Publications by Year: 2014

’Megaritiki’ is an olive cultivar widely used in Greece for the production of low polyphenol olive oil and table olives. To investigate possible metabolic differentiation in comparison with other varieties, the composition of ’Megaritiki’ olive fruits and wastewaters from the debittering procedure was studied. Moreover, the recovery of bioactive metabolites from wastewater using adsorption resin was studied to exploit this byproduct. Metabolites in fruits and wastewaters were monitored using NMR spectroscopy. The major constituents of wastewater were hydroxytyrosol-4-O-glucoside, 11-methyl-oleoside, hydroxytyrosol, and tyrosol but not oleuropein. Furthermore, wastewater afforded rengyoxide and rengyoside B, which are for the first time isolated from olives. The final edible olives, besides hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol, contained rengyoxide and cleroindicin C, which are the first isolated from the species, haleridone for the first time isolated from edible olives, and four metabolites, which are the first reported as natural products, megaritodilactone, megaritolactonic acid, methyl ester of megaritolactonic acid B, and megaritolactonol. © 2014 American Chemical Society.

’Megaritiki’ is an olive cultivar widely used in Greece for the production of low polyphenol olive oil and table olives. To investigate possible metabolic differentiation in comparison with other varieties, the composition of ’Megaritiki’ olive fruits and wastewaters from the debittering procedure was studied. Moreover, the recovery of bioactive metabolites from wastewater using adsorption resin was studied to exploit this byproduct. Metabolites in fruits and wastewaters were monitored using NMR spectroscopy. The major constituents of wastewater were hydroxytyrosol-4-O-glucoside, 11-methyl-oleoside, hydroxytyrosol, and tyrosol but not oleuropein. Furthermore, wastewater afforded rengyoxide and rengyoside B, which are for the first time isolated from olives. The final edible olives, besides hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol, contained rengyoxide and cleroindicin C, which are the first isolated from the species, haleridone for the first time isolated from edible olives, and four metabolites, which are the first reported as natural products, megaritodilactone, megaritolactonic acid, methyl ester of megaritolactonic acid B, and megaritolactonol.

A significant earthquake sequence was initiated on 26 January 2014 at the western part of the Kefallinia Island. The study area is located in the Ionian Sea (W. Greece) at the northwestern end of the Hellenic Arc – Trench, in a region dominated by the Kefallinia - Lefkada transform fault, which exhibits dextral strike–slip motion at a rate of 2–3 cm year−1During the historical period, until 1900, 13 earthquakes with magnitude Μ≥6.0, have been reported in the Kefallinia region. The strongest event, of magnitude 7.4 and intensity X at Lixouri, occurred on 4 February 1867 (Papazachos and Papazachou, 2003; Stucchi et al., 2012). Major destructions were reported at the villages of the Paliki peninsula, while in Lixouri only two houses did not collapse. Ground ruptures were observed, as well as a tsunami of small height. Rock falls and liquefactions also occurred. In the Paliki peninsula 2612 houses collapsed, while only 4 in Argostoli, the capital and major town of the Kefallinia Island. Since 1900, 11 earthquakes with magnitude Μs≥6.0 occurred (Makropoulos et al., 2012) in the region. Five of them took place in 1953, four of which during August. The largest event had a magnitude equal to 7.3 and maximum intensity X+ in Argostoli. This earthquake was preceded by two strong events (Ms=6.1 and 6.8). The Ionian islands of Kefallinia, Zakynthos and Ithaca suffered very severe damages. Among the 33300 houses, 27659 collapsed. The highest intensities (IX-X) were observed, among other locations, at Argostoli, Lixouri and Valsamata. Thirty years later, on 17 January 1983, an event with magnitude Ms=7.0 occurred approximately 30 km SW of Lixouri, causing moderate damage. The most recent moderate event (Mw=5.6) occurred on 25 March 2007, 5 km NE of Mirtos Bay. (Kahle et al., 1996; Cocard et al., 1999). This region is situated between the Hellenic subduction zone to the south and the Apulia - Eurasian collision zone to the north. Focal mechanisms reveal right-lateral strike-slip motion (Anderson and Jackson, 1987; Jackson and McKenzie, 1988), coherent with geodetic data, according to which the slip motion has a NNE–SSW direction (Cocard et al., 1999; Jenny et al., 2004).On Sunday 26 January 2014 (13:55 GMT) a strong shallow earthquake of magnitude Mw=6.1 occurred in the study area. The epicenter is located about 2 km NE of Lixouri. It is worth noting that no significant earthquake sequence was recorded at the Paliki Penisula during the last decades. The main shock and the aftershock sequence were recorded by seismographs of the Hellenic Unified Seismological Network (HUSN), which involves the Seismological Laboratories of the Athens and  Patras Universities, the Department of Geophysics of the Thessaloniki University and the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens (GI-NOA).Ground motion of the 26-1-2014 mainshock (Mw=6.1) was recorded by three permanent accelerographs located in Argostoli, Lixouri and Vassilikiades (ITSAK-EPPO, GI-NOA) with the response spectra in Lixouri indicating high horizontal acceleration. Moreover, the vertical component exhibited high spectral acceleration at a lower period when compared to the horizontal ones. Similar pattern is observed for the next strong event, which occurred on February 3, 2014 (Mw=5.9). A temporary accelerograph installed complementary to the permanent stations by GI-NOA in Chavriata, south of Lixouri, recorded an effective acceleration of 1g for the latter event, surprisingly exceeding the Greek Seismic Code provisions (0.36 g), being the highest recorded in Greece.The aftershock sequence was intense, while five hours after the mainshock, an aftershock of magnitude Μw=5.2 occurred. This sequence continued for a week with more than 30 events having magnitude greater than 4.0, till the occurrence of a strong earthquake of magnitude Μw=5.9. Its epicenter was located at the northwestern part of the Paliki peninsula. The earthquake sequence consists of more than 2000 events, the focal depths of which range mainly between 4 and 18 km. The aftershocks spatial distribution indicates that the activated seismogenic area is about 30 km length, in a NNE direction, located onshore in Paliki peninsula. At least three clusters can be distinguished. It is bounded to the south by the Vardiani islet and to the north by Myrto’s bay.The source parameters determination of the two strongest events were determined using body-wave modeling and teleseismic recordings. Synthetic waves are calculated by the trial-and-error method to determine the focal mechanism, the focal depth, and the seismic moment for a single trapezoidal source time function (Papadimitriou et al., 2006). Focal mechanisms of the strongest aftershocks have also been determined using the moment tensor inversion method developed by the Seismological Laboratory of the University of Athens (Papadimitriou et al., 2012). The data used are digital waveforms, recorded in regional distances by stations of HUSN. The observed seismograms were band-pass filtered between 0.02 Hz to 0.08 Hz. Following, Green Functions were calculated using the method proposed by Bouchon (1981). The inversion method revealed strike-slip focal mechanisms, in agreement with the fault plane solutions of the two main shocks. The results point out a dextral strike-slip rupture, oriented in a NNE-SSW direction. Taking into account both the aftershock spatial distribution and the focal mechanisms, it is concluded that the activated area does not coincide with the regional catalogue seismicity that is attributed to the Kefallinia - Lefkada transform fault, located offshore. Hence, activation of a sub-parallel major fault can be considered, compatible with the active tectonics of the region, which is crucial for its seismic hazard.

A significant earthquake sequence was initiated on 26 January 2014 at the western part of the Kefallinia Island. The study area is located in the Ionian Sea (W. Greece) at the northwestern end of the Hellenic Arc – Trench, in a region dominated by the Kefallinia - Lefkada transform fault, which exhibits dextral strike–slip motion at a rate of 2–3 cm year−1During the historical period, until 1900, 13 earthquakes with magnitude Μ≥6.0, have been reported in the Kefallinia region. The strongest event, of magnitude 7.4 and intensity X at Lixouri, occurred on 4 February 1867 (Papazachos and Papazachou, 2003; Stucchi et al., 2012). Major destructions were reported at the villages of the Paliki peninsula, while in Lixouri only two houses did not collapse. Ground ruptures were observed, as well as a tsunami of small height. Rock falls and liquefactions also occurred. In the Paliki peninsula 2612 houses collapsed, while only 4 in Argostoli, the capital and major town of the Kefallinia Island. Since 1900, 11 earthquakes with magnitude Μs≥6.0 occurred (Makropoulos et al., 2012) in the region. Five of them took place in 1953, four of which during August. The largest event had a magnitude equal to 7.3 and maximum intensity X+ in Argostoli. This earthquake was preceded by two strong events (Ms=6.1 and 6.8). The Ionian islands of Kefallinia, Zakynthos and Ithaca suffered very severe damages. Among the 33300 houses, 27659 collapsed. The highest intensities (IX-X) were observed, among other locations, at Argostoli, Lixouri and Valsamata. Thirty years later, on 17 January 1983, an event with magnitude Ms=7.0 occurred approximately 30 km SW of Lixouri, causing moderate damage. The most recent moderate event (Mw=5.6) occurred on 25 March 2007, 5 km NE of Mirtos Bay. (Kahle et al., 1996; Cocard et al., 1999). This region is situated between the Hellenic subduction zone to the south and the Apulia - Eurasian collision zone to the north. Focal mechanisms reveal right-lateral strike-slip motion (Anderson and Jackson, 1987; Jackson and McKenzie, 1988), coherent with geodetic data, according to which the slip motion has a NNE–SSW direction (Cocard et al., 1999; Jenny et al., 2004). On Sunday 26 January 2014 (13:55 GMT) a strong shallow earthquake of magnitude Mw=6.1 occurred in the study area. The epicenter is located about 2 km NE of Lixouri. It is worth noting that no significant earthquake sequence was recorded at the Paliki Penisula during the last decades. The main shock and the aftershock sequence were recorded by seismographs of the Hellenic Unified Seismological Network (HUSN), which involves the Seismological Laboratories of the Athens and Patras Universities, the Department of Geophysics of the Thessaloniki University and the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens (GI-NOA). Ground motion of the 26-1-2014 mainshock (Mw=6.1) was recorded by three permanent accelerographs located in Argostoli, Lixouri and Vassilikiades (ITSAK-EPPO, GI-NOA) with the response spectra in Lixouri indicating high horizontal acceleration. Moreover, the vertical component exhibited high spectral acceleration at a lower period when compared to the horizontal ones. Similar pattern is observed for the next strong event, which occurred on February 3, 2014 (Mw=5.9). A temporary accelerograph installed complementary to the permanent stations by GI-NOA in Chavriata, south of Lixouri, recorded an effective acceleration of 1g for the latter event, surprisingly exceeding the Greek Seismic Code provisions (0.36 g), being the highest recorded in Greece. The aftershock sequence was intense, while five hours after the mainshock, an aftershock of magnitude Μw=5.2 occurred. This sequence continued for a week with more than 30 events having magnitude greater than 4.0, till the occurrence of a strong earthquake of magnitude Μw=5.9. Its epicenter was located at the northwestern part of the Paliki peninsula. The earthquake sequence consists of more than 2000 events, the focal depths of which range mainly between 4 and 18 km. The aftershocks spatial distribution indicates that the activated seismogenic area is about 30 km length, in a NNE direction, located onshore in Paliki peninsula. At least three clusters can be distinguished. It is bounded to the south by the Vardiani islet and to the north by Myrto’s bay. The source parameters determination of the two strongest events were determined using body-wave modeling and teleseismic recordings. Synthetic waves are calculated by the trial-and-error method to determine the focal mechanism, the focal depth, and the seismic moment for a single trapezoidal source time function (Papadimitriou et al., 2006). Focal mechanisms of the strongest aftershocks have also been determined using the moment tensor inversion method developed by the Seismological Laboratory of the University of Athens (Papadimitriou et al., 2012). The data used are digital waveforms, recorded in regional distances by stations of HUSN. The observed seismograms were band-pass filtered between 0.02 Hz to 0.08 Hz. Following, Green Functions were calculated using the method proposed by Bouchon (1981). The inversion method revealed strike-slip focal mechanisms, in agreement with the fault plane solutions of the two main shocks. The results point out a dextral strike-slip rupture, oriented in a NNE-SSW direction. Taking into account both the aftershock spatial distribution and the focal mechanisms, it is concluded that the activated area does not coincide with the regional catalogue seismicity that is attributed to the Kefallinia - Lefkada transform fault, located offshore. Hence, activation of a sub-parallel major fault can be considered, compatible with the active tectonics of the region, which is crucial for its seismic hazard.

Depuis l’année de départ de la crise, en 2008 jusqu’à ce jour, s’est révélé aux yeux des intéressés, la tendance des fonds occidentaux et des investisseurs vers la zone pacifique, où deux faits s’imposent : 1) le coût du travail moyen se situe autour de 5% et 2) le pourcentage de plus-value au niveau international est immense et du niveau 500600%, après déduction de tout coût de capital (impôts, coûts opérationnels, etc.). Ce phénomène n’a pas laissé la Russie non plus indifférente. Par ailleurs, le rythme de fonte des glaces en Arctique change la donne stratégique et offre pour le futur des perspectives de navigations pour la Russie vers le Pacifique, via le détroit de Bérin.

El objetivo del presente estudio es examinar la influencia del tipo de tarea (narración - argumentación) en la fluidez y la exactitud léxica de la producción escrita de aprendientes griegos de español como lengua extranjera así como la posible interacción entre ellas dentro del mismo tipo de tarea. Los resultados han mostrado que el tipo de tarea influye tanto en la fluidez como en la exactitud léxica. En concreto, se ha observado mayor fluidez pero menor exactitud léxica en la tarea narrativa. Adicionalmente, se han observado correlaciones significativas entre la fluidez y la exactitud léxica solo en la tarea narrativa. Los resultados se explican basándose en el Modelo de la Capacidad Limitada de Atención de Skehan y la Hipótesis de Cognición de Robinson.  

Resumen: En los cuentos de Juan Rulfo “No oyes ladrar los perros”, “Luvina” y “Diles que no me maten!” el tema de la muerte juega un papel importante. Es interesante estudiar como la idea de la muerte determina a los personajes y sus relaciones con los otros.

La direction politique turque Davoutoglou-Erdogan (dans cet ordre hiérarchique) perçoit, à long terme, la diminution de l’importance stratégique de la Turquie pour l’Occident et l’Otan. Ce phénomène est dû à la fonte des glaces dans le passage du Nord-Est (détroit de Béring) qui permettra, dans quelques années, à la Russie d’atteindre les points stratégiques de l’océan Indien en trois fois moins de temps que les Américains. Ce fait, signe des temps, réduit l’importance du rôle de la Turquie –et de la Grèce– dans l’endiguement de l’accès de la Russie aux eaux chaudes de la Méditerranée et limite donc dans une large mesure l’intérêt de cette aile sud-est de l’Otan. Ce rôle est mis en évidence par une communication consistant en un emballage idéologico-moral de l’«amitié helléno-turque», laquelle est constamment mise à mal par Ankara en mer Égée, à Chypre –pourtant État membre de l’Union européenne– dont elle occupe 38 % du territoire et de la zone économique exclusive.

Gastric cancer poses a significant public health problem, especially in the Far East, due to its high incidence in these areas. Surgical treatment and guidelines have been markedly different in the West, but nowadays this debate is apparently coming to an end. Laparoscopic surgery has been employed in the surgical treatment of gastric cancer for two decades now, but with controversies about the extent of resection and lymphadenectomy. Despite these difficulties, the apparent advantages of the laparoscopic approach helped its implementation in early stage and distal gastric cancer, with an increase on the uptake for distal gastrectomy for more advanced disease and total gastrectomy. Nevertheless, there is no conclusive evidence about the laparoscopic approach yet. In this review article we present and analyse the current status of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of gastric cancer.

The author surveys Connes’ results on the longitudinal Laplace operator along a (regular) foliation and its spectrum, and discusses their generalization to any singular foliation on a compact manifold. Namely, it is proved that the Laplacian of a singular foliation is an essentially self-adjoint operator (unbounded) and has the same spectrum in every (faithful) representation, in particular, in L 2 of the manifold and L 2 of a leaf. The author also discusses briefly the relation of the Baum-Connes assembly map with the calculation of the spectrum.

We investigate the differences between an outflow in a highly resistive accretion disc corona, and the results with smaller or vanishing resistivity. For the first time, we determine conditions at the base of a two-dimensional radially self-similar outflow in the regime of very large resistivity. We performed simulations using the PLUTO magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) code, and found three modes of solutions. The first mode, with small resistivity, is similar to the ideal-MHD solutions. In the second mode, with larger resistivity, the geometry of the magnetic field changes, with a `bulge' above the superfast critical surface. At even larger resistivities, the third mode of solutions sets in, in which the magnetic field is no longer collimated, but is pressed towards the disc. This third mode is also the final one: it does not change with further increase of resistivity. These modes describe topological change in a magnetic field above the accretion disc because of the uniform, constant Ohmic resistivity.

We investigate the differences between an outflow in a highly resistive accretion disc corona, and the results with smaller or vanishing resistivity. For the first time, we determine conditions at the base of a two-dimensional radially self-similar outflow in the regime of very large resistivity. We performed simulations using the PLUTO magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) code, and found three modes of solutions. The first mode, with small resistivity, is similar to the ideal-MHD solutions. In the second mode, with larger resistivity, the geometry of the magnetic field changes, with a `bulge' above the superfast critical surface. At even larger resistivities, the third mode of solutions sets in, in which the magnetic field is no longer collimated, but is pressed towards the disc. This third mode is also the final one: it does not change with further increase of resistivity. These modes describe topological change in a magnetic field above the accretion disc because of the uniform, constant Ohmic resistivity.

We present an extension of the layer-multiple-scattering method to photonic crystals of gyrotropic spheres in a homogeneous host medium. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated on specific examples of three-dimensional chiral structures and surfaces of crystals of plasma spheres in an external static uniform magnetic field that lack, simultaneously, time-reversal and space-inversion symmetries, and exhibit a nonreciprocal spectral response.

The dorsiventral, amphistomatic, hairy, summer and winter leaves of Cistuscreticus had a secretory apparatus in which the secreted resinous material was not preserved in a cutinous wrap, as common during excretion in xerophytes, but was directly spread all over the protective trichomes and the leaf surface. Summer and winter leaves differed in trichome function and density, mesophyll structure, and compactness and secondary metabolite accumulation, mainly phenolics, secreted in excess in the mesophyll cells of the summer leaves. In vitro cell cultures may be used for the production of novel compounds from low-cost precursors. © 2014 Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Background: The combination melphalan-prednisone-thalidomide (MPT) is considered a standard therapy for patients with myeloma who are ineligible for stem-cell transplantation. However, emerging data on the use of lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone warrant a prospective comparison of the two approaches. Methods: We randomly assigned 1623 patients to lenalidomide and dexamethasone in 28-day cycles until disease progression (535 patients), to the same combination for 72 weeks (18 cycles; 541 patients), or to MPT for 72 weeks (547 patients). The primary end point was progression-free survival with continuous lenalidomide-dexamethasone versus MPT. Results: The median progression-free survival was 25.5 months with continuous lenalidomide-dexamethasone, 20.7 months with 18 cycles of lenalidomide-dexamethasone, and 21.2 months with MPT (hazard ratio for the risk of progression or death, 0.72 for continuous lenalidomide-dexamethasone vs. MPT and 0.70 for continuous lenalidomide-dexamethasone vs. 18 cycles of lenalidomide-dexamethasone; P<0.001 for both comparisons). Continuous lenalidomide-dexamethasone was superior to MPT for all secondary efficacy end points, including overall survival (at the interim analysis). Overall survival at 4 years was 59% with continuous lenalidomide-dexamethasone, 56% with 18 cycles of lenalidomide-dexamethasone, and 51% with MPT. Grade 3 or 4 adverse events were somewhat less frequent with continuous lenalidomide-dexamethasone than with MPT (70% vs. 78%). As compared with MPT, continuous lenalidomide-dexamethasone was associated with fewer hematologic and neurologic toxic events, a moderate increase in infections, and fewer second primary hematologic cancers. Conclusions: As compared with MPT, continuous lenalidomide-dexamethasone given until disease progression was associated with a significant improvement in progression-free survival, with an overall survival benefit at the interim analysis, among patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who were ineligible for stem-cell transplantation. Copyright © 2014 Massachusetts Medical Society.

The purpose of this pooled analysis was to synthesize all available data so as to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lenalidomide in patients with POEMS syndrome. Eligible articles were identified by a search in MEDLINE and ClinicalTrials.gov databases using a predefined combination. Eligible cases of patients treated in our department were additionally included. Overall, 51 patients were included. The median age of patients was 54.5 years (range: 32-79 years). Lenalidomide was given as first- or second-line treatment in 28.6% and 47.6% of patients, respectively. Hematological responses included complete response in 18.6%, very good partial response in 39.5% and partial response in 37.2% of cases. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) reduction was reported in all cases. Neuropathy improved in 92.0% of cases and stabilized in 8%. The progression-free survival (PFS) estimate at 12 months was 93.9%. Lenalidomide can represent a safe and effective option for the treatment of patients with POEMS. © 2014 Informa UK, Ltd.

La présente étude traite des rapports des étudiants du Département de Langue et de Littérature françaises  (DLLF) de l’Université nationale d’Athènes-Capodistrienne avec la culture et la civilisation françaises. Dès leur inscription à l’université, les étudiants sont en contact avec les particularités de la culture de l’étudiant. Ensuite, durant leur parcours universitaire, ils apprennent la culture et la civilisation française essentiellement à travers les cours dispensés par la section de l’Histoire de la civilisation française du DLLF. Après avoir présenté les traits du comportement et de la manière de vivre des étudiants, nous examinons le profil des étudiants du DLLF. Ensuite nous présentons conformément aux théories des didacticiens les particularités de l’enseignement de la langue étrangère et nous abordons les notions de la culture et de la civilisation. De plus, nous présentons l’enseignement de la culture française aux DLLF localisés à l’étranger et à l’influence exercée par le développement des études culturelles s’attardant surtout sur ceux des pays anglosaxons. Finalement, nous étudions l’enseignement de l’histoire de la civilisation française au DLLF avec la présentation de l’ancien et du nouveau programme d’études qui a introduit de nouveaux cours de civilisation française.

In this issue of Blood, Farr et al showed that patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) have increased cortical bone porosity and reduced bone strength,1 conditions that can lead to the increased fracture risk, which has been reported in MGUS patients. © 2014 by The American Society of Hematology.

Strawberry flavor is one of the most popular fruit flavors worldwide, with numerous applications in the food industry. In addition, the biosynthetic origin of the most important strawberry flavor components, such as 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-2H-furan-3-one (DMHF), is a challenging research area. DMHF's precursor, 2-hydroxy-propanal (or lactaldehyde), is biosynthesized by the endophytic bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens (M. extorquens). In particular, the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymes of M. extorquens are involved in the biogenesis of DMHF precursors since they have the capacity to oxidize the strawberry-derived 1,2-propanediol to lactaldehyde. In this study, the expression of the endophytic ADH and the plant DMHF biosynthesis genes was examined in the tissues of raw and ripe strawberry receptacles by in situ hybridization. The presence of endophytic bacteria was studied in the same tissues by probes targeting bacterial 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid. Hybridization signals of probes specific for endophytic ADH and plant DMHF biosynthesis genes, as well as bacteria-specific probes, were detected in the same locations. The probes were localized near the plasma membranes or intercellular spaces of cortical and vascular tissues of the receptacle, and intracellularly in the tissues of achenes. By localizing the expression of the endophytic methanol ADH and plant DMHF biosynthesis genes to the same tissues, we have reinforced our original hypothesis that an intimate symbiotic relationship between strawberry and endophytic cells exists and leads to the biosynthesis of DMHF.

In this paper we examine the relation of loneliness with psychopathology and psychotherapy. More specifically, first we present interpretations about the long-standing neglect of loneliness by the disciplines of Psychology and Psychiatry. Next, we analyze psychoanalytic and existential views from the clinical field about the associations between loneliness and psychopathology. We focus on narcissistic trauma and incapacity for love, as accompanying aspects of loneliness in many forms of psychopathology. Also, we discuss the role of loneliness in the psychotherapeutic relationship, according to the aforementioned views. Finally, we propose that we should recognize the paradoxical nature of loneliness, which means that this experience has both distressing and beneficial aspects, and that apart from being an inescapable universal condition, it may become an index of psychopathology as well.

Optimal treatment of chronic total occlusions (CTOs) remains one of the major challenges in interventional cardiology. A number of factors, including both patient clinical conditions and technical procedural considerations, have been identified to affect percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) success and long-term outcomes, in large multicenter cohorts as well as smaller patient groups. As opposed to patient-centered factors, technical factors can be managed and as a result, a lot of research aims at improving stent technology and imaging guidance, toward enhancing PCI efficiency, in regards to patient safety.

A large number of prostate cancer (PCa) patients receive treatment without significant benefits, strengthening the need for accurate prognosis, which can be supported by the study of miRNAs. In silico specificity analysis was performed for the identification of miRNAs able to regulate KLK2 and KLK4 expression. Total RNA was extracted from prostate tissues obtained from PCa and benign prostate hyperplasia patients. Thereafter, RNA was polyadenylated and reverse transcribed to cDNA, which was used for qPCR analysis. miR-378 was predicted to target both KLK2 and KLK4 and downregulated levels detected in PCa patients (p=0.050). The reduction of miR-378 was correlated with higher Gleason score (p=0.018), larger diameter tumors (p=0.034), and elevated serum PSA (p=0.006). Regarding prognosis, miR-378 was able to improve risk stratification according to Gleason score or tumor stage, while higher risk to recur highlighted for the patients expressing lower miR-378 levels. Finally, the loss of miR-378 was able to predict the short-term relapse of 'high'- and 'very high'-recurrence-risk patients, independent of Gleason score, tumor stage, PSA, and age as indicated by Kaplan-Meier survival curves (p=0.030) and multivariate Cox regression analysis (p=0.018). In conclusion, loss of miR-378 expression increases the risk for PCa progression and relapse, despite active treatment.

Aim: The mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that plays a key role in cell survival, growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. Because its expression is frequently altered in tumors, MET is currently under investigation as a potential target for anticancer therapy. The purpose of the present study was to determine the prognostic value of tumor MET expression levels in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer, in order to strengthen the rationale for targeted therapy using MET inhibitors in this breast cancer subpopulation. Materials and Methods: We determined the expression of MET in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded surgical specimens of ERand HER2-positive breast cancer by immunohistochemistry. Results: Comparisons of MET expression with clinical parameters, including survival of the patients, were performed with MET expression as a dichotomized variable classified as high or low. Out of 78 tumors, 3 (3.8%) showed high MET expression. The analysis examining the association between MET and survival did not yield any statistically significant result regarding overall survival or disease-free survival. Conclusion: ER- and HER2-positive breast carcinomas do not exhibit high MET expression. This null finding, the first to be reported in the literature, is of great importance, since it indicates that this sub-group population is not proper candidate for clinical trials with MET inhibitors.

The magnetic properties of double wall carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) were investigated using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. An asymmetric resonance line of low intensity was identified and analyzed by the superimposition of a narrow and a broad metallic lineshape, attributed to the distinct contributions of defect spins located on the inner and outer DWCNTs shells. The spin susceptibilities of both ESR components revealed a ferromagnetic phase transition at low temperatures (T<10K) with small variation in the corresponding Curie-Weiss temperatures, approaching closely that of metallic single wall carbon nanotubes. Interlayer coupling between the DWCNT layers is suggested to effectively reduce the difference between the transition temperatures for the inner and outer shells and enhance spin-spin interactions between defect spins via the RKKY-type interaction of localized spins with conduction electrons. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

We report the detection of two M 31 novae as supersoft X-ray sources (SSS) in a recent XMM-Newton target of opportunity (ToO) observation. The 24 ks observation was obtained on 2014-08-09.89 UT to study the SSS emission of nova M31N 2014-02a, previously detected by Swift (ATel #6374).

To establish the effectiveness of interventions for the acute and long-term management of anaphylaxis, seven databases were searched for systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, quasi-randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, controlled before-after studies and interrupted time series and - only in relation to adrenaline - case series investigating the effectiveness of interventions in managing anaphylaxis. Fifty-five studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. We found no robust studies investigating the effectiveness of adrenaline (epinephrine), H1-antihistamines, systemic glucocorticosteroids or methylxanthines to manage anaphylaxis. There was evidence regarding the optimum route, site and dose of administration of adrenaline from trials studying people with a history of anaphylaxis. This suggested that administration of intramuscular adrenaline into the middle of vastus lateralis muscle is the optimum treatment. Furthermore, fatality register studies have suggested that a failure or delay in administration of adrenaline may increase the risk of death. The main long-term management interventions studied were anaphylaxis management plans and allergen-specific immunotherapy. Management plans may reduce the risk of further reactions, but these studies were at high risk of bias. Venom immunotherapy may reduce the incidence of systemic reactions in those with a history of venom-triggered anaphylaxis.

The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between cohesion and its antecedents (match participations, field position and length of team membership). 173 players of Greek amateur leagues participated in the study. They completed the Greek version of the 18-item Group Environment Questionnaire, and also improvised scales for the other variables in the end of the season 2009-2010. The Cronbach alphas of the Group Environment Questionnaire were satisfied for both task and social cohesion. The MANOVA analyses indicated the existence of statistical significant differences on perceptions of cohesion among players with different number of participations, and length of team membership. However, the MANOVA analysis showed that there were not statistical significant differences on perceptions of cohesion among players of different field position. Specifically, players with less participations perceived lower task and social cohesion than players with more participations. Furthermore, players who were members of their team for shorter period perceived lower social cohesion and higher task cohesion than players who were members for longer. Although the no significant results regarding the relationship between cohesion and field position, some trends showed that goalkeepers and attackers perceived the highest cohesion.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine maternal serum concentrations of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and MMP-9/NGAL complex longitudinally in pregnancy, in normal pregnancies, in pregnancies that developed preeclampsia and in pregnancies that delivered a small for gestational age infant (SGA). Methods: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, MMP-9, and MMP-9/NGAL were determined in the first, second, and third trimesters in 33 normal pregnancies, 12 pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia, and 14 pregnancies that delivered a SGA neonate. Results: Median NGAL concentration (ng/mL) in normal pregnancies increased significantly from 12.8 in the first trimester to 25.9 in the second trimester (p=0,002) and 48.0 (p<0.0001) in the third trimester. In preeclamptic pregnancies, NGAL was significantly higher, compared with normal pregnancies, in the first (30.9; p=0.006) and second (44.6; p=0.015) trimesters. MMP-9 and MMP-9/NGAL complex concentrations in preeclamptic pregnancies did not differ significantly from normal pregnancies in either trimester. Pregnancies with an SGA infant did not have different marker concentrations in either trimester, compared with normal pregnancies. Conclusion: Maternal serum NGAL, MMP-9, and MMP-9/NGAL complex concentrations tend to increase during pregnancy in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. NGAL was significantly elevated in the first and second trimesters, in pregnancies that later developed preeclampsia. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

On May 21st , 2013, a large series of small earthquakes initiated a cluster formation, few km to the southeast of the city of Aigion, on the southwestern coast of the Gulf of Corinth in Central Greece. Over the next ten days more than 250 shocks with M<3.4 had been reported and on May 31st a M=3.7 earthquake was strongly felt and was accompanied by more than 100 smaller shocks within a 24 hour period. On July 13th-14th another outburst was reported with the occurrence of four M=3.0-3.5 events, followed by more than 250 earthquakes for the next three days. Thereafter, the activity diminished and terminated in the beginning of August. This unexpected phenomenon alarmed the local citizens because the seismic history of the area involves the occurrence of the great earthquake of 373 B.C, which extinguished the ancient city of Heliki, as described in great detail by Aristotelis in 330 B.C. The recent seismic history of the region has indicated that the Gulf of Corinth produces significantly high strain rates and it is ranked as the 'fastest’ continental rifts in the world and the most seismically active part of the Mediterranean. After the most recent catastrophic earthquake in 1995 with Ms=6.2 to the north of Aigion city, several seismological and geophysical networks have investigated the area and these have provided valuable scientific information concerning the regional seismotectonic regime. Shortly after the initiation of the May 21st, 2013 activity in Aigion, a local network of 10 portable seismographic stations was installed in the area, by the Institute of Geodynamics of the National Observatory of Athens and the Seismological Laboratory of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens. This network has been transmitting real-time data to the Hellenic Unified Seismological Network and recorded about 1000 events significantly improving the detectability of local earthquakes and the associated seismic hazard evaluation. In this study we investigate the dynamics and spatio-temporal characteristics of the sequence.For this purpose we performed relocation of the whole sequence using catalogue and waveform data and an optimized velocity structure, which improved the initial hypocentral solutions by the order of amagnitude. A large number of focal mechanisms was computed using P-wave first motion polarities of the local recordings, implying for shallow E-W normal faulting, compatible with regional tectonics. Furthermore, we employed a scheme involving the temporal frequency-magnitude and stress field distribution aiming to interpret the causative and triggering mechanism of the activity.

Quinones are central intermediates in wine oxidation that can degrade the quality of wine by reactions with varietal thiols, such as 3-sulfanylhexanol, decreasing desirable aroma. Protection by wine preservatives (sulphur dioxide, glutathione, ascorbic acid and model tannin, phloroglucinol) was assessed by competitive sacrificial reactions with 4-methyl-1,2-benzoquinone, quantifying products and ratios by HPLC-UV-MS. Regioselectivity was assessed by product isolation and identification by NMR spectroscopy. Nucleophilic addition reactions compete with two electron reduction of quinones by sulphur dioxide or ascorbic acid, and both routes serve as effective quenching pathways, but minor secondary products from coupled redox reactions between the products and reactants are also observed. The wine preservatives were all highly reactive and thus all very protective against 3-sulfanylhexanol loss to the quinone, but showed only additive antioxidant effects. Confirmation of these reaction rates and pathways in wine is needed to assess the actual protective action of each tested preservative. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quinones are central intermediates in wine oxidation that can degrade the quality of wine by reactions with varietal thiols, such as 3-sulfanylhexanol, decreasing desirable aroma. Protection by wine preservatives (sulphur dioxide, glutathione, ascorbic acid and model tannin, phloroglucinol) was assessed by competitive sacrificial reactions with 4-methyl-1,2-benzoquinone, quantifying products and ratios by HPLC-UV-MS. Regioselectivity was assessed by product isolation and identification by NMR spectroscopy. Nucleophilic addition reactions compete with two electron reduction of quinones by sulphur dioxide or ascorbic acid, and both routes serve as effective quenching pathways, but minor secondary products from coupled redox reactions between the products and reactants are also observed. The wine preservatives were all highly reactive and thus all very protective against 3-sulfanylhexanol loss to the quinone, but showed only additive antioxidant effects. Confirmation of these reaction rates and pathways in wine is needed to assess the actual protective action of each tested preservative.

OBJECTIVE: Adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet (MeDi) may protect against clinical vascular events by reducing atherosclerosis, but data is limited. This is the first observational study of the association between MeDi adherence and carotid plaque thickness and area. METHODS: The study included 1374 participants of the population-based Northern Manhattan Study with diet assessed and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and plaque measured using B-mode ultrasound (mean age 66 ± 9 years, 60% female, 60% Hispanic, 18% White, 19% Black). A MeDi adherence score (range = 0-9, 9 representing maximal adherence) was examined continuously and in quintiles (3/4/5/6-9 vs. 0-2). RESULTS: Mean cIMT = 0.9 ± 0.1 mm and 57% had plaque (median plaque thickness = 1.5 mm, 75th percentile = 2.2; median plaque area = 4.2 mm(2), 75th percentile = 15.8). There was no association between MeDi and cIMT or plaque presence. MeDi adherence was inversely associated with the 75th percentile of plaque thickness and median of plaque area in quantile regression analyses. These associations persisted after controlling for demographics, smoking, physical activity, and total energy consumption (effect of a 1-point increase in MeDi score on the 75th percentile of plaque thickness = -0.049 mm, p = 0.03; median of plaque area = -0.371 mm(2), p = 0.03), and when additionally controlling for vascular disease biomarkers, medication use, BMI, and previous cardiac disease. The protective associations appeared strongest for those with a MeDi score of 5 (4th quintile) vs. 0-2 (bottom quintile). Differential effects of a MeDi on plaque thickness and area across race/ethnic groups was suggested. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate and strict adherence to a MeDi may protect against a higher burden of carotid atherosclerotic plaque, which may mediate the protection against clinical vascular events. Efforts to improve adherence to a MeDi are critical to reducing the burden of atherosclerotic disease.

Ferroelectric materials have attracted much interest due to their wide and important technological applications. Regarding their piezoelectric properties, these materials are evaluated by means of relatively complicate global methods. In this work a comparatively simple and efficient local method for the direct estimation of the d(ij) coefficients is presented. The method is based on conventional optical microscopy (OM) and advanced Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) employed to image the local deformation of a specimen upon variation of a dc electric field. The feasibility and reliability of the method is demonstrated at room temperature in single crystals of (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-xPbTiO(3). Non-homogeneous electromechanical processes are detected. Accordingly, the estimated d(ij) coefficients exhibit a spatial variation over the crystal surface. Except for electro-mechanical systems, the introduced local method could find wide application for the investigation of spatially non-homogeneous properties that possibly exist in relevant magneto-mechanical and thermo-mechanical complex systems. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Geopolitical analysis of a geographical System characterised by an uneven distribution of power is “the geographical method that studies, describes and predicts the attitudes and the consequences ensuing from relations between the opposing and distinct political practices for the redistribution of power as well as their ideological metaphysics, within the framework of the geographical complexes where these practices apply”.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent type of non skin cancer among women and a major leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Western countries. It is substantial to discover novel biomarkers with diagnostic, prognostic or predictive usefulness as well as therapeutic value for BC. Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) belong to a novel class of endogenous interfering RNAs that play a crucial role in post transcriptional gene silencing through mRNA targeting and, thus, are involved in many biological processes encompassing apoptosis, cell-cycle control, cell proliferation, DNA repair, immunity, metabolism, stress, aging, etc. MiRNAs exert their action mainly in a tumor suppressive or oncogenic manner. The specific aberrant expression patterns of miRNAs in BC that are detected with the use of high-throughput technologies reflect their key role in cancer initiation, progression, migration, invasion and metastasis. The detection of circulating extracellular miRNAs in plasma of BC patients may provide novel, non-invasive biomarkers in favor of BC diagnosis and prognosis and, at the same time, accumulating evidence has underscored the possible contribution of miRNAs as valuable biomarkers to predict response to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Data from in vitro and in vivo studies on BC have revealed promising therapeutic approaches via miRNA delivery and miRNA inhibition. The purpose of this review is to explore the ontological role of miRNAs in BC etiopathogenesis as well as to highlight their potential, not only as non-invasive circulating biomarkers with diagnostic and prognostic significance, but also as treatment response predictors and therapeutic targets aiding BC management.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as potent modulators of mammalian gene expression, thereby broadening the spectrum of molecular mechanisms orchestrating human physiological and pathological cellular functions. Growing evidence suggests that these small non-coding RNA molecules are pivotal regulators of cardiovascular development and disease. Importantly, multiple miRNAs have been specifically implicated in the onset and progression of heart failure, thus providing a new platform for battling this multi-faceted disease. This review introduces the basic concepts of miRNA biology, describes representative examples of miRNAs associated with multiple aspects of HF pathogenesis, and explores the prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic potential of miRNAs in the cardiology clinic.

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles and their proper function is crucial for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy are two pathways that regulate mitochondrial content and metabolism preserving homeostasis. The tight regulation between these opposing processes is essential for cellular adaptation in response to cellular metabolic state, stress and other intracellular or environmental signals. Interestingly, imbalance between mitochondrial proliferation and degradation process results in progressive development of numerous pathologic conditions. Here we review recent studies that highlight the intricate interplay between mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy, mainly focusing on the molecular mechanisms that govern the coordination of these processes and their involvement in age-related pathologies and ageing.

Free radicals originate from both exogenous environmental sources and as by-products of the respiratory chain and cellular oxygen metabolism. Sustained accumulation of free radicals, beyond a physiological level, induces oxidative stress that is harmful for the cellular homeodynamics as it promotes the oxidative damage and stochastic modification of all cellular biomolecules including proteins. In relation to proteome stability and maintenance, the increased concentration of oxidants disrupts the functionality of cellular protein machines resulting eventually in proteotoxic stress and the deregulation of the proteostasis (homeostasis of the proteome) network (PN). PN curates the proteome in the various cellular compartments and the extracellular milieu by modulating protein synthesis and protein machines assembly, protein recycling and stress responses, as well as refolding or degradation of damaged proteins. Molecular chaperones are key players of the PN since they facilitate folding of nascent polypeptides, as well as holding, folding, and/or degradation of unfolded, misfolded, or non-native proteins. Therefore, the expression and the activity of the molecular chaperones are tightly regulated at both the transcriptional and post-translational level at organismal states of increased oxidative and, consequently, proteotoxic stress, including ageing and various age-related diseases (e.g. degenerative diseases and cancer). In the current review we present a synopsis of the various classes of intra- and extracellular chaperones, the effects of oxidants on cellular homeodynamics and diseases and the redox regulation of chaperones. © 2014 The Authors.

Allergy to banana fruit appears to have become an important cause of fruit allergy in Europe. Among five allergens that have been found, beta-1,3-glucanase denoted as Mus a 5 was identified as a candidate allergen for the component-resolved allergy diagnosis of banana allergy. Because of the variations in protein levels in banana fruit, in this study Mus a 5 was produced as a fusion protein with glutathione-S-transferase in Escherichia coli. The recombinant Mus a 5 was purified under native conditions by a combination of affinity, ion-exchange, and reversed phase chromatography. N-terminal sequence was confirmed by Edman degradation and 55 % of the primary structure was identified by mass fingerprint, while the secondary structure was assessed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. IgG reactivity of recombinant protein was shown in 2-D immunoblot with anti-Mus a 5 antibodies, while IgG and IgE binding to natural Mus a 5 was inhibited with the recombinant Mus a 5 in immunoblot inhibition test. IgE reactivity of recombinant Mus a 5 was shown in ELISA within a group of ten persons sensitized to banana fruit. Recombinant Mus a 5 is a novel reagent suitable for the component-resolved allergy diagnosis of banana allergy.

In this paper we deal with a case scenario for the general geological setting and the morphotectonic evolution of the delta plain of Pineios River (Thessalia, Greece) and its margins. This work is based on the interpretation of geological and geomorphological data derived from (a) digitizing topographic map sheets of scale 1:5,000, (b) digital interpretation of recently acquired high spatial and spectral resolution satellite image, (c) tectonic geomorphology analysis, (d) field observations and (e) geophysical investigation. The fluvial deposits cover the largest part of the delta plain, whilst the coastal deposits crop out along the entire coastal zone. The remnants of a Pleistocene alluvial fan is observed in the western part of the delta plain and lies unconformably on Neogene formations comprised of sandstones, conglomerates and terra rossa. The alpine basement outcrops are found only at the southern and northern margins of the delta plain and include various lithologies such as crystalline limestones and metamorphic flysch (Ossa-Olympos unit), blue schists, gneisses and marbles (Ambelakia unit), metamorphic basic ophiolitic rocks and marbles (Pelagonian unit). The Neogene formations have undergone intense tectonic deformation resulting in several block rotations reaching the values of 10-30ο , towards south. The NW dipping normal fault zone located south of Omolio village strikes WSW-ENE and seems to play a significant role in the rotation of the Neogene formations. It is rather clear that the activity of this fault zone is highly related to the uplift of Ossa Mt along the southern margin of the delta plain and consequently to the development of extensional fractures (scarps) developed normally to the fault zone. These scarps are not tectonic faults and were created primarily by gravitational stresses. These structures have caused the segmentation of the uplifted block into smaller blocks, which were subsequently toppled. These large-scale toppling phenomena at the northwestern slopes of Ossa Mt have caused large gaps in the alpine basement rocks. These gaps have acted as selective surface water flow paths that have shaped impressive gorges. Pineios River found a new outlet to the Aegean Sea through the westernmost of the gorges, the Tempi gorge. It seems to have happened after the overall tectonic uplift of Olympos-Ossa-Pelion mountain range and the paleo-Pineios River flow blocking at the area south of Ossa Mt. Immediately after the aforementioned process, the area extending east of Tempi gorge began to evolve as the delta plain of Pineios River resulting in the progressive natural seaward shift of the shoreline due to the accumulation of Pineios fluvial deposits.

{This study investigated the effects of short-term eccentric exercise training using a custom-made isokinetic leg press device, on concentric and eccentric strength and explosiveness as well as jumping performance. Nineteen healthy males were divided into an eccentric (ECC

{This study investigated the effects of short-term eccentric exercise training using a custom-made isokinetic leg press device, on concentric and eccentric strength and explosiveness as well as jumping performance. Nineteen healthy males were divided into an eccentric (ECC

We present an extended version of the layer-multiple-scattering method, which is ideally suited for the study of photonic crystals of different kinds of particles, encompassing homogeneous and multicoated chiral and nonchiral spheres, gyrotropic spheres, as well as homogeneous nonspherical particles. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated on specific examples of planar magnetoplasmonic nanostructures that lack, simultaneously, time-reversal and space-inversion symmetries. Nonreciprocal transport of light at the (001) surface of a semi-infinite face centered cubic (fcc) crystal of plasma nanospheres under the action of an external, in-plane, static magnetic field and of surface plasmon polaritons at the surface of a plasmonic material coated with an overlayer of magnetized garnet nanospheres is demonstrated in the Voigt geometry.

Muscle lim protein (MLP) has emerged as a critical regulator of striated muscle physiology and pathophysiology. Mutations in cysteine and glycine-rich protein 3 (CSRP3), the gene encoding MLP, have been directly associated with human cardiomyopathies, whereas aberrant expression patterns are reported in human cardiac and skeletal muscle diseases. Increasing evidence suggests that MLP has an important role in both myogenic differentiation and myocyte cytoarchitecture, although the full spectrum of its intracellular roles has not been delineated. We report the discovery of an alternative splice variant of MLP, designated as MLP-b, showing distinct expression in neuromuscular disease and direct roles in actin dynamics and muscle differentiation. This novel isoform originates by alternative splicing of exons 3 and 4. At the protein level, it contains the N-terminus first half LIM domain of MLP and a unique sequence of 22 amino acids. Physiologically, it is expressed during early differentiation, whereas its overexpression reduces C2C12 differentiation and myotube formation. This may be mediated through its inhibition of MLP/cofilin-2-mediated F-actin dynamics. In differentiated striated muscles, MLP-b localizes to the sarcomeres and binds directly to Z-disc components, including alpha-actinin, T-cap and MLP. The findings of the present study unveil a novel player in muscle physiology and pathophysiology that is implicated in myogenesis as a negative regulator of myotube formation, as well as in differentiated striated muscles as a contributor to sarcomeric integrity.

Muscle lim protein (MLP) has emerged as a critical regulator of striated muscle physiology and pathophysiology. Mutations in cysteine and glycine-rich protein 3 (CSRP3), the gene encoding MLP, have been directly associated with human cardiomyopathies, whereas aberrant expression patterns are reported in human cardiac and skeletal muscle diseases. Increasing evidence suggests that MLP has an important role in both myogenic differentiation and myocyte cytoarchitecture, although the full spectrum of its intracellular roles has not been delineated. We report the discovery of an alternative splice variant of MLP, designated as MLP-b, showing distinct expression in neuromuscular disease and direct roles in actin dynamics and muscle differentiation. This novel isoform originates by alternative splicing of exons 3 and 4. At the protein level, it contains the N-terminus first half LIM domain of MLP and a unique sequence of 22 amino acids. Physiologically, it is expressed during early differentiation, whereas its overexpression reduces C2C12 differentiation and myotube formation. This may be mediated through its inhibition of MLP/cofilin-2-mediated F-actin dynamics. In differentiated striated muscles, MLP-b localizes to the sarcomeres and binds directly to Z-disc components, including α-actinin, T-cap and MLP. The findings of the present study unveil a novel player in muscle physiology and pathophysiology that is implicated in myogenesis as a negative regulator of myotube formation, as well as in differentiated striated muscles as a contributor to sarcomeric integrity.

BACKGROUND: The ability to predict the length of time to death and institutionalization has strong implications for Alzheimer's disease patients and caregivers, health policy, economics, and the design of intervention studies. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a prediction algorithm that uses data from a single visit to estimate time to important disease endpoints for individual Alzheimer's disease patients. METHOD: Two separate study cohorts (Predictors 1, N = 252; Predictors 2, N = 254), all initially with mild Alzheimer's disease, were followed for 10 years at three research centers with semiannual assessments that included cognition, functional capacity, and medical, psychiatric, and neurologic information. The prediction algorithm was based on a longitudinal Grade of Membership model developed using the complete series of semiannually-collected Predictors 1 data. The algorithm was validated on the Predictors 2 data using data only from the initial assessment to predict separate survival curves for three outcomes. RESULTS: For each of the three outcome measures, the predicted survival curves fell well within the 95% confidence intervals of the observed survival curves. Patients were also divided into quintiles for each endpoint to assess the calibration of the algorithm for extreme patient profiles. In all cases, the actual and predicted survival curves were statistically equivalent. Predictive accuracy was maintained even when key baseline variables were excluded, demonstrating the high resilience of the algorithm to missing data. CONCLUSION: The new prediction algorithm accurately predicts time to death, institutionalization, and need for full-time care in individual Alzheimer's disease patients; it can be readily adapted to predict other important disease endpoints. The algorithm will serve an unmet clinical, research, and public health need.

Treatment in medical oncology is gradually shifting from the use of nonspecific chemotherapeutic agents toward an era of novel targeted therapy in which drugs and their combinations target specific aspects of the biology of tumor cells. Multiple myeloma (MM) has become one of the best examples in this regard, reflected in the identification of new pathogenic mechanisms, together with the development of novel drugs that are being explored from the preclinical setting to the early phases of clinical development. We review the biological rationale for the use of the most important new agents for treating MM and summarize their clinical activity in an increasingly busy field. First, we discuss data from already approved and active agents (including second- and third-generation proteasome inhibitors (PIs), immunomodulatory agents and alkylators). Next, we focus on agents with novel mechanisms of action, such as monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), cell cycle-specific drugs, deacetylase inhibitors, agents acting on the unfolded protein response, signaling transduction pathway inhibitors and kinase inhibitors. Among this plethora of new agents or mechanisms, some are specially promising: anti-CD38 MoAb, such as daratumumab, are the first antibodies with clinical activity as single agents in MM. Moreover, the kinesin spindle protein inhibitor Arry-520 is effective in monotherapy as well as in combination with dexamethasone in heavily pretreated patients. Immunotherapy against MM is also being explored, and probably the most attractive example of this approach is the combination of the anti-CS1 MoAb elotuzumab with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, which has produced exciting results in the relapsed/refractory setting. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited.

The Elefsis Bay is a typical coastal setting characterized by a semi-closed shallow environment with intense anthropogenic activity. This study describes a peculiar low cell density and species poor late-winter coccolithophore assemblages from Elefsis Bay compared to those from further offshore of the Aegean Sea. Helicosphaera carteri contributes significantly to the assemblage inside the Elefsis Bay and together with Emiliania huxleyi both represent the dominant component of the calcareous nannoplankton. Water column data confirmed the opportunistic behavior of H. carteri, thus providing new evidence for the ecology of the species. It is suggested that an increase in this species can be associated with distinct pollution in neritic environments. 

The effectiveness of radiotherapy in patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has been already reported in the literature. However, there is little information about the irradiation of BCC in elderly patients, especially due to the low conformity of them to daily irradiation. Thirty-eight retrospectively selected elderly patients (78 years as median age) diagnosed with skin BCC of the head and neck area were treated with five weekly fractions of 600 cGy by three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) as an adjuvant treatment. The primary endpoint was the relapse free survival. Acute toxicity, as secondary endpoint, was assessed according to EORTC/RTOG criteria. Among our patients, there were only three local recurrences at 15, 32 and 38 months post-3DCRT. There was no severe toxicity, while only 10 out of 38 patients presented grade II/III skin toxicity. Our proposed irradiation schedule seems effective in terms of local control and acute toxicity and could be an alternative scheme for elderly patients unfit for daily irradiation.

The Collective Article ‘New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records’ of the Mediterranean Marine Science journal offers the means to publish biodiversity records in the Mediterranean Sea. The current article is divided in two parts, for records of alien and native species respectively. The new records of alien species include: the red alga Asparagopsis taxiformis (Crete and Lakonikos Gulf, Greece); the red alga Grateloupia turuturu (along the Israeli Mediterranean shore); the mantis shrimp Clorida albolitura (Gulf of Antalya, Turkey); the mud crab Dyspanopeus sayi (Mar Piccolo of Taranto, Ionian Sea); the blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Chios Island, Greece); the isopod Paracerceis sculpta (northern Aegean Sea, Greece); the sea urchin Diadema setosum (Gökova Bay, Turkey); the molluscs Smaragdia souverbiana, Murex forskoehlii, Fusinus verrucosus, Circenita callipyga, and Aplysia dactylomela (Syria); the cephalaspidean mollusc Haminoea cyanomarginata (Baia di Puolo, Massa Lubrense, Campania, southern Italy); the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva (Civitavecchia, Tyrrhenian Sea); the fangtooth moray Enchelycore anatine (Plemmirio marine reserve, Sicily); the silver-cheeked toadfish Lagocephalus sceleratus (Saros Bay, Turkey; and Ibiza channel, Spain); the Indo-Pacific ascidian Herdmania momus in Kastelorizo Island (Greece); and the foraminiferal Clavulina multicamerata (Saronikos Gulf, Greece). The record of L. sceleratus in Spain consists the deepest (350-400m depth) record of the species in the Mediterranean Sea. The new records of native species include: first record of the ctenophore Cestum veneris in Turkish marine waters; the presence of Holothuria tubulosa and Holothuria polii in the Bay of Igoumenitsa (Greece); the first recorded sighting of the bull ray Pteromylaeus bovinus in Maltese waters; and a new record of the fish Lobotes surinamensis from Maliakos Gulf.

ΚΑΝΟΝ ΧΧΙΙ, Jahrbuch der Gesellschaft fur das Recht der Ostkirchen, Partilularrecht. ed. Roman Kovar, Hennef 2014

The Notch signaling pathway controls cell fates through interactions between neighboring cells by positively or negatively affecting the processes of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in a context-dependent manner. This pathway has been implicated in human cancer as both an oncogene and a tumor suppressor. Here we report new inactivating mutations in Notch pathway components in over 40% of human bladder cancers examined. Bladder cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed malignancy in the male population of the United States. Thus far, driver mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) and, less commonly, in RAS proteins have been identified. We show that Notch activation in bladder cancer cells suppresses proliferation both in vitro and in vivo by directly upregulating dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs), thus reducing the phosphorylation of ERK1 and ERK2 (ERK1/2). In mouse models, genetic inactivation of Notch signaling leads to Erk1/2 phosphorylation, resulting in tumorigenesis in the urinary tract. Collectively our findings show that loss of Notch activity is a driving event in urothelial cancer.

The purpose of the present work is to develop a non-binary biopharmaceutical classification system the so called AB Gamma system. The original mathematical model used for the development of BCS, appropriately modified, was applied to estimate the limiting values of drug solubility and permeability when the fraction of dose absorbed, Fa, was 0.90 or 0.20. The AB Gamma system is based on the fraction of dose absorbed and relies on permeability, solubility plane. The first category (A, alpha) includes drugs with Fa = 0.90, whereas the B (beta) category consists of drugs with Fa = 0.20. The area lying between the two boundaries of A and B defines the third category (gamma), Gamma, (0.20 < Fa < 0.90). For comparative purposes, the BCS classes I-IV were co-plotted together with the AB Gamma system. Most of the BCS classes II and III are included in category Gamma which mainly consists of drugs with properties like moderate or low solubility and permeability. Due to the dynamic character of dissolution and uptake processes, category A is expanded toward BCS Class II. The AB Gamma system allows the classification of all compounds into three categories (A, B, Gamma) in terms of the fraction of dose absorbed. (C) 2014 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

It is shown that a planar defect in the stacking sequence of an all-dielectric photonic crystal of garnet spheres supports localized optical guided modes, which originate from Mie resonances of the individual spheres. If the defect breaks space-inversion symmetry and the garnet particles are magnetized inplane, nonreciprocal and lossless transport of light on the defect plane, expected on the basis of group theory in the Voigt–Cotton–Mouton configuration, is demonstrated in ultrathin films of the defect crystal by means of full electrodynamic calculations using the layer-multiple-scattering method properly extended to photonic crystals of gyrotropic spheres.

Novae are the major class of supersoft X-ray sources (SSSs) in the central region of our neighbouring galaxy Andromeda (M31). From 2006 until 2012 we carried out a dedicated monitoring of the M31 central region with XMM-Newton and Chandra that was specifically designed to detect and characterise SSS states of novae. Only X-ray observations allow us to observe the hot post-nova white dwarf directly and study its physics. Here, I present new results based on an updated catalogue of 79 novae with SSS counterparts, which is by far the largest sample known in any galaxy, to date. Global trends and correlations were established between various multiwavelength nova parameters and there appear to be significant deviations from current models of Galactic novae. Furthermore, there is evidence for different X-ray parameters of sub-samples associated with the M31 bulge and disk, although the question whether both populations are inherently different is far from resolved. The sample contains several remarkable individual novae and I will discuss their peculiarities and importance. The X-ray monitoring of large, homogeneous samples of extragalactic novae is shown to be a powerful tool to study nova populations and the dependence of their observable characteristics on the underlying stellar population.

Tornadoes have been reported in Greece over recent decades in specific sub-geographical areas and have been associated with strong synoptic forcing. While it has been established that meteorological conditions over Greece are affected at various scales by the significant variability of topography, the Ionian Sea to the west and the Aegean Sea to the east, there is still uncertainty regarding topography's importance on tornadic generation and development. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of topography in significant tornadogenesis events that were triggered under strong synoptic scale forcing over Greece. Three tornado events that occurred over the last years in Thebes (Boeotia, 17 November 2007), Vrastema (Chalkidiki, 12 February 2010) and Vlychos (Lefkada, 20 September 2011) were selected for numerical experiments. These events were associated with synoptic scale forcing, while their intensities were T4-T5 (on the TORRO scale), causing significant damage. The simulations were performed using the non-hydrostatic weather research and forecasting model (WRF), initialized by European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) gridded analyses, with telescoping nested grids that allow for the representation of atmospheric circulations ranging from the synoptic scale down to the mesoscale. In the experiments, the topography of the inner grid was modified by: (a) 0% (actual topography) and (b)-100% (without topography), making an effort to determine whether the occurrence of tornadoes-mainly identified by various severe weather instability indices-could be indicated by modifying topography. The principal instability variables employed consisted of the bulk Richardson number (BRN) shear, the energy helicity index (EHI), the storm-relative environmental helicity (SRH), and the maximum convective available potential energy (MCAPE, for parcels with maximum (θe). Additionally, a model verification was conducted for every sensitivity experiment accompanied by analysis of the absolute vorticity budget. Numerical simulations revealed that the complex topography constituted an important factor during the 17 November 2007 and 12 February 2010 events, based on EHI, SRH, BRN, and MCAPE analyses. Conversely, topography around the 20 September 2011 event was characterized as the least significant factor based on EHI, SRH, BRN, and MCAPE analyses. © 2014 Author(s).

BACKGROUND: Austerity measures and health-system redesign to minimise hospital expenditures risk adversely affecting patient outcomes. The RN4CAST study was designed to inform decision making about nursing, one of the largest components of hospital operating expenses. We aimed to assess whether differences in patient to nurse ratios and nurses' educational qualifications in nine of the 12 RN4CAST countries with similar patient discharge data were associated with variation in hospital mortality after common surgical procedures. METHODS: For this observational study, we obtained discharge data for 422,730 patients aged 50 years or older who underwent common surgeries in 300 hospitals in nine European countries. Administrative data were coded with a standard protocol (variants of the ninth or tenth versions of the International Classification of Diseases) to estimate 30 day in-hospital mortality by use of risk adjustment measures including age, sex, admission type, 43 dummy variables suggesting surgery type, and 17 dummy variables suggesting comorbidities present at admission. Surveys of 26,516 nurses practising in study hospitals were used to measure nurse staffing and nurse education. We used generalised estimating equations to assess the effects of nursing factors on the likelihood of surgical patients dying within 30 days of admission, before and after adjusting for other hospital and patient characteristics. FINDINGS: An increase in a nurses' workload by one patient increased the likelihood of an inpatient dying within 30 days of admission by 7% (odds ratio 1·068, 95% CI 1·031-1·106), and every 10% increase in bachelor's degree nurses was associated with a decrease in this likelihood by 7% (0·929, 0·886-0·973). These associations imply that patients in hospitals in which 60% of nurses had bachelor's degrees and nurses cared for an average of six patients would have almost 30% lower mortality than patients in hospitals in which only 30% of nurses had bachelor's degrees and nurses cared for an average of eight patients. INTERPRETATION: Nurse staffing cuts to save money might adversely affect patient outcomes. An increased emphasis on bachelor's education for nurses could reduce preventable hospital deaths. FUNDING: European Union's Seventh Framework Programme, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, the Norwegian Nurses Organisation and the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, Swedish Association of Health Professionals, the regional agreement on medical training and clinical research between Stockholm County Council and Karolinska Institutet, Committee for Health and Caring Sciences and Strategic Research Program in Care Sciences at Karolinska Institutet, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.

BACKGROUND: Despite concerns as to whether nurses can perform reliably and effectively when working longer shifts, a pattern of two 12- to 13-hour shifts per day is becoming common in many hospitals to reduce shift to shift handovers, staffing overlap, and hence costs. OBJECTIVES: To describe shift patterns of European nurses and investigate whether shift length and working beyond contracted hours (overtime) is associated with nurse-reported care quality, safety, and care left undone. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of 31,627 registered nurses in general medical/surgical units within 488 hospitals across 12 European countries. RESULTS: A total of 50% of nurses worked shifts of ≤ 8 hours, but 15% worked ≥ 12 hours. Typical shift length varied between countries and within some countries. Nurses working for ≥ 12 hours were more likely to report poor or failing patient safety [odds ratio (OR)=1.41; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13-1.76], poor/fair quality of care (OR=1.30; 95% CI, 1.10-1.53), and more care activities left undone (RR=1.13; 95% CI, 1.09-1.16). Working overtime was also associated with reports of poor or failing patient safety (OR=1.67; 95% CI, 1.51-1.86), poor/fair quality of care (OR=1.32; 95% CI, 1.23-1.42), and more care left undone (RR=1.29; 95% CI, 1.27-1.31). CONCLUSIONS: European registered nurses working shifts of ≥ 12 hours and those working overtime report lower quality and safety and more care left undone. Policies to adopt a 12-hour nursing shift pattern should proceed with caution. Use of overtime working to mitigate staffing shortages or increase flexibility may also incur additional risk to quality.

The purpose of this study is register the opinion of nurses on the compatibility of the Nursing Information System with the provision of nursing care, and the ease of learning of the subsystem. This paper is an empirical study that was conducted using a questionnaire in Cancer and Oncology Hospital "Agios Savvas". Specifically, 121 nurses (108 women and 13 men) of all education levels participated in the survey. According to user responses, 86% agreed partially that the subsystem was easy to learn, and 40.5 % of this 86% believe that the clinical subsystem adequately supports nursing care, mainly engaged in designing the necessary processes, and followed by reducing errors. In conclusion, we can consider that the use of information systems in nursing is important for improving clinical practice and quality of patient care.

Oleuropein is a bioactive natural product from olives known to display a broad variety of health beneficial properties. However its presence in most edible olives is lowered due to debittering. In this respect, we envisaged the incorporation of oleuropein into dairy products (cow’s milk and yogurt) aiming to produce novel functional foods. Additionally, an analytical method for the monitoring of oleuropein in milk and yogurt was also developed and validated. Oleuropein was not affected during heat treatment of milk, while during the milk fermentation process it was not hydrolysed by the produced acids. Oleuropein was not metabolised by lactic acid bacteria, did not inhibit their growth and its stability in the final products was proven. The novel products displayed same taste, colour and texture as the conventional ones. Results herein indicate that oleuropein can be added as an active ingredient in milk and yogurt preparations to provide two novel functional dairy products. © 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Oleuropein is a bioactive natural product from olives known to display a broad variety of health beneficial properties. However its presence in most edible olives is lowered due to debittering. In this respect, we envisaged the incorporation of oleuropein into dairy products (cow’s milk and yogurt) aiming to produce novel functional foods. Additionally, an analytical method for the monitoring of oleuropein in milk and yogurt was also developed and validated. Oleuropein was not affected during heat treatment of milk, while during the milk fermentation process it was not hydrolysed by the produced acids. Oleuropein was not metabolised by lactic acid bacteria, did not inhibit their growth and its stability in the final products was proven. The novel products displayed same taste, colour and texture as the conventional ones. Results herein indicate that oleuropein can be added as an active ingredient in milk and yogurt preparations to provide two novel functional dairy products.

Aims: We investigate the role of the second synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) photon generation to the multiwavelength emission from the compact regions of sources that are characterized as misaligned blazars. For this, we focus on the nearest high-energy emitting radio galaxy Centaurus A and we revisit the one-zone SSC model for its core emission. Methods: We have calculated analytically the peak luminosities of the first and second SSC components by first deriving the steady-state electron distribution in the presence of synchrotron and SSC cooling, and then by using appropriate expressions for the positions of the spectral peaks. We have also tested our analytical results against those derived from a numerical code where the full emissivities and cross-sections were used. Results: We show that the one-zone SSC model cannot account for the core emission of Centaurus A above a few GeV, where the peak of the second SSC component appears. We thus propose an alternative explanation for the origin of the high-energy (≳0.4 GeV) and TeV emission, where these are attributed to the radiation emitted by a relativistic proton component through photohadronic interactions with the photons produced by the primary leptonic component. We show that the required proton luminosities are not extremely high, i.e. ~1043 erg/s, provided that the injection spectra are modelled by a power law with a high value of the lower energy cutoff. Finally, we find that the contribution of the core emitting region of Cen A to the observed neutrino and ultra-high-energy cosmic-ray fluxes is negligible.

Aims: We investigate the role of the second synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) photon generation to the multiwavelength emission from the compact regions of sources that are characterized as misaligned blazars. For this, we focus on the nearest high-energy emitting radio galaxy Centaurus A and we revisit the one-zone SSC model for its core emission. Methods: We have calculated analytically the peak luminosities of the first and second SSC components by first deriving the steady-state electron distribution in the presence of synchrotron and SSC cooling, and then by using appropriate expressions for the positions of the spectral peaks. We have also tested our analytical results against those derived from a numerical code where the full emissivities and cross-sections were used. Results: We show that the one-zone SSC model cannot account for the core emission of Centaurus A above a few GeV, where the peak of the second SSC component appears. We thus propose an alternative explanation for the origin of the high-energy (≳0.4 GeV) and TeV emission, where these are attributed to the radiation emitted by a relativistic proton component through photohadronic interactions with the photons produced by the primary leptonic component. We show that the required proton luminosities are not extremely high, i.e. ~1043 erg/s, provided that the injection spectra are modelled by a power law with a high value of the lower energy cutoff. Finally, we find that the contribution of the core emitting region of Cen A to the observed neutrino and ultra-high-energy cosmic-ray fluxes is negligible.

The following paper presents a scientific contribution that explores the clinicians' use of online information retrieval systems for their clinical decision making. Particularly, the research focuses on the ability of doctors and nurses in seeking information through MEDLINE and ScienceDirect. The research process took place by an electronic form consisted of five clinical scenarios and an evaluation sheet. The results testify that only a small percent of clinicians use the recommended electronic bibliographic databasesand take the right clinical decision to the scenarios. Health professionals have to be educated in information searching and take advantage from the provided literature taking more useful and reliable answers on their clinical questions.

BACKGROUND: Patterns of health-care use and comorbidities present in patients in the period before diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are unknown. We investigated these factors to inform future case-finding strategies. METHODS: We did a retrospective analysis of a clinical cohort in the UK with data from Jan 1, 1990 to Dec 31, 2009 (General Practice Research Database and Optimum Patient Care Research Database). We assessed patients aged 40 years or older who had an electronically coded diagnosis of COPD in their primary care records and had a minimum of 3 years of continuous practice data for COPD (2 years before diagnosis up to a maximum of 20 years, and 1 year after diagnosis) and at least two prescriptions for COPD since diagnosis. We identified missed opportunites to diagnose COPD from routinely collected patient data by reviewing patterns of health-care use and comorbidities present before diagnosis. We assessed patterns of health-care use in terms of lower respiratory consultations (infective and non-infective), lower respiratory consultations with a course of antibiotics or oral steroids, and chest radiography. If these events did not lead to a diagnosis of COPD, they were deemed to be missed opportunities. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01655667. FINDINGS: We assessed data for 38,859 patients. Opportunities for diagnosis were missed in 32,900 (85%) of 38,859 patients in the 5 years immediately preceding diagnosis of COPD; in 12,856 (58%) of 22,286 in the 6-10 years before diagnosis, in 3943 (42%) of 9351 in the 11-15 years before diagnosis; and in 95 (8%) of 1167 in the 16-20 years before diagnosis. Between 1990 and 2009, we noted decreases in the age at diagnosis (0·05 years of age per year, 95% CI 0·03-0·07) and yearly frequency of lower respiratory prescribing consultations (rate ratio 0·982 opportunities per year, 95% CI 0·979-0·985). Prevalence of all comorbidities present at COPD diagnosis increased except for asthma and bronchiectasis, which decreased between 1990 and 2007, from 281 (33·4%) of 842 patients to 451 of 1465 (30·8%) for asthma, and from 53 of 842 (6·3%) to 53 of 1465 (3·6%) for bronchiectasis. In the 2 years before diagnosis, of 6897 patients who had had a chest radiography, only 2296 (33%) also had spirometry. INTERPRETATION: Opportunities to diagnose COPD at an earlier stage are being missed, and could be improved by case-finding in patients with lower respiratory tract symptoms and concordant long-term comorbidities. FUNDING: UK Department of Health, Research in Real Life.

The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is well known to harbour a large number of high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs). The identification of their optical counterparts provides information on the nature of the donor stars and can help to constrain the parameters of these systems and their evolution. We obtained optical spectra for a number of HMXBs identified in previous Chandra and XMM-Newton surveys of the SMC using the AAOmega/2dF fibre-fed spectrograph at the Anglo-Australian Telescope. We find five new Be/X-ray binaries (BeXRBs; including a tentative one), by identifying the spectral type of their optical counterparts, and we confirm the spectral classification of an additional 15 known BeXRBs. We compared the spectral types, orbital periods and eccentricities of the BeXRB populations in the SMC and the Milky Way and we find marginal evidence for difference between the spectral type distributions, but no statistically significant differences for the orbital periods and the eccentricities. Moreover, our search revealed that the well-known supergiant B[e] star LHA 115-S 18 (or AzV 154) is associated with the weak X-ray source CXOU J005409.57-724143.5. We provide evidence that the supergiant star LHA 115-S 18 is the optical counterpart of the X-ray source, and we discuss different possibilities of the origin of its low X-ray luminosity (Lx ∼ 4 × 1033 erg s-1).

Although loneliness as a distinct entity has been relatively neglected by psychoanalysts, it is in the domain of psychoanalysis that solitude, as a state of being alone, has long ago been described as a fundamental human experience and has been ascribed a plethora of meanings. In this chapter, various psychoanalytic views on the origins of this type of solitude and its developmental course during the first years of life are discussed and evaluated, organized around four dimensions: the fear of solitude and separation anxiety, the solitary self, the ability to be alone and the necessity of being alone, as well as the companionable nature of solitude. Next, a brief overview of existing research, some of which was conducted by psychoanalysts, revealing aspects of aloneness experience early in life, is presented. Finally, conclusions and future directions centre around the paradoxical nature of solitude from the beginning of life.

Solar proton flux measurements onboard Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) are of great importance as they cover several solar cycles, increasingly contributing to the development of long-term solar proton models and to operational purposes such as now-casting and forecasting of space weather. A novel approach for the cross calibration of GOES solar proton detectors is developed using as reference energetic solar proton flux measurements of NASA IMP-8 Goddard Medium Energy Experiment (GME). The spurious behavior in a part of IMP-8/GME measurements is reduced through the derivation of a nonlinear intercalibration function. The effective energy values of GOES solar proton detectors lead to a significant reduction of the uncertainties in spectra and may be used to refine existing scientific results, available models, and data products based on measurements over the last three decades. The methods presented herein are generic and may be used for calibration processes of other data sets as well.

Background: Panobinostat is a potent oral pan-deacetylase inhibitor that in preclinical studies has synergistic anti-myeloma activity when combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone. We aimed to compare panobinostat, bortezomib, and dexamethasone with placebo, bortezomib, and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Methods: PANORAMA1 is a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase 3 trial of patients with relapsed or relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have received between one and three previous treatment regimens. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) via an interactive web-based and voice response system, stratified by number of previous treatment lines and by previous use of bortezomib, to receive 21 day cycles of placebo or panobinostat (20 mg; on days 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, orally), both in combination with bortezomib (1·3 mg/m2 on days 1, 4, 8, 11, intravenously) and dexamethasone (20 mg on days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, orally). Patients, physicians, and the investigators who did the data analysis were masked to treatment allocation; crossover was not permitted. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (in accordance with modified European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation criteria and based on investigators' assessment) and was analysed by intention to treat. The study is ongoing, but no longer recruiting, and is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01023308. Findings: 768 patients were enrolled between Jan 21, 2010, and Feb 29, 2012, with 387 randomly assigned to panobinostat, bortezomib, and dexamethasone and 381 to placebo, bortezomib, and dexamethasone. Median follow-up was 6·47 months (IQR 1·81-13·47) in the panobinostat group and 5·59 months (2·14-11·30) in the placebo group. Median progression-free survival was significantly longer in the panobinostat group than in the placebo group (11·99 months [95% CI 10·33-12·94] vs 8·08 months [7·56-9·23]; hazard ratio [HR] 0·63, 95% CI 0·52-0·76; p<0·0001). Overall survival data are not yet mature, although at the time of this analysis, median overall survival was 33·64 months (95% CI 31·34-not estimable) for the panobinostat group and 30·39 months (26·87-not estimable) for the placebo group (HR 0·87, 95% CI 0·69-1·10; p=0·26). The proportion of patients achieving an overall response did not differ between treatment groups (235 [60·7%, 95% CI 55·7-65·6] for panobinostat vs 208 [54·6%, 49·4-59·7] for placebo; p=0·09); however, the proportion of patients with a complete or near complete response was significantly higher in the panobinostat group than in the placebo group (107 [27·6%, 95% CI 23·2-32·4] vs 60 [15·7%, 12·2-19·8]; p=0·00006). Minimal responses were noted in 23 (6%) patients in the panobinostat group and in 42 (11%) in the placebo group. Median duration of response (partial response or better) was 13·14 months (95% CI 11·76-14·92) in the panobinostat group and 10·87 months (9·23-11·76) in the placebo group, and median time to response (partial response or better) was 1·51 months (1·41-1·64) in the panobinostat group and 2·00 months (1·61-2·79) in the placebo group. Serious adverse events were reported in 228 (60%) of 381 patients in the panobinostat group and 157 (42%) of 377 patients in the placebo group. Common grade 3-4 laboratory abnormalities and adverse events (irrespective of association with study drug) included thrombocytopenia (256 [67%] in the panobinostat group vs 118 [31%] in the placebo group), lymphopenia (202 [53%] vs 150 [40%]), diarrhoea (97 [26%] vs 30 [8%]), asthenia or fatigue (91 [24%] vs 45 [12%]), and peripheral neuropathy (67 [18%] vs 55 [15%]). Interpretation: Our results suggest that panobinostat could be a useful addition to the treatment armamentarium for patients with relapsed or relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Longer follow up will be necessary to determine whether there is any effect on overall survival. Funding: Novartis Pharmaceuticals. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

More than 10 years ago Haux et al. tried to answer the question how health care provision will look like in the year 2013. A follow-up workshop was held in Braunschweig, Germany, for 2 days in May, 2013, with 20 invited international experts in biomedical and health informatics. Among other things it had the objectives to discuss the suggested goals and measures of 2002 and how priorities on MI research in this context should be set from the viewpoint of today. The goals from 2002 are now as up-to-date as they were then. The experts stated that the three goals: "patient-centred recording and use of medical data for cooperative care"; "process-integrated decision support through current medical knowledge" and "comprehensive use of patient data for research and health care reporting" have not been reached yet and are still relevant. A new goal for ICT in health care should be the support of patient centred personalized (individual) medicine. MI as an academic discipline carries out research concerning tools that support health care professionals in their work. This research should be carried out without the pressure that it should lead to systems that are immediately and directly accepted in practice.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of drug resistance is approximately 10% in Europe and North America among newly infected patients. We aim to investigate the temporal patterns of resistance among drug naive HIV-infected individuals in Greece and also to determine transmission networking among those with resistant strains. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Protease (PR) and partial reverse transcriptase (RT) sequences were determined from 2499 newly diagnosed HIV-1 patients, in Greece, during 2003-2013. Genotypic drug resistance was estimated using the HIVdb: Genotypic Resistance Interpretation Algorithm. We identified transmission clusters of resistant strains on the basis of a large collection of HIV-1 sequences from 4024 seropositives in Greece. Phylodynamic analysis was performed using a Bayesian method. RESULTS: We estimated drug resistance levels among naïve patients on the basis of all resistance mutations in PR and partial RT. The overall prevalence of resistance was 19.6% (490/2499). Resistance to NNRTIs was the most common (397/2499, 15.9%) followed by PIs (116/2499, 4.6%) and NRTIs (79/2499, 3.2%). We found a significant trend for decreasing resistance to NRTIs over time (6.7%-1.6%). There was no time trend for the overall PI and NNRTI resistance. The most frequently observed major resistant sites in PR were V82 (2.0%) and L90 (1.8%). In RT, we found E138 (58.6%), K103 (13.1%), V179 (8.4%) and T215 (7.1%), M41 (4.7%) associated with resistance to NNRTIs and NRTIs, respectively. The prevalence of K103N and E138Q were significantly increased during 2003-2013. Crucially, we found that both K103N, E138Q are associated with transmission networking within men having sex with men (MSM) and intravenous drug user (IDU) local networks. The K103N network included seropositives across Greece, while the latter only from the recent IDU outbreak in Athens metropolitan area (1). Phylodynamic analyses revealed that the exponential growth for K103N network started in 2009 (Figure 1) and for the E138Q in 2010. CONCLUSIONS: The overall resistance has been stable in Greece over time; however, specific NNRTI resistance patterns are increasing. Notably, they are associated with local transmission networking, thus suggesting that this is the cause for the increased patterns of NNRTI resistance and not multiple transmissions of resistant strains from different sources among treated individuals. Our study highlights the advance of molecular epidemiology for understanding the dynamics of resistance.

BACKGROUND: In Europe, a continuous programme (SPREAD) has been in place for ten years to study transmission of drug resistant HIV. We analysed time trends of transmitted drug resistance mutations (TDRM) in relation to the risk behaviour reported. METHODS: HIV-1 patients newly diagnosed in 27 countries from 2002 through 2007 were included. Inclusion was representative for risk group and geographical distribution in the participating countries in Europe. Trends over time were calculated by logistic regression. RESULTS: From the 4317 patients included, the majority was men-having-sex-with-men -MSM (2084, 48%), followed by heterosexuals (1501, 35%) and injection drug users (IDU) (355, 8%). MSM were more often from Western Europe origin, infected with subtype B virus, and recently infected (<1 year) (p<0.001). The prevalence of TDRM was highest in MSM (prevalence of 11.1%), followed by heterosexuals (6.6%) and IDU (5.1%, p<0.001). TDRM was predominantly ascribed to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) with a prevalence of 6.6% in MSM, 3.3% in heterosexuals and 2.0% in IDU (p = 0.001). A significant increase in resistance to non- nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and a decrease in resistance to protease inhibitors was observed in MSM (p = 0.008 and p = 0.006, respectively), but not in heterosexual patients (p = 0.68 and p = 0.14, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: MSM showed to have significantly higher TDRM prevalence compared to heterosexuals and IDU. The increasing NNRTI resistance in MSM is likely to negatively influence the therapy response of first-line therapy, as most include NNRTI drugs.

In this longitudinal study, we examined the extent to which perceived coach- and peer-created motivational climates are associated with athlete-group cohesion and satisfaction with participation among Spanish soccer players competing in the Third National Division. Multilevel modelling analyses showed that perceived coach-created task climate was positively related to perceived cohesion and players’ satisfaction with their participation within their team. Also, perceived peer-created task climate related positively to perceived cohesion. The results indicate the importance of considering peer-related aspects of the motivational climate in addition to considering the coach-related aspects of the motivational climate when examining motivational group dynamics in sport.

An 87 yr man was referred for abdominal pain over a pre-existing hernia in the right iliac fossa. Physical examination revealed a red painful palpable mass in the right lower abdominal quadrant. Abdominal CT scan revealed a loop of small intestine trapped into the abdominal wall. The patient underwent emergency laparotomy and the intraoperative findings consisted of a spigelian hernia, with perforation of the contained small intestine by a chicken bone (clavicle). The intestinal perforation was sutured and a polypropylene mesh plug and patch repair of the hernia was executed. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged in stable condition. Our patient had a rare type of hernia with a rare complication. The arrow-shaped chicken bone led to irreducibility of the hernia and eventually to intestinal perforation. The diagnosis of spigelian hernias by history and physical examination is notoriously difficult. Recently, imaging modalities have increased preoperative diagnostic yield.

We show that a relatively sparse photonic crystal of high-permittivity magnetic garnet particles can induce a giant Faraday rotation of light transmitted through a finite slab of it. The underlying mechanism resides in wave propagation through collective Bloch modes, which are strongly localized in the particles.

BACKGROUND: In approximately 10% of newly diagnosed individuals in Europe, HIV-1 variants harboring transmitted drug resistance mutations (TDRM) are detected. For some TDRM it has been shown that they revert to wild type while other mutations persist in the absence of therapy. To understand the mechanisms explaining persistence we investigated the in vivo evolution of frequently transmitted HIV-1 variants and their impact on in vitro replicative capacity. RESULTS: We selected 31 individuals infected with HIV-1 harboring frequently observed TDRM such as M41L or K103N in reverse transcriptase (RT) or M46L in protease. In all these samples, polymorphisms at non-TDRM positions were present at baseline (median protease: 5, RT: 6). Extensive analysis of viral evolution of protease and RT demonstrated that the majority of TDRM (51/55) persisted for at least a year and even up to eight years in the plasma. During follow-up only limited selection of additional polymorphisms was observed (median: 1).To investigate the impact of frequently observed TDRM on the replication capacity, mutant viruses were constructed with the most frequently encountered TDRM as site-directed mutants in the genetic background of the lab strain HXB2. In addition, viruses containing patient-derived protease or RT harboring similar TDRM were made. The replicative capacity of all viral variants was determined by infecting peripheral blood mononuclear cells and subsequently monitoring virus replication. The majority of site-directed mutations (M46I/M46L in protease and M41L, M41L + T215Y and K103N in RT) decreased viral replicative capacity; only protease mutation L90M did not hamper viral replication. Interestingly, most patient-derived viruses had a higher in vitro replicative capacity than the corresponding site-directed mutant viruses. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate limited in vivo evolution of protease and RT harbouring frequently observed TDRM in the plasma. This is in line with the high in vitro replication capacity of patient-derived viruses harbouring TDRM compared to site-directed mutant viruses harbouring TDRM. As site-directed mutant viruses have a lower replication capacity than the patient-derived viruses with similar mutational patterns, we propose that (baseline) polymorphisms function as compensatory mutations improving viral replication capacity.

Atherosclerosis is the main cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and can lead to stroke, myocardial infarction, and death. The clinically available atheroprotective drugs aim mainly at reducing the levels of circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL), increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and attenuating inflammation. However, the cardiovascular risk remains high, along with morbidity, mortality, and incidence of adverse drug events. Pharmacogenomics is increasingly contributing towards the characterization of existing atheroprotective drugs, the evaluation of novel ones, and the identification of promising, unexplored therapeutic targets, at the global molecular pathway level. This chapter presents highlights of pharmacogenomics investigations and discoveries that have contributed towards the elucidation of pharmacological atheroprotection, while opening the way to new therapeutic approaches.

This work presents an investigation of the CO2 and N2 single and mixed gas phase permeability through supported ionic liquid membranes (SILMs) developed on ceramic nanoporous substrates with different pore size (1, 5 and 10 nm). ILs from the 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tricyanomethanide family ([RMIM][TCM], with alkyl group, R: ethyl, butyl or octyl) were used as nanopore modifiers. These ILs exhibit high chemical and thermal stability, low viscosity and enhanced CO2 absorption capacity compared to other imidazolium based ILs. Thermal analysis of the developed SILMs unveiled a drastic liquid-to-solid transition upon confinement of the ILs into the pore channels with a size of 1 nm. The IL crystals formed inside these extremely small cavities possessed considerable thermal stability and underwent thermally induced phase transitions that differed significantly from those occurring in the unconfined bulk IL phase or in the IL phase when entrapped into the larger pore channels. The different physical state of the IL under confinement into the pores of different size resulted to significant variation of the flux properties between the developed SILM membranes. The effect of temperature on the CO2 permeability dependend strongly on the crystal thermal stability and microstructure dictated by the confinement into the nanopores. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Background: Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare entity which is often causally related to infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Despite its predilection for oral cavity involvement, multiple cases of extra-oral involvement have been reported in the literature, more often among immunocompetent individuals. Case report: Herein we present the first case of primary PBL of the breast in an otherwise immunocompetent 36-year-old woman who was successfully treated with consolidation megatherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. Conclusion: PBL carries a particularly poor prognosis and more intensive treatment is usually warranted. However, no treatment guidelines exist and treatment choices are made based on case reports and small retrospective case series. © 2014, International Institute of Anticancer Research. All rights reserved.

Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to present our technique for the treatment of periplate fractures. Methods. From 2009 to 2012 we treated three patients. In all cases the existing plate was left and the new one placed over the existing. Locking screws were placed through both plates. The other screws in the new plate were used as best suited the fracture. Results. In all cases less than 6 months had passed between fractures. None of the original fractures had healed. Mean followup was 2 years. All fractures proceeded to union within 7 months. No complications were recorded. All the patients returned to their normal activities and were satisfied with the results of their treatment. Conclusion. Our plate on plate technique is effective for the treatment of periplate fractures. A solid fusion can be achieved at the new fracture site without disturbing the previous fixation.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is defined as an autologous concentrated preparation of platelets and their associated growth factors in a small volume of plasma. The presence of these growth factors has stimulated the scientific community to search about possible benefits of the use of PRP in tissue regeneration. Provided that previously in vitro and animal research demonstrated that PRP could probably play an important role in the treatment of neural tissue disorders, we aimed to review the current literature, regarding the clinical studies that have been conducted to confirm this hypothesis. More specifically, we have reviewed the literature concerning the clinical application of PRP in peripheral neuropathies and investigated if there is strong evidence to establish the use of PRP in clinical practice as a therapeutic option. In contrast with animal studies, we have been able to identify only few clinical data concerning the use of PRP in peripheral neuropathies. We found five trials matched to our research that yields positive and promising results for the future for the application of PRP for the therapy of disorders of the peripheral nervous system. It is obvious that this interesting field of research gives to the scientists the ability to expand it extensively, in terms of both quality and quantity.

Manifold advantages are foreseen by using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as support for inorganic TiO2 nanoparticles due to the unique texture/morphology and adsorption capacity of CNTs. Synergistic effects might also result from interfacial charge transfer between the CNTs and TiO2. Effective charge transfer has the potentiality to limit electron/hole recombination and shift the TiO2 photocatalytic response to the visible range. Homogeneous mixing and intimate contact between the graphitic and TiO2 surfaces are of high importance in order to trigger synergistic effects. Thus, the existence of complementary methods to shed light on both these features is of high importance when developing TiO2/CNT composite photocatalysts. In this work, a wide variety of TiO2/CNT composites was prepared by a simple hydration/dehydration procedure, using single-wall (SWCNTs) and multi-wall (MWCNTs) carbon nanotubes, either functionalized or not, and TiO2 nanoparticles of different size. To evaluate the degree of homogeneity between the graphitic and inorganic phases, a new methodology which was based on a complex interpretation of the liquid nitrogen porosimetry (LN2) isotherms of the composites and of each phase in the composite separately was developed. Furthermore, interface interaction characteristics were elucidated by micro-Raman spectroscopy while small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements provided insight on the surface roughness and micropore structure of the TiO2/SWCNT samples. The Raman analysis concluded to the absence of any interfacial interaction. In this context the efficiency of the prepared composites to photocatalytically oxidize caffeine was evaluated in regard to their homogeneity, as derived by the LN2 method. As expected, in the absence of synergetic effects the photocatalytic efficiency correlated well with the extent of mixing between the CNTs and TiO2 phases. The discrepancy observed for one of the samples was attributed to the existence of large micropores, a feature that was distinguishable solely by SAXS measurements. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Herein we report on enhanced organic solar cell performance through the incorporation of cathode interfacial layers consisting of self-organized porphyrin nanostructures with a face-on configuration. In particular, a water/methanol-soluble porphyrin molecule, the free base meso-tetrakis(1- methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin chloride, is employed as a novel cathode interlayer in bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaics. It is demonstrated that the self-organization of this porphyrin compound into aggregates in which molecules adopt a face-to-face orientation parallel to the organic semiconducting substrate induces a large local interfacial electric field that results in a significant enhancement of exciton dissociation. Consequently, enhanced photocurrent and open circuit voltage were obtained resulting in overall device efficiency improvement in organic photovoltaics based on bulk heterojunction mixtures of different polymeric donors and fullerene acceptors, regardless of the specific combination of donor-acceptor employed. To highlight the impact of molecular orientation a second porphyrin compound, the Zn-metallated meso-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin chloride, was also studied and it was found that it forms aggregates with an edge-to-edge molecular configuration inducing a smaller increase in the device performance. © The Royal Society of Chemistry.

AIM: Posterior cervical spine fixation has undergone tremendous advancement in recent years. The purpose of this study is to present our experience with the Roy-Camille instrumentation for posterior cervical stabilization after injury in a long-term follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1985 to 1995, 76 patients with a lower cervical spine traumatic lesion were treated in a single institution by posterior plate stabilization using the Roy-Camille plates (R-C plates). Fifty-four men and 22 women with a mean age of 43.2 years were involved. In 59 patients the injuries were due to a road traffic accident, in 14 cases the fall from a high was responsible, while in two cases the injuries were due to sport activities. There were four bilateral dislocations, nine unilateral dislocations, 56 fracture dislocations, five fracture separations of a lateral mass and two burst fractures. Neurological lesions were present in 65 patients (9 ASIA A, 16 ASIA B, 22 ASIA C, 18 ASIA D and 11 ASIA E). All patients had minimum follow-up of 7 years. Fifty-nine patients were followed up for a mean period of 21 years (14-27 years). RESULTS: Stability was obtained in all but two cases. Reoperation was done in two cases: in one for the correction of the lost reduction and in a second for the reinsertion of a screw irritating a nerve root. No case in the ASIA A group showed neurological improvement, a fact observed in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The R-C plates were used in the last quarter of the last century. This technique showed good short-time results, and we have shown good results in a long-term follow-up as well. The literature referred to this technique was favorable, as far as the biomechanical behavior and also clinical application concern. The question about this plating system abundance still remains unanswered.

© 2014 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (S.M. Creighton). Objective: In 2001, this team published an observational study of the clinical outcomes of a cohort of adolescent girls born with ambiguous genitalia. The poor outcomes observed represented a major scientific challenge to the standard practice of childhood feminising genital surgery. That publication was one of several contributing to a call for change in surgical practice, which culminated in the publication of the Chicago Consensus Document in 2006. The aim of this current study was to repeat the same evaluation of clinical outcomes on a recent cohort of adolescent girls and compare the two cohorts to identify differences in adolescent outcomes which may indicate a change in paediatric surgical practice. Methods: This was an observational study of a current cohort of adolescent girls treated in childhood for ambiguous genitalia and referred to a specialist adolescent disorders of sex development (DSD) service for assessment. Data were collected on surgical history, genital examination findings and treatment recommendations for 30 consecutive adolescents over a 5-year period. Findings were compared with those of a similar cohort of adolescent girls published over a decade previously. Results: Clitoral surgery remained common (93{%} vs 100{%}, current cohort vs historical cohort). However, concomitant vaginoplasty was performed less frequently (80 vs 100{%} current vs historical). Vaginoplasty revision surgery was also less commonly required (65 vs 81{%}), although 24{%} of the recent cohort still required major revision surgery prior to intercourse. There was some improvement to the cosmetic outcomes as deemed by the surgical team using the same criteria as the previous report. Conclusions: This study provides someslight evidence of recent practice change.Therewas asmall reduction in the number of vaginoplasties performed in childhood and an improvement in vaginoplasty outcomes and cosmesis.However, therewas no identifiable change inmanagement of clitoromegaly and the numbers of clitoral reduction operations remained high. This is surprising given the clear evidence of a detrimental impact of surgery on clitoral sensation and sexual function.

The article discusses the significance of on-the-spot observation and eye witnessing as powerfulscientific tools for establishing the real in the early sixteenth century. In particular, I argue that thesimulation of such tools in the paratextual material to Utopia, especially the prefatory/postscriptletters, enhance, preemptively, the verisimilitude of the Utopian society as well as the materialityof the island at hand. If eye witnessing is reality-conferring, then, the powerful Renaissance actof reading a text as a simulation of eye witnessing is reality-conferring too. In this light, to readUtopia through the paratextual letters is to place one’s trust in the literal existence of Utopia insofaras reading simulates the act of seeing with one’s own eyes and bearing witness to a palpable reality.Keywords: Eye Witnessing, Humanism, Paratext, Utopia, Verisimilitude1. Paratext, Utopia and LiminalityNearly five hundred years after its first publication in 1516, Thomas More’sUtopia continues to spark endless discussions in relation to its potentialmeanings or its exact nature.1 More could not have written Utopia at a bettertime. As Alistair Fox maintains, when he sat down to write it in 1515, ‘Hisimagination had been excited by the discoveries of Cabot and Vespucci in theNew World… the momentum of Erasmian reform was approaching its height;and he had the stimulating company… of Cuthbert Tunstal, Busleyden andPeter Giles, humanists with interests and ambitions similar to his own’ (1984,53). The publication of Utopia was accompanied by paratextual material (attimes called parerga) – maps, illustrations, verses as well as a number of letterswritten by friends or acquaintances from the wider humanist continentalcircles. By fervently supporting the project, this paratextual material – whichwas altered to a great degree from edition to edition, thus also constantlyreshaping readers’ reception of Utopia – worked towards legitimising More’sendeavour, establishing its truthfulness, and announcing beforehand its acceptanceby early sixteenth-century readership.2‘Paratext’ in literature covers everything that lies around a text. GérardGenette has famously called paratext ‘a zone between text and off-text, a zonenot only of transition but also of transaction’ between the author(s) and thepublic, or ‘the most socialized side of the practice of literature’ (1997, 1, 14).

In this project the geological subsurface structure of the delta of the river Pinios is investigated through the contribution of geophysical soundings. In order to investigate the lithologic structure of the entire deltaic field, geophysical soundings were performed with the geoelectrical method of vertical investigation of the resistivity distribution at 37 locations. The Schlumberger array was applied, which is a reliable preliminary geophysical technique for such environments, achieving an investigation depth of > 200-250 meters. Obtaining information on the geoelectrical characteristics of the formations expected under the alluvial silt of Pinios, we have to evaluate the results of the geophysical survey. Therefore 14 “in situ” measurements of electrical resistivity were carried out in surface outcrops of Neogene sediments, cyanoschists and serpentinites. An extensive geological overview of the wider visual field was conducted, geological measurements were recorded and plotted on a digital background concerning the extensive volume of Neogene formations and alpine formations. After the processing of the geophysical soundings, geoelectrical sections were constructed in directions S-N and W-E, along with the description of their geological evaluation. From the preliminary results, it seems that the Neogene formations, with alternations of sands, marls and conglomerates occupying almost the entire space of the subsurface deltaic field, below the Holocene deposits. The alpine formations of Ossa (the southern part of the field research), seem only to be traced in the soundings near the margins, with a gentle inclination below from the post-alpine sediments and for the depths investigated (~ 200-250 meters). In the western part of the study area and more specifically the Pyrgetos sub basin, higher values of electrical resistivity (50-80 ohm) were calculated, differentiating the general concept that emerges from the rest of the study area.

Suppression of uninvolved immunoglobulins is common in multiple myeloma (MM) but the prognostic significance of this phenomenon has not been assessed. We evaluated the prognostic significance of the preservation of uninvolved immunoglobulins in 1755 consecutive, unselected, patients with newly diagnosed, symptomatic MM with pre-therapy immunoglobulin levels measured by nephelometry. Suppression of at least one uninvolved immunoglobulin was observed in 87% of patients and was more common in patients with immunoglobulin A myeloma, those aged over 65 years, in patients with advanced-International Staging System (ISS) stage, extensive-bone marrow infiltration, anemia, low platelet counts, high levels of serum M-monoclonal protein or renal dysfunction. Patients with preserved immunoglobulins had a better survival than patients with suppressed immunoglobulins (median survival 55 vs 41.5 months, P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, preservation of uninvolved immunoglobulins was independently associated with better survival (hazard ratio: 0.781, 95% confidence interval: 0.618-0.987, P=0.039); irrespective of the treatment. In a subset of 500 patients, which were strictly followed for disease progression, preservation of uninvolved immunoglobulins was associated with a significantly longer progression-free survival (60 vs 25 months, P<0.001), independently of other common prognostic factors. In conclusion, preservation of uninvolved immunoglobulins in newly diagnosed patients with symptomatic MM was independently associated with long term disease control and improved survival. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.

Suppression of uninvolved immunoglobulins is common in multiple myeloma (MM) but the prognostic significance of this phenomenon has not been assessed. We evaluated the prognostic significance of the preservation of uninvolved immunoglobulins in 1755 consecutive, unselected, patients with newly diagnosed, symptomatic MM with pre-therapy immunoglobulin levels measured by nephelometry. Suppression of at least one uninvolved immunoglobulin was observed in 87% of patients and was more common in patients with immunoglobulin A myeloma, those aged over 65 years, in patients with advanced-International Staging System (ISS) stage, extensive-bone marrow infiltration, anemia, low platelet counts, high levels of serum M-monoclonal protein or renal dysfunction. Patients with preserved immunoglobulins had a better survival than patients with suppressed immunoglobulins (median survival 55 vs 41.5 months, P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, preservation of uninvolved immunoglobulins was independently associated with better survival (hazard ratio: 0.781, 95% confidence interval: 0.618-0.987, P=0.039); irrespective of the treatment. In a subset of 500 patients, which were strictly followed for disease progression, preservation of uninvolved immunoglobulins was associated with a significantly longer progression-free survival (60 vs 25 months, P<0.001), independently of other common prognostic factors. In conclusion, preservation of uninvolved immunoglobulins in newly diagnosed patients with symptomatic MM was independently associated with long term disease control and improved survival.Leukemia advance online publication, 11 April 2014; doi:10.1038/leu.2014.110.

Allergy to cow's milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanut, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish constitutes the majority of food allergy reactions, but reliable estimates of their prevalence are lacking. This systematic review aimed to provide up-to-date estimates of their prevalence in Europe.Studies published in Europe from January 1, 2000, to September 30, 2012, were identified from searches of four electronic databases. Two independent reviewers appraised the studies and extracted the estimates of interest. Data were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. Fifty studies were included in a narrative synthesis and 42 studies in the meta-analyses. Although there were significant heterogeneity between the studies, the overall pooled estimates for all age groups of self-reported lifetime prevalence of allergy to cow's milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanut, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish were 6.0% (95% confidence interval: 5.7-6.4), 2.5% (2.3-2.7), 3.6% (3.0-4.2), 0.4% (0.3-0.6), 1.3% (1.2-1.5), 2.2% (1.8-2.5), and 1.3% (0.9-1.7), respectively. The prevalence of food-challenge-defined allergy to cow's milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanut, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish was 0.6% (0.5-0.8), 0.2% (0.2-0.3), 0.1% (0.01-0.2), 0.3% (0.1-0.4), 0.2% (0.2-0.3), 0.5% (0.08-0.8), 0.1% (0.02-0.2), and 0.1% (0.06-0.3), respectively. Allergy to cow's milk and egg was more common among younger children, while allergy to peanut, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish was more common among the older ones. There were insufficient data to compare the estimates of soy and wheat allergy between the age groups. Allergy to most foods, except soy and peanut, appeared to be more common in Northern Europe. In summary, the lifetime self-reported prevalence of allergy to common foods in Europe ranged from 0.1 to 6.0%. The heterogeneity between studies was high, and participation rates varied across studies reaching as low as <20% in some studies. Standardizing the methods of assessment of food allergies and initiating strategies to increase participation will advance this evidence base.

BACKGROUND: Little is known of the extent to which nursing-care tasks are left undone as an international phenomenon. AIM: The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence and patterns of nursing care left undone across European hospitals and explore its associations with nurse-related organisational factors. METHODS: Data were collected from 33 659 nurses in 488 hospitals across 12 European countries for a large multicountry cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Across European hospitals, the most frequent nursing care activities left undone included 'Comfort/talk with patients' (53%), 'Developing or updating nursing care plans/care pathways' (42%) and 'Educating patients and families' (41%). In hospitals with more favourable work environments (B=-2.19; p<0.0001), lower patient to nurse ratios (B=0.09; p<0.0001), and lower proportions of nurses carrying out non-nursing tasks frequently (B=2.18; p<0.0001), fewer nurses reported leaving nursing care undone. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing care left undone was prevalent across all European countries and was associated with nurse-related organisational factors. We discovered similar patterns of nursing care left undone across a cross-section of European hospitals, suggesting that nurses develop informal task hierarchies to facilitate important patient-care decisions. Further research on the impact of nursing care left undone for patient outcomes and nurse well-being is required.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the morphodynamic regime of the coastal area of Xylokastro (north coast of Peloponnese), in order to identify and evaluate the processes controlling its formation and evolution. Within this concept, a number of factors have been considered and evaluated; near-shore morphometry and granulometry along shore-normal profiles, the direction and potential volumes of long- and cross-shore sediment transport the decadal and future trends of coastline displacement, the available information for terrestrial sediment influx and the geological processes operating in the broader coastal region of Xylokastro (i.e. subaqueous slides) as well as human interference. On the basis of these results, the formation and evolution of this coastal stretch seems to be governed primarily by the neotectonic activity and relative change of sea level rise, and secondarily by the wave-induced near-shore sediment transport; the role of the latter could be enhanced substantially by human intervention (i.e. construction of marina, seafront walls). Moreover, the expected eustatic increase in sea level by the year 2100, could cause a coastline retreat up to 9 m (SLR=0.38 m) or >19 m (SLR≥1 m).

Angiogenesis has been implicated in ovarian cancer pathogenesis. Bevacizumab, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody, has recently been incorporated in ovarian cancer treatment in combination with chemotherapy both in a frontline setting and in disease recurrence. However, resistance eventually develops and treatment with bevacizumab is associated with increased risk for toxicities such as thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events, gastrointestinal perforation, and impaired wound healing, suggesting the need for new therapeutic approaches. Targeting of the angiopoietins/Tie2 pathway has gained accumulating interest during the last few years as a strategy to overcome bevacizumab resistance and toxicities. Trebananib is a first-in-class peptibody that inhibits angiopoietin 1 and 2 interaction with their receptor Tie2. The molecular profile of this agent, the preclinical data, and clinical studies demonstrating its efficacy in ovarian cancer are discussed in this review. © 2014 Liontos et al.

In recent decades, there has been an increasing interest in the prognosis of maximum surface ozone concentrations due to the adverse effects on human health, animal population, agricultural productivity and forestry. The present study deals with the development and application of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models in predicting the maximum daily surface ozone concentration in several locations within the greater Athens area (GAA), 24-hours in advance. Meteorological and air pollution data during the period 2001 to 2005 were provided by the network of the Hellenic Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change. Hourly values of barometric pressure and total solar irradiance for the same period have been recorded by the National Observatory of Athens. A training data set for the ANN prognostic model was generated by employing the superposed epoch analysis.The evaluation of the performance of the developed model, using appropriate statistical indices, clearly indicates that the risk of surface ozone values exceeding the European Union (EU) threshold for human health protection can be successfully predicted. This suggests that the proposed ANN model can be used to issue warnings for the general public and especially certain sensitive groups of the population. © 2014 Global NEST Printed in Greece. All rights reserved.

In our multicenter retrospective analysis in 186 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and synchronous metastases treated with sunitinib, we examined the role of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) in this clinical setting. CN proved to have a beneficial prognostic effect in survival independent of other diseaseor patient-related factors. CN remains a reasonable option for mRCC patients scheduled to be treated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Introduction/Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of CN in patients with mRCC and synchronous metastases treated with the VEGF receptor TKI, sunitinib. Patients and Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of metastases before, at the time of, or within 3 months from the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and first-line treatment with sunitinib were included. Baseline characteristics were correlated with overall survival (OS) according to hazard ratios estimated from univariate Cox proportional hazards models. Significant factors were then included in a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. Results: One hundred eighty-six patients treated between January 2006 and March 2012 were selected. Thirty-six (19%) had not undergone CN. CN was offered to younger patients with better prognoses. Patients who underwent CN lived significantly longer than patients without CN (median OS, 23.9 [95% confidence interval (CI), 20.8-28.8] vs. 9 [95% CI, 4-16.4] months; P < .001). Multivariate analysis showed that CN had an independent prognostic significance. No specific subgroup benefiting from CN was identified. Conclusion: CN was an independent favorable prognostic factor in patients with synchronous metastases from RCC, treated with sunitinib. Information regarding the selection of mRCC patients likely to benefit from CN might be derived by ongoing phase III trials. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The molecular pathways implicated in multiple myeloma (MM) development are rather unknown. We studied epigenetic and DNA damage response (DDR) signals at selected model loci (N-ras, p53, d-globin) in bone marrow plasma cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS; n=20), smoldering/asymptomatic MM (SMM; n=29) and MM (n=18), as well as in healthy control-derived PBMCs (n=20). In both tissues analyzed, a progressive, significant increase in the looseness of local chromatin structure, gene expression levels and DNA repair efficiency from MGUS to SMM and finally to MM was observed (all P<0.002). Following ex vivo treatment with melphalan, a gradual suppression of the apoptotic pathway occurred in samples collected at different stages of myelomagenesis, with the severity and duration of the inhibition of RNA synthesis, p53 phosphorylation at serine15 and induction of apoptosis being higher in MGUS than SMM and lowest in MM patients (all P<0.0103). Interestingly, for all endpoints analyzed, a strong correlation between plasma cells and corresponding PBMCs was observed (all P<0.0003). We conclude that progressive changes in chromatin structure, transcriptional activity and DDR pathways during myelomagenesis occur in malignant plasma cells and that these changes are also reflected in PBMCs. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.

AIM: The bacterial and atypical etiology of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was investigated and the diagnostic techniques used were compared among 92 hospitalized patients. MATERIALS & METHODS: Sputum specimens were investigated using culture and PCR, serological status evaluation was performed and the inflammatory profile was associated with the microbiological results. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: The majority of the patients (65.2%) had very severe airway obstruction. The most common bacteria were Haemophilus influenzae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.9 and 14.1%, respectively). Acinetobacter baumannii- and P. aeruginosa-positive cultures were associated with prolonged hospitalization and severe airway obstruction (p = 0.03 and 0.031, respectively). Chlamydia pneumoniae or Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was diagnosed in four and two patients, respectively. Discrepant results were detected between PCR and serology, especially regarding C. pneumoniae.

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge prospective teachers have about bullying, as well as their attitudes and beliefs about this issue. The majority of prospective teachers held negative attitudes about bullying. However, few indicated feeling confident or prepared to deal with the problem. Females reported greater responsibility on the part of teachers and lower levels of self-confidence than males. The greater the responsibility that student teachers placed on themselves the greater the responsibility that they placed on the school system, and the greater the concern and confidence they felt. Prospective teachers were willing to learn more about bullying.

A highly efficient hybrid photocatalytic/ultrafiltration process is demonstrated for water purification using visible light. The process relies on the development of partially reduced graphene oxide/TiO2 composite membranes and their incorporation into an innovative water purification device that combines membrane filtration with semiconductor photocatalysis. Composites consisting of graphene oxide sheets decorated with TiO2 nanoparticles were deposited and stabilized into the pores of ultrafiltration mono-channel monoliths using the dip-coating technique. Cross-flow and dead-end filtration experiments were sequentially conducted in dark, under UV and visible light. The membrane surface was irradiated for the elimination of two synthetic azo-dyes, methyl orange and methylene blue, from water solutions. The synergetic effects of graphene oxide on pollutant adsorption and photocatalytic degradation capacity of TiO2 were thoroughly studied, while the influence of the pore size of the monolithic substrate on the deposition morphologies was also elucidated. Moreover, the performance of the novel hybrid process was compared with that of standard nanofiltration with respect to pollutant removal efficiency and energy consumption, providing firm evidence for its economic feasibility and efficiency. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.

In the present paper I argue that, since Cyprus came under the British rule and for at least seven decades, Britain did not consider Cyprus a “territory of major strategic importance for the Crown”. I also argue that the policy makers of colonial Britain probably considered this island one of the “poor colonies”, since it did not have raw material deposits or any kind of industrial infrastructure. Thus, I suggest that Greek researchers should examine how Great Britain was perceiving the strategic importance of Cyprus until the end of World War II and, therefore, should not insist on blaming the Greek side that, supposedly, did not take into account Britain’s sensitivity and “unwisely sought the Union (Enosis) of Cyprus with Greece, which annoyed Britain and led to the well-known traumatic events”.

Objective Recent evidence suggests that climacteric symptoms may be intensified by specific temperament and personality traits in postmenopausal women. In this study we investigate Cloninger's model of personality in relation to menopausal symptoms. Methods One-hundred and seventy peri- and postmenopausal women consecutively recruited from a menopause clinic of an academic hospital completed the Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-140) which measures four dimensions of temperament: Harm avoidance, Novelty seeking, Reward dependence and Persistence, as well as three dimensions of character: Self-directedness, Cooperativeness, and Self-transcendence. Menopausal somatic, vasomotor and psychological symptoms were also assessed using the Greene Climacteric Scale. Results In comparison to the norms of the Greek general population, postmenopausal women presented lower scores in Novelty seeking and Reward dependence and higher scores in Persistence, Self-directedness, Cooperativeness and Self-transcendence. Higher harm avoidance (the inclination to avoid potential punishment, be shy and fearful of uncertainty) significantly correlated with anxiety and depressive symptoms while lower Self-directedness (the ability to have the willpower to adapt to or overcome any changes) correlated with depressive symptoms only. By multivariate regression analysis, higher Harm avoidance and lower Self-directedness were independently associated with the presence of depressive symptoms. No significant associations were observed between TCI-140 traits and somatic or vasomotor symptoms. Conclusions Our findings indicate that most temperament and character traits according to Cloninger's model in peri- and postmenopausal women varied significantly as compared to the general population. Among several traits, high Harm avoidance and low Self-directedness were most strongly associated with psychological climacteric distress but not with somatic and vasomotor symptoms. © 2014 International Menopause Society.

OBJECTIVE: Recent evidence suggests that climacteric symptoms may be intensified by specific temperament and personality traits in postmenopausal women. In this study we investigate Cloninger's model of personality in relation to menopausal symptoms. METHODS: One-hundred and seventy peri- and postmenopausal women consecutively recruited from a menopause clinic of an academic hospital completed the Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-140) which measures four dimensions of temperament: Harm avoidance, Novelty seeking, Reward dependence and Persistence, as well as three dimensions of character: Self-directedness, Cooperativeness, and Self-transcendence. Menopausal somatic, vasomotor and psychological symptoms were also assessed using the Greene Climacteric Scale. RESULTS: In comparison to the norms of the Greek general population, postmenopausal women presented lower scores in Novelty seeking and Reward dependence and higher scores in Persistence, Self-directedness, Cooperativeness and Self-transcendence. Higher harm avoidance (the inclination to avoid potential punishment, be shy and fearful of uncertainty) significantly correlated with anxiety and depressive symptoms while lower Self-directedness (the ability to have the willpower to adapt to or overcome any changes) correlated with depressive symptoms only. By multivariate regression analysis, higher Harm avoidance and lower Self-directedness were independently associated with the presence of depressive symptoms. No significant associations were observed between TCI-140 traits and somatic or vasomotor symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that most temperament and character traits according to Cloninger's model in peri- and postmenopausal women varied significantly as compared to the general population. Among several traits, high Harm avoidance and low Self-directedness were most strongly associated with psychological climacteric distress but not with somatic and vasomotor symptoms.

Depression and anxiety, the most common mental disorders (CMD), are highly prevalent among women of childbearing age, but are even higher among mothers in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), possibly due to mothers' disproportionate exposure to multiple risk factors, such as poverty, gender disparities and violence, and a high prevalence of medical illness. The extra burden imposed by maternal CMD in LMIC can be nothing short of catastrophic, affecting infant and child growth and leading to preventable illness and death among children. One possible mechanism, by which maternal CMD lead to compromised child development, is through negatively affecting mothers' health-promoting behaviors (e.g., contraceptive use, participation in antenatal care) and child-care practices (e.g., vaccination uptake, cessation of breastfeeding, sanitation practices). The aim of this study was three-fold. First, to assess psychological distress among mothers of young children (aged 0-5 years) as measured by the Kessler 6 (K6), a brief screening instrument for nonspecific psychological distress in Ghana and Uganda. Second, to identify sociodemographic, socioeconomic, obstetric, and psychosocial correlates of maternal psychological distress in Ghana and Uganda. Third, to explore the relationship between maternal psychological distress, child health-promoting practices, and child health outcomes and nutritional status. The study utilized cross-sectional baseline data from the Millennium Villages Project. One hundred mothers in Ghana and 100 in Uganda who had at least one child up to 5 years at the time of baseline collection participated in the study. Results provided evidence for the adequate reliability and validity of the K6 in our study. Several correlates of maternal distress were identified in the study, some of which were common for both sites, while others where site-specific. Maternal distress was associated with maternal sanitation practices in Uganda. An exploratory analysis revealed a significant relationship between maternal distress and risk for child undernutrition. These findings offer partial support for the relationship between maternal psychological distress and poor child health outcomes. Discussion of the study findings focuses on the social roots of maternal distress in SSA. The clinical implications of the study and recommendations for future research are discussed.

This paper analyses the experiences and potential for public procurement targeting innovation (PPfI) and pre-commercial public procurement (PCP) in Greece, which is a country with small internal market skewing actual activities towards light manufacturing, labour-intensive industries and small-firm organisation. This environment is not conducive to PPfI, as there is limited lobbying power and few visible impacts from it. Public procurement is in general organised in a traditional way, respecting the EU Directives but not acting as an industrial policy tool. It is, however, argued that even in such markets diffusion-oriented PPfI and unintentional PPfI can play a beneficial role and create potential benefits from export markets, when co-development of client and supplier is successful, in particular if this takes place early in the technology cycle to allow suppliers to acquire knowledge about specific business procedures and be able to demonstrate systems in operation.

The purine utilization pathway has been thoroughly characterized in Aspergillus nidulans. We establish here the subcellular distribution of seven key intracellular enzymes, xanthine dehydrogenase (HxA), urate oxidase (UaZ), 5-hydroxy-isourate hydrolase (UaX), 2-oxo-4-hydroxy-4-carboxy ureido imidazoline decarboxylase (UaW), allantoinase (AlX), allantoicase (AaX), ureidoglycolate lyase (UglA), and the fungal specific a-ketoglutarate Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenase (XanA). HxA, AlX, AaX, UaW and XanA are cytosolic, while UaZ, UaX and UglA are peroxisomal. Peroxisomal localization was confirmed by using appropriate pex mutants. The pathway is largely, but not completely conserved in the Eurotiomycetes, noticeably in some species AaX is substituted by an alternative enzyme of probable bacterial origin. UaZ and the urate–xanthine UapA and UapC transporters, are also localized in specific cells of the conidiophore. We show that metabolic accumulation of uric acid occurring in uaZ null mutations is associated with an increased frequency of appearance of morphologically distinct colony sectors, diminished conidiospore production, UV resistance and an altered response to oxidation stress, which may provide a rationale for the conidiophore-specific localization. The pathway-specific transcription factor UaY is localized in both the cytoplasm and nuclei under non-inducing conditions, but it rapidly accumulates exclusively to the nuclei upon induction by uric acid.

Abstract In this study, we aimed to explore the factors related to the acceptance of evolutionary theory among biology education teachers using conceptual ecology for biological evolution as a theoretical frame. This paper explores, by the use of qualitative analysis, some of the factors that constitute the conceptual ecology of evolutionary theory of Greek secondary school teachers and the relationships between the findings of quantitative and qualitative research. In this study eight interviews have been performed with teachers of different academic backgrounds (biologists, geologists, physicists, chemists) who teach biology in secondary education. These interviews were analyzed by using NVivo 8.0 qualitative analysis software. The basic actions performed were the categorization of interviews content into thematic categories (nodes) and the subsequent exploration for common patterns and relationships among categories. This qualitative analysis revealed the views and the attitudes of the teachers on the examined factors of conceptual ecology. Also explained and documented in some degree the results of the previous quantitative research in a large sample of biology teachers. The results support the initial research hypothesis that the factors related with evolution theory acceptance, their mix and their weight, differ in correspondence with local conditions and singularities and the total socio-cultural environment. This is a very strong argument in favor of the approach of conceptual ecology. Keywords: Evolution, teachers, qualitative, NVivo analysis, conceptual ecology, secondary- education.

The aim of this paper is to present in a useful and understandable way how climatic change could be interpreted for tourism and recreation. Future climate change conditions are analyzed using the Climate Version of the Local Model (CLM) based on the COSMO model, which is currently used-among other weather services-by the DWD (Deutscher Wetterdienst) for operational weather forecast. The climate simulations concern the future periods 2021-2050 and 2071-2100 against the reference period 1961-1990, under A1B scenario. Based on regional climate simulations, the analysis for tourism can be performed using the Climate-Tourism-Information-Scheme (CTIS). The CTIS contains detailed climate information, which can be used by tourists to anticipate thermal comfort, aesthetical and physical conditions for planning their vacations. Furthermore, the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET), which is one of the most popular physiological thermal indices derived from the human energy balance, is used in the analysis in order to describe the effect of climate. The future simulations concerning PET and CTIS for the area for Athens have been exemplary used, in order to consider them for tourism industry and local authorities for tourism planning. © 2014 Global NEST Printed in Greece. All rights reserved.

A series of methodologies are described in this paper aiming to quantify the natural hazard due to the coastal changes at a deltaic fan. The coastline of Istiaia (North Evia, Greece) has been chosen for this study as several areas of accretion and erosion have been identified during the past few decades. We combined different types of datasets, extracted from high resolution panchromatic aerial photographs and traced the contemporary shoreline by high accuracy surveying with Real Time Kinematics (RTK) GPS equipment. The interpretation of all shorelines required geo-statistical analysis in a Geographical Information System. A large number of high resolution morphological sections were constructed normally to the coast, revealing erosional and depositional parts of the beach. Retreating and extension rates were calculated for each section reaching the values of 0.98 m/yr and 1.36 m/yr, respectively. The results proved to be very accurate, allowing us to expand the developed methodology by using more complete time-series of remote sensing datasets along with more frequent RTK-GPS surveying.

A previously developed method for measurement of oleocanthal and oleacein in olive oil by quantitative 1H NMR was expanded to include the measurement of the monoaldehydic forms of oleuropein and ligstroside aglycons. The method was validated and applied to the study of 340 monovarietal Greek and Californian olive oils from 23 varieties and for a 3-year period. A wide variation concerning the concentrations of all four secoiridoids was recorded. The concentration of each one ranged from nondetectable to 711 mg/kg and the sum of the four major secoiridoids (named as D3) ranged from nondetectable to 1534 mg/kg. Examination of the NMR profile of the olive oil extract before and after contact with normal or reversed stationary chromatography phase proved the artificial formation of the 5S,8S,9S aldehydic forms of oleuropein and ligstroside aglycon isomers during chromatography. Finally, methyl elenolate was identified for the first time as a minor constituent of olive oil. © 2014 American Chemical Society.

A previously developed method for measurement of oleocanthal and oleacein in olive oil by quantitative (1)H NMR was expanded to include the measurement of the monoaldehydic forms of oleuropein and ligstroside aglycons. The method was validated and applied to the study of 340 monovarietal Greek and Californian olive oils from 23 varieties and for a 3-year period. A wide variation concerning the concentrations of all four secoiridoids was recorded. The concentration of each one ranged from nondetectable to 711 mg/kg and the sum of the four major secoiridoids (named as D3) ranged from nondetectable to 1534 mg/kg. Examination of the NMR profile of the olive oil extract before and after contact with normal or reversed stationary chromatography phase proved the artificial formation of the 5S,8S,9S aldehydic forms of oleuropein and ligstroside aglycon isomers during chromatography. Finally, methyl elenolate was identified for the first time as a minor constituent of olive oil.

A previously developed method for measurement of oleocanthal and oleacein in olive oil by quantitative 1H NMR was expanded to include the measurement of the monoaldehydic forms of oleuropein and ligstroside aglycons. The method was validated and applied to the study of 340 monovarietal Greek and Californian olive oils from 23 varieties and for a 3-year period. A wide variation concerning the concentrations of all four secoiridoids was recorded. The concentration of each one ranged from nondetectable to 711 mg/kg and the sum of the four major secoiridoids (named as D3) ranged from nondetectable to 1534 mg/ kg. Examination of the NMR profile of the olive oil extract before and after contact with normal or reversed stationary chromatography phase proved the artificial formation of the 5S,8S,9S aldehydic forms of oleuropein and ligstroside aglycon isomers during chromatography. Finally, methyl elenolate was identified for the first time as a minor constituent of olive oil.

Electrons mediate many of the interactions between atoms in a solid. Their propagation in a material determines its thermal, electrical, optical, magnetic and transport properties. Therefore, the constant energy contours characterizing the electrons, in particular the Fermi surface, have a prime impact on the behaviour of materials. If anisotropic, the contours induce strong directional dependence at the nanoscale in the Friedel oscillations surrounding impurities. Here we report on giant anisotropic charge density oscillations focused along specific directions with strong spin-filtering after scattering at an oxygen impurity embedded in the surface of a ferromagnetic thin film of Fe grown on W(001). Utilizing density functional theory, we demonstrate that by changing the thickness of the Fe films, we control quantum well states confined to two dimensions that manifest as multiple flat energy contours, impinging and tuning the strength of the induced charge oscillations which allow to detect the oxygen impurity at large distances (approximate to 50 nm).

We introduce a quantum-coherence driven many-body photonic nanostructure, in which we observe self-organized phase-transitions to a new type of non-potential light localization, resilient to dissipation, fluctuations, and nonlinear interactions. © OSA 2016.

Purpose; Hepatic resection is the mainstay of the curative treatment of primary hepatic tumors, with constantly improving short and long term results. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)-assisted liver resection is a relatively new method of transection of the liver parenchyma with favorable intra- and perioperative results. The aim of this study was to investigate the oncological efficacy (long term overall survival/OS and disease free survival/DFS) and to confirm the favorable short term morbidity and mortality. Methods: Between May 2004 and January 2007, 28 patients underwent 32 resections with removal of 50 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions. The technique of parenchymal transection has been described previously as RFA-assisted liver resection. Results: Thirty-day morbidity and mortality were 42.8 and 0%, respectively. Blood transfusion was necessary for 28.5% of the patients. The median hospital stay was 16.5 days (range 5-34). The 1- and 3-year OS were 92.9 and 65.7%, respectively. The 1- and 3-year DFS were 62.3 and 54.6% respectively. No patient developed metastatic disease or local recurrence at the margin site. Twelve patients (42.9%) developed in-the-liver recurrence away from the resection area. Conclusion: RFA-assisted liver resection is a safe and oncologically efficacious method for the surgical treatment of HCC with results comparable to other surgical techniques.

We construct and analyze a model of the relativistic steady-state magnetohydrodynamic rarefaction that is induced when a planar symmetric flow (with one ignorable Cartesian coordinate) propagates under a steep drop of the external pressure profile. Using the method of self-similarity, we derive a system of ordinary differential equations that describe the flow dynamics. In the specific limit of an initially homogeneous flow, we also provide analytical results and accurate scaling laws. We consider that limit as a generalization of the previous Newtonian and hydrodynamic solutions already present in the literature. The model includes magnetic field and bulk flow speed having all components, whose role is explored with a parametric study.

We construct and analyze a model of the relativistic steady-state magnetohydrodynamic rarefaction that is induced when a planar symmetric flow (with one ignorable Cartesian coordinate) propagates under a steep drop of the external pressure profile. Using the method of self-similarity, we derive a system of ordinary differential equations that describe the flow dynamics. In the specific limit of an initially homogeneous flow, we also provide analytical results and accurate scaling laws. We consider that limit as a generalization of the previous Newtonian and hydrodynamic solutions already present in the literature. The model includes magnetic field and bulk flow speed having all components, whose role is explored with a parametric study.

BACKGROUND: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been thoroughly documented in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). It is the only immune-modifying and causal treatment available for patients suffering from IgE-mediated diseases such as allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, allergic asthma and insect sting allergy. However, there is a high degree of clinical and methodological heterogeneity among the endpoints in clinical studies on AIT, for both subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy (SCIT and SLIT). At present, there are no commonly accepted standards for defining the optimal outcome parameters to be used for both primary and secondary endpoints. METHODS: As elaborated by a Task Force (TF) of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Immunotherapy Interest Group, this Position Paper evaluates the currently used outcome parameters in different RCTs and also aims to provide recommendations for the optimal endpoints in future AIT trials for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. RESULTS: Based on a thorough literature review, the TF members have outlined recommendations for nine domains of clinical outcome measures. As the primary outcome, the TF recommends a homogeneous combined symptom and medication score (CSMS) as a simple and standardized method that balances both symptoms and the need for antiallergic medication in an equally weighted manner. All outcomes, grouped into nine domains, are reviewed. CONCLUSION: A standardized and globally harmonized method for analysing the clinical efficacy of AIT products in RCTs is required. The EAACI TF highlights the CSMS as the primary endpoint for future RCTs in AIT for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

Excess body weight is associated with various types of malignancies. Resistin, originally described as an adipocyte-specific hormone modulating insulin resistance in rodents, may exhibit proliferative, antiapoptotic, proinflammatory, proangiogenic and metastatic properties. Accumulating evidence supports a role of resistin as a risk factor and potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in cancer. In this report, the current knowledge about resistin's properties and pathophysiological implications in cancer in the context of dysregulated adipose tissue in obesity is summarized; clinical translations, preventive and therapeutic considerations, and future perspectives in the field of resistin research are discussed. At the same time, several enigmatic issues involving resistin receptor and signaling pathways remain to be clarified in order to unmask its ontological role in cancer pathophysiology.

The issue of violence on the soccer field in our time is a very complicated sport-social phenomenon. The subject has already been extensively researched, but there is still room for further inquiry. In accordance with internationally accepted theoretical tendencies, previous studies examining the issue of violence in soccer in Greece have focused on the understanding of this phenomenon as it relates to either the social conditions in society in general, or to the social characteristics of the spectators of the soccer clubs that are involved in that violence. This study looked at the issue from another point of view. Specifically, it focuses on the understanding of the phenomenon as it relates with the space, the time and the structural conditions under which it is produced. For that purpose, a questionnaire was administered to 696 subjects divided into four different groups of individuals related to soccer. The results, divided in three categories, indicate that, when we examine issues of violence in soccer, we should consider how a variety of socialcultural and emotional conditions inside football stadiums are shaped, keeping in mind that those conditions are specific in each game. This would enable us to differentiate violence in sport from other forms of violence and would assist in understanding the limits of responsibility of football institutions and organizations. Key Words: violence, football stadium, emotional energy, structural characteristics and conditions, expectations.

Bortezomib-dexamethasone is widely used for relapsed myeloma in routine clinical practice, but comparative data versus single-agent bortezomib are lacking. This retrospective analysis compared second-line treatment with bortezomib- dexamethasone and bortezomib using 109 propensity score-matched pairs of patients treated in three clinical trials: MMY-2045, APEX, and DOXIL-MMY-3001. Propensity scores were estimated using logistic regression analyses incorporating 13 clinical variables related to drug exposure or clinical outcome. Patients received intravenous bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 on days 1, 4, 8, and 11, in 21-day cycles, alone or with oral dexamethasone 20 mg on the days of/after bortezomib dosing. Median bortezomib cumulative dose (27.02 and 28.60 mg/m2) and treatment duration (19.6 and 17.6 weeks) were similar with bortezomib-dexamethasone and bortezomib, respectively. The overall response rate was higher (75% vs. 41%; odds ratio=3.467; P<0.001), and median time-to-progression (13.6 vs. 7.0 months; hazard ratio [HR]=0.394; P=0.003) and progression-free survival (11.9 vs. 6.4 months; HR=0.595; P=0.051) were longer with bortezomib-dexamethasone versus bortezomib, respectively. Rates of anygrade adverse events, most common grade 3 or higher adverse events, and discontinuations due to adverse events appeared similar between the groups. Two patients per group died of treatment-related adverse events. These data indicate the potential benefit of bortezomib-dexamethasone compared with single-agent bortezomib at first relapse in myeloma. The MMY-2045, APEX, and DOXIL-MMY-3001 clinical trials were registered at, respectively, clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 00908232, 00048230, and 00103506. ©2014 Ferrata Storti Foundation.

One of the major challenges of public procurement for innovation (PPI) is risk aversion and the limited risk management practices in the public sector (Edler et al., Chapter 2 in this volume). While this problem has been identified for many years (Edler et al., 2005), there have been no attempts to design an effective risk management framework that can be used to alleviate it. The major reason for this is the high level of complexity when it comes to defining, understanding and operationalizing risk, which are necessary in order to make it manageable in the first place. Risks associated with PPI do not only emanate from the nature of the innovation activity itself, but have a large number of different origins associated with the heterogeneity of the actor landscape in PPI. Moreover, different actors have different risk perceptions, and we often find a mismatch between actor groups benefiting from an innovation (users, suppliers, citizens) and those that bear the consequences of its failure. Against this background, the purpose of this chapter is to conceptualize risk and risk management in PPI and discuss the value of such a conceptualization for PPI practice and policy-making. Our conceptualization of risk and risk management in PPI refers to the various types of risks that are relevant to the public procurement process, and indicates some governance and managerial challenges these pose for PPI.

Automatic segmentation of the arterial lumen from ultrasound images is an important task in clinical diagnosis. Carotid artery recognition, the first task in lumen segmentation, should be performed in a fully automated, fast, and reliable way to further facilitate the low-level task of arterial delineation. In this paper, a user-independent, real-time algorithm is introduced for carotid artery localization in longitudinal B-mode ultrasound images. The proposed technique acts directly on the raw image, and exploits basic statistics along with anatomical knowledge. The method's evaluation and parameter value optimization were performed on a threefold cross validation basis. In addition, the introduced algorithm was systematically compared with another algorithm for common carotid artery recognition in B-mode scans, separately for multi-frame and single-frame data. The data sets used included 2,149 images from 100 subjects taken from three different institutions and covering a wide range of possible lumen and surrounding tissue representations. Using the optimized values, the carotid artery was recognized in all the processed images in both multi-frame and single-frame data. Thus, the introduced technique will further reinforce automatic segmentation in longitudinal B-mode ultrasound images.

Background: Chemokine receptor signaling pathways are implicated in the pathobiology of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, the clinical relevance of CXCR2 receptor, mediating the effects of all angiogenic chemokines, remains unclear. SOCS (suppressor of cytokine signaling)-3 is a negative regulator of cytokine-driven responses, contributing to interferon-α resistance commonly used to treat advanced RCC with limited information regarding its expression in RCC.Methods: In this study, CXCR2 and SOCS-3 were immunohistochemically investigated in 118 RCC cases in relation to interleukin (IL)-6 and (IL)-8, their downstream transducer phosphorylated (p-)STAT-3, and VEGF expression, being further correlated with microvascular characteristics, clinicopathological features and survival. In 30 cases relationships with hypoxia-inducible factors, i.e. HIF-1a, p53 and NF-κΒ (p65/RelA) were also examined. Validation of immunohistochemistry and further investigation of downstream transducers, p-JAK2 and p-c-Jun were evaluated by Western immunoblotting in 5 cases.Results: Both CXCR2 and IL-8 were expressed by the neoplastic cells their levels being interrelated. CXCR2 strongly correlated with the levels of HIF-1a, p53 and p65/RelA in the neoplastic cells. Although SOCS-3 was simultaneously expressed with p-STAT-3, its levels tended to show an inverse relationship with p-JAK-2 and p-c-Jun in Western blots and were positively correlated with HIF-1a, p53 and p65/p65/RelA expression. Neither CXCR2 nor SOCS-3 correlated with the extent of microvascular network. IL-8 and CXCR2 expression was associated with high grade, advanced stage and the presence/number of metastases but only CXCR2 adversely affected survival in univariate analysis. Elevated SOCS-3 expression was associated with progression, the presence/number of metastasis and shortened survival in both univariate and multivariate analysis.Conclusions: Our findings implicate SOCS-3 overexpression in RCC metastasis and biologic aggressiveness advocating its therapeutic targeting. IL-8/CXCR2 signaling also contributes to the metastatic phenotype of RCC cells but appears of lesser prognostic utility. Both CXCR2 and SOCS-3 appear to be related to transcription factors induced under hypoxia. © 2014 Stofas et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

We investigate the effects of hadronic cascades on the gamma-ray burst (GRB) prompt emission spectra in scenarios of efficient neutrino production. By assuming a fiducial GRB spectrum and a power-law proton distribution extending to ultrahigh energies, we calculate the proton cooling rate and the neutrino emission produced through photopion processes. For this, we employ a numerical code that follows the formation of the hadronic cascade by taking into account non-linear feedback effects, such as the evolution of the target photon field itself due to the contribution of secondary particles. We show that in cases of efficient proton cooling and subsequently efficient high-energy neutrino production, the emission from the hadronic cascade distorts and may even dominate the GRB spectrum. Taking this into account, we constrain the allowable values of the ratio ηp = Lp/Lγ, where Lp and Lγ are the isotropic equivalent proton and prompt gamma-ray luminosities. For the highest value of ηp that does not lead to the dominance of the cascading emission, we then calculate the maximum neutrino luminosity from a single burst and show that it ranges between (0.01-0.6)Lp and (0.5-1.4)Lγ for various parameter sets. We discuss possible implications of other parameters, such as the magnetic field strength and the shape of the initial gamma-ray spectrum, on our results. Finally, we compare the upper limit on ηp derived here with various studies in the field, and we point out the necessity of a self-consistent treatment of the hadronic emission in order to avoid erroneously high neutrino fluxes from GRB models.

Clinical outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have improved substantially since the introduction of novel agents including the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib and the immunomodulatory drugs thalidomide and lenalidomide. However, most patients with MM eventually relapse, and prognosis remains poor among patients with relapsed and/or refractory disease. Combination therapy using agents with different mechanisms of action is emerging as an attractive treatment approach in oncology to increase efficacy and/or overcome resistance to standard treatment regimens. This review discusses unmet needs in the treatment of MM and the development of histone deacetylase inhibitors as a treatment modality for MM. © 2013 Informa UK, Ltd.

Photocatalysis has gained relevance in many applications, including production of fuels, green synthesis of added value products and water detoxification. Graphene-TiO2 photocatalysts are attracting great attention, but they should be prepared adequately, protecting the carbon material from the surrounding reactive media, maximizing the contact between TiO2 and graphene, and envisaging solar applications. Hereby, graphene oxide was chemically reduced using vitamin C and glucose (environmental friendly reducing agents) as well as hydrazine, and the evolution of the graphene oxygenated surface groups was systematically analyzed (pHPZC, TPD, TG, XPS, DRUV-Vis, Raman and ATR-FTIR). These functionalities (such as epoxy and hydroxyl groups) mediate the efficient and uniform assembly of the TiO2 nanoparticles on the graphene oxide sheets, leading to highly efficient photocatalysts both under near-UV/Vis and visible light, which is of particular relevance for solar applications. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.

We present new photometric observations of two eclipsing binary systems, V1241 Tau and GQ Dra. We use the following methodology: initially, the Wilson-Devinney code is applied to the light curves in order to determine the photometric elements of the systems. Then, the residuals are analysed using Fourier techniques. The results are the following. One frequency can be possibly attributed to a real light variation of V1241 Tau, while there is no evidence of pulsations in the light curve of GQ Dra.

The current study examines flow (Q) and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) variations, based on monthly snapshots, of the Pinios River (Thessaly), which is one of the larger rivers in Greece, characterized by limited flow control (<10% of its catchment). Monthly measurements (flow velocities and water samples) during the hydrological year (October 2012 to September 2013) were conducted at two stations; one before the river enters its delta (Agia Paraskevi bridge at Tempi) and one close to its mouth (Palaiopyrgos bridge). Monthly flows at Agia Paraskevi range from 2.5 m3 /s to 206.7 m3 /s and are in a good agreement with available historical data for the period 1975/76- 93/94, indicating a rather unchanged flow regime. The SSC values ranged from 3.5 mg/L to 165 mg/L at Agia Paraskevi and from 2.2 mg/L to 177 mg/L at Palaiopyrgos and, in general, follow the monthly trend of flow. The highest SSC value measured in February and April 2013 is attributed to a flood event and an upland slide, respectively.

Background: Lenalidomide has been linked to second primary malignancies in myeloma. We aimed to pool and analyse available data to compare the incidence of second primary malignancies in patients with and without lenalidomide exposure. Methods: We identified relevant studies through a search of PubMed and abstracts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and the International Myeloma Workshop. Randomised, controlled, phase 3 trials that recruited patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma between Jan 1, 2000, and Dec 15, 2012, and in which at least one group received lenalidomide were eligible for inclusion. We obtained individual patient data (age, sex, date of diagnosis, allocated treatment and received treatment, duration of treatment and cause of discontinuation, maintenance treatment, date of first relapse, date of second primary malignancy diagnosis, type of second primary malignancy, date of death or last contact, and cause of death) by direct collaboration with the principal investigators of eligible trials. Primary outcomes of interest were cumulative incidence of all second primary malignancies, solid second primary malignancies, and haematological second primary malignancies, and were analysed by a one-step meta-analysis. Findings: We found nine eligible trials, of which seven had available data for 3254 patients. 3218 of these patients received treatment (2620 had received lenalidomide and 598 had not), and were included in our analyses. Cumulative incidences of all second primary malignancies at 5 years were 6·9% (95% CI 5·3-8·5) in patients who received lenalidomide and 4·8% (2·0-7·6) in those who did not (hazard ratio [HR] 1·55 [95% CI 1·03-2·34]; p=0·037). Cumulative 5-year incidences of solid second primary malignancies were 3·8% (95% CI 2·7-4·9) in patients who received lenalidomide and 3·4% (1·6-5·2) in those that did not (HR 1·1 [95% CI 0·62-2·00]; p=0·72), and of haematological second primary malignancies were 3·1% (95% CI 1·9-4·3) and 1·4% (0·0-3·6), respectively (HR 3·8 [95% CI 1·15-12·62]; p=0·029). Exposure to lenalidomide plus oral melphalan significantly increased haematological second primary malignancy risk versus melphalan alone (HR 4·86 [95% CI 2·79-8·46]; p<0·0001). Exposure to lenalidomide plus cyclophosphamide (HR 1·26 [95% CI 0·30-5·38]; p=0·75) or lenalidomide plus dexamethasone (HR 0·86 [95% CI 0·33-2·24]; p=0·76) did not increase haematological second primary malignancy risk versus melphalan alone. Interpretation: Patients with newly diagnosed myeloma who received lenalidomide had an increased risk of developing haematological second primary malignancies, driven mainly by treatment strategies that included a combination of lenalidomide and oral melphalan. These results suggest that alternatives, such as cyclophosphamide or alkylating-free combinations, should be considered instead of oral melphalan in combination with lenalidomide for myeloma. Funding: Celgene Corporation. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

We examine the neutrino and cosmic ray spectra resulting from two models of fitting the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the blazar Mrk 421 using a self-consistent leptohadronic code. The γ -ray emission is attributed to either synchrotron radiation of ultra-high energy protons (LHs model) or to synchrotron radiation from electrons that result from photopion interactions of lower energy protons (LH π model). Although both models succeed in fitting satisfactorily the SED, the parameter values that they use result in significantly different neutrino and cosmic-ray spectra. For the LH π model, which requires high proton energy density, we find that the neutrino spectrum peaks at an energy Eν,peak = 3.3 PeV which falls well within the energy range of recent neutrino observations. While at the same time its peak flux is just under the sensitivity limit of IC-40 observations, it cannot produce ultra-high energy cosmic rays. In the LHs model, on the other hand, neutrinos are far from being detectable because of their low flux and peak energy at Eν,peak ≃ 100 PeV. However, the propagation of protons produced by the decay of escaping neutrons results in an ultra-high energy cosmic ray flux close to that observed by Pierre Augere, HiRes and Telescope Array at energies Ep ≃ 30 EeV.

We examine the neutrino and cosmic ray spectra resulting from two models of fitting the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the blazar Mrk 421 using a self-consistent leptohadronic code. The γ -ray emission is attributed to either synchrotron radiation of ultra-high energy protons (LHs model) or to synchrotron radiation from electrons that result from photopion interactions of lower energy protons (LH π model). Although both models succeed in fitting satisfactorily the SED, the parameter values that they use result in significantly different neutrino and cosmic-ray spectra. For the LH π model, which requires high proton energy density, we find that the neutrino spectrum peaks at an energy Eν,peak = 3.3 PeV which falls well within the energy range of recent neutrino observations. While at the same time its peak flux is just under the sensitivity limit of IC-40 observations, it cannot produce ultra-high energy cosmic rays. In the LHs model, on the other hand, neutrinos are far from being detectable because of their low flux and peak energy at Eν,peak ≃ 100 PeV. However, the propagation of protons produced by the decay of escaping neutrons results in an ultra-high energy cosmic ray flux close to that observed by Pierre Augere, HiRes and Telescope Array at energies Ep ≃ 30 EeV.

Psychiatric disorders are characterized by sex differences in their prevalence, symptomatology and treatment response. Animal models have been widely employed for the investigation of the neurobiology of such disorders and the discovery of new treatments. However, mostly male animals have been used in preclinical pharmacological studies. In this review, we highlight the need for the inclusion of both male and female animals in experimental studies aiming at gender-oriented prevention, diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders. We present behavioural findings on sex differences from animal models of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance-related disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism. Moreover, when available, we include studies conducted across different stages of the oestrous cycle. By inspection of the relevant literature, it is obvious that robust sex differences exist in models of all psychiatric disorders. However, many times results are conflicting, and no clear conclusion regarding the direction of sex differences and the effect of the oestrous cycle is drawn. Moreover, there is a lack of considerable amount of studies using psychiatric drugs in both male and female animals, in order to evaluate the differential response between the two sexes. Notably, while in most cases animal models successfully mimic drug response in both sexes, test parameters and treatment-sensitive behavioural indices are not always the same for male and female rodents. Thus, there is an increasing need to validate animal models for both sexes and use standard procedures across different laboratories.

Psychiatric disorders are characterized by sex differences in their prevalence, symptomatology and treatment response. Animal models have been widely employed for the investigation of the neurobiology of such disorders and the discovery of new treatments. However, mostly male animals have been used in preclinical pharmacological studies. In this review, we highlight the need for the inclusion of both male and female animals in experimental studies aiming at gender-oriented prevention, diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders. We present behavioural findings on sex differences from animal models of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance-related disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism. Moreover, when available, we include studies conducted across different stages of the oestrous cycle. By inspection of the relevant literature, it is obvious that robust sex differences exist in models of all psychiatric disorders. However, many times results are conflicting, and no clear conclusion regarding the direction of sex differences and the effect of the oestrous cycle is drawn. Moreover, there is a lack of considerable amount of studies using psychiatric drugs in both male and female animals, in order to evaluate the differential response between the two sexes. Notably, while in most cases animal models successfully mimic drug response in both sexes, test parameters and treatment-sensitive behavioural indices are not always the same for male and female rodents. Thus, there is an increasing need to validate animal models for both sexes and use standard procedures across different laboratories.

The occurrence of mutual genetic loci in morphogenesis of the face and teeth implies shape covariation between these structures. However, teeth finalize their shape at an early age, whereas the face grows and is subjected to environmental influences for a prolonged period; it is therefore conceivable that covariation might modulate with age. Here we investigate the extent of this covariation in humans by measuring the 3D shape of the occlusal surface of the permanent first molars and the shape of the craniofacial complex from lateral radiographs, at two maturations stages. A sample of Greek subjects was divided into two groups (110 adult, 110 prepubertal) with equally distributed gender. The occlusal surfaces of the right first molars were 3D scanned from dental casts; 265 and 274 landmarks (including surface and curve semilandmarks) were digitized on the maxillary and mandibular molars, respectively. The corresponding lateral cephalometric radiographs were digitized with 71 landmarks. Geometric morphometric methods were used to assess shape variation and covariation. The vertical dimension of the craniofacial complex was the main parameter of shape variation, followed by anteroposterior deviations. The male craniofacial complex was larger (4.0-5.7%) and was characterized by a prominent chin and clockwise rotation of the cranial base (adult group only). Allometry was weak and statistically significant only when examined for the sample as a whole (percent variance explained: 2.1%, P = 0.0002). Covariation was statistically significant only between the lower first molar and the craniofacial complex (RV = 14.05%, P = 0.0099, and RV = 12.31%, P = 0.0162, for the prepubertal and adult groups, respectively). Subtle age-related covariation differences were noted, indicating that environmental factors may influence the pattern and strength of covariation. However, the main pattern was similar in both groups: a class III skeletal pattern (relative maxillary retrusion and mandibular protrusion), hyperdivergency, forward rotation of the posterior cranial base and upward rotation of the anterior cranial base were associated with mesiodistal elongation of the lower molars and height reduction of their distal cusps. This pattern mimics phylogeny in humans, where flexion and counterclockwise rotation of the cranial base, considered advantageous to survival, co-occur with tooth reductions that cannot be easily explained in evolutionary terms. The similarity of the phylogenetic and covariation patterns seems to support the pleiotropic gene hypothesis.

International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) and European Federation of Medical Informatics are scientific associations which represents Health/Medical informatics as scientific and profesional disciplines. Those associations have long tradition in spreading knowledge, experiences and strategies in organization, practical applications and education within Health, Medical and Biomedical informatics in approximately 60 countries the world. In this review we present basic facts about IMIA and EFMI.who celebrate this 50 years of their establishing as professional associations.

Background: Renal impairment (RI) is a common presenting complication of multiple myeloma (MM); the availability of new treatments has improved the outcomes of patients with MM; however, their impact on the survival of patients who present with RI has not been extensively studied. Patients and methods: We analyzed the characteristics and outcomes of 1773 consecutive unselected patients who were treated for symptomatic myeloma since January 1990. Results: Although there was a significant increase in the proportion of patients of advanced age in the more recent periods, the frequency of RI as well as the proportion of patients who presented with severe RI (eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2) remained unchanged around 18%. Thus, after adjustment for age, there was a decrease in the risk of severe RI at presentation after 2000. Myeloma response rates (≥PR) to frontline therapy have substantially increased, and this was translated in a significant increase in the median survival. Specifically for patients with severe RI, the median OS has improved from 18 and 19.5 months in the 1990-1994 and 1995-1999 to 29 and 32 months for the periods 2000-2004 and after 2005 (P = 0.005). Severe RI was associated with a high risk of early death (12% versus 7% for patients with moderate RI versus 3% for patients with mild or no RI (P < 0.001), especially among older patients, and has remained unchanged over time. Conclusions: There has been a major improvement in the survival of patients with severe RI in the past decade, despite the increasing numbers of patients of advanced age. However, the risk of early death remains high in patients with severe RI, especially in the elderly. © The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved.

The challenging problem of skew scattering for Hall effects in dilute ferromagnetic alloys, with intertwined effects of spin-orbit coupling, magnetism, and impurity scattering, is studied here from first principles. Our main aim is to identify chemical trends and work out simple rules for large skew scattering in terms of the impurity and host states at the Fermi surface, with particular emphasis on the interplay of the spin and anomalous Hall effects in one and the same system. The predicted trends are benchmarked by referring to three different ab initio methods based on different approximations with respect to the electronic structure and transport properties.

This paper describes an empirical study which evaluates the Greek population perceptions on a "Smart" m-health application for Travelers, their attitude towards use, and their intention to use it. Based on TAM, IDT and other research works, a theoretical model was empirically constructed and then validated. The sample was 313 individuals, who most of them travel frequently and using Smartphone. Data analysis was performed using partial least squares path modeling. Results highlight the very strong significant effect of perceived usefulness, relative advantage and compatibility as well as, the significant effect of perceived ease of use to attitude towards using a "Smart" m-health application for Travelers. The study findings reveal also a strong significant effect of attitude towards use to behavioral intention to use showing the need for such m-health applications.

Current ideas about HIV prevention include a mixture of primarily biomedical interventions, socio-mechanical interventions such as sterile syringe and condom distribution, and behavioral interventions. This article presents a framework for socially-integrated transdisciplinary HIV prevention that may improve current prevention efforts. It first describes one socially-integrated transdisciplinary intervention project, the Transmission Reduction Intervention Project. We focus on how social aspects of the intervention integrate its component parts across disciplines and processes at different levels of analysis. We then present socially-integrated perspectives about how to improve combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) processes at the population level in order to solve the problems of the treatment cascade and make "treatment as prevention" more effective. Finally, we discuss some remaining problems and issues in such a social transdisciplinary intervention in the hope that other researchers and public health agents will develop additional socially-integrated interventions for HIV and other diseases.

Current ideas about HIV prevention include a mixture of primarily biomedical interventions, socio-mechanical interventions such as sterile syringe and condom distribution, and behavioral interventions. This article presents a framework for socially-integrated transdisciplinary HIV prevention that may improve current prevention efforts. It first describes one socially-integrated transdisciplinary intervention project, the Transmission Reduction Intervention Project. We focus on how social aspects of the intervention integrate its component parts across disciplines and processes at different levels of analysis. We then present socially-integrated perspectives about how to improve combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) processes at the population level in order to solve the problems of the treatment cascade and make "treatment as prevention" more effective. Finally, we discuss some remaining problems and issues in such a social transdisciplinary intervention in the hope that other researchers and public health agents will develop additional socially-integrated interventions for HIV and other diseases.

Lefkada Island is situated off the west coast of the Greek mainland and belongs to the complexof the Ionian Islands, one of the most seismically prone areas within the SE Mediterranean region,dominated by the right lateral Cephalonia Transform Fault Zone. As it is reported from historical andinstrumental catalogues the study area has suffered numerous devastating local earthquakes withM>6.0. The most recent strong earthquake occurred on 14 August 2003, having M=6.2, at a distanceof only 10 km from the town of Lefkas where a peak ground acceleration of 0.42g was recorded, beingone of the largest observed in Greece during the last decades. Although the earthquake producedlimited damage to the building stock, it likely induced damages of geotechnical character, associatedwith extensive liquefaction mainly in the waterfront of the town. Coseismic failure observationsprovided an expansive database which tempted us and triggered a multitasking project toward lossassessment in the Lefkada Old Town (LOT), comprising traditional construction practices ofarchitectural significance and high seismic behaviour as a rule.The project employs several modules which were performed successively during the last years:(A) Macroscopic analysis of the buildings stock in LOT by conducting a comprehensive in-situinventory of the buildings; (B) Vulnerability classification of the building stock using EMS98; (C)Ground Motion Parameters (GMP) determination for regional hazard assessment; (D) Site effectsresulting from a detailed ambient noise study conducted in LOT; (E) Analysis of availablegeotechnical information and in-situ measurements of the local soil properties; (F) Employment ofdamage distributions during the recent 2003 earthquake; (G) Development of an ARC-GIS platform toinclude and allow the process of the massive data collected.In this paper we present a first attempt to synthesize the above modules in order to investigatesoil-structure interactions in LOT, assuming a linear response for both. By using various seismicsources whose characteristics are inferred by the active tectonics and the probabilistic hazardassessment of the study area, strong ground motion has been simulated both stochastically anddeterministically for hard bedrock conditions. GMPs were constrained beneath the foundations of thebuildings by convolving the simulated ground motion with the soil transfer functions deduced frommicrotremors. According to this, for each scenario a damage potential has been assigned at eachbuilding. The obtained patterns were proven to be fairly comparable with the damage distribution dueto the 2003 event, hence constituting a provocative motivation for further investigation and otherapplications.

Lefkada Island is situated off the west coast of the Greek mainland and belongs to the complex of the Ionian Islands, one of the most seismically prone areas within the SE Mediterranean region, dominated by the right lateral Cephalonia Transform Fault Zone. As it is reported from historical and instrumental catalogues the study area has suffered numerous devastating local earthquakes with M>6.0. The most recent strong earthquake occurred on 14 August 2003, having M=6.2, at a distanceof only 10 km from the town of Lefkas where a peak ground acceleration of 0.42g was recorded, being one of the largest observed in Greece during the last decades. Although the earthquake producedlimited damage to the building stock, it likely induced damages of geotechnical character, associated with extensive liquefaction mainly in the waterfront of the town. Coseismic failure observationsprovided an expansive database which tempted us and triggered a multitasking project toward loss assessment in the Lefkada Old Town (LOT), comprising traditional construction practices of architectural significance and high seismic behaviour as a rule. The project employs several modules which were performed successively during the last years: (A) Macroscopic analysis of the buildings stock in LOT by conducting a comprehensive in-situ inventory of the buildings; (B) Vulnerability classification of the building stock using EMS98; (C)Ground Motion Parameters (GMP) determination for regional hazard assessment; (D) Site effects resulting from a detailed ambient noise study conducted in LOT; (E) Analysis of available geotechnical information and in-situ measurements of the local soil properties; (F) Employment of damage distributions during the recent 2003 earthquake; (G) Development of an ARC-GIS platform to include and allow the process of the massive data collected. In this paper we present a first attempt to synthesize the above modules in order to investigatesoil-structure interactions in LOT, assuming a linear response for both. By using various seismic sources whose characteristics are inferred by the active tectonics and the probabilistic hazard assessment of the study area, strong ground motion has been simulated both stochastically anddeterministically for hard bedrock conditions. GMPs were constrained beneath the foundations of the buildings by convolving the simulated ground motion with the soil transfer functions deduced frommicrotremors. According to this, for each scenario a damage potential has been assigned at each building. The obtained patterns were proven to be fairly comparable with the damage distribution due to the 2003 event, hence constituting a provocative motivation for further  investigation and other applications.

In this issue of Blood, 2 studies, one by Paiva et al (for the Spanish Myeloma Study group) and one by Hill et al (for the Leeds group [UK]), showed independently that flow cytometry of the bone marrow could identify patients with solitary plasmacytomas (SPs) at high risk for progression to active multiple myeloma (MM).1,2 In the fi rst study, 71% of patients with solitary bone plasmacytoma (SBP) who had positive fl ow cytometry for bone marrow phenotypically aberrant clonal plasma cells progressed to MM at a median time of 26 months, whereas only 6% of patients with negative fl ow cytometry progressed to myeloma (panel A). The respective values for solitary soft tissue plasmacytomas, outside of the bone, were 20% vs 6%, respectively.1 In the second study, the results were similar: 72% of patients with SBP and occult bone marrow disease detected by flow cytometry vs 12.5% without clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow also progressed to MM at a median time of 26 months (panel B).2 These findings are of great importance because multiparameter flow cytometry may be included in the initial work-up of a patient with a suspected SP. © 2014 by The American Society of Hematology.

Highly efficient and stable organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells are demonstrated by incorporating solution-processed hydrogen molybdenum bronzes as anode interlayers. The bronzes are synthesized using a sol-gel method with the critical step being the partial oxide reduction/hydrogenation using an alcohol-based solvent. Their composition, stoichiometry, and electronic properties strongly correlate with the annealing process to which the films are subjected after spin coating. Hydrogen molybdenum bronzes with moderate degree of reduction are found to be highly advantageous when used as anode interlayers in OPVs, as they maintain a high work function similar to the fully stoichiometric metal oxide, whereas they exhibit a high density of occupied gap states, which are beneficial for charge transport. Enhanced short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage and, fill factor, relative to reference devices incorporating either PEDOT-PSS or a solution processed stoichiometric molybdenum oxide, are obtained for a variety of bulk heterojunction mixtures based on different polymeric donors and fullerene acceptors. In particular, high power conversion efficiencies are obtained in devices that employed the s-H xMoO2.75 as the hole extraction layer. The incorporation of solution-processed hydrogen molybdenum bronzes as anode interlayers in organic photovoltaic cells is presented. High power conversion efficiencies are observed in devices based on polymeric donors and fullerene acceptors that include a bronze with a moderate degree of reduction, namely the s-H xMoO2.75, as the anode interlayer. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

We study the bulk acceleration in relativistic axisymmetric magnetized outflows, by solving the momentum equation along the flow, the so-called wind equation. The solutions for the bulk Lorentz factor depend on the geometry of the field/streamlines through the "bunching function" S. We investigate the general characteristics of the S function and how its choice affects the acceleration. In our study, various fast rise and slow decay examples are selected for S, with a global maximum near the fast magnetosonic critical point, as required from the regularity condition. For each case we determine the terminal Lorentz factor γ∞ and the acceleration efficiency γ∞/μ, where μ is the total energy-to-mass flux ratio (which equals the maximum possible Lorentz factor of the outflow). With proper choices of S we can achieve efficiencies greater than 50%. Last, we examine the shape of the field/streamlines with respect to the choice of the S function. The results of this work, depending on the choices of μ, can be applied to relativistic GRB or AGN jets.

Major processes contributing to subtleties of ephemeral flowers of Asphodelus ramosus are related to chemical constituents detected in tepals which expand during cold and wet seasons in the eastern Mediterranean. Luteolin, caffeic acid, chlorogenic, and p-hydroxy-benzoic acids are the main constituents, whereas alkanes, ketones, and fatty acids appear in low amounts.

The association of plants with moral principles of individuals is presented in a miscellaneous, Medieval Greek manuscript. Botanical traits of 14 plants grown in Mediterranean landscapes have been used to express and awaken morals in the Middle Ages. Nowadays, plants symbolically linked to virtues represent a global resource for research.

The paper discusses the challenges and opportunities that the English as a lingua franca (ELF) paradigm raises for ESOL teacher education. I argue that one of the prominent implications of the ELF paradigm for ESOL teachers is the need to review and ultimately change their convictions about key aspects of foreign language teaching, such as normativity, the role of native/non-native speakers, and the function of teacher feedback in the foreign language classroom. I review evidence from the ELF literature that supports such a perspective and discuss the kind of reflective reviewing that teachers need to engage in. I argue that, while the critical approach is certainly the right way to go, it is not enough. What is necessary is a more rigorous approach that would go beyond merely exposing teachers to the principles and criteria of ELF and prompt them to critically consider and ultimately transform their deeper convictions about these issues. I present a framework for such a transformative perspective that aims at educating the ELF-aware teacher.

In foreign language contexts, course books assume a considerable amount of responsibility for the structuring of class time, classroom interaction, and language learning. In this paper, we evaluate EFL course book materials by considering their structure and effectiveness through survey questionnaires administered to teachers working in Greek state primary schools (4th and 5th grades) and via in-depth interviews with the book authors. Our research has shown that materials production can be a predominantly top–down process, in which policy makers, materials authors and teachers can draw independent pathways to developing and implementing the final product, i.e. the course book. The findings of the study have implications for teaching, teacher training, materials design and policy making in contexts where learners use course books for foreign language learning.

Στα τέλη του 19ου οι παραστάσεις του αρχαίου δράματος ήταν καθιερωμένες στα αμερικανικά πανεπιστήμια. Οι καθηγητές κλασικών σπουδών αναλάμβαναν τη διδασκαλία των δραματικών κειμένων από το πρωτότυπο και επιχειρούσαν τη σκηνική αναβίωσή τους, μελετώντας παράλληλα τις αρχαιολογικές πηγές ώστε το σκηνοθετικό, σκηνογραφικό και ενδυματολογικό αποτέλεσμα να αποτυπώνει όσο το δυνατόν πιστότερα το θέατρο της αρχαιότητας. Εξέχουσα μορφή στο χώρο αυτό υπήρξε η Αμερικανίδα σκηνοθέτης Mabel Hay Barrows.  Το 1899 αφού διασκεύασε σε θεατρικό έργο την «Οδύσσεια», περιπλανήθηκε στους δρόμους του Σικάγο αναζητώντας τους ηθοποιούς της στις γειτονιές των Ελλήνων μεταναστών και δημιούργησε  ελληνικό θεατρικό όμιλο. Η θεατρική της δραστηριότητα έδωσε το έναυσμα σε εκατοντάδες Έλληνες μετανάστες να συστήσουν ερασιτεχνικούς θιάσους και σε άλλες αμερικανικές πολιτείες.  Το άρθρο στηρίζεται σε πρωτότυπο υλικό από το πλούσιο αρχείο της Barrows στη Βιβλιοθήκη του Παν. Harvard και παρουσιάσει το σύνολο του έργου της και της προσφορά της.

Η δημοσίευση, είναι η ανακοίνωση που εκφωνήθηκε το Μάιο του 2011 στο Columbia College στο Σικάγο στο “International Chicago Theatre Symposium: Chicago theatre capital of America: Past, Present, Future” . Το κείμενο πραγματεύεται τη γέννηση του πρώτου ερασιτεχνικού και εν συνεχεία του πρώτου επαγγελματικού θιάσου που δημιουργήθηκε στις Η.Π.Α., και συγκεκριμένα στο Σικάγο. Ήδη από το 1895 οι πρώτες ελληνικές οργανώσεις στους κόλπους της ορθόδοξης εκκλησίας ιδρύουν ερασιτεχνικούς θιάσους, οι οποίοι συνήθως παρουσιάζουν πατριωτικά, εθνικά δράματα κατά την επέτειο της 25ης Μαρτίου. Παράλληλα η Mabel Hay Barrows, κόρη φιλέλληνα εύπορου Αμερικανού, στα τέλη του 19ου αι. με την σύμπραξη των Ελλήνων μεταναστών σύστησε επαγγελματικό θίασο αρχαίου δράματος. Η Barrows περιπλανώμενη στις ελληνικές γειτονιές στο Σικάγο εντόπισε τα μέλη του θιάσου της, τα οποία εκπαίδευσε σχολαστικά ώστε το αποτέλεσμα της δουλειάς της να γνωρίσει κοινή αποδοχή όχι μόνο από το ελληνικό αλλά και από το αμερικανικό κοινό. Η συστηματική δράση και η επιτυχία της Barrows είχε ως αποτέλεσμα τη διάδοση και την καθιέρωση του ελληνικού θεάτρου σε όλες τις Πολιτείες των Η.Π.Α.

In the person of Boccaccio the humanism of Florence found its major representative. In 1358 he completed his great work, The Decameron, begun some ten years earlier. Considered the prelude to the new spirit that was to be manifested by the Renaissance, it was written in the spirit of a human-centred era. In the tales of The Decameron, based on events occurring during the plague at Florence of 1348, Boccaccio provides a detailed outline of how medical events were viewed at a time of transition from the Middle Ages to the new age of change. The Decameron opens with a description of the Bubonic Plague (Black Death). Boccaccio knows that it started in the East, and attributes it either to the influence of heavenly bodies or to God's anger over the wicked deeds of men. But the symptoms of the plague are not like those in the East, where he has heard that a sudden gush of blood from the nose is a sure sign of impending death. Instead, there are swellings, the buboes, in the groin and under the armpit, growing to the size of a small apple or an egg, then large purple or black spots on other parts of the body, and death soon afterwards. This leads to the story of a group of seven young women and three young men who fled from plague-ridden Florence to a villa outside the city walls. To pass the time, they organized themselves so that each person at night has to amuse the others by telling a story. The stories, told over ten days, contain dramatic and or humorous, elements, and many refer in one way or another to the way illness was conceived and managed in those times.

This work is part of a multi-parametric research towards representation of damage scenarios in theLefkada old town. The study area lies in the most seismically active zone of the Greek territory. Mostof its buildings were built with local practices and have been designated by the European CouncilCultural Heritage Unit as representative earthquake resistant constructions. The August 14th, 2003(Mw=6.2) local earthquake produced several damage in the old town of Lefkada, with aninhomogeneous spatial distribution. In this paper we investigate the correlation of the observeddamage pattern with soil characteristics using data collected during an ambient noise survey conductedin 2007. Those were analyzed following Nakamura's HVSR methodology and soil response wasapproximated by the dominant frequencies and quasi-amplification factors of the resulted HVSRcurves. The latter were further inverted using a Monte-Carlo approach and best-fitting site specificgeotechnical models were determined. The obtained results are reasonably consistent with boreholetest data and show a remarkably good correlation with the 2003 damage distribution.

A growing body of evidence suggests that adiponectin presents anti-neoplastic effects via two mechanisms. First, adiponectin can act directly on tumor cells by enhancing receptor-mediated signaling pathways. Secondly, adiponectin may act indirectly by regulating inflammatory responses, influencing cancer angiogenesis and regulating insulin sensitivity at the target tissue site

What’s in a dialogic construction? A constructional approach to polysemy and the grammar of challenge   Abstract: In this paper we address lexical polysemy in a constructional perspective, arguing that each of the conversational meanings we identify for Modern Greek ela (2nd person singular imperative of the verb erxome ‘come’) is appropriately modeled as a conceptual gestalt of formal (including prosodic) and semantic-pragmatic properties. In turn-initial position, ela is used to challenge a preceding utterance; we show that the variations in the kind of challenge expressed are systematically tied to the word that follows ela, the speech act force and the sentence type of the preceding utterance, and finally prosodic and textual cues. To the extent that these varieties of conversational challenge are conditioned by particular contextual features, we treat them as a family of related constructions whose common features can be captured in the form of a generalized ela construction abstracted from the different sub-patterns. Our analysis thus demonstrates the appropriateness of a constructional framework for dealing with the different kinds of parameters involved in dialogic meaning and strongly suggests that at least some of the variation inherent in discourse is amenable to a grammatical description, so that sentence-level and supra-clause patterns can be analyzed in a uniform way.   Keywords: (dialogic) constructions, Construction Grammar, polysemy, (speech act                     of) challenge, exclamations, particles, Modern Greek, discourse   

Lightning is a natural phenomenon in the atmosphere, being a major cause of storm related deaths, main trigger of forest fires and affects many electrochemical systems of the body. Significant scientific interest has come up in the last decades, as numerous lightning detection networks have been established in operational basis, providing lightning data to assess and mitigate lightning impact to the local society by spatio-temporal analysis.In this study, a preliminary analysis of spatial and temporal variabilities of recorded lightnings over Greece during the period from January 2008 to December 2009 is presented. The data for retrieving the location and time-of-occurrence (TOA) of lightning were acquired from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS). An operational precision lightning network (PLN) has been established since 2007 by HNMS, consisting of eight time-of-arrival (TOA) sensors, spatially distributed across Greek territory.The spatial variability of lightnings revealed their incidence within specific geographical sub-regions while the temporal variability concerns the seasonal and monthly distributions. All the analyses were carried out with respect to cloud to cloud (CC), cloud to ground (CG) and ground to cloud (GC) lightnings, within the examined time period. During the autumn season, lightning activity was the highest, followed by summer and spring. Higher frequencies of stokes appear over Ionian Sea and Aegean Sea than over land during winter period against continental mountainous regions during summer period. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Aims: We observed RX J0520.5-6932 in the X-rays and studied the optical light curve of its counterpart to verify it as a Be/X-ray binary. Methods: We performed an XMM-Newton anticipated target-of-opportunity observation in January 2013 during an X-ray outburst of the source in order to search for pulsations and derive its spectral properties. We monitored the source with Swift to follow the evolution of the outburst and to look for further outbursts to verify the regular pattern seen in the optical light curve with a period of ~24.4 d. Results: The XMM-Newton EPIC light curves show coherent X-ray pulsations with a period of 8.035331(15) s (1σ). The X-ray spectrum can be modelled by an absorbed power law with photon index of ~0.8, an additional black-body component with temperature of ~0.25 keV, and an Fe K line. Phase-resolved X-ray spectroscopy reveals that the spectrum varies with pulse phase. We confirm the identification of the optical counterpart within the error circle of XMM-Newton at an angular distance of ~0.8'', which is an O9Ve star with known Hα emission. By analysing the combined data from three OGLE phases we derived an optical period of 24.43 d. Conclusions: The X-ray pulsations and long-term variability, as well as the properties of the optical counterpart, confirm that RX J0520.5-6932 is a Be/X-ray binary pulsar in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Based on the X-ray monitoring of the source, we conclude that the event in January 2013 was a moderately bright type-I X-ray outburst, with a peak luminosity of 1.79 × 1036 erg s-1. Based on observations with XMM-Newton, an ESA Science Mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member states and the USA (NASA); with Swift, a NASA mission with international participation.

We present new optical spectroscopy of 20 candidate counterparts of 17 X-ray sources in the direction of the M31 disc. By comparing the X-ray catalogue from the XMM-Newton survey of M31 with star catalogues from the Local Group Galaxy Survey, we chose counterpart candidates based on optical colour and X-ray hardness. We have discovered 17 counterpart candidates with spectra containing stellar features. Eight of these are early-type stars of O or B type in M31, with hard X-ray spectra, making them good high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) candidates. Three of these eight exhibit emission lines, which we consider to be the strongest HMXB candidates. In addition, our spectra reveal two likely Galactic cataclysmic variables, one foreground M star, two probable low-mass X-ray binaries related to M31 globular clusters, one emission-line region with an embedded Wolf-Rayet star and one newly discovered supernova remnant. Finally, two of the sources have stellar spectra with no features indicative of association with an X-ray source.

We present new optical spectroscopy of 20 candidate counterparts of 17 X-ray sources in the direction of the M31 disc. By comparing the X-ray catalogue from the XMM-Newton survey of M31 with star catalogues from the Local Group Galaxy Survey, we chose counterpart candidates based on optical colour and X-ray hardness. We have discovered 17 counterpart candidates with spectra containing stellar features. Eight of these are early-type stars of O or B type in M31, with hard X-ray spectra, making them good high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) candidates. Three of these eight exhibit emission lines, which we consider to be the strongest HMXB candidates. In addition, our spectra reveal two likely Galactic cataclysmic variables, one foreground M star, two probable low-mass X-ray binaries related to M31 globular clusters, one emission-line region with an embedded Wolf-Rayet star and one newly discovered supernova remnant. Finally, two of the sources have stellar spectra with no features indicative of association with an X-ray source.

The spin relaxation induced by the Elliott-Yafet mechanism and the extrinsic spin Hall conductivity due to the skew scattering are investigated in 5d transition-metal ultrathin films with self-adatom impurities as scatterers. The values of the Elliott-Yafet parameter and of the spin-flip relaxation rate reveal a correlation with each other that is in agreement with the Elliott approximation. At 10-layer thickness, the spin-flip relaxation time in 5d transition-metal films is quantitatively reported about few hundred nanoseconds at atomic percent. This time scale is one and two orders of magnitude shorter than the values in Au and Cu thin films, respectively. The anisotropy effect of the Elliott-Yafet parameter and of the spin-flip relaxation rate with respect to the direction of the spin-quantization axis in relation to the crystallographic axes is also analyzed. We find that the anisotropy of the spin-flip relaxation rate is enhanced due to the Rashba surface states on the Fermi surface, reaching values as high as 97% in 10-layer Hf(0001) film or 71% in 10-layer W(110) film. Finally, the spin Hall conductivity as well as the spin Hall angle due to the skew scattering off self-adatom impurities are calculated using the Boltzmann approach. Our calculations employ a relativistic version of the first-principles full-potential Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker Green function method.

The fundamental aspects of spin-dependent transport processes and their interplay with temperature gradients, as given by the spin Seebeck coefficient, are still largely unexplored and a multitude of contributing factors must be considered. We used density functional theory together with a Monte-Carlo-based statistical method to simulate simple nanostructures, such as Co nanowires and films embedded in a Cu host or in vacuum, and investigated the influence of spin disorder scattering on electron transport at elevated temperatures. While we show that the spin-dependent scattering of electrons due to temperature-induced disorder of the local magnetic moments contributes significantly to the resistance, thermoelectric, and spin-caloric transport coefficients, we also conclude that the actual magnitude of these effects cannot be predicted, quantitatively or qualitatively, without such detailed calculations.

BACKGROUND: Although asthma is characterized by variable airways obstruction, most studies of asthma phenotypes are cross-sectional. The stability of phenotypes defined either by biomarkers or by physiological variables was assessed by repeated measures over 1 year in the Pan-European BIOAIR cohort of adult asthmatics. METHODS: A total of 169 patients, 93 with severe asthma (SA) and 76 with mild-to-moderate asthma (MA), were examined at six or more visits during 1 year. Asthma phenotype clusters were defined by physiological variables (lung function, reversibility and age of onset of the disease) or by biomarkers (eosinophils and neutrophils in induced sputum). RESULTS: After 1 year of follow-up, the allocation to clusters was changed in 23.6% of all asthma patients when defined by physiological phenotypes and, remarkably, in 42.3% of the patients when stratified according to sputum cellularity (P = 0.034). In the SA cohort, 30% and 48.6% of the patients changed allocation according to physiological and biomarker clustering, respectively. Variability of phenotypes was not influenced by change in oral or inhaled corticosteroid dose, nor by the number of exacerbations. Lower stability of single and repeated measure was found for all evaluated biomarkers (eosinophils, neutrophils and FeNO) in contrast to good stability of physiological variables (FEV1 ), quality of life and asthma control. CONCLUSION: Phenotypes determined by biomarkers are less stable than those defined by physiological variables, especially in severe asthmatics. The data also imply that definition of asthma phenotypes is improved by repeated measures to account for fluctuations in lung function, biomarkers and asthma control.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a heterogeneous disease that, over the past 15 years, has seen an increased understanding of its biology and of novel therapeutic options. Distinctive subtypes of the disease have been described, each with different outcomes and clinic-pathological features. Even though a detailed classification of MM into at least seven or eight major subtypes is possible, a more practical clinical approach can classify the disease into high-risk and non-high-risk MM. Such classification has permitted a more personalized approach to the management of the disease. Additionally, risk stratification should be included in outcome discussions with patients, as survival differs significantly by high-risk status. Nowadays, test for risk stratification are widely available and can be routinely used in the clinic. A greater understanding of the genetic abnormalities underlying the biology of MM will allow for the development of novel targeted therapies and better prognostic markers of the disease. © Informa UK, Ltd.

Joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS) is a heritable disorder of the connective tissue characterized by excessive joint movement, musculoskeletal pain and neurophysiological deficits (i.e. decreased proprioceptive acuity, altered neuromuscular reflexes). Such deficits may affect body balance thus increasing the risk of injury. The present study aimed at examining static and dynamic body balance following challenge of the visual and vestibular systems in individuals with JHS. The sample consisted of 21 females with JHS and 20 controls without signs of JHS. Static body balance was assessed by the degree of anteroposterior and mediolateral deviation of the center of pressure, during 20-sec single-leg stances with eyes opened (EO), eyes closed (EC) and eyes opened with head extension (EO-HE) using a foot pressure platform. Dynamic body balance was assessed by the number of landing and balance errors committed during a multiple single-leg-hop-stabilization test. Nonparametric analysis showed that the JHS-group demonstrated significantly greater (a) mediolateral deviation during single-leg-stance with EO (p < 0.01), (b) mediolateral and anteroposterior deviation during single-leg-stance with EO-HE (p < 0.05), and (c) number of landing errors (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Poor static balance following challenge of the vestibular system may be justified by vestibular deficiency and/or insufficient proprioceptive capabilities of the neck. Impairments of dynamic balance in individuals with JHS may be attributed to proprioceptive deficits, which can alter feedforward and feedback mechanisms.