Publications by Year: 1996

The purpose of this study was to examine the allocation of nursing time to various activities of registered and assistant nurses during the day shift. Twenty-three registered (RN) and eighteen assistant nurses (AN) working in medical and surgical wards of five large hospitals were studied. The findings have shown that the most frequent activities performed were; indirect care representing 35.6% of the time, direct care representing 23.8% of the time, personal activities representing 16.8% of the time, and direct nursing interventions representing 8.2% of the time. Cross-tabulation revealed that RNs provided direct care less frequently and indirect care more frequently than ANs (25.3 activities per RN and 27.5 per AN, 62.1 activities per RN and 32.6 per AN, respectively). Many indirect care activities were found to be the responsibility of the head nurse (64), secretary (465), and others (104). Less expected results were the minimal amounts of time spent on both education and research activities (1.3% and 0.0% respectively). Nurse managers have to free nurses from subsidiary work and to find mechanisms to distribute nursing valuable time more efficiently.

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a distinct clinicopathologic variant of intermediate grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) composed of large pleomorphic cells that usually express the CD30 antigen and interleukin (IL)- 2 receptors, and is characterized by frequent cutaneous and extranodal involvement. With variable frequency ALCL bear the t(2;5)(p23;q35) chromosomal translocation that fuses the nucleophosmin (NPM) gene on chromosome 5q35 to a novel protein kinase gene, Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK), on chromosome 2p23. We determined the frequency of this translocation with e novel DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique using 0.5 μg of genomic DNA, 5'-primers derived from the NPM gene and 3'-primers derived from the ALK gene and hybridization with internal probes. The presence of amplifiable DNA in the samples was tested with the inclusion in the PCR reaction of oligonucleotide primers designed to amplify a 3016-bp fragment from the β-globin locus. NMP-ALK fusion amplicons were detected using DNA isolated either from all three ALCL cell lines tested, or from all four primary ALCL tumors known to contain the t(2;5)(p23;q35) translocation. Nested amplicons were detected by hybridization in 100% of specimens diluted 104-fold and in 20% of those diluted 105-fold. We subsequently examined archival genomic DNA from 20 patients with ALCL, 39 with diffuse large cell, 2 with mantle cell, 20 with peripheral T cell, 13 with low-grade NHL, 31 with Hodgkin's disease (HD), and 6 with lymphomatoid papulosis. Fusion of the NPM and ALK genes was detected in three of 18 patients with ALCL who had amplifiable DNA (17%, 95% confidence intervals 4% to 41%), but not in any patients with other NHL, HD, or lymphomatoid papulosis. The amplicon sizes were different in all cell lines and patients reflecting unique genomic DNA breakpoints. We conclude that with genomic DNA-PCR the rearrangement of the NPM and ALK loci is restricted to patients with ALCL. Further studies are needed to determine the prognostic significance of the NPM-ALK rearrangement, to determine whether its detection can aid in the differential diagnosis between ALCL, Hodgkin's disease, and lymphomatoid papulosis, and to establish the usefulness of the genomic DNA PCR in the monitoring of minimal residual disease in those patients whose tumors bear the t(2;5).

In this study we have used high resolution parallel electron energy loss spectroscopy (PEELS) and X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) to investigate the chemical nature of the luminescence centre in fresh and aged porous silicon. We find that regardless of the non-stoichiometric oxides which were observed by PEELS in our fresh porous silicon layers, Si-Si bonded material is involved in the luminescence process. However, in the case of aged porous silicon both Si-Si and Si-O bonded material are involved.

Fludarabine monophosphate (Fludara) is a purine analogue which entered clinical trials in 1982. Although inactive in solid tumors, Fludara has marked activity in indolent lymphoproliferative disorders. The exact mechanism of action of Fludara is uncertain. Fludara has been established as the most active single agent in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in single arm and comparative clinical trials. The activity has been demonstrated in both previously treated and initially treated patients. Marked activity has been noted in patients with low grade lymphoma, in particular, those with a follicular morphology and in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. Combinations of fludarabine with alkylating agents, anthracyclines, and anthraquinones have led to clinically useful combination approaches. The ability of fludarabine to modulate the levels of the triphosphate form of cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) in acute leukemia cells has led to the development of combinations of fludarabine and ara-C. These combinations have demonstrated marked activity in treatment of relapsed and previously untreated patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The ability to modulate the activity of pyrimidines and to inhibit repair of DNA damage caused by alkylating agents, anthracyclines, and other DNA active drugs suggest that the future of fludarabine will be in combination approaches to modulate the activity of other agents. These activities may extend its role to use in solid tumors.

a-i.r Inhibin, has been recently proposed as a useful tumor marker for mucinous ovarian carcinomas (Ca), as the widely used tumor marker for ovarian malignancies, CA125 is efficient only in nonmucinous ovarian Ca, and, together with CEA, fails to detect minimal disease and show long half-life in serum after successful surgery. Moreover, conflicting evidence has been reported as to whether inhibin in ovarian malignancies is the biologically active dimer α-βA inhibin or the inactive free α-subunits and inhibin precursors. Serum α-βA i.r inhibin, CA125 and CEA were measured preoperatively and 8 days postoperatively in 39 postmenopausal patients with ovarian cancer (13 mucinous, 15 serous and 11 difference other ovarian Ca) in comparison with 20 age-matched healthy women (Controls), 18 patients with benign ovarian tumors and 10 patients with nonovarian gynecological malignancies. Serum α-βA i.r inhibin values were very low in controls (0.121 U/ml; 0.060-0.250) while they were greatly elevated in both benign (67% sensitivity) and malignant ovarian tumors (100% sensitivity in mucinous Ca, 80% in serous and 90.9% in other ovarian, 0.250 U/ml). In contrast, in non-ovarian malignancies no increased values of α-βA inhibin were found (0% sensitivity). Our results on the sensitivity of CA125 and CEA are in agreement with previous studies. After successful surgery the very high concentrations of α-βA i.r inhibin were reduced very rapidly (8 days) to normal postmenopausal values in contrast to those of CA125 and CEA, that remained elevated. Serum α-βA i.r inhibin seems to be very useful in monitoring after treatment the patients with any type of ovarian malignancy and specifically those with mucinous ovarian cancer.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the factors that may affect the position of the center of resistance and center of rotation. A two-dimensional computer model of the periodontal ligament was developed. The model permitted the simulation of an isotropic (responding in the same manner regardless of the direction of the applied force) and nonisotropic periodontal ligament and allowed changes in root shape and in position and direction of force application. The center of resistance was found to depend on the distribution of root surface area. For a model of the upper central incisor, it was located at 42% of the root length measured from the alveolar crest. The presence of anisotropy in the periodontal ligament significantly affected the position of the center of resistance, which was in this case also affected by the direction of the applied force. Forces passing through the center of resistance produced translation of the modeled tooth in a direction not necessarily the same as the direction of the applied force. Tipping forces produced much larger stresses than forces causing translation. Simulation of periodontal involvement resulting in loss of attachment increased the stresses exerted on the periodontal ligament. The model permitted easy assessment of various factors that may influence the position of the center of resistance of teeth and revealed a potentially large variability in the position of the center of resistance and center of rotation, caused by variation of the properties of the periodontal ligament.

This study examined the contribution of phosphocreatine (PCr) and aerobic metabolism during repeated bouts of sprint exercise. Eight male subjects performed two cycle ergometer sprints separated by 4 min of recovery during two separate main trials. Sprint 1 lasted 30 s during both main trials, whereas sprint 2 lasted either 10 or 30 s. Muscle biopsies were obtained at rest, immediately after the first 30-s sprint, after 3.8 min of recovery, and after the second 10-and 30-s sprints. At the end of sprint 1, PCr was 16.9 ± 1.4% of the resting value, and muscle pH dropped to 6.69 ± 0.02. After 3.8 min of recovery, muscle pH remained unchanged (6.80 ± 0.03), but PCr was resynthesized to 78.7 ± 3.3% of the resting value. PCr during sprint 2 was almost completely utilized in the first 10 s and remained unchanged thereafter. High correlations were found between the percentage of PCr resynthesis and the percentage recovery of power output and pedaling speed during the initial 10 s of sprint 2 (r = 0.84, P < 0.05 and r = 0.91, P < 0.01). The anaerobic ATP turnover, as calculated from changes in ATP, PCr, and lactate, was 235 ± 9 mmol/kg dry muscle during the first sprint but was decreased to 139 ± 7 mmol/kg dry muscle during the second 30-s sprint, mainly as a result of a ~45% decrease in glycolysis. Despite this ~41% reduction in anaerobic energy, the total work done during the second 30-s sprint was reduced by only ~18%. This mismatch between anaerobic energy release and power output during sprint 2 was partly compensated for by an increased contribution of aerobic metabolism, as calculated from the increase in oxygen uptake during sprint 2 (2.68 ± 0.10 vs. 3.17 ± 0.13 l/min; sprint 1 vs. sprint 2; P < 0.01). These data suggest that aerobic metabolism provides a significant part (~49%) of the energy during the second sprint, whereas PCr availability is important for high power output during the initial 10 s.

This study examined the contribution of phosphocreatine (PCr) and aerobic metabolism during repeated bouts of sprint exercise. Eight male subjects performed two cycle ergometer sprints separated by 4 min of recovery during two separate main trials. Sprint 1 lasted 30 s during both main trials, whereas sprint 2 lasted either 10 or 30 s. Muscle biopsies were obtained at rest, immediately after the first 30-s sprint, after 3.8 min of recovery, and after the second 10-and 30-s sprints. At the end of sprint 1, PCr was 16.9 ± 1.4% of the resting value, and muscle pH dropped to 6.69 ± 0.02. After 3.8 min of recovery, muscle pH remained unchanged (6.80 ± 0.03), but PCr was resynthesized to 78.7 ± 3.3% of the resting value. PCr during sprint 2 was almost completely utilized in the first 10 s and remained unchanged thereafter. High correlations were found between the percentage of PCr resynthesis and the percentage recovery of power output and pedaling speed during the initial 10 s of sprint 2 (r = 0.84, P < 0.05 and r = 0.91, P < 0.01). The anaerobic ATP turnover, as calculated from changes in ATP, PCr, and lactate, was 235 ± 9 mmol/kg dry muscle during the first sprint but was decreased to 139 ± 7 mmol/kg dry muscle during the second 30-s sprint, mainly as a result of a  45% decrease in glycolysis. Despite this  41% reduction in anaerobic energy, the total work done during the second 30-s sprint was reduced by only  18%. This mismatch between anaerobic energy release and power output during sprint 2 was partly compensated for by an increased contribution of aerobic metabolism, as calculated from the increase in oxygen uptake during sprint 2 (2.68 ± 0.10 vs. 3.17 ± 0.13 l/min; sprint 1 vs. sprint 2; P < 0.01). These data suggest that aerobic metabolism provides a significant part ( 49%) of the energy during the second sprint, whereas PCr availability is important for high power output during the initial 10 s.

This study examined the contribution of phosphocreatine (PCr) and aerobic metabolism during repeated bouts of sprint exercise. Eight male subjects performed two cycle ergometer sprints separated by 4 min of recovery during two separate main trials. Sprint 1 lasted 30 s during both main trials, whereas sprint 2 lasted either 10 or 30 s. Muscle biopsies were obtained at rest, immediately after the first 30-s sprint, after 3.8 min of recovery, and after the second 10-and 30-s sprints. At the end of sprint 1, PCr was 16.9 ± 1.4% of the resting value, and muscle pH dropped to 6.69 ± 0.02. After 3.8 min of recovery, muscle pH remained unchanged (6.80 ± 0.03), but PCr was resynthesized to 78.7 ± 3.3% of the resting value. PCr during sprint 2 was almost completely utilized in the first 10 s and remained unchanged thereafter. High correlations were found between the percentage of PCr resynthesis and the percentage recovery of power output and pedaling speed during the initial 10 s of sprint 2 (r = 0.84, P < 0.05 and r = 0.91, P < 0.01). The anaerobic ATP turnover, as calculated from changes in ATP, PCr, and lactate, was 235 ± 9 mmol/kg dry muscle during the first sprint but was decreased to 139 ± 7 mmol/kg dry muscle during the second 30-s sprint, mainly as a result of a  45% decrease in glycolysis. Despite this  41% reduction in anaerobic energy, the total work done during the second 30-s sprint was reduced by only  18%. This mismatch between anaerobic energy release and power output during sprint 2 was partly compensated for by an increased contribution of aerobic metabolism, as calculated from the increase in oxygen uptake during sprint 2 (2.68 ± 0.10 vs. 3.17 ± 0.13 l/min; sprint 1 vs. sprint 2; P < 0.01). These data suggest that aerobic metabolism provides a significant part ( 49%) of the energy during the second sprint, whereas PCr availability is important for high power output during the initial 10 s.

EPR and magnetic results are reported for oxygen deficient, nonsuperconducting R(Formula presented)(Formula presented)(Formula presented) (R=Nd, Sm) compounds. The magnetic-susceptibility χ(T) and isothermal M(H) data are analyzed as the superposition of the rare-earth (Formula presented) contribution with another strongly ferromagnetic (FM) contribution arising from FM copper clusters with large total spin S. The rare-earth paramagnetic contribution in χ(T) and M(H) are calculated using the results of consistent crystal-field analysis (intermediate coupling wave functions, J-mixing effects) of (Formula presented) and (Formula presented) ions. The corresponding EPR spectra comprise an intense, almost isotropic EPR line whose intensity I(T) exhibits a ferromagnetic behavior, while (Formula presented) and the linewidth Δ(Formula presented) diverge at T<10 K indicating the presence of slowly fluctuating “internal” fields. The origin of the FM clusters is related to spin-polarized copper clusters through oxygen holes in the Cu(1) or Cu(2) layers, while the ferromagnetic interaction of the (Formula presented)(1) with the (Formula presented)(2) moments may be involved in the low-temperature (T<10 K) behavior of the EPR parameters. On increasing the oxygen deficiency, the ferromagnetic contribution is drastically reduced and more isolated (Formula presented) centers appear as shown by the corresponding EPR data. Exact simulation of the latter anisotropic EPR spectra, shows that the anisotropic linewidths Δ(Formula presented) (i=x, y, z) gradually broaden at low temperatures, while the intensity I(T) shows antiferromagnetic behavior. EPR measurements on an “aged” (Formula presented)(Formula presented)(Formula presented)(Formula presented)(Formula presented) sample revealed that the (Formula presented) EPR spectrum intensifies with time, a behavior probably related to oxygen ordering processes or to surface degradation effects. Analysis of the EPR resonance of (Formula presented) and (Formula presented) ions in combination with the absence of the corresponding EPR spectra indicate the presence of very fast spin-lattice relaxation of the rare-earth ions. © 1996 The American Physical Society.

An attempt is made to identify and investigate the structure, behaviour and synoptic characteristics of cyclogenesis over the Aegean Sea. A simple, realistic and easily used methodology of identification, in an analytical form, was established. This combines two types of criteria: synoptic and dynamic/thermodynamic. Six synoptic categories that could favour cyclogenesis over the Aegean Sea are distinguished according to the synoptic criteria. Grid-point values of geopotential height and temperature are used to calculate the dynamic/thermodynamic criteria, which are used to identify potential cases of cyclogenesis with respect to the thermodynamic prerequisites and the time continuance. It is demonstrated that cyclogenesis over the Aegean Sea is not as rare as was believed. The majority of cases result from the prevalence of a south-westerly flow, a long-wave trough and a closed system over the Aegean Sea. The cyclogenesis appears to occur primarily in the cold period of the year, mainly from October to May, and to have a small intensity and lifetime.

A potentiometric method for the in vitro adsorption kinetic study of an ionic micromolecule to charcoal, based on the continuous direct monitoring of the micromolecule free concentration by means of an ion-selective electrode (ISE), has been developed. A chlorpromazine ISE was constructed and used to study the adsorption kinetics of the drug on pure activated charcoal and two commercial formulations (Ultracarbon tablets and Carbomix powder). The method consists of the rapid addition of a slurry containing the charcoal into the drug solution under stirring at pH 1.2 (to simulate a gastric fluid environment) and continuous recording of the electrode potential until the establishment of equilibrium The drug free concentration at appropriate time intervals was calculated from the recorded adsorption curve acid the apparent adsorption rate constant was estimated assuming first order kinetics. Within run RSD of the estimates ranged from 0.3 to 12% (mainly less than 5%), while between run RSD (n=3) ranged from 1 to 19% (mainly less than 10%). A linear relationship was found between the apparent adsorption rate constants and the amount of charcoal used with slopes following the rank order activated charcoal>Ultracarbon tablets>Carbomix powder. These results were explained on the basis of different surface areas of the adsorbents. The work proved the usefulness of ion-selective potentiometry in adsorption studies and can be extended to other ionic drugs for which selective electrodes can be constructed.

Objectives. For patients with prostate specific antigen (PSA) values of 4-10 ng/mL, some urologists perform prostatic biopsies depending upon the findings of digital rectal examination (DRE) and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), and others perform biopsies on most of these men regardless of the findings of DRE and TRUS. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the information given by the measurement of the ratio of free to total (F/T) PSA can alter decision-making on prostatic biopsy. Methods. One hundred and two (102) men with PSA values between 4 and 10 ng/mL, were included in this study. All men were examined with DRE and TRUS; a F/T PSA ratio was also measured, and six prostatic biopsies were taken from each patient. Results. In 102 men who were biopsied, 22 (21.5%) prostatic carcinomas were identified. Among these 22 cancer patients, 13 had abnormal findings in DRE and/or TRUS and would have been biopsied and diagnosed anyway. If we use only the F/T PSA ratio (cut-off value 0.20) to decide whom to biopsy, we would have diagnosed 16/22 cancers; the difference between these two procedures was not statistically significant (P = 0.17). If we decide to biopsy those patients who have abnormal findings in DRE and/or TRUS and those who have a F/T PSA ratio <0.20, we would diagnose 20/22 cancers (P = 0.05) and at the same time, reduce the unnecessary biopsies from 80 to 41 (48%). With a PSA value between 4 and 10 ng/mL and no findings in DRE and TRUS and at the same time with a F/T PSA ratio ≤0.20, we would have to perform biopsies in 20.5 men to find one cancer. On the other hand, in patients with suspicious findings in DRE and/or TRUS and a F/T PSA ratio <0.20, in every two men that we biopsy we would find one cancer. Conclusion. We believe that among patients with PSA values between 4 and 10 ng/mL after performing DRE and TRUS, the additional information of F/T PSA ratio can help since it increases the number of cancers detected and reduces the number of unnecessary biopsies.

The cytotoxic effects of a 22 h treatment with four antineoplastic agents in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 2366 were investigated. Two agents, doxorubicin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), were effective in decreasing the colony-forming ability of yeast cells. Following examination under the light microscope, the effect of doxorubicin appeared to be, at least partially, due to killing of yeast cells whereas the effect of 5-FU was rather due to changes in cell structure leading to abnormal bud formation. For amsacrine (AMSA) and melphalan, cytotoxicity was totally absent. In the presence of diltiazem the above described effects were not significantly changed. When verapamil was added in the culture medium the cytotoxic activity of doxorubicin and 5-FU did not change. However, following treatment with AMSA in combination with verapamil, cell survival was significantly decreased whereas the presence of verapamil increased the yeast survival which was observed after melphalan treatment.

Background: This investigation war undertaken to study: a) the adsorption characteristics of chlorpromazine to activated charcoal and its formulations Carbomix(R) powder and Ultracarbon(R) tablets at gastric pH; b) the effect on chlorpromazine adsorption of polyethylene glycol and its combination with electrolyte lavage solution; c) the effect of the order of addition of polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution. Method: Ion selective electrode potentiometry, bared on the selective, direct and continuous response of a chlorpromazine-ion selective electrode to the concentration of the free drug, was used. Successive additions of microvolumes of a chlorpromazine solution were made into a charcoal slurry in acidic medium of pH 1.2 with measurement of the chlorpromazine-ion selective electrode potential at equilibrium Results: The maximum adsorption capacity values of activated charcoal, Carbomix and Ultracarbon, were 297, 563, and 382 mg/g respectively, while the affinity constant values were 40.2, 70.4, and 40.5 L/g, respectively. The adsorption of chlorpromazine to each of the Ultracarbon and Carbomix components was compared to the total adsorption of the formulations. The addition of polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution causes a slight desorption of chlorpromazine from activated charcoal at gastric pH, more pronounced when polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution follows the addition of activated charcoal, suggesting the possibility of a nonspecific binding of chlorpromazine to polyethylene glycol. The amount of chlorpromazine adsorbed to Carbomix and Ultracarbon was not significantly affected at gastric pH by the presence of polyethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution added either concurrently or sequentially to these formulations.

The effects of active recovery on metabolic and cardiorespiratory responses and power output were examined during repeated sprints. Male subjects (n = 13) performed two maximal 30-s cycle ergometer sprints, 4 min apart, on two separate occasions with either an active [cycling at 40 (1)% of maximal oxygen uptake; mean (SEM)] or passive recovery. Active recovery resulted in a significantly higher mean power output (W̄) during sprint 2, compared with passive recovery [W̄] 603 (17) W and 589 (15) W, P < 0.05]. This improvement was totally attributed to a 3.1 (1.0)% higher power generation during the initial 10 s of sprint 2 following the active recovery (P < 0.05), since power output during the last 20 s sprint 2 was the same after both recoveries. Despite the higher power output during sprint 2 after active recovery, no differences were observed between conditions in venous blood lactate and pH, but peak plasma ammonia was significantly higher in the active recovery condition [205 (23) vs 170 (20) μmol·l-1; P < 0.05]. No differences were found between active and passive recovery in terms of changes in plasma volume or arterial blood pressure throughout the test. However, heart rate between the two 30-s sprints and oxygen uptake during the second sprint were higher for the active compared with passive recovery [148 (3) vs 130 (4) beats min-1; P < 0.01) and 3.3 (0.1) vs 2.8 (0.1) l·min-1; P < 0.01]. These data suggest that recovery of power output during repeated sprint exercise is enhanced when low-intensity exercise is performed between sprints. The beneficial effects of an active recovery are possibly mediated by an increased blood flow to the previously exercised muscle.

The effects of active recovery on metabolic and cardiorespiratory responses and power output were examined during repeated sprints. Male subjects (n = 13) performed two maximal 30-s cycle ergometer sprints, 4 min apart, on two separate occasions with either an active [cycling at 40 (1)% of maximal oxygen uptake; mean (SEM)] or passive recovery. Active recovery resulted in a significantly higher mean power output (W̄) during sprint 2, compared with passive recovery [W̄] 603 (17) W and 589 (15) W, P < 0.05]. This improvement was totally attributed to a 3.1 (1.0)% higher power generation during the initial 10 s of sprint 2 following the active recovery (P < 0.05), since power output during the last 20 s sprint 2 was the same after both recoveries. Despite the higher power output during sprint 2 after active recovery, no differences were observed between conditions in venous blood lactate and pH, but peak plasma ammonia was significantly higher in the active recovery condition [205 (23) vs 170 (20) μmol·l-1; P < 0.05]. No differences were found between active and passive recovery in terms of changes in plasma volume or arterial blood pressure throughout the test. However, heart rate between the two 30-s sprints and oxygen uptake during the second sprint were higher for the active compared with passive recovery [148 (3) vs 130 (4) beats min-1; P < 0.01) and 3.3 (0.1) vs 2.8 (0.1) l·min-1; P < 0.01]. These data suggest that recovery of power output during repeated sprint exercise is enhanced when low-intensity exercise is performed between sprints. The beneficial effects of an active recovery are possibly mediated by an increased blood flow to the previously exercised muscle.

Background. Skeletal complications are a major clinical manifestation of multiple myeloma. These complications are caused by soluble factors that stimulate osteoclasts to resorb bone. Bisphosphonates such as pamidronate inhibit osteoclastic activity and reduce bone resorption. Methods. Patients with stage III multiple myeloma and at least one lytic lesion received either placebo or pamidronate (90 mg) as a four-hour intravenous infusion given every four weeks for nine cycles in addition to antimyeloma therapy. The patients were stratified according to whether they were receiving first-line (stratum 1) or second-line (stratum 2) antimyeloma chemotherapy at entry into the study. Skeletal events (pathologic fracture, irradiation of or surgery on bone, and spinal cord compression), hypercalcemia (symptoms or a serum calcium concentration ≥12 mg per deciliter [3.0 mmol per liter]), bone pain, analgesic-drug use, performance status and quality of life were assessed monthly. Results. Among 392 treated patients, the efficacy of treatment could be evaluated in 196 who received pamidronate and 181 who received placebo. The proportion of patients who had any skeletal events was significantly lower in the pamidronate group (24 percent) than in the placebo group (41 percent, P<0.001), and the reduction was evident in both stratum 1 (P=0.04) and stratum 2 (P=0.004). The patients who received pamidronate had significant decreases in bone pain and no deterioration in performance status and quality of life. Pamidronate was well tolerated. Conclusions. Monthly infusions of pamidronate provide significant protection against skeletal complications and improve the quality of life of patients with stage III multiple myeloma.

An attempt is made to find the dynamical and physical characteristics of the atmospheric circulation which contributed to the development of a great storm in the vicinity of Greece on 5 October 1989. The surface cyclogenesis could be considered as a consequence of an upper-tropospheric minor wave which formed upstream on the eastern flank of a blocking-type anticyclone which was centred over Britain and dominated the atmospheric circulation over western Europe. This minor wave formed three days before the initiation of the surface cyclogenesis and could be explained by the theory of ’a dynamically unstable ridge’. As the wave moved south-eastwards, an elongated trough formed in the upper troposphere. The southernmost part of this elongated trough was disrupted by dynamical processes, leading finally to the formation of a cut-off low. When the area of positive relative vorticity advection due to the low became superimposed upon a shallow frontal surface lying across southern Greece in the afternoon of 4 October 1989, a deep depression developed at the surface between Crete and Athens during the next 12 hours. To further elucidate the role played by the forcing conditions at the upper levels in the surface cyclogenesis, the potential vorticity has been analysed.

Purpose. To point out the importance of heterogeneity in drug distribution processes and develop a noncompartmental approach for the description of the distribution of drug in the body. Methods. A dichotomous branching network of vessels for the arterial tree connected to a similar venous network was used to describe the heterogeneity of blood flow in the successive generations of the networks. The relevant kinetics of drug distribution in the well perfused and the deep tissues was considered to take place under well stirred (homogeneous) and understirred (heterogeneous) conditions, respectively. Results. A `'homogeneous model'' with classical kinetics (which is mathematically equivalent with the one-compartment model) was developed for these drugs which are confined to well perfused (''well stirred'') spaces. A `'heterogeneous model'' was proposed for the drugs reaching understirred spaces using a decreasing with time rate coefficient (fractal kinetics) to model the diffusion of drug under heterogeneous conditions. The analysis of the model equations revealed that the homogeneous model can be considered as a special case of the heterogeneous model. Concentration-time plots of multiexponential type were generated using the heterogeneous model equation. The empirically used power functions of time for the analysis of calcium clearance curves, were found to be similar to the equation adhering to the heterogeneous model. Fittings comparable to multiexponential models were obtained when the heterogeneous model equation with only one adjustable parameter was applied to six sets of long period calcium data. Conclusions. The heterogeneous processes of drug distribution in the body can obey the principles of fractal kinetics. Calcium clearance curves were analysed with the heterogeneous model. The validity of multicompartmental models which are based on the concept of homogeneity to describe drug distribution should be reconsidered.

Geopolitics is the geographical and analytical method which studies and describes the power distribution and control of the influence zones on the planet. It is important to stress that whoever controls the international commercial routes also controls the planet. What does this concept mean in the case of Aegean Sea? The Aegean is a sea route and an air passage extending from the Mediterranean Sea and Europe to the Dardanelles and to the Turkish ports in the East. Moreover, while the Aegean Sea exerts a geopolitical influence on Greece and Turkey, it is also -in a practical and not in a legal sense- a sea and an air passage serving the former Soviet Republics, such as Ukraine and Russia, and connecting, as far as transports are concerned, the commercial flow between Europe and Asia.

We review the hadronic model for Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). This model, which can be applied to all AGN, advocates the acceleration of protons to ultrarelativistic energies by shock fronts which are formed a few Schwarzschild radii away from the central black hole. The necessary consequences of this hypothesis are discussed. These include the formation of electromagnetic cascades which are initiated by the injection of secondary electrons and photons inside the source, as well as the production and escape of neutrons and neutrinos. As a result of the neutron escape we emphasize that AGN can be sources of TeV radiation.

Shock waves associated with shell type supernova remnants are considered to be possible sites of cosmic ray acceleration. Since shocks are capable of accelerating electrons in addition to protons one anticipates both species to contribute to the high energy radiation expected from these objects. Adopting a simple model for particle acceleration we calculate in a self-consistent manner the time-dependent synchrotron and inverse Compton radiation of high energy electrons assumed either to be accelerated directly by the shock wave or to be injected at high energies as secondaries from the hadronic collisions of relativistic protons with the circumstellar material. We deduce that for standard supernova parameters the TeV flux produced from neutral pion decay is about the same order as the flux expected from directly accelerated electrons.

More effective and safer regimens are needed for patients who have advanced multiple myeloma resistant to or relapsing despite prior treatment with alkylating agents and VAD. We treated 58 such patients using the combination of twice daily cyclophosphamide (total dose 1.8 g/m2) and VAD (hyperCVAD). Treatment was given to outpatients followed by G-CSF at 5 μg/kg/d until granulocyte recovery. Twenty-three patients responded (40%), with a median duration of granulocyte depression to less than 500/μl of 4 days and a mortality rate of 2%. The median survival time for all patients was 15 months, and the median remission time of responding patients was 8 months. Patients who had low LDH, low B2M, or primary resistant disease lived significantly longer than patients without these features. The combination of fractionated cyclophosphamide and VAD provided an effective and safe rescue treatment for many patients who had advanced myeloma resistant to standard therapies.

A wide range of pharmacological actions has been attributed to the anthracyclins. In this study we examined their effect on serum lipids in experimental animals in parallel with histological alterations. Three Wistar rat groups were injected with doxorubicin, epirubicin or normal saline once a week for 12 weeks. Total serum lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, transaminases, proteins and alkaline phosphatase were assayed weekly. A proportion of the animals were sacrificed at the same time points and the cardiac muscle, large vessels, liver and abdominal muscle were stained and examined under light microscopy. Serum lipids were found to increase gradually, starting after 8 weeks of drug administration, until the end of the experiment. Tissue damage was noted in the cardiac muscle, abdominal muscle and large vessels, also following an increasing trend. Doxorubicin had a more pronounced effect than epirubicin on both serum lipid increase and tissue destruction. These alterations may contribute to anthracyclin-related cardiac damage.

The prediction of propagation and motion of thunderstorm activity, especially when heavy rainfall accumulation amounts could occur, is a matter of great importance. The objective of this study is to examine the possibility of using the environmental wind data for the problem of assessing predictability of the propagation and movement of thunderstorms in northern Greece. The propagation of radar thunderstorm echoes (radar echo reflectivity maxima) and cell movement (fine radar echo patterns) were determined for the spring and summer thunderstorms in 1992 and 1993 (April to September). Radar data were used by examining and analyzing digitally recorded plan position indicator for the entire time that the radar was operated. Multicell and single-cell thunderstorms were identified and thunderstorm propagation and cell motion were calculated for each. Environmental winds at standard levels of 850, 700, and 500 hPa were considered and, additionally, a mean 0- to 6-km layer density-weighted wind was also examined. In northern Greece, winds and radar thunderstorm echoes rarely moved from the clockwise sector 070° to 220° (ENE - SW). The movement of thunderstorm cells was not only steered by the 700-hPa level wind but was also well represented by the wind at the 500-hPa level and by the average wind in the layer 0-6 km. Using standard levels, cell motion can be determined by adding 5° to 500-hPa wind direction and reducing the 500-hPa wind speed by 30%. With the use of the mean 0- to 6-km density-weighted wind, cell motion can be represented by adding 5° to the 0- to 6-km wind direction and increasing 35% the 0- to 6-km wind speed. The propagation of multicell and single-cell thunderstorm echoes was very similar, in spite of initial expectations, and was approximately equal to the cell motion, suggesting that the new cells grew on all sides of existing multicell thunderstorms. The majority of northern Greece thunderstorms do not propagate significantly and their motion is substantially translational and similar to cell motion. However, in cases of severe thunderstorms, propagation was indicated. Characteristic cases of storm propagation are presented and vertical wind shear is investigated as a particularly important factor in influencing storm structure and evolution and the resulting storm propagation.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to investigate the availability of intensive care unit (ICU) beds and the number of requests, the number and categories of nursing staff, the nursing care required, and the time spent in various nursing activities. METHODS: 19 district general hospitals were studied. The characteristics of the units and their nursing personnel were recorded. The availability of ICU beds, the frequency of bed requests, and the way of patient admission in the ICUs were studied retrospectively for 1 year and prospectively for 2 weeks. The staffing level of direct care for 36 patients was studied to determine the time required for direct nursing care. RESULTS: the distribution of intensive care beds was: GICU 108, CICU 114, PSICU 30. During 1991, 12363 patients were admitted and 12172 of them were discharged; 3 628 patients stayed less than 2 days while the average length of stay was 12.5 days. In 1992, during the 2-week period, there were 303 requests for an admission to ICUs and of these 150 requests could not be met because of lack of ICU beds. The mean staffing level was 2.3 nurses per bed (to cover the three shifts). The mean nursing time required for direct nursing care of each patient per shift was found to be 6 hours for GICU patients, 5.3 for CICU, and 6.0 for PSICU patients.

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has been found to exert multiple enhancing effects in the immune response in vitro, IFN-alpha has been also used in clinical trials with variable response rates. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of IFN-alpha in the treatment of 25 patients with malignant pleural or peritoneal effusions caused by lung, and metastatic breast and ovarian cancer. Clinical responses were correlated with a) the ratio of malignant effusion (ME)-associated tumor cells to ME-associated mononuclear cells (MEMNC), b) MEMNC-derived cytotoxic responses against autologous or allogeneic tumor targets, and c) major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen expression on tumor cells. After partial drainage of pleural or peritoneal fluid, the patients were allocated to receive 10 million units of IFN-alpha by intrapleural or intraperitoneal injection at weekly intervals. The treatment was terminated if the malignant effusion disappeared or the patients had received four to six consecutive procedures. None of the patients received concomitant systemic chemotherapy or radiation therapy. MEMNC and tumor cells were isolated by centrifugation on discontinous percoll density gradients. Cytotoxic and phenotypic profiles of MEMNG were analyzed before and after treatment with IFN-alpha. An improvement was observed in patients with increased ratios of tumor cells to malignant effusion-associated mononuclear cells (MEMNC) in the effusions. In the same patients MEMNC were overpopulated by CD8+ T lymphocytes. In this group of patients the administration of IFN-alpha was associated with 25% complete response and 75% partial response rates. In contrast only 17% partial responses were achieved in patients whose effusions had decreased tumor cell to MEMNC ratios. The immunomodulation induced by IFN-alpha in vivo was also tested. Thus in a group of 6 patients, treatment with IFN-alpha resulted in the induction of CD8+ cell-mediated lysis against autologous tumor cells which was associated with PR (two patients). Natural killer (NK)-cell activity, and MHC class I antigen expression on effusion-associated tumor cells were also enhanced during treatment, but were not correlated with the outcome of the therapy since similar findings were also observed in the 4 non-responders. Local infusions of IFN-alpha provide an effective alternative treatment for malignant effusion in patients with lung, breast, and ovarian cancer. Increased ratios of tumor cells to MEMNC and the presence of CD8+ T lymphocytes within the malignant effusions may play an important role in the outcome of such a treatment with IFN-alpha but more patients need to be studied for definite conclusions.

We describe single and multiple solitonlike solutions of the electromagnetic field in nonlinear superlattices using an effective-medium approximation.

The concentration of radon (222Rn) was measured in the soil near the ground surface, using CR/39 solid state nuclear track detectors. The measurements were carried out in PVC tubes at 0.25 m intervals up to 1.25 m. The detectors were etched in 7N NaOH solutions at 80°C. The ?-tracks from radon's decay were counted using a microscope. A microscopc-camera-computer system developed for automatic counting was also used. The results provide evidence for the non-diffusive transport of radon in soils. A transport length of (46.9 ± 3.2) cm was estimated for radon transport near ground surface. Also the variation of soil's radon concentration was correlate to humidity and atmospheric pressure. Copyright © 1996 Akade?miai Kiado?. All rights reserved.

{We present the results of a dense seismological experiment in the western part of the Gulf of Corinth (Psathopyrgos-Aigion area), one of the most active rifts in the Aegean region for which we have precise tectonic information. The network included 51 digital stations that operated during July and August 1991, covering a surface of 40 times 40 km2. Among the 5000 recorded events with ML ranging between 1.0 and 3.0, we precisely located 774 events. We obtained 148 well-constrained focal mechanisms using P-wave first motions. Of these, 60 also have mechanisms obtained by combining the P-wave first motions with the S-wave polarization directions. The observed seismicity is mainly located between 6 and 11 km depth. Most of the fault-plane solutions correspond to E-W-striking normal faulting, in agreement with the geological evidence. Most of the well-determined mechanisms indicate a nodal plane dipping 10–25° due north and a steep south-dipping plane. A similar asymmetry is also seen in the seismicity distribution and in the overall geological structure of the Corinth Rift. We discuss this evidence and the inference of a deep detachment zone, a structure where the major faults seen at the surface appear to root. A large part of the microseismic activity appears to cluster in regions near the junctions of the main faults with the proposed detachment zone. This feature of the microseismicity is interpreted in terms of stress transfer and stress concentration in regions of probable nucleation of future large earthquakes.}

This is a brief presentation of the emerging molecular concept of prostate cancer as regards the diagnosis and staging of the disease, analysis of tumour response to hormone-depletion therapy, and the cellular mechanisms that underly progression of the organ-confined tumour toward systemic dissemination and inevitable lethal disease.

Consider the problem of sequential sampling from m statistical populations to maximize the expected sum of outcomes in the long run. Under suitable assumptions on the unknown parameters θ= ∈ Θ, it is shown that there exists a class CR of adaptive policies with the following properties: (i) The expected n horizon reward Vπ0 n (θ=) under any policy π0 in CR is equal to nμ,*(η=) - M(θ=)log n + o(log n), as n → ∞, where μ*(θ=) is the largest population mean and M(θ=) is a constant. (ii) Policies in CR are asymptotically optimal within a larger class CUF of "uniformly fast convergent" policies in the sense that limn → ∞(nμ,*(θ=) - Vπ0 n (θ=))/ (nμ*(θ=) - Vπ n(θ=)) ≤ 1, for any π ∈ CUF and any θ= ∈ Θ such that M(θ=) > 0. Policies in CR are specified via easily computable indices, defined as unique solutions to dual problems that arise naturally from the functional form of M(θ=). In addition, the assumptions are verified for populations specified by nonparametric discrete univariate distributions with finite support. In the case of normal populations with unknown means and variances, we leave as an open problem the verification of one assumption. © 1996 Academic Press, Inc.

Summary: A phase-I study was conducted to examine the safety, pharmacokinetics, and activity of combination 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI) and ribavirin against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-positive individuals with CD4+ cell counts of ≤500/μl. Nineteen patients were enrolled into the study in which ddI monotherapy (200 mg p.o. b.i.d.) was administered for the first 4 weeks, followed by the coadministration of ribavirin (600 mg p.o. q.d.) and ddI (200 mg p.o. b.i.d.) for 8 or 20 additional weeks. The combination regimen was safe and well tolerated. Three patients did not complete 12 weeks of the study because of adverse events or voluntary withdrawal. The pharmacokinetic studies performed at weeks 4, 6, and 12 on specimens collected from the 15 individuals who completed 12 weeks of therapy revealed no pharmacokinetic interaction between ddI and ribavirin. A significant decline from baseline in HIV-1 titer as measured by quantitative HIV-1 culture was detected both during the ddI-monotherapy phase (week 4, p < 0.001) and during the combination-therapy ddI + ribavirin phase (week 12, p < 0.001); the median drop observed was 0.90 log10 at week 4 and 0.92 log10 at week 12. While the addition of ribavirin did not result in further reductions in viremia in the following weeks on study treatment, 13 (81%) of the 16 patients had at least a -0.5 log10 change in viral titer at week 12. The median decline in plasma viral RNA was 0.68 log10 at week 4 (p < 0.001) and 0.67 log10 at week 12 (p = 0.005). CD4+ cell counts increased above baseline significantly during the ddI-monotherapy phase of the study (p = 0.0038). The median increase was +26 cells/mm3 at week 4 and +11 cells/mm3 at week 12; for patients who remained on treatment through 24 weeks, the median CD4+ cell count increase was +10 cells/mm3. The L74V ddI resistance-conferring HIV-1 reverse-transcriptase mutation emerged in 53% of the patients. Patients with non-syncytiuminducing HIV variants demonstrated greater responses to treatment with larger decreases in virus load and greater increases in CD4+ cell count. Our results reveal that the combination of ddI and ribavirin in HIV-positive patients is safe, well tolerated, without adverse pharmacologic interaction, and associated with significant and sustained declines in virus load over 12 weeks of therapy.

The powder samples of Cu(II) complexes of bis-salicylidene-1,2-phenylenediamine (complex I) and bis-(3,5-dichlorosalicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine (complex II) have been prepared and investigated by magnetic, IR, UV/VIS and EPR methods. From IR similar chemical structures for both complexes have been proposed. The electronic spectra support the square-planar geometry of both complexes. Magnetic susceptibility of complex I has shown typical paramagnetic behaviour for spin S = 1/2 with some ferromagnetic interaction, but no ferromagnetic order down to 1.7 K. The observed EPR spectra for both complexes are dominated by resonances arising from coupled pairs of copper ions in the temperature range investigated.

Objective: To compare the pregnancy rates achieved by intrauterine insemination or timed intercourse in gonadotrophin stimulated cycles in couples whose only detectable abnormality was poor sperm quality. Design: Sixty-two couples with primary or secondary infertility due to male factor entered the study. The 62 couples were randomly equally divided into two groups. Each group began one of the two treatment modalities (controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in conjunction with timed intercourse or intrauterine insemination) for three consecutive cycles and then switched to the alternative treatment after one rest cycle, if pregnancy was not achieved. Results: Five pregnancies (3.9%) were achieved after 128 cycles with timed intercourse and 15 pregnancies (11.5%) after 130 cycles with intrauterine insemination. The difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: We suggest that intrauterine insemination during hMG stimulated cycles improves the pregnancy rates of couples whose only detectable abnormality is poor sperm quality.

Objective: To determine whether failure to achieve pregnancy after repeated ET after ovum donation was due to an endometrial defect or to the embryo quality. Design: Retrospective data analysis. Setting: A private infertility center. Patient(s): Four hundred sixty-seven donors (513 cycles) undergoing IVF donating oocytes to 266 recipients (423 cycles). Intervention(s): Hormonal endometrial preparation with increasing dosages of valerate E2 (2, 4, and 6 mg) and 100 mg of P. Main Outcome Measure(s): Pregnancy rates (PRs) and abortion rates in patients undergoing one to seven ETs after ovum donation. Result(s): Pregnancy rates in recipients that had one or two ETs were significantly higher (34.8%) compared with those of recipients having three or more ETs (15.1%). Abortion rates were significantly higher (54.5%) in recipients repeating more than three ETs than in the recipients having one or two ETs (29.1%). Conclusion(s): Recipients that had failed to establish a pregnancy after two ETs had a lower PR in successive attempts, possibly because of a defect of their endometrial lining.

Purpose: We assessed the incidence, clinical and radiological features, and prognosis of patients with renal lymphoma. Materials and Methods: We studied 210 patients with symptoms, signs and radiological findings suggestive of renal cell carcinoma. Results: Final diagnosis in 6 of 210 patients (3%) was primary renal lymphoma. Radiological features were similar to those of renal cell carcinoma. Five of the 6 patients had an International Prognostic Index score of greater than 1. Despite appropriate chemotherapy, only 2 patients remain with complete remission. Conclusions: Primary renal lymphoma is unusual but not rare. The relatively poor prognosis in our patients could be attributed to the adverse prognostic factors associated with aggressive nodal lymphomas.

The geopolitical approach is imposed neither by legal superstructures and international organizations nor through -willingly or unwillingly- inapplicable moral exhortations. The geopolitical approaches are dominated only by one point: the logic of power of the international ruling social and economic cores. Unfortunately, the results of the geopolitically stronger actions are “legalized” -after they have been established- by the legal decisions or the international organizations. There are many relevant examples.

We discuss a model for the γ-ray production in blazars in which electrons are accelerated rectilinearly in localised regions of the jet, scattering soft radiation from the accretion disk. In our model the jet divides naturally into two zones. In the `radiation dominated zone' (close to the disk), the acceleration of electrons is balanced by inverse Compton losses in the Thomson regime and energy is efficiently transferred into the γ-rays. The γ-ray spectral slope is determined by the electric field profile along the jet. In the `particle dominated zone' (further from the disk) the electron losses are too low to balance acceleration and the electrons are injected into the jet with energies corresponding to the full potential drop in the acceleration region. We suggest that these electrons are then isotropised by the random component of the magnetic field of the jet and cool mainly by synchrotron losses. In the framework of our model we predict further that Galactic black hole candidates might be sources of γ-radiation; in this case, however, we do not expect emission above 10GeV.

The variable flux of TeV gamma-rays detected from Mkn 421 and Mkn 501 requires the presence of high energy electrons, which could in principle produce large numbers of electron/positron pairs, leading to an electromagnetic cascade. We point out that this scenario can be avoided if electrons are accelerated to high energy rectilinearly, rather than being injected isotropically into a blob, as in most of the models of the GeV gamma-ray emission. By balancing linear acceleration by an electric field against inverse Compton losses in the radiation field of the accretion disk we calculate the emitted spectra and find the conditions which must be fulfilled in order to exclude the development of electromagnetic cascades during acceleration. Assuming these to be fulfilled, we show that the maximum possible photon energy is approximately 10M_8_^2/5^TeV, where M_8_ is the mass of the central black hole in units of 10^8^Msun_. In addition we compute the optical depth to absorption of TeV photons on a possible isotropic scattered component and on the observed nonthermal radiation (in the case of Mkn 421) and find that TeV photons can escape provided the nonthermal X-rays originate in a jet moving with a Lorentz factor γ_b_>8.

The kinetics of radiocesium sorption and desorption by cation solutions and the corresponding radiocesium distribution profiles in sediment cores were investigated. The results have shown that a significant percentage of radiocesium is adsorbed in the sediments during the first 3 d. Radiocesium reaches rapidly (< than 5 d) at a depth which does not exceed 3.5 cm. The desorption of radiocesium was found to depend on cation concentrations. Empirical laws are derived both for cesium adsorption and desorption.

Spectral formation in steady state, spherical accretion onto neutron stars and black holes is examined by solving numerically and analytically the equation of radiative transfer. The photons escape diffusively and their energy gains come from their scattering off thermal electrons in the converging flow of the accreting gas. We show that the bulk motion of the flow is more efficient in upscattering photons than thermal Comptonization in the range of non-relativistic electron temperatures. The spectrum observed at infinity is a power law with an exponential turnover at energies of order of the electron rest mass. Especially in the case of accretion into a black hole, the spectral energy power-law index is distributed around 1.5. Because bulk motion near the horizon (1-5 Schwarzschild radii) is most likely a necessary characteristic of accretion into a black hole, we claim that observations of an extended power law up to about m_e_c^2^, formed as a result of bulk motion Comptonization, is a real observational evidence for the existence of an underlying black hole.

The stomach contents of 108 specimens of Podarcis peloponnesiaca (BlBRON & BORY, 1833) were examined and the results of the analysis are discussed together with prey availability data. The animals were sampled during the spring months March to May when the activity of the lizards and their prey is at its peak. According to the results of the present study, P. peloponnesiaca feeds mainly on arthropods. Imaginai Coleoptera, Diptera, insect larvae, and spiders were the most frequently encountered prey in the lizard's environment. The same taxa were found to be numerically predominant in the stomachs of P. peloponnesiaca.

Supernova 1006 is the first shell type supernova remnant to show evidence of particle acceleration to TeV energies. In the present paper we examine this possibility by modeling the observed X-ray non-thermal emission in terms of synchrotron radiation from Fermi accelerated electrons. The predicted synchrotron spectrum fits the radio and non-thermal component of the observed soft X-ray to hard X-ray emission quite well. These particles can produce TeV gamma rays by inverse Compton scattering on the microwave radiation and other ambient fields, and the derived electron distribution is also used to calculate the expected inverse Compton flux. We find that if the remnant is characterised by a magnetic field strength lower than ~7yG, then the TeV flux can be higher than that of the Crab Nebula. About 75% of the TeV emission from SN 1006 is expected to be concentrated in the synchrotron bright NE and SW rims (the "hard aegis") of the remnant, which would allow a sensitive search if the Atmospheric Imaging Cherenkov Technique is used.

A survey of carbon stars in the outer parts of the Small Magellanic Cloud has been completed; the candidate objects were identified by inspecting UK Schmidt Telescope objective-prism plates which cover a total area of ~220 sq deg on the sky, including the inter-Cloud region. Co-ordinates are given for 1185 newly identified carbon stars. (1 data file).

We present a radial velocity survey of a sample of the field population of carbon stars in the outer parts of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). This first set of results includes radial velocities for 71 carbon stars, with an individual precision of +/-2-5km/s. The mean heliocentric velocity of the stars (excluding one very high velocity star) is 149.3+/-3.0km/s with a velocity dispersion of 25.2+/-2.1km/s. These values drop to 145.5+/-2.7km/s and 20.6+/-1.9km/s respectively, if we exclude the stars belonging to the Outer Wing. The velocity distribution does not show the multiple peaks seen in some samples of Population I objects. The mass of the SMC as inferred from the above velocity dispersion (without the outer Wing stars) is =~1.2x109M☉. (2 data files).

The present study was part of a broader research prograrn of the first author concerning loneliness and coping behaviour in childhood. We attempted to explore children's definitions of loneliness as well as the kind and frequency of coping strategies children employ in order to deal with loneliness. 238 4th- and 6th-grade pupils answered the questions: 'What is loneliness?' and 'When you feel lonely, what do you do in order to stop feeling that way?'. Children defined loneliness as the sad feeling caused by the absence of friends and by peer rejection. Children used various coping strategies, including seeking the companionship of important others (e.g., parents, siblings, grandparents, peers, pets); solitary play; indoor and outdoor activities (e.g., television, video games, sports); cognitive strategies (e.g., attempt to forget this feeling, attempt to improve oneself in order to find friends and not being rejected by peers); and passive ways of coping (e.g., doing nothing, crying, going to sleep). The two most frequent strategies were seeking companionship in peers and watching television. Results are discussed in terms of age and gender differences and of their relevance to coping taxonomies known from relevant literature.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). Η Ελληνοβουδιστική Τέχνη. Έλληνες και Φιλέλληνες. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΣ, τεύχος 6, Αυγ. 1993, σελ. 48-50.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). Η "Λύρα" του Αιγαίου. Η λυρική ποίηση 'γεννήθηκε' στο Αιγαίο. Οι πρώτοι μεγάλοι Έλληνες λυρικοί ποιητές. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt., ΠΑΡΑΔΟΣΗ, τεύχος 38, 15 Αυγ.-15 Σεπτ. 1996: 75-76.  

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). Η Ναυπηγική του Αιγαίου, Έλληνες, οι μεγαλοφυέστεροι κατασκευαστές πλοίων: «ο άνθρωπος του Αιγαίου» και οι  πρώτες θαλασσοκρατορίες. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA, Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΣ, τεύχος 40, 15 Οκτ-15 Νοεμ. 1996, σελ. 66-68.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). «Ομολογώ», Καταστροφή Ελληνικών Αρχαιοτήτων (Hughes 1820): Η Συλλεκτική Μανία των Ευρωπαίων. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ- GRAMMA,  Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΕΣ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΤΗΤΕΣ, τεύχος 35, 15 Μαίου-15Ιουνίου 1996, σελ. 72-75.

Το άρθρο σχολιάζει τη δυνατότητα λήψης σπέρματος από σπερματίδες, δηλαδή πρώιμου και μη δημιουργημένου σπέρματος για χρήση στην εξωσωματική γονιμοποίηση. Το γεγονός αυτό στάθηκε η αφορμή για τη συγγραφή της σύντομης αυτής αναφοράς, στην οποία περιγράφεται η δυνατότητα να μεταβιβάζονται διηνεκώς τα γονίδια των στείρων ανδρών,  επιβαρύνοντας έτσι το γενετικό φορτίο των επόμενων γενεών.

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). Τα υποδήματα των Αρχαίων Ελλήνων. Υποδηματοποιεία τόποι συνάντησης. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. Τέυχος 32, 15 Ιαν.-15 Φεβρ. 1996, σελ. 68-71.

Πρακτικά του Διεθνούς Συμποσίου που διοργανώθηκε στα πλαίσια του Προγράμματος «Οι δρόμοι του ορθόδοξου μοναχισμού: Πορευθέντες μάθετε». Θεσσαλονίκη, 28 Σεπτεμβρίου - 2 Οκτωβρίου 1994.Proceedings of the International Symposium Organised within the Programme «The Routes of Orthodox Monasticism: Go ye and learn

Χρήση παραπομπής/ When citing: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (1996). Το Ελληνικό Κόσμημα. Έργο Τέχνης με Ιστορία και Παράδοση. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ-GRAMMA Griechische Zeitschrift fur Deutschland und Europa. Attika Press, Frankfurt. Τεύχος 33, 15 Φεβρ.-15 Μαρτίου 1996., σελ. 70-75.

Στο σύντομο αυτό άρθρο σχολιάζεται το θέμα των δανεικών μητέρων, πριν από την τελική διαμόρφωση άποψης για το πρόβλημα στη διδακτορική διατριβή, με αφορμή την προβολή σχετικής ταινίας στην τηλεόραση. Συγκεκριμένα, εκφέρουμε θετική γνώμη για την περίπτωση εγκυμοσύνης εμβρύου από συγγενικό ή φιλικό πρόσωπο, δίχως συναλλαγές και ανταλλάγματα, όταν η μητέρα-σύζυγο δεν δύναται να κυοφορήσει. Ωστόσο, στη συνέχεια η θέση μας για το θέμα αυτό είναι περισσότερο κριτική και διατηρούμε επιφυλάξεις, οι οποίες αναπτύσσονται στη διδακτορική διατριβή.

The aim of the present study was to assess the two main forms of adolescent egocentrism, the imaginary audience and the personal fable phenomenon, in Greek adolescents. Piaget defined adolescent egocentrism as a differentiation failure, a negative by-product of the newly acquired formal operational abilities. Elkind stated that adolescents often believe that they are the focus of attention and act as if they are performing in front of an audience (imaginary audience). They also feel special/unique, omnipotent and invulnerable (personal fable). The Greek adaptations of Lapsley's New Imaginary Audience Scale and New Personal Fable Scale were administered to 783 14-18-year-old adolescents from Athens and semi-rural areas of Greece. The New Imaginary Audience Scale was a highly reliable measure, whereas the New Personal Fable Scale had a lower, though adequate, reliability. Factor analyses showed that the imaginary audience consisted of several factors, the most important of which were, among the 14-16-year-old adolescents, leadership abilities, physical strength, material possessions and, among the 16-18 year-old adolescents, physical appearance, relationships with the opposite sex, and leadership abilities. The distinction among the three dimensions of the personal fable was confirmed in general. Both the imaginary audience and the personal fable decreased significantly with age. Boys had significantly higher personal fable scores than girls. Adolescents from semi-rural areas had significantly higher imaginary audience and personal fable scores than those living in Athens. The necessity to assess adolescent egocentrism, a developmental phenomenon that explains various adolescent behaviours, within a multidimensional framework is discussed.