Abstract This article examines the proliferation of popular literary texts about Modern Greece in nineteenth-century British periodicals from the 1860s to the 1890s, texts that reveal the country's appeal to the Victorians, inviting them to imagine the birth and development of the new nation after the War of Independence (1821?1828). Short stories published in popular magazines, such as the New Monthly Magazine, Bow Bells and Sunday at Home, revisit the Greek Revolution and return to the popular allegory of Greece as an enslaved or endangered woman to reflect on the ?Eastern question? and British colonial politics of protectionism in the Eastern Mediterranean. At the same time, women authors like Elizabeth Mayhew Edmonds and Isabella Fyvie Mayo, publishing in women's magazines, write stories and articles about the role of women in the Greek War of Independence, relating the feats of these historical or fictional figures to the ?woman question? and to Victorian debates on femininity and gender, as well as national and imperial politics. In the late Victorians' re-imagining of revolutionary history, Modern Greece is not enslaved to its classical past, as in traditional philhellenist representations, but must discover its modernity through its powerful nationalist agents. Revolutionary Greece re-emerges as a symbolic event through a variety of publications, which often highlight the country's cultural hybridity and construct a transnational network of literary affiliations, creating parallelisms between Greece and Britain.
Purpose To develop physiologically based finite time pharmacokinetic (PBFTPK) models for the analysis of oral pharmacokinetic data. Methods The models are based on the passive drug diffusion mechanism under the sink conditions principle. Up to three drug successive input functions of constant rate operating for a total time tau are considered. Differential equations were written for all these models assuming linear one- or two-compartment-model disposition. The differential equations were solved and functions describing the concentration of drug as a function of time for the central and the peripheral compartment were derived. The equations were used to generate simulated data and they were also fitted to a variety of experimental literature oral pharmacokinetic data. Results The simulated curves resemble real life data. The end of the absorption processes tau is either equal to t(max) or longer than t(max) at the descending portion of the concentration time curve. Literature oral pharmacokinetic data of paracetamol, ibuprofen, almotriptan, cyclosporine (a total of four sets of data), and niraparib were analyzed using the PBFTPK models. Estimates for tau corresponding to a single or two or three different in magnitude input rates were derived along with the other model parameters for all data analyzed. Conclusions The PBFTPK models are a powerful tool for the analysis of oral pharmacokinetic data since they rely on the physiologically sound concept of finite absorption time.
This study presents the preliminary results of selected samples from Aggelokastro section, Argolida, Greece. The section is comprised of a ~200m thick carbonate sedimentary succession, capped by ~50m of clastic sediments of the “schist-sandstone-chert” formation. The entire sedimentary sequence belongs to the Sub-Pelagonian type B Unit, member of the tectonostratigraphic terrain H3, equivalent to the non-metamorphic Pelagonian platform (Papanikolaou, 1990; Papanikolaou, 2021). In total 12 thin sections were produced from selected samples and studied under the microscope. Each sample was characterized according to the Standard Microfacies (SMF) scheme of Flugel (2010). The results show significant diversion between paleoenvironmental conditions and are divided into three main parts (see Fig. 1):
- Lower formation: shallow water carbonate succession with densely packed peloidal packstones-grainstones with coated benthic foraminifera (Orbitopsella and others), gastropods and echinoids (SMF 11, platform margin shoals or platform margin reef) and wackestones with gastropods, benthic foraminifera and algae (SMF 8, open marine-interior platform)
- Middle formation: transitional (slope) environment carbonates, represented by a polymictic breccia grading to wackestone with subangular-subrounded lithoclasts and bioclasts (shell debris, radiolaria, benthic foraminifera and large bivalve shells) (SMF 4, slope or toe-of-slope) and
- Upper formation: deep marine environment carbonates, including Ammonitico Rosso facies, represented by wackestones-packstones with spicules, thin shelled bivalves, radiolaria and planktonic foraminifera (SMF 1 and 3, deep shelf or deep sea).
Additionally, smear slides from the “flysch-like” succession point to a deep marine clastic environment with rare or absent carbonate material. The defined Standard Microfacies show a clear deepening upward trend, marking the rifting of the carbonate platform. Regarding geological age considerations, the lower formation should be considered as Early Jurassic (late Sinemurian – middle/late Plienbachian) due to the presence of Orbitopsella sp. (Ogg et al., 2016).The Ammonitico Rosso facies of the upper formation is tentatively attributed to Middle Jurassic, similarly to the dating of radiolarites above the carbonate platform (Danelian and Robertson, 1995) in Beotia area. Lastly, the “flysch-like” clastic succession is generally considered of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous age, according to Papanikolaou (1990).
Transversal structural elements in cross-striated muscles, such as the M-band or the Z-disc, anchor and mechanically stabilize the contractile apparatus and its minimal unit-the sarcomere. The ability of proteins to target and interact with these structural sarcomeric elements is an inevitable necessity for the correct assembly and functionality of the myofibrillar apparatus. Specifically, the M-band is a well-recognized mechanical and signaling hub dealing with active forces during contraction, while impairment of its function leads to disease and death. Research on the M-band architecture is focusing on the assembly and interactions of the three major filamentous proteins in the region, mainly the three myomesin proteins including their embryonic heart (EH) isoform, titin and obscurin. These proteins form the basic filamentous network of the M-band, interacting with each other as also with additional proteins in the region that are involved in signaling, energetic or mechanosensitive processes. While myomesin-1, titin and obscurin are found in every muscle, the expression levels of myomesin-2 (also known as M-protein) and myomesin-3 are tissue specific: myomesin-2 is mainly expressed in the cardiac and fast skeletal muscles, while myomesin-3 is mainly expressed in intermediate muscles and specific regions of the cardiac muscle. Furthermore, EH-myomesin apart from its role during embryonic stages, is present in adults with specific cardiac diseases. The current work in structural, molecular, and cellular biology as well as in animal models, provides important details about the assembly of myomesin-1, obscurin and titin, the information however about the myomesin-2 and -3, such as their interactions, localization and structural details remain very limited. Remarkably, an increasing number of reports is linking all three myomesin proteins and particularly myomesin-2 to serious cardiovascular diseases suggesting that this protein family could be more important than originally thought. In this review we will focus on the myomesin protein family, the myomesin interactions and structural differences between isoforms and we will provide the most recent evidence why the structurally and biophysically unexplored myomesin-2 and myomesin-3 are emerging as hot targets for understanding muscle function and disease.
We measured SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in raw wastewater in Attica, Greece, by RT-qPCR for the environmental surveillance of COVID-19 for 6 months. The lag between RNA load and pandemic indicators (COVID-19 hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions) was calculated using a grid search. Our results showed that RNA load in raw wastewater is a leading indicator of positive COVID-19 cases, new hospitalization and admission into ICUs by 5, 8 and 9 days, respectively. Modelling techniques based on distributed/fixed lag modelling, linear regression and artificial neural networks were utilized to build relationships between SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in wastewater and pandemic health indicators. SARS-CoV-2 mutation analysis in wastewater during the third pandemic wave revealed that the alpha-variant was dominant. Our results demonstrate that clinical and environmental surveillance data can be combined to create robust models to study the on-going COVID-19 infection dynamics and provide an early warning for increased hospital admissions.
Pocket beaches are a large part of the Greek coastline, with strong touristic, economic and natural interest. Their morphological characteristics and wave forcing are the main factors influencing their evolution, while the most commonly observed dynamic is beach rotation due to prevailing wave direction. Human activities and climate change call for a better management for these areas, necessitating, therefore, the identification of coastal geomorphodynamic processes. This paper focuses on the geomorphological and sedimentological dynamic processes of Platis Gialos Bay (Sifnos), which have given rise to the present setting. Beach orientation, slope, length, geology, Posidonia Oceanica, degree of embayment, sedimentology and closure are some parameters that must be considered to calculate the morphodynamic and stability indicators that prevail at the beach. Wave exposure forcing conditions, longshore – rip current direction, are also hydrodynamic processes to be determined, as they play a significant role in sediment transport. A number of methodologies took place in order to determine the level of disturbance of this dynamic equilibrium, which included morphological mapping, sedimentary classification, shoreline displacement/evolution monitoring, hydrodynamic and sedimentary modelling. The exposure of the coast to the southern waves, the reduced sediment supply from the local fluvial network, human activities and the construction of the fishing shelter have led the area to a continuous erosion and coastline retreat in its western and central part, in contrast to the eastern part, where there is a continuous deposition reflected by coastal accretion and the formation of a shallow environment.
On the basis of self-determination theory, we aimed to identify students’ perceptions of interpersonal teaching style profiles (i.e. within-teacher combinations of six dimensions of need-supportive and need-thwarting behaviours of autonomy, competence and relatedness) and to examine, through a cross-sectional design, the possible associations between these teaching profiles and students’ behavioural and emotional engagement. Participants were 2065 students (nteachers = 38) of Physical Education (PE) (Mage = 11.96 ± 1.95; range = 10–16 years; 1042 girls) nested in 98 classrooms from elementary (n = 915) and secondary (n = 1150) Spanish schools. Students filled out questionnaires in a paper and pencil format during the last semester of the school year. A four-cluster solution was found to be the most suitable: (a) a high-low group (i.e. high in perceived need-support and low in need-thwarting), (b) a low-high group (i.e. low in perceived need-support and relatively high in need-thwarting), (c) a low-low group (i.e. low in both need-support and need-thwarting) and (d) a mixed group (i.e. low in autonomy support, high in autonomy-thwarting and relatively modest-to-high in competence and relatedness support and thwarting). A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicated significant differences in students’ behavioural and emotional engagement as a function of cluster membership. Post hoc comparisons showed that the high-low group reported the highest levels of engagement and the low-high group the lowest ones. Furthermore, the mixed group scored the second highest level of engagement – higher than the low-low and the low-high group. These results suggest that teachers who fail to support students’ needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness – either by using or not using need-thwarting instructional practices – might undermine students’ engagement.
Seismicity in the Ionian Sea (W. Greece) is mainly generated along the Cephalonia–Lefkada Transform Fault Zone (CLTFZ) in the central Ionian, and on the northwestern termination of the Hellenic subduction margin in the south. Joint pre-, co- and post-seismic ground deformation and seismological analysis is performed at the broad Ionian area, aiming to homogeneously study the spatiotemporal evolution of the activity prior to and after the occurrence of strong (M > 6) earthquakes during the period of 2014–2018. The 2014 Cephalonia earthquakes (Mw6.1 and Mw5.9) were generated on a faulting system adjacent to CLTFZ, causing local ground deformation. The post-seismic sequence is coupled in space and time with the 2015 Lefkada earthquake (Mw6.4), which occurred on the Lefkada segment of the CLTFZ. Co-seismic displacement was recorded in the broader area. Seismicity was concentrated along the CLTFZ, while its temporal evolution lasted for several months. The 2018 Zakynthos earthquake (Mw6.7) caused regional deformation and alterations on the near-velocity field, with the seismicity rate remaining above background levels until the end of 2021. In the northern Ionian, convergence between the Apulian platform and the Hellenic foreland occurs, exhibiting low seismicity. Seismic hazard assessment revealed high PGA and PGV expected values in the central Ionian.
In early March 2021, three shallow earthquakes, two mainshocks with M6.3 and M6.0 and one major aftershock with M5.6 impacted both the mountainous Damasi-Tyrnavos region (northern Thessaly, Greece) and the adjacent Plio-Quaternary basin. Each major event was followed by rich aftershock activity recorded by local and regional seismographs and accelerographs. Herein, we present a comprehensive analysis of the seismic sequence, from its foreshock activity starting on 28 February, 2021 and for a period of two months using new high-resolution catalogues of relocated earthquakes and hundreds of focal mechanisms. The results indicate that the aftershocks form a zone that spans ~50 km NW-SE, while focal depths range between 5 and 15 km. More than 400 focal mechanisms, computed for events with M≥ 2.5, mainly exhibit normal faulting in a NW-SE direction, while WNW-ESE to E-W normal faulting is also evidenced, in particular after the occurrence of the last major event on 12 March. The stress-field was reconstructed on a local and broader scale by inverting focal mechanism data, revealing a rotation of the σ3 axis trend from NNE-SSW, in the Damasi-broader region, to NW-SE northwards, to the region of Kozani-Grevena that hosted an Mw = 6.6 shallow mainshock in 1995. Subcrustal seismicity, present beneath those areas, implies that large-scale tectonics and plate dynamics are likely involved in the deformation of the upper crust. Coulomb stress transfer after the 3 major events of the 2021 Damasi-Tyrnavos sequence reveals that stress-loaded areas include those where most aftershocks were triggered. The analysis provides implications to the seismic hazard of the activated area, as a major NW-SE active normal fault close to Larissa city became stress-loaded, constituting a possible candidate source for significant future earthquakes.
Treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders relies on the effective delivery of therapeutic molecules to the target organ, the brain. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) hinders such delivery and proteins acting as transporters actively regulate the influx and importantly the efflux of both endo- and xeno-biotics (including medicines). Neuropsychiatric disorders are also characterized by important sex differences, and accumulating evidence supports sex differences in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of many drugs that act on the brain. In this minireview we gather preclinical and clinical findings on how sex and sex hormones can influence the activity of those BBB transporter systems and affect the brain pharmacokinetics of psychotropic medicines. It emerges that it is not well understood which psychotropics are substrates for each of the many and not well-studied brain transporters. Indeed, most evidence originates from studies performed in peripheral tissues, such as the liver and the kidneys. None withstanding, accumulated evidence supports the existence of several sex differences in expression and activity of transport proteins, and a further modulating role of gonadal hormones. It is proposed that a closer study of sex differences in the active influx and efflux of psychotropics from the brain may provide a better understanding of sex-dependent brain pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of psychotropic medicines.
The complexity of show caves and the problems arising through human interaction with them, require interdisciplinary approaches capable of synthesizing a range of parameters such as knowledge, methods and provided tools to promote geo-ethical thinking and geoscientists contribution for sustainable management. Show caves are tourist/commercial caves which have been accessible to the public with artificial lighting, shaped paths, guided tours, open hours and they are considered as heritage sites. The concept of heritage is a complex idea, controversial and culturally constructed, depending on the personal and collective background and experiences of the members of a society. Heritage is often artificially divided into natural and cultural, but regarding the “show caves” as entities, the boundaries are indistinguishable. Moreover, show caves suffer successive degradation for several interconnected reasons. This work analyzes proposals for compilation of protocols and general management that may involve educational institutes, management agencies, policy makers and stakeholders based on remotely monitored parameters and scientific data collection, for feeding assessment and evaluation tools. The main scope is to arouse a wider dialogue of the interested parts with the aim to form the basis for the creation of a European legislation for protecting these sensitive but also complex environments through geo-conservation and geo-ethics approaches.
Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor micro-capacitors for on-chip energy storage were fabricated and characterized. The capacitors were based on Si nanowires fabricated by Metal Assisted Chemical Etching. 1.2μm long nanowires with 100nm average diameter were created leading to an effective area increase of 6.28, as compared to a flat surface. Nanowires were chemically treated to reduce surface roughness and electronic states and were coated by a HfO2 layer, deposited by Atomic Layer Deposition, to act as the dielectric. Al and Cu were deposited as two possible top metal electrodes. The use of Al as the top electrode was shown to create a parasitic interface oxide between the metal and the dielectric, reducing the measured capacitance. The use of Cu was shown to significantly reduce this problem, leading to more efficient devices. Capacitors with 5.4μF/cm2 capacitance and 8.9x10-7A/cm2 leakage current at -2.5V were demonstrated along with a cutoff frequency of 104Hz. These values make the demonstrated capacitors very attractive for on-chip energy storage applications.
Myrtos Beach (Cephalonia Island, Ionian Sea, Greece) represents a pocket beach with strong touristic, economic and natural interest. In this research, the morphodynamic behavior of the coastal area (e.g., hydrodynamic and sedimentary state, morphology, orientation, etc.), the current wave conditions (extreme and dominant waves, wave exposure), and also external factors, such as human impact and the geotechnical condition of the wider area, are examined. Short- and medium-to-long-term analysis took place, such as mapping, sediment analysis, wave/wind analysis, numerical modeling, and satellite monitoring, in order to identify the dynamic forcing parameters related to geomorphology, sedimentology, and hydrology that prevail in the area. Additionally, the intense tectonics, the karstified limestones, and the steep slopes of the cliffs in combination with the frequent seismic events on the island set up a geotechnically unstable area, which often cause landslides on the beach of Myrtos; these supply the beach with a large amount of aggregates, constituting the main sediment supply. Wave exposure forcing conditions, longshore–rip current direction, and other hydrodynamic processes are stable with high values in the area, causing notable sediment transport within the bay boundaries. As a result, at Myrtos Bay there is a dynamic balance of the natural system, which is directly affected by human interventions. Taking also into consideration that Myrtos is one of the most famous beaches in Greece and one of the main attractions of Cephalonia Island with thousands of visitors every year, beach management must be focused on preserving the natural system of the coastal area.
The role of the crystal lattice, temperature and magnetic field for the spin structure formation in the 2D van der Waals magnet Fe5GeTe2 with magnetic ordering up to room temperature is a key open question. Using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we experimentally observe topological spin structures up to room temperature in the metastable pre-cooling and stable post-cooling phase of Fe5GeTe2. Over wide temperature and field ranges, skyrmionic magnetic bubbles form without preferred chirality, which is indicative of centrosymmetry. These skyrmions can be observed even in the absence of external fields. To understand the complex magnetic order in Fe5GeTe2, we compare macroscopic magnetometry characterization results with microscopic density functional theory and spin-model calculations. Our results show that even up to room temperature, topological spin structures can be stabilized in centrosymmetric van der Waals magnets.
The study examines which type of religious knowledge acquired in Religious Education in Greek Secondary schools can initiate both personal and collective change in understanding and appreciation of different cultures. It is blended research using participatory action-research with ethnographic elements methodology. The research gathered qualitative and quantitative data through questionnaires, focus groups, journals, and the technique of the “Most Significant Change” from four resources/target groups (students, teachers, parents, researcher). It took place during the 2017–2018 school year in a High and an Upper Schools in which the researcher participated in the school communities as a teacher. Statistical analysis (SPSS), content analysis and thematic analysis of the data show that religious knowledge, developed in Education with the aim of religious literacy, as defined in the context of Greek/European context, can operate on a personal and collective level, in cultivation of respect and underacting of cultural diversity. This is achieved when the religious knowledge is understood as experience and is meaningful when applied to the concepts of understanding, reflection and action. The overall finding is that transformative dynamics of religious knowledge facilitate both minor and major changes in the mindset of young people. Concluding, in Religious Education without sacrificing the religious content of the subject, a high degree of cultural recognition and acceptance of religious diversity can be achieved, and to a certain extent enable a change in attitude towards immigrants and refugees, in other words the ‘other’ as well as in communication and acquaintance between team members, recognition of and a greater degree of acceptance of otherness, and the development of relationships which were non-existent before.
Οι κοινωνικά ευπαθείς ομάδες αντιμετωπίζουν μεγαλύτερο κίνδυνο για φτώχεια ή κοινωνικό αποκλεισμό σε σχέση με τον γενικό πληθυσμό, είτε λόγω ανα πηρίας, είτε λόγω ηλικίας, προέλευσης, αστεγίας, κατάχρησης ουσιών ή/και εγκλεισμού. Στις κοινωνικά ευπαθείς ομάδες εντάσσονται και παιδιά που αντι μετωπίζουν κοινωνικά προβλήματα καθώς και νέοι ηλικίας 1625 ετών που βρί σκονται εκτός εκπαίδευσης, εργασίας και κατάρτισης. Καθοριστικό ρόλο στις μορφές αποκλεισμού παιδιών ηλικίας 017 ετών διαδραματίζει το μορφωτικό επίπεδο των γονέων. Σύμφωνα με την Eurostat (2021), στην Ελλάδα σήμερα το 74.4% των παιδιών υποεκπαιδευμένων γονέων κινδυνεύει από κοινωνικό αποκλεισμό. Την εποχή του ψηφιακού μετασχηματισμού εμφανίζονται και νέα ζητήματα, προκλήσεις και κίνδυνοι για «διπλό αποκλεισμό», τόσο κοινωνικό όσο και ψηφιακό, με τις αντίστοιχες συνέπειες για τις προοπτικές εκπαίδευσης και εργασίας σημαντικής μερίδας του πληθυσμού. Στην προσπάθεια αντιμετώ πισης του κοινωνικού αποκλεισμού και πρόληψης του ‘διπλού αποκλεισμού ́, στόχος των προγραμμάτων διά βίου μάθησης είναι η αύξηση των δυνατοτή των πρόσβασης στην εκπαίδευση ειδικά για τα άτομα που βρίσκονται εκτός του τυπικού εκπαιδευτικού συστήματος. Ωστόσο, τα εμπόδια είναι σημαντικά και αφορούν διαφορετικά θεσμικά και στρατηγικά επίπεδα. Ή παρούσα εργα σία διερευνά τα παραπάνω θέματα καθώς και τις προκλήσεις και τις προοπτι κές που αναδύονται στην σύγχρονη εποχή.
This work summarizes the main characteristics of atmospheric and hydro-physical parameters of the water surface derived from microwave radiometric data. First, current knowledge based on experimental measurements and model calculations of emissivity of the atmosphere and water surface in the microwave spectrum is presented. Emphasis is placed on remote radio-physical methods that have the peculiarity of being related to atmospheric radio-transparency which is one of the main advantages of the microwave radiometric method compared to optical and infrared methods. A detailed presentation is attempted with specific examples of classification of water surface phenomena using software modules included in the system used for the processing of data of radio-physical experiments by the Cosmos-1500 satellite. In addition, the statistical characteristics of the “spotting” of radio-brightness temperatures obtained for the most informative thresholds are analyzed and it is argued that these characteristics for the Pacific areas can also be used to detect abnormal phenomena on the water surface of the Mediterranean Sea. Finally, it is emphasized that the results obtained from this work make it possible to rapidly evaluate various parameters such as temperature, water surface waves, foam formation areas, etc., providing predictions and allocating irregular areas.
Dr. Isidoros C. Katsos O/C. Is There an Orthodox Concept of Natural Theology?. In: International Workshop: Philosophical and Theological Approaches to the Relationship and Dialogue Between Orthodox Christianity and Modern Science. ; 2022.
Photovoltaic (PV) power production is characterized by high variability due to short-term meteorological effects such as cloud movements. These effects have a significant impact on the incident solar irradiance in PV parks. In order to control PV park performance, researchers have focused on Computer Vision and Deep Learning approaches to perform short-term irradiance forecasting using sky images. Motivated by the task of improving PV park control, the current work introduces the Image Regression Module, which produces irradiance values from sky images using image processing methods and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). With the objective of enhancing the performance of CNN models on the task of irradiance estimation and forecasting, we propose an image processing method based on sun localization. Our findings show that the proposed method can consistently improve the accuracy of irradiance values produced by all the CNN models of our study, reducing the Root Mean Square Error by up to 10.44 W/m2">2 for the MobileNetV2 model. These findings indicate that future applications which utilize CNNs for irradiance forecasting should identify the position of the sun in the image in order to produce more accurate irradiance values. Moreover, the integration of the proposed models on an edge-oriented Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) towards a smart PV park for the real-time control of PV production emphasizes their advantages.
The classical “time-bandwidth” limit for linear time-invariant (LTI) devices in physics and engineering asserts that it is impossible to store broadband propagating waves (large Δω">Δω’s) for long times (large Δt’s). For standing (non-propagating) waves, i.e., vibrations, in particular, this limit takes on a simple form, ΔtΔω=1">ΔtΔω=1, where Δω">Δω is the bandwidth over which localization (energy storage) occurs, and Δt">Δt is the storage time. This is related to a well-known result in dynamics, namely that one can achieve a high Q-factor (narrowband resonance) for low damping, or small Q-factor (broadband resonance) for high damping, but not simultaneously both. It thus remains a fundamental challenge in classical wave physics and vibration engineering to try to find ways to overcome this limit, not least because that would allow for storing broadband waves for long times, or achieving broadband resonance for low damping. Recent theoretical studies have suggested that such a feat might be possible in LTI terminated unidirectional waveguides or LTI topological “rainbow trapping” devices, although an experimental confirmation of either concept is still lacking. In this work, we consider a nonlinear but time-invariant mechanical system and demonstrate experimentally that its time-bandwidth product can exceed the classical time-bandwidth limit, thus achieving values both above and below unity, in an energy-tunable way. Our proposed structure consists of a single-degree-of-freedom nonlinear oscillator, rigidly coupled to a nondispersive waveguide. Upon developing the full theoretical framework for this class of nonlinear systems, we show how one may control the nonlinear flow of energy in the frequency domain, thereby managing to disproportionately decrease (increase) Δt">Δt, the storage time in the resonator, as compared with an increase (decrease) of the system’s bandwidth Δω">Δω. Our results pave the way toward conceiving and harnessing hitherto unattainable broadband and simultaneously low-loss wave-storage devices, both linear and nonlinear, for a host of key applications in wave physics and engineering.
Topological features, in particular distinct band intersections known as nodal rings, usually requiring three-dimensional structures, have now been demonstrated experimentally in an elegantly simple one-dimensional photonic crystal.
Η παρούσα εργασία εστιάζει στην αξιοποίηση της σπειροειδούς μάθησης, των ομάδων κατάρτισης καθώς και της προσομοίωσης ως σημαντικών εργαλείων για την ένταξη στο χώρο εργασίας. Η εργασία αναδεικνύει τις δυνατότητες αξιοποίησης των παραπάνω μεθόδων και εργαλείων στην περίοδο της πανδημίας και της ψηφιακής αλλαγής. Παρουσιάζονται τα στάδια και οι βασικές παράμετροι της σπειροειδούς μάθησης, τα παιχνίδια προσομοίωσης στον κύκλο των διδακτικών πρακτικών και μεθόδων καθώς και οι ομάδες κατάρτισης (Τ-groups). Η εργασία προτείνει παραδείγματα και καλές πρακτικές τόσο από το χώρο της τριτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης όσο και από το χώρο των οργανισμών και ένα μοντέλο εκπαίδευσης προσαρμοσμένο σε πραγματικές εργασιακές συνθήκες.
After 1981, with Greece’s accession into the European Economic Community (EEC), as today’s European Union (EU) was called at the time, the Greek diasporic phenomenon was transformed and the Greek theatrical mobility was mainly related to the recruitment of Greek officials to the EU institutions and organizations. For the next 40 years, the Greek Diasporic Community Theater (DCT) of Brussels has become a participatory field of integration and Greek troupes have begun to proliferate, influenced by the demographic, ideological, and socio-structural changes that have taken place both in Greece and Belgium in recent decades. The present paper studies and presents the causes of the artistic resilience of the Greek Diasporic Community Theater (DCT) in Brussels. The case of the Greek DCT in Brussels is such a unique case of DCT, which operates continuously and systematically from the early 1980s until today, flourishing and presenting unprecedented signs of resilience.
In volleyball, the performance in the passing affects the setter’s strategy and the effectiveness of the attack after the reception or defense. This study aims to assess the spatial and temporal characteristics of the setting choices made by junior female volleyball setters and their performance concerning the origin of the ball and the game complex. The sample for this analysis consists of 3728 setting actions (Complex I = 1.616, Complex II = 1.212). A three-member group of experienced coaches assessed the setting zones’ choices as well as the setting tempo and the performance of junior female setters from 20 volleyball games of teams competing in the final phase of the Greek Junior Championship. The variables under consideration were complex of the game (C1 & CII), origin of the ball (left/middle/right lane for the vertical and front/centre/back lane for the horizontal axis of the court), setting zone (six zones of the court), setting tempo (1st, 2nd & 3rd tempo) and setting performance in a five-level ordinal scale. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability coefficients were estimated using Cohen’s kappa coefficient with acceptable values. The test of independence for the categorical variables was carried out using the chisquare test. Following the overall independence test, the difference in proportions among all levels of variables was tested. Results showed that junior female setters regardless of the complex and the origin of the ball choose zone 4 in a 3rd tempo, performed in a moderate and good setting. However, the origin of the ball was an important variable for the subsequent setting. The most preferable route of the ball was from a pass in the left lane of the court to an attack in zone 4 regardless of the game complex. Additionally, setters when receiving the ball from the left and middle lane of the court prefer more often zone 3 in 1st tempo, during CI than CII. The results of the study will give useful directions to the coaches of the specific age category regarding the creation of appropriate training programs for the individual improvement of the setters and teams.
Eight years after the first detection of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos by IceCube, we are still almost clueless as regards to their origin, although the case for blazars being neutrino sources is getting stronger. After the first significant association at the $3\!-\!3.5\, \sigma$ level in time and space with IceCube neutrinos, i.e. the blazar TXS 0506+056 at z = 0.3365, some of us have in fact selected a unique sample of 47 blazars, out of which ~16 could be associated with individual neutrino track events detected by IceCube. Building upon our recent spectroscopy work on these objects, here we characterize them to determine their real nature and check if they are different from the rest of the blazar population. For the first time we also present a systematic study of the frequency of masquerading BL Lacs, i.e. flat-spectrum radio quasars with their broad lines swamped by non-thermal jet emission, in a γ-ray- and IceCube-selected sample, finding a fraction >24 per cent and possibly as high as 80 per cent. In terms of their broad-band properties, our sources appear to be indistinguishable from the rest of the blazar population. We also discuss two theoretical scenarios for neutrino emission, one in which neutrinos are produced in interactions of protons with jet photons and one in which the target photons are from the broad-line region. Both scenarios can equally account for the neutrino-blazar correlation observed by some of us. Future observations with neutrino telescopes and X-ray satellites will test them out.
The exchange rate dynamics affect national economies because fluctuations in currency prices distort their economic activity. To maintain an optimal exchange rate policy, these dynamics are crucial for countries with a trade economy. Due to the difficulty in predicting the participants behavior in some complex economic systems, which might throw the system into chaos, a novel stochastic exchange rate dynamics (SERD) model is introduced and investigated in this paper. Furthermore, a neural network approach is proposed and examined as a control chaos method to address the problem of stabilizing SERD through central bank interventions. Derived from power activation feed-forward neuronets, a 2-input weights-and-structure-determination-based neuronet (2I-WASDBN) model for controlling chaos in SERD under central bank intervention is presented in this paper. Six simulation experiments on stabilizing the chaotic behavior of the SERD model show that the 2I-WASDBN model outperforms other well-performing neural network models and that it is more effective than traditional methods for controlling chaos. By examining the volume of necessary intervention predicted by the 2I-WASDBN model, central banks can better comprehend exchange rate fluctuations and, in conjunction with their monetary policies, can make more precise decisions regarding the strategy of their interventions.
This paper examines the positions of the Greek-speaking Orthodox Churches concern- ing Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. Apart from being informative, the paper raises the theological question about whether the Churches’ various stances follow Christ’s commandment to spread his teaching to the world and to what degree they are compatible with relevant New Testament texts. After navigating through and commenting on the relevant statements of the Patriarchates of Constantinople, Al- exandria, and Jerusalem, the Autocephalous Churches of Cyprus and Greece, and the Holy Community of Mount Athos, two New Testament texts that represent different approaches to political power, namely Rom 13:1–7 and John’s Revelation, are briefly examined. The paper establishes that the positions of the Greek-speaking Churches vary between general anti-war statements and concrete condemnations of the Russian invasion and its direct or indirect support by the Russian Orthodox hi- erarchy. However, nationalism, as well as church-political opportunism, seem to be more or less inherent phenomena in all contemporary national Orthodox Churches. Hence, finally, it is up to the faithful, not just to Church hierarchies, to discern evil and speak out against injustice.
Dedicated to the historical and cultural heritage of Lemnos, the book offers a new, valid, concise and accessible history of this unique Greek island in the Northeast Aegean. Based on historical and mythological sources, archaeological finds, important remains of ancient Greek, medieval and modern art, narratives and chronicles, engravings, drawings, photographs and other archival material, the author sketches in 250 pages and with the help of about 200 images, the history of Lemnos from the depths of the Aegean prehistory to the present day.
In its pages, readers will find important information about the society, the economy, the political life, the art and the intellectual creation of the island over time, from the first nomadic settlements during the late Paleolithic period (ca. 10,500 BC), until today: with extensive accounts of the prehistoric cities of Poliochni and Myrina, the important site of Koukonisi, Hephaestia and Kaveirion during the Archaic and Classical period (7th-4th century BC), Lemnos of the Hellenistic and Roman years, Lemnos as a Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman possession, but also the adventures of the island and its inhabitants from the liberation of 1912-13 onwards.
Christa Wolf hat Literatur immer als ideologiekritisches Medium betrachtet, um Erinnerungskultur und Erinnerungsmythen zu hinterfragen. Dazu muss man mit den Gespenstern sprechen. Dies geschieht durch die Schaffung von Texten, die mit den Grenzen der Sprache experimentieren. Die vorliegende Studie geht davon aus, dass der Roman Leibhaftig der ehrlichste und zugleich erfolgreichste Versuch der Autorin in dieser Richtung ist, ein erzählerisches Experiment, das darauf abzielt, "die Grenzen des Sagbaren zu überschreiten". Die Erzählung ist ein multiperspektivisches polyvokales literarisches Netzwerk. Spielerisch experimentiert der Autor in zwei Richtungen: mit verschiedenen zeitlichen Perspektiven und mit verschiedenen Formen von Erzähler und Erzählperspektive. Die Struktur der Erzählung ist multitemporal. Die Ebene einer extradiegetisch-homodiegetischen Erzählinstanz in der Gegenwart wird mit Erinnerungen aus rund sechzig Jahren Vergangenheit sowie aus der gesamten Menschheitsgeschichte verwoben. Außerdem wird die Geschichte in zwei Erzählstimmen erzählt, sowohl in der ersten als auch in der dritten Person, wobei der Wechsel oft mitten im Satz stattfindet. Das Ergebnis ist ein offener Text, der sich nicht scheut, die Wunde offen zu lassen, mit den eigenen wie mit den kollektiven Phantomen abzurechnen.
I. «1922-2022, 100 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΗ ΜΙΚΡΑΣΙΑΤΙΚΗ ΚΑΤΑΣΤΡΟΦΗ. ΙΣΤΟΡΙΚΗ ΑΠΟΤΙΜΗΣΗ, ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΑΝΑΣΤΟΧΑΣΜΟΣ» της Ευξείνου Λέσχης Θεσσαλονίκης (Βραβείο Ακαδημίας Αθηνών). Ενότητα «Πολιτισμός και Τέχνες στη Μ. Ασία και τον Πόντο»:
1οwebinar με ομιλητές την Ειρήνη Καμπερίδου και τον Βασίλειο Καρφή. Το πρόγραμμα στο HUB του ΕΚΠΑ: https://hub.uoa.gr/lecture-series-kamperidou-karfis/ Παρακολουθήστε στο YouTube: https://youtu.be/fuYH96ayNTU)
1) «Ο Kινητικός Πολιτισμός των Ελλήνων: Ο χορός, η εκμάθηση μουσικών οργάνων και η εκγύμναση ως “σύμβολα κατωτερότητας” στην οθωμανική κοινωνία»
Ομιλήτρια : Ειρήνη Καμπερίδου, Καθηγήτρια Κοινωνιολογίας του ΕΚΠΑ
2) « Σκοποί, χοροί και μνήμες της καθ’ ημάς Ανατολής: Χαρτογράφηση των χορών των Ελλήνων της περιοχής»,
Oμιλητής : Βασίλειος Καρφής, Διδάκτωρ και Διδάσκων του ΕΚΠΑ, ερευνητής του Ελληνικού παραδοσιακού χορού
Τη διάλεξη μπορείτε να παρακολουθήσετε YouTube:
https://youtu.be/fuYH96ayNTUII. Η ΠΑΓΚΟΣΜΙΑ ΔΙΑΣΤΑΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ ΕΠΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΗΣ ΚΑΙ Η ΣΥΜΜΕΤΟΧΗ ΤΩΝ ΓΥΝΑΙΚΩΝ: ΚΙΝΗΤΙΚΟΣ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΣ, ΑΘΛΗΤΙΣΜΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟΤΗΤΑ
Context. Black-hole X-ray binaries (BHXRBs) in the hard and hard-intermediate spectral (and temporal) states exhibit in their power spectra characteristic frequencies called type-C quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs). Various models that can explain them with various degrees of success have been proposed, but a definitive answer is still missing. Aims: The hot Comptonizing corona interacting with the cold accretion disk, both of which are central in understanding BHXRBs, is essentially a dynamical system. Our aim is to investigate if the radiative coupling between the two components can produce QPOs. Methods: We write and solve the time-dependent equations that describe energy conservation in the system corona - accretion disk. We examine both constant and variable mass accretion rates. By necessity, in this first investigation we use a simple model, but it contains all the essential ingredients. Results: For a constant mass accretion rate and certain justifiable conditions, the dynamic corona - disk system exhibits oscillations, which die out after a few cycles. The characteristic frequencies of these oscillations are similar to the ones observed in the power spectra of BHXRBs. For most parameters, the natural frequencies persist even in the case of variable accretion rates. Conclusions: We argue that type-C QPOs in BHXRBs could, in principle, arise from the interaction of the hot Comptonizing corona with the much colder accretion disk. If this picture is correct, it has immediate implications for other systems that contain the above constituents, such as active galactic nuclei.
We report on Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) and Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) observations of the Be-X-ray binary pulsar 1A 0535+262 performed during its giant Type II outburst in 2020, which peaked at a 15-50 keV flux of ~12 Crab. From the Fermi GBM, NICER and NuSTAR measurements, we find the neutron star rotation period decreases from 103.622±0.004 s to 103.24±0.02 s, suggesting that the neutron star rapidly spins-up as the outburst progressed. The NICER and NuSTAR observations, which monitor the evolution of the spectral shape, show the 1-79 keV luminosity peaks at ~1.4 × 1038 erg s-1. This is clearly above ~6.3 × 1037 erg s-1, which is expected around the critical luminosity. We find that the pulse profiles in each observation show a strong energy dependence as well as a strong dependence on luminosity. Emission lines from Fe Kα, Fe XXV Kα and Fe XXVI Kα are observed in the joint NICER and NuSTAR spectra. The line strengths are correlated with the 7.2-10 keV unabsorbed continuum flux. The Fe fluorescent emission lines show no evidence of pulsations, which may suggest that the size of the Fe fluorescent emission region is larger than the Alfvén radius. Although the measured 1-79 keV luminosities are clearly in the supercritical accretion regime, we find that the spectral shape hardens with increasing luminosity. The pulse-phase-averaged NuSTAR data show that the energy of the CRSF around ~45 keV remains virtually unchanged, but the line depth decreases with increasing X-ray flux. This may be a result of photon spawning.
Safety and reliability of gas transmission systems include efficient performance of the gas compressor stations, being indispensable parts of the distribution network. Efficient control of gas compressor stations is an important constraint of the optimization of gas transmission networks. In this paper, the model of a gas compressor station with possible recycle valve (actuator) faults is presented using finite deterministic automata. The desired performance with respect to the safe operation of the process in the case of actuator faults is formulated in the form of regular languages. The goal is surge prevention in the presence of faults. Towards this aim, a modular supervisory control scheme, also providing controller realizability and guaranteeing a nonblocking controlled system, has been developed. The implementation of the controller is accomplished in the form of Ladder Diagrams for PLC use.
The model of the AODV routing protocol, being favorable in several wireless networks (VANET, ZigBee etc.) is presented for a network with parametric number of nodes in the Ramadge Wonham (RW) framework of discrete event systems. Simulation of the automaton of the protocol, for a given four-node network, is provided. For a generic network consisting of n nodes, the goal is to introduce a first simple hierarchy of the requests of the nodes and the routing paths. To this end, a specification is introduced to express the desired hierarchy. The specification of the hierarchy is presented in the form of a simple rule. The rule is translated to a regular language. A supervisor automaton is designed to realize the desired regular language. The nonblocking property of the request flow between the nodes of the network and the satisfactory marked behavior of the controlled automaton are proved. To illustrate the effectiveness of the present control scheme, a four-node network simulation of the controlled automaton of the protocol is provided.
AIMS: Depression and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) are commonly clustered in affected patients. Endothelial dysfunction is an early marker of ASCVD while also reported in patients with depression. Emerging evidence suggests that selective serotonin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs) may improve endothelial function. However, clinical studies assessing flow-mediated dilation (FMD), the gold-standard method to evaluate conduit artery endothelial function, in response to SSRIs treatment included limited number of patients and did not provide consistent results. In the present study we aim to evaluate the effect of SSRIs treatment on endothelial function assessed by longitudinal changes in FMD. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a systematic review to retrieve and subsequently meta-analyze eligible studies in patients with depression who received SSRIs and had available measurements of FMD change before and after treatment. In 5 studies and 323 individuals in total, SSRIs were associated with increased FMD at the end of follow-up compared to baseline measurement (pooled mean change 1.97 %, 95 % CI 0.17, 3.77, P = 0.032, I(2) = 87.4 %). These results did not substantially change when analysis was restricted to patients with history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Similarly, FMD changes were higher in individuals receiving SSRIs compared to not-treated subjects (pooled mean difference 2.5 %. 95 % CI 0.7, 4.2, P < 0.001, I(2) = 82.7 %). LIMITATIONS: Substantial heterogeneity regarding with respect to follow-up duration, demographics, and SSRIs agents. CONCLUSION: SSRIs significantly improve FMD, the gold-standard marker of endothelial function. Further investigation is warranted for the role of FMD as a possible therapeutic biomarker in patients with depression and established or subclinical ASCVD. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42021252241.
The combination of two imaging modalities in a single agent has received increasing attention during the last few years, since its synergistic action guarantees both accurate and timely diagnosis. For this reason, dual-modality contrast agents (DMCAs), such as radiolabeled iron oxide (namely Fe3O4) nanoparticles, constitute a powerful tool in diagnostic applications. In this respect, here we focus on the synthesis of a potential single photon emission computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (SPECT/MRI) DMCA, which consists of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, surface functionalized with 2,3-dicarboxypropane-1,1-diphosphonic acid (DPD) and radiolabeled with Tc-99m, [Tc-99m]Tc-DPD-Fe3O4. The in vitro stability results showed that this DMCA is highly stable after 24 h of incubation in phosphate buffer saline (similar to 92.3% intact), while it is adequately stable after 24 h of incubation with human serum (similar to 67.3% intact). Subsequently, [Tc-99m]Tc-DPD-Fe3O4 DMCA was evaluated in vivo in mice models through standard biodistribution studies, MR imaging and gamma-camera imaging. All techniques provided consistent results, clearly evidencing noticeable liver uptake. Our work documents that [Tc-99m]Tc-DPD-Fe3O4 has all the necessary characteristics to be a potential DMCA.
ABSTRACT: The aim of the presentation is to discuss the findings of a series of research projects that we have been carried out with various groups of students in the University of Athens and concern the teaching of biology by means of evolution through natural selection (THES). In the article it is discussed the conclusions after teaching a biology course based on evolution as the unifying theory, while at the same time more general issues are raised: Is it, for example, a realistic goal to teach biology by means of this kind of teaching? Secondly, what is the usefulness of such a perspective. Which was studied by quantitative and qualitative studies on the conceptual ecology (CE) of the evolution of Greek students. The latter showed the value of this kind of approach in the acceptance and understanding of the THES, as part of students’ CI. Thirdly, ccomparative studies with beginners and advanced students in terms of evolution education showed, that, merely teaching evolution within a course, even if the latter is based on the THES, it is not enough to make someone in-depth connoisseur. It seems that to be acquainted with it to more depth the learners need to go through two stages: in the first, they may move from the stage of owing Aristotelian views of the issue, i.e., from typology, to the early “Darwinian” ones. And they need to go through a second one, where via, in-depth educational training, they might move to the next, namely, the population view of thinking.
Glucocorticoids are important for proper organ maturation1. Increased exposure to these hormones during pregnancy, as a result of commonly prescribed synthetic glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone in preterm births2, has been associated with lasting effects on the offspring, including on neurodevelopment and neuropsychiatric disease risk3. While the consequences of glucocorticoid excess in term and especially adult brain have been extensively studied, mainly in rodents4, studies on their effects during early human cortical development are absent. Here we use human cerebral organoids and mice to study cell-type specific effects of glucocorticoids on neurogenic processes. We show that glucocorticoid administration during neurogenesis alters the cellular architecture of the developing cortex by increasing a specific type of gyrencephalic species-enriched basal progenitors that co-express PAX6 and EOMES. This effect is mediated via the glucocorticoid-responsive transcription factor ZBTB16 as shown with overexpression, genetic knock-down and reporter assays experiments in organoids and embryonic mouse models and leads to increased production of deep-layer neurons. A phenome-wide mendelian randomization analysis of a genetic intronic enhancer variant that moderates glucocorticoid-induced ZBTB16 levels, as shown with enhancer assays and enhancer-editing in organoids, reveals potential causal relationships with increased educational attainment as well as neuroimaging phenotypes in adults. In this study we provide a cellular and molecular pathway for the effects of glucocorticoids on human neurogenesis that potentially explains postnatal phenotypes and may be used to refine treatment guidelines.
Context. The Magellanic Clouds host a large population of high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) systems, and although the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is an order of magnitude more massive than the Small Magellanic Cloud, there are significantly fewer known HMXBs in the former. Aims: We conducted a search for new HMXBs in XMM-Newton observations that were performed with the aim of investigating supernova remnant candidates in the supergiant shells LMC5 and LMC7. The three observed fields are located in regions that have not been widely explored in the X-ray band. Methods: We analysed the XMM-Newton data to look for sources with hard X-ray spectrum and their counterparts with optical colours and brightness values that are typical of HMXBs. Results: We report the discovery of three new Be/X-ray binaries, two of them showing pulsations in their X-ray flux. With a luminosity of 6.5 × 1034 erg s−1, we see that XMMU J045315.1−693242 in LMC7 was relatively X-ray faint. The long-term OGLE I-band light curve of the V = 15.5 mag counterpart suggests a 49.6 day or 24.8 day orbital period for the binary system. Then, XMMU J045736.9−692727, which is also located in LMC7, was brighter, with a luminosity of 5.6 × 1035 erg s−1 and hard spectrum with a power-law photon index of 0.63. The X-ray flux revealed clear pulsations with a period of 317.7 s. We obtained optical high resolution spectra from the V = 14.2 mag counterpart using the SALT-HRS spectrograph. Hα and Hβ were observed in emission with complex line profiles and equivalent widths of −8.0 Å and −1.3 Å, respectively. The I-band light curve obtained from OGLE shows a series of four strong outbursts followed by a sudden drop in brightness by more than 1 mag within 73-165 days and a recovery to the level from before the outbursts. RX J0524.2−6620, previously classified as X-ray binary candidate, is located at the eastern part of LMC5. We report the discovery of 360.7 s pulsations. During the XMM-Newton observation the luminosity was at ∼4 × 1035 erg s−1 and the source showed a hard spectrum with a power-law photon index of 0.78. The Hα emission line profile obtained from SALT-HRS is characterised by two broad peaks with a separation corresponding to ∼178 km s−1, along with an equivalent width of −4.2 Å. The long-term OGLE I-band light curve of the V = 14.9 mag counterpart reveals a quasi-periodic flaring activity while the colour evolution during the flares follows a hysteresis loop with redder colour during the rise. Based on the modelling the Hα line profiles measured from XMMU J045736.9−692727 and RX J0524.2−6620, we derived constraints on the size of the Be disks. Conclusions: Our discovery of two pulsars among three new Be/X-ray binaries increases the number of known HMXB pulsars in the LMC to 25.
Heterostructured WO3/TiO2 photonic crystal films in the form of three-dimensional macroporous inverse opals were developed by single-step, three-phase co-assembly of colloidal templates with water soluble precursors enabling simultaneous growth of both metal oxides into a firmly interconnected periodic pore framework whose skeletal walls consisted of uniformly distributed nanoscale type II WO3-TiO2 heterojunctions. A marked size- and composition-dependence of the binary WO3/TiO2 inverse opal properties was evidenced by controlling the W/Ti molar ratio and macropore diameter that allowed Fermi level and photonic band gap engineering according to optical and photoelectron spectroscopies supplemented by electrochemical measurements. Compositional tuning along with the reduction of WO3 nanocrystallite size and the concomitant W5+ defect growth with increasing TiO2 phase content were explored for the optimization of photocurrent generation by WO3/TiO2 inverse opal photoanodes combining reduced charge carrier recombination and optimal slow light trapping. One step co-assembly of mixed metal oxides is concluded as a promising route for the development of heterostructured inverse opal networks with tailored electronic properties and improved solar light harvesting for photo-induced applications.
It is widely acclaimed that the Markowitz mean–variance portfolio selection is a very important investment strategy. One approach to solving the static mean–variance portfolio selection (MVPS) problem is based on the usage of quadratic programming (QP) methods. In this article, we define and study the time-varying mean–variance portfolio selection (TV-MVPS) problem both in the cases of a fixed target portfolio’s expected return and for all possible portfolio’s expected returns as a time-varying quadratic programming (TVQP) problem. The TV-MVPS also comprises the properties of a moving average. These properties make the TV-MVPS an even greater analysis tool suitable to evaluate investments and identify trading opportunities across a continuous-time period. Using an originally developed linear-variational-inequality primal–dual neural network (LVI-PDNN), we also provide an online solution to the static QP problem. To the best of our knowledge, this is an innovative approach that incorporates robust neural network techniques to provide an online, thus more realistic, solution to the TV-MVPS problem. In this way, we present an online solution to a time-varying financial problem while eliminating static method limitations. It has been shown that when applied simultaneously to TVQP problems subject to equality, inequality and boundary constraints, the LVI-PDNN approaches the theoretical solution. Our approach is also verified by numerical experiments and computer simulations as an excellent alternative to conventional MATLAB methods.
Measuring a pulsar's rotational evolution is crucial to understanding the nature of the pulsar. Here, we provide updated timing models for the rotational evolution of six pulsars, five of which are rotation phase-connected using primarily NICER X-ray data. For the newly discovered fast energetic young pulsar, PSR J0058-7218, we increase the baseline of its timing model from 1.4 days to 8 months and not only measure more precisely its spin-down rate $\dot{\nu }=(-6.2324\pm 0.0001)\times {10}^{-11}\,\mathrm{Hz}\,{{\rm{s}}}^{-1}$ but also for the first time the second time derivative of its spin rate $\ddot{\nu }=(4.2\pm 0.2)\times {10}^{-21}\,\mathrm{Hz}\,{{\rm{s}}}^{-2}$ . For the fastest and most energetic young pulsar, PSR J0537-6910 (with a 16 ms spin period), we detect four more glitches, for a total of 15 glitches over 4.5 yr of NICER monitoring, and show that its spin-down behavior continues to set this pulsar apart from all others, including a long-term braking index n = -1.234 ± 0.009 and interglitch braking indices that asymptote to ≲7 for long times after a glitch. For PSR J1101-6101, we measure a much more accurate spin-down rate that agrees with a previous value measured without phase connection. For PSR J1412+7922 (also known as Calvera), we extend the baseline of its timing model from our previous 1 yr model to 4.4 yr, and for PSR J1849-0001, we extend the baseline from 1.5 to 4.7 yr. We also present a long-term timing model of the energetic pulsar PSR J1813-1749, by fitting previous radio and X-ray spin frequencies from 2009-2019 and new ones measured here using 2018 NuSTAR and 2021 Chandra data.
Τhe incumbent technology for bringing light to the nanoscale, the near-field scanning optical microscope, has notoriously small throughput efficiencies of the order of 104 −105, or less. We report on a broadband, topological, unidirectionally guiding structure, not requiring adiabatic tapering and, in principle, enabling near-perfect (∼100%) optical transmission through an unstructured single arbitrarily subdiffraction slit at its end. Specifically, for a slit width of just λeff/72 (λ0/138) the attained normalized transmission coefficient reaches a value of 1.52, while for a unidirectional-only (nontopological) device the normalized transmission through a λeff/21 (∼λ0/107) slit reaches 1.14; both limited only by inherent material losses, and with zero reflection from the slit. The associated, under ideal (ultralow-loss) conditions, near-perfect optical extraordinary transmission has implications, among diverse areas in wave physics and engineering, for high-efficiency, maximum-throughput nanoscopes and heat-assisted magnetic recording devices.
One of the most often used approaches for approximating various matrix equation problems is the hyperpower family of iterative methods with arbitrary convergence order, whereas the zeroing neural network (ZNN) is a type of neural dynamics intended for handling time-varying problems. A family of ZNN models that correlate with the hyperpower iterative methods is defined on the basis of the analogy that was discovered. These models, known as higher-order ZNN models (HOZNN), can be used to find real symmetric solutions of time-varying algebraic Riccati equations. Furthermore, a noise-handling HOZNN (NHOZNN) class of dynamical systems is introduced. The traditional ZNN and HOZNN dynamic flows are compared theoretically and numerically.
An increasing number of solute transporters have been shown to function with the so-called sliding-elevator mechanism. Despite structural and functional differences, all elevator-type transporters use a common mechanism of substrate translocation via reversible movements of a mobile core domain (the elevator) hosting the substrate binding site along a rigid scaffold domain stably anchored in the plasma membrane via homodimerization. One of the best-studied elevator transporters is the UapA uric acid-xanthine/H+ symporter of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Here, we present a genetic analysis for deciphering the role of transmembrane segments (TMS) 5 and 12 in UapA transport function. We show that specific residues in both TMS5 and TMS12 control, negatively or positively, the dynamics of transport, but also substrate binding affinity and specificity. More specifically, mutations in TMS5 can lead not only to increased rate of transport but also to an inactive transporter due to high-affinity substrate-trapping, whereas mutations in TMS12 lead to apparently uncontrolled sliding and broadened specificity, leading in specific cases to UapA-mediated purine toxicity. Our findings shed new light on how elevator transporters function and how this knowledge can be applied to genetically modify their transport characteristics.
The regular reappearance of coronavirus (CoV) outbreaks over the past 20 years has caused significant health consequences and financial burdens worldwide. The most recent and still ongoing novel CoV pandemic, caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has brought a range of devastating consequences. Due to the exceptionally fast development of vaccines, the mortality rate of the virus has been curbed to a significant extent. However, the limitations of vaccination efficiency and applicability, coupled with the still high infection rate, emphasise the urgent need for discovering safe and effective antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 by suppressing its replication or attenuating its virulence. Non-structural protein 1 (nsp1), a unique viral and conserved leader protein, is a crucial virulence factor for causing host mRNA degradation, suppressing interferon (IFN) expression and host antiviral signalling pathways. In view of the essential role of nsp1 in the CoV life cycle, it is regarded as an exploitable target for antiviral drug discovery. Here, we report a variety of fragment hits against the N-terminal domain of SARS-CoV-2 nsp1 identified by fragment-based screening via X-ray crystallography. We also determined the structure of nsp1 at atomic resolution (0.99 A). Binding affinities of hits against nsp1 and potential stabilisation were determined by orthogonal biophysical assays such as microscale thermophoresis and thermal shift assays. We identified two ligand-binding sites on nsp1, one deep and one shallow pocket, which are not conserved between the three medically relevant SARS, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS coronaviruses. Our study provides an excellent starting point for the development of more potent nsp1-targeting inhibitors and functional studies on SARS-CoV-2 nsp1.
Blazars are a class of active galactic nuclei that host relativistic jets oriented close to the observer's line of sight. Blazars have very complex variability properties. Flares, namely flux variations around the mean value with a well-defined shape and duration, are one of the identifying properties of the blazar phenomenon. Blazars are known to exhibit multiwavelength flares, but also "orphan" flares, namely flux changes that appear only in a specific energy range. Various models, sometimes at odds with each other, have been proposed to explain specific flares even for a single source, and cannot be synthesized into a coherent picture. In this paper, we propose a unified model for explaining orphan and multiwavelength flares from blazars in a common framework. We assume that the blazar emission during a flare consists of two components: (i) a quasistable component that arises from the superposition of numerous but comparatively weak dissipation zones along the jet, forming the background (low-state) emission of the blazar, and (ii) a transient component, which is responsible for the sudden enhancement of the blazar flux, forming at a random distance along the jet by a strong energy dissipation event. Whether a multiwavelength or orphan flare is emitted depends on the distance from the base of the jet where the dissipation occurs. Generally speaking, if the dissipation occurs at a small/large distance from the supermassive black hole, the inverse Compton/synchrotron radiation dominates and an orphan γ -ray/optical flare tends to appear. On the other hand, we may expect a multiwavelength flare if the dissipation occurs at an intermediate distance. We show that the model can successfully describe the spectral energy distribution of different flares from the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 and the BL Lacertae object PKS 2155-304.
In the context of infinite-horizon optimal control problems, the algebraic Riccati equations (ARE) arise when the stability of linear time-varying (LTV) systems is investigated. Using the zeroing neural network (ZNN) approach to solve the time-varying eigendecomposition-based ARE (TVE-ARE) problem, the ZNN model (ZNNTVE-ARE) for solving the TVE-ARE problem is introduced as a result of this research. Since the eigendecomposition approach is employed, the ZNNTVE-ARE model is designed to produce only the unique nonnegative definite solution of the time-varying ARE (TV-ARE) problem. It is worth mentioning that this model follows the principles of the ZNN method, which converges exponentially with time to a theoretical time-varying solution. The ZNNTVE-ARE model can also produce the eigenvector solution of the continuous-time Lyapunov equation (CLE) since the Lyapunov equation is a particular case of ARE. Moreover, this paper introduces a hybrid ZNN model for stabilizing LTV systems in which the ZNNTVE-ARE model is employed to solve the continuous-time ARE (CARE) related to the optimal control law. Experiments show that the ZNNTVE-ARE and HFTZNN-LTVSS models are both effective, and that the HFTZNN-LTVSS model always provides slightly better asymptotic stability than the models from which it is derived.
Cell-Free (CF) Massive MIMO (mMIMO) is a technology which can potentially augment not only the deployment of 5G, but also the deployment of "beyond 5G'' (B5G) wireless networks. The basic idea behind this “user-centric” arrangement is that many spatially dispersed access points (APs) coherently serve all nearby devices without being confined by cell boundaries. However, the cost for rolling out such systems, at a macro-level, may be significant. Radio stripes form a promising intermediate solution, which offers the potential of scalability at a reduced price. This paper investigates the uplink scenario of a CF massive MIMO (mMIMO) system, implemented with a limited-capacity radio stripe, which integrates a novel AP arrangement that fully exploits macro-diversity benefits. We also analyze a heuristic compare-and-forward (CnF) strategy, which, by comparing normalized minimum mean square error (N-MMSE) soft estimates, enables optimal dynamic cooperation clustering. Aiming at maximizing the spectral efficiency (SE) of a high percentage of users, we ensure that, under finite capacity constraints, our solution can guarantee better performance than existing radio stripe architectures when size of the system scales.
Coastal areas constitute a very dynamic environment, balancing between numerous natural and anthropogenic processes liable to sometimes hazardous geomorphic phenomena. Especially in tectonically active coastal regions and areas of high economic value, slope failures can have significant impacts and therefore need careful and detailed examination. This work uses Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)-aided photogrammetry and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) in tectonically active segments of the coastal zone of the Ionian Islands in Greece, to explore how their capabilities can help to improve our understanding of the structural integrity of the slopes. Results show that the two approaches are able to extract large numbers of discontinuity facets, in a more practical, rapid and safe way than conventional methods of rock slope stability analysis extending to unreachable yet important parts of the slope. Through this holistic record of the structural condition of the slope the two applications allow the identification of segments that are more prone to instability and failure. In this way, they improve our understanding of the prioritization of interventions aiming to enhance the prevention of slope failures, mitigating the associated risk and improving local development in these high-value locations.
Coastal areas constitute a very dynamic environment, balancing between numerous natural and anthropogenic processes liable to sometimes hazardous geomorphic phenomena. Especially in tectonically active coastal regions and areas of high economic value, slope failures can have significant impacts and therefore need careful and detailed examination. This work uses Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)-aided photogrammetry and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) in tectonically active segments of the coastal zone of the Ionian Islands in Greece, to explore how their capabilities can help to improve our understanding of the structural integrity of the slopes. Results show that the two approaches are able to extract large numbers of discontinuity facets, in a more practical, rapid and safe way than conventional methods of rock slope stability analysis extending to unreachable yet important parts of the slope. Through this holistic record of the structural condition of the slope the two applications allow the identification of segments that are more prone to instability and failure. In this way, they improve our understanding of the prioritization of interventions aiming to enhance the prevention of slope failures, mitigating the associated risk and improving local development in these high-value locations.
Precision Agriculture (PA) tends to become a contemporary trend nowadays, as agriculture constitutes a really big part of economy with great social impact around the world. Among the advantages of using Precision Agriculture (PA) are the decrease in cost, time and human resources.
Aerial remote sensing data processing and interpretation is a modern way of recognizing and classifying vegetation, within high resolution and precision imagery outputs, which can be utilized for further image processing and classification such as in Normalized difference vegetation index NDVI, Modified Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index, MCARI, and Modified Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index, MSAVI. The application of such thematic products may lead to the best decisions for the most prominent ways of interference during the entire cultivation process. Using unmanned aerial systems (UAS), onboard sensors and GNSS for better precision and of course high residual multispectral images with several bands which can give precious information after being post processed, the data acquisition phase has become relatively easy and with the lowest cost, not to mention the frequent update upon request. In this work, we present a multispectral flying platform. The proposed solution is based on a commercial Quantum Trinity F90+ drone equipped with a combination of a high-resolution RGB camera UMC R10C and a multispectral MicaSense RedEdge-MX camera.
In volleyball outside hitters have wide participation in the offensive game. This study aims to analyze the variables that predict attack effectiveness in top-level volleyball depending on gender. ...
There has been a lack of studies on bullying in non-western low-income and middle-income countries. This study reported the prevalence of traditional victimization, cybervictimization, and the combination of these, in 13 European and Asian countries, and explored how psychiatric symptoms were associated with victimization. The data for this cross-sectional, school-based study of 21,688 adolescents aged 13–15 were collected from 2011 to 2017. The main outcomes were traditional and cybervictimization obtained from student self-reports. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to assess psychiatric symptoms. Generalized estimating equation and logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). The mean prevalence of any victimization was 28.9%, of traditional victimization only, this was 17.7%, and for cybervictimization only this was 5.1%. Cybervictimization occurred both independently, and in combination with, traditional victimization. The mean prevalence of combined victimization was 6.1%. The mean proportion of those who were cyberbullied only among those who were either cyberbullied only or bullied both traditionally and in cyber was 45.1%. The rates of prevalence varied widely between countries. In the total sample, those who experienced combined victimization, reported the highest internalizing symptoms (girls, OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.22–1.29; boys, OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.25–1.33). The study findings suggest that anti-bullying interventions should include mental health components and target both traditional and cyberbullying. Due to the overlap between these, targeting bullying should primarily focus on how to reduce bullying behavior rather than just focusing on where bullying takes place.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between serum vitamin B12/folate and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). METHODS: A comprehensive search of the PubMed database was performed, which identified 271 abstracts to be screened. Ten studies met our inclusion criteria and a meta-analysis of these comparative case-control studies was performed on the mean +/- standard deviation serum vitamin B12 and folate levels, without language restrictions. Nine studies with 720 patients with RVO and 613 controls were included in the meta-analysis for vitamin B12, and 10 studies with 784 patients with RVO and 677 controls in the meta-analysis for folate. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between patients with RVO and controls in serum vitamin B12 levels (mean difference: - 40.25 pg/mL, p = 0.28), either central RVO (mean difference: - 18.24 pg/mL, p = 0.71) or branch RVO (mean difference: - 23.56 pg/mL, p = 0.48). On the contrary, the plasma folate level was significantly lower in RVO patients than in controls (mean difference: - 1.34 ng/mL, p = 0.001), as well as in patients with CRVO compared to controls (mean difference: - 1.48 ng/mL, p = 0.006), but not in BRVO patients (mean difference: - 0.72 ng/mL, p = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: RVO is associated with low serum folate levels, but not with serum vitamin B12 levels
Global exposure of children to sexual abuse is widespread. Disclosure may be extremely upsetting for both families and medical professionals. This review provides medical practitioners with practical tips for a stepwise approach of the child who discloses sexual abuse. Having secured a private examination room, the physician should approach the child and caregivers separately to determine the level of concern for abuse and the urgency of the situation. The medical evaluation is based on the information gathered, including a complete physical examination, inspection of the genitalia, collection of forensic evidence, and testing for sexually transmitted diseases. On a case-by-case basis, the need for surgical intervention, prophylactic treatment, and immunization is discussed. Finally, important questions for the medical team to address are outlined with the goal of supporting the child and his/her family and ultimately stopping the abuse.
Aims: We conducted a spectral and temporal analysis of X-ray data from the Be X-ray binary pulsar SXP 15.6 located in the Small Magellanic Cloud based on NuSTAR, NICER, and Swift observations during the 2021 outburst. Methods: We present the broadband X-ray spectra of the system based on simultaneous NuSTAR and NICER observations for the first time. Moreover, we used monitoring data to study the spectral and temporal properties of the system during the outburst. Results: Comparison of the evolution of the 2021 outburst with archival data reveals a consistent pattern of variability, with multiple peaks occurring at time intervals similar to the orbital period of the system (∼36 d). Our spectral analysis indicates that most of the energy is released at high energies above 10 keV, while we found no cyclotron absorption line in the spectrum. Analysing of the spectral evolution during the outburst, we find that the spectrum is softer when brighter, which in turn reveals that the system is probably in the super-critical regime in which the accretion column is formed. This places an upper limit on the magnetic field of the system of about 7 × 1011 G. The spin-evolution of the neutron star (NS) during the outburst is consistent with an NS with a low magnetic field (∼5 × 1011 G), while there is evident orbital modulation that we modelled, and we derived the orbital parameters. We found the orbit to have a moderate eccentricity of ∼0.3. Our estimates of the magnetic field are consistent with the lack of an electron cyclotron resonance scattering feature in the broadband X-ray spectrum.
This research introduces three novel zeroing neural network (ZNN) models for addressing the time-varying Yang–Baxter-like matrix equation (TV-YBLME) with arbitrary (regular or singular) real time-varying (TV) input matrices in continuous time. One ZNN dynamic utilizes error matrices directly arising from the equation involved in the TV-YBLME. Moreover, two ZNN models are proposed using basic properties of the YBLME, such as the splitting of the YBLME and sufficient conditions for a matrix to solve the YBLME. The Tikhonov regularization principle enables addressing the TV-YBLME with an arbitrary input real TV matrix. Numerical experiments, including nonsingular and singular TV input matrices, show that the suggested models deal effectively with the TV-YBLME.
Many researchers have investigated the time-varying (TV) matrix pseudoinverse problem in recent years, for its importance in addressing TV problems in science and engineering. In this paper, the problem of calculating the inverse or pseudoinverse of an arbitrary TV real matrix is considered and addressed using the singular value decomposition (SVD) and the zeroing neural network (ZNN) approaches. Since SVD is frequently used to compute the inverse or pseudoinverse of a matrix, this research proposes a new ZNN model based on the SVD method as well as the technique of Tikhonov regularization, for solving the problem in continuous time. Numerical experiments, involving the pseudoinversion of square, rectangular, singular, and nonsingular input matrices, indicate that the proposed models are effective for solving the problem of the inversion or pseudoinversion of time varying matrices.
Nikolaos-Ioannis Koskinas wirft in seinem Beitrag einen komparatistischen Blick auf ein griechisches und ein deutschsprachiges Theaterstück – Fräulein Unglück (Δεσποινίς Δυστυχία, 2018) von Tsimaras Tzanatos und Die Verfassung der Strände (2012) von dem österreichischen Dramatiker Stephan Lack. Beide Werke stellen den maritimen Raum ins Zentrum und setzen sich kritisch mit anthropogenen Umweltveränderungen aus-einander. Während Lack bei der Behandlung der Problematik Mensch-Umwelt eine anthropozentrische Perspektive einnimmt, wird das Meer in dem Stück von Tzanatos zum eigentlichen Protagonisten und die menschlichen Akteure treten zugunsten einer dezentrierten Perspektive eher in den Hintergrund, die die Vielschichtigkeit der weit über den Menschen hinausreichenden Natur widerspiegeln soll.
During the 2021-2022 school year, the innovative lesson “Skills Labs” was introduced in the Greek school curriculum with the aim to enhance students’ everyday skills, life skills as well as technology and science skills. The principal aim of this research was to examine teachers’ familiarity on the suggested teaching methods which are the prerequisites for the effective implementation of the “Skills Labs”. Participants were 110 teachers of various specialties who completed a questionnaire assessing their experiences and views regarding the “Skills Labs”. Results showed that teachers are familiar with alternative teaching methods such as the Experiential, Cooperative and Personalized methods. Most of the teachers, though, did not take full advantage of these teaching methods in class. This may reflect the fact that they lack adequate in-service training as well as teaching experience. Moreover, teachers’ teaching experience and level of education were significantly related to their teaching methods. It was also found that the effective implementation of the “Skills Labs”, according to teachers’ views, depends on various factors, such as students’ readiness, adequate teaching time, and classroom infrastructure. Finally, based on the results of this study, suggestions for educational policy are made.
Στόχος της παρούσας εργασίας είναι, μέσω της ανάλυσης βιογραφιών ζωής εξαρτημένων ατόμων, να διερευνηθεί η σχέση ανάμεσα στα τραυματικά γεγονότα ζωής και τα συναισθήματα που τα συνοδεύουν με την έναρξη της χρήσης ουσιών και την πρόωρη εγκατάλειψη του σχολείου. Η ανάλυση βιογραφιών ζωής ατόμων που εισάγονται σε προγράμματα απεξάρτησης του ΚΕΘΕΑ αξιοποιείται προκειμένου να διερευνηθούν οι ερμηνείες και το νόημα που τα ίδια αποδίδουν στις εμπειρίες τους αλλά και να γίνει κατανοητός ο τρόπος κατασκευής ιστοριών ζωής από τη σκοπιά του παρόντος. Μέσα από την ανάλυση δέκα βιογραφιών ζωής τις οποίες καλούνται να συγγράψουν όλα τα άτομα που συμμετέχουν σε θεραπευτική κοινότητα απεξάρτησης, αναζητά την ερμηνεία που τα ίδια τα άτομα δίνουν για τη σχέση ανάμεσα στα τραυματικά γεγονότα ζωής και στην έναρξη της χρήσης ουσιών, τη σχολική αποτυχία και την πρόωρη διακοπή του σχολείου. Με τη μέθοδο της ανάλυσης περιεχομένου προκύπτει ότι σε κάθε αναπτυξιακή φάση αναδύονται συγκεκριμένοι παράγοντες που συνδυάζονται με την πρόωρη εγκατάλειψη του σχολείου και την έναρξη της χρήσης ουσιών και που αφορούν κυρίως δυσμενείς εμπειρίες ζωής κατά την παιδική ηλικία. Η εργασία προτείνει την εφαρμογή προγραμμάτων διά βίου μάθησης και μη τυπικής εκπαίδευσης στο σύνολο της σχολικής κοινότητας για την πρόληψη της σχολικής διαρροής και της χρήσης ουσιών.
Σκοπός της παρούσας ερευνητικής μελέτης είναι η διερεύνηση των δυσμενών εμπειριών ζωής κατά την παιδική ηλικία και η σύνδεση αυτών με την κατάχρηση ουσιών και την έλλειψη στέγης στην ενήλικη ζωή. Συμμετέχοντες στη μελέτη είναι έντεκα άτομα, άντρες και γυναίκες, που παρακολουθούν τα προγράμματα των Μονάδων Υποκατάστασης Βουπρενορφίνης του ΟΚΑΝΑ (ΜΟΘΕ) στη Βόρεια Ελλάδα. Η μεθοδολογία διεξαγωγής της συγκεκριμένης έρευνας βασίζεται στη βιογραφική αφηγηματική προσέγγιση, ένα εργαλείο ποιοτικής έρευνας, που κρίθηκε ως καταλληλότερο για τη σε βάθος μελέτη των δυσμενών εμπειριών ζωής και την αλληλεπίδραση αυτών με την πρόωρη εγκατάλειψη του σχολείου, την κατάχρηση ουσιών και την αστεγία. Η επεξεργασία των βιογραφιών που συγκεντρώθηκαν έδειξε ότι σε όλες τις περιπτώσεις οι δυσμενείς εμπειρίες ζωής και η απώλεια/εναλλαγή στέγης χαρακτήριζε ως κεντρικό βίωμα της παιδικής ηλικίας τις αφηγήσεις όλων των συμμετεχόντων/ουσών και προηγήθηκε της πρόωρης εγκατάλειψης του σχολείου και της εμφάνισης της κατάχρησης ουσιών, η οποία προέκυψε μεταγενέστερα ως μια προσπάθεια ανακούφισης και «αυτοθεραπείας».
Η Ειρήνη Καμπερίδου, Καθηγήτρια Κοινωνιολογίας ΣΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ μίλησε για τη γυναικεία εμπειρία και δράση (women's agency) σε εμπόλεμες ζώνες και συγκρουσιακές συγκυρίες στην ημερίδα που διοργάνωσε το Γενικό Επιτελείο Εθνικής Άμυνας (ΓΕΕΘΑ), Διεύθυνση Υγειονομικού, Τμήμα Υγειονομικής Πολιτικής και Προληπτικής Ιατρικής, υπό τον τίτλο «Διαστάσεις Ψυχικής Υγείας στις Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις». Ανέδειξε τον πρωτοποριακό και καθοριστικό ρόλο των γυναικών (του 19ου αιώνα και των αρχών του 20ου) στην επίλυση επειγόντων και συγκρουσιακών καταστάσεων, την κοινωνική μέριμνα και τη δημόσια υγεία. Η διάλεξη της κας Καμπερίδου ήταν αφιερωμένη στην επέτειο μνήμης των 100 χρόνων από τη Μικρασιατική Καταστροφή (1922-2022). Η εν λόγω διοργάνωση πραγματοποιήθηκε στο Αμφιθέατρο «Επισμηναγός (ΠΙΤ) Δημήτριος Καμπέρος» του ΓΕΕΘΑ, στο στρατόπεδο Παπάγου, 15 Δεκεμβρίου 2022. Την έναρξη των εργασιών της ημερίδας κήρυξε ο Πτέραρχος Δημήτριος Χατζηγεωργίου, Διευθυντής Υγειονομικού του ΓΕΕΘΑ. Στην εκδήλωση συμμετείχε ο Συνταγματάρχης Παναγιώτης Ποδαρόπουλος, Υποδιευθυντής Υγειονομικού του ΓΕΕΘΑ και η Αντισμήναρχος και ψυχίατρος Στέλλα Νίκα.
Λέξεις κλειδιά: Επιτόπιες μαρτυρίες, φύλο, γυναίκα, πόλεμος, εθελοντισμός, επαγγελματισμός, γυναικεία πρωτοβουλία-δράση (women's agency), επιχειρηματικότητα και καινοτομία
--Στο HUB του ΕΚΠΑ https://hub.uoa.gr/conference-on-dimensions-of-mental-health-lecture-by-professor-kaberidou/
--Στην κεντρική ιστοσελίδα του ΕΚΠΑ
https://www.uoa.gr/anakoinoseis_kai_ekdiloseis/proboli_anakoinosis/diastaseis_psychikis_ygeias_stis_enoples_dynameis/
Η αποτρεπτική στρατηγική του Ισραήλ συχνά θεωρείται ένα παράδειγμα προς μίμηση για κράτη, τα οποία αντιμετωπίζουν υπαρξιακές απειλές από πλευράς ισχυροτέρων συμμαχιών ή αναθεωρητικών δρώντων. Οι στρατιωτικές ικανότητες, η πολιτική βούληση, η εκμετάλλευση των από καιρού εις καιρόν ανακατανομών ισχύος και ο στρατηγικός σχεδιασμός, στοιχεία διασυνδεδεμένα με μια εμπεδωμένη στρατηγική κουλτούρα, θέτουν το πλαίσιο μιας αποτελεσματικής αποτροπής ανεξαρτήτου του μεγέθους των διλημμάτων ασφαλείας ή άλλων προβλημάτωνεις το εσωτερικό. Κατά τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες, η Ελλάς αντιμετωπίζει μία ευδιάκριτη απειλή από πλευράς της Τουρκίας και ως εκ τούτου, ευλόγως έχει προκύψει ένας δημόσιος διάλογος αναφορικώς με τον τρόπο διά του οποίου η Αθήνα θα δύνατο να εξισορροπήσει τις νεοοθωμανικές βλέψεις εις τη Βαλκανική, το Αιγαίο, την Ανατολική Μεσόγειο, την Κύπρο ή ακόμη και το Ιόνιο, με την Τουρκία να εμπλέκεται εκεί μέσω της στρατηγικής συνεργασίας της με την Αλβανία και να υποσκάπτει την ελληνική ναυτική πρωτοκαθεδρία δυτικώς του ηπειρωτικού κορμού. Εντός του συγκεκριμένου πλαισίου, το παρόν κείμενο επιχειρεί να εξετάσει τους λόγους για τους οποίους η ισραηλινή αποτρεπτική στρατηγική έναντι των απειλών κρατικής επιβιώσεως θεωρείται επιτυχής, το ενδεχόμενο να υφίστανται ομοιότητες ή διαφορές σχετικώς με την διϊστορική ιδιοσυστασία των απειλών κατά του Ισραήλ και της Ελλάδος και εν τέλει, πώς αξιολογείται σήμερα η ελληνική αποτρεπτική στρατηγική. Εν κατακλείδι, βασικός σκοπός είναι η σκιαγράφηση δυνητικών προοπτικών συγκλίσεως συμφερόντων και συναντιλήψεως επί προκλήσεως ασφαλείας μεταξύ Ισραήλ και Ελλάδος κυρίως αναφορικώς με την Ανατολική Μεσόγειο.
Cite as: Καμπερίδου, Ειρήνη (2022). Κοινωνικό φύλο και έμφυλη ουδετερότητα στην ψηφιακή εποχή: θέματα φύλου και ισότητας στον αθλητισμό και την (Gender-neutralstandards / degenderinginsportandsociety). Εισήγηση στην Επιστημονική Ημερίδα “Αθλητική Δραστηριότητα, Σωματική Άσκηση και Φυσική Αγωγή στις Προοπτικές της 4ης Βιομηχανικής Επανάστασης: Αναστοχαστικοί Προβληματισμοί.” Διοργάνωση, Τομέας Θεωρητικών Επιστημών της Σχολή Επιστήμης Φυσικής Αγωγής και Αθλητισμού (ΣΕΦΑΑ) του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών (ΕΚΠΑ), 18 Ιουνίου 2022: https://hub.uoa.gr/event-athletic-activity-physical-exercise-and-physical-education/ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ:
Θα χρειαστούν 135,6 χρόνια για να κλείσει το έμφυλο χάσμα—να επιτευχθεί η ισότητα των φύλων σε όλους του τομείς—σύμφωνα με την τελευταία έκθεση του Παγκόσμιου Οικονομικού Φόρουμ για το παγκόσμιο έμφυλο χάσμα (Global Gender Gap Report, 2021), αν δεν μεταβληθούν ριζικά οι πρακτικές αποκλεισμού και τα κοινωνικά στερεότυπα που τις διαιωνίζουν. Στην εποχή της πανδημίας του κορονοϊού αυξήθηκε 36 έτη (κατά μία γενιά) η γεφύρωση το παγκόσμιου έμφυλου χάσματος: από 99,5 έτη σε 135,6. Η χώρα μας καλύπτει το 68,9% του έμφυλου χάσματος και κατατάσσεται στην 98η θέση σε σύνολο 156 χωρών. Οι μεγαλύτερες διαφορές (υποεκπροσώπηση των γυναικών) εντοπίζονται στην Οικονομία και την Πολιτική, ενώ στην Υγεία και την Εκπαίδευση η Ελλάδα παρουσιάζει εξαιρετικές επιδόσεις στους σχετικούς δείκτες (96,6%, και 99,4%, αντίστοιχα). Παρά την πρόοδο στην Υγεία και την Εκπαίδευση οι γυναίκες αντιμετωπίζουν μειωμένη πολιτική συμμετοχή, οικονομικά εμπόδια, και προκαταλήψεις/έμφυλα στερεότυπα στους χώρους εργασίας. Χρησιμοποιώντας την κοινωνιολογική προσέγγιση/θεώρηση διαπραγματευόμαστε το φαινόμενο του κοινωνικού αποκλεισμού στο πλαίσιο της 4η Βιομηχανική Επανάσταση—που μόλις άρχισε— και ειδικά το τεκμηριωμένο ποσοτικά έμφυλο χάσμα (ανισότητες λόγω φύλου) που αυξάνετε ραγδαία. Η παρουσίαση αυτή επιχειρεί να συστηματοποιήσει σε μια κοινωνιολογική προοπτική τις δυναμικές που επέτρεψαν στην γυναικεία αντιπροσώπευση να καταστεί δείκτης της έμφυλης ανισότητας. Τo έμφυλο χάσμα αυξάνετε και στην κοινωνική περιοχή του αθλητισμού και συγκεκριμένα στην αθλητική ηγεσία, τη θεσμική εξουσία. Αναπαράγεται και με την μειωμένη κάλυψη του γυναικείου αθλητισμού στα ΜΜΕ καθώς και την μοντελοποίηση/ αντικειμενικοποίηση της αθλητικής ταυτότητας στα νέα μέσα και στα ΜΚΔ, ενισχύοντας τα φαινόμενα κατάχρησης εξουσίας (πχ. σεξουαλική παρενόχληση). Όπως τεκμηριώνεται ερευνητικά, στα πρόσφατα δημοσιευμένα στοιχεία του Παγκόσμιου Οικονομικού Φόρουμ, το έμφυλο χάσμα στην Υγεία και την Επιβίωση, την Παιδεία, την Εργασία, την Πολιτική, την Οικονομία, και την Τεχνητή Νοημοσύνη (ΑΙ) αυξάνεται παγκοσμίως, με την Ισλανδία να παραμένει η χώρα με τη μεγαλύτερη ισότητα των φύλων στον κόσμο. Προς ποια κατεύθυνση θα κινηθούν οι μεταβολές στο μέλλον; Εδώ προτείνουμε θεωρίες ή προσεγγίσεις περί έμφυλης ουδετερότητας, δηλαδή τη θέσπιση και την καλλιέργεια πολιτικών, στρατηγικών, (καλών) πρακτικών, μοντέλων, προτύπων (role models), μεντόρων, στάσεων και κοινωνικών συμπεριφορών που προωθούν την ισότιμη πρόσβαση, ένταξη, συμμετοχή και μεταχείριση στην εργασία, την επαγγελματική εξέλιξη, τη μισθολογική εξέλιξη, την ηγεσία, μεταξύ άλλων, άσχετα με το φύλο, την αναπηρία, την ηλικία, την κοινωνική τάξη, την εθνικότητα, τον σεξουαλικό προσανατολισμού ή την έμφυλη ταυτότητα. Στο ίδιο πνεύμα συντάχθηκε το Εθνικό Σχέδιο Δράσης για την Ισότητα των Φύλων (ΕΣΔΙΦ) 2021-2025. Όσον αφορά στην μελλοντική ζήτηση και την εξέλιξη της Τεχνολογίας στον αθλητισμό, και όχι μόνο, αναδύονται νέα ερωτήματα και συζητήσεις όπως: (1) Οι βιονικοί αθλητές/τριες του μέλλοντος θα γεφυρώσουν το έμφυλο χάσμα (έμφυλες ανισότητες), δηλαδή θα καταργήσουν την έμφυλη κατηγοριοποίηση (gender segregation) στον αγωνιστικό αθλητισμό; (2) Οι βιονικοί-υπεράνθρωποι αθλητές και αθλήτριες θα αποτελούν το μέλλον της ανθρωπότητας; (3) Η τεχνολογία θα κάνει τους αθλητές/τριες του αύριο πιο δυνατούς, πιο γρήγορους, πιο fit και πιο υγιής; (4) Πως η τεχνολογία, σε αθλητικές εκδηλώσεις, βελτιώνει την ακρίβεια, την απόλαυση και τις εμπειρίες όχι μόνο των αθλητών/τριών αλλά και των θεατών, καθώς και των θεατών με αναπηρίες. Συμπερασματικές παρατηρήσεις: Μολονότι η πανδημία του κορονοϊού (lockdowns, απολύσεις, κ.ά.) αποδυνάμωσαν την όποια πρόοδο προς την κατεύθυνση της ισότητα, προσθέτοντας 36 έτη στη γεφύρωση του έμφυλου χάσματος (in bridging the gender gap), στη σύγχρονη μετανεωτερική πραγματικότητα, το φύλο μεταβάλλεται από μια στατική αντίληψη σε μια δυναμική κοινωνική κατηγορία και ως εκ τούτου επηρεάζονται και μεταβάλλονται οι κοινωνικές προσδοκίες, οι έμφυλες σχέσεις, τα κοινωνικά στερεότυπα και οι κοινωνικές ταυτότητες.
Ενδεικτική βιβλιογραφία
Kamberidou, I (2020) "Distinguished" women entrepreneurs in the Digital Economy and the Multitasking Whirlpool. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship9:1, 3. Springer Open, pp. 1-26. Springer Nature https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-020-0114-y Link: https://rdcu.be/b4sWF
Kamberidou, I. (2019). Gender integration in the military: Gender-neutral standards and Coed Sports. European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science , 5 (11), 23–45. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3364728
Kamberidou, I. (2013). Women Entrepreneurs. ‘We Cannot Have Change Unless We Have Men in the Room’. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 2(6): 1-17. Springer Open Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/2192-5372-2-6. Link: https://rdcu.be/cMhlZ
Το βιβλίο αυτό αποτελεί μια σύγχρονη εισαγωγή στην Κοινωνιογλωσσολογία, στο επιστημονικό πεδίο της γλωσσολογίας που μελετά τη σχέση της γλώσσας με την κοινωνία και της κοινωνίας με τη γλώσσα, τους ποικίλους τρόπους με τους οποίους διεπιδρούν μεταξύ τους και επηρεάζουν ή προσδιορίζουν η μια την άλλη. Στα δεκαέξι κεφάλαια του τόμου καλύπτονται όλα τα κεντρικά ζητήματα που απασχολούν τη σύγχρονη Κοινωνιογλωσσολογία και αφορούν, μεταξύ άλλων, τη γλωσσική κοινότητα, τη γεωγραφική προέλευση, την κοινωνική τάξη, την εθνότητα, το φύλο, τη σεξουαλικότητα ή την ηλικία των ομιλητών/ομιλητριών, τις πολλαπλές ταυτότητές τους και τη λεκτική αλληλεπίδραση μεταξύ τους αλλά και τις αντιλήψεις τους για τη γλώσσα που χρησιμοποιούν οι ίδιοι και οι άλλοι, τα κειμενικά και πολιτισμικά πλαίσια της επικοινωνίας, τις μεθόδους της Κοινωνιογλωσσολογίας και τους τρόπους παρέμβασής της στα γλωσσικά δρώμενα. Κάθε κεφάλαιο αναφέρεται διεξοδικά σε δεδομένα και σχετικές έρευνες για τα ελληνικά και συνοδεύεται από ερωτήσεις (ασκήσεις και θέματα για συζήτηση) για εμβάθυνση.
Φιλοσοφία της γλώσσας, λογική, μαθηματικά, κοινωνικές επιστήμες, ανθρωπολογία…
Η Σημασιολογία είναι ο μοναδικός κλάδος της γλωσσολογίας που χρησιμοποιεί μεθόδους, θεωρήσεις και εργαλεία από όλους αυτούς τους τομείς του ανθρώπινου επιστητού για να μελετήσει τη σημασία των γλωσσικών εκφράσεων.
Μαζί με τη φωνητική, τη φωνολογία, τη μορφολογία, τη σύνταξη και την πραγματολογία, αποτελεί ξεχωριστό επίπεδο ανάλυσης στη γλωσσολογική θεωρία και μελετά την ανθρώπινη γλώσσα με έναν δυναμικό τρόπο περνώντας από τη σημασία της λέξης, στη σημασία της φράσης και της πρότασης.
Οι γλώσσες έχουν στη φαρέτρα τους πολλούς και διαφορετικούς τρόπους για να εκφράσουν την ίδια έννοια. Για παράδειγμα, οι λέξεις σπίτι και οικία της ελληνικής είναι συνώνυμες. Επίσης, η λέξη chevalτης γαλλικής έχει την ίδια σημασία με τη λέξη άλογο της ελληνικής ενώ η ονοματική φράση letableaurougeστα γαλλικά αντιστοιχεί με την ονοματική φράση ο κόκκινος πίνακας στα ελληνικά που έχει διαφορετική δομή από αυτή. Πώς μπορούμε να συσχετίσουμε τη σημασία διαφορετικών ως προς τη μορφή τους γλωσσικών εκφράσεων που έχουν όμως παρόμοια σημασία στις γλώσσες του κόσμου; Πώς η γλώσσα μπορεί να γίνει συγχρόνως αντικείμενο και μέσο μελέτης; Ανεξάρτητα από τη γλώσσαμελέτης, η σημασιολογία μας προτείνει μεταγλώσσες-εργαλεία για τη μελέτη της σημασίας σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα που μελετάμε.
Το παρόν έργο είναι το πρώτο ελληνόγλωσσο εγχειρίδιο αφιερωμένο στον κλάδο της σημασιολογίας με παραδείγματα εφαρμογής από τη γαλλική και την ελληνική γλώσσα. Το σύγγραμμα επιδιώκει να εισαγάγει τον αναγνώστη στις αρχές, τις μεθόδους και τα ερευνητικά εργαλεία της θεωρίας της σημασιολογίας. Αρχικά, παρουσιάζει τους βασικούς όρους εργασίας στη σημασιολογία. Στη συνέχεια, περνά στα επιμέρους επίπεδα του κλάδου της σημασιολογίας (λεξική σημασιολογία, προτασιακή και κατηγορηματική λογική) και παρουσιάζει τις συνθήκες εμφάνισής τους. Κατόπιν, επιχειρεί μια συνοπτική επισκόπηση των σημαντικότερων προσεγγίσεων, όπως είναι για παράδειγμα η λογική δευτέρου βαθμού, η θεωρία των τύπων και η εντασιακή σημασιολογία, καθώς και η σχέση της σημασίας και του περικειμένου.
Το βιβλίο απευθύνεται πρωτίστως σε φοιτητές και σε ερευνητές που ενδιαφέρονται για τον κλάδο της σημασιολογίας. Κάθε κεφάλαιο ξεκινά με μια περίληψη των βασικών στόχων, καταλήγει με την ανακεφαλαίωση των κυριότερων σημείων και προτείνει ασκήσεις εφαρμογής. Στο αναγνωστικό όμως κοινό αυτού του βιβλίου μπορούν να περιληφθούν επίσης και όσοι αγαπούν τη μελέτη της σημασίας συγχρονικά και ενδιαφέρονται για την αντιπαραβολική μελέτη γλωσσών. Η γαλλική και η ελληνική λειτουργούν ως γλώσσες εφαρμογής αλλά τη θέση τους θα μπορούσε να πάρει οποιαδήποτε άλλη γλώσσα ή ζεύγος γλωσσών. Τα σημεία τομής και απόκλισης των δύο γλωσσών μάς μαθαίνουν ότι η σημασία είναι το ενωτικό νήμα πίσω από τις λέξεις, τις φράσεις και τις προτάσεις και μας προσκαλούν να ανακαλύψουμε τον συναρπαστικό κόσμο της ανθρώπινης νόησης και επικοινωνίας.
Η παρούσα μελέτη διερευνά τον θρησκευτικό γραμματισμό και τη θρησκευτικότητα των νέων που αποφοίτησαν το 2020 από τη Γ΄ Λυκείου της ελληνικής Εκπαίδευσηςκαι έχουν διδαχθεί δέκα χρόνια υποχρεωτικά το μάθημα των Θρησκευτικών. Σκοπός της είναι να περιγράψει το επίπεδο του θρησκευτικού γραμματισμού και της θρησκευτικότητάς τους. Η έρευνα πραγματοποιήθηκε από 12-10-2020 μέχρι 20-02-2021 σε 996 απόφοιτους δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης μέσω ηλεκτρονικών ερωτηματολογίων. Τα συμπεράσματα που εξάγονται είναι πως οι νέοι στην Ελλάδα κατέχουν μέτρια ποσοστά θρησκευτικών γνώσεων και θρησκευτικότητας. Η συμβολή της έρευνας έγκειται στο ότι παρέχει μία εικόνα για το επίπεδο θρησκευτικού γραμματισμού και θρησκευτικότητας της σύγχρονης γενιάς στην Ελλάδα, η οποία θα έπρεπε να λαμβάνεται υπόψη στον σχεδιασμό του Προγράμματος Σπουδών της Θρησκευτικής Εκπαίδευσης.
Στο ανά χείρας βιβλίο o Νορβηγός Άρνε Τρέχολτ εξιστορεί την στράτευσή του εναντίον της δικτατορίας των Συνταγματαρχών. Μέσα από το συγγραφικό του έργο και την πολιτική του δράση ο Τρέχολτ αγωνίστηκε σθεναρά καθόλη τη διάρκεια της Επταετίας ενάντια στο στρατιωτικό καθεστώς, όντας ένας από τους πιο δραστήριους πολέμιους της Χούντας στις σκανδιναβικές χώρες. Επιπλέον, υπήρξε ένας οξυδερκής παρατηρητής της ελληνικής πολιτικής σκηνής στις δεκαετίες του 1960 και του 1970.
Μέσα από μια γλαφυρή γραφή, που θυμίζει σκανδιναβικό αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα, ο Τρέχολτ αφηγείται τη σχεδόν μυθιστορηματική περίπτωση του Παντελή Μαρκετάκη, πρώην πολιτικού κρατούμενου, που, από ελεγχόμενος μάρτυρας υπέρ του καθεστώτος, έφτασε να καταθέτει εναντίον του στην Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων το 1969, προτού ζητήσει άσυλο στη Νορβηγία.
Το βιβλίο εμπλουτίζεται μ’ένα κείμενο αναμνήσεων, όπου ο Τρέχολτ αποτυπώνει με τη βοήθεια πληθώρας στοιχείων τη συνεισφορά του ίδιου και των συμπατριωτών στην εκστρατεία αλληλεγγύης με τους Ελληνες δημοκράτες. Μέσα απ’αυτήν την πολύτιμη μαρτυρία δίνεται η ευκαιρία στον έλληνα αναγνώστη να αντιληφθεί τις υπόγειες διεργασίες γύρω από τη λεγόμενη «Ελληνική Υπόθεση» στο Στρασβούργο, που οδήγησε στην αποχώρηση της χουντικής Ελλάδας από το Συμβούλιο της Ευρώπης και καταγράφηκε ως κομβική στιγμή στην ιστορία της καταγγελίας των βασανιστηρίων και της υπεράσπισης των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων. Επιπλέον, αναδεικνύει το μέγεθος της συμμετοχής των σκανδιναβικών κοινωνιών στον αγώνα για την αποκατάσταση της Δημοκρατίας στην Ελλάδα.
Το βιβλίο φωτίζει τη συχνά λησμονημένη ευρωπαϊκή διάσταση του αντιδικτατορικού αγώνα. Η περίπτωσή του Τρέχολτ αποτελεί ένα χαρακτηριστικό παράδειγμα της στράτευσης μιας από τις πλέον πολιτικοποιημένες και αλληλέγγυες γενιές που γνώρισε η ευρωπαϊκή ήπειρος τον 20ό αιώνα. Μας θυμίζει ότι νεαροί Δυτικοευρωπαίοι δραστηριοποιήθηκαν ενεργά, στηρίζοντας με κάθε δυνατό μέσο, νόμιμο ή και παράνομο, τις προσπάθειες για την υπεράσπιση των δημοκρατικών ελευθεριών και των ανθρώπινων δικαιωμάτων στη χουντοκρατούμενη Ελλάδα, συνεργαζόμενοι στενά με ελληνες αντιστασιακούς και αντιφρονούντες.
Η εργασία αυτή επικεντρώνεται στις επιτόπιες μαρτυρίες τριών περιηγητριών στη Μικρά Ασία και τον Πόντο στα τέλη του 19ου αιώνα και στις αρχές του 20ου αιώνα: της Αμερικανίδας ιατρού Blanche Norton, της Αγγλίδας συγγραφέως Dorina L. Neave και της Γαλλίδας εθελόντριας σε νοσοκομεία της Σμύρνης Mme L. Jean Antoniades. Συμπεριλαμβάνονται και σύντομες αναφορές άλλων περιηγητριών και Ελληνίδων, όπως της δημοσιογράφου-συγγραφέως Demetra Vaka (1922). Οι γυναικείες μαρτυρίες περιγράφουν τη «Μεγάλη Σφαγή» των Αρμενίων στην Κωνσταντινούπολη τον Αύγουστο του 1896, τις λεηλασίες στις οικίες των Αρμενίων, οι οποίες είχαν σημαδευτεί με το σχήμα του Σταυρού, και την «τρομοκρατία» που επικρατούσε στην Τουρκία. Συναντάμε για πρώτη φορά στις γυναικείες μαρτυρίες τον όρο τρομοκρατία (terrorism), και συγκεκριμένα στο έργο της Neave Είκοσι-Έξι Χρόνια στο Βόσπορο (1881-1907). Οι μαρτυρίες αυτές περιγράφουν, μεταξύ άλλων, τις γυναίκες της Κερασούντας που έσωσαν τις οικογένειές τους από τον εκτοπισμό, τα ελληνικά ορφανοτροφεία της Κερασούντας, του Καραχισάρ και του Πουλαντζάκ, τις ενέργειες του δημάρχου της Κερασούντας Οσμάν αγά για «τον αφανισμό όλων των στοιχείων που δεν είναι καθαροί Μουσουλμάνοι» (Norton, 1922), το πανικόβλητο πλήθος στην προκυμαία της Σμύρνης το 1922, «το τέλος ενός πολιτισμού ή τον θάνατο της Σμύρνης» (Antoniades, 1923). Ο ξεριζωμός και οι γενοκτονίες των Αρμενίων και των Ελλήνων της Μικρά Ασίας και του Πόντου, δεν αποτελούσαν στιγμιαία, απροσδόκητη ή αιφνίδια πράξη και πολιτική του 20ου αιώνα (1908-1924), όπως διαφαίνεται και τεκμηριώνεται στις επιτόπιες μαρτυρίες δυτικών περιηγητριών από τον 18ο αιώνα. Οι διωγμοί, οι σφαγές και η εξόντωση αυτοχθόνων ιστορικών λαών της Μικράς Ασίας και του Πόντου, όπως των Ασσυρίων, των Αρμενίων, των Ελλήνων και άλλων, δεν περιορίστηκαν σε μια εποχή. Το οθωμανικό κράτος και, ιδίως, το μετέπειτα κεμαλικό καθεστώς οδήγησαν στον ξεριζωμό, στην εξολόθρευση και στην τελική εξαφάνιση αυτοχθόνων ιστορικών λαών της Μικράς Ασίας και του Πόντου. --- ***[Πλήρες κείμενο-ολόκληρη η έρευνα θα ...
Μόζερ Αμαλία, Μπέλλα Σπυριδούλα. Πραγματολογία. In: Λεκάκου Μαρίκα, Τοπιντζή Νίνα Εισαγωγή στη Γλωσσολογία: Θεμελιώδεις έννοιες και βασικοί κλάδοι με έμφαση στην ελληνική γλώσσα. Athens: Gutenberg; 2022. pp. 283-313.Abstract
The chapter starts by explaining the difference between Pragmatics and Semantics and their complementary roles within the study of meaning in language, explaining the role of context in the determination of utterance meaning. It introduces the basic concepts and research areas of Pragmatics with sections on deixis, presupposition, speech acts and conversational implicatures. These are followed by questions and exercises as well as suggestions for further reading.
Μόζερ Αμαλία, Μπέλλα Σπυριδούλα. Πραγματολογία. In: Λεκάκου Μαρίκα, Τοπιντζή Νίνα Εισαγωγή στη Γλωσσολογία. Athens: Gutenberg; 2022. pp. 283-313.Abstract
The chapter starts by explaining the difference between Pragmatics and Semantics and their complementary roles within the study of meaning in language, explaining the role of context in the determination of utterance meaning. It introduces the basic concepts and research areas of Pragmatics with sections on deixis, presupposition, speech acts and conversational implicatures. These are followed by questions and exercises as well as suggestions for further reading.
Το βιβλίο αυτό παρουσιάζει την ιστορία της μαθηματικής δυναμικής των πληθυσμών -ένα θεωρητικό πεδίο που συνδέεται στενά με τη γενετική, την οικολογία, την επιδημιολογία και τη δημογραφία- στο οποίο τα μαθηματικά έχουν συμβάλει σημαντικά. Εξετάζει την εμφάνιση σημαντικών θεμάτων: της εκθετικής ανάπτυξης -από τον Όιλερ και τον Μάλθους μέχρι την πολιτική ενός παιδιού της Κίνας-, της ανάπτυξης στοχαστικών μοντέλων -από τους νόμους του Μέντελ και το πρόβλημα της εξάλειψης των επωνύμων μέχρι τη θεωρία της διήθησης για την εξάπλωση των επιδημιών-, και τους χαοτικούς πληθυσμούς, όπου ο ντετερμινισμός και η τυχαιότητα διαπλέκονται.
Φανάρας Βασίλειος. Το ανθρώπινο έμβρυο στην Ορθόδοξη Χριστιανική Παράδοση. In: Ζωή ή Θάνατος, Το πρόβλημα των εκτρώσεων από Ιατρική, Νομική, Ψυχολογική, Θεολογική θεώρηση. Vol. 2. Αθήνα: Καθ' Όδόν; 2022. pp. 831-850.
Η παρούσα εισήγηση επικεντρώνεται στο επίκαιρο βιοηθικό θέμα της εφαρμογής της παρεμβατικής μεθόδου CRISPR/Cas9 στο ανθρώπινο γονιδίωμα, το οποίο απασχολεί έντονα τη βιοϊατρική και την χριστιανική ηθική. Η νέα μέθοδος επαγγέλλεται τη θεραπεία σε σημαντικές κληρονομικές ασθένειες και παθήσεις του ανθρώπου, ωστόσο εγείρονται σοβαρά βιοηθικά διλήμματα, τα οποία συνδέονται με τη γενετική επεξεργασία του ανθρώπινου γονιδιώματος (genome editing) και τον κίνδυνο της ευγονικής (eugenics). Η εφαρμογή της μεθόδου σχετίζεται με τα βασικά ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα της προστασίας, της αξιοπρέπειας και της ταυτότητας κάθε ανθρωπίνου όντος, την εγγύηση του σεβασμού της ακεραιότητας και των λοιπών δικαιωμάτων και θεμελιωδών ελευθεριών, αλλά και με την ισότιμη συμμετοχή στο κοινωνικό αγαθό της υγείας και της συνεπαγόμενης θεραπείας του ασθενούς.
The Pomegranate: the magazine for children (To Rodi: to periodiko gia paidia) is a milestone in the history of Greek magazines for children and adolescents. Surprisingly, to date only two studies have been devoted to this issue. Therefore, the present article aims to present a detailed analysis of the first edition of this magazine (1977-1982) and to offer a critical approach and interpretation of its beneficial effect and its large impact on children and adolescents. More specifically, the present article focuses on the magazine’s main features, contributors, readers, and material. The magazin’s columns were systematically designed to create opportunities for acquiring knowledge and skills as well as for creativity, communication and interaction with peers, and entertainment. Many recognized and young writers and illustrators as well as remarkable literary works and works of art came to the fore. The magazine undoubtedly promoted children’s and adolescents’ cognitive, moral, socioemotional, and psychosexual development. To Rodi has left an indelible mark on its readers and is undoubtedly part of the historical line and the genealogy of Greek quality magazines for children and adolescents.
Αφιερωμένο στην ιστορική και πολιτιστική κληρονομιά της Λήμνου, το βιβλίο προσφέρει μια νέα, έγκυρη, ευσύνοπτη και προσιτή στον αναγνώστη ιστορία του μοναδικού αυτού ελληνικού νησιού στο Βορειοανατολικό Αιγαίο. Με βάση ιστορικές και μυθογραφικές πηγές, αρχαιολογικά ευρήματα, σημαντικά κατάλοιπα της αρχαίας ελληνικής, μεσαιωνικής, και νεότερης τέχνης, διηγήσεις και χρονικά, γκραβούρες, σχέδια, φωτογραφίες και άλλο αρχειακό υλικό, ο συγγραφέας σκιαγραφεί σε 250 σελίδες και με τη βοήθεια 200 περίπου εικόνων, την ιστορία της Λήμνου από τα βάθη της αιγιακής προϊστορίας έως τις μέρες μας.
Στο Χρονικό της Λήμνου, η μακραίωνη ιστορία ενός σχετικά άγνωστου και κάπως αγνοημένου μέχρι πρόσφατα νησιού του Αιγαίου μετατρέπεται σε συναρπαστικό αφήγημα, ένα πραγματικό χρονικό για τον τόπο και τους ανθρώπους του. Στις σελίδες του, οι αναγνώστες θα βρουν σημαντικές πληροφορίες για την κοινωνία, την οικονομία, την πολιτική ζωή, την τέχνη και την πνευματική δημιουργία του νησιού διαχρονικά, από τις πρώτες νομαδικές εγκαταστάσεις κατά την ύστερη Παλαιολιθική περίοδο (περ. 10.500 π.Χ.), μέχρι σήμερα: με εκτενείς αναφορές στις προϊστορικές πόλεις της Πολιόχνης και της Μύρινας, στο σημαντικό Κουκονήσι, την Ηφαιστία και το Καβείριο κατά την Αρχαϊκή και την Κλασική περίοδο (7ος-4ος αι. π.Χ.), τη Λήμνο των ελληνιστικών και ρωμαϊκών χρόνων, τη Λήμνο ως Βυζαντινή, Βενετική, και Οθωμανική κτήση, αλλά και τις περιπέτειες του νησιού και των κατοίκων του από την απελευθέρωση του 1912-13 και μετά.
Αναδεικνύεται, τέλος, η Λήμνος του σήμερα: τόποι ιστορικής σημασίας, αρχαιολογικοί χώροι και μουσεία, αλλά και τοποθεσίες φυσικού κάλλους, γεωλογικά μνημεία και θέσεις οικολογικού ενδιαφέροντος, παραλίες και παραδοσιακοί οικισμοί. Ακόμη, γίνονται αναφορές στην άυλη και την γαστρονομική κληρονομιά του νησιού, αλλά και τη μουσική και χορευτική παράδοση που αναβιώνει ώς τις μέρες μας.
Η παρούσα σύντομη εισήγηση-ανακοίνωση παρουσιάσθηκε με τον τίτλο: «Ηθική και Γονιδιωματική» στο Δεύτερο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο Εξατομικευμένης Ιατρικής στις 17 Δεκεμβρίου 2021, στο Ζάππειο Μέγαρο στην Αθήνα. Η εισήγηση επικεντρώνεται στην προσέγγιση των θεμάτων, τα οποία συνδέονται με τη γενετική επεξεργασία του ανθρώπινου γονιδιώματος (genome editing) και με τα συναφή ηθικά διλήμματα που εγείρει η εφαρμογή της Φαρμακογονιδιωματικής. Η Ηθική βασίζεται σε αρχές και κριτήρια ―με όποια ηθική θεωρία κι αν προσεγγίζεται το θέμα― και προβάλλει τα βασικά ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα της προστασίας, της αξιοπρέπειας και της ταυτότητας κάθε ανθρωπίνου όντος, την εγγύηση του σεβασμού της ακεραιότητας και των δικαιωμάτων και θεμελιωδών ελευθεριών, αλλά και την ισότιμη συμμετοχή στο κοινωνικό αγαθό της υγείας και της συνεπαγόμενης θεραπείας του ασθενούς.
Η παρούσα περιοδική έκδοση προσφέρει συγκεκριμένα θεωρητικά επιχειρήματα και περιπτώσεις επαναξιολόγησης του τριπτύχου ‘φιλοσοφία, τέχνη και θεραπεία’. Φιλοξενεί ερευνητικές εργασίες και άρθρα που διεξέρχονται ποικίλες πλευρές του συσχετισμού, φιλοσοφίας, τέχνης και θεραπείας, από το θέατρο, τη μουσική, τις καλές τέχνες και το φιλοσοφικό στοχασμό, τη λογοτεχνία, το θέατρο, το χορό, το μύθο, τη δικαιοσύνη, την πολιτική και τη θρησκεία, μέχρι την αναλυτική, όσο και διεπιστημονική, διερεύνηση της έννοιας της θεραπείας και την προσέγγιση του Wittgenstein αναφορικά με το φιλοσοφείν ως μορφή θεραπείας. Δευτερευόντως την ερευνητική μας ομάδα απασχολούν ζητήματα από την ιστορία της φιλοσοφίας, της τέχνης και της επιστήμης, διεπιστημονικές προσεγγίσεις που περιλαμβάνουν την ανθρωπολογία, τις κοινωνικές επιστήμες και τις ανθρωπιστικές σπουδές, την εφαρμοσμένη ηθική, την ιατρική δεοντολογία (βιοηθική) και την εφαρμοσμένη φιλοσοφία μέσω των τεχνών και της εκπαίδευσης.
