Purpose: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) participates in thrombotic, fibrinolytic, inflammatory and metabolic cascades. Since previous studies have focused on tissue and blood level concentrations, our goal was to investigate for the first time the independent relationship between plasma PAI-1 activity in resectable non small cell cell lung cancer (NSCLC) taking into consideration its several interfaces, and study its diagnostic and prognostic potential.
Methods: In an adequately powered case-control study, plasma PAI-1 activity, metabolic parameters, classic adipokines, hemostatic, inflammatory and tumor biomarkers were measured in 110 consecutive patients with resectable NSCLC and 110 healthy subjects matched on age, sex and date of blood draw.
Results: NSCLC patients exhibited significantly higher PAI-1 activity compared to controls (p<0.001). In NSCLC cases, PAI-1 activity correlated with somatometric variables, insulin, WBC, antithrombin III, protein C, plasminogen, IL-6 and tumor size (p<0.05). Plasma PAI-1 activity was independently associated with NSCLC beyond risk factors associated with NSCLC (OR: 6.9, 95% CI: 2.9-16.6, p<0.001). Plasminogen activity and body mass index emerged as independent predictors of PAI-1 activity in cases. Due to its high specificity, PAI-1 activity could represent a potentially useful parameter in ruling out NSCLC, alone or in combination with serum tumor markers associated with NSCLC.
Conclusions: PAI-1 activity, reflecting PAI-1 functionality, may represent a potentially useful biomarker in NSCLC associated with thrombotic, tumor-promoting and metabolic networks. More clinical studies are needed to explore whether PAI-1 activity may be a practical biomarker in the risk assessment of NSCLC, at the crossroads of hemostasis and metabolism.
Given that goat milk and dairy products should be consumed daily according to suggestions based on Mediterranean diet, the current study evaluates the anti-atherogenic properties of goat milk and goat dairy products (yogurt and white cheese). Total lipids (TLs) of all three samples were extracted by the method of Bligh and Dyer and further separated into total polar lipids (TPLs) and total neutral lipids (TNLs) by counter current distribution. The fatty acid profiles of TPL and TNL of all three samples were determined by gas chromatography analysis. TL and TPL were tested to determine whether they induce platelet aggregation or inhibit platelet aggregation induced by the platelet-activating factor (PAF). The most active lipids were found in goat white cheese (i.e., since they showed lower IC50 values in both TL and TPL samples than corresponding fractions of goat milk and goat yogurt), so the TPL of goat white cheese were further separated by preparative thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The obtained polar lipid fractions after TLC separation were also tested for their biological activity. All the samples’ lipids, and especially the polar ones, were found to exhibit strong anti-atherogenic activities. This fact highlights the nutritional value of goat dairy products in terms of cardioprotection, as PAF is a crucial inflammatory mediator that is implicated in the mechanism of atherogenesis.
Loneliness represents a negative feeling that arises when individuals perceive a discrepancy between actual and desired social relationships. Using a qualitative approach, the present study explored the meanings and personal experiences of loneliness in children and early adolescents in Italy. Participants included 139 children and early adolescents aged 8–14 years (M = 10.76 years, SD = 1.71; 70 girls, 57.6%) who completed an online semi-structured interview. Results from the descriptive analysis provided evidence of the multidimensional nature of loneliness, defined and experienced through different dimensions (e.g., cognitive, emotional, and regarding interpersonal context). Additionally, participants discussed loneliness in relation to both their family and peers. Some children and adolescents expressed experiencing loneliness voluntarily. Children and early adolescents reported to feel sadness, anger and other emotions as boredom, happiness, and fear in associations with loneliness. Gender and grade differences were also found. Primary school children and boys defined and experienced loneliness using the physical separation dimension. Middle school childrens defined more frequently loneliness using the cognitive dimension. Overall, the present study offers a richer understanding of the meanings and experiences of loneliness in youth and highlights the importance of considering developmental, gender, and cultural factors when studying loneliness.
We analyze the impact of the institutional environment on the leverage of European listed SMEs for the period 2005-2018. We use a broad range of institutional quality, judicial efficiency and corruption measures, along with several firm-specific and macro control variables, to identify different transmission channels on leverage. By performing a panel data analysis into the fixed effects filter estimator framework, along with several model specifications and robustness tests, the results show that better institutions, stronger judicial effectiveness and higher corruption decrease leverage. In terms of active transmission channels, increased investment under regimes of better institutional quality tends to increase leverage. Higher judicial efficiency accompanied by increased profitability tends to decrease, while higher institutional quality accompanied by higher investments tends to increase leverage, bringing more bank credit. Increasing profitability under regimes of decreased corruption decreases leverage. This last finding is even more pronounced for medium enterprises, as opposed to micro enterprises. The most significant factors associated with leverage are profitability, asset structure, cost of borrowing, stock market development and size, while an age effect is rejected. Pecking order theory seems to better fit the European SMEs capital structure choices under several institutional states.
Given a filtration of the module of vector fields on a smooth manifold, we define a pseudodifferential calculus where the order of a vector field is given by the filtration. We show that pseudodifferential operators have a well-defined principal symbol for a subset of the unitary representations of the osculating groups. We prove a Rockland-type theorem, showing that the invertibility of the principal symbol is equivalent to maximal hypoellipticity. This answers affirmatively a conjecture due to Helffer and Nourrigat.
Big data and big data analytics will unavoidably change the role of accountants. This paper considers the impact of big data on accounting and auditing. Financial accountants need to move beyond the book-keeping process and become key information providers to decision-makers. That upturns accountants’ consulting role and their ability to think strategically, providing critical help in management decision making. The relationship between managers and management accountants becomes closer and more effective because of big data. Management accountants can use additional analytical methods to detect processes and product excellence, combined with diminishing cost. Big data and big data analytics in auditing ensure audit quality and fraud detection. Upgraded information systems and automation in business procedures diminish the need for staff participation. Inevitably, the skills of accountants and knowledge must be associated with big data and big data analytics and modern accountants must develop an analytics mindset by being familiar with data and technologies.
We establish an integration theory for singular subalgebroids, by diffeological groupoids. To do so, we single out a class of diffeological groupoids satisfying specific properties, and we introduce a differentiation-integration procedure under which they correspond to singular subalgebroids. Our definition of integration distinguishes the holonomy groupoid from the graph, although both differentiate to the original singular subalgebroid: the holonomy groupoid satisfies a certain submersive property, while the graph does not.
The current study focuses on earnings management as a significant determinant of the sticky cost phenomenon, for explaining both firm-level cost behaviour and cross-country differences in cost behaviour. We combine firm-level incentives to manipulate earnings with country-level differences in earnings management practices to provide a richer understanding of the effects of these practices to cost stickiness. Using a sample of G-7 countries (France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, UK and USA) we find that cost stickiness is mitigated in the pervasiveness of earnings management.
If we wish to formulate an axiomatic truth-theory interpreting a modal language and treat the symbol of necessity as a sentential operator and not as a quantifier over possible worlds, there arise various problems. These are due partly to the fact that words could have meant something other than what they actually mean and partly to certain principles of modal metaphysics. One of those principles is existentialism about propositions: a proposition that is expressed in a sentence containing a non-empty name could not exist if the referent of the name did not exist. The paper explains how the problems arise. It also explains how we can avoid them using substitutional quantification in the metalanguage. The truth-theory we can construct in that way is compositional and homophonic, and its theorems interpreting the various sentences of the modal language are derived in a straightforward way. The paper develops one such theory for a propositional modal language and one for a first-order modal language. The first-order case involves a number of intricacies that are discussed.
de Oliveira Duarte M, Stordahl K, Kalhagen KO, Harno J, Elnegaard NK, Olsen BT, Monath T, Ferreira N, Castro E, Pego P, et al.IST-2000-25172 TONIC Deliverable number 8. Submitted.
Coiro A, Listanti M, Valenti A, Matera F, Belmonte A, Kahn JM, Tsubokawa M, Honda N, Azuma Y, Dede G, et al.Optical Communications and Networking. Submitted.
The attainment of adult status in Greece is a neglected research issue. Sociodemographic changes and the severity and long duration of the global financial crisis in this country (2008–2018) may have contributed to the delayed entry into adulthood, especially among university students. In this study, conducted during the financial crisis (2015), 814 university students (ages 18–25; M = 19.9) provided information on subjective adult status, subjective adult status with significant others, achievement of adulthood criteria, and several personal and contextual variables. Results showed that two thirds of the sample felt in-between adolescence and adulthood, thus supporting the existence of the emerging adulthood period. They felt more adult in work, university, and romantic relationships, and less adult with parents, friends, and siblings. The criteria achieved most were in the areas of Norm Compliance and Independence, whereas Role Transitions had been achieved the least. A variety of achievements, reflected in Independence, Norm Compliance, and Family Capacities criteria, and some concrete transitions were significantly associated with subjective adult status. Age, gender, parents' educational level, financial constraints, and financial concerns significantly and differentially predicted the achievement of several adulthood markers. Results provide insight into the attainment of adult status in a specific cohort of Greek youth during the aftermath of the Global Recession and underline the need for continuing research on the transition to adulthood in more recent cohorts of youth in this cultural context.
Complex-frequency excitations have recently attracted a lot of attention owing to their ability to solve a number of extraordinary challenges in photonics, such as overcoming losses without gain in metalenses and plasmonic waveguides and achieving virtual absorption. However, the totality of the works so far has been mainly computational or experimental, and a full theory of the complex dynamics enabled by these excitations is still missing. Here, we develop a fully analytical, exact time-domain theory for the dynamical scattering of these excitations by both sides of dielectric plates, which have been used to achieve virtual absorption. Our precise theoretical analysis confirms previous observations and, in addition, reveals a number of intriguing phenomena that were previously missed, such as discontinuities in the scattering of the outgoing electromagnetic field and release of the stored energy in distinct packets.
BACKGROUND: Nodal assessment in gallbladder cancer remains challenging, particularly in incidental gallbladder cancer. This understages the number of patients with node-positive disease, resulting in prognostic inaccuracy and insufficient adjuvant treatment. This study aimed to identify risk factors for positive nodes in gallbladder cancer and to compare prognostic discrimination of available nodal staging parameters.
METHODS: This international cohort study assessed gallbladder cancer resections undertaken between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2020. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for node-positive status and develop a risk prediction score for positive nodes. Nodal staging models, including nodal site, number of positive nodes, and positive node ratio were compared for greatest prognostic discrimination in gallbladder cancer.
RESULTS: A total of 3676 patients underwent gallbladder cancer resection across 133 centres in 41 countries. Tumour (T) stage (T2, P = 0.012; T3, P = 0.002; and T4, P < 0.001), lymphovascular and perineural infiltration (P < 0.001), and tumour differentiation (P < 0.001) carried the greatest risk of positive nodes. These three parameters comprised the OMEGA Node Positivity Prediction Score (OMEGA-NOPPS) with C-statistics of 0.81 (95% confidence interval 0.78 to 0.84) in the training data set and 0.79 (0.73 to 0.85) in the test data set for identification of node-positive status, highlighting a ≥ 20% increased risk of positive nodes in poorly differentiated tumours with lymphovascular and perineural infiltration despite T1 disease.
CONCLUSION: Data from this large multicentre study confirmed that the number of positive nodes is the most discriminative prognostic model for nodal staging in gallbladder cancer. OMEGA-NOPPS provides three simple parameters to stratify nodal involvement according to risk. Incidental gallbladder cancer with lymphovascular and perineural infiltration and poorly differentiated tumours, including early T stages, should be considered for further treatment.
Processing of sensory stimuli generated by our own actions differs from that of externally generated stimuli. However, most evidence regarding this phenomenon concerns the processing of unisensory stimuli. A few studies have explored the effect of self-generated actions on multisensory stimuli and how it affects the integration of these stimuli. Most of them used abstract stimuli (e.g., flashes, beeps) rather than more natural ones such as sensations that are commonly correlated with actions that we perform in our everyday lives such as speech. In the current study, we explored the effect of self-generated action on the process of multisensory integration (MSI) during speech. We used a novel paradigm where participants were either listening to the echo of their own speech, while watching a video of themselves producing the same speech (“talk”, active condition), or they listened to their previously recorded speech and watched the prerecorded video of themselves producing the same speech (“listen”, passive condition). In both conditions, different stimulus onset asynchronies were introduced between the auditory and visual streams and participants were asked to perform simultaneity judgments. Using these judgments, we determined temporal binding windows (TBW) of integration for each participant and condition. We found that the TBW was significantly smaller in the active as compared to the passive condition indicating more accurate MSI. These results support the conclusion that sensory perception is modulated by self-generated action at the multisensory in addition to the unisensory level.
We perform a theoretical investigation of the electron–surface optical phonon (SOP) interaction in Van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) formed by monolayer graphene (1LG) and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), using eigenenergies obtained from the tight-binding Hamiltonian for electrons. Our analysis reveals that the SOP interaction strength strongly depends on the specific TMDC material. TMDC layers generate localized SOP modes near the 1LG/TMDC interface, serving as effective scattering centers for graphene carriers through long-range Fröhlich coupling. This interaction leads to resonant coupling of electronic sub-levels with SOP, resulting in Rabi splitting of the electronon energy levels. We further explore the influence of different TMDCs, such as WS2, WSe2, MoS2, and MoSe2, on transport properties such as SOP-limited mobility, resistivity, conductivity, and scattering rates across various temperatures and charge carrier densities. Our analysis confirms that at elevated temperatures and low carrier densities, surface optical phonon scattering becomes a dominant factor in determining resistivity. Additionally, we investigate the Auger recombination process at the 1LG/TMDC interface, showing that both Auger and SOP scattering rates increase significantly at room temperature and higher, ultimately converging to constant values as the temperature rises. In contrast, their impact is minimal at lower temperatures. These results highlight the potential of 1LG/TMDC-based vdWHs for controlling key processes, such as SOP interactions and Auger recombination, paving the way for high-performance nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices.
Heterojunction formation between BiVO4 nanomaterials and benchmark semiconductor photocatalysts has been keenly pursued as a promising approach to improve charge transport and charge separation via interfacial electron transfer for the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of recalcitrant pharmaceutical pollutants. In this work, a heterostructured TiO2/Mo-BiVO4 bilayer photoanode was fabricated by the deposition of a mesoporous TiO2 overlayer using the benchmark P25 titania catalyst on top of Mo-doped BiVO4 inverse opal films as the supporting layer, which intrinsically absorbs visible light below 490 nm, while offering improved charge transport. A porous P25/Mo-BiVO4 bilayer structure was produced from the densification of the inverse opal underlayer after post-thermal annealing, which was evaluated on photocurrent generation in aqueous electrolyte and the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of the refractory anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen under back-side illumination by visible and UV–Vis light. Significantly enhanced photoelectrochemical performance on both photocurrent density and pharmaceutical degradation was achieved for the bilayer structure with respect to the additive effect of the constituent layers, which was related to the improved light harvesting arising from the backscattering by the mesoporous TiO2 layer in combination with the favorable charge transfer at the TiO2/Mo-BiVO4 interface.
A new giant outburst of the Be X-ray binary RX J0520.5-6932 was detected and subsequently observed with several space-borne and ground-based instruments. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the optical and X-ray data, focusing on the spectral and timing characteristics of selected X-ray observations. A joint fit of spectra from simultaneous observations performed by the X-ray telescope (XRT) on the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory (Swift) and Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope ARray (NuSTAR) provides broad-band parameter constraints, including a cyclotron resonant scattering feature (CRSF) at $32.2_{-0.7}^{+0.8}$ keV with no significant energy change since 2014, and a weaker Fe line. Independent spectral analyses of observations by the Lobster Eye Imager for Astronomy, Einstein Probe (EP), Swift-XRT, and NuSTAR demonstrate the consistency of parameters across different bands. Luminosity variations during the current outburst were tracked. The light curve of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) aligns with the X-ray data in both 2014 and 2024. Spin evolution over 10 yr is studied after adding Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor data, improving the orbital parameters, with an estimated orbital period of 24.39 d, slightly differing from OGLE data. Despite intrinsic spin-up during outbursts, a spin-down of $\sim$0.04 s over 10.3 yr is suggested. For the new outburst, the pulse profiles indicate a complicated energy-dependent shape, with decreases around 15 and 25 keV in the pulsed fraction, a first for an extragalactic source. Phase-resolved NuSTAR data indicate variations in parameters such as flux, photon index, and CRSF energy with rotation phase.
The anticipated rise in extreme flood events in the Eastern Mediterranean region indicates an increase in significant societal impacts that have the potential to extend beyond the flooded areas and affect multiple sectors. Despite the criticality of understanding storm and flood risk and how they propagate in modern interconnected societies, the scope and complexity of storm- and flood-triggered cascading effects are still poorly comprehended. This study explores the effects created by the extreme Storm Daniel, occurring in Thessaly, Greece in 2023, aiming to gather new evidence on the types and scale of these cascading effects by analyzing its impacts in the region through fieldwork and official data collection. The results, as a contribution to existing knowledge on cascade effects, provide insights into the nature, the extent, the propagation mechanisms, and the consequences of these triggering events leading to diverse cascade effects. The study identifies the interactions between different phenomena following this extreme storm event to offer a better understanding of how impacts propagate, and therefore a better understanding of future challenges connected with this type of cascading hazards framework, ultimately contributing to predicting and mitigating associated risks.
Τhe idea that social influences and social interactions play a central role on individual economic decisions has had a long presence in the history of economics. With the emergence of marginalism, this idea went into background and the concept of atomistic individual became established in mainstream economic rationality. Starting in the 1970’s, there were some attempts to reintroduce non-atomistic preferences in mainstream microeconomic theory in the form of social interactions, interdependent preferences, keeping up with the Joneses, social identity, social preferences, and status concerns. Social preferences have started to have a growing impact among mainstream microeconomics with the advent of behavioral economics, but still they are not in the hard core of the standard theory of choice. The paper argues that atomistic preferences are still prevalent, especially in the form of the assumption of representative agent. It also focuses on the role of methodological individualism and on the theoretical implications of relaxing the assumption of atomistic individual, as main explanations of the resilience of the mainstream economic rationality.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health challenge in India but there is a lack of high-quality data on its clinical characteristics and outcomes. We aimed to describe the TBI population of a tertiary care center in India, identify predictors of inpatient mortality, and assess the performance of existing prognostic tools.METHODS:We conducted a prospective observational cohort study of patients admitted to a high-volume tertiary care center in Vellore, India, after a TBI between 2013 and 2019.RESULTS:
Telehealth holds the potential to expand healthcare access for people who use drugs (PWUD). However, limited data exist on their digital infrastructure access, a prerequisite for telehealth participation. We studied digital healthcare accessibility among PWUD.
The weights and structure determination (WASD) neuronet (or neural network) is a single-hidden-layer feedforward neuronet that exhibits an excellent approximation ability, despite its simple structure. Thanks to its strong generalization, fast speed, and ease of implementation, the WASD neuronet has been the subject of many modifications, including metaheuristics, and applications in a wide range of scientific fields. As it has garnered significant attention in the last decade, the aim of this study is to provide an extensive overview of the WASD framework. Furthermore, the WASD has been effectively used in numerous real-time learning tasks like regression, multiclass classification, and binary classification due to its exceptional performance. In addition, we present WASD’s applications in social science, business, engineering, economics, and medicine. We aim to report these developments and provide some avenues for further research.
A base-catalyzed protocol is reported for the construction of 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione scaffolds bearing quaternary carbon centers from carbon disulfide and α-tertiary propargylamines. The reaction proceeds using low catalyst loading, under ambient temperatures, and in the absence of solvent. Various α-tertiary propargylamines have been employed, affording a series of previously unreported thiazolidine-2-thione compounds and avoiding purification via column chromatography in certain cases. We also describe a one-pot strategy for the synthesis of the same products through a KA2 coupling-CS2 incorporation approach. The reaction mechanism and substituent-dependent catalytic behavior were studied through a combination of detailed experimental and computational studies.
The standard wave equation describing symmetrical wave propagation in all directions in three dimensions, was discovered by the French scientist d’Alembert, more than 250 years ago. In the 20th century it became important to search for ‘one-way’ versions of this equation in three dimensions– i.e., an equation describing wave propagation in one direction for all angles, and forbiting it in the opposite direction– for a variety of applications in compu tational and topological physics. Here, by borrowing techniques from relati vistic quantum field theory– in particular, from the Dirac equation–,and starting from Engquist and Majda’s seminal, approximative one-way wave equations, we report the discovery of theexactone-waywaveequationin three dimensions. Surprisingly, we find that this equation necessarily– simi larly to the innate emergence of spin in the Dirac equation– has a topological nature, giving rise to strong, spin-orbit coupling and locking, and non vanishing (integer) Chern numbers.
Saccadic eye movement tasks have been widely used as a probe for measuring cognitive functions in healthy humans as well as in patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders. Circadian variation has been shown to affect multiple aspects of cognitive function especially executive function related to prefrontal cortex. The effects of diurnal variation in saccadic task performance and the dissociation of these effects from repetition or practice effects has not been adequately addressed. In the current study thirty healthy adults performed several saccadic eye movement tasks including visually guided saccades, antisaccades and countermanding saccades in three consecutive sessions. Participants were divided into three groups, with a different starting time of the sequence of the three sessions across groups (morning or afternoon or evening) to examine the effect of diurnal variation (time of day that the tasks were performed) separated from the effect of session repetition (practice effect). The results showed no effect of diurnal variation for all indexes of saccadic eye movement performance including accuracy (antisaccade and countermanding saccade tasks) speed (mean latency in all tasks) and stability (intra-subject standard deviation of latency in all tasks). In contrast, saccadic task repetition significantly improved accuracy, speed and stability of performance indicating the presence of practice effects in these tasks. Finally, linear mixed model analysis confirmed no interaction between diurnal variation and practice effects for all indexes of saccadic eye movement performance. In conclusion our study provides confirmation that saccadic task performance is not affected by diurnal variation related to circadian rhythms. In contrast, short term repetition of these tasks results in significant practice effects.
. American Gothic Studies [Internet]. 2025;Vol. 1(No.1):81-98.
In his 1994 novel The Waterworks, E. L. Doctorow constructs a modernGothic tale of horror in the heart of New York City at the end of the nineteenthcentury. Adopting Slavoj Žižek’s “parallax view,” this article contends thatDr. Sartorius’s gory, antagonistic obsession to defeat death constructs a nightmarishnetwork of undead spectral “life” that escapes the ontological horizondelineated by the Symbolic and, at the same time, disrupts its social inscription,rendering visible fin de siècle societal antagonisms. The undead non-subjectswhose materialization is contingent upon the blood and bone marrow of the childrenupon which they prey are used in this modern Gothic text as an exemplificationof the unspeakable Real that is inscribed into the very fabric of capitalism.
The paper discusses the Hellenistic necropoleis of Alexandria in Egypt: the tombs, the finds, the paintings, Greco-Egyptian ideas on death and dying. We will be exploring Macedonian responses to death and dying, as well as the ways Macedonian mortuary habits were transmitted, transposed, developed and “edited”, once the Macedonians found themselves on top of the world, and in lands so different from their own. From Macedon to Asia and Egypt, and from Aigai and Mieza to Shatby, Macedonians had to renegotiate their fundamental beliefs on death and the afterlife, committing themselves to the amalgam we now understand as “Ptolemaic Alexandria”.
In early 2024, the largest full-scale exercise (FSE) for earthquakes and related geohazards in Greece was implemented in Crete Island (southern Greece). Crete is characterized by intense seismicity with historical and recent destructive earthquakes with considerable impact on both the natural and built environment and subsequently on the population. The uniqueness of this FSE lies in the creation and coordination of a multi-agency, multijurisdictional, and multidisciplinary environment in which a multitude of central, regional, and local stakeholders and a large percentage of the total population of Crete actively participated. This paper constitutes a descriptive study focusing on the main steps of the exercise management cycle comprising planning, implementation, and evaluation of the FSE. Furthermore, emphasis is given on its purpose and objectives, its main events and subsequent incidents, the participants and their roles, as well as the material developed and distributed to the participants. Through this study, the implemented actions for increasing preparedness of the Civil Protection mechanism in case of earthquakes and related geohazards are highlighted aiming to inform the scientific community and operational staff and to contribute to the seismic risk reduction of regions worldwide with similar seismotectonic and demographic characteristics with Crete. Furthermore, suggestions are made for the integration of multi-hazard episodes in the FSE scenario in order that the Civil Protection authorities will be prepared to handle the synergy of hazards of different types that may arise during a post-earthquake period that create compounding challenges during the emergency response and further increase recovery time.
The impact of metal contacts on the electrical properties of SiN dielectric film in MEMS capacitors is investigated. The investigation is performed employing MIM and MEMS capacitors with Au and Ni contacts. A resistive switching like behaviour is monitored in the case of Ni contacts. This behaviour is attributed to the presence of deep traps in SiN and the effect of different metal contacts as revealed from Thermally Stimulated Depolarization Current (TSDC) assessment. Specifically, TSDC showed that the resistive switching is a contact/interface dominated effect.
Brain organoids are in vitro 3D cultures generated in the lab from human induced pluripotent stem cells or embryonic stem cells and can mimic the human brain structure and function. Specifically, they reproduce to some extent in vivo developmental events as they consist of diverse cell types, such as apical radial glial cells, intermediate progenitors, basal radial glial cells, and neurons forming stratified cortical layers similar to what is observed in the human brain in vivo. Due to cytoarchitecture similarities between the human brain and brain organoids, the latter have been proposed as excellent models for studying human brain development and disease. Thus, genome manipulation in brain organoids is crucial for investigating the functions of specific genes and mutations that have been associated with brain-related disorders. For this reason, gene manipulation has been implemented in brain organoids in the last few years. Here, we describe a step-by-step protocol for gene expression manipulation and analyses in brain organoids via acute electroporation that we have optimized based on the in vivo electroporation that has been widely used in animal models. This easy-to-apply protocol is fast and robust and facilitates the precise spatiotemporal manipulation of the expression of any gene of interest.
(1) Background: The present study examines the effects of fire on the ecosystem services of forest ecosystems in Greece. Being a Mediterranean country, Greece has been affected by fires of increasing intensity and frequency in recent years; (2) Methods: Information was extracted from 56 articles published in the period January 1997–March 2024 that were selected after an extensive literature review; (3) Results: An increasing trend in the number of published articles over time was observed. Studies on regulating and maintenance services prevailed. The majority of studies reported on thermo-Mediterranean ecosystems, with Pinus halepensis Mill forests being the most common ecosystems affected by fires. The effects of fire were primarily negative on provisioning and cultural services, as well as on the control of erosion rates, regulation of the hydrologic cycle, atmospheric composition, and climate regulation. Most effects on plant diversity were found to be positive, while positive and neutral effects were also recorded for pollination. The most pronounced negative or positive effects were noted for the first two years after the fire. The spatial mapping of the results showed that the areas most affected by the fires in Greece are Eastern Attica, Euboea, Western Attica, and most regional units of the Peloponnese; (4) Conclusions: In the era of climate change and changing fire regimes in the Mediterranean, there is a need to further research the impact of fire on ecosystem services, as this will help in the better protection and management of the most vulnerable forest ecosystems.
The accurate representation of mixed-phase monsoon clouds and their phase distribution is of great importance for numerical models used to predict monsoon rainfall. Therefore, it is essential for these models to correctly capture the phase fraction of clouds, which includes the proportions of liquid and ice. Ice particle formation in clouds occurs through primary ice production and secondary ice production (SIP). Most weather and climate models tend to overlook secondary SIP mechanisms, often only including rime-splintering. This oversight can introduce biases in the phase partitioning of mixed-phase clouds and monsoon rainfall predictions. In this study, we investigate the roles of three major SIP mechanisms: Hallett-Mossop (HM), droplet shattering (DS), and ice-ice collision (IIC) in mixed-phase monsoon clouds. This investigation is the first of its kind and was conducted using high-resolution simulations of mixed-phase convective clouds observed during the fourth phase of the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) over a rain shadow region of India. The default cloud microphysical scheme, which originally included only the HM process, was modified to incorporate additional SIP mechanisms such as DS and IIC. The simulated cloud parameters, including liquid and ice water content and ice number concentration, showed good agreement with airborne measurements. Our findings indicate that IIC is the predominant SIP mechanism, contributing 90 % to the total ice production through SIP. The inclusion of the three SIP mechanisms resulted in an enhancement of ice concentration by three to four orders of magnitude at temperatures warmer than -20 °C. SIP significantly influenced various cloud parameters between 0 to −20 °C, including total ice number concentration, ice crystal mass, rimed mass, liquid water content, and phase fraction. It also influenced the Ice Water Path (IWP), Liquid Water Path (LWP), and cloud top temperature. The rates of several mixed-phase processes were also affected by the SIP mechanisms. Overall, SIP led to a 15 % reduction in accumulated surface precipitation.
Flash floods have been the cause of some of the most devastating events worldwide. The wide diversity of the effects, as well as the variety in the severity of the impacts, lead to major obstacles in obtaining a realistic understanding of the damages caused by a flood event, thus hampering at the same time our ability to predict future impacts. In assessing flood impacts and their severity, most existing methods use a qualitative characterization (e.g., major, catastrophic, etc.) or view the impacts from a single viewpoint or discipline (e.g., economic losses). In this study, we apply the Flash Flood Impact Severity Scale (FFISS) to assess, map, and classify the impacts of two flash floods from the Lilas River in Greece in 2009 and 2020. This application aims to discuss the different severity levels in terms of how one flood can affect the impacts of the next event. The methodology encompasses comprehensive field research, including the collection of ground-based and aerial observations utilizing UAV technology to document the impacts. These observations are subsequently georeferenced, followed by application of the Flash Flood Impact Severity Scale (FFISS) and generation of detailed maps to assess and evaluate the severity of the impacts associated with the two flood events. The results show that despite the higher water stage of the second flood, the impacts in previously hit areas indicate lower severity values, attributed to the gradual adaptation of the community and its infrastructure, as well as significant local widening of the river channel. On the contrary, high severity remains an issue in newly flooded areas during the second event. Overall, the application of the FFISS can show the spatial patterns of severity impacts, providing insights into the nature of floods locally but also indicating a potential reduction in the overall risk in the post-flood period.
The utilization of hybrid plasmonic metal/semiconductor materials for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has emerged as a promising approach towards the development of advanced SERS substrates in terms of sensitivity{,} uniformity{,} stability{,} and reusability{,} based on the synergy of the powerful electromagnetic mechanism with the chemical amplification and functionality of semiconductor supports. In this work{,} co-assembled WO3/TiO2 inverse opal films were utilized as photonic crystal scaffolds of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles in order to optimally combine plasmonic{,} charge transfer and slow photon effects for ultrasensitive{,} recyclable SERS sensing. Compositional and photonic band gap engineering of the Ag-decorated WO3/TiO2 photonic crystal substrates provided insight to the interplay of plasmonic enhancement assisted by slow light propagation in the inverse opal structure and charge transfer between the analyte and the heterostructured substrate. Highly sensitive detection of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid as a non-resonant analyte was achieved down to 10−13 M for the optimal Ag–WO3/TiO2 substrate with good uniformity and excellent recyclability due to its enhanced photocatalytic self-cleaning capacity. Comparative performance tests along with photoelectrochemical evaluation showed a significant contribution of cascade electron transfer from plasmonic Ag to the staggered WO3/TiO2 heterojunctions and the analyte{,} providing an additional charge transfer pathway to promote the substrate-to-molecule interaction for the design of efficient and versatile metal/metal oxide SERS platforms.
This study explores the lived experiences of Greek emerging adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on perceived psychoemotional and social impacts and future outlooks. Using a qualitative longitudinal approach, we conducted two timeframes: March 2020 and June 2021, with thirty-four participants (M = 21.14 years old) initially responding to online open-ended questions, followed by in-depth interviews with six. Thematic analysis identified two main themes: ‘emotional shifts’ and ‘transitioning to adulthood’. Participants expressed a range of emotions, including sadness and nostalgia, leading to feelings of loneliness from being separated from loved ones. Throughout both timeframes, they reported fear and anxiety about contracting or spreading the virus. However, they also recognised positive changes during the first lockdown, such as personal growth and a deeper appreciation for life, which translated into ‘relational clearings’ during the second lockdown. Additionally, participants acknowledged their increased responsibility to comply with restrictions and formulated practical future plans reflecting a ‘here-and-now’ mindset. Our findings are discussed in relation to existing literature.
OBJECTIVES: Αn HIV-1 outbreak was identified among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Thessaloniki, Greece, during 2019-2021. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of this outbreak by means of molecular epidemiology. METHODS: We analysed 57 sequences from PWID sampled in Thessaloniki during 2019-2023. Phylogenetic trees were inferred using all subtype A sequences from PWID sampled since 1999 in Greece and reference sequences (n=4824). Phylodynamic analysis was performed using the Bayesian birth-death skyline serial model. RESULTS: Most of the 57 study sequences belonged to sub-subtypes A6 (49, 86%) and A1 (4, 7%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that two (50%) A1 sequences clustered together and 47 (95.9%) A6 sequences fell within three PWID-specific phylogenetic clusters. The 99.6% and 77.9% of pairwise genetic distances within the largest and second largest PWID clusters were lower than 0.015 substitutions/site. Using a more stringent threshold (0.0015 substitutions/site), we identified five networks of sequences from PWID infected within 1 year. The effective reproduction number (R(e)) started to increase at the beginning of 2019 and remained high almost until the end of 2021. The estimated time from HIV-1 infection to diagnosis showed an increasing trend during 2020-2023 (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The regional clustering of the PWID sequences and their low genetic divergence confirm its local spreading and the recent nature of the outbreak. Using a stringent genetic distance threshold, we showed that HIV-1 transmission occurred among large groups of PWID. The time of epidemic growth coincided with the time of the initial identification, and HIV-1 transmission continued at high rates until 2021.
The aminolysis reaction between MN’’2 (N’’ = N(SiMe3)2; M = Fe, Co, Ni) and the neutral pro-ligand 6,6'-(1,4-phenylenebis(propane-2,2-diyl))bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenol) (LH2) affords the low coordinate, isomorphous, monomeric bis-aryloxide complexes (2-M) (M =...
Unidirectional propagation based on surface magnetoplasmons (SMPs) has recently been realized at the interface of magnetized semiconductors. However, usually SMPs lose their unidirectionality due to nonlocal effects, especially in the lower trivial band gap of such structures. More recently, a truly unidirectional SMP (USMP)hasbeen demonstrated in the upper topological nontrivial band gap, but it supports only a single USMP, limiting its functionality. In this work, we present a fundamental physical model for multiple, robust, truly topological USMP modes at terahertz (THz) frequencies, realized in a semiconductor-dielectric-semiconductor (SDS) slab waveguide under opposing external magnetic fields. We analytically derive the dispersion properties of the SMPs and perform numerical analysis in both local and nonlocal models. Our results show that the SDS waveguide supports two truly (even and odd) USMP modes in the upper topological nontrivial band gap. Exploiting these two modes, we demonstrate unidirectional SMP multimode interference (USMMI), being highly robust and immune to backscattering, overcoming the back-reflection issue in conventional bidirectional waveguides. To demonstrate the usefulness of this approach, we numerically realize a frequency and magneti cally tunable arbitrary-ratio splitter based on this robust USMMI, enabling multimode conversion. We, further, identify a unique index-near-zero (INZ) odd USMP mode in the SDS waveguide, distinct from conventional semiconductor-dielectric-metal waveguides. Leveraging this INZ mode, we achieve phase modulation with a phase shift from −π to π. Our work expands the manipulation of topological waves and enriches the field of truly nonreciprocal topological physics for practical device applications.
Given the critical role of zeroing neural networks (ZNN) in various fields and the practical demand for models in effectively resisting real-time noise, this study introduces a novel anti-noise integral zeroing neural network (AN-IZNN) model alongside its enhanced counterpart (EAN-IZNN), for the applications of matrix problem solving. Theoretical analysis demonstrates their ability to achieve convergence even under different noise conditions. Both theoretical analyses and simulation validations highlight the superior performance of the proposed models over existing neural network models. Notably, the root mean square error of the proposed AN-IZNN and EAN-IZNN models is reduced by 92.6249% and 91.4178%, respectively, compared to scenarios without the proposed method, demonstrating the effectiveness of the solution.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: The year 2023 marked the 10-year anniversary of the launch of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Monitoring HCV treatment trends by country, region, and globally is important to assess progress toward the World Health Organization's 2030 elimination targets. Additionally, the historical patterns can help predict the treatment uptake for future therapies for other liver diseases. METHODS: The number of people living with HCV (PLHCV) treated between 2014-2023 across 119 countries was estimated using national HCV registries, reported DAA sales data, pharmaceutical companies' reports, and estimates provided by national experts. For the countries with no available data, the average estimate of the corresponding Global Burden of Disease region was used. RESULTS: An estimated 13,816,000 (95% uncertainty intervals: 13,221,000-16,415,000) PLHCV were treated, of whom 12,748,000 (12,226,000-15,231,000) were treated with DAAs, of which 11,081,000 (10,542,000-13,338,000) were sofosbuvir-based DAA regimens. Country-level data accounted for 97% of these estimates. In high-income countries, there was a 41% drop in treatment from its peak, and reimbursement was a large predictor of treatment. In low- and middle-income countries, price played an important role in expanding treatment access through the public and private markets, and treatment continues to increase slowly after a sharp drop at the end of the Egyptian national program. CONCLUSIONS: In the last 10 years, 21% of all HCV infections were treated with DAAs. Regional and temporal variations highlight the importance of active screening strategies. Without program enhancements, the number of treated PLHCV stalled in every country/region, which may not reflect a lower prevalence but may instead reflect the diminishing returns of existing strategies. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Long-term hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Since 2014, these infections can be effectively treated with 8-12 weeks of oral therapies. In 2015, the World Health Organization established targets to eliminate HCV by 2030, which included treatment targets for member countries. The current study examines HCV treatment patterns across 119 countries and regions from 2014 to 2023 to assess the impact of national programs. This study can assist physicians and policymakers in understanding treatment patterns within similar regions or income groups and in utilizing historical data to refine their strategies in the future.
Piezoelectric phononic-crystal plates, structured on their surface with metallic strips introducing electric-circuit loads, exhibit a tunable frequency-dispersion behaviour, nondestructively controlled in real time. Under an appropriate choice of boundary conditions through these loads, obeying a space-time propagation rule, it is demonstrated experimentally that these systems support nonreciprocal propagation of Lamb-like guided modes in their interior. The observations combined with numerical calculations confirm a broadband translation of the dispersion curves in the frequency-wavenumber space depending on the modulation speed. A careful analysis reveals a simple vector-rule relationship between the static bands and those induced by the time modulation of the external loads in the dispersion diagram. The device proposed in this study, offering dynamic changes in the electric boundary conditions by making use of switches driven by a microcontroller, thus, becomes an efficient tool not only for the realization of real-time control of elastic waves but also, and more importantly, a versatile platform for a robust generation of nonreciprocity effects in tunable, low-dimensional systems.
Abstract Ocean water clarity, influenced by marine chlorophyll concentration, significantly alters the distribution of shortwave radiation in the water column. This work aims to assess the effects of varying chlorophyll on the upper-ocean physical properties and their subsequent impact on the atmosphere, using a coupled ocean-atmosphere regional model for the Mediterranean and Black Seas. We performed 11-year (2011–2021) twin-simulation experiments based on different chlorophyll concentrations to estimate the penetration of solar radiation in the ocean. The first simulation used a monthly climatology field of chlorophyll concentrations derived from satellite observations, while in the second experiment, the chlorophyll concentration was kept constant at 0.05 mgm−3 \$\mathrm{m}\mathrm{g}\ {\mathrm{m}}^{-3}\$, representing clear water conditions. Results show that radiative heating driven by chlorophyll amplifies the seasonal cycle of temperature in the upper layers, leading to increased surface warming in summer and surface cooling in winter. Also, higher surface chlorophyll contributes to cooling in subsurface layers throughout the year due to its shading effect. The temperature response to chlorophyll variations is controlled by the mixed layer depth and a balance between (a) direct near-surface radiative heating due to the chlorophyll absorption and (b) indirect cooling resulting from vertical turbulent mixing processes with subsurface waters. The atmosphere moderates the seasonal sea surface temperature (SST) response caused by chlorophyll differential heating primarily through changes in latent heat flux. Ultimately, our simulations suggest that increased surface chlorophyll concentrations enhance the Mediterranean overturning circulation, highlighting the necessity of incorporating realistic optical forcing into regional climate modeling studies.
Abstract Ocean water clarity, influenced by marine chlorophyll concentration, significantly alters the distribution of shortwave radiation in the water column. This work aims to assess the effects of varying chlorophyll on the upper-ocean physical properties and their subsequent impact on the atmosphere, using a coupled ocean-atmosphere regional model for the Mediterranean and Black Seas. We performed 11-year (2011–2021) twin-simulation experiments based on different chlorophyll concentrations to estimate the penetration of solar radiation in the ocean. The first simulation used a monthly climatology field of chlorophyll concentrations derived from satellite observations, while in the second experiment, the chlorophyll concentration was kept constant at 0.05 \$\mathrm{m}\mathrm{g}\ {\mathrm{m}}^{-3}\$, representing clear water conditions. Results show that radiative heating driven by chlorophyll amplifies the seasonal cycle of temperature in the upper layers, leading to increased surface warming in summer and surface cooling in winter. Also, higher surface chlorophyll contributes to cooling in subsurface layers throughout the year due to its shading effect. The temperature response to chlorophyll variations is controlled by the mixed layer depth and a balance between (a) direct near-surface radiative heating due to the chlorophyll absorption and (b) indirect cooling resulting from vertical turbulent mixing processes with subsurface waters. The atmosphere moderates the seasonal sea surface temperature (SST) response caused by chlorophyll differential heating primarily through changes in latent heat flux. Ultimately, our simulations suggest that increased surface chlorophyll concentrations enhance the Mediterranean overturning circulation, highlighting the necessity of incorporating realistic optical forcing into regional climate modeling studies.
Metalloporphyrins on interfaces offer a rich playground for functional materials and hence have been subjected to intense scrutiny over the past decades. As the same porphyrin macrocycle on the same surface may exhibit vastly different physicochemical properties depending on the metal center and its substituents, it is vital to have a thorough structural and chemical characterization of such systems. Here, we explore the distinctions arising from coverage and macrocycle substituents on the closely related ruthenium octaethyl porphyrin and ruthenium tetrabenzo porphyrin on Ag(111). Our investigation employs a multitechnique approach in ultrahigh vacuum, combining scanning tunneling microscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, photoelectron spectroscopy, normal incidence X-ray standing wave, and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure, supported by density functional theory. This methodology allows for a thorough examination of the nuanced differences in the self-assembly, substrate modification, molecular conformation and adsorption height.Metalloporphyrins on interfaces offer a rich playground for functional materials and hence have been subjected to intense scrutiny over the past decades. As the same porphyrin macrocycle on the same surface may exhibit vastly different physicochemical properties depending on the metal center and its substituents, it is vital to have a thorough structural and chemical characterization of such systems. Here, we explore the distinctions arising from coverage and macrocycle substituents on the closely related ruthenium octaethyl porphyrin and ruthenium tetrabenzo porphyrin on Ag(111). Our investigation employs a multitechnique approach in ultrahigh vacuum, combining scanning tunneling microscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, photoelectron spectroscopy, normal incidence X-ray standing wave, and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure, supported by density functional theory. This methodology allows for a thorough examination of the nuanced differences in the self-assembly, substrate modification, molecular conformation and adsorption height.
The main objective of modern organizations is to acquire a long-term competitive advantage, so that they may cope with the requirements of organizations' complex and unstable environment. In this context, several companies try to transform themselves into Learning Organizations. The aim of this paper is to reveal whether the awarded companies in Greece, in terms of working environment, provide learning opportunities to their employees within their working environment. The quantitative method was employed, and a reliable questionnaire was filled by 80 employees, who work for an awarded company as one of the best companies in Greece, by a certified international organization called "Great Place to Work", DLOQ-Dimensions of the Organization Learning Questionnaire with 55 items, was selected as a valid and reliable instrument, in order to evaluate the dimensions of organizational learning and organizational performance. The findings of the current research, indicate that the company under study, has the characteristics of a Learning Organization and that the adoption of the seven dimensions of the Learning Organization has a positive impact on organizational performance. According to the study results, the subject company, identifies the importance of developing a learning culture in order to increase its performance and due to this fact, it takes all actions required for the development and training of human resources, so that it may reach its objectives.
The Gulf of Corinth (GoC), derived from a geologically young active rift, offers a unique opportunity to study changes in environmental conditions during the Quaternary period in a region where long sequences are few. Due to periods of isolation during Quaternary lowstands, the water conditions were not favorable for the occurrence of conventional palaeoceanographical proxies such as planktonic foraminifera. We present here the first almost continuous record of phytoplankton proxies (dinoflagellate cysts) and freshwater palynomorphs (green algae) for the past 1.1 Myr aiming to provide a comprehensive insight into palaeoceanographic variability between glacial and interglacials cycles. Core M0078A retrieved during the IODP expedition 381 contains a rich and diverse dinoflagellate cyst assemblage, sorted into two major ecogroups, representing alternations between marine and brackish conditions. Our results allow for the first time the reconstruction of the Gulf environmental history of connection and disconnection from marine conditions from late Pleistocene to Holocene (1.1Ma – present). Dinocysts and other palynomorphs (NPPs) suggest that the GoC was repeatedly isolated and reconnected to the Mediterranean Sea during global sea-level lowstands associated with glacial intervals. These combined proxies suggest that marine water flowed into the GoC during the eustatic highstands associated with interglacial intervals. The dinocyst assemblages show a close affinity to modern assemblages from the Black, Caspian, and Marmara Seas.
We present a comprehensive investigation into the synthesis, phase evolution and valence state of vanadium (V) in V1−xFexO2 (x = 0 %, 0.5 %, 0.75 %, 1.0 %) compounds. Polycrystalline samples have been synthesized with solid-state reaction method, followed by thermal annealing. X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) analyzed by Le Bail method revealed the transformation from monoclinic (M1) phase (space group: P21∕c) to triclinic (T) one with increasing Fe concentration. Additionally, a monoclinic (M2) phase (space group: C2∕m) emerged at 1.0 % Fe doping. Temperature-dependent XRPD and diffuse reflectance measurements elucidated the phase transitions during heating cycles, showing the impact of Fe doping on the system’s behavior. The construction of a complete phase diagram for the V1−xFexO2 system (x ≤ 1.0 %) was achieved, addressing ambiguities in the low-Fe concentration region. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) further confirmed the influence of Fe doping on the vanadium valence states, indicating an increase of V5+ sites and therefore a lattice distortion and stabilization of the triclinic phase. The metal-insulator transition temperature (TMIT) appears to be almost constant. Post-annealing led to the reinstatement of the M1 phase in all samples, and a modified phase diagram was constructed. The accompanied decrease of V5+ ions contributed to the destabilization of the T and M2 phases, favoring the thermodynamically stable M1 phase. The findings provide valuable insights into the complex phase behavior of V1−xFexO2 compounds, showcasing a significant interplay between charge redistribution, the vanadium valence state, and the oxygen defects of the system.
New presentations of Specht modules of symmetric groups over fields of characteristic zero have been obtained by Brauner, Friedmann, Hanlon, Stanley and Wachs. These involve generators that are column tabloids and relations that are Garnir relations with maximal number of exchanges between consecutive columns or symmetrization of Garnir relations with minimal number of exchanges between consecutive columns. In this paper, we examine Garnir relations and their symmetrization with any number of exchanges. In both cases, we provide sufficient arithmetic conditions so that the corresponding quotient is a Specht module. In particular, in the first case this yields new presentations of Specht modules if the parts of the conjugate partition that correspond to maximal number of exchanges greater than 1 are distinct. These results generalize the presentations mentioned above and offer an answer to a question of Friedmann, Hanlon and Wachs. Our approach is via representations of the general linear group.
The index-near-zero (INZ) mode exhibits novel spatial phase invariance characteristics. Recent research has focused on exploring INZ-related phenomena using metamaterials, metasurfaces, and photonic crystal (PhC) structures. However, most currently proposed INZ modes lack flexible control and are challenging to implement. Additionally, INZ modes near the Dirac point in PhCs typically operate only at specific frequencies. In this study, Chern PhCs composed of simple magneto-optical materials are utilized to regulate topologically unidirectional INZ electromagnetic modes by adjusting the air thickness and varying the magnitude of an external magnetic field. Due to the unidirectional robustness and near-zero phase shift characteristics of the INZ mode, three application scenarios are proposed: a phase inverter, a perfect 50/50 splitter, and high-performance broadband sensors. This work provides a new platform and approach for optical communication and computing.
A Bay of Biscay model configuration is used as a test case to assess the data-based consistency of ensemble-based ocean model uncertainties of several types: [A] built-in stochastic parameterizations at regional ocean scales, [B] ocean model response to a global atmospheric model ensemble and [C] both A and B simultaneously. Ensembles of varying length were generated. In addition to a seasonal-range ensemble, three medium-range ensembles were carried out over successive overlapping segments permitting to compare consistency metrics for different lead times. The largest spread was obtained for the C case, although most of the model uncertainties were attributable to the stochastic ocean parameterizations in A. We addressed the question of which ensemble type and lead time was able to provide the most realistic model uncertainties given observations of SST, sea level, and Chlorophyll a, using a theoretical and diagnostic consistency analysis framework expanded from Vervatis et al. (2021a). In our results, consistency was satisfactory for the stochastic ensembles of types A and C, for the “aged” error cases (but only marginally with respect to the “young” error cases), and whenever physical and biogeochemical uncertainty processes were active in the region and could be detected by the observational networks, such as the onset of the spring shoaling of the thermocline and the phytoplankton abundance primary bloom. Sea level empirical consistency was improved when a wide range of low- to high-frequency errors were included in the signal of dynamic atmospheric process in the data and in the model inverse barometer. These findings provide additional insight that can help configure ensemble-based methods in academic studies and in operational ocean forecasting systems.
We investigate the effects of non-synchronous trading on volatility spillover for the G-7 equity markets during the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis (ESDC) and the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. For data synchronisation we utilise ΜΑ(1) adjusted return series to estimate the Baba-Engle-Kraft-Kroner (BEKK) and the dynamic conditional correlation (DCC) models. We also consider the use of realised kernels as explanatory variables in the variance equation. In this set up, the contagion effects during crises periods are more perceptible, as the spikes are easier to interpret. We also check the robustness of our main results by applying, wavelet coherence analysis to G-7 major equity indices with realised kernels, as well as local Gaussian correlations (LGC). Our findings suggest the empirical significance of the synchronisation effects for the US and the other G-7 equity markets. We also conclude that realised kernels is an effective tool for mitigating non-synchronous effects. These results underline the significance of quantifying the synchronisation effects in equity markets as well as international portfolio diversification strategies.
Air–sea interactions play a pivotal role in shaping cyclone development and evolution. In this context, this study investigates the role of ocean optical properties and solar radiation penetration in modulating subsurface heat content and their subsequent influence on the intensity of Mediterranean cyclones. Using a regional coupled ocean–wave–atmosphere model, we conducted sensitivity experiments for Storm Daniel (2023) comparing two solar radiation penetration schemes in the ocean model component: one with a constant light attenuation depth and another with chlorophyll-dependent attenuation based on satellite estimates. Results show that the chlorophyll-driven radiative heating scheme consistently produces warmer sea surface temperatures (SSTs) prior to cyclone onset, leading to stronger cyclones characterized by deeper minimum mean sea-level pressure, intensified convective activity, and increased rainfall. However, post-storm SST cooling is also amplified due to stronger wind stress and vertical mixing, potentially influencing subsequent local atmospheric conditions. Overall, this work demonstrates that ocean bio-optical processes can meaningfully impact Mediterranean cyclone behavior, highlighting the importance of using appropriate underwater light attenuation schemes and ocean color remote sensing data in coupled models.
The macrocyclic biquinazoline ligand, H-Mabiq, presents a central and a peripheral site for the coordination of metal ions, making the adsorption on solid surfaces promising for the creation of self-assembled bimetallic two-dimensional platforms. Here, we apply an on-surface metalation strategy under ultra-high vacuum conditions to guide the synthesis of metalated species and study sequential metalation patterns. We find that cobalt (as well as iron) metalation on the Ag(111) surface preferentially occurs at the macrocyclic centre without further metal coordination to the peripheral site. Nevertheless, starting from a densely packed, self-assembled H-Mabiq monolayer, the modification of the central cavity by Co is accompanied by an unusual, metalation-induced phase transformation which gives evidence of modified lateral / interfacial interactions. The selective metalation of one molecular site opens up an on-surface route to create bimetallic networks incorporating select metal ions at different locations.
Solving Lur'e equations plays a critical role in addressing linear-quadratic optimal control (LQOC) problems, especially in cases where the control cost matrices are singular. This paper introduces, for the first time, two novel zeroing neural network (ZNN) models—ZNNLE and ZNNLE-LQOC—specifically designed to solve the Lur'e equation system and the LQOC problem, respectively. The proposed models extend the applicability of the ZNN methodology to these challenging scenarios by offering robust and efficient solutions to time-varying matrix equations. Theoretical analyses confirm the validity of both models, while numerical simulations and practical applications demonstrate their effectiveness. Moreover, a comparative study with an enhanced alternating-direction implicit (ADI) method highlights the superior performance of the ZNNLE-LQOC model in solving LQOC problems.
We have theoretically investigated surface magnetoplasmons (SMPs) in an yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) sandwiched waveguide. The dispersion demonstrated that this waveguide can support topological unidirectional SMPs. Based on unidirectional SMPs, magnetically controllable multimode interference (MMI) is verified in both symmetric and asymmetric waveguides. Due to the coupling between the modes along two YIG–air interfaces, the asymmetric waveguide supports a unidirectional even mode within a single-mode frequency range. Moreover, these modes are topologically protected when a disorder is introduced. Utilizing robust unidirectional SMP MMI (USMMI), tunable splitters have been achieved. It has been demonstrated that mode conversion between different modes can be realized. These results provide many degrees of freedom to manipulate topological waves.
We develop a full-wave electromagnetic (EM) theory for calculating the multipole decomposition in two-dimensional (2-D) structures consisting of isolated, arbitrarily shaped, inhomogeneous, anisotropic cylinders or a collection of such. To derive the multipole decomposition, we first solve the scattering problem by expanding the scattered electric field in divergenceless cylindrical vector wave functions (CVWFs) with unknown expansion coefficients that characterize the multipole response. These expansion coefficients are then expressed via contour integrals of the vectorial components of the scattered electric field evaluated via an electric field volume integral equation (EFVIE). The kernels of the EFVIE are the products of the tensorial 2-D Green’s function (GF) expansion and the equivalent 2-D volumetric electric and magnetic current densities. We validate the theory using the commercial finite element solver COMSOL Multiphysics. In the validation, we compute the multipole decomposition of the fields scattered from various 2-D structures and compare the results with alternative formulations. Finally, we demonstrate the applicability of the theory to study an emerging photonics application on oligomer-based highly directional switching using active media. This analysis addresses a critical gap in the current literature, where multipole theories exist primarily for three-dimensional (3-D) particles of isotropic materials. Our work enhances the understanding and utilization of the optical properties of 2-D, inhomogeneous, and anisotropic cylindrical structures, contributing to advancements in photonic and meta-optics technologies.
Rainbow trapping is a wave localization phenomenon in which different frequencies are spatially separated and con f ined by engineering dispersion through structural gradients. Initially demonstrated in tapered metamaterial systems, this concept has since been extended to plasmonic, photonic, acoustic, and elastic platforms, where graded-index profiles, chirped periodicities, and tapered geometries are used to control the group velocity and localize wave components at distinct spatial positions. These implementations enable high resolution spectral manipulation and form the foundation for broadband wave control. More recently, topological rainbow trapping has emerged as a robust alternative, leveraging topo logically protected states to achieve disorder-immune fre quency localization. This approach offers enhanced resilience to fabrication imperfections and opens new possibilities for scalable, integrated wave-based devices. In this review, we examine the physical mechanisms, system-specific implemen tations, and recent advances in both conventional and topo logical rainbow trapping. We also highlight promising appli cations ranging from optical communication and wavelength multiplexing to acoustic wave manipulation and vibrational energy harvesting and discuss key challenges and future directions in this rapidly evolving field.
Complex-frequency excitations have recently attracted a lot of attention owing to their ability to solve a number of extraordinary challenges in photonics, such as overcoming losses without gain in metalenses and plasmonic waveguides and achieving virtual absorption. However, the totality of the works so far has been mainly computational or experimental, and a full theory of the complex dynamics enabled by these excitations is still missing. Here, we develop a fully analytical, exact time-domain theory for the dynamical scattering of these excitations by both sides of dielectric plates, which have been used to achieve virtual absorption. Our precise theoretical analysis confirms previous observations and, in addition, reveals a number of intriguing phenomena that were previously missed, such as discontinuities in the scattering of the outgoing electromagnetic field and release of the stored energy in distinct packets.
Research on environmental education in Greece highlights the urgent need to integrate climate change education into school curricula due to the severe impacts of the climate crisis. Despite growing social awareness, implementation is hindered by limited resources resulting from the economic crisis, fragmented content in textbooks, and inadequate legislation. Technological advancements present new opportunities for enhancing environmental education. This article reviews the current state of environmental education and proposes strategic directions to improve its effectiveness. A SWOT analysis identifies internal strengths and weaknesses, along with external opportunities and threats, while a PEST analysis evaluates political, economic, social, and technological influences. Based on these assessments, strategic goals and directions are outlined, focusing on the comprehensive integration of Environmental Education for Climate Change into Greece’s compulsory education system. Key proposals include the development of clear policies, structured guidelines, and curriculum adaptations to address the evolving challenges of climate change. A cohesive national framework is recommended to ensure the consistent implementation of environmental education across all educational levels. These initiatives aim to prepare future generations with the necessary knowledge and skills to mitigate and adapt to climate change, fostering a more sustainable society.
Cold air outbreaks (CAOs) are phenomena that occur across high latitudes during winter months and favor the development of extensive boundary layer clouds. As the boundary layer evolves, changes in cloud morphology often result in a stratocumulus to cumulus transition (SCT). The onset of precipitation is considered to be a key factor that leads to the break-up of the stratocumulus deck. In this modeling study we investigate the additional role that aerosols have on the SCT within a CAO event in the North Atlantic, by using prognostic fields for both aerosols and cloud droplet number concentrations (Nd). By using two chemical/aerosol schemes we assess and quantify the impact of aerosols on the SCT evolution. Our results indicate that the aerosol load and its chemical composition affect the timing of precipitation initiation and its magnitude and thus the break-up. However, the two schemes reveal contradictory results, which are mainly associated with different aerosol size and chemical composition partitioning between modes and bins. The simulations with the aerosol scheme, which considers the modal approach, show that the reduction of Nd across the SCT is driven by changes in the cloud liquid water content, the sulfate availability, and the fine sea-spray availability in the cumulus region, which suppresses sulfate activation. The Nd decreases mostly follow the decrease in accumulation-mode aerosols. For the scheme that considers the sectional approach, both the stratiform and the cumulus clouds appear sensitive to new particles formation and their competition for water. However, in the cumulus region, the higher updrafts and the greater availability of fine sea salt particles become critical for the activation of small particles. New particle formation and background sulfate concentrations are critical in this pristine environment, while sea salt particles have a significant impact on SCT in both sets of simulations.
Cold air outbreaks (CAOs) are phenomena that occur across high latitudes during winter months and favor the development of extensive boundary layer clouds. As the boundary layer evolves, changes in cloud morphology often result in a stratocumulus to cumulus transition (SCT). The onset of precipitation is considered to be a key factor that leads to the break-up of the stratocumulus deck. In this modeling study we investigate the additional role that aerosols have on the SCT within a CAO event in the North Atlantic, by using prognostic fields for both aerosols and cloud droplet number concentrations (Nd). By using two chemical/aerosol schemes we assess and quantify the impact of aerosols on the SCT evolution. Our results indicate that the aerosol load and its chemical composition affect the timing of precipitation initiation and its magnitude and thus the break-up. However, the two schemes reveal contradictory results, which are mainly associated with different aerosol size and chemical composition partitioning between modes and bins. The simulations with the aerosol scheme, which considers the modal approach, show that the reduction of Nd across the SCT is driven by changes in the cloud liquid water content, the sulfate availability, and the fine sea-spray availability in the cumulus region, which suppresses sulfate activation. The Nd decreases mostly follow the decrease in accumulation-mode aerosols. For the scheme that considers the sectional approach, both the stratiform and the cumulus clouds appear sensitive to new particles formation and their competition for water. However, in the cumulus region, the higher updrafts and the greater availability of fine sea salt particles become critical for the activation of small particles. New particle formation and background sulfate concentrations are critical in this pristine environment, while sea salt particles have a significant impact on SCT in both sets of simulations.
Social identity may be a late-modern concept, styling one’s station in life through art, however, was indeed a recognizable trait of the past. Alexandrian art is the product of a society mixed both ethnically and culturally, so much so that social framing in it appears to become an end in itself. Acknowledging the liminality of death, funerary painting, and especially funerary portraiture from the Ptolemaic world, describes and defines the individual according to a predetermined set of values that are meant to reconfirm the community’s ways of representing itself. Through a series of remarkable examples, the lecture will comment on the development of Alexandrian funerary painting as a way of discussing Ptolemaic art in its Hellenistic context.
Neurodynamics is recognized as a powerful tool for addressing various problems in engineering, control, and intelligent systems. Over the past decade, neurodynamics-based methods and models have been rapidly developed, particularly in emerging areas such as neural computation and multi-agent systems. In this paper, we provide a brief survey of neurodynamics applied to computation and multi-agent systems. Specifically, we highlight key models and approaches related to time-varying computation, as well as cooperative and competitive behaviors in multi-agent systems. Furthermore, we discuss current challenges, potential opportunities, and promising future directions in this evolving field.
The synthesis and characterisation of two square planar {PdNO}10 pincer complexes of the form [Pd(pincer)(NO)]+ (pincer = 2,6-(tBu2PCH2)2C5H3N, 1; 2,6-(tBu2PO)2C5H3N, 2) are reported. These complexes are readily isolated by phosphine substitution of T-shaped [Pd(PtBu3)2(NO)]+ 3 in THF and the bent nitrosyl coordination mode observed in 3 is retained, as evidenced by X-ray diffraction (∠PdNO ∼ 120°), IR spectroscopy and analysis of isotopically enriched samples by 15N NMR spectroscopy. Effective oxidation states of Pd0/NO+ are calculated for 1–3 and nitrosyl coordination is principally attributed to metal-centred σ-bonding, with supplementary π-backbonding. Computational analysis, however, indicates that the Pd−NO bonds in 1 and 2 have greater PdI/NO• character and σ-bonding is more prominent than in 3. These differences in bonding are manifested experimentally in more red-shifted nitrosyl stretching frequencies and the propensity of 1 and 2 to react with dichloromethane to afford palladium(II) chloride derivatives.
We report on the preparation, crystal structure and spectral properties of the novel trimethylsulfonium tin tribromide, [(CH3)3S]SnBr3. The compound was synthesized by the solid-state reaction of (CH3)3SBr and SnBr2 in evacuated pyrex tubes at 150 °C. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) studies at −173.15 °C show that it forms a 0D network of isolated pyramids of [SnBr3]− and (CH3)3S+ units in an orthorhombic structure (space group P212121, No. 19, a = 9.4508(8) Å, b = 14.1691(12) Å, c = 15.4409(14) Å)). Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Le bail profile fit analysis reveals that [(CH3)3S]SnBr3 adopts at room temperature a different crystal structure with space group (Pmmm, No. 47). Moreover, the oxidation of the compound occurs gradually in ambient air, towards the formation of [(CH3)3S)]2SnBr6 (space group Pa-3, No. 205). Multi-temperature Raman spectroscopy reveals that a fully reversible structural phase transition occurs for [(CH3)3S]SnBr3 between −36 and −56 °C, as evidenced by the changes in the vibrational modes of the [SnBr3]− ions. A direct band gap of 3.38 eV at RT is determined via UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Photoluminescence spectroscopy at −196.15 °C and 25 °C shows a weak luminescence signal with an emission maximum at ca. 460 nm for both temperatures.
Existing research has shown that emotional intelligence (EI) and teacher self-efficacy (TSE) play an important role in the work of in-service teachers. However, there is limited research on these variables and their associations among pre-service teachers. Also, the cultural context is expected to influence EI and TSE. Therefore, this study examined the associations between EI and TSE in two cultures, Finland and Greece. A comprehensive evaluation of EI was done by including both trait EI and ability EI measures. Data from primary education student teachers from Finland (N = 82) and Greece (N = 117) were collected online. The measures of EI and TSE exhibited full configural and metric measurement invariance and partial scalar and residual/strict measurement invariance across cultures. Finnish students had significantly higher scores on all EI variables than Greek students, whereas Greek students scored higher on self-efficacy for student engagement. Structural equation modelling showed that trait EI was moderately associated with one facet of ability EI, namely emotional management, but not with emotional understanding, implying that trait EI and ability EI can be considered as partially distinct constructs. A statistically significant positive association between trait EI and TSE was found in Finland, whereas a statistically significant negative association between ability EI and TSE was found in Greece. The findings have important implications for the models of trait and ability EI, for understanding the links between trait and ability EI and TSE during the critical phase of teacher education in the two cultural contexts studied, and for culturally informed teacher education.
Thuwalamides A–E (1, 3, 5, 6 and 8), previously undescribed polychlorinated amides, along with ten previously reported related compounds (2, 4, 7 and 9–15), were isolated from the organic extract of the marine sponge Lamellodysidea herbacea (Keller), collected off the village of Thuwal in the Red Sea at Saudi Arabia. The structures of the isolated compounds have been determined through extensive analysis of their NMR and MS data, while their absolute stereochemistry was unequivocally established via single crystal X-ray diffraction. Additionally, the absolute stereochemistry of the previously reported compounds 2 and 4, whose configuration was not determined, has also been established using single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis. The antibacterial activity of compounds 1–15 was evaluated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Among them, compound 14 displayed activity against S. aureus comparable to vancomycin that was used as a positive control with a MIC value of 4 μg/mL.
Topological rainbow trapping (TRT) arises from the interplay between topological states and frequency-dependent slow-wave effects. Waves first slow down, then become spatially separated by frequency and are ultimately trapped at distinct locations. TRT designs have been primarily explored in the context of photonic crystals and subsequently extended to acoustic and elastic systems. This emerging TRT concept enables robust, frequency-selective localization beyond conventional rainbow trapping, supporting compact, multi-wavelength, topologically protected platforms for extreme wave manipulation. In this Review, we elucidate the fundamental principles of TRT, emphasizing the physical mechanisms that create near-zero group velocity points with robust frequency-dependent localization. We highlight three key TRT mechanisms: graded index profiles, which gradually vary material parameters to reshape dispersion and induce slow-wave effects; higher-order topological corner modes, which exploit localized corner states for robust frequency-specific wave confinement; and synthetic dimensions, which expand the parameter space of the system to engineer stable interface states at distinct frequencies. Furthermore, we address key challenges in TRT, such as energy dissipation and tunability, while highlighting its broad range of potential applications. Finally, we discuss emerging research directions for TRT.
Wine matrix is composed of a vast number of compounds that depend on a wide range of factors associated with the raw material, such as grape variety and vineyard location, and processing, such as the winemaking protocol and barrel ageing. Monitoring all aspects of winemaking from grape to wine is a technically challenging task, as different key compounds are related to each step, requiring different analytical methods for their estimation. Nowadays, efforts are made to avoid the use of chemical reagents that can be harmful to the environment and lower the energy consumption during chemical analyses. Ideally, analyses should be performed using a single instrument, without the need for solvents or lengthy preparatory steps. In the past few years, due to its cost-effectiveness and the speediness of the analyses while using low sample volumes, IR spectroscopy has been effectively applied in grape and wine analyses, from compound identification and quantification to wine profile characterisation and authentication. One of its most advantageous features is that it can produce a spectral fingerprint that is unique to each sample, making it highly efficient, especially for authentication purposes. This review examines the feasibility of employing IR spectroscopy for the assessment of all steps required in winemaking, from grape to wine, and its ability to produce integrated results.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a benchmark photocatalyst for environmental applications, but its limited visible-light activity due to a wide band gap and fast charge recombination restricts its practical efficiency. This study presents the development of heterostructured Ag (Au)/MoS2-TiO2 inverse opal (IO) films that synergistically integrate photonic, plasmonic, and semiconducting functionalities to overcome these limitations. The materials were synthesized via a one-step evaporation-induced co-assembly approach, embedding MoS2 nanosheets and plasmonic nanoparticles (Ag or Au) within a nanocrystalline TiO2 photonic framework. The inverse opal architecture enhances light harvesting through slow-photon effects, while MoS2 and plasmonic nanoparticles improve visible-light absorption and charge separation. By tuning the template sphere size, the photonic band gap was aligned with the TiO2-MoS2 absorption edge and the localized surface plasmon resonance of Ag, enabling optimal spectral overlap. The corresponding Ag/MoS2-TiO2 photonic films exhibited superior photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and Mott–Schottky analysis confirmed favorable band alignment and Fermi level shifts that facilitate interfacial charge transfer. These results highlight the potential of integrated photonic–plasmonic-semiconductor architectures for efficient solar-driven water treatment.
En las últimas décadas se han desarrollado numerosas herramientas digitales, algunas de las cuales se han orientado a la investigación lingüística. Este estudio presenta tres herramientas informáticas: Dispografo, Gephi y Lexpro, utilizadas para el apoyo del análisis psicolingüístico del léxico disponible. Estas herramientas representan asociaciones léxicas en el lexicón mental mediante la teoría de grafos, a las cuales tenemos acceso a través de la prueba de disponibilidad léxica. Se profundiza en los conceptos de disponibilidad léxica, red semántica y grafos léxicos, fundamentales para el análisis y visualización de relaciones léxicas. Además, se examina la función de estas herramientas y se muestran ejemplos de grafos generados en diversos estudios con Dispografo, Gephi y Lexpro. Los análisis revelan que estas herramientas permiten visualizar las complejas relaciones léxicas del lexicón mental y facilitan un análisis profundo, contribuyendo a una mejor comprensión de dichas relaciones. Su uso demuestra ser valioso para el estudio de la estructura y organización del léxico. Finalmente, se exploran las aplicaciones pedagógicas de los grafos léxicos en la enseñanza de lenguas extranjeras y sus posibles desarrollos futuros a través de inteligencia artificial y procesamiento del lenguaje natural.
Abstract An isotype heterojunction n+-ZnO/n-Si photodetector is developed, showing adjustable wavelength-selective operation at self-powered conditions. Without an external bias voltage, the device can operate either as a broadband UV–vis–NIR or as a NIR-only photodetector, depending on the relative carrier concentrations of ZnO and silicon. In addition, the photodetector can be tuned to either broadband or NIR operation by the application of an external bias voltage, regardless of carrier concentrations. At negative bias, it demonstrates UV–vis–NIR photodetection, while at positive bias, NIR photodetection. Photovoltage and photocurrent measurements for pulsed illumination reveal a high-speed self-powered response, with rise and fall times <100 µs across the UV–vis–NIR. The device can be engineered to reproduce undistorted pulsed light with frequencies as high as 1 kHz. Self-powered responsivity reaches ≈70 mA W−1, which becomes ≈4 A W−1 with an applied external bias.
This study presents and evaluates interpretations of 2 Thess 2:3-12 from a critical-Orthodox perspective in the Greek commentaries of Severian of Gabala, John Chrysostom, Theodoret of Cyrus, John of Damascus (dubium), and Theophylact of Ohrid. The patristic comments elaborate on the nature, actions, and unique connection between the Antichrist and the devil, as well as the significance of “the restrainer”, which prevents the Antichrist’s arrival. The commentaries also thoroughly discuss the concept of the “mystery of lawlessness”, the responsibility and condemnation of those who will believe in the Antichrist, and his ultimate defeat by the Lord Jesus Christ at his second coming. In conclusion, the study finds that the patristic commentators, by extensively referring to the Antichrist, essentially describe the nature of evil – personified by the figure of the Antichrist – and the way to address it. According to this conclusion, evil primarily consists in human self-deification and simultaneous estrangement from communion with God. Evil must be overcome with good; thus, through faith in God, abstaining from all forms of aggression, and practicing love for one’s fellow human beings.
Theleritis C, Demetriou M, Stefanou M-I, Alevyzakis E, Makris M, Zoumpourlis V, Peppa M, Smyrnis N, Spandidos DA, Rizos E. Zinc in psychosis. Molecular Medicine Reports . 2025;32(1):1 - 13.
In this letter, we demonstrate that a set of absorbing boundary conditions (ABCs) for numerical simulations of waves, proposed originally by Engquist and Majda and later generalized by Trefethen and Halpern, can alternatively be derived with the use of Pauli matrices algebra. Hence a novel approach to the derivation of one-way wave equations in electromagnetics is proposed. That is, the classical wave equation can be factorized into two two-dimensional wave equations with first-order time derivatives. Then, using suitable approximations, not only Engquist and Majda ABCs can be obtained, but also generalized ABCs proposed by Trefethen and Halpern, which are applicable to simulations of radiation problems.
BACKGROUND: Timely and safe elective health care facilitates return to normal activities for patients and prevents emergency admissions. Surgery is a cornerstone of elective care and relies on complex pathways. This study aimed to take a whole-system approach to evaluating access to and quality of elective health care globally, using inguinal hernia as a tracer condition.
METHODS: This was a prospective, international, cohort study conducted between Jan 30 and May 21, 2023, in which any hospital performing inguinal hernia repairs was eligible to take part. Consecutive patients of any age undergoing primary inguinal hernia repair were included. A measurement set mapped to the attributes of WHO's Health System Building Blocks was defined to evaluate access (emergency surgery rates, bowel resection rates, and waiting times) and quality (mesh use, day-case rates, and postoperative complications). These were compared across World Bank income groups (high-income, upper-middle-income, lower-middle-income, and low-income countries), adjusted for hospital and country. Factors associated with postoperative complications were explored with a three-level multilevel logistic regression model.
FINDINGS: 18 058 patients from 640 hospitals in 83 countries were included, of whom 1287 (7·1%) underwent emergency surgery. Emergency surgery rates increased from high-income to low-income countries (6·8%, 9·7%, 11·4%, 14·2%), accompanied by an increase in bowel resection rates (1·2%, 1·4%, 2·3%, 4·2%). Overall waiting times for elective surgery were similar around the world (median 8·0 months from symptoms to surgery), largely because of delays between symptom onset and diagnosis rather than waiting for treatment. In 14 768 elective operations in adults, mesh use decreased from high-income to low-income countries (97·6%, 94·3%, 80·6%, 61·0%). In patients eligible for day-case surgery (n=12 658), day-case rates were low and variable (50·0%, 38·0%, 42·1%, 44·5%). Complications occurred in 2415 (13·4%) of 18 018 patients and were more common after emergency surgery (adjusted odds ratio 2·06, 95% CI 1·72-2·46) and bowel resection (1·85, 1·31-2·63), and less common after day-case surgery (0·39, 0·34-0·44).
INTERPRETATION: This study demonstrates that elective health care is essential to preventing over-reliance on emergency systems. We identified actionable targets for system strengthening: clear referral pathways and increasing mesh repair in lower-income settings, and boosting day-case surgery in all income settings. These measures might strengthen non-surgical pathways too, reducing the burden on society and health services.
FUNDING: NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery and Portuguese Hernia and Abdominal Wall Society (Sociedade Portuguesa de Hernia e Parede Abdominal).
This research focuses on sustainable consumption and production (SCP) to balance economic growth with ecological preservation. It assesses Greek consumers' attitudes, satisfaction, and knowledge about green products through questionnaires, analyzing the interplay of these factors in consumer satisfaction and highlighting the role of awareness in the green market. The study also compares these findings with Romanian consumer behavior to understand cultural and socioeconomic influences. Results show that positive attitudes towards green products and access to information significantly enhance consumer satisfaction, a trend consistent across different cultures. However, a lack of sustainability knowledge among youth presents an educational opportunity. The study advocates for strategic educational efforts to support SCP, emphasizing the need for well-informed product design, fair pricing, and clear communication to promote sustainable consumer habits, contributing to the broader SCP discourse and guiding future sustainable economy policies.
The present study delves into the structure and lexical organization of L1 and L2 mental lexicons. Indirect access to the mental lexicon is provided by semantic fluency tasks, which inform researchers about how the words are organized in the mental lexicon and retrieved when necessary. Here, two groups of participants were asked to retrieve as many words of the category fruits and vegetables as possible in two minutes. The first group is made up of native speakers of Spanish who responded in Spanish L1, whereas the second group is made up of native speakers of Greek who are learning Spanish foreign language (SFL) who responded first in Spanish FL and later in Greek L1. The three sets of responses were scrutinized and compared for similarities and differences. Results point to a retrieval mechanism based on L1-mediated access for SFL learners and slightly different structures of the mental lexicon. Even in very advanced learners, lexical organization and word retrieval in the FL resembles L1 organization.
Context. Jets from supermassive black holes at the centers of active galaxies are the most powerful and persistent sources of electromagnetic radiation in the Universe. To infer the physical conditions in the otherwise out-of-reach regions of extragalactic jets, we usually rely on fitting their spectral energy distributions (SEDs). The calculation of radiative models for the jet's non-thermal emission usually relies on numerical solvers of coupled partial differential equations. Aims: In this work, we use machine learning to tackle the problem of high computational complexity to significantly reduce the SED model evaluation time, which is necessary for SED fittings carried out with Bayesian inference methods. Methods: We computed the SEDs based on the synchrotron self-Compton model for blazar emission using the radiation code ATHEvA. We used them to train neural networks (NNs) to explore whether they can replace the original code, which is computationally expensive. Results: We find that a NN with gated recurrent unit neurons (GRUN) can effectively replace the ATHEvA leptonic code for this application, while it can be efficiently coupled with Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) and nested sampling algorithms for fitting purposes. We demonstrate this approach through an application to simulated data sets, as well as a subsequent application to observational data. Conclusions: We present a proof-of-concept application of NNs to blazar science as the first step in a list of future applications involving hadronic processes and even larger parameter spaces. We offer this tool to the community through a public repository. The results of our work are available in GitHub; https://github.com/tzavellas/blazar_ml. This includes: (a) the NN and accompanied code produced to train them, (b) code for visualization of results in python and jupyter notebooks with instructions, and (c) part of the ATHEvA datasets that can be used for evaluation and plotting examples.
In Southeastern Europe, archaeology extends beyond its traditional role as a scientific discipline, assuming a unique function as a medium for shaping alternative knowledge systems. This article explores the complex relationship between archaeology and the crafting of ancestral narratives in the region, illuminating how archaeological interpretations are employed to invent and sustain cultural identities.
By analysing a range of archaeological case studies across the Balkans, this study investigates how archaeological evidence is appropriated and reshaped to advance ideological agendas, frequently diverging from established academic consensus. It contends that in Southeastern Europe, archaeology functions as a powerful instrument for legitimising territorial claims and cultural dominance, promoting narratives of continuity and primordial origins that deeply resonate within the collective psyche. Through the selective amplification of certain aspects of the past while marginalising others, archaeological discourse facilitates the construction of mythologised origin stories that reinforce nationalist ideologies and perpetuate historical tensions.
Ocean observing systems in coastal, shelf and marginal seas collect diverse oceanographic information supporting a wide range of socioeconomic needs, but observations are necessarily sparse in space and/or time due to practical limitations. Ocean analysis and forecast systems capitalize on such observations, producing data-constrained, four-dimensional oceanographic fields. Here we review efforts to quantify the impact of ocean observations, observing platforms, and networks of platforms on model products of the physical ocean state in coastal regions. Quantitative assessment must consider a variety of issues including observation operators that sample models, error of representativeness, and correlated uncertainty in observations. Observing System Experiments, Observing System Simulation Experiments, representer functions and array modes, observation impacts, and algorithms based on artificial intelligence all offer methods to evaluate data-based model performance improvements according to metrics that characterize oceanographic features of local interest. Applications from globally distributed coastal ocean modeling systems document broad adoption of quantitative methods, generally meaningful reductions in model-data discrepancies from observation assimilation, and support for assimilation of complementary data sets, including subsurface in situ observation platforms, across diverse coastal environments.
Preserving mitochondrial homeostasis is vital, particularly for the energetically demanding and metabolically active nerve cells. Mitophagy, the selective autophagic removal of mitochondria, stands out as a prominent mechanism for efficient mitochondrial turnover, which is crucial for proper neuronal development and function. Dysfunctional mitochondria and disrupted mitophagy pathways have been linked to a diverse array of neurological disorders. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, with its well-defined nervous system, serves as an excellent model to unravel the intricate involvement of mitophagy in developing neurons. This chapter describes the use of Rosella biosensor in C. elegans to monitor neuronal mitophagy, providing a user-friendly platform for screening genes and drugs affecting mitophagic pathways under physiological conditions or in the context of neurodevelopmental pathologies.
This paper focuses on the archaeological sub-field of archaeogenetics, and the ways it may be deployed in current political discourse in order to substantiate nationalist claims of heredity as a blood-based relationship. Two case studies are discussed in order to show how, in modern Greece but also elsewhere, antique skeletal remains are seen as national relics as well as cultural icons. This generates a politically charged sort of “DNA archaeology,” only partially involving the ideas or actions of archaeology professionals but strongly affecting public receptions of, and responses to, the past. And this is because archaeogenetic discourse and its results – factual, exaggerated, or plainly fabricated – may be deployed by different stakeholders within contemporary societies in order to mobilize certain parts of the population or exclude others to the point of elimination, by means of their symbolic or even biological death.
Data augmentation is a promising technique in improving exploration and convergence speed in deep reinforcement learning methodologies. In this work, we propose a data augmentation framework based on generative models for creating completely novel states and increasing diversity. For this purpose, a diffusion model is used to generate artificial states (learning the distribution of original, collected states), while an additional model is trained to predict the action executed between two consecutive states. These models are combined to create synthetic data for cases of high and low immediate rewards, which are encountered less frequently during the agent’s interaction with the environment. During the training process, the synthetic samples are mixed with the actually observed data in order to speed up agent learning. The proposed methodology is tested on the Atari 2600 framework, producing realistic and diverse synthetic data which improve training in most cases. Specifically, the agent is evaluated on three heterogeneous games, achieving a reward increase of up to 31%, although the results indicate performance variance among the different environments. The augmentation models are independent of the learning process and can be integrated to different algorithms, as well as different environments, with slight adaptations.
Central precocious puberty (CPP) is a condition where the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis is activated earlier than normal, leading to premature development of secondary sexual characteristics before eight years of age in girls and nine years of age in boys. The purpose of this study was to critically and systematically evaluate the literature regarding CPP rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. We searched PubMed and Google Scholar for relevant articles using the following MeSH terms: "COVID-19, "precocious puberty," "early puberty," "pediatric endocrinology," and "pandemic effects." We included studies calculating the risk of CPP before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We excluded studies looking at patients with an identifiable cause for CPP or with peripheral precocious puberty. The primary outcome was the prevalence of central precocious puberty during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. We analyzed data regarding anthropometric, biochemical, and pelvic ultrasound data between the two groups. Overall, 16 studies with 2.175 subjects were included, of which 1.818 were diagnosed with CPP. There was a rise in the number of new diagnoses of CPP during the COVID-19 pandemic (985 subjects) compared with the pre-pandemic period (833 subjects). The mean age of diagnosis in the first group was 7.42 years versus 7.54 years in the second group. Notably, CPP during the pandemic was associated with a higher body mass index (BMI) compared with the group of the pre-pandemic period (17.50 versus 17.08). The pandemic and lockdowns led to changes in lifestyle habits, social isolation, sleep disturbance, excess screen time, and increased stress levels. We hypothesize that these alterations influenced the increase in CPP frequency.
Through this study, the synergistic behavior of small-molecular-weight, amphiphilic surfactant molecules and the triblock copolymer Pluronic 188 was extensively evaluated based on their ability to formulate nanocarriers with novel properties for the delivery of class II and IV (biopharmaceutical classification system) chemotherapeutic compounds. The combination of four different surfactants at multiple weight ratios and twelve initially formulated nanosystems resulted in four hybrid delivery platforms, which were further studied in terms of multiple physicochemical characteristics, as well as their stability in protein-rich media (fetal bovine serum/phosphate-buffer saline). Finally, we obtained a single final nanoformulation that exhibited a high loading capacity (%EE ≥ 75%) and a sustained drug release profile under physiological conditions (model drug methotrexate), without altering the original physicochemical characteristics of the carrier. With a mean hydrodynamic radius (Rh) of less than 70 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.219, and no protein complexation, the system is a suitable candidate for in vivo, intravenous, and/or intramuscular administration. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of both loaded and unloaded carriers were evaluated through the examination of the upregulation or downregulation of apoptosis-related pathways. Multiple conventional 2D and 3D spheroidal conformations were used for these assessments, including HEK293, HCT-116, and MCF-7 cell lines, the results of which stressed the safety and biocompatibility of the empty nanocarrier. Additionally, experiments on Caenorhabditis elegans were conducted to evaluate the system's in vivo toxicity, focusing on developmental stages, egg-laying behavior, and locomotion. Nanosystems studied in terms of chemotherapeutic encapsulation have mostly focused on the physiochemical aspect of the development of such novel delivery platforms, with only few exceptions proceeding step-by-step from cellular 2D to 3D to in vivo experimentation. The present study offers a holistic view of the behavior of such a novel system, advancing our understanding of the capabilities of polymeric/surfactant-based nanodelivery platforms.
The "twin birth" of a positron and an electron by a photon in the presence of a nucleus, known as Bethe-Heitler pair production, is a key process in astroparticle physics. The Bethe-Heitler process offers a way of channeling energy stored in a population of relativistic protons (or nuclei) to relativistic pairs with extended distributions. Contrary to accelerated leptons, whose maximum energy is limited by radiative losses, the maximal energy of pairs is determined by the kinematics of the process and can be as high as the parent proton energy. We take a closer look at the features of the injected pair distribution, and provide a novel empirical function that describes the spectrum of pairs produced by interactions of single-energy protons with single-energy photons. The function is the kernel of the Bethe-Heitler pair production spectrum that replaces a double numerical integration involving the complex differential cross section of the process, and can be easily implemented in numerical codes. We further examine under which conditions Bethe-Heitler pairs produced in blazar jets can emit γ-ray photons via synchrotron radiation, thus providing an alternative to the inverse Compton scattering process for high-energy emission in jetted active galactic nuclei. For this purpose, we create 36 numerical models using the code ATHEνA optimized so that the Bethe-Heitler synchrotron emission dominates their γ-ray emission. After taking into consideration the broadband spectral characteristics of the source, the jet energetics, and the properties of radiation fields present in the blazar environment, we conclude that γ-rays in high-synchrotron-peaked blazars are unlikely to be produced by Bethe-Heitler pairs, because the emitting region is found to be opaque in photon-photon pair production at photon energies ≳ 10 GeV. On the contrary, γ-ray spectra of low-synchrotron-peaked blazars may arise from Bethe-Heitler pairs in regions of the jet with typical transverse size ∼ 1015 – 1016 cm and co-moving magnetic field 50 – 500 G. For such cases, an external thermal target photon field with temperatures T ∼ 4 · 102– 6 · 103 K is needed. The latter values could point to the dusty torus of the AGN. Interestingly, a Bethe-Heitler-dominated high-energy component is mostly found in models of intermediate-synchrotron peaked blazars, for a wide range of magnetic fields and source radii.
OBJECTIVES: An increasing number of women living with HIV are transitioning through midlife and menopause. Women living with HIV may experience earlier menopause and a higher symptom burden than women without HIV, but more evidence is needed. Data collection on menopause in women living with HIV is scarce and often not standardized. We sought to assess how menopause data are collected in cohorts and studies of women living with HIV. METHODS: This was a literature review conducted within the PubMed database. We included original studies and cohorts assessing menopause and/or menopausal symptoms in women living with HIV. Study characteristics and menopause data collection, including the definition of menopause, symptom assessment tools, and measurement of biomedical parameters, were noted and summarized systematically in data tables. RESULTS: We included 40 articles describing 37 separate studies published between 2000 and 2023; 27 of these were conducted in high-income countries, the majority in the USA (n = 16). Ten studies were from low- and middle-income countries; four of these were conducted in Brazil. In 20 studies, menopause was defined according to the World Health Organization's definition of over 12 months of amenorrhea. Twelve studies used the Menopause Rating Scale to characterize menopausal symptoms, five studies used other specified symptom assessment tools, and 12 studies used a study-specific tool. CONCLUSIONS: Menopause data collection in women living with HIV is heterogeneous. We propose that standardized tools should be used to enable comparisons between studies and countries, thereby improving the quality of research and clinical treatment. Further research into the validity of menopausal symptom scoring tools is warranted.
Although there is extensive research on the adulthood criteria endorsed by emerging adults, there is very limited evidence on the comparison between emerging adults and their parents regarding this issue. Moreover, in these comparison studies, only quantitative methodology was used. Therefore, the present study uses a mixed-method design to investigate similarities and differences in the prevalence of the endorsed adulthood criteria between emerging adults and their parents, between male and female emerging adults, and between fathers and mothers. Participants were 251 emerging adult students, aged 18.0 to 25.9 (M = 19.9; 50.2% females), and 341 parents of these emerging adults, aged 33.6 to 61.9 (M = 50.4; 58.4% mothers). They completed the Markers of Adulthood Scale and named the three criteria that they considered most important for a person to be considered an adult. An inductive-deductive coding scheme was used. The analyses exhibited a high consensus between emerging adults and their parents in the endorsement of adulthood criteria. Only criteria related to Independence and to the Self were reported more frequently by emerging adults than their parents. A strong agreement between genders in both age groups was also found. The contribution of this study is twofold. First, it supports the idea that in Greece adulthood is a construct that is largely shared by emerging adults and their parents. Second, it illustrates how a mixed-method design can complement quantitative studies and extend their findings.
Survivin belongs to a family of proteins that promote cellular proliferation and inhibit cellular apoptosis. Its overexpression in various cancer types has led to its recognition as an important marker for cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this work, we compare two approaches for the immunochemical detection of survivin through surface-enhanced fluorescence or Raman spectroscopy using surfaces with nanowires decorated with silver nanoparticles in the form of dendrites or aggregates as immunoassays substrates. In both substrates, a two-step non-competitive immunoassay was developed using a pair of specific monoclonal antibodies, one for detection and the other for capture. The detection antibody was biotinylated and combined with streptavidin labeled with rhodamine for the detection of surface-enhanced fluorescence, while, for the detection via Raman spectroscopy, streptavidin labeled with peroxidase was used and the signal was obtained after the application of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) precipitating substrate. It was found that the substrate with the silver dendrites provided higher fluorescence signal intensity compared to the substrate with the silver aggregates, while the opposite was observed for the Raman signal. Thus, the best substrate was used for each detection method. A detection limit of 12.5 pg/mL was achieved with both detection approaches along with a linear dynamic range up to 500 pg/mL, enabling survivin determination in human serum samples from both healthy and ovarian cancer patients for cancer diagnosis and monitoring purposes.
ABSTRACT The Lake Volvi area, part of the region of Macedonia (northern Greece), is a biodiversity hotspot, located in the central part of a major communication corridor connecting the western and eastern parts of the Balkans. The sediment succession from Lake Volvi is investigated here to provide a unique high-resolution pollen and geochemical record for the last 2000 years combining palaeoecological and historical methods, implementing the concept of consilience. The palaeoecological data document the environmental dynamics since the occupation of the area by the Romans. The vegetation changes reveal the development of wetland habitats and the variations of the mixed deciduous oak and thermophilous?mesophilous forests, as well as cereal cultivation, grazing and arboriculture, whose intensity varied over time. Archaeological data are available for the 1st millennium ce, but detailed historical evidence becomes accessible from the 13th century ce onwards through Byzantine and Ottoman documents. Both historical and palaeoecological data indicate that the 16th century was the period of strongest population pressure on the environment of the Volvi region. However, for other periods, it is possible to observe disagreements between the proxies. We demonstrate that these contradictions can be resolved with a more complex understanding of the region's social?ecological dynamics.
The contribution of surface and lateral forcing to the observed Arabian Gulf warming trends is studied based on the results of a high-resolution (1/100°, 60 vertical layers) MIT general circulation model (MITgcm) covering the period 1993-2021. The model validation against available observations reveals that the simulation satisfactorily reproduces the main features of the Arabian Gulf's dynamics and their variability. We show that the heat content of the Arabian Gulf generally follows the reported variability of sea surface temperature, with significant increasing trends of 0.1 × 10 7 J m −3 and 0.2°C per decade. The interannual variability of the heat content is dominated by the surface heat fluxes, while the long-term warming of the basin is primarily driven by lateral fluxes. The analyses of the heat exchanges through the Strait of Hormuz indicate a pronounced upward trend in the transported heat toward the Arabian Gulf, which is associated with an increase in both the volume and temperature of the exchanged waters. Considering the inflow and outflow in the Strait separately, the temperature increase is more prominent in the inflowing waters; however, the dominant factor driving the rising trend in heat content exchanges is the increase in the volume of waters being exchanged. This implies that the observed warming of the Arabian Gulf during the investigated period is directly related to the acceleration of its overturning circulation.
The synthesis of thiazolines, thiazolidines, and thiazolidinones has been extensively studied, due to their biological activity related to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, as well as their antiparasitic and antihypertensive properties. The closely related thiazolidin-2-imines have been studied less, and efficient strategies for synthesizing them, mainly based on the reaction of propargylamines with isothiocyanates, have been explored less. The use of one-pot approaches, providing modular, straightforward, and sustainable access to these compounds, has also received very little attention. Herein, we report a novel, one-pot, multicomponent, copper-catalyzed reaction among primary amines, ketones, terminal alkynes, and isothiocyanates, toward thiazolidin-2-imines bearing quaternary carbon centers on the five-membered ring, in good to excellent yields. Density functional theory calculations, combined with experimental mechanistic findings, suggest that the copper(I)-catalyzed reaction between the in situ-formed propargylamines and isothiocyanates proceeds with a lower energy barrier in the pathway leading to the S-cyclized product, compared to that of the N-cyclized one, toward the chemo- and regioselective formation of 5-exo-dig S-cyclized thiazolidin-2-imines.
Numerous people are applying for bank loans as a result of the banking industry’s expansion, but because banks only have a certain amount of assets to lend to, they can only do so to a certain number of applicants. Therefore, the banking industry is very interested in finding ways to reduce the risk factor involved in choosing the safe applicant in order to save lots of bank resources. These days, machine learning greatly reduces the amount of work needed to choose the safe applicant. Taking this into account, a novel weights and structure determination (WASD) neural network has been built to meet the aforementioned two challenges of credit approval and loan approval, as well as to handle the unique characteristics of each. Motivated by the observation that WASD neural networks outperform conventional back-propagation neural networks in terms of sluggish training speed and being stuck in local minima, we created a bio-inspired WASD algorithm for binary classification problems (BWASD) for best adapting to the credit or loan approval model by utilizing the metaheuristic beetle antennae search (BAS) algorithm to improve the learning procedure of the WASD algorithm. Theoretical and experimental study demonstrate superior performance and problem adaptability. Furthermore, we provide a complete MATLAB package to support our experiments together with full implementation and extensive installation instructions.
A CTD/ADCP/surface-drifter survey in fall 2004 reveals the behaviour of a mesoscale unidirectional flow coming from the Cretan sea in the south with depths ∼1000 m and entering a channel-like area of the Cycladic shelf in the north, that forms a contraction which leads to a bottom elevation (sill depth ∼100 m), and finally returning into the Cretan Sea in the lee-side of the sill. The flow decelerates/accelerates upstream/downstream of the sill. The along-stream density contours near the sill bottom are raised prior to reaching the sill, while they deepen in the lee side of it indicating supercriticality. The long-wavelength internal wave speeds with realistic stratification and no-rotation are higher than the section averaged flow speeds and indicate subcriticality. A key element in this apparent paradox is the large height of the sill that potentially increases the body (drag) force exerted on the flow by the sill while flow blocking is also observed upstream of the sill.
An X-ray outburst was recently detected by the Einstein Probe mission and designated EP J0052.9-7230 (ATel #16631). Swift's S-CUBED survey (Kennea et al. 2018) then localized the event to the X-ray source CXOU J005245.0-722844 and noted that the soft spectrum is consistent with a Be X-ray binary (BeXRB) system with a white dwarf as the compact object (ATel #16633).
The concept of more electric aircraft (MEA) has gained popularity over the last few decades. As the power level of electric loads is constantly increasing, the installation of advanced protection systems becomes of paramount importance. In this context, this paper presents the design process and experimental validation of a solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB), utilizing gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor switches, under various faulty conditions. In addition, a thermal analysis was carried out in the PLECS simulation platform to find the most appropriate design for the heat dissipation system. Experimental results on the developed GaN SSCB hardware prototype verify its functionality and good performance.
. Finance Research Letters [Internet]. 2024;Volume 67, Part A , September 2024, 105848. Publisher's VersionAbstract
This paper analyzes the impact of the European economy digitalization on the financial performance of the European SMEs during COVID-19. Using a panel data from 2017 to 2022 of 12,179 European SMEs and a European transformed digitalization index, we find that financial performance of SMEs is significantly and negatively associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Digitalization of the European economy significantly increases SMEs’ financial performance measured by various performance measurements and mediates the COVID-19 negative effect. Digitalization is more significant during COVID-19 era compared to the pre-pandemic period. Our results are robust to alternative performance measures.
Membrane proteins are sorted to the plasma membrane (PM) via Golgi-dependent trafficking. However, our recent studies challenged the essentiality of Golgi in the biogenesis of specific transporters. Here, we investigate the trafficking mechanisms of membrane proteins by following the localization of the polarized R-SNARE SynA versus the non-polarized transporter UapA, synchronously co-expressed in wild-type or isogenic genetic backgrounds repressible for conventional cargo secretion. In wild-type, the two cargoes dynamically label distinct secretory compartments, highlighted by the finding that, unlike SynA, UapA does not colocalize with the late-Golgi. In line with early partitioning into distinct secretory carriers, the two cargoes collapse in distinct ERES in a background. Trafficking via distinct cargo-specific carriers is further supported by showing that repression of proteins essential for conventional cargo secretion does not affect UapA trafficking, while blocking SynA secretion. Overall, this work establishes the existence of distinct, cargo-dependent, trafficking mechanisms, initiating at ERES and being differently dependent on Golgi and SNARE interactions.
. Current Research in Behavioral Sciences [Internet]. 2024;6:100150.
Several studies have evaluated different versions of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO) around the world and some shortened versions of the instrument have also been constructed. The aim of this study was to develop the first brief Greek-language version of the IPO (IPO-Brief-GR) to be used for clinical screening and research purposes regarding personality pathology defined according to Kernberg's object relations model of personality organization. Data were collected from a community sample of 543 Greek emerging adults aged 18–29 years (M = 21.45, SD = 2.51) with the 83-item IPO, from which a 30-item version was constructed, based on confirmatory factor analysis of the full measure. The psychometric properties of the IPO-Brief-GR were then examined. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a four-factor structure best fitted the data, that is, primitive defenses/identity diffusion, reality testing, aggression, and moral values. Criterion validity and internal consistency reliability were also supported. Measurement invariance across gender using an exact protocol approach (i.e., configural, metric, scalar) was found allowing latent mean comparisons. These preliminary findings support the reliability and validity of the IPO-Brief-GR for the assessment of borderline personality organization and indicate the need for further research into the psychometric properties and clinical utility of this measure.
The work is part of a larger project of teaching interdisciplinary teaching of physics concepts in biology within the science education class. It concerns the application of a thought experiment (ThE) about the movement of water in tracheophytes under different gravity conditions, i.e., the behavior of plants on another planet, forexample the Moon or Mars. The ThE was designed and implemented in a science class of 25 students who were instructed to perform it in a simulation environment using a software file that we created with the help of Interactive Physics software. The evaluation of the ThE carried out with a written questionnaire showed that theuse of such educational procedures can significantly help students to better understand the concepts related to capillary phenomena, the way water is transported to plants from roots to leaves and, generally, to contribute tothe interdisciplinary teaching of physics concepts in modules related to the teaching of biological phenomena and functions.
The Pomegranate: the magazine for children (To Rodi: to periodiko gia paidia) was a highly popular Greek children’s magazine that was in circulation during the last two decades of the 20th century and still holds a prominent position in Greek children’s literature. In this paper, we attempted to index and classify the literary and non-literary texts that were included in this magazine during its first edition, from December 1977 to December 1982. The analysis of these texts highlighted the wide range of literary genres that were included in the magazine, as well as the wide range of topics they covered. The texts were classified into 22 thematic categories, among which those appearing with the highest frequency were the following: “History and homeland”, “Books and magazines”, “Child and child experiences”, “Environment and ecology”, and “Ethics and virtues”. The relevance of these thematic categories to the aims of the magazine, to the developmental needs of young readers and to the Greek historical context of the late 20th century is also discussed. The magazine made a significant contribution, both quantitatively and qualitatively, in Greek children’s literature. Through this magazine, remarkable literary works came to the fore. The magazine undoubtedly enhanced children’s and adolescents’ love of reading and promoted the development of their identity as readers.
Given the increasing importance of adjusting to university life and achieving happiness, identifying the effective role of emotional intelligence and psychological needs’ satisfaction in enhancing students’ well-being is crucial. This study investigated the relation between emotional intelligence, psychological need satisfaction, and university students’ happiness. Data were collected from 205 university students (mean age: 23.35; predominantly female) at the University of Crete. Participants completed the Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, and the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale. The analysis began with a correlation matrix to explore preliminary relations among the key variables. A multiple-linear regression analysis was then conducted to predict happiness levels based on observed correlations. Following this, a multiple-mediation analysis examined how emotional intelligence affects happiness through psychological needs satisfaction. The results indicated a positive association between emotional intelligence and happiness, with psychological needs’ satisfaction also positively correlating with happiness. Specifically, the use and regulation of emotion, competence, and autonomy significantly predicted happiness. Path analysis revealed that emotional intelligence indirectly influences happiness, particularly through competence. The results indicate that high emotional intelligence, through the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, is significantly associated with university students’ happiness. The study suggests that institutions should guide students in emotional intelligence and competence to increase happiness during their studies.
The present paper addresses employment and occupational prospects in Greece, in the period 2011-2022, highlighting the dynamic, stagnant and declining occupations and it also addresses employment and occupational prospects in the near future (2022-2030). The role that Lifelong Learning can play in an environment of abrupt changes is also discussed. The study reveals that in the period 2011-2022, the total employment rates in Greece increased by 1.0%, with the creation of 43,002 new jobs. A large number of jobs was created for general and keyboard clerks, health professionals and information and communication technology professionals but on the other hand, a large number of jobs were destructed. Therefore, the employment and occupational prospects in Greece in the near future require further attention. The estimates presented in this paper concern the time period 2022-2030, in a two-digit occupation code and they are derived from the application of the Oxford model (Oxford Global Economic Model - GEM), which is managed by NKUA, in the framework of its eLearning program. In this time period, according to relevant estimates, the total employment rates in Greece are expected to decrease by 3.4%, with a loss of 143,998 jobs in total. This negative development, that is expected to take place in an environment of increased production (estimates of the Oxford model), indicate a paradox that is a period of economic growth which is not followed by the creation of new jobs (jobless growth). In light of this evidence, employment and occupational prospects and Lifelong learning are interlinked and often considered a favored topic for researchers, practitioners, policy makers and politicians. As occupations, dynamic, stagnant or declining, include certain tasks and skills, their evolution (and mainly in the dynamic ones) provide the necessary information areas in which long term strategy of Lifelong Learning should target. However, there seems to be a distance between policy, strategy and action. The paper suggests a more careful mapping of the job market, the lifelong learning programmes and the trainees’ prospective profiles. It also addresses the need to focus on those who rarely participate in lifelong learning programmes and are considered to also be the dropout rates from formal educational processes.
It is well established that the preoperative nutritional status of gastric cancer (GC) patients significantly affects the prognosis of the operated patients, their overall survival, as well as the disease-specific survival. Existing data support that preoperative assessment of nutritional status and early correction of nutritional deficiencies exert a favorable effect on early postoperative outcomes. A variety of relevant indices are used to assess the nutritional status of GC patients who are candidates for surgery. The guidelines of almost all international organizations recommend the use of oral enteral nutrition (EN). Oncologically acceptable types of gastrectomy and methods of patient rehabilitation should take into account the expected postoperative nutritional status. The majority of data support that perioperative EN reduces complications and hospital stay, but not mortality. Oral EN in the postoperative period, albeit in small amounts, helps to reduce the weight loss that is a consequence of gastrectomy. Iron deficiency with or without anemia and low serum levels of vitamin B12 are common metabolic sequelae after gastrectomy and should be restored. EN also significantly helps patients undergoing neoadjuvant or adjuvant antineoplastic therapy. The occurrence of the so-called "postgastrectomy syndromes" requires dietary modifications and drug support. This review attempts to highlight the benefits of EN in GC patients undergoing gastrectomy and to emphasize the type of necessary nutritional management, based on current literature data.
Context. During four all-sky surveys (eRASS1-4), eROSITA, the soft X-ray instrument aboard Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) detected a new supersoft X-ray source, eRASSU J060839.5−704014, in the direction of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Aims: We arranged follow-up observations in the X-ray and optical wavelengths and further searched in archival observations to reveal the nature of the object. Methods: Using X-ray observations with XMM-Newton we investigated the temporal and spectral behaviour of the source. Results: We discover pulsations at 374 s with a pulse profile consistent with 100% modulation. We identify two other periodicities in the eROSITA data, which we establish as aliases due to the sampling of the eROSITA light curve. We identify a multi-wavelength counterpart to the X-ray source in UVW1 and g, r, i, and z images obtained by the optical/UV monitor on XMM-Newton and the Dark Energy Camera at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. The timing and spectral characteristics of the source are consistent with a double degenerate ultra-compact binary system in the foreground of the LMC. eRASSU J060839.5−704014 belongs to a rare class of AM CVns, which are important to study in the context of progenitors of SN Ia and for persistent gravitational wave detection. Conclusions: We identify eRASSU J060839.5−704014 as a new double degenerate ultra-compact binary located in the foreground of the LMC. Based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and NASA.
El estudio examina los estereotipos culturales sobre España entre aprendices griegos de español, evaluando si reflejan la realidad actual española y su alcance global. Para ello, se aplica una prueba de disponibilidad léxica a estudiantes griegos de nivel B2, analizando sus respuestas sobre "España" en dos niveles. Primero, se examinan las respuestas más disponibles según su grado de novedad para comprobar si representan el pasado o la realidad actual española. Luego, se comparan los vocablos más disponibles de los estudiantes griegos con las respuestas de participantes de otros estudios de diferentes nacionalidades para determinar si son estereotipos localizados o globalizados. Los resultados indican que la mayoría de los estudiantes griegos ven a España de forma estereotipada y tradicional, y que esta visión es global.
Although Schema Therapy has emerged as an effective treatment for a large range of psychopathology, there is limited research on its effectiveness with children and adolescents, especially for preventive purposes, in individual or group settings and with the involvement of parents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of a newly developed group prevention program based on Schema Therapy (rationale, principles, and techniques) for children and their parents. It is a psychoeducational, developmentally-appropriate program addressing core emotional needs, early maladaptive schemas, schema modes, coping styles, and parent-child relationship with the aim of preventing the emergence of psychopathology in children. Participants were 90 Greek children (aged 9-13) who attended 16 weekly meetings and their parents who attended 10 biweekly meetings. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated with pre-and-post-intervention assessment (i.e., pre-experimental design). Children’s early maladaptive schemas (self-reports) and strengths and difficulties (self- and parent-reports), as well as parents’ early maladaptive schemas (self-reports) were assessed. Results showed a significant decrease in most early maladaptive schemas of children and in many early maladaptive schemas of parents. A significant decrease was found in children’s emotional symptoms, peer relationship problems and total difficulties score and a significant increase in prosocial behavior. The supporting evidence for the effectiveness of the program and the necessity of evidence-based prevention programs based on Schema Therapy for children and parents are discussed.
{Human existence and progress hinge on sustainability and resilience, especially in the Anthropocene Era, where the diversity of nature plays a critical role. Central to this endeavor is the realm of geoethics, which not only reshapes the role of geosciences but also fosters the development of ethical behavior and practices in our interaction with the Earth. This paper presents a conceptual framework that integrates the seemingly disparate domains of geoethics, geoenvironmental education, and the sense of place. By conducting a systematic review using the keywords “Geoethics AND Education” and “Geoethics AND place” across global databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and JSTOR, up to October 2023, we seek to uncover evidence illuminating the potential connections between these concepts. Out of n = 98 records identified
The aim of this study is to understand the family history of people pathologically engaging in gambling in rural Greece along with the factors and effects (suicidal thoughts/attempts) related thereto, according to participants’ perspective. Qualitative in nature, the study was based on 32 semi-structured interviews carried out with adults who attended a Treatment Facility for pathological gambling in Heraklion Crete, in Greece. A past family history of excessive gambling was reported by most of the participants, while in many cases were reported a family history of alcohol misuse. Participants perceived self-characteristics, losses/traumatic experiences, paternal and nuclear family characteristics, work-related problems, peers who also gamble and upbringing practices influenced by culture as principal pathological gambling factors. Participants also reported that pathological gambling has various effects on one’s psychological mood, behavior, and relationship patterns with self and others. Most participants also reported having suicidal thoughts, whereas a few of them mentioned at least one suicide attempt. The study concludes that pathological gambling in the current population is associated with a past family history of excessive gambling or alcohol misuse. Multiple factors also seem to contribute to its manifestation and to such adverse effects, such as suicidal thoughts and attempts.
Pyrgioti EE, Karakousis ND, Georgakopoulos PN, Karagiannakis DS, Papanas N. Folic Acid and Diabetic Foot Ulcers. The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds. 2024:15347346241226677.
Understanding the geochemistry and contamination of rivers affected by anthropogenic activities is paramount to water resources management. The Asopos river basin in central Greece is facing environmental quality deterioration threats due to industrial, urban and agricultural activities. Here, the geochemistry of river sediments and adjacent soil in terms of major and trace elements (Al, Ca, Mg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) and the geochemical composition of surface water in terms of major ions, trace elements and nutrients along the Asopos river basin were determined. In addition, this study characterized potential nitrate sources through the analysis of stable isotope composition of NO3− (δ15Ν-ΝΟ3− and δ18Ο-ΝΟ3−). Results indicated that specific chemical constituents including nutrients (NO2−, NH4+, PO43−) and major ions (Na+, Cl−) were highest in the urban, industrialized and downstream areas. On the other hand, nitrate (NO3−) concentration in river water (median 7.9 mg/L) showed a decreasing trend from the upstream agricultural sites to the urban area and even more in the downstream of the urban area sites. Ionic ratios (NO3−/Cl−) and δ15Ν-ΝΟ3− values (range from +10.2 ‰ to +15.7 ‰), complemented with a Bayesian isotope mixing model, clearly showed the influence of organic wastes from septic systems and industries operating in the urban area on river nitrate geochemistry. The interpretation of geochemical data of soil and river sediment samples demonstrated the strong influence of local geology on Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni content, with isolated samples showing elevated concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, mostly within the industrialized urban environment. The calculation of enrichment factors based on the national background concentrations provided limited insights into the origin of geogenic metals. Overall, this study highlighted the need for a more holistic approach to assess the impact of the geological background and anthropogenic activities on river waters and sediments.
This paper explores an innovative educational program designed to protect and promote the geocultural heritage of Minoan Crete. The program applies environmental education and sustainability principles while integrating theater in education, a novel approach that significantly impacts participants’ perspectives. By effectively combining these elements, the program fosters environmental awareness, deepens cultural appreciation, and instills sustainable behaviors in both the local population and visitors. This interdisciplinary approach, blending geocultural heritage into environmental education, promotes an understanding of the delicate balance between nature and human interaction during the Minoan era. The paper also examines the program’s potential for broader community engagement and policy influence, emphasizing how its educational outcomes could result in meaningful changes at both community and policy levels. We advocate for the preservation of Minoan Crete’s geocultural heritage and its sustainable future through a unique blend of educational strategies, marking a milestone in heritage conservation.
This study investigates the impact of green roof (GR) implementations as a mitigation strategy for urban heating during an extreme heat wave event in Athens, Greece, from 28 July to 5 August 2021. Three GR scenarios were simulated, namely 100% grass coverage, 100% sedum coverage, and 50% grass coverage, using the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) in conjunction with the multi-layer urban-canopy-model BEP&BEM (Building Effect Parameterization/Building Energy Model) and extra urban land-use categories from Local Climate Zones (LCZ). Based on the results, GRs alter the local heat balance in the Greater Area of Athens (GAA), leading to a total temperature reduction. The 100% grass coverage proved to be the most effective, particularly during daytime, reducing the 2 m temperature field by approximately 0.7 ∘C (mean value) in the GAA. In some locations, temperature reductions exceeded 2 ∘C, depending on the local characteristics and the direction of the prevailing winds. Grass offered superior cooling effects compared to sedum, although sedum is more resilient to dry and moderate climates. The extent of vegetation coverage played an important role in the effectiveness of GRs. Reducing the coverage by 50% significantly reduced the cooling benefits, highlighting the importance of maximizing vegetation coverage to achieve notable temperature reductions.
The Byzantine Commonwealth stands out in the annals of history as an indelible construct which exercised a profound influence on the preservation and continual reinvigoration of the Greek cultural heritage. Functioning as the custodian of ancient Greek legacies, it served as a bulwark against the tides of time and also facilitated the dissemination of these cultural elements to the burgeoning civilizations of the Medieval Age. As the ultimate bastion of the Hellenistic tradition, the Commonwealth evolved into a “crucible”, wherein profound Christian theological inquiries flourished, thus laying the groundwork for an authentically ecumenical Orthodoxy. This epochal transformation served as the cornerstone for the delineation of the spiritual and intellectual contours that came to define the Eastern world in its entirety. Hellenism served not only as a cultural foundation but also as a dynamic force in fostering national consciousness and resistance against conquering powers. In the end, the resilience of Byzantine culture contributed significantly to the formation of modern Neo-Hellenic/Neo-Byzantine identities, influencing contemporary sociopolitical movements and policies. This paper offers a review of key historical events and philosophical shifts which defined this long process and shaped the development of modern East European nations. It also highlights the complex interplay between historical heritage and modern national identity
The stability of nonlinear systems in the control domain has been extensively studied using different versions of the algebraic Riccati equation (ARE). This leads to the focus of this work: the search for the time-varying quaternion ARE (TQARE) Hermitian solution. The zeroing neural network (ZNN) method, which has shown significant success at solving time-varying problems, is used to do this. We present a novel ZNN model called ’ZQ-ARE’ that effectively solves the TQARE by finding only Hermitian solutions. The model works quite effectively, as demonstrated by one application to quadrotor control and three simulation tests. Specifically, in three simulation tests, the ZQ-ARE model finds the TQARE Hermitian solution under various initial conditions, and we also demonstrate that the convergence rate of the solution can be adjusted. Furthermore, we show that adapting the ZQ-ARE solution to the state-dependent Riccati equation (SDRE) technique stabilizes a quadrotor’s flight control system faster than the traditional differential-algebraic Riccati equation solution.
A fraction of the active supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies in our Universe are capable of launching extreme kiloparsec-long relativistic jets. These jets are known multiband (radio to γ-ray) and multimessenger (neutrino) emitters, and some of them have been monitored over decades at all accessible wavelengths. However, several open questions remain unanswered about the processes powering these highly energetic phenomena. These jets intrinsically produce soft-to-hard X-ray emission that extends from E>0.1keV up to E>100keV, and simultaneous broadband X-ray coverage, combined with excellent timing and imaging capabilities, is required to uncover the physics of jets. Indeed, truly simultaneous soft-to-hard X-ray coverage, in synergy with current and upcoming high-energy facilities (such as IXPE, COSI, CTAO, etc.) and neutrino detectors (e.g., IceCube), would enable us to disentangle the particle population responsible for the high-energy radiation from these jets. A sensitive hard X-ray survey (F20−80keV<10−15ergcm−2s−1) could unveil the bulk of their population in the early Universe. Acceleration and radiative processes responsible for the majority of their X-ray emission would be pinned down by microsecond timing capabilities at both soft and hard X-rays. Furthermore, imaging jet structures for the first time in the hard X-ray regime could unravel the origin of their high-energy emission. The proposed Probe-class mission concept High Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P) combines all these required capabilities, making it the crucial next-generation X-ray telescope in the multi-messenger, time-domain era. HEX-P will be the ideal mission to unravel the science behind the most powerful accelerators in the Universe.
Since the early days of its professionalization, in the aftermath of the Second World War, the history of science has been seen as a bridge between the natural sciences and the humanities. However, only one aspect of this triadic nexus, the relations between the history of science and the natural sciences, has been extensively discussed. The other aspect, the relations between the history of science and the humanities, has been less commented upon. With this paper I hope to make a small step towards redressing this imbalance, by discussing the relationships between the history of science and two other humanistic disciplines that have been historically and institutionally associated with it: the philosophy of science and general history. I argue that both of these relationships are marked by the characteristics of an unrequited friendship: on the one hand, historians of science have ignored, for the most part, calls for collaboration from their philosopher colleagues; and, on the other hand, historians specializing in other branches of history have been rather indifferent, again for the most part, to the efforts of historians of science to understand science as a historical phenomenon. I attempt to offer a diagnosis of this regrettable situation and a suggestion for overcoming it.
In light of the recent research in low-dimensional bismuth structures as spin-active materials and topological insulators, we present a comprehensive characterization of the Bi/Au(111) interface. The nuanced evolution of Bi phases upon deposition in ultrahigh vacuum (UHC) on a Au(111) surface is investigated from semidisordered clusters to few-layer Bi(110) thin films. Particular attention is devoted to the high-coverage, submonolayer phases, commonly grouped under the (P×√3) nomenclature. We bring forth a new model, refining the current iunderstanding of the Bi/Au(111) interface and demonstrating the existence of submonolayer moiré superstructures, whose geometry and superperiodicity depend on their coverage. This tuneable periodicity paves the way for their use as tailored buffer and templating layers for epitaxial growth of thin films on Au(111). Finally, we clarify the growth mode of multilayer Bi(110) as bilayer-by-bilayer, allowing precise thickness control of anisotropically strained thin films. This holistic understanding of the structural properties of the material was enabled by the synergy of several experimental techniques, namely low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM, STS), and X-ray standing waves (XSW), further corroborated by density functional theory (DFT) simulations.
We investigate conditions for the extendibility of continuous algebra homomorphisms ϕ from the Fourier algebra A(F ) of a locally compact group F to the Fourier-Stieltjes algebra B(G) of a locally compact group G to maps between the corresponding L∞ algebras which are weak* continuous. When ϕ is completely bounded and F is amenable, it is induced by a piecewise affine map α : Y → F where Y ⊆ G. We show that extendibility of ϕ is equivalent to α being an open map. We also study the dual problem for contractive homomorphismsϕ : L1 (F ) → M (G). We show that ϕ induces a w* continuous homomorphism between the von Neumann algebras of the groups if and only if the naturally associated map θ (Greenleaf [1965], Stokke [2011]) is a proper map.
Glucocorticoids are important for proper organ maturation, and their levels are tightly regulated during development. Here, we use human cerebral organoids and mice to study the cell-type-specific effects of glucocorticoids on neurogenesis. We show that glucocorticoids increase a specific type of basal progenitors (co-expressing PAX6 and EOMES) that has been shown to contribute to cortical expansion in gyrified species. This effect is mediated via the transcription factor ZBTB16 and leads to increased production of neurons. A phenome-wide Mendelian randomization analysis of an enhancer variant that moderates glucocorticoid-induced ZBTB16 levels reveals causal relationships with higher educational attainment and altered brain structure. The relationship with postnatal cognition is also supported by data from a prospective pregnancy cohort study. This work provides a cellular and molecular pathway for the effects of glucocorticoids on human neurogenesis that relates to lasting postnatal phenotypes.
Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA) is a rare neurodegenerative condition, characterized by the bilateral loss of vision due to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. Its primary cause is linked to mutations in OPA1 gene, which ultimately affect mitochondrial structure and function. The current lack of successful treatments for ADOA emphasizes the need to investigate the mechanisms driving disease pathogenesis and exploit the potential of animal models for preclinical trials. Among such models, Caenorhabditis elegans stands out as a powerful tool, due its simplicity, its genetic tractability, and its relevance to human biology. Despite the lack of a visual system, the presence of mutated OPA1 in the nematode recapitulates ADOA pathology, by stimulating key pathogenic features of the human condition that can be studied in a fast and relatively non-laborious manner. Here, we provide a detailed guide on how to assess the therapeutic efficacy of chemical compounds, in either small or large scale, by evaluating three crucial phenotypes of humanized ADOA model nematodes, that express pathogenic human OPA1 in their GABAergic motor neurons: axonal mitochondria number, neuronal cell death and defecation cycle time. The described methods can deepen our understanding of ADOA pathogenesis and offer a practical framework for developing novel treatment schemes, providing hope for improved therapeutic outcomes and a better quality of life for individuals affected by this currently incurable condition.
For air quality management, while numerical tools are mainly evaluated to assess their performances on absolute concentrations, this study assesses the impact of their settings on the robustness of model responses to emission reduction strategies for the main criteria pollutants. The effect of the spatial resolution and chemistry schemes is investigated. We show that whereas the spatial resolution is not a crucial setting (except for NO2), the chemistry scheme has more impact, particularly when assessing hourly values of the absolute potential of concentrations. The analysis of model responses under the various configurations triggered an analysis of the impact of using online models, like WRF-chem or WRF-CHIMERE, which accounts for the impact of aerosol concentrations on meteorology. This study informs the air quality modeling community on what extent some model settings can affect the expected model responses to emission changes. We suggest to not activate online effects when analyzing the effect of an emission reduction strategy to avoid any confusion in the interpretation of results even if an online simulation should represent better the reality.
There is limited research on the role of childhood trauma in personality pathology according to Kernberg’s psychodynamic model of internalized object relations. Because childhood trauma reflects the disruptions of these relations, it is expected to predict borderline personality organization, especially at the threshold of adulthood. Therefore, the main aim of this retrospective study was to examine the impact of childhood trauma on borderline personality organization in a community sample of emerging adults. Participants were 543 Greek individuals aged 18-29 (M = 21.45; 58.6% females; 85.1% university students). They completed the Greek versions of the Traumatic Antecedents Questionnaire (TAQ) and the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO), which were tested for their factorial structure, reliability, and measurement invariance across gender, as few empirical data exist on the psychometric properties of these measures. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the TAQ consisted of four factors, namely positive experiences, abuse, traumatic life events, and family chaos. The five-factor theoretical structure of the IPO, namely primitive defenses, identity diffusion, reality testing, aggression, and moral values, was confirmed. Low to moderate links between childhood trauma and borderline personality organization were found, with stronger links emerging for abuse and family chaos. Structural equation modeling showed that the various forms of childhood trauma across the age periods studied (i.e., 0-6, 7-12, 13-18) significantly and differentially predicted the dimensions of borderline personality organization. The finding that stronger links emerged when trauma occurred in older ages may be attributed to the retrospective method of the study. Gender differences were also found; for example, personality pathology was more likely in men when abuse and traumatic life events occurred in younger ages and abuse was a more important risk factor for personality pathology in women. This study highlights the impact of childhood adversity on personality pathology in emerging adulthood, provides empirical support for Kernberg’s psychodynamic model, and has useful implications for trauma-informed early screening, prevention, and intervention regarding personality pathology in young people. Limitations of this study and suggestions for future research are outlined.
A family of zeroing neural networks based on new nonlinear activation functions is proposed for solving various time-varying linear matrix equations (TVLME). The proposed neural network dynamical systems, symbolized as Li-VPZNN1 and Li-VPZNN2, include an exponential parameter in nonlinear activation function (AF) that leads to faster convergence to the theoretical result compared to previous categories of nonlinearly activated neural networks. Theoretical analysis as well as numerical tests in MATLAB's environment confirm the efficiency and accelerated convergence property of the novel dynamics.
Cultural logic is a set of cultural scripts and patterns organized around a central theme. The cultural logics of dignity, honor, and face describe different ways of evaluating a person’s worth and maintaining cooperation. These cultural logics vary in prevalence across cultures. In this study, we collaboratively develop and validate a measure capturing these cultural logics, which will allow us to map world cultures based on the prevalence of these logics. We will further explore the interrelationsof dignity, honor, and face with prosocial behavior, values, moral beliefs, and religiosity as well as examine the generalizability of these relationships across cultures. Finally, we will explore historical antecedents (e.g., resource scarcity) and current correlates (e.g., inequality) of the country-level prevalence of these cultural logics. This study will generate a new dataset of country scores for dignity, honor, and face that will be available for future comparative research. It will also providetheoretical insights for researchers and practitioners interested in cooperation and social behavior within and between cultures.
Anthropogenic global challenges and environmental pressures are increasingly significant. Developing pro-environmental behavior and geoethics is crucial for enhancing awareness, action capability, and respect for natural systems. UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps) play a vital role in conserving geological and biological diversity while aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This quasi-experimental study, conducted during the 4th Summer School of Environmental Education on Geotopes and Sustainability at the Sitia UGGp, uses a pre–post design and comprehensive questionnaire to explore changes in participants’ sense of place and geoethical awareness. Results indicate significant improvements in place attachment, place meaning, and geoethical awareness. These findings suggest that stronger emotional bonds and deeper personal meanings related to the Sitia UGGp correlate with increased geoethical awareness. This research highlights the role of psychological connections in influencing geoenvironmental ethics and underscores the importance of place-based emotional and cognitive bonds in fostering geoethical thinking. However, this study’s limited sample size and the specific geographic context of Sitia UGGp may limit the generalizability of the findings. Despite these limitations, this study provides insights into the interplay of emotions, meanings, and geoethics within the sustainability and resilience spectrum.
El vocabulario forma parte integral del sistema lingüístico y constituye un indicador importante de la competencia comunicativa del hablante de lengua extranjera. Sin embargo, la evaluación de ese vocabulario es una tarea especialmente compleja debido a las múltiples dimensiones que supone el conocimiento léxico. La prueba de disponibilidad léxica es una herramienta útil al aportar diferentes tipos de información relacionados con los conocimientos léxicos del aprendiz de lengua extranjera. Reconociendo el potencial de dicha herramienta para recoger respuestas pertenecientes a diferentes clases de palabras, el presente estudio persiguió explorar cómo se relacionan las características cognitivas de diferentes centros de interés con la categoría gramatical de las respuestas de aprendices de español como lengua extranjera (ELE) en una prueba de disponibilidad léxica. En concreto, se examinó cómo varía la categoría gramatical de las respuestas a partir de siete estímulos pertenecientes a diferentes categorías cognitivas a medida que se avanza en la competencia lingüística en ELE. Participaron en el estudio 140 estudiantes griegos de ELE de los niveles de referencia A, B y C, quienes llevaron a cabo una prueba de disponibilidad léxica en la modalidad escrita. En dicha prueba, se incluyeron los centros de interés ‘La casa’, ‘Comida y bebida’, ‘Profesiones y oficios’, ‘El campo’, ‘La ciudad’, ‘Celebraciones y fiestas’ y ‘Acciones diarias’. Tras cuantificar las diferentes categorías gramaticales en cada centro de interés en los tres niveles de referencia, los resultados mostraron que la categoría gramatical de las respuestas se ve influida por las características cognitivas tanto de las respuestas como de los centros de interés.
La presse hellénique éditée à Paris initialement en langue grecque voit émerger, à partir de la seconde moitié du xixe siècle, des périodiques rédigés en français. Ce choix peut être imputé aux conditions du paysage médiatique français après 1881 propices à l’émergence de nouveaux titres. L’adoption du français comme langue d’expression reflète également les besoins et les pratiques sociales de la communauté grecque ainsi que sa volonté d’occidentalisation. La langue française est aussi perçue par les éditeurs et journalistes grecs installés à Paris comme un outil susceptible de leur permettre d’intervenir dans le dialogue entamé sur le sort du pays au niveau européen. Quoique très hétérogène, cette presse témoigne des aspirations des émigrés et présente une cohérence idéologique qui détermine largement ses contenus éditoriaux. Elle constitue un puissant vecteur de propagande au service de la nation grecque et devient un lieu actif de transferts culturels entre la France et la Grèce.
FurE is a H symporter specific for the cellular uptake of uric acid, allantoin, uracil, and toxic nucleobase analogues in the fungus nidulans. Being member of the NCS1 protein family, FurE is structurally related to the APC-superfamily of transporters. APC-type transporters are characterised by a 5+5 inverted repeat fold made of ten transmembrane segments (TMS1-10) and function through the rocking-bundle mechanism. Most APC-type transporters possess two extra C-terminal TMS segments (TMS11-12), the function of which remains elusive. Here we present a systematic mutational analysis of TMS11-12 of FurE and show that two specific aromatic residues in TMS12, Trp473 and Tyr484, are essential for ER-exit and trafficking to the plasma membrane (PM). Molecular modeling shows that Trp473 and Tyr484 might be essential through dynamic interactions with residues in TMS2 (Leu91), TMS3 (Phe111), TMS10 (Val404, Asp406) and other aromatic residues in TMS12. Genetic analysis confirms the essential role of Phe111, Asp406 and TMS12 aromatic residues in FurE ER-exit. We further show that co-expression of FurE-Y484F or FurE-W473A with wild-type FurE leads to a dominant negative phenotype, compatible with the concept that FurE molecules oligomerize or partition in specific microdomains to achieve concentrative ER-exit and traffic to the PM. Importantly, truncated FurE versions lacking TMS11-12 are unable to reproduce a negative effect on the trafficking of co-expressed wild-type FurE. Overall, we show that TMS11-12 acts as an intramolecular chaperone for proper FurE folding, which seems to provide a structural code for FurE partitioning in ER-exit sites.
Context. Recent associations of high-energy neutrinos with active galactic nuclei (AGN) have revived the interest in leptohadronic models of radiation from astrophysical sources. The rapid increase in the amount of acquired multi-messenger data will require fast numerical models that may be applied to large source samples. Aims: We develop a time-dependent leptohadronic code, LeHaMoC, that offers several notable benefits compared to other existing codes, such as versatility and speed. Methods: LeHaMoC solves the Fokker-Planck equations of photons and relativistic particles (i.e. electrons, positrons, protons, and neutrinos) produced in a homogeneous magnetized source that may also be expanding. The code utilizes a fully implicit difference scheme that allows fast computation of steady-state and dynamically evolving physical problems. Results: We first present test cases where we compare the numerical results obtained with LeHaMoC against exact analytical solutions and numerical results computed with ATHEvA, a well-tested code of similar philosophy but a different numerical implementation. We find a good agreement (within 10-30%) with the numerical results obtained with ATHEvA without evidence of systematic differences. We then demonstrate the capabilities of the code through illustrative examples. First, we fit the spectral energy distribution from a jetted AGN in the context of a synchrotron-self Compton model and a proton-synchrotron model using Bayesian inference. Second, we compute the high-energy neutrino signal and the electromagnetic cascade induced by hadronic interactions in the corona of NGC 1068. Conclusions: LeHaMoC is easily customized to model a variety of high-energy astrophysical sources and has the potential to become a widely utilized tool in multi-messenger astrophysics. Instructions for downloading the code, accessing online documentation, and reproducing applications presented in this paper can be found at https://github.com/mariapetro/LeHaMoC Github repository.
Plasmonic photocatalysis based on metal-semiconductor heterojunctions is considered a key strategy to evade the inherent limitations of poor light harvesting and charge separation of semiconductor photocatalysts. It can be profitably combined with three-dimensional photonic crystals (PCs) that offer an ideal scaffold for loading plasmonic nanoparticles and a unique architecture to intensify photon capture. In this work{,} Mo-doped BiVO4 inverse opals were applied as visible light-responsive photonic hosts of Ag and/or Au plasmonic nanoparticles in order to exploit the synergy of plasmonic and photonic amplification effects with interfacial charge transfer for the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of recalcitrant pharmaceutical contaminants under visible light. Photoelectrochemical evaluation indicated a major contribution from hot spot-assisted local field enhancement{,} most pronounced for Ag/Mo-BiVO4 PCs due to the spectral overlap of the localized surface plasmon resonance with the electronic absorption and blue-edge slow photon region of Mo-BiVO4 PCs{,} in contrast to weak plasmonic sensitization effects for the Au-modified PCs. The diverse band alignment at the metal-semiconductor interfaces resulted in the enhanced photoelectrocatalytic degradation of tetracycline broad spectrum antibiotic by Ag/Mo-BiVO4 and the refractory ibuprofen drug by (Ag{,}Au)/Mo-BiVO4{,} attributed to the enhanced charge separation by electron transfer toward Ag nanoparticles. Combination of visible light activated semiconductor PCs and plasmonic nanoparticles with suitable band alignment and photonic band gap may provide a versatile approach for the rational design of efficient plasmonic-photonic photoeletrocatalysts.
A minimalist approach to the linear stability problem in fluid dynamics is developed that ensures efficiency by utilizing only the essential elements required to find the eigenvalues for given boundary conditions. It is shown that the problem is equivalent to a single first-order ordinary differential equation, and that studying the argument of the unknown complex function in the eigenvalue space is sufficient to find the dispersion relation. The method is applied to a model for relativistic magnetized astrophysical jets.
In this study, we attempt to provide insight into the complex interplay between loneliness/solitude and the writing gift from the early years of life. Theories and research on giftedness, loneliness/solitude, and on the links between them suggest that creative literary production and loneliness/solitude are associated. To further illustrate these associations, we briefly discuss loneliness and solitude in childhood, adult life, and work of four gifted writers: Hans Christian Andersen, Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Beatrix Helen Potter. The theoretical framework of this study is twofold: various psychoanalytic formulations and Bruner’s social constructivist and intersubjective conceptualisation of the narrative gift. The main conclusion of this study is that gifted writers have, paradoxically, an intense experience of both painful and beneficial aloneness, which is the inevitable outcome of the writing gift but also becomes the inspiration and motive force for ars poetica.
The recent unprecedented progress in ageing research and drug discovery brings together fundamental research and clinical applications to advance the goal of promoting healthy longevity in the human population. We, from the gathering at the Aging Research and Drug Discovery Meeting in 2023, summarised the latest developments in healthspan biotechnology, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI), biomarkers and clocks, geroscience, and clinical trials and interventions for healthy longevity. Moreover, we provide an overview of academic research and the biotech industry focused on targeting ageing as the root of age-related diseases to combat multimorbidity and extend healthspan. We propose that the integration of generative AI, cutting-edge biological technology, and longevity medicine is essential for extending the productive and healthy human lifespan.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder representing a major burden on families and society. Some of the main pathological hallmarks of AD are the accumulation of amyloid plaques (Aβ) and tau neurofibrillary tangles. However, it is still unclear how Aβ and tau aggregates promote specific phenotypic outcomes and lead to excessive oxidative DNA damage, neuronal cell death and eventually to loss of memory. Here we utilized a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model of human tauopathy to investigate the role of DNA glycosylases in disease development and progression. Transgenic nematodes expressing a pro-aggregate form of tau displayed altered mitochondrial content, decreased lifespan, and cognitive dysfunction. Genetic ablation of either of the two DNA glycosylases found in C. elegans, NTH-1 and UNG-1, improved mitochondrial function, lifespan, and memory impairment. NTH-1 depletion resulted in a dramatic increase of differentially expressed genes, which was not apparent in UNG-1 deficient nematodes. Our findings clearly show that in addition to its enzymatic activity, NTH-1 has non-canonical functions highlighting its modulation as a potential therapeutic intervention to tackle tau-mediated pathology.
Mitophagy, the selective removal of dysfunctional mitochondria, is pivotal for the maintenance of neuronal function and survival. MEC-12/α-tubulin contributes to neuronal physiology through the regulation of microtubule assembly, intracellular transport and mitochondrial distribution. However, its role in mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy remains obscure. Here, we demonstrate that MEC-12 influences mitochondrial morphology under basal conditions and regulates the axonal mitochondrial population. Impairment of MEC-12 results in compromised axonal mitophagy under both basal conditions and oxidative stress. Our results uncover the critical role of MEC-12/α-tubulin for maintaining a healthy mitochondrial population in axons and highlight the complex interplay between microtubules, mitophagy and neuronal health.
Unhealthy aging poses a global challenge with profound healthcare and socioeconomic implications. Slowing down the aging process offers a promising approach to reduce the burden of a number of age-related diseases, such as dementia, and promoting healthy longevity in the old population. In response to the challenge of the aging population and with a view to the future, Norway and the United Kingdom are fostering collaborations, supported by a "Money Follows Cooperation agreement" between the 2 nations. The inaugural Norway-UK joint meeting on aging and dementia gathered leading experts on aging and dementia from the 2 nations to share their latest discoveries in related fields. Since aging is an international challenge, and to foster collaborations, we also invited leading scholars from 11 additional countries to join this event. This report provides a summary of the conference, highlighting recent progress on molecular aging mechanisms, genetic risk factors, DNA damage and repair, mitophagy, autophagy, as well as progress on a series of clinical trials (eg, using NAD+ precursors). The meeting facilitated dialogue among policymakers, administrative leaders, researchers, and clinical experts, aiming to promote international research collaborations and to translate findings into clinical applications and interventions to advance healthy aging.
The use of nature-based solutions (NbS) to address the risks posed by hydro-meteorological hazards have not yet become part of the mainstream policy response, and one of the main reasons cited for this, is the lack of evidence that they can effectively reduce disaster risk. This paper addresses this issue, by providing model-based evidence from five European case studies which demonstrate the effectiveness of five different NbS in reducing the magnitude of the hazard and thus risk, in present-day and possible future climates. In OAL-Austria, the hazard is a deep-seated landslide, and the NbS analysed is afforestation. Modelling results show that in today's climate and a landcover scenario of mature forest, a reduction in landslide velocity of 27.6% could be achieved. In OAL-Germany, the hazard is river flooding and the NbS analysed is managed grazing with removal of woody vegetation. Modelling results show that the NbS could potentially reduce maximum flood water depth in the near-future (2031-2060) and far-future (2070-2099), by 0.036m and 0.155m, respectively. In OAL-Greece, the hazard is river flooding, and the NbS is upscaled natural storage reservoirs. Modelling results show that in a possible future climate the upscaled NbS show most potential in reducing the total flooded area by up to 1.26 km2. In OAL-Ireland, the hazard is surface and river flooding, and the NbS is green roofs. Results from a modelled upscaling analysis under two different climate scenarios show that both maximum flood water depth, and total flooded area were able to be reduced. In OAL-UK, the hazard is shallow landslides, and the NbS is high-density planting of two different tree species. Modelling results under two different climate scenarios show that both tree species were able to improve slope stability, and that this increased over time as the NbS matured. The significance of these results is discussed within the context of the performance of the NbS over time, to different magnitude type events, impact with stakeholders in engendering wider support for the adoption of the NbS in the OALs, and the uncertainty in the modelling analyses.
This study aims to address the challenges associated with rockfall assessment and monitoring, focusing on the coastal cliffs of “Navagio Shipwreck Beach” in Zakynthos. A complete time-series analysis was conducted using state-of-the-art methodologies including a 2020 survey using unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and two subsequent surveys, incorporating terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and UAS survey techniques in 2023. Achieving high precision and accuracy in georeferencing involving direct georeferencing, the utilization of pseudo ground control points (pGCPs), and integrating post-processing kinematics (PPK) with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) permanent stations’ RINEX data is necessary for co-registering the multitemporal models effectively. For the change detection analysis, UAS surveys were utilized, employing the multiscale model-to-model cloud comparison (M3C2) algorithm, while TLS data were used in a validation methodology due to their very high-resolution model. The synergy of these advanced technologies and methodologies offers a comprehensive understanding of rockfall dynamics, aiding in effective assessment and monitoring strategies for coastal cliffs prone to rockfall risk.
Museums are called to respond to contemporary challenges and contribute to the formation of more progressive societies. One of the major challenges of our time is climate change and sustainability, and museums could construct cocreated narratives around climate and implement targeted actions for the audiences through their sensorial and affective experiences. More specifically, Geology and Paleontology museums are repositories of knowledge on geoheritage and geoconservation, recognized for their scientific, pedagogical, cultural, and recreational values. The educational potential of geological and paleontological exhibits could be used in informal education activities regarding the climate emergency and the need for sustainability. Taking the above into consideration, this study focuses on both the creation and the evaluation of an educational program for the Natural History Museum of Arsakeio Campus in Psychicko. According to our findings, students really enjoyed their experience in the Museum, gained knowledge regarding mass extinctions driven by climate change, and suggested ways to tackle the current problems and promote our planet’s sustainability.
The pincer complexes [NiIIBr(CNC)]Br (4), [CrIIIBr3(CNC)] (5 a) and [CrIIIBr2.3Cl0.7(CNC)] (5 b), where CNC=3,3′-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(1-mesityl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene), were obtained from the novel ligand CNC, generated in situ from the precursor (CHNCH)Br2 and [NiIIBr2(PPh3)2] or from [CrII{N(SiMe3)2}2(THF)2] and (CHNCH)Br2 by aminolysis, respectively. The tetrahedrally distorted square planar (τ4≅0.30) geometry and the singlet ground state of Ni in 4 were attributed to steric constraints of the CNC backbone. Computational methods highlighted the dependence of the coordination geometry and the singlet-triplet energy difference on the size of the N-substituent of the tetrahydropyrimidine wingtips and contrasted it to the situation in 5-membered imidazolin-2-ylidene pincer analogues. The octahedral CrIII metal center in 5 a and 5 b is presumably formed after one electron oxidation from CH2Cl2. 4/MAO and 5 a/MAO were catalysts of moderate activity for the oligomerization and polymerization of ethylene, respectively. The analogous (CH^N^CH)Br2 precursor, where (CH^N^CH)=3,3′-(pyridine-2,6-diylbis(methylene))bis(1-mesityl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-1-ium), was also prepared, however its coordination chemistry was not studied due to the inherent instability of the resulting free C^N^C ligand.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether an epistemological adequacy (knowledge of the Nature of Science, NOS) contributes to a better understanding and the acceptance of the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection (ThENS). It was performed in two parts with the help of two questionnaires: 1. with students of Education, with a minimum familiarity to ThENS and NOS, before and after the application of a general biology course, and 2. with 200 Science Education teachers of various specialties who teach or have taught biology-related subjects. The education students showed some moderate levels of profi ciency regarding NOS that was improved statistically signifi cantly, even after a limited teaching intervention. An interesting founding was that, while their understanding of the ThENS was not very much improved by the course, it was found a positive correlation between their NOS familiarity and acceptance of evolution. As for the Science teachers, besides the above queries, some other variables were additionally investigated: E.g. to what extent, a better Epistemological Adequacy (knowledge of the Nature of Science) can infl uence their understanding and acceptance of the ThENS, or whether this affi liation could have been affected by their college or university instruction. The results showed a positive correlation between their epistemological adequacy and the acceptance and understanding of ThENS.
OBJECTIVE: Nutritional guidelines for postmenopausal women differ. This study aimed to assess postmenopausal women's knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding nutrition during menopause and their dietary habits. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a menopause clinic, and data from 105 women were analyzed. A nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) questionnaire was designed, structured, and piloted before implementation, based on the Hellenic dietary guidelines. International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Greek version, MedDietScore, and Menopause-specific Quality of Life questionnaires were administered. RESULTS: The mean ± SD age of the women was 56.9 ± 4.6 years. The mean ± SD KAP score was 12.2 ± 3.5. Those who lived in rural areas had lower KAP scores than those who lived in urban areas ( P = 0.004). Of all the women, 74.5{%} knew the Mediterranean diet pyramid, whereas 9.8{%} knew the Hellenic dietary guidelines. Women who had read the guidelines showed better knowledge of Mediterranean diet food groups (Pearson, 0.309; P = 0.039). Knowledge of dairy services was correlated with consumption of dairy products ( P = 0.002). Furthermore, 76.4{%} were willing to participate in nutrition education programs. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire score was positively correlated with years of smoking ( P = 0.002). Physical activity correlated with adherence to the Mediterranean diet ( P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of postmenopausal Greek women in this study were unaware of the Hellenic dietary guidelines. In general, women's knowledge of nutrition during menopause was moderate. Greek postmenopausal women are willing to participate in nutrition education programs, which should raise awareness of healthy lifestyles through nutrition, exercise, and smoking cessation.
Accurate modelling of air-sea processes is essential for reliable forecasts of Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones (also known as “Medicanes”). Medicanes occasionally develop in the Mediterranean causing extreme weather conditions with catastrophic potential due to excessive precipitation, windstorms, and coastal flooding. In this work, we investigate how the complexity of ocean-wave-atmosphere coupling and model initialization affect the simulated track and intensity of the Medicane Ianos (2020). Results indicate that the model's initial conditions and the cyclone's development stage are the main drivers of track position errors, while ocean and wave feedback have a significant impact on the intensity and evolution of the cyclone. Compared with an atmosphere-only simulation, an atmosphere-ocean coupled system reproduces the cyclone's SST cooling effect (up to 3.7 °C), in agreement also with the satellite observations thus, reducing the cyclone intensity, as estimated by the minimum MSLP, the 10-m wind speed and the surface enthalpy flux. Adding a wave model to the coupled system, further increases the magnitude of ocean cooling (by about 1.2 °C), due to increased sea surface roughness leading to increased wind stress and enhanced upper ocean mixing. Overall, surface waves are shown to have competing effects on cyclone intensity i.e., negative feedback via increasing the surface momentum flux and positive feedback via increasing the enthalpy flux, the latter being more sensitive to surface roughness rather than to SST modifications brought by the wave coupled system. The turbulent air-sea fluxes under high winds, appear to be very sensitive to sea-state patterns resolved by the coupled models, highlighting the need to improve forecasting systems for extreme weather events in the Mediterranean.
Accurate modelling of air-sea processes is essential for reliable forecasts of Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones (also known as “Medicanes”). Medicanes occasionally develop in the Mediterranean causing extreme weather conditions with catastrophic potential due to excessive precipitation, windstorms, and coastal flooding. In this work, we investigate how the complexity of ocean-wave-atmosphere coupling and model initialization affect the simulated track and intensity of the Medicane Ianos (2020). Results indicate that the model's initial conditions and the cyclone's development stage are the main drivers of track position errors, while ocean and wave feedback have a significant impact on the intensity and evolution of the cyclone. Compared with an atmosphere-only simulation, an atmosphere-ocean coupled system reproduces the cyclone's SST cooling effect (up to 3.7 °C), in agreement also with the satellite observations thus, reducing the cyclone intensity, as estimated by the minimum MSLP, the 10-m wind speed and the surface enthalpy flux. Adding a wave model to the coupled system, further increases the magnitude of ocean cooling (by about 1.2 °C), due to increased sea surface roughness leading to increased wind stress and enhanced upper ocean mixing. Overall, surface waves are shown to have competing effects on cyclone intensity i.e., negative feedback via increasing the surface momentum flux and positive feedback via increasing the enthalpy flux, the latter being more sensitive to surface roughness rather than to SST modifications brought by the wave coupled system. The turbulent air-sea fluxes under high winds, appear to be very sensitive to sea-state patterns resolved by the coupled models, highlighting the need to improve forecasting systems for extreme weather events in the Mediterranean.
Natural products are attractive components to tailor environmentally friendly advanced new materials. We present surface-confined metallosupramolecular engineering of coordination polymers using natural dyes as molecular building blocks: indigo and the related Tyrian purple. Both building blocks yield identical, well-defined coordination polymers composed of (1 dehydroindigo : 1 Fe) repeat units on two different silver single crystal surfaces. These polymers are characterized atomically by submolecular resolution scanning tunnelling microscopy, bond-resolving atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. On Ag(100) and on Ag(111), the trans configuration of dehydroindigo results in N,O-chelation in the polymer chains. On the more inert Ag(111) surface, the molecules additionally undergo thermally induced isomerization from the trans to the cis configuration and afford N,N- plus O,O-chelation. Density functional theory calculations confirm that the coordination polymers of the cis-isomers on Ag(111) and of the trans-isomers on Ag(100) are energetically favoured. Our results demonstrate post-synthetic linker isomerization in interfacial metal-organic nanosystems.
In this paper we study periodicity phenomena for modular extensions between Weyl modules and between Weyl and simple modules of the general linear group that are associated to adding a power of the characteristic to the first parts of the involved partitions.
PURPOSE: Variants in the GNB1 gene, which encodes for the beta-1 subunit of G proteins, have been associated with intellectual development disorder (OMIM: 616973), characterized by developmental delay, infantile hypotonia, seizures, and psychiatric problems. GNB1 variants may also cause a multisystem disorder, with symptoms such as hearing and vision impairment, gastrointestinal disorders, genitourinary abnormalities, and growth delay. CASE PRESENTATIONS: We present two pediatric patients with two novel GNB1 variants. The first patient is a 12-year old Caucasian European female with a history of neonatal hypotonia, feeding difficulties, and failure to thrive for the first 2 years of life. Subsequently, she developed grade 3 obesity, hyperphagia, and autoimmune thyroiditis. Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) revealed a novel likely pathogenic variant in the GNB1 gene (NM{\_}002074.5:c.93{\_}94del, p.Gln32AspfsTer46), which is predicted to result in a loss or disruption of normal protein function through nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) or protein truncation. The second patient is a 2-year old Roma female with severe failure to thrive during infancy, congenital hypothyroidism, and transient hyperoxaluria. No developmental delay was identified. Genetic testing excluded primary hyperoxaluria and WES revealed to be a novel likely pathogenic variant {\{}NM{\_}002074.5:c.183G {\textgreater} T (NP{\_}002065.1:p.Met61Ile), which is predicted to have a damaging effect on the gene or gene product. CONCLUSION: We present two rare pediatric cases with novel GNB1 variants which highlight the phenotypic variability associated with disrupted GNB1 expression. GNB1 may serve as a candidate gene for severe early onset obesity, hyperphagia, neurodevelopmental delay, and other metabolic and endocrine disorders.}
BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications are the most common cause of death after surgery. This study aimed to derive and externally validate a novel prognostic model that can be used before elective surgery to estimate the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications and to support resource allocation and prioritisation during pandemic recovery.
METHODS: Data from an international, prospective cohort study were used to develop a novel prognostic risk model for pulmonary complications after elective surgery in adult patients (aged ≥18 years) across all operation and disease types. The primary outcome measure was postoperative pulmonary complications at 30 days after surgery, which was a composite of pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and unexpected mechanical ventilation. Model development with candidate predictor variables was done in the GlobalSurg-CovidSurg Week dataset (global; October, 2020). Two structured machine learning techniques were explored (XGBoost and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator [LASSO]), and the model with the best performance (GSU-Pulmonary Score) underwent internal validation using bootstrap resampling. The discrimination and calibration of the score were externally validated in two further prospective cohorts: CovidSurg-Cancer (worldwide; February to August, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic) and RECON (UK and Australasia; January to October, 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic). The model was deployed as an online web application. The GlobalSurg-CovidSurg Week and CovidSurg-Cancer studies were registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04509986 and NCT04384926.
FINDINGS: Prognostic models were developed from 13 candidate predictor variables in data from 86 231 patients (1158 hospitals in 114 countries). External validation included 30 492 patients from CovidSurg-Cancer (726 hospitals in 75 countries) and 6789 from RECON (150 hospitals in three countries). The overall rates of pulmonary complications were 2·0% in derivation data, and 3·9% (CovidSurg-Cancer) and 4·7% (RECON) in the validation datasets. Penalised regression using LASSO had similar discrimination to XGBoost (area under the receiver operating curve [AUROC] 0·786, 95% CI 0·774-0·798 vs 0·785, 0·772-0·797), was more explainable, and required fewer covariables. The final GSU-Pulmonary Score included ten predictor variables and showed good discrimination and calibration upon internal validation (AUROC 0·773, 95% CI 0·751-0·795; Brier score 0·020, calibration in the large [CITL] 0·034, slope 0·954). The model performance was acceptable on external validation in CovidSurg-Cancer (AUROC 0·746, 95% CI 0·733-0·760; Brier score 0·036, CITL 0·109, slope 1·056), but with some miscalibration in RECON data (AUROC 0·716, 95% CI 0·689-0·744; Brier score 0·045, CITL 1·040, slope 1·009).
INTERPRETATION: This novel prognostic risk score uses simple predictor variables available at the time of a decision for elective surgery that can accurately stratify patients' risk of postoperative pulmonary complications, including during SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks. It could inform surgical consent, resource allocation, and hospital-level prioritisation as elective surgery is upscaled to address global backlogs.
FUNDING: National Institute for Health Research.
This paper discusses certain aspects of the dominant cultural heritage discourse in Greece, and their effects on the construction, preservation, and diffusion of public memory; although my case studies will not be archaeological as such, I will be discussing the materialities political power is imbued with, and the ways in which it regenerates itself at their expense (a process in which Greek archaeology often interferes). Focusing on what we generally call “alien monuments,” that is, monuments that do not form part of the hegemonic culture, the paper discusses minority legacies, as they strive to rescue themselves from centrally waged wars on memory, and oblivion.
INTRODUCTION: Tanzania has a high adolescent birth rate and many sexually active adolescents do not have access to effective contraception. Teenage pregnancy is considered a high-risk pregnancy. Furthermore, it leads to social inequalities for both mother and offspring. METHODS: We conducted semistructured interviews with 12 adolescent mothers during their stay in the postnatal ward of the maternity department of a tertiary hospital in Zanzibar. The study took place between November and December 2022. Data were then analyzed qualitatively. RESULTS: The main theme that emerged from the interview data was that pregnancy seemed to affect the lives of young girls in a negative way. The majority of pregnancies were unplanned, and the girls reported low family planning uptake. Another recurring theme was that girls had many οbstacles in their education prior to pregnancy, which left them uncertain about their future. Finally, despite the advice of local doctors, the majority of the girls received minimal prenatal care, mostly because they did not regard obstetric care to be a priority. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent pregnancy remains an important public health issue in Tanzania, despite significant measures by authorities to reduce it. Educational changes and professional opportunities as well as family planning services may enable young girls to achieve professional and personal goals while delaying motherhood into adulthood.
The present paper focuses on the recall of childhood experiences of adults who had at least one parent misusing alcohol and/or drugs. The study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the recall of these experiences in adulthood and their effect on relationships with significant others. Twelve (12) adults, who had experienced as children in their family’s drug and alcohol misuse were interviewed and their interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of the qualitative study suggest that adults recall in their childhood the reversal of family roles and traumas that seem to affect their current relationships. The research findings indicate the necessity of supporting early enough children who grow up in families where alcohol and drug misuse are part of daily life and to create a therapeutic alliance in adult life in order to advance in their relationship with self and others.
Context. Relativistic shocks are present in all high-energy astrophysical processes involving relativistic plasma outflows interacting with their ambient medium. While they are well understood in the context of relativistic hydrodynamics and ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), there is a limited understanding of the properties related to their propagation in media characterized by finite electrical conductivity. Aims: This work presents a systematic method for the derivation and solution of the jump conditions for relativistic shocks propagating in MHD media with finite electrical conductivity. This method is applied to the numerical solution of the Riemann problem and the determination of the conditions inside the blastwave that is formed when ultrarelativistic magnetized ejecta interact with the circumburst medium during a gamma-ray burst. Methods: We derived the covariant relations expressing the jump conditions in a frame-independent manner. The resulting algebraic equations expressing the Rankine-Hugoniot conditions in the propagation medium's frame were then solved numerically. A variable adiabatic index equation of state was used in order to obtain a realistic description of the post-shock fluid's thermodynamics. This method was then employed for the solution of the Riemann problem for the case of a forward and a reverse shock, both of which form during the interaction of a gamma-ray burst ejecta with the circumburst medium. This allowed us to determine the kinematics of the resulting blastwave and the dynamical conditions in its interior. Results: Our solutions clearly depict the impact of the plasma's electrical conductivity in the properties of the post-shock medium. Two characteristic regimes are identified with respect to the value of a dimensionless parameter that has a linear dependence on the conductivity. For small values of this parameter, the shock affects only the hydrodynamic properties of the propagation medium and leaves its electromagnetic field unaffected. No current layer forms in the shock front; thus, we refer to this as the current-free regime. For large values of this parameter, the ideal MHD regime has been retrieved. We also show that the assumption of a finite electrical conductivity can lead to higher efficiencies in the conversion of the ejecta energy into thermal energy of the blastwave through the reverse shock. The theory developed in this work can be applied to the construction of Riemann solvers for resistive relativistic MHD (RR4MHD).
The carnation Dianthus fruticosus L. ssp. fruticosus (Caryophyllaceae) is a range-restricted perennial, endemic plant that grows on cliffs, rocks, ravines, terraces, and boulders on Serifos Island in the Cyclades in the Aegean archipelago (Greece), possessing an impressive, aesthetic blossoming during the dry season. This indigenous carnation of Serifos has attracted the interest of naturalists andscientists. Specimens of this subspecific taxon from the island of Serifos (Greece) were collected during botanical explorations in preindustrial times by the French naturalist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (1702) and in the late eighteenth century by the English Professor of Botany at the University of Oxford John Sibthorp (1787). Those specimens, documented in relevant publications and labelled with different names (i.e., Caryophyllus Graecus arboreus and Caryophyllus arboreus Seriphius in the early eighteenth century and Dianthus fruticosus in the early nineteenth century), are related to aspects of vegetation history, linking the past to the present and (most probably) to the future. Today, a thorough understanding of the in situ development and functionality of this endemic carnation is still required, as is a framework of its sustainability and management in small-scale insular habitats. The timeless perception of the emblematic wild carnation Dianthus fruticosus ssp. fruticosus, which is still growing on inland and coastal sites of Serifos and neighboring islands in the Cyclades (Greece), is also a reminder that a native plant is often a repository to which local communities may look when crafting their identity.
This manuscript presents a multidisciplinary study that proposes a methodology for delineating and categorizing vulnerability at rockfall risk areas to avoid human injuries and infrastructure damage caused by rockfalls. The presented workflow includes (i) classical geological mapping, (ii) the interpretation of high-resolution satellite data for observing the spatial distribution of fallen boulders, (iii) analytical hierarchy processing of spatial information within a Geographical Information System (GIS) platform, (iv) close-range remote sensing campaigns with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs), and (v) integrated simulation of rockfall events. This methodology was applied to Kalymnos Island, which belongs to the Dodecanese Islands complex of the southeastern Aegean Sea in Greece. It is characterized by unique geomorphological features, including extensive vertical limestone cliffs that span the island. These cliffs make it one of the world’s most densely concentrated areas for sport climbing. The results highlighted the areas that the local authorities need to focus on and suggested measures for increasing the safety of climbers and infrastructure.
This study investigated the influence of language – first language (L1)versus second language (L2) – on the experience and the expression ofthe emotion of guilt. Fifty-two Greek – Spanish bilinguals read twomoral scenarios that induced guilt in their L2 (Spanish) and rated theintensity with which they felt a series of emotions (moral scenario task).Then they were asked to recall and write about a real-life event thatmade them feel guilty in their L2 (autobiographical memory task). Amonth later they performed the same tasks in their L1. Content analysisand emotional vocabulary analysis were conducted to examine crosslinguisticdifferences in the expression of guilt. Overall, these bilingualsexperienced higher levels of guilt and regret when they read the moralscenarios in their L1 Greek. They also used a greater number of emotionwords in their autobiographical memories in L1. However, theyappeared to be more willing to talk about sensitive topics (e.g.infidelity, homosexuality, and death) in their L2. These findings haveimplications for both psychotherapy and L2 instruction.
The purpose of this research is to create a typology of the long-distance running community of Greece. The sample consisted of 3228 participants/runners in the "Athens Marathon. The Authentic". The variables used for the segmentation included the demographic, social, attitudinal, and behavioral characteristics of the individuals participating in running as a leisure time physical activity. A cluster analysis was implemented using Python K-Mode by creating a code and using the Elbow method because all the variables were categorical. The analysis yields five (5) different clusters, with some similarities but discernible differences, which distinguish each one of the clusters, making them unique. According to the recorded differences, each one of the clusters was assigned a name. The first cluster was named Leisure Health-Oriented Joggers, the second cluster Older Competitive Marathon Runners, the third Health Oriented Experienced Marathon Runners, the fourth Lonely Marathon Runners, and the fifth Sports Oriented Social Marathon Runners. This is the first-ever presentation of a typology of the Greek running community. Moreover, such a typology could benefit the private and public sectors. Specifically, the segmentation of the running community could influence the sport industry in regard to services, products or merchandise as well as entrepreneurial initiatives. By focusing on the characteristics of each distinctive cluster, the public sector could use this as a guide in planning and implementing new physical activity policies, projects and programs.
Keywords: Marathon, Running movement, Physical Activity, Segmentation, Habits, Attitudes, Sport industry, Market segmentation, Gender gap
Organometallic complexes of the formula [Ru(N^N)(p-cymene)Cl][X] (N^N = bidentate polypyridyl ligands, p-cymene = 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-benzene, X = counter anion), are currently studied as possible candidates for the potential treatment of cancer. Searching for new organometallic compounds with good to moderate cytotoxic activities, a series of mononuclear water-soluble ruthenium(II)–arene complexes incorporating substituted pyridine–quinoline ligands, with pending -CH2OH, -CO2H and -CO2Me groups in the 4-position of quinoline ring, were synthesized, for the first time, to study their possible effect to modulate the activity of the ruthenium p-cymene complexes. These include the [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(pqhyme)Cl][X] (X = Cl− (1-Cl), PF6− (1-PF6), pqhyme = 4-hydroxymethyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline), [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(pqca)Cl][Cl] ((2-Cl), pqca = 4-carboxy-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline), and [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(pqcame)Cl][X] (X = Cl− (3-Cl), PF6− (3-PF6), pqcame = 4-carboxymethyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline) complexes, respectively. Identification of the complexes was based on multinuclear NMR and ATR-IR spectroscopic methods, elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, UV–Vis spectroscopic, and ESI-HRMS techniques. The solid-state structures of 1-PF6 and 3-PF6 have been elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealing a three-legged piano stool geometry. This is the first time that the in vitro cytotoxic activities of these complexes are studied. These were conducted in HEK293T (human embryonic kidney cells) and HeLa cells (cervical cancer cells) via the MTT assay. The results show poor in vitro anticancer activities for the HeLa cancer cell lines and 3-Cl proved to be the most potent (IC50 > 80 μΜ). In both cell lines, the cytotoxicity of the ligand precursor pqhyme is significantly higher than that of cisplatin.
Organometallic ruthenium complexes with p-cymene = 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-benzene and N^N = bidentate polypyridyl ligands constitute interesting candidates with biological and catalytic properties. Towards this aim, we have synthesized four ruthenium(II)–arene complexes of the type [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(N^N)Cl][X] (N^N = Br-Qpy = 6-bromo-4-phenyl-2-pyridin-2-yl-quinoline, X = Cl− (1a); PF6− (1b); N^N = OH-Ph-Qpy = 4-(4-phenyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinolin-6-yl)phenol, X = Cl− (2a); PF6− (2b)). This is the first report of ruthenium(II) p-cymene complexes incorporating substituted pyridine–quinoline ligands, with –Br and –C6H4OH groups in the 6-position of quinoline. We also refer to the cytotoxicity of the ligands and their possible effect of modulating the activity of the ruthenium(II) complexes. These were characterized by a combination of spectroscopic methods (ATR-IR, UV–Vis, multinuclear NMR), elemental analysis, and conductivity measurements. The solid-state structure of 2b, determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, reveals a three-legged piano-stool geometry. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of the new complexes were evaluated in HEK293T (human embryonic kidney cells) and in HeLa cells (cervical cancer cells), via the MTT assay. Poor in vitro anticancer activities were observed for the HeLa cancer cell line, with 2a being the most potent (IC50 = 75 μΜ). The cytotoxicity of Br-Qpy in HEK293T is comparable to that of cisplatin. Both complexes 1a and 1b successfully catalyze the transfer hydrogenation of benzophenone to benzhydrol by 2-propanol at 82 °C. The catalytic performance of 1a in the ratio of S:Cat:B = 400:1:40 (S = substrate, Cat = catalyst, B = base = KOiPr) leads to a conversion of 94%, within 3 h of reaction. Presumably, catalytic transformation takes place via ruthenium(II) hydride species being the active catalyst.
Blazars—a subclass of active galaxies—are intrinsically time-variable broadband sources of electromagnetic radiation. In this contribution, we explored relativistic proton (hadronic) signatures in the time domain blazar emission and searched for those parameter combinations that unveil their presence during flaring epochs. We generated time series for key model parameters, like magnetic field strength and the power-law index of radiating particles, which were motivated from a simulated time series with statistical properties describing the observed GeV gamma-ray flux. We chose the TeV blazar Mrk 501 as our test case, as it had been the study ground for extensive investigations during individual flaring events. Using the code LeHaMoC, we computed the electromagnetic and neutrino emissions for a period of several years that contained several flares of interest. We show that for both of those particle distributions the power-law index variations that were tied to moderate changes in the magnetic field strength of the emitting region might naturally lead to hard X-ray flares with very-high-energy γ-ray counterparts. We found spectral differences measurable by the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory at sub-TeV energies, and we computed the neutrino fluence over 14.5 years. The latter predicted ∼0.2 muon and anti-muon neutrinos, consistent with the non-detection of high-energy neutrinos from Mrk 501.
