KINEMATIC ANALYSIS EVOLUTION OF EXTENDED LANDSLIDES: TWO CASE STUDIES FROM WESTERN GREECE

Οι κατολισθήσεις αποτελούν τον πιο συχνό κίνδυνο στην Δυτική Ελλάδα, μαζί με τους σεισμούς και τις πυρκαγιές. Έχουν πραγματοποιηθεί πολλές μελέτες με σκοπό την μελέτη των φαινομένων καθώς επίσης και καταγραφή τους σε χάρτες. Στην παρούσα εργασία αναλύονται δύο από τις πλέον καλά μελετημένες κατολισθήσεις ως προς την εξέλιξή τους. Οι κατολισθήσεις της Παναγοπούλας και της Καρυάς αποτελούν δύο αντιπροσωπευτικές θέσεις μακράς παρακολούθησης μέσω αποκλισιομετρικών μετρήσεων. Ο παράγοντας εναύσματος και στις δύο περιπτώσεις είναι οι έντονες βροχοπτώσεις. Η κύρια τεχνικογεωλογική ενότητα που σχετίζεται με αυτές είναι ο σχηματισμός του φλύσχη. Οι αποκλισιομετρικές μετρήσεις για ένα μεγάλο χρονικό διάστημα αναλύονται και σχεδιάζονται τυπικά διαγράμματα μετακινήσεων. Γίνεται χρήση ενός απλού στατιστικού μοντέλου που περιλαμβάνει κανονικοποίηση των δεδομένων κατά τη διάρκεια συγκεκριμένων φάσεων μετακίνησης με βασικό σκοπό να αναγνωριστούν τα κινηματικά χαρακτηριστικά της μετακίνησης και να εκτιμηθούν οι επικρατούσες ταχύτητες.Two of the most well known historical landslide occurrences are analyzed and their temporal evolution is presented. The sites of Panagopoula and Karya are often referred as the most representative cases of long term ground displacements based on inclinometer monitoring data. Regarding these cases, the heavy rainfalls constitute the main controlling (triggering) factor, while flysch is the critical landslide-prone formation which significantly contributes to landsliding. The inclinometer data through a long time period were analyzed and typical movement diagrams were compiled. A simple statistical model including data normalization through several active stages (phases) of movement is used to identify the common kinematic features as well as to estimate the velocity trend type of movement

Exploring embodiment through martial arts and combat sports: a review of empirical research

Since the late 1970s, social scientists have turned considerable attention to investigating martial arts and combat sports (MACS). In particular, this broad range of fighting disciplines has been shown to offer numerous avenues for scholarly enquiry into social change and personal transformation via processes of embodiment. Adopting a thematic structure, we assess the empirical literature in this area via four interconnecting categories pertaining to MACS and embodiment: (1) body cultures; (2) body pedagogies; (3) the embodiment of gender; and (4) bodily harm. Following this review, we identify several gaps in the existing literature, suggesting potential new topics and strategies for research connecting to the social world of physical culture more generally

Translating and validating a Training Needs Assessment tool into Greek

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The translation and cultural adaptation of widely accepted, psychometrically tested tools is regarded as an essential component of effective human resource management in the primary care arena. The Training Needs Assessment (TNA) is a widely used, valid instrument, designed to measure professional development needs of health care professionals, especially in primary health care. This study aims to describe the translation, adaptation and validation of the TNA questionnaire into Greek language and discuss possibilities of its use in primary care settings.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A modified version of the English self-administered questionnaire consisting of 30 items was used. Internationally recommended methodology, mandating forward translation, backward translation, reconciliation and pretesting steps, was followed. Tool validation included assessing item internal consistency, using the alpha coefficient of Cronbach. Reproducibility (test – retest reliability) was measured by the kappa correlation coefficient. Criterion validity was calculated for selected parts of the questionnaire by correlating respondents' research experience with relevant research item scores. An exploratory factor analysis highlighted how the items group together, using a Varimax (oblique) rotation and subsequent Cronbach's alpha assessment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The psychometric properties of the Greek version of the TNA questionnaire for nursing staff employed in primary care were good. Internal consistency of the instrument was very good, Cronbach's alpha was found to be 0.985 (p < 0.001) and Kappa coefficient for reproducibility was found to be 0.928 (p < 0.0001). Significant positive correlations were found between respondents' current performance levels on each of the research items and amount of research involvement, indicating good criterion validity in the areas tested. Factor analysis revealed seven factors with eigenvalues of > 1.0, KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) measure of sampling adequacy = 0.680 and Bartlett's test of sphericity, p < 0.001.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The translated and adapted Greek version is comparable with the original English instrument in terms of validity and reliability and it is suitable to assess professional development needs of nursing staff in Greek primary care settings.</p

Prevalence of alexithymia and its association with anxiety and depression in a sample of Greek chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outpatients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health problem, especially in adults over 40 years of age, and has a great social and economic impact. The psychological morbidity of COPD patients with regard to anxiety and depressive symptoms has been extensively studied in the past. However, few studies have investigated the prevalence of alexithymia in these patients, as well as its association with this comorbidity. Based on this fact, we studied the prevalence of alexithymia and its association with anxiety and depressive symptoms in COPD outpatients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The present study included 167, randomly selected, outpatients diagnosed with COPD. Alexithymia, anxiety and depression were assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean BDI score was 12.88 (SD: 7.7), mean STAI score 41.8 (SD: 11.0) and mean TAS-20 score 48.2 (SD: 11.5). No differences were observed between genders regarding age and alexithymia (t test <it>P </it>> 0.05), while female patients presented higher depression and trait anxiety scores than males (t test <it>P </it>< 0.05). Clinically significant levels of anxiety were present in 37.1% of men, and in 45.7% of women. The mean depression score was also higher than the corresponding mean score in the general population (one-sample t test <it>P </it>< 0.01), while 27.7% and 30.5% of the sample presented mild and moderate to severe depression, respectively. Finally, a strong correlation was observed between alexithymia, depression and anxiety.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study confirms the high prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in Greek outpatients with COPD. The prevalence of alexithymia in COPD patients, contrary to what has been observed in patients with other chronic respiratory diseases, seem to be lower. However, we observed a strong association between alexithymia, depression and anxiety levels. This observation suggests that alexithymia should be taken into consideration when drafting specific psychotherapeutic interventions for these patients.</p

Supercritical CO2 extraction of Salvia fruticosa

The supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of Greek sage leaves, i.e. Salvia fruticosa, was investigated at various operation conditions. Specifically, the effect of pressure, temperature and solvent flow rate on the extraction yield was examined. Thus, it was shown that as pressure increases, yield increases as well, while the effect of temperature depends on the extraction pressure. As for the flow rate, its increase mainly enhances the extraction rate. The SFE extracts were also compared with the essential oil obtained with hydrodistillation in terms of composition, revealing practically the absence of thujone and the presence of more biologically active compounds in SFE extracts. Finally, the experimental data were correlated successfully by a mass balance model based on Lack&apos;s plug flow model. © 2019 Elsevier B.V

Could mismatch repair status serve as a biomarker for immunotherapy in endometrial carcinoma?

Aim: To study whether mismatch repair (MMR) status is related to the expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and CD8 counts in a series of grade 3 endometrial carcinomas. Materials and Methods: The expression of MMR protein PD-L1 and CD8+ cell count were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and related to several clinicopathological parameters. Results: Among 105 endometrial carcinomas, 40% were of endometrioid and 60% of non-endometrioid histology. MMR deficiency was observed in 28.6% of cases and was related to endometrioid histology (p&amp;lt;0.001), positive PD-L1 expression (p=0.047) and high CD8+ cell count (p=0.022). When examined by histotype, endometrioid MMR-deficient tumors were related only to PD-L1 expression (p=0.032) but not to high CD8+ cell count (p=0.231), whereas nonendometrioid MMR-deficient carcinomas were not related to either of these markers. MMR deficiency was associated with PD-L1+/CD8highhigh status (p=0.006), whilst MMR proficiency was associated with PD-L1-/CD8low status. In MMR-proficient tumors, high CD8+ cell infiltration alone and combined with PD-L1- status was associated with better progression-free survival (p=0.013 and p=0.04, respectively). Conclusion: MMR-deficient high-grade endometrioid tumors might be more likely to benefit from immunotherapy compared to other grade 3 endometrial carcinomas. © 2020 International Institute of Anticancer Research. All rights reserved

Assessment of Earthquake-Induced Landslide Hazard in Greece: From Arias Intensity to Spatial Distribution of Slope Resistance Demand

The earthquake-induced landslide hazard in Greece is evaluated by means of a parametric time probabilistic approach. First, by taking into account the characteristics of seismicity affecting Greece, we calculated occurrence probabilities for different levels of seismic shaking expressed in terms of Arias intensity for a time interval of 50 yrs. Then, by utilizing the linkage of Newmark displacement with Arias intensity and critical acceleration, we mapped the spatial distribution of the slope strength demand that imply a 10% probability that displacement will exceed critical thresholds for potential seismic triggering of incoherent and coherent landslides. The obtained results suggest that the areas of western Greece and the broader region of the Gulf of Corinth are the most exposed to conditions of seismic triggering of both kinds of landslides. The derived slope strength demand maps could provide the basis for the assessment of whether particular slopes have a significant failure probability by comparing the estimated strength demand with the actual critical acceleration values calculated from slope material properties and slope angle. We exemplified this approach at a coastal area of the western Gulf of Corinth, where, by considering situations expected in dry and wet periods, we also demonstrated that earthquake effects on slope stability depend on the season of earthquake occurrence