Many studies have shown that patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are at increased risk for developing seizures and epilepsy. However, reported prevalence and incidence of seizures and relationship of seizures to disease measures such as severity, outcome, and progression vary widely between studies. We performed a literature review of the available clinical and epidemiological data on the topic of seizures in patients with AD. We review seizure rates and types, risk factors for seizures, electroencephalogram (EEG) studies, and treatment responses. Finally, we consider limitations and methodological issues. There is considerable variability in the reported prevalence and incidence of seizures in patients with AD-with reported lifetime prevalence rates of 1.5-64%. More recent, prospective, and larger studies in general report lower rates. Some, but not all, studies have noted increased seizure risk with increasing dementia severity or with younger age of AD onset. Generalized convulsive seizures are the most commonly reported type, but often historical information is the only basis used to determine seizure type and the manifestation of seizures may be difficult to distinguish from other behaviors common in demented patients. EEG has infrequently been performed and reported. Data on treatment of seizures in AD are extremely limited. Similarly, the relationship between seizures and cognitive impairment in AD is unclear. We conclude that the literature on seizures and epilepsy in AD, including diagnosis, risk factors, and response to treatment suffers from methodological limitations and gaps.
Alzheimer disease (AD) and epilepsy are disorders commonly seen in the elderly. Many studies have shown that patients with AD are at increased risk for developing seizures and epilepsy. Whereas, patients with specific types of epilepsy, such as temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), experience some degree of cognitive dysfunction, questions have been raised as to whether these disorders share some underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms or whether one is an epiphenomenon of the other. In this report, we review some of the available clinical and epidemiologic literature on various aspects of the topic of seizures in AD, including seizure rates and types, risk factors for seizures, electroencephalographic findings, treatment options, limitations, and methodological issues. Overall, multiple aspects of the literature on seizures and epilepsy in AD, including diagnosis, risk factors, the role of EEG in diagnosis, and the response to treatment are not clear and suffer from many methodological limitations and gaps.
The rat Forced Swim Test (FST) is widely used to investigate the response to antidepressant treatment. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) elongate swimming duration during the FST, while climbing duration is unaffected. In the present study, we aimed to correlate behavioral effects of the SSRI sertraline in the FST with respective changes in the serotonergic activity of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. Male rats were subjected to the standard FST (two swim sessions in two consecutive days) and between the two sessions they received three i.p. injections of sertraline (10 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg) or vehicle. All rats were killed immediately after the second FST session. Unstressed animals received the same administration schemes and were killed in equivalent time-points. Serotonin and its metabolite 5-HIAA were assayed in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex with the use of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-ED) and their ratio 5-HIAA/5-HT was calculated. Sertraline enhanced swimming and decreased immobility duration at both doses. Serotonergic activity was not altered by the 2-day swim stress in either brain region, while subchronic sertraline treatment enhanced 5-HT levels and decreased 5-HIAA/5-HT in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. The serotonin turnover rate (5-HIAA/5-HT ratio) decrease is probably indicative of reduced 5-HT metabolism, as a result of 5-HT reuptake inhibition. This effect was significant in the prefrontal cortex of unstressed rats only after a higher dose of sertraline. In the prefrontal cortex, but not in the hippocampus, immobility duration was negatively correlated with 5-HT tissue levels, whereas swimming duration was positively correlated with 5-HT. These results indicate that after antidepressant treatment, behavior during the FST can be predictive of respective serotonergic changes, especially in the prefrontal cortex.
The rat Forced Swim Test (FST) is widely used to investigate the response to antidepressant treatment. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) elongate swimming duration during the FST, while climbing duration is unaffected. In the present study, we aimed to correlate behavioral effects of the SSRI sertraline in the FST with respective changes in the serotonergic activity of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. Male rats were subjected to the standard FST (two swim sessions in two consecutive days) and between the two sessions they received three i.p. injections of sertraline (10 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg) or vehicle. All rats were killed immediately after the second FST session. Unstressed animals received the same administration schemes and were killed in equivalent time-points. Serotonin and its metabolite 5-HIAA were assayed in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex with the use of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-ED) and their ratio 5-HIAA/5-HT was calculated. Sertraline enhanced swimming and decreased immobility duration at both doses. Serotonergic activity was not altered by the 2-day swim stress in either brain region, while subchronic sertraline treatment enhanced 5-HT levels and decreased 5-HIAA/5-HT in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. The serotonin turnover rate (5-HIAA/5-HT ratio) decrease is probably indicative of reduced 5-HT metabolism, as a result of 5-HT reuptake inhibition. This effect was significant in the prefrontal cortex of unstressed rats only after a higher dose of sertraline. In the prefrontal cortex, but not in the hippocampus, immobility duration was negatively correlated with 5-HT tissue levels, whereas swimming duration was positively correlated with 5-HT. These results indicate that after antidepressant treatment, behavior during the FST can be predictive of respective serotonergic changes, especially in the prefrontal cortex.
BACKGROUND: Pathologic collagen remodeling has been involved in the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in heart failure. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between malignant ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac collagen turnover indexes, expressing specific types of derangement in collagen physiology, in stable patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). METHODS: Seventy-four patients with an ICD and heart failure were studied. They had coronary artery disease (n = 42) or dilated cardiomyopathy, New York Heart Association classes I and II, and left ventricular ejection fraction 29% +/- 1%. An ICD had been implanted for secondary (n = 36) or primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. We assessed (1) markers of collagen types I and III synthesis and their ratio: procollagen type I carboxyterminal peptide (PICP), procollagen type III aminoterminal peptide (PIIINP), and PICP/PIIINP; (2) markers of collagen degradation, degradation inhibition, and their ratio: matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) 1 (TIMP-1), and MMP-9/TIMP-1. Patients were prospectively followed up for 1 year. The number of episodes necessitating appropriate interventions for ventricular tachyarrhythmias (>170 beat/min) was related to the assessed parameters. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis revealed a significant relation between the number of tachyarrhythmic episodes and MMP-9/TIMP-1 (P = .007), PICP/PIIINP (P = .007), and ejection fraction (P = .04). No other significant relation was observed between arrhythmias and the remaining parameters. CONCLUSION: In heart failure, biochemical markers indicative of a deranged equilirium in myocardial collagen deposition/degradation and collagen I/III synthesis are related to ventricular arrhythmogenesis. Further studies are needed to investigate their predictive ability
Concepts of disease severity, activity, control and responsiveness to treatment are linked but different. Severity refers to the loss of function of the organs induced by the disease process or to the occurrence of severe acute exacerbations. Severity may vary over time and needs regular follow-up. Control is the degree to which therapy goals are currently met. These concepts have evolved over time for asthma in guidelines, task forces or consensus meetings. The aim of this paper is to generalize the approach of the uniform definition of severe asthma presented to WHO for chronic allergic and associated diseases (rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, chronic urticaria and atopic dermatitis) in order to have a uniform definition of severity, control and risk, usable in most situations. It is based on the appropriate diagnosis, availability and accessibility of treatments, treatment responsiveness and associated factors such as comorbidities and risk factors. This uniform definition will allow a better definition of the phenotypes of severe allergic (and related) diseases for clinical practice, research (including epidemiology), public health purposes, education and the discovery of novel therapies.
Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a cell adhesion molecule with a key role in inflammation and immunosurveillance, has been implicated in carcinogenesis by facilitating instability of the tumor environment. The K469E single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (G>A) affects the ICAM-1 mRNA splicing pattern; the alternatively spliced isoform (ICAM-1-S) lacks transmembrane and intracellular domain, which affects the structural and signal transduction properties. Moreover, the expression of ICAM-1 is transcriptionally regulated by p53, and this SNP has been shown to be related with apoptosis. PCR-RFLP analysis was used to assess the K469E SNP status comparatively in 203 non-small cell lung cancer patients and 175 healthy sex-matched controls. This SNP was examined in relation to tumor kinetic parameters (Ki-67 immunohistochemical evaluation and Tdt-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay), p53 immunohistochemistry status, and clinicopathological data in patients with operable stages. Both the genotype and allele frequency did not differ significantly between patients and controls. However, patients with the AG/AA genotypes had worse survival (39 vs 45 months, p = 0.036) and tended to be present in advanced stages (p = 0.057). Moreover, the AG/AA genotypes exerted a synergistic effect with aberrant p53 on tumor progression, while the GG genotype retained a better apoptotic index. The AG/AA genotypes correlated with worse survival and advanced stages probably due to defective immunosurveillance and apoptosis. These genetic backgrounds may confer a selective advantage for dissemination of tumor cells with high metastatic potential compared to GG genotype.
The concept of Social Media is at the top of the agenda of many entrepreneurs, business executives and decision makers today. This paper examines the new media and digital culture which has become an important part of our daily activities, using the social network perspective, a theoretical concept as used in the social and behavioural sciences. This theoretical perspective allows us to identify the dynamics of social networks: the concept of social media today, for many a new and stimulating environment and for others a social space that evokes feelings of frustration or fear of losing touch with the real world. Are women equipped to thrive in this digital age and especially in this virtual environment? In examining current research findings on social women, new models of work, levels of engagement, transformational leadership styles and women entrepreneurs that have been de-mystifying the world of social media through the lens of their own experiences, this paper argues that women enjoy a slight edge over their male counterparts and that today’s business climate is more inviting for aspiring women entrepreneurs. The bottom line is that socialwomen are doing what most women do "naturally", namely creating relationships, community, connections and support. Isn’t that what social networking is all about? Social women share content in multiple ways and working online has been a financial windfall for many, including stay at home moms and homemakers. Finally, this paper presents tips and advice from successful women entrepreneurs who tell how they have been using social media to excel in their careers and balance their career/family/personal lives.
Keywords: new media, social media, social networking, technology as an enabler, integrating a gender perspective, “feminine” skills and leadership qualities
Chimona C, Stamellou A, Argiropoulos A, Rhizopoulou S. Study of variegated and white flower petals of Capparis spinosa expanded at dusk in arid landscapes. Journal of Arid Land . 2012;4(2):171-179.Abstract
In this study, we provide the first evidence of two pairs of petals of the rapidly expanded and short-lived nocturnal flowers of Capparis spinosa L. (caper) during the prolonged drought period in Eastern Mediterranean region. The corolla of the winter-deciduous, perennial C. spinosa consists of two pairs of petals: a pair of white distinct petals and a pair of connate variegated petals with green basal parts. The results indicated the presence of substantially different amounts of chlorophyll in the two pairs of petals, while their carbohydrates’ content is comparable with that of the green sepals. High resolution imaging of petal surfaces of short-lived flowers of C. spinosa, obtained by using scanning electron microscopy, revealed stomata on the adaxial epidermis on both the white and the green parts of the variegated petals; while dense hairs were found on the surface of the abaxial green parts of the variegated petals. Adaxial, epidermal cells of the variegated petals, viewed using atomic force microscopy, possess a submicron, cuticular microfolding that differs between the white and the green parts of the petals. It appears that microridges on the adaxial, white parts of petals of C. spinosa compensate for an increase in cell surface area of the short lived petals, while the roughness of the green parts of petals was found to be higher than that of the white parts. Thus, the micromorphology of surfaces of epidermal cells is expected to affect optical properties and wettability of the floral tissues. These findings may be particularly important for understanding the performance of the short-lived petals of C. spinosa, which are exposed to dryland environments.
Argiropoulos A, Rhizopoulou S. Micromorphology of petals of the invasive weed Oxalis pes-caprae. Weed Biology and Management. 2012;12:47-52.oxalis_2012.pdf
Argiropoulos A, Rhizopoulou S. Micromorphology of petals of the invasive weed Oxalis pes-caprae. Weed Biology and Management. 2012;12:47-52.oxalis_2012.pdf
Argiropoulos A, Rhizopoulou S. Micromorphology of petals of the invasive weed Oxalis pes-caprae. Weed Biology and Management. 2012;12:47-52.oxalis_2012.pdf
Argiropoulos A, Rhizopoulou S. Micromorphology of petals of the invasive weed Oxalis pes-caprae. Weed Biology and Management. 2012;12:47-52.oxalis_2012.pdf
Sophia R. Changing mediterranean environment: irrefutable evidence from pre-industrial, unpublicised scenes contemporary with a mission (1786-1787) in the Levant. Global Nest Journal. 2012; 14 (4):516-524.gnj_2012.pdf
Kolyva F, Stratakis E, Rhizopoulou S, Chimona C, Fotakis C. Leaf surface characteristics and wetting in Ceratonia siliqua. Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants. 2012;207(8):551-556.flora_2012_ceratonia_siliqua.pdf
Rhizopoulou S, Lykos A, Delipetrou P, Vallianatou I. Living collection of Flora Graeca Sibthorpiana: from the folios of the monumental Edition to the beds of a Botanic garden in Greece. Sibbaldia . 2012;(10):171-196 .
Because of its pivotal role in the recycling pathway allowing NAD generation from nicotinamide, NAMPT occupies a central position in controlling the activity of several NAD-dependent enzymes. NAD, a universal energy-and signal-carrying molecule and its phosphorylated form, NADP, are required in several intracellular processes such as redox reactions, DNA repair, G-protein coupled receptor signaling, intra-cellular calcium-mobilizing molecules, transcriptional regulation, mono-adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation in immune response, and activity of poly-ADP ribosyltransferases and deacetylases (sirtuins) with roles in regulating cell survival and cytokine responses. Under the influence of NAMPT, adequate levels of NAD control SIRT-6 (sirtuin) activity, which in turn positively regulates TNF-α mRNA translation favoring cell survival. NAMPT activity enhances cellular proliferation, tips the balance toward cellular survival following a genotoxic insult and controls the circadian clock machinery of some key transcriptions factors.
Mετά από πρόσκληση της Γερμανίδας ερευνήτριας κ. Stefanie Schardien μεταφράστηκε από τα ελληνικά στα γερμανικά από τον π. Γεώργιο Σιώμο η επιτομή των απόψεων για τα θέματα της τεκνογονίας και αντισύλληψης στον Ορθόδοξο Γάμο και δημοσιεύθηκε στο εν λόγω περιοδικό. Το συγκεκριμένο τεύχος περιλαμβάνει σημαντικές εισηγήσεις, όπως του Peter Dabrock (προέδρου του Συμβουλίου Ηθικής της Γερμανίας) και του Manoj Kurian (υψηλόβαθμου στελέχους του W.C.C.).
The structural and magnetic properties and spin dynamics of dextran coated and uncoated gamma-Fe2O3 (maghemite) nanoparticles have been investigated using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fe-57 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Mossbauer spectroscopy and dc magnetization measurements. The HRTEM observations indicated a well-crystallized system of ellipsoid-shaped nanoparticles, with an average size of 10 nm. The combined Mossbauer and magnetic study suggested the existence of significant interparticle interactions not only in the uncoated but also in the dextran coated nanoparticle assemblies. The zero-field NMR spectra of the nanoparticles at low temperatures are very similar to those of the bulk material, indicating the same hyperfine field values at saturation in accord with the performed Mossbauer measurements. The T-2 NMR spin-spin relaxation time of the nanoparticles has also been measured as a function of temperature and found to be two orders of magnitude shorter than that of the bulk material. It is shown that the thermal fluctuations in the longitudinal magnetization of the nanoparticles in the low temperature limit may account for the shortening and the temperature dependence of the T-2 relaxation time. Thus, the low temperature NMR results are in accord with the mechanism of collective magnetic excitations, due to the precession of the magnetization around the easy direction of the magnetization at an energy minimum, a mechanism originally proposed to interpret Mossbauer experiments in magnetic nanoparticles. The effect of the surface spins on the NMR relaxation mechanisms is also discussed.
Detailed mapping along the coasts of Skyros Island (Aegean Sea) provided new evidence concerning the rates and the modality of subsidence in the area. The results are provided through the study of the shape and the dimensions of the two submerged notches detected around the carbonate coasts of the island.It is apparent that the island has been submerged not only due to the global sea-level rise during the last two centuries (1.8 ± 0.3 mm/year between 1950 and 2000), but also because of tectonic events testified by the type of the submerged notches. Some of these tectonic events seem to be of gradual and some of co-seismic origin. The transition of MSL from the retreat point of the lower notch to the retreat point of the upper notch seems to have been produced by co-seismic subsidence of about 55 cm at slightly less than 850 years BP.
Active muscles generate substantial mechanical forces by the contraction/relaxation cycle, and, to maintain an ordered state, they require molecular structures of extraordinary stability. These forces are sensed and buffered by unusually long and elastic filament proteins with highly repetitive domain arrays. Members of the myomesin protein family function as molecular bridges that connect major filament systems in the central M-band of muscle sarcomeres, which is a central locus of passive stress sensing. To unravel the mechanism of molecular elasticity in such filament-connecting proteins, we have determined the overall architecture of the complete C-terminal immunoglobulin domain array of myomesin by X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy, solution X-ray scattering, and atomic force microscopy. Our data reveal a dimeric tail-to-tail filament structure of about 360 A in length, which is folded into an irregular superhelical coil arrangement of almost identical alpha-helix/domain modules. The myomesin filament can be stretched to about 2.5-fold its original length by reversible unfolding of these linkers, a mechanism that to our knowledge has not been observed previously. Our data explain how myomesin could act as a highly elastic ribbon to maintain the overall structural organization of the sarcomeric M-band. In general terms, our data demonstrate how repetitive domain modules such as those found in myomesin could generate highly elastic protein structures in highly organized cell systems such as muscle sarcomeres.
Context. We present the analysis of supernova remnants (SNRs) and candidates in M 31 identified in the XMM-Newton large programme survey of M 31. Supernova remnants are among the brightest X-ray sources in a galaxy. They are good indicators of the recent star-formation activities of galaxies and the interstellar environment in which they evolve. Aims: By combining the X-ray data of sources in M 31 with optical data as well as optical and radio catalogues, we aim to compile a complete, revised list of SNRs emitting X-rays in M 31 detected with XMM-Newton, study their luminosity and spatial distributions, and understand the X-ray spectra of the brightest SNRs. Methods: We analysed the X-ray spectra of the 12 brightest SNRs and candidates that have been observed with XMM-Newton. Our study of the four brightest sources allowed us to perform a more detailed spectral analysis and compare different models to describe their spectrum. For all M 31 large programme sources, we searched for their optical counterparts in the Hα, [S ii], and [O iii] images of the Local Group Galaxy Survey. Results: We confirm 21 X-ray sources as counterparts to known SNRs. In addition, we identify 5 new X-ray sources as X-ray and optically emitting SNRs. Seventeen sources are no longer considered as SNR candidates. We thus create a list of 26 X-ray SNRs and 20 X-ray SNR candidates in M 31 based on their X-ray, optical, and radio emission, which is the most recent complete list of X-ray SNRs in M 31. The brightest SNRs have X-ray luminosities of up to 8 × 1036 erg s-1 in the 0.35-2.0 keV band. Based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and NASA.Appendices are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org
BACKGROUND: Palliative surgery followed by postoperative chemotherapy is a challenging approach in the treatment of stage IV gastric cancer yet patients must be carefully selected on the basis of likely clinical benefit.
METHODS: The records of 218 patients with histological diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent palliative surgery followed by postoperative chemotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. Twelve potential prognostic variables including tumour DNA index and serum IgG anti- Helicobacter pylori (HP) antibodies were evaluated for their influence on overall survival by multivariate analysis.
RESULTS: The median survival was 13.25 months [95% Confidence Interval (CI) 12.00, 14.50]. Three factors were found to have an independent effect on survival: performance status (PS) [PS 60-70 vs. 90-100 Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.676; CI 1.171-2.398, p = 0.005], liver metastases (HR 1.745; CI 1.318-2.310, p < 0.001), and DNA Index as assessed by Image cytometry (2.2-3.6 vs. >3.6 HR 3.059; CI 2.185-4.283, p < 0.001 and <2.2 vs. >3.6 HR; 4.207 CI 2.751-6.433 <0.001). HP infection had no statistically significant effect on survival by either univariate or multivariate analysis.
CONCLUSION: Poor pre-treatment PS, the presence of liver metastasis and high DNA Index were identified factors associated with adverse survival outcome in patients with Stage IV gastric cancer treated with palliative gastrectomy and postoperative chemotherapy. HP infection had no influence on survival of these patients.
Core/shell particles were synthesized by assembling oppositely charged ferrite (Fe3O4 or NiFe2O4) nanoparticles on the surface of monodispersed silica core particles (having size similar to 0.4 mu m) prepared by hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethylortosilicate. Optimal conditions for synthesis of silica core/nano-Fe3O4 shell particles were found at pH similar to 5.4. The obtained particles have superparamagnetic behavior above a blocking temperature of approximate to 25 K, which make them very attractive for a broad range of biomedical and bioengineering applications. Incorporation of nickel into ferrite structure could not be achieved at lower pH value, so functionalization of core particles was required. Incorporation of nickel into ferrite structure was successful at pH above 7, however at higher pH the formation rate of nickel-ferrite particles becomes very fast and the self-aggregation dominates the competing formation of the nickel-ferrite shell. Because of that the self-aggregation was prevented by surface modification of nickel-ferrite nanoparticles with citric acid before their deposition on the functionalized silica core and homogenous and continuous NiFe2O4 shell was finally obtained. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The aim of this paper is to provide further information of the tafoni development. At Theologos area, Fthiotis Prefecture, north Euboean Gulf, a carbonate formation hosts a variety of well developed tafoni. 165 tafoni were, randomly, selected by means of a detailed geomorphological investigation. The presence or absence of lichen cover, rock flaking, and cavern floor debris, amalgamation, salt flakes, different kind of structures, biological communities, were noted, while measurements regarding their dimension took place. Surface hardness values, obtained using a Schmidt hammer. Although, there is no evidence of the key factor that drives the growth of tafoni, salt weathering and low strength seems determinant of their formation. Moreover, much of the evidences suggest that joints are actively influencing the origin and the morphology of tafoni. It is possible that tafoni formation is initiated at weak zones. The studied tafoni are actively developing and are not relict features inherited from a past environment. It seems that their evolutionary stage is II towards to III. The results of chemical and mineralogical analysis indicate that during the cavernous weathering, silica, sulphates, alumina and iron oxides have replaced carbonate grains. Also, at the non-weathered part of the rock, the main mineralogical phases are calcite and dolomite.
Extracellular matrices (ECMs) are dynamic structures that provide cells not only with a structural support but, importantly, exhibit significant functional roles in the control of key cellular events such as adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation, and survival. In tumors, matrix effectors such as proteoglycans (PGs) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) constitute major regulators of the interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironment and, therefore, they have been identified as potential molecular targets that are expected to advance the pharmacological treatment of cancer. ECMs composition is highly affected by cells through intrinsic regulatory mechanisms, such as the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Proteasome is a major cellular protease complex that controls the concentration and turnover of molecules in ECMs, including certain types of PGs, MMPs and collagens, and consequently, in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, proteasome activity is regulated by PG-derived intracellular glycosaminoglycan moieties revealing a critical inter-dependence of these compounds. Since ECMs renewal and degradation can be tightly regulated by proteasome activities, its modulation may be considered as a novel strategy to control the properties of tumor microenvironment. Currently, there are several proteasome inhibitors targeting distinct molecular pathways either approved or in clinical trials for the treatment of multiple cancers. In this review, the novel approach of targeting the proteasome to selectively regulate the synthesis and the bioactivity of certain matrix PGs and MMPs is presented and discussed.
The present article reports a study concerning the analysis of 19 activity plans (we call them ‘scenarios’) developed by mathematics teacher educators-in-training for the pedagogical use of digital tools. The development of these scenarios took place during their training program and it was designed as an activity for increasing reflection, for expressing creative pedagogical ideas and for an active engagement in the design of curricula enriched with the use of technology. Our analysis shows that the trainee teacher educators deconstructed and reconstructed respective parts of the formal curriculum regarding the mathematical concepts they chose to embody in their scenarios.
The hadronic model of active galactic nuclei and other compact high-energy astrophysical sources assumes that ultra-relativistic protons, electron-positron pairs and photons interact via various hadronic and electromagnetic processes inside a magnetized volume, producing the multiwavelength spectra observed from these sources. A less studied property of such systems is that they can exhibit a variety of temporal behaviours due to the operation of different feedback mechanisms. We investigate the effects of one possible feedback loop, where γ-rays produced by photopion processes are being quenched whenever their compactness increases above a critical level. This causes a spontaneous creation of soft photons in the system that result in further proton cooling and more production of γ-rays, thus making the loop operate. We perform an analytical study of a simplified set of equations describing the system, in order to investigate the connection of its temporal behaviour with key physical parameters. We also perform numerical integration of the full set of kinetic equations verifying not only our analytical results but also those of previous numerical studies. We find that once the system becomes 'supercritical', it can exhibit either a periodic behaviour or a damped oscillatory one leading to a steady state. We briefly point out possible implications of such a supercriticality on the parameter values used in active galactic nuclei spectral modelling, through an indicative fitting of the VHE emission of blazar 3C 279.
The hadronic model of active galactic nuclei and other compact high-energy astrophysical sources assumes that ultra-relativistic protons, electron-positron pairs and photons interact via various hadronic and electromagnetic processes inside a magnetized volume, producing the multiwavelength spectra observed from these sources. A less studied property of such systems is that they can exhibit a variety of temporal behaviours due to the operation of different feedback mechanisms. We investigate the effects of one possible feedback loop, where γ-rays produced by photopion processes are being quenched whenever their compactness increases above a critical level. This causes a spontaneous creation of soft photons in the system that result in further proton cooling and more production of γ-rays, thus making the loop operate. We perform an analytical study of a simplified set of equations describing the system, in order to investigate the connection of its temporal behaviour with key physical parameters. We also perform numerical integration of the full set of kinetic equations verifying not only our analytical results but also those of previous numerical studies. We find that once the system becomes 'supercritical', it can exhibit either a periodic behaviour or a damped oscillatory one leading to a steady state. We briefly point out possible implications of such a supercriticality on the parameter values used in active galactic nuclei spectral modelling, through an indicative fitting of the VHE emission of blazar 3C 279.
We present a time-dependent approach to the one-zone hadronic model in the case where the photon spectrum is produced by ultrarelativistic protons interacting with soft photons that are produced from protons and low magnetic fields. Assuming that protons are injected at a certain rate in a homogeneous spherical volume containing a magnetic field, the evolution of the system can be described by five coupled kinetic equations, for protons, electrons, photons, neutrons, and neutrinos. Photopair and photopion interactions are modelled using the results of Monte-Carlo simulations and, in particular, from the SOPHIA code for the latter. The coupling of energy losses and injection introduces a self-consistency in our approach and allows the study of the comparative relevancy of processes at various conditions, the efficiency of the conversion of proton luminosity to radiation, the resulting neutrino spectra, and the effects of time variability on proton injection, among other topics. We present some characteristic examples of the temporal behaviour of the system and show that this can be very different from the one exhibited by leptonic models. Furthermore, we argue that, contrary to the wide-held belief, there are parameter regimes where the hadronic models can become quite efficient. However, to keep the free parameters at a minimum and facilitate an in-depth study of the system, we have only concentrated on the case where protons are injected; i.e., we did not consider the effects of a co-accelerated leptonic component.
BACKGROUND: Carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPKP) has been established as important nosocomial pathogen in many geographic regions. Transmission from patient to patient via the hands of healthcare workers is the main route of spread in the acute-care setting. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Epidemiological and infection control data were recorded during a prospective observational study conducted in a surgical unit of a tertiary-care hospital in Greece. Surveillance culture for CPKP were obtained from all patients upon admission and weekly thereafter. The Ross-Macdonald model for vector-borne diseases was applied to obtain estimates for the basic reproduction number R(0) (average number of secondary cases per primary case in the absence of infection control) and assess the impact of infection control measures on CPKP containment in endemic and hyperendemic settings. Eighteen of 850 patients were colonized with CPKP on admission and 51 acquired CPKP during hospilazation. R(0) reached 2 and exceeded unity for long periods of time under the observed hand hygiene compliance (21%). The minimum hand hygiene compliance level necessary to control transmission was 50%. Reduction of 60% to 90% in colonized patients on admission, through active surveillance culture, contact precautions and isolation/cohorting, in combination with 60% compliance in hand hygiene would result in rapid decline in CPKP prevalence within 8-12 weeks. Antibiotics restrictions did not have a substantial benefit when an aggressive control strategy was implemented. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Surveillance culture on admission and isolation/cohorting of colonized patients coupled with moderate hand hygiene compliance and contact precautions may lead to rapid control of CPKP in endemic and hyperendemic healthcare settings.
The modulation of spontaneous light emission of active centers through elastic waves in Si/SiO2 multilayer phoxonic structures that support dual photonic-phononic localized modes, in the bulk or at the surface, is studied by means of rigorous full electrodynamic and elastodynamic calculations. Our results show that strong dynamic modulation of the spontaneous emission can be achieved through an enhanced acousto-optic interaction when light and elastic energy are simultaneously localized in the same region.
In this paper we propose the design and implementationof a Turing Test (TT) for the research of the singingvoice. Although the TT is mainly related to the researchfield of Artificial Intelligence (AI), being used both as acriterion and an operational guide by the scientists of thisfield, with the present paper we attempt to introduce arather different approach to the TT. Given the fact ofvarious disputes over the validity of the TT as a criterionof AI, one might argue that the TT is nothing more thana ‘philosophical fossil’, a left-over and remainder of pastand outdated philosophical assumptions about the natureof human intelligence. The problem of an unavoidablesubjectivity in the results of TT experiments hasstrengthen the question about the usefulness of the TT asa research means. Our goal is to introduce a new scopefor the use of the TT not as a criterion of intelligence butas an ‘instrument’ for tracing certain features of humanjudgment in various fields. Pretty much in the fashion ofa Transcendental philosophical stance, we face the TT asa procedure in which what is judged is judgement itself.Specifically, in the present paper we attempt to exhibitthe way in which a TT can be used to trace and highlightfeatures of human judgment regarding the singing voice.Are certain factors like culture, gender, age or familiaritywith music technology basic parameters of the way inwhich humans perceive and judge artificial and naturalsinging voice? Is the TT a worn off chapter in the historyof the philosophy of AI or could it be a brand new toolfor the research in fields like psychoacoustics, cognitivemusicology, social psychology of music and generallyfor the research on research itself?1 This is the kind ofquestions that we intend to raise concerning the future ofthe TT, starting with a paper for a possible ‘singingvoice TT’.
Our present contribution is a resume of a series of our studies by which we make an effort to explore the factors that are related to the acceptance of evolutionary theory among Greek and other variouscountries perspective and active educators using the conceptual ecology for biological evolution as a theoretical lens. Our central question refers to the role of the type of religiosity of a certain population in making their willingness for acceptance or rejection of evolution in the school environment. The Theory of Evolution (ET) is considered as concept - threshold that needs to be passed before someone can develop his/her understanding (Kinchin 2010) of a broader perspective of natural phenomena and of the nature of science. Most educational research has shown that the result of the teaching of ET is not positive in different parts of the world. Moreover research shows that the acceptance of the ET is restricted and the knowledge is limited and controversial among school science students and teachers. Large percentages of science teachers—close to a majority in many samples—reject ET and support the teaching of antievolutionary ideas in schools (Nehm & Schonfeld, 2007). Thus evolution remains a problematic subject for many science teachers. We make the hypothesis that the type of qualitative characteristics of the religion a nation or population group holds, is an essential factor in determining the level of acceptance of evolution, and their readiness to make changes in their believes, as well. More specifically, we advocate that the student and teacher populations that come from countries with a Greek-Orthodox background are m
Pollen assemblages recovered from a 5 m sediment core from the Vravron coastal marsh suggest a close correlation between vegetation development and human presence in Attica, and provide the first complete record of middle to late Holocene vegetation history. Correlation of pollen with archaeological data attempts to decode the man–environment relations of the past, within the context of the known climatic variability of the mid late Holocene, in the vicinity of ancient Athens, an area of high historical significance. The pollen record of Vravron denotes a rather variable landscape where open Mediterranean evergreen pine woods alternated with maquis shrublands and grasslands, where human activities and climate have left their imprints on vegetation. During the last 5,000 years agricultural practices displayed several variations: cereal cultivation appears more intense during the Bronze Age, especially in the Mycenaean, while a spread of Olea is observed during Geometric to Classical times. The gradual abandonment of Olea cultivation evidenced in our pollen diagram came as a result of the displacement of human activities in the interior of Mesogaia in Hellenistic and Roman times. Olea and cereal cultivation intensification is observed again during the Mesobyzantine period. In the upper part of the core evidence of intense soil erosion and expansion of Vravron wetland was recorded, coinciding with the Little Ice Age climatic event and the introduction of Arvanites populations in the area.
Context. It is well established that some YSO jets (e.g. RW Aur) display different propagation speeds between their blue and red shifted parts, a feature possibly associated with the central engine or the environment in which the jet propagates. Aims: To understand the origin of asymmetric YSO jet velocities, we investigate the efficiency of two candidate mechanisms, one based on the intrinsic properties of the system and the other on the role of the external medium. In particular, a parallel or anti-parallel configuration between the protostellar magnetosphere and the disk magnetic field is considered, and the resulting dynamics examined both in an ideal and in a resistive magneto-hydrodynamical (MHD) regime. Moreover, we explore the effects of a potential difference in the pressure of the environment, as a consequence of the nonuniform density distribution of molecular clouds. Methods: Ideal and resistive axisymmetric numerical simulations were carried out for a variety of models, all of which are based on a combination of two analytical solutions, a disk wind and a stellar outflow. The initial two-component jet is modified by either inverting the orientation of its inner magnetic field or imposing a constant surrounding pressure. The velocity profiles are studied by assuming steady flows as well as after strong time variable ejection is incorporated. Results: Discrepancies between the speeds of the two outflows in opposite directions can indeed occur both due to unaligned magnetic fields and different outer pressures. In the former case, the asymmetry appears only on the dependence of the velocity on the cylindrical distance, but the implied observed value is significantly altered when the density distribution is also taken into account. On the other hand, a nonuniform medium collimates the two jets unevenly, directly affecting their propagation speed. A further interesting feature of the pressure-confined outflow simulations is the formation of static knots whose spacing seems to be associated with the ambient pressure. Conclusions: Jet velocity asymmetries are anticipated both when multipolar magnetic moments are present in the star-disk system and when nonuniform environments are considered. The latter is an external mechanism that can easily explain the large timescale of the phenomenon, whereas the former naturally relates it to the YSO intrinsic properties.
Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare two single agents paclitaxel (intravenous) versus vinorelbine (oral) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with performance status (PS):2. Patients and Methods: The patients were randomized to receive either oral vinorelbine 60 mg/m 2 on days I, 8, 15 every 4 weeks for 4 cycles (group A) or paclitaxel 90 mg/m 2 intravenously for 1 h on days 1, 8, 15 every 4 weeks for a total of 4 cycles (group B). Results: Among the 74 eligible patients (36 in arm A and 38 in arm B) in arm A, two (6%) had a partial response (95% Cl, 0.7-18.7) and 5 (14%) had stable disease (95% CI, 4.7-29.5). In arm B, five (13%) had a partial response (95% CI, 4.4-28.1) and 7 (18%) had stable disease (95% CI, 7.7-34.3). No significant difference was found in terms of clinical benefit between the two groups after two cycles of treatment except for appetite in favour of paclitaxel (p=0.01). Median survival was 3.1 months (95% CI, 2.2-4.0) for arm A and 5.1 months (95% CI, 2.7-7.6) for arm B (p=0.95). Toxicity was mild and only alopecia was more profound in the patients of arm B (p=0.008). Conclusion: No significant difference was found in clinical benefit between PS:2 NSCLC patients treated with either vinorelbine or paclitaxel.
We present a catalog of photometric and spectroscopic data collected during and around of EE Cep eclipses in 1997, 2003 and 2008/9. The photometric data were obtained with 25 different instruments, mainly in Johnson-Cousins UBV(RI)C bands, and some small sets of the data were obtained with narrow interference filters, placed on, or around of H-alpha and H-beta lines. The photometry from the last two eclipses have been compiled into the set of consistent photometric data in UBV(RI)C bands, that has been used in the paper to modelling of the eclipses in EE Cep system. The 100 of spectra released in this catalog were obtained with 8 of different spectrographs at low, medium and high resolutions (R in range ~2000-48000). About half of them (54 spectra) cover narrow ranges of order 200 Angstroms with H-alpha, H-beta lines or NaI dublet, and the second part (46 spectra) cover longer ranges of wavelengths - several thousands of Angstroms in the visual domain or in the near infrared. (7 data files).
This study is based on observations obtained with the 1.3-m Warsaw telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory, Chile, during the OGLE-II and OGLE-III projects, between 1997 and 2008. (4 data files).
X-ray mosaic images from combined EPIC pn and MOS data of the SMC region centred at RA=01:00:30, DE=-72:28:00 (J2000). The three images were produced in the three energy bands 0.2-1.0keV, 1.0-2.0keV, and 2.0-4.5keV. The images are exposure-corrected and for EPIC pn out-of-time event subtracted, but not detector-background subtracted and not vignetting-corrected. (4 data files).
The serum levels of several angiogenic cytokines are increased in patients withWaldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). Angiopoietin-2 is also increased and the balance of angiopoietin-1/angiopoietin-2, which antagonize for the receptor tyrosine kinase Tie-2 is in favor of angiopoietin-2. Lymphoplasmacytic cells may produce VEGF, but they also produce large amounts of CCL-3 which attracts macrophages, and probably mast cells. Mast cells support lymphoplasmacytic cells and may also produce VEGF. VWF is stored in the Weibel-Palade bodies together with several other mediators, including angiopoietin-2. The endothelial cells (ECs) release the content of Weibel-Palade bodies in response to stimuli, such as VEGF and VWF and other molecules (such as angiopoitein-2) are released simultaneously. VWF may also have an inhibitory activity in the constitutive VEGFR-2-dependent pathway(s), which promote EC migration.
Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide that is widely used as stabilizer and thickener with many industrial applications in food industry. Our aim was to estimate the ability of Xanthomonas campestris ATCC 13951 for the production of xanthan gum by using whey as a growth medium, a by-product of dairy industry. X. campestris ATCC 13951 has been studied in batch cultures using a complex medium for the determination of the optimal concentration of glucose, galactose and lactose. In addition, whey was used under various treatment procedures (de-proteinated, partially hydrolyzed by β-lactamase and partially hydrolyzed and de-proteinated) as culture medium, to study the production of xanthan in a 2 l bioreactor with constant stirring and aeration. A production of 28 g/l was obtained when partially hydrolysed β-lactamase was used, which proved to be one of the highest xanthan gum production reported so far. At the same time, an effort has been made for the control and selection of the most appropriate procedure for the preservation of the strain and its use as inoculant in batch cultures, without loss of its viability and its capability of xanthan gum production. The pre-treatment of whey (whey permeate medium hydrolyzed, WPH) was very important for the production of xanthan by the strain X. campestris ATCC 13951 during batch culture conditions in a 2 l bioreactor. Preservation methods such as lyophilization, cryopreservation at various glycerol solution and temperatures have been examined. The results indicated that the best preservation method for the producing strain X. campestris ATCC 13951 was the lyophilization. Taking into account that whey permeate is a low cost by-product of the dairy industry, the production of xanthan achieved under the studied conditions was considered very promising for industrial application.
Context. Although numerous archival XMM-Newton observations existed towards the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) before 2009, only a fraction of the whole galaxy had been covered. Aims: Between May 2009 and March 2010, we carried out an XMM-Newton survey of the SMC, to ensure a complete coverage of both its bar and wing. Thirty-three observations of 30 different fields with a total exposure of about one Ms filled the previously missing parts. Methods: We systematically processed all available SMC data from the European Photon Imaging Camera. After rejecting observations with very high background, we included 53 archival and the 33 survey observations. We produced images in five different energy bands. We applied astrometric boresight corrections using secure identifications of X-ray sources and combined all the images to produce a mosaic covering the main body of the SMC. Results: We present an overview of the XMM-Newton observations, describe their analysis, and summarise our first results, which will be presented in detail in follow-up papers. Here, we mainly focus on extended X-ray sources, such as supernova remnants (SNRs) and clusters of galaxies, that are seen in our X-ray images. Conclusions: Our XMM-Newton survey represents the deepest complete survey of the SMC in the 0.15 - 12.0 keV X-ray band. We propose three new SNRs that have low surface brightnesses of a few 10-14 erg cm-2 s-1 arcmin-2 and large extents. In addition, several known remnants appear larger than previously measured at either X-rays or other wavelengths extending the size distribution of SMC SNRs to larger values. Based on observations with XMM-Newton, an ESA Science Mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member states and the USA (NASA).Table 1 is available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.orgFITS images are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/545/A128
In the course of the XMM-Newton survey of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), two new bright X-ray sources were discovered exhibiting the spectral characteristics of high-mass X-ray binaries - but revealing only weak evidence for pulsations in just one of the objects (at 153 s in XMMU J010743.1-715953). The accurate X-ray source locations permit the identification of these X-ray sources with Be stars, thereby strongly suggesting that these systems are new Be/X-ray binaries. From blue spectra the proposed classification for XMMU J010633.1-731543 is B0.5-1Ve and for XMMU J010743.1-715953 it is B2IV-Ve.
We review recent results of the first dedicated monitoring programme for supersoft X-ray source (SSS) states of classical novae (CNe) in the central region of the Andromeda galaxy ({M 31}), performed in high-cadence campaigns with {XMM-Newton } and Chandra. After the first three years we had detected 21 novae in X-rays (17 new), thereby discovering peculiar objects and increasing the number of known {M 31} novae with SSS state to 60. This is the largest sample known in any galaxy and we used it to carry out the first statistical analysis of novae in X-rays. We found several correlations between optical and SSS parameters, and carried out a simulation on the completeness of our monitoring as well as the first nova population study in X-rays. This shows that X-ray surveys of CNe populations are a powerful tool to address the open questions connected to these objects.
Πρόκειται για την έκδοση των πρακτικών του διεθνούς συνεδρίου για τον Friedrich Schiller, το οποίο έλαβε χώρα στην Αθήνα, στις 5 και 6 Νοεμβρίου 2010. Την έκδοση των πρακτικών επιμελήθηκαν η Κατερίνα Μητραλέξη και η Αναστασία Αντωνοπούλου, οι οποίες υπογράφουν και την εκτενή εισαγωγή του τόμου των πρακτικών.
Το συνέδριο αυτό διοργανώθηκε από το Τμήμα Γερμανικής Γλώσσας και Φιλολογίας του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών, με αφορμή τους εορτασμούς ανά την Ευρώπη της επετείου των 250 χρόνων από τη γέννηση του ποιητή, δραματουργού και στοχαστή Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805), αλλά κυρίως προκειμένου να προωθήσει την έρευνα του έργου του, μετά τη διαπίστωση ότι, παρά την αξιοσημείωτη απήχηση που ανέκαθεν απολάμβανε το έργο του Σίλλερ στην Ελλάδα, από τις αρχές του 19ου αιώνα έως πρόσφατα, παρατηρείται έλλειψη εξειδικευμένων μελετών πάνω σε σημαντικούς τομείς του πολύπλευρου έργου του. Η επιστημονική-οργανωτική επιτροπή του συνεδρίου επεδίωξε ως εκ τούτου την ανάδειξη πτυχών του δραματικού, λυρικού, ιστορικού και φιλοσοφικού/αισθητικού του έργου. Έτσι εξετάζεται το πολυδιάστατο έργο του Σίλλερ στο πλαίσιο των διαφόρων συστημάτων σκέψης του 18ου αιώνα, στο πλαίσιο του γερμανικού κλασικισμού, αλλά και των απαρχών του γερμανικού ρομαντισμού, ενώ δίδεται έμφαση στη σχέση του Σίλλερ με την ελληνική αρχαιότητα και την αρχαία ελληνική τέχνη. Παρουσιάζεται επίσης η πρόσληψή του στην Ελλάδα μέσω των μεταφράσεων και των θεατρικών παραστάσεων. Ο τόμος των πρακτικών περιλαμβάνει τις εισηγήσεις δεκατεσσάρων ερευνητών.
Η Αναστασία Αντωνοπούλου διερευνά την πρόσληψη της αρχαίας ελληνικής τέχνης από τον Φρήντριχ Σίλλερ και τη συσχετίζει με την ευρύτερη αντίληψη για την αρχαιότητα κατά τον 18ο αιώνα. Ο Γιώργος Ξηροπαΐδης επιχειρεί να δείξει ότι στα αισθητικά κείμενα του Σίλλερ, ενός από τους πιο οξυδερκείς και λεπταίσθητους αναγνώστες του Καντ, συναντάμε τα πρώτα ίχνη μιας πρόσληψης της καντιανής θεωρίας για το υψηλό, η οποία παρακάμπτει σχεδόν πλήρως τον κριτικό χαρακτήρα της. Η Κατερίνα Μητραλέξη διερευνά τη δραστηριότητα του Σίλλερ ως ιστορικού, αφού ο Σίλλερ δεν υπήρξε μόνον ποιητής, δραματουργός και φιλόσοφος, αλλά και αναγνωρισμένος στον καιρό του ιστορικός, διάσταση του έργου του, προς την οποία η έρευνα μόλις τα τελευταία χρόνια έστρεψε το ενδιαφέρον της.
Ο Ρολφ-Πέτερ Γιαντς εξετάζει τα κείμενα περί ερασιτεχνισμού, που συνέταξαν οι Σίλλερ και Γκαίτε περί τα τέλη του 18ου αιώνα, και τα θεωρεί ως μια φιλόδοξη προσπάθεια να διεκδικήσουν οι δύο συγγραφείς, στο όνομα των βασικών αρχών του κλασικισμού, την ερμηνευτική κυριαρχία επί των τεχνών της εποχής τους, η κατάσταση των οποίων τους φαινόταν αξιοθρήνητη. Ο Στέφαν Λίντινγκερ εξετάζει αναλυτικά, με βάση κυρίως παραδείγματα από την λυρική ποίηση, τη σημασία της έννοιας της αρμονίας στον Σίλλερ, και τη συσχετίζει με την γενικότερη έννοια του όρου. Ο Γιόαχιμ Τάιζεν θέτει στην εισήγησή του το ερώτημα: Ποιος δικαιούται εντέλει να διαβάζει Σίλλερ; Ποιος είναι – κατά την άποψη του Σίλλερ – ο ιδανικός αναγνώστης για τον οποίο αξίζει να γράφει κανείς; Ο Μαρκ Μιχάλσκι εξετάζει την πρόσληψη του Σίλλερ στο πλαίσιο εκείνων των προσπαθειών ιστοριογράφησης της γερμανικής φιλοσοφίας, οι οποίες καταπιάνονται με τη γερμανική φιλοσοφία στο σύνολό της, προσπαθώντας να την κατανοήσουν στη ροή των διαφόρων εποχών της και ως προς τον ειδικό εθνικό της χαρακτήρα.
Ο Μίχαελ Βάις επιχειρεί στο άρθρο του να αναδείξει τη λογική μιας αστικής νοοτροπίας με αφορμή το θεατρικό έργο του Φρήντριχ Σίλλερ Έρωτας και ραδιουργία (1784), αφού το έργο πραγματεύεται και αντιπαραθέτει δύο διαφορετικά πρότυπα ζωής: Το εγκώμιο μιας ζωής στηριγμένης στη φρόνηση αντιτίθεται προς ένα πρότυπο ζωής στηριγμένης στην ευαισθησία. Ο Γιάννης Πάγκαλος εξετάζει το δραματικό έργο του Σίλλερ μέσα από το πρίσμα της αλληλεπίδρασης της λογοτεχνίας με τον κινηματογράφο, εστιάζοντας σε τέσσερεις κινηματογραφικές μεταφορές του αστικού δράματος Έρωτας και ραδιουργία, των ετών 1922, 1959, 2005 και 2009.
Η Ευαγγελία Τσιαβού ασχολείται στην ανακοίνωσή της με το υψηλό στο μεταίχμιο μεταξύ αισθητικής, ιδεαλισμού, μεταφυσικής και ψυχανάλυσης. Η Κατερίνα Καρακάση παρουσιάζει τον Σίλλερ ως πρόδρομο του γερμανικού ρομαντισμού, τοποθετώντας στο επίκεντρο της εισήγησής της το ημιτελές μυθιστόρημά του Φαντάσματα, το οποίο δημοσιεύτηκε σε συνέχειες μεταξύ των ετών 1787 και 1789 στο περιοδικό «Thalia». Στο μυθιστόρημα αυτό ο Σίλλερ πραγματεύεται μεν σημαντικά ζητήματα που απασχολούν τον Διαφωτισμό, ταυτόχρονα όμως προλειαίνει το έδαφος για την έλευση του ρομαντισμού.
Η Δήμητρα Νικολαΐδου-Μπαλτά αναλύει στην εισήγησή της και συγκρίνει μεταξύ τους τα θεατρικά έργα Έρωτας και ραδιουργία του Σίλλερ και Ο Βασιλικόςτου Αντωνίου Μάτεσι, που γράφτηκε μεταξύ 1829-30. Με την ανάλυση και τη σύγκριση επιδιώκεται η διερεύνηση των συγκλίσεων και των αποκλίσεων ανάμεσα στα δύο έργα και μέσω αυτής η αποσαφήνιση του αν και κατά πόσο ο Μάτεσις έχει επηρεαστεί από το έργο του Σίλλερ. Η Αναστασία Δασκαρόλη διερευνά την πρόσληψη του ιστορικού δράματος Μαρία Στούαρτ (1800), που αποδεικνύεται ένα από τα πλέον προσφιλή έργα του Σίλλερ στην Ελλάδα. Εξετάζονται επιλεγμένες μεταφράσεις του έργου. Η Αγλαΐα Μπλιούμη, βασιζόμενη σε σύγχρονες θεωρίες της διδακτικής, παρουσιάζει πως θα μπορούσε να ενσωματωθεί η διδασκαλία κειμένων του Σίλλερ στη διδασκαλία της γερμανικής ως ξένης γλώσσας.
The aim of this research was to examine the associations between bullying/victimization and loneliness in the peer group and in the family. Participants were 202 fifth-grade students from five public schools located in the south section of Athens. They completed the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire-Revised Edition (Olweus, 2006) and the Relational Provisions Loneliness Questionnaire (RPLQ - Hayden, 1989; Terrell-Deutsch, 1999), which showed adequate internal consistency. Almost one out of five children participated in bullying situations. More boys than girls were bullies and bullies/victims. Linear regression analyses indicated that the tendency to be bullied and the tendency to bully other students predicted loneliness in the peer group better than loneliness in the family. The type of victimization with the strongest predictive value for loneliness was social exclusion. Loneliness in the peer group was associated with the victim role, whereas loneliness in the family with the bully role. Results are discussed in relation to the social nature of bullying/victimization and to the subjective distress of involved children.
Οι αρχές της οικονομικής βιωσιμότητας και της ανταποδοτικότητας ως στοιχεία της έννοιας του θεσμού της κοινωνικής ασφάλισης. Οι αρχές αυτές σε συνδυασμό με τις ήδη καθιερωθείσες αρχές της κοινωνικής αλληλεγγύης και της εκπόνησης αναλογιστικών μελετών, διασφαλίζουν την οικονομική λειτουργία του θεσμού της κοινωνικής ασφάλισης και την εκπλήρωση του κοινωνικού του σκοπού.
(2012). Ηρακλής: Η ηθική μορφή της Ελληνικής μυθολογίας και ο συμβολισμός της παραβολής της Αρετής και της Κακίας.
Στην ελληνική μυθολογία η ηρωϊκή μορφή η οποία κυριαρχεί περισσότερο από οποιονδήποτε άλλο ήρωα, σχεδόν απόλυτα, είναι ο Ηρακλής. Στο πρόσωπό του, όπως φαίνεται από τους άθλους του, συνοψίστηκαν όλα τα χαρακτηριστικά και οι ικανότητες με τα οποία η μυθοπλαστική φαντασία του ελληνικού λαού επιθυμούσε να διανθίσει τον ίδιο του τον εαυτό. Ο Ηρακλής, ως εξολοθρευτής των επικίνδυνων τεράτων που επιφέρουν την ανθρώπινη καταστροφή, και ως δυναμικός εκδικητής εκείνου του οποίου εκπροσωπεί το κακό, γίνεται ο ίδιος τιμωρός της αδικίας και υπερασπιστής του καλού. Εμφανίζεται, επομένως, ως προστάτης του αγαθού και, εν τέλει, ως ο αντίποδας του κακού, ενσαρκώνοντας τις αντιλήψεις και τους ηθικούς στόχους του λαού.
Η αλληγορία του σοφιστή Πρόδικου με την Αρετή και την Κακία, προφανώς αποτυτώνει μιαν αντίληψη η οποία ήταν γενικώς αποδεκτή. Με την εξέλιξη του μύθου του Ηρακλή μέσα στο χρόνο, η μορφή του, αποκτώντας ηθικά στοιχεία, εμπλουτίζεται, ούτως ώστε ο ήρωας εν τέλει να βαίνει προς μια πορεία εκπολιτισμού του. Ο εκπολιτισμός της μορφής του συγκεκριμένου ήρωα, προφανώς απηχεί τη σταδιακή πολιτιστική ωρίμανση του αρχαίου κόσμου, καθώς μέσα από τις μυθικές περιγραφές εξισορροπούνται οι αρχαϊκές αντιλήψεις από τη μια, με τις κατακτήσεις του λόγου και της σκέψης από την άλλη. Ο ήρωας, εν τέλει, ταυτίζεται με την επιλογή του καλού και με το χρέος του ανθρώπου να προσπαθήσει πολύ προκειμένου να πετύχει το ευτυχές τέλος, επιβεβαιώνοντας πως τα καλά κόποις κτώνται, και πως τίποτε δεν είναι αυτονόητο, αλλά κάθε επιτυχία προϋποθέτει την επίπονη προσπάθεια και την αξιοποίηση της λογικής.
Στο πονημάτιο αυτό, θα προσπαθήσουμε να εμφανίσουμε την πνευματική διάσταση της ανθρώπινης εργασίας, θέλοντας μ’ αυτόν τον τρόπο να τοποθετήσουμε ένα θεμελιώδες αποδεικτικό έρεισμα στην οικοδόμηση της αντιλήψεως της πνευματικότητος της εργασίας. Πρόθεσή μας είναι ν’ αποδείξουμε ότι όλες οι ανθρώπινες δραστηριότητες είναι δυνατόν, αλλά και πρέπει, να αντιμετωπίζονταιως επί μέρους εγκόσμιες αντανακλάσεις του πολυπλόκου έργου της Θείας Δραστηριότητος. Και εφόσον θέλουμε να θεωρούμε τα ανθρώπινα επαγγέλματα ως αντανακλάσεις της Θείας Δραστηριότητος, δεν μπορούμε παρά να παραδεχθούμε ότι αποτελούν σύμβολα αυτής της Δραστηριότητος, και η δική μας αποστολή συνίσταται στην αποκρυπτογράφηση και ερμηνεία αυτών των συμβόλων, των μόνων ικανών να μαςβοηθήσουν στην αντίληψη της θεωρητικής βάσεως για την οποίαν ομιλούμε.
Venom immunotherapy (VIT) has been shown to be an effective and safe treatment for preventing sting-induced anaphylaxis in patients with systemic reactions to hymenoptera stings. A remaining problem is the relative effectiveness and safety of different immunotherapy protocols used with respect to maintenance dose, injection interval, and duration.|We aimed to describe a modified cluster VIT protocol with a maintenance dose of 50 μg lasting 5 yr and to evaluate retrospectively its safety and efficacy in children.|Fifty four children 9.5±3.2 yr old with a history of at least one anaphylactic reaction to hymenoptera stings underwent VIT between 1995 and 2006. The identification of the offending insect(s) was based on patient's report and documented with in-vivo (SPTs and IDs) and in-vitro (RAST/CAP) test results. A modified cluster outpatient protocol lasting 5 wks, reaching a maintenance dose of 50 μg was followed according to clinical history and test results. After the maintenance dose was achieved, the followed injection-intervals were 4 wks for the first year, 5 wks for the 2nd year and 3rd year, and 6 wks for the last 2 yr.|Of the 54 children, 52 tolerated the 50 μg VIT protocol without side effects. Twenty one of them reported at least one field sting from at least one of the culprit, for their allergy, insects, 6±3.5 yr after they have started VIT treatment. In 11 of them, sting occurred 3.5±2.9 yr after the VIT was completed, whereas the other 10 of them during immunotherapy, 3.2±1.4 yr after they have started VIT. In the remaining two children, the maintenance dose was increased to 100 μg due to systemic reactions from the VIT. The data reflect outcomes 6-16 yr after the patients' initial allergic reaction.|VIT with 50 μg maintenance dose lasting 5 yr appears to be safe and effective enough to induce tolerance in children with hymenoptera venom hypersensitivity.
Scar endometriosis is an under-appreciated or misdiagnosed phenomenon in general surgery and may eventually be more common than reflected in the literature. We herein report five cases of scar endometriosis that were treated in our surgical department one to five years after Caesarean section. Scar endometriosis should be considered when the symptoms are present in a cyclic manner mostly after gynaecological operations and worsening during menstruation. Diagnosis is mainly based upon a high index ofsuspicion. The treatment of choice is surgical resection.
8-Oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoG) accumulates in the genome over time and is believed to contribute to the development of aging characteristics of skeletal muscle and various aging-related diseases. Here, we show a significantly increased level of intrahelical 8-oxoG and 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase (OGG1) expression in aged human skeletal muscle compared to that of young individuals. In response to exercise, the 8-oxoG level was lastingly elevated in sedentary young and old subjects, but returned rapidly to preexercise levels in the DNA of physically active individuals independent of age. 8-OxoG levels in DNA were inversely correlated with the abundance of acetylated OGG1 (Ac-OGG1), but not with total OGG1, apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1), or Ac-APE1. The actual Ac-OGG1 level was linked to exercise-induced oxidative stress, as shown by changes in lipid peroxide levels and expression of Cu,Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and SIRT3, as well as the balance between acetyltransferase p300/CBP and deacetylase SIRT1, but not SIRT6 expression. Together these data suggest that that acetylated form of OGG1, and not OGG1 itself, correlates inversely with the 8-oxoG level in the DNA of human skeletal muscle, and the Ac-OGG1 level is dependent on adaptive cellular responses to physical activity, but is age independent.
The purpose of this study was to identify, categorize, and analyze published process-product research on physical education teaching methods completed between1960 and 2009. A literature search utilizing electronic databases yielded 138 studies which met the criteria for inclusion in the analysis. Each study was analyzed to obtain information on (a) the decade the study was published, (b) the number of authors, (c) the publication outlet, (d) the type of class, (e) the sampling method, (f) the effect size, (g) the statistics used, and (h) the statistical assumptions. The results indicated that most studies were the result of collaboration efforts among researchers. Also, intact classes rather than randomization were the most common technique used for forming the experimental groups. In the majority of the studies, the selection of the sample was done by means of purposive sampling techniques. A large proportion of the studies used univariate statistics to complete the data analysis. However, the majority of the papers reviewed did not report effect size values nor did they report fulfillment of certain statistical assumptions. The major publication outlet for process-product research was the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education.
In previous papers ([1, 2]) we defined the C*-algebra and the longitudinal pseudodifferential calculus of any singular foliation (M,). In the current paper we construct the analytic index of an elliptic operator as a KK-theory element, and prove that this element can be obtained from an “adiabatic foliation” on M×ℝ, which we introduce here.
The susceptibilities of 824 Bacteroides fragilis group isolates against nine antibiotics were evaluated in a Europe-wide study involving 13 countries. Species determination, by different methods, was carried out on all but one isolate. Resistance rates were evaluated according to species and geographical areas via CLSI and the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) breakpoints. The present data were compared with those obtained 10 and 20 years ago at a European level. High-level resistance (MIC ≥ 64 mg/L) to ampicillin was observed in 44.5% of the strains, which is a significant increase relative to 20 years ago (16%). Piperacillin/tazobactam was more active than amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (3.1% and 10.4% resistance, respectively), again with a resistance increase relative to earlier studies. Dramatic increases in resistance were observed for cefoxitin, clindamycin and moxifloxacin, with rates of 17.2%, 32.4% and 13.6%, respectively. The lowest resistances were found for imipenem, metronidazole and tigecycline (1.2%, <1% and 1.7%). Nonsusceptible strains to imipenem and metronidazole were more resistant to other anti-anaerobic drugs. Differences were detected between geographical areas, with higher resistance rates for moxifloxacin in Scandinavian countries (21.4%) than in Mediterranean countries (5.4%), whereas, for clindamycin, the resistance rates were higher in Mediterranean (41.8%) and lower in Scandinavian countries (22.5%). Piperacillin/tazobactam resistance was also higher in Scandinavian countries.
Resumen: Cecilia Valdés o La Loma del Ángel y Martín Rivas son novelas clásicas de la literatura hispanoamericana. Ambas presentan la estratificación social y las ideas de unas épocas concretas. En Cecilia Valdés se presenta el mosaico de la sociedad cubana en la primera mitad del siglo XIX. Los personajes blancos son la capa dominante mientras las otras capas se preocupan más por su sobrevivencia. Los personajes blancos ricos están a favor de la esclavitud. Igualmente consideran el concubinato como algo normal y aceptable. Los personajes jóvenes ricos siguen las ideas de los mayores y se comportan del mismo modo. Los personajes femeninos tienen un papel secundario y aunque son más compasivas hacia los esclavos no pueden hacer algo. En Martín Rivas, a través de la descripción de los personajes, se revela el modo de pensar de dos capas principales: “las buenas familias” y el “medio pelo”. Los personajes de la burguesía adinerada son conservadores y se interesan en la vida política motivados siempre por su interés económico y su anhelo de poder. Los personajes femeninos, sumisos al poder masculino, no tienen ninguna participación política aunque a veces expresan opiniones contrarias a las de los hombres. Al contrario los personajes jóvenes de la burguesía pobre se inclinan al liberalismo de manera espontánea.
Palabras clave: novela, hispanoamericana, romanticismo, realismo, esclavitud, ideología, sociedad, dinero.
The potential genotoxic effects of several pure secondary metabolites produced by fungi used as biological control agents (BCAs) were studied with the Ames Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity assay and the Vitotox test, with and without metabolic activation. A complete set of Salmonella tester strains was used to avoid false negative results. To detect possible mutagenic and/or cytotoxic effects of fungal secondary metabolites due to synergistic action, crude extracts and fungal cell extracts of the BCAs were also examined. Although the sensitivity of the methods varied depending on the metabolite used, clearly no genotoxicity was observed in all cases. The results of the two assays are discussed in the light of being used in a complementary fashion for a convincing risk-assessment evaluation of fungal BCAs and their secondary metabolites.
The use of integrated Hospital Information Systems is related with many benefits for the healthcare system, increasing the effectiveness of the provided services and assuring quality of care. Aim of this study is to investigate the types of Information Systems, the level of integration and the problems identified during the implementation phase, in three public hospitals. The above are expected to contribute to the understanding of the organizational, human resource and technical factors related with the successful implementation of a hospital IS. In order to investigate those elements, an assessment questionnaire was developed and completed by nine hospitals IT employees of the three hospitals. In addition, open interviews were organized with the same employees to further formulate an overall aspect, while in one hospital case, observation and discussion with four different categories of involved staff was undertaken. It was found that the implementation problems are mainly related with the underfunding, inadequate use of standards, lack of skilled IT experts, insufficiently trained personnel and users' reserve. The problems may be tackled with a supportive hospital administration committed to the successful implementation. The external contracting company working on its own, without any participation of the hospital IT department seems to be a failure recipe. It is evident that an active management support and skillful hospital IT employees, are expected to result to success stories during the implementation of integrated hospital information systems.
This paper examines the collaborative-intergenerational efforts, conflict resolution curricula, projects and training activities of non-profit organizations and NGOs— that reflect the values of Olympism—striving to eliminate racism and xenophobia as well as promote gender equity in sports. In this transitional stage of the postmodernist period, practices of social exclusion or under-representation due to gender, race, class, religion, sexual orientation, and so forth are socially problematic and theoretically inconsistent. The promotion of new role models and mentors in sports is vital in view of the systematic misinterpretation, or rather, misuse of Olympic values, such as obsessive competitiveness and the increase of violence and racism linked to sport events. Moreover, focusing on commercialization and consumerism are notincentives that reactivate Olympic values. A critical issue addressed, among others, is the democratization of the IOC structures. This paper argues that Peace Education—Olympism adapted into today’s globalized world—be incorporated into future reforms, educational policies and teaching practices in order to raise awareness concerning the core values of peace: pro-social attitudes, reducing ethnic prejudices, respect for diversity, promoting reconciliation, gender equality, non-violent conflict resolution and democratic decision-making.Keywords: peace education-conflict resolution skills, Olympism, racism, xenophobia, gender equity, glass ceiling, glass escalator, tokenism.I---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Second version, entire journal attached: pages 141-156
Kamberidou, Irene (2011). Athlete Activism and Peace Education: Bridging the Social Inequality Gap through Sports. NEBULA A Journal of Multidisciplinary Scholarship, Volume 8, Issue 1, December 2011. Online Quarterly Academic Periodical. ISSN – 1449-7751
[First online version: 168-180]
second version, entire journal attached: pages 141-156
Kamberidou, Irene (2011). Athlete Activism and Peace Education: Bridging the Social Inequality Gap through Sports. NEBULA A Journal of Multidisciplinary Scholarship, Volume 8, Issue 1, pp. 141-156, December 2011. Online Quarterly Academic Periodical. ISSN – 1449-7751
Coaxial resonant cavities with longitudinal corrugations on the inner conductor are used in high-frequency high-power gyrotrons as means to reduce the number of possible competing modes. For a sufficiently large number of corrugations, the analytical approach usually treats the surface corrugation as a homogeneous surface impedance to obtain simple formulas for the characteristic equation and field components. These formulas can be introduced to interaction codes in a quite straightforward way. Full-wave approaches that account for the azimuthal periodicity of the structure and consider azimuthal spatial harmonics to describe the field distributions have been also employed, increasing though the complexity of the solution and the effort given in numerical calculations. In this paper, a full-wave code is used in an attempt to identify the way that the azimuthal spatial terms contribute to the reformation of the eigenvalue spectrum and propose a criterion for the selection of the spatial terms that should be taken into account for accurate enough calculations.
BACKGROUND: Biomedical informatics is a broad discipline that borrows many methods and techniques from other disciplines.
OBJECTIVE: To reflect a) on the character of biomedical informatics and to determine whether it is multi-disciplinary or inter-disciplinary; b) on the question whether biomedical informatics is more than the sum of its supporting disciplines and c) on the position of biomedical informatics with respect to related disciplines.
METHOD: Inviting an international group of experts in biomedical informatics and related disciplines on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Methods of Information in Medicine to present their viewpoints.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: This paper contains the reflections of a number of the invited experts on the character of biomedical informatics. Most of the authors agree that biomedical informatics is an interdisciplinary field of study where researchers with different scientific backgrounds alone or in combination carry out research. Biomedical informatics is a very broad scientific field and still expanding, yet comprised of a constructive aspect (designing and building systems). One author expressed that the essence of biomedical informatics, as opposed to related disciplines, lies in the modelling of the biomedical content. Interdisciplinarity also has consequences for education. Maintaining rigid disciplinary structures does not allow for sufficient adaptability to capitalize on important trends nor to leverage the influences these trends may have on biomedical informatics. It is therefore important for students to become aware of research findings in related disciplines. In this respect, it was also noted that the fact that many scientific fields use different languages and that the research findings are stored in separate bibliographic databases makes it possible that potentially connected findings will never be linked, despite the fact that these findings were published. Bridges between the sciences are needed for the success of biomedical informatics.
Pompe disease is an inherited metabolic disorder caused by α-glycosidase deficiency. The adult onset form is mainly characterized by progressive proximal muscle weakness and respiratory dysfunction. The aim of the present study is to evaluate body composition in adult patients before and after enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). Body composition was examined at baseline by means of dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in nine adult patients and after different time periods in six of them who received ERT. Total BMD (bone mineral density) was initially mildly decreased in two patients, while femoral neck BMD was decreased in five patients. On the other hand fat mass was increased in the majority of patients, while body mass index (BMI) was high in four. ERT administration did not seem to induce obvious BMD changes in any patient. Conclusively, the greater femoral neck BMD involvement may be attributed to the lower mechanical load applied by the selectively weakened muscles, whereas the increased fat mass may be the result of metabolic and nutritional derangement.
Reece et al report that single-agent bortezomib resulted in hematologic responses in two-thirds of patients with relapsed Light chain (AL) amyloidosis, including complete responses in one-third, while more than 75% of patients had response duration of more than or equal to 1 year.
Vicat-Blanc P, Figuerola S, Chen X, Landi G, Escalona E, Develder C, Tzanakaki A, Demchenko Y, García Espín JA, Ferrer J, et al.Bringing optical networks to the cloud: An architecture for a sustainable future internet. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics) [Internet]. 2011;6656:307-320. Website
This paper investigates calendar anomalies for four emerging stock markets (Romania,Bulgaria, Croatia and Turkey) and their mature counterpart in the Balkan region (Greece), during the period 2000-2008. Five well known calendar effects on both return and volatility are examined; the day of the week effect, the January effect, the half month effect, the turn of the month effect and the time of the month effect. We provide evidence for the existence of three calendar effects (day of the week, turn of the month, time of the month) in both mean and volatility equations for Greece and Turkey, which is consistent to the findings of previous studies. On the other hand, the effects for the three emerging Balkan markets are limited and exist only in volatility. This contradictory evidence could be due to a different level of liquidity and maturity for these markets.
Contemporary thinking seems to be particularly interested in the investigation of the role of culture in socio-political life. This article presents aspects of a research project, undertaken in Greece, looking into whether a cultural product can foster intercultural communication and influence young people’s perceptions of and attitudes to cultural and religious diversity. Such cultural products are the Theatre in Education (TiE) programmes, which focus on the use of the art of theatre as a means of educational intervention. For the purposes of our research a specially designed TiE programme was used as a means of intervention and as are search tool. Our research examines secondary education students’ perceptions of and attitudes to cultural and religious diversity prior to and following the intervention in Thessaloniki and in Thrace, Greece. This cultural intervention, which incorporates art and religion, offers new insights into the possibility of the use of TiE for the religious education of young people.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment and, with the proper risk-minimizing strategies, is relatively safe even in depressed patients with cardiovascular diseases. Specifically, patients with cardiac rhythm management devices (CRMDs) require particular attention because no controlled trials exist to support current empirical recommendations. We present a depressed patient with a pacemaker successfully treated with ECT, and we critically review the relevant literature. Pooled results from 63 patients and 821 ECT sessions showed that 90% of ECT sessions have been performed on depressed patients with their pacemakers in sensing mode and rate adaptation, where available, activated as well. Only 4% of sessions were performed with those functions disabled, whereas no data was available for 6% of ECT sessions. Pooled results from case series and reports highlight a discrepancy between current clinical practice and many guidelines. Electroconvulsive therapy is probably safe in depressed patients with asynchronous fixed-rate pacemakers, although there is a risk of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. A larger body of case series and reports suggests that there might be no need to convert synchronous demand pacemakers to asynchronous fixed-rate pacing. Regarding patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators, antitachycardia treatment was deactivated during most ECT sessions. In depressed patients with CRMDs anticholinergics might be best avoided. In all cases, proper ECT procedures, namely, patient and pacemaker electrical isolation, strict grounding and adequate muscle relaxation along with interrogation and monitoring of CRMDs before and after each session should ensure uncomplicated electroconvulsive treatments.
The increased operational tempo associated with current deployments to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) is placing considerable strain on military families. Among other sequelae of OIF and OEF deployment, findings from recent studies suggest high rates of depression in spouses of service members. This review presents a rationale for targeting depression among military spouses. It examines how stressors relating to the deployment cycle may contribute to depression in spouses and outlines the effects of spousal depression on the mental health of service members and their children. Mental health services currently available to military spouses as well as barriers to their care are also described. Considerations for the adaptation of treatment to their unique circumstances and needs are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved).
The optional use of morphology attested in second language learners has been attributed either to a representational deficit or to a ‘surface’ problem with respect to the realization of inflectional affixes. In this article we contribute to this issue by providing empirical data from the early interlanguage of Greek learners of Turkish. Three experiments have been conducted, a cloze task, a sentence picture matching task and an on-line grammaticality judgement task, in order to investigate case morphology and its interaction with word order constraints.The findings of all three experiments point towards a variable use of case morphology, which is also observed in previous studies of Turkish as a second language (L2). Moreover, they show clearly that the learners face difficulties with non-canonical word orders as well as with the interaction of word order constraints and Case. On the other hand, the learners performed well on verbal inflections. On the basis of these findings, we argue that the developmental patterns in the early stages of L2 acquisition cannot be attributed to a global lack of functional categories but rather to more localized difficulties, which seem to be related to (a) whether the features in the L2 are grammaticalized in the first language and (b) the way these features are encoded in the morphosyntax of the first language. Moreover, we claim that processing factors and the specific properties of the morphological paradigms affect L2 development.
Acute urticaria (AU) is a common condition that often presents in childhood. Although there is a general perception of cyclic annual trends in AU, no one has tried to identify any seasonal variation on its prevalence and incidence, associate environmental influences and impute geographic, ethnic, or even genetic features that may contribute to its onset. We aimed to analyze the influence of climate and geographic parameters on annual fluctuation of AU cases referred to the Emergency Departments (EDs) of Norwich (UK) and Heraklion (Crete, Greece), compare all identifiable potential triggers and severity, and calculate the prevalence and incidence of AU. Record-based data of all children up to 14 yr of age referred to both EDs between June 2005 and May 2007 were examined retrospectively. Demographic characteristics and any potential identifiable triggers of AU were recorded and compared. Poisson's regression was utilized to examine any influence of meteorological parameters on AU incidence. Edwards' test for seasonality was applied to identify any significant seasonal trend of the AU incidence within each city. Seven hundred and twenty-nine AU cases were identified (324 in Norwich and 405 in Heraklion), among 56,624 total referrals (28,931 and 27,693 cases, respectively). Respiratory infections were found to be the most commonly associated potential triggers of AU and food allergens the least. AU cases and incidence rates in both cities were equally distributed during the study period. A non-significant seasonal trend in AU incidence (October, April-May) was observed in Norwich, in contrast to a significant seasonal pattern (December, February-May) of AU in Heraklion. Temperature was inversely associated with AU incidence, while the statistically significant effect of relative humidity varied. Acute childhood urticaria shows a similar epidemiological pattern in northern and southern Europe regardless of the expected differences in genetic, geographic, and environmental background. Temperature and humidity are correlated with AU incidence. Seasonality of several acute respiratory viral infections, the most prominent associated trigger of AU, coincides with the observed AU seasonality, suggesting a potential linkage. However, this needs to be elucidated from larger epidemiological studies.
{The adipokine visfatin has been proposed to exert insulin-mimicking effects and to play a role in the development of metabolic syndrome. Preterm infants are at risk for the later development of insulin resistance and, possibly, for other components of metabolic syndrome. Dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) during the perinatal period may reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome. The authors’ objective was to study the circulating concentrations of visfatin in preterm infants and to examine associations of visfatin with anthropometric measurements, metabolic indices, and dietary LCPUFAs. Serum visfatin concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at mean (SD) 33.8 (11.7) days of life in 60 healthy preterm infants (gestational age, 32.7 [1.9] weeks) randomly assigned to be fed since birth either a formula containing LCPUFA (arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid) (+LCPUFA group) or the same formula without LCPUFA (-LCPUFA group). Associations of visfatin with anthropometric parameters, serum glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance, blood lipids, and adiponectin levels were examined. Serum visfatin levels were significantly higher in the +LCPUFA than in the -LCPUFA group (P < .001) and correlated positively with body weight z score (β = 0.31
Disorders such as depression and anxiety exhibit strong sex differences in their prevalence and incidence, with women also differing from men in their response to antidepressants. Furthermore, receptors for corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRHR1) and arginine vasopressin receptor subtype 1b (AVPR1b) are known to contribute to the regulation of mood and anxiety. In the present study, we compared the anxiety profile and CRHR1 and AVPR1b expression levels in control Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and rats of the SD-derived Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL), a genetic model of depression. Additionally, given the apparent sex differences in the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressants and because antidepressants are commonly used to treat comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms, we assessed whether the anxiolytic effects of an antidepressant occur in a sex-dependent manner. Male and female FSL rats were treated with citalopram 10 mg/kg once daily for 14 days and were then tested in the open field and the elevated plus maze paradigms. Upon completion of the behavioural analysis, AVPR1b and CRHR1 expression levels were monitored in the hypothalamus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) using Western blotting. According to our results, male FSL rats were more anxious than control SD rats, a difference abolished by citalopram treatment. Baseline anxiety levels were similar in female FSL and SD rats, and citalopram further reduced anxiety in female FSL rats. Importantly, whereas citalopram altered AVPR1b expression in the hypothalamus of male FSL rats, its actions on this parameter were restricted to the PFC in female FSL rats. In both sexes of FSL rats, citalopram did not alter CRHR1 expression in either the hypothalamus or PFC. Our results demonstrate that antidepressant treatment reduces anxiety levels in FSL rats of both sexes: the magnitude of treatment effect was related to the starting baseline level of anxiety and the antidepressant elicited sexually differentiated neurobiological responses in specific brain regions.
BACKGROUND: Topographic correlation between the primary gastric tumor and the first peri- and extragastric lymphatic drain basin (solitary lymph node metastasis) on gastrectomy specimens, represents a reliable method to investigate and understand the exact pattern of lymphatic drainage from a gastric tumor. Analyzing that correlation, useful information regarding the extent of the appropriate oncological perigastric lymphadenectomy will be provided. We retrospectively evaluate the usefulness of a modified D2 lymphadenectomy in gastric cancer patients, based on the topographic correlation between the primary tumor and the location of the solitary lymph node metastases, as they were detected by histology and immunohistochemistry.
MATERIALS AND METHOD: Between April 2003 and March 2010, 134 gastric cancer patients were submitted to a modified D2 lymphadenectomy. Postoperatively, the standard histological ex-amination by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, disclosed metastatic infiltration of at least two lymph nodes in 90 patients, solitary lymph node metastases were histologically detected in 10 patients, while the remaining 34 patients were classified as pN0. All lymph nodes of the ten patients with histological solitary lymph node metastases, as well as the 34 patients who had been classified as pN0 by histology, were further submitted to immunohistochemistry for micrometastases detection. More than one micrometastases were detected in none of them, while in seven patients solitary micrometastases were detected either in the level I perigastric or in the level II extragastric lymph nodes stations (skip micrometastases).
RESULTS: Solitary lymph node metastases were detected by histology in ten patients and by immunohistochemistry in additional seven (nine females and eight males). Solitary metastases were detected in the level I LN stations in seven patients (four by histology and three by immunohistochemistry) and in the level II LN stations in ten patients (six by histology and four by immunohistochemistry). In order of frequency, the solitary lymph node metastases were located in the no 7 (n = 6), no 6 (n = 4), no 9 (n = 2), no 5 (n = 2), no 4 (n = 1), no 8 (n = 1) and no 12 (n = 1) LN stations. Skip metastases encountered the 60% of the histologically detected, 57% of the immunohistochemically detected and 59% of all solitary lymph node metastases. 80% of solitary metastases in the level II LN stations, were mainly located in the nos 7-9 lymph node stations complex. Tumors of the lower and middle-third of the stomach were equally drained both to the level I and level II lymph node stations, while 67% of the tumors towards the lesser curvature, were mainly drained in the level II lymph node stations.
CONCLUSION: D2 lymphadenectomy increases the number of true R0 resections. Thus, a modified D2 lymphadenectomy should be routinely performed in gastric cancer patients.
Unprecedented low-dispersion high-frequency acoustic excitations are observed in dense suspensions of elastically hard colloids. The experimental phononic band structure for SiO 2 particles with different sizes and volume fractions is well represented by rigorous full-elastodynamic multiple-scattering calculations. The slow phonons, which do not relate to particle resonances, are localized in the surrounding liquid medium and stem from coherent multiple scattering that becomes strong in the close-packing regime. Such rich phonon-matter interactions in nanostructures, being still unexplored, can open new opportunities in phononics.
OBJECTIVES: Doripenem is a new carbapenem recently introduced into Europe. The COMParative Activity of Carbapenem Testing (COMPACT) study compared the susceptibility of common Gram-negative bacilli causing serious infections in hospitalized patients with doripenem, imipenem and meropenem.
METHODS: Gram-negative isolates (4498 total: 2171 Pseudomonas species; 1910 Enterobacteriaceae; and 417 other Gram-negative bacilli) were collected from 80 centres in 16 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa during 2008-09. The MICs of doripenem, imipenem and meropenem were determined using Etest methodology and broth microdilution. Susceptibility was interpreted according to CLSI, EUCAST and FDA breakpoints.
RESULTS: The MIC(90)s of doripenem, imipenem and meropenem for all isolates were 8, ≥64 and 32 mg/L, respectively. Doripenem had the lowest MIC(90) for Pseudomonas species at 16 mg/L, with imipenem and meropenem values of ≥64 mg/L. Enterobacteriaceae were highly susceptible to all three carbapenems, with MIC(90)s of doripenem, imipenem and meropenem of 0.06, 0.5 and 0.12 mg/L, respectively. Other Gram-negative isolates, predominantly Acinetobacter baumannii, were resistant to all three carbapenems (MIC(90) ≥64 mg/L). Susceptibility to doripenem was observed in 14.9% of isolates resistant to imipenem and/or meropenem.
CONCLUSIONS: Doripenem showed excellent activity against Gram-negative isolates; generally it was more active than imipenem and at least as good as meropenem. Against Pseudomonas species, doripenem was more active than both imipenem and meropenem, with doripenem susceptibility observed for some imipenem- and/or meropenem-resistant isolates.
BACKGROUND: HIV-1 is characterized by increased genetic heterogeneity which tends to hinder the reliability of detection and accuracy of HIV-1 RNA quantitation assays. METHODS: In this study, the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 (Abbott RealTime) assay was compared to the Roche Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 (Cobas TaqMan) and the Siemens Versant HIV-1 RNA 3.0 (bDNA 3.0) assays, using clinical samples of various viral load levels and subtypes from Greece, where the recent epidemiology of HIV-1 infection has been characterized by increasing genetic diversity and a marked increase in subtype A genetic strains among newly diagnosed infections. RESULTS: A high correlation was observed between the quantitative results obtained by the Abbott RealTime and the Cobas TaqMan assays. Viral load values quantified by the Abbott RealTime were on average lower than those obtained by the Cobas TaqMan, with a mean (SD) difference of -0.206 (0.298) log(10) copies/ml. The mean differences according to HIV-1 subtypes between the two techniques for samples of subtype A, B, and non-A/non-B were 0.089, -0.262, and -0.298 log(10) copies/ml, respectively. Overall, differences were less than 0.5 log(10) for 85% of the samples, and >1 log(10) in only one subtype B sample. Similarly, Abbott RealTime and bDNA 3.0 assays yielded a very good correlation of quantitative results, whereas viral load values assessed by the Abbott RealTime were on average higher (mean (SD) difference: 0.160 (0.287) log(10) copies/ml). The mean differences according to HIV-1 subtypes between the two techniques for subtype A, B and non-A/non-B samples were 0.438, 0.105 and 0.191 log(10) copies/ml, respectively. Overall, the majority of samples (86%) differed by less than 0.5 log(10), while none of the samples showed a deviation of more than 1.0 log(10). CONCLUSIONS: In an area of changing HIV-1 subtype pattern, the Abbott RealTime assay showed a high correlation and good agreement of results when compared both to the Cobas TaqMan and bDNA 3.0 assays, for all HIV-1 subtypes tested. All three assays could determine viral load from samples of different HIV-1 subtypes adequately. However, assay variation should be taken into account when viral load monitoring of the same individual is assessed by different systems.
Fe3Si is a ferromagnetic material with possible applications in magnetic tunnel junctions. When doped with Mn, the material shows a complex magnetic behavior, as suggested by older experiments. We employed the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker Green-function method within density-functional theory in order to study the alloy Fe3-xMnxSi, with 0 <= x <= 1. Chemical disorder is described within the coherent potential approximation. In agreement with experiment, we find that the Mn atoms align ferromagnetically to the Fe atoms, and that the magnetization and Curie temperature drop with increasing Mn concentration x. The calculated spin polarization P at the Fermi level varies strongly with x, from P = -0.3 at x = 0 (ordered Fe3Si) through P = 0 at x = 0.28, to P = +1 for x > 0.75; i.e., at high Mn concentrations the system is half metallic. We discuss the origin of the trends of magnetic moments, exchange interactions, Curie temperature, and the spin polarization.
Early prediction of human intestinal absorption is important in selection of potential orally administered drugs. Various computational models for prediction of the fraction of dose absorbed, Fa, have been developed. In 1989, a sigmoidal relationship between Fa and drug absorption potential was shown. Since then various physicochemical descriptors of molecules (lipophilicity, polar surface area, hydrogen bond descriptors) have been found to correlate with human intestinal absorption and various attempts in estimating Fa have been reported. Most studies rely on the presupposition that Fa is mainly dependent on drug's solubility, which drives the dissolution rate in the gastrointestinal (GI) fluids, and the rate of passive drug transport across the intestinal membrane. In the same vein, the biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) and the relevant FDA guideline classify drugs in four categories according to their aqueous solubility and permeability. However, the biopharmaceutics drug disposition classification system (BDDCS) revealed the poor predictability of permeability estimates for Fa and the major role of transporters for GI uptake of drugs. The role of solubility in the reaction limited model of dissolution and the ubiquitous presence of supersaturated solubility-dissolution phenomena in the GI lumen, call for a more physiologically relevant consideration of GI absorption.
The phosphoglucomutase gene from a wild type Fusarium oxysporum strain (F3), was homologously expressed, under the control of the constitutive promoter of gpdA of Aspergillus nidulans. The transformant produced elevated levels of phosphoglucomutase activity compared to the wild type, a fact that facilitated the subsequent purification procedure. The enzyme (FoPGM) was purified to homogeneity applying three anion exchange and one gel filtration chromatography steps. The native enzyme revealed a monomeric structure with a molecular mass of 60 kDa, while the isoelectric point was 3.5. FoPGM was active in pH ranged from 6.0 to 8.0, with an optimum using 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid buffer at 7.0, while loss of activity was observed when phosphate buffer was used in the above mentioned pH range. The optimal temperature for activity was 45 °C but the enzyme became unstable at temperatures above 40 °C. FoPGM requires the presence of a divalent cation for its function with maximum activity being obtained with Co2+. The apparent Km for Co2+ was found to be 10 μM. The enzyme was also active with other divalent metal ions such as Mn2+, Mg2+, Ni2+ and Ca2+ but to a lesser extent. The following kinetic constants were determined: vmax, 0.74 μmol mgprotein−1 min−1; kcat, 44.2 min−1; Km(G1P), 0.10 mM;Km(G1,6diP), 1.03 μM; kcat/Km(G1P), 443 mM−1 min−1 and kcat/Km(G1,6diP), 42,860 mM−1 min−1. The enzyme was considered to follow a Ping Pong substituted enzyme or enzyme isomerization mechanism.
This study examines firm’s stock returns’ behaviour, when they announce corporate events like management change, collaborations and stock repurchase. It examines how this change is portrayed in firms’ stock prices returns. The methodologies used are the methodology of event study analysis and bootstrap methodology. Companies selected belong to eight different sectors of Athens Stock Exchange with different Stock Exchange value in order to get a more general picture that does not only represent one sector which can be influenced individually from accidental factors. The sample constitutes forty firms listed in Athens Stock Exchange. Results indicate that corporate events’ impact is important and a key for enterprises to follow new challenges and create financial value. This paper provides evidence on the impact of corporate governance on stock returns in Greece. The implication is that corporate events create financial value.
Aims: The largest Local Group spiral galaxy, M 31, has been completely imaged for the first time, obtaining a luminosity lower limit ~1035 erg s-1 in the 0.2-4.5 keV band. Our XMM-Newton EPIC survey combines archival observations along the major axis, from June 2000 to July 2004, with observations taken between June 2006 and February 2008 that cover the remainder of the D25 ellipse. The main goal of the paper is to study the X-ray source population of M 31. Methods: An X-ray catalogue of 1897 sources was created, with 914 detected for the first time. Source classification and identification were based on X-ray hardness ratios, spatial extent of the sources, and cross correlation with catalogues in the X-ray, optical, infrared, and radio wavelengths. We also analysed the long-term variability of the X-ray sources and this variability allows us to distinguish between X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei (AGN). Furthermore, supernova remnant classifications of previous studies that did not use long-term variability as a classification criterion could be validated. Including previous Chandra and ROSAT observations in the long-term variability study allowed us to detect additional transient or at least highly variable sources, which are good candidate X-ray binaries. Results: Fourteen of the 30 supersoft source (SSS) candidates represent supersoft emission of optical novae. Many of the 25 supernova remnants (SNRs) and 31 SNR candidates lie within the 10 kpc dust ring and other star-forming regions in M 31. This connection between SNRs and star-forming regions implies that most of the remnants originate in type II supernovae. The brightest sources in X-rays in M 31 belong to the class of X-ray binaries (XRBs). Ten low-mass XRBs (LMXBs) and 26 LMXB candidates were identified based on their temporal variability. In addition, 36 LMXBs and 17 LMXB candidates were identified owing to correlations with globular clusters and globular cluster candidates. From optical and X-ray colour-colour diagrams, possible high-mass XRB (HMXB) candidates were selected. Two of these candidates have an X-ray spectrum as is expected for an HMXB containing a neutron star primary. Conclusions: While our survey has greatly improved our understanding of the X-ray source populations in M 31, at this point 65% of the sources can still only be classified as "hard" sources; i.e. it is not possible to decide whether these sources are X-ray binaries or Crab-like supernova remnants in M 31 or X-ray sources in the background. Deeper observations in X-ray and at other wavelengths would help classify these sources. Based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and NASA.Tables 5 and 8 are only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/534/A55
Dieser Artikel zielt darauf, Friedrich Ratzels politisch-geographische Wahrnehmung des Staates hinzuweisen. Zunächst wird gezeigt, dass Ratzels Sichtpunkt frei von organistischen oder metaphysischen Elementen ist. Endlich wird es untersucht werden, wie Ratzel den Staat als Ausdruck des neuen gesellschaftlichen Lebens (new social life) wahrnimmt.
Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5-10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV-10 TeV range and the extension to energies well below 100 GeV and above 100 TeV. CTA will consist of two arrays (one in the north, one in the south) for full sky coverage and will be operated as open observatory. The design of CTA is based on currently available technology. This document reports on the status and presents the major design concepts of CTA.
Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5-10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV-10 TeV range and the extension to energies well below 100 GeV and above 100 TeV. CTA will consist of two arrays (one in the north, one in the south) for full sky coverage and will be operated as open observatory. The design of CTA is based on currently available technology. This document reports on the status and presents the major design concepts of CTA.
Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5-10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV-10 TeV range and the extension to energies well below 100 GeV and above 100 TeV. CTA will consist of two arrays (one in the north, one in the south) for full sky coverage and will be operated as open observatory. The design of CTA is based on currently available technology. This document reports on the status and presents the major design concepts of CTA.
Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5-10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV-10 TeV range and the extension to energies well below 100 GeV and above 100 TeV. CTA will consist of two arrays (one in the north, one in the south) for full sky coverage and will be operated as open observatory. The design of CTA is based on currently available technology. This document reports on the status and presents the major design concepts of CTA.
A real-time PCR targeting IS6110 was employed for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in specimens collected from 10 patients treated with intravesical M. bovis bacillus Galmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy for bladder malignancy. BCG DNA was detected in all urine specimens taken 24 h after the instillations, as well as in 24% of the specimens collected 7 days after the instillations; it was also detected in a single specimen taken 6 weeks after the last instillation. BCG DNA was detected in 8.3% of the blood specimens taken 1 day after instillation, and its amplification was associated with cases of self-limiting fever. These findings give indications that this real-time PCR is helpful to recognize BCG bacteremic cases, which may lead to mycobacterial infection.
The paper aims to point out some of the relations between land and state in Friedrich Ratzel political-geographic analysis. First, it will be demonstrated how the perception of the land correlates with the culture situation of the observer. Second, it will be shown how political space is situated in Ratzel’s analytical system of power. At last it will be examined how far Ratzel estimates both, geographical and human factors, in his political system and decision making process.
It has been suggested that inflammation is involved in Alzheimer disease (AD) pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between inflammatory aspects of diet and incident AD risk. About 2258 nondemented elderly (age ≥ 65) in New York who provided dietary information at baseline were followed-up prospectively for AD development. We examined the composite total Inflammation Factor Rating (tIFR), as a measure of inflammatory impact of foods, in relation with (i) serum level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and (ii) risk of incident AD using Cox proportional hazard model. The tIFR was not associated with serum hsCRP level. After an average of 4.0 years of follow-up, 262 participants developed incident AD. The tIFR was not associated with AD risk: compared with the lowest tertile of tIFR (most proinflammatory), hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for the highest tertile (most anti-inflammatory) was 0.97 (0.69-1.35) (P-for-trend=0.71), in the adjusted model. We conclude that tIFR might not be a biologically relevant measure of the inflammatory impact of the diet. In addition, although it remains possible that tIFR might be related with some other aspects of inflammation not captured by hsCRP, lack of association with AD risk suggests its limited clinical utility.
It has been suggested that inflammation is involved in Alzheimer disease (AD) pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between inflammatory aspects of diet and incident AD risk. About 2258 nondemented elderly (age >/= 65) in New York who provided dietary information at baseline were followed-up prospectively for AD development. We examined the composite total Inflammation Factor Rating (tIFR), as a measure of inflammatory impact of foods, in relation with (i) serum level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and (ii) risk of incident AD using Cox proportional hazard model. The tIFR was not associated with serum hsCRP level. After an average of 4.0 years of follow-up, 262 participants developed incident AD. The tIFR was not associated with AD risk: compared with the lowest tertile of tIFR (most proinflammatory), hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for the highest tertile (most anti-inflammatory) was 0.97 (0.69-1.35) (P-for-trend=0.71), in the adjusted model. We conclude that tIFR might not be a biologically relevant measure of the inflammatory impact of the diet. In addition, although it remains possible that tIFR might be related with some other aspects of inflammation not captured by hsCRP, lack of association with AD risk suggests its limited clinical utility.
Much of the attention on diet and Alzheimer's disease (AD) or cognition among the elderly has focused on the role of single nutrients or foods, while available information on dietary pattern (DP) analysis, which better reflects the complexity of the diet, is sparse. In this review, we describe different patterning approaches and present studies performed to date that have assessed the associations between DPs and risk of AD or cognitive function in the elderly. Three patterning approaches have been most commonly used: (i) hypothesis-based that use dietary quality indexes or scores (e.g. Mediterranean pattern), (ii) data-driven that use factor or cluster analysis to derive DPs, (iii) reduced rank regression which combines characteristics of the former two approaches. Despite differences existing among the approaches, DPs characterized by higher intake of fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and legumes, and lower intake of meats, high fat dairy, and sweets seemed to be associated with lower odds of cognitive deficits or reduced risk of AD. Overall, the inherent advantages as well as the existing evidence of DP analyses strongly suggest that this approach may be valuable in AD and aging research. Further studies are warranted, though, to confirm the findings in different population settings, to address some methodological issues, and possibly utilize the information for future clinical trial design.
Greece under severe financial and economic crisis has accepted the control of the World Monetary Fund and the European Union. Among other measures imposed on Greece is government funding to remain at 5 per cent of the GDP until 2030. In order to fulfill this obligation, Laws 3863 and 3865/2010 have been passed. With these laws, the distinction between basic pension and contributory pension is introduced. A theoretical mathematical model based on social security principles for calculating the aggregate pension (basic pension and contributory pension) is presented and compared to the model that corresponds to the recent reform to the Greek pension scheme. Apart from the social and economic merits of this reform, some paradoxes and shortcomings are pointed out.
This article addresses the distinction between interpretation and application of international legal norms and argues that it constitutes an issue central to the theory and practice of international adjudication. The distinction, though sometimes negated, surpassed or simply neglected, in fact exists and should be drawn by international lawyers, especially vis-a‘-vis the challenges set by the fragmentation of international law. Ergo, an illustrative operative sketch of juridical reasoning delimiting the two processes in the course of international dispute settlement is suggested by distinguishing between interpretation, interpretative application and application stricto sensu, as all taking place in the context of application lato sensu of international legal norms. The article concludes by turning to the secondary norms on state responsibility and the general principles of estoppel and acquiescence as noteworthy examples of lato sensu application of leges generales in international settlement of disputes.
Aiming at portraying the Aegean's water mass structure and identifying Dense Water Formation processes, two winter cruises were conducted in 2005?2006, across the plateaus and depressions of the Aegean Sea. The most prominent feature of the water mass distribution in the basin is a distinct ?X-shape? of the Θ-S characteristics, suggesting a complicated coupling of the major Aegean sub-basins. The surface and deep waters are relatively decoupled with diverse origin characteristics, while the intermediate layers act as connectors of the main thermohaline cells. The Central Aegean seems to play a key role due to formation processes of water masses with densities equal and/or higher than 29.2 kg/m3, that take place in the sub-basin and disperses in the North Aegean. On the other hand, the South Aegean appears greatly influenced by the Eastern Mediterranean circulation and water mass distribution, especially under the Eastern Mediterranean Transient status. The Transitional Mediterranean Water monitored in the post-EMT period and characterized by low temperature at 14.2°C, low salinity at 38.92 and low dissolved oxygen at 3.97 ml/l, with its core around 750 m and above the saline (39.06) Cretan Deep Water, altered significantly the South Aegean structure. The pre-EMT thermohaline pattern of the Central and South Aegean deep layers were similar, while the bottom density of the Central basin was higher than that in the South Aegean. Thus, it is possible that the deep waters of the Central Aegean acted as a dense water reserve supply for the deeper part of the Southern basin.
BACKGROUND: Kallikrein-related peptidase 5 (KLK5) is a secreted trypsin-like protease of the KLK family, encoded by the KLK5 gene. KLK5 has been found to cleave various extracellular matrix components, as well as to activate several other KLK proteases, triggering the stimulation of tissue microenvironment proteolytic cascades. MATERIAL AND METHODS: KLK5 expression levels were quantified in 102 cancerous and benign breast tissue specimens, obtained by randomly chosen patients, using RT-qPCR assay. Subsequently, advanced biostatistics were applied in order to analyze the KLK5 expression profile in the two patients' cohorts and also to evaluate its clinical significance for the discrimination of breast tumors. RESULTS: A statistically significant (p < 0.001) down-regulation of the KLK5 expression levels were observed in the malignant specimens compared to the benign ones. Logistic regression and ROC curve analysis revealed the significant (p < 0.001) and the independent (p < 0.001) value of the KLK5 expression quantification, for the discrimination of the malignant from the benign mammary gland biopsies. Moreover, KLK5 expression levels correlate with the pre-menopausal status (p < 0.005) as well as the ER-negative staining (p = 0.028) of women with breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The quantification of KLK5 expression in breast tissue biopsies may be considered as a novel and independent biomarker for the differential diagnosis between malignant and benign tumors of the mammary gland.
Pompe disease is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the deficiency of acid α-glycosidase resulting in lysosomal accumulation of glycogen. The late-onset disease form is characterized by progressive skeletal and respiratory muscle dysfunction. In addition to the recently introduced enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), treatments such as protein-enriched diet and exercise training have been proposed, although little is known about their effectiveness on the physical condition of such patients. Aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of exercise training on muscular strength and body composition in five patients with late-onset Pompe disease receiving ERT. All subjects followed a 20 week lasting program of supervised aerobic and progressive resistance exercise training. Before and after the training period, body composition was determined with dual X-ray absorptiometry and isometric muscular strength was measured with a specialized load transducer. Functional capacity was assessed using the 6-min shuttle walk test. A significant increase in muscular strength (15-50% at various body parts, p<0.05) and 6-minute walking distance (203.8 ± 177 m before vs. 248.2 ± 184 m after, p<0.01) was observed after training, whereas total and lower extremities lean body mass did not change significantly. These results suggest that exercise training has a positive effect on muscular strength and functional capacity in patients on ERT with late-onset Pompe disease.
BACKGROUND: In most patients with COPD, rehabilitative exercise training partially reverses the morphologic and structural abnormalities of peripheral muscle fibers. However, whether the degree of improvement in muscle fiber morphology and typology with exercise training varies depending on disease severity remains unknown.
METHODS: Forty-six clinically stable patients with COPD classified by GOLD (Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease) as stage II (n = 14), III (n = 18), and IV (n = 14) completed a 10-week comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program consisting of high-intensity exercise three times weekly.
RESULTS: At baseline, muscle fiber mean cross-sectional area and capillary density did not significantly differ between patients with COPD and healthy control subjects, whereas muscle fiber type I and II proportion was respectively lower (P < .001) and higher (P < .002) in patients with GOLD stage IV compared with healthy subjects and patients with GOLD stages II and III. Exercise training improved, to a comparable degree, functional capacity and the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire health-related quality of life score across all three GOLD stages. Vastus lateralis muscle fiber mean cross-sectional area was increased (P < .001) in all patient groups (stage II: from 4,507 ± 280 μm² to 5,091 ± 271 μm² [14% ± 3%]; stage III: from 3,753 ± 258 μm² to 4,212 ± 268 μm² [14% ± 3%]; stage IV: from 3,961 ± 266 μm² to 4,551 ± 262 μm² [17% ± 5%]), whereas all groups exhibited a comparable reduction (P < .001) in type IIb fiber proportion (stage II: by 6% ± 2%; stage III: by 6% ± 1%; stage IV: by 7% ± 1%) and an increase (P < .001) in capillary to fiber ratio (stage II: from 1.48 ± 0.10 to 1.81 ± 0.10 [23% ± 5%]; stage III: from 1.29 ± 0.06 to 1.56 ± 0.09 [21% ± 5%]; stage IV: from 1.43 ± 0.10 to 1.71 ± 0.13 [18 ± 3%]). The magnitude of changes in the aforementioned variables did not differ across GOLD stages.
CONCLUSIONS: Functional capacity and morphologic and typologic adaptations to rehabilitation in peripheral muscle fibers were similar across GOLD stages II to IV. Pulmonary rehabilitation should be implemented in patients at all COPD stages.
Cow's milk (CM) allergy affects about 2% of infants. The allergenicity of dietary proteins, including those from CM, has been related to their digestibility although the generality of the link and its causality remains to be demonstrated. In this study we use an in vitro digestion system, to investigate the digestibility of β-lactoglobulin (blg) during gastrointestinal transit and to assess the impact of this process on blg allergenic reactivity in CM allergic children.|Blg digesta were prepared using an in vitro digestion protocol simulating either gastric digestion alone or followed by duodenal digestion with or without phosphatidylcholine (PC). Biochemical analysis of blg digesta was performed by SDS-PAGE and their concentration was measured by a sandwich ELISA. Assessment of their allergenic reactivity was done in vitro by EAST inhibition, specific basophil activation (basotest) and lymphocyte proliferation (PCNA-flow cytometry) assays using sera and cells from patients allergic to blg and in vivo by skin prick testing (SPT) of these patients.|Blg was only broken down to smaller peptides after gastro-duodenal digestion although a sizeable amount of intact protein still remained. Digestion did not modify the IgE binding capacity of blg except for gastro-duodenal digestion performed in the absence of PC. These results are consistent with the quantity of intact blg remaining in the digesta. Overall both gastric and gastroduodenal digestion enhanced activation of sensitized basophils and proliferation of sensitized lymphocytes by blg. However, there was a tendency towards reduction in mean diameter of SPT following digestion, the PC alone during phase 1 digestion causing a significant increase in mean diameter.|Digestion did not reduce the allergenic reactivity of blg to a clinically insignificant extent, PC inhibiting digestion and thereby protecting blg allergenic reactivity. SPT reactivity was reduced compared to blg immunoreactivity in in vitro tests.
Aims: We investigate the behavior of the frequency-centered light curves expected within the standard model of gamma ray bursts, allowing the maximum electron energy (γmax) to be a free parameter that may take low values. Methods: We solve the spatially averaged kinetic equations that describe the simultaneous evolution of particles and photons, obtaining the multi-wavelength spectra as a function of time. From these we construct the frequency-centered light curves with an emphasis on the X-ray and optical bands. Results: We show that in cases where γmax takes low values, the produced X-ray light curves show a plateau as the synchrotron component gives its place to the synchrotron self-Compton one in the X-ray band.
Aims: We investigate the behavior of the frequency-centered light curves expected within the standard model of gamma ray bursts, allowing the maximum electron energy (γmax) to be a free parameter that may take low values. Methods: We solve the spatially averaged kinetic equations that describe the simultaneous evolution of particles and photons, obtaining the multi-wavelength spectra as a function of time. From these we construct the frequency-centered light curves with an emphasis on the X-ray and optical bands. Results: We show that in cases where γmax takes low values, the produced X-ray light curves show a plateau as the synchrotron component gives its place to the synchrotron self-Compton one in the X-ray band.
OBJECTIVE: Obesity has been implicated in the etiology of postmenopausal breast cancer (PBC). We hypothesized that altered secretion of visfatin may underlie this association. We thus investigated the association of serum visfatin with PBC risk, taking into account known risk factors including adipokines and anthropometric and metabolic parameters.
METHODS: In a case-control study, we studied 102 postmenopausal women with pathologically confirmed, incident invasive breast cancer and 102 control women matched on age and time of diagnosis between 2003 and 2010 at Army Share Fund Hospital, Veterans' Hospital (NIMTS). Levels of serum visfatin, adiponectin, leptin, metabolic parameters, carcinoembryonic antigen, and CA 15-3 were determined.
RESULTS: The mean serum visfatin level was significantly higher in case than in control participants (P < 0.001). Women in the highest quartile of visfatin concentration presented significantly higher odds for PBC, adjusting for age, date of diagnosis, education, body mass index, waist circumference, years with menstruation, parity/age at first full-term pregnancy, breast-feeding, family history of cancer, use of exogenous hormones, alcohol consumption, smoking status, homeostasis model assessment score, and serum leptin and adiponectin concentrations (odds ratio, 7.93; 95% CI, 2.52-24.9). In case participants, the visfatin level correlated significantly with the tumor marker CA 15-3 (P = 0.03) but not with metabolic and anthropometric variables (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Further prospective studies are needed to determine whether an elevated serum visfatin level is implicated in the etiopathogenesis of PBC or reflects changes during PBC progression and could therefore be used as a biomarker for PBC.
BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer with increasing incidence rates worldwide. METHODS: To assess the association of BCC with epidemiologic risk factors in a Southern European population from Greece, we conducted a hospital-based case-control study of 199 patients with BCC and 200 controls. RESULTS: In the multivariate analysis, fair skin colour was associated with increased risk of BCC (OR: 4.9, 95% CI: 2.4-10.0). However, darker skin phototypes III/IV (patient's reported sun sensitivity/tanning ability) showed a higher BCC risk (OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 1.8-8.5). Persons with occupational UV exposure of 5 years or more had a 2.7-fold increased risk (95% CI:1.4-5.3). There was an increased risk of BCC related to the number of sunburns after the age of 20 years (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.4-7.3) and solar lentigines (OR: 6.8, 95% CI: 3.6-12.8). Subgroup analysis showed that different risk factors are associated with early onset BCC including the presence of dysplastic nevi (OR: 6.4, 95% CI: 1.5-27.2), the number of weeks per year spent at the beach during childhood (OR: 8.9, 95% CI: 3.3-24.1) and the history of sunburns during childhood (OR:5.0, 95% CI: 1.3-19.1). CONCLUSIONS: Fair skin colour was significantly associated with BCC risk. The relation of sunburns during adulthood with BCC underlies the importance of sunburn prevention throughout life time. Early onset BCCs seem to have a different pathogenetic background and were associated with dysplastic nevi as well as intermittent sun exposure and sunburns during the early years of life.
In order to investigate differences among infections due to Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria (Bacteroides, Prevotella and Fusobacterium spp.), clinical, epidemiological, and microbiological data were collected and evaluated from 206 anaerobic infections. The most frequently isolated species was Bacteroides fragilis. The majority of the cases were intra-abdominal infections (49%) followed by skin and soft tissue infections (24.7%). Logistic regression analysis showed that Bacteroides spp. strains were more often isolated from intra-abdominal infections (p = 0.002), whereas Prevotella spp. were isolated more frequently from cases with shorter duration of hospitalization (p = 0.026), and less frequently from bloodstream infections (p = 0.049). In addition, Bacteroides spp. were associated with coinfection due to Enterobacteriaceae species (p = 0.007), whereas Prevotella spp. were associated with coinfection due to Staphylococcus spp. (p = 0.002). Patients with an infection due to B. fragilis, were more frequently admitted in a general surgical ward (p = 0.017), or have been treated with a 2nd generation cephalosporin before anaerobic infection onset (p = 0.05). Total mortality was 10.9% and was associated with bacteremia (p = 0.026), and hematological (p = 0.028), or solid organ malignancy (p = 0.007). Metronidazole resistance was detected only among Prevotella spp. (16.2%) and B. fragilis group (0.8%) isolates. In conclusion, this study indicated differences between infections due to the most frequently isolated Gram-negative anaerobic species, differences that may affect the design and implementation of empirical antimicrobial chemotherapy guidelines.
In our discussion of electronic parameters for charge (hole or electron) transfer along DNA we have omitted to mention that, regarding the tight-binding description of hole transport, the corresponding tight-binding parameters should be taken with the opposite sign of the calculated on-site energies and transfer hopping integrals. This means that for describing hole transport at the base-pair level, the on-site energies EbpH presented in the second row of table 2 and the hopping transfer integrals tbpH presented in the second column of table 3 should be used with opposite signs in order to provide the tight-binding parameters of eq. (10). Similarly, for describing hole transport at the single-base level, the on-site energies EbH presented in the eleventh row of table 1 and the hopping transfer integrals tbH presentedin the second column of tables 4–7 should be used with opposite signs in order to provide the tight-binding parameters of eq. (13). Moreover, on p. 300, 8 lines below eq. (14), in the calculation of charge transfer hopping parameters the separation between adjacent base-pairs in B-DNA should read 3.4 ̊A, instead of 3.14 ̊A.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the disease burden of the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) in Greece. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Data on influenza-like illness (ILI), collected through cross-sectional nationwide telephone surveys of 1,000 households in Greece repeated for 25 consecutive weeks, were combined with data from H1N1 virologic surveillance to estimate the incidence and the clinical attack rate (CAR) of influenza A(H1N1). Alternative definitions of ILI (cough or sore throat and fever>38 degrees C [ILI-38] or fever 37.1-38 degrees C [ILI-37]) were used to estimate the number of symptomatic infections. The infection attack rate (IAR) was approximated using estimates from published studies on the frequency of fever in infected individuals. Data on H1N1 morbidity and mortality were used to estimate ICU admission and case fatality (CFR) rates. The epidemic peaked on week 48/2009 with approximately 750-1,500 new cases/100,000 population per week, depending on ILI-38 or ILI-37 case definition, respectively. By week 6/2010, 7.1%-15.6% of the population in Greece was estimated to be symptomatically infected with H1N1. Children 5-19 years represented the most affected population group (CAR:27%-54%), whereas individuals older than 64 years were the least affected (CAR:0.6%-2.2%). The IAR (95% CI) of influenza A(H1N1) was estimated to be 19.7% (13.3%, 26.1%). Per 1,000 symptomatic cases, based on ILI-38 case definition, 416 attended health services, 108 visited hospital emergency departments and 15 were admitted to hospitals. ICU admission rate and CFR were 37 and 17.5 per 100,000 symptomatic cases or 13.4 and 6.3 per 100,000 infections, respectively. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Influenza A(H1N1) infected one fifth and caused symptomatic infection in up to 15% of the Greek population. Although individuals older than 65 years were the least affected age group in terms of attack rate, they had 55 and 185 times higher risk of ICU admission and CFR, respectively.
Allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) are highly burdensome diseases, which are increasing in prevalence, especially in the paediatric population. Despite the availability of a large number of medications for treatment of AR and CIU, their use in children has primarily been based on data obtained from a limited number of clinical trials in children and/or testing in adults. The H(1)-antihistamines have traditionally been used as first-line treatment for the relief of both AR and CIU symptoms in children. The first-generation H(1)-antihistamines are associated with marked adverse effects such as sedation, sleepiness/drowsiness as well as difficulties in learning and cognitive processing; thus, they are recommended for limited or discontinued use in children with AR or CIU. In contrast, second-generation H(1)-antihistamines are more adapted for the use in children with AR and CIU due to better safety profiles. However, only a limited number of trials with these agents have been conducted and generally, data from well-designed trials in children are lacking. Levocetirizine is one of the most extensively investigated H(1)-antihistamines for its pharmacologic properties, safety, efficacy as well as overall global satisfaction in children aged 2-12 years. Levocetirizine is the only H(1)-antihistamine launched in the 21st century shown to lack clinically relevant adverse effects on physical and psychomotor development or routine laboratory tests over a long-term period of 18 months in 1- to 3-year-old children predisposed to development of allergic disease. Available data suggest that levocetirizine is a suitable treatment option for AR and CIU in children aged 6 months to 12 years.
BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of a new delivery system consisting of polymerized dilactide (PLA) with incorporated linezolid was investigated in a rabbit model as a means of treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) osteomyelitis.
METHODS: The PLA-linezolid system was prepared after thorough stirring of PLA with linezolid at a 10:1 ratio. Experimental osteomyelitis was established in 40 rabbits by a modification of the Norden model with MRSA as the test isolate. After a hole had been drilled in the upper right femur, the isolate was inoculated using a thin needle working as a foreign body. At three weeks, the needle was removed and cultured, and the PLA-linezolid system was implanted in half the animals (group B); the remaining half was the control group (group A). Animals were sacrificed at regular intervals; tissue around the site of implantation was examined for pathologic changes and cultured quantitatively.
RESULTS: The prepared system eluted linezolid in vitro at concentrations much greater than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the test pathogen for 11 days. At three weeks after inoculation of the test isolate, all animals had osteomyelitis. By the sixth week, bacterial growth from cancellous bone of group B was significantly lower than that in group A. However, this effect was not maintained until the end of the study (weeks 8 and 10), when the differences in bacterial growth in the two groups were not significant.
CONCLUSION: Polymerized dilactide mixed with 10% linezolid achieved partial arrest of the offending pathogen in an experimental model of osteomyelitis caused by MRSA.
We investigate the uniform limits of the set of polynomials on the closed unit disc D¯"> with respect to the chordal metric χ. More generally, we examine analogous questions replacing the one-point compactification of CC∪{∞}"> by other metrizable compactifications.
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the changes in inclination of the maxillary second (M2) and third (M3) molars after orthodontic treatment of Class II Division 1 malocclusion with extraction of maxillary first molars.
METHODS: Two groups of subjects were studied. The experimental group consisted of 37 subjects, 18 boys and 19 girls (mean age, 13.2 ± 1.62 years). The inclusion criteria were white origin, Class II Division 1 malocclusion, overjet ≥4 mm, no missing teeth or agenesis, and maxillary M3 present. All patients were treated with extraction of the maxillary first molars and the Begg technique. Standardized lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken at the start of active treatment (T1) and at least 3.7 years posttreatment (T2). The control group was drawn from the archives of the Nittedal Growth Material (Oslo University, Oslo, Norway) and included 54 untreated Class I and Class II subjects,18 boys and 36 girls (mean age, 13.4 ± 1.99 years) followed up for a minimum of 3.6 years. M2 and M3 inclinations relative to the palatal plane (PP) and functional occlusal plane (FOP) were measured and compared between groups and time periods.
RESULTS: M2 to PP inclination improved significantly in both the control group (M2-PP at T1, 17.7° ± 5.81°, and at T2, 11.9° ± 4.61°) and the experimental group (M2-PP at T1, 26.7° ± 5.75°, and at T2, 6.9° ± 6.76°). There were also significant increases of the mesial inclination of M3 in the control group (M3-PP at T1, 30.1° ± 8.54°, and at T2, 19.6° ± 9.01°) and extraction group (M3-PP at T1, 32.2° ± 7.90°, and at T2, 12.8° ± 7.36°). By using the FOP as the reference system, no significant change in the inclination of M2 was observed in the control group, whereas, in the extraction group, although more distally inclined at T1, M2 ended up mesially inclined at T2 (M2-FOP at T1, 14.2° ± 4.62°, and at T2, -6.2° ± 6.10°; P <0.0001). M3 inclinations were similar between the groups at T1 (M3-FOP control, 17.3° ± 9.35°; M3-FOP experimental, 19.6° ± 7.37°), and these improved significantly in both groups. However, M3 uprighting was almost 4 times greater in the extraction group (M3-FOP from T2-T1, 5.6° vs 19.9°). The greatest distal inclination of M3 at T2 in the extraction group was 9.4°, a value attained by only 43% of the control group.
CONCLUSIONS: Extraction of the maxillary first molars in Class II Division 1 patients results in significant uprighting of M2 and M3 and facilitates the normal eruption of M3.
Launching the distance-learning student-tutor interaction process, tutors of the first module of the M.Ed in English course at the HOU lay the foundations of academic student autonomy by means of providing – inter alia -- the appropriate written feedback on written assignments. In doing so, they need to gauge the content and form of their written comments systematically with regard to both output- and student-, that is human factor-related issues (cf. Goldstein, 2004), the latter being particularly relevant to the distance-learning context. In this article we discuss tutor policy as well as tutor perceptions (cf. Lee, 2004, 2009 among others) regarding written feedback on students’ academic assignments in terms of aspects of deviance treated and the relative gravity of ‘global’ and ‘local’ errors (e.g. Ferris, 2002), the directness of the correction, the punitive or facilitative nature of the comments provided as well as the relative balance of student strengths and weaknesses on the tutor’s comment agenda (cf. Hyland & Hyland, 2006). The role of the tutor as an assessor and/or counsellor is explored and the importance of striking a delicate balance between the two, especially in a context where face-to-face feedback opportunities are severely restricted, is underscored. We suggest that distance-learning feedback practices may need to be at least partially individualized to maximize student response and meet the goal of ‘informed autonomy’.
The highly oriented filamentous protein network of muscle constantly experiences significant mechanical load during muscle operation. The dimeric protein myomesin has been identified as an important M-band component supporting the mechanical integrity of the entire sarcomere. Recent structural studies have revealed a long alpha-helical linker between the C-terminal immunoglobulin (Ig) domains My12 and My13 of myomesin. In this paper, we have used single-molecule force spectroscopy in combination with molecular dynamics simulations to characterize the mechanics of the myomesin dimer comprising immunoglobulin domains My12-My13. We find that at forces of approximately 30 pN the alpha-helical linker reversibly elongates allowing the molecule to extend by more than the folded extension of a full domain. High-resolution measurements directly reveal the equilibrium folding/unfolding kinetics of the individual helix. We show that alpha-helix unfolding mechanically protects the molecule homodimerization from dissociation at physiologically relevant forces. As fast and reversible molecular springs the myomesin alpha-helical linkers are an essential component for the structural integrity of the M band.
For a nitrogen dimer in insulating MgO, a ferromagnetic coupling between spin-polarized 2p holes is revealed by calculations based on the density functional theory amended by an on-site Coulomb interaction and corroborated by the Hubbard model. It is shown that the ferromagnetic coupling is facilitated by a T-shaped orbital arrangement of the 2p holes, which is in its turn controlled by an intersite Coulomb interaction due to the directionality of the p orbitals. We thus conjecture that this interaction is an important ingredient of ferromagnetism in band insulators with 2p dopants.
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Μ.Ed. in TESOL programme of the Hellenic Open University, we distributed a questionnaire to graduates as well as current students of the programme. Our primary goal was to further reflect on the usefulness of the programme ten years after and identify possible weak points that need enhancement for the ultimate benefit of our students and the Greek society at large. To that end, we aimed to map out students’ views about the programme and its influence on their professional life. In the various sections of the questionnaire we tried to explore (a) whether their expectations are fulfilled; (b) which modules of those on offer they have selected and which they consider as the most and least important for their professional training and development; (c) how the programme has influenced the professional choices they make/have made outside teaching a class-proper; (d) whether they regard the programme as a springboard for further professional development which they can embark upon on their own; (e) what suggestions they can make for the programme’s further improvement of. The results were very positive. The goals we had set forth in 1998, when this Μ.Ed. in TESOL teacher education programme was inaugurated, were definitely fulfilled for the benefit of the teachers of English at large both in the private and the state sector. The work that has been carried out so far points to a bright future, provided we continue on the same successful course and implement all necessary changes and adjustments required by our changing times.
We prospectively studied 110 consecutive patients with intertrochanteric hip fractures treated with the 130 degree angle, 10-mm short IMHS intramedullary hip screw (IMHS, Smith & Nephew, Richards, Memphis, TN). Surgery was performed within 36 hours from admission; all patients were mobilized immediately postoperatively. Fracture union, pre- and post-operative mobility status and complications were evaluated. Eighty patients were included in the postoperative evaluation for a mean followup of 14 (range, 9 to 25) months. Mortality was 19%. Union occurred in 79 fractures within 6 months from surgery; there was one case of screw cut-out and one case of deep venous thrombosis. Periprosthetic femoral shaft fractures were not observed. At the latest examination, the mean mobility score decreased from 8.4 +/- 1.6 to 7.1 +/- 2.1 (p = 0.0001); 26 patients (32%) fully achieved the preoperative mobility score and 54 patients (68%) achieved more than 90% of the preoperative mobility score. The IMHS intramedullary hip screw represents a reliable method for the treatment of patients with intertrochanteric hip fractures, and provides for early mobilization and rehabilitation of the patients with acceptable complications.
