Publications by Type: Conference Paper

Presentation at “Media, Religion and Gender in Europe: RISECI –Religion in the Shaping of European Cultural Identity”, organized by the Blanquerna Faculty of Communication and International Relations, University Ramon Llull, with the support of the Culture programme of the European Union, Barcelona, June 13, 2014.---------------------------------------------------------------ABSTRACT------------------------------   A cross-examination of the personal accounts of 210 women travelers and harem inmates of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries in Asia Minor, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Africa and other occupied Ottoman territories “the real position of women in the religious system of Islam” (Garnett, 1895: 61). Women travelers from England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and America succeeded in doing what no male traveler, no man, had been able to do before or after them.  They surpassed the socio-religious barriers of Islam and penetrated into the gendered sphere and gendered boundaries of the Ottoman family/household, in other words the multiethnic harems of all the socioeconomic classes in Ottoman society. In contrast to their male counterparts, European and American women identify with the so-called  “Other”  using terms such as “Privileged Rape”, “Slavedom”, “Womanity”, “Woman-kind”, “Liberty”, “Freedom”, “Emancipation”, “Rape”, etc. They discuss the legal position and social privileges of free Muslim women and that of their islamized slaves, who were enslaved women and children of different nations. Namely, the female accounts focus on women’s legal rights with regard to marriage, divorce, child custody, inheritance, veiling or imposed covering of the Muslim female’s face and body, Ottoman sexual politics, among other things.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   MME, ΘΡΗΣΚΕΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΦΥΛΟ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΥΡΩΠΗ: Η ΘΡΗΣΚΕΙΑ ΣΤΗ ΔΙΑΜΟΡΦΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΤΙΚΗΣ ΤΑΥΤΟΤΗΤΑΣ **Irene Kamberidou (2014). "Wo-manity" in the yoke of the harem:  European women travel writers, authors and journalists of the 17th , 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.   With Dr. Joseph M. Carbonell, Dean of the Blanquerna Faculty of Communication and International Relations, University Ramon Llull; Dr. Miriam Diez Bosch, Director of the Observatory on Media, Religion and Culture; Dr. Jordi Sanchez, Deputy Director of Blanquerna Observatory and other participants: Dr. Caroline Wilson, Duoda, Woen’s Research Centre, University of Barcelona Dr. Silvia Planas, Director of History of Jews Museum and Institute Nahmanides in Girona. Dr. Mia Lovheim, Professor of Sociology of Religion, Univerisy of Upsala Dr. Emiliana di Blasio, professor of sociology, Rome Dr. Gaspar Martinez, Professor of Votproa Tjeppgu Faculty Dr. Gloria Garcia Romeral Dr. Joanna Sumiala, Universioty of Helsinki Dr. Jordi Sanchez, Deputy Director of Blanquerna Observatory       Riseci.eu University Ramon Llull   Media, Religion and Gender in Europe/ MME, ΘΡΗΣΚΕΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΦΥΛΟ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΥΡΩΠΗ (Barcelona, June 13, 2014), RISECI –Religion in the Shaping of European Cultural Identity/ Η ΘΡΗΣΚΕΙΑ ΣΤΗ ΔΙΑΜΟΡΦΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΤΙΚΗΣ ΤΑΥΤΟΤΗΤΑΣ The Dean, Dr. Joseph M. Carbonell, Dean of the Blanquerna Faculty of Communication and International Relations, University Ramon Llull Dr. Miriam Diez Bosch, Director of the Observatory on Media, Religion and Culture Dr. Caroline Wilson, Duoda, Woen’s Research Centre, University of Barcelona Dr. Silvia Planas, Director of History of Jews Museum and Institute Nahmanides in Girona. Dr. Mia Lovheim, Professor of Sociology of Religion, Univerisy of Ups[psala Dr. Emiliana di Blasio, professor of sociology, Rome Dr. Gaspar Martinez, Professor of Votproa Tjep;pgu Faculty Dr. Gloria Garcia Romeral Dr. Joanna Sumiala, Universioty of Helsinki Dr. Jordi Sanchez, Deputy Director of Blanquerna Observatory     Barcelona June 14, 2014, after session on Media, Religion and Gender in Europe At the Picasso Museum https://www.facebook.com/obsblanquerna https://www.facebook.com/riseci http://www.periodistadigital.com/religion/opinion/2014/06/13/genero-religion-y-comunicacion-religion-iglesia-blanquerna.shtml    

In the collapsar model of long GRBs the jet is formed at the center of the progenitor star, propagates in its interior, and produces the observed gamma rays much after its breakout from the star. The loss of pressure support during breakout induces a strong rarefaction wave that propagates inside the jet and causes its bulk acceleration. This mechanism has been already studied using axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations assuming a prescribed shape for the surface between the jet and its environment, as well as using simple rarefaction waves in planar geometry. Trying to improve over these works, we solve the steady-state, axisymmetric, relativistic MHD equations using the method of characteristics. In this way the jet boundary is found self-consistently and the rarefaction wave is studied in the axisymmetric geometry. In this poster we present our first results and a comparison with previous works.

Young stellar object observations suggest that some jets rotate in the opposite direction with respect to their disk. In a recent study, we have shown that this can be well in agreement with the magnetocentrifugal mechanism that is believed to launch such outflows. Here, we extend this analytical derivation to relativistic jets demonstrating that under rather general conditions counterrotation can indeed take place. We also illustrate the involved mechanism by performing relativistic magnetohydrodynamic jet simulations.

We review the first results of a dedicated, on-going monitoring project for supersoft X-ray source (SSS) states of classical novae (CNe) in the central region of the Andromeda galaxy (M 31). So far, during three high-cadence observation campaigns with the X-ray telescopes XMM-Newton and Chandra from 2006 until 2009 we detected 21 CNe, only four of which were seen in X-rays before. This increased the total number of known CNe with X-ray counterparts in M 31 to 60, which is significantly larger than for any other galaxy, including the Milky Way. We compiled a catalog of X-ray and optical properties for these 60 sources which allowed us to perform source statistics and population studies of CNe with SSS state in M 31 for the first time. Here we review the results of this analysis: (i) several correlations between X-ray and optical parameters, (ii) an analysis of the intrinsic fraction of CNe with SSS state, and (iii) the first nova population study in X-rays. Our first results are promising, however a continuing monitoring of the unique target M 31 is strongly needed to extend this valuable data base and to refine the early statements and predictions.

Recent changes of the thermohaline circulation in the Eastern Mediterranean (i.e. the Eastern Mediterranean Transient) and older observations of the thermohaline structure of the Aegean-Levantine region (with events of dramatic changes of deep water characteristics) reveal the very sensitive character of the regional thermohaline circulation pattern. This and the long term variability of seawater characteristics in various Mediterranean basins show that the deep water mass formation processes in the region can be greatly affected by climate variability and the characteristics of the extreme atmospheric forcing events. Theoretical work and modeling experiments point out the effectiveness of extreme events and periods of abnormal atmospheric conditions to produce deep waters of different characteristics and different equilibrium depth. Studying the mechanisms involved in the air-sea interaction under extreme event conditions, with available observations and modeling techniques, and monitoring important sites of water mass formation becomes very important for understanding the regional dynamics of the water cycle and their effect on the climate of the whole Mediterranean Sea region.

Our recent ground-based BVRI CCD observations of the eclipsing binary system EL Aqr provide the most accurate photometric light variation obtained so far for this system. In addition to the photometric observations, a revision of all existing spectroscopic data is carried out and a new mass ratio is derived. The combined photometric and spectroscopic data are analyzed using the Wilson- Devinney light curve synthesis code and new geometric and photometric elements are calculated. EL Aqr is found to be in contact configuration, showing partial eclipses, and one of the smallest mass ratios ever found on contact binaries.

We present the recent photometric monitoring of blazar Mrk421, obtained from the Gerostathopouleio Observatoty at University of Athens. Follow-up observations have been performed on this source after a highly energetic flare which occurred on 13 April, 2013. The flare was observed in X- rays by Nustar & Swift and in GeV - TeV gamma-rays by the Fermi satellite and MAGIC/VERITAS telescopes respectively. Continuous photometric monitoring in the optical BVRI bands during 3 months after the flaring activity reveals a quasi-periodic light variation. This is one of the few times that Mrk 421 was observed for such a long period without large observational gaps. We perform Fourier analysis of the almost uninterrupted 3-months-long dataset in order to get insight on the characteristic timescales of the system. We discuss also possible origins of the optical variability by performing cross-correlation analysis of the optical and of the simultaneous X-ray emission detected with XRT onboard the SWIFT orbital satellite.

Ειρήνη Καμπερίδου (2013). «Η κρίση στο γυναικείο αθλητισμό: η μοντελοποίηση των αθλητών/τριών», κεντρική ομιλήτρια  στην ενότητα «Η συμμετοχή των Γυναικών στον Πολιτισμό και στον Αθλητισμό»,  Διημερίδα του Δήμου Αθηναίων  με θέμα: «8 Μαρτίου-Παγκόσμια Ημέρα Γυναίκας: Νέες Δράσεις του Δήμου Αθηναίων για τις Γυναίκες» 07 & 08 Μαρτίου 2013 Τεχνόπολις  Δήμου Αθηναίων.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Αυτή η εισήγηση συγκρίνει την προβολή του γυναικείου αθλητισμού στα MME  των ΗΠΑ, της Αυστραλίας και της Ελλάδας, εντοπίζοντας τον εξωραϊσμός των ανδρικών επιτευγμάτων και την υποβάθμιση των γυναικείων. Στη συνέχεια εξετάζει τις κοινωνικές επιπτώσεις της προβολής των εμπορευματοποιημένων-μοντελοποιημένων ή εικονικά κατασκευασμένων αθλητών/τριών στα Μ.Μ.Ε., όπως για παράδειγμα το «σύνδρομο του Άδωνη» που πλήττει τον ανδρικό πληθυσμό σήμερα. Δηλαδή την κρίση των αρρένων με το σώμα τους. Η  «κρίση στο γυναικείο αθλητισμό» (Messner et al. 2010), που αναφέρεται στην ελάχιστη τηλεοπτική κάλυψη του γυναικείου αθλητισμού, επισημαίνεται ειδικά στις Η.Π.Α., όπου η τηλεοπτική προβολή των γυναικείων αγώνων το 2009 (1.6%)  είναι λιγότερη από ότι ήταν πριν από 20 χρόνια (5.0%) και δεν υπάρχει καμία ένδειξη ή λόγος να πιστεύουμε ότι αυτή η τάση θα αλλάξει, εκτός αν οι τηλεοπτικοί παραγωγοί αποφασίσουν ότι κάτι τέτοιο θα ήταν προς όφελός τους.  Το κύριο εμπόδιο που αντιμετωπίζει ο γυναικείος αθλητισμός και η αθλήτρια σήμερα είναι η ορατότητα (προβολή) στα ΜΜΕ και ειδικά η προβολή της αθλητικης ταυτότητας, δηλαδή η προβολή της αθλήτριας στον αθλητικό της ρόλο.  Τέλος, πραγματευόμαστε εναλλακτικά αθλητικά μοντέλα, μια ολιστική προσέγγιση, ενόψει της εμπορικής παγκοσμιοποίησης του αθλητισμού και της αθλητικής ταυτότητας. Ιδιαίτερη ανησυχία προκαλούν οι νέες αθλητικές ταυτότητες που προβάλλονται στα ΜΜΕ, όπως οι μεταμορφώσεις-μετασχηματισμοί του ανθρώπινου σώματος (genetic doping) και η μοντελοποίηση των αθλητών/τριών, το ανθρώπινο εμπόριο του καταναλωτισμού, της ψυχαγωγίας και του θεάματος. Μολονότι στην κοινωνική περιοχή του αθλητισμού των επιδόσεων δεν τίθεται το ερώτημα εάν μία επίδοση προσεγγίστηκε με «θηλυπρέπεια» ή με «ανδροπρέπεια», εντούτοις οφείλουμε να επισημάνουμε ότι παρατηρείται, ως αποτέλεσμα των μεθόδων προπόνησης σε συγκεκριμένα αθλήματα, μια θηλυκοποίηση του αθλητή και μια αρσενικοποίηση-ανδροποίηση της αθλήτρια, οδηγώντας έτσι αργά και αθόρυβα στην εμφάνιση στα ΜΜΕ μιας καινούργιας αθλητικής αισθητικής, όσον αφορά την αισθητική τους σώματος. Εν ολίγοις, στην προβολή στα ΜΜΕ μιας άφυλης ρευστότητας (gender fluidity): ο άφυλος αθλητής και η άφυλη αθλήτρια (genderless athletes).  Ωστόσο, αναδυκνείεται ότι οι 'κλωνοποιημένοι' αθλητές/αθλήτριες που προβάλλονται στα ΜΜΕ δεν εκπροσωπούν την πλειονότητα των ανδρών και των γυναικών της κοινωνικής περιοχής του αθλητισμού. Ένας αυξανόμενος αριθμός αθλητών/τριών, γυμναστών/στριών, ερευνητών/τριών, ακτιβιστών/τριών, δουλεύοντας έξω από τη δεσπόζουσα τάση της εποχής, αγωνίζονται για τη δημιουργία καινούργιων αθλητικών μοντέλων και προτύπων, για την προστασία και την ακεραιότητα του αθλητή  και της αθλήτριας,  και της αθλητικής δεοντολογίας, την προστασία του περιβάλλοντος, την εξάλειψη της διεθνικής σωματεμπορίας (human trafficking), κ.ά. (Heywood and Dworkin 2003, Creedon 2006, Messner & Raewyn 2007, Καμπερίδου 2005, 2012).

EU is developing a 1 MW cylindrical cavity gyrotron. In the last year the design of the components of the new gyrotron has been finalized while the technological design of the new tube has been defined. In the present paper, the main characteristics of the new EU gyrotron for ITER are presented.

New variable stars were discovered at the University of Athens Observatory, during data reduction in the frame of BVRI CCD observations of the eclipsing variable stars between August 2012 and June 2013. The photometric data were used in order to classify the new variables and calculate their principle photometric properties, such as their orbital period and amplitude of variation. All new discoveries are classified as contact eclipsing binaries of W UMa-type. New times of minimum light are determined and the astronomical ephemeris is calculated for each individual system.

  -Kamberidou, I. (2013). The East in the Eyes of Western Women travellers of the 18th and 19th centuries: solidarity and understanding the East. Presentation (invited speaker) at The East in The Eyes of The West International Conference of the Faculty of Arts, Kuwait University.  C.2 in Apella -Themes conditions_of_the_conference-2013.pdf the_east_in_the_eyes_of_the_west._faculty_of_arts._kuwait_university_2013.pdf

1. **Invited speaker, one of ten (10) experts invited to participate in conference, the only one from Greece. C.2.1 in Apella ***Επιλέχτηκα ανάμεσα στους 10 experts απ΄ όλο τον κόσμο που συμμετείχαν στο συνέδριο στο Κουβείτ, μετά από ανακοίνωση του ΕΚΠΑ (υπ΄ αριθ. 39740/Β4/22-3-2013 έγγραφο του Υπουργείου Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων, Πολιτισμού και Αθλητισμού) σχετικά με την Συμμετοχή ελλήνων καθηγητών στο Διεθνές Συνέδριο "Η Ανατολή στα μάτια της Δύσης" στο Πανεπιστήμιο του Κουβεϊτ από 26 έως 28 Νοεμβρίου 2013] (βλ.folder DEP: Μάρτιος 29, 2013).]    C.2.1 in Apella *** Invited speaker, gratitude and appreciation certificate, Prof. dr. Hayaat Nasser al-Hajji, Dean of the Faculty of Arts Letter: The Faculty of Arts sponsoring travel tickets and hotel accommodation, etc.… C.2.2 and C.2.3 in Apella

Although frontier techniques have been used to measure healthcare efficiency, their utility in decision making process is limited by both methodological questions concerning their application. The present paper aims to examine the data envelopment analysis (DEA) and stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) results in order to facilitate a common understanding about the adequacy of these methods. A two-stage bootstrap DEA method and the Translog formula of the SFA were performed. Multi-inputs and multi-outputs were used in both of the approaches assuming two scenarios either including environmental variables or not. Thirty-two Greek public hospital units constitute the sample. The main output of the analysis was that the efficiency scores increased with the incorporation of environmental variables. Moreover, environmental variables being hospital status and geographical position were found significantly correlating with inefficiency, while patient mobility was not found strongly correlating. DEA and SFA were found to yield divergent efficiency estimates due to the nature of the environmental variables and the measurement error. The analysis concludes that there is a need for careful attention by stakeholders since the nature of the data and its availability influence the measurement of the efficiency and thus it is necessary to be specific when choosing the mathematical form.

Extensive ground fissures frequently occur within the eastern Thessaly basin, in central Greece and have been since 1989. This paper aims to give a preliminary explanation for their generation reasons by interpreting the results of a dense geophysical survey along the basin. This is combined with drilling data, as well as field work tectonic measurements, morphotectonic analysis and remote sensing data interpretation throughout the marginal areas of the basin. The gathering, homogenisation and organisation of different types of geo-data by using various GIS software packages led to the discovery of the alpine basement surface, which is covered by recent sediments, and possible structures that contributed to the development of the basin. The methodology of producing a 3D basement surface model and various lithology profiles across the basin, along with sediment isopach maps by combining surface with subsurface data, is described in this paper.

The development mechanisms of an explosive cyclone over Central Mediterranean are examined, by relating the cloud patterns in the infrared, water vapour and visible channels of the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite images, to the surface-upper air operational analyses and thermodynamic parameters, including potential and geostrophic vorticity analyses, potential and equivalent potential temperature, static stability and thermal heat fluxes. The specific case study derived from an updated climatology of Mediterranean explosive cyclones for the 2002-2010 period, being performed with the aid of the University of Melbourne Cyclone Tracking scheme (MS algorithm) and ERA-INTERIM datasets. It was found that during the ordinary cyclogenesis the increased mid-upper level relative humidity over Northern Algeria along with the enhanced moisture gradient in the area between Portugal and Spain; indicate the existence of a jet -streak, with the dry zone to be located on the cold side of the jet axis. The descent of the dry air is more pronounced within the left exit region of the jet streak in the poleward portion of an upper confluence zone. Six hours later, the eastward movement of the cloud pattern in the Northern African coasts significantly resembles the structure of a baroclinic leaf, being related to the early stages of surface frontogenesis, due to the deformation process within a strong wind field. During the time of rapid deepening, when the surface cyclone propagated from the Northern African coasts towards the area of Sicily - Gulf of Taranto, the development is characterised by the transition from the baroclinic leaf structure to the comma cloud one and finally the formation of a bent-back occlusion. © 2013 SPIE.

The development mechanisms of an explosive cyclone over Central Mediterranean are examined, by relating the cloud patterns in the infrared, water vapour and visible channels of the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite images, to the surface-upper air operational analyses and thermodynamic parameters, including potential and geostrophic vorticity analyses, potential and equivalent potential temperature, static stability and thermal heat fluxes. The specific case study derived from an updated climatology of Mediterranean explosive cyclones for the 2002-2010 period, being performed with the aid of the University of Melbourne Cyclone Tracking scheme (MS algorithm) and ERA-INTERIM datasets. It was found that during the ordinary cyclogenesis the increased mid-upper level relative humidity over Northern Algeria along with the enhanced moisture gradient in the area between Portugal and Spain; indicate the existence of a jet -streak, with the dry zone to be located on the cold side of the jet axis. The descent of the dry air is more pronounced within the left exit region of the jet streak in the poleward portion of an upper confluence zone. Six hours later, the eastward movement of the cloud pattern in the Northern African coasts significantly resembles the structure of a baroclinic leaf, being related to the early stages of surface frontogenesis, due to the deformation process within a strong wind field. During the time of rapid deepening, when the surface cyclone propagated from the Northern African coasts towards the area of Sicily - Gulf of Taranto, the development is characterised by the transition from the baroclinic leaf structure to the comma cloud one and finally the formation of a bent-back occlusion. © 2013 SPIE.

In contrast to the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), our nearest starforming galaxy with metallicity between the Galaxy and the SMC, has received little attention in X-rays so far. With the aim to compare the accreting X-ray binary (XRB) populations in two of our nearest star-forming galaxies, we recently compiled the most complete census of high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) in the LMC. We found 43 members of which 13 are XRB pulsars, while we also identified their most likely optical counterpart (previously, half of these sources lacked an identification). Using this census, we investigated the link between the young accreting XRBs and their parent stellar populations. It was known that HMXBs can be used as star-formation (SF) rate indicators, but these first studies have been focused only on bright systems (Galaxy: >1038 erg s-1, Magellanic Clouds: >1036 erg s-1) and SF values for the whole galaxy. By including Magellanic Cloud sources with X-ray luminosities at least two order of magnitudes fainter than the above limits and by utilizing the detailed, spatially resolved, SF history maps of these galaxies, we were able to provide observational constraints on ill-understood parameters related to their formation and evolution (such as the kick velocities imparted into the neutron star during the supernova explosion) and to derive their formation efficiency. This work was mainly supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant No. NNX10AH47G issued through the Astrophysics Data Analysis Program.

The objective of INTIMATE is to reconstruct past abrupt and extreme climate changes over the period 60.000 to 8000 years ago, by facilitating INTegration of Ice core, MArine, and TErrestrial palaeoclimate records and using the combined data in climate models to better understand the mechanisms and impact of change, thereby reducing the uncertainty of future prediction. The project is organized in four working groups: WG-1 Dating and Chronological Modelling A reliable chronological framework is the basis of all studies of the past climate. WG1 is dedicated to developing and improving dating methods over the last 60,000 years and bringing scientists together to develop a coherent dating framework in which records can be compared at unprecedented detail. WG-2 Quantification of Past Climate The aim of WG-2 is to collect and quantify information of past climate from e.g. ice cores, tree rings, corals, stalagmites, and marine and lake sediments in order to draw a detailed picture of the highly variable climate evolution in the North Atlantic region. WG-3 Modelling Mechanisms of Past Change Our ability to forecast the rates and magnitudes of future change depends on numerical models. By using combined ice core, terrestrial, and marine data sets as targets, WG-3 will optimize methodologies to evaluate model simulations and make data-model comparisons. WG-4 Climate Impacts The aim of WG-4 is to gain insights into the impacts of past climatic changes on animal and human populations and the ecosystems of which they are part. WG-4 will quantify the magnitudes and rates of population, species, and ecosystem responses to climate events of different magnitudes in space and through time.

The scope of the research project is to investigate the consequences of climate change on deltaic plains, as one of the most vulnerable coastal and wealth-producing ecosystems. The Pinios river delta, located in the region of Thessaly (Greece) has been selected as a case study, as one of the largest Greek rivers with very limited flow controls. But, despite the fact that deltaic plain is part of the NATURA network, human intervention continuous to occur at an increasing rate. The main objectives of the project are to: (i) study the relative contribution of fluvial fluxes (water/sediment), nearshore hydrodyanmics and climate conditions in the formation and evolution of deltas; (ii) evaluate the impact of human activities in the evolution of the River Pinios delta (e.g., alteration of riverine fluxes, agricultural pollution, over-pumping of the aquifer); (iii) assess and to evaluate quantitatively changes in the deltaic environment for different climate change scenarios, i.e. water balance, issues of water quality, desertification, coastal erosion, inundation; (iv) investigate the interaction between natural processes and parameters associated with socio-economic development and use; (v) develop Sustainable Development Strategies for the natural deltaic system, in order to mitigate the consequences of the climate change, towards a better management of the wealthproducing resources (i.e. fresh water yield); (vi) contribute to the training of young scientists in environmental issues, related to the impact of the climate change on coastal environments; and (vii) disseminate science based management strategies to the local and scientific communities. During the first phase of project implementation, the study of the surface and ground water and their interrelationship is investigated through: (i) the climatological conditions of the deltaic plain and the drainage basin; (ii) the determination of the subsurface geological/stratigraphical information provided by geophysical data; (iii) surface and water fluxes estimated on monthly measurements (quantitative and qualitative) of river flow and phreatic water table.

The scope of the research project is to investigate the consequences of climate change on deltaic plains, as one of the most vulnerable coastal and wealth-producing ecosystems. The Pinios river delta, located in the region of Thessaly (Greece) has been selected as a case study, as one of the largest Greek rivers with very limited flow controls. But, despite the fact that deltaic plain is part of the NATURA network, human intervention continuous to occur at an increasing rate. The main objectives of the project are to: (i) study the relative contribution of fluvial fluxes (water/sediment), nearshore hydrodyanmics and climate conditions in the formation and evolution of deltas; (ii) evaluate the impact of human activities in the evolution of the River Pinios delta (e.g., alteration of riverine fluxes, agricultural pollution, over-pumping of the aquifer); (iii) assess and to evaluate quantitatively changes in the deltaic environment for different climate change scenarios, i.e. water balance, issues of water quality, desertification, coastal erosion, inundation; (iv) investigate the interaction between natural processes and parameters associated with socio-economic development and use; (v) develop Sustainable Development Strategies for the natural deltaic system, in order to mitigate the consequences of the climate change, towards a better management of the wealth- producing resources (i.e. fresh water yield); (vi) contribute to the training of young scientists in environmental issues, related to the impact of the climate change on coastal environments; and (vii) disseminate science based management strategies to the local and scientific communities. During the first phase of project implementation, the study of the surface and ground water and their interrelationship is investigated through: (i) the climatological conditions of the deltaic plain and the drainage basin; (ii) the determination of the subsurface geological/stratigraphical information provided by geophysical data; (iii) surface and water fluxes estimated on monthly measurements (quantitative and qualitative) of river flow and phreatic water table.

A submarine survey along the coasts of Ithaca and Fiscardo has permitted the identification of fossil shorelines produced by recent co-seismic movements. In both areas a tidal notch slightly submerged below present MSL was observed at various sites. This “modern” notch is known to have been submerged by the global sea-level rise during the 19th and 20th centuries. The depth after tide and air-pressure correction of the vertex of the “modern” notch (= MSL before the recent sea-level rise) was measured between -19±6 and -25±6 cm at Fiscardo and between -34±6 and -43±6 cm at Ithaca. The presence of this “modern” notch at the same depth on both sides of the Ionian Thrust would give evidence that both areas were not affected by the co-seismic vertical movements that occurred in 1953 in the wider area, while a greater depth in Ithaca could be an effect of co-seismic subsidence. Both cases are discussed and analysed in this paper. Assuming that the development of the “modern” notch was produced by bioerosion, it is possible to deduce a period of relative sea-level stability before the 19th century during 2.4 to 4 centuries at Ithaca and 1.5 to 4 centuries at Fiscardo. Over the longer term, the tectonic behavior of Ithaca differs from Fiscardo. At Ithaca no evidence of emergence has been found and Holocene vertical movements have been only of subsidence: fossil submerged tidal notches can be distinguished below MSL at depths (±6 cm) of about -40 (modern), -60, -75, -90, -100, -120, -130, -140, -150 and -220 cm. A southward tilting of the island is suggested from the -110 cm notch, but this is not the case for the -70 cm shoreline. On the east coast of Fiscardo Peninsula impacts of ancient earthquakes have left some marks (±6 cm) of emergence at about +15 and +40 cm, and of submergence at about -20 (modern) -35, -50, -60, -70, -80, -90, -100 and -230 cm, with even some evidence of past uplift and subsidence at the same sites.

Analytical radially self-similar models are the best available solutions describing disk-winds, but they need several improvements. We introduce models of jets from truncated disks, i.e. numerical simulations based on a radially self-similar MHD solution but including the effects of a finite radius of the jet-emitting disk, hence the outflow. We compare these models with available observational data, by varying the jet density and velocity, the mass of the protostar, the radius of this truncation and the inclination. In order to our models with observed jet widths inferred from recent optical images taken with HST and ground-based AO observations, we create emission maps in different forbidden lines, and from such emission maps, determine the jet width as the full-width half-maximum of the emission. We can reproduce the jet widths of several examples and its variations very well. We conclude that truncation - i.e. taking the finite radius of the jet launching region into account - is needed to reproduce the observed jet widths, and our simulations limit the possible range of truncation radii. The effects of inclination are important for modeling the intrinsic variations seen in observed jet widths. Our models can be used to infer the inclinations in the observed sample independently.

The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is host to approximately 100 High-Mass X-ray Binaries (HMXBs), predominantly Be X-ray Binaries (BeXRBs), a number which is surprisingly high when compared to the Milky Way. As these galaxies present different metallicities it is reasonable to ask if their populations of HMXBs are different. In order to address this we investigated their properties such as their spectral types and orbital parameters (periods and eccentricities). We find no apparent differences, implying that the nature of these systems is similar which sets at the same time strong constraints on the magnitude of supernova kicks in low metallicities. In order to extend the sample of BeXRBs we performed a systematic photometric survey of selected active regions of the SMC. Since the optical counterparts of the BeXRBs display Halpha excess they can be identified through Halpha imaging. Observations in 5 regions with the Wide Field Imager at the 2.2m MPG/ESO telescope yield approximately 24000 Halpha emitting stars. By cross-correlating these sources with those identified in the Chandra and XMM-Newton shallow surveys of the SMC and the census of HMXBs of Liu et al. (2005), we find 34 Halpha emitting X-ray sources. These are most likely BeXRBs, which we will confirm with follow-up spectroscopic runs.

We use JHK photometry from the 2MASS catalog to construct color-magnitude diagrams and density profiles of intermediate age open clusters in the Galaxy, that appear to contain carbon stars within their radius. The clusters in the sample have not been extensively studied in the past, as they are often very low density as well as extended and therefore difficult to observe. We have used the most recent Padova isochrones (Bressan et al. 2013) to estimate the ages of the clusters.

We observed a newly discovered X-ray source int X-rays and in the optical to confirm its nature as a high mass X-ray binary. We analysed XMM-Newton and Swift X-ray data, along with optical observations with the ESO Faint Object Spectrograph, to investigate the spectral and temporal characteristics of the source. The XMM-Newton data show coherent X-ray pulsations while the spectra can be modelled with a combination of a power law plus a black body component. We performed optical spectroscopy from which we classify the companion star as a B0-1.5Ve star. The X-ray pulsations, the long-term x-ray variability and the properties of the optical counterpart confirms the the x-ray source as a new Be/X-ray binary pulsar in the LMC.

A coastal management study at areas with steep anaglyph requires detailed knowledge of the onshore surface and subsurface regime regarding the erosional procedures. Active faults produce dynamic and continuously evolving geomorphological structures, which require investigation and continuous monitoring. Detailed mapping on and adjacent to these surfaces is required in order to study the complexity of various tectonic discontinuities, which contribute significantly to erosion and rock-falls resulting rapid and significant changes on the landscape. The technology of ground-based Light Detection and Range (LiDAR) capturing devices is a powerful and valuable tool, providing detailed mapping and surface change detection of inapproachable and nearly vertical surfaces. In this paper we introduce the diachronic monitoring and detection of alterations on the surface of the shore-side active fault of Psatha (Greece), with terrestrial LiDAR scanning, for a state of the art mapping of the almost vertical limestone fault surface. The monitoring procedure includes high-detailed topographic survey at the adjacent area using Real Time Kinematics Global Positioning System equipment (RTK-GPS), which is consisted of a large pile of brittle debris, laying on top the fault surface, by the sea. The described methodology involved the production of a high resolution DEM based on historic topographic maps (scale 1:5,000) of the regional area and comparing it with the higher resolution DEM representing the contemporary morphology, produced by the combination of the fault wall LiDaR “point cloud” and the dense grid of the RTK-GPS measurement points. The comparison between these datasets and recently acquired high resolution IKONOS satellite images revealed impressive surface changes caused mainly by the human intervention as well as the erosional processes which were accelerated due to the absence of safety measures along the coastal zone. Furthermore, the regional subsurface of the hanging wall zone area was also investigated, especially underneath the brittle debris formation, applying the highresolution near surface geophysical technique of Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT). Several sections were conducted aiming to represent the subsurface extension of the visible structures in three dimensions and combine it with the aforementioned datasets. The successful combination of different techniques revealed and quantified the landscape evolution involving the surface alternations at the fault adjacent coastal zone, the sea intrusion and even the coastline displacement, during the last four decades. Most of these yielded to the anthropogenic interference on the brittle debris formation and even the construction of the coastal road.

We approach the problem of bulk acceleration in relativistic, cold, magnetized outflows, by solving the momentum equation along the flow, a.k.a. the wind equation, under the assumptions of steady-state and axisymmetry. The bulk Lorentz factor of the flow depends on the geometry of the field/streamlines and by extension, on the form of the "bunching function" S=r^2 B_p/ A, where r is the cylindrical distance, B_p the poloidal magnetic field, and A the magnetic flux function. We investigate the general characteristics of the S function and how its choice affects the terminal Lorentz factor gamma_f and the acceleration efficiency gamma_f/mu, where mu is the total energy to mass flux ratio (which equals the maximum possible Lorentz factor of the outflow). Various fast-rise, slow-decay examples are selected for S, each one with a corresponding field/streamlines geometry, with a global maximum near the fast magnetosonic critical point, as required from the regularity condition. As it is proved, proper choices of S can lead to efficiencies greater than 50%. Last, we apply our results to the momentum equation across the flow, in an effort to estimate their validity, as well as identifying the factors that lead to an accurate full-problem solution. The results of this work, depending on the choices of the flow integral mu, can be applied to relativistic GRB or AGN jets.

We present radial profiles and color magnitude diagrams for 18 star clusters in the central region of the neighboring irregular galaxy Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), using BVR photometric data obtained with the Inamori Magellan Areal Camera and Spectrograph (IMACS) mounted on the 6.5m Magellan Telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. The star clusters studied (OEi79, NGC330, H86- 135, H86-129, H86-127, H86-138, NGC306, H86-146, SOGLE220, B69 OE- SOGLE89, H86-136, H86- 145, BS259, H86-149, H86-142, H86-119, BS257, B73 or SOGLE96) are distributed over a 0.44o field centered at RA: 00h 53m 28.2s, DEC:-72o26?Ao34.5?Ao?Ao (2000) in the central bar and have been previously catalogued by Bonnato & Bica (2010), Glatt et al. (2010) and Chiosi et al. (2006). The observations obtained with IMACS have very high spatial resolution (of about 0.2 arcsec) and they are thus very well suited for studies of crowded fields. Some of the objects that had been previously classified as clusters in the aforementioned catalogues, have not been confirmed as such, by the new high resolution data. It is also noteworthy that only one of the 18 star clusters has been observed with the Hubble Space Telescope ?Ai and thus with high spatial resolution. For all of the confirmed star clusters in the sample, we have constructed radial density profiles, color magnitude and color-color diagrams. Ages were estimated using the Padova isochrones of Bressan et al. (2012), while the interstellar reddening of each cluster was estimated both from the location of the zero-age main sequence and from the color-color diagrams.

The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is a well known laboratory for studies of High-Mass X-ray Binaries (HMXBs), that are prime targets to investigate the evolution of binaries and massive stars. Although the number of identified Be X-ray Binaries (BeXRBs) has increased dramatically in the last decade, only recently we started to obtain a better picture of their their spectral-type distributions, which in turn can provide us with information and constrains regarding their evolution and nature. We present results from a systematic spectroscopic campaign of HMXBs identified in Chandra and XMM-Newton surveys of the SMC, using the AAOmega/2dF spectrograph at the the Anglo-Australian Telescope. We classified 21 sources, one of which is the well known supergiant B[e] star S18 (or AzV 154). We suggest that it is the optical counterpart of the X-ray source CXOU J005409.57-724143.5, being the second supergiant X-ray binary in the SMC since 1971. The classified sources are within a wide range of five orders of X-ray luminosity, extending our census of BeXRBs to almost quiescent luminosities. A comparison of the populations of HMXBs in the SMC and the Milky Way with respect to their spectral types and orbital parameters (periods and eccentricities) shows no evidence for difference in their populations. In order to expand the sample of HMXBs we performed a systematic survey on selected active regions of the SMC. Since the optical counterparts of the HMXBs display Hα excess they can be identified through Hα imaging. Thus, we observed 16 regions with the Wide Field Imager at MPG/ESO and the MOSAIC II Imager at CTIO Blanco telescopes. The analysis of these data yields approximately 3000 identified Hα emitting stars in the most active regions of the SMC. We discuss the photometric parameters of these sources (Hα EW, broad-band optical and IR colors), and their correlation with the X-ray sources identified in the Chandra and XMM-Newton surveys.

Tidal notches can form on carbonate coasts during periods of relative stable sea-level, or when sea-level changes occur at a rate lower than the rate of bioerosion. Tidal notches have often been used for Quaternary sea-level reconstructions and for estimating tectonic movements, especially in uplifting areas. Underwater geomorphological survey may reveal evidence of submerged tidal notches. Detailed, accurate and systematic survey along the coastal zone by boat is necessary, to access all sites and establish lateral continuity of observation. During the survey, the local lithology is taken into account. For each site, the time and the GPS coordinates are collected. Underwater, the observed features are measured in relation to sea level and photographed. Notch geometries (height, vertex and inward depth) are measured and interpreted. The accuracy can be improved by multiple measurements and by corrections based on air pressure and tidal records. Submerged tidal notches cannot be dated directly, but their age can be inferred from coastal cores or archaeological data. Information on the duration of the various sea-level positions can be deduced from assumptions on the minimum and maximum values of intertidal bioerosion in carbonate rocks. Through this methodology new evidence concerning the rates of subsidence in the investigated area may be provided. The profiles of submerged notches, resulting from different combinations of RSL in sheltered areas, allow to qualitatively distinguish the way of subsidence e.g. co-seismic event, gradual relative sea-level rise, etc. Some examples of tidal notch development and tectonic movements are provided from fossil submerged notches in Greece. Although tidal notches are not forming anymore in the present-day mid-littoral zone, underwater marks on carbonate cliffs may still provide evidence of submerged tidal notches corresponding to former sea level positions, or to recent vertical shoreline displacements of seismic origin.

A poster presented at HNPS2012 held in NCSR "Demokritos" 24-25.05.2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Natural hazards, on a national and international scale, have increased in the last years as a consequence of climatic changes and human activity resulting in an unfavourable impact on socio-economic conditions. Catastrophic phenomena related to river floods as well as, from erosional and meteorological events, and human intervention. The Vulnerability being particularly high in the regions intensely populated, like the analyzed case study, high is the Risk. The importance of geomorphological studies in assessing natural hazards due to river floods was brought into focus with recent floods event that occurred in urban areas in NW Peloponnesus, Greece. During the autumn and winter months intense rainfalls persisted for several hours producing severe flash flood mainly in the alluvial playing of same urban streams - river. There were some loss of life and damage to buildings, transport infrastructure and agricultural crops. The damages are mainly due to absence of good alluvial playing management practices in recent decades, concretely after the year 1960 during the urban growth of towns. The most commonly visible consequences of the land-use change are flash floods observed in urban areas after high precipitation events. As important as the value of runoff formed from the watershed, is the process of reconstruction of the shape of the runoff hydrograph, especially the estimation of the time and value of the peak flow.

Using a full-wave Maxwell-Bloch Langevin approach we show how, by using gain, we may overcome losses in double-fishnet negative-index metamaterials, as well as achieve net steady-state amplification and nanoscopic lasing over a broad ultrathin area. © OSA 2012.

We reassess the importance of archaeological sea level indicators along the coast of central Italy (Figure 1), recently revisited within the European COST Action ES0701. It appears that the local sea-level rise since 2000 years ago can be estimated of the order of about half a meter, that agrees with the classical literature about this topic, rather than ~1.35 m, as recently proposed. In order to analyze the contribution of glacio-isostatic adjustment (GIA) effect to sea level rise detected with observations on field, we employ different viscosity of 0.5 x 10^21 Pa.s for upper mantle and 2.7 x 10^21Pa.s for lower mantle and several late-Pleistocene ice sheets chronologies. Neglecting the tectonic contributions to sea level variations and supposing a laterally uniform rheology, in these regions, RSL curves depart from eustasy mainly because of the effects of melt water loading, responsible for a widespread subsidence reaching its largest amplitude in the bulk of the basin. The mismatch between observations from field data and model predictions can be partly attributed to the poor knowledge of the visco-elastic property of the mantle and to uncertainties of the details of the melting history. The residual between the observations and the predictions of RSL leaves some room for a contribution of recent sea level variations driven by climate change, which according to IPCC estimates amount to 30 cm globally averaged (IPCC, 2007).

In a changing environment, due to the changing climate and the rapid urbanization, the cities have to develop the ability to be resilient and adapt in the present and future development. Therefore, every element of the urban environment has to be prepared and develop abilities, in order to face the future challenges, such as the floods. This paper focuses on a part of Kifissos drainage basin (Athens, Greece) in order to estimate and compare direct residential flood damages from different building types around Kifissos river. For the purposes of this study, FloReTo, a web-based tool was used. FloReTo is a web-based advisory system on mitigation measures on a micro-scale level, enabling tailored approach for the user’s own property data. As this paper deals with flood damages on a microscale-residential level, the data collected from the studied buildings include information concerning the type of property, the conditions of the buildings (old, new, renovated, etc.), type of foundation, elevations of the floors, configuration of the basement (if they exist) and first floor with a detailed description of the materials, the assets/property of the examined floors and finally information about the services of the building (electricity, heating, sewerage system). The comparison of the results of this model allows evaluating the predominant building types of the study area along with their preparedness and capacity to cope with the current and future challenges.

This study focuses on the estimation and management of flood risk in the drainage basin of Paratrechos or Peritsi stream in Naxos Island, through the study of geomorphological characteristics, geology, land use and topography. The catchment area of Paratrechos or Peritsi stream is approximately 54 km. High morphological relief characterizes the mountainous areas and lowland areas present mild relief. The average elevation reaches 245 m, while the average slope of the basin is 21%. The stream is known to have caused severe problems following intense rainfall, with landslides in the mountainous areas and subsidence in large parts of the road network, and with intense flooding events in the wider area of Chora of Naxos. Several floods have been recorded for Paratrechos or Peritsi stream, with the most recent at the end of March 1998, beginning of January 1999 and 18th February 2003. The aim of this study is the investigation of the relationship rain-runoff through Unitary Hydrographs, in order to estimate and evaluate the flood potential of the hydrologic basin. In order to obtain accurate results, the hydrologic basin was divided into sub-basins, based on the class of each stream, and the characteristics of each sub-basin were studied. For the optimum application of the Clark method, the data were enriched with field measurements, through the installation of a water level recorder and a meteorological station. The results from the field measurements were used to confirm the results of the method. Through this method, the maximum flow at the mouth of each sub-basin and the concentration time were calculated. Maps of flood risk were developed, with the use of ArcGis 9.3 software, presenting the characteristics of the flood risk locations in the study area. Furthermore, Instantaneous Unitary Hydrographs were produced for each sub-basin, in order to study and compare the relationship of rain-runoff and determine the causes of the risk. The identification of these areas and the application of the method were accomplished through the study and use of contours, elevation and trigonometric points, watersheds, land use, hydrographic network, soil characteristics, geological characteristics and flood picks.

Active nanoplasmonic metamaterials, pumped above lasing threshold, can exhibit dynamic competition between bright, radiative and dark, trapped modes of the structure. We study the spatio-temporal mode competition and explore methods of mode control. © 2011 Optical Society of America.

Active nanoplasmonic metamaterials, pumped above lasing threshold, can exhibit dynamic competition between bright, radiative and dark, trapped modes of the structure. We study the spatio-temporal mode competition and explore methods of mode control. © 2012 OSA.

Summary form only given. Coaxial gyrotrons offer the potential to generate microwave power in the multi-megawatt levels at frequencies well above 100 GHz1, since very high-order volume modes can be used. The presence of the coaxial insert reduces the voltage depression and eliminates the restrictions of mode selectivity, making it possible to maintain the cavity ohmic losses at a reasonable low level (<2kW/cm2) allowing the use of very high-order volume modes.

We present a plasmonic waveguide where light pulses are stopped at well-accessed complex-frequency zero-group-velocity points. Introducing gain at such points results in cavity-free, "thresholdless" nanolasers beating the diffraction limit via a novel, stopped-light mode-locking mechanism. © OSA 2012.

The role of remote sensing in the identification of NNE-SSW trending strike slip fault zones and the implications on the development of the E-W trending Messara basin in Central Crete is examined in this paper. The examination of several tectonic and mophotectonic criteria along with high and medium resolution remote sensing image interpretation are leading to the conclusion that this quite recently formed basin on the top of the hanging wall of the Southern Crete extensional detachment fault is still evolving and the lateral slip of faults trending oblique to the Hellenic trench are very significant. The history of this supra-detachment basin starts during Middle Miocene only after the compressional phase of the alpine units’ nappe pile stacking has been accomplished at the southern part of the Hellenic Arc system. The Iraklion basin, delimitated by two nearly N-S trending fault zones, which is located to the north of Messara and also including the area at the easternmost part of it, begins to get filled with lacustrine sediments, during Serravallian. The eastern marginal fault zone is almost vertical with some fault surfaces dipping to the west and has a strong left lateral component, which is active at least since Tortonian, as this has been proved by tectonic analysis of syn-sedimentary faults found on marine sediments, along the faulted area. During Messinian time, left-slip displacement was relocated to the fault system bounding the western margin of the Heraklion-Messara basin. These oblique fault activations are causing the segmentation of the south dipping Cretan detachment fault and the variation of the slip rates of each of the –at least– three segments that were identified. The westernmost segment of the detachment seems to have the highest slip rate as the largest structural omission related to the alpine units has been detected along its trace. The continuous subsidence of the hanging wall is boosting Messara to be formed as an individual basin trending E-W differentiated by the Iraklion basin, the area of which is reduced and finally remained on the footwall of the Southern Crete detachment fault. The new independent supradetachment basin is stabilizing whilst internal deformation takes place and becoming homogenous during the Holocene as the modern topography shows. Remote sensing image interpretation based on spectral analysis led us to high detail and accuracy geological mapping of these major and in many cases blind structures and eventually build the evolution model of a very complicated area at the edge of the Hellenic trench.

We outline recent advances in active gain-enhanced plasmonic metamaterials revealing and elucidating the inherent complex interplay of light, surface plasmon polaritons and gain materials to allow a compensation of dissipative losses in negative-refractive-index optical metamaterials and to achieve net steady-state amplification and nanoscopic lasing over a broad but ultrathin area. On the basis of a fully 3-dimensional Maxwell-Bloch Langevin approach we then demonstrate that in a suitably designed gain-enhanced plasmonic/ metamaterial heterostructure light pulses can be completely stopped at well-accessed complex-frequency zero-group-velocity points leading to thresholdless nanolasers that beat the diffraction limit via a novel, stopped-light mode-locking mechanism. © 2012 IEEE.

We investigate the characteristics of a relativistic magnetized fluid flowing around a corner. If the flow is faster than the fast-magnetosonic speed the non-smooth boundary induces a rarefaction wave propagating in the body of the flow. The subsequent expansion is accompanied with a very efficient increase of the flow speed and bulk Lorentz factor. We apply this "rarefaction acceleration mechanism" to the collapsar model of gamma-ray bursts, in which a relativistic jet initially propagates in the interior of the progenitor star, before crossing the stellar surface with a simultaneous drop in the external pressure support. We integrate the steady-state equations using a special set of partial (r-self similar) solutions. The use of these solutions degrades the system of the complex, non-linear, 2nd order partial differential equations into a system of two 1st order ordinary differential equations whose integration is straightforward. For the conditions expected in a gamma-ray burst, a fully analytical solution can be obtained. The aim of this work is to better understand the results of recent time-depended numerical simulations and show that rarefaction acceleration is a plausible mechanism in gamma-ray burst outflows.

A common feature of the coastal excavations in both Paros and Naxos is that of submerged antiquities and collapsed hilltops into the sea. Beach rocks along the modern coastlines bear witness to the extent and depth of ancient shores. The submerged antiquities of Paros include cemeteries of various time periods, harbor installations and certain rock-cut features whose function is not yet interpreted with certainty. The archaeologists who excavated Grotta and Aplomata on Naxos spoke of two seismic events; one at an early phase of the LH IIIA2 and another one at LH IIIC period. Indisputable evidence for those earthquakes offer two submerged tidal notches found at a depth of –3 m and –2.5 m respectively. The tsunami that covered the northern part of the Hellenistic Agora in the 2nd c. AD is additionally confirmed by a submerged tidal notch at a depth of –1.70 m and dated shells of Cerastoderma. The article proposes an entirely new perspective on the sea-level changes in Cyclades, which is strictly based on archaeological stratification and sea-level indicators.

Tidal notches are known to undercut limestone rock formations in the mid-littoral zone, especially in microtidal marine areas. Fossil tidal notches in uplifted or submerged positions have often been used to deduce former sealevel stands and tectonic movements. In particular, the good preservation of a tidal notch profile after emergence or submergence may be used as excellent evidence that the relative sea-level change was rapid, possibly coseismic. Tidal notches are believed to result mainly from marine bioerosion processes during periods of stable relative sea level. While in tropical environments their development may often include bioconstruction layers near the notch base, in temperate environment they tend to be purely erosional features, mainly caused by the boring capacity of endolithic and epilithic algae and by the grazing gastropods that rasp away the microflora together with rock particles in the intertidal range. Micro-erosion measurements have shown that the rate of deepening of a tidal-notch profile may be very variable (from less than 0.1 mm/yr to about 1 mm/yr, with averages of the order of 0.2 to 0.3.mm/yr in some sites of the Mediterranean). This high variability may depend from seasonal changes in the environment (temperature, salinity, air pressure) that have an influence not only on intertidal vegetation and grazing organism, but also on sea-level changes over seasonal or inter-annual scales. In spite of this variability, the inward depth of fossil notches may be used as an approximate method to roughly estimate the duration of a period of relative sea-level stability. All carbonate rocks are not equally sensitive to tidal-notch development: the slope of the rock layers and irregularities on the rock structure or surface may locally prevent the development of a tidal notch. This means that tidal notches may be present in some locations but not at some nearby sites. Therefore the absence of tidal notches can hardly be used as a reliable criterion to interpret the lack of a sea-level stillstand. During the last two centuries tide gauges have shown that the global sea level was rising at a rate faster than the possibilities of bioerosion. As a consequence, new tidal notches have not been forming in most places during the last couple of centuries. This is causing a general lacuna in geologic marks. In conclusion fossil tidal notches can be useful to interpret relative sea-level change in places where they are preserved. However, the lack of tidal notches does not provide evidence of the absence of a sea-level stillstand and coastal geomorphic archives are most often incomplete.

Our present contribution is a resume of a series of our studies by which we make an effort to explore the factors that are related to the acceptance of evolutionary theory among Greek and other variouscountries perspective and active educators using the conceptual ecology for biological evolution as a theoretical lens. Our central question refers to the role of the type of religiosity of a certain population in making their willingness for acceptance or rejection of evolution in the school environment. The Theory of Evolution (ET) is considered as concept - threshold that needs to be passed before someone can develop his/her understanding (Kinchin 2010) of a broader perspective of natural phenomena and of the nature of science. Most educational research has shown that the result of the teaching of ET is not positive in different parts of the world. Moreover research shows that the acceptance of the ET is restricted and the knowledge is limited and controversial among school science students and teachers. Large percentages of science teachers—close to a majority in many samples—reject ET and support the teaching of antievolutionary ideas in schools (Nehm & Schonfeld, 2007). Thus evolution remains a problematic subject for many science teachers. We make the hypothesis that the type of qualitative characteristics of the religion a nation or population group holds, is an essential factor in determining the level of acceptance of evolution, and their readiness to make changes in their believes, as well. More specifically, we advocate that the student and teacher populations that come from countries with a Greek-Orthodox background are m​

Schéma général: Le “Fin de siècle” pour un Monde bipolaire, Fonte de glace en Zone Arctique, Mise en question du modèle de Spykman (Rimland/Aile Sud-Est de l’OTAN), Projection de force économique, politique et militaire de nouveaux pôles internationaux dans l’espace Méditerranéen (Russie et Chine), Restructuration des Sous-systèmes Stratégiques au Proche et Moyen Orient: le sous-système Israël-Chypre-Grèce-Italie et le rôle de la France (UPM).

We found that the nova candidate J004457.9+412344 is a radio-quiet quasar at z ∼ 2. Its optical long-term light curve, covering more than half a century, shows quasar typical flux variations superimposed by a spectacular single flare lasting more than one year (observer frame). We could not find comparable light curves among the several thousand catalogued radio-quiet quasars in the stripe 82 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The decreasing part of the flare light curve roughly follows a power law t-5/3. The quasar spectrum, the total energy of the flare, and the decline of the light curve are consistent with the tidal disruption of a ∼10 Mʘ giant star by a supermassive black hole of a few 108 Mʘ. We argue that the alternative explanation by gravitational microlensing is less likely, though it cannot be definitely excluded.

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).

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

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

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).

This research applies the fuzzy set theory via Geographical Information Systems (GIS) - based analysis to investigate the slope erosion by water. The main steps of this procedure are the definition of the input variables (rocks’ susceptibility to erosion, slope angle, slope morphology), the development of a fuzzy inference system based on theoretical and empirical knowledge, transforming the input to output variables (erosion – deposition) and the visualization of the output variables (spatial distribution of the erosion-deposition processes). The method was applied at the Corinth drainage basin, located in the north-eastern part of Peloponnese (Greece), where a series of catastrophic erosional events have recently occurred.

We outline the theory of slow-light propagation in waveguides featuring negative electromagnetic parameters (permittivity, permeability and/or refractive index). We explain the mechanism by which these heterostructures can enable stopping of light even in the presence of disorder and, simultaneously, dissipative losses. Using full-wave numerical simulations and analytical transfer-matrix calculations we show that the incorporation of thin layers made of an active medium adjacently to the core layer of a negative-refractive-index waveguide can completely remove dissipative losses - in a slow- or stopped-light regime where the effective index of the guided lightwave remains negative. We also review and compare several 'trapped rainbow' schemes that have recently been proposed for slowing and stopping waves. © 2011 SPIE.

Digital Assembly presentation, Brussels  June 17, 2011-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How can we move from gender devaluation and gender fatigue to gender energy and get more women to ride up the glass escalator? Current research indicates the need to focus on innovative approaches to getting gender back onto the agenda: reproducing women’s recruitment, retention, advancement and agency (Farrington 2011, Kamberidou 2010, Kelan 2010, Merriman 2010, Benschop & Brouns 2003, Hultin 2003). Despite legislation and gender mainstreaming policies, the recognition by many companies, organizations and institutions that diversity is essential, women still lag behind men in compensation and advancement and are less satisfied with their careers than men. Women are overlooked in decision making positions in the business sector, in S&R, in the academia, on research committees, etc. This paper examines three major gender gaps: 1) the leadership gap, 2) the pay gap and 3) the engagement/participation gap, with references to the phenomena of gender fatigue, tokenism and the hidden advantages for men in the so-called 'female' professions. Taking their gender privilege with them, men experience positive discrimination in female dominated professions and are promoted up the ladder (ride up the glass escalator) even faster than their female counterparts, as opposed to women who confront the glass ceiling and the sticky floor in male dominated fields. Gender devaluation, namely the subtle processes by which women’s contributions are minimized, undervalued or devalued in male dominated professions are especially apparent in the academia as well. Consequently, "getting gender back on the agenda" (Kamberidou 2010) requires an Alternative Model—redefining professional success and concepts of excellence, finding alternative paths to advancement or tenure, establishing measures and best practices at many levels—examined in the strategy proposals presented in this paper. Research shows that women are an economic force to be reckoned with and utilizing the entire talent provides an important competitive advantage. Studies confirm that companies that recognise talent in any form and make good use of it show greater success with regard to profits and sustainability. Women must be present in sufficient numbers at senior levels in order to achieve better results and especially to drive cultural change.   Keywords: gender fatigue, the ‘stupid curve’: wastage of talent, the glass escalator, tokenism, gender devaluation, gender-blind academic structures      

Ce travail se penche sur un aspect de la coopération franco-hellénique dans le domaine de la formation au professorat de français. Elle porte plus précisément sur la période 1954-1991 et étudie la mise sur pied à l’université d’Athènes d’une structure de préparation professionnelle destinée aux francisants. La France participe à cette entreprise avec une équipe enseignante composée de docteurs d’État, d’agrégés et de licenciés. L’étude examine le cadre de cohabitation, au sein de la Section française d’abord, du Département de langue et littérature françaises plus tard, de deux personnels, français et grec, qui tout en ayant un but commun, devaient, en même temps, servir les politiques culturelles/éducatives de leur pays respectif. Elle constitue un premier bilan des résultats d’une recherche en cours.Dans la première partie qui couvre la période 1954-1976, est évoqué, en premier lieu, le contexte géopolitique en pleine reconstruction qui émerge après la Seconde Guerre mondiale et qui conduit à une redistribution des zones d’influence entre les grandes puissances occidentales dans le domaine linguistique et culturel. Ces mutations entraînent, d’une part, la perte des privilèges français dans ce domaine et, d’autre part, une reformulation des stratégies universitaires concernant la formation des professeurs de langues étrangères ; celles-ci se concrétisent par la création de sections universitaires de préparation à cette spécialité. Suit l’examen des textes législatifs constitutifs de la Section française qui révèle les choix stratégiques qui ont prévalu et la philosophie qui a présidé lors de leur élaboration : former des fonctionnaires hellènes imbus d’une culture gréco-française ; placer cette structure sous la haute surveillance des autorités universitaires. L’analyse s’intéresse plus particulièrement au partenariat entre les deux équipes, française et grecque, inauguré par la loi de 1954. Cette collaboration n’était pas conçue sur un pied d’égalité : la loi réservait un rôle subordonné à la partie française. Il n’empêche que la responsabilité administrative de la Section (gestion économique et coordination des auxiliaires d’enseignement) était assumée par l’un des deux titulaires français des chaires créées. Une première approche du profil de l’équipe française, groupe de fonctionnaires migrants, est tentée dans un deuxième temps : composition sexuée, titres, durée des missions, difficultés de recrutement. Cette première partie se termine par une brève étude du groupe quasi-féminin de maîtres-assistant.e.s grec.que.s constitué à partir de 1964 pour faire face à l’augmentation vertigineuse de la population étudiante. La deuxième partie du travail qui examine la période 1976-1991 met en relief le processus de désengagement de la partie française de la direction de la Section. Cette rupture est le résultat de la réorientation des politiques culturelles françaises dans le domaine de l’enseignement à l’étranger. De leur côté, les professeurs grecs mettent en place les structures adéquates qui permettront l’affranchissement des sections universitaires de langues vivantes de la tutelle étrangère : création de chaires, recrutement d’un personnel grec plus nombreux et mieux instruit. Ces stratégies conduisent inévitablement à l’hellénisation et à la féminisation des structures de formation en question. En 1991, prend fin la mission du dernier lecteur français à la Section française athénienne et avec elle la collaboration franco-hellénique dans ce domaine.

The Eastern Mediterranean Sea lies in a climatological transition zone, under the influence of both tropical and mid-latitude climate processes. Within this basin, the Aegean Sea has been recognized as a highly sensitive area to global/regional climate change. Sediment archives provide robust evidence for changes in its hydrological properties and biogeochemical functioning as a response to past climate variability. In order to investigate the region's paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic patterns during the Holocene, with a special emphasis on the sapropel S1 interval, we have investigated marine sediment cores along a N-S transect in the Aegean and the S. Cretan Seas. We focus on combined geochemical, micropaleontological and palynological proxies, namely organic biomarkers, organic carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, coccolithophore and pollen assemblages, aiming at reconstructing climate-related parameters such as sea surface temperature (SST), marine productivity patterns, stratification and nutricline fluctuations, continental vegetation patterns and land-sea interactions. SST patterns depict major global/regional climate fluctuations during the last glacial and deglaciation periods, depict the warm transition to the Holocene optimum, when the formation of the S1 sapropel takes place, a distinct cool episode around 8 ka BP (coeval with the S1 interruption), a conspicuous mid-Holocene warm phase (5.4-4.3 ka BP) as well as other distinct fluctuations. Diagnostic marine lipids, δ15N, and coccolithophore assemblages allow documenting the variability of primary productivity and associated organic carbon accumulation in sediments, as well as fluctuations in water column stratification and nutricline, especially during the deposition of the S1 sapropel. Combined terrigenous proxies record warm/cool and dry/humid time intervals, allowing land-sea correlations, and document changes in the delivery of terrestrial material to the sea related to climate-driven fluctuations in freshwater discharges. The network of sediment cores studied provide a better constrain of the regional climate patterns in the northeastern Mediterranean Sea and enables assessing potential time lags and gradients.

We investigate conditions in a radially self-similar outflow in the regime of large resistivity. Using the PLUTO code, we performed simulations with proper choice of boundary conditions, relaxed at the footpoints of critical surfaces in the flow. We investigate outflow propagation in a high-resistive disk corona, and compare it to the results with small or vanishing resistivity.

Naxos is the largest island of the Cyclades (Aegean Sea, Greece), covering an area of ca 450 km². Its 150 km long coasts exhibits various morphological features such as cliffs, lagoons and beaches. These latter are largely preserved along the western coast, between the main city (Chora) and Pyrgaki, and are associated with well-developed dune fields. A few dunes fields are also preserved along the Eastern part (Azala Bay, Psili Ammos). Field study made it possible to propose an updated geomorphological mapping of the dune fields. Four landforms have hence been recognized, especially on the basis of their form, size, location and vegetation cover. Assuming that these various landforms relate to at least three Holocene aggradation periods, a geochronological approach was developed in order to unravel the climate influence on the Naxos dunes formation. 24 OSL dating were performed at the Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics (LIAG, Hannover, Germany) on samples from two main dune fields : Aliko (West coast) and Psili Ammos (East coast). We here present the first results and interpretations of these geochronological research.

Summary form only given. Megawatt gyrotrons are found to suffer from various RF oscillations in the beam tunnel prior to the desired interaction zone (the cavity). The development of such parasitics degrades the beam quality reducing the efficiency of the cyclotron interaction and the overall produced power. Furthermore, it affects the stability of operation. Several design approaches have been implemented in order to suppress the parasitic modes; most of them involve the increase of the dissipation in the beam tunnel by means of lossy ceramic materials. However, despite the increased losses, parasitic oscillations still appear in several new designs, especially when the produced power and/or operating frequency is increased. In this work, we employ the numerical code FISHBONE, as well as the commercial simulation software CST STUDIO SUITE in order to study the parasitic modes which appear in a gyrotron beam tunnel. Furthermore, the effect of the geometry of the structure as well as the various design parameters on the parasitic modes is studied, in order to identify the origin and properties of the parasitic oscillations.

Summary form only given. Coaxial cavity gyrotrons with axial corrugated insert are able to provide high-frequency microwave power in the MW region. The insert reduces the voltage depression and enhances the mode-selectivity of the cavity. Choosing the insert's radius and corrugation parameters properly, the parasitic modes are more easily suppressed. A major constraint in the design of such resonators is the heating of the structure due to the dissipation of part of the generated RF power of 2-3kW/cm2, whereas for the inner one this limit is up to ten times lower. The EU 2 MW, 170 GHz coaxial gyrotron cavity has been designed using the Surface Impedance Model (SIM) to calculate the ohmic loading of the insert. However, comparisons of SIM results with those obtained by the full-wave Space Harmonics Method (SHM) revealed significant discrepancies in the calculated ohmic loading. In this work, we perform a parametric study of the ohmic loading using SHM and SIM. Possible optimization, by means of minimization of ohmic losses and mode competition, of the EU coaxial gyrotron cavity is investigated.

We reexamined the total extinction along the sightline of a quasar (J004457+4123) behind the disk of M31 and used a varying total-to-selective extinction ratio in order to obtain a better agreement between its optical spectrum and a composite SDSS spectrum based on input spectra of quasars from DR7 at similar redshifts. The M31 outermost disk predominates (~85%) the total foreground (Milky Way+M31) selective extinction EB-V = 0.30+/-0.05 mag and the derived gas-to-dust ratio is N(H)/EB-V = (3.5+/-0.7)×1020 atcm-2 mag-1.

The effects of the geological, tectonic and neotectonic structure and the impact of the human presence and activity on the drainage network of Pineios river are presented here in order to determine the causes of its diversion and the implications to the shoreline. We used, analyzed and evaluated (a) geomorphological, geological, tectonic and neotectonic data of the study area, (b) historical information and archaeological findings from buried and eroded archaeological sites of the wider study area, (c) published data related to drill cores and radiocarbon dates, and (d) remote sensing datasets, as satellite and aerial photos of different capturing periods, as well as real-time kinematic differential GPS measurements for the definition of the current shoreline. It is concluded that the detected shoreline displacements and drainage diversions are the result of the combination of active tectonics and human activity during the last 100 kyrs.

We establish the theory of light amplification and lasing in optical metamaterials. We show how loss compensation in slow-light metamaterial heterostructures becomes possible, and elucidate light amplification and lasing in active nanoplasmonic double-fishnet metamaterials. © 2011 Optical Society of America.

Global models of glacio-isostatic adjustment (GIA) depend critically on assumptions about the rheology of the mantle and the history of ice melting since the Last Glacial Maximum. Here we employ different viscosity profiles in the range of 0.4 x 10^21 Pa.s for upper mantle and 4 x 10^21Pa.s for lower mantle and several late- Pleistocene ice sheets chronologies to interpret relative sea level (RSL) observations collected along the Tyrrhenian coasts. Neglecting the tectonic contributions to sea level variations and supposing a laterally uniform rheology, in these regions, RSL curves depart from eustasy mainly because of the effects of melt water loading, responsible for a widespread subsidence reaching its largest amplitude in the bulk of the basin. We reassess the importance of archaeological sea level indicators along the Tyrrhenian coasts of Italy (Lazio, Italy), recently revisited within the European COST Action ES0701. It appears that the local sea level rise since 2000 y ears ago can be estimated of the order of about half a meter, that agrees with the classical literature about this topic, rather than ~1.35 m, as recently proposed. The mismatch between observations from field data and model predictions can be partly attributed to the poor knowledge of the visco-elastic property of the mantle and to uncertainties of the details of the melting history. By forward modelling based on a modified ICE5G chronology, and using data from Tyrrhenian coast of Italy and SE Tunisia, we also evaluate the effects of a melt water pulse of the history of RSL, according to distinct assumptions about its origin (Antarctic or Northern Hemispheric).

New period of the third body in the system of the eclipsing HgMn binary star AR Aur was derived based on new photoelectric and CCD observations.

Εισαγωγή. Στηv Πετοσφαίριση είναι απαραίτητο από πλευράς τεχνικής και τακτικής να γνωρίζουμε ποιες τεχνικές δεξιότητες επηρεάζουν την απόδοση (Eom & Schutz, 1992). Ειδικά στα σετ με μικρή διαφορά πόντων μεταξύ των αντιπάλων ομάδων ανδρών υψηλού επιπέδου η επίθεση είναι η σημαντικότερη τεχνική δεξιότητα (Drikos & Vagenas, 2011). Η παρούσα έρευνα αξιολόγησε τις διαφορές επίδρασης βασικών δεξιοτήτων συγκρίνοντας την αγωνιστική απόδοση νικητριών και ηττημένων ομάδων σε όλους τους τύπους των σετ. Μέθοδος. Τα δεδομένα προήλθαν από 175 σετ του Πανευρωπαϊκού Πρωταθλήματος Ανδρών (2009). Αναλύθηκαν 12 δείκτες απόδοσης (%) από τέσσερις δεξιότητες: επίθεση, σερβίς, υποδοχή, μπλοκ. Η ανάλυση cluster εξήγαγε τρεις τύπους σετ (διαφορά): αμφίρροπα (2 πόντοι), ισορροπημένα (3-5 πόντοι), άνισα (>5 πόντοι). Λόγω των ακραίων κατανομικών λοξοτήτων σε 11 από τις 12 μεταβλητές (K-S, p<0,05) η στατιστική ανάλυση έγινε με τoν απαραμετρκό έλεγχο σύγκρισης διάμεσων τιμών (Wilcoxon) Αποτελέσματα. Οι έλεγχοι Wilcoxon έδειξαν ότι 9 δείκτες βγήκαν σημαντικοί (p<0,05) για όλα το σύνολο των δεδομένων και για τα άνισα σετ, 6 δείκτες για τα ισορροπημένα σετ και ένας δείκτης για τα αμφίρροπα σετ. Οι νικήτριες ομάδες είχαν σημαντικά μεγαλύτερο ποσοστό άμεσων πόντων από την επίθεση από ότι οι ηττημένες (p<0,001). Συμπεράσματα. Επιβεβαιώνεται η προπονητική προτεραιότητα ανάπτυξης των επιθετικών ικανοτήτων των αθλητών ανδρικών ομάδων υψηλού επιπέδου .

The high quality stellar spectra, recorded with the stellar spectrograph constructed at the Laboratory of Astronomy and Applied Optics of the University of Athens, allows the spectral classification of stars brighter than 9 mag, as well as the measurement of radial velocities of binary systems. The primary application of the spectrograph will be the study of eclipsing binaries, where the lack of spectroscopic observations limits the theoretical models. The spectrograph can be also used for observations of transient phenomena, such as novae, supernovae, comets and cataclysmic variable stars, but also for support observations of larger telescopes around the world.

A deep XMM survey has identified hundreds of bright X-ray sources from the direction of Andromeda. These sources are mostly comprised of supernova remnants, X-ray Binaries and background Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). We have obtained 35 optical spectra of their candidate counterparts using the 3.5-meter telescope at the Apache Point Observatory. After calibrating and extracting the objects' spectra from the sky background, we've been able to classify 8 as background AGN with red shifts (1.15< z <2.11). Preliminary classifications of the 27 others include 9 stars in Andromeda and 1 supernova remnant in Andromeda. With these results we are beginning to constrain the background contamination in the XMM survey and to find good high-mass X-ray binary candidates in Andromeda. Furthermore, future high-resolution spectroscopy of the background AGN may allow detailed absorption studies of the Andromeda interstellar medium. Support for this work has been provided by NASA grant NNX06AF58G, through the XMM-Newton Guest Observer Facility.

Using full-wave simulations we show how the incorporation of thin layers made of an active medium adjacently to the core layer of a negative-index slow-light waveguide can completely remove dissipative optical losses. © 2010 Optical Society of America.

The Spatial Harmonics Method has been used to study TE modes in a coaxial corrugated cavity. A numerical code has been developed to calculate eigenvalues, fields and ohmic losses on the walls. Numerical results are presented to clarify the influence of the higher-order spatial harmonics to these calculations.

We present our ground-based CCD observations of the close binary systems DD Mon and XY UMa in B, V, R and I bands. The light curves are analyzed using the Wilson-Devinney code (W-D) for the derivation of the geometric and photometric elements of the systems. We compare the methods of photometric and spectroscopic mass ratio determination in these binaries, as a function of all typical difficulties, which arise during the analysis of such systems (light curve asymmetries, third light etc). Finally, a new spot model is suggested for the eclipsing system XY UMa, which belongs to the RS CVn type of active binaries.

We study the interaction of a chirped electromagnetic pulse with intersubband transitions of a double semiconductor quantum well. We specifically consider the interaction of the ground and first excited subbands with the electromagnetic field and use the nonlinear density matrix equations for the description of the system dynamics. These equations are solved numerically for various values of the electron sheet density for a realistic double GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well, and the efficiency of population transfer is discussed with emphasis given to the effects of the detuning of the central frequency of the electromagnetic field from resonance.

Most recommender systems usually have too many items to recommend to too many users using limited information. This problem is formally known as the sparsity of the ratings' matrix, because this is the structure that holds user preferences. This article outlines a collaborative recommender system, that tries to amend this situation. The system is built around the notion of k-separability combined with a constructive neural network algorithm.

Kamberidou, I. (2010). 'Eliminating the glass celing and the leaky pipeline: the ECWT and the EUD- European Directory of Women and ICT'. Presentation at the European Commission’s 'Women in ICT-Shadowing' conference, the Way Forward,  7-9 March 2010, Nicosia, Cyprus. European Commisson. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The purpose of this presentation is to promote the targets of the European Center for Women and Technology (ECWT), namely  to increase the number of girls and women in the knowledge based economy until the year 2015. To Accomplish this the ECWT  has developed the European Directory (EUD)  of Women and ICT (http:// www.ictwomendirectory.eu) an online directory, an ecospace – endorsed by the e-skills ILB as the meeting point for ICT women in Europe. The ultimate aim of these initiatives is to encourage young women to choose to study and work in the sector and to ensure their participation in the use, design and production of information and communication technologies and services.  This paper discusses the ECWT thematic-focus  areas—Education, Workforce, Entrepreneurship and Leadership. Additionally it presents a list of what the ECWT accomplished in 2009: increasing member organizations from 16 to 52; ECWT national point of Contacts (N-POCs) under start-up in 21 countries; discussions with HePIS- the Hellenic Professionals Informatics Society and members of CEPIS-to set up a National Point of Contact in Greece; trengthening collaboration with DG INFSO through signing of the Code of Best Practices of Women in ICT and DG Enterprise and Industry, opening a dialog with DG Research and DG Education, to name few.  

We investigate on the basis of a full three-dimensional spatio-temporal Maxwell-Bloch approach the possibility of complete loss compensation in non-bianisotropic negative refractive index (NRI) metamaterials. We show that a judicious incorporation of optically pumped gain materials, such as laser dyes, into a double-fishnet metamaterial can enable gain in the regime where the real part n′ of the resulting effective refractive index (n = n′ + in″) is negative. It is demonstrated that a frequency band exists for realistic opto-geometric and material (gain/loss) parameters where n′ < 0 and simultaneously n″ < 0 hold, resulting in a figure-of-merit that diverges at two distinct frequency points. Having ensured on the microscopic, meta-molecular level that realistic levels of losses and even gain are accessible in the considered optical frequency regime we explore the possibility of compensating propagation losses in a negative refractive index slow-light metamaterial heterostructure. The heterostructure is composed of a negative refractive index core-layer bounded symmetrically by two thin active cladding layers providing evanescent gain to the propagating slow light pulses. It is shown that backward-propagating light - having anti-parallel phase and group velocities and experiencing a negative effective refractive index - can be amplified inside this slow-light waveguide structure. Our results provide a direct and unambiguous proof that full compensation of losses and attainment of gain are possible on the microscopic as well as the macroscopic level in the regime where the non-bianisotropic refractive index is negative - including, in particular, the regime where the guided light propagates slowly. © 2010 SPIE.

This study describes the application of a novel chemistry method based on a modified sol-gel technique for the fabrication of nanostructured non-metal doped TiO2 photocatalytic films that can be activated under both visible and UV light. A self-assembling surfactant was employed as a pore-directing agent and a nitrogen-containing compound as doping precursor. Different surfactant ratios were explored to tailor-design the desired structural properties of TiO2 (i.e., high surface area, small crystal size) and enhanced the photocatalytic activity under visible light illumination. The films were characterized by XRD, ESEM, TEM, AFM, EPR, micro-Raman, XPS, UV-vis spectroscopy and N2 porosimetry. The photocatalytic evaluation of the films was tested for the degradation of microcystin-LR and the effects of NOM, pH, alkalinity, and dissolved oxygen under visible light irradiation were investigated. The multifunctional behavior exhibited for the non-metal doped TiO2 films can lead to important photoinduced applications including environmental protection (water disinfection, self-cleaning surfaces) and sustainable solar energy conversion to electricity (dye-sensitized solar cells).

The study area, Mesokambos, is located at the SE coast of Samos Island situated at the east-central part of the Aegean Sea. Mesokambos is an alluvial valley situated on the outskirts of Pythagorion, a town built on top of the ancient town of Samos which is believed to be inhabitant since at least the Late Neolithic period (4th millennium BC). Archaeological evidences indicate that the present morphology is associated with recent coastal subsidence which comes in contrast with the uplift of the North West coastal area of Samos Island. For the purposes of this study detailed geomorphological mapping, paleontological, sedimentological and radiocarbon dating analyses of the Late Holocene coastal zone were conducted. The study of sea-land interactions during Upper Holocene, in relation to the eustatic sea level rise, as well as the geomorphologic observations and analyses on deposited sediments, aims to reveal the palaeogeographical evolution of the landscape. To obtain information about the Holocene stratigraphy under the recent alluvial cover, eight boreholes followed the detailed geomorphological mapping. The paleontological analysis took place and ten samples of plants, shells, peat and charred material were also collected from several layers of the sedimentary sequence and were dated using AMS radiocarbon techniques providing temporal control of the sediments. In this study the tracing of the diachronic palaeo-shoreline shift due to the sea level change and its effect to the palaeo-environment in the south-eastern part of Samos Island was attempted. Sea level changes along with local conditions have been studied and the palaeogeographical evolution of the last 6.500 has been verified.

 Kamberidou, I. (2010). “Inspiring Women into Technology: the EUD Megacommunity”. Poster presentation in proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Interdisciplinarity in Education ICIE’10: New Higher Education Programs & Jointly 4th International Steering Committee Meeting, June 17_19, 2010, Tallinn, Estonia. [Also see article in: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/events/cf/daa11/person.cfm?personid=21537ABSTRACT: In order to promote the targets of the European Center for Women and Technology (ECWT) and increase the number of girls and women in the knowledge based economy until the year 2020, the ECWT has developed the European Directory (EUD) of Women and ICT (http:// www.ictwomendirectory.eu), an online directory, an ecospace, a meeting point for ICT women in Europe. The EUD, created with the support of the European Commission DG Information Society and Media, was launched in Brussels in October 2009 by Commissioner Viviane Reding.[1] (Kamberidou 2010) Specifically, on the 8th of October 2009, Commissioner Reding welcomed 32 new signatories of the Code of Best Practices for Women and ICT and introduced this new tool –the online Directory for Women in ICT: http://www.ictwomendirectory.eu.  Specifically, this prentation showcases, or rather introduces a new ecospace, an online directory, a tool for getting more girls and women into the technology sector. It is the first regional directory for Women and ICT issues, a meeting point for ICT women in Europe and a megacommunity for  innovative collaboration in the Women and ICT and related sectors.   Keywords: new ecospace, megacommunity, collaboration platform, European level database, Web Community for Women in ICT.

The objective of this paper is to assess the future adaptability of e-Learning platforms within postgraduate modules. An ongoing empirical assessment was conducted amongst postgraduate students, based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The current paper presents the outcomes from the second phase of a survey, involving fifty six participants. Data analysis was performed using a structural equation model, based on partial least squares. Results highlighted the very strong effect of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use to attitude towards using e-Learning platforms. Consequently, attitude towards use proved to be a very strong predictor of behavioral intention. Perceived usefulness, on the contrary, did not prove to have an effect to behavioral intention. Implications on the potential of using e-Learning platforms are discussed along with limitations and future directions of the study. © 2010 IMIA and SAHIA. All rights reserved.

The photometric and spectroscopic observational campaign organized for the 2008/9 eclipse of EE Cep revealed features, which indicate that the eclipsing disk in the EE Cep system has a multi-ring structure. We suggest that the gaps in the disk can be related to the possible planet formation.

The study area of Vigla coastal zone is located at the W coast of Naxos, the largest island of Cycladic plateau. The study of sea-land interactions during Holocene in relation to the eustatic sea level oscillations as well as the geomorphologic observations and analyses on deposited sediments, aims to reveal the paleogeographic evolution of the landscape and its impact to the overall cultural development of the area. A geomorphological mapping of the coastal area along with the drilling of three boreholes has been accomplished. Moreover, a micro faunal analysis has been performed. Five samples of plant material, chart coal and shells were dated using AMS and Conventional radiocarbon techniques providing temporal control of the sediments. Sea level rise along with sea-land interactions to the landscape evolution and the transgression of sea in 5000 BP have been verified.

Using the numerical code Fishbone, developed to study the parasitic oscillations in gyrotron beam tunnels, a parametric study is performed on the effect of the dielectric material as well as of the slot geometry on the growth rate of the excited parasitic modes.

We review recent theoretical and experimental breakthroughs in the realm of slow and stopped light in structured photonic media featuring negative electromagnetic parameters (permittivity/permeability and/or refractive index). We explain how and why these structures can enable complete stopping of light even in the presence of disorder and, simultaneously, dissipative losses. Using full-wave numerical simulations we show that the incorporation of thin layers made of an active medium adjacently to the core layer of a negative-refractive- index waveguide can completely remove dissipative losses - in a slow-light regime where the effective index of the guided wave is negative. We, also, review and compare several 'trapped rainbow' schemes that have recently been proposed for slowing and stopping light. © 2010 Copyright SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering.

This paper is an attempt to reconstruct the Holocene geomorphological evolution of the Kambos coastal - alluvial plain, situated in the southern part of the island of Samos between the ancient city of Samos (contemporary city of Pythagorio) and the temple of Hera (Heraion). The present morphology of the site area is shaped by the fluvial action of Mavratza Torrent forming an extensive alluvial fan in the northern part of the plain, while further southwards a drained freshwater marsh close to the sea exists. Heraion is located about 6km westwards of the ancient city. The habitation of the site area started approximately in the 11th century BC and has been constant to this day. Samos city enjoyed its greatest prosperity in the 6th century BC, under the leadership of the tyrant Polycrates. To reconstruct the geomorphological changes of the plain’s area, a detailed geomorphological survey in combination with stratigraphical and palaeontological techniques took place. In addition, a drilling project of two vibracores was carried out. The chronostratigraphy of the cores was determined by two C14-AMS radiocarbon datings undertaken on in situ bivalves. The evaluation of the data gives rise to the following time-scenario concerning the geomorphological evolution of the area. Long before 2700 BC, the area was covered by fluvial sediments originating from the nearby torrents to the north. Predominance of sandy fraction and a low percentage of silty-clayey material may indicate a process that removed the fine material. Absence also of coarse clastics (pebbles, cobbles) indicates restricted fluvial transportation and subsequently a low gradual relief. By ~2700 BC the area had already been flooded by sea-level rise and a shallow lagoon with a sandy bottom was formed. The lagoon continued to exist for a further ~2000 years, progressively becoming muddy; it was restricted and gradually transformed into a marsh. This marsh endured until the final decades of the previous century before it was drained. The aforementioned results strongly encourage the idea that the paved road connecting the ancient city to the temple in the 6th century BC must have been situated more inland, avoiding the coastal lagoon.

The palaeo relative sea-level indicators are the most important type of data as far as the Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) related to the Last Glacial Maximum is concerned. The geomorphological and archaeological indicators have recorded the long-term sea-level variation that accompanied and followed the melting of the Late Pleistocene ice sheets. This bathymetry change stems for the combined effects of the eustatic sea-level change, the gravitational interactions between the geoid and the ice sheets and the deformation of the solid Earth. Since these three factors are fully described by the sea level equation in a self-consistent manner, the comparison of relative sea-level (rsl) data and predicted Holocene curves provides fundamental constraints on the GIA models. While the rsl data from the formerly glaciated area may provide constraints on both the extent and thickness with time of the ice sheets and the local shallow Earth structure and rheology, the palaeo sea-levels from the Mediterranean Sea may constrain the volumes of melt water that has been globally released through time and also the lower mantle rheological parameters. In this work we combine archaeological and geomorphological rsl indicators with GIA-model predictions to investigate the Holocene sea level changes in Tunisia and Cyclades islands (Central Aegean). While the former area has been proven to be vertically stable on the long timescale, the Central Aegean could be affected by local tectonics that would result in vertical deformations. We therefore compare at first the available rsl data from Tunisia with GIA predictions based on a suite of available late Pleistocene ice chronologies and Earth rheological models. We find the best combination of ice and earth models to explain the rsl data from Tunisia and finally apply those to investigate the vertical stability at the Cyclades islands and to quantify the tectonics-related rates of vertical crustal deformation.

Using Chandra, XMM-Newton and optical photometric catalogs we study the young XRB populations of the SMC. We find that the Be-XRBs are observed in regions with star formation (SF) rate bursts ˜25-60 Myr ago. The similarity of this age with the age of maximum occurrence of the Be phenomenon (˜40 Myr) indicates that the presence of a circumstellar decretion disk plays a significant role in the number of observed XRBs in the 10-100 Myr age range. We also find that regions with strong but more recent SF (e.g. the Wing) are deficient in Be-XRBs. By correlating the number of observed Be-XRBs with the formation rate of their parent populations, we measure a Be-XRB production rate of ˜1 system per 10-6 Msun/yr. Finally, we use the strong localization of the Be-XRB systems in order to set limits on the kicks imparted on the neutron star during the supernova explosion.

We derive metal abundances ([Fe/H]) of 472 RR-Lyrae variables of RRab type in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), based on extended and merged data provided by the OGLE II and OGLE III projects. Fourier decomposition of the 11-year V-band light curves of the variables and Monte Carlo simulations have been used to derive Fourier parameters which are related to [Fe/H]. We examine possible correlations between [Fe/H] and projected distance from the dynamical center (DC) of the SMC. We also derive the distance along the line of sight of the RR-Lyrae variables which represent the old populations in the SMC. (Kapakos et al., in prep.)

In this study, immobilized nitrogen and fluorine co-doped TiO2 (NF-TiO2) was synthesized employing a fluorosurfactant-based sol-gel method to tailor-design the nanoparticulate, structural and photocatalytic properties of the catalyst. Besides the co-doping of nitrogen and fluorine observed for visible light photoresponse, the nanostructure of the dip-coated films was effectively controlled by modifying the molar ratio of the fluorosurfactant. The synthesized films were evaluated for the destruction of two emerging contaminants, hepatotoxin microcystin LR (MC-LR) and herbicice Amitrole. NF-TiO2 films showed high photocatalytic activity for the degradation of both MC-LR and Amitrole compared to control experiments under both visible and solar light irradiation. Moreover, NF-TiO2 nanostructured films also exhibited high mechanical stability and no irreversible changes were observed during photocatalysis after 3 cycles under visible light. These results are promising for further development of sustainable remediation technologies for the treatment of water contaminated with MC-LR and other persistent micropollutants, based on advanced oxidation processes driven by solar light as a renewable source of energy.

We have developed a quantum-mechanical theory for the interaction of light and electron-hole excitations in semiconductor quantum dots. Our theoretical analysis results in an expression for the photoluminescence intensity in the non-linear regime. The validity of the theoretical results is tested analyzing experimental data reported for the temperature dependence of the emission spectra of an individual lens-shaped In0.4Ga0.6As self-assembled quantum dot in a wide temperature range up to 300 K. Our theoretical predictions for the redshift of the emission peak with increasing temperature, in the range 2–300 K, agree with the experiment.

We review recent theoretical and experimental in progress in the realisation of slow and stopped light by the 'trapped rainbow' principle in optical metamaterials featuring negative electromagnetic parameters (permittivity/permeability and/or refractive index). We explain how and why these structures can enable complete stopping of light even in the presence of disorder and, simultaneously, dissipative losses. Using full-wave numerical simulations we show that the incorporation of thin layers made of an active medium adjacently to the core layer of a negative-refractive-index waveguide can completely remove dissipative losses - in a slow-light regime where the effective index of the guided wave is negative. © 2010 SPIE.

Using Chandra, XMM-Newton and optical data we study the young (?Myr) X-ray binary (XRB) populations of the Magellanic Clouds. We find that the Be-XRBs of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) are observed in regions with star formation (SF) rate bursts ˜25-60 Myr ago. The similarity of this age with the age of maximum occurrence of the Be phenomenon (˜40 Myr) indicates that the presence of a circumstellar decretion disk plays a significant role in the number of observed XRBs in the 10-100 Myr age range. We also find that regions with strong but more recent SF (e.g. the Wing) are deficient in Be-XRBs. By correlating the number of observed Be-XRBs with the formation rate of their parent populations, we measure a Be-XRB production rate of ˜1 system per 10^{-6} M⊙/yr. Finally, we use the strong localization of the Be-XRB systems in order to set limits on the kicks imparted on the neutron star during the supernova explosion. Understanding of the populations of compact objects and their connection with star-formation (SF) will allow us to investigate channels of XRB formation in a variety of environments and therefore help in studies of the X-ray source populations of star-forming galaxies outside our Local Group, and even enable their use as a SF diagnostic. This work was supported from NASA LTSA grant NAG5-13056, and NASA grant GO2-3117X.

Young stellar object jets are supersonic and highly collimated plasma outflows that propagate for large distances. Although their association to star formation is a well established fact, there are still open questions such as whether the outflow is of disk or stellar origin, how the jet’s time variable structure is produced and why there is an asymmetry between the opposite bipolar flows. The increasing angular resolution of modern telescopes gradually provides the clues to clarify and understand such issues. An emerging picture is that of a two-component protostellar jet, where a high mass loss rate disk wind surrounds a hot stellar outflow. In this context, our group has carried out numerical simulations of several two-component magnetohydrodynamic jet models, setting as initial conditions a combination of two well studied analytical solutions. We investigated the dynamics and the steady state features of many interesting cases as a function of the mixing parameters and the enforced time variability. A highly significant result was the morphological reproduction of the large scale knot-like structure of many young stellar objects jets. Moreover, with the assumption of a quadrupolar disk field we found asymmetric velocities between the bipolar outflows suggesting a possible explanation for this observational fact. In this article we summarize the results on the dynamics and the velocity profiles of a few interesting two-component jet scenarios.

As one of the initiatives undertaken to promote Astronomy in Greece, particularly in view of the International Year of Astronomy 2009, the Hellenic Astronomical Society (Hel.A.S.), in collaboration with the Hellenic Association of the Laboratory Centers of Physical Sciences, organized a special workshop, under the umbrella of the 9th Hellenic Astronomical Conference, addressed to school teachers. The aim was to develop and promote teaching of Astronomy, which is currently an optional subject, offered during the second year of senior high school (Lyceum).

Le présent travail, qui s’inscrit dans le cadre d’une recherche plus vaste consacrée à l’étude des représentations sexuées véhiculées par les manuels scolaires d’histoire, se situe au croisement de l’histoire de l’éducation et de celle du genre. Il porte sur la visibilité des sexes dans les manuels d’histoire de deux pays, la Grèce et la France, à travers l’étude comparée d’une unité thématique, la Révolution française. Le choix de cette unité n’est pas arbitraire : étant donné que cette période marque une rupture profonde dans l’histoire du monde occidental, une place, plus ou moins importante, est consacrée à son étude dans les manuels d’histoire de tous les degrés d’enseignement. De surcroît, c’est pendant la Révolution française qu'un débat est ouvert en France, pour la première fois, sur la question de la participation des femmes au politique.Dans un premier temps, ce travail examine plus précisément, par le biais d’une analyse quantitative des notations sexuées, le partage de l’espace historique entre les sexes dans la partie textuelle et documentaire de neuf ouvrages français et de six manuels grecs enseignés entre 2000 et 2008 à l’école primaire, au collège et au lycée. Les résultats de cette enquête furent décevants. La place réservée à l’histoire du sexe féminin est extrêmement réduite ; en outre l’organisation des ouvrages étudiés favorise la présence fragmentaire des femmes dans le récit historique. La deuxième partie de l’étude est consacrée à un travail de marquage des présences et des absences des femmes prenant appui sur l’historiographie relative au sujet. Ce travail vise à inscrire le récit proposé dans un engagement politique pour une réécriture « genrée » de l’histoire enseignée à l’école.

Ozellikle soğuk savas doneminde etkili olan Anglosakson jeostratejik yaklasım, cok onemli iki Anglosakson coğrafyacı ve jeopolitik uzmanı Sir Halford Mackinder (1861-1947) ve Nicholas Spykman (18931943) tarafından dile getirilmistir. Bu jeopolitik modellerden, Ege takım adalarını ve onun devamı Girit ile Kıbrıs’ ı iceren dikey coğrafi alanın, Rimland’ ın stratejik bolumunu olusturduğunu ve aynı zamanda bu alanın NATO’ nun Guneydoğu kanadı icin bir istikrarsızlık noktası olduğu ortaya cıkıyor. Bu alanın stratejik kontrol altında tutulması icin Anglosaksonların ilgisi, 20’nci yuzyıl boyunca devamlı ve buyuk olmus, Soğuk Savas doneminde ise doruğa varmıstır. 50li ve 60lı yıllar arasında kalan donem, Soğuk Savasın tırmandığı ve iki buyuk rakip arasındaki tehlikeli olayların arttığı bir donemdir. Bizim analizimize gore Anglosakson “Ozel İliskisi”, yani Londra – Vasington jeostratejik iliskisi her zaman Batı olarak anılan tarafı, nitelendirmistir.

1. Kamberidou, I. (2009). "The Anachronistic Gender-Sport Imbalance:  the Glass Escalator or, Beyond the Glass Escalator".  Proceedings (pp. 97-100, Abstract ID2332) of the 16th IAPESGW World Congress: Practice and Research in Physical Education and Sport in the spirit of Ubuntu, Stellenbosch, South Africa 16-19 July. Department of Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences, University of Pretoria, with patronage by ICSSPE. the_anachronistic_sport.gender_imbalance._south_africa.pdf world_congress_programme.pdf proceedings._congress.july_2009.pdf, page 97, Abstract ID 332.    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We've come a long way since the 1952 Helsinki Games, where women represented only 10 percent of the Olympic athletes. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing women represented approximately 43 percent of the total athlete delegation, up from 41 percent in the Athens 2004 Olympics. However, the "glass escalator " (Kamberidou 2009; Williams 1992, 1995) is not yet gender inclusive since women are exceedingly under-represented in all sport governing bodies (SGBs), primarily in the executive bodies of national and international sport organizations and institutions, such as the IOC. Researchers argue that men ride up the " glass escalator " when they enter predominantly female professions, as opposed to women who confront the glass ceiling and the " sticky floor " (Kimmel 2004) when they enter predominantly male professions. Taking their gender privilege with them, men experience positive discrimination (the glass escalator) when they enter female dominated social spheres, in other words they are socialized, encouraged, supported and promoted up the ladder even faster than their female counterparts. The first part of this study examines to what extent gender personification, the structurally secured and enforced gender segregation system continues-extends beyond the competitive sport expression, defeating the advocated values of social equity. In exploring the interrelation of social theories, anachronistic biologistic approaches and gender-based ideologies that established gender stereotypes and gender segregation in competitive sports, this paper renegotiates sport identity and corporeality in ways that reflect the processes of change in the construction of new sport identities: e.g. gender fluidity, men's participation in women's sports, respect for diversity, normalizing bodies and identities, bionic athletes, 'naturality' versus artificiality, emerging technologies used to enhance performance in competitive sports. (Miah 2005, et al.) Current discussions on the gender subject, no longer focus exclusively on the biological gender (sex), as an analytical category, but on the social gender (Kimmel 2004, McNay 2000) which formulates, defines and redefines identity, according to evolving socio-cultural interpretations. In the new theoretical framework, gender identity and corporeality are being rediscovered and are under reconstruction, namely viewed as linguistic conceptions, socio-cultural manifestations, transformable meanings and evolving elements of change. Such an example is men's participation in rhythmic gymnastics (Tsopani et al. 2006, Kamberidou, Tsopani, Dallas, Patsantaras 2009), despite gender stereotypes that depict the sport as unacceptable for the image of masculinity, including the male body aesthetic. In light of the growing participation of men in the competitive sport of rhythmic gymnastics—on national and international levels— in Japan, Australia, Canada, the US, Russia, Greece and Italy,

Inland sand dune activities that set an interesting example in terms of wind erosion and accummulation in the Aegean Region under the conditions of the Mediterranean climate, and that appear on lands where the annual rainfall is about 600 mm, exist on the Akselendi Plain, Manisa. Until today, some studies have been conducted on the Akselendi Plain, which has become famous worldwide for that matter. Besides, there is an ongoing Bilateral Project with GREECE, supported by TUBITAK, some results of which will be explained in this paper. Besides the erosive winds blowing on the Akselendi Plain, the existence of mostly coarse textured alluvial deposits, the first of which is the large bed of Kum Çayı, moreover, the misuse of agricultural and non-agricultural areas have caused wind erosion, and they also caused the sediments, moving from the bed of Kum Çayı by deflation, to give great damages along with the sand dune invasion in the south of the bed. This activity has especially increased in the last fifty years. The views that we reached on the subject of wind erosion on this area and the causes, evolution and effects of sand dunes will be reported in the paper. Moreover, information will be given on the problems and on the status and efficiency of the precautions that have been taken, besides on the precautions that will need to be taken in the short term and long term. Again, the continued sand plunder because of the incorrect applications, and the effects of that on the sand dune formation will be explained. Also, some interesting formations that we determined in the last studies we conducted and that can set an example in this scientific area will be submitted to the world of science.

Using Chandra, XMM-Newton and optical photometric catalogs we study the young X-ray binary (XRB) populations of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We find that the Be/X-ray binaries (Be-XRBs) are observed in regions with star-formation (SF) rate bursts ~30-70 Myr ago, which coincides with the age of maximum Be-star formation, while regions with strong but more recent SF (e.g., the Wing) are deficient in Be-XRBs. Using the 2dF spectrograph of the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) we have obtained optical spectra of 20 High-Mass X-ray Binaries (HMXBs) in the SMC. All of these sources were proved to be Be-XRBs. Similar spectral-type distributions of Be-XRBs and Be field stars in the SMC have been found. On the other hand, the Be-XRBs in the Galaxy follow a different distribution than the isolated Be stars in the Galaxy, in agreement with previous studies.

In this study, we aimed to explore the factors related to acceptance of evolutionary theory among students/preservice preschool education teachers using conceptual ecology for biological evolution as a theoretical frame. We aimed to look into the acceptance and the understanding of evolutionary theory, and also to look into the relationship of the acceptance with understanding of evolutionary theory, parents’ educational level and frequency of church attendance as independent variables. Students’ restricted understanding of evolutionary theory is positively correlated with moderate acceptance of evolutionary theory but we did not find any significant positive correlation between parents’ educational level, religiosity and acceptance of evolution. Our findings indicate that studying a controversial issue such as the acceptance of evolutionary theory in a multivariate fashion, using conceptual ecology as a theoretical lens to interpret the findings, is informative. They also, indicate the differences that exist from society to society and how sociological factors as part of the conceptual ecology influence acceptance of evolution and have strong influence on Evolution education. And how useful is the enrichment of the Conceptual Ecology with other factors, i.e. thinking dispositions or making students familiar with the scientific method.

We began with discussions on what is gender, including a presentation of international dialogue on gender and the role of sport in addressing gender issues. Topics/lectures include: Doping and Gender, agency, the under-representation of women in competitive sports and in sport governing bodies (SGBs), the social gender and sport identity, the sport-gender imbalance, Women athletes in the mass media, genderless athletes, Olympism or peace education, underdevelopment of sport in developing countries, racism and xenophobia in sport, child exploitation and child protection in sport, gender and leadership skills, and so on. Gender refers to the socially-constructed roles of and relationships between men and women. Gender concerns men and women, including conceptions of both femininity and masculinity. The difference between ‘gender’ and ‘sex’ is that the latter refers only to biological differences as an analytical category. Gender does not mean focusing solely on women or females, but rather on the inequalities regarding both genders, and should not be confused with feminism or women’s studies. However, analyses of gender differences often show a socially disadvantaged and weaker position of women and girls in social, political, economic, legal, educational and sport issues. This is why there is a tendency for gender discussions and interventions to focus on correcting these imbalances by specifically targeting women and girls. More analytically with regard to the course content see links]............................................... _________________________________________________________________________________________-Initially, discussions on what is gender, presentation of international dialogue on gender and the role of sport in addressing gender issues. Topics/lectures include: Doping and Gender, agency, the under-representation of women in competitive sports and in sport governing bodies (SGBs), the social gender and sport identity, the sport-gender imbalance, Women athletes in the mass media, genderless athletes, Olympism or peace education, underdevelopment of sport in developing countries, racism and xenophobia in sport, child exploitation and child protection in sport, gender and leadership skills, and so on.   More analytically with regard to the course content see attachment........................................when citing: Kamberidou, I., & Karteroliotis, K. (2009). “Course Proposal for Postgraduate Interdisciplinary Education of Women”. Presentation at the international workshop of the project “Estia-Earth to Sustain Women’s Careers as Academics, Researchers and Professionals in Engineering, Computer and the. In “Estia-Earth to Sustain Women’s Careers as Academics, Researchers and Professionals in Engineering, Computer and the Sciences, Lifelong Learning Erasmus Network” (partner: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science, Athens Greece). "1st Expert Meeting “Development of MSc Programs” & Jointly the 3rd International steering Committee Meeting ESTIA-EARTH", Venue: Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Nov. 20-21, 2009. (www.estia.net).  DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3256.0489V    

Stellar winds seem to be very efficient at removing angular momentum from stars. By means of analytical axisymmetric solutions of the ideal MHD equations for steady outflows, we show via a specific example how collimated stellar winds can brake Weak T Tauri stars in a reasonable time. This result can be generalized to Classical T Tauri stars provided that part of the accreted angular momentum is removed by the inner disk wind. We also extend briefly to Kerr metrics the self similar MHD solutions for relativistic flows and conjecture that relativistic outflows may efficiently slow down spinning black holes at the center of Active Galactic Nuclei or microquasars.

THE EFFECT OF THE STARTING LINE-UP OF THE PLAYERS ON THE OUTCOME OF THE SET IN VOLLEYBALL.Laios. A.,  Kountouris. P.,  Laios. Y., Drikos. S.Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of AthensOne of the peculiarities of the game of Volleyball is its rotation system. Before the beginning of every set the team coach must give to the referees in written form the starting positions of the six players of his team. During the set, every time the team wins a rally served by the opponent all its players shift their positions in a clockwise manner 1→6→5→4→3→2→1. During position shifts the relative positions of the players do not change. A complete rotation of the team is achieved after six position shifts, whence the players are again in the same positions as the starting line-up. After the application of the rally point system the number of rallies played per set (except the fifth one) was significantly reduced. The aim of the present study was to examine the distribution of the number of position shifts per set in various situations, with the intention to infer whether this information may prove to have practical importance. The primary data were collected from the Greek Men’s Volleyball Championship of 2005-2006 with the participation of twelve teams in a two round system. This gives a total of 132 matches, in which 491 sets were played. The primary dependent variable was the number of position shifts of the winning team. Its distribution was examined in different kinds of sets (first four or fifth) and in different outcomes of the set, measured as point differences between the winning and the losing team. For the first four sets the mean value of position shifts was 14.8±2.8 with only 6.8% of the sets having position shifts equal to or greater than 18. Even in the sets with a minimum difference between the two teams (25-23) and therefore a maximum number of points, the mean value of position shifts was 16.4±1.7 with only 9.1% of the sets having position shifts equal to or greater than 18. For the fifth set the mean value of position shifts was 9.0±2.3 with only 3.1% of the sets having position shifts equal to or greater than 12. Therefore the number of complete rotations for the first four sets was around two-and-a-half and the number of complete rotations for the fifth set was around one-and-a-half. In a previous research it was found that there seem to be favourable situations during position shifts, when the serving team has increased chances of winning the point. Since most probably during a set a team will not complete a whole number of complete rotations, the coach should start the set with the most favoured positions coming up first, or at least in the middle, but certainly not last. This will guarantee that the favoured positions will appear more frequently and most probably at crucial points at the end of the set. This is especially important in view of the fact that the winning team must win at least two more points than its opponent when serving, with the odds of winning against losing the rally when serving being only one to two.

EXPRESSIONS OF SKILL EFFECTIVENESS THAT ARE MORE CONGRUENT WITH TEAM PERFORMANCE IN VOLLEYBALL.Kountouris. P., Laios. Y., Drikos. S., Laios. A. Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Athens The identification and quantification of the most consequential factors in reflecting the overall team’s performance is of primary importance in every team sport. In Volleyball it is obvious that these factors should be sought within those skills that lead to either winning or losing the specific rally. The aim of the present study was to determine whether latent derivative parameters, computed from relative proportions of decisive actions that lead immediately to winning or losing the rally, can be better predictors of team’s performance in Volleyball. Data were collected over eight seasons (2000-2008) of the Greek Men’s Volleyball Championships. For each season the overall statistics for each of the twelve teams were calculated. The original independent variables were proportions of actions that immediately led to winning or losing the rally to the total number of these actions: serve aces, serve errors, kill attacks and attack errors. From these two new variables were derived: the serve efficiency ratio (SER), which is the ratio of serve errors to serve aces, and the attack efficiency ratio (AER) which is the difference between the proportion of kill attacks and attack errors. The primary dependent variable is the set ratio (SR), which is the number of sets won divided by the total number of set played by the team. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated between the dependent and the independent variables. The teams were also divided into two groups: teams with SR≤0.5 and teams with SR>0.5 and the derived variables were tested with Student’s t-test. SR does not correlate with the proportion of lost serves (r=0.037), but correlates well with the proportion of serve aces (r=0.589) and even better with SER (r=-0.661). Also the correlation coefficient between the proportions of serves errors and serve aces is quite high (r=0.530). The mean value of SER for teams with SR>0.5 is 2.3±0.5, while for teams with SR≤0.5 it is 3.0±0.6 (t-test, p<0.01). SR has a significant negative correlation with the proportion of lost attacks (r=-0.694) and an even higher positive correlation coefficient with the proportion of attack kills (r=0.819). Again SR correlates best with AER (r=0.851). The mean value of AER for teams with SR≤0.5 is 29.4%±3.7%, while for teams with SR>0.5 it is 36.1%±4.6 (t-test, p<0.01). The fact that the proportion of serve errors correlates highly with the proportion of serve aces can be founded on the nearly universal trend in modern Volleyball towards jump serves. These serves certainly have higher prospects to win a serve ace, or at least to encumber the opposing team’s reception. At the same time they undoubtedly entail a higher risk of execution. Teams that did not perform well managed on the average only one serve ace per three serve errors and their AER was less than 30%, while the for the teams that performed better the SER was nearer to two and the AER was more than 35%. Therefore the overall team’s performance in Volleyball can be better predicted by quantifiable combinations of its actions with both positive and negative outcome.  

The available analytical MHD models for jets, characterized by the symmetries of radial self-similarity (ADO, Analytical Disk Outflow solutions) in general have two geometrical shortcomings, a singularity at the jet axis and the non-existence of an intrinsic scale, i.e., the jets formally extend to radial infinity. The present study focuses on imposing an outer ejecting radius of the underlying accreting disk and thus providing a finite width disk-wind. The simulations are carried out using the PLUTO code. We study the time evolution of these modified analytical models and we investigate the rich parameter space and compare the results directly with observations.

Outflows in the form of jets is a widespread phenomenon in astrophysics. Their main driving mechanism is likely related to magnetic fields. These fields are able to tap the rotational energy of the central object and its surrounding disk, and accelerate and collimate matter ejecta. To zeroth order these outflows can be described within the theory of steady, axisymmetric, ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The analytical insight into the equations of the theory (mostly on the transfield component of the momentum equation) gives simple analytical scalings for the flow speed, density, and magnetic field. The analysis is focused on nonrelativistic YSO jets; similar works [1, 2] exist for relativistic AGN, and highly relativistic GRB jets.

Weather maps refer to meteorological data that characterize the atmospheric circulation in a region. The classification of weather maps into categories becomes an important task for understanding regional climate. Towards this goal, manual and semiautomatic techniques have been used, requiring manpower and supervision. In this paper, we propose a machine vision based method for the classification of weather maps into distinct classes. The chain code descriptor is applied to extract the feature of isobaric lines and we introduce the Double-Side Chain Code (DSCC) histogram for feature representation. Handling DSCC histograms as multidimensional vectors, the A:-nearest neighbors (k- NN) algorithm classifies the objects to an appropriate number of classes, based on closest training set in the feature space. This method provides an automated and more ’objective’ classification scheme, applying straightforward to the input weather map’s image. © 2009 IEEE.

We discuss the optical properties metal nanoforests - a composite metamaterial in which silver nanowires are aligned inside a finite-thickness dielectric host medium. Using finite-element modelling and a self-consistent extraction of effective-medium parameters, we find that this structure can enable an effective optical diamagnetic response that is orders of magnitude stronger compared to that of naturally occurring diamagnetic materials. Our analysis reveals that there is a frequency region where the nanoforest exhibits strong diamagnetic response while simultaneously allowing for high transmission of incident electromagnetic waves. Our analysis shows that the phenomena are robust to the presence of disorder, in the occurrence of which it can still facilitate high figure-of-merit diamagnetic responses. © 2009 SPIE.

The study area of St. Georgios coastal zone is located at the W coast of Naxos, the largest island of Cycladic plateau. The city of Naxos, located approximately 2.5 km from St. Georgios, is believed to be inhabitant since the early Cycladic period 5000 years ago. Archaeological evidence from Mycenaean times indicate the presence of a port whose remains along with a coastal road are found today underwater to a depth of about 2 m. In a distance of approximately 1.5 km from St. Georgios the archaeological site of the four temples of Yria, dedicated to god Dionysus, is situated. The first of the four temples is dating in the 8th century BC, while the last one in the 1st century AC. Moreover in Stelida area, adjacent to St. Georgios coastal zone, the existence of an ancient quarry is significant for the understanding of the palaeoenvironment of this area as well as the connection between these two archaeological sites. For the purposes of this study detailed geomorphological mapping, micropaleontological, sedimentological and dating analyses of the late Holocene coastal zone were conducted. The study of sea-land interactions during Upper Holocene, in relation to the eustatic sea level oscillations, as well as the geomorphologic observations and analysis on deposited sediments, aims to reveal the palaeo-geographic evolution of the landscape and its impact on the archaeological sites. To obtain information about the Holocene stratigraphy under the recent alluvial cover, four boreholes followed the detailed geomorphological mapping. The microfaunal (benthic foraminifera) analysis took place and ten samples of plants, shells, peat and charred material were also collected from several layers of the sedimentary sequence and were dated using AMS and conventional radiocarbon techniques providing temporal control of the sediments. In this study the tracing of the palaeo-shorelines and sea level changes and their effect to the palaeo-environment in the western Naxos are attempted. Sea level rise along with sea-land interactions to the landscape evolution and the transgression of sea in 6144 BP have been verified.

The aim of a joint research activity in the FP6-ANNA project (http://www.i3-anna.org) is to develop and improve metrologies for the measurement of nanocrystal properties. Within the framework of this cooperation we optimized the sample preparation techniques to obtain a range of structures containing nanocrystals. Based on these samples we have optimized our characterization methods. In this work we focus on ellipsometry and X-ray diffraction measurements for the characterization of nanocrystal sizes in silicon rich oxide and porous silicon. We demonstrate the capabilities of dielectric function parametrizations in the ellipsometric evaluations, revealing the correlation between the broadening parameters of the critical point features and the nanocrystal size. ©The Electrochemical Society.

The RACE-OC project, standing for Rotation and Activity Evolution in Open Clusters, is a long-term project aimed at studying the evolution of rotation and magnetic activity of late-type members of stellar open clusters. Magnetic fields play a fundamental role in altering the rotational properties of late-type stars. They are responsible, e.g., for angular momentum loss in the wind or its redistribution in the stellar interior. Magnetic fields in late-type stars and their related phenomena, such as photospheric cool spots and bright faculae, chromospheric plages, and X-ray emission, in turn depend on the stellar rotation which controls the efficiency of the hydromagnetic dynamo. Thus, the evolution of angular momentum and magnetic activity offer complementary approaches to understanding the mechanisms by which rotation and magnetic fields influence each other in late-type stars.

We provide an overview of 'trapped rainbow' techniques for stopping light. We show that guided modes with real propagation consrtant and complex frequency can be 'trapped rainbow'-stopped even in the presence of waveguide losses. © 2009 Optical Society of America.

Create a hub for sharing knowledge (with regard to the “Development of MSc Programs) facilitating communication and coordination with students: Goal #1: Increase visibility and fostering/retaining partnerships.  Goal #2: Contribute to improving gender inclusive practices.  Goal #3: Encourage dialogue and partnerships and facilitate strategic alliance. Namely, a websites (safe and free of charge) that will help transform ‘classrooms’ into more collaborative and dynamic learning environments, allowing students to communicate with other students and teachers around the world. Additionally,  Proposed courses/or Directed Study: “Gender issues in sports” (offered by ESTIAEARTH partner, scient. responsible: Irene Kamberidou);  Proposed course/ or Directed Study: “Research Methods” (offered by ESTIAEARTH partner, Kostas Karteroliotis);   Directed Study: “Gender and technology (the anachronistic gender-science imbalance) from a sociological perspective.” (offered by ESTIA-EARTH partner, Irene Kamberidou); Proposed course or directed study: “Sport Sociology” offered by ESTIA-EARTH partner Nikolaos Patsantaras. FUTURE GOALS: Training the trainers/educating the educators** (see attached recommendations).   

Axisymmetric resistive MHD simulations for radially self-similar initial conditions are performed, using the NIRVANA code. The magnetic diffusivity could occur in outflows above an accretion disk, being transferred from the underlying disk into the disk corona by MHD turbulence (anomalous turbulent diffusivity), or as a result of ambipolar diffusion in partially ionized flows. We introduce, in addition to the classical magnetic Reynolds number Rm, which measures the importance of resistive effects in the induction equation, a new number Rb, which measures the importance of the resistive effects in the energy equation. We find two distinct regimes of solutions in our simulations. One is the low-resistivity regime, in which results do not differ much from ideal-MHD solutions. In the high-resistivity regime, results seem to show some periodicity in time-evolution, and depart significantly from the ideal-MHD case. Whether this departure is caused by numerical or physical reasons is of considerable interest for numerical simulations and theory of astrophysical outflows and is currently investigated.

Using Chandra, XMM-Newton and optical photometric and spectroscopic catalogs we study the young (<100 Myr) X-ray binary populations of the Small Magellanic Cloud, which at ˜60 kpc is our second nearest star-forming galaxy. In particular, we investigate the importance of Be/X-ray binaries as a dominant component of young X-ray binary populations, based on a study of the connection between X-ray source populations and their parent stellar populations. We find that a significant number of Be/X-ray binaries and/or pulsars are connected with a burst of star formation ˜25-60 Myr ago, while regions with weak star-formation rate at ˜42 Myr, such as the SMC Wing, are deficient in Be/X-ray binaries. We argue that the very strong similarity between the age of maximum occurence of Be stars and the age of the parent populations of X-ray binaries in the Small Magellanic Cloud indicates that the Be phenomenon plays a significant role in the number of X-ray binary populations in this age range. Finally, based on the spatial correlation between the star-formation activity and the X-ray binaries, we set a limit on their kick velocity of ˜15-20 km/s, while there is strong indication for velocities of even a factor of two lower, and we estimate a Be/X-ray binary production rate of ˜1 system per 10^{-6} M_{⊙}/yr.

The main objectives of this study are to identify, classify and map the badlands area, as well as to identify the underlain soil types and determine the connection between badlands and climatic changes during Quaternary. The area along the southern coast of the Central Corinth graben, near the town of Derveni (North Peloponese) was chosen as a case study, since extended erosion landforms display geomorphological characteristics, typical of badlands. The area is built up by Plio-Quaternary lacustrine clays with intercalations of distal parts of the fan deltas deposits and records an intensive structural elevation from Pliocene until today. The study focuses on the main factors that contributed in the formation and evolution of badlands in the area, with strong emphasis on geological structure, climatic and sea-level changes and human activity, as well as on the interaction of these factors. It concludes in a geomorphological map with the badlands distribution and discusses the impacts on land degradation and the possible actions against further expansion