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Intoxication from calcium channel blockers exhibits almost 50% mortality rates. Amlodipine is a long-acting dihydropyridine and inappropriate dosage poses a great threat for profound vasodilation, hypotension, and refractory vasopressor-resistant shock. A 72-year-old woman with unremarkable medical history presented to the emergency department due to amlodipine overdose after a suicide attempt attributed to COVID-19 pandemic severe anxiety disorder. Vital signs at presentation: heart rate 82 beats/ min, arterial pressure 72/55 mmHg, and oxygen saturation 98%. Resuscitation was initiated with intravenous infusion of normal saline 0,9%, noradrenaline, and calcium chloride, while activated charcoal was orally administrated; however, blood pressure remained at 70/45 mmHg. Abruptly, she experienced acute pulmonary edema and was finally intubated. We commenced high-dose insulin infusion with Dextrose 10% infusion to maintain euglycemic hyperinsulinemia. Hemodynamic improvement occurred after 30 min, systolic blood pressure raised to 95 mmHg, and decongestion was achieved with intravenous furosemide. Insulin effect was dose-dependent and patient's hemodynamic status improved after insulin uptitration. Eight days later, the patient was weaned from the mechanical ventilation and she was successfully discharged after 14 days. High-dose intravenous infusion of insulin up to 10 units/kg per hour appears as an inotropic agent possibly through alterations in myocardial metabolism of fatty acids and augmentation of insulin secretion and uptake. This regimen possibly exhibits additional vasotropic properties. We conclude that euglycemic hyperinsulinemia is a potentially advantageous treatment in CCB toxicity.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been engaged to complement medical surveillance and in some cases to also act as an early diagnosis indicator of viral spreading in the community. Most efforts worldwide by the scientific community and commercial companies focus on the formulation of protocols for SARS-CoV-2 analysis in wastewater and approaches addressing the quantitative relationship between WBE and medical surveillance are lacking. In the present study, a mathematical model is developed which uses as input the number of daily positive medical tests together with the highly non-linear shedding rate curve of individuals to estimate the evolution of global virus shedding rate in wastewater along calendar days. A comprehensive parametric study by the model using as input actual medical surveillance and WBE data for the city of Thessaloniki (similar to 700,000 inhabitants, North Greece) during the outbreak of November 2020 reveals the conditions under which WBE can be used as an early warning tool for predicting pandemic outbreaks. It is shown that early warning capacity is different along the days of an outbreak and depends strongly on the number of days apart between the day of maximum shedding rate of infected individuals in their disease cycle and the day of their medical testing. The present data indicate for Thessaloniki an average early warning capacity of around 2 days. Moreover, the data imply that there exists a proportion between unreported cases (asymptomatic persons with mild symptoms that do not seek medical advice) and reported cases. The proportion increases with the number of reported cases. The early detection capacity of WBE improves substantially in the presence of an increasing number of unreported cases. For Thessaloniki at the peak of the pandemic in mid-November 2020, the number of unreported cases reached a maximum around 4 times the number of reported cases. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a key component of the Mediterranean diet, with several health benefits derived from its consumption. Moreover, due to its eminent market position, EVOO has been thoroughly studied over the last several years, aiming at its authentication, but also to reveal the chemical profile inherent to its beneficial properties. In the present work, a comparative study was conducted to assess Greek EVOOs’ quality and authentication utilizing different analytical approaches, both targeted and untargeted. 173 monovarietal EVOOs from three emblematic Greek cultivars (Koroneiki, Kolovi and Adramytiani), obtained during the harvesting years of 2018– 2020, were analyzed and quantified as per their fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs) composition via the official method (EEC) No 2568/91, as well as their bioactive content through liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) methodology. In addition to FAMEs analysis, EVOO samples were also analyzed via HRMS-untargeted metabolomics and optical spectroscopy techniques (visible absorption, fluorescence and Raman). The data retrieved from all applied techniques were analyzed with Machine Learning methods for the authentication of the EVOOs’ variety. The models’ predictive performance was calculated through test samples, while for further evaluation 30 commercially available EVOO samples were also examined in terms of variety. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study where different techniques from the fields of standard analysis, spectrometry and optical spectroscopy are applied to the same EVOO samples, providing strong insight into EVOOs chemical profile and a comparative evaluation through the different platforms. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

The impact of ambient on the field emission and the resulting breakdown induced damage of rigid MEMS capacitive structure are investigated. The effect of asperities burning due to Joule heating and the resulting explosive breakdown are presented. The breakdown gives rise to almost mirror craters formation on the cathode and anode electrodes. A linear relation between crater diameter and the breakdown current is found when breakdown occurs in vacuum. In ambient atmosphere the breakdown leads to large amplitude current oscillations and the formation of extended damage on both electrodes. IEEE

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background/Introduction Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart arrhythmia predominantly in advanced age patients and in diabetic’s type II (DMPII). Even if the risk of stroke in AF in DMPII is relative high, 25% of AF patients remains undiagnosed and also cryptogenic AF is very common in the diabetic population. During a 12-month study project, podiatrists and podologists performed foot pulse-checks in their routine podiatry assessment, when encountering visual symptoms that suggest an underlying circulatory disorder in diabetics. This simple non-invasive method aims to increase screening and diagnosis of AF from allied health professionals, in order to reveal patients with previously undiagnosed AF and patients with cryptogenic Af, challenging the potential reduction of AF complications and mainly of stroke. Purpose Early detection of AF in diabetics from allied health professionals during routine podiatry assessment. Revealing of previously undiagnosed AF contributes to stroke and other AF complications incidence reduction in the diabetics population. Methods During a 12-month study, 2 podiatrists and 6 podologists performed foot pulse-checks on diabetics, during their annual foot screening appointments, since they have been trained from medical doctors to spot rhythm abnormalities during pulse palpation of the foot arteries. They have been also trained to confirm their pulse palpation evidence thought Doppler ultrasound wave assessments during evaluation of arterial blood supply (anterior-posterior tibial arteries and ramifications) of the diabetic foot. During the study 300 diabetics (mean age 60 years old, 180 males, 120 females) had their feet pulse-tested. Spss statistical software had been used. Results 17% of diabetics during foot pulse-checks presents undiagnosed AF. There was no statistically significant difference (p Conclusion(s) Early detection and properly managed during AF screening reduces AF complications and specifically stroke incidence. Opportunistic podiatric detection of previously undiagnosed and cryptogenic AF from allied professionals is a non invasive, safe, fast and economic method with potential contributions in this direction. More studies must be designed in order to support the routine podiatry assessment, as a useful Screening diagnostic tool of AF for reducing cardiovascular complications incidence in diabetics but also in the general population.

Introduction: Epidemiological data from patients with COVID-19 has been recently published in several countries. Nationwide data of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Greece remain scarce. Material and methods: This was an observational, retrospective study from 6 reference centers between February 26 and May 15, 2020. Results: The patients were mostly males (65.7%) and never smokers (57.2%) of median age 60 (95% CI: 57.6–64) years. The majority of the subjects (98%) were treated with the standard-of-care therapeutic regimen at that time, including hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. Median time of hospitalization was 10 days (95% CI: 10–12). Twenty-five (13.3%) individuals were intubated and 8 died (4.2%). The patients with high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (> 3.58) exhibited more severe disease as indicated by significantly increased World Health Organization (WHO) R&D ordinal scale (4; 95% CI: 4–4 vs 3; 95% CI: 3–4, p = 0.0001) and MaxFiO2% (50; 95% CI: 38.2–50 vs 29.5; 95% CI: 21–31, p < 0.0001). The patients with increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (>270 IU/ml) also exhibited more advanced disease compared to the low LDH group (< 270 IU/ml) as indicated by both WHO R&D ordinal scale (4; 95% CI: 4–4 vs 4; 95% CI: 3–4, p = 0.0001) and MaxFiO2% (50; 95% CI: 35–60 vs 28; 95% CI: 21–31, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: We present the first epidemiological report from a low-incidence and mortality COVID-19 country. NLR and LDH may represent reliable disease prognosticators leading to timely treatment decisions. © 2021 PTChP.

Case Presentation: A 52-year-old man, current smoker with a 50 pack-year history, presented to our department with cough, yellow sputum, and localized right chest pain. Chest radiograph revealed a large mass in the right upper lobe. He denied the presence of fever, night sweats, or weight loss. He has a medical history of COPD and anxiety disorder. He was receiving long-acting beta agonists/long-acting muscarinic antagonists as a treatment for COPD and quetiapine 100 mg for anxiety disorder. © 2020 American College of Chest Physicians

Purpose To report the clinical outcomes and treatment-related toxicities after combined high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy (BRT) with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for patients with clinically localised high-risk prostate cancer. Material and methods Between 2008 and 2012, three hundred and three consecutive patients with organ-confined high-risk prostate cancer were treated with definitive radiotherapy consisting of HDR-BRT followed by supplemental EBRT. The transrectal 3D-ultrasound-based HDR-BRT boost consisted of two single-fraction implants of 10.5 Gy, prescribed to the 90% of the gland (D90), for a total physical dose of 21.0 Gy delivered to the prostatic gland. EBRT was delivered with conventional fractionation, prescribing 45.0 Gy to the prostatic gland and seminal vesicles. Biochemical failure was defined according to the Phoenix Consensus Criteria, genitourinary (GU)/gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity was evaluated using the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (version 3.0). Results The median follow-up was 71.6 months. The 7-year overall survival, biochemical control and metastasis-free-survival rates for the entire cohort were 85.7%, 88.3% and 93.8%, respectively. Androgen deprivation therapy was initiated prior to treatment for 92.7% of patients with a median duration of 12 months. Toxicity was scored per event with late Grade 2, 3 and 4 GU adverse events and was found to be 15.3%, 2.2% and 0.3%, respectively. Late Grade 2 GI toxicity accounted for 0.3% with no instances of Grade 3 or higher late adverse events. Conclusion HDR-BRT with supplemental EBRT results in low biochemical relapse-free survival rates associated with a very low incidence of higher-grade late adverse events.

In this study, cement mortars were modified with a commercial polymer admixture. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of the polymer content on the mechanical and adhesion properties of the mortars and to relate these properties with mortars’ microstructure. A series of mortars were produced with various polymer/cement/water/aggregate ratios. The adhesion properties of the mortars to clay bricks were tested with a simplified tensile testing measurement. The microstructure of mortars, as well as interfaces, were evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It was found that with high polymer content, large size hardened particles are formed, reducing the compressive strength of the mortars. Polymer addition enhances the adhesion between the mortar and brick. The mortar microstructure at the interface affects the adhesion properties and the mode of failure.

Background Circulating microparticles (MP) are surrogate biomarkers of atherosclerosis and are elevated in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) but its exact biological role remains unknown. Purpose To explore the diagnostic and biological significance of circulating apoptotic MP signature in patients with ACS. Methods We enrolled 122 ACS patients: n=38 with unstable angina (UA), n=49 with STEMI, 35 with NSTEMI. Flow cytometry analysis was used to quantify circulating apoptotic (annexin+) endothelial cell (EMP), red blood cell (RMP) and platelet (PMP) derived microparticles. Endothelial function was estimated with flow mediated dilation (FMD), and inflammatory status with C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Results The association between EMP, RMP and PMP is shown on a cloud plot (A). Using an unbiased approach, we performed hierarchical clustering (A) of the total population of patients with ACS by using the circulating levels of EMP, RMP and PMP (B). Hierachical clustering identified two discreet clusters of patients (Cluster A and B) without any differences in the presence of traditional risk factors (not shown), but significant differences in the distribution of ACS type (C). STEMI subtype (a surrogate for definite plaque rupture) was significantly increased in Cluster B, which also had significantly decreased FMD (D), but not hsCRP (p=NS). Conclusions Apoptotic MP are involved in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes via promotion of endothelial dysfunction and plaque rupture. The diagnostic and/or predictive value of microparticles' profiling for plaque vulnerability should be explored in future studies.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Red Wine Polyphenols (RWPs) extract on bone mineral density (BMD) in the ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. Thirty-five 10-month-old Wistar rats were separated into controls (CTRL), OVX and OVX plus RWPs in their drinking water (dose, 50 mg/kg body weight per day), starting immediately after OVX for 6 months. Βody and uterine weight, BMD of the tibia at baseline, 3 and 6 months post-OVX, and 3-pointing bending of the femur, were examined. Statistical comparison of the total tibia BMD within groups during the study period showed a significant reduction in the OVX and OVX+RWPs groups both from baseline to 3 and 6 months and from 3 to 6 months, whereas in the CTRL group, there was no significant change. For the proximal tibial metaphysis, comparison of BMD percentage changes from baseline to 3 months and 6 months and from 3 to 6 months revealed highly statistical differences between OVX and OVX+RWPs groups (P = 0.000). OVX induced a significant reduction of biomechanical parameters as expected; the 3-point bending test showed that the maximum force before fracture, energy absorption and fracture stress significantly increased in the OVX group treated with RWPs compared with the nontreated OVX rats (P = 0.048, P = 0.002 and P = 0.003, respectively). Dietary intake of RWPs for 6 months significantly prevented trabecular bone loss and improved bone strength in estrogen-deficient ovariectomized rats. Copyright © 2019 C. Passali, A. Patsaki, P. lelovas, N. Aligiannis, M. Makropoulou, s. Kourkoulis, N. Papaioannou, S. mitakou, A.l. Skaltsounis, I. Dontas

International audience; We experimentally demonstrate a multiband intermediate frequency-over-fiber/mmWave (IFoF/mmWave) fiber/wireless mobile fronthaul link for gigabit capacity over the unlicensed V-band (57-64 GHz). Digital synthesis of the multiband radio waveforms is performed at the baseband unit using digital subcarrier multiplexing technique, whereas digital predistortion is exploited to cope with the analog IFoF channel impairments without any further baseband processing at the digital-free remote radio head. Commercial optoelectronic components and analog V-band radio and antenna equipment for 7-km fiber and 5-m wireless transmission are employed to successfully demonstrate both uplink and downlink connectivity. An aggregate capacity up to 24 Gb/s was demonstrated with a 6-band 1 Gbaud 16-QAM on a 7.2-GHz analog bandwidth over the combined fiber/wireless channel showing error vector magnitude (EVM) values below the 3GPP requirements (

Hypomethylating agents are widely used in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). We analyzed the characteristics of 88 patients with CMML homogeneously treated with 5-azacytidine (Hellenic 5-Azacytidine Registry). The overall response rate was 48.9% and the median overall survival (OS) 29.7 months. Out of the seven most widely used prognostic scoring systems for CMML, the Dusseldorf score (DUSS) showed the best prognostic capability (HR, 2.27; p

Introduction: In sarcoidosis although no better drug therapy than corticosteroids (CS) has emerged, alternative immunosuppressive agents are used when indicated. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) presents rapid action, a considerable safety profile and absence of lung toxicity. Few data exist so far on its use in patients with sarcoidosis. This is a retrospective study on the effectiveness and safety of MMF in patients with sarcoidosis. Materials and methods: All patients with biopsy proven sarcoidosis treated for at least 1 year with MMF from 2008 to 2017 in our department are evaluated. Results: Eight patients with both pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease are included in the analysis. During follow-up, symptoms and chest radiological findings improved in all. A statistically significant improvement of FEV1 and FVC is reported (p = 0.010 and p = 0.021 respectively). Cardiac and renal disease resolved during treatment while dermal disease significantly improved. MMF permitted CS dose reduction from 15.0 (10.0, 35.0) to 2.5 (0.0, 5.0) mg prednisolone (or equivalent), p = 0.016. All patients but one, tolerated well MMF. Conclusion: MMF as an alternative drug in systemic sarcoidosis, proved safe and effective, permitting the reduction of the dose of oral CS and leading to clinical, functional and radiological improvement. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

Analog optical fronthaul for 5G network architectures is currently being promoted as a bandwidth- and energy-efficient technology that can sustain the data-rate, latency and energy requirements of the emerging 5G era. This paper deals with a new optical fronthaul architecture that can effectively synergize optical transceiver, optical add/drop multiplexer and optical beamforming integrated photonics towards a DSP-assisted analog fronthaul for seamless and medium-transparent 5G small-cell networks. Its main application targets include Urban and Hot-Spot Area networks, promoting the deployment of mmWave massive MIMO Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) that can offer wireless data-rates ranging from 25 to 100 Gb/s and beyond depending on the fronthaul technology employed (e.g. spatial or wavelength division multiplexing transport). Small-cell access and resource allocation is ensured via a Medium-Transparent (MT-) MAC protocol that enables the transparent communication between the central office and the wireless end-users or the access cells via V-band massive MIMO RRHs.

Analog optical fronthaul for 5G network architectures is currently being promoted as a bandwidth- and energy-efficient technology that can sustain the data-rate, latency and energy requirements of the emerging 5G era. This paper deals with a new optical fronthaul architecture that can effectively synergize optical transceiver, optical add/drop multiplexer and optical beamforming integrated photonics towards a DSP-assisted analog fronthaul for seamless and medium-transparent 5G small-cell networks. Its main application targets include Urban and Hot-Spot Area networks, promoting the deployment of mmWave massive MIMO Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) that can offer wireless data-rates ranging from 25 to 100 Gb/s and beyond depending on the fronthaul technology employed (e.g. spatial or wavelength division multiplexing transport). Small-cell access and resource allocation is ensured via a Medium-Transparent (MT-) MAC protocol that enables the transparent communication between the central office and the wireless end-users or the access cells via V-band massive MIMO RRHs.

Plasmonic technology has attracted intense research interest enhancing the functional portfolio of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) by providing Surface-Plasmon-Polariton (SPP) modes with ultra-high confinement at sub-wavelength scale dimensions and as such increased light matter interaction. However, in most cases plasmonic waveguides rely mainly on noble metals and exhibit high optical losses, impeding their employment in CMOS processes and their practical deployment in highly useful PICs. Hence, merging CMOS compatible plasmonic waveguides with low-loss photonics by judiciously interfacing these two waveguide platforms appears as the most promising route towards the rapid and costefficient manufacturing of high-performance plasmo-photonic integrated circuits. In this work, we present butt-coupled plasmo-photonic interfaces between CMOS compatible 7μm-wide Aluminum (Al) and Copper (Cu) metal stripes and 360×800nm Si3N4 waveguides. The interfaces have been designed by means of 3D FDTD and have been optimized for aqueous environment targeting their future employment in biosensing interferometric arrangements, with the photonic waveguides being cladded with 660nm of Low Temperature Oxide (LTO) and the plasmonic stripes being recessed in a cavity formed between the photonic waveguides. The geometrical parameters of the interface will be presented based on detailed simulation results, using experimentally verified plasmonic properties for the employed CMOS metals. Numerical simulations dictated a coupling efficiency of 53% and 68% at 1.55μm wavelength for Al and Cu, respectively, with the plasmonic propagation length Lspp equaling 66μm for Al and 75μm for Cu with water considered as the top cladding. The proposed interface configuration is currently being fabricated for experimental verification.

In order to meet the traffic density requirement and cope with the technical challenges of hot-spot scenarios exhibiting extreme user density in very confined geographical areas, the fifth generation (5G) networks must undergo radical technological and architectural innovations that support a broad solution portfolio. This solution mix includes spectrum expansion to the millimeter Wave (mmWave) band, massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output antennas and network densification through remote radio head deployment. Since the current Common Public Radio Interface-based mobile fronthaul cannot cope with massive mmWave multi-Gbps traffic streams, it is imperative to introduce a novel converged 5G architecture, specifically designed to facilitate mmWave access to massive amounts of users. To this end, a Medium Transparent Medium Access Control (MT-MAC) protocol has been proposed, designed to operate over a converged mmWave analog Fiber-Wireless (FiWi) fronthaul. MT-MAC allows for fast and direct negotiation of wavelength, radio frequency and time resources between the base band unit and the mmWave users, while offering fast on-demand link formation. However, its performance has not yet been evaluated under 5G heavy-traffic scenarios, as the ones previously described. Hence, in this paper, we investigate the performance of an MT-MAC-enabled fronthaul and report on its suitability for mmWave hot-spot 5G access networks.

We are presenting a case of acrometastasis in a male patient with lung adenocarcinoma. Acrometastases accumulate for 0.1% of all metastatic bone lesions and can be the first manifestation of cancer in approximately 10% of cases. The main clinical manifestations are tenderness, intermittent pain, functional impairment, erythema, heat and swelling of the affected part. Lung cancer is the main primary malignancy which causes acrometastases. Although the lesions can be recognized in x-rays or CT scans, the gold standard for the diagnosis is MRI scan in which the full extension of the tumor can be evaluated.The diagnosis is usually confirmed by fine-needle biopsy of the affected bone. In the presence of acrometastases, prognosis is very poor and palliative treatment is usually recommended. This case shows that patients at risk for lung cancer should be screened intensively when they develop persistent digital symptoms. © 2018 PTChP.

Passive Optical Networks (PONs) are an efficient high-performance optical access solution that is able to provide huge bandwidth in a resourceful way through the incorporation of inexpensive passive elements. PONs have been widely used for the provision of high-demand services to a number of wired end-users. However, the PON configuration may be also used for the support of wireless end-users through the integration of the PON with a wireless access system. This converged network can therefore take advantage of the mobility features of the wireless network and the high-bandwidth benefits of the PON. In this article, we highlight the basic features of the existing optical-wireless access systems. Moreover, we discuss the challenges in the medium access control layer of the converged network and viable solutions for the efficient Quality of Service management support.

We present a $2\times 2$ hybrid silicon-plasmonic thermooptic (TO) asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometric (MZI) switch having only 40- $\mu \text{m}$ long active cyclomer-loaded plasmonic phase arms. It requires less than 12 mW of power and has 2/5- $\mu \text{s}$ ON/OFF-times, respectively, a modulation depth higher than 90% and a 13.2-dB extinction ratio. Data traffic evaluation has been carried out using 10-Gb/s nonreturn-to-zero streams, yielding error-free operation at both switching states with power penalties ranging between 1 to 4.8 dB. The use of the cyclomer loading having a higher TO coefficient than polymethyl methacrylate has resulted to the smallest footprint among plasmonic MZI TO switches reported so far.

We demonstrate two 8 × 1 silicon ring resonator (RR)-based multiplexers (MUXs) integrated on the same chip for dual-stream 16-channel multiplexing/ demultiplexing applications. Cascaded second-order RRs equipped with microheaters were integrated on a silicon-on-insulator platform with the radii of MUX1 and MUX2 being ~12 and ~9 μm, respectively. The resonances of the two MUXs were thermooptically tuned in order to achieve 100-GHz channel spacing, revealing a tuning efficiency of 43 and 36 μW/GHz/RR for MUX1 and MUX2, respectively, and 352 mW total power consumption. Lower than 18 dB crosstalk and higher than 40-GHz 3-dB bandwidth was obtained for the tuned channels of the MUXs. The signal integrity when using these devices in multiplexing and demultiplexing operations was evaluated for a 4 × 10 Gb/s non-return-to-zero data stream (i.e., 10 Gb/s line rate) via bit-error-rate measurements, yielding error-free performance with up to 0.2 dB power penalty for all channels. Proofof-concept demonstration for supporting higher data rates was also realized by using three 100-GHz-spaced 25-Gb/s return-to-zero data signals (i.e., 25 Gb/s line rate) for multiplexing and demultiplexing via MUX2, resulting in error-free operation for all channels with lower than 0.3 dB power penalties.

The interaction between masonry units and mortar is a crucial factor for the quality of a wall. The most important factor is the adhesion between bricks and mortar in order to construct a masonry wall with adequate strength, good impermeability, and durability. In this work mortars were produced with various cement/lime/aggregates ratio. The adhesion properties of the mortars with clay bricks were tested with a simplified tensile/tear testing measurement. In order to investigate the adhesion properties in relation with microstructure the mortars were characterized with X-ray diffraction and were further investigated with scanning electron microscopy and stereoscopy. It was found that adhesion is favored by the formation of a Si–Al matrix with a low Ca content in the brick/mortar interface and the formation of fine Ca–Al–Si phases which can penetrate into the brick.

Background The protein deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) is an antiaging molecule that is decreased in the lung in patients with COPD. Recently, SIRT1 was reported to be detectable in serum, but serum SIRT1 (s120S) levels have not yet been reported in patients with COPD. Methods Serum SIRT1 protein of all samples was measured by Western blot, and the SIRT1 protein band densities were calculated and compared with clinical parameters. Results Several molecular sizes of SIRT1, including 120 kDa (actual size) and fragments (102 and 75 kDa) were quantified by Western blot. Among them, only the 120-kDa s120S was significantly decreased in patients with COPD compared with the control subjects without COPD (s120S ratio in healthy subjects = 0.90 ± 0.34 vs those with COPD = 0.68 ± 0.24; P =.014) and was positively correlated with airway obstruction (FEV1/FVC, r = 0.31; P =.020); its severity measured by FEV1 % predicted (r = 0.29; P =.029). s120S also showed a positive correlation with BMI (r = 0.36; P =.0077) and diffusing capacity of the lung per unit volume (the carbon monoxide transfer coefficient: KCO%) (r = 0.32; P =.025). It was also significantly decreased with increasing severity of lung emphysema (r = –0.40; P =.027) and with a clinical history of frequent COPD exacerbations (infrequent vs frequent, 0.76 ± 0.20 vs 0.56 ± 0.26; P =.027). SIRT1 was not detected in supernatant of A549 and primary epithelial cells in normal culture conditions. Conclusions s120S was decreased in the patients with COPD, potentially as reflected by the reduced SIRT1 within cells as a result of oxidative stress, and might be a potential biomarker for certain disease characteristics of COPD. © 2017 The Authors

Background: According to induced sputum cell count, four different asthma phenotypes have been recognized (eosinophilic, neutrophilic, mixed and paucigranulocytic). The aim of this study was to detect functional and inflammatory characteristics of patients with paucigranulocytic asthma. Methods: A total of 240 asthmatic patients were categorized into the four phenotypes according to cell counts in induced sputum. All patients underwent pulmonary function tests, and measurement of fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). The levels of IL-8, IL-13 and eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) were also measured in sputum supernatant. Treatment, asthma control and the presence of severe refractory asthma (SRA) were also recorded. Results: Patients were categorized into the four phenotypes as follows: eosinophilic (40%), mixed (6.7%), neutrophilic (5.4%) and paucigranulocytic (47.9%). Although asthma control test did not differ between groups (P=.288), patients with paucigranulocytic asthma had better lung function (FEV1 % pred) [median (IQR): 71.5 (59.0-88.75) vs 69.0 (59.0-77.6) vs 68.0 (60.0-85.5) vs 80.5 (69.7-95.0), P=.009] for eosinophilic, mixed, neutrophilic and paucigranulocytic asthma, respectively, P=.009). SRA occurred more frequently in the eosinophilic and mixed phenotype (41.6% and 43.7%, respectively) and less frequently in the neutrophilic and paucigranulocytic phenotype (25% and 21.7%, respectively, P=.01). FeNO, ECP and IL-8 were all low in the paucigranulocytic, whereas as expected FeNO and ECP were higher in eosinophilic and mixed asthma, while IL-8 was higher in patients with neutrophilic and mixed asthma (P

In Fig. 4a the heat map legend is as follows: [figure presented] © 2017

The electrical properties of gold nanorods nanostructured silicon nitride films are comprehensively investigated with the aid of metal-insulator-metal capacitors and RF MEMS capacitive switches. Different nanorod diameters and densities were grown on the bottom electrode and with orientation normal to dielectric film surface. A simple physical model, which does not take the effect of electric field fringing into account, was developed to describe both the DC and low frequency electrical properties. It has been shown that the nanorods distribution and dimensions determine the electrical properties as well as the dielectric charging phenomena of the nanostructured films. Finally, in MEMS switches it has been shown that the nanorods presence does not affect the capacitance variance nor the RF characteristics of the device. © 2016 IOP Publishing Ltd.

The ‘2nd Workshop on Paediatric Virology’, which took place on Saturday the 8th of October 2016 in Athens, Greece, provided an overview on recent views and advances on Paediatric Virology. Emphasis was given to HIV-1 management in Greece, a country under continuous financial crisis, hepatitis B vaccination in Africa, treatment options for hepatitis C virus in childhood, Zika virus in pregnancy and infancy, the burden of influenza on childhood, hand-foot-mouth disease and myocarditis associated with Coxsackie viruses. Other general topics covered included a critical evaluation of Paediatric Accident and Emergency viral infections, multimodality imaging of viral infections in children, surgical approaches of otolaryngologists to complex viral infections, new advances in the diagnosis and treatment of viral conjunctivitis and novel molecular diagnostic methods for HPV in childhood. A brief historical overview of the anti-vaccination movement was also provided, as well as presentations on the educational challenge of Paediatric Virology as a new subspecialty of Paediatrics. This review highlights selected lectures and discussions of the workshop. © 2016, Spandidos Publications. All rights reserved.

In this letter, we present new architectural perspectives in optical static RAM configurations by exploiting the wavelength dimension in address domain. We present a 2 × 4 optical RAM row decoder (RD) that relies its operation on an all-passive wavelength-selective filtering matrix ( λ-matrix), receiving WDM-formatted address bits (Wordline) as input. The 2 × 4 RD is followed by an semiconductor optical amplifier Mach-Zehnder interferometer access gate and a column decoding unit to provide complete optical RAM row access. Proof-of-concept experimental verification of a 2 × 4 optical RAM RD is shown at 10 Gb/s, providing error-free operation with a peak power penalty lower than 0.2 dB.

We demonstrate WDM-enabled all-passive optical row and column address selector (RAS/CAS) circuits for use as optical static RAM (SRAM) bank peripherals in future optical cache memory implementations. We show that the introduction of the wavelength dimension in both the memory address and data word fields can lead to RAS and CAS architectures that rely exclusively on all-passive wavelength-selective configurations. An all-optical 2 × 4 RAS comprising a wavelength-selective filtering matrix (λ-matrix) and a wavelength-based CAS unit formed by a simple AWG element are demonstrated in proof-of-principle experiments at 10 Gb/s with error-free operation at 10 -9 BER value using two different types of WDM SRAM row Access Gate (AG): a cross-phase modulation SOA-MZI gate and a single SOA cross-gain modulation gate, with the first providing the higher performance compared to SOA module and the second offering lower power requirements between the two WDM AG. A chip-scale optical cache peripheral circuitry development path using Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) ring resonators for the λ-matrix implementation is also presented and the proposed architecture is evaluated via physical layer simulations using SOAs as SRAM row AGs at 10 Gb/s for a 16×4 optical SRAM bank. Moreover, we discuss on possible improvements towards reducing insertion losses of the RAS/CAS modules in order to allow for increased block sizes. Finally, we provide a detailed analysis on the design and parameter specifications required for RAS and CAS block size scaling towards supporting higher-capacity optical SRAM banks.

Purpose To report the clinical outcome of high-dose-rate (HDR) interstitial (IRT) brachytherapy (BRT) as sole treatment (monotherapy) for clinically localized prostate cancer. Methods and Materials Between January 2002 and December 2009, 718 consecutive patients with clinically localized prostate cancer were treated with transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided HDR monotherapy. Three treatment protocols were applied; 141 patients received 38.0 Gy using one implant in 4 fractions of 9.5 Gy with computed tomography-based treatment planning; 351 patients received 38.0 Gy in 4 fractions of 9.5 Gy, using 2 implants (2 weeks apart) and intraoperative TRUS real-time treatment planning; and 226 patients received 34.5 Gy, using 3 single-fraction implants of 11.5 Gy (3 weeks apart) and intraoperative TRUS real-time treatment planning. Biochemical failure was defined according to the Phoenix consensus, and toxicity was evaluated using Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events version 3. Results The median follow-up time was 52.8 months. The 36-, 60-, and 96-month biochemical control and metastasis-free survival rates for the entire cohort were 97%, 94%, and 90% and 99%, 98%, and 97%, respectively. Toxicity was scored per event, with 5.4% acute grade 3 genitourinary and 0.2% acute grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity. Late grade 3 genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities were 3.5% and 1.6%, respectively. Two patients developed grade 4 incontinence. No other instance of grade 4 or greater acute or late toxicity was reported. Conclusion Our results confirm IRT-HDR-BRT is safe and effective as monotherapy for clinically localized prostate cancer.

Maintenance and accurate propagation of the genetic material are key features for physiological development and wellbeing. The replication licensing machinery is crucial for replication precision as it ensures that replication takes place once per cell cycle. Thus, the expression status of the components comprising the replication licensing apparatus is tightly regulated to avoid re-replication; a form of replication stress that leads to genomic instability, a hallmark of cancer. In the present review we discuss the mechanistic basis of replication licensing deregulation, which leads to systemic effects, exemplified by its role in carcinogenesis and a variety of genetic syndromes. In addition, new insights demonstrate that above a particular threshold, the replication licensing factor Cdc6 acts as global transcriptional regulator, outlining new lines of exploration. The role of the putative replication licensing factor ChlR1/DDX11, mutated in the Warsaw Breakage Syndrome, in cancer is also considered. Finally, future perspectives focused on the potential therapeutic advantage by targeting replication licensing factors, and particularly Cdc6, are discussed. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

We demonstrate a 2 × 2 silicon-plasmonic router architecture with 320 Gb/s throughput capabilities for optical interconnect applications. The proposed router platform relies on a novel dual-ring Dielectric-Loaded Surface Plasmon Polariton (DLSPP) 2 × 2 switch heterointegrated on a Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) photonic motherboard that is responsible for traffic multiplexing and header processing functionalities. We present experimental results of a Poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA)-loaded dual-resonator DLSPP waveguide structure that uses two racetrack resonators of 5.5 μm radius and 4 μ m-long straight sections and operates as a passive add/drop filtering element. We derive its frequency-domain transfer function, confirm its add/drop experimental spectral response, and proceed to a circuit-level model for dual-ring DLSPP designs supporting 2 × 2 thermo-optic switch operation. The validity of our circuit-level modeled 2 × 2 thermo-optic switch is verified by means of respective full vectorial three-dimensional Finite Element Method (3D-FEM) simulations. The router setup is completed by means of two 4 × 1 SOI multiplexing circuits, each one employing four cascaded second order micro-ring configurations with 100 GHz spaced resonances. Successful interconnection between the DLSPP switching matrix and the SOI circuitry is performed through a butt-coupling design that, as shown via 3D-FEM analysis, allows for small coupling losses of as low as 2.6 dB. The final router architecture is evaluated through a co-operative simulation environment, demonstrating successful 2 × 2 routing for two incoming 4-wavelength Non-Return-to-Zero (NRZ) optical packet streams with 40 Gb/s line-rates.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women with endometrial thickness of 4.1-8 mm on transvaginal ultrasound scan. DESIGN Prospective observational study carried out in the Heart of England NHS Trust Teaching Hospital in the West Midlands, UK, in a population of 58 women with postmenopausal bleeding. METHOD Prospective analysis of all women referred to the Rapid Access Clinic in the Heart of England Hospital with a history of postmenopausal bleeding over a 12-month period (April 2007-April 2008). Endometrial histology was taken as the final diagnosis. The main outcome measure was endometrial histology in women with postmenopausal bleeding with endometrial thickness of 4.1-8 mm. RESULTS All women (n = 58) diagnosed with endometrial thickness of 4.1-8 mm on transvaginal sonography were included in the analysis. Pipelle endometrial biopsy could only be performed in 22 women (37.9%). Hysteroscopy was performed in 45 women (77.5%). Out of these, a histological diagnosis was available in 28 women (62.2%). In the remaining 17 women, the endometrium was observed as atrophic on hysteroscopy. In these 17 cases, either no or insufficient endometrial sample was obtained. In total, two (3.4%) women were diagnosed with complex endometrial hyperplasia and two (3.4%) women were diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma. CONCLUSION There was a significant prevalence of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women with a history of postmenopausal bleeding and who had endometrial thickness of 4.1-8 mm. Therefore, the current recommendation of histological assessment on all women with endometrial thickness >4 mm should remain unchanged.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of Greek traditional dances on the improvement of old people's quality of life. A hundred and eleven subjects (75 women and 36 men) 60-91 years old, were divided into an experimental group (n=76) which participated in Greek traditional dances and a control group (n=35) which was discussing and watching television, both for 1h. The Subjective Exercise Experiences Scale [McAuley, E., Courneya, K., 1994. The Subjective Exercise Experiences Scale (SEES): development and preliminary validation. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology 16, 163-177] was used to measure positive well-being, psychological distress, and fatigue and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [Spielberger, C.D., Gorsuch, R., Lushene, R., 1970. Manual for the State-trait Anxiety Inventory. Consulting Psychologists, Palo Alto] to measure state and trait anxiety respectively. Correlational analyses, between the various measures taken postdance, showed that the overall set of relations between the SEES subscales and the SAI-Y1 subscale supports the criterion-related validity of this measure of exercise-induced psychological responses. The independent groups t-tests showed that the control group in comparison to experimental group, at rest as well as on the second measurement, has significantly higher levels of state anxiety (t=-4.45, p

We demonstrate wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) 200 Gb/s (8 × 25 Gb/s) data transmission over 100 μm long aluminum (Al) surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) waveguides on a Si3N4 waveguide platform at telecom wavelengths. The Al SPP waveguide was evaluated in terms of signal integrity by performing bit-error-rate (BER) measurements that revealed error-free operation for all eight 25 Gb/s non-return-to-zero (NRZ) modulated data channels with power penalties not exceeding 0.2 dB at 10−9. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of WDM enabled data transmission over complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) SPP waveguides fueling future development of CMOS compatible plasmo-photonic devices for on-chip optical interconnections.

The beneficial effect of dietary inclusion of natural zeolites on the growth of the animals and on reducing ammonia levels in livestock buildings, has been escribed. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of the dietary inclusion of a natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) on the ammonia level in a Greek "farrow-to-finish" pig unit. Animals participating in the study were of the same genetic background and were divided into two main experimental groups depending on the inclusion or not of clinoptilolite (groups Ζ and Νrespectively) and four experimental subgroups depending on the inclusion or not of antimicrobials in the feed (subgroups Zl9 Nx and Z2, N2 respectively). Aerial ammonia level measurements were carried out using diffusion tubes (Dräger tubes) at the end of each growth stage (weaning, growing and fattening stages). In order to ensure the accuracy of the measurements, in each barn, animals of the same experimental subgroup were allocated. The results of this study demonstrate that the incorporation of clinoptilolite in swine feed had a favorable effect on aerial ammonia level. Significantly lower levels (P

The Parnitha mountain range lies between two Quaternary rift systems in central Greece: the Gulf of Corinth Rift and the Gulf of Evia rift. We suggest that the range was formed by footwall uplift on active normal faults striking WNW–ESE and NE–SW. We investigated the scarp appearance, geometry and slip rates of three normal faults bounding this mountain range by field mapping at 1:5000 scale. Active faults studied include the 8.5 km long Fili Fault, the 4.7 km long Maliza Fault and the 4 km long Thrakomakedones Fault. We calculated comparable mean slip rates for all mapped faults (Fili: 0.18 mm/yr, Avlon: 0.2 mm/yr, Thrakomakedones: 0.24 mm/yr); however, we suggest that the WNW–ESE structures are more active during the Late Quaternary because of abundant field evidence of recent movements along slip surfaces (fresh basal stripes and slickenlines). In addition, stress axes analysis shows a N7°E–N25°E (NNE–SSW) oriented, extensional stress field, which is compatible with the focal mechanism of the Athens 1999 earthquake. The fault-slip data from the Parnitha faults show orientations similar to other low-strain areas in central Greece, such as the Gulf of Evia Rift to the north. Our slip rate estimates may explain the low recurrence of large earthquakes in Attica as opposed to high slip rate areas in central Greece such as the neighbouring Gulf of Corinth.