The aim was to study the ursodeoxycholic acid (UDC) effect on thr cyclosporin A (CsA) pharmacokinetics after oral administration of the microemulsion Formulation Neoral(R) (CsA-ME) in liver transplant recipients, and test the potential protective effect of this bile acid on liver and renal CsA-ME-induced toxicity. At entry into the study, 12 patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation received CsA-ME. for at least 6 months. They then received a cotreatment CsA-ME plus UDC (13.8 mg.kg (1).day(-1)) for three months. Blood concentrations of CsA were measured using a monoclonal antibody specific For the parent compound. The kinetic data were analysed by a mathematical model incorporating a time dependent rate coefficient for CsA intestinal absorption, before and after UDC treatment. Changes in serum markers of hepatic and renal injury were assessed. Individual serum bile acids were determined by chromatography. Serum levels of UDC increased from 3 to about 45 % of total serum bile acids after UDC treatment. The estimated model parameters indicate that UDC administration modulates CsA intestinal absorption. In the nine non-cholestatic patients, UDC reduced the absorption late and the bioavailability of CsA without modifying the elimination rate constant of CsA and the CsA pre-drug levels. In contrast, in the three cholestatic patients, the bioavailability tended to be higher and the absorption rate faster when CsA was combined with UDC. UDC significantly decreased elevated gamma -glutamyl transferase and creatinine serum levels and induced some clinical improvements such as disappearance of headaches in four patients. In conclusion, a 3-month UDC treatment modifies CsA intestinal absorption without affecting CsA elimination rate constant. On the other hand, UDC supplementation appears to improve CsA tolerability. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.
Data on the thermal ecology of the African Chameleon Chamaeleo africanus Laurenti, 1768 and the Common Chameleon Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Linnaeus, 1758) are reported from Greece. In the field the Tb values ranged from 10.4°C to 31.6°C for C. africanus and 23.5°C to 31°C for C. chamaeleon. There was a significant correlation between Tb and Ta in spring and summer for both species. There was also a significant correlation between Tb and Ts only in the spring and only for C. africanus. Cloacal temperatures differed significantly between spring and summer and so did substrate temperatures and air temperatures. As the months became hotter the animals reached higher temperatures. In a laboratory temperature gradient, the preferred body temperatures of C. africanus and C. chamaeleon were measured and compared with field body temperatures. The preferred body temperature in the laboratory gradient ranged from 26.0°C to 36.0°C for C. chamaeleon and from 25.0°C to 35.0°C for C. africanus. The mean Tb for C. africanus in the laboratory was 31°C while for C. chamaeleon it was 31.6°C. The results indicate that both chameleon species are thermoconformers. Cloacal temperatures differed significantly between the two species in the field but not in the laboratory. There was no difference between the Tb of the two sexes, both in the field and in the laboratory.
We used local AC-susceptibility and global DC magnetization measurements to determine the magnetic phase diagram of two HgBa2CuO4+delta single crystals with T-c = 95 and 89.9 K, respectively. The corresponding lines for the more anisotropic crystal (T-c = 89.9 K, crystal A) lie lower than those of the nearly optimally doped crystal (T-c = 95 K, crystal B). The irreversibility line (IL) decreases exponentially in the temperature range 20 less than or equal to T less than or equal to T*. At T* = 82 and 88 K the IL change slope and varies with a power law up to the T-c. Certain features in these measurements are also discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Purpose: To review the clinical features, complications, and treatment of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, a low-grade lymphoproliferative disorder that produces monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) M. Methods: A review of published reports was facilitated by the use of a MEDLINE computer search and by manual search of the Index Medicus. Results: The clinical manifestations associated with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia can be classified according to those related to direct tumor infiltration, to the amount and specific properties of circulating IgM, and to the deposition of IgM in various tissues. Asymptomatic patients should be followed without treatment. For symptomatic patients, standard treatment consists primarily of oral chlorambucil; nucleoside analogs, such as fludarabine and cladribine, are effective in one third of previously treated patients and in up to 80% of previously untreated patients. Preliminary evidence suggests that anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody may be active in about 30% of previously treated patients and that high-dose therapy with autologous stem-cell rescue is effective in most patients, including some with resistance to nucleoside analogs. Conclusion: Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia has a wide clinical spectrum that practicing physicians need to recognize early to reach the correct diagnosis. When therapy is indicated, oral chlorambucil is the standard primary treatment, but cladribine or fludarabine can be used when a rapid cytoreduction is desirable. Prospective randomized trials are required to elucidate the impact of nucleoside analogs on patients' survival. A nucleoside analog is the treatment of choice for patients who have been previously treated with an alkylating agent.
In this article we describe aspects of systems theory which are useful for the educator, the school psychologist, and the career counselor when coping with problem situations in school. Namely, we present the main systemic principles, such as circular causality, nonadditivity, equifinality, multifinality, morph stasis, morphogenesis, and the concept of rules. Next, we discuss in systemic terms the school-family contact when children's problem behavior occurs. Finally, we describe and question common dysfunctional views which deter us from adopting the systemic perspective and bring to an impasse our efforts to deal with problem situations in school.
Aufbauend auf einem pragmatischen Ansatz, erfolgt der Versuch, in Bezug auf jene kommunikative Situationen, an denen Personen teilnehmen, die in und über zwei Sprachen sozialisiert werden, die nachstehenden Komponenten des semiotischen Rhombus in deren einzelnen Merkmale aufzugliedern: Sprecher - Hörer einerseits und Vorstellung - Lautzeichen andererseits. Eine Konfrontation so wie diese Merkmale einerseits in der monolingualen Kommunikation und so, wie sie in kommunikativen Situationen erscheinen, an denen Personen teilnehmen, die in und über zwei Sprachen sozialisiert werden, ergibt, daß diese Personen auf zweierlei pragmatische Umfelder referieren, bzw. auf eine Verschmelzung dieser beiden. Dies führt dazu, daß vielfältige Differenzierungen auftreten können, von denen wir hier nur folgende erwähnen: - semantische Reichweite der Vorstellungen, bzw. verwendete Lautzeichen referieren auf abweichende Vorstellungen, besonders auf emotiver und konnotativer Ebene, - Sprecher-Hörer-Verhältnis unterliegt abweichender Einschätzung, insbesondere bezüglich der sprachlichen Anpassung an die für in der jeweiligen Sprachgemeinschaft üblichen Verhaltensmuster.
Amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) occurs in about 40% of human glioblastomas. In half of these cases, rearrangements of the amplified gene result in aberrant transcripts and proteins. The most frequent rearrangement affects the external domain of the receptor and results in nonbinding of ligand and constitutive activity. Less frequent rearrangements involve changes resulting in the loss of cytoplasmic amino acid sequences necessary for downregulation of the receptor following ligand binding. Here we report the development and selection for a rearranged amplified EGF receptor, which lacks cytoplasmic amino acid sequences in a human glioblastoma xenograft. An identical aberration has previously been reported in glioblastoma tissue. The patient tumor material, as well as the first passages of the xenograft showed amplification of the EGFR gene, but no evidence of gene rearrangement or an aberrant transcript. Interphase FISH data show the amplified gene on double minutes. Between passages 3 and 16, the growth rate of the xenograft almost doubled, the rearranged amplicon became dominant, as did the aberrant transcript, indicating selection under these conditions.
We present B, V, R, and I photometry of the metal-poor globular cluster in the galactic halo, NGC 6426. The observations were performed using the 1.3 m Telescope at Skinakas Observatory in Crete. We derived the reddening of the cluster to be E(B-V)=0.39+/-0.02 [E(V-I)=0.53+/-0.03]. The metal abundance of the cluster was estimated from the shape of the red giant branch following the techniques by Sarajedini and by Da Costa & Armandroff. It was found to be [Fe/H]=-2.33+/-0.15 dex. The mean V magnitude of the RR Lyrae variables found in the cluster is 18.14+/-0.02 (based on a paper in preparation). The resulting distance modulus of the cluster is 16.41+/-0.07. Finally, we derived the relative age of NGC 6426. Using the methodology of Harris et al., we found that NGC 6426 is marginally older than M92 (by ~=0.7 Gyr). Following the Chaboyer, Demarque, & Sarajedini method we found NGC 6426 to have the same age as the mean metal-poor globular cluster of the galactic halo.
National and international authorities recommend a variety of air- quality standards that should not be exceeded in local and regional scales currently. With this work a uniform indexing scale is introduced which characterises several urban pollutants in a simple and comparable manner. The ’indicators’ proposed are implemented at the Athens Metropolitan Area (AMA) which is an area with serious pollution problems. Hourly data from all available monitoring stations are analysed during 1983 and 1995. This analysis demonstrates that the status of air quality in Athens can be characterised as acute with regards to photochemical pollutants while strong spatial and temporal variability is encountered for all pollutants. National and international authorities recommend a variety of air-quality standards that should not be exceeded in local and regional scales currently. With this work a uniform indexing scale is introduced which characterizes several urban pollutants in a simple and comparable manner. The ‘indicators’ proposed are implemented at the Athens Metropolitan Area (AMA) which is an area with serious pollution problems. Hourly data from all available monitoring stations are analyzed during 1983 and 1995. This analysis demonstrates that the status of air quality in Athens can be characterized as acute with regards to photochemical pollutants while strong spatial and temporal variability is encountered for all pollutants.
Phase plane plots are graphical expressions for differential equations ploting the state derivative dc/dt versus the state c. Using these plots, we developed a novel method for the estimation of the terminal slope from time-concentration data. The values of the derivatives used for the construction of the phase plane plots were calculated by two different methods of numerical differentiation. The first method (D1) is based on the classical calculation of slope of the line connecting two successive data points. The alternative method (D2) relies on an initial second-order polynomial interpolation utilizing three successive data points followed by the calculation of the derivative at each one of the concentration values. A forced-through-zero linear regression of the phase plane plot data is used to derive an estimate for the slope. For comparative purposes, the standard approach based on the semilogarithmic plot was also applied. For a hypothetical drug absorbed by first-order process into a one-compartment model, simulated time-concentration data disturbed by a Gaussian zero mean random error with various coefficients of variation were generated. Various sampling schedules, with two, three, four, or five data points, were utilized for the estimation of the terminal slope. Performances of the proposed methods on simulated data were expressed by means of root-mean-squared error, bias, and standard deviation. In all cases, D2 was superior to D1. The D2 method outperforms the standard method in that it furnishes estimates closer to the real values in all cases when two data points and in most cases when three data points were used. All methods behave similarly when four or five data points were used.
The reaction of the 1'-C-cyano-2'-deoxyuridine derivative 1 with organolithium reagents can be favorably tuned to give a new class of anomeric spironucleosides.
The reaction of the 1'-C-cyano-2'-deoxyuridine derivative 1 with organolithium reagents can be favorably tuned to give a new class of anomeric spironucleosides. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Bone metastases from solid primary tumors, as well as multiple myeloma and secondary lymphoma may all present with bone lesions and associated soft-tissue masses on magnetic resonance images of the spine. In bone metastases and myeloma, the cortex of the affected bone is usually destroyed and a bulging contour is observed at the site of extraosseous spread. In cases of lymphomatous involvement of the bone marrow, however, we have observed that spread to the extraosseous soft-tissues occurs without alteration of the shape or contour of the affected bone. In order to assess whether this pattern of spread is indeed suggestive or even diagnostic of lymphoma of the bone marrow, we reviewed spinal bone marrow MR images of 66 patients, with bone metastases from solid primary tumors (33 patients), multiple myeloma (20 patients) and stage IV lymphoma with bone marrow involvement (13 patients), who had bone lesions and contiguous soft-tissue masses. If tumor was present on either side of the bony cortex but the contour of the affected bone was preserved, a 'wrap-around' sign was diagnosed. A 'wrap-around' sign was found in 12 of the 13 patients with lymphoma but in none of the patients with metastases or myeloma. On MR images of the bone marrow, the demonstration of tumor spread beyond the bony cortex without disruption of the outline of the diseased bone may favor the diagnosis of lymphoma more than that of metastases or multiple myeloma.
The recent detection of high energy gamma -rays coming from supernova remnants and active galactic nuclei has revived interest in the diffusive shock acceleration of electrons. In the present paper we examine the basis of the so-called ``box'' model for particle acceleration and present a more physical version of it. Using this we determine simple criteria for the conditions under which ``pile-ups'' can occur in shock accelerated electron spectra subject to synchrotron or inverse Compton losses (the latter in the Thompson limit). An extension to include nonlinear effects is proposed.
Aim: To measure MCA and CA153 concentrations in maternal serum (MS) and amniotic fluid (AF) paired samples during normal pregnancy, in order to evaluate the usefulness of these markers in monitoring pregnant patients with a history of breast cancer. Patients and Methods: Serum and AF MCA and CA153 values were measured in 20 pregnant women during the 1st trimester, 29 cases in the 2nd, 26 in the 3rd and 20 at parturition and compared with those of 20 healthy, age-matched, non pregnant women (controls). Results: MS values of MCA increased significantly with gestation age (p < 0.0001), being higher in the 3rd trimester and in labor than in control values (p < 0.0001). MCA values in AF were remarkably higher than those in MS and increased significantly with advancing gestation (p < 0.0001). In contrast, CA153 values in AF, which were marginally higher than in MS, did not differ significantly with the progression of pregnancy. Conclusions: Maternal serum MCA values are significantly influenced during pregnancy. Thus, this marker seems to be reliable only during early pregnancy. In contrast, CA153 remains a useful marker in monitoring pregnant breast cancer patients.
Efficient methodologies based on radical cascade reactions for the preparation of anomeric spironucleosides of general structure 3 and 4 are reported. The reactions were performed on modified uridine and 2'-deoxyuridine substrates. The protected derivatives 6 and 28 afforded the anomeric spironucleosides 7 and 29, respectively, in a stereospecific manner and in moderate yields (3-50{%}). In the 2'-deoxyribo series, the efficiency increased considerably (yields higher than 70{%}) with a concomitant decrease in stereoselectivity. In fact, the protected derivatives 13 and 21 gave mixtures of the anomeric products 11/14 and 22/23, respectively. Chemical transformations of some of these spironucleosides were successfully performed. The circular dichroism spectra of the anomeric spironucleosides displayed some striking features which can be attributed to the restricted rotation of the glycosidic bond. The reaction mechanism, which has been studied in some detail, comprises of a cascade of radical reactions in which the key step is the 1,5-radical translocation from an alkoxyl or vinyl radical. conveniently situated on the base moiety in the vicinity of the anomeric position. After the translocation, the alkoxyl radical 15, generated photolytically from an in situ prepared hypoiodite. afforded spironucleosides which possess an unusual orthoamide structure at the anomeric position. Alternatively, the vinyl radical 30, generated by the reaction of vinyl bromides with tributyltin radical, undergoes a 5-endo-trig cyclization followed by a bromine atom elimination alter the 1.5-radical translocation step.
Background. Comparison of carotid endarterectomy in patients with and without occluded contralateral carotid artery. Methods. Design: evaluation of results without using shunt or patch. Setting: Aretaeion Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens. Subjects: 235 patients, divided into group I of 40 patients with and group II of 195 patients without occluded contralateral carotid artery. Intervention: carotid endarterectomy under general anesthesia. Main outcome measures: heparin administration, stable hemodynamic status during clamping, short duration monitoring postoperatively. Results. Postoperative morbidity of both groups was 2.5 (6/235) and mortality 1.7 (4/235). Group I: mortality rate was 2.5 (1/40) major and minor stroke each 2.5 (1/40) and group II: 1.5 (3/195) and 1 (2/195) respectively (NS). Four to 108 months later, 30 (12/40) of group I and 21 (41/195) of group II died. Conclusions. Endarterectomy of the carotid artery under general anesthesia without use of shunt and patch in patients with or without occlusion of the contralateral carotid artery presented the same comparative results. Candidates for carotid endarterectomy should be screened systematically for coronary disease preoperatively and annual stress testing postoperatively, tactics which may improve early and late mortality rate after carotid surgery.
This paper examines a new class of exact and self-consistent MHD solutions which describe steady and axisymmetric hydromagnetic outflows from the atmosphere of a magnetized and rotating central object with possibly an orbiting accretion disk. The plasma is driven against gravity by a thermal pressure gradient, as well as by magnetic rotator and radiative forces. At the Alfvenic and fast critical points the appropriate criticality conditions are applied. The outflow starts almost radially but after the Alfven transition and before the fast critical surface is encountered the magnetic pinching force bends the poloidal streamlines into a cylindrical jet-type shape. The terminal speed, Alfven number, cross-sectional area of the jet, as well as its final pressure and density obtain uniform values at large distances from the source. The goal of the study is to give an analytical discussion of the two-dimensional interplay of the thermal pressure gradient, gravitational, Lorentz and inertial forces in accelerating and collimating an MHD flow. A parametric study of the model is also given, as well as a brief sketch of its applicability to a self-consistent modelling of collimated outflows from various astrophysical objects. {The analysed model succeeds to give for the first time an exact and self-consistent MHD solution for jet-type outflows extending from the stellar surface to infinity where it can be superfast, in agreement with the MHD causality principle.
This paper examines a new class of exact and self-consistent MHD solutions which describe steady and axisymmetric hydromagnetic outflows from the atmosphere of a magnetized and rotating central object with possibly an orbiting accretion disk. The plasma is driven against gravity by a thermal pressure gradient, as well as by magnetic rotator and radiative forces. At the Alfvenic and fast critical points the appropriate criticality conditions are applied. The outflow starts almost radially but after the Alfven transition and before the fast critical surface is encountered the magnetic pinching force bends the poloidal streamlines into a cylindrical jet-type shape. The terminal speed, Alfven number, cross-sectional area of the jet, as well as its final pressure and density obtain uniform values at large distances from the source. The goal of the study is to give an analytical discussion of the two-dimensional interplay of the thermal pressure gradient, gravitational, Lorentz and inertial forces in accelerating and collimating an MHD flow. A parametric study of the model is also given, as well as a brief sketch of its applicability to a self-consistent modelling of collimated outflows from various astrophysical objects. {The analysed model succeeds to give for the first time an exact and self-consistent MHD solution for jet-type outflows extending from the stellar surface to infinity where it can be superfast, in agreement with the MHD causality principle.
The effects of urbanization on the Athens National Observatory (NOA) long records are investigated, in the present study, examining the mean monthly maximum and minimum air temperature for the period 1925-1996, for NOA and the corresponding time series for Aliartos (ALI), a rural station located 70 km NW of Athens. The existing small urbanization effect in NOA before the second world war period increased after the war and up to about 1990, when the effect became stationary. The urbanization effect in NOA referred mainly to maximum temperature and to the warmer seasons of the year. It is attributed to the extensive building of Athens after the war around NOA site and up to the sea which increases the temperature of the sea breeze. The effect is also attributed to the rapid increase of the population and the number of motor vehicles mainly after 1970. Moreover the decreasing trend of precipitation during the period 1970-1990 may have contributed to the increase of maximum air temperature. The urbanization effect on maximum temperatures of NOA amounts about 2 Β°C in spring, summer and less in fall, while no urbanization effect is clear in winter.
The EPR spectra of the oxygen-deficient La0.5Yb0.5Ba2Cu3Oy mixed phase has been investigated as a function of temperature. At low temperatures (T<15 K), an intense EPR line indicating the presence of magnetic clusters associated with spin-polarized clusters of copper ions through delocalized oxygen holes, has been detected. Both the EPR linewidth and g-factor of the latter EPR spectrum exhibit strong temperature dependence indicative of short-range order effects. At higher temperatures (T>30 K), the EPR spectrum reveal the contribution of Cu2+ defects and a broad EPR spectrum due to Yb3+ ions which is compared with the corresponding one in Y0.5Yb0.5Ba2Cu3Oy compounds.
Variation in the reproductive traits of Greek populations of Podarcis erhardii, P. peloponnesiaca, and P. taurica living in similar habitats along the same latitude was examined. Female body size, clutch size, and egg volume were determined. In all three species, clutch size was positively correlated with maternal body size. P. erhardii appears to modulate its reproductive effort by means of variation in both egg size and number. On the other hand, egg size in P. peloponnesiaca and P. taurica has probably been optimized, and an increase in reproductive effort would result in the production of a larger number of eggs.
Controversial results have been reported on the participation and diagnostic value of lymphocyte reactivity in cow's milk (CM) allergy. In this study, we used a specific nuclear marker to evaluate lymphocyte proliferation in IgE-mediated CM allergy in infants, and examine its relation with diets containing different CM antigen loads.|Infants with IgE-mediated CM allergy, as assessed by open provocation and RAST, were grouped according to their exclusive diet, either CM formulae, breast feeding, or hydrolysed whey formulae. A group of non-atopic infants receiving CM was also examined. Lymphocyte proliferation to beta-lactoglobulin was evaluated by quantitation of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, by flow cytometry. Immunophenotypic surface markers were also examined.|A marked difference of PCNA expression between CM-fed allergic infants and healthy controls was observed (p<0.001). In this setting, PCNA expression >/=10% was highly specific and sensitive as a marker of CM allergy in CM-fed infants. Moreover, a significant correlation (p<0.001) between antigen load and PCNA was established in CM-allergic infants under different diets, higher values obtained with increasing antigen loads. In addition, within the group fed hydrolyzed formulae, low-molecular-weight products resulted in marginally lower PCNA expression than higher-molecular-weight formulae. No differences in immunophenotype were found, with the exception of a higher CD23 expression in the breast-fed group.|PCNA could be a useful marker in the assessment of lymphocyte proliferation to CM antigens. Low CM antigen diets are related with reduced lymphocyte reactivity, which may partly explain the clinical benefit observed with such diets.
We calculate the electronic states of AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs double heterojunctions subjected to a magnetic field parallel to the quasi-two-dimensional electron gas layer. We study the energy dispersion curves, the density of states, the electron concentration and the distribution of the electrons in the subbands.
The parallel magnetic field induces severe changes in the density of states, which are of crucial importance for the explanation of the magnetoconductivity in these structures. However, to our knowledge, there has been no systematic study of the density of states under these circumstances. We attempt a contribution in this direction.
For symmetric heterostructures, the depopulation of the higher subbands, the transition from a single-layer to a bilayer electron system and the domination of the bulk Landau levels in the centre of the wide quantum well, as the magnetic field is continuously increased, are presented in the `energy dispersion picture' as well as in the `electron concentration picture' and in the `density-of-states picture'.
OBJECTIVE: To use molecular cytogenetic techniques for the determination of complex chromosomal aberrations that could not be distinguished by conventional cytogenetic method. METHODS: Chromosome painting, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and color banding chromosome analysis (RxFISH) were used to identify a case with chromosome 9 aberration by G-banding. RESULTS: The patient has a karyotype of 46,XX,9p+ by G-banding. Both chromosomes 9 were uniformly painted, including the extra segment on one of the 9p alleles. CGH revealed a duplication of the entire 9p short arm. After analysis with RxFISH the patient's karyotype could be accurately described as 46,XX,dup9p (p11-->p24::p24-->qter). CONCLUSION: The present report shows that some late technological developments in the field of cytogenetics can facilitate the study of the diseases linked to complex chromosomal aberrations and may find significant application in basic and clinical medical studies.
Papadopoulos NG, Papadaki E, Kitsiou-Tzeli S, Farmakakis T, Fretzayas A. Diagnosis of Fanconi anemia. Pediatric Hematology Oncology. 1999;16:273.
Presumptive mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were obtained from 54 fungal isolates identified as Verticillium lecanii, V. psalliotae or ‘V. lecanii-like’. Analysis of the mtDNA RFLPs showed 20 different patterns, indicating considerable genetic variation within the V. lecanii species complex. There was no direct correlation between host and mtDNA pattern, or between mtDNA patterns and previously described isoenzyme-defined specific groups. Isolates from tropical and subtropical areas showed considerable variation in genotypes, while isolates from temperate regions appeared less variable.
Lelidis I, Kléman M, Martin JL. Dislocation mobility in smectic liquid crystals. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Science and Technology Section A: Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals [Internet]. 1999;330:1701-1708. Website
A displacement approach for competitive binding studies was developed. The method utilizes the potentiometric 1-anilino-8-naphthalene-sulfonate (ANS) probe technique and is applied to the binding study of several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSADs) to bovine serum albumin (BSA). A home-made ANS electrode was used to monitor the displaced free ANS probe from its binding sites on the protein molecule by the stepwise addition of the studied drug. To assess and compare quantitatively the displacing ability of the various drugs, the `ANS Displacement Index' is used. The possible interference of 19 ionizable drugs (NSADs, sulfonamides, etc.) to the ANS selective electrode at pH 7.4 was studied and their potentiometric selectivity coefficients (K-ANS,D(pot)) were determined. Correction procedures for the determination of the free ANS concentration are proposed in the case of interfering ionic drugs. A blank binding experiment in conjunction with the incorporation of K-ANS,D(pot) values in the `general competitive site oriented model' allows one to derive estimates for the drug binding parameters, i.e. the number of binding sites and association constants. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Cutaneous metastasis from intraabdominal carcinoma is relatively rare. When it is present it is usually located in the skin overlying the neoplasm. Carcinoma of the uterus metastatic to the skin accounts for 9% of all cutaneous metastases. Distant metastasis is extremely rare. Such a metastasis to the skin of the big toe of the lower limb is presented.
The profiles of the lactate/H+ transporter isoforms [monocarboxylate transporter isoforms (MCT)] MCT1 and MCT4 (formerly MCT3 of Price, N. T., V. N. Jackson, and A. P. Halestrap. Biochem. J. 329: 321-328, 1998) were studied in the soleus, triceps brachii, and vastus lateralis muscles of six male subjects. The fiber-type compositions of the muscles were evaluated from the occurrence of the myosin heavy chain isoforms, and the fibers were classified as type I, IIA, or IIX. The total content of MCT1 and MCT4 was determined in muscle homogenates by Western blotting, and MCT1 and MCT4 were visualized on cross-sectional muscle sections by immunofluorescence microscopy. The Western blotting revealed a positive, linear relationship between the MCT1 content and the occurrence of type I fibers in the muscle, but no significant relation was found between MCT4 content and fiber type. Moreover, the interindividual variation in MCT4 content was much larger than the interindividual variation in MCT1 content in homogenate samples. The immunofluorescence microscopy showed that within a given muscle section, the MCT4 isoform was clearly more abundant in type II fibers than in type I fibers, whereas only minor differences existed in the occurrence of the MCT1 isoform between type I and II fibers. Together the present results indicate that the content of MCT1 in a muscle varies between different muscles, whereas fiber-type differences in MCT1 content are minor within a given muscle section. In contrast, the content of MCT4 is clearly fiber-type specific but apparently quite similar in various muscles.
Purpose: Both docetaxel and cisplatin have moderate activity in patients with advanced urothelial cancer. We performed a multicenter phase II study in order to assess the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of these two agents in patients with advanced carcinoma of the urothelium. Patients and methods: Sixty-six patients not amenable to curative surgery or irradiation were enrolled onto this cooperative group study and treated on an outpatient basis with docetaxel 75 mg/m2 followed by cisplatin 75 mg/m2, both administered intravenously. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 5 μg/kg daily from day 5 until resolution of neutropenia. The chemotherapy was administered every three weeks for a maximum of six courses in patients without evidence of progressive disease. Results: Thirty-four of sixty-six patients (52%, 95% confidence interval 40%-64%) demonstrated objective responses, with eight achieving clinical complete responses and twenty-six partial responses. A multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the patients most likely to respond were those without lung metastasis and without weight loss before treatment. The median duration of response was 6.1 months and the median times to progression and survival for all patients were 5 and 8 months, respectively. Absence of anemia, of liver metastases and of weight loss correlated with longer survival. Grade ≥3 toxicities included granulocytopenia in 33% of patients, anemia in 14%, diarrhea in 13% and emesis in 7% of patients. Conclusion: The combination of docetaxel and cisplatin appeared relatively well tolerated and moderately active in patients with advanced urothelial cancer. The patients most likely to benefit were those without weight loss and without lung or liver metastases.
The recent High-Energy Gamma-Ray Array (HEGRA) observations of the blazar Mrk 501 show strong curvature in the very high energy γ-ray spectrum. Applying the γ-ray opacity derived from an empirically based model of the intergalactic infrared background radiation field to these observations, we find that the intrinsic spectrum of this source is consistent with a power law: dNγ/dE~E-α, with α=2.00+/-0.03 over the range 500 GeV-20 TeV. Within current synchrotron self-Compton scenarios, the fact that the TeV spectral energy distribution of Mrk 501 does not vary with luminosity, combined with the correlated, spectrally variable emission in X-rays as observed by the BeppoSAX and Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer instruments, also independently implies that the intrinsic spectrum must be close to α=2. Thus, the observed curvature in the spectrum is most easily understood as resulting from intergalactic absorption.
Mathematical analysis and computer simulations are used to evaluate three modifications to Kauffman's NK model in an attempt to incorporate unexplored aspects of epistatic interaction between loci in genome evolution. Two modifications - one to the amount and the other to the distribution of epistatic interaction - further support Kauffman's conclusion that high levels of epistatic interaction lead to a decrease in overall fitness of the genome. The third model, however, provides a condition under which increased epistatic interaction at certain loci results in higher genome fitness.
We show ab initio calculations for vacancy formation energies in Cu and Al. The calculations are based on density-functional theory and the full-potential Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker Green's function method for impurities. The non-local effect beyond the local-spin-density approximation (LSDA) for density-functional theory is taken into account within the generalized-gradient approximation (GGA) of Perdew and Wang. The lattice relaxation around a vacancy is also investigated using calculated Hellmann–Feynman forces exerted on atoms in the vicinity of a vacancy. We show that the GGA calculations reproduce very well the experimental values of vacancy formation energies and bulk properties of Cu and Al, as they correct the deficiency of LSDA results (underestimation of equilibrium lattice parameters, overestimation of bulk moduli, and vacancy formation energies). It is also shown that the GGA calculations reduce the LSDA results for the lattice relaxation energy for a vacancy in Cu.
Purpose: To evaluate the tolerance and efficacy of the combination of docetaxel and gemcitabine in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and Methods: Fifty-one chemotherapy-naive patients with NSCLC were treated with gemcitabine 900 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1 and 8 and docetaxel 100 mg/m2 intravenously on day 8 with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (150 μg/m2, subcutaneously) support from day 9 to day 15. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. Results: The patients' median age was 64 years. The World Health Organization performance status was 0 to 1 in 39 patients and 2 in 12 patients. Fifteen patients (29%) had stage IIIB disease, and 36 (71%) had stage IV; histology was mainly squamous cell carcinoma (59%). A partial response was achieved in 19 patients (37.5%; 95% confidence interval, 24% to 50%); stable disease and progressive disease were each observed in 16 patients (31.4%). The median duration of response and the time to tumor progression were 5 and 6 months, respectively. The median survival was 13 months, and the actuarial 1-year survival was 50.7%. Grade 4 anemia and thrombocytopenia were rare (2%). Four patients (8%) developed grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, and all were complicated with fever; there was no treatment-related death. Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea occurred in three patients (6%), grade 2 or 3 neurotoxicity in four patients (8%), grade 2 or 3 asthenia in 10 patients (20%), and grade 2 or 3 edema in 10 patients (20%). Conclusion: The combination of docetaxel/gemcitabine is well tolerated, can be used for outpatients, and is active for the treatment of advanced NSCLC. This treatment merits further comparison with other cisplatin- or carboplatin-based combinations.
Purpose. A Monte-Carlo computer simulation technique was employed to study the details of the small intestinal transit flow in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Methods. A heterogeneous tube model was constructed using a numerical computer simulation technique. The model was built from first principles and included several heterogeneous characteristics of the GI tract structure. We used a random, dendritic-type internal structure representing the villi of the GI tract. The small intestinal transit flow was simulated using two diffusion models, namely, the blind ant and the myopic ant models, which are different models to account the elapse of time, and which are both based on statistical properties of random walks. For each one of the models we utilize two types of biased random walk, placing different emphasis in the motion towards the output of the tube. We monitored the flow of the drug in terms of Monte-Carlo time steps (MCS) through the tube walls and dendritic villi present. Results. The frequency of the transit times was dependent on the structure of the dendritic villi and on the type of biased random walk. The small intestinal flow profile of literature data for a large number of drugs was well characterized by the heterogeneous model using, as parameters, a certain number of villi per unit length of the tube and specific characteristics for both types of the biased random walk. A correspondence between the MCS and real time units was achieved. Conclusions. The transit process of the oral dosage forms in the GI tract can be reproduced with the heterogeneous model developed. This model can be used to study GI absorption phenomena.
Purpose. To develop an approach based on computer simulations for the study of intestinal drug absorption. Methods. The drug flow in the gastrointestinal tract was simulated with a biased random walk model in the heterogeneous tube model (Pharm. Res. 16, 87-91, 1999), while probability concepts were used to describe the dissolution and absorption processes. An amount of drug was placed into the input end of the tube and allowed to flow, dissolve and absorb along the tube. Various drugs with a diversity in dissolution and permeability characteristics were considered. The fraction of dose absorbed (F-abs) was monitored as a function of time measured in Monte Carlo steps (MCS). The absorption number An was calculated from the mean intestinal transit time and the absorption rate constant adhering to each of the drugs examined. Results. A correspondence between the probability factor used to simulate drug absorption and the conventional absorption rate constant derived from the analysis of data was established. For freely soluble drugs, the estimates for F-abs derived from simulations using as an intestinal transit time 24500 MCS (equivalent to 4.5 h) were in accord with the corresponding data obtained from literature. For sparingly soluble drugs, a comparison of the normalized concentration profiles in the tube derived from the heterogeneous tube model and the classical macroscopic mass balance approach enabled the estimation of the dissolution probability factor for five drugs examined. The prediction of F-abs can be accomplished using estimates for the absorption and the dissolution probability factors. Conclusions. A fully computerized approach which describes the flow, dissolution and absorption of drug in the gastrointestinal tract in terms of probability concepts was developed. This approach can be used to predict F-abs for drugs with various solubility and permeability characteristics provided that probability factors for dissolution and absorption are available.
Purpose: To define the disease course, therapeutic strategies, patterns and rates of relapse and causes of death for patients with Hodgkin's disease with lymphocyte predominance (LPHD) and to assess prognostic factors including nodular and diffuse histologic patterns. Patients and Methods: The records of all previously untreated patients with LPHD who received initial treatment at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC) from 1960 through 1992 were reviewed. Clinical and histopathologic characteristics, specifically nodular and diffuse LPHI), and treatment groups were assessed by overall and relapse-free survival, patterns of relapse, and causes of death. Results: Of 70 patients, 58 (83%) had nodular LPHD and 12 (17%) had a diffuse pattern: clinical characteristics were similar between the two subtypes. The median age of all patients was 25 years, 79% were male, 96% presented with stage I or II disease and 93% were free of B symptoms. Laparotomy (23 patients) failed to upstage any patient with a negative lymphogram. With a median follow-up of 12.3 years for alive patients, 19 (27%) patients have relapsed. All 3 relapses among the patients with diffuse subtype occurred within 3 years while 9 of 16 relapses occurred after 5 years with nodular subtype. However, we did not detect any statistically significant difference in relapse free survival or survival between the subtypes in our patient population. There was some suggestion that patients aged 40 and older experienced shorter survival; no other pretreatment characteristics were noted to be associated with relapse free survival or survival. Though there were no relapses within the radiation fields, no effect of extent of radiation therapy on relapse rate was observed. Thirteen (19%) patients have died, 6 (8.6%) of whom succumbed to LPHD. Two patients developed diffuse large cell lymphoma. Conclusions: Patients with LPHD usually present with localized and asymptomatic disease. Laparotomy is unnecessary if the lymphogram is negative. Nodular histology occurred in the majority of patients. Though all relapses from diffuse subtype occurred within 3 years in contrast to some late relapses observed for nodular subtype, there was no statistically significant difference in relapse free survival or survival between the subtypes. The extent of irradiation had no effect on relapse free survival or survival. We could not find any evidence that LPHD should be treated any different from the classical Hodgkin's disease at this point despite suggestions that it be classified as a non- Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma.
Myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform composition was determined in 2264 single skeletal muscle fibers from vastus lateralis muscle of a group (n = 12) of very old subjects (average age, 88 years). The number of fibers containing only MHC I, IIA, or IIX was 19.9%, 27.2%, and 0.3%, respectively. Surprisingly, 28.5% of the fibers displayed coexpression of both MHC I and IIA, a phenotype that is present in younger adults in very small percentages. Among these fibers coexpressing MHC I and IIA, the majority had a dominant expression of MHC I. Additionally, a small number of fibers coexpressing MHC I and IIX without any MHC IIA, and fibers co-expressing all three isoforms were observed. Altogether, 52.6% of all fibers examined in these very old subjects coexpressed two or three MHC isoforms. The present study provides evidence that advanced age leads to a significant elevation of skeletal muscle fibers displaying coexpression of two MHC isoforms and that a separation into slow and fast fibers in very old individuals may therefore be somewhat misleading. The clinical significance of the elevated number of fibers coexpressing MHC I and IIA is uncertain.
The mode of action of the activator appliance is still unclear. Apart from a possible mandibular growth enhancing effect, some investigators believe that orthopedic forces may be applied to the maxilla, contributing to Class II correction by inhibition of maxillary growth. In addition, orthodontic forces may arise that produce dentoalveolar changes. The purpose of this study was to measure the magnitude of anteroposterior intermaxillary forces during wear of the activator appliance. Ten consecutive patients with Class II dental and skeletal relationships were treated with a modified activator appliance. The appliance had maxillary and mandibular segments that could be detached from each other during the measuring session. A force transducer was placed at the anterior part of the maxillary segment, and the anteroposterior force exerted by the mandibular segment was measured. Measurements were taken in the upright and reclined position at every patient visit for a period of 6 months. Results indicated that intermaxillary forces were generally in the orthodontic range (median values of 100 gf at the upright position and 123 gf at the reclined position). A wide variation in force levels was noted, both between patients and for the same patient during the experimental period. No statistically significant change in force levels was observed during the 6 month period and no difference was noted between upright and reclined posture.
We examined the relation of children's loneliness and social dissatisfaction in school to self-efficacy for peer interaction in the same context. Two hundred thirty-eight fourth- and sixth-grade Greek children completed Asher, Hymel, and Renshaw's (1984) Loneliness and Social Dissatisfaction Questionnaire-Greek version, and Wheeler and Ladd's (1982) Children's Self-Efficacy for Peer Interaction Scale-Greek version. The instruments showed adequate reliability and validity. Results indicated a modest but significant negative correlation between the variables studied. The correlation was stronger for social dissatisfaction than for loneliness; also, loneliness and social dissatisfaction were higher for the nonconflict than for the conflict peer interactions, and this finding was consistent across grade and sex. Sixth graders had marginally significantly higher loneliness scores than fourth graders, and girls had marginally significantly higher loneliness scores than boys. School achievement was negatively related to social dissatisfaction. Results are discussed in terms of the existing literature on children's loneliness and self-efficacy.
The irreversibility magnetic field H-irr(T) decreases exponentially in the temperature range 20 less than or equal to T less than or equal to 88 K. At T* approximate to 88 K, the H-irr(T) curve changes slope abruptly and a new mechanism controls the irreversibility up to T-c. The hysteresis loops measurements (H parallel to c) show a second peak for 5 less than or equal to T less than or equal to 50 K. Relaxation measurements performed in the region of the second peak show, at constant temperature, that effective activation energy U-o(H) first increases up to H-sp'(T) and then decreases for H > H-sp'(T). H-sp'(T) is located lower than the field H-sp(T) deduced from the hysteresis loops. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
The temperature and magnetic-field dependence of activation energy U-o(T,H) for creep has been studied in an HgBa2CuO4+delta single crystal below and above the "fishtail" peak H-sp(T). At constant temperature, U-o(H) increases up to H-sp'(T) and then for H>H-sp'(T) it decreases. H-sp'(T) is located lower than the field H-sp(T) deduced from the hysteresis loops. The decrease of the activation energy is probably indicative of a plastic-type creep of the vortex lattice. We demonstrate that the overall behavior of U-o(T,H) at the second magnetization peak line H-sp(T) in the phase diagram of HgBa2CuO4+delta exhibits similarities with that observed in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta and YBa2Cu3O6.95 compounds. [S0163-1829(99)04018-7].
A recursion equation which relies on the population growth model of dissolution is used for the analysis of supersaturated dissolution data. The concentration-time data of dissolution experiments are initially transformed to fractions of dose dissolved-generations by adopting an appropriate time interval as the time step of the recursion equation. A computer program is used to derive estimates for the maximum fraction of dose dissolved and the fraction of dose remaining in solution at steady state. Good fittings were observed when this equation was applied to phenytoin and nifedipine supersaturated dissolution data obtained from literature. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Retrorectal-cyst hamartomas (RCH) are rare developmental tail-gut cystic tumours of the retrorectal space, which occasionally undergo malignant transformation. We describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in two patients with RCH and in a third patient with unclassified sarcoma arising from a RCH. The RCH were hypointense or hyperintense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images; they did not enhance and they contained multiple septations. A solid component in the periphery of one cyst was markedly hypointense on T2-weighted images in keeping with fibrous material. The sarcoma arising from the wall of the RCH enhanced and was of intermediate signal intensity on all sequences. MR may help establish the diagnosis of RCH if an unenhanced cystic tumour is discovered in the retrorectal space and it can help detect those rare cases of malignant transformation of these developmental tumours.
We present a systematic examination of the optical properties of photonic crystals consisting of metallic particles (plasma spheres) arranged periodically in a host dielectric medium. We calculate exactly the transmission and absorption coefficients of light incident on a slab of the material as functions of the frequency of the incident light and analyze the results by reference to the properties of a single sphere and to the frequency band structure of the corresponding infinite crystal. We examine the dependence of the above coefficients on the fractional volume occupied by the spheres and on the thickness of the slab. Finally we compare our results with those of the Maxwell Garnett effective-medium theory and in this way we establish the limitations of the latter. We show in particular that multipole interactions which the Maxwell Garnett theory does not take into account lead to significant structure in the transmission/absorption spectra.
There is increasing observational evidence that relativistic particles of energies ∼1 TeV provide a significant pressure component of the plasma which powers at least some of the relativistic jets associated with AGN. Furthermore, observations of flares with duration ∼15 min at TeV energies indicate that the associated electrons are accelerated to the required energies on these or shorter time scales, which are comparable to the synchrotron loss time for the values of the magnetic fields thought present in these jets. As such, they push the potential acceleration mechanisms to their limits and prompt us to examine the conditions under which it may be possible for hadronic processes to provide the electrons of the requisite energies. Relativistic hadrons could presumably exist within the flow, having been accelerated efficiently near the compact object and then transported along with it, releasing their energy by an instability due to p- γ reactions once a well-defined threshold is reached.
In recent years, several cancer patients who developed neutropenic fever were effectively treated on an outpatient basis with either intravenous or oral antibiotics. This approach is associated with reduced cost and improved patient convenience. However, the appropriate antibiotic regimen and the role of growth factors have not been established yet. In order to address these issues we performed a nonrandomized phase II study to assess the feasibility and efficacy of an oral antibiotic regimen in combination with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for the outpatient treatment of cancer patients with low-risk neutropenic fever. In 50 patients with solid tumors or lymphoma, 60 episodes of neutropenic fever were treated with the combination of oral ofloxacin 400 mg twice a day, oral amoxicillin 1 g 3 times a day and G-CSF 5 μg/kg/day subcutaneously. Patients receiving G-CSF prophylaxis were eligible for our study. Oral antibiotics were administered for at least 5 days and G-CSF was continued until resolution of neutropenia. Our patients were ambulatory, hemodynamically stable, and without significant comorbidity. Our combination was successful in 57 episodes (95%) with a median time for fever resolution of 3 days (range: 1-5 days). There was no significant toxicity associated with the antibiotic regimen with the exception of one case of reversible renal impairment. The role of G-CSF in the success of our antibiotic treatment is highly questionable since one half of our patients developed fever while on G-CSF prophylaxis. The combination of oral ofloxacin and amoxicillin with G-CSF is highly effective for the outpatient treatment of cancer patients who develop uncomplicated febrile neutropenia. The relative contribution of G-CSF needs clarification with a prospective randomized study.
Inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured in the serum of healthy, term neonates on the first (N1), fifth (N5) and 40th (N40) day after birth, compared with those in maternal serum (MS), umbilical cord (UC) and in adult controls. All three cytokines were significantly elevated in N1 and N5, compared with those in UC and adults (P<0.0001). IL-1β and IL-6 declined significantly from N1 to N40 (P<0.0001), while TNF-α increased significantly from N1 to N5 and declined thereafter. TNF-α values in UC were significantly higher than in adults, but lower than in N40 (P<0.0001), while IL-1β and IL-6 values in UC did not differ from those in N40 and in adults. IL-1β and IL-6, but not TNF-α values in MS were significantly higher than those in controls (P<0.0001). IL-1β values in MS were significantly higher than those in N1 (P<0.0001), while those of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly lower (P<0.0001). Moreover, IL-1β values were dependent on the mode of delivery in N1 (P<0.001), in MS (P<0.02) and in UC (0.03), while IL-1β and TNF-α values in N1 were strongly interrelated (r=0.7; P<0.01). In conclusion, the increased values of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α during the perinatal period might reflect a newborn immune response to the stress of delivery and to environmental changes after birth. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
Purpose: Both paclitaxel and cisplatin have moderate activity in patients with metastatic or recurrent cancer of the cervix, and the combination of these two agents has shown activity and possible synergism in a variety of solid tumors. We administered this combination to patients with metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer to evaluate its activity. Patients and Methods: Thirty-four consecutive patients were treated on an outpatient basis with paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 administered intravenously over a 3-hour period followed by cisplatin 75 mg/m2 administered intravenously with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support. The chemotherapy was administered every 3 weeks for a maximum of six courses. Results: Sixteen patients (47%; 95% confidence interval, 30% to 65%) achieved an objective response, including five complete responses and 11 partial responses. Responses occurred in 28% of patients with disease within the radiation field only and in 57% of patients with disease involving other sites. The median duration of response was 5.5 months, and the median times to progression and survival for all patients were 5 and 9 months, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 toxicities included anemia in 18% of patients and granulocytopenia in 15% of patients. Fifty-three percent of patients developed some degree of neurotoxicity; 21% of cases were grade 2 or worse. Conclusion: The combination of paclitaxel with cisplatin seems relatively well tolerated and moderately active in patients with metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer. The significant incidence of neurotoxicity is of concern, and alternative methods of administration of the two agents could be evaluated. Then, further study of this combination, alone or with the addition of other active agents, is warranted.
We examined the properties of photonic crystals that consist of nonoverlapping chiral spheres in a dielectric medium. We considered the effect of the chiral property of the spheres on the frequency band structure of the electromagnetic field in the crystal and on the transmittance properties of a slab of the crystal, and we estimated the optical activity of the crystal.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the complete ribosomal RNA internally transcribed spacer (ITS) region of 36 isolates of Verticillium lecanii and related species gave a single 620 bp product in 31 isolates. Five isolates received as V. lecanii, however, gave a single product of 600 bp. Restriction fragment analysis of the PCR products from all isolates gave consistent patterns for the 31 isolates with a 620 bp product. The five isolates with the 600 bp product showed only minor discrepancies to these, generally related to the size of only one restriction fragment. The total ITS region was sequenced from 10 typical 620 bp isolates and one 600 bp isolate. Sequence variation between the isolates varied from 0 to 14.5%, and the 20 bp size discrepancy was found to relate to an insertion or deletion in the centre of the ITS1 region.
The pathogenesis of venous thrombosis involves the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. In order to estimate the frequency of the factor V Leiden, the prothrombin G20210A, and the MTHFR C677T mutations in the Greek population, we analyzed 160 healthy Greek blood donors by PCR amplification and detected allele frequencies of 2.5%, 2.2%, and 35.3%, respectively. The allele frequencies were compared with reported frequencies of other populations of southern Europe. The identification of these common genetic risk factors for thrombosis should enable easy DNA diagnosis and carrier detection in a high proportion of cases and will contribute to a better understanding of the interaction of genetic and environmental risk factors
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the part played by several parameters in the prognosis of patients with endometrial carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty imprint smears from fresh endometrial tumor specimens were studied immunocytochemically for the expression of p53, bcl-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor. Also, the presence of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in the tumor tissue was measured. The data obtained were related to survival, and associations were sought between the parameters studied. RESULTS: Strong associations were found between advanced stage, high grade, lymph node metastases at diagnosis, nonendometrioid histology and p53 expression with poor survival. Bcl-2 expression was associated with good five-year survival. ER expression was associated marginally with good five-year survival, but PR expression was not. A strong association was found between p53 and advanced disease, stage and lymph node metastases at diagnosis. An association between EGFR positivity and survival was not found. CONCLUSION: p53 Expression of uterine tumors is an independent and strong indicator of poor prognosis. Even patients with stage I and II disease at surgery who have p53-positive tumors must be considered at high risk.
Starting from the first Greek judicial decision relative to domain names, the author presents the issue of protecting distinctive signs in case they are used by third parties as an Internet address. In the first section he makes a brief introduction into the technical and organisational peculiarities of the domain names and in the following sections he examines the legal problems from the aspects of trademark law, unfair competition law, law of tort and protection of the name. By providing examples from other countries' case law, where similar cases have arisen, he displays the potential as well as the limits of the traditional law of distinctive signs in the digital world.
An isocratic reversed-phase HPLC method was developed to determine cefepime levels in plasma and vitreous fluid. Cefepime and the internal standard cefadroxil were separated on a Shandon Hypersil BDS C18 column by using a mobile phase of 25 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate (pH 3) and methanol (87:13, v/v). Ultraviolet detection was carried out at 270 nm. The retention times were 4.80 min for cefepime and 7.70 min for cefadroxil. This fast procedure which involves an efficient protein precipitation step (addition of HClO4), allows a quantification limit of 2.52 mu g ml(-1) and a detection limit of 0.83 mu g ml(-1). Recoveries and absolute recoveries of cefepime from plasma were 96.13-99.44% and 94-102.5% respectively. The intra-day and inter-day reproducibilities were less than 2% for cefepime at 10, 30, 50 mu g ml(-1) (n=10). The method was proved to be suitable for determining cefepime levels in human plasma and was modified to measure vitreous fluid samples. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Studies of the energetics of synoptic-scale systems and similar kinds of investigation have traditionally used a Eulerian framework. In this study, the energetics of a synoptic-scale system have been considered using a quasi-Lagrangian method, in order to isolate the disturbance under consideration within a volume which moves together with the system at each stage of its development. Applying a Lagrangian framework implies that the dimensions of the computational area can be framework on the basis of predetermined criteria. In this study, an area surrounding a depression as shown on the surface analysis, has been selected. This area moves together with the centre of the depression. The energetics results obtained using such a quasi-Lagrangian scheme are compared to those obtained by using a Eularian framework. The synoptic-scale system studied here is a wintertime frontal depression, the greatest development of which occurred in the central Mediterranean on 7 December 1991. This depression moved east accompanied by significant temperature changes, heavy precipitation and gale force winds.
Recent observations of blazars have established that their γ-ray emission is associated, as a rule, with very fast variability (as short as ~15 minutes for the TeV photons of Mrk 421); as such, these observations push the theoretical models for the production of the required relativistic electrons to their limits. Herein we investigate the possibility that ``blobs'' loaded with relativistic protons could produce such an activity. We show that, if the proton number density in a blob exceeds a certain critical value, then reflection of its own synchrotron produced photons on some external ``mirror,'' such as a line-emitting cloud, can initiate a feedback process in which the protons can lose most of their energy content in a blob crossing time, resulting in a flare of the same duration. By performing a dimensional analysis, we find the necessary conditions for such an instability to occur, and we show that the conditions required are consistent with those usually assumed to prevail within the relativistic jets of this class of active galactic nuclei.
Rhinoviruses are the main cause of the common cold and precipitate the majority of asthma exacerbations. RT-PCR followed by internal probe hybridisation or Southern blotting, or nested PCRs are currently the most sensitive methods for their identification. However, none of the published techniques can differentiate satisfactorily rhinoviruses from other picornaviruses. Examination of the restriction maps of sequenced rhinoviruses, revealed a highly conserved BglI restriction site (GCCnnnnnGGC), located exactly in the middle of the 380-bp amplicon generated with the OL26-OL27 primer pair, which has been used extensively in the past to identify picornaviruses. Such a site was either not present, or positioned differently in other picornaviruses of known sequence. It was, therefore, considered that digestion of rhinovirus amplicons with this enzyme would result in two equal length fragments, generating a single 190-bp band in gel electrophoresis. In contrast, either one undigested 380-bp band or a double-band pattern would appear in amplicons from other picornaviruses. To test this hypothesis, Bgl digestions of OL26-OL27 amplicons from cultured and wild-type rhinoviruses, whose identity was confirmed by acid lability, as well as from echo, polio and coxsackie viruses were carried out. All rhinovirus samples were digested successfully generating single bands. Among the other picornaviruses, only 6.6% presented a single band pattern, while the rest were as predicted from the model. With a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity over 90%, the method described, which is rapid and remarkably easy to perform, can be used to distinguish rhinoviruses from other picornaviruses to a considerable extent.
Rhinoviruses are epidemiologically connected to the majority of acute asthma exacerbations; however, their ability to infect and replicate in the lower airways is disputed. A frequent argument against this possibility involves the temperature preference for rhinovirus replication, generally accepted to be 33 degrees C, the temperature of the nasal passages. However, this argument is based on studies with a single rhinovirus serotype. In this study, differences in temperature preferences were evaluated between several serotypes and relative titers were determined than can be achieved at upper and lower airway temperatures. Rhinovirus serotypes 1b, 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 41, and 70 were titrated in Ohio-HeLa cell cultures at either 33 degrees C or 37 degrees C. Possible selection by culture temperature was examined by continuous culture at 33 degrees C and 37 degrees C for 2-4 passages and subsequent titration at both temperatures. Finally, nasal aspirate samples derived from patients with wild-type rhinoviral common colds were cultured at 33 degrees C and 37 degrees C and RT-PCR was used to assess rhinovirus replication at each temperature. The majority of the serotypes and wild-type viruses replicated slightly better at 33 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. However, titers achieved after one or more replicative cycles at 37 degrees C were still high enough to initiate infection. Furthermore, in some instances equal or even better replication was observed at 37 degrees C. It is concluded that temperature preferences may vary between rhinoviruses and are not likely to be a prohibitive factor for infection of the lower airways.
Virtual patient records provide a means for integrated access to patient information that may be scattered around different healthcare settings. Within the boundaries of a health district providing all levels of care, this concept can be implemented in an Intranet environment to support longitudinal patient care activities across the participating healthcare providers. Since medical information is stored on multiple Intranet sites in various forms (e.g. codified data, transcribed documents, and images), a suite of appropriate tools is needed to enable access to such information in combined form. In most cases, however, access to medical information should be restricted to authorized users. To serve this purpose, a prototype search engine incorporating an authorization and access control functionality has been developed and presented in this paper. The system is based on the signature file access method and an experimental implementation written in JAVA is also described.
The Adriatic region was chosen as one of the test areas in the GSHAP program and, consequently, its seismic hazard was computed. The standard hazard map chosen by GSHAP represents PGA with a 475-year return period. Some other parameters, as the spectral acceleration and the uniform hazard response spectra for the main Adriatic towns, have been computed for a better representation of the regional hazard. The most hazardous area remains identified in the Cephalonia zone, where strong earthquakes frequently occur. The Southern Apennines are characterised by a slightly lower hazard, while the Adriatic Sea itself, the Po plain and the Apulian peninsula are almost aseismic.
Magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments have traditionally been critical in the determination of the microscopic wave functions of particular nuclear states. Measurements on nuclei at high spin and energy, as well as on nuclei in superdeformed states have yielded a wealth of information on their structure. The techniques developed for these measurements are now being extended to the study of nuclei far-from-stability such as those which will be accessible via reactions with radioactive beams. Very precise determinations of the magnetic moments of the 21+ states of Cr, Ti, Zr, Se and Nd isotopes, recently carried out via "projectile excitation", place very tight constraints on existing nuclear models, from single particle calculations in the 1fp shell to extended IBM models, and further highlight the importance of the interplay between single particle and collective excitations across the table of isotopes. The experimental results will be presented and compared with theoretical calculations.
A small proportion of patients with plasma cell myeloma have a solitary plasmacytoma of bone. Strict staging criteria, including normal MR imaging studies of the axial skeleton and the long bones and absence of monoclonal plasma cells detected by flow cytometry or PCR, are required for diagnosis. Radiotherapy at a dose of 4500 cGy is required to eradicate the local tumor. Many patients enjoy prolonged disease-free survival, but the incidence of systemic relapse is high. It is expected, however, that if strict diagnostic criteria are applied some patients may be cured. Extramedullary plasmacytoma is an even rarer plasma cell disease which usually occurs in the head and neck area. Careful microscopic and immunohistochemical studies are required for the correct diagnosis, because this disease can be confused with other malignancies, particularly lymphomas. The treatment of choice is radiotherapy which, in cases of head and neck plasmacytomas, should encompass the adjacent lymph nodes. Most patients with extramedullary plasmacytoma can be cured, and fewer than 30% develop a distant failure in the form of multiple myeloma or multiple extramedullary tumors.
Two binuclear copper(II) complexes with macrocyclic Schiff bases Cu2LI(CH3COO)2·5H2O (complex I) and Cu2LII(CH3COO)2·2H2O (complex II) were synthesized and then characterized by IR, UV, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements. TGA was used to investigate the desolvation of lattice water molecules. IR spectra demonstrated the formation of the cyclic compound and together with chemical elemental analysis were used to propose the structure of the complexes. The UV spectra of both complexes are typical for binuclear copper(II) complexes with Robson-type ligands. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements corroborated by EPR and low-temperature isothermal magnetization data confirmed the formation of copper dimers with antiferromagnetic exchange coupling constants of -400 and -1250 cm-1 for complexes I and II, respectively, residing outside the usual range for the phenoxide bridged Cu(II) complexes. This implies the possibility that additional superexchange paths through the macrocyclic ligand may affect the intradimer exchange interaction as well as the phenoxide oxygen bridges.
A convenient approach to model MHD steady axisymmetric outflows is the so-called self-similar technique wherein the physical variables are factorized and a scaling law is assumed along one of the coordinates. This scaling depends on the astrophysical process under investigation. In this note we summarize all possible self-similar MHD outflow solutions; furthermore, we briefly discuss the main properties of a class of solutions which are self-similar in the meridional direction and allow to analyse in simple terms the dynamical properties of an outflow close to its rotational axis. Special attention is focused on the asymptotic structure of collimated winds. It will be shown that different regimes are possible for jets, in particular they can be either thermally or magnetically confined, depending on the physical conditions of the flow. This analysis is complementary with the well known radial self-similar models which are invoked to study winds from accretion disks.
A convenient approach to model MHD steady axisymmetric outflows is the so-called self-similar technique wherein the physical variables are factorized and a scaling law is assumed along one of the coordinates. This scaling depends on the astrophysical process under investigation. In this note we summarize all possible self-similar MHD outflow solutions; furthermore, we briefly discuss the main properties of a class of solutions which are self-similar in the meridional direction and allow to analyse in simple terms the dynamical properties of an outflow close to its rotational axis. Special attention is focused on the asymptotic structure of collimated winds. It will be shown that different regimes are possible for jets, in particular they can be either thermally or magnetically confined, depending on the physical conditions of the flow. This analysis is complementary with the well known radial self-similar models which are invoked to study winds from accretion disks.
The interaction of diflunisal ion (DF) with beta-cyclodextrin (PCD), gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma CD), and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP beta CD) was studied in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, at 5-37 degrees C and various CD concentrations using a home-made diflunisal ion-selective electrode. Typical direct binding plots and Scatchard plots were obtained with HP beta CD. The Scatchard model for one class of binding sites was used for the estimation of binding parameters for the DF/HP beta CD interaction. The estimates for n (number of binding sites per CD molecule) were in all cases very close to unity, indicating 1:1 complexation. The association constant (K) estimates decrease with increasing temperature. Sigmoidal direct binding plots and concave-downwards Scatchard plots were obtained with various beta CD or gamma CD concentrations. The Hill model was used for the estimation of the binding parameters for the DF/beta CD and DF/gamma CD interactions. Both the Hill coefficients and the binding constants were markedly dependent on the CD concentration. These findings indicate the cooperative character of DF/beta CD and DF/gamma CD interactions. The foe energy change, Delta G, and the thermodynamic parameters, Delta H and Delta S, were estimated for each of the interactions studied using the Van't Hoff equation. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
XRD, magnetic and EPR studies of the mixed phase La0.5Gd0.5Ba2Cu3Oy high-Tc superconductor after prolonged (one year) `aging' at room temperature are reported. Within this time period a pronounced change of the superconducting behavior and the homogeneity of the diamagnetic shielding signal accompanied by substantial structural changes, reduction of the impurity phase BaCuO2+x and increase of the EPR spectrum's intensity of Cu2+ magnetic defects is detected. The `aging' effects are related to strain-relaxation taking place during room temperature annealing that induces the formation of Cu2+ defect centers.
Purpose: To determine the efficacy and tolerance of single-agent docetaxel and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Patients and Methods: Thirty-three chemotherapy-naive patients (median age, 65 years) with histologically confirmed pancreatic cancer were treated, after appropriate premedication, with docetaxel (100 mg/m2) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (150 μg/m2/d subcutaneously days 2 through 10) every 3 weeks. World Health Organization performance status was 0 to 1 in 28 patients (85%) and 2 in 5 patients (15%). Twenty-nine patients had stage III and IV disease. Results: One complete response (3%) and one partial response (3%) were observed for an overall response rate of 6% (95% confidence interval, 2.1% to 14.2%). Nineteen patients (58%) had stable disease and 12 (36%) had progressive disease. The duration of the two objective responses was 10 and 28 weeks, and the median time to tumor progression was 20 weeks. The median overall survival was 36 weeks. The actuarial 1-year survival was 36.4%. The performance status improved in seven of 21 assessable patients (24%) and pain improved in 14 of 21 (67%) assessable patients; five patients (29%) experienced weight gain during treatment. Disease-related asthenia, anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea improved in 29%, 15%, 67%, and 47% of the assessable patients, respectively. Serum concentrations of CA 19-9 were decreased by more than 50% in seven patients (35%). Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia occurred in four patients (12%) and eight patients (24%), respectively, with two episodes of febrile neutropenia. There were no treatment-related deaths. Grade 3/4 asthenia occurred in three patients. Conclusion: Although docetaxel has a marginal objective activity in pancreatic cancer, it seems to have an important effect on tumor growth control, conferring a clinical benefit.
In this study an attempt is made to investigate the upper-tropospheric downstream development over north-west Europe, which leads to surface cyclogenesis in the central Mediterranean. A case study is analysed to demonstrate that the upper-tropospheric downstream development could be closely related to the upper-tropospheric frontogenesis that appears upon the north-eastern flank of a blocking high. The frontogenesis is characterised by a jet streak within a strongly baroclinic zone and a tropopause folding associated with cold stratospheric air intrusion into the troposphere. According to this interpretation, the eddy ageostrophic divergence of eddy geopotential fluxes (dispersion and spreading of eddy kinetic energy), other than friction dissipation and barotropic conversion to the mean flow, is mainly responsible for the loss of kinetic energy from a decaying depression of synoptic scale that has passed the mature stage. This dispersed eddy kinetic energy accumulates in the vicinity of the aforementioned jet streak where it is transferred downstream and further triggers the generation or rejuvenation of a new disturbance.
The patterns of monthly precipitation distributions in Greece, during the months of the year, are studied. Using factor analysis T-mode on mean monthly precipitation for a long period, we try to establish characteristic patterns of precipitation distribution. Only two of the eigenvectors (factors) were found statistically significant, namely factor I, explaining 67% of total variance and referring to the months of the period from October to March (cold period) and factor II, explaining 23% of total variance and referring to the months from April to September (warm period). During the cold period precipitation is maximum on Western Greek mainland and along the Western Asia Minor coast and islands while minima are shown in Cyclades islands, Attika, Thessaly, Macedonia and Thrace. On the other hand, during the warm period precipitation shows maxima in Central and North continental areas and the interior of Peloponese while minima appeared again in Cyclades, Dodecanese and Crete. Finally, the various areas of the country are distributed in 4 categories, depending on the combination of plus or minus of the normalized factor scores, for each period.
The acceleration of electrons at a shock front can produce characteristic patterns in the variation of the spectral index of the synchrotron emission as a function of flux. Using a simple model of the acceleration process, we present a discussion of these patterns and show how they compare with the variations in the emission of the same electrons via inverse Compton scattering of isotropically distributed target photons from an external source. The "soft lag" behaviour is observed in synchrotron emission, and should also be present in the inverse Compton flux. Shock models can also show "hard lag" behaviour of the synchrotron emission, but this is more difficult to achieve in the inverse Compton emission, because of Klein-Nishina effects. In some cases, the time scales of rise and fall of both the synchrotron and inverse Compton fluxes can depend on the acceleration mechanism.
Objectives: The non-penetrating Vascular Clip System (VCS) was tested experimentally and compared with the conventional suture method on the venous system. Materials and Nethods: In five pigs, 30 transverse venotomies were carried out in the jugular and renal veins, and vena cava. Fifteen venotomies were reconstructed using autosuture clips and 15 using the standard needle and suture method. Eight weeks later, following phlebography, the specimens were examined macro- and microscopically. Results: For both methods, the veins remained patent; however, significant stenosis of 8.9% (95% CI: 0.6-17.1) for the renal vein and 8.5% (95% CI: 1.2-15.7) for the vena cava occurred when the suture technique was used. The intima to media height ratio remained the same. The anastomosis time with the clips was significantly shorter (p < 0.05), while the endothelium remained intact without any hyperplasia or inflammatory changes, which are usual findings of the suture technique. Conclusion: Early and mid-term results show that the VCS clipped anastomotic technique seems to be effective and acceptable for venous reconstructions.
Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is an unusual low-grade lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma characterized by the production of monoclonal IgM. The clinical manifestations associated with WM can be classified as those related to direct tumor infiltration, by the amount and specific properties of circulating IgM, and by the deposition of IgM in various tissues. Asymptomatic patients should be followed without treatment. The management of the disease relies on the administration of systemic chemotherapy to reduce tumor load and on the application of plasmapheresis to remove circulating IgM. Standard treatment consists of oral chlorambucil, which induces response in at least 50% of patients, resulting in a median survival of approximately 5 years. Nucleoside analogues (cladribine, fludarabine) are effective in most previously untreated patients. These agents are the treatment of choice for patients with disease resistant to alkylating agents. New treatment approaches include high-dose therapy with stem-cell support and administration of monoclonal anti-CD20 antibodies.
Hunter DK, Nizam MHM, Chia MC, Andonovic I, Guild KM, Tzanakaki A, O'Mahony MJ, Bainbridge JD, Stephens MFC, Penty RV, et al.WASPNET: A Wavelength Switched Packet Network. IEEE Communications Magazine [Internet]. 1999;37:120-128. Website
Η εργασία επιχειρεί να δώσει απαντήσεις στα παρακάτω ερωτήματα: α) Υπήρχαν φαινόμενα βίας στα αρχαία αθλήματα; β) Ποιός ήταν ο χαρακτήρας και η μορφή αυτών των φαινομένων; γ) Μέσα από ποιές φιλολογικές πηγές αντλούμε τις μαρτυρίες για το θέμα αυτό; και δ) Πώς παρουσιάζεται η βία μέσα από τα κλασικά κείμενα; Περαιτέρω επιχειρείται να ερμηνευτούν τα φαινόμενα βίας στην αρχαία εποχή α) λαμβάνοντας υπόψη την ιδιαιτερότητα της αρχαίας κοινωνίας, και επίσης β) συνδέοντας το κοινωνικό φαινόμενο της βίας στα αθλήματα με τα άλλα δομικά χαρακτηριστικά της κοινωνίας στην οποία ανήκει. Διερευνά η μελέτη, επομένως, τους παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν τα φαινόμενα βίας στα αρχαία αθλήματα και το πώς αυτά συνδέονται με τα άλλα χαρακτηριστικά της αρχαίας κοινωνίας, ούτως ώστε να διαπιστωθούν οι ηθικοί συμβολισμοί που πιθανόν υποκρύπτονται κάτω από τα φαινόμενα αυτά και οι οποίοι είναι απόρροια των κοινωνικών συνθηκών της αρχαίας κοινωνίας. Με τον τρόπο αυτό επιτυγχάνεται και μια συγκριτική συσχέτιση των φαινομένων βίας στα αθλήματα της αρχαιότητας με τον χαρακτήρα των φαινομένων της σύγχρονης βίας στον αθλητισμό.
Η εργασία διερευνά τα κίνητρα ανάπτυξης των Ελληνοδανικών σχέσεων από τα μέσα περίπου του 17ου αιώνα, όταν η Δανία άρχισε εμπορικές σχέσεις με το Λεβάντε, μέχρι σήμερα. Τα ισχυρά κίνητρα που υποκίνησαν τον Δυτικοευρωπαϊκό κόσμο να έρθει σε επαφή με τη σύγχρονη Ελλάδα ήταν κυρίως το κλασικό παρελθόν της και η αρχαιολατρία που αναπτύχθηκε από τα μέσα του 18ου αιώνα. Σημαντικά, όμως, υπήρξαν και τα θρησκευτικά κίνητρα (όπως η γνωριμία του Christian Bastholm, Δανού εκκλησιαστικού διαφωτιστή, με τον Αδαμάντιο Κοραή, ή η προσπάθεια για συνεργασία της ευαγγελικής και ορθόδοξης εκκλησίας), η άνθηση του δυτικοευρωπαϊκού εμπορίου στη Μεσόγειο, και, ιδίως, τα πνευματικά και καλλιτεχνικά κίνητρα, τα οποία έθεσαν τις βάσεις του φιλελληνισμού στη Δανία.
Στην εργασία γίνεται εκτενής αναφορά των Δανών περιηγητών στην Ελλάδα που από τις αρχές του 19ου αιώνα, με μια διάθεση φιλολογική και αρχαιολογική –όπως συνέβη και με τους άλλους Ευρωπαίους- εκδηλώνουν το ενδιαφέρον τους για την Ελλάδα. Μεταξύ αυτών ο Peter Oluf Brøndsted, πρωτεργάτης της καλλιέργειας του ενδιαφέροντος για την κλασική παράδοση στη Δανία, ο «παραμυθάς» Hans Christian Andersen, οι αδελφοί Hans Christian και Theophilus Edward Hansen, αρχιτέκτονες σημαντικών κτισμάτων, όπως του Πανεπιστημίου, της Μητρόπολης Αθηνών, της Ακαδημίας, της Βιβλιοθήκης, του Ζαππείου.
Το 1864 φθάνει στην Αθήνα ο πρώτος Δανός νεοελληνιστής, ο φιλόλογος Jean Pio, βασικός συντελεστής της καλλιέργειας της νεοελληνικής φιλολογίας στη Δανία. Τριάντα χρόνια μετά το θάνατό του μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον για τη νεοελληνική φιλολογία θα υπάρξει από τον καθηγητή Carsten Høeg, ενώ λίγο μετέπειτα τα πολιτικά θέματα της Ελλάδας αντανακλώνται στον τύπο. Γίνονται μεταφράσεις νεοελληνικών έργων, ενώ από το 1960 εισέρχεται δυναμικά στο χώρο της μετάφρασης του νεοελληνικού έργου (Παλαμά, Θεοτοκά, Καζαντζάκη, Μυριβήλη) ο Ole Wahl Olsen, ο μεταφραστής που θα κάνει γνωστό τον Αντώνη Σαμαράκη σε όλο τον κόσμο. Το 1964 οι γάμοι του τέως βασιλιά Κων/νου με τη βασιλόπαιδα της Δανίας Άννα-Μαρία δυναμώνει όπως είναι φυσικό το ενδιαφέρον για την Ελλάδα, το οποίο παρέμεινε και μετά τη φυγή του τέως. Ο Olsen αποτελεί και ιδρυτικό μέλος της «Komiteen for Demokrati Greakenlan», της Επιτροπής που αγωνίστηκε για την ηθική και οικονομική στήριξη των Ελλήνων στην Ελλάδα επί Χούντας. Η ευαισθητοποιημένη σε θέματα δημοκρατίας και ελευθερίας Δανία ανέλαβε πολλές πρωτοβουλίες για την αποκατάσταση της δημοκρατίας στην Ελλάδα.
Στη Δανία, χώρα με δυνατή κλασική παράδοση, δεν ήταν εύκολη η δημιουργία νεοελληνικής κατεύθυνσης σπουδών. Τελικά στη χώρα αυτή συνέβη ό,τι και στην υπόλοιπη Ευρώπη. Το πέρασμα στη νεότερη Ελλάδα και στη γραμματεία της θα γίνει μέσα από εκείνους που είχαν βαθιά γνώση της αρχαίας ελληνικής γραμματείας. Η εργασία, περαιτέρω διερευνά τη συγκρότηση θεσμοθετημένων ακαδημαϊκών νεοελληνικών σπουδών, το φιλοσοφικό πλαίσιο των σπουδών, την απήχηση των σπουδών αυτών στη Δανική κοινωνία, καθώς επίσης τις τάσεις και τα ιδεολογικά ρεύματα που επικρατούν στις εκδόσεις των νεοελληνικών κειμένων στη Δανία.
In this study day by day synoptic conditions are classified over the Attica peninsula for a period of sixteen years. Eight synoptic categories which are demonstrated to be statistically distinct are selected with respect to the atmospheric circulation in the lower troposphere. Furthermore, a methodology is proposed to classify the mesoscale patterns for the same period on the basis of surface wind measurements, and this distinguishes eleven distinct mesoscale categories. In general, the frequency analysis reveals that the anticyclonic circulation dominates while the weak mesoscale flows prevail, with preference in May and June. A day by day cross tabulation of the synoptic flow patterns with the mesoscale categories is then performed in order to identify the association of the synoptic conditions with the mesoscale flow regime. It was found that the synoptic conditions at the level of 850 hPa are closely related to the observed surface local flows and therefore it is suggested that the synoptic categories can be used for the identification of the most favourable mesoscale atmospheric circulation.
Health informatics is an emerging and important multi-disciplinary field that involves, informatics but also medicine, nursing, engineering, biology and other-related subjects. A co-ordination of this field at a postgraduate level becomes important now in Europe where other European Community programs such as the 'Telematics for Health Care' will require at the Fourth Framework Programme (94-99) adequate human resources of higher potential and knowledge. This European M.Sc. course meets all the above objectives. The Curriculum was developed according to the results of the ERASMUS Workshop, which was held in Athens on 13-15 September 1990 under the ERASMUS Contract number ICP-90-G-0009/12. The implementation now runs under the contract ICP-95-G-1038/12. The 6-year evaluation of the course based both on staff and student evaluation proved that the M.Sc. course in health informatics has been successful.
The Information Technology is rapidly being integrated into Educational Institutions and Health Care Environments. Although the use of computer for education and training is not new to the academic society, further prospects are available through the use of emerging technologies as the Multimedia and the World Wide Web. In today's rapidly changing healthcare environment, the need for high quality, cost effective education for employees, consumers, and students is gaining increased attention. The development of customised computer-based training programs has long been beyond the capabilities or financial resources of most healthcare organisations; however, with recent advancements in technology, this situation is rapidly changing. The Nurses represent the greater part of the Health Care Professionals thus the education of this group is of outmost importance for the health-care environments. The World Wide Web can be used as an educational tool in order to have better-educated Nurses not only by supporting the Academic institutions but also by providing Distance Learning Education covering new aspects of the Nursing Science. The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of the ways in which the emerging technologies of Multimedia and the World Wide Web can enhance the learning process, and also provide education at a distance.
We have obtained spectra at the Ca ii triplet of individual red giants in seven Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) star clusters whose ages range from ~4 to 12 Gyr. The spectra have been used to determine mean abundances for six of the star clusters to a typical precision of 0.12 dex. When combined with existing data for other objects, the resulting SMC age-metallicity relation is generally consistent with that for a simple model of chemical evolution, scaled to the present-day SMC mean abundance and gas mass fraction. Two of the clusters (Lindsay 113 and NGC 339), however, have abundances that are ~0.5 dex lower than that expected from the mean age-metallicity relation. It is suggested that the formation of these clusters, which have ages of ~5 Gyr, may have involved the infall of unenriched gas, perhaps from the Magellanic Stream. The spectra also yield radial velocities for the seven clusters. The resulting velocity dispersion is 16 +/- 4 km s^-1, consistent with those of the SMC planetary nebula and carbon star populations.
We report on a Greek girl with pancytopenia, short stature, clinodactyly, cleft palate, exopthalmus, strabismus, café-au-lait spots, and mild mental retardation in whom chromosomal analysis excluded Fanconi anemia. The occurrence of erythroleukemia in the family and the presence of macrocytosis in her father and low blood counts in her sister favor the diagnosis of an inherited syndrome of familial marrow dysfunction rather than that of a sporadic case.
The attempted intermolecular addition of malonyl radicals to 1',2'- unsaturated nucleosides has led to the unexpected formation of furanones. Thus, only catalytic amounts of ceric(IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN), induce a Ferrier rearrangement. The unsaturated lactone was isolated in good yield and can serve as a precursor for the synthesis of optically active products.
The attempted intermolecular addition of malonyl radicals to 1',2'-unsaturated nucleosides has led to the unexpected formation of furanones. Thus, only catalytic amounts of ceric(IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN), induce a Ferrier rearrangement. The unsaturated lactone was isolated in good yield and can serve as a precursor for the synthesis of optically active products. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
One of the main problems in assessing the mode of action of various treatment modalities is the method of measuring the treatment change. The purpose of the present study was to develop a cephalometric method that would permit a detailed evaluation of the individual growth processes (skeletal and dental) that contribute to the overall change in occlusal relationship. The change in molar relationship was resolved in five components, i.e. translation of the maxilla, of the upper molar, of the mandible, of the lower molar, and rotation of the mandible. These movements were recorded using regional superimposition of various structures, with the aid of a computer program. Derotation of the mandible was performed to remove any confounding effects of total mandibular rotation on the interpretation of the measurements. The results show that assessment of treatment effects can be carried out by comparison of the five resulting vectors.
Chromosome specific comparative genome hybridisation (CGH) is a novel approach for the detection of cytogenetic abnormalities. It combines flow sorting of chromosomes, degenerate oligonucleotide primed (DOP)-PCR and a modified comparative genome hybridisation (CGH) technique to define the site and extent of intrachromosomal duplications. Chromosome specific paint probes for aberrant chromosomes and their normal homologues from four subjects with unbalanced duplications within chromosomes 2p11-15, 3q25-26, 5q34-qter, and 12q23-24.2 were made. They were then cohybridised on normal metaphase spreads and the ratio of their relative intensities of hybridisation analysed. The results were compared to those of similar experiments where regular CGH was performed on the same four patients. We provide evidence that this method can detect duplications and deficiencies which might be missed by conventional CGH, as the ratio of hybridisation of abnormal/normal DNA is 2:1 rather than 3:2. It is the method of choice where mosaicism is present or where only one of several homologous chromosomes is duplicated. Furthermore, it suggests that DOP-PCR amplifies all or most of the euchromatic regions of the genome equally.
The aim of this paper is to examine the importance of computer-based simulation by the demonstration and study of complex systems and the presentation of essential tools and applications that can help health professionals deliver good quality practicals, which is now impeded by cost and/or technical constrains. The tools that have been developed in the framework of the Courseware Authoring for Scientific Training (COAST) project are the "modeler environment," which is used to describe the different tools and mathematical functions available for building models, and the "simulation author environment," which is used for building simulation sequences and providing the required tools and functions. This effort provides scientists with new technological and cost-effective means, specifically based on multimedia simulation, for preparing educational material, so as to gradually replace laboratory practicals that are gradually becoming more expensive, and improves student's understanding of complex systems.
The curriculum development of medical informatics related courses and their adoption into the faculty curriculum is one of the main tasks of the present day educators. To this end the Internet technology has supported this task. The Internet was born in December of 1969 and has grown phenomenally since. Its graphically interactive, user-friendly modality, the World Wide Web (WWW), is younger and growing even more explosively. By its nature, the WWW is a tool ideally and uniquely suited for the advancement education. This paper describes the design, development and the implementation of a Web Site for supporting the education of the students in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Athens. The application will be used also in the European project Nightingale.
The NIGHTINGALE Project (NIGHTINGALE Project: HC1109 DGXIII Contract and Technical Annex, European Commission, December 1995) which started on the 1st of January, 1996, after the approval of the European Commission, has a 36 month duration. It is essential in planning and implementing a strategy in training the nursing profession in using and applying healthcare information systems. NIGHTINGALE contributes towards the appropriate use of the developed telematics infrastructure across Europe by educating and training nurses in a harmonious way across Europe in the upcoming field of nursing informatics. NIGHTINGALE develops courseware material based on the curriculum development process using multimedia technologies. Computer based training software packages in nursing informatics will be the basis of the training material and the corresponding courses. CD-ROM based training and reference material will also be provided in the courses whereas the traditional booklets, teaching material and textbooks can also play an adequate role in training. NIGHTINGALE will disseminate all information and courseware material freely to all interested parties through the publications of the proceedings of the conferences, through the establishment of the world wide web (WWW) server in nursing informatics for Europe (http://www.dn.uoa.gr/nightingale), which will become a depository of nursing information knowledge across Europe as well as a dissemination node of nursing informatics throughout the European members states for the benefit and welfare of the European citizen.
The unknown performance of a new experiment is to be evaluated and compared with that of an existing one over a finite horizon. The explicit structure of an optimal sequential allocation policy is obtained under pertinent reward/loss functions, when the experiments are characterized by random variables with distributions from the one parameter exponential family.
The objectives of these studies were, first, to determine the effect of elevated luminal viscosity on the gastrointestinal absorption of four model drugs and, second, to identify the key processes influencing drug absorption under elevated viscosity conditions. Studies were conducted in vitro and in healthy female mongrel does under fasting conditions. In the canine model, both the rate and extent of paracetamol and hydrochlorothiazide absorption were significantly decreased by the coadministration of 15 g guar gum dissolved in 500 ml normal saline. In the case of cimetidine, the rate but not extent of absorption was decreased. Owing to the high variability in the data, no statistically based conclusion could be drawn about the effects of coadministered guar gum on the oral absorption of the poorly soluble mefenamic acid. Based on the in vitro data, it appears that substantial reductions in the dissolution rate of paracetamol, hydrochlorothiazide and cimetidine account for the effects observed in vivo. It is concluded that the effect of an elevation in the intraluminal viscosity on drug absorption is greatest for highly soluble drugs, and results from a combination of a decrease in dissolution rate and gastric emptying rate. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects which hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) may exert on oral drug absorption, in cases where this soluble fiber is administered to regulate blood lipid levels. Studies were conducted in vitro and in healthy female mongrel dogs using two different grades of HPMC, i.e. K8515 HPMC and ultra high molecular weight (UHMW) HPMC. The maximum plasma concentration, C-max, of paracetamol and both the C-max and the area under the concentration-time curve, AUC, of cimetidine were significantly decreased by the coadministration of 10 g of K8515 HPMC or 7.5 g of UHMW HPMC dissolved in 500 mL normal saline under fasting conditions. No statistically significant effects were observed on hydrochlorothiazide or mefenamic acid absorption. Based on in vitro data and previous studies it appears that reductions in gastric emptying and dissolution rate of paracetamol account for the effect observed in vivo. For cimetidine, a drug which can be absorbed from both the small and the large intestine, the indigestibility of HPMC in the colon in addition to the great reduction of dissolution rate led to reductions of both the C-max and AUC values. The long T-max values, even in the absence of HPMCs and the more modest reduction of the dissolution rate of hydrochlorothiazide by the HPMCs are thought to have precluded the observation of any significant alterations in the in vivo absorption profile. Owing to its erratic absorption, no statistically based conclusion could be drawn about the effects of coadministered HPMC on the oral absorption of the poorly soluble mefenamic acid. It is concluded that the effects of HPMCs on drug absorption in dogs are most pronounced for compounds with absorption profiles that are dependent on gastric emptying, i.e. compounds that are highly water soluble and that exhibit short T-max values. Compounds with long absorption profiles appear to be less susceptible to changes in absorption behavior due to coadministration of HPMCs. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aberrant expression of apoptosis-related genes including the 'cell death suppressor gene' bcl-2, may play an important pathogenetic role in cancer expression by 2-CdA, and or GST would provide a basis for their efficacy in suppressing arthritis by interfering with the upregulation of bcl-2 mRNA in the synovial lining cells (Muller-Laduer et al., 1995). However, the lack of a direct inhibitory effect on the induction of bcl-2 biosynthesis at the relatively high concentrations tested suggests that both GST and 2-CdA exert their beneficial effects in these patients through a bcl-2 independent mechanism.
{The temperature dependence of the EPR spectra of the recently discovered Ag6S3O4 phase in the Ag-O-S system prepared by two methods, the known method of co-precipitation from aqueous solution and a new method depending on the interaction of Ag2S and Ag2SO4 solid reagents, has been investigated. No EPR spectra were observed at room temperature, while at liquid helium temperature a number of EPR spectra have been recorded, which disappeared upon increasing temperature up to liquid nitrogen temperature. The sample obtained by the co-precipitation method revealed an intense, rich EPR spectrum that has been tentatively interpreted assuming the presence of at least two different Ag2+ ion complexes, one monomer resulting in an intense anisotropic, rhombic EPR powder pattern with g1 = 1.93(1)
Likodimos V, Guskos N, Wabia M, Typek J. Exchange interactions of ions. Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics [Internet]. 1998;58:8244-8247. WebsiteAbstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic hepatitis C appears to have a highly variable natural course with 20% of patients developing cirrhosis within 20 years, while the majority of them run a relatively mild course. We studied the relationships of epidemiological, biochemical and virological features with histological severity (grade) and liver disease progression (stage). METHODOLOGY: Liver histology, serum HCV RNA level and HCV genotype were determined in a well-defined cohort of 152 consecutive (100 males, 52 females) patients with chronic hepatitis C. RESULTS: Patients with minimal or mild chronic hepatitis were significantly younger than those with moderate or severe chronic hepatitis (mean age: 41.1 vs 49.5 years respectively, p=0.003). On the other hand, patients with no or mild fibrosis compared to those with moderate or severe fibrosis and to those with cirrhosis were significantly more frequently males (73%, 64% and 43%, p=0.01), parenteral drug users (36%, 11% and 11%, p=0.01) and infected with other than 1b genotype (86%, 52% and 33%, p<0.0001), significantly younger (mean age: 37, 48 and 58 years, p<0.0001) and had significantly lower HCV RNA levels (geometric mean: 6.9, 19.2 and 17.5 x 10(5) eq/ml, p=0.007). Multivariate analysis showed that stage was significantly related only to patient age (p<0.0001), HCV genotype (p=0.0025) and HCV RNA level (p=0.044). CONCLUSIONS: In chronic hepatitis C, histological severity seems to be associated only with patient age, while progression of the disease is mainly associated with patient age, HCV genotype and viremia level.
The mechanism of 2-deoxyribonolactone formation from the reaction of photogenerated 2'-deoxyuridin-1'-yl radical with molecular oxygen in water has been investigated.
The mechanism of 2-deoxyribonolactone formation from the reaction of photogenerated 2′-deoxyuridin-1′-yl radical with molecular oxygen in water has been investigated.
Purpose. To evaluate the outcome and the prognosis of patients with ovarian germ cell malignancies who were treated with platinum-based chemotherapy immediately after initial surgery. Methods. We conducted a retrospective review of patients with ovarian germ cell tumors who were referred for consideration of treatment to the Departments of Medical Oncology participating in the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group. Results. Over a 14-year period 53 patients were included in our study. There were 13 patients with dysgerminoma and 40 patients with nondysgerminomatous tumors. Forty percent of patients underwent complete resection of their tumors. Platinum-based chemotherapy consisted primarily of cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin (PVB) in 9 patients; bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) in 15 patients; and bleomycin, etoposide, and carboplatin (BEC) in 25 patients. With a median follow-up of 39 months, 5 patients developed progressive disease and died of their tumor and 1 patient died of bleomycin- induced lung toxicity with no evidence of active tumor. The 5-year overall survival was 100% for patients with dysgerminoma and 85% for patients with nondysgerminomatous tumors. Eighty percent of patients with advanced nondysgerminomatous tumors and residual disease after surgery remain disease free. Conclusion. With this study we confirm that patients with ovarian germ cell malignancies have a favorable outcome when treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.
Purpose: To evaluate the activity and toxicity of the combination of paclitaxel given by three-hour infusion, and carboplatin as first- line chemotherapy in patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC). Background: Paclitaxel is an active agent in ABC. Furthermore, our group has shown that the combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin is effective in anthracycline-resistant ABC. Patients and methods: From January 1996 until March 1997, 66 women with ABC were treated with paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) by three-hour infusion followed by carboplatin at an AUC of 6 mg x min/ml every three weeks. The median age of the patients was 56 years (range 28-75). A total of 39 patients had received adjuvant chemotherapy and 22 of them were treated with an anthracycline or mitoxantrone-containing regimen. Results: A total of 324 cycles (median: six) were administered, 273 (85%) of them at full dose. The median number of delivered cycles was six. The median delivered dose intensity (DI) of paclitaxel was 55.1 mg/m2/week (range 30.5-69.3) and the relative DI was 0.95 (range 0.5-1.2). Eight patients (12%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 5%-22%) achieved complete and 28 (42%, 95% CI: 30%-55%) partial responses. Grade 3-4 toxicities included anemia (5%), granulocytopenia (24%), thrombocytopenia, nausea/vomiting and allergic reaction (3% each), myalgias/arthralgias and neurotoxicity (1,5% each). Febrile neutropenia occurred in eight (12%) patients. Alopecia was universal. After a median follow-up of 17.3 (range 0.07- 24.5) months, 48 (72%) patients have demonstrated tumor progression and 24 (36%) have died. Median time to progression was 8.6 (range 0.07- 23+) months and median survival 20.4 (range 0.07-24.5+) months. Conclusions: The combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin has moderate activity in ABC and can be easily delivered on an outpatient basis with manageable toxicity. This regimen may be useful especially in patients to whom anthracyclines or cisplatin administration is precluded because of other concomitant diseases.
Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the docetaxel-cisplatin combination in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and methods: Chemotherapy-naive patients with histologically confirmed, measurable stage IIIB or IV NSCLC, a World Health Organization (WHO) performance status of 0-2 and adequate bone marrow, renal, hepatic and cardiac function were eligible for the study. Patients received docetaxel (100 mg/m2) as an one-hour infusion on day 1 and cisplatin (80 mg/m2) as a 30-min infusion with appropriate hydration on day 2. Granulocyte colony- stimulating factor (G-CSF; 150 μg/m2, SC) was given on days 3 to 13. Treatment was repeated every three weeks. Results: Fifty-three patients were enrolled (28 with stage IIIB and 25 with stage IV). One complete and 23 partial responses were observed (overall response rate (OR): 45%; 95% CI: 34,1%-61.8%). The response rate was 57% and 32% in patients with stages IIIB and IV disease (P = NS). The median time to progression was 36 weeks and the median survival 48 weeks; the one-year survival was 48%. Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 23 patients, 15 of whom were hospitalized for neutropenic fever; two patients died of sepsis. Grade 2 neurotoxicity was observed in six patients and grade 3 in five patients; grade 3 fatigue occurred in seven patients, grade 3-4 mucositis in four patients and grade 3- 4 diarrhea in six patients. Mild allergic reactions and oedema were observed in five and four patients, respectively. The median dose intensity was 30 mg/m2/week for docetaxel and 24 mg/m2/week for cisplatin, corresponding to 91% and 89% of the specified protocol doses, respectively. Conclusions: The docetaxel-cisplatin combination is an active regimen in advanced NSCLC, but hematologic toxicity remains high despite the prophylactic use of G-CSF.
The synthesis of protected 1',2'-didehydro-2'-deoxyadenosines has been optimized by incorporating a phosphoranylidene protection of the adenine amino function. These unsaturated adenosines have served as substrates for the electrophilic iodopivaloyloxylation leading to new nucleosides modified at the anomeric position. Reaction of halopivaloates 10, 11 and 12 with tributyltin hydride generates indirectly C-1' radicals through a beta-(acyloxy)alkyl rearrangement. Rate constants for these rearrangements have been measured by using free-radical clock methodology and comparison of these data with previous reported results provides structural information about the nature of this important class of radicals. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
The synthesis of protected 1',2'-didehydro-2'-deoxyadenosines has been optimized by incorporating a phosphoranylidene protection of the adenine amine function. These unsaturated adenosines have served as substrates for the electrophilic iodopivaloyloxylation leading to new nucleosides modified at the anomeric position. Reaction of halopivaloates 10, 11 and 12 with tributyltin hydride generates indirectly C-1' radicals through a $\beta$- (acyloxy)alkyl rearrangement. Rate constants for these rearrangements have been measured by using free-radical clock methodology and comparison of these data with previous reported results provides structural information about the nature of this important class of radicals.
In Europe, coordinated activities in healthcare informatics education started in the late 1980's with the establishment of European Courses in Health Telematics. At the same time the European Commission foresaw the need for spreading the knowledge of IT in the Healthcare Sector. Therefore the EC, since then, have supported the initiatives that aim to create awareness, stimulate diffusion, educate and train the users (healthcare professionals) in the application of Information Technology to the Healthcare Sector. Such initiatives are the NIGHTINGALE project, which is an essential project in the planning and implementation of strategy in training the Nursing profession in using and applying healthcare information systems, the IT EDUCTRA project, which is a very practical project in the field of the education and training of the Healthcare Professionals in Information Technologies, and the ERASMUS Master's Course, which is aiming at giving those working, or intending to work in the health service and related activities a broad, advanced postgraduate education in Health Informatics.
In Europe, coordinated activities in healthcare informatics education started in the late 1980s with the establishment of European courses in health telematics. At the same time the European Commission foresaw the need for spreading the knowledge of Information Technology (IT) in the healthcare sector. Therefore the EC, since then, has supported the initiatives that aim to create awareness, stimulate diffusion, and educated and train the users (healthcare professionals) in the application of IT in health care [I]. Initiatives, such as the NIGHTINGALE project, are essential for the planning and implementation of strategies for training the nursing profession in using and applying healthcare information systems. Other projects are the IT EDUCTRA project, which is a practical project in the field of education and training of healthcare professionals in information technologies, and the ERASMUS Master's Course, which aims at giving those working (or intending to work) in the health service and related activities, a broad, advanced postgraduate education in health informatics.
We present a program for the calculation of the frequency band structure of an infinite photonic crystal, and of the transmission, reflection and absorption coefficients of light by a slab of this crystal. The crystal consists of a stack of identical slices parallel to a given surface; a slice may consist of a number of different components, each of which can be either a homogeneous plate or a multilayer of spherical particles of given periodicity parallel to the surface.
We present first-principles calculations of the electronic structure and hyperfine fields of 3d and 4sp impurities on the (001) surface of Ni. The calculations are based on the local-spin-density-functional theory and employ a Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker Green's function method for impurities at surfaces. The systematic behaviour obtained for the hyperfine fields of the 4sp adatoms or impurities in the first surface layer is completely different from that found in the bulk. Instead of a single maximum with a very large hyperfine-field value at about the end of an sp series, the adatoms exhibit two maxima with a pronounced minimum in between. This behaviour can be traced back to the reduced coordination number of the adatoms which leads to a much smaller relative splitting of the bonding and antibonding peaks, and to the lower symmetry at the surface which results in an on-site s-p(z) hybridization. The hyperfine fields found for the 3d impurities at the surface are determined basically by the ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic coupling of the local impurity moment to the substrate magnetization and are therefore more or less similar to those for bulk impurities.
We present first-principles calculations of the electronic structure and hyperfine fields of 3d and 4sp impurities on the (001) surface of Ni. The calculations are based on the local-spin-density-functional theory and employ a Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker Green's function method for impurities at surfaces. The systematic behaviour obtained for the hyperfine fields of the 4sp adatoms or impurities in the first surface layer is completely different from that found in the bulk. Instead of a single maximum with a very large hyperfine-field value at about the end of an sp series, the adatoms exhibit two maxima with a pronounced minimum in between. This behaviour can be traced back to the reduced coordination number of the adatoms which leads to a much smaller relative splitting of the bonding and antibonding peaks, and to the lower symmetry at the surface which results in an on-site s-p: hybridization. The hyperfine fields found for the 3d impurities at the surface are determined basically by the ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic coupling of the local impurity moment to the substrate magnetization and are therefore in more or less similar to those for bulk impurities.
We present first-principles calculations of the electronic structure and hyperfine fields of 4sp impurities on the (001) surfaces of Ni and Fe. The calculations are based on the local-spin-density-functional theory and employ a Green's function method for impurities at surfaces. The systematic behavior obtained for the hyperfine fields of adatoms or impurities in the first surface layer is completely different from that found in the bulk, mainly due to the reduction of the symmetry and the coordination number at the surface. Our results explain the surprisingly small hyperfine-field values measured for Se adatoms and provide challenging predictions to be confirmed by future experiments.
We present first-principles calculations of the electronic structure and hyperfine fields of 4sp impurities un the (001) surfaces of Ni and Fe. The calculations are based on the local-spin-density functional theory and employ a Green's function method for impurities at surfaces. The systematic behavior obtained for the hyperfine fields of adatoms or impurities in the first surface layer is completely different from that found in the bulk, mainly due to the reduction of the symmetry and the coordination number at the surface. Our results explain the surprisingly small hyperfine-field values measured for Se adatoms and provide challenging predictions to be confirmed by future experiments.
The Evolution of Information Technology is rapid. Electronic circuits substitute mental activities and new Technology invades to all aspects of life. Nursing, which is like all the other Health related professions information-intensive, could use the new Technology to be facilitated. The implementation of Informatics to Nursing was supported by the growing information that Nursing has to manage. The definition of Nursing Informatics was put on 1980 and since then a lot attempts to define Nursing Informatics have followed. The applications of Nursing Informatics are focused on four fields of Nursing: Administration of Nursing, Clinical Practice, Education, and Research. The first applications of Nursing Informatics made visible the need for the development of a Unified Language System. The efforts, today, are focused on two fields: to establish a standard definition of the terms of or related to Nursing Informatics, to establish standard definitions and Classification Schemes for the Nursing Phenomena and Practice so that they can be processed by Nursing Informatics. In solving these problems important role plays the study of Linguistics. Another important factor that should be taken into account is the Development of International Standards of general acceptance that enhances communication aspects. Apart from the International Standardisation Organisations, other non-profit organisations have constituted Special Groups that are dealing with the promotion of Nursing Informatics. Final Nursing Informatics should follow the previous attempts of Nursing to establish a Unified Language System. All the steps of the development of the application are described. In particular subjects that are covered are: the scope of the application, the collection of the material, the designing and building up of the Database, the development of a User Interface and the characteristics of the Application.
The analysis of force systems from an ideal arch has shown that the ratio of the moments produced by a straight wire connecting two malaligned brackets depends on the ratio of the angulations of the brackets to the interbracket axis. Although this result permits assessment of the relative forces and moments, prediction of future tooth movement requires knowledge of the position of center of resistance as well. In this study, the forces and moments produced by a straight portion of an arch wire were transferred from the brackets to the center of resistance. The purpose was to compare the force system at the brackets to the force system at the center of resistance and to assess whether bracket geometry can be applied to predict initial tooth movement. A computer model was used to simulate two teeth connected by a straight portion of wire. Forces and moments were calculated with the use of equations derived from elementary beam theory. The results show that the force system at the center of resistance may be of an entirely different "geometry" type than that at the bracket. Factors that influence the force system include the interbracket distance, the angulation of the teeth, the length of the tooth root, and the width of the bracket.
A chain of impurity cells in a photonic insulator introduces impurity modes of the electromagnetic field over a narrow band of frequencies. We introduce a model of this band in the manner of a tight-binding description of impurity bands in semiconductors, and use it to describe waveguiding along the chain, and, in particular, across a corner of 90° . We also point out the possibility of using impurity bands in photonic insulators to study wave propagation along an effectively one-dimensional disordered chain.
The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the incidence of any form of 21α-hydroxylase deficiency among Greek women with hyperandrogenic symptoms, and to test the predictive value of basal serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) in the early follicular phase as a screening index for patient preselection to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) testing. Eighty-eight unselected women with hyperandrogenic symptoms were examined in the Gynecological Endocrinology Unit of the Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Athens University. Using the ACTH-stimulated 17-OHP values at 60 minutes (17-OHP60) the study population was divided into four groups (A, B, C and D). Clinical and basal hormonal parameters as well as serum 17-OHP60 values and human leukocyte antigens were studied. Both clinical and basal hormonal parameters could be used to distinguish only patients with severe 21α-hydroxylase deficiency (group A). In contrast, patients with moderate non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NC-CAH; group B), heterozygotes for NC-CAH (group C), and unaffected females (group D) can be diagnosed and classified only by serum 17-OHP60 values. In conclusion, the incidence of NC-CAH in Greek females with hyperandrogenic symptoms is 3.4%. The positive predictive value of basal 17-OHP is only 13% for this disease. Only 17-OHP60 helps to diagnose and classify moderate and mild forms of NC-CAH. Thus, it seems that ACTH testing is imperative in every subject suspected of this enzymatic disorder.
SERUM levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were measured in 48 healthy, termed neonates on the 1st (N1), 5th (N5) and 40th (N40) day after birth, compared with those in maternal serum (MS), umbilical cord (UC) and adult controls. Cytokine Values in N1 and N5 were significantly elevated, than those in UC and in controls (P<0.0001). IL-1β and IL-6 declined significantly from N1 to N40 (P<0.0001), while TNF-α increased significantly from N1 to N5 and declined thereafter. MS∞IL-1β and IL-6, but not MS∞TNF- α, were significantly higher than those of controls (P<0.0001). IL-1β values depended on the mode of delivery. In conclusion, the increased concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α during the perinatal period might suggest their involvement in an inflammation-like process during normal parturition, and reflect also a newborn immune response to the stress of delivery and environmental changes.
Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is considered an important determinant of the balance between T-helper type 1 and 2 cytokines and has been used experimentally for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. However, contrasting results have been reported relative to the Th-1/Th-2 cytokine profile in atopic patients. In this study, we examined cytokine production by polyclonally activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from children with atopic dermatitis, and assessed the influence of in vitro IFN-gamma pretreatment on these cells. A fraction of PBMC isolated from children with severe atopic dermatitis, as well as from age-matched controls, was initially exposed to IFN-gamma. After washing, both treated and untreated cells were then put into culture either alone or with the addition of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) plus ionomycin. IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IFN-gamma production were measured in the supernatants using commercially available ELISAs. PBMC from atopic patients produced more IL-4 (P = 0.04) and IL-10 (P = 0.03) and less IFN-gamma (P = 0.01) than controls, when stimulated with PHA. Interestingly, in PMA + ionomycin stimulated cultures, the atopic cytokine profile was different with more IL-5 (P = 0.0068) and less IFN-gamma production (P = 0.00046) than the control group. When cells were pretreated with IFN-gamma, there were no significant differences between patients and controls. PBMC from children with atopic dermatitis show alterations in cytokine production, compatible in general terms with the Th-1/Th-2 model. Exposure of PBMC to IFN-gamma before activation results in a reduction of these differences, so that cytokine production becomes similar in the atopic and normal groups.
Purpose. To develop a simple approach for investigating absorption kinetics, which does not require modeling assumptions or intravenous data. Methods. The concentration (C) -time (t) data are plotted as a phase plane plot (dC/dt versus C). Errorless C,t data were generated from one and two compartment models employing first-order, zero-order and Michaelis-Menten input kinetics, and the phase plane plots were constructed. A simple test based on the ratio of slopes of the separate linear regression analyses of absorption and elimination data of the phase plane plot is proposed to justify or not the presence of zero-order input kinetics. Errant data were used to assess the performance of the test developed. Literature data of theophylline and nitroglycerin formulations were analyzed using the phase plane plot. Input rate-time profiles were constructed for one compartment model drugs utilizing the data of the phase plane plot. Results. The geometric forms of the phase plane plots derived from the errorless data of the various pharmacokinetic models were found to be indicative of the absorption kinetics. Very good results were obtained when the test for the discernment of absorption kinetics was applied to errant data. Zero-order absorption kinetics were justified (i) for the transdermal absorption of nitroglycerin and (ii) only for a certain period of time, for the gastrointestinal absorption of theophylline. Conclusions. Investigation of absorption kinetics can be accomplished with the phase plane method. The cumulative character of the classical percent absorbed versus time plots can be misleading in justifying the presence of zero-order input kinetics.
Purpose: To determine the efficacy and safety of 21 monthly cycles of pamidronate therapy in patients with advanced multiple myeloma. Patients and Methods: Patients with stage III myeloma and at least one lyric lesion received either placebo or pamidronate 90 mg intravenously administered as a 4-hour infusion monthly for 21 cycles. At study entry, the patients were stratified according to whether they were to receive first-line (stratum 1) or second-line (stratum 2) antimyeloma chemotherapy. Skeletal events (pathologic fracture, radiation or surgery to bone, and spinal cord compression) and hypercalcemia were assessed monthly. Results: The results of the first nine previously reported cycles are extended to 21 cycles. Of the 392 randomized patients, efficacy could be evaluated in 198 who received pamidronate and 179 who received placebo. After 21 cycles, the proportion of patients who developed any skeletal event was lower in the pamidronate-group (P= .015). The mean number of skeletal events per year was less in the pamidronate-group (1.3) than in placebo-treated patients (2.2; P = .008). Although survival was not different between the pamidronate-treated group and placebo patients overall, stratum 2 patients who received pamidronate lived longer than those who received placebo (14 v 21 months, P = .041). Pamidronate was safe and well tolerated during the 21 cycles of therapy. Conclusion: Long-term monthly infusions of pamidronate as an adjunct to chemotherapy are superior to chemotherapy alone in reducing skeletal events in stage III multiple myeloma patients, and may improve the survival of patients on salvage therapy.
The role of the anisotropic impurity scattering in the determination of the low-field Hall coefficient of Al-4d dilute alloys is investigated by means of systematic theoretical calculations, as well as experimental measurements for AlZr and AlMo. The theoretical results, obtained without using any adjustable parameter, are in excellent agreement with the experimental data and a consistent interpretation of the systematic variation of the low-field Hall coefficient for aluminium-based dilute alloys with transition-metal impurities is given.
The role of the anisotropic impurity scattering in the determination of the low-field Hall coefficient of Al-4d dilute alloys is investigated by means of systematic theoretical calculations, as well as experimental measurements for Al-Zr and AI-Mo. The theoretical results, obtained without using any adjustable parameter, are in excellent agreement with the experimental data and a consistent interpretation of the systematic variation of the low-field Hall coefficient for aluminium-based dilute alloys with transition-metal impurities is given. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
We report a systematic study of the spin-polarization energy of 3d impurities in monovalent simple-metal hosts, by means of self-consistent, local-spin-density-functional, impurity-in-jellium calculations, and propose a phenomenological model for the interpretation of our results.
We report a systematic study of the spin-polarization energy of 3d impurities in monovalent simple-metal hosts, by means of self-consistent, local-spin-density-functional, impurity-in-jellium calculations, and propose a phenomenological model for the interpretation of our results. {[}S0163-1829(98)03424-9].
The age and dynamics of the young LMC clusters SL 666 and NGC 2098 were investigated using CCD observations obtained with the 3.9m Anglo-Australian Telescope. SL 666 was found to have an age of 1 - 1.25 x 10(8) yr, while NGC 2098 is somewhat younger, with an age of 6.3 - 7.9*E(7) yr. In the case of SL 666 the good quality of the acquired data allowed the construction of the main sequence luminosity function as a function of radius, which revealed mass segregation, also confirmed from star counts. Since the age of SL 666 is significantly lower than the mean relaxation time of at least 5 x 10(8) yr calculated for this cluster and since the mass range of the cluster members does not permit us to assume faster energy equipartition, the observed mass segregation seems to be due to the way stars form in the cluster. Indications on a star formation scenario are examined. Disruption time is also discussed and there is strong evidence that the cluster is bound. NGC 2098 shows strong evidence of mass segregation, but further observations are needed in this case.
Maternal serum (MS) and amniotic fluid (AF) antigen concentrations were measured, by a microparticle EIA, in 28 pregnant women during the 2nd trimester, in 27 during the 3rd and in 34 during labor. Extremely elevated and scattered over a broad range antigen values were observed in AF, compared to those in MS samples (p < 0.0001). CEA values in both MS (100% < 5 ng/mL) and in AF did not differ significantly with advancing gestation, while CA125 in MS (6.5% > 32.5 U/mL) and in AF declined significantly with gestational age (p < 0.0001). In contrast SCC values in both MS (42.5% > 1.5 ng/mL) and in AF increased significantly with the progression of pregnancy (p < 0.0001). Amniotic fluid CA125 and less prominent SCC values were significantly higher in the 2nd trimester pregnancies, complicated by fetal anomalies, compared to those in normal pregnancies (p < 0.02 and p < 0.05 respectively). Serum CA125 was lower in the prolonged pregnancies (p < 0.05), while CEA and SCC in AF were significantly elevated (p < 0.003 and p < 0.01, respectively). A good correlation was found in CA125 and SCC values between MS and AF (r = 0.43, p < 0.0001; r = 0.32, p < 0.004 respectively), while no correlation was observed between MS and AF CEA values. In conclusion, the presence of considerable CEA, CA125 and SCC levels in amniotic fluid during pregnancy suggests their involvement in biological functions, associated with fetal development and maturation. Maternal serum CEA, in contrast to CA125 and SCC, is not influenced by pregnancy, remaining a reliable tumor marker in monitoring also pregnant cancer patients.
Abreu P, others. {m(b) at M(Z)}. Phys. Lett. 1998;B418:430-442.
In this study an attempt is made to examine and analyse the mean characteristics of the katabatic flows at the western slope foot of a 1024m high knife edge mountain using a meteorological tower and three surface meteorological stations. In addition, the frequency distribution of the occurrence of the katabatic flow over one year period is studied along the characteristics of the flow arriving in the neighbouring urban area at a distance of 1.5km. It was found that the katabatic flow occurs mainly in autumn and spring with the highest frequency in April. The flow is generally characterised by small depth as it is affected substantially by the background flow. The expected direction of the katabatic wind dominates mainly at the level of 7 m, where the influence of the background flow is minimised. At the level of 18m the wind direction shifts, due to the interaction of the katabatic wind with the background flow. The katabatic flow can penetrate at a distance of 1.5 km being substantially weakened.
In this paper, we deal with the ARIMA (Box-Jenkins) model of the gridded mean annual air temperature for the area included by the co-ordinates: 20°- 30°E, 35°- 45°N, (thus the South Balkan area, the most of its percentage covered by Greek peninsula). We analyse the gridded temperature time series which existed from 1851 to 1996. With the theoretical model's construction, we try to forecast the annual temperature till the year 2006, and the results were satisfactory enough. Also, from the analysis we found that the autocorrelation function (ASF) and the partial autocorrelation function (PASF) of the residuals were not significant, and the ARIMA model is quite reliable.
The NIGHTINGALE project, which is an EU financed project, is considered as essential in planning and implementation of strategy in training the nursing profession in using and applying healthcare information systems. Therefore, NIGHTINGALE gives a new perspective in Nursing Informatics Education in Europe. In 1997 some major goals of the NIGHTINGALE project were accomplished. These achievements are described in this document.
PURPOSE: A national study to register all working nursing personnel and nursing students; to estimate the nursing needs of the Greek population beyond the year 2000; to design a nursing resource master plan for the nursing needs of Greece.
DESIGN: First, a questionnaire was distributed to register all nursing personnel. Second, required personnel were estimated according to the population of each of the country's regions. Third, a master plan for developing nursing personnel to the year 2010 was developed.
RESULTS: The number of nursing personnel was found to be 35,715 which included 11,497 RNs and health visitors, 22,318 assistant nurses, 1,900 midwives. The number of students was 9,252. The majority of nursing personnel work in areas with the highest population. The need for nursing personnel was estimated to be 62,000: 36,300 RNs, 21,700 assistant nurses and 4,000 midwives.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a serious shortage of RNs in the Greek health services resulting in a downgrading of nursing care quality.
In a phase II study, 66 patients with advanced breast cancer (median age 56 years; range, 28 to 75 years) were treated with paclitaxel (Taxol), 175 mg/m2 infused over 3 hours, and carboplatin (Paraplatin), dosed to attain an area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of 6 mg x min/mL; treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. A total of 38 (58%) patients had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy, 21 with a regimen containing an anthracycline or mitoxantrone (Novantrone). As of May 1997, 295 cycles of paclitaxel- carboplatin have been administered, 248 (84%) at full dose. The relative dose intensity of paclitaxel is 0.9 (range, 0.5 to 1.2). Of the 66 patients, 8 (12%) have achieved a complete response and 27 (41%) a partial response, for a total response rate of 53%. Grade 3 to 4 toxicities have included anemia (5%), leukopenia (25%), thrombocytopenia (5%), nausea/vomiting (7%), myalgias/arthralgias (4%), allergic reaction, neurotoxicity, and infection (2% each). Alopecia has been universal. Median time to progression is 8.9 months; median survival has not yet been reached. We conclude that the combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin has significant activity in advanced breast cancer and can easily be administered on an outpatient basis with manageable toxicity.
We model the acceleration of electrons at a shock front in a relativistic blazar jet and compute the radiation they emit in a post-shock region which contains a homogeneous magnetic field. The full space, time and momentum dependence of the electron distribution is used in this calculation. It is shown that the ` homogeneous'\ synchrotron model is recovered, provided the downstream speed of the plasma away from the shock front is nonrelativistic, and provided that the light travel times across the face of the shock front is unimportant. By varying the rate at which particles are picked up by the acceleration process, we calculate the time-dependence of the spectra. Since the magnetic field strength is assumed constant within the emission region, each frequency band can be identified with electrons of a particular energy. We find that for a band in which the electrons are accelerated rapidly compared to the rate at which they cool, the spectra typically harden during phases of rising flux, and soften during phases of falling flux, as has been observed in the objects PKS 2155-304 and Mkn 421. However, in a frequency band in which the timescales are comparable, the reverse behaviour is to be expected. We discuss the extent to which observations of both the stationary spectrum and the spectral variability of the synchrotron component of blazar emission can be used to constrain the model.
On two separate days eight male subjects performed a 10- or 20-s cycle ergometer sprint (randomized order) followed, after 2 min of recovery, by a 30-s sprint. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis at rest, immediately after the first sprint and after the 2 min of recovery on both occasions. The anaerobic ATP turnover during the initial 10 s of sprint 1 was 129 ± 12 mmol kg dry weight-1 and decreased to 63 ± 10 mmol kg dry weight-1 between the 10th and 20th s of sprint 1. This was a result of a 300% decrease in the rate of phosphocreatine breakdown and a 35% decrease in the glycolytic rate. Despite this 51% reduction in anaerobic ATP turnover, the mean power between 10 and 20 s of sprint 1 was reduced by only 28%. During the same period, oxygen uptake increased from 1.30 ± 0.15 to 2.40 ± 0.23 L min-1, which partially compensated for the decreased anaerobic metabolism. Muscle pH decreased from 7.06 ± 0.02 at rest to 6.94 ± 0.02 after 10 s and 6.82 ± 0.03 after 20 s of sprinting (for all changes P < 0.01). Muscle pH did not change following a 2-min recovery period after both the 10- and 20-s sprints, but phosphocreatine was resynthesized to 86 ± 3 and 76 ± 3% of the resting value, respectively (n.s. 10- vs. 20-s sprint). Following 2 min of recovery after the 10-s sprint subjects were able to reproduce peak but not mean power. Restoration of both mean and peak power following the 20-s sprint was 88% of sprint 1, and was lower compared with that after the 10-s sprint (P < 0.01). Total work during the second 30-s sprint after the 10- and the 20-s sprint was 19.3 ± 0.6 and 17.8 ± 0.5 kJ, respectively (P < 0.01). As oxygen uptake was the same during the 30-s sprints (2.95 ± 0.15 and 3.02 ± 0.16 L min-1), and [Phosphocreatine] before the sprint was similar, the lower work may be related to a reduced glycolytic ATP regeneration as a result of the higher muscle acidosis.
On two separate days eight male subjects performed a 10- or 20-s cycle ergometer sprint (randomized order) followed, after 2 min of recovery, by a 30-s sprint. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis at rest, immediately after the first sprint and after the 2 min of recovery on both occasions. The anaerobic ATP turnover during the initial 10 s of sprint 1 was 129 ± 12 mmol kg dry weight-1 and decreased to 63 ± 10 mmol kg dry weight-1 between the 10th and 20th s of sprint 1. This was a result of a 300% decrease in the rate of phosphocreatine breakdown and a 35% decrease in the glycolytic rate. Despite this 51% reduction in anaerobic ATP turnover, the mean power between 10 and 20 s of sprint 1 was reduced by only 28%. During the same period, oxygen uptake increased from 1.30 ± 0.15 to 2.40 ± 0.23 L min-1, which partially compensated for the decreased anaerobic metabolism. Muscle pH decreased from 7.06 ± 0.02 at rest to 6.94 ± 0.02 after 10 s and 6.82 ± 0.03 after 20 s of sprinting (for all changes P < 0.01). Muscle pH did not change following a 2-min recovery period after both the 10- and 20-s sprints, but phosphocreatine was resynthesized to 86 ± 3 and 76 ± 3% of the resting value, respectively (n.s. 10- vs. 20-s sprint). Following 2 min of recovery after the 10-s sprint subjects were able to reproduce peak but not mean power. Restoration of both mean and peak power following the 20-s sprint was 88% of sprint 1, and was lower compared with that after the 10-s sprint (P < 0.01). Total work during the second 30-s sprint after the 10- and the 20-s sprint was 19.3 ± 0.6 and 17.8 ± 0.5 kJ, respectively (P < 0.01). As oxygen uptake was the same during the 30-s sprints (2.95 ± 0.15 and 3.02 ± 0.16 L min-1), and [Phosphocreatine] before the sprint was similar, the lower work may be related to a reduced glycolytic ATP regeneration as a result of the higher muscle acidosis.
On two separate days eight male subjects performed a 10- or 20-s cycle ergometer sprint (randomized order) followed, after 2 min of recovery, by a 30-s sprint. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis at rest, immediately after the first sprint and after the 2 min of recovery on both occasions. The anaerobic ATP turnover during the initial 10 s of sprint 1 was 129 ± 12 mmol kg dry weight-1 and decreased to 63 ± 10 mmol kg dry weight-1 between the 10th and 20th s of sprint 1. This was a result of a 300% decrease in the rate of phosphocreatine breakdown and a 35% decrease in the glycolytic rate. Despite this 51% reduction in anaerobic ATP turnover, the mean power between 10 and 20 s of sprint 1 was reduced by only 28%. During the same period, oxygen uptake increased from 1.30 ± 0.15 to 2.40 ± 0.23 L min-1, which partially compensated for the decreased anaerobic metabolism. Muscle pH decreased from 7.06 ± 0.02 at rest to 6.94 ± 0.02 after 10 s and 6.82 ± 0.03 after 20 s of sprinting (for all changes P < 0.01). Muscle pH did not change following a 2-min recovery period after both the 10- and 20-s sprints, but phosphocreatine was resynthesized to 86 ± 3 and 76 ± 3% of the resting value, respectively (n.s. 10- vs. 20-s sprint). Following 2 min of recovery after the 10-s sprint subjects were able to reproduce peak but not mean power. Restoration of both mean and peak power following the 20-s sprint was 88% of sprint 1, and was lower compared with that after the 10-s sprint (P < 0.01). Total work during the second 30-s sprint after the 10- and the 20-s sprint was 19.3 ± 0.6 and 17.8 ± 0.5 kJ, respectively (P < 0.01). As oxygen uptake was the same during the 30-s sprints (2.95 ± 0.15 and 3.02 ± 0.16 L min-1), and [Phosphocreatine] before the sprint was similar, the lower work may be related to a reduced glycolytic ATP regeneration as a result of the higher muscle acidosis.
Objective - To determine the degree of hypophyseal deficiency in Kallmann's syndrome, and the effects of Gn-RH priming and HRT. Patients and Methods - Seven female patients with complete Kallmann's syndrome were subjected to dynamic tests (chlorpromazine, TRH and double Gn-RH provocation test) immediately after their first admission to the hospital. In five patients the diagnosis was established for the first time (unprimed patients), while in the other two cases the diagnosis has been established earlier and the patients were already receiving hormonal replacement therapy (HRT-primed patients). In the 5 unprimed patients, 100 μg Gn-RH s.c. were administered daily for 28-32 days and the double Gn-RH test was repeated immediately after. Results - The gonadotropic response of the unprimed patients in the administration of Gn-RH was insufficient, mainly in the second stimulation, with secretory dominance of FSH (ratio LH/FSH <1), while after the monthly Gn-RH priming, the gonadotropic response to Gn-RH had improved, with a considerable increase in the peak values of plasma FSH and LH after both stimulations, and the LH/FSH ratio was reversed to >1. In the two primed patients, the gonadotropic response to Gn-RH administration was better in both stimulations than that of the unprimed patients. Conclusions - Both the short-term Gn-RH and the long-term HRT priming improve the secretory promptitude of the hypophyseal cells for both gonadotropins, while after long-term Gn-RH priming the LH-secreting cells are capable of both release and synthesis of the hormone, as can be seen by the results of the second stimulation in the Gn-RH primed patients. Consequently, for women with Kallmann's syndrome who wish to become pregnant, ovulation induction and conception can be achieved sooner and with less cost if they are previously primed.
The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of bcl-2, p53 oncoproteins, and Ki-67 antigen in a series of transitional cell bladder carcinomas and its relation to the traditional prognostic indicators and patient's survival. One hundred six cases with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) were examined for detection of bcl-2, p53 proteins, and Ki-67 antigen (MIB1 antibody). Bcl-2 immunohisto-chemical positivity was observed in 52% of TCCs and in 577% of low-grade and 44% of high-grade TCCs. Bcl-2 was also detected in normal urothelium and dysplastic lesions with basal cell expression, showed a significant inverse correlation with overall bcl-2 positivity. The loss of bcl-2 protein expression in higher-stage TCCs was statistically significant (pt = .01). P53 protein was overexpressed in 50% of TCCs and more frequently in invasive and in carcinomas in situ than in superficial TCCs (Pt = .03). In contrast, detection of p53 was not observed in normal and dysplastic urothelium. P53 positivity was related to the degree of differentiation and to the stage of the disease (Pf = .01 and Pt = .03, respectively). Concerning Ki-67 antigen, its expression was found in 57.5% of TCCs. There was a strong overall correlation of Ki-67 with tumor stage (Pt = .002) and grade (Pf = .002). Univariate statistical analysis showed that the expression of p53 and Ki-67 was significantly correlated to poor prognosis (p = .02, P = .02, respectively). On multivariate analysis, none of these markers but only stage and grade were significantly correlated to prognosis (P = .02, respectively). These findings suggest that overexpression of bcl-2 protein may be an early event in tumorigenesis. Tumors with loss of bcl-2 positivity and overexpression of p53 and Ki-67 had an unfavorable prognosis; however, in multivariate analysis, they had no independent prognostic value.
An RT-PCR assay using primers from the 5'-UTR of the GBV-C/HGV genome was used to detect viremia, and a serological assay was used to detect past exposure to GBV-C/HGV, in sera from 106 imprisoned Greek intravenous drug users. High seroprevalence rates indicative of the parenteral route of transmission of the virus were found (32.1% for GBV-C RNA and 46.2% for anti-GBV-C E2). These rates were nonetheless lower in comparison to the corresponding rates of HCV infection markers (64.2% for HCV RNA and 77.4% for anti-HCV). Statistically significant univariate associations were observed between GBV-C-RNA positivity and younger age (P=0.006) and HCV-RNA positivity (P=0.024), as well as with higher serum alanine aminotransferase levels (P< 0.001); this latter association was shown to be independent of coinfection with HCV and of age by a multiple logistic regression model. Apparently, GBV-C/HGV had spread readily by needle-sharing in prison, while causing acute subclinical hepatitis in infected inmates. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial 5'-UTR of the GBV-C/HGV genome from 16 seropositive individuals, which delineated their grouping within genotype 2, also revealed a close genetic relationship between two sets of sequences from 4 drug addicts, 3 of whom admitted to sharing needles while imprisoned.
Karyotypic studies of bone marrow were conducted in 79 previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma who received a standard programme of chemotherapy. An abnormal karyotype was observed in 46% of patients, virtually all showing multiple abnormalities consistent with a long period of preclinical clonal evolution. Patients with an abnormal pattern showed various aberrations with hyperdiploidy in 64%, pseudodiploidy in 5% and hypodiploidy in 31%. The number of chromosomes affected ranged from two to 19 (median 10), with at least one trisomy in 83%, one monosomy in 75%, and one translocation in 42% of patients. Lymphoma-like karyotypes were present in 17% of patients with an abnormality but were not associated with atypical clinical features, such as an extramedullary mass, leukaemia, or increased serum lactate dehydrogenase. Monosomy or deletion of chromosome 13 was present in 47% of patients with an abnormal pattern, who lived for a shorter duration (median 10 months) than patients with other abnormalities (median 34 months) or with diploidy (median 35 months). The cause of the short survival of patients with monosomy or deletion of chromosome 13 was not clear, but further studies on the relationship with specific oncogenes are indicated.
The daily relationship between synoptic circulation in the lower troposphere and air quality conditions is demonstrated over the Athens Metropolitan Area (AMA) for the period between 1983 and 1995. This approach utilises eight distinct synoptic categories at the isobaric level of 850 hPa and air quality indicators with respect to O3, NO2, CO, SO2 and black smoke (BS). It is demonstrated that high concentrations of photochemical pollutants and SO2 are closely related to the synoptic scale circulation while CO and BS show a weaker correlation. The most favourable synoptic pattern for the accumulation of high concentrations is the open anticyclonic circulation and for the occurrence of extreme events the closed anticyclone. NO2 and BS present the highest frequency of severe events. The seasonal analysis reveals that the bad and extreme air quality conditions due to O3 and NO2 prevail in the warm season while during the cold season CO and SO2 events prevail. The synoptic category representing a combination of high and low pressure systems, commonly associated with an intense wind flow over the Aegean Sea in the warm period, seems to favour the accumulation of photochemical pollutants, especially O3, over the AMA. The converse relationship was found for the SO2 case. During cold periods, the synoptic category characterised by ’zonal flow’ seems to favour the development of bad conditions for NO2 and particularly CO.
Purpose: The standard treatment for patients with muscle-invasive carcinoma of the urinary bladder is radical cystectomy. While radical cystectomy cures many patients with this tumor, almost 50% of them will develop metastatic disease. Adjuvant chemotherapy has been proposed for these patients in an attempt to reduce the probability of relapse and to improve survival. To assess whether adjuvant chemotherapy does benefit patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, we reviewed all phase II and III studies published in the English literature over the last 20 years. Methods: A review of all published reports was facilitated by the use of Medline computer search and by manual search of the Index Medicus. Results: Several comparative, nonrandomized studies have indicated that adjuvant chemotherapy may prolong disease-free survival. Four randomized studies have been conducted and all had a suboptimal patient accrual. Three studies used a cisplatin-containing combination chemotherapy and included primarily patients with non-organ-confined transitional-cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. All three studies indicated that adjuvant chemotherapy improve disease-free survival and two of them also showed improvement in event-free survival and overall survival, respectively. Conclusion: Published series have been unable to establish an undisputed benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy over radical cystectomy alone for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The interpretation of the available data is compromised by several methodologic and statistical problems. Thus, adjuvant chemotherapy cannot be considered as a standard treatment for all patients with muscle-invasive carcinoma of the bladder. Well-designed prospective randomized studies are needed to clarify the rob of adjuvant chemotherapy in this disease. However, outside a protocol setting, there is some evidence that patients with extravesical disease or with lymph node involvement may benefit from adjuvant treatment with cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. No data support such an approach for patients with muscle-invasive but organ-confined bladder cancer.
Although the combination of paclitaxel with doxorubicin has yielded high response rates in metastatic breast cancer, severe cardiotoxic events have been reported in several patients. The rationale for our study was to evaluate the activity of paclitaxel/doxorubicin combination in patients with this disease but to avoid excessive cardiotoxicity. Therefore, we administered 4 cycles of doxorubicin/paclitaxel followed by 6 cycles of standard cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) regimen. Study medication consisted of doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 as a 15-min intravenous infusion followed by paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 as a 3-hour infusion. CMF regimen consisted of cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 as 1-hour intravenous infusion followed by methotrexate 40 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m2 bolus injection. The main toxicity of doxorubicin/paclitaxel treatment phase was neutropenia (WHO grade 3/4, 58%), but we observed only one cardiac adverse event. Toxicities of the CMF treatment phase were not significant. Of 24 patients evaluable for response, 2 (8%) had complete responses and 11 (46%) achieved partial response. Ten additional patients (42%) had stable disease. The median time to progression was 12 months and the median overall survival was 18.5 months. The sequential administration of doxorubicin and paclitaxel followed by CMF appeared active and well tolerated in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing postnatal age on soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), a very early and sensitive marker of immune activation and response in the serum of newborn infants. Serum sICAM-1 was measured by EIA (T Cell Diagnostics) in 20 healthy adults (controls) and in 43 (24 females/19 males) healthy neonates, of whom 28 were full term, and 15 were born at a gestational age between 35 and 38 weeks of pregnancy, on the 1st, 5th and 30th day of life. Neonatal serum sICAM-1 values showed a very significant increase (P < 0.01) from the 1st day (137.3 ± 62.0 ng/ml) to the 5th day (259.3 ± 124.0 ng/ml) and then to the 30th day of life (415.0 ± 114.0 ng/ml), being significantly lower on the 1st day (P < 0.01), whereas significantly higher on the 30th day of life (P < 0.05), than those in healthy adults (305 ± 195 ng/ml). Serum sICAM-1 values on the 1st day of life depended on both the mode of delivery (significantly higher in neonates born vaginally) and the gestational age at birth (significantly lower in those born at a gestational age over 38 weeks). A significant strong correlation was found in sICAM-1 values between the 1st and the 5th day following delivery (r(p) = 0.77, P < 0.009). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate a significant rise of serum sICAM-1 during the 1st month of life in healthy neonates suggesting a progressively increased activation of the neonatal immune system.
The objective of this study is to identify and establish the day-by-day relationship between mesoscale circulation and the air quality status over the Metropolitan area of Athens for a period of 13 years and to further investigate its temporal and spatial variability. Eleven distinct mesoscale patterns are identified using a formulated methodology based on surface wind measurements. The air quality conditions are classified into seven distinct classes according to the method of the Air Quality Indicators for five main pollutants namely, O3, NO2, SO2, CO and black smoke (BS). It was found that severe and bad air quality conditions over specific parts of the examined area are associated with the weak mesoscale patterns of southern direction or calm conditions. The good and moderate conditions are established mainly under northerly airflows. The most serious pollution problem favored even by intense northerly flow is attributed to O3 during the warm period in the northern zone. High concentrations of O3, NO2 and SO2 in the warm period are remarkably related to the pure sea breeze circulation, especially in the central and northern zone.
The title C-1' radical, obtained by photolysis of the corresponding tert-butyl ketone in water, was studied spectroscopically by EPR and laser flash photolysis methods and computationally. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
The title C-1' radical, obtained by photolysis of the corresponding tert-butyl ketone in water, was studied spectroscopically by EPR and laser flash photolysis methods and computationally.
The magnetic Compton profiles (MCPs) measured in the [100], [110], [111] and [112] directions in single-crystal nickel with an incident photon beam of energy 224 keV are presented and discussed. The momentum resolution achieved, of 0.43 atomic units, improves on previous studies by almost a factor of two, and facilitates the interpretation of the MCPs in terms of the underlying spin-dependent momentum densities. Calculations have been performed using the linear muffin-tin orbital method, within both the local spin-density approximation (LSDA) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). Comparison with experiment reveals the limitations of the LSDA at low momentum, where the GGA is better able to reproduce the contribution of the s- and p-like electrons. All of the calculations overestimate the moment associated with the d-like electrons, for momenta corresponding to the first Brillouin zone. We also confirm the existence of the so-called Umklapp shoulders, which derive from the Fermi surface topology.
AIMS: To determine HIV and hepatitis infection prevalence and correlates with risk behaviour. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study: voluntary, anonymous HIV, hepatitis (HCV, HBV and HDV) surveillance and questionnaire on risk factors. SETTING: Korydallos Prison, Athens and Ag. Stefanos Prison, Patra, Greece. PARTICIPANTS: Of 544 drug users imprisoned for drug related offences, all completed the questionnaire and 533 blood samples were collected. MEASUREMENTS: HIV (by anti-HIV-1), HCV (by anti-HCV), HBV (by anti-HBc, HBsAg) and HDV (by anti-HDV) prevalence. Data on demography, legal status, drug use, sharing of injecting equipment. FINDINGS: Of the 544 drug users, 375 (68.9%) had injected drugs (IDUs) at some time, 35% of whom had injected whilst in that prison. Of the 533 blood samples tested, one was positive for anti-HIV-1 (0.19%), 310 for anti-HCV (58.2%), 306/531 (57.6%) for anti-HBc, 34/527 (6.5%) for HBsAg and 12/527 (2.3%) for anti-HDV. Prevalence rates for IDUs only were 0.27% for HIV-1, 80.6% for hepatitis C, 62.7% for hepatitis B and 3.3% for hepatitis D. Ninety-two per cent of IDUs injecting in prison shared needles, indicating that IDUs inject less but share more during incarceration. Multiple logistic regression revealed needle-sharing as the most important risk factor for HCV infection in IDUs. Prior knowledge of a positive hepatitis result did not appear to inhibit IDUs from practising risky behaviours in prison. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemic of hepatitis B and C among imprisoned IDUs identified by this study constitutes a major public health problem. Prevention programmes, such as counselling, HBV vaccination, community-based methadone maintenance treatment and syringe exchange schemes, are necessary in order to prevent a further spread.
By a systematic method we construct general classes of exact and self-consistent axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) solutions describing flows that originate in the near environment of a central gravitating astrophysical object. The unifying scheme contains two large groups of exact MHD outflow models: (I) meridionally self-similar models with spherical critical surfaces; and (II) radially self-similar models with conical critical surfaces. This classification includes known polytropic models, such as the classical Parker description of a stellar wind and the Blandford &38 Payne model of a disc wind; it also contains non-polytropic models, such as those of winds/jets in Sauty &38 Tsinganos, Lima, Tsinganos &38 Priest, and Trussoni, Tsinganos &38 Sauty. Besides the unification of all known cases under a common scheme, several new classes emerge and some are briefly analysed; they could be explored for a further understanding of the physical properties of MHD outflows from various magnetized and rotating astrophysical objects in stellar or galactic systems.
By a systematic method we construct general classes of exact and self-consistent axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) solutions describing flows that originate in the near environment of a central gravitating astrophysical object. The unifying scheme contains two large groups of exact MHD outflow models: (I) meridionally self-similar models with spherical critical surfaces; and (II) radially self-similar models with conical critical surfaces. This classification includes known polytropic models, such as the classical Parker description of a stellar wind and the Blandford &38 Payne model of a disc wind; it also contains non-polytropic models, such as those of winds/jets in Sauty &38 Tsinganos, Lima, Tsinganos &38 Priest, and Trussoni, Tsinganos &38 Sauty. Besides the unification of all known cases under a common scheme, several new classes emerge and some are briefly analysed; they could be explored for a further understanding of the physical properties of MHD outflows from various magnetized and rotating astrophysical objects in stellar or galactic systems.
Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of single-agent docetaxel in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma and impaired renal function. Methods. Eleven consecutive patients previously untreated for metastatic disease with renal impairment (median serum creatinine level of 2.6 mg/dL) were treated with intravenous docetaxel 100 mg/m2 for 1 hour every 21 days. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was administered at a dose of 5 μg/kg/day subcutaneously from days 5 to 14. Results. Five of 11 patients achieved a partial response, with time to progression of responding patients ranging from 5 to 22 months or more. The median overall survival rate was 11 months. Renal function improved in 5 of 8 patients with tumor- related renal impairment. Toxicity was primarily hematologic, with 5 patients developing grade 3 or 4 neutropenia; nonhematologic toxicities were manageable. Conclusions. Our preliminary data indicate that single-agent docetaxel therapy may represent an effective therapeutic alternative for patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma and renal insufficiency precluding cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy.
Pretreatment values of CEA, CA125, SCC and TPS were measured in 130 women with 1) ovarian carcinoma (n = 25), 2) breast cancer (n = 20), 3) endometrial cancer (n = 14), 4) cervical squamous cell carcinoma (n = 20), 5) cervical adenocarcinoma (n = 9) and 6) benign gynaecological diseases (n = 42) in order to evaluate the usefulness of multiple markers in diagnosing and monitoring patients with gynaecological cancer. Antigen values were significantly higher in the cancer groups than those in the benign one (p < 0.0001). CEA values were significantly elevated in the 2nd and 5th groups, CA125 in the 1st and 5th, SCC in the 4th and 5th, and TPS in the 1st, 2nd and 5th compared to the remaining groups (p < 0.04-p < 0.0001). In advanced stage diseases, significantly higher antigen values, except for SCC, than those in limited rumours were measured (p < 0.05-p < 0.0001). In conclusion, our results suggest that, multiple markers may be more efficienti than the use of single markers in accurately identifying malignant from benign gynaecological diseases and in monitoring cancer patients.
Το ερώτημα, αρχικά, τέθηκε από τους συντάκτες του περιοδικού «Σύναξη» και τελικά αποτέλεσε τον τίτλο του άρθρου, στο αφιέρωμα για τη Βιοηθική. Ο σκοπός του άρθρου, που αργότερα ενσωματώθηκε μερικώς σε ανάλογο κεφάλαιο της διδακτορικής διατριβής, ήταν να φανεί εάν στο θέμα της υποβοηθούμενης αναπαραγωγής, η σύγχρονη ορθόδοξη θεολογική σκέψη επηρεάζεται από τις αποφάσεις και τις εγκυκλίους των ετεροδόξων εκκλησιών και ιδιαίτερα της Ρωμαιοκαθολικής Εκκλησίας. Με τα δεδομένα που εξετάσαμε δεν διαφάνηκε κάποιος επηρεασμός από τα ετερόδοξα κείμενα ή η ανάλογη βιασύνη στην ορθόδοξη θεολογία και στην ποιμαίνουσα εκκλησία να καταδικάσει ή να αποδεκτεί τις μεθόδους της υποβοηθούμενης αναπαραγωγής. Η μετάφραση της Κατήχησης της Ρωμαιοκαθολικής Εκκλησίας έγινε από το αγγλικό κείμενο.
The aim of this article is to describe the concept, the source, the characteristics and the main manifestations of a rather neglected issue in child development, namely egocentrism in school-age children, according to David Ekind's theory. Egocentrism takes on a unique form in each stage of cognitive development and constitutes a negative but necessary by-product of each stage. First, we describe briefly the concept, the source and the decline of egocentrism in general as well as those of the sensorimotor and the preoperational egocentrism. Then, the association between egocentrism in school-age children and concrete operational abilities is discussed. The "assumptive realities", that is, the inability to distinguish between the products of thought and the perceptual data, is analyzed as the main characteristic of concrete operational egocentrism. This form of egocentrism manifests itself as a differentiation failure between the transient and the abiding rules, between the subjective and the objective rules, and between the particular and the universal rules. With the emergence of formal operational abilities, children become able to decentrate their thought by testing hypotheses against reality and discovering their arbitrary nature. Finally, several educational implications, that is, ways through which the educator can reduce his/her students' egocentrism and facilitate their transition to higher levels of cognitive functioning, are suggested.
Τα ερωτήματα που τίθενται στην εργασία είναι: α) Η παρουσία του ηττημένου αθλητή στο συνολικό έργο του Πινδάρου, β) η κατάσταση στην οποία περιέρχεται ο ηττημένος αθλητής, γ) η θεώρηση της ήττας του αθλητή κατά τον Πίνδαρο, δ) η σημασία της αγωνιστικής νίκης, ε) η εικόνα αυτής της νίκης στον Πίνδαρο, και στ) η έννοια του ηττημένου ως αντίποδα του νικητή. Τελικό ερώτημα της εργασίας είναι η αξιολογία της ήττας κατά τον ποιητή και, οι από τον άνθρωπο και τον αθλητή απορρέουσες δυνατότητες αξιοποίησης της εμπειρίας της ήττας.
In this article, we offer a brief description of the current theories of adolescent egocentrism, namely Piaget's, Elkind's and Lapsley's theories. Aspects from Blos', Mahler's and Josselson's psychodynamic views, as well as from Selman's theory of interpersonal understanding are integrated into Lapsley's theory. For each theory, the content, the source, the main forms and the developmental features of egocentrism are discussed. In conclusion, we attempt to evaluate the explanatory power of these theories and we suggest a model of adolescent egocentrism which includes physical, cognitive, social and emotional factors.
Οι Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες αποτελούν θέμα ιδιαίτερο αγαπητό στην παιδική λογοτεχνία. Με αφορμή την έκδοση του Dargaud ‘ΑsterixauxjeuxOlympiques’ η εργασία αυτή εξετάζει τον τρόπο με τον οποίο παρουσιάζονται οι Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες στη λογοτεχνία αυτού του είδους, το περιεχόμενο του κόμικ, καθώς επίσης και το στόχο του συγγραφέα. Επισημαίνονται τα θετικά και τα αρνητικά δεδομένα της έκδοσης, οι ιστορικές αλήθειες και οι ανακρίβειες, και, κυρίως, τα μηνύματα προς τους νέους στους οποίους απευθύνεται η έκδοση, τα οποία, λόγω και του ταυτόχρονου οπτικού ερεθίσματος, είναι ιδιαίτερα ισχυρά. Το συμπέρασμα που προκύπτει, εν τέλει, είναι οτι πίσω από την ευχάριστη ατμόσφαιρα του κόμικ, το οποίο έχει μεταφραστεί και στα αρχαία ελληνικά από τον Φάνη Κακριδή, παρουσιάζονται με μονοσήμαντο τρόπο οι Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες, ο αρχαίος κλασικός πολιτισμός, αλλά και ο νεοελληνισμός. Ο συγγραφέας του κόμικ φέρνοντας τον συμπαθή ήρωα των Γαλατών στην Ολυμπία το 52 π.Χ. επιχειρεί να συνδέσει τους Γαλάτες με τους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες με τους οποίους δεν είχαν καμία σχέση, συνδέοντας έτσι τους Γάλλους με την αρχαία Ολυμπία και τον κλασικό πολιτισμό. Ο τρόπος, όμως, που χρησιμοποιεί τον ολυμπιακό μύθο και τους αθλητές της Ολυμπίας είναι ανιστόρητος, καθώς οι Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες δεν ήταν μια αφελής ιστορία φολκλορικού χαρακτήρα, αλλά ένας θεσμός σφυρηλατημένος από την αντιφατικότητα της ανθρώπινης φύσης. Είναι εντελώς διαφορετικό να παρουσιάζεται η αντιφατικότητα της φύσης του ανθρώπου, και άλλο η βία. Ο συγγραφέας επιδιώκει τη δημιουργία ενός μύθου για τους σύγχρονους Γάλλους, ενώ το θέμα των Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων αποτελεί μόνο το πρόσχημα για τον εξωραϊσμό και την προβολή αυτού του, αλλότριου, μύθου.
We report a systematic study of lattice relaxation effects around 3d and 4sp impurities in aluminum, using the full-potential Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker Green function method. Our results for the magnetic properties of the impurities seem to resolve the discrepancy between experiment and previous calculations. In addition, the calculated atomic displacements and total volume changes are in good agreement with the corresponding experimental data.
The dynamics of a case of cyclogenesis over the central Mediterranean associated with heavy precipitation, especially over the southeast Aegean Sea, have been investigated on the basis of the analyses of two meteorological parameters, namely, the isobaric absolute and relative vorticity and the isentropic potential vorticity. On the whole, the two approaches demonstrate the important role of the upper level dynamics in the initiation of the surface cyclogenesis and seem to identify the same features: interaction of a region of positive absolute vorticity advection ahead of a 500 hPa trough with a shallow frontal system, in the first approach, and an isentropic potential vorticity anomaly at the upper levels with a low level baroclinic zone in the second approach. Furthermore, the analysis of potential vorticity identified an intense low level potential vorticity anomaly, for which there are indications that this is associated with diabatic heating and is important for the deepening of the system. This makes potential vorticity analysis preferable for forecasters. Special emphasis is given to the upper-level circulation and the vorticity field over the major European region before the surface cyclogenesis commences, since it is considered to be crucial for the forecasting of the event.
Various methods, such as address-calculation sorts, distribution counting sorts, radix sorts, and bucket sorts, use the values of the numbers being sorted to increase efficiency but do so at the expense of requiring additional storage space. In this paper, a specific implementation of bucket sort is presented whose primary advantanges are that (i) linear average-time performance is achieved with an additional amount of storage equal to any fraction of the number of elements being sorted and (ii) no linked-list data structures are used (all sorting is done with arrays). Analytical and empirical results show the trade-off between the additional storage space used and the improved computational efficiency obtained. Computer simulations show that for lists containing 1,000 to 30,000 uniformly distributed positive integers, the sort developed here is faster than both Quicksort and a standard implementation of bucket sort. Furthermore, the running time increases with size at a slower rate.
The temperature dependence of the EPR spectra of Y0.5Sm0.5 Ba2Cu3O6+x ceramic in tetragonal phase has been investigated at low temperatures. The complicated EPR spectra resulted from different paramagnetic centers: isolated divalent copper ions, exchange coupled copper pairs of ions, and molecular oxygen ions. The observed temperature dependence of the linewidth of exchange coupled copper ions has been interpreted in frames of a model of the collective motion of magnetic moments. The intensity of EPR spectra of molecular oxygen ions has shown critical behaviour at 3.60 K, where the intensity increased considerably.
