First description of a fossil chamaeleonid from Greece and its relevance for the European biogeographic history of the group

The fossil record of Chamaeleonidae is very scarce and any new specimen is therefore considered important for our understanding of the evolutionary and biogeographic history of the group. New specimens from the early Miocene of Aliveri (Evia Island), Greece constitute the only fossils of these lizards from southeastern Europe. Skull roofing material is tentatively attributed to the Czech species Chamaeleo cf. andrusovi, revealing a range extension for this taxon, whereas tooth-bearing elements are described as indeterminate chamaeleonids. The Aliveri fossils rank well among the oldest known reptiles from Greece, provide evidence for the dispersal routes of chameleons out of Africa towards the European continent and, additionally, imply strong affinities with coeval chamaeleonids from Central Europe

2017 HRS/EHRA/ECAS/APHRS/SOLAECE expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: executive summary.

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Differential Effects of p38, MAPK, PI3K or Rho Kinase Inhibitors on Bacterial Phagocytosis and Efferocytosis by Macrophages in COPD

Pulmonary inflammation and bacterial colonization are central to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Defects in macrophage phagocytosis of both bacteria and apoptotic cells contribute to the COPD phenotype. Small molecule inhibitors with anti-inflammatory activity against p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs), phosphatidyl-inositol-3 kinase (PI3K) and Rho kinase (ROCK) are being investigated as novel therapeutics in COPD. Concerns exist, however, about off-target effects. We investigated the effect of p38 MAPK inhibitors (VX745 and SCIO469), specific inhibitors of PI3K α (NVS-P13K-2), δ (NVS-P13K-3) or γ (NVS-P13K-5) and a ROCK inhibitor PF4950834 on macrophage phagocytosis, early intracellular killing of bacteria and efferocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils. Alveolar macrophages (AM) obtained from broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) or monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) from COPD patients (GOLD stage II/III) enrolled from a well characterized clinical cohort (MRC COPD-MAP consortium) or from healthy ex-smoker controls were studied. Both COPD AM and MDM exhibited lower levels of bacterial phagocytosis (using Streptococcus pneumoniae and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae) and efferocytosis than healthy controls. None of the inhibitors altered bacterial internalization or early intracellular bacterial killing in AM or MDM. Conversely PF4950834, but not other inhibitors, enhanced efferocytosis in COPD AM and MDM. These results suggest none of these inhibitors are likely to exacerbate phagocytosis-related defects in COPD, while confirming ROCK inhibitors can enhance efferocytosis in COPD

Aliveri revisited, a biogeographical appraisal of the early Miocene mammals from the eastern Mediterranean

Received: 21 January 2015 /Revised: 9 March 2015 /Accepted: 27 April 2015 /Published online: 10 June 2015© 2015, Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. At the time of its discovery, over 25 years ago, the Greek locality of Aliveri preserved the easternmost occurrence for the early Miocene of cricetodontine hamsters such as Cricetodon, Megacricetodon and Democricetodon. As knowledge on the early Miocene history of the eastern Mediterranean increased, the faunal composition became more enigmatic, because of the presence of typical European elements (Pseudotheridomys, Heterosorex, Plesiodimylus, Myxomygale), absent from Anatolia. Recently, the ungulates from the locality were rediscovered, expanding the faunal list with the equid Anchitherium and the pecorans Lagomeryx (two species), Eotragus and Palaeomerycidae gen. et sp. indet. In this paper, we examine the fauna of Aliveri in the light of the current state of knowledge. The assemblage is typical for MN 4, but is believed to pre-date European localities of that biochronological unit. Similarity with Anatolian MN 3 localities suggests that the origin of the fauna lies mostly in that region, whereas the major differences with European localities suggest relative isolation, in line with palaeogeographic reconstructions of the period. However, when isolation was lifted, a number of European elements were added to the local fauna, but, presumably because of an ecological barrier, did not move further into Anatolia. Migrations at the onset of MN 4 can explain the composition of the Greek fauna, but we are still far from completely understanding the complex history of the eastern Mediterranean during the early Miocene.This research was supported by the Spanish MINECO Project No. CGL2011-28877 and the research group UCM 910607. The work of A.O. was supported by a FPU Predoctoral Fellowship and a SYNTHESYS grant at NL-TAF, and the work of .H.-B. by a FPI predoctoral Fellowship.Peer Reviewe

The pricing of exchange risk in emerging stock markets

In this paper, we provide new evidence about the unconditional pricing of exchange risk in the stock market, based on emerging market data. We conduct empirical tests using cross-sectional data at the market, portfolio and firm level from nine emerging markets (EMs) to determine whether exchange risk is priced under alternative model specifications and exchange rate measures. Our results support the hypothesis of a significant unconditional exchange risk premium in emerging stock markets, differently from most unconditional tests for major developed markets. However, there is indication that at the aggregate market level the significance of the exchange risk factor is subsumed by local market risk. With firm-level data, although the importance of local market is confirmed for most countries, some measure of exchange rate risk remains significant for most countries. This suggests that a careful model specification is necessary for EMs when testing for the pricing of exchange risk in order to avoid a potential spurious significance of such factor because of a missing local risk or vice versa. Journal of International Business Studies (2006) 37, 372–391. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400204

Analytical Frameworks and an Integrated Approach for Mini-grid based Electrification

Although rural electrification using mini-grids has attracted recent global attention, the concept has been there for quite some time. Consequently, a number of analytical approaches exist to support the decision-making process. This chapter first provides a review of literature dealing with analytical frameworks for off-grid and mini-grid based electrification projects. The range of analytical options includes simple worksheet-based tools to more sophisticated optimisation tools for technology selection as well as assessments based on multicriteria analysis. This is followed by an evaluation of mini-grid based off-grid electrification projects in India that allows the identification of critical factors for the success of such projects. Finally, the chapter proposes an integrated approach for analysing decentralised mini-grid projects in a holistic manner