Ο Χριστιανός ως Πολεμιστής και η πολεμική ορολογία του Απ. Παύλου στην προς Εφεσίους επιστολή του, (6,10-20)

Η εργασία αυτή πραγματεύεται τη χρήση πολεμικής ορολογίας από τον Απόστολο των εθνών Παύλο, στην περικοπή 6,10-20 της επιστολής προς Εφεσίους, η οποία εντάσσεται στον κανόνα της Κ.Δ. ως μέρος των επιστολών της αιχμαλωσίας. Ο σκοπός της έρευνας είναι να διερευνήσει τα αίτια πίσω από τη χρήση ενός τέτοιου λεξιλογίου, καθώς και τον αντίκτυπο πάνω στους ακροατές των κοινοτήτων στις οποίες αναγνώσθηκε η επιστολή, προκειμένου τα μέλη τους να θεωρήσουν εαυτούς «στρατιώτες» του Ιησού Χριστού. Επιπλέον αποτελεί μία προσπάθεια να ορισθεί η έννοια «θεϊκός στρατιώτης» ή «στρατιώτης του Θεού» τόσο στον εθνικό ελληνορρωμαϊκό κόσμο όσο και στον ιουδαϊκό, όπως και εάν αυτή υπάρχει στις αντίστοιχες γραμματείες, οι οποίες παρατίθενται στη βιβλιογραφία. Από αυτά τα κείμενα αντλούνται οι ενδεχόμενες επιρροές του συγγραφέα μέσα στο περιβάλλον όπου έζησε και έδρασε. Αποτελούν τα βιώματά του, τις προσωπικές του εμπειρίες, οι οποίες δόμησαν και τροφοδότησαν τη σκέψη του. Τέλος, διερευνάται η επιρροή αυτού του τρόπου διδασκαλίας και πως προσλήφθηκε από τις επόμενες γενιές των πιστών κατά τις απαρχές του Χριστιανισμού, μέσα από τα κείμενα των εκκλησιαστικών συγγραφέων και Πατέρων της εποχής εκείνης.This essay deals with the military terminology used by the Apostle of the Nations, Paul, which is found in the passage 6:10-20 to the letter of Ephesians and lies at the Canon of the New Testament as part of the captivity letters. The purpose of the research is to investigate the causes behind the use of such a vocabulary as well as its impact on the community members whom it was addressed to, in order to consider themselves to be “soldiers o Jesus” Additionally, it is an attempt to define the term “divine soldier” or “soldier of God” in the Greek-Roman world but also in the Jewish world as it exists in the respective literature. From these texts it was made possible to derive the probable influences of the author. The environment in which the apostle lived and acted along with his own personal experiences which in fact structured and powered a certain thought pattern are also examined in this essay. Finally, it is an attempt to illustrate the results of this teaching method and the way it was perceived by the succeeding generations of believers in the ecclesiastical writers who lived in this specific era

Isatin thiosemicarbazone-blended polymer films for biomedical applications : surface morphology, characterisation and preliminary biological assessment

Poly (methyl methacrylate) and polyurethane are polymers currently used for a range of biomedical applications. To modify their surface characteristics, biocompatibility and potentially reduce any related side effects the addition to the polymers of appropriate compounds has been investigated. Isatin thiosemicarbazone derivatives were synthesised and added to poly (methyl methacrylate) and polyurethane solutions before spin coating them on to a silica wafer. The resultant films were characterised with contact angle goniometry and atomic force microscopy. PMMA films produced from tetrahydrofuran solvent displayed honeycombed structures which were highly hydrophobic; however, such changes were not seen for polyurethane surfaces. The cytotoxicity and effect on cell proliferation of polymer surfaces were investigated using PNT2A prostate cells. The isatin-containing polymers were deemed non-toxic at the concentrations used, while cell proliferation studies suggested that the resulting films were supportive of cell growth

Unusual Epstein-Barr esophageal infection in an immunocompetent patient: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Epstein-Barr virus esophagitis in an immunocompetent host is a rare entity. It represents either primary infection or reactivation and is usually characterized by acute onset and extensive ulcerative involvement of the upper and middle third of the esophagus.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A case of Epstein-Barr virus esophagitis in a 27-year-old woman with no immunosuppressive factors, and having gastrointestinal symptoms is reported here. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, biopsy and blood specimens were tested for candida and herpes viruses. Epstein-Barr virus DNA was detected in tissue samples. The patient was treated with acyclovir with resolution of the symptomatology.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The prevalence of esophagitis remains undefined in both immunodeficient and immunocompetent individuals and should be taken into consideration in a patient presenting with esophageal symptoms. This case report stresses the role of Epstein-Barr virus infection in the pathogenesis of esophagitis, a rare condition in an immunocompetent host. In this setting, active infection may represent a primary infection or reactivation. Histopathological examination alone may miss the diagnosis, while polymerase chain reaction techniques optimize the diagnostic sensitivity, establish a diagnosis, and lead to an appropriate therapy.</p

Primary plasmacytoma of the cranial vault: a case report

We report one case of a 78-year-old woman who referred to our hospital because of a progressive right hemiparesis. On clinical examination a painless large soft mass in the left parietal region was observed. CT and MRI revealed an extra-axial mass in the in the left fronto-temporo-parietal region. The lesion was totally excised despite the bleeding tendency. Histology disclosed the presence of a plasmacytoma. Postoperative, the patient developed an epidural hematoma that required immediate evacuation. On further investigation active tuberculosis was detected. On follow up examination 1 year later no tumor recurrence or evidence of multiple myeloma was detected

Planetary boundary layer height variability over Athens, Greece, based on the synergy of Raman lidar and radiosonde data: application of the Kalman filter and other techniques (2011-2016)

The temporal evolution of the Planetary Boundary Layer height over Athens, Greece for a 5-year period (2011-2016) is presented. Using the EOLE Raman lidar system, the range-corrected lidar signals were selected around 12:00 UTC and 00:00 UTC for a total of 332 cases (165 days and 167 nights). The Kalman filter and other techniques were used to determine PBL height. The mean PBL height was found to be around 1617±324 m (12:00 UTC) and 892±130 m (00:00 UTC).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

The Value of Programmable Shunt Valves for the Management of Subdural Collections in Patients with Hydrocephalus

Background. The aim of the present study was to assess the value of electromagnetic programmable shunt valves for the treatment of subdural collections. Methods. Adult patients with hydrocephalus of various causes that were treated with programmable shunt valves during the last ten years were retrospectively studied. In 127 patients, 139 electromagnetic programmable shunt valves were implanted. Results. A nontraumatic subdural fluid collection was detected in 12 patients. The treatment of these patients consisted of reprogramming of the valve’s opening pressure. In 5 patients small subdural hematomas were detected; 4 of these patients were treated by raising the opening pressure alone and one patient required surgical drainage and change of the pressure setting. Traumatic chronic subdural hematomas were detected in 6 patients. These patients were treated by surgical drainage and readjustment of the valve’s opening pressure. Conclusion. The ability to treat a shunt-related complication, such as a subdural fluid collection, by reprogramming the valve’s opening pressure to a higher setting is an advantage over nonprogrammable valves, and it enables the opening pressure to be slowly lowered once the fluid collection is reabsorbed. Based on our results, we believe that programmable shunt valves should be preferred

Application and testing of the extended-Kalman-filtering technique for determining the planetary boundary-layer height over Athens, Greece

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10546-020-00514-zWe investigate the temporal evolution of the planetary boundary-layer (PBL) height over the basin of Athens, Greece, during a 6-year period (2011–2016), using data from a Raman lidar system. The range-corrected lidar signals are selected around local noon (1200 UTC) and midnight (0000 UTC), for a total of 332 cases: 165 days and 167 nights. In this dataset, the extended-Kalman filtering technique is applied and tested for the determination of the PBL height. Several well-established techniques for the PBL height estimation based on lidar data are also tested for a total of 35 cases. The lidar-derived PBL heights are compared to those derived from radiosonde data. The mean PBL height over Athens is found to be 1617¿±¿324 m at 1200 UTC and 892¿±¿130 m at 0000 UTC for the period examined, while the mean PBL-height growth rate is found to be 170¿±¿64 m h-1 and 90¿±¿17 m h-1 during daytime and night-time, respectively.The research leading to these results has received additional funding from the European Union 7th Framework Program (FP7/2011-2015) and Horizon 2020/2015-2021 Research and Innovation program (ACTRIS) under grant agreements nos 262254, 654109, and 739530, as well as from Spanish National Science Foundation and FEDER funds PGC2018-094132-B-I00. CommSensLab-UPC is a María-de-Maeztu Excellence Unit, MDM-2016-0600, funded by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Spain.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Acute thoracoabdominal and hemodynamic responses to tapered flow resistive loading in healthy adults

We investigated the acute physiological responses of tapered flow resistive loading (TFRL) at 30, 50 and 70% maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) in 12 healthy adults to determine an optimal resistive load. Increased end-inspiratory rib cage and decreased end-expiratory abdominal volumes equally contributed to the expansion of thoracoabdominal tidal volume (captured by optoelectronic plethysmography). A significant decrease in end-expiratory thoracoabdominal volume was observed from 30 to 50% PImax, from 30 to 70% PImax, and from 50 to 70% PImax. Cardiac output (recorded by cardio-impedance) increased from rest by 30% across the three loading trials. Borg dyspnoea increased from 2.36 ± 0.20 at 30% PImax, to 3.45 ± 0.21 at 50% PImax, and 4.91 ± 0.25 at 70% PImax. End-tidal CO2 decreased from rest during 30, 50 and 70 %PImax (26.23 ± 0.59, 25.87 ± 1.02 and 24.30 ± 0.82 mmHg, respectively). Optimal intensity for TFRL is at 50% PImax to maximise global respiratory muscle and cardiovascular loading whilst minimising hyperventilation and breathlessness