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A detailed and integrated presentation of the green roof systems is provided in the present paper. Aiming to analyse a specific urban case study, we describe the basic architectural and scientific principles that characterize its performance and efficiency. Furthermore, a state of the art presentation of the system is provided, including the presentation of several case studies as well as a selection and description of plants that usually are extensively used in the green roof system all over the world. Energy and environmental investigation data of the green roof system performance in an office building located in the greater Athens area are provided. The energy efficiency was examined by calculating the energy savings through an accurate dynamic mathematical model. The thermal performance investigation showed a significant reduction of the building's cooling load during the summer period arriving at approximately 40%. Moreover, the influence of the green roof system in the building's heating load was fount insignificant, and this can be regarded as a great advantage of the system as any interference in the building shell for the reduction of cooling load leads usually to an increase of its heating load. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Weibull parameters estimated by three different methods at four weather stations in the area of central Western Greece were used to estimate wind power potential in this area. A linear correlation was observed between the above mentioned parameters and the measured mean wind speed values. Additionally, analysis of the "unit energy cost", being the specific cost per kilowatt hour, obtained for several wind turbines at different hub heights has been conducted for every station. Our analysis demonstrated that it is possible to profit from electricity generation in Missolonghi and Aktio, especially if larger wind turbines are to be used. The specific cost per kW h decreases as wind turbine size increases for comparable systems made by the same manufacturer with similar performance but with different rated power (size). The observed correlation between these parameters is hyperbolic with the greater decreasing rate in the less windy sites. Moreover, the cost per kilowatt hour increases with hub height due to the increasing tower cost. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The structure of mouse skin collagen fibrils treated with 500 rad gamma irradiation-was studied by electron microscopy. Examination of specimens after 1, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment revealed collagen fibrils consistently larger in diameter than those from normal specimens with the majority of irradiated fibrils measuring 110-138 nm, as opposed to 62-84 nm in the control. No marked differences in cross-linking were detected between irradiated and control reconstituted type I or type III collagen, either by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or by thermal stability measurements. Micron

The aggregation kinetics of African green monkey kidney cells CV1 and of the SV40 transformed derivative COS1 cells that had been incubated at 37 degrees C or 43.5 degrees C was studied using the shaking flask system. COS1 cells show a three fold decrease in aggregation rate compared to CV1 cells when both cell types were incubated and aggregated at 37 degrees C. When these cell types were incubated at 43.5 degrees C for 5 hours, then aggregated at 37 degrees C showed a faster aggregation kinetics than before. Their aggregation at 43.5 degrees C with prior incubation at 37 degrees C or 43.5 degrees C reached the aggregation kinetics of 43.5 degrees C incubated cells aggregated at 37 degrees C. The addition of serum in the aggregation medium did not influence extensively the aggregation rates of both cell types. Cell Biol Int Rep

Using immunofluorescence and immunoadsorption, CV1 cell clones MA2, V4, USA3, TR7 and P3 infected with SV40 were found to express variably SV40 large T antigen. The monoclonal antibody used was Pab 419. The results indicate that P3 cells express T antigen to a considerable level as early as 10 h post-infection, while that of TR7 and USA3 cells is minute as judged from their positive nuclei. MA2 and V4 cells did not show any positive nuclei over this period of infection. At 20 h post-infection MA2, V4 and USA3 cells developed a considerable amount of fluorescence in their nuclei while TR7 and P3 cells produced high values. By immunoadsorption of cell extracts for the same periods of infection, similar results were obtained on the electrophoretograms. We also relate these findings with those from induction of heatshock proteins by SV40 infection. FEBS Lett

Summarization: The aim of the Pythagoras project is the development and assessment of greek national training material in the sector of indoor environmental quality. The need for education in this specific sector is dictated by the significant indoor environment deterioration and associated health hazards, which are caused by low ventilation levels, combined with the use of many modern building materials that aggravate pollutants emissions. Early in the project, a review is undertaken of the international literature and the syllabuses of foreign research and educational institutions active in indoor environment quality issues. At the same time, the requirements of the greek educational and broader society, related to issues of indoor pollution and health, are determined. A training methodology is consequently developed, with the objective to optimally cover all the parameters associated with the indoor environment quality, for trainees of various disciplines. The training material is produced both in printed (book) and integrated electronic (e-learning) format. Additionally, four seminars are organized covering the respective sections of the training package. The training package is being assessed both by the trainees but also by international experts in the sector of indoor environment quality. Presented on