508 research outputs found
The Δρομοδείχτης της Ελλάδος of 1824 and Athanasios Stageirites (Τίτλος περίληψης)
No full textσ. [281]-290Κείμενο στα ελληνικά με περίληψη στα αγγλικά με τον τίτλο: The Δρομοδείχτης της Ελλάδος of 1824 and Athanasios StageiritesThe article first examines the close relationship between the publication “Δρομοδείχτης της Ελλάδος” [1824] and the publication “Ηπειρωτικά” (1819) by Athanasios Stageirites and then suggests that Athanasios Stageirites is the likeliest author of the “Δρομοδείχτης της Ελλάδος”.Δωδώνη: Τεύχος Πρώτο: επιστημονική επετηρίδα του Τμήματος Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας της Φιλοσοφικής Σχολής του Πανεπιστημίου Ιωαννίνων; Τόμ. 43-44 (2014-2015
Dataset in support of the Southampton doctoral thesis 'The boatbuilding tradition of the Aegean during the Late Neolithic – Early Bronze Age periods. Typological classification, digital reconstruction and seakeeping assessment'
No full textDataset in support of the Southampton doctoral thesis 'The boatbuilding tradition of the Aegean during the Late Neolithic – Early Bronze Age periods. Typological classification, digital reconstruction and seakeeping assessment' Appendix D - Resistance data and Appendix C - Stability data.
This dataset is focused on two appendices:
Appendix D - Resistance data. D.1 Resistance data produced by the author via MAXSURF Resistance for this thesis.
Appendix C - Stability data
C1. Stability data – STIX and ISO criteria, produced by the author via MAXSURF Stability software for his thesis
This research was funded by Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI), Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship, Greek Archaeological Committee UK (GACUK)
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Peak power reduction algorithms in asymmetric digital subscriber line modems
No full textThesis (M.Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2000.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-96).This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.This thesis investigates peak-to-average ratio (PAR) reduction techniques for multicarrier modulation systems, such as discrete multitone (DMT) modems and orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed (OFDM) terrestrial broadcast transmitters. Through simulation and test implementation on a state-of-the-art programmable ADSL development platform, this thesis pursues a suitable solution for minimizing PAR given the resources of a programmable platform. This solution is integrated as a prototype implementation into a fully-functional ADSL modem and optimized for maximum PAR reduction performance within modem complexity constraints.by Athanasios Dimitri Dousis.M.Eng
Homophobic Statements, a Bishop, and the Limits of Freedom of Expression. An In-Depth Commentary on ECtHR 31.08.2023, Amvrosios-Athanasios Lenis v. Greece, no. 47833/20
No full textDichiarazioni omofobe, un vescovo e i limiti della libertà di espressione. Un commento approfondito su CEDU 31.08.2023, Amvrosios-Athanasios Lenis v. Greece, no. 47833/20.
ABSTRACT: The decision of the ECtHR of 31.08.2023, Amvrosios-Athanasios Lenis v. Greece (no. 47833/20), is a further step toward an increasingly dense jurisprudence on “hate speech” and the limits of freedom of expression. The public proclamation of religious doctrines that are in conflict with the values of the contracting States enshrined in the ECHR is protected to a certain extent by the fundamental right of freedom of religion and belief. However, the qualification of a statement as religious does not justify “hate speech.” The AUTHOR shows the tension between freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and protection against discrimination, and analyzes the decision against the backdrop of Article 17 of the ECHR (prohibition of abuse of rights).
SOMMARIO: 1. Preliminary Remarks - 2. The Concept of Hate Speech - 3. The Facts of the Case - 4. The Procedure and Reasoning of the Court - 4.1 The ECtHR’s Preliminary Considerations on Fundamental Rights - 4.2 Legal assessment - 4.3 Some Remarks on (the Non-Invoked) Article 9 of the ECHR - 5. Concluding Remarks
Comparative performance of the new Aptima HIV-1 Quant Dx assay with three commercial PCR-based HIV-1 RNA quantitation assays
No full textBackground: Quantitative measurement of HIV-1 RNA levels in plasma ('viral load') plays a central role in clinical management. The choice of assay platform can influence results and treatment decisions. Objective: To compare the analytical performance of the new TMA-based Hologic Aptima® HIV-1 Quant Dx assay with that of three PCR-based assays: Abbott RealTime HIV-1, Qiagen Artus® HI Virus-1 QS-RGQ, and Roche CAP/CTM HIV-1 Test v2. Study design: Assay performance was evaluated using Acrometrix HIV-1 RNA Standard panels; the 3rd WHO HIV-1 RNA International Standard (12-500. copies/ml; 6 dilutions; 9 replicates); and plasma samples from 191 HIV-positive patients. Results: Aptima showed high (>0.99) precision, accuracy and concordance with the Acrometrix Standards across a wide dynamic range (2.0-6.7 log10copies/ml). Variance caused up to 2.1 (Aptima), 1.7 (RealTime), 7.5 (Artus), and 1.9 (CAP/CTM) fold changes in the International Standard quantifications at 50-500copies/ml. HIV-1 RNA detection rates in plasma samples were 141/191 (74%), 119/191 (62%), 108/191 (57%), and 145/191 (76%) for Aptima, RealTime, Artus and CAP/CTM, respectively. For categorising samples either side of 50 copies/ml, Aptima had excellent agreement with RealTime (kappa 0.92; 95% CI 0.87-0.98); lowest agreement was with Artus (kappa 0.79; 95%CI 0.70-0.88). Aptima quantifications were mean 0.12 and 0.06 log10copies/ml higher compared with RealTime and CAP/CTM, respectively, and 0.05 log10copies/ml lower compared with Artus. Limits of agreement were narrowest when comparing Aptima to RealTime. Conclusions: The new Aptima HIV assay is sensitive, precise, and accurate. HIV assays exhibit discordance at low HIV-1 RNA copy numbers
La tomba III di Haghios Athanasios e il valore semantico dell'incarnato
No full textThe tomb III at Haghios Athanasios stands out among the Macedonian tombs for the exceptional painted decoration of the temple-like façade. Excavated in the '90s by M. Tsimbidou-Avloniti it has been published by the scholar in full detail and the iconographic program of the monument has been the object of many publications. This article re-examines the different ways of reproducing the skin color (το ανδρείκελον) in the figures of the miniature frieze and in the megalographic figures beside the door. The realistic rendering of the megalographic figures of armed men in Macedonian attire, showing their sorrow for the lost of an etairos, is contrasting with the pale color of the participants to the symposion in the frieze above the door, a scene whose illusionistic overtone has been yet perceived by the critics. This symposion is articulated in three scenes and it can be interpeted as a necrodeipnon, but in the same time as a celebration of the Macedonian banquet style, centered on the royal court. The author suggests that the first figure on the right of the frieze, related to the group of armed men looking towards the banqueters feasting in the center of the frieze, can be read as the dead himself, for the particular rendering of his ανδρείκελον, showing the typical ochròtes or necròdes face color, according to the contemporary medical lexicon. The pathetic stance assumed by the same figure, the sole in the group which is not bearing arms, seems to confirm his role in the context of the scene
HIV gp120 in Lungs of ART-treated Individuals Impairs Alveolar Macrophage Responses To Pneumococci
No full textRationale People living with HIV (PLWH) are at significantly increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease, despite long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART). The mechanism explaining this observation remains undefined. Objectives We hypothesized apoptosis-associated microbicidal mechanisms, required to clear intracellular pneumococci that survive initial phagolysosomal killing, are perturbed. Methods Alveolar macrophages (AM) were obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from healthy donors or HIV-1-seropositive donors on long-term ART with undetectable plasma viral load. Monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) were obtained from healthy donors and infected with HIV-1BaL or treated with gp120. Macrophages were challenged with opsonized serotype 2 Streptococcus pneumoniae and assessed for apoptosis, bactericidal activity, protein expression and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS). AM phenotyping, ultra-sensitive HIV-1 RNA quantification and gp120 measurement were also performed in BAL. Measurements and Main Results HIV-1BaL infection impaired apoptosis, induction of mROS and pneumococcal killing by MDM. Apoptosis-associated pneumococcal killing was also reduced in AM from ART treated HIV-1-seropositive donors. BAL fluid from these individuals demonstrated persistent lung CD8+ T-cell lymphocytosis, and gp120 or HIV-1 RNA was also detected. Despite this, transcriptional activity in AM freshly isolated from PLWH was broadly similar to healthy volunteers. Instead, gp120 phenocopied the defect in pneumococcal killing in healthy MDM through post-translational modification of Mcl-1, preventing apoptosis induction, caspase activation and increased mROS generation. Moreover gp120 also inhibited mROS dependent pneumococcal killing in MDM. Conclusions. Despite ART, HIV-1, via gp120, drives persisting innate immune defects in AM microbicidal mechanisms, enhancing susceptibility to pneumococcal disease
Watershed-BIM Integration for Urban Flood Resilience: A Framework for Simulation, Assessment, and Planning
No full textUrban flooding represents a growing global concern, especially in areas with rapid urbanization, unregulated urban sprawl and climate change conditions. Conventional flood modeling approaches do not effectively capture the complex dynamics between natural watershed behavior and urban infrastructure; they typically simulate these domains in isolation. This study introduces the Watershed-BIM methodology, a three-dimensional simulation framework that integrates Building and City Information Modeling (BIM/CIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Flood Risk Assessment (FRA), and Flood Risk Management (FRM) into a single framework. Autodesk InfraWorks 2024, Civil 3D 2024, and RiverFlow2D v8.14 software are incorporated in the development. The methodology enhances interoperability and prediction accuracy by bridging hydrological processes with detailed urban-scale data. The framework was tested on a real-world flash flood event in Mandra, Greece, an area frequently exposed to extreme rainfall and runoff events. A specific comparison with observed flood characteristics indicates improved accuracy in comparison to other hydrological analyses (e.g., by HEC-RAS simulation). Beyond flood depth, the model offers additional insights into flow direction, duration, and localized water accumulation around buildings and infrastructure. In this context, integrated tools such as Watershed-BIM stand out as essential instruments for translating complex flood dynamics into actionable, city-scale resilience planning
Prevalence of hepatitis D virus infection in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textBackground
Hepatitis D virus (also known as hepatitis delta virus) can establish a persistent infection in people with chronic hepatitis B, leading to accelerated progression of liver disease. In sub-Saharan Africa, where HBsAg prevalence is higher than 8%, hepatitis D virus might represent an important additive cause of chronic liver disease. We aimed to establish the prevalence of hepatitis D virus among HBsAg-positive populations in sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods
We systematically reviewed studies of hepatitis D virus prevalence among HBsAg-positive populations in sub-Saharan Africa. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus for papers published between Jan 1, 1995, and Aug 30, 2016, in which patient selection criteria and geographical setting were described. Search strings included sub-Saharan Africa, the countries therein, and permutations of hepatitis D virus. Cohort data were also added from HIV-positive populations in Malawi and Ghana. Populations undergoing assessment in liver disease clinics and those sampled from other populations (defined as general populations) were analysed. We did a meta-analysis with a DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model to calculate a pooled estimate of hepatitis D virus seroprevalence.
Findings
Of 374 studies identified by our search, 30 were included in our study, only eight of which included detection of hepatitis D virus RNA among anti-hepatitis D virus seropositive participants. In west Africa, the pooled seroprevalence of hepatitis D virus was 7·33% (95% CI 3·55–12·20) in general populations and 9·57% (2·31–20·43) in liver-disease populations. In central Africa, seroprevalence was 25·64% (12·09–42·00) in general populations and 37·77% (12·13–67·54) in liver-disease populations. In east and southern Africa, seroprevalence was 0·05% (0·00–1·78) in general populations. The odds ratio for anti-hepatitis D virus detection among HBsAg-positive patients with liver fibrosis or hepatocellular carcinoma was 5·24 (95% CI 2·74–10·01; p<0·0001) relative to asymptomatic controls.
Interpretation
Findings suggest localised clusters of hepatitis D virus endemicity across sub-Saharan Africa. Epidemiological data are needed from southern and east Africa, and from patients with established liver disease. Further studies should aim to define the reliability of hepatitis D virus testing methods, identify risk factors for transmission, and characterise the natural history of the infection in the region.
Funding
Wellcome Trust, Royal Society
Computational Modelling of Compaction in Asphaltic Mixtures and Geomaterials
No full textAsphaltic mixtures are heterogeneous composite materials consisting of aggregates coated and bound by asphalt binder. The long term performance of asphaltic pavements is highly dependent on the mechanical behaviour of the asphaltic mixture during construction (mixing and compaction) and operation; inadequate mixture compaction leads to faster moisture and oxygen diffusion, ravelling, rutting and poor fatigue life
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