Publications by Year: 2016

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a multi-subclonal malignancy with relatively high heterogeneity. Patients who initially presented with both monoclonal-protein (MP) and free light chain (FLC) secretion but then relapsed with a light chain escape pattern have been shown to reflect disease clonal evolution and to bare a worse prognosis. We hypothesized that a discordant MP/FLC pattern at diagnosis may reflect a similar clonal evolution that had occurred prior to diagnosis of active myeloma, conferring a worse outcome. We analyzed 255 consecutive newly diagnosed MM patients who received first line bortezomib-based therapy between 2007 and 2014, hypothesizing that their MP/FLC fingerprint at diagnosis reflects clonal heterogeneity and, therefore, affects outcome. An involved FLC level ≥ 700 mg/L and MP ≥ 2.5 g/L were used as cutoffs for low vs high FLC and MP levels, respectively. Patients were divided into 4 subgroups according to their involved FLC and MP blood levels at diagnosis: HiLC and HiMP for patients with either a predominant FLC or a predominant MP, respectively, and HiLC-MP and LoLC-MP when both FLC and MP were increased or decreased, respectively. There were 68 (27%) patients with HiLC, which presented more often with International Staging System-3 stage (P < .0001). Multivariate analysis showed that HiLC was associated with a 5.1-fold risk for mortality in a multivariate model (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-19.68). Both HiLC and HiLC-MP phenotypes were associated with shorter progression-free survival (hazard ratio of 2.66 [95% CI, 1.33-5.32] and 2.82 [95% CI, 1.37-5.83], respectively), independently of other prognostic factors, including the use of autograft. Thus, we identified an LC predominant secretory fingerprint (HiLC phenotype) at diagnosis as a potential independent risk factor that may affect disease control and survival in newly diagnosed MM patients treated with bortezomib-based induction therapy; this may represent increased subclonal heterogeneity. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

SUMMARY: The purpose of the present study is to define which regions of the cranium, the upper-face, the orbits and the nasal are the most sexually dimorphic, by using three-dimensional geometric morphometric methods, and investigate the effectiveness of this method in determining sex from the shape of these regions. The study sample consisted of 176 crania of known sex (94 males, 82 females) belonging to individuals who lived in Greece during the 20(th) century. The three-dimensional co-ordinates of 31 ecto-cranial landmarks were digitized using a MicroScribe 3DX contact digitizer. Goodall's F-test was performed in order to compare statistical differences in shape between males and females. Generalized Procrustes Analysis (GPA) was used to obtain size and shape variables for statistical analysis. Shape, Size and Form analyses were carried out by logistic regression and discriminant function analysis. The results indicate that there are shape differences between the sexes in the upper-face and the orbits. The highest shape classification rate was obtained from the upper-face region. The centroid size of the caraniofacial and the orbital regions was smaller in females than males. Moreover, it was found that size is significant for sexual dimorphism in the upper-face region. As anticipated, the classification accuracy improves when both size and shape are combined. The findings presented here constitute a firm basis upon which further research can be conducted.

The aim of this study is to assess sexual dimorphism of adult crania in the vault and midsagittal curve of the vault using three-dimensional geometric morphometric methods. The study sample consisted of 176 crania of known sex (94 males, 82 females) belonging to individuals who lived during the 20th century in Greece. The three-dimensional co-ordinates of 31 ecto-cranial landmarks and 30 semi-landmarks were digitized using a MicroScribe 3DX contact digitizer. Generalized Procrustes analysis (GPA) was used to obtain size and shape variables for statistical analysis. Shape, size and form analyses were carried out by logistic regression and three discriminant function analyses. Results indicate that there are shape differences between sexes. Females in the region of the parietal bones are narrower and the axis forming the frontal and occipital bones is more elongated; the frontal bone is more vertical. Sex-specific shape differences give better classification results in the vault (79%) compared with the midsagittal curve of the neurocranium (68.8%). Size alone yielded better results for cranial vault (82%), while for the midsagittal curve of the vault the result is poorer (68.1%). As anticipated, the classification accuracy improves when both size and shape are combined (89.2% for vault, and 79.4% for midsagittal curve of the vault). These latter findings imply that, in contrast to the midsagittal curve of the neurocranium, the shape of the cranial vault can be used as an indicator of sex in the modern Greek population.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to quantify the patterns of shape variability and the extent and patterns of shape covariation between the upper and lower dental arch in an orthodontic population. METHODS: Dental casts of 133 white subjects (61 males, 72 females; ages 10.6-26.6) were scanned and digitized in three dimensions. Landmarks were placed on the incisal margins and on the cusps of canines, premolars, and molars. Geometric morphometric methods were applied (Procrustes superimposition and principal component analysis). Sexual dimorphism and allometry were evaluated with permutation tests and age-size and age-shape correlations were computed. Two-block partial least squares analysis was used to assess covariation of shape. RESULTS: The first four principal components represented shape patterns that are often encountered and recognized in clinical practice, accounting for 6-31 per cent of total variance. No shape sexual dimorphism was found, nevertheless, there was statistically significant size difference between males and females. Allometry was statistically significant, but low (upper: R(2) = 0.0528, P < 0.000, lower: R (2) = 0.0587, P < 0.000). Age and shape were weakly correlated (upper: R(2) = 0.0370, P = 0.0001, lower: R (2) = 0.0587, P = 0.0046). Upper and lower arches covaried significantly (RV coefficient: 33 per cent). The main pattern of covariation between the dental arches was arch width (80 per cent of total covariance); the second component related the maxillary canine vertical position to the mandibular canine labiolingual position (11 per cent of total covariance). LIMITATIONS: Results may not be applicable to the general population. Age range was wide and age-related findings are limited by the cross-sectional design. Aetiology of malocclusion was also not considered. CONCLUSIONS: Covariation patterns showed that the dental arches were integrated in width and depth. Integration in the vertical dimension was weak, mainly restricted to maxillary canine position.

The long term change of the shoreline is a phenomenon, which is factored in the design of construction projects along the coastal zone. This study presents a meth-odology that aims to quantify the shoreline displacement rate. The described meth-odology involves the interpretation of different remote sensing data types, which make up a quite dense time series of representations for the coastline spanning from 1987 to 2012. The representation of the shoreline is based on geometrically corrected (ortho-rectified), historical, analogue, panchromatic, high resolution aerial photos of the area (1987, 1996) and latest generation, digital, multispectral, high resolution satellite images (2000, 2008, 2012). In all cases the images were digitally processed and optically optimized in order to produce a highly accurate representation of the shoreline in each time period. All the data were imported in a Geographic Information System platform, where they were subjected to comparison and geo-statistical analysis. A large number of sections perpendicular to the coast (every 100 meters) was drawn and the relative motion of the coastline was calcu-lated for each of them. The average rate of the calculated erosion is in the order of 24mm/year whilst extreme rates of 1m/year were also observed in specific posi-tions.

A thorough study of localized surface plasmons and associated strong circular dichroism, which can occur in silver-coated metallic and dielectric magnetic nanospheres, is reported by means of both quasistatic and full electrodynamic calculations taking into account the actual (magneto) optical response of the constituent materials, including dispersion and losses. It is shown that such composite magnetoplasmonic nanoparticles offer a versatile platform for engineering hybrid plasmon modes that give rise to sharp absorption resonances and subject to large magneto-optic splitting, leading to giant magnetic circular dichroism signals, by properly choosing the different materials and tuning the geometrical parameters involved.

The objective of this paper was to explore whether and how the main capital structure determinants of SMEs affected capital structure determination in different ways during the years of economic crisis. We used panel data of 8,052 SMEs operating in Greece during 2009–2012. We found that the effect of capital structure determinants on leverage does not change in an environment of economic crisis; larger SMEs continued to show higher debt ratios, the relationship between profitability and tangibility of assets with leverage continued to be negative, and growth was positively related to leverage.

Ιn a sample of Turkish adolescents (N = 1614), we investigated whether pursuing social demonstration-approach goals (to attain popularity), next to social development goals (to cultivate meaningful relationships), explains differences in need satisfaction and frustration and coping. Cluster analysis showed that students who favored social development over social demonstration-approach goals reported less need frustration and defensive coping than students who favored both goals. These results were replicated with a prospective analysis with part of the initial sample (N = 425) as students who endorsed both goals reported more defensive coping five months later than students who mainly favored social development goals over social demonstration-approach goals.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Over the past two decades there was an upsurge of the use of Internet in human life. With this continuous development, Internet users are able to communicate with any part of the globe, to shop online, to use it as a mean of education, to work remotely and to conduct financial transactions. Unfortunately, this rapid development of the Internet has a detrimental impact in our life, which leads to various phenomena such as cyber bullying, cyber porn, cyber suicide, Internet addiction, social isolation, cyber racism etc. The main purpose of this paper is to record and analyze all these social and psychological effects that appears to users due to the extensive use of the Internet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review study was a thorough search of bibliography data conducted through Internet and library research studies. Key words were extracted from search engines and data bases including Google, Yahoo, Scholar Google, PubMed. FINDINGS: The findings of this study showed that the Internet offers a quick access to information and facilitates communication however; it is quite dangerous, especially for young users. For this reason, users should be aware of it and face critically any information that is handed from the website.

Published archaeological, palaeoenvironmental, and palaeoclimatic data from the Peloponnese in Greece are compiled, discussed and evaluated in order to analyse the interactions between humans and the environment over the last 9000 years. Our study indicates that the number of human settlements found scattered over the peninsula have quadrupled from the prehistoric to historical periods and that this evolution occurred over periods of climate change and seismo–tectonic activity. We show that societal development occurs both during periods of harsh as well as favourable climatic conditions. At some times, some settlements develop while others decline. Well-known climate events such as the 4.2 ka and 3.2 ka events are recognizable in some of the palaeoclimatic records and a regional decline in the number and sizes of settlements occurs roughly at the same time, but their precise chronological fit with the archaeological record remains uncertain. Local socio-political processes were probably always the key drivers behind the diverse strategies that human societies took in times of changing climate. The study thus reveals considerable chronological parallels between societal development and palaeoenvironmental records, but also demonstrates the ambiguities in these correspondences and, in doing so, highlights some of the challenges that will face future interdisciplinary projects. We suggest that there can be no general association made between societal expansion phases and periods of advantageous climate. We also propose that the relevance of climatic and environmental regionality, as well as any potential impacts of seismo-tectonics on societal development, need to be part of the interpretative frameworks.

Основание НАТО 4 апреля 1949 года драматическим образом ознаменовало окончательный распад альянса трех великих держав - США, Великобритании и СССР, созданного во время Второй мировой войны. Вместе с тем, это стало началом новой, послевоенной биполярной системе баланса сил, главным проявлением которой стала Холодная война. Это тотальное политическое противостояние между двумя сверхдержавами и их сателлитами, распространившееся на большую часть нашей планеты, началось на послевоенных руинах Старого Света, где столкнулись исторически противоположные геополитические устремления обеих сторон - противостояние, усиленное ростом числа откровенных мистификаций, скрытые мотивов и стереотипов, а также конфликтом национальных интересов. В фундаменте этого противостояния лежат принципы и ценности, с 1945 года взятые Уставом ООН в качестве основы для создания послевоенной международной системы. Главные пункты этого Устава объявляют применение насилия в международных отношениях как способ разрешения международных споров нелегитимным (статьи 2.3 и 2.4), обязывают уважать внутренние дела государства (статья 2.7), а также определяют право государств на индивидуальную или коллективную самооборону (как «соПейме зе!^-сЫепсе») - это определяется в статье 21 Устава ООН (а также, позже, в статье 5 Устава НАТО, и в соответствующих статьях Варшавского договора). Задуманное, как это часто бывает, с благими намерениями, в конце концов все это превратилось в гигантский ком неуверенности, страха и взаимного недоверия, а порой и открытой ненависти с обеих сторон. Первым последствием стало разделение Германии, что придало последующему разделению Европы «официальный». Это стало знаковым событием, обнажившим конфликт интересов между Западом и СССР - блокада Берлина советскими войсками (19481949), после чего было создано НАТО.

Ugo Foscolo, was an Italian poet whose works rank among the masterpieces of Italian literature. Talented and well educated in philosophy, classics, and Italian literature, Foscolo gave literary expression to his ideological aspirations and to the numerous amorous experiences in odes, sonnets, plays, poems and an epistolary novel. Concurrent with his rich literary output, Foscolo’s correspondence represents a unique perspective from which to monitor his literary and political views and investigate aspects of his everyday life. Among other interesting information, one can find elements of Foscolo’s medical history which is generally unknown. In the present article we investigate the possibility that chronic bladder outlet obstruction and the consequent renal insufficiency was attributed to the death of Ugo Foscolo.

Προσκεκλημένη-συμμετοχή στην Ημερίδα Meet up – Κοινωνική Επιχειρηματικότητα Συμβουλές & Σύμβουλοι. «Διαδραστική Συνάντηση Ενδυνάμωσης Δεξιοτήτων». Europe Direct City of Athens, Sesbo-social enterprise skills, IKY,  Funded by Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, Αθήνα, 25 Οκτωβρίου 2016.

Στον ελληνικό περιοδικό τύπο του 19ου αιώνα κυριαρχεί η αρθρογραφία για την Ελληνική αρχαιότητα αντανακλώντας το φλέγον ζητούμενο της εποχής, τη σύνδεση του νεώτερου Ελληνισμού με την ελληνική αρχαιότητα, με σκοπό την δημιουργία μιας εθνικής ταυτότητας, την πολυπόθητη διαμόρφωση της εθνικής συνείδησης, συνυφασμένη με τον ευρωπαϊσμό. Η ελληνική αρχαιότητα αποκαλύπτεται στους φιλομαθείς του νεοσύστατου κρατιδίου μέσα από τις μεταφράσεις άρθρων των αρχαιολατρών μελετητών της Δύσης. Ήδη από τα μέσα του 18ου αι. η δυτική αρχαιοφιλία απασχολείται συστηματικά με όλες τις εκφάνσεις του αρχαιοελληνικού πολιτισμού, τις οποίες –ως επακόλουθο- ενσωματώνει στη σύγχρονη ευρωπαϊκή σκέψη και πνευματική δημιουργία, παράγοντας διακείμενα σε όλους τους τομείς των γραμμάτων και των τεχνών (φιλοσοφία, λογοτεχνία, θέατρο, μουσική, καλές τέχνες, αρχιτεκτονική). Το άρθρο πραγματεύεται μία δημοσίευση στην Ιωνική Μέλισσα στις 16/11/1850, το οποίο τιτλοφορείται «Οιδίπους Τύραννος» και υπογράφεται από τον «Πείσανδρο», πιθανό ψευδώνυμο –δίχως να έχει επιβεβαιωθεί η πληροφορία- του Ικέσιου Λάτρη (1799 - 1881), Σμυρναίου λόγιου, αγωνιστή του 1821 και πολιτικού της νεοσύστατης Ελλάδας. Στο εν λόγω άρθρο, το οποίο αναφέρεται στα θέματα της πρόσληψης του αρχαίου θεάτρου, αναπτύσσεται ένας πρώιμος προβληματισμός, για τον οποίον όμως προτάσσονται λύσεις και περιγράφεται ο τρόπος υλοποίησης μίας πολιτικής στρατηγικής.

Talented and well educated in philosophy, classics and Italian literature, Foscolo gave literary expression to his ideological aspirations and to his numerous amorous experiences in odes, sonnets, plays, poems and an epistolary novel. Concurrent with his rich literary output, Foscolo's correspondence represents a unique perspective from which to monitor his literary and political views and investigate aspects of his everyday life. Among other interesting information, one can find elements of Foscolo medical history which is generally unknown. In the present article we investigate the longstanding lower urinary tract symptoms as reported by the poet in his correspondence to his family and friends.

We analyzed a large number of focal mechanisms and relocated earthquake hypocenters to investigate the geodynamics of western Greece, the most seismically active part of the Aegean plate-boundary zone. This region was seismically activated multiple times during the last decade, providing a large amount of enhanced quality new information that was obtained by the Hellenic Unified Seismological Network (HUSN). Relocated seismicity using a double-difference method appears to be concentrated above ∼35 km depth, exhibiting spatial continuity along the convergence boundary and being clustered elsewhere. Earthquakes are confined within the accreted sediments escarpment of the down-going African plate against the un-deformed Eurasian hinterland. The data arrangement shows that Pindos constitutes a seismic boundary along which large stress heterogeneities occur. In Cephalonia no seismicity is found to be related with the offshore Cephalonia Transform Fault (CTF). Onshore, NS crustal extension dominates, while in central and south Peloponnesus the stress field appears rotated by 90°. Shearing-stress obliquity by 30° is indicated along the major strike-slip faults, consistent with clockwise crustal rotation. Within the lower crust, the stress field appears affected by plate kinematics and distributed deformation of the lower crust and upper mantle, which guide the regional geodynamics.

Using the Boltzmann formalism based on the first principles electronic structure and scattering rates, we investigate the current-induced spin accumulation and spin-orbit torques in FePt/Pt and Co/Cu bilayers in the presence of substitutional impurities. In FePt/Pt bilayers we consider the effect of intermixing of Fe and Pt atoms in the FePt layer and find a crucial dependence of spin accumulation and spin-orbit torques on the details of the distribution of these defects. In Co/Cu bilayers we predict that the magnitude and sign of the spin-orbit torque and spin accumulation depend very sensitively on the type of the impurities used to dope the Cu substrate. Moreover, simultaneously with impurity-driven scattering, we consider the effect of an additional constant quasiparticle broadening of the states at the Fermi surface to simulate phonon scattering at room temperature and discover that even a small broadening of the order of 25 meV can drastically influence the magnitude of the considered effects. We explain our findings based on the analysis of the complex interplay of several competing Fermi surface contributions to the spin accumulation and spin-orbit torques in these structurally and chemically nonuniform systems.

We explain and motivate Stefan–Sussmann singular foliations, and by replacing the tangent bundle of a manifold with an arbitrary Lie algebroid, we introduce singular subalgebroids. Both notions are defined using compactly supported sections. The main results of this note are an equivalent characterization, in which the compact support condition is removed, and an explicit description of the sheaf associated to any Stefan–Sussmann singular foliation or singular subalgebroid.

The synthesis and molecular structures of a U(v) neutral terminal oxo complex and a U(v) sodium uranium nitride contact ion pair are described. The synthesis of the former is achieved by the use of tBuNCO as a mild oxygen transfer reagent, whilst that of the latter is via the reduction of NaN3. Both mono-uranium complexes are stabilised by the presence of bulky silyl substituents on the ligand framework that facilitate a 2e- oxidation of a single U(iii) centre. In contrast, when steric hindrance around the metal centre is reduced by the use of less bulky silyl groups, the products are di-uranium, U(iv) bridging oxo and (anionic) nitride complexes, resulting from 1e- oxidations of two U(iii) centres. SQUID magnetometry supports the formal oxidation states of the reported complexes. Electrochemical studies show that the U(v) terminal oxo complex can be reduced and the [U(iv)O]- anion was accessed via reduction with K/Hg, and structurally characterised. Both the nitride complexes display complex electrochemical behaviour but each exhibits a quasi-reversible oxidation at ca. -1.6 V vs. Fc+/0.

We consider a fluid queue with two modes of service, that represents a production facility, where the processing of the customers (units) is typically carried out at a much faster time-scale than the machine-related processes. We examine the strategic behavior of the customers, regarding the joining/balking dilemma, under two levels of information upon arrival. Specifically, just after arriving and before making the decision, a customer observes the level of the fluid, but may or may not get informed about the state of the server (fast/slow). Assuming that the customers evaluate their utilities based on a natural reward/cost structure, which incorporates their desire for processing and their unwillingness to wait, we derive symmetric equilibrium strategy profiles. Moreover, we illustrate various effects of the information level on the strategic behavior of the customers. The corresponding social optimization problem is also studied and the inefficiency of the equilibrium strategies is quantified via the Price of Anarchy (PoA) measure.

This article explores patterns of accentuation that are profoundly af- fected by the morphosyntactic structure and, especially, by the way the constituents of a word are assembled and concomitantly processed by the PF component. We first review well-known cases of stress-affecting affixation in English from various theoretical perspectives in order to discover key aspects of the architectural and/or lexical item-specific conditions that instigate accentual dominance, that is, the attraction of stress by certain morphological constituents. We propose a path of analysis along the lines of Embick’s (2014) phase-based approach to the morphosyntax/phonology interface, according to which the ability of the exponent of a morpheme to trigger a cyclic phonological rule (phonological cyclicity) is dissociated from the phase status of the morpheme (phase cyclicity) and becomes an unpredictable property of its exponent. Based on an examination of the more intricate pat- terns of accentual dominance exhibited by a group of lexical stress systems—namely Greek, Vedic Sanskrit and Yakima Sahaptin—we propose that dominance emanates from both the architectural properties of the Grammar and the idiosyncratic lexical properties of the exponents of the morphosyntactic constituents, but not in a totally arbitrary way as predicted by Embick’s approach. Notably, our study reveals that a set of significant, so far unnoticed, implicational relations between phasehood and phonological cyclicity apply: No system has dominant exponents of non-phase heads without having dominant exponents of phase heads; and, moreover, no system has dominant accentless exponents without having dominant accented ones.

Although its involvement in prion replication and neurotoxicity during transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is undisputed, the physiological role of the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) remains enigmatic. A plethora of functions have been ascribed to PrP(C) based on phenotypes of Prnp(-/-) mice. However, all currently available Prnp(-/-) lines were generated in embryonic stem cells from the 129 strain of the laboratory mouse and mostly crossed to non-129 strains. Therefore, Prnp-linked loci polymorphic between 129 and the backcrossing strain resulted in systematic genetic confounders and led to erroneous conclusions. We used TALEN-mediated genome editing in fertilized mouse oocytes to create the Zurich-3 (ZH3) Prnp-ablated allele on a pure C57BL/6J genetic background. Genomic, transcriptional, and phenotypic characterization of Prnp(ZH3/ZH3) mice failed to identify phenotypes previously described in non-co-isogenic Prnp(-/-) mice. However, aged Prnp(ZH3/ZH3) mice developed a chronic demyelinating peripheral neuropathy, confirming the crucial involvement of PrP(C) in peripheral myelin maintenance. This new line represents a rigorous genetic resource for studying the role of PrP(C) in physiology and disease.

We have continued monitoring the blazar OJ287 in the optical at several sites after its November/December, 2015 outburst. After a further large outburst that started in the beginning of February, 2016 (Atels #8667, #8697, #8705) OJ287 remained brighter than 14th magnitude [in R] for the rest of the month.

Spin dephasing by the Dyakonov-Perel mechanism in metallic films deposited on insulating substrates is revealed, and quantitatively examined by means of density functional calculations combined with a kinetic equation. The surface-to-substrate asymmetry, probed by the metal wave functions in thin films, is found to produce strong spin-orbit fields and a fast Larmor precession, giving a dominant contribution to spin decay over the Elliott-Yafet spin relaxation up to a thickness of 70 nm. The spin dephasing is oscillatory in time with a rapid (subpicosecond) initial decay. However, parts of the Fermi surface act as spin traps, causing a persistent tail signal lasting 1000 times longer than the initial decay time. It is also found that the decay depends on the direction of the initial spin polarization, resulting in a spin-dephasing anisotropy of 200% in the examined cases.

The methodological foundations of mainstream economics have been cited as one of the main reasons for its failure to account for the economic crisis of 2008. In spite of this, the status of economic methodology has not been elevated. It is argued that this is due to the persistent aversion towards methodological discourse by most mainstream economists. This attitude has a long presence as exemplified in Frank Hahn’s (1992) work. After focusing on the debate originating after the publication of Hahn’s arguments, the paper offers a categorization of the main explanations for mainstream methodological aversion. Subsequently, it suggests an explanation based on the role of the physics scientific ideal, arguing that the endeavour to achieve the high scientific status of physics by following the methods of physics, contributed to the negative mainstream attitude towards economic methodology. The relevant writings of the extremely influential mainstream economists Irwin Fisher and Milton Friedman, reinforce the assertion that the alleged hard science status of economics renders methodological discussions and especially methodological criticism, rather pointless. The paper also calls for a more systematic discussion of this issue, especially in the wake of the line of argument that links the recent failings of mainstream to its methodological basis

The uric acid/xanthine H(+) symporter, UapA, is a high-affinity purine transporter from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Here we present the crystal structure of a genetically stabilized version of UapA (UapA-G411VΔ1-11) in complex with xanthine. UapA is formed from two domains, a core domain and a gate domain, similar to the previously solved uracil transporter UraA, which belongs to the same family. The structure shows UapA in an inward-facing conformation with xanthine bound to residues in the core domain. Unlike UraA, which was observed to be a monomer, UapA forms a dimer in the crystals with dimer interactions formed exclusively through the gate domain. Analysis of dominant negative mutants is consistent with dimerization playing a key role in transport. We postulate that UapA uses an elevator transport mechanism likely to be shared with other structurally homologous transporters including anion exchangers and prestin.

Performance at school is affected not only by students' achievement goals but also by emotional exchanges among classmates and their teacher. In this study, we investigated relationships between students' achievement goals and emotion perception ability and class affect and performance. Participants were 949 Greek adolescent students in 49 classes and their Greek language and mathematics teachers. Results from multilevel analyses indicated that students' mastery-approach and performance-approach goals were positively related to positive affect whereas performance-avoidance goals were negatively related to positive affect. At class-level, relationships between achievement goals and affect were moderated by students' emotion perception ability. These findings highlight the importance of emotion abilities and their role in motivational processes for class-level outcomes.

Sea level indicators, such as tidal notches and beachrocks, may provide valuable information for the relative sea level changes of an area. Beachrocks in particular have received various arguments concerning their use as reliable sea level indicators and their formation environment. This work focuses on the coasts of East Attica in order to trace the palaeoshorelines of the Upper Holocene through the study of beachrocks. The coastal zone was surveyed in detail by snorkelling and diving, in order to locate, map and sample beachrocks. The samples were studied under a SEM, which showed that the beachrocks are mainly composed of quartz grains, a few calcites and feldspars, while the carbonate cement is characterized with the presence of MgO at percentages between 5 and 7.8%. Based on correlations with published drillings in the study area, the studied beachrocks should not be older than 2000 years BP.

As a geographical method of analyzing power redistribution, Systemic GeopoliticalAnalysis (according to Ioannis Th. Mazis theoretical basis) proposes a multi-dimensional, interdisciplinary research pattern, which embraces economic, cultural, political and defensive facts. The amount of data produced combining these attributes is extremely large and complex. One of the solutions to explore and analyze this data is clustering it. In this work, two clustering algorithms were used, namely DBSCAN and the k-means techniques which both of them cluster data according to its characteristics. While DBSCAN groups data based on the minimum size of participating objects per cluster and the minimum required distance between them, k-means clusters the data objects according the pre-desired number of groups. Thus, since the two methods use different roads to group the data objects, they form different clusters but each one has its importance depending on the characteristics of the applied method. As a result, in this work a comparative study is presented.

Abstract The differential cross sections of the 2125 keV $\gamma$–ray, emitted by the $^{11}$B(p, p'$\gamma$)$^{11}$B reaction were measured at six (6) angles and at proton energies from 2.5 to 5.0 MeV. The experimental setup consisted of three (3) 100% relative efficiency \{HPGe\} detectors placed on a motorized turntable. The comparison between the present measurements, which have an overall uncertainty of $\sim$8%, and previous ones from literature gives contradictory results. While there are large differences with previous differential cross-section measurements from literature, there is good agreement with previous thick-target yield ones. Additional thick-target measurements were performed in an effort to explain the observed discrepancies.

Magnetoresistance effects observed in superconductor/ferromagnet (SC/FM) hybrids, SC/FM bilayers and FM/SC/FM trilayers, have attracted much interest in recent years. Here we focus on the stray-fields-based superconducting magnetoresistance effect (sMRE) observed in Co(d(Co))/Nb(d(Nb))/Co(d(Co)) trilayers with sufficiently thick Co outer layers so that out-of-plane magnetic domains (MDs) and MDs walls (MDWs) emerge all over their surface when subjected to a parallel external magnetic field, H-ex equal to the coercive field, H-c. Asking for the optimum conditions to maximize the sMRE, we explore the interference between three basic length scales of the SC and FM structural units: the thickness of the SC interlayer (d(SC)), the zero-temperature coherence length (xi(0)) and the width of out-of-plane MDs (D-MDs). To this effect, simulations-based modeling of the transverse stray dipolar fields, H-z,H-dip that emerge at the interior of the out-of-plane MDs is performed. Both cases of homogeneous and inhomogeneous micromagnetic characteristics (saturation magnetization, M-sat and width, DMDs) of the out-of-plane MDs are investigated. Furthermore, the influence of the microstructure of the bottom and top Co layers on the macroscopic coercive field of the TLs is addressed. The obtained modeling results respond well when tested against experimental data. The generic criteria reported here on the optimum matching of d(SC), xi(0) and D-MDs aiming to maximize the sMRE magnitude in relevant FM/SC/FM trilayers, can assist the design of relevant cryogenic devices. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Recently it has been shown that surface magnetic doping of topological insulators induces backscattering of Dirac states which are usually protected by time-reversal symmetry {[}Sessi et al., Nat. Commun. 5, 5349 (2014)]. Here we report on quasiparticle interference measurements where, by improved Fermi level tuning, strongly focused interference patterns on surface Mn-doped Bi2Te3 could be directly observed by means of scanning tunneling microscopy at 4 K. Ab initio and model calculations reveal that their mesoscopic coherence relies on two prerequisites: (i) a hexagonal Fermi surface with large parallel segments (nesting) and (ii) magnetic dopants which couple to a high-spin state. Indeed, x-ray magnetic circular dichroism shows superparamagnetism even at very dilute Mn concentrations. Our findings provide evidence of strongly anisotropic Dirac-fermion-mediated interactions and demonstrate how spin information can be transmitted over long distances, allowing the design of experiments and devices based on coherent quantum effects in topological insulators.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is an important material for polymer solar cells (PSCs) where the characteristics of the interface can dominate both the efficiency and lifetime of the device. In this work we study the effect of fluorine (SF6) plasma surface treatment of ZnO films on the performance of PSCs with an inverted structure. The interaction between fluorine species present in the SF6 plasma and the ZnO surface is also investigated in detail. We provide fundamental insights into the passivation effect of fluorine by analyzing our experimental results and theoretical calculations and we propose a mechanism according to which a fluorine atom substitutes an oxygen atom or occupies an oxygen vacancy site eliminating an electron trap while it may also attract hydrogen atoms thus favoring hydrogen doping. These multiple fluorine roles can reduce both the recombination losses and the electron extraction barrier at the ZnO/fullerene interface improving the selectivity of the cathode contact. Therefore, the fabricated devices using the fluorine plasma treated ZnO show high efficiency and stable characteristics, irrespective of the donor:acceptor combinations in the photoactive blend. Inverted polymer solar cells, consisting of the P3HT:PC71BM blend, exhibited increased lifetime and high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.6%, while the ones with the PCDTBT:PC71BM blend exhibited a PCE of 6.9%. Our champion devices with the PTB7:PC71BM blends reached a high PCE of 8.0% and simultaneously showed exceptional environmental stability when using the fluorine passivated ZnO cathode interlayers. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016.

PSR J1119-6127 is a rotationally-powered (RP) pulsar whose pulsations are detected in radio, X-rays and gamma-rays. It is a high magnetic field neutron star, with an inferred dipole field strength of about 4 & sdot;1013 G. On July 27 it exhibited a strong X-ray burst, detected by Swift/BAT (ATel #9274) and Fermi/GBM (GCN Circular #19736).

Nanogels based on biocompatible, dual pH- and temperature-sensitive poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl) methacrylate (PDEAEMA) have been successfully used as nanocontainers for the encapsulation of magnetite, Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). For this purpose, citric acid-coated MNPs were encapsulated into previously synthesized PDEAEMA-based nanogels using a poly(ethyleneglycol)-based stabilizer. After the encapsulation of the magnetite MNPs, the so-called magneto-nanogels (MNGs) were proved to be multiresponsive on temperature, pH, and magnetic field and colloidally stable. Moreover, preliminary studies on the biocompatibility of these MNGs with cells of human peripheral blood were performed and evidenced quite tolerable biocompatibility, thus suggesting potential use in biomedical applications. (C) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Exposure to chronic stress is frequently accompanied by cognitive and affective disorders in association with neurostructural adaptations. Chronic stress was previously shown to trigger Alzheimer's-like neuropathology, which is characterized by Tau hyperphosphorylation and missorting into dendritic spines followed by memory deficits. Here, we demonstrate that stress-driven hippocampal deficits in wild-type mice are accompanied by synaptic missorting of Tau and enhanced Fyn/GluN2B-driven synaptic signaling. In contrast, mice lacking Tau [Tau knockout (Tau-KO) mice] do not exhibit stress-induced pathological behaviors and atrophy of hippocampal dendrites or deficits of hippocampal connectivity. These findings implicate Tau as an essential mediator of the adverse effects of stress on brain structure and function.

Exposure to chronic stress is frequently accompanied by cognitive and affective disorders in association with neurostructural adaptations. Chronic stress was previously shown to trigger Alzheimer's-like neuropathology, which is characterized by Tau hyperphosphorylation and missorting into dendritic spines followed by memory deficits. Here, we demonstrate that stress-driven hippocampal deficits in wild-type mice are accompanied by synaptic missorting of Tau and enhanced Fyn/GluN2B-driven synaptic signaling. In contrast, mice lacking Tau [Tau knockout (Tau-KO) mice] do not exhibit stress-induced pathological behaviors and atrophy of hippocampal dendrites or deficits of hippocampal connectivity. These findings implicate Tau as an essential mediator of the adverse effects of stress on brain structure and function.

The aim of this paper is to show that the knowledge of the history of Greek after the New Testament and the knowledge of its outcome, i.e. Modern Greek, can provide the tools for a better understanding of some of the linguistic problems presented by New Testament Greek. The testing ground for this claim will be aspect and its relationship to Aktionsart and tense. The paper starts with a brief overview of the Modern Greek verbal system in comparison to the Classical Greek verb, continues with a brief discussion of a theoretical approach to tense and aspect and its application to Modern Greek, and proceeds retrospectively, examining the situation in Early, Classical and New Testament Greek in the light of the Modern Greek data .

Vito Acconci’s early artistic practice combines textuality, visuality, and the involvement with the physical body. It also revolves around the tension between the transience of the performance and the various forms with which the artist’s activities have been devised, recorded, and documented. The voluminous archive that was assembled by Gregory Volk in the Diary of a Body 1969-1973 is worth examining in that respect, since these visual and verbal documents are not only secondary to the event, but make up an integral part of the artist’s early work. Therefore this essay revisits Vito Acconci’s notes and photographs as an assemblage that preserves the experiential substance of the artist’s practice, and also speaks of its in/transitive character, inviting reflection on the connections between writing, performance, and the ground of experience. A paratext to the performances and a continuation of his early writings, the diary is a storehouse that has a documentary value against the grain, which the essay dwells on.

Blazars, a subclass of active galactic nuclei, are prime candidate sources for the high energy neutrinos recently detected by IceCube. Being one of the brightest sources in the extragalactic X-ray and γ-ray sky as well as one of the nearest blazars to Earth, Mrk 421 is an excellent source for testing the scenario of the blazar-neutrino connection, especially during flares where time-dependent neutrino searches may have a higher detection probability. Here, we model the spectral energy distribution of Mrk 421 during a 13-day flare in 2010 with unprecedented multi-wavelength coverage, and calculate the respective neutrino flux. We find a correlation between the >1 PeV neutrino and photon fluxes, in all energy bands. Using typical IceCube through-going muon event samples with good angular resolution and high statistics, wederive the mean event rate above 100 TeV (∼0.57 evt/yr) and show that it is comparable to that expected from a four-month quiescent period in 2009. Due to the short duration of the flare, an accumulation of similar flares over several years would be necessary to produce a meaningful signal for IceCube. To better assess this, we apply the correlation between the neutrino and γ-ray fluxes to the 6.9 yr Fermi-LAT light curve of Mrk 421. We find that the mean event count above 1 PeV for the full IceCube detector livetime is 3.59 ± 0.60 (2.73 ± 0.38) νμ +νbarμ with (without) major flares included in our analysis. This estimate exceeds, within the uncertainties, the 95% (90%) threshold value for the detection of one or more muon (anti-)neutrinos. Meanwhile, the most conservative scenario, where no correlation of γ-rays and neutrinos is assumed, predicts 1.60 ± 0.16νμ +νbarμ events. We conclude that a non-detection of high-energy neutrinos by IceCube would probe the neutrino/γ-ray flux correlation during major flares or/and the hadronic contribution to the blazar emission.

Myeloma cells thrive in an environment of sustained inflammation, which impacts the development and evolution of the disease, as well as drug resistance. We evaluated the impact of genetic polymorphisms in the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway, which have been implicated in different inflammatory responses in the outcomes of patients with symptomatic multiple myeloma (MM) who have received contemporary therapies. We found that the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in both the TLR4 and toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR)-associated protein (TIRAP) genes was associated with lower response to primary therapy mainly for patients who received immunomodulatory drugs but not in patients treated with bortezomib-based therapies. Furthermore, TIRAP SNP was associated with a significantly shorter progression-free survival and overall survival, independently of other prognostic factors, such as age, transplant, International Staging System stage, lactate dehydrogenase and cytogenetics. This is the first study to demonstrate the effect of SNPs in TLR4/TIRAP in MM. Our data indicate that genetic variability in the immune system may be associated with different responses to antimyeloma therapies and may be a critical component affecting the natural history of the disease, providing the basis for further investigation of the role of these pathways in myeloma. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

BACKGROUND: Despite recent advances the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease remains incompletely understood. A variety of animal models have been utilized in an effort to provide further insights and develop more therapeutic options. In order to simulate, to an extent, the pathogenesis and the clinical course of the disease, TNBS induced colitis is often used. Various approaches for inducing TNBS -colitis have been described in the literature. METHODS/RESULTS: In this review, we sought to present the animal model of TNBS induced colitis and outline the pathogenesis, pathophysiology, clinical course and pathological characteristics of the model. Furthermore, we describe the differences among those protocols regarding types of animals and colitis induction. DATA SOURCES: The MEDLINE database was thoroughly searched using the keywords: TNBS, colitis, Crohn's disease, animal model. Two investigators independently reviewed the abstracts and appropriate articles were included in this review. Additional articles were gathered and evaluated. CONCLUSION: The aim of this study was to thoroughly present an updated review of the TNBS-induced colitis protocols that are implemented by researchers.

Background: We investigated the impact of PIK3CA and TP53 mutations and p53 protein status on the outcome of patients who had been treated with adjuvant anthracycline-taxane chemotherapy within clinical trials in the pre- and post-trastuzumab era. Results: TP53 and PIK3CA mutations were found in 380 (21.5%) and 458 (25.9%) cases, respectively, including 104 (5.9%) co-mutated tumors; p53 immunopositivity was observed in 848 tumors (53.5%). TP53 mutations (p < 0.001) and p53 protein positivity (p = 0.001) were more frequent in HER2-positive and triple negative (TNBC) tumors, while PIK3CA mutations were more frequent in Luminal A/B tumors (p < 0.001). TP53 mutation status and p53 protein expression but not PIK3CA mutation status interacted with trastuzumab treatment for disease-free survival; patients with tumors bearing TP53 mutations or immunopositive for p53 protein fared better when treated with trastuzumab, while among patients treated with trastuzumab those with the above characteristics fared best (interaction p = 0.017 for mutations; p = 0.015 for IHC). Upon multivariate analysis the above interactions remained significant in HER2-positive patients; in the entire cohort, TP53 mutations were unfavorable in patients with Luminal A/B (p = 0.003) and TNBC (p = 0.025); p53 immunopositivity was strongly favorable in patients treated with trastuzumab (p = 0.009). Materials and Methods: TP53 and PIK3CA mutation status was examined in 1766 paraffin tumor DNA samples with informative semiconductor sequencing results. Among these, 1585 cases were also informative for p53 protein status assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC; 10% positivity cut-off). Conclusions: TP53 mutations confer unfavorable prognosis in patients with Luminal A/B and TNBC tumors, while p53 immunopositivity may predict for trastuzumab benefit in the adjuvant setting.

Background: We investigated the impact of PIK3CA and TP53 mutations and p53 protein status on the outcome of patients who had been treated with adjuvant anthracycline-taxane chemotherapy within clinical trials in the pre- and post-trastuzumab era. Results: TP53 and PIK3CA mutations were found in 380 (21.5%) and 458 (25.9%) cases, respectively, including 104 (5.9%) co-mutated tumors; p53 immunopositivity was observed in 848 tumors (53.5%). TP53 mutations (p < 0.001) and p53 protein positivity (p = 0.001) were more frequent in HER2-positive and triple negative (TNBC) tumors, while PIK3CA mutations were more frequent in Luminal A/B tumors (p < 0.001). TP53 mutation status and p53 protein expression but not PIK3CA mutation status interacted with trastuzumab treatment for disease-free survival; patients with tumors bearing TP53 mutations or immunopositive for p53 protein fared better when treated with trastuzumab, while among patients treated with trastuzumab those with the above characteristics fared best (interaction p = 0.017 for mutations; p = 0.015 for IHC). Upon multivariate analysis the above interactions remained significant in HER2-positive patients; in the entire cohort, TP53 mutations were unfavorable in patients with Luminal A/B (p = 0.003) and TNBC (p = 0.025); p53 immunopositivity was strongly favorable in patients treated with trastuzumab (p = 0.009). Materials and Methods: TP53 and PIK3CA mutation status was examined in 1766 paraffin tumor DNA samples with informative semiconductor sequencing results. Among these, 1585 cases were also informative for p53 protein status assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC; 10% positivity cut-off). Conclusions: TP53 mutations confer unfavorable prognosis in patients with Luminal A/B and TNBC tumors, while p53 immunopositivity may predict for trastuzumab benefit in the adjuvant setting.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that baseline drug resistance patterns may influence the outcome of antiretroviral therapy. Therefore, guidelines recommend drug resistance testing to guide the choice of initial regimen. In addition to optimizing individual patient management, these baseline resistance data enable transmitted drug resistance (TDR) to be surveyed for public health purposes. The SPREAD program systematically collects data to gain insight into TDR occurring in Europe since 2001. METHODS: Demographic, clinical, and virological data from 4140 antiretroviral-naive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals from 26 countries who were newly diagnosed between 2008 and 2010 were analyzed. Evidence of TDR was defined using the WHO list for surveillance of drug resistance mutations. Prevalence of TDR was assessed over time by comparing the results to SPREAD data from 2002 to 2007. Baseline susceptibility to antiretroviral drugs was predicted using the Stanford HIVdb program version 7.0. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of TDR did not change significantly over time and was 8.3% (95% confidence interval, 7.2%-9.5%) in 2008-2010. The most frequent indicators of TDR were nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) mutations (4.5%), followed by nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) mutations (2.9%) and protease inhibitor mutations (2.0%). Baseline mutations were most predictive of reduced susceptibility to initial NNRTI-based regimens: 4.5% and 6.5% of patient isolates were predicted to have resistance to regimens containing efavirenz or rilpivirine, respectively, independent of current NRTI backbones. CONCLUSIONS: Although TDR was highest for NRTIs, the impact of baseline drug resistance patterns on susceptibility was largest for NNRTIs. The prevalence of TDR assessed by epidemiological surveys does not clearly indicate to what degree susceptibility to different drug classes is affected.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a distinct B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder for which clearly defined criteria for the diagnosis, initiation of therapy, and treatment strategy have been proposed as part of the consensus panels of the International Workshop on Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (IWWM). At IWWM-8, a task force for treatment recommendations was impanelled to review recently published and ongoing clinical trial data as well as the impact of new mutations (MYD88 and CXCR4) on treatment decisions, indications for B-cell receptor and proteasome inhibitors, and future clinical trial initiatives for WM patients. The panel concluded that therapeutic strategies in WM should be based on individual patient and disease characteristics. Chemoimmunotherapy combinations with rituximab and cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone, bendamustine, or bortezomib-dexamethasone provide durable responses and are still indicated in most patients. Approval of the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib in the United States and Europe represents a novel and effective treatment option for both treatment-naive and relapsing patients. Other B-cell receptor inhibitors, second-generation proteasome inhibitors (eg, carfilzomib), and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors are promising and may increase future treatment options. Active enrollment in clinical trials whenever possible was endorsed by the panel for most patients with WM. © 2016 by The American Society of Hematology.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a distinct B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder for which clearly defined criteria for the diagnosis, initiation of therapy, and treatment strategy have been proposed as part of the consensus panels of the International Workshop on Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (IWWM). At IWWM-8, a task force for treatment recommendations was impanelled to review recently published and ongoing clinical trial data as well as the impact of new mutations (MYD88 and CXCR4) on treatment decisions, indications for B-cell receptor and proteasome inhibitors, and future clinical trial initiatives for WM patients. The panel concluded that therapeutic strategies in WM should be based on individual patient and disease characteristics. Chemoimmunotherapy combinations with rituximab and cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone, bendamustine, or bortezomib-dexamethasone provide durable responses and are still indicated in most patients. Approval of the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib in the United States and Europe represents a novel and effective treatment option for both treatment-naive and relapsing patients. Other B-cell receptor inhibitors, second-generation proteasome inhibitors (eg, carfilzomib), and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors are promising and may increase future treatment options. Active enrollment in clinical trials whenever possible was endorsed by the panel for most patients with WM. © 2016 by The American Society of Hematology.

Dr. Willy Lens, born on December 10th, 1943, passed away on August 29th, 2014. With his passing, the motivation community has lost a seminal member, a mentor, and a friend. Dr. Lens - a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and Founding Fellow of the American Educational Research Association - made fundamental contributions to the study of motivation both through his own work and through his caring and thoughtful mentorship of a large community of scholars. With this tribute, we want to honor Dr. Willy Lens' significance to psychology and education as well as his positive influence, both personally and professionally, on the lives of dozens of scholars. With his contagious enthusiasm and caring mentorship, Willy was an example for our academic community and with this tribute we express our gratitude for the privilege to have collaborated with him. © 2016 The Author(s).

A novel hydrocarbon-soluble trifunctional organolithium initiator, with no polar-additive requirements, has been synthesized for use in anionic polymerization. The complete synthesis of the unsaturated tri-diphenylethylene compound, 4,4,4-(ethane-1,1,1-triyl)tris(((3-(1-phenylvinyl)benzyl)oxy)benzene) (I), is described and the efficiency of the new initiator is evaluated using 1H NMR and Nano-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (NALDI-TOF MS). Activation of precursor I, was performed in situ using stoichiometric amounts of sec-BuLi in benzene. Three-arm polystyrene and polyisoprene stars with narrow molecular weight distributions were obtained in the case of relatively high total anion concentration, [sec-BuLi]0 > 3.8 × 10−3 mol L−1 (3 × [I]0). At low total anion concentrations, uncontrolled molecular weight and broad/bimodal distributions were obtained, plausibly attributed to the presence of partially solvated aggregation dynamics complicating the propagation. The ‘living’ nature of the polymerization was confirmed by the sequential polymerization of styrene, and isoprene. The viscometric branching factor g’ values of the final branched polymers were measured and compared to g’ values of three-arm stars reported in the literature.

We report on a 20-fold enhancement of the integrated photoluminescence (PL) emission of silicon nanocrystals, embedded in a matrix of silicon dioxide, induced by excited surface plasmons from silver nanoparticles, which are located in the vicinity of the silicon nanocrystals and separated from them by a silicon dioxide layer of a few nanometers. The electric field enhancement provided by the excited surface plasmons increases the absorption cross section and the emission rate of the nearby silicon nanocrystals, resulting in the observed enhancement of the photoluminescence, mainly attributed to a 20-fold enhancement in the emission rate of the silicon nanocrystals. The observed remarkable improvement of the PL emission makes silicon nanocrystals very useful material for photonic, sensor and solar cell applications. © 2015 Elsevier B.V.

Purpose: Following the establishment of adjuvant carboplatin in stage I testicular seminoma as a standard, we adopted this treatment for all stage I seminoma patients. We report our 8-year experience and compare these results with our previous adjuvant etoposide/cisplatin (EP) strategy. Patients and methods: Patients with stage I seminoma, treated with adjuvant carboplatin and with a minimum follow-up of 1 year, were included. Two cycles of carboplatin [area under the curve (AUC) 6] were administered. Results: A total of 138 patients with median age of 34 years, treated from September 2003 to December 2011, were selected. There were 5 relapses [5-year relapse-free rate (RFR) 96.8 % (95 % confidence interval 91.6–98.8)]: 3 relapses at retroperitoneal lymph nodes, 1 relapse at the adrenal gland, and 1 isolated brain metastasis. Four patients with relapse were cured with salvage chemotherapy. All patients with relapse had tumor diameter ≥4 cm and/or age ≤34 years. Patients with at least 1 of the above risk factors (n = 111) had a significantly higher relapse rate compared with a similar population (n = 64) treated with 2 cycles of adjuvant EP: 5-year RFR was 95 % (SE 2 %) versus 100 % (SE 0 %), (p = 0.067). Conclusions: Age and tumor diameter were associated with relapse in stage I seminoma treated with adjuvant carboplatin. Although adjuvant carboplatin in patients with age ≤34 and/or tumor diameter ≥4 cm is associated with higher relapse rates than EP, the prognosis of these patients is excellent, and therefore, the use of less toxic treatment is justified. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Purpose: Following the establishment of adjuvant carboplatin in stage I testicular seminoma as a standard, we adopted this treatment for all stage I seminoma patients. We report our 8-year experience and compare these results with our previous adjuvant etoposide/cisplatin (EP) strategy. Patients and methods: Patients with stage I seminoma, treated with adjuvant carboplatin and with a minimum follow-up of 1 year, were included. Two cycles of carboplatin [area under the curve (AUC) 6] were administered. Results: A total of 138 patients with median age of 34 years, treated from September 2003 to December 2011, were selected. There were 5 relapses [5-year relapse-free rate (RFR) 96.8 % (95 % confidence interval 91.6–98.8)]: 3 relapses at retroperitoneal lymph nodes, 1 relapse at the adrenal gland, and 1 isolated brain metastasis. Four patients with relapse were cured with salvage chemotherapy. All patients with relapse had tumor diameter ≥4 cm and/or age ≤34 years. Patients with at least 1 of the above risk factors (n = 111) had a significantly higher relapse rate compared with a similar population (n = 64) treated with 2 cycles of adjuvant EP: 5-year RFR was 95 % (SE 2 %) versus 100 % (SE 0 %), (p = 0.067). Conclusions: Age and tumor diameter were associated with relapse in stage I seminoma treated with adjuvant carboplatin. Although adjuvant carboplatin in patients with age ≤34 and/or tumor diameter ≥4 cm is associated with higher relapse rates than EP, the prognosis of these patients is excellent, and therefore, the use of less toxic treatment is justified. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and characterization of vulnerable carotid plaque remains the spearhead of scientific research. Plaque destabilization, the key factor that induces the series of events leading to the clinical symptoms of carotid artery disease, is a consequence of complex mechanical, structural and biochemical processes. Novel imaging and molecular markers have been studied as predictors of disease outcome with promising results. The aim of this review is to present the current state of research on the association between ultrasound-derived echogenicity indices and blood parameters indicative of carotid plaque stability and activity. Bibliographic research revealed that there are limited available data. Among the biomarkers studied, those related to oxidative stress, lipoproteins and diabetes/insulin resistance are associated with echolucent plaques, whereas adipokines are associated with echogenic plaques. Biomarkers of inflammation and coagulation have not exhibited any conclusive relationship with plaque echogenicity, and it is not possible to come to any conclusion regarding calcification-, apoptosis- and neo-angiogenesis-related parameters because of the extremely limited bibliographic data.

The estimation of cardiovascular tissue motion from ultrasound images is a task of considerable importance but has remained difficult in clinical practice, mainly due to the limitations of ultrasound imaging and the complexity of tissue motion. This paper presents a survey of methodologies, along with physiologically relevant findings, regarding the estimation of motion of the myocardium and of central and peripheral arteries. Speckle tracking and modeling, and registration are the dominant methods used to calculate tissue displacements from sequences of images. Kinematic and mechanical indices are extracted from these displacements, which can provide valuable functional information about the cardiovascular system in normal and diseased conditions. An important application of motionbased strain indices involves the estimation of elastograms of the cardiovascular tissue. Motion analysis methods can be used to estimate a number of regional mechanical phenomena representing functional tissue properties, which are more sensitive to early changes due to ageing or disease. The importance of these methods lies in their potential to quantify in vivo tissue properties and to identify novel noninvasive personalized disease markers, toward early detection and optimal management of disease, along with increased patient safety. Their clinical usefulness remains to be demonstrated in larg trials.

Purpose: Recent studies have demonstrated that hypertension (HTN) is associated with non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in treated hypertensive patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between newly diagnosed essential HTN and NAFLD in untreated hypertensive patients. Patients and methods: A consecutive series of 240 subjects (143 hypertensives and 97 normotensives), aged 30-80 years, without diabetes mellitus were enrolled in the study. Subjects with 24-hour systolic blood pressure (SBP) values ≥130 mmHg and/or diastolic BP values ≥80 mmHg were defined as hypertensives. NAFLD was defined as the presence of liver hyperechogenicity on ultrasound. Results: Body mass index (P=0.002) and essential HTN (P=0.016) were independently associated with NAFLD in the multivariate logistic regression model. Furthermore, the multivariate analysis revealed that morning SBP (P=0.044) was independently associated with NAFLD. Conclusion: Untreated, newly diagnosed essential HTN is independently associated with NAFLD. Ambulatory BP monitoring could be used for the diagnosis of essential HTN in patients with NAFLD. © 2016 Michopoulos et al.

Purpose: This analysis of the FIRST trial in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) ineligible for stem-cell transplantation examined updated outcomes and impact of patient age. Patients and Methods: Patients with untreated symptomatic MM were randomly assigned at a one-to-one-to-one ratio to lenalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone until disease progression (Rd continuous), Rd for 72 weeks (18 cycles; Rd18), or melphalan, prednisone, and thalidomide (MPT; 72 weeks), stratified by age (≤ 75 v > 75 years), disease stage (International Staging System stage I/II v III), and country. The primary end point was progression-free survival. Rd continuous and MPT were primary comparators. Results: Between August 21, 2008, and March 7, 2011, 1,623 patients were enrolled (Rd continuous, n = 535; Rd18, n = 541; MPT, n = 547), including 567 (35%) age older than 75 years. Higher rates of advanced-stage disease and renal impairment were observed in patients older than 75 versus 75 years of age or younger. Rd continuous reduced the risk of progression or death compared with MPT by 31% (hazard ratio [HR], 0.69; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.80; P <.001) overall, 36% (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.77; P <.001) in patients age 75 years or younger, and 20% (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.62 to 1.03; P =.084) in those age older than 75 years. Median overall survival was longer with Rd continuous than with MPT, including a 14-month difference in patients age older than 75 years. Progression-free survival with Rd18 was similar to that with MPT, and overall survival with Rd18 was marginally inferior to that with Rd continuous. Rates of grade 3 to 4 treatment-emergent adverse events were similar for Rd continuous-treated patients age 75 years or older and those age older than 75 years; however, older patients had more frequent lenalidomide dose reductions. Conclusion: Results support Rd continuous treatment as a new standard of care for stem-cell transplantation-ineligible patients with newly diagnosed MM of all ages. © 2016 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Purpose: This analysis of the FIRST trial in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) ineligible for stem-cell transplantation examined updated outcomes and impact of patient age. Patients and Methods: Patients with untreated symptomatic MM were randomly assigned at a one-to-one-to-one ratio to lenalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone until disease progression (Rd continuous), Rd for 72 weeks (18 cycles; Rd18), or melphalan, prednisone, and thalidomide (MPT; 72 weeks), stratified by age (≤ 75 v > 75 years), disease stage (International Staging System stage I/II v III), and country. The primary end point was progression-free survival. Rd continuous and MPT were primary comparators. Results: Between August 21, 2008, and March 7, 2011, 1,623 patients were enrolled (Rd continuous, n = 535; Rd18, n = 541; MPT, n = 547), including 567 (35%) age older than 75 years. Higher rates of advanced-stage disease and renal impairment were observed in patients older than 75 versus 75 years of age or younger. Rd continuous reduced the risk of progression or death compared with MPT by 31% (hazard ratio [HR], 0.69; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.80; P <.001) overall, 36% (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.77; P <.001) in patients age 75 years or younger, and 20% (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.62 to 1.03; P =.084) in those age older than 75 years. Median overall survival was longer with Rd continuous than with MPT, including a 14-month difference in patients age older than 75 years. Progression-free survival with Rd18 was similar to that with MPT, and overall survival with Rd18 was marginally inferior to that with Rd continuous. Rates of grade 3 to 4 treatment-emergent adverse events were similar for Rd continuous-treated patients age 75 years or older and those age older than 75 years; however, older patients had more frequent lenalidomide dose reductions. Conclusion: Results support Rd continuous treatment as a new standard of care for stem-cell transplantation-ineligible patients with newly diagnosed MM of all ages. © 2016 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Although UV-induced TiO2 photocatalysis involves the generation of several reactive oxygen species (ROS), the formation of hydroxyl radicals is generally associated with the degradation of persistent organic contaminants in water. In this study, a variety of radical scavengers were employed to discriminate the roles of different ROS during visible light-activated (VLA) photocatalysis using nitrogen and fluorine doped TiO2 (NF-TiO2) in the degradation of the hepatotoxin, microcystin-LR (MC-LR) in water. The addition of hydroxyl radical scavengers, methanol and tert-butyl alcohol to the reaction mixture resulted in negligible inhibition of NF-TiO2 photocatalytic degradation of MC-LR at pH 3.0 and only partial inhibition at pH 5.7 under visible light. While hydroxyl radicals ([rad]OH) generally play the primary role in UV-TiO2 photocatalysis, the minimal influence of MeOH and t-BuOH on the degradation process under these experimental conditions indicates that [rad]OH are not crucial in VLA NF-TiO2 photocatalysis. However, strong inhibition was observed in VLA NF-TiO2 photocatalytic degradation of MC-LR in the presence of superoxide dismutase, benzoquinone and catalase at pH 3.0 and 5.7 indicating that O2[rad]− and H2O2 play critical roles in the degradation process. Similar degradation rates were observed in the presence of deuterium oxide, which enhances singlet oxygen mediated processes further suggesting singlet oxygen is not a key species in the degradation of MC-LR. Formic acid and cupric nitrate were added to probe the roles of the valence band holes and conduction band electrons, respectively. Under UV–vis light irradiation, almost complete inhibition of MC-LR removal is observed with NF-TiO2 in the presence of [rad]OH scavengers at pH 5.7. These results demonstrate that the solution pH plays a major role in the formation and reactivity of ROS during VLA NF-TiO2 photocatalysis. The adsorption strength of scavengers and MC-LR onto NF-TiO2 as well as the speciation of ROS as a function of pH needs to be carefully considered since they also play a major role in the efficiency of the process. These results indicate that the reduction of molecular oxygen by photo-generated electrons rather than hydroxyl radicals produced by oxidative reactions of photo-generated holes is the key factor in the VLA NF-TiO2 photocatalytic degradation of MC-LR. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.

Background Advanced urothelial cancer (AUCa) is associated with poor long-term survival. Two major concerns are related to nonexposure to cisplatin-based chemotherapy and poor outcome after relapse. Our purpose was to record patterns of practice in AUCa in Greece, focusing on first-line treatment and management of relapsed disease. Methods Patients with AUCa treated from 2011 to 2013 were included in the analysis. Fitness for cisplatin was assessed by recently established criteria. Results Of 327 patients treated with first-line chemotherapy, 179 (55%) did not receive cisplatin. Criteria for unfitness for cisplatin were: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) ≥ 2, 21%; creatinine clearance ≤ 60 mL/min, 55%; hearing impairment, 8%; neuropathy, 1%; and cardiac failure, 5%. Forty-six patients (27%) did not fulfill any criterion for unfitness for cisplatin. The main reasons for these deviations were comorbidities (28%) and advanced age (32%). Seventy-four (68%) of 109 patients who experienced a relapse received second-line chemotherapy. The most frequent reason for not offering second-line chemotherapy was poor PS or limited life expectancy (66%). Conclusion In line with international data, approximately 50% of Greek patients with AUCa do not receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy, although 27% of them were suitable for such treatment. In addition, about one third of patients with relapse did not receive second-line chemotherapy because of poor PS or short life expectancy. Enforcing criteria for fitness for cisplatin and earlier diagnosis of relapse represent 2 targets for improvement in current treatment practice for AUCa. © 2016 Elsevier Inc.

Background Advanced urothelial cancer (AUCa) is associated with poor long-term survival. Two major concerns are related to nonexposure to cisplatin-based chemotherapy and poor outcome after relapse. Our purpose was to record patterns of practice in AUCa in Greece, focusing on first-line treatment and management of relapsed disease. Methods Patients with AUCa treated from 2011 to 2013 were included in the analysis. Fitness for cisplatin was assessed by recently established criteria. Results Of 327 patients treated with first-line chemotherapy, 179 (55%) did not receive cisplatin. Criteria for unfitness for cisplatin were: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) ≥ 2, 21%; creatinine clearance ≤ 60 mL/min, 55%; hearing impairment, 8%; neuropathy, 1%; and cardiac failure, 5%. Forty-six patients (27%) did not fulfill any criterion for unfitness for cisplatin. The main reasons for these deviations were comorbidities (28%) and advanced age (32%). Seventy-four (68%) of 109 patients who experienced a relapse received second-line chemotherapy. The most frequent reason for not offering second-line chemotherapy was poor PS or limited life expectancy (66%). Conclusion In line with international data, approximately 50% of Greek patients with AUCa do not receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy, although 27% of them were suitable for such treatment. In addition, about one third of patients with relapse did not receive second-line chemotherapy because of poor PS or short life expectancy. Enforcing criteria for fitness for cisplatin and earlier diagnosis of relapse represent 2 targets for improvement in current treatment practice for AUCa. © 2016 Elsevier Inc.

Background The present global, open-label, single-arm, multicenter, phase IIb study was designed to determine the efficacy and tolerability of oral vorinostat combined with standard doses of bortezomib in patients with multiple myeloma considered refractory to novel myeloma agents. Patients and Methods Eligible patients were age ≥ 18 years, had received ≥ 2 previous regimens, had disease refractory to ≥ 1 previous bortezomib-containing regimen, and had received ≥ 1 dose of an immunomodulatory drug (thalidomide or lenalidomide)-based regimen. The patients received 21-day cycles of bortezomib (1.3 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1, 4, 8, and 11) plus oral vorinostat (400 mg/d on days 1-14). Oral dexamethasone, 20 mg, on the day of and the day after each dose of bortezomib could be added for patients with progressive disease after 2 cycles or no change after 4 cycles. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate. Results The objective response rate was 11.3% (95% confidence interval, 6.6%-17.7%), and the median duration of response was 211 days (range, 64-550 days). The median overall survival duration was 11.2 months (95% confidence interval, 8.5-14.4 months), with a 2-year survival rate of 32%. The frequently reported adverse events were thrombocytopenia (69.7%), nausea (57.0%), diarrhea (53.5%), anemia (52.1%), and fatigue (48.6%); the overall safety profile was consistent with that of bortezomib and vorinostat. Conclusion The combination of vorinostat and bortezomib is active in patients with multiple myeloma refractory to novel treatment modalities and offers a new therapeutic option for this difficult-to-treat patient population (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT00773838). © 2016 Elsevier Inc.

Background The present global, open-label, single-arm, multicenter, phase IIb study was designed to determine the efficacy and tolerability of oral vorinostat combined with standard doses of bortezomib in patients with multiple myeloma considered refractory to novel myeloma agents. Patients and Methods Eligible patients were age ≥ 18 years, had received ≥ 2 previous regimens, had disease refractory to ≥ 1 previous bortezomib-containing regimen, and had received ≥ 1 dose of an immunomodulatory drug (thalidomide or lenalidomide)-based regimen. The patients received 21-day cycles of bortezomib (1.3 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1, 4, 8, and 11) plus oral vorinostat (400 mg/d on days 1-14). Oral dexamethasone, 20 mg, on the day of and the day after each dose of bortezomib could be added for patients with progressive disease after 2 cycles or no change after 4 cycles. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate. Results The objective response rate was 11.3% (95% confidence interval, 6.6%-17.7%), and the median duration of response was 211 days (range, 64-550 days). The median overall survival duration was 11.2 months (95% confidence interval, 8.5-14.4 months), with a 2-year survival rate of 32%. The frequently reported adverse events were thrombocytopenia (69.7%), nausea (57.0%), diarrhea (53.5%), anemia (52.1%), and fatigue (48.6%); the overall safety profile was consistent with that of bortezomib and vorinostat. Conclusion The combination of vorinostat and bortezomib is active in patients with multiple myeloma refractory to novel treatment modalities and offers a new therapeutic option for this difficult-to-treat patient population (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT00773838). © 2016 Elsevier Inc.

The Aegean-west Anatolian orocline formed due to mainly post-15 Ma opposite rotations of its western and eastern limbs, which contributed to the opening of the Aegean back-arc basin. Stretching lineations in exhumed metamorphic complexes in this back-arc basin mimic the regional vertical axis rotation patterns and suggests that the oppositely rotating domains are bounded by the ‘Mid-Cycladic Lineament’, the tectonic nature of which is enigmatic. Some authors have proposed this lineament to be extensional fault accommodating orogen-parallel extension, while others considered it a transform fault. The island of Paros hosts the only exposure of the Mid-Cycladic Lineament: the northwest of the island contains E-trending and the southeast contains N trending stretching lineations. Here, we show new paleomagnetic results from isotropic, ~16 Ma granitoids that intruded both domains. These demonstrate that the trend difference resulted from post-16 Ma ~90° clockwise and 10° counterclockwise rotation of the northwest and southeast blocks, respectively. We show that a greenschist facies, semi-ductile to brittle, low-angle, southeast dipping normal fault zone, here identified as the Elitas Shear Zone that we interpret as the Mid-Cycladic Lineament accommodates this rotation difference on Paros. We conclude a two-stage exhumation history for Paros that is consistent with regional Aegean reconstructions. Between ~23 and 16 Ma, the metamorphic rocks of Paros exhumed from amphibolite-facies to greenschist facies conditions along a top-to-the-north detachment. The Elitas shear zone then started to exhume the northwestern clockwise rotating domain from below the southeastern, counterclockwise rotating domain since 16 Ma. We demonstrate at the only location at which a structure coinciding with Mid-Cycladic Lineament is exposed, it is extensional in nature, consistent with geometrical predictions that Aegean oroclinal bending must have been accommodated by combined orogen-normal and orogen-parallel extension.

On 2014 April 23, the Swift satellite responded to a hard X-ray transient detected by its Burst Alert Telescope, which turned out to be a stellar flare from a nearby, young M dwarf binary DG CVn. We utilize observations at X-ray, UV, optical, and radio wavelengths to infer the properties of two large flares. The X-ray spectrum of the primary outburst can be described over the 0.3-100 keV bandpass by either a single very high-temperature plasma or a nonthermal thick-target bremsstrahlung model, and we rule out the nonthermal model based on energetic grounds. The temperatures were the highest seen spectroscopically in a stellar flare, at T X of 290 MK. The first event was followed by a comparably energetic event almost a day later. We constrain the photospheric area involved in each of the two flares to be >1020 cm2, and find evidence from flux ratios in the second event of contributions to the white light flare emission in addition to the usual hot, T ∼ 104 K blackbody emission seen in the impulsive phase of flares. The radiated energy in X-rays and white light reveal these events to be the two most energetic X-ray flares observed from an M dwarf, with X-ray radiated energies in the 0.3-10 keV bandpass of 4 × 1035 and 9 × 1035 erg, and optical flare energies at E V of 2.8 × 1034 and 5.2 × 1034 erg, respectively. The results presented here should be integrated into updated modeling of the astrophysical impact of large stellar flares on close-in exoplanetary atmospheres.

On April 23, 2014, the Swift satellite responded to a hard X-ray transient detected by its Burst Alert Telescope, which turned out to be a stellar flare from a nearby, young M dwarf binary DG~CVn. Observations at X-ray, UV and optical wavelengths of the main impulsive flare and subsequent smaller events reveal a complex pattern of flare events extending over about three weeks. We find that the X-ray spectrum of the primary outburst can be adequately described by either a single very high temperature plasma or a nonthermal thick-target bremmstrahlung model. By evaluating accompanying data of this event and analysis of a second brightening, we argue that the thermal interpretation is more likely on energetic grounds. The primary outburst lasted a few hours and produced the highest temperature thermal plasmas ever seen spectroscopically over the 0.3-100 keV range in a stellar flare, at TX of 300 MK. The X-ray luminosity of the main flare exceeded the bolometric luminosity of the brighter component (LX >1.6Lbol) for ~360 seconds. The first event was followed by a comparably energetic event almost a day later, whose coverage at X-ray and optical wavelengths enables inferences about it and the first event. In particular we find evidence for stellar radius-sized coronal loops filled with dense (ne>1012 cm-3) coronal plasma. The radiated energy in X-rays and white light reveal these first two events to be some of the most energetic X-ray and white light flares from an M dwarf. These structures require large coronal magnetic field strengths (a few kG for the first event, hundreds of Gauss for the second) to confine the plasma, and we thus predict an extremely high photospheric magnetic field strength of several kiloGauss.

The processing of all available XMM-Newton data in the LMC region, and those of the VLP survey in particular, was done with the data reduction pipeline developed in our research group over several years. Various non-X-ray data were used to supplement the XMM-Newton observations. They allow us to assess e.g. the relation between the population of SNRs and large scale structure of the LMC, or to evaluate doubtful candidates in the sample compilation. We compiled a sample of 59 definite SNRs, cleaned of misclassified objects and doubtful candidates. (2 data files).

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare, low-grade malignancy with no established standard of care. Rituximab regimens are most commonly used, supported by their efficacy in hematologic malignancies, including WM. A growing number of investigational regimens for WM have been evaluated in phase II clinical trials, including single-agent and combination strategies that include newer-generation monoclonal antibodies (ofatumumab and alemtuzumab), proteasome inhibitors (bortezomib and carfilzomib), immunomodulatory agents (thalidomide and lenalidomide), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway inhibitors (everolimus and perifosene), a Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (ibrutinib), and a histone deacetylase inhibitor (panobinostat). Other novel agents are in early-stage development for WM. International treatment guidelines for WM suggest suitable regimens in the newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory settings, in accordance with patient age, disease presentation, and efficacy and safety profiles of particular drugs. These factors must be considered when choosing appropriate therapy for individual patients with WM, to maximize response and prolong survival, while minimizing the risk of adverse events. This review article provides a clinical perspective of the modern management of patients with WM, in the context of available trial data for novel regimens and recently updated treatment guidelines. © The Author 2015.

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare, low-grade malignancy with no established standard of care. Rituximab regimens are most commonly used, supported by their efficacy in hematologic malignancies, including WM. A growing number of investigational regimens for WM have been evaluated in phase II clinical trials, including single-agent and combination strategies that include newer-generation monoclonal antibodies (ofatumumab and alemtuzumab), proteasome inhibitors (bortezomib and carfilzomib), immunomodulatory agents (thalidomide and lenalidomide), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway inhibitors (everolimus and perifosene), a Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (ibrutinib), and a histone deacetylase inhibitor (panobinostat). Other novel agents are in early-stage development for WM. International treatment guidelines for WM suggest suitable regimens in the newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory settings, in accordance with patient age, disease presentation, and efficacy and safety profiles of particular drugs. These factors must be considered when choosing appropriate therapy for individual patients with WM, to maximize response and prolong survival, while minimizing the risk of adverse events. This review article provides a clinical perspective of the modern management of patients with WM, in the context of available trial data for novel regimens and recently updated treatment guidelines. © The Author 2015.

{Several epidemiological studies have shown an association between particulate air pollution and adverse health effects. The consensus among the scientific community is that suspended particulate matter is one of the most harmful pollutants, particularly the inhalable particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less than 10 mu m (PM10) causing respiratory health effects and heart diseases. The effects of aerosols on human health are determined by both their size and their chemical composition. Average daily concentrations exceeding the EU daily threshold concentration appear, among other cases, during Sahara dust episodes, a natural phenomenon that degrades the air quality in the urban area of Volos. The city of Volos is a coastal city of medium size in the eastern seaboard of Central Greece. The main objective of this work is the study of the temporal evolution and the assessment of weekend effect in particulate matter concentration levels in the centre of the city of Volos. PM10 data obtained by a fully automated station that was established by the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy, for a 5-year period (2010-2014) are analyzed in order to study the day-of-week variations during the cold and warm period of the year. As these variations are mostly expected to be due to the human working cycle, a strong weekly cycle would be indicative of the dominance of anthropogenic particles.}

© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Depression and anxiety, the so-called common mental disorders (CMDs), are highly prevalent and disabling, yet remain largely untreated. This treatment gap is particularly true in low- and middle-income settings, where there is significant scarcity of resources (including human resources) and treatment accessibility is complicated by stigma surrounding mental illness. To address these challenges, the MANAS trial, one of the largest to date randomized, controlled trials, aimed to test the effectiveness of a stepped care intervention led by lay health counselors in primary care settings in Goa, India. Six- and 12-month follow-up outcomes suggest that MANAS was a safe, feasible, effective, and cost-effective intervention for CMDs in that context. This article demonstrates the use of culturally adapted IPT as an intervention to treat CMDs in a 54-year-old Indian primary care patient struggling with depression and heart-related problems after his wife's death. A case formulation is presented based on core IPT principles, followed by detailed delineation of treatment from beginning through termination.

We call monomer a B-DNA base pair and study, analytically and numerically, electron or hole oscillations in monomers, dimers and trimers. We employ two tight binding (TB) approaches: (I) at the base-pair level, using the on-site energies of the base pairs and the hopping parameters between successive base pairs i.e. a wire model, and (II) at the single-base level, using the on-site energies of the bases and the hopping parameters between neighbouring bases, specifically between (a) two successive bases in the same strand, (b) complementary bases that define a base pair, and (c) diagonally located bases of successive base pairs, i.e. an extended ladder model since it also includes the diagonal hoppings (c). For monomers, with TB II, we predict periodic carrier oscillations with frequency –550 THz. For dimers, with TB I, we predict periodic carrier oscillations with –100 THz. For trimers made of identical monomers, with TB I, we predict periodic carrier oscillations with –33 THz. In other cases, either with TB I or TB II, the oscillations may be not strictly periodic, but Fourier analysis shows similar frequency content. For dimers and trimers, TB I and TB II are successfully compared giving complementary aspects of the oscillations.

We report the X-ray detections of three novae in observations of the M31 northern disk by XMM-Newton in January 2016. In continuation of earlier observations described in ATels #8227 and #8228, a further two 100-ks observations were carried out on 2016-01-01 (ObsID 0763120401) and 2016-01-21 (ObsID 0763120201).

We report on the first detection of X-ray dust-scattered rings from the Galactic low-mass X-ray binary V404 Cyg. The observation of the system with Swift/XRT on 2015 June 30 revealed the presence of five concentric ring-like structures centred at the position of V404 Cyg. Follow-up Swift/XRT observations allowed a time-dependent study of the X-ray rings. Assuming that these are the result of small-angle, single X-ray scattering by dust grains along the line of sight, we find that their angular size scales as θ ∝ √{t} in agreement with theoretical predictions. The dust grains are concentrated in five dust layers located at about 2.12, 2.05, 1.63, 1.50 and 1.18 kpc from the observer. These coincide roughly with locations of enhanced extinction as determined by infrared photometry. Assuming that the grain size distribution is described by a generalized Mathis-Rumpl-Nordsieck model, we find that the power-law index of the most distant cloud is q ∼ 4.4, while q ∼ 3.5-3.7 in all other clouds. We constrain at a 3σ level the maximum grain size of the intermediate dust layers in the range 0.16-0.20 μm and set a lower limit of ∼ 0.2 μm in the other clouds. Hints of an exponential cutoff at the angular intensity profile of the outermost X-ray ring suggest that the smallest grains have sizes 0.01 ≤ αmin ≲ 0.03 μm. Based on the relative ratios of dust column densities we find the highest dust concentration at ∼1.6 kpc. Our results indicate a gradient in the dust properties within 1 kpc from V404 Cyg.

XMMU J004855.5-734946 is a candidate BeXRB system in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC, Haberl & Sturm 2016, A & A, 586, 81). The system was detected in a recent 45 s Swift/XRT observation on 2016-06-24 as part of a routine Swift/XRT survey of the SMC (ATel #9197).

The Magellanic Clouds (MCs) offer an ideal laboratory for the study of the SNR population in star-forming galaxies, since they are relatively nearby and free of large absorption. Both the LMC and SMC have been targeted by large XMM-Newton surveys, which, combined with archival observations, provide the best dataset to systematically study the X-ray emission of their numerous SNRs (∼ 60 in the LMC, ∼ 20 in the SMC). In this talk, I will highlight the results from this homogeneous analysis, which allows for the first time meaningful comparisons of temperature, chemical composition, and luminosity of SNRs in the MCs. The SNRs can be used as probes of their host galaxies: We measured chemical abundances in the hot phase of the LMC, and constrained the ratio of core-collapse to type Ia SN rates. The X-ray luminosity function of SNRs in the MCs are compared to those in other Local Group galaxies with different metallicities and star formation properties. Finally, we present a new population of evolved type Ia SNRs that was discovered recently in the MCs via their iron-rich X-ray emission.

Αυτή η εργασία επικεντρώνετε στον κρίσιμο ρόλο του Αθλητισμού στην προώθηση της κοινωνικής ενσωμάτωσης: τη χρήση του αθλητισμού για την αντιμετώπιση κοινωνικών ζητημάτων που σχετίζονται με την εξάλειψη κοινωνικών διακρίσεων, τη διερεύνηση τεχνικών αντιμετώπισης συγκρούσεων και την κοινωνική ένταξη. Αρχικά, στην πρώτη ενότητα, εξετάζεται ο διεθνής διάλογος, πρόσφατα αποτελέσματα ερευνών, για κοινωνικά φαινόμενα όπως ο ρατσισμός και η ξενοφοβία. Παρατηρείτε ότι οι αντιλήψεις για τους μετανάστες και πρόσφυγες (και στη χώρα μας) προκαλούν ανησυχίες για εκείνους που ασχολούνται με την πολυπολιτισμικότητα, το σεβασμό για τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα, τη φυλετική και την έμφυλη πολυμορφία, την κοινωνική ισότητα και ισονομία, το νόημα του έθνους, της πατρίδας κ.ά.  Η διεθνής βιβλιογραφία δείχνει ότι όσο ισχυρότερο είναι το κοινωνικό κεφάλαιο των μεταναστών, τόσο περισσότερο διευκολύνεται η κοινωνική τους ένταξη. Τα τελευταία 25 χρόνια η Ελλάδα έχει μετατραπεί σε χώρα μαζικής υποδοχής μεταναστών. Ωστόσο, η αναγνώριση του γεγονότος ότι οι μετανάστες αποτελούν μόνιμη πραγματικότητα στη χώρα μας είναι πρόσφατη και ο δημόσιος διάλογος σχετικά με την κοινωνική και οικονομική τους ενσωμάτωση εξελίσσεται. Στη δεύτερη ενότητα διερευνάται  η χρήση του Αθλητισμού (και της φυσικής αγωγής) ως μέσου για την καλλιέργεια μιας κουλτούρας/παιδείας ειρήνης (peace education) ή ως εργαλείου για την επίλυση συγκρούσεων, ιδιαίτερα ενόψει των αυξανόμενων διαφωνιών και συγκρούσεων που σχετίζονται με τη διαχείριση της προσφυγικής κρίσης— που πλήττει κατά 60% τις γυναίκες και τα παιδιά— για την οποία κρίση η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση δεν έχει ολοκληρωμένη πολιτική διαχείρισης. Εντούτοις, αναδεικνύεται ότι ο Αθλητισμός μπορεί να συμβάλλει ουσιαστικά στην κοινωνική ενσωμάτωση των μεταναστών. Πρόσφατη έρευνα της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής (Σεπτ. 2016)—που συμπεριλαμβάνει 63 «καλές πρακτικές» (good practices)— τεκμηριώνει τη συμβολή του Αθλητισμού στην κοινωνική ενσωμάτωση τον μεταναστών και προσφύγων στην Ευρώπη. 

Ο τόμος περιλαμβάνει τις ακαδημαϊκές συμβολές επιστημόνων που συνεργάστηκαν ή/και μαθήτευσαν με τον Δημήτρη Ματθαίου. Αποτελείται από μια («επιλεκτική», όπως χαρακτηριστικά αναφέρεται) εισαγωγή στο έργο και τις ιδέες του και αποτελείται από πέντε κύριες ενότητες, οι οποίες αντιπροσωπεύουν επιστημονικά πεδία με τα οποία ασχολήθηκε ο τιμώμενος. Συγκεκριμένα αποτελείται από τις ενότητες «Στοχασμοί για την εκπαίδευση», «Ζητήματα εκπαιδευτικής πολιτικής», «Ανώτατη εκπαίδευση», «Διοίκηση της εκπαίδευσης» και «Συγκριτική σπουδή της εκπαίδευσης».Οι επιμελητές του τόμου είχαν την ευθύνη της πρόσκλησης των συγγραφέων, της κατανομής τους σε ενότητες και την επιμέλεια των κειμένων. Οι τρεις εκ των επιμελητών (Κ. Φασούλης, Ι. Ρουσσάκης, Α. Σαμαρά) ανέλαβαν την ευθύνη συγγραφής του εισαγωγικού κεφαλαίου.

Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2016). 'Αφηγήσεις Δυτικών Περιηγητριών  του 18ου, 19ου και αρχές 20ου αιώνα: «Εάν κάθε Τούρκος πασάς είχε μία Ασπασία πόσο θα βελτιωνόταν το γένος των Μωαμεθανών…»   (Celine 1849)'.  Εισήγηση στην Ημερίδα: «Η Διάσταση του Φύλου στην κοινωνική πολιτική και κοινωνιολογία», Γ’ Πάνελ.  Κέντρο Πολιτισμού και Εκπαίδευσης «ΠΟΛΙΣ», Νέο Ηράκλειο,  9 Οκτ. 2016. Social Policy.gr. :  Κοινωνική Πολιτική – Κοινωνική Θεωρία. --http://socialpolicy.gr/2016/09/%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%B4%CE%B1-%CE%B7-%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%B7-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CF%86%CF%8D%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%85-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%B9.html --https://www.facebook.com/events/1097230350345846/  

Τὸ μεσανατολικὸ γεωπολιτικὸ σύστημα, ἀναδιαρθροῦται μὲ ταχυτάτους ρυθμοὺς καὶ οἱ ἐσωτερικοὶ πυλῶνες ἰσχύος τῶν ἑκάστοτε ὑποσυστημάτων του διαμορφώνουν ἕνα πολύπλοκο δίκτυον ἀνακατανομῆς ἰσχύος ἐπηρεαζόμενομενο μὲ πρωτοφανεῖς τρόπους ἀπὸ τοὺς Πόλους Ἰσχύος τοῦ Ὑπερσυστήματος, ὅπως οἱ ΗΠΑ, ἡ Ρωσσία, ἡ Κίνα, καὶ συγκεκριμένα κράτη-μέλη τῆς Εὐρωπαϊκῆς Ἑνώσεως. Στὸ πλαίσιο αὐτὸ ἄκρως ἐνδιαφέρουσα εἶναι ἡ πλήρης ἀποτυχία τῆς ∆ημοκρατικῆς administration τῆς Οὐάσιγκτων, νὰ δημιουργήσει μίαν «ἰσλαμοδημοκρατικὴ» Τουρκία ἡ ὁποία, μὲ ἐργαλεῖον προβολῆς ἰσχύος τὴν Ὀργάνωση τῶν Ἀδελφῶν Μουσουλμάνων τῆς Αἰγύπτου, θὰ ἐλειτουργοῦσε ὡς ἰσλαμικοῦ τύπου «δημοκρατικὸ» πρότυπον διακυβερνήσεως γιὰ ὅλες τὶς ἰσλαμικοῦ πολιτισμικοῦ ὑποβάθρου χῶρες τῆς Εὐρυτέρας Μέσης Ἀνατολῆς, ἀποτελοῦσα καὶ γεωστρατηγικὸν ἀνάχωμα στὶς Μεσογειακὲς βλέψεις τῆς Ρωσσίας. Η παρούσα ομιλία αναφέρεται στη γεωπολιτικὴ ἀνάγνωση τοῦ γεωπολιτικού συστήματος τῆς ΝΑ Μεσογείου καὶ στον ἐρντογανικὸ ἀναθεωρητισμὸ.

Ἡ ἀνάγνωσις τοῦ Γεωπολιτικοῦ Συμπλόκου τοῦ Εὐρω-ἀμερικανικοῦ ∆ιπόλου μὲ Γεωπολιτικὸ Παράγοντα (geopolitical factor) ἐντασσόμενο στὸν σκληρὸ πυρῆνα τοῦ Πολιτισμικοῦ Πυλῶνος (cultural pilar), τὸν παράγοντα τῆς πολιτισμικῆς ταὐτότητος, προσφέρει τὴν εἰκόνα ἑνὸς δυναμικοῦ καὶ μεταλασσόμενου γεωπολιτικοῦ πεδίου (geopolitical field), τὸ ὁποῖον παρουσιάζει κοινὰ ἐθνικο-ταὐτοτικὰ πολιτισμικὰ στοιχεῖα καὶ στρέφεται οὐσιαστικῶς ἐναντίον μιᾶς διεθνοποιημένης τραπεζικῆς πραγματικότητος μὴ βασιζομένης σὲ πραγματικὴ παραγωγὴ ἀλλὰ σὲ ἰδιαίτερα ὑψηλοὺς δεῖκτες μοχλεύσεως καὶ στὴν δημιουργία ἑνὸς Οἰκονομικοῦ ΝΑΤΟ ὑπὸ τὴν ὀνομασίαν τῆς (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) ΤΤΙP μὲ εὐρωπαῖο χειριστὴ τὴν Γερμανικὴ κυβέρνηση. Το κείμενο, εστιάζει στον τέταρτο γεωπολιτικό πυλώνα ισχύος, αυτόν του πολιτισμού.

Το βιβλίο εξετάζει σε βάθος τη δυναμική και τη διεργασία των ομάδων και των οργανισμών, τον ρόλο τους στην αντιμετώπιση των εσωτερικών κρίσεων αλλά και των πιέσεων που προέρχονται από ένα ασταθές και διαρκώς αβέβαιο εξωτερικό περιβάλλον. Ο ρόλος της ηγεσίας, οι συγκρούσεις, η εσωστρέφεια και η παθογένεια, αλλά και θέματα που αφορούν στην εκπαίδευση, την έρευνα και την εποπτεία των ομάδων εξετάζονται σε συνάρτηση με τη δυνατότητα των πάσης φύσεως ομάδων να μετεξελιχθούν από κλειστά σε ανοικτά συστήματα.

«Έγραψα μόνη μου την Εφημερίδα μου από την πρώτη ως την όγδοην σελίδα. Φυσικά υπό διάφορα ψευδώνυμα. Δεν είχα ούτε μία συνεργάτιδα. Είχα φέρει ένα Ιταλικόν ασήμαντον περιοδικό, καθώς και το Γαλλικόν του Léon Richer των Γυναικείων Δικαιωμάτων. Από αυτό είχα μεταφράσει μίαν μελέτη δια μίαν δημοσιογράφον Αμερικανίδα. […] Είναι 6 Μαρτίου του 1887. Το φύλλον είναι έτοιμον.»  Αν και η ιδρύτρια της Εφημερίδος των Κυριών - λαμβάνοντας υπόψη της τον εθνικιστικό λόγο της εποχής της - είχε επισταμένως φροντίσει, μέσα από κείμενα και δημόσιες παρεμβάσεις, να τονίσει και να αποδείξει την «ελληνικότητα» και την εθνική αποστολή του αγώνα της υπέρ των δικαιωμάτων των γυναικών προτείνοντας μια εναλλακτική νομιμοποιητική αφήγηση καθαρή από όποιες επείσακτες συνδηλώσεις, η μαρτυρία της αυτή γραμμένη στα 1915 είναι δηλωτική του ρόλου που έπαιξαν τα δυτικά πρότυπα της γυναικείας αμφισβήτησης τόσο στη συγκρότηση μιας φεμινιστικής συνείδησης στην Ελλάδα όσο και στην οργάνωση της εγχώριας συλλογικής γυναικείας κίνησης. Την αμφίθυμη και εν πολλοίς "αποσιωπημένη" αυτή σχέση του ελληνικού και του δυτικού φεμινιστικού κινήματος κατά τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες του 19ου αιώνα φιλοδοξεί να αναδείξει η παρούσα ανακοίνωση. Με επίκεντρο τον διάλογο που αναπτύσσεται προνομιακά με τη γαλλική γυναικεία κίνηση - πιο οικεία λόγω και της έντονης επιρροής του γαλλικού πολιτισμού στον ελληνικό χώρο εκείνη την περίοδο -, επιχειρείται μια πρώτη καταγραφή των πρωτοβουλιών και ενεργειών της Καλλιρόης Παρρέν και των συνεργατριών της (συστηματική παρακολούθηση των ξένων γυναικείων επιτευγμάτων και κατακτήσεων, συνεπής παρουσία στις διεθνείς συναντήσεις, επαφές με τα μέλη παλαιών και νέων φεμινιστικών δικτύων) με στόχο την ένταξη τους σε μια ευρύτερη οργάνωση, μια παγκόσμια «γυναικεία αδελφότητα» στο πλαίσιο της οποίας όμως η ελληνική συμμετοχή, σε ρόλο διαμεσολάβησης μεταξύ Δύσης και Ανατολής, φεμινισμού και ελληνισμού, φιλοδοξεί να διατηρήσει την ιδιαιτερότητά της.

© Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2016) ). Ελληνισμός, Υποδούλωση, Τρομοκρατία και Δουλεία: Αφηγήσεις Δυτικών Περιηγητριών (HELLENISM, SUBJUGATION, TERRORISM AND SLAVERY: Personal Accounts by Western Women Travelers). Εισήγηση στο συνέδριο «Αθλητισμός – Πολιτισμός» του Συνδέσμου Φιλίας Εθνών (Σ.Φ.Ε.) σε συνεργασία με τη Σχολή Επιστήμης Φυσικής Αγωγής & Αθλητισμού (Σ.Ε.Φ.Α.Α.) του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών (Ε.Κ.Π.Α). Δάφνη, Αθήνα, 28-29 Μαΐου 2016: υπό την Αιγίδα του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών (ΕΚΠΑ). Επίσης, βλ.Proceedings/ Πρακτικά:   Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη. (2016). Ελληνισμός, Υποδούλωση, Τρομοκρατία και Δουλεία: Αφηγήσεις Δυτικών Περιηγητριών. Πρακτικά- Εισηγήσεις Συνεδρίου «Αθλητισμός-Πολιτισμός» του Σύνδεσμος Φιλίας Εθνών (Σ.Φ.Ε.) σε συνεργασία με τη Σχολή Επιστήμης Φυσικής Αγωγής & Αθλητισμού (Σ.Ε.Φ.Α.Α.) του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών (Ε.Κ.Π.Α). © Copyright - afan.gr - Enfold Theme by Kriesi. [Πρακτικά Συνεδρίου: http://www.afan.gr/afan/%CE%B5%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%B7%CE%B3%CE%AE%CF%83%CE%B5%CE%B9%CF%82-%CF%83%CF%85%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%B1%CE%B8%CE%BB%CE%B7%CF%84%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CF%8C%CF%82-%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%BB/    

When citing/ παραπομπή: ©  Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2016). «Επιχειρώντας Αλλιώς» στην εποχή της κρίσης: Η γυναικεία αθλητική επιχειρηματικότητα, ανεκμετάλλευτη πηγή κοινωνικού κεφαλαίου. Εισήγηση στην ημερίδα "Γυναίκα και Αθλητισμός – Επιχειρώντας Αλλιώς" της Κυπριακής Ολυμπιακής Επιτροπής (ΚΟΕ), της Επιτροπής   "Γυναίκα και Αθλητισμός" της ΚΟΕ, υπό την αιγίδα του Υπουργείου Παιδείας και Πολιτισμού, 9 Μαρτίου 2016,  στο Ολυμπιακό Μέγαρο, αίθουσα Ευ Αγωνίζεσθαι, Λευκωσία. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.5054.6322 .... [...]   Σήμερα θα προβούμε σε ένα προβληματισμό ο οποίος έχει να κάνει με τη σχέση του Αθλητισμού και το "Επιχειρείν". Δεν θα επικεντρωθούμε στη γυναικεία υποεκπροσώπηση στον επιχειρηματικό στίβο  γενικότερα,  αλλά στις ανώνυμες ηρωίδες του «αθλητικού επιχειρείν» οι οποίες σταδιακά αυξάνονται. Θα δούμε ότι η Ολυμπιακή επιχειρηματικότητα δεν αποτελεί ανδρικό φαινόμενο, επειδή ο αθλητισμός προάγει  δεξιότητες (και για τα δύο φύλα) που είναι σημαντικά για το «επιχειρείν»,  δηλαδή για την επιχειρηματικότητα και την επαγγελματική επιτυχία. Πρόσφατες έρευνες (ποιοτικές και ποσοτικές)  καθώς και συνεντεύξεις με πρώην αθλήτριες, τεκμηριώνουν ότι  ένας αθλητικός προσανατολισμός, και ειδικά ο ομαδικός αθλητισμός –ή ένα ιστορικό αθλητικής εμπειρίας— αποτελεί χρήσιμο εργαλείο, όσον αφορά στην επιχειρηματικότητα και ειδικά όσον αφορά στην καλλιέργεια και ανάπτυξη ηγετικών δεξιοτήτων, όπως ένα πειθαρχημένο εργασιακό ήθος … … Λέξεις κλειδιά-  Επιχειρηματικότητα (entrepreneur, entrepreneurship), φύλο (gender), αθλητισμός,  φυσική αγωγή, αρχηγία, εξουσία,  ολιστική προσέγγιση: κουλτούρα συνεργασίας,  ηγεσία (εμπνέω, συντονίζω, καθοδηγώ), η πρώτη γυναίκα Ολυμπιακή επιχειρηματίας (Olympic entrepreneur: Alice Milliat) ** http://balla.com.cy/2016/03/10/imerida-ginaikas/ http://24h.com.cy/2016/03/07/hmerida-me-thema-gynaika-kai-athlitismos-epihirontas-allios-dia/

Στο παρόν κείμενο εξετάζονται τρεις υποθέσεις: α) η υπόθεσις όπου η Ρωσία κατισχύει δια του Πατριαρχείου της επί του Ορθοδόξου Χριστιανικού κόσμου, γεγονός το οποίο συνεπάγεται τη θραύση του Rimland στον άξονα Βαλκανικής Χερσονήσου-Μεσογείου, β) η υπόθεσις όπου το δίπολο Λονδίνου-Ουάσινγκτον συνεχίζει δια του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχίου τον έλεγχον της εξόδου της Μόσχας στη Μεσόγειο και γ) η υπόθεσις όπου η Μόσχα και η Ουάσινγκτον συγκλίνουν για την αντιμετώπιση της κινεζικής προβολής ισχύος στην Μεσόγειο και όχι μόνον.

Πώς η Αμερική επηρεάζει την ελληνική κουλτούρα; Με ποιους τρόπους η Ελλάδα αφομοιώνει, επεξεργάζεται και μετουσιώνει την αμερικανική πολιτισμική επιρροή; Το βιβλίο εξετάζει την πολιτισμική σχέση Ελλάδας και Αμερικής, συνδυάζοντας διαφορετικές επιστημονικές προσεγγίσεις και εστιάζοντας στις πολλαπλές διαδικασίες μέσω των οποίων οι δυο κουλτούρες αλληλοτροφοδοτούνται και συνδιαλέγονται. Η διεξοδική ανάλυση των τρόπων με τους οποίους η Ελλάδα συναλλάσσεται με την αμερικανική κουλτούρα αποκαλύπτει όχι μόνο την αδιαμφισβήτητη παρουσία της αμερικανικής πολιτισμικής επιρροής στη χώρα μας, αλλά και ότι αυτή εμπλουτίζει, αντί να υποσκάπτει και να περιορίζει, όπως πολλοί πιστεύουν, την πολιτισμική έκφραση των Ελλήνων. Στο βιβλίο περιέχονται κείμενα συγγραφέων και ειδικών από τον χώρο της ιστορίας, της λογοτεχνικής θεωρίας, της ιστορίας της τέχνης, της γλωσσολογίας, της φιλοσοφίας και των μέσων μαζικής επικοινωνίας

Τα επιτραπέζια παιχνίδια μπορούν να αποκτήσουν εκπαιδευτικό χαρακτήρα στο πλαίσιο των μαθημάτων του σχολείου, με σημαντικά μαθησιακά αποτελέσματα. Κατά βάση συνεργάζονται σε ομάδες μαθητές με διαφορετικό επίπεδο γνώσεων, διαφορετικά κίνητρα και ικανότητες, διαφορετικό πολιτισμικό κεφάλαιο και οικονομικοκοινωνικό υπόβαθρο, για να κατανοήσουν και να μάθουν μέσω της επικοινωνίας, που αναπτύσσεται στο πλαίσιο ενός παιχνιδιού. Στην έρευνα που παρουσιάζεται στο παρόν μελετάται η διαδικασία του παιχνιδιού στην τάξη, η λειτουργία των ομάδων, η επικοινωνία των μελών τους, καθώς και η επίτευξη των προσδοκώμενων αποτελεσμάτων του μαθήματος που διδάσκεται μέσω του παιχνιδιού. Έγινε προσαρμογή ενός επιτραπέζιου παιχνιδιού (φιδάκι) στο εκπαιδευτικό περιβάλλον της Θρησκευτικής Εκπαίδευσης (μάθημα Θρησκευτικών) στο Γυμνάσιο με σκοπό την κατανόηση και μάθηση (γνώσεις και δεξιότητες). Μελετήθηκε η εφαρμογή του σε τμήμα της Β ́, στο 1ο Γυμνάσιο Αχαρνών, τη σχολική χρονιά 2013-14 μέσω παρατήρησης, ημερολογίων, ερωτηματολογίων και κριτηρίων αξιολόγησης. Η ανάλυση των αποτελεσμάτων, αφήνει πολλά περιθώρια να συμπεράνει κανείς την υψηλή παιδαγωγική-μετασχηματιστική αξία του επιτραπέζιου παιχνιδιού στη διδασκαλία.

Στο άρθρο αυτό γίνεται πρώτα λόγος για τη Θρησκευτική Εκπαίδευση στον ευρωπαϊκό χώρο, με ταυτόχρονες αναφορές στις διεθνείς συμβάσεις και συστάσεις του Συμβουλίου της Ευρώπης. Παράλληλα καταγράφεται και το ελληνικό νομοθετικό πλαίσιο, που διέπει τα θέματα της παροχής ΘΕ, της ανάπτυξης της θρησκευτικής συνείδησης σε σχέση με τη θρησκευτική ελευθερία, καθώς και το επίκαιρο ζήτημα των απαλλαγών από το μάθημα. Καταγράφονται, ακόμα, τα επιχειρήματα που σχετίζονται με την υποχρεωτική ή μη παρουσία της ΘΕ στον δημόσιο χώρο και διερευνάται το θέμα της αναγκαιότητάς της από παιδαγωγικής, κοινωνικής και πολιτισμικής πλευράς. Γίνεται, τέλος, αναφορά στον ιδιαίτερο χαρακτήρα (επιστημονικό –παιδαγωγικό) που έχουν τα νέα Προγράμματα Σπουδών της ΘΕ (2011, 2014, 2015), τα οποία φαίνεται να αποτελούν πρόταση που μπορεί να οδηγήσει, με τις λιγότερες κατά το δυνατό αντιδράσεις ή ασυμφωνίες, σε ένα ασφαλές μέλλον για την υποχρεωτική ΘΕ στην Ελλάδα με παιδαγωγικούς όρους.

ISSN 2529-1580. Η παρούσα δημοσίευση αποτελεί την εισήγησή μας στο 2ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο ΕΕΠΕΚ για την εκπαιδευτική καινοτομία στη Λάρισα και περιλαμβάνει την περιγραφή και αναδρομή στα τέσσερα σχολικά έτη της εκπόνησης προγραμμάτων σχολικών δραστηριοτήτων σε γυμνάσια της Θεσσαλονίκης σχετικά με τη διδασκαλία για τα σύγχρονα βιοηθικά ζητήματα σε μαθητές της Γ΄ Γυμνασίου με καινοτόμα διδασκαλία, όπως με μορφές της Τέχνης (θέατρο-εικαστικά-αφήγηση) και ενεργοποίηση ρόλων (συμμετοχή σε εικονικές επιτροπες βιοηθικής).

Κεφάλαιο 1.1. Για την επιστηµονική µέθοδο: ιστορική διαδροµή. Από τον επιστηµονικό θετικισµό στον µεταθετικισµό. 1.1.1. Λογικός Θετικισµός. Στις αρχές του 20ού αιώνα κάνει την εµφάνισή του στη Βιέννη, το ρεύµα του Λογικού Θετικισµού, που ταυτίζεται µε µια οµάδα φιλοσόφων και διανοητών που είναι γνωστή ως ο «Κύκλος της Βιέννης». Το 1929 ο κύκλος της Βιέννης δηµοσίευσε τη διακήρυξή του µε τίτλο «Η επιστηµονική αντίληψη του κόσµου» γνωστοποιώντας στο κοινό τις φιλοσοφικές απόψεις του. Οι λογικοί θετικιστές απορρίπτουν τη µεταφυσική και προσπαθούν να αναγάγουν όλες τις δηλώσεις και τις προτάσεις στην καθαρή λογική. Ιδρυτές του θεωρούνται οι Hahn, Frank και Neurath. Η προσθήκη των Carnap, Feigl, Schlick κ.ά. οδήγησε στη συγκρότηση του «Κύκλου της Βιέννης», που αποτέλεσε την οµάδα που ταυτίστηκε και προώθησε τον Λογικό Θετικισµό.

Καμιά μορφή της Καινής Διαθήκης, πλην βεβαίως του Ιησού και της Θεοτόκου, δεν υπήρξε τόσο ισχυρός πόλος έλξης για τους ποιητές όσο η μορφή της Μαγδαληνής. Και καμιάς άλλης μορφής της Καινής Διαθήκης η ιστορία δεν παραποιήθηκε τόσο όσο η δικής της. Μείζονες, ελάσσονες και ασήμαντοι ποιητές βρίσκουν στο πρόσωπο της Μαγδαληνής στοιχεία πρόσφορα για την έκφραση ορισμένων βασικών συναισθημάτων τους και, όταν δεν τα βρίσκουν, τα εφευρίσκουν.Η πλην ολίγων εξαιρέσεων απεικόνιση από τους Έλληνες ποιητές της Μαγδαληνής ως μεταμεληθείσας αμαρτωλής οφείλεται σε σημαντικό βαθμό στην επίδραση των δυτικών λογοτεχνικών απεικονίσεων της Μαγδαληνής. Αν, ωστόσο, λάβουμε υπόψη ότι ποιητές όπως ο Σικελιανός, ο Βάρναλης, ο Καζαντζάκης, ο Ρίτσος ή ο Καρούζος ήταν βαθείς γνώστες του ευαγγελικού λόγου και της ελληνικής θρησκευτικής παράδοσης, δεν μπορούμε να μη σκεφτούμε ότι ο αριθμός των νεοελληνικών απεικονίσεων της Μαγδαληνής ως πρώην αμαρτωλής είναι υπερβολικά μεγάλος· και ότι το πλήθος αυτών των απεικονίσεων θα πρέπει να απορρέει και από το γεγονός ότι το θέμα της επανελθούσας στην οδό της αρετής γυναίκας είναι ποιητικά ελκυστικότερο από το θέμα της γυναίκας που σπάστηκε τον χριστιανισμό, όσο και αν αυτή ευεργετήθηκε από τον Χριστό ή όσο μεγάλη και αν υπήρξε η αγάπη της για Εκείνον.

In June 1946 George Seferis, the eminent Greek poet who was goingto become the Nobel-laureate patriarch of Greek modernist poetry by1963, witnessed the re-excavation of the statues and vases until thenhidden in the vaults of the National Museum in Athens in order toprevent their damage, or looting, by the Germans during the occupation.As he observes the bronze statue of Zeus, a fifth-century BC work thatis still considered one of the masterpieces in the Museum’s collectionand of Greek art at large, the poet fantasizes the god’s lovemaking witha woman whom Seferis himself “would love”, as he unashamedly informsus in his diary from that day. In the paper, I use the concept ofhomosociality in order to explore the ways in which Seferis and manyof his contemporaries view classical antiquity and proceed to deploy itas a bio-political tool in order to claim a centralized role in Greekintellectual and political life. To this end, I re-visit Seferis’s two chief“archaeological” poems –The King of Asine and Engomi – in an effortto investigate the ways in which his sensory archaeologies manifestthemselves.

Στο παρόν παρουσιάζεται η έρευνα ενός προγράμματος σχολικής δραστηριότητας (πολιτιστικών θεμάτων) που βασίζεται στη δημιουργία μαθητικής ραδιοφωνικής ομάδας στο 1ο Γενικό Λύκειο Ηρακλείου Αττικής και στην εβδομαδιαία παραγωγή τρίωρης εκπομπής στον Δημοτικό Ραδιοφωνικό Σταθμό, Επικοινωνία 94 Fm, με τίτλο «Σχολικά Παράσιτα». Σκοπός της έρευνας είναι η αξιολόγηση των μαθησιακών αποτελεσμάτων του προγράμματος και η βιωσιμότητα αυτών με βάση τη θεωρία της αναστοχαστικότητας, της βιωματικής-επικοινωνιακής παιδαγωγικής και της μετασχηματιστικής εκπαίδευσης. Με στοιχεία έρευνας-δράσης οι εκπαιδευτικοί από την πρώτη σχολική χρονιά παρακολούθησαν και διαμορφωτικά αξιολόγησαν την ανάπτυξη του προγράμματος, στο οποίο συμμετείχαν περισσότεροι από 300 μαθητές (το πρόγραμμα συνεχίζεται μέχρι σήμερα). Στο παρόν παρουσιάζονται συνοπτικά τα αποτελέσματα και συμπεράσματα της έρευνας από το 2010 έως 2013, τα οποία υπογραμμίζουν την υψηλή παιδαγωγική αποτελεσματικότητα του προγράμματος σε επίπεδο ανάπτυξης δεξιοτήτων πρωτίστως και δευτερευόντως απόκτησης νέων γνώσεων καθώς και τη μακροπρόθεσμη διατήρηση της γνώσης, όπως αυτή θεωρήθηκε στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος με όρους κονστρουκτιβιστικής προσέγγισης της μάθησης.

Συμμετοχή στο ΣΥΜΠΟΣΙΟ με τίτλο: «Σύγχρονη Γυναίκα και Άθληση: Συμμετοχή, Προκλήσεις, Προοπτικές» της Πανελλήνιας Ένωσης για την Προώθηση των Γυναικών στον Αθλητισμό και τα Σπορ (ΠΕΠΓΑΣ) της Σχολής Επιστημών Φυσικής Αγωγής και Αθλητισμού του Αριστοτελείου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης (ΑΠΘ), 25/11/2016, στο ΚΕΔΕΑ/Α.Π.Θ. [Επισυνάπτεται βεβαίωση συμμετοχής] Προσκεκλημένη στο πραναφερόμενο συμπόσιο μετά την προφορική ανακοίνωσή:Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη. (2016). ΦΥΛΟ ΚΑΙ ΗΓΕΤΙΚΕΣ ΔΕΞΙΟΗΤΕΣ: ΤΟ ΑΘΛΗΤΙΚΟ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΕΙΝ. Προφορική Ανακοίνωση στο 2ο Διεθνές Συνέδριο Αθλητικών Επιστημών, Θεσσαλονίκη 25-27 Νοεμβρίου 2016, Κέντρο Διάδοσης Ερευνητικών Αποτελεσμάτων (ΚΕΔΕΑ). Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης (ΑΠΘ). Copy at http://www.tinyurl.com/gtggejd 

Ερευνητικά δεδομένα τεκμηριώνουν ότι οι γυναίκες βρίσκονται ένα βήμα μπροστά από τους άντρες αναφορικά με κάποιες δεξιότητες, αποκαλούμενες στο παρελθόν «γυναικείες αρετές» ή «θηλυκές δεξιότητες» τις οποίες υιοθετούν όλο και περισσότεροι άνδρες επιχειρηματίες και στελέχη επιχειρήσεων σήμερα. Έρευνες που αφορούν την παραγωγικότητα δείχνουν ότι εταιρείες που απασχολούν και προωθούν γυναίκες σε ηγετικούς ρόλους εμφανίζουν, κατά μέσο όρο, περισσότερα κέρδη και μεγαλύτερη βιωσιμότητα. Με βάση τα αποτελέσματα μιας σχετικής με το ζήτημα φύλο και επιχειρηματικότητα ποιοτικής έρευνας, η μελέτη αυτή στοχεύει να αναδείξει σημαντικούς συσχετισμούς μεταξύ αθλητικής εμπειρίας και πετυχημένης επιχειρηματικότητας. Ερευνητικά στοιχεία τεκμηριώνουν ότι ένα ιστορικό αθλητικής εμπειρίας, ειδικά η συμμετοχή σε ομαδικά αθλήματα, αποτελεί χρήσιμο εργαλείο όσον αφορά στην καλλιέργεια ηγετικών δεξιοτήτων και στην ανέλιξη επιχειρηματικών δράσεων. Σχετικές έρευνες και συνεντεύξεις που πραγματοποιήθηκαν με εν ενεργεία και πρώην αθλήτριες, πρωταθλήτριες και ολυμπιονίκες πιστοποιούν ότι ο αθλητισμός προάγει δεξιότητες που είναι σημαντικές για το επιχειρείν. Θεωρείται ότι η αθλητική επιχειρηματικότητα αποτελεί ανδρικό φαινόμενο. Ωστόσο, Ελληνίδες αθλήτριες, γυμνάστριες, επιχειρηματίες και ακτιβίστριες που έχουν διαπρέψει στο αθλητικό επιχειρείν, μετά από σειρά συνεντεύξεων, μας παρέχουν πολύτιμες συμβουλές (tips-μέθοδοι-εργαλεία ενδυνάμωσης δεξιοτήτων) για επαγγελματική επιτυχία.     [Proceedings page 68—Πρακτικά 2ου Διεθνούς Συνεδρίου Αθλητικών Επιστημών (ICSS 2016) http://icss2016.web.auth.gr/el/proceedings/icss2016 (σελίδα 68) ]  

Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2017). Φύλο και Ηγετικές Δεξιότητες: Γεφυρώνοντας το Έμφυλο Χάσμα. LWB-Leading Women in Business, σελ. 98-99.  Κεφάλαιο: Αρθρογραφία Επιφανών Λειτουργών και της ICAP για τη Γυναικεία Επιχειρηματικότητα.  Εκδότης: ΙCAP GROUP Α.Ε. ISSN 2241-4126  [e-book: http://dir.icap.gr/mailimages/e-books/LWB/index.html]    Η διανομή της έκδοσης πραγματοποιήθηκε αρχικά με «ΤΑ ΝΕΑ του Σαββατοκύριακου» στην Αττική (πριν την Πρωτοχρονιά, 30/12/2016) και με τη «ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ» (σε CD) στη Θεσσαλονίκη. Επιπρόσθετα, θα μοιραστεί στην επίσημη εκδήλωση “High Heels on High Hills” το 2017 και σε άλλες εκδηλώσεις που διοργανώνει ή συμμετάσχει η ICAP.  Τέλος, θα διανεμηθεί σε φορείς της γυναικείας επιχειρηματικότητας (σε Αττική και Βόρεια Ελλάδα), καθώς και σε 2.000 εταιρείες και ακαδημαϊκά ιδρύματα, ως χρηστικό εργαλείο επί των εργασιών τους............................................. Kamberidou, Irene (2016). Gender and Leadership Skills: Bridging the Gender Gap, pp. 98-99 in LWB-Leading Women in Business. Publisher:  ICAP GROUP A.E. ISSN 2241-4126  [e-book: http://dir.icap.gr/mailimages/e-books/LWB/index.html]  The book circulated, for the first time on Dec. 30, 2016 in Athens with the daily newspaper TA NEA, and as a CD in Thessaloniki with the daily MACEDONIA. It will also be distributed at the 2017 “High Heels on High Hills” and other events and conferences organized by the ICAP Group. To assist researchers, students and entrepreneurs it will also be sent to 2.000 companies and academic institutions throughout Greece.

Η εργασία αυτή στοχεύει να αναδείξει σημαντικούς συσχετισμούς μεταξύ αθλητικής εμπειρίας και πετυχημένης επιχειρηματικότητας. Ερευνητικά στοιχειά τεκμηριώνουν ότι ένα ιστορικό αθλητικής εμπειρίας, ειδικά η συμμετοχή σε ομαδικά αθλήματα, αποτελεί χρήσιμο εργαλείο όσον αφορά στην καλλιέργεια ηγετικών δεξιοτήτων και την ανέλιξη επιχειρηματικών δράσεων. Η διεθνής έρευνα – που συμπεριλαμβάνει συνεντεύξεις με πρώην αθλήτριες και ολυμπιονίκες—δείχνει ότι ο αθλητισμός προαγάγει δεξιότητες που είναι σημαντικές για το επιχειρείν.  Όσον αφορά στην Ελληνική πραγματικότητα, επτά Ελληνίδες αθλήτριες, γυμνάστριες και ακτιβίστριες που έχουν διαπρέψει στο αθλητικό επιχειρείν, μετά από σειρά συνεντεύξεων, επιβεβαιώνουν τη σχέση μεταξύ αθλητικής εμπειρίας και πετυχημένης επιχειρηματικότητάς και παρέχουν πολύτιμες συμβουλές για επαγγελματική επιτυχία. Λέξεις-κλειδιά: αθλητική ταυτότητα, επιχειρηματικότητα, γυναίκα, έμφυλο χάσμα, ηγεσία.

Ответный ход Путина: господин Путин, однако, хочет поставить мат НАТО, и если понадобится, он с готовностью принесет в жертву «сумасшедшего». Это является единственным ходом, доступным Путину: он требует, чтобы Турция максимально быстро вышла из НАТО! В противном случае Эрдоган станет разменной монетой! Дилемма: примет ли или нет господин Эрдоган требование Путина, в конце этой истории его ждет Большой Курдистан. Разница заключается лишь в том, что, если он примет предложение Путина, то обеспечит себе пожизненный отпуск на даче, где-то в Крыму или в Сочи, покинув Турцию навсегда. В противоположном случае, впрочем, его ждет вилла в Саудовской Аравии! Его место почти наверняка займут «запасные политики» вроде Абдуллы Гюля или Ахмета Давутоглу, причем Турция останется инструментом США в «Евразийских Балканах». В обоих случаях обе супердержавы выигрывают: а) 50% территории через создаваемый Большой Курдистан б) развертывание сил на ближний средний восток в) богатые ресурсы г) Сирия получает небольшую долю от выигрыша США, России и Израиля. Партия Путин-США, похоже, заканчивается вничью. Однако нет, поскольку господин Путин серьезно нарастил противостояние юго-восточному крылу НАТО и перераспределил мощности на Ближнем и Среднем Востоке, наращивая несущественное, до недавнего времени, присутствие его сил на этой территории, путем пожертвования «бешеной пешки» в Ближневосточной шахматной игре.