δεν έχει μέχρι στιγμής υπάρξει εκτενής ερευνητική μελέτη που να θέτει και να επιχειρεί συστηματικά την απάντηση στα ποικίλα ερωτήματα σχετικά με την πρόσληψη του έργου του Χάινε στην Ελλάδα και την επίδραση που αυτό ενδεχομένως άσκησε στους Έλληνες μεταφραστές, συγγραφείς και ποιητές, παλαιότερους και νεότερους. Διότι η συμπληρωματική βιβλιογραφική έρευνα που διεξήχθη για τις ανάγκες της παρούσας μελέτης κατέδειξε ότι τα τελευταία χρόνια το ενδιαφέρον για τον Χάινε δεν έχει μόνο σε ερευνητικό επίπεδο αναζωπυρωθεί. Καταγράφηκαν αρκετές νέες εκδόσεις και ανθολογήσεις μεταφράσεων από το λυρικό, κυρίως, έργο του, αλλά και πρόσφατες μελοποιήσεις, από τον συνθέτη Κώστα Τσουμενή (2003 και 2004), όπως και νέες μεταφράσεις, από τον Κώστα Κουτσουρέλη (2002), τον Σπύρο Καρυδάκη (2004) και την Μαρία Υψηλάντη (2007), μεταφράσεις που διακρίνονται για την ποιότητά τους.  Οι επιλογές των μεταφραστών δεν περιορίζονται στις πρώιμες ποιητικές συλλογές του Χάινε, όπως συνέβαινε παλαιότερα, αλλά προέρχονται από το σύνολο έργο, ενώ είναι προφανές ότι σε πολλές περιπτώσεις λειτουργούν και ως ποιητική έμπνευση. Τα ερωτήματα λοιπόν που ανακύπτουν και αξίζουν διερεύνησης αφορούν τις συγκεκριμένες επιλογές των μεταφραστών από το πεζό και από το λυρικό έργο διαχρονικά, τον τρόπο της εκάστοτε μετάφρασης, όπως και την εκάστοτε κριτική θεώρηση και αποτίμηση του Χάινε ως συγγραφέα. Αφορούν βεβαίως και τις μεταφραστικές απουσίες, τα κενά που εμφανίζονται στην πρόσληψη του λογοτεχνικού και δοκιμιακού έργου και της κοσμοθεωρίας του Χάινε. Τι λοιπόν από το έργο του Χάινε μεταφράσθηκε και συζητήθηκε περισσότερο στην Ελλάδα, και υπό ποιο εν τέλει πρίσμα; Μπορεί κανείς να διακρίνει και να αναδείξει συγκεκριμένες τάσεις, ενδεικτικές ίσως για την εκάστοτε χρονική περίοδο της νεοελληνικής λογοτεχνίας, φιλολογικής κριτικής  και σκέψης γενικότερα; Όπως προκύπτει από την παρούσα μελέτη μπορούμε να διακρίνουμε τουλάχιστον τρεις κορυφώσεις της πρόσληψης του συγγραφέα: στα τέλη του 19ου αιώνα (γενιά του 1880), κατά τις δεκαετίες του 1960 και του 1970, και κατά τη διάρκεια της τελευταίας εικοσαετίας. Είναι σαφές ότι ο Χάινε ενδιέφερε τους Έλληνες κυρίως ως λυρικός ποιητής, αφού η μεγάλη πλειοψηφία των μεταφράσεων προέρχονται από το λυρικό του έργο, και μάλιστα από την πρώιμη ποίηση, η οποία όχι μόνο μεταφράσθηκε αλλά και τραγουδήθηκε πολύ διεθνώς, ίσως όσο κανενός άλλου εκ των γερμανών ποιητών. Για τα και στην Ελλάδα δημοφιλέστατα ποιήματα της ποιητικής συλλογής το Βιβλίο των τραγουδιών (Buch der Lieder, 1827) ο Χάινε άντλησε μεταξύ άλλων λυρικούς τρόπους έκφρασης από τη γερμανική δημώδη ποίηση, την τόσο διαδεδομένη την εποχή του γερμανικού ρομαντισμού – στην οποία εποχή πρέπει βέβαια να αναζητηθούν οι καταβολές της ποίησής του. Μέσω των πολλών επανεκδόσεων, εγκεκριμένων και μη, αλλά και μέσω των δημοφιλών μελοποιήσεων το έργο του διείσδυσε σε πολύ μεγάλο βαθμό στην ευρωπαϊκή λογοτεχνική και κοινωνική ζωή. Ειδικά στην Ελλάδα του δευτέρου ημίσεως του 19ου αιώνα η συνάφεια προς την δημώδη λογοτεχνική έκφραση στάθηκε αποφασιστικός παράγων για τη δημοφιλία του, μέχρι του σημείου της έντονα οικειοποιητικής μεταφραστικής απόδοσης σε ελληνικό δημώδες ύφος. Τα ποιήματα του Χάινε χαιρετίσθηκαν τότε ως καινούρια εμπειρία, στο χώρο της φόρμας, αλλά και στο χώρο της θεματικής, της ποιητικής εικόνας και της έκφρασης, και λειτούργησαν απελευθερωτικά στους νέους Έλληνες ποιητές κατά τη διαδικασία απαγκίστρωσης από τη νοσηρή ατμόσφαιρα του αθηναϊκού ρομαντισμού και υπέρβασής του, όπως διαπιστώνουν μεταξύ άλλων ο Κωστής Παλαμάς και οι ποιητές της γενιάς του 1880. Μετά τον Δεύτερο Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο, τις δεκαετίες του 1960 και του 1970, συζητείται κατά προτεραιότητα ο Χάινε ως πολιτικός συγγραφέας και έρχονται στο προσκήνιο κείμενα, που δεν είχαν ως τότε τύχει προσοχής. Το δε πρόσφατο ενδιαφέρον για τον ποιητή οδήγησε μεταξύ άλλων στη μετάφραση μέρους του θεωρητικού του έργου (Η ρομαντική σχολή, 1993, μετάφραση Ν. Μ. Σκουτερόπουλος), ενώ, όσον αφορά την ποίηση, επανέρχεται η ενασχόληση με τον Χάινε ως λυρικό συγγραφέα, ικανό να εμπνεύσει και να δώσει ώθηση σε ποιητική δημιουργία. Εν τούτοις παραμένει αξιοσημείωτο το γεγονός ότι ο Χάινε δεν προσελήφθη στην Ελλάδα σχεδόν καθόλου ως «Έλληνας», όπως ο ίδιος χαρακτήριζε τον εαυτό του, κατ’ αντιδιαστολή προς έναν «Ναζαρηνό». Ο Χάινε κάνει συστηματικά λόγο για Έλληνες και Ναζαρηνούς κυρίως στο κείμενό του με τίτλο Λούντβιχ Μπέρνε. Στη μνήμη του [Ludwig Börne. Eine Denkschrift, 1840], γραμμένο μετά το θάνατο, το 1837, του συμπατριώτη, ομοϊδεάτη του στην προσπάθεια εκδημοκρατισμού της Γερμανίας, συνοδοιπόρου του στην παρισινή εξορία από το 1831 και μετά, και αργότερα αντιπάλου του Μπέρνε. Οι χαρακτηρισμοί Έλληνας και Ναζαρηνός –τον οποίο ο Χάινε προσδίδει στον Μπέρνε, κρατώντας για τον εαυτό του τον χαρακτηρισμό Έλληνας – δεν παραπέμπουν σε εθνικές ταυτότητες αλλά σε ιδεατά ερμηνευτικά σχήματα, σε διαμετρικά αντίθετες κοσμοθεάσεις, όπου Έλληνας χαρακτηρίζεται εκείνος που μετέχει της ελευθερίας, της αισθησιακότητας και της χαράς της επίγειας ζωής (Sensualismus) και Ναζαρηνός εκείνος που δίνει προτεραιότητα στα δόγματα, στον ασκητισμό και στην πνευματική πλευρά του ανθρώπου (Spiritualismus). Πρόκειται εντέλει για τοποθέτηση πάνω στο ρόλο, τις δυνατότητες και τις προτάσεις του διανοούμενου και ποιητή σε μια νέα, υπό διαμόρφωση, ελεύθερη και προοδευτική κοινωνία. Για την περιγραφή του ρόλου αυτού, όπως και του πλαισίου στο οποίο αυτός ο διανοούμενος, ποιητής και πολιτικά συνειδητοποιημένος παρατηρητής καλείται να λειτουργήσει, ο Χάινε ανέπτυξε μια προσωπική, «ελληνική», όπως την ονομάζει ο ίδιος, οπτική και ορολογία. Προσφεύγει σε μορφές και αφηγήσεις της αρχαίας ελληνικής μυθολογίας και γραμματείας, για τις οποίες επινοεί ένα νέο πλαίσιο ερμηνείας και αφήγησης. Ελληνικά και μυθολογικά θέματα διατρέχουν όλο το έργο του, από τις απαρχές ως τα ύστερα ποιήματά του, και απηχούν τον τρόπο που τοποθετείται ο ποιητής απέναντι στα υπάρχοντα παραδείγματα δημιουργώντας τη βάση για μια νέα, προσωπική, μυθολογία. Πρόκειται για διάσταση του έργου του, της οποίας οι πτυχές δεν έχουν μόνο για τον Έλληνα αναγνώστη ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον και η οποία χρήζει περαιτέρω έρευνας. Ο Χάινε δεν υπήρξε φιλέλληνας με την κλασική έννοια του όρου, ανατρέχει όμως συστηματικά στο ελληνικό παράδειγμα. Στο πλαίσιο της παρούσας μελέτης παρουσιάζεται συνοπτικά η προσωπική μυθολογία του Χάινε και ανιχνεύονται τα σημεία και ο τρόπος πρόσληψής της που όμως δεν συγκροτούν μια ενιαία αντίληψη για το θέμα στην Ελλάδα. Είναι γεγονός πως, πέρα από τα διάφορα μεμονωμένα ποιήματα που κυκλοφορούσαν σε μεταφράσεις πολλών και διαφόρων μεταφραστών, η πρώτη εκτενής μετάφραση από το πεζό έργο του είναι εκείνη του δοκιμίου των Εξόριστων θεών από τον Άγγελο Βλάχο το 1864, στο περιοδικό Χρυσαλλίς, κείμενο που πραγματεύεται την επιβίωση των ιδιοτήτων των αρχαίων θεών στον σύγχρονο κόσμο. Είναι αρκετά πιθανό να επελέγη το συγκεκριμένο πεζό κείμενο ακριβώς λόγω του «ελληνικού» θέματός του, και πιθανόν με διάθεση αντισυμβατική εκ μέρους του Βλάχου. Το κριτήριο του «ελληνικού» θέματος δεν φαίνεται πάντως διόλου να ισχύει για τις διάσπαρτες επιλογές των μεταφραστών από το λυρικό έργο, δεν στοιχειοθετείται ένα συστηματικό ενδιαφέρον του ελληνικού αναγνωστικού κοινού ή των λογοτεχνών για το θέμα, τουλάχιστον στο χώρο της ποίησης. Τα πράγματα είναι λίγο διαφορετικά όσον αφορά τα λοιπά πεζά κείμενα, τις επιλογές από τις Ταξιδιωτικές εικόνες και τις νουβέλες Φλωρεντινές νύχτες. Εκεί διαφαίνεται μια κάποια συνοχή ανάμεσα στις διάφορες επιλογές αφού προτιμώνται κείμενα που εμπεριέχουν αναφορές στην «ελληνική» θεώρηση των πραγμάτων εκ μέρους του Χάινε. Η παρούσα μελέτη έθεσε λοιπόν ως στόχο την παρουσίαση και κριτική αποτίμηση της παρουσίας του συγγραφέα και ποιητή Χάινριχ Χάινε στα ελληνικά γράμματα, οριοθετήθηκε δε ως εξής: τέθηκε καταρχάς το ερώτημα σχετικά με το πώς αντιμετωπίσθηκε ο Χάινε από την ελληνική φιλολογική κριτική. Παρουσιάζονται λοιπόν στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο τα κριτικά σημειώματα ή οι εκτενέστερες μελέτες που τον αφορούν, αρχής γενομένης από την μελέτη του Ειρηναίου Ασώπιου στο περιοδικό Χρυσαλλίς το 1863 και φθάνοντας στις πλέον πρόσφατες μελέτες για τον συγγραφέα στις αρχές του 21ου αιώνα. Το μεγάλο χρονικό εύρος που καλύπτουν αυτές οι κριτικές  τοποθετήσεις επιτρέπει την παρακολούθηση σε αδρές γραμμές των γενικών τάσεων της κριτικής φιλολογικής σκέψης στην Ελλάδα από τον 19ο αιώνα και εντεύθεν και της σταδιακής διαμόρφωσης της άποψης για έναν συγγραφέα, που σύμφωνα με όλες τις ενδείξεις επέδρασε καθοριστικά στο νεοελληνικό λογοτεχνικό γίγνεσθαι. Στο δεύτερο και τρίτο κεφάλαιο τίθεται και απαντάται το ερώτημα σχετικά με τις επιλογές των μεταφραστών και των λογοτεχνών από το σύνολο έργο του Χάινε, όπου το δεύτερο κεφάλαιο εστιάζει στις επιλογές από το αφηγηματικό, και το τρίτο στις επιλογές από το λυρικό έργο, ενώ συνάμα εντοπίζονται οι χαρακτηριστικότερες μεταφραστικές απουσίες. Η παρουσίαση είναι ενδεικτική και όχι εξαντλητική. Ελέγχονται και αποτιμώνται παραδείγματα μεταφράσεων και συγγραφέων στο πλαίσιο μιας προσπάθειας ανάδειξης  της θέσης των συγκεκριμένων επιλογών σε σχέση με το συνολικό έργο του Χάινε αφενός και των πτυχών της συνδιαλλαγής του πρωτότυπου έργου με τις μεταφραστικές αποδόσεις και τις κατά περίπτωση νέες συγγραφικές προσπάθειες αφετέρου

The purpose of the present study was to examine the attitude toward aloneness and the aftereffect of aloneness during middle and late childhood. Participants were 833 fourth- and sixth-grade students from primary schools in Athens, Greece. They completed two questions from the London Sentence Completion Test (Coleman, 1974) and they responded to a question about the aftereffect of aloneness (Larson, 1999). Results showed the importance of solitary play, daydreaming and self-reflection, and independence and privacy, and a rather ambivalent attitude toward aloneness. Boys have a more positive attitude toward aloneness than girls; the same applies to fourth graders. Results are discussed in light of the significance of time alone and its uses during childhood.

Εἶναι προφανὲς ὅτι ἡ Ἀθήνα ἠθέλησε νὰ ἐνισχύσει τὴν νηφάλια πτέρυγα τῆς παλαιστινιακῆς ἀρχῆς, αὐτὴν τοῦ προέδρου Μαχμοὺντ Ἁμπᾶς, ἡ ὁποία ὡδηγεῖτο σὲ περιθωριοποίηση καὶ ἀπονομιμοποίηση ἀπὸ τὴν Χαμᾶς, ἰδιαιτέρως μετὰ τὴν διεθνῆ ἀπήχηση τῆς προσφάτου ἰσραηλινῆς στρατιωτικῆς ἐπιχειρήσεως-ἀπαντήσεως «Operation Pillar of Cloud» (14-21 Νοεμβρίου 2012). Το παρόν κείμενο αποτελεί άρθρο του Καθηγητή Ιωάννη Μάζης περί της σύγκρουσις Χαμᾶς-Ἰσραὴλ καὶ της ἀπόφασης (A/RES/67/19) τῆς ΓΣ/ΟΗΕ, τῆς 29ης Νοεμβρίου 2012.

(2012). Ηρακλής: Η ηθική μορφή της Ελληνικής μυθολογίας και ο συμβολισμός της παραβολής της Αρετής και της Κακίας. Στην ελληνική μυθολογία η ηρωϊκή μορφή η οποία κυριαρχεί περισσότερο από οποιονδήποτε άλλο ήρωα, σχεδόν απόλυτα, είναι ο Ηρακλής. Στο πρόσωπό του, όπως φαίνεται από τους άθλους του, συνοψίστηκαν όλα τα χαρακτηριστικά και οι ικανότητες με τα οποία η μυθοπλαστική φαντασία του ελληνικού λαού επιθυμούσε να διανθίσει τον ίδιο του τον εαυτό. Ο Ηρακλής, ως εξολοθρευτής των επικίνδυνων τεράτων που επιφέρουν την ανθρώπινη καταστροφή, και ως δυναμικός εκδικητής εκείνου του οποίου εκπροσωπεί το κακό, γίνεται ο ίδιος τιμωρός της αδικίας και υπερασπιστής του καλού. Εμφανίζεται, επομένως, ως προστάτης του αγαθού και, εν τέλει, ως ο αντίποδας του κακού, ενσαρκώνοντας τις αντιλήψεις και τους ηθικούς στόχους του λαού. Η αλληγορία του σοφιστή Πρόδικου με την Αρετή και την Κακία, προφανώς αποτυτώνει μιαν αντίληψη η οποία ήταν γενικώς αποδεκτή. Με την εξέλιξη του μύθου του Ηρακλή μέσα στο χρόνο, η μορφή του, αποκτώντας ηθικά στοιχεία, εμπλουτίζεται, ούτως ώστε ο ήρωας εν τέλει να βαίνει προς μια πορεία εκπολιτισμού του. Ο εκπολιτισμός της μορφής του συγκεκριμένου ήρωα, προφανώς απηχεί τη σταδιακή πολιτιστική ωρίμανση του αρχαίου κόσμου, καθώς μέσα από τις μυθικές περιγραφές εξισορροπούνται οι αρχαϊκές αντιλήψεις από τη μια, με τις κατακτήσεις του λόγου και της σκέψης από την άλλη. Ο ήρωας, εν τέλει, ταυτίζεται με την επιλογή του καλού και με το χρέος του ανθρώπου να προσπαθήσει πολύ προκειμένου να πετύχει το ευτυχές τέλος, επιβεβαιώνοντας πως τα καλά κόποις κτώνται, και πως τίποτε δεν είναι αυτονόητο, αλλά κάθε επιτυχία προϋποθέτει την επίπονη προσπάθεια και την αξιοποίηση της λογικής.  

Εἶναι πράγματι ἐξαιρετικῶς πολύπλοκος ἡ ἑρμηνεία τοῦ ρόλου τοῦ Κάταρ καὶ τῆς συνεργασίας του μὲ τὴν Al Ekhwan al-Musslemin (Ἀδελφοὶ Μουσουλμᾶνοι), τὸ Ἰρὰν καὶ τὴν Τουρκία σὲ μία προσπάθεια νὰ ἀνταγωνισθεῖ τὸν ἡγεμονισμὸ τῆς Σαουδικῆς Ἀραβίας στὸν Κόλπο καὶ νὰ ἀποφύγει τὴν καταπίεση ἀπὸ τὸ Οὐαχαβιτικὸ βασίλειο. Γιὰ τὴν ἐπίτευξη τοῦ σκοποῦ αὐτοῦ διαπιστώνεται ἡ προσπάθειά του νὰ ἀποτελέσει τὸ νέο κέντρο ἐπιρροῆς καὶ τὸν νέο πόλο ἰσχύος στὸν ἀραβομουσουλμανικὸ κόσμο. Θεωρῶ ὅτι αὐτοὶ οἱ δύο εἶναι οἱ θεμελιώδεις στρατηγικοὶ στόχοι τοῦ Κάταρ. Τὰ μέσα τὰ ὁποῖα χρησιμοποιεῖ γιὰ τὴν ἐπίτευξη αὐτῶν τῶν στόχων συνίστανται i) στὴν προσπάθεια ἀποκτήσεως πλήρους ἐλέγχου ἐπὶ τῆς ἀλ-ἐχουὰν ἀλ-μοσλεμὴν ii) στὴν συνεργασία μὲ τὴν Τεχεράνη στὸ Μπαχρέϊν καὶ στὴν Ὑεμένη ὅπου ὑπάρχει ὑπεροχὴ τοῦ σηιτικοῦ στοιχείου σὲ πληθυσμιακὸ ἐπίπεδο iii) στὴν συνεργασία μὲ τὴν Τουρκία γιὰ τὴν ἀνατροπὴ τοῦ Μπααθικοῦ καθεστῶτος στὴν Συρία (μὲ ἀνταγωνιστὴ τὴν Σαουδικὴ Ἀραβία στὰ ἴδια συριακὰ ἐδάφη) καὶ iv) στὴν συνεργασία μὲ πρῴην καὶ νῦν στελέχη τῆς Ἀλ Κάϋντα τὰ ὁποῖα χρησιμοποιεῖ σὲ ἐπιχειρησιακὸ ἐπίπεδο στὰ πεδία τῶν μαχῶν καὶ τῶν ἀνατρεπτικῶν ἐνεργειῶν μέσῳ ἀνταρτοπολέμου ἢ ἐξεγερσιακῶν/ἐπαναστατικῶν διαδικασιῶν στὸ ἐσωτερικὸ τῶν στοχευθέντων κρατῶν ὅπου ἡ Ντόχα ἐπεμβαίνει. Στὸ πλαίσιο αὐτὸ εὑρίσκει συμμάχους μίαν ἀδύναμη οἰκονομικῶς Οὐάσιγκτων ἡ ὁποία εὑρίσκεται σὲ προεκλογικὴ περίοδο καὶ δὲν εἶναι εἰς θέσιν νὰ ἐμφανίζεται φιλοπόλεμη ἀλλὰ καὶ μία «εἰδικὴ σχέση» ἡ ὁποία θέλει πάσῃ θυσίᾳ νὰ ἀποκλείσει τὴν ἐπέκταση τῆς ρωσσικῆς ἐπιρροῆς στὴν Μεσόγειο καὶ ἰδιαίτερα στὴν Ν/Α Μεσόγειο μὲ τὶς νέες ἀνακαλύψεις τεραστίων κοιτασμάτων φυσικοῦ ἀερίου τὰ ὁποῖα ξεπερνοῦν τὰ 7 τρισεκατομμύρια m3 σὲ ὁλόκληρη τὴν Λεκάνη τῆς Λεβαντίνης καὶ τοῦ Ἡροδότου (Ν/Α τῆς Κρήτης).694 ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ Θ. ΜΑΖΗΣ         ΓΕΩΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΑ ΖΗΤΗΜΑΤΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΥΡΥΤΕΡΑ Μ. ΑΝΑΤΟΛΗ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΣΟΓΕΙΟ Πρόκειται κατὰ τὴν κρίση μου γιὰ τὴν παλαιά, καλὴ ἀγγλοσαξωνικὴ πολιτικὴ ἀνασχέσεως (endiguement) τὴν ὁποίαν οἱ ΗΠΑ, ἡ Γερμανία καὶ ἡ Ἀγγλία ἐχρησιμοποίησαν κατὰ τὴν δεκαετία τοῦ 1990 καὶ στὴν Βαλκανικὴ στοχεύοντας καὶ πάλιν στὴν ἀνάσχεση τῆς καθόδου τῆς Ρωσσίας στὰ θερμὰ ὕδατα τῆς Μεσογείου. Ἐδῶ ὅμως γεννᾶται τὸ ἐρώτημα: μήπως καὶ πάλιν αὐτὴ ἡ ἀγγλοσαξωνικὴ πολιτικὴ ἡ ἐμπνευσμένη ἀπὸ τὴν ὕστερη ἐποχὴ τῶν θεωριῶν τοῦ Nicolas J. Spykman γιὰ τὴν le Rimland, μέσω τῶν «καλῶν ὑπηρεσιῶν» τοῦ Κάταρ καὶ τῶν ἀνίερων συμμαχιῶν του ὁδηγεῖ τελικῶς στὴν δημιουργία ἑνὸς πανισχύρου Γκόλεμ τὸ ὁποῖον θὰ ἐξαπολύσει τὸν Ἀρμαγεδδῶνα στὴν περιοχὴ τῆς Μεσογείου ἀλλὰ καὶ θὰ ὁδηγήσει στὴν ἐπαναχάραξη τῶν συνόρων στὴν περιοχὴ τῆς Εὐρυτέρας Μέσης Ἀνατολῆς καὶ τοῦ Μάγκρεμπ, μὲ τρόπο μᾶλλον ἀνεξέλεγκτο ἀπὸ τὴν ∆ύση; Ἐκτὸς καὶ ἐὰν τὸ ἀποτέλεσμα αὐτὸ εἶναι τελικῶς καὶ τὸ ἐπιδιωκόμενο.

Το άρθρο αποτελεί την επεξεργασμένη και εμπλουτισμένη μορφή της ανακοίνωσης στο συνέδριο του Τμήματος Γερμανικής Γλώσσας και Φιλολογίας για τον Φρήντριχ Σίλλερ (2010) και θέμα του είναι η ενασχόληση του συγγραφέα με την ιστορία και την ιστορική επιστήμη, τόσο στο θεωρητικό του έργο, όσο και στα ιστορικά του δράματα. Ο Friedrich Schiller υπήρξε στον καιρό του αναγνωρισμένος ιστορικός, αλλά η έρευνα, φιλολογική και ιστορική, δεν ασχολήθηκε επί μακρόν με τη διάσταση αυτή του έργου του. Η αλλαγή επιστημονικού παραδείγματος στο χώρο της ιστοριογραφίας, που έστρεψε την προσοχή στον τρόπο που η ίδια η ιστοριογραφική αφήγηση συγκροτεί μέσω των αφηγηματικών δομών νόημα, αφύπνισε το ερευνητικό ενδιαφέρον για τον Σίλλερ ως ιστορικό και έδωσε ένα νέο πλαίσιο για την αναθεώρηση και τη διερεύνηση της αντίληψής του για τη ιστορία και την ιστοριογραφία. Το άρθρο συστηματοποιεί την πορεία του Σίλλερ ως ιστορικού, παρουσιάζει τις ιστορικές μελέτες του και την εξέλιξη της θεώρησής του για την ιστορία. Ο Σίλλερ επέλεξε ένα ιστορικό θέμα ήδη για το δεύτερο κατά σειρά συγγραφής έργο της δραματουργίας του, την «ρεπουμπλικανική τραγωδία» Η συνομωσία του Φιέσκο στη Γένοβα (1782). Η εκτενής ενασχόληση με την ιστορία ξεκινά πάντως κατά την έρευνα πηγών που διεξήγαγε λίγο αργότερα για τις ανάγκες της συγγραφής του Δον Κάρλος (1787), από την οποία προέκυψε το πρώτο μεγάλης έκτασης ιστοριογραφικό του σύγγραμμα με τίτλο Ιστορία της απόσχισης των Κάτω Χωρών από την ισπανική κυβέρνηση (1788). Ο Σίλλερ καλλιέργησε αρχικά μια ιστορική φιλοσοφική σκέψη βασισμένη στην αισιόδοξη προοπτική του Διαφωτισμού για την θετική πορεία της οικουμενικής ιστορίας και του ανθρώπου, αντίληψη που αναπτύσσεται στην εναρκτήρια διάλεξή του Τι σημαίνει και γιατί μελετά κανείς την οικουμενική ιστορία (26 Μαΐου 1789) στο πανεπιστήμιο της Ιένας, όπου εκλήθη να διδάξει ως ιστορικός. Η άποψη αυτή ανατρέπεται όμως μετά τη Γαλλική Επανάσταση και τα βίαια γεγονότα που ακολούθησαν. Στο εξής, ο στοχασμός πάνω στη σχέση του ανθρώπου με την ιστορία μετατοπίζεται, διέπεται από προβληματισμό και απαισιοδοξία, ενώ συνδέεται με το υψηλό, με την έννοια της μοίρας ως δύναμης που επιβάλλεται στον άνθρωπο. Η μεταβολή αυτή στην άποψη του Σίλλερ για την ιστορία ανιχνεύεται τόσο στα μεταγενέστερα ιστορικά και στα αισθητικά του κείμενα, όσο και στα κλασικά ιστορικά του δράματα. Ο τρόπος και τα μέσα της αναφοράς στην ιστορία αλλάζουν. Μετά το δεύτερο μεγάλο ιστορικό σύγγραμμά του, την Ιστορία του Τριακονταετούς Πολέμου (1792), ο Σίλλερ δεν γράφει πλέον ιστορικά συγγράμματα. Η ιστορία γίνεται πλέον θέμα της τραγωδίας. Τα ιστορικά δράματα της κλασικής περιόδου λειτουργούν ως μίμηση της ιστορίας και αποδεικνύονται για τον συγγραφέα το πλέον ενδεδειγμένο μέσο παρουσίασης και κατανόησης του απρόβλεπτου ιστορικού γίγνεσθαι.

Η εκπαίδευση αποτελεί προϊόν της νεωτερικότητας και οργανώνεται σε εκκοσμικευμένο περιβάλλον. Αυτό σημαίνει ότι η Θρησκευτική Εκπαίδευση αντιμετωπίζεται ως μάθημα του σχολικού προγράμματος, όπως τα υπόλοιπα, και όχι ως μύηση σε μία θρησκεία. Στην Ελλάδα το μάθημα των Θρησκευτικών είναι ένα ακόμη μάθημα του Προγράμματος Σπουδών και δεν έχει ομολογιακό χαρακτήρα με βάση τα δύο τελευταία προγράμματα (2003, 2011). Υιοθετώντας μάλιστα παιδαγωγικά τον κονστρουκτιβισμό, σήμερα, χρησιμοποιεί περισσότερο τις τεχνικές του Θεάτρου στην Εκπαίδευση, αφού και οι δύο βασίζονται στην εμπειρία, καλλιεργούν δεξιότητες και στάσεις αποδομώντας την παγιωμένη γνώση και ζητώντας την ελεύθερη άποψη. Φυσικά αυτή η θρησκευτική εκπαίδευση επιδιώκει να αναπτύξει την κριτική στάση και την ερμηνεία της πραγματικότητας των θρησκειών και των πολιτισμών, που παράγουν, στοχεύοντας στην ειρηνική συνύπαρξη και την αλληλεγγύη. Η εισήγηση αυτή εξετάζει γιατί το θέατρο διευκολύνει τη διάδραση μεταξύ μαθητών και θρησκευτικής γνώσης στο σχολείο, με αναφορά σε εφαρμογές στην τάξη, οι οποίες στηρίζονται στην εμπειρία των Heathcote και Somers.

Σκοπός της παρούσας έρευνας ήταν να διερευνηθούν οι διαστάσεις του αναγνωστικού κινήτρου των Ελλήνων μαθητών Δ΄ και Στ΄ δημοτικού. Αναλυτικότερα, εξετάζεται κατά πόσον οι διαστάσεις του θεωρητικού μοντέλου των Wigfield και Guthrie (1995) ανιχνεύονται στο αναγνωστικό κίνητρο των Ελλήνων μαθητών δημοτικού σχολείου, η σπουδαιότητα των διαστάσεων αυτών για τους μαθητές, καθώς και οι μεταξύ τους συσχετίσεις. Ένα αντιπροσωπευτικό δείγμα 1.136 μαθητών Δ΄ και Στ΄ Δημοτικού από σχολεία της Αθήνας και του Πειραιά συμπλήρωσαν την ελληνική προσαρμογή του Ερωτηματολογίου Αναγνωστικών Κινήτρων ( Motivations for Reading Questionnaire, Wigfield & Guthrie, 1995), το οποίο επιτρέπει μια λεπτομερή ανίχνευση της πολυδιάστατης φύσης του αναγνωστικού κινήτρου. Αναδείχθηκαν τέσσερις διακριτές, αν και σχετιζόμενες μεταξύ τους, διαστάσεις: Σχολική Επίδοση, Κοινωνικοί Λόγοι, Βαθμός Δυσκολίας Αναγνώσματος και Είδος Αναγνώσματος. Οι διαστάσεις αυτές είναι λιγότερες από τις διαστάσεις του πρωτότυπου ερωτηματολογίου. Ισχυρότερο κίνητρο για ανάγνωση προέκυψε η Σχολική Επίδοση και ακολουθούν το Είδος του Αναγνώσματος και ο Βαθμός Δυσκολίας του Αναγνώσματος, ενώ το χαμηλότερο κίνητρο για ανάγνωση είναι οι Κοινωνικοί Λόγοι. Παρατηρήθηκαν στατιστικά σημαντικές συνάφειες ανάμεσα σε ορισμένες διαστάσεις του αναγνωστικού κινήτρου. Τα ευρήματα συζητούνται με αναφορά στα ευρήματα της σχετικής διεθνούς βιβλιογραφίας με τα οποία είναι σύστοιχα, καθώς σε όλες τις έρευνες αναγνωρίζεται η πολυδιάστατη φύση του αναγνωστικού κινήτρου. Τέλος, με βάση τα ευρήματα της έρευνας, προτείνονται παιδαγωγικές πρακτικές για την ενίσχυση του αναγνωστικού κινήτρου, με στόχο την καλλιέργεια της φιλαναγνωσίας και την ολόπλευρη ανάπτυξη του παιδιού.

Στο πονημάτιο αυτό, θα προσπαθήσουμε να εμφανίσουμε την πνευματική διάσταση της ανθρώπινης εργασίας, θέλοντας μ’ αυτόν τον τρόπο να τοποθετήσουμε ένα θεμελιώδες αποδεικτικό έρεισμα στην οικοδόμηση της αντιλήψεως της πνευματικότητος της εργασίας. Πρόθεσή μας είναι ν’ αποδείξουμε ότι όλες οι ανθρώπινες δραστηριότητες είναι δυνατόν, αλλά και πρέπει, να αντιμετωπίζονταιως επί μέρους εγκόσμιες αντανακλάσεις του πολυπλόκου έργου της Θείας Δραστηριότητος. Και εφόσον θέλουμε να θεωρούμε τα ανθρώπινα επαγγέλματα ως αντανακλάσεις της Θείας Δραστηριότητος, δεν μπορούμε παρά να παραδεχθούμε ότι αποτελούν σύμβολα αυτής της Δραστηριότητος, και η δική μας αποστολή συνίσταται στην αποκρυπτογράφηση και ερμηνεία αυτών των συμβόλων, των μόνων ικανών να μαςβοηθήσουν στην αντίληψη της θεωρητικής βάσεως για την οποίαν ομιλούμε.

Venom immunotherapy (VIT) has been shown to be an effective and safe treatment for preventing sting-induced anaphylaxis in patients with systemic reactions to hymenoptera stings. A remaining problem is the relative effectiveness and safety of different immunotherapy protocols used with respect to maintenance dose, injection interval, and duration.|We aimed to describe a modified cluster VIT protocol with a maintenance dose of 50 μg lasting 5 yr and to evaluate retrospectively its safety and efficacy in children.|Fifty four children 9.5±3.2 yr old with a history of at least one anaphylactic reaction to hymenoptera stings underwent VIT between 1995 and 2006. The identification of the offending insect(s) was based on patient's report and documented with in-vivo (SPTs and IDs) and in-vitro (RAST/CAP) test results. A modified cluster outpatient protocol lasting 5 wks, reaching a maintenance dose of 50 μg was followed according to clinical history and test results. After the maintenance dose was achieved, the followed injection-intervals were 4 wks for the first year, 5 wks for the 2nd year and 3rd year, and 6 wks for the last 2 yr.|Of the 54 children, 52 tolerated the 50 μg VIT protocol without side effects. Twenty one of them reported at least one field sting from at least one of the culprit, for their allergy, insects, 6±3.5 yr after they have started VIT treatment. In 11 of them, sting occurred 3.5±2.9 yr after the VIT was completed, whereas the other 10 of them during immunotherapy, 3.2±1.4 yr after they have started VIT. In the remaining two children, the maintenance dose was increased to 100 μg due to systemic reactions from the VIT. The data reflect outcomes 6-16 yr after the patients' initial allergic reaction.|VIT with 50 μg maintenance dose lasting 5 yr appears to be safe and effective enough to induce tolerance in children with hymenoptera venom hypersensitivity.

Scar endometriosis is an under-appreciated or misdiagnosed phenomenon in general surgery and may eventually be more common than reflected in the literature. We herein report five cases of scar endometriosis that were treated in our surgical department one to five years after Caesarean section. Scar endometriosis should be considered when the symptoms are present in a cyclic manner mostly after gynaecological operations and worsening during menstruation. Diagnosis is mainly based upon a high index ofsuspicion. The treatment of choice is surgical resection.

The objective of this study was to explore the ability of 3 regional climate models (RCMs), CNRM-Aladin, C4I-RCA3 and KNMI-RACMO along with their parental global climate models (GCMs), ARPEGE and ECHAM5, to represent the relationship between large-scale atmospheric circulation and climate extremes in the Mediterranean region. Subsequently, an evaluation and inter-comparison of these 3 RCM/GCM couples for the present climate was performed. For this purpose, the Regularised Canonical Correlation Analysis (RCCA) was employed and 4 extreme climate indices of temperature and precipitation were used to define extreme events over the study region. The evaluation of these relationships was carried out against gridded observational and reanalysis datasets. It was found that the observed upper air large scale patterns related to climate extremes in the Mediterranean are not very well reproduced by the RCM/GCM couples in all seasons. In addition, in many cases, the coupled models display patterns of extreme climate indices which are not consistent with the accompanied upper level circulation. Furthermore, all coupled models display substantial deficiencies in simulating precipitation extremes. In the case of summer data, the ability of all 3 models is limited, possibly because the strength of the large-scale atmospheric flow decreases, the control exerted by the lateral boundary conditions is weaker, and the nested models are mainly governed by local processes. © Inter-Research 2011.

We investigated the short-term effects of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <10γg/m3 (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) on pediatric asthma emergency admissions in Athens, Greece over the period 2001-2004. We explored effect modification patterns by season, sex, age and by the presence of desert dust transported mainly from the Sahara area.We used daily time-series data provided by the children's hospitals and the fixed monitoring stations. The associations were investigated using Poisson regression models controlling for seasonality, weather, influenza episodes, day of the week and holiday effects.A 10γg/m3 increase in PM10 was associated with a 2.54% increase (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.06%, 5.08%) in the number of pediatric asthma hospital admissions, while the same increase in SO2 was associated with a 5.98% (95% CI: 0.88%, 11.33%) increase. O3 was associated with a statistically significant increase in asthma admissions among older children in the summer. Our findings provide limited evidence of an association between NO2 exposure and asthma exacerbation. Statistically significant PM10 effects were higher during winter and during desert dust days, while SO2 effects occurred mainly during spring.Our study confirms previously reported PM10 effects on emergency hospital admissions for pediatric asthma and further provides evidence of stronger effects during desert dust days. We additionally report severe effects of SO2, even at today's low concentration levels. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.

Objectives: In some trials, particularly in oncology, patients whose disease progresses under the comparator treatment are crossed over into the experimental arm. This unplanned crossover can introduce bias in analyses because patients who crossover likely have a different prognosis than those who do not cross over; for instance, sicker patients not responding to standard therapy or those expected to benefit the most may be selectively chosen to receive the experimental treatment. Standard statistical methods cannot adequately correct for this bias. We describe an approach designed to minimize the impact of crossover, and illustrate this by using data from two randomized trials in multiple myeloma (MM). Methods: The MM-009/010 trials compared lenalidomide and high-dose dexamethasone (Len+Dex) with dexamethasone alone (Dex). Nearly half (47%) of the patients randomized to Dex crossed over to Len with or without Dex (Len+/-Dex) at disease progression or study unblinding. Data from these trials was used to predict survival in an economic model evaluating the cost-effectiveness of lenalidomide. To adjust for crossover, the prediction equations were calibrated to match survival with Dex or Dex-equivalent therapies in trials conducted by the Medical Research Council (MRC) in the United Kingdom. To adjust for differences between the MM and MRC trial populations, a prediction equation was developed from the MRC data and used to predict survival by setting predictors to mean values for patients in the MM-009/010 trials. The expected survival with Dex without crossover was then predicted from the calibrated MM-009/010 equation (i.e., adjusted to match survival predicted from the MRC equation). Results: The adjusted median overall survival predicted by the MRC equation was 19.5 months (95%CI, 16.622.9) for patients with one prior therapy, and 11.6 months (95% CI, 9.514.2) for patients with >1 prior therapy. These estimates are considerably shorter than was observed in the clinical trials: 33.6 months (27.1-NE) and 27.3 months (95% CI, 23.333.3) as of December 2005. Conclusion: The calibration method described here is simple to implement, provided that suitable data are available; it can be implemented with other types of endpoints in any therapeutic area. © 2011 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).

Adolescent gynaecology is increasingly recognized as an area in which specific knowledge and expertise is required to ensure that patients achieve the best outcome. Gynaecological problems in adolescents are common, and although serious pathology is rare, distress and discomfort can be significant. Adolescent girls are under greater pressure than ever before, particularly in terms of examination performance; they find menstrual dysfunction particularly difficult to manage. Careful and sympathetic assessment is crucial, and simple treatment remedies may be all that is required. However, complex and rare medical conditions can also occur and must not be missed. Some congenital disorders present for the first time in adolescence. Early detection and appropriate treatment will ensure the best possible outcomes in terms of sexual function and potential fertility. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

The Amvrakia spring is located at the bottom of Meteora pillars and more specifically near the village of Kastraki (Kalambaka municipality). It is a seasonal spring since it functions only during the wet period. The Meteora conglomerates which dominate the area are characterized by large discontinuities creating a network of groundwater pathways above the impermeable strata of the underlying marls. The research targets was to define these water pathways in order to understand the mechanism of Amvrakia spring, by mapping the exposed discontinuity network and define their underground extension with the contribution of geophysical techniques. Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Very Low Frequency (VLF) methodologies were applied. The VLF method is indicated for the detection of water-bearing fracture zones, but before the application of their filters they had to be processed for topographic corrections, as the area had not smooth relief. Five (5) VLF profiles were conducted with different directions around the spring’s area, in order to detect possible conductive zones in the conglomerates surrounding the study area. Moreover, two (2) ERT sections of a total length of 140m were carried out, parallel to existent VLF sections, for crosschecking the geophysical information. Both techniques revealed important conductive zones (<200 Ohm.m) from the south-eastern Meteora conglomerate pillars, possibly interpreted as discontinuities filled with water feeding the spring.

Osteolytic disease is a major complication of multiple myeloma that may lead to devastating skeletal-related events (SREs). Conventional radiography remains the gold standard for the evaluation of bone disease in patients with myeloma. However, whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended in patients with normal conventional radiography and should be performed as part of staging in all patients with a solitary plasmacytoma of bone. Urgent MRI is also the diagnostic procedure of choice to assess suspected cord compression, whereas computed tomography can guide tissue biopsy. Positron emission tomography with computed tomography can provide complementary information to MRI, but its use in multiple myeloma must be better defined by further studies. The incorporation of abnormal MRI findings into the definition of symptomatic myeloma also needs to be clarified. Bisphosphonates remain the cornerstone for the management of myeloma bone disease. Intravenous pamidronate and zoledronic acid are equally effective in reducing SREs, whereas zoledronic acid seems to offer survival benefits in symptomatic patients. Caution is needed to avoid adverse events, such as renal impairment and osteonecrosis of the jaw. Novel antiresorptive agents, such as denosumab, have given encouraging results, but further studies are needed before their approval for managing myeloma bone disease. Combination approaches with novel antimyeloma agents, such as bortezomib (which has anabolic effects on bone) with bisphosphonates or with drugs that enhance osteoblast function, such as antidickkopf-1 agents, antisclerostin drugs, or sotatercept, may favorably alter our way of managing myeloma bone disease in the near future. © 2011 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

8-Oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoG) accumulates in the genome over time and is believed to contribute to the development of aging characteristics of skeletal muscle and various aging-related diseases. Here, we show a significantly increased level of intrahelical 8-oxoG and 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase (OGG1) expression in aged human skeletal muscle compared to that of young individuals. In response to exercise, the 8-oxoG level was lastingly elevated in sedentary young and old subjects, but returned rapidly to preexercise levels in the DNA of physically active individuals independent of age. 8-OxoG levels in DNA were inversely correlated with the abundance of acetylated OGG1 (Ac-OGG1), but not with total OGG1, apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1), or Ac-APE1. The actual Ac-OGG1 level was linked to exercise-induced oxidative stress, as shown by changes in lipid peroxide levels and expression of Cu,Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and SIRT3, as well as the balance between acetyltransferase p300/CBP and deacetylase SIRT1, but not SIRT6 expression. Together these data suggest that that acetylated form of OGG1, and not OGG1 itself, correlates inversely with the 8-oxoG level in the DNA of human skeletal muscle, and the Ac-OGG1 level is dependent on adaptive cellular responses to physical activity, but is age independent.

Surface air temperature trends in the wider region of Greece during the period 1951-2007, related to atmospheric circulation, are examined in this work. A network of 31 meteorological stations in the Hellenic area and the Asia Minor coasts and National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis datasets were used for this purpose. The NCEP/NCAR reanalysis datasets were created by assimilating climate observations from different sources including ships, satellites, ground stations, radiosonde observations and radar. The general purpose of conducting the reanalyses was to produce multiyear global state-of-the-art gridded representations of atmospheric states, generated by a constant model and a constant data assimilation system. The findings of the analysis show that the mean annual surface air temperature in the wider region of Greece exhibits a pronounced cooling trend from the beginning of the 1950s up to the mid-1970s. It then remained at low levels until the beginning of the 1990s, and then increased up to 2000, when a turning-point is clear although the temperature remained at high levels. The well-known atmospheric circulation indices of the wider region of Europe, namely the North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI), the Mediterranean Oscillation Index (MOI) and the North Sea Caspian Pattern Index (NCPI), were used to investigate the relationship between surface air temperature and atmospheric circulation in this region of the Eastern Mediterranean. The surface air temperature is not correlated to the NAOI, while it is statistically significantly (95% confidence level (CL)) correlated to the MOI, but only during wintertime. On the contrary, good correlations, which are statistically significant (95% CL), appear between the NCPI and the surface air temperature during all seasons, but particularly in winter. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.

The purpose of this study was to identify, categorize, and analyze published process-product research on physical education teaching methods completed between1960 and 2009. A literature search utilizing electronic databases yielded 138 studies which met the criteria for inclusion in the analysis. Each study was analyzed to obtain information on (a) the decade the study was published, (b) the number of authors, (c) the publication outlet, (d) the type of class, (e) the sampling method, (f) the effect size, (g) the statistics used, and (h) the statistical assumptions. The results indicated that most studies were the result of collaboration efforts among researchers. Also, intact classes rather than randomization were the most common technique used for forming the experimental groups. In the majority of the studies, the selection of the sample was done by means of purposive sampling techniques. A large proportion of the studies used univariate statistics to complete the data analysis.  However, the majority of the papers reviewed did not report effect size values nor did they report fulfillment of certain statistical assumptions.  The major publication outlet for process-product research was the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education.

To describe the tourism potential of an area, not only single meteorological parameters have to be taken into account, but also thermal sensation and people's thermal comfort. The latter can be estimated by the use of human energy balance models and the derived thermal indices, which comprise all relevant meteorological parameters like air temperature, air humidity, wind speed, and short and long wave radiation fluxes. This paper makes an attempt to assess and analyze climatological parameters and the thermal comfort of Crete, its variations and trends for the period of time 1955-2001. In addition, a definition and quantification of the island's tourism potential is carried out. Long term data from several stations are used from the existing climatic and synoptic network of Crete, including daily mean, maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and cloud cover over the whole island, in order to derive the daily Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) and precipitation. In addition, possible trends of thermal comfort and precipitation on an annual and seasonal basis are analyzed. Additionally, data of the 10-minutes climatology of the Climate Research Unit of the University of Norwich have been processed in order to create high resolution (1 km) mean monthly maps for climatological parameters such as air temperature, precipitation and Physiologically Equivalent Temperature. © 2011 Global NEST Printed in Greece. All rights reserved.

In previous papers ([1, 2]) we defined the C*-algebra and the longitudinal pseudodifferential calculus of any singular foliation (M,). In the current paper we construct the analytic index of an elliptic operator as a KK-theory element, and prove that this element can be obtained from an “adiabatic foliation”  on M×ℝ, which we introduce here.

Measurements of clitoral length and clitoral to urethral distance were made and analysed for a relationship in a group of 19 women with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) attending a specialist clinic for adult women with disorders of sexual development. These were compared with a control group of 50 women attending hospital for a gynaecological procedure. There was a positive correlation between clitoral length and clitoral to urethral distance for women with CAIS. In contrast, a negative correlation was seen between clitoral length and clitoral to urethral distance for women in the control group. Women with CAIS had a reduced mean clitoral length compared with controls (P = 0.001), but no difference was observed for the clitoral to urethral distance between the two groups (P = 0.116). © RCOG 2010 BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The susceptibilities of 824 Bacteroides fragilis group isolates against nine antibiotics were evaluated in a Europe-wide study involving 13 countries. Species determination, by different methods, was carried out on all but one isolate. Resistance rates were evaluated according to species and geographical areas via CLSI and the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) breakpoints. The present data were compared with those obtained 10 and 20 years ago at a European level. High-level resistance (MIC ≥ 64 mg/L) to ampicillin was observed in 44.5% of the strains, which is a significant increase relative to 20 years ago (16%). Piperacillin/tazobactam was more active than amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (3.1% and 10.4% resistance, respectively), again with a resistance increase relative to earlier studies. Dramatic increases in resistance were observed for cefoxitin, clindamycin and moxifloxacin, with rates of 17.2%, 32.4% and 13.6%, respectively. The lowest resistances were found for imipenem, metronidazole and tigecycline (1.2%, <1% and 1.7%). Nonsusceptible strains to imipenem and metronidazole were more resistant to other anti-anaerobic drugs. Differences were detected between geographical areas, with higher resistance rates for moxifloxacin in Scandinavian countries (21.4%) than in Mediterranean countries (5.4%), whereas, for clindamycin, the resistance rates were higher in Mediterranean (41.8%) and lower in Scandinavian countries (22.5%). Piperacillin/tazobactam resistance was also higher in Scandinavian countries.

Background: We have showed that secretory Apolipoprotein J/Clusterin (sCLU) is down-regulated in senescent, stressed or diseased red blood cells (RBCs). It was hypothesized that sCLU loss relates to RBCs vesiculation, a mechanism that removes erythrocyte membrane patches containing defective or potentially harmful components. Methodology/Principal Findings: To investigate this issue we employed a combination of biochemical and microscopical approaches in freshly prepared RBCs or RBCs stored under standard blood bank conditions, an in vitro model system of cellular aging. We found that sCLU is effectively exocytosed in vivo during membrane vesiculation of freshly prepared RBCs. In support, the RBCs' sCLU content was progressively reduced during RBCs ex vivo maturation and senescence under cold storage due to its selective exocytosis in membrane vesicles. A range of typical vesicular components, also involved in RBCs senescence, like Band 3, CD59, hemoglobin and carbonylated membrane proteins were found to physically interact with sCLU. Conclusions/Significance: The maturation of RBCs is associated with a progressive loss of sCLU. We propose that sCLU is functionally involved in the disposal of oxidized/defected material through RBCs vesiculation. This process most probably takes place through sCLU interaction with RBCs membrane proteins that are implicit vesicular components. Therefore, sCLU represents a pro-survival factor acting for the postponement of the untimely clearance of RBCs. © 2011 Antonelou et al.

Resumen: Cecilia Valdés o La Loma del Ángel y Martín Rivas son novelas clásicas de la literatura hispanoamericana. Ambas presentan la estratificación social y las ideas de unas épocas concretas. En Cecilia Valdés se presenta el mosaico de la sociedad cubana en la primera mitad del siglo XIX. Los personajes blancos son la capa dominante mientras las otras capas se preocupan más por su sobrevivencia. Los personajes blancos ricos están a favor de la esclavitud. Igualmente consideran el concubinato como algo normal y aceptable. Los personajes jóvenes ricos siguen las ideas de los mayores y se comportan del mismo modo. Los personajes femeninos tienen un papel secundario y aunque son más compasivas hacia los esclavos no pueden hacer algo. En Martín Rivas, a través de la descripción de los personajes, se revela el modo de pensar de dos capas principales: “las buenas familias” y el “medio pelo”. Los personajes de la burguesía adinerada son conservadores y se interesan en la vida política motivados siempre por su interés económico y su anhelo de poder. Los personajes femeninos, sumisos al poder masculino, no tienen ninguna participación política aunque a veces expresan opiniones contrarias a las de los hombres. Al contrario los personajes jóvenes de la burguesía pobre se inclinan al liberalismo de manera espontánea.   Palabras clave: novela, hispanoamericana, romanticismo, realismo, esclavitud, ideología, sociedad, dinero.

A comparison of two objective climatologies of explosive cyclones in the Mediterranean region is performed. The results are derived from two different mean sea-level pressure reanalysis data resolutions, but from the same assimilation model, in order to quantify the pure impact of higher resolution on the identification and characteristics of explosive cyclones, when the assimilation model is the same. The explosive cyclones were identified with the aid of the Melbourne University automatic cyclone finding and tracking scheme over a 40-year period, using the 6-hourly analyses of ERA-40 mean sea-level pressure (MSLP) on: (a) 2.5 × 2.5 and (b) 1 × 1 latitude-longitude grid. The comparison of the two datasets revealed the significant role of the increase in spatial resolution of MSLP data on the identification and tracking process, and the number of the explosive cyclones in the high-resolution dataset is almost four times greater than the respective one in the lower resolution dataset. However, the comparison of explosive cyclone characteristics, including spatial and temporal variations of explosive deepening, revealed differences in the geographical distribution of the location of the maximum explosive deepening and average explosive cyclone Laplacian of the central pressure. These differences are due to the identification in the higher resolution set of smaller scale and secondary explosives along the strongly baroclinic northern Mediterranean boundaries, south of the Alps and the Pyrenees. Explosive deepening appears a bias to the daytime period from 12 to 18 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) for both datasets, which is more prominent in the LR dataset. Statistically significant difference of pressure tendency between the two datasets appear for the daytime period from 06 to 12 UTC, accounting for better representation of orographic forcing in the HR dataset. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.

The potential genotoxic effects of several pure secondary metabolites produced by fungi used as biological control agents (BCAs) were studied with the Ames Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity assay and the Vitotox test, with and without metabolic activation. A complete set of Salmonella tester strains was used to avoid false negative results. To detect possible mutagenic and/or cytotoxic effects of fungal secondary metabolites due to synergistic action, crude extracts and fungal cell extracts of the BCAs were also examined. Although the sensitivity of the methods varied depending on the metabolite used, clearly no genotoxicity was observed in all cases. The results of the two assays are discussed in the light of being used in a complementary fashion for a convincing risk-assessment evaluation of fungal BCAs and their secondary metabolites.

The use of integrated Hospital Information Systems is related with many benefits for the healthcare system, increasing the effectiveness of the provided services and assuring quality of care. Aim of this study is to investigate the types of Information Systems, the level of integration and the problems identified during the implementation phase, in three public hospitals. The above are expected to contribute to the understanding of the organizational, human resource and technical factors related with the successful implementation of a hospital IS. In order to investigate those elements, an assessment questionnaire was developed and completed by nine hospitals IT employees of the three hospitals. In addition, open interviews were organized with the same employees to further formulate an overall aspect, while in one hospital case, observation and discussion with four different categories of involved staff was undertaken. It was found that the implementation problems are mainly related with the underfunding, inadequate use of standards, lack of skilled IT experts, insufficiently trained personnel and users' reserve. The problems may be tackled with a supportive hospital administration committed to the successful implementation. The external contracting company working on its own, without any participation of the hospital IT department seems to be a failure recipe. It is evident that an active management support and skillful hospital IT employees, are expected to result to success stories during the implementation of integrated hospital information systems.

second version, entire journal attached: pages 141-156 Kamberidou, Irene (2011). Athlete Activism and Peace Education: Bridging the Social Inequality Gap through Sports.  NEBULA A Journal of Multidisciplinary Scholarship, Volume 8, Issue 1, pp. 141-156, December 2011. Online Quarterly Academic Periodical. ISSN – 1449-7751

This paper examines the collaborative-intergenerational efforts, conflict resolution curricula, projects and training activities of non-profit organizations and NGOs— that reflect the values of Olympism—striving to eliminate racism and xenophobia as well as promote gender equity in sports. In this transitional stage of the postmodernist period, practices of social exclusion or under-representation due to gender, race, class, religion, sexual orientation, and so forth are socially problematic and theoretically inconsistent. The promotion of new role models and mentors in sports is vital in view of the systematic misinterpretation, or rather, misuse of Olympic values, such as obsessive competitiveness and the increase of violence and racism linked to sport events. Moreover, focusing on commercialization and consumerism are notincentives that reactivate Olympic values. A critical issue addressed, among others, is the democratization of the IOC structures. This paper argues that Peace Education—Olympism adapted into today’s globalized world—be incorporated into future reforms, educational policies and teaching practices in order to raise awareness concerning the core values of peace: pro-social attitudes, reducing ethnic prejudices, respect for diversity, promoting reconciliation, gender equality, non-violent conflict resolution and democratic decision-making.Keywords: peace education-conflict resolution skills, Olympism, racism, xenophobia, gender equity, glass ceiling, glass escalator, tokenism.I---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Second version, entire journal attached: pages 141-156 Kamberidou, Irene (2011). Athlete Activism and Peace Education: Bridging the Social Inequality Gap through Sports.  NEBULA A Journal of Multidisciplinary Scholarship, Volume 8, Issue 1, December 2011. Online Quarterly Academic Periodical. ISSN – 1449-7751 [First online version: 168-180]

Kamberidou, I. (2011). “Athletes United for Peace: Reconciliation through Sport.” Presentation (εισήγηση) at the international conference SPORT AS A MEDIATOR BETWEEN CULTURES, September 15-17, 2011, Wingate Institute/Zinman College, Israel.  The International  Council of Sport Science and Physical Education(ICSSPE/CIEPSS). http://www.icsspe.org/index_1068a88f.php.html [book of abstracts, also see powerpoint presentation in http://www.icsspe.org/documente/Irene_Kamberidou_-_Athletes_United_for_Peace.pdf

1.        D. 4.1, D.4.1.1 and  D.4.2 in Apella

Coaxial resonant cavities with longitudinal corrugations on the inner conductor are used in high-frequency high-power gyrotrons as means to reduce the number of possible competing modes. For a sufficiently large number of corrugations, the analytical approach usually treats the surface corrugation as a homogeneous surface impedance to obtain simple formulas for the characteristic equation and field components. These formulas can be introduced to interaction codes in a quite straightforward way. Full-wave approaches that account for the azimuthal periodicity of the structure and consider azimuthal spatial harmonics to describe the field distributions have been also employed, increasing though the complexity of the solution and the effort given in numerical calculations. In this paper, a full-wave code is used in an attempt to identify the way that the azimuthal spatial terms contribute to the reformation of the eigenvalue spectrum and propose a criterion for the selection of the spatial terms that should be taken into account for accurate enough calculations.

Hospital institution's managers are called upon to combine and utilize efficiently the finite financial resources toward the goal of maximizing the number and quality of health services offered. The research aim of this study is to primarily estimate the relative technical efficiency by using a sample from public hospital units that provide obstetrical and gynaecological services in Greece and secondly, to emphasize the policy implications for health sector policy-makers. In order to effectively address the above goals, a comparative analysis of 32 Greek Public Hospital Units was conducted. The research was based on data collected from official public sources. Quantitative analysis, specifically data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to estimate efficiency of hospital units. Based on the results that emerge from the application of Data Envelopment Analysis, information is provided to their managers, which refer to: (i) the degree of utilization of their production factors, (ii) the particular weight of each production factor in the modulation of the relative technical efficiency score, (iii) the utilization level of each production factor, and (iv) those hospital units that utilize their resources in an optimal way and constitute models for the exercising of effective management. Particular emphasis is given to the economic efficiency of central region hospital units' relative to those of the outlying regions. The derived information assists in the modulation of an appropriate policy mix per hospital unit which should be applied by their management teams along with a set of administrative measures that need to be undertaken in order to promote efficiency. © 2011 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND: Biomedical informatics is a broad discipline that borrows many methods and techniques from other disciplines. OBJECTIVE: To reflect a) on the character of biomedical informatics and to determine whether it is multi-disciplinary or inter-disciplinary; b) on the question whether biomedical informatics is more than the sum of its supporting disciplines and c) on the position of biomedical informatics with respect to related disciplines. METHOD: Inviting an international group of experts in biomedical informatics and related disciplines on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Methods of Information in Medicine to present their viewpoints. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: This paper contains the reflections of a number of the invited experts on the character of biomedical informatics. Most of the authors agree that biomedical informatics is an interdisciplinary field of study where researchers with different scientific backgrounds alone or in combination carry out research. Biomedical informatics is a very broad scientific field and still expanding, yet comprised of a constructive aspect (designing and building systems). One author expressed that the essence of biomedical informatics, as opposed to related disciplines, lies in the modelling of the biomedical content. Interdisciplinarity also has consequences for education. Maintaining rigid disciplinary structures does not allow for sufficient adaptability to capitalize on important trends nor to leverage the influences these trends may have on biomedical informatics. It is therefore important for students to become aware of research findings in related disciplines. In this respect, it was also noted that the fact that many scientific fields use different languages and that the research findings are stored in separate bibliographic databases makes it possible that potentially connected findings will never be linked, despite the fact that these findings were published. Bridges between the sciences are needed for the success of biomedical informatics.

Pompe disease is an inherited metabolic disorder caused by α-glycosidase deficiency. The adult onset form is mainly characterized by progressive proximal muscle weakness and respiratory dysfunction. The aim of the present study is to evaluate body composition in adult patients before and after enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). Body composition was examined at baseline by means of dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in nine adult patients and after different time periods in six of them who received ERT. Total BMD (bone mineral density) was initially mildly decreased in two patients, while femoral neck BMD was decreased in five patients. On the other hand fat mass was increased in the majority of patients, while body mass index (BMI) was high in four. ERT administration did not seem to induce obvious BMD changes in any patient. Conclusively, the greater femoral neck BMD involvement may be attributed to the lower mechanical load applied by the selectively weakened muscles, whereas the increased fat mass may be the result of metabolic and nutritional derangement.

Reece et al report that single-agent bortezomib resulted in hematologic responses in two-thirds of patients with relapsed Light chain (AL) amyloidosis, including complete responses in one-third, while more than 75% of patients had response duration of more than or equal to 1 year.

This paper investigates calendar anomalies for four emerging stock markets (Romania,Bulgaria, Croatia and Turkey) and their mature counterpart in the Balkan region (Greece), during the period 2000-2008. Five well known calendar effects on both return and volatility are examined; the day of the week effect, the January effect, the half month effect, the turn of the month effect and the time of the month effect. We provide evidence for the existence of three calendar effects (day of the week, turn of the month, time of the month) in both mean and volatility equations for Greece and Turkey, which is consistent to the findings of previous studies. On the other hand, the effects for the three emerging Balkan markets are limited and exist only in volatility. This contradictory evidence could be due to a different level of liquidity and maturity for these markets.

Contemporary thinking seems to be particularly interested in the investigation of the role of culture in socio-political life. This article presents aspects of a research project, undertaken in Greece, looking into whether a cultural product can foster intercultural communication and influence young people’s perceptions of and attitudes to cultural and religious diversity. Such cultural products are the Theatre in Education (TiE) programmes, which focus on the use of the art of theatre as a means of educational intervention. For the purposes of our research a specially designed TiE programme was used as a means of intervention and as are search tool. Our research examines secondary education students’ perceptions of and attitudes to cultural and religious diversity prior to and following the intervention in Thessaloniki and in Thrace, Greece. This cultural intervention, which incorporates art and religion, offers new insights into the possibility of the use of TiE for the religious education of young people.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment and, with the proper risk-minimizing strategies, is relatively safe even in depressed patients with cardiovascular diseases. Specifically, patients with cardiac rhythm management devices (CRMDs) require particular attention because no controlled trials exist to support current empirical recommendations. We present a depressed patient with a pacemaker successfully treated with ECT, and we critically review the relevant literature. Pooled results from 63 patients and 821 ECT sessions showed that 90% of ECT sessions have been performed on depressed patients with their pacemakers in sensing mode and rate adaptation, where available, activated as well. Only 4% of sessions were performed with those functions disabled, whereas no data was available for 6% of ECT sessions. Pooled results from case series and reports highlight a discrepancy between current clinical practice and many guidelines. Electroconvulsive therapy is probably safe in depressed patients with asynchronous fixed-rate pacemakers, although there is a risk of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. A larger body of case series and reports suggests that there might be no need to convert synchronous demand pacemakers to asynchronous fixed-rate pacing. Regarding patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators, antitachycardia treatment was deactivated during most ECT sessions. In depressed patients with CRMDs anticholinergics might be best avoided. In all cases, proper ECT procedures, namely, patient and pacemaker electrical isolation, strict grounding and adequate muscle relaxation along with interrogation and monitoring of CRMDs before and after each session should ensure uncomplicated electroconvulsive treatments.

Case matching effects involve situations where a nominal element appears in a case that is not predicted by its syntactic status in its clause, but rather matches the case requirements of an external element. Such constructions pose serious problems for syntactic accounts of case in terms of a syntactic Case feature, because they involve a situation of case conflict/mismatch. In this article, I address the issue of case assignment/realization by examining case attraction phenomena in Greek free relative clauses. In particular, I suggest an analysis that builds on the idea that case categories are not primitives, but rather they can be decomposed in bundles of features and I propose a division of labour between narrow syntax and Morphological Structure as far as case assignment/realization is concerned. Case assignment takes place in narrow syntax as a licensing device (abstract case), but it refers only to those features that are relevant to the distinction between structural and inherent case. The full specification of the case feature bundle takes place in the Morphological Structure as a result of the application of specific case assignment algorithms defined in terms of case domains and hierarchies. At a theoretical level, such a hypothesis has the benefit of incorporating the insights about the role of case determination at Morphological Structure, as well as maintaining the well-established notion of abstract case as a licensing device of narrow syntax.

The increased operational tempo associated with current deployments to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) is placing considerable strain on military families. Among other sequelae of OIF and OEF deployment, findings from recent studies suggest high rates of depression in spouses of service members. This review presents a rationale for targeting depression among military spouses. It examines how stressors relating to the deployment cycle may contribute to depression in spouses and outlines the effects of spousal depression on the mental health of service members and their children. Mental health services currently available to military spouses as well as barriers to their care are also described. Considerations for the adaptation of treatment to their unique circumstances and needs are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved).

The optional use of morphology attested in second language learners has been attributed either to a representational deficit or to a ‘surface’ problem with respect to the realization of inflectional affixes. In this article we contribute to this issue by providing empirical data from the early interlanguage of Greek learners of Turkish. Three experiments have been conducted, a cloze task, a sentence picture matching task and an on-line grammaticality judgement task, in order to investigate case morphology and its interaction with word order constraints.The findings of all three experiments point towards a variable use of case morphology, which is also observed in previous studies of Turkish as a second language (L2). Moreover, they show clearly that the learners face difficulties with non-canonical word orders as well as with the interaction of word order constraints and Case. On the other hand, the learners performed well on verbal inflections. On the basis of these findings, we argue that the developmental patterns in the early stages of L2 acquisition cannot be attributed to a global lack of functional categories but rather to more localized difficulties, which seem to be related to (a) whether the features in the L2 are grammaticalized in the first language and (b) the way these features are encoded in the morphosyntax of the first language. Moreover, we claim that processing factors and the specific properties of the morphological paradigms affect L2 development.

E-cadherin (CDH1) loss occurs frequently in carcinogenesis, contributing to invasion and metastasis. We observed that mouse and human epithelial cell lines overexpressing the replication licensing factor Cdc6 underwent phenotypic changes with mesenchymal features and loss of E-cadherin. Analysis in various types of human cancer revealed a strong correlation between increased Cdc6 expression and reduced E-cadherin levels. Prompted by these findings, we discovered that Cdc6 repressed CDH1 transcription by binding to the E-boxes of its promoter, leading to dissociation of the chromosomal insulator CTCF, displacement of the histone variant H2A.Z, and promoter heterochromatinization. Mutational analysis identified the Walker B motif and C-terminal region of Cdc6 as essential for CDH1 transcriptional suppression. Strikingly, CTCF displacement resulted in activation of adjacent origins of replication. These data demonstrate that Cdc6 acts as a molecular switch at the E-cadherin locus, linking transcriptional repression to activation of replication, and provide a telling example of how replication licensing factors could usurp alternative programs to fulfill distinct cellular functions.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the levels of homocysteine and 8-iso PGF 2a in football and hockey players before and soon after a match, on the predisposition for development of atherosclerosis. We measured 8-iso-PGF 2a and homocysteine in 21 football athletes aged 21.8 ± 3.7 years old and 18 hockey athletes 22.2 ± 3.3 years old, respectively. All the athletes presented significant increases in serum homocysteine levels following the match (p = 0.001 for football and p = 0.001 for hockey players) Also a statistically significant increase of 8-iso-PGF 2a levels was found in hockey and football athletes following the match (p < 0.001 and p = 0.071). Our findings suggest that strenuous exercise such as a football or a hockey match causes a marked increase in serum homocysteine and 8-iso-PGF 2a. Due to the fact that homocysteine and 8-iso-PGF 2a are contributing to atheromatosis, it may be useful to follow a restoration exercise program that involves mild exercise and to pay special attention to folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 balance during the first 24 h after the match. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the levels of homocysteine and 8-iso PGF2a in football and hockey players before and soon after a match, on the predisposition for development of atherosclerosis. We measured 8-iso-PGF2a and homocysteine in 21 football athletes aged 21.8 ± 3.7 years old and 18 hockey athletes 22.2 ± 3.3 years old, respectively. All the athletes presented significant increases in serum homocysteine levels following the match (p = 0.001 for football and p = 0.001 for hockey players) Also a statistically significant increase of 8-iso-PGF 2a levels was found in hockey and football athletes following the match (p < 0.001 and p = 0.071). Our findings suggest that strenuous exercise such as a football or a hockey match causes a marked increase in serum homocysteine and 8-iso-PGF2a. Due to the fact that homocysteine and 8-iso-PGF2a are contributing to atheromatosis, it may be useful to follow a restoration exercise program that involves mild exercise and to pay special attention to folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 balance during the first 24 h after the match. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the levels of homocysteine and 8-iso PGF2a in football and hockey players before and soon after a match, on the predisposition for development of atherosclerosis. We measured 8-iso-PGF2a and homocysteine in 21 football athletes aged 21.8 ± 3.7 years old and 18 hockey athletes 22.2 ± 3.3 years old, respectively. All the athletes presented significant increases in serum homocysteine levels following the match (p = 0.001 for football and p = 0.001 for hockey players) Also a statistically significant increase of 8-iso-PGF 2a levels was found in hockey and football athletes following the match (p < 0.001 and p = 0.071). Our findings suggest that strenuous exercise such as a football or a hockey match causes a marked increase in serum homocysteine and 8-iso-PGF2a. Due to the fact that homocysteine and 8-iso-PGF2a are contributing to atheromatosis, it may be useful to follow a restoration exercise program that involves mild exercise and to pay special attention to folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 balance during the first 24 h after the match. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Although haematological toxicities, such as anaemia, are common in multiple myeloma (MM), no clear consensus exists on the use and impact of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) on outcomes in MM. This analysis characterizes haematological toxicities and associated interventions in the phase III VISTA (Velcade ® as Initial Standard Therapy in Multiple Myeloma: Assessment with Melphalan and Prednisone) study of bortezomib plus melphalan/prednisone (VMP, n=344) versus MP (n=338) in previously untreated MM patients ineligible for high-dose therapy, and evaluates the impact of ESA use or red-blood-cell (RBC) transfusions on outcomes and thromboembolic risk. Incidence of haematological toxicities was similar with VMP and MP; similar rates of interventions and associated complications (e.g. bleeding, febrile neutropenia) were observed. Two hundred thirty three patients received ESA; 204 had RBC transfusions. Frequency of thromboembolic events was low and not affected by ESA use. Median time-to progression (TTP) was similar between ESA/non-ESA [hazard ratio: 1·03 (95% confidence interval 0·76-1·39); P=0·8478] in both arms (VMP: 19·9/not reached; MP: 15·0/17·5months). Three-year overall survival (OS) rates were similar between ESA/non-ESA in each arm. Patients receiving RBC transfusions had significantly shorter OS (P<0·0001) versus non-RBC-transfusion patients. In conclusion, bortezomib did not add to melphalan haematological toxicity. Concomitant ESA use with VMP/MP in previously untreated MM patients did not adversely affect TTP or OS, or increase thromboembolic risk. However, RBC transfusion was associated with significantly shorter survival. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Mastic water is a commercial flavouring obtained during the steam distillation of mastic resin (the resin of Pistacia lentiscus var. chia) for the production of mastic oil. The mastic water extracts were analysed by GC-MS. The major compounds identified were verbenone, α-terpineol, linalool and trans-pinocarveol. Overall the composition was found to be very different from that of mastic oil. Additional GC-MS revealed the enantiomeric ratio of the chiral constituents of mastic water. The antimicrobial activity of mastic water extract, as well as that of its major constituents, was examined against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida spp. including ATCC wild clinical and food-borne strains. Linalool and α-terpineol were found to be the most potent antimicrobial constituents. Finally the stability of mastic water at different temperatures was studied, showing no change in the GC-MS profile of the organic extract for a period of 4 months at storage temperatures up to 4 °C. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Acute urticaria (AU) is a common condition that often presents in childhood. Although there is a general perception of cyclic annual trends in AU, no one has tried to identify any seasonal variation on its prevalence and incidence, associate environmental influences and impute geographic, ethnic, or even genetic features that may contribute to its onset. We aimed to analyze the influence of climate and geographic parameters on annual fluctuation of AU cases referred to the Emergency Departments (EDs) of Norwich (UK) and Heraklion (Crete, Greece), compare all identifiable potential triggers and severity, and calculate the prevalence and incidence of AU. Record-based data of all children up to 14 yr of age referred to both EDs between June 2005 and May 2007 were examined retrospectively. Demographic characteristics and any potential identifiable triggers of AU were recorded and compared. Poisson's regression was utilized to examine any influence of meteorological parameters on AU incidence. Edwards' test for seasonality was applied to identify any significant seasonal trend of the AU incidence within each city. Seven hundred and twenty-nine AU cases were identified (324 in Norwich and 405 in Heraklion), among 56,624 total referrals (28,931 and 27,693 cases, respectively). Respiratory infections were found to be the most commonly associated potential triggers of AU and food allergens the least. AU cases and incidence rates in both cities were equally distributed during the study period. A non-significant seasonal trend in AU incidence (October, April-May) was observed in Norwich, in contrast to a significant seasonal pattern (December, February-May) of AU in Heraklion. Temperature was inversely associated with AU incidence, while the statistically significant effect of relative humidity varied. Acute childhood urticaria shows a similar epidemiological pattern in northern and southern Europe regardless of the expected differences in genetic, geographic, and environmental background. Temperature and humidity are correlated with AU incidence. Seasonality of several acute respiratory viral infections, the most prominent associated trigger of AU, coincides with the observed AU seasonality, suggesting a potential linkage. However, this needs to be elucidated from larger epidemiological studies.

{The adipokine visfatin has been proposed to exert insulin-mimicking effects and to play a role in the development of metabolic syndrome. Preterm infants are at risk for the later development of insulin resistance and, possibly, for other components of metabolic syndrome. Dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) during the perinatal period may reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome. The authors’ objective was to study the circulating concentrations of visfatin in preterm infants and to examine associations of visfatin with anthropometric measurements, metabolic indices, and dietary LCPUFAs. Serum visfatin concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at mean (SD) 33.8 (11.7) days of life in 60 healthy preterm infants (gestational age, 32.7 [1.9] weeks) randomly assigned to be fed since birth either a formula containing LCPUFA (arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid) (+LCPUFA group) or the same formula without LCPUFA (-LCPUFA group). Associations of visfatin with anthropometric parameters, serum glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance, blood lipids, and adiponectin levels were examined. Serum visfatin levels were significantly higher in the +LCPUFA than in the -LCPUFA group (P < .001) and correlated positively with body weight z score (β = 0.31

Disorders such as depression and anxiety exhibit strong sex differences in their prevalence and incidence, with women also differing from men in their response to antidepressants. Furthermore, receptors for corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRHR1) and arginine vasopressin receptor subtype 1b (AVPR1b) are known to contribute to the regulation of mood and anxiety. In the present study, we compared the anxiety profile and CRHR1 and AVPR1b expression levels in control Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and rats of the SD-derived Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL), a genetic model of depression. Additionally, given the apparent sex differences in the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressants and because antidepressants are commonly used to treat comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms, we assessed whether the anxiolytic effects of an antidepressant occur in a sex-dependent manner. Male and female FSL rats were treated with citalopram 10 mg/kg once daily for 14 days and were then tested in the open field and the elevated plus maze paradigms. Upon completion of the behavioural analysis, AVPR1b and CRHR1 expression levels were monitored in the hypothalamus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) using Western blotting. According to our results, male FSL rats were more anxious than control SD rats, a difference abolished by citalopram treatment. Baseline anxiety levels were similar in female FSL and SD rats, and citalopram further reduced anxiety in female FSL rats. Importantly, whereas citalopram altered AVPR1b expression in the hypothalamus of male FSL rats, its actions on this parameter were restricted to the PFC in female FSL rats. In both sexes of FSL rats, citalopram did not alter CRHR1 expression in either the hypothalamus or PFC. Our results demonstrate that antidepressant treatment reduces anxiety levels in FSL rats of both sexes: the magnitude of treatment effect was related to the starting baseline level of anxiety and the antidepressant elicited sexually differentiated neurobiological responses in specific brain regions.

European Media provides a clear, concise account of the structures, dynamics and realities of the changing face of media in Europe. It offers a timely and illuminating appraisal of the issues surrounding the development of new media in Europe and explores debates about the role of the media in the formation of a European public sphere and a European identity.The book argues that Europe offers an ideal context for examining interactions between global, regional and national media processes and its individual chapters consider: the changing structure of the European media; the development of new media; the Europeanization of the media in the region; the challenges for the content; and audiences. Special emphasis is given to the transformation of political communication in Europe and the alleged emergence of a European public sphere and identity. European Media: Structures, Politics and Identity is an invaluable text for courses on media and international studies as well as courses dealing with European and national policy studies. It is also helpful to students, researchers and professionals in the media sector since it combines hard facts with theoretical insight.

An objective climatology of explosive cyclones is performed over a 40-year period (1962-2001), for the Mediterranean region with the aid of the Melbourne University automatic cyclone finding and tracking scheme. The major temporal and spatial characteristics of Mediterranean explosive cyclones are investigated, including frequency, movement, generation and dissipation, scale, depth, and intensity. It was verified that the explosive cyclogenesis in the Mediterranean is a rather rare phenomenon that occurs mainly from November to March. Explosive cyclones preferentially form along the northern Mediterranean coast, with maximum density in the Ligurian and Aegean Seas. The cyclogenesis mechanism that predominates in their development is characterized by an interaction of a short and an open long wave in a pre-existing development (referred to as the KF mechanism). There are distinct differences between Western Mediterranean and Eastern Mediterranean explosive cyclones. Although explosive cyclones tend to form in the Western Mediterranean, their scale and depth is greater in the Eastern Mediterranean. Explosive cyclones more likely move from the main cyclogenetic areas in the Western Mediterranean along specific eastward paths over southern Italy and the Ionian Sea where they dissipate or they generate in Eastern Mediterranean and move north-eastwards to the Black Sea or eastwards to Cyprus and Middle East. © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society.

The paper studies the climatology of the Discomfort Index (DI) and the Common Air Quality Index (CAQI) in a large Mediterranean urban center (Greater Thessaloniki Area), examines the relations between the indices and the climatic conditions in the study area and investigates the linkage between the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect and the enhanced discomfort and poor air quality in the city center. Discomfort conditions are more enhanced during July and August. Atmospheric conditions when the population suffers discomfort and feels severe stress are found mainly in the summer season hours with total frequency that can be up to about 4% in a month. Throughout the year, air quality conditions are unhealthier in the stations of urban characterization. Very high daily CAQI values are more frequent during the cold period (about 14%) than during the warm period (1-2%) of the year in the urban stations. Daily DI∈≥24°C could be more associated to increased temperature than relative humidity and is strongly related to high and very high CAQI values. During summer, when daily CAQI is ≥76, the feeling of discomfort is the most probable. Consequently, a strong synergy between discomfort and bad air quality exists in summertime. High and very high CAQI values and the discomfort feeling by the majority of the population are related to stagnant atmospheric conditions. During summer season, the poor air quality and the unfavorable comfort conditions for the majority of the population in the city center are associated with the greater frequency of a more intense UHI effect. The above phenomenon is more pronounced during nighttime than daytime. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Objective To assess clinical characteristics and expectations in well women requesting elective labial reduction surgery. Design Prospective study of women attending an outpatient gynaecology clinic. Setting General gynaecology clinic at a Central London teaching hospital. Sample Women requesting labial reduction surgery and referred by their general practitioner. Methods The labia minora width and length were measured for all participants for comparison with published normal values. The presenting complaint was recorded, along with demographic details, expectations of surgery and sources of information regarding appearance of the labia. Main outcome measures Labial measurements, reported symptoms and expectations of surgery. Results The labia of all participants were within normal published limits, with a mean (SD) of 26.9 (12.8) mm (right labia), and 24.8 (13.1) mm (left labia). The majority of complaints were regarding appearance or discomfort. Expectations were to alter the appearance with surgery. Conclusions All women seeking surgery had normal-sized labia minora. Clear guidance is needed for clinicians on how best to care for the worried well woman seeking surgery. © 2011 The Authors BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology © 2011 RCOG.

BACKGROUND: Topographic correlation between the primary gastric tumor and the first peri- and extragastric lymphatic drain basin (solitary lymph node metastasis) on gastrectomy specimens, represents a reliable method to investigate and understand the exact pattern of lymphatic drainage from a gastric tumor. Analyzing that correlation, useful information regarding the extent of the appropriate oncological perigastric lymphadenectomy will be provided. We retrospectively evaluate the usefulness of a modified D2 lymphadenectomy in gastric cancer patients, based on the topographic correlation between the primary tumor and the location of the solitary lymph node metastases, as they were detected by histology and immunohistochemistry. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Between April 2003 and March 2010, 134 gastric cancer patients were submitted to a modified D2 lymphadenectomy. Postoperatively, the standard histological ex-amination by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, disclosed metastatic infiltration of at least two lymph nodes in 90 patients, solitary lymph node metastases were histologically detected in 10 patients, while the remaining 34 patients were classified as pN0. All lymph nodes of the ten patients with histological solitary lymph node metastases, as well as the 34 patients who had been classified as pN0 by histology, were further submitted to immunohistochemistry for micrometastases detection. More than one micrometastases were detected in none of them, while in seven patients solitary micrometastases were detected either in the level I perigastric or in the level II extragastric lymph nodes stations (skip micrometastases). RESULTS: Solitary lymph node metastases were detected by histology in ten patients and by immunohistochemistry in additional seven (nine females and eight males). Solitary metastases were detected in the level I LN stations in seven patients (four by histology and three by immunohistochemistry) and in the level II LN stations in ten patients (six by histology and four by immunohistochemistry). In order of frequency, the solitary lymph node metastases were located in the no 7 (n = 6), no 6 (n = 4), no 9 (n = 2), no 5 (n = 2), no 4 (n = 1), no 8 (n = 1) and no 12 (n = 1) LN stations. Skip metastases encountered the 60% of the histologically detected, 57% of the immunohistochemically detected and 59% of all solitary lymph node metastases. 80% of solitary metastases in the level II LN stations, were mainly located in the nos 7-9 lymph node stations complex. Tumors of the lower and middle-third of the stomach were equally drained both to the level I and level II lymph node stations, while 67% of the tumors towards the lesser curvature, were mainly drained in the level II lymph node stations. CONCLUSION: D2 lymphadenectomy increases the number of true R0 resections. Thus, a modified D2 lymphadenectomy should be routinely performed in gastric cancer patients.

Unprecedented low-dispersion high-frequency acoustic excitations are observed in dense suspensions of elastically hard colloids. The experimental phononic band structure for SiO 2   particles with different sizes and volume fractions is well represented by rigorous full-elastodynamic multiple-scattering calculations. The slow phonons, which do not relate to particle resonances, are localized in the surrounding liquid medium and stem from coherent multiple scattering that becomes strong in the close-packing regime. Such rich phonon-matter interactions in nanostructures, being still unexplored, can open new opportunities in phononics.

A Comment on the Letter by Mark I. Stockman, Phys. Rev. Lett.PRLTAO0031-9007 106, 156802 (2011)10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.156802. The author of the Letter offers a Reply. © 2011 American Physical Society.

Triple-negative breast cancers are an aggressive subtype of breast cancer with poor survival, but there remains little known about the etiologic factors that promote its initiation and development. Commonly inherited breast cancer risk factors identified through genome-wide association studies display heterogeneity of effect among breast cancer subtypes as defined by the status of estrogen and progesterone receptors. In the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Consortium (TNBCC), 22 common breast cancer susceptibility variants were investigated in 2,980 Caucasian women with triple-negative breast cancer and 4,978 healthy controls. We identified six singlenucleotide polymorphisms, including rs2046210 (ESR1), rs12662670 (ESR1), rs3803662 (TOX3), rs999737 (RAD51L1), rs8170 (19p13.1), and rs8100241 (19p13.1), significantly associated with the risk of triple-negative breast cancer. Together, our results provide convincing evidence of genetic susceptibility for triple-negative breast cancer. ©2011 AACR.

Estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer shows a higher incidence in women of African ancestry compared to women of European ancestry. In search of common risk alleles for ER-negative breast cancer, we combined genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from women of African ancestry (1,004 ER-negative cases and 2,745 controls) and European ancestry (1,718 ER-negative cases and 3,670 controls), with replication testing conducted in an additional 2,292 ER-negative cases and 16,901 controls of European ancestry. We identified a common risk variant for ER-negative breast cancer at the TERT-CLPTM1L locus on chromosome 5p15 (rs10069690: per-allele odds ratio (OR) = 1.18 per allele, P = 1.0 × 10 -10). The variant was also significantly associated with triple-negative (ER-negative, progesterone receptor (PR)-negative and human epidermal growth factor-2 (HER2)-negative) breast cancer (OR = 1.25, P = 1.1 × 10 -9), particularly in younger women (<50 years of age) (OR = 1.48, P = 1.9 × 10 -9). Our results identify a genetic locus associated with estrogen receptor negative breast cancer subtypes in multiple populations. © 2011 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.

OBJECTIVES: Doripenem is a new carbapenem recently introduced into Europe. The COMParative Activity of Carbapenem Testing (COMPACT) study compared the susceptibility of common Gram-negative bacilli causing serious infections in hospitalized patients with doripenem, imipenem and meropenem. METHODS: Gram-negative isolates (4498 total: 2171 Pseudomonas species; 1910 Enterobacteriaceae; and 417 other Gram-negative bacilli) were collected from 80 centres in 16 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa during 2008-09. The MICs of doripenem, imipenem and meropenem were determined using Etest methodology and broth microdilution. Susceptibility was interpreted according to CLSI, EUCAST and FDA breakpoints. RESULTS: The MIC(90)s of doripenem, imipenem and meropenem for all isolates were 8, ≥64 and 32 mg/L, respectively. Doripenem had the lowest MIC(90) for Pseudomonas species at 16 mg/L, with imipenem and meropenem values of ≥64 mg/L. Enterobacteriaceae were highly susceptible to all three carbapenems, with MIC(90)s of doripenem, imipenem and meropenem of 0.06, 0.5 and 0.12 mg/L, respectively. Other Gram-negative isolates, predominantly Acinetobacter baumannii, were resistant to all three carbapenems (MIC(90) ≥64 mg/L). Susceptibility to doripenem was observed in 14.9% of isolates resistant to imipenem and/or meropenem. CONCLUSIONS: Doripenem showed excellent activity against Gram-negative isolates; generally it was more active than imipenem and at least as good as meropenem. Against Pseudomonas species, doripenem was more active than both imipenem and meropenem, with doripenem susceptibility observed for some imipenem- and/or meropenem-resistant isolates.

BACKGROUND: HIV-1 is characterized by increased genetic heterogeneity which tends to hinder the reliability of detection and accuracy of HIV-1 RNA quantitation assays. METHODS: In this study, the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 (Abbott RealTime) assay was compared to the Roche Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 (Cobas TaqMan) and the Siemens Versant HIV-1 RNA 3.0 (bDNA 3.0) assays, using clinical samples of various viral load levels and subtypes from Greece, where the recent epidemiology of HIV-1 infection has been characterized by increasing genetic diversity and a marked increase in subtype A genetic strains among newly diagnosed infections. RESULTS: A high correlation was observed between the quantitative results obtained by the Abbott RealTime and the Cobas TaqMan assays. Viral load values quantified by the Abbott RealTime were on average lower than those obtained by the Cobas TaqMan, with a mean (SD) difference of -0.206 (0.298) log(10) copies/ml. The mean differences according to HIV-1 subtypes between the two techniques for samples of subtype A, B, and non-A/non-B were 0.089, -0.262, and -0.298 log(10) copies/ml, respectively. Overall, differences were less than 0.5 log(10) for 85% of the samples, and >1 log(10) in only one subtype B sample. Similarly, Abbott RealTime and bDNA 3.0 assays yielded a very good correlation of quantitative results, whereas viral load values assessed by the Abbott RealTime were on average higher (mean (SD) difference: 0.160 (0.287) log(10) copies/ml). The mean differences according to HIV-1 subtypes between the two techniques for subtype A, B and non-A/non-B samples were 0.438, 0.105 and 0.191 log(10) copies/ml, respectively. Overall, the majority of samples (86%) differed by less than 0.5 log(10), while none of the samples showed a deviation of more than 1.0 log(10). CONCLUSIONS: In an area of changing HIV-1 subtype pattern, the Abbott RealTime assay showed a high correlation and good agreement of results when compared both to the Cobas TaqMan and bDNA 3.0 assays, for all HIV-1 subtypes tested. All three assays could determine viral load from samples of different HIV-1 subtypes adequately. However, assay variation should be taken into account when viral load monitoring of the same individual is assessed by different systems.

The propagation stage of uncertainty evaluation, known as the propagation of distributions, is in most cases approached by the GUM (Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement) uncertainty framework which is based on the law of propagation of uncertainty assigned to various input quantities and the characterization of the measurand (output quantity) by a Gaussian or a t-distribution. Recently, a Supplement to the ISO-GUM was prepared by the JCGM (Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology). This Guide gives guidance on propagating probability distributions assigned to various input quantities through a numerical simulation (Monte Carlo Method) and determining a probability distribution for the measurand. In the present work the two approaches were used to estimate the uncertainty of the direct determination of cadmium in water by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The expanded uncertainty results (at 95% confidence levels) obtained with the GUM Uncertainty Framework and the Monte Carlo Method at the concentration level of 3.01 μg/L were ±0.20 μg/L and ±0.18 μg/L, respectively. Thus, the GUM Uncertainty Framework slightly overestimates the overall uncertainty by 10%. Even after taking into account additional sources of uncertainty that the GUM Uncertainty Framework considers as negligible, the Monte Carlo gives again the same uncertainty result (±0.18 μg/L). The main source of this difference is the approximation used by the GUM Uncertainty Framework in estimating the standard uncertainty of the calibration curve produced by least squares regression. Although the GUM Uncertainty Framework proves to be adequate in this particular case, generally the Monte Carlo Method has features that avoid the assumptions and the limitations of the GUM Uncertainty Framework. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fe3Si is a ferromagnetic material with possible applications in magnetic tunnel junctions. When doped with Mn, the material shows a complex magnetic behavior, as suggested by older experiments. We employed the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker Green-function method within density-functional theory in order to study the alloy Fe3-xMnxSi, with 0 <= x <= 1. Chemical disorder is described within the coherent potential approximation. In agreement with experiment, we find that the Mn atoms align ferromagnetically to the Fe atoms, and that the magnetization and Curie temperature drop with increasing Mn concentration x. The calculated spin polarization P at the Fermi level varies strongly with x, from P = -0.3 at x = 0 (ordered Fe3Si) through P = 0 at x = 0.28, to P = +1 for x > 0.75; i.e., at high Mn concentrations the system is half metallic. We discuss the origin of the trends of magnetic moments, exchange interactions, Curie temperature, and the spin polarization.

Early prediction of human intestinal absorption is important in selection of potential orally administered drugs. Various computational models for prediction of the fraction of dose absorbed, Fa, have been developed. In 1989, a sigmoidal relationship between Fa and drug absorption potential was shown. Since then various physicochemical descriptors of molecules (lipophilicity, polar surface area, hydrogen bond descriptors) have been found to correlate with human intestinal absorption and various attempts in estimating Fa have been reported. Most studies rely on the presupposition that Fa is mainly dependent on drug's solubility, which drives the dissolution rate in the gastrointestinal (GI) fluids, and the rate of passive drug transport across the intestinal membrane. In the same vein, the biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) and the relevant FDA guideline classify drugs in four categories according to their aqueous solubility and permeability. However, the biopharmaceutics drug disposition classification system (BDDCS) revealed the poor predictability of permeability estimates for Fa and the major role of transporters for GI uptake of drugs. The role of solubility in the reaction limited model of dissolution and the ubiquitous presence of supersaturated solubility-dissolution phenomena in the GI lumen, call for a more physiologically relevant consideration of GI absorption.

Biochemical markers of bone turnover provide insight into ongoing rates of skeletal metabolism and tumor-bone interactions in patients with malignant bone disease. This article reviews the available recent evidence assessing the potential of bone markers for detecting and monitoring malignant bone lesions in patients with advanced cancers, and for assessing overall skeletal health and response to antiresorptive therapies in patients at all stages of cancer progression. Most data thus far are for urinary N-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX) in predicting risks of skeletal morbidity and death and monitoring response to zoledronic acid in patients with bone metastases. Ongoing studies are evaluating such correlations for other markers and therapies. Emerging evidence suggests that bone markers may help identify patients at high risk for bone metastasis or bone lesion progression, thereby allowing improved follow-up. Results from ongoing clinical trials evaluating such potential applications of bone markers are awaited. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

A panel of members of the 2009 International Myeloma Workshop developed guidelines for risk stratification in multiple myeloma. The purpose of risk stratification is not to decide time of therapy but to prognosticate. There is general consensus that risk stratification is applicable to newly diagnosed patients; however, some genetic abnormalities characteristic of poor outcome at diagnosis may suggest poor outcome if only detected at the time of relapse. Thus, in good-risk patients, it is necessary to evaluate for high-risk features at relapse. Although detection of any cytogenetic abnormality is considered to suggest higher-risk disease, the specific abnormalities considered as poor risk are cytogenetically detected chromosomal 13 or 13q deletion, t(4;14) and del17p, and detection by fluorescence in situ hybridization of t(4;14), t(14;16), and del17p. Detection of 13q deletion by fluorescence in situ hybridization only, in absence of other abnormalities, is not considered a high-risk feature. High serumβ2-microglobulin level and International Staging System stages II and III, incorporating high β 2-microglobulin and low albumin, are considered to predict higher risk disease. There was a consensus that the high-risk features will change in the future, with introduction of other new agents or possibly new combinations. © 2011 by The American Society of Hematology.

A panel of members of the 2009 International Myeloma Workshop developed guidelines for standard investigative workup of patients with suspected multiple myeloma. Both serum and urine should be assessed for monoclonal protein. Measurement of monoclonal protein both by densitometer tracing and/by nephelometric quantitation is recommended, and immunofixation is required for confirmation. The serum-free light chain assay is recommended in all newly diagnosed patients with plasma cell dyscrasias. Bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy along with demonstration of clonality of plasma cells are necessary. Serum β2-microglobulin, albumin, and lactate dehydrogenase are necessary for prognostic purposes. Standard metaphase cytogenetics and fluorescent in situ hybridization for 17p, t(4;14), and t(14;16) are recommended. The skeletal survey remains the standard method for imaging screening, but magnetic resonance imaging frequently provides valuable diagnostic and prognostic information. Most of these tests are repeated during follow-up or at relapse. © 2011 by The American Society of Hematology.

It is essential that there be consistency in the conduct, analysis, and reporting of clinical trial results in myeloma. The goal of the International Myeloma Workshop Consensus Panel 1 was to develop a set of guidelines for the uniform reporting of clinical trial results in myeloma. This paper provides a summary of the current response criteria in myeloma, detailed definitions for patient populations, lines of therapy, and specific endpoints. We propose that future clinical trials in myeloma follow the guidelines for reporting results proposed in this manuscript. © 2011 by The American Society of Hematology.

The phosphoglucomutase gene from a wild type Fusarium oxysporum   strain (F3), was homologously expressed, under the control of the constitutive promoter of gpdA of Aspergillus nidulans. The transformant produced elevated levels of phosphoglucomutase activity compared to the wild type, a fact that facilitated the subsequent purification procedure. The enzyme (FoPGM) was purified to homogeneity applying three anion exchange and one gel filtration chromatography steps. The native enzyme revealed a monomeric structure with a molecular mass of 60 kDa, while the isoelectric point was 3.5. FoPGM was active in pH ranged from 6.0 to 8.0, with an optimum using 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid buffer at 7.0, while loss of activity was observed when phosphate buffer was used in the above mentioned pH range. The optimal temperature for activity was 45 °C but the enzyme became unstable at temperatures above 40 °C. FoPGM requires the presence of a divalent cation for its function with maximum activity being obtained with Co2+. The apparent Km for Co2+ was found to be 10 μM. The enzyme was also active with other divalent metal ions such as Mn2+, Mg2+, Ni2+ and Ca2+ but to a lesser extent. The following kinetic constants were determined: vmax, 0.74 μmol mgprotein−1 min−1; kcat, 44.2 min−1; Km(G1P), 0.10 mM;Km(G1,6diP), 1.03 μM; kcat/Km(G1P), 443 mM−1 min−1 and kcat/Km(G1,6diP), 42,860 mM−1 min−1. The enzyme was considered to follow a Ping Pong substituted enzyme or enzyme isomerization mechanism.

The effects of hydrothermal and thermal treatments on surface oxygen functionalization of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were quantitatively investigated by means of water adsorption/desorption, temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and nitrogen porosimetry. SWNTs hydrothermally treated under mild acidic conditions were compared to highly purified reference materials heavily functionalized under aggressive reflux conditions. Water adsorption/desorption and TPD analysis were successfully combined to determine the nature, concentration, thermal stability, and acidic strength of the oxygen functional groups on the SWNT's surface. These results were correlated to Raman spectroscopy data that allowed identifying the marked evolution of the defect-activated phonon modes of SWNTs. The concomitant charge transfer effects were differentiated through the distinct variation of both first- and second-order Raman modes as a function of the amount and acidity of the surface oxygen groups as well as the SWNT's chirality. In addition, analytical investigations on thermally treated SWNTs in mild oxidative (in air) and pyrolytic conditions (under Ar) confirmed the formation of amorphous carbon that depends primarily on the acidification process, although a significant fraction of functional groups remains attached on the SWNTs' walls rather than on carboxylated carbonaceous fragments. Quenched solid density functional theory (QSDFT) analysis of the bimodal pore size distribution of the functionalized SWNTs revealed pronounced variations of the underlying microporous and mesoporous structure, associated with the diverse effects of the packing between SWNT bundles and the closer aggregation of individual carbon nanotubes upon surface oxidation and thermal treatment. The SWNTs functionalization procedure can be effectively controlled and quantified, and the optimum conditions can be defined in relation to the desired physicochemical properties and pore structure characteristics for specific applications. © 2011 American Chemical Society.

This study examines firm’s stock returns’ behaviour, when they announce corporate events like management change, collaborations and stock repurchase. It examines how this change is portrayed in firms’ stock prices returns. The methodologies used are the methodology of event study analysis and bootstrap methodology. Companies selected belong to eight different sectors of Athens Stock Exchange with different Stock Exchange value in order to get a more general picture that does not only represent one sector which can be influenced individually from accidental factors. The sample constitutes forty firms listed in Athens Stock Exchange. Results indicate that corporate events’ impact is important and a key for enterprises to follow new challenges and create financial value. This paper provides evidence on the impact of corporate governance on stock returns in Greece. The implication is that corporate events create financial value.

Malassezia yeasts are found on the skin of all humans and many warm-blooded animals. In vitro they have the ability to synthesize potent ligands (indolo[3,2-b]carbazole, malassezin and indirubin) of the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR; synonym: dioxin receptor) when the sweat contained l-tryptophan is used as the single nitrogen source. The production of these AhR-ligands has been associated with pathogenic strains of a certain Malassezia species (Malassezia furfur) but recent evidence shows that this property is widely distributed in almost all currently known Malassezia species. AhR is associated with carcinogenesis and the potential connection of these ubiquitous skin symbionts, and putative pathogens, with skin neoplasia should be evaluated mainly focusing on mechanisms related to the distinctive ability of the yeast to produce potent AhR ligands. Hypothesis: Synthesis of available pertinent data show a possible link between Malassezia produced AhR ligands and skin carcinogenesis, particularly of basal cell carcinoma (BCC).BCCs are almost exclusively observed in animal species colonized by Malassezia. In humans and animals there is overlapping in the skin regions colonized by this yeast and affected by BCC. The potent AhR ligands synthesized by pathogenic Malassezia strains could contribute to tumor promotion by: modification of the UV radiation carcinogenesis, alterations in the salvage/survival of initiated tumor cells, inhibition of cell senescence, interaction with vitamin D metabolism, promotion of immune tolerance and finally pro-carcinogenic modulation of cell cycle progression and apoptosis. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Η εργασία αυτή εξετάζει την προβολή του γυναικείου αθλητισμού στα ΜΜΕ: ΗΠΑ, Αυστραλία, Ελλάδα. Ειδικά στις ΗΠΑ επισημαίνεται η «κρίση στο γυναικείο αθλητισμό» όπου η τηλεοπτική κάλυψη γυναικείων αγώνων είναι λιγότερη από ότι ήταν πριν 20 χρόνια [1]. Από την ανασκόπηση της βιβλιογραφίας και την επεξεργασία πρόσφατων συζητήσεων και ποσοτικών και ποιοτικών αναλύσεων γίνεται φανερό ότι: Πρώτον, η αθλήτρια απολαμβάνει, σε αντίθεση με το παρελθόν, μια εκρηκτική παρουσία στα ΜΜΕ, αλλά όχι για την αθλητική της ιδιότητα. Δεύτερον, εντοπίζονται ‘ίσες ευκαιρίες’ στην εμπορευματοποίηση-‘μοντελοποίηση’ του σώματος και της αθλητικής ταυτότητας: προβολή των άφυλων αθλητών/τριών, θηλυκοποίηση του αθλητή και αρρενοποίηση της αθλήτριας. Τρίτον, σταδιακά καταρρίπτονται οι θεωρήσεις ότι μόνο το γυναικείο σώμα αντικειμενικοποιείται. Τέλος, διαπραγματευόμαστε εναλλακτικά αθλητικά μοντέλα, μια ολιστική προσέγγιση, ενόψει της εμπορικής παγκοσμιοποίησης του Αθλητισμού και της αθλητικής ταυτότητας. Οι κλωνοποιημένοι αθλητές-ήρωες και αθλήτριες-ηρωίδες που προβάλλονται στα ΜΜΕ δεν εκπροσωπούν την πλειονότητα των αθλητών/τριών της κοινωνικής περιοχής του αθλητισμού. Ένας αυξανόμενος αριθμός ανώνυμων-ηρωίδων - αθλητριών, γυμναστριών, ερευνητριών - δουλεύουν έξω από τη δεσπόζουσα τάση της εποχής και αγωνίζονται για τη δημιουργία καινούριων αθλητικών μοντέλων και προτύπων, για την προστασία και ακεραιότητα του αθλητή/τριας και της αθλητικής δεοντολογίας. Messner, M. A., Hextrum, R., Nyad, D. (2010). Gender in Televised Sports, June 2010, διαθέσιμο στην ιστοσελίδα: http://www.usc.edu/dept/cfr/html/documents/tvsports.pdf. Pfister, Gertrud (2010) 'Women in sport - gender relations and future perspectives', Sport in Society, 13: 2, 234 - 248. Report (2010). “New Report Reveals Poor Media Coverage of Women in Sport”, Australia. Διαθέσιμο στην ιστοσελίδα: http://www.ausport.gov.au/participating/women/research. IOC Report (2005) "Women’s Participation at the Games of the XXVIIIE Olympiad: Athens 2004: Statistics.". IOC, Department of International Cooperation and Development. Ελληνικός έντυπος τύπος: Ολυμπιάδες 2008, 2004, 2000 (Καθημερινή, Βήμα, Ριζοσπάστης). Πρακτικά Συνεδρίου: http://www.tefaacongress.gr/2011/Proceedings.html

Expression of the clusterin (CLU) gene results in the synthesis of a conventional secretory isoform set (pre- and mature secretory clusterin proteins, psCLU/sCLU), as well as another set of intracellular isoforms, appearing in the cytoplasm (pre-nuclear CLU, pnCLU) and in the nucleus as an ∼55-kDa mature nuclear clusterin (nCLU) form. These two isoform sets have opposing cell functions: pro-survival and pro-death, respectively. Although much is known about the regulation and function of sCLU as a pro-survival factor, the regulation and function of endogenous nCLU in cell death are relatively unexplored. Here, we show that depletion of endogenous nCLU protein using siRNA specific to its truncatedmRNAincreased clonogenic survival of ionizing radiation (IR)-exposed cells. nCLU-mediated apoptosis was Bax-dependent, and lethality correlated with accumulation of maturenCLUprotein.nCLUaccumulation was regulated by CRM1 because binding between CRM1 and nCLU proteins was significantly diminished by leptomycin B (LMB), and nuclear levels of nCLU protein were significantly enhanced by LMB and IR co-treatment. Moreover, LMB treatment significantly enhanced IR-induced nCLU-mediated cell death responses. Importantly, bax -/- and bax -/-/bak -/- double knock-out cells were resistant to nCLU-mediated cell death, whereas bak -/- or wild-type bax +/+/bak +/+ cells were hypersensitive. The regulation of nCLU by CRM1 nuclear export/import may explain recent clinical results showing that highly malignant tumors have lost the ability to accumulate nCLU levels, thereby avoiding growth inhibition and cell death. © 2011 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw is an uncommon but potentially serious complication of bisphosphonate therapy in multiple myeloma. Previous studies showed that the presence of one or two minor alleles of the cytochrome P450, subfamily 2C polypeptide 8 gene (CYP2C8) polymorphism rs1934951 was an independent prognostic marker associated with development of osteonecrosis of the jaw in multiple myeloma patients treated with bisphosphonates. The aim of this study was to validate the frequency of SNP rs193451 in 79 patients with multiple myeloma. In 9 (22%) patients developing osteonecrosis of the jaw, a heterozygous genotype was found, in contrast with those who did not develop osteonecrosis of the jaw (n=4, 11%) or healthy individuals (n=6, 13%). We found no differences in the cumulative risk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw between patients homozygous and heterozygous for the major allele. We were unable to confirm a significant association between this polymorphism and the risk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw. © 2011 Ferrata Storti Foundation.

Aims: The largest Local Group spiral galaxy, M 31, has been completely imaged for the first time, obtaining a luminosity lower limit ~1035 erg s-1 in the 0.2-4.5 keV band. Our XMM-Newton EPIC survey combines archival observations along the major axis, from June 2000 to July 2004, with observations taken between June 2006 and February 2008 that cover the remainder of the D25 ellipse. The main goal of the paper is to study the X-ray source population of M 31. Methods: An X-ray catalogue of 1897 sources was created, with 914 detected for the first time. Source classification and identification were based on X-ray hardness ratios, spatial extent of the sources, and cross correlation with catalogues in the X-ray, optical, infrared, and radio wavelengths. We also analysed the long-term variability of the X-ray sources and this variability allows us to distinguish between X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei (AGN). Furthermore, supernova remnant classifications of previous studies that did not use long-term variability as a classification criterion could be validated. Including previous Chandra and ROSAT observations in the long-term variability study allowed us to detect additional transient or at least highly variable sources, which are good candidate X-ray binaries. Results: Fourteen of the 30 supersoft source (SSS) candidates represent supersoft emission of optical novae. Many of the 25 supernova remnants (SNRs) and 31 SNR candidates lie within the 10 kpc dust ring and other star-forming regions in M 31. This connection between SNRs and star-forming regions implies that most of the remnants originate in type II supernovae. The brightest sources in X-rays in M 31 belong to the class of X-ray binaries (XRBs). Ten low-mass XRBs (LMXBs) and 26 LMXB candidates were identified based on their temporal variability. In addition, 36 LMXBs and 17 LMXB candidates were identified owing to correlations with globular clusters and globular cluster candidates. From optical and X-ray colour-colour diagrams, possible high-mass XRB (HMXB) candidates were selected. Two of these candidates have an X-ray spectrum as is expected for an HMXB containing a neutron star primary. Conclusions: While our survey has greatly improved our understanding of the X-ray source populations in M 31, at this point 65% of the sources can still only be classified as "hard" sources; i.e. it is not possible to decide whether these sources are X-ray binaries or Crab-like supernova remnants in M 31 or X-ray sources in the background. Deeper observations in X-ray and at other wavelengths would help classify these sources. Based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and NASA.Tables 5 and 8 are only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/534/A55

Dieser Artikel zielt darauf, Friedrich Ratzels politisch-geographische Wahrnehmung des Staates hinzuweisen. Zunächst wird gezeigt, dass Ratzels Sichtpunkt frei von organistischen oder metaphysischen Elementen ist. Endlich wird es untersucht werden, wie Ratzel den Staat als Ausdruck des neuen gesellschaftlichen Lebens (new social life) wahrnimmt.

Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5-10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV-10 TeV range and the extension to energies well below 100 GeV and above 100 TeV. CTA will consist of two arrays (one in the north, one in the south) for full sky coverage and will be operated as open observatory. The design of CTA is based on currently available technology. This document reports on the status and presents the major design concepts of CTA.

Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5-10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV-10 TeV range and the extension to energies well below 100 GeV and above 100 TeV. CTA will consist of two arrays (one in the north, one in the south) for full sky coverage and will be operated as open observatory. The design of CTA is based on currently available technology. This document reports on the status and presents the major design concepts of CTA.

Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5-10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV-10 TeV range and the extension to energies well below 100 GeV and above 100 TeV. CTA will consist of two arrays (one in the north, one in the south) for full sky coverage and will be operated as open observatory. The design of CTA is based on currently available technology. This document reports on the status and presents the major design concepts of CTA.

Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5-10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV-10 TeV range and the extension to energies well below 100 GeV and above 100 TeV. CTA will consist of two arrays (one in the north, one in the south) for full sky coverage and will be operated as open observatory. The design of CTA is based on currently available technology. This document reports on the status and presents the major design concepts of CTA.

The synthesis of a number of new benzothiopyrano[4,3,2-cd]isoindole aminoderivatives designed as structural analogues of the key metabolite of the anticancer agent Ledacrine (nitracrine) and their in vitro cytotoxic activity evaluation against HCT-116, MES-SA, and MES-SA/Dx cancer cell lines is reported. The majority of the derivatives possessed noticeable cytotoxicity in a low μM range indicating an interesting structure-activity relationship. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A real-time PCR targeting IS6110 was employed for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in specimens collected from 10 patients treated with intravesical M. bovis bacillus Galmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy for bladder malignancy. BCG DNA was detected in all urine specimens taken 24 h after the instillations, as well as in 24% of the specimens collected 7 days after the instillations; it was also detected in a single specimen taken 6 weeks after the last instillation. BCG DNA was detected in 8.3% of the blood specimens taken 1 day after instillation, and its amplification was associated with cases of self-limiting fever. These findings give indications that this real-time PCR is helpful to recognize BCG bacteremic cases, which may lead to mycobacterial infection.

Re-injury worry is an important construct in competitive sport that may influence performance and increase the risk of re-injury. However, there are currently no available instruments to measure the causes of re-injury worry. The purpose of this study was to develop the Causes of Re-Injury Worry Questionnaire (CR-IWQ). The study was conducted in three independent research phases to investigate the following: (a) the content relevance, (b) the factor structure and the factorial validity, (c) the concurrent validity, (d) the discriminant validity, and (e) the test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients; ICC), and the internal consistency of the instrument. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was chosen to examine the factor structure of the CR-IWQ. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine further the factorial validity of the instrument. A number of valid constructs were used to assess the concurrent and discriminant validity of the CR-IWQ. The reliability of the new instrument was examined using Pearson r (ICC) and Cronbach . Three hundred and seventy athletes with an acute musculoskeletal sport injury in the last year participated in the study. EFA revealed a 12-item model, representing two factors (Re-injury worry due to rehabilitation and Re-injury worry due to opponent’s ability). CFA supported the two-factor model of the CR-IWQ. The concurrent and discriminant validity of the CR-IWQ was confirmed by examining correlations between the CR-IWQ with other constructs. The ICCs and the Cronbach indices of the CR-IWQ were acceptable. We have demonstrated that the CR-IWQ is a good psychometric instrument that can be used for clinical and research purposes. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.

Systemic treatment represents the cornerstone of endometrial cancer management in advanced, relapsed and metastatic disease, which is still characterized by poor prognosis. Progestins remain an effective option for patients with low grade, estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive disease, with some of them achieving prolonged survival. Platinum compounds, anthracyclines and more recently taxanes have been implemented in combination regimens achieving response rates more than 50% and resulting in overall survival above 1 year in randomized trials. Adjuvant chemotherapy with the same agents may be useful for patients with early stage disease and high-risk features, such as high grade or non-endometrioid histology. Combination of chemotherapeutic agents with radiotherapy remains investigational. Hematologic, cardiac toxicity and neurotoxicity represent the main concern of chemotherapy and increase the risk for treatment-related morbidity and death, especially in pretreated patients bearing substantial co-morbidities. The gradual elucidation of the molecular aspects of endometrial carcinogenesis has led to the development of novel, selective antineoplastic agents, targeting specific molecular pathways and mediators of signal transduction implemented in cell proliferation, survival and angiogenesis. In the current review, we report on the recent advances regarding systemic therapy of endometrial carcinoma with special emphasis on results of large, randomized phase III clinical trials. Biomarkers with potent prognostic significance or predictive value for response to treatment are presented and novel molecular agents showing promising results in early clinical trials are discussed. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

 The paper aims to point out some of the relations between land and state in Friedrich Ratzel political-geographic analysis. First, it will be demonstrated how the perception of the land correlates with the culture situation of the observer. Second, it will be shown how political space is situated in Ratzel’s analytical system of power. At last it will be examined how far Ratzel estimates both, geographical and human factors, in his political system and decision making process.

It has been suggested that inflammation is involved in Alzheimer disease (AD) pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between inflammatory aspects of diet and incident AD risk. About 2258 nondemented elderly (age ≥ 65) in New York who provided dietary information at baseline were followed-up prospectively for AD development. We examined the composite total Inflammation Factor Rating (tIFR), as a measure of inflammatory impact of foods, in relation with (i) serum level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and (ii) risk of incident AD using Cox proportional hazard model. The tIFR was not associated with serum hsCRP level. After an average of 4.0 years of follow-up, 262 participants developed incident AD. The tIFR was not associated with AD risk: compared with the lowest tertile of tIFR (most proinflammatory), hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for the highest tertile (most anti-inflammatory) was 0.97 (0.69-1.35) (P-for-trend=0.71), in the adjusted model. We conclude that tIFR might not be a biologically relevant measure of the inflammatory impact of the diet. In addition, although it remains possible that tIFR might be related with some other aspects of inflammation not captured by hsCRP, lack of association with AD risk suggests its limited clinical utility.

It has been suggested that inflammation is involved in Alzheimer disease (AD) pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between inflammatory aspects of diet and incident AD risk. About 2258 nondemented elderly (age >/= 65) in New York who provided dietary information at baseline were followed-up prospectively for AD development. We examined the composite total Inflammation Factor Rating (tIFR), as a measure of inflammatory impact of foods, in relation with (i) serum level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and (ii) risk of incident AD using Cox proportional hazard model. The tIFR was not associated with serum hsCRP level. After an average of 4.0 years of follow-up, 262 participants developed incident AD. The tIFR was not associated with AD risk: compared with the lowest tertile of tIFR (most proinflammatory), hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for the highest tertile (most anti-inflammatory) was 0.97 (0.69-1.35) (P-for-trend=0.71), in the adjusted model. We conclude that tIFR might not be a biologically relevant measure of the inflammatory impact of the diet. In addition, although it remains possible that tIFR might be related with some other aspects of inflammation not captured by hsCRP, lack of association with AD risk suggests its limited clinical utility.

Much of the attention on diet and Alzheimer's disease (AD) or cognition among the elderly has focused on the role of single nutrients or foods, while available information on dietary pattern (DP) analysis, which better reflects the complexity of the diet, is sparse. In this review, we describe different patterning approaches and present studies performed to date that have assessed the associations between DPs and risk of AD or cognitive function in the elderly. Three patterning approaches have been most commonly used: (i) hypothesis-based that use dietary quality indexes or scores (e.g. Mediterranean pattern), (ii) data-driven that use factor or cluster analysis to derive DPs, (iii) reduced rank regression which combines characteristics of the former two approaches. Despite differences existing among the approaches, DPs characterized by higher intake of fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and legumes, and lower intake of meats, high fat dairy, and sweets seemed to be associated with lower odds of cognitive deficits or reduced risk of AD. Overall, the inherent advantages as well as the existing evidence of DP analyses strongly suggest that this approach may be valuable in AD and aging research. Further studies are warranted, though, to confirm the findings in different population settings, to address some methodological issues, and possibly utilize the information for future clinical trial design.

Greece under severe financial and economic crisis has accepted the control of the World Monetary Fund and the European Union. Among other measures imposed on Greece is government funding to remain at 5 per cent of the GDP until 2030. In order to fulfill this obligation, Laws 3863 and 3865/2010 have been passed. With these laws, the distinction between basic pension and contributory pension is introduced. A theoretical mathematical model based on social security principles for calculating the aggregate pension (basic pension and contributory pension) is presented and compared to the model that corresponds to the recent reform to the Greek pension scheme. Apart from the social and economic merits of this reform, some paradoxes and shortcomings are pointed out.

This article addresses the distinction between interpretation and application of international legal norms and argues that it constitutes an issue central to the theory and practice of international adjudication. The distinction, though sometimes negated, surpassed or simply neglected, in fact exists and should be drawn by international lawyers, especially vis-a‘-vis the challenges set by the fragmentation of international law. Ergo, an illustrative operative sketch of juridical reasoning delimiting the two processes in the course of international dispute settlement is suggested by distinguishing between interpretation, interpretative application and application stricto sensu, as all taking place in the context of application lato sensu of international legal norms. The article concludes by turning to the secondary norms on state responsibility and the general principles of estoppel and acquiescence as noteworthy examples of lato sensu application of leges generales in international settlement of disputes.

Aiming at portraying the Aegean's water mass structure and identifying Dense Water Formation processes, two winter cruises were conducted in 2005?2006, across the plateaus and depressions of the Aegean Sea. The most prominent feature of the water mass distribution in the basin is a distinct ?X-shape? of the Θ-S characteristics, suggesting a complicated coupling of the major Aegean sub-basins. The surface and deep waters are relatively decoupled with diverse origin characteristics, while the intermediate layers act as connectors of the main thermohaline cells. The Central Aegean seems to play a key role due to formation processes of water masses with densities equal and/or higher than 29.2 kg/m3, that take place in the sub-basin and disperses in the North Aegean. On the other hand, the South Aegean appears greatly influenced by the Eastern Mediterranean circulation and water mass distribution, especially under the Eastern Mediterranean Transient status. The Transitional Mediterranean Water monitored in the post-EMT period and characterized by low temperature at 14.2°C, low salinity at 38.92 and low dissolved oxygen at 3.97 ml/l, with its core around 750 m and above the saline (39.06) Cretan Deep Water, altered significantly the South Aegean structure. The pre-EMT thermohaline pattern of the Central and South Aegean deep layers were similar, while the bottom density of the Central basin was higher than that in the South Aegean. Thus, it is possible that the deep waters of the Central Aegean acted as a dense water reserve supply for the deeper part of the Southern basin.

If improved relations between Turkey and Greece simply meant the implementation of of modest CBMs, more trade and regular meetings between the leaders of the two countries then the bilateral relationship seems better than perhaps at any time since the 1930s. But in the context of the issues that have bedevilled bilateral relations for over thirty years, these changes have not been profound. This paper tries to answer why the ongoing dialogue between Ankara and Athens since 1999 has not led to reconciliation over differences in the Aegean.

This volume emerged from a collaborative Network of Excellence project funded by the European Commission. The Network, which comprises thirty-two institutes from Europe and beyond, integrates European research capabilities across disciplines and countries to provide the society and the state with tools for managing cultural diversity as a key element of sustainable development. The work presented here describes the emergence and increasing importance of diversity within academic research and practice and offers valuable insights on diversity management and policy implementation.

The addition of H2 across a transition metal-borane bond is reported for the first time providing a mechanism for recharging borane functional groups to borohydride. © 2010 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

BACKGROUND: Kallikrein-related peptidase 5 (KLK5) is a secreted trypsin-like protease of the KLK family, encoded by the KLK5 gene. KLK5 has been found to cleave various extracellular matrix components, as well as to activate several other KLK proteases, triggering the stimulation of tissue microenvironment proteolytic cascades. MATERIAL AND METHODS: KLK5 expression levels were quantified in 102 cancerous and benign breast tissue specimens, obtained by randomly chosen patients, using RT-qPCR assay. Subsequently, advanced biostatistics were applied in order to analyze the KLK5 expression profile in the two patients' cohorts and also to evaluate its clinical significance for the discrimination of breast tumors. RESULTS: A statistically significant (p < 0.001) down-regulation of the KLK5 expression levels were observed in the malignant specimens compared to the benign ones. Logistic regression and ROC curve analysis revealed the significant (p < 0.001) and the independent (p < 0.001) value of the KLK5 expression quantification, for the discrimination of the malignant from the benign mammary gland biopsies. Moreover, KLK5 expression levels correlate with the pre-menopausal status (p < 0.005) as well as the ER-negative staining (p = 0.028) of women with breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The quantification of KLK5 expression in breast tissue biopsies may be considered as a novel and independent biomarker for the differential diagnosis between malignant and benign tumors of the mammary gland.

Plasmonic metamaterials form an exciting new class of engineered media that promise a range of important applications, such as subwavelength focusing, cloaking and slowing/stopping of light. At optical frequencies, using gain to overcome potentially not insignificant losses has recently emerged as a viable solution to ultralow-loss operation that may lead to next-generation active metamaterials. Here, we employ a Maxwell-Bloch methodology for the analysis of these gain-enhanced optical nanomaterials. The method allows us to study the dynamics of the coherent plasmon-gain interaction, nonlinear saturation, field enhancement as well as radiative and non-radiative damping such as tunnelling and Förster coupling. Using numerical pump-probe experiments on a double-fishnet metamaterial with dye-molecule inclusions we investigate the build-up of the inversion and the formation of the plasmonic modes in the low-Q fishnet cavity. We find that loss compensation occurs in the negative-refractiveindex regime and that, due to the loss compensation and the associated sharpening of the resonance, the real part of the refractive index of the metamaterial becomes more negative compared to the passive case. Furthermore, we investigate the behaviour of the metamaterial above the lasing threshold, and we identify the occurrence of a far-field lasing burst and gain depletion when higher dye densities are used. Our results provide deep insight into the internal processes that affect the macroscopic properties of active metamaterials. This could guide the development of amplifying and lasing plasmonic nanostructures. © 2011 Copyright Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).

Pompe disease is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the deficiency of acid α-glycosidase resulting in lysosomal accumulation of glycogen. The late-onset disease form is characterized by progressive skeletal and respiratory muscle dysfunction. In addition to the recently introduced enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), treatments such as protein-enriched diet and exercise training have been proposed, although little is known about their effectiveness on the physical condition of such patients. Aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of exercise training on muscular strength and body composition in five patients with late-onset Pompe disease receiving ERT. All subjects followed a 20 week lasting program of supervised aerobic and progressive resistance exercise training. Before and after the training period, body composition was determined with dual X-ray absorptiometry and isometric muscular strength was measured with a specialized load transducer. Functional capacity was assessed using the 6-min shuttle walk test. A significant increase in muscular strength (15-50% at various body parts, p<0.05) and 6-minute walking distance (203.8 ± 177 m before vs. 248.2 ± 184 m after, p<0.01) was observed after training, whereas total and lower extremities lean body mass did not change significantly. These results suggest that exercise training has a positive effect on muscular strength and functional capacity in patients on ERT with late-onset Pompe disease.

This paper considers the problem of optimal pricing in a system serving two classes of customers differentiated by their delay sensitivities. We derive the revenue maximising pricing policies whether or not price discrimination is an option. We find that in both cases the optimal policy causes the less delaysensitive class to enter first, and the optimal prices are increasing in capacity under price discrimination, which is not generally true when price discrimination is not allowed. Furthermore, under price discrimination, less capacity is needed to capture a customer class or the entire market, while, more customers are served and higher revenue is generated. Finally, we use an M/M/1 system to provide further insights and numerical analysis. © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

BACKGROUND: In most patients with COPD, rehabilitative exercise training partially reverses the morphologic and structural abnormalities of peripheral muscle fibers. However, whether the degree of improvement in muscle fiber morphology and typology with exercise training varies depending on disease severity remains unknown. METHODS: Forty-six clinically stable patients with COPD classified by GOLD (Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease) as stage II (n = 14), III (n = 18), and IV (n = 14) completed a 10-week comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program consisting of high-intensity exercise three times weekly. RESULTS: At baseline, muscle fiber mean cross-sectional area and capillary density did not significantly differ between patients with COPD and healthy control subjects, whereas muscle fiber type I and II proportion was respectively lower (P < .001) and higher (P < .002) in patients with GOLD stage IV compared with healthy subjects and patients with GOLD stages II and III. Exercise training improved, to a comparable degree, functional capacity and the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire health-related quality of life score across all three GOLD stages. Vastus lateralis muscle fiber mean cross-sectional area was increased (P < .001) in all patient groups (stage II: from 4,507 ± 280 μm² to 5,091 ± 271 μm² [14% ± 3%]; stage III: from 3,753 ± 258 μm² to 4,212 ± 268 μm² [14% ± 3%]; stage IV: from 3,961 ± 266 μm² to 4,551 ± 262 μm² [17% ± 5%]), whereas all groups exhibited a comparable reduction (P < .001) in type IIb fiber proportion (stage II: by 6% ± 2%; stage III: by 6% ± 1%; stage IV: by 7% ± 1%) and an increase (P < .001) in capillary to fiber ratio (stage II: from 1.48 ± 0.10 to 1.81 ± 0.10 [23% ± 5%]; stage III: from 1.29 ± 0.06 to 1.56 ± 0.09 [21% ± 5%]; stage IV: from 1.43 ± 0.10 to 1.71 ± 0.13 [18 ± 3%]). The magnitude of changes in the aforementioned variables did not differ across GOLD stages. CONCLUSIONS: Functional capacity and morphologic and typologic adaptations to rehabilitation in peripheral muscle fibers were similar across GOLD stages II to IV. Pulmonary rehabilitation should be implemented in patients at all COPD stages.

Cow's milk (CM) allergy affects about 2% of infants. The allergenicity of dietary proteins, including those from CM, has been related to their digestibility although the generality of the link and its causality remains to be demonstrated. In this study we use an in vitro digestion system, to investigate the digestibility of β-lactoglobulin (blg) during gastrointestinal transit and to assess the impact of this process on blg allergenic reactivity in CM allergic children.|Blg digesta were prepared using an in vitro digestion protocol simulating either gastric digestion alone or followed by duodenal digestion with or without phosphatidylcholine (PC). Biochemical analysis of blg digesta was performed by SDS-PAGE and their concentration was measured by a sandwich ELISA. Assessment of their allergenic reactivity was done in vitro by EAST inhibition, specific basophil activation (basotest) and lymphocyte proliferation (PCNA-flow cytometry) assays using sera and cells from patients allergic to blg and in vivo by skin prick testing (SPT) of these patients.|Blg was only broken down to smaller peptides after gastro-duodenal digestion although a sizeable amount of intact protein still remained. Digestion did not modify the IgE binding capacity of blg except for gastro-duodenal digestion performed in the absence of PC. These results are consistent with the quantity of intact blg remaining in the digesta. Overall both gastric and gastroduodenal digestion enhanced activation of sensitized basophils and proliferation of sensitized lymphocytes by blg. However, there was a tendency towards reduction in mean diameter of SPT following digestion, the PC alone during phase 1 digestion causing a significant increase in mean diameter.|Digestion did not reduce the allergenic reactivity of blg to a clinically insignificant extent, PC inhibiting digestion and thereby protecting blg allergenic reactivity. SPT reactivity was reduced compared to blg immunoreactivity in in vitro tests.

Aims: We investigate the behavior of the frequency-centered light curves expected within the standard model of gamma ray bursts, allowing the maximum electron energy (γmax) to be a free parameter that may take low values. Methods: We solve the spatially averaged kinetic equations that describe the simultaneous evolution of particles and photons, obtaining the multi-wavelength spectra as a function of time. From these we construct the frequency-centered light curves with an emphasis on the X-ray and optical bands. Results: We show that in cases where γmax takes low values, the produced X-ray light curves show a plateau as the synchrotron component gives its place to the synchrotron self-Compton one in the X-ray band.

Aims: We investigate the behavior of the frequency-centered light curves expected within the standard model of gamma ray bursts, allowing the maximum electron energy (γmax) to be a free parameter that may take low values. Methods: We solve the spatially averaged kinetic equations that describe the simultaneous evolution of particles and photons, obtaining the multi-wavelength spectra as a function of time. From these we construct the frequency-centered light curves with an emphasis on the X-ray and optical bands. Results: We show that in cases where γmax takes low values, the produced X-ray light curves show a plateau as the synchrotron component gives its place to the synchrotron self-Compton one in the X-ray band.

Background: In two randomized phase III trials (MM-009 and MM-010), lenalidomide plus dexamethasone significantly prolonged time to progression and overall survival (OS) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma compared with dexamethasone alone. In both trials the treatment was continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. We conducted a subanalysis to determine if continuing therapy after achieving ≥ partial response (PR) improved survival. Patients and Methods: Data were collected on 212 patients who were treated with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone and achieved ≥ PR. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were compared between patients on continued treatment versus patients discontinuing therapy because of adverse events, withdrawal of consent, or other reasons. Time-dependent multivariate regression analyses were used to determine the benefit of continuing treatment with lenalidomide. Results: A total of 174 patients received continued treatment until disease progression or death, and 38 patients discontinued therapy without progression. There was a trend toward longer median OS in patients who continued therapy (50.9 months vs. 35.0 months; P = .0594). When controlling for the number of previous antimyeloma therapies, β2-microglobulin levels, and Durie-Salmon stage (which adversely affected survival in these patients), continued lenalidomide treatment (HR, 0.137; 95% CI, 0.045-0.417; P = .0005) or each additional cycle of lenalidomide (HR, 0.921; 95% CI, 0.886-0.957; P < .0001) were both associated with longer survival. Conclusion: Continued lenalidomide treatment until disease progression after achievement of ≥ PR is associated with a significant survival advantage when controlling for patient characteristics. These findings should be confirmed in a prospectively designed trial. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Objective: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to the maintenance of endothelial integrity and function. We investigated the effects of rosuvastatin and allopurinol on the number of EPCs in patients with heart failure and aimed to provide insight into the molecular inflammatory and oxidative mechanisms that could be responsible for the alterations in EPC levels after treatment. Methods: Sixty patients with systolic heart failure were randomized to receive rosuvastatin 10mg/d, allopurinol 300mg/d or placebo and followed up for 1 month. The number of CD34 +/KDR + and CD34 +/CD133 +/KDR + EPCs in blood was evaluated by flow cytometry. Endothelial function was assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation. Levels of markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were also determined. Results: Circulating EPCs were significantly increased after rosuvastatin treatment (from 230 (170-380) and 10 (8-24) to 390 (230-520) and 19 (8-33) cells/10 6 lymphomonocytes, respectively, p=0.004 and p=0.008), whereas they remained unchanged in the other groups. The increase in EPC levels was not associated with the changes in the levels of the measured inflammatory and oxidative markers. Conclusion: Short-term treatment with rosuvastatin, but not allopurinol, significantly increases the number of circulating EPCs in patients with heart failure providing further insights into its role in these individuals. The impact of rosuvastatin on EPCs is not mediated by changes in inflammatory and oxidative status. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

This study compared the effects of two different half-squat training programs on the repeated-sprint ability of soccer players during the preseason. Twenty male professional soccer players were divided into 2 groups: One group (S-group) performed 4 sets of 5 repetitions with 90% of their 1-repetition maximum (1RM), and the other group (H-group) performed 4 sets of 12 repetitions with 70% of 1RM, 3 times per week for 6 weeks, in addition to their common preseason training program. Repeated-sprint ability was assessed before and after training by 10 × 6-second cycle ergometer sprints separated by 24 seconds of passive recovery. Maximal halfsquat strength increased significantly in both groups (p < 0.01), but this increase was significantly greater in the S-group compared with the H-group (17.3 ± 1.9 vs. 11.0 ± 1.9%, p < 0.05). Lean leg volume (LLV) increased only in the H-group. Total work over the 10 sprints improved in both groups after training, but this increase was significantly greater in the second half (8.9 ± 2.6%) compared with the first half of the sprint test (3.2 ± 1.7%) only in the S-group. Mean power output (MPO) expressed per liter of LLV was better maintained during the last 6 sprints posttraining only in the S-group, whereas there was no change in MPO per LLV in the H-group over the 10 sprints. These results suggest that resistance training with high loads is superior to a moderate-load program, because it increases strength without a change in muscle mass and also results in a greater improvement in repeated sprint ability. Therefore, resistance training with high loads may be preferable when the aim is to improve maximal strength and fatigue during sprinting in professional soccer players. © 2011 National Strength and Conditioning Association.

This study compared the effects of two different half-squat training programs on the repeated-sprint ability of soccer players during the preseason. Twenty male professional soccer players were divided into 2 groups: One group (S-group) performed 4 sets of 5 repetitions with 90% of their 1-repetition maximum (1RM), and the other group (H-group) performed 4 sets of 12 repetitions with 70% of 1RM, 3 times per week for 6 weeks, in addition to their common preseason training program. Repeated-sprint ability was assessed before and after training by 10 × 6-second cycle ergometer sprints separated by 24 seconds of passive recovery. Maximal halfsquat strength increased significantly in both groups (p < 0.01), but this increase was significantly greater in the S-group compared with the H-group (17.3 ± 1.9 vs. 11.0 ± 1.9%, p < 0.05). Lean leg volume (LLV) increased only in the H-group. Total work over the 10 sprints improved in both groups after training, but this increase was significantly greater in the second half (8.9 ± 2.6%) compared with the first half of the sprint test (3.2 ± 1.7%) only in the S-group. Mean power output (MPO) expressed per liter of LLV was better maintained during the last 6 sprints posttraining only in the S-group, whereas there was no change in MPO per LLV in the H-group over the 10 sprints. These results suggest that resistance training with high loads is superior to a moderate-load program, because it increases strength without a change in muscle mass and also results in a greater improvement in repeated sprint ability. Therefore, resistance training with high loads may be preferable when the aim is to improve maximal strength and fatigue during sprinting in professional soccer players. © 2011 National Strength and Conditioning Association.

This study compared the effects of two different half-squat training programs on the repeated-sprint ability of soccer players during the preseason. Twenty male professional soccer players were divided into 2 groups: One group (S-group) performed 4 sets of 5 repetitions with 90% of their 1-repetition maximum (1RM), and the other group (H-group) performed 4 sets of 12 repetitions with 70% of 1RM, 3 times per week for 6 weeks, in addition to their common preseason training program. Repeated-sprint ability was assessed before and after training by 10 × 6-second cycle ergometer sprints separated by 24 seconds of passive recovery. Maximal halfsquat strength increased significantly in both groups (p < 0.01), but this increase was significantly greater in the S-group compared with the H-group (17.3 ± 1.9 vs. 11.0 ± 1.9%, p < 0.05). Lean leg volume (LLV) increased only in the H-group. Total work over the 10 sprints improved in both groups after training, but this increase was significantly greater in the second half (8.9 ± 2.6%) compared with the first half of the sprint test (3.2 ± 1.7%) only in the S-group. Mean power output (MPO) expressed per liter of LLV was better maintained during the last 6 sprints posttraining only in the S-group, whereas there was no change in MPO per LLV in the H-group over the 10 sprints. These results suggest that resistance training with high loads is superior to a moderate-load program, because it increases strength without a change in muscle mass and also results in a greater improvement in repeated sprint ability. Therefore, resistance training with high loads may be preferable when the aim is to improve maximal strength and fatigue during sprinting in professional soccer players. © 2011 National Strength and Conditioning Association.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity has been implicated in the etiology of postmenopausal breast cancer (PBC). We hypothesized that altered secretion of visfatin may underlie this association. We thus investigated the association of serum visfatin with PBC risk, taking into account known risk factors including adipokines and anthropometric and metabolic parameters. METHODS: In a case-control study, we studied 102 postmenopausal women with pathologically confirmed, incident invasive breast cancer and 102 control women matched on age and time of diagnosis between 2003 and 2010 at Army Share Fund Hospital, Veterans' Hospital (NIMTS). Levels of serum visfatin, adiponectin, leptin, metabolic parameters, carcinoembryonic antigen, and CA 15-3 were determined. RESULTS: The mean serum visfatin level was significantly higher in case than in control participants (P < 0.001). Women in the highest quartile of visfatin concentration presented significantly higher odds for PBC, adjusting for age, date of diagnosis, education, body mass index, waist circumference, years with menstruation, parity/age at first full-term pregnancy, breast-feeding, family history of cancer, use of exogenous hormones, alcohol consumption, smoking status, homeostasis model assessment score, and serum leptin and adiponectin concentrations (odds ratio, 7.93; 95% CI, 2.52-24.9). In case participants, the visfatin level correlated significantly with the tumor marker CA 15-3 (P = 0.03) but not with metabolic and anthropometric variables (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Further prospective studies are needed to determine whether an elevated serum visfatin level is implicated in the etiopathogenesis of PBC or reflects changes during PBC progression and could therefore be used as a biomarker for PBC.

Introduction: Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare but distinct B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by lymphoplasmacytic bone marrow infiltration and IgM monoclonal paraproteinemia. Alkylators or nucleosides analogs, often in combination with rituximab, are the most commonly used drugs, but WM will relapse and even salvage treatments may fail. Areas covered: We present recent advances on the treatment of WM, focusing on drugs that are under clinical investigation and for which data indicate promising activity and positive future prospects. Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor that eventually becomes a major treatment option for WM. Everolimus and perifosine which target mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) and Akt, respectively, of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway showed some activity. Bendamustine, a novel alkylating agent is active, especially in combination with rituximab. Immunomodulatory drugs can act synergistically with rituximab but are toxic. Targeting surface antigens of the lymphoplasmatic cells have shown promising results. Expert opinion: Combinations of novel drugs with established agents are feasible and increase response rates but whether there will be an increase in the survival of patients with WM needs further investigation. The toxicity profile is an important determinant for the feasibility of these drugs in patients with WM. © 2011 Informa UK, Ltd.

Encouraging progress has been made in the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). The rapidly evolving understanding of key pathways responsible for tumor growth and survival has led to the development of novel agents (including immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and other targeted agents) with the potential to provide significant improvements in response and survival, and influence treatment guidelines. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding of the biology of relapsed/refractory MM and clinical trials with novel targeted agents that are currently under investigation for patients with this disease. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

The objective of this study is to examine the synergistic environmental impacts (thermal bioclimatic conditions and air quality due to particulate pollution) with cardiovascular and respiratory syndromes, in Heraklion in the northern part of Crete Island, during a Saharan dust episode on March 22-23, 2008. Daily counts of admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory syndromes were obtained from the two main hospitals in Heraklion. The corresponding daily meteorological parameters, such as maximum and minimum air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and cloud cover, from the meteorological station of Heraklion (Hellenic National Meteorological Service), were processed in order to estimate and analyze the bioclimatic conditions expressed by the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET), which is based on the energy balance models of the human body. Dust concentrations were derived from the SKIRON forecast model of the University of Athens, while Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) products such as aerosol optical depth at 550 nm (AOD550), aerosol small mode fraction (SM), Ångström exponent in the 550-865 nm band and mass concentration, were used for the episode. Besides, daily composite anomalies (reference period: 1968-1996) of the air temperature and vector wind from the middle to the lower atmospheric levels (500 hPa - mean sea level) on March 23, 2008, were calculated from the reanalysis datasets of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR). The analysis of MODIS and SKIRON products showed that high AOD 550 values (>0.9) and high dust concentration (>250 μg/m 3), respectively, appear on March 23, 2008, while the respiratory admissions were five-fold than the mean daily admissions on the same day of the emergence of the Saharan dust episode (key day). According to the analysis, this is due to the existence of coarse-mode particles along the dust pathway, which trigger respiratory syndromes more than cardiovascular, which are associated more with ultra-fine particles. The admissions concerning the cardiovascular syndromes did not appear any significant change. The analysis of the bioclimatic conditions on the key day revealed that moderate thermal stress existed and this may be attributed mainly to the geomorphology of the island, which is responsible for special weather conditions such as Fohn winds. The drier atmospheric conditions, as a result of strong, desiccating winds on the leeward side of the mountains, contribute more to the already high hospital admissions for respiratory symptoms. © Gebrüder Borntraeger, Stuttgart 2011.

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer with increasing incidence rates worldwide. METHODS: To assess the association of BCC with epidemiologic risk factors in a Southern European population from Greece, we conducted a hospital-based case-control study of 199 patients with BCC and 200 controls. RESULTS: In the multivariate analysis, fair skin colour was associated with increased risk of BCC (OR: 4.9, 95% CI: 2.4-10.0). However, darker skin phototypes III/IV (patient's reported sun sensitivity/tanning ability) showed a higher BCC risk (OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 1.8-8.5). Persons with occupational UV exposure of 5 years or more had a 2.7-fold increased risk (95% CI:1.4-5.3). There was an increased risk of BCC related to the number of sunburns after the age of 20 years (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.4-7.3) and solar lentigines (OR: 6.8, 95% CI: 3.6-12.8). Subgroup analysis showed that different risk factors are associated with early onset BCC including the presence of dysplastic nevi (OR: 6.4, 95% CI: 1.5-27.2), the number of weeks per year spent at the beach during childhood (OR: 8.9, 95% CI: 3.3-24.1) and the history of sunburns during childhood (OR:5.0, 95% CI: 1.3-19.1). CONCLUSIONS: Fair skin colour was significantly associated with BCC risk. The relation of sunburns during adulthood with BCC underlies the importance of sunburn prevention throughout life time. Early onset BCCs seem to have a different pathogenetic background and were associated with dysplastic nevi as well as intermittent sun exposure and sunburns during the early years of life.

In order to investigate differences among infections due to Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria (Bacteroides, Prevotella and Fusobacterium spp.), clinical, epidemiological, and microbiological data were collected and evaluated from 206 anaerobic infections. The most frequently isolated species was Bacteroides fragilis. The majority of the cases were intra-abdominal infections (49%) followed by skin and soft tissue infections (24.7%). Logistic regression analysis showed that Bacteroides spp. strains were more often isolated from intra-abdominal infections (p = 0.002), whereas Prevotella spp. were isolated more frequently from cases with shorter duration of hospitalization (p = 0.026), and less frequently from bloodstream infections (p = 0.049). In addition, Bacteroides spp. were associated with coinfection due to Enterobacteriaceae species (p = 0.007), whereas Prevotella spp. were associated with coinfection due to Staphylococcus spp. (p = 0.002). Patients with an infection due to B. fragilis, were more frequently admitted in a general surgical ward (p = 0.017), or have been treated with a 2nd generation cephalosporin before anaerobic infection onset (p = 0.05). Total mortality was 10.9% and was associated with bacteremia (p = 0.026), and hematological (p = 0.028), or solid organ malignancy (p = 0.007). Metronidazole resistance was detected only among Prevotella spp. (16.2%) and B. fragilis group (0.8%) isolates. In conclusion, this study indicated differences between infections due to the most frequently isolated Gram-negative anaerobic species, differences that may affect the design and implementation of empirical antimicrobial chemotherapy guidelines.

In our discussion of electronic parameters for charge (hole or electron) transfer along DNA we have omitted to mention that, regarding the tight-binding description of hole transport, the corresponding tight-binding parameters should be taken with the opposite sign of the calculated on-site energies and transfer hopping integrals. This means that for describing hole transport at the base-pair level, the on-site energies EbpH presented in the second row of table 2 and the hopping transfer integrals tbpH presented in the second column of table 3 should be used with opposite signs in order to provide the tight-binding parameters of eq. (10). Similarly, for describing hole transport at the single-base level, the on-site energies EbH presented in the eleventh row of table 1 and the hopping transfer integrals tbH presentedin the second column of tables 4–7 should be used with opposite signs in order to provide the tight-binding parameters of eq. (13). Moreover, on p. 300, 8 lines below eq. (14), in the calculation of charge transfer hopping parameters the separation between adjacent base-pairs in B-DNA should read 3.4 ̊A, instead of 3.14 ̊A.

Patients with advanced multiple myeloma (MM) often have increased osteolytic activity of osteoclasts and impaired osteogenesis by osteoblasts, resulting in osteolytic bone lesions that increase the risk of skeletal-related events (SREs) including pathologic fracture, the need for radiotherapy or surgery to bone, and spinal cord compression. Such SREs are potentially life-limiting, and can reduce patients' functional independence and quality of life. Bisphosphonates (e.g., oral clodronate and intravenous pamidronate and zoledronic acid) can inhibit osteoclast-mediated osteolysis, thereby reducing the risk of SREs, ameliorating bone pain, and potentially prolonging survival in patients with MM. Extensive clinical experience demonstrates that bisphosphonates are generally well tolerated, and common adverse events are typically mild and manageable. Studies are ongoing to optimize the timing and duration of bisphosphonate therapy in patients with bone lesions from MM. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the disease burden of the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) in Greece. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Data on influenza-like illness (ILI), collected through cross-sectional nationwide telephone surveys of 1,000 households in Greece repeated for 25 consecutive weeks, were combined with data from H1N1 virologic surveillance to estimate the incidence and the clinical attack rate (CAR) of influenza A(H1N1). Alternative definitions of ILI (cough or sore throat and fever>38 degrees C [ILI-38] or fever 37.1-38 degrees C [ILI-37]) were used to estimate the number of symptomatic infections. The infection attack rate (IAR) was approximated using estimates from published studies on the frequency of fever in infected individuals. Data on H1N1 morbidity and mortality were used to estimate ICU admission and case fatality (CFR) rates. The epidemic peaked on week 48/2009 with approximately 750-1,500 new cases/100,000 population per week, depending on ILI-38 or ILI-37 case definition, respectively. By week 6/2010, 7.1%-15.6% of the population in Greece was estimated to be symptomatically infected with H1N1. Children 5-19 years represented the most affected population group (CAR:27%-54%), whereas individuals older than 64 years were the least affected (CAR:0.6%-2.2%). The IAR (95% CI) of influenza A(H1N1) was estimated to be 19.7% (13.3%, 26.1%). Per 1,000 symptomatic cases, based on ILI-38 case definition, 416 attended health services, 108 visited hospital emergency departments and 15 were admitted to hospitals. ICU admission rate and CFR were 37 and 17.5 per 100,000 symptomatic cases or 13.4 and 6.3 per 100,000 infections, respectively. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Influenza A(H1N1) infected one fifth and caused symptomatic infection in up to 15% of the Greek population. Although individuals older than 65 years were the least affected age group in terms of attack rate, they had 55 and 185 times higher risk of ICU admission and CFR, respectively.

We theoretically and numerically analyze a five-layer "trapped rainbow" waveguide made of a passive negative refractive index (NRI) core layer and gain strips in the cladding. Analytic transfer-matrix calculations and full-wave time-domain simulations are deployed to calculate, both in the frequency and in the time domain, the losses or gain experienced by complex-wave-vector and complex-frequency modes. We find excellent agreement between five distinct sets of results, showing that the use of evanescent pumping (gain) can compensate the losses in the NRI slow- and stopped-light regimes. © 2011 American Physical Society.

Background and Objectives Follow up for breast cancer patients aims at the timely detection of loco-regional recurrences and contralateral breast cancers (LRR). This study investigates the annual risk of LRR after breast conserving treatment (BCT) and the potential value of mammographic surveillance and/or routine clinical examination. Methods Data on 650 women who underwent BCT were obtained and LRR was divided into parenchymal and non-parenchymal. LRR-free and cumulative LRR-free rates were calculated. In patients where recurrence was diagnosed at a routine clinic visit and had negative mammography ("clinical detection only" group) were also separately examined. Results Median follow up was 115 months, range 9-196. Seventy-three patients had parenchymal and 16 nodal recurrence. The median probability of LRR was 1.4% and of parenchymal LRR was 1.32% per year, remaining constant for up to 168 months. The 16 patients in the "clinical detection only" group relapsed mainly during the first 2 years (annual risk 0.77% and 0.80%, respectively). Conclusions This study shows that the risk of parenchymal LRR remains constant for at least 14 years and is significant enough to warrant routine long-term follow up mammography. Routine clinical examination contributes significantly to the detection of LRR only for the first 2 years. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) are highly burdensome diseases, which are increasing in prevalence, especially in the paediatric population. Despite the availability of a large number of medications for treatment of AR and CIU, their use in children has primarily been based on data obtained from a limited number of clinical trials in children and/or testing in adults. The H(1)-antihistamines have traditionally been used as first-line treatment for the relief of both AR and CIU symptoms in children. The first-generation H(1)-antihistamines are associated with marked adverse effects such as sedation, sleepiness/drowsiness as well as difficulties in learning and cognitive processing; thus, they are recommended for limited or discontinued use in children with AR or CIU. In contrast, second-generation H(1)-antihistamines are more adapted for the use in children with AR and CIU due to better safety profiles. However, only a limited number of trials with these agents have been conducted and generally, data from well-designed trials in children are lacking. Levocetirizine is one of the most extensively investigated H(1)-antihistamines for its pharmacologic properties, safety, efficacy as well as overall global satisfaction in children aged 2-12 years. Levocetirizine is the only H(1)-antihistamine launched in the 21st century shown to lack clinically relevant adverse effects on physical and psychomotor development or routine laboratory tests over a long-term period of 18 months in 1- to 3-year-old children predisposed to development of allergic disease. Available data suggest that levocetirizine is a suitable treatment option for AR and CIU in children aged 6 months to 12 years.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of a new delivery system consisting of polymerized dilactide (PLA) with incorporated linezolid was investigated in a rabbit model as a means of treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) osteomyelitis. METHODS: The PLA-linezolid system was prepared after thorough stirring of PLA with linezolid at a 10:1 ratio. Experimental osteomyelitis was established in 40 rabbits by a modification of the Norden model with MRSA as the test isolate. After a hole had been drilled in the upper right femur, the isolate was inoculated using a thin needle working as a foreign body. At three weeks, the needle was removed and cultured, and the PLA-linezolid system was implanted in half the animals (group B); the remaining half was the control group (group A). Animals were sacrificed at regular intervals; tissue around the site of implantation was examined for pathologic changes and cultured quantitatively. RESULTS: The prepared system eluted linezolid in vitro at concentrations much greater than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the test pathogen for 11 days. At three weeks after inoculation of the test isolate, all animals had osteomyelitis. By the sixth week, bacterial growth from cancellous bone of group B was significantly lower than that in group A. However, this effect was not maintained until the end of the study (weeks 8 and 10), when the differences in bacterial growth in the two groups were not significant. CONCLUSION: Polymerized dilactide mixed with 10% linezolid achieved partial arrest of the offending pathogen in an experimental model of osteomyelitis caused by MRSA.

C-C motif ligand 3 (CCL3) chemokine plays a crucial role in the inflammation process, cell migration and chemoattraction of monocytes/ macrophages, neutrophils and mast cells. CCL3 is overexpressed by malignant cells in B-cell disorders, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. Elevated circulating CCL3 was previously described in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) but the source of its production was unknown. We performed an immunohistochemical study in bone marrow biopsies of 67 WM patients and found that the whole number of the neoplastic cells express CCL3 in all cases. This finding was constant in newly diagnosed patients with both symptomatic and asymptomatic WM and also in patients with active disease post previous therapies. Our results support, for the first time in the literature, the production of CCL3 by WM cells. They also suggest a possible role of CCL3 in WM biology and reveal CCL3 as a potential target for developing novel drugs against WM. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

We investigate the uniform limits of the set of polynomials on the closed unit disc D&#xAF;"> with respect to the chordal metric χ. More generally, we examine analogous questions replacing the one-point compactification of CC&#x222A;{&#x221E;}"> by other metrizable compactifications.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the changes in inclination of the maxillary second (M2) and third (M3) molars after orthodontic treatment of Class II Division 1 malocclusion with extraction of maxillary first molars. METHODS: Two groups of subjects were studied. The experimental group consisted of 37 subjects, 18 boys and 19 girls (mean age, 13.2 ± 1.62 years). The inclusion criteria were white origin, Class II Division 1 malocclusion, overjet ≥4 mm, no missing teeth or agenesis, and maxillary M3 present. All patients were treated with extraction of the maxillary first molars and the Begg technique. Standardized lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken at the start of active treatment (T1) and at least 3.7 years posttreatment (T2). The control group was drawn from the archives of the Nittedal Growth Material (Oslo University, Oslo, Norway) and included 54 untreated Class I and Class II subjects,18 boys and 36 girls (mean age, 13.4 ± 1.99 years) followed up for a minimum of 3.6 years. M2 and M3 inclinations relative to the palatal plane (PP) and functional occlusal plane (FOP) were measured and compared between groups and time periods. RESULTS: M2 to PP inclination improved significantly in both the control group (M2-PP at T1, 17.7° ± 5.81°, and at T2, 11.9° ± 4.61°) and the experimental group (M2-PP at T1, 26.7° ± 5.75°, and at T2, 6.9° ± 6.76°). There were also significant increases of the mesial inclination of M3 in the control group (M3-PP at T1, 30.1° ± 8.54°, and at T2, 19.6° ± 9.01°) and extraction group (M3-PP at T1, 32.2° ± 7.90°, and at T2, 12.8° ± 7.36°). By using the FOP as the reference system, no significant change in the inclination of M2 was observed in the control group, whereas, in the extraction group, although more distally inclined at T1, M2 ended up mesially inclined at T2 (M2-FOP at T1, 14.2° ± 4.62°, and at T2, -6.2° ± 6.10°; P <0.0001). M3 inclinations were similar between the groups at T1 (M3-FOP control, 17.3° ± 9.35°; M3-FOP experimental, 19.6° ± 7.37°), and these improved significantly in both groups. However, M3 uprighting was almost 4 times greater in the extraction group (M3-FOP from T2-T1, 5.6° vs 19.9°). The greatest distal inclination of M3 at T2 in the extraction group was 9.4°, a value attained by only 43% of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Extraction of the maxillary first molars in Class II Division 1 patients results in significant uprighting of M2 and M3 and facilitates the normal eruption of M3.

Launching the distance-learning student-tutor interaction process, tutors of the first module of the M.Ed in English course at the HOU lay the foundations of academic student autonomy by means of providing – inter alia -- the appropriate written feedback on written assignments. In doing so, they need to gauge the content and form of their written comments systematically with regard to both output- and student-, that is human factor-related issues (cf. Goldstein, 2004), the latter being particularly relevant to the distance-learning context. In this article we discuss tutor policy as well as tutor perceptions (cf. Lee, 2004, 2009 among others) regarding written feedback on students’ academic assignments in terms of aspects of deviance treated and the relative gravity of ‘global’ and ‘local’ errors (e.g. Ferris, 2002), the directness of the correction, the punitive or facilitative nature of the comments provided as well as the relative balance of student strengths and weaknesses on the tutor’s comment agenda (cf. Hyland & Hyland, 2006). The role of the tutor as an assessor and/or counsellor is explored and the importance of striking a delicate balance between the two, especially in a context where face-to-face feedback opportunities are severely restricted, is underscored. We suggest that distance-learning feedback practices may need to be at least partially individualized to maximize student response and meet the goal of ‘informed autonomy’.

The highly oriented filamentous protein network of muscle constantly experiences significant mechanical load during muscle operation. The dimeric protein myomesin has been identified as an important M-band component supporting the mechanical integrity of the entire sarcomere. Recent structural studies have revealed a long alpha-helical linker between the C-terminal immunoglobulin (Ig) domains My12 and My13 of myomesin. In this paper, we have used single-molecule force spectroscopy in combination with molecular dynamics simulations to characterize the mechanics of the myomesin dimer comprising immunoglobulin domains My12-My13. We find that at forces of approximately 30 pN the alpha-helical linker reversibly elongates allowing the molecule to extend by more than the folded extension of a full domain. High-resolution measurements directly reveal the equilibrium folding/unfolding kinetics of the individual helix. We show that alpha-helix unfolding mechanically protects the molecule homodimerization from dissociation at physiologically relevant forces. As fast and reversible molecular springs the myomesin alpha-helical linkers are an essential component for the structural integrity of the M band.

In this paper we propose a feature-based analysis of Cappadocian Greek nominal inflection. In particular, based on the formal description of Standard Greek nominal inflection by Ralli (2000), we identify the inflectional formatives and analyse them as bundles of features expressing number, case, animacy and inflectional class. The feature specification of each ending determines its distribution in the relevant variety. Similarly, inflectional classes are defined on the basis of (a) the compatibility of a given noun with an inflectional pattern and (b) the base alternations it exhibits. Such an approach has the advantage of accounting for the variation in base formation and for the agglutinative inflectional patterns by means of systematic base allomorphy and default formatives.

For a nitrogen dimer in insulating MgO, a ferromagnetic coupling between spin-polarized 2p holes is revealed by calculations based on the density functional theory amended by an on-site Coulomb interaction and corroborated by the Hubbard model. It is shown that the ferromagnetic coupling is facilitated by a T-shaped orbital arrangement of the 2p holes, which is in its turn controlled by an intersite Coulomb interaction due to the directionality of the p orbitals. We thus conjecture that this interaction is an important ingredient of ferromagnetism in band insulators with 2p dopants.

Objectives: Bone disease is a key presenting feature of myeloma. This post hoc analysis of the phase III VISTA trial of bortezomib plus melphalan-prednisone (VMP) vs. MP in previously untreated myeloma patients assessed clinical bone disease events and changes in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), a marker for osteoblast activation, and serum Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), an inhibitor of osteoblast differentiation, during treatment. Methods: Patients received nine 6-wk cycles of VMP (bortezomib 1.3mg/m 2, days 1, 4, 8, 11, 22, 25, 29, 32, cycles 1-4, days 1, 8, 22, 29, cycles 5-9, plus melphalan 9mg/m 2 and prednisone 60mg/m 2, days 1-4, cycles 1-9; N=344) or MP alone (N=338). Results: Rates of bisphosphonates use during treatment (73% vs. 82%), progression because of worsening bone disease (3% vs. 11%), and requirement for subsequent radiotherapy (3% vs. 8%) were lower with VMP vs. MP. Median maximum ALP increase was significantly higher with VMP vs. MP overall (49.7% vs. 30.3%, P=0.029), and higher by response group (complete response [CR]: 68.7% vs. 43.9%; partial response [PR]: 41.5% vs. 31.2%). Greater maximum ALP increase was strongly associated with achievement of CR (P≤0.0001) and CR/PR (P≤0.01). Median DKK-1 decreased with VMP by 694.4pg/mL and increased with MP by 1273.3pg/mL from baseline to day 4 (P=0.0069). Available radiologic data revealed evidence of bone healing in 6/11 VMP-treated patients, who achieved best responses of three CR, one PR, and two stable disease. Conclusions: These results suggest a positive effect of bortezomib on bone metabolism and potentially bone healing in myeloma. © 2011 John Wiley and Sons A/S.

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Μ.Ed. in TESOL programme of the Hellenic Open University, we distributed a questionnaire to graduates as well as current students of the programme. Our primary goal was to further reflect on the usefulness of the programme ten years after and identify possible weak points that need enhancement for the ultimate benefit of our students and the Greek society at large. To that end, we aimed to map out students’ views about the programme and its influence on their professional life. In the various sections of the questionnaire we tried to explore (a) whether their expectations are fulfilled; (b) which modules of those on offer they have selected and which they consider as the most and least important for their professional training and development; (c) how the programme has influenced the professional choices they make/have made outside teaching a class-proper; (d) whether they regard the programme as a springboard for further professional development which they can embark upon on their own; (e) what suggestions they can make for the programme’s further improvement of. The results were very positive. The goals we had set forth in 1998, when this Μ.Ed. in TESOL teacher education programme was inaugurated, were definitely fulfilled for the benefit of the teachers of English at large both in the private and the state sector. The work that has been carried out so far points to a bright future, provided we continue on the same successful course and implement all necessary changes and adjustments required by our changing times.

We prospectively studied 110 consecutive patients with intertrochanteric hip fractures treated with the 130 degree angle, 10-mm short IMHS intramedullary hip screw (IMHS, Smith & Nephew, Richards, Memphis, TN). Surgery was performed within 36 hours from admission; all patients were mobilized immediately postoperatively. Fracture union, pre- and post-operative mobility status and complications were evaluated. Eighty patients were included in the postoperative evaluation for a mean followup of 14 (range, 9 to 25) months. Mortality was 19%. Union occurred in 79 fractures within 6 months from surgery; there was one case of screw cut-out and one case of deep venous thrombosis. Periprosthetic femoral shaft fractures were not observed. At the latest examination, the mean mobility score decreased from 8.4 +/- 1.6 to 7.1 +/- 2.1 (p = 0.0001); 26 patients (32%) fully achieved the preoperative mobility score and 54 patients (68%) achieved more than 90% of the preoperative mobility score. The IMHS intramedullary hip screw represents a reliable method for the treatment of patients with intertrochanteric hip fractures, and provides for early mobilization and rehabilitation of the patients with acceptable complications.