PSEUDO-PLUTARCH’S DE MUSICA: THE MORAL AND PEDAGOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF MUSIC AND NEOPLATONISM’S CRITICAL ATTITUDE AGAINST ITS PROGRESS

The ethics of music have been an issue of intense discussion throughout classical antiquity, as manifested by Damon’s early research on the moral influence of music (5th cent. B.C.). However, Plato significantly contributed to the subject in his Republic, as he imposed strict and severe regulations about music and specific harmonies that were considered good for morals and pedagogy. Furthermore, Aristotle, in his Politics, studied the ethics of music, with a different attitude towards the aulos, the main musical instrument of his era, from his predecessor. Pseudo-Plutarch’s De Musica was written within the Neoplatonic movement. The dialogue, in which the banqueters discuss the origins and evolution of music is heavily influenced by the Platonic ones. There is substantial praise, from both Lysias (a practicing musician) and Soterichos (a theoretician and early critic of music), for the era when music was harmonic, simple and not connected to theatre. Early Ancient Greek musicians and lyric poets had a rather conservative approach to music, often subtracting notes from musical scales. However, as music progressed and got correlated with the theatrical action, more complex scales and harmonies, such as the Lydian and Phrygian ones, were mostly used; the banqueters did not have a high opinion of those, due to the passive morals they were associated with. As a result, the contemporary musical scales were considered harmful for the morals that were to be instilled in people, especially children. In summary, this late-antiquity dialogue, of which the real author is yet to be convincingly identified, can be considered a very good example of the Ancient Greek attitude about progress, especially in the changing, uncertain times of the early centuries CE.

Η ποιητική των προφητικών ονείρων στα Ομηρικά Έπη, τη Λυρική Ποίηση και την Τραγωδία

Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία αποσκοπεί στην προσέγγιση του φαινομένου των προφητικών ονείρων όπως αυτά αξιοποιούνται και διηθίζονται μέσα από το φάσμα της Αρχαίας Ελληνικής Γραμματείας και σκέψης, αρχής γενομένης από τον οὖλον ὄνειρον της Ἰλιάδος (Β 1-34), φτάνοντας μέχρι την Αρχαϊκή Λυρική Ποίηση και την Αττική Τραγωδία. Μέσα από μια σύντομη αναδρομή στις αντιλήψεις περί ονείρων, από τα ομηρικά έπη μέχρι και τους σύγχρονους ψυχαναλυτές και νευρολόγους, αναδεικνύονται η ωρίμανση της σκέψης για τα όνειρα και ο ρόλος της λογοτεχνίας στη μετάβαση των ονείρων από αποκυήματα της φαντασίας σε δείγματα της κατάστασης της σωματικής και ψυχικής υγείας αυτού που τα βλέπει. Επιπρόσθετοι και σημαντικοί παράγοντες προς εξέταση αποτελούν οι φορείς του μηνύματος των ονείρων και οι τεχνικές «κατασκευής» των ονειρικών αφηγήσεων, διαμέσου των οποίων διαγράφεται η εξελικτική πορεία της κατανόησης της πολυπλοκότητας του φαινομένου των ονείρων.The purpose of this Master of Arts thesis is the examination of the prophetic dreams’ phenomenon, as they are used and filtered through the prism of Ancient Greek Literature and thought, with the Iliad’s οὖλον ὄνειρον (“destructive dream”, 2.1-34) as the starting point and thereafter reaching through the Ancient Greek Lyric Poetry and Attic Tragedy eras. Through a brief discussion of the dream theories from Homeric epic poetry to the modern psychologists and neurologists’ opinions, the maturation of thought regarding dreams and the contribution of literature to their evolution from byproducts of imagination to indicators of the dreamer’s physical and mental health condition become apparent. Additional important factors under consideration are the messengers of the dream meaning and the dream scene “construction” techniques, through which the evolutionary course of the perception of the dream phenomenon perplexity is depicted

Synthesis and use of nanomaterials for remediation of contaminated soils and groundwater

A novel “green” method was studied for the synthesis and stabilization of nanoparticles of Zero Valent Iron (nZVI) using plant extracts and juices. This innovative method of nZVI production involves mixing of plant extracts and juices with ferric solutions to produce stable dispersions of iron nanoparticles. The selected plant extracts, with a high polyphenol content, act as (a) reducing agents, converting aqueous Fe(III) to ZVI colloidal nanoparticles and (b) surface coating compounds, which are adsorbed on the surface of nanoparticles and create a protective layer, inhibiting thus agglomeration and preventing rapid oxidation of nZVI. The use of nZVI has been proven effective for the treatment of water or soils contaminated with a wide range of contaminants including chlorinated solvents and heavy metals in numerous studies. In the present Thesis, apart from nZVI synthesis from plant extracts and juices, the synthesis of iron nanoparticles and bimetallic nanoparticles of iron / copper by the conventional sodium borohydride method was also studied. The effectiveness of nZVI and nano- Fe/Cu particles to remove high concentration of nitrates in groundwater was evaluated.The present Thesis includes the following: 1) Synthesis of nano-Fe/Cu and nZVI particles and their application for the reduction of nitrates, 2) Synthesis of nZVI with plant extracts and evaluation of the performance of alternative plant extracts, 3) Evaluation of nZVI suspensions effectiveness for Cr(VI) reduction in batch tests, 4) Evaluation of nZVI infiltration and Cr(VI) reduction in column tests and 5) Assessment of iron nanoparticles transport and effectiveness for Cr(VI) reduction in pilot tank tests.Στη διδακτορική διατριβή μελετήθηκε μια εναλλακτική «πράσινη» μέθοδος για τη σύνθεση νανοσωματιδίων σιδήρου, nZVI, που βασίζεται στη χρήση φυτικών εκχυλισμάτων. Η καινοτόμος αυτή μέθοδος παραγωγής νανοσιδήρου περιλαμβάνει την αναγωγή διαλύματος τριχλωριούχου σιδήρου με φυτικά εκχυλίσματα. Τα φυτικά εκχυλίσματα είναι πλούσια σε πολυφαινόλες, οι οποίες έχουν διπλή δράση: (α) ενεργούν ως αναγωγικά μέσα για την μετατροπή υδατικών ιόντων Fe(III) σε νανοσωματίδια σιδήρου και (β) προσροφώνται στην επιφάνεια των νανοσωματιδίων και δημιουργούν ένα προστατευτικό στρώμα, το οποίο αναστέλλει τη συσσωμάτωση και εμποδίζει την ταχεία οξείδωση του nZVI. Τα νανοσωματίδια σιδήρου έχουν αποδειχθεί αποτελεσματικά αναγωγικά μέσα για μια ευρεία ποικιλία ρύπων συμπεριλαμβανομένων των χλωριωμένων οργανικών ενώσεων και των βαρέων μετάλλων. Παράλληλα με τη σύνθεση του νανοσιδήρου με φυτικά εκχυλίσματα και χυμούς, εξετάστηκε και η σύνθεση νανοσωματιδίων του σιδήρου και διμεταλλικών νανοσωματιδίων σιδήρου/χαλκού με την εφαρμογή της συμβατικής μεθόδου με χρήση βοροϋδριδίου το νατρίου. Τα σωματίδια αυτά ελέγχθηκαν ως προς την αποτελεσματικότητα τους για την αναγωγή των νιτρικών ιόντων στα υπόγεια ύδατα.Η διδακτορική διατριβή περιλαμβάνει τα ακόλουθα στάδια: 1) Σύνθεση νανοσωματιδίων σιδήρου και διμεταλλικών σωματιδίων σιδήρου/χαλκού και χρήση τους για την αναγωγή νιτρικών ιόντων, 2) Σύνθεση αιωρημάτων νανοσιδήρου με φυτικά εκχυλίσματα και αξιολόγηση της απόδοσης διαφόρων φυτικών εκχυλισμάτων, 3) Αξιολόγηση της αποτελεσματικότητας nZVI για την αναγωγή διαλύματος εξασθενούς χρωμίου σε δοκιμές παρτίδας, 4) Μελέτη της διεισδυτικότητας του αιωρήματος nZVI και δοκιμές αναγωγής εξασθενούς χρωμίου σε στήλες, και 5) Η αξιολόγηση της διασποράς και της μεταφοράς των νανοσωματιδίων σιδήρου σε ένα εδαφικό υλικό σε πιλοτική κλίμακα και η αξιολόγηση του ως προς την αναγωγή και αποκατάσταση ρυπασμένων υδάτων με εξασθενές χρώμιο

Reduction of Ferric Iron in Hydrometallurgical Solutions Using Zero-Valent Iron

Most hydrometallurgical solutions usually contain high levels of ferric iron, which is often regarded as a major and problematic impurity. Precipitation of Fe(III) by raising the solution pH results in a voluminous amorphous residue that is particularly difficult to handle. Prior complete or partial reduction of Fe(III) to the divalent state facilitates the precipitation of crystalline iron oxides such as magnetite or goethite. The aim of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of zero-valent iron (ZVI) for the reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II), which is a crucial pretreatment step for the efficient removal of iron. The effects of pH, reaction time and type of coexisting anions, i.e., sulphates or chlorides, were evaluated by conducting batch tests in an agitated reactor. It was found that using ZVI, Fe(III) is rapidly reduced to Fe(II), with higher reduction kinetics achieved in sulphate solutions at acidic pHs of 0.5–1

Public's opposition management: the case of quarries in Markopoulo

147 σ.Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο -- Μεταπτυχιακή Εργασία. Διεπιστημονικό-Διατμηματικό Πρόγραμμα Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών (Δ.Π.Μ.Σ.) "Περιβάλλον και Ανάπτυξη"Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία έχει σκοπό την μελέτη των αντιδράσεων της τοπικής κοινωνίας σε ποικίλα έργα και τρόπους διαχείρισης αυτών. Η χωροθέτηση διαφόρων δραστηριοτήτων συχνά προκαλεί αντιδράσεις στους κατοίκους, οι οποίοι γειτνιάζουν με αυτές. Η επιστημονική ορολογία, που χρησιμοποιείται για να περιγράψει τη διαδικασία μιας χωροθέτησης με αντιδράσεις από τους κατοίκους της περιοχής είναι το ακρώνυμο NIMBY - Not In My Backyard. Το θεωρητικό μέρος της εργασίας περιλαμβάνει την ερμηνεία του όρου NIMBY, την ιστορική εξέλιξη του φαινομένου διεθνώς αλλά και στην Ελλάδα, τα αίτια που το δημιουργούν, τα χαρακτηριστικά των ατόμων που υιοθετούν αυτή τη στάση, τους τρόπους αντιμετώπισης του συνδρόμου NIMBY καθώς και παραδείγματα αποδοχής ή απόρριψης έργων από την τοπική κοινωνία. Ως περιοχή μελέτης επιλέχθηκε το Μαρκόπουλο Μεσογαίας καθώς η λειτουργία των λατομείων αδρανών έχουν δημιουργήσει αντιδράσεις στην τοπική κοινωνία. Διενεργήθηκε κοινωνική έρευνα, με απευθείας συνέντευξη, με σκοπό να διερευνηθούν οι παράμετροι του φαινομένου NIMBY στα λατομεία Μαρκόπουλου, να αποτυπωθεί η άποψη της τοπικής κοινωνίας και να εκτιμηθεί η οικονομική αξία της αποκατάστασης και απαγόρευσης της λειτουργίας των λατομείων Μαρκόπουλου, σύμφωνα με τη Μέθοδο Υποθετικής Αξιολόγησης. Το δείγμα της μελέτης αποτέλεσαν 279 άτομα και η συλλογή των ερωτηματολογίων πραγματοποιήθηκε τη χρονική περίοδο Νοέμβριος 2009-Φεβρουάριος 2010. Τέλος, αναφέρονται τα αποτελέσματα της κοινωνικής έρευνας και η οικονομική αξία της αποκατάστασης και απαγόρευσης της λειτουργίας των λατομείων Μαρκόπουλου. Το ποσό αυτό εκφράζει την αξία αποκατάστασης του τοπίου και μπορεί να ληφθεί ως εκτίμηση της οικονομικής επίπτωσης που έχει υποστεί η περιοχή.The aim of this postgraduate work was to study the phenomenon NIMBY(not in my backyard) which characterizes the local opposition to unwanted facilities and find methods to respond to NIMBY concerns. The siting of certain facilities frequently evokes protests by the potential neighbours. Firstly, the theoretical part of this study includes the definition of the acronym NIMBY, the evolution of the phenomenon internationally and in Greece, the causes that create it, the range of participants who exhibit NIMBY responses, the ways to deal with the NIMBY syndrome and few examples of acceptance or disposal projects because of NIMBY syndrome. Afterwards, social research conducted with direct interviews in order to investigate the phenomenon NIMBY in the aggregate quarries of Markopoulo and reflect the opinion of the local community. This area of study was chosen because the aggregate quarries operation have created local opposition. The main objective was to assess the economic value of rehabilitation and the prohibition of the aggregates quarries in Markopoulo according to Contingent Valuation Method. The study sample consisted of 279 individuals and the collection of questionnaires took place from November 2009 to February 2010. Finally, the results of social research and the economic value of rehabilitation and the prohibition of quarries Markopoulos are presented. The economic value of restoring the landscape can be an estimation of the economic impact of the aggregates quarries in the region.Χριστιάνα Δ. Μυστριώτ

Reduction of Ferric Iron in Hydrometallurgical Solutions Using Zero-Valent Iron

Most hydrometallurgical solutions usually contain high levels of ferric iron, which is often regarded as a major and problematic impurity. Precipitation of Fe(III) by raising the solution pH results in a voluminous amorphous residue that is particularly difficult to handle. Prior complete or partial reduction of Fe(III) to the divalent state facilitates the precipitation of crystalline iron oxides such as magnetite or goethite. The aim of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of zero-valent iron (ZVI) for the reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II), which is a crucial pretreatment step for the efficient removal of iron. The effects of pH, reaction time and type of coexisting anions, i.e., sulphates or chlorides, were evaluated by conducting batch tests in an agitated reactor. It was found that using ZVI, Fe(III) is rapidly reduced to Fe(II), with higher reduction kinetics achieved in sulphate solutions at acidic pHs of 0.5–1

Counter-Current Leaching of Low-Grade Laterites with Hydrochloric Acid and Proposed Purification Options of Pregnant Solution

A hydrochloric acid hydrometallurgical process was evaluated for Ni and Co extraction from a low-grade saprolitic laterite. The main characteristics of the process were (i) the application of a counter-current mode of operation as the main leaching step (CCL), and (ii) the treatment of pregnant leach solution (PLS) with a series of simple precipitation steps. It was found that, during CCL, co-dissolution of Fe was maintained at very low levels, i.e., about 0.6%, which improved the effectiveness of the subsequent PLS purification step. The treatment of PLS involved an initial precipitation step for the removal of trivalent metals, Fe, Al, and Cr, using Mg(OH)2. The process steps that followed aimed at separating Ni and Co from Mn and the alkaline earths Mg and Ca, by a combination of repetitive oxidative precipitation and dissolution steps. Magnesium and calcium remained in the aqueous phase, Mn was removed as a solid residue of Mn(III)–Mn(IV) oxides, while Ni and Co were recovered as a separate aqueous stream. It was found that the overall Ni and Co recoveries were 40% and 38%, respectively. About 45% of Ni and 37% of Co remained in the leach residue, while 15% Ni and 20% Co were lost in the Mn oxides

Outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts in a Greek tertiary hospital

Introduction: In-hospital cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death and despite recent advances in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the survival to hospital discharge is poor. The aim of our study was to evaluate the success of resuscitation efforts in a tertiary hospital. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively collected and analysed data on all patients in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted after in-hospital cardiac arrest in one-year period. Results: 96 cardiac arrest victims were studied. Sustained return of spontaneous circulation was achieved in 15 (15.6%) patients, while all of them survived for 24 h. Training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, initiation of resuscitation efforts in less than 5 min, and intubation time < 1 min after team arrival were predictive factors associated with restoration of spontaneous circulation. Non-certified residents resuscitated 87 (90.6%) patients with 6 (6.8%) of them achieving return of spontaneous circulation and surviving for 24 h. On the contrary, certified ward residents resuscitated nine (9.3%) patients with 100% immediate and 24-h survival. Conclusion: In our hospital, certified providers had remarkably higher successful resuscitation rates for in-hospital cardiac arrest than non-certified providers. This finding suggests that training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, continuing medical education, and implementation of the existing legislation will result in increased survival. © 2013 Informa UK, Ltd