Families and family structure in a Neo-Hellenic city: Hermoupolis in the mid-19th century

This article begins with the creation and development of the city of Hermoupolis and stresses its prominent economic role during the 19th century in the Greek state. It points out the problems of the official censuses and emphasizes the importance of the original source of the 1861 census of Hermoupolis, which was found in the city's municipal archives. It analyzes this source and offers some working hypotheses about the structure of households (where the dominant type is the simple family), the frequency of domestic servants, the wide spectrum of occupations, the origin of inhabitants, and social mobility based on 501 households (17%) representing 1901 individuals (17.52%) of the total for which we have information.     

Histologic findings of the sinus node and the perinodal area in street heroin addicts, victims of sudden unexpected death

Sudden unexpected death is frequent in street heroin addicts. We conducted a histologic study of the sinus node (SN) to offer some evidence about the possible arrhythmogenic cause of death. Postmortem coronary angiography and microscopic examination of the SN and the perinodal area were performed in 50 heroin addicts (group 1) and in 50 nonaddicts (group 2), all men (16-40 years old). In heroin addicts, fatty and/or fibrous tissue replaced SN tissue in 21 cases (42%). Perinodal infiltration was found in 15 cases (30%). Fibromuscular dysplasia in branches of the sinus node artery (SNA) was found in eight cases (16%). Inflammation with focal and/or diffuse concentration of round cells was detected in the SN in 22 cases (44%). Old mural thrombi were also found in 13 cases (26%). The histologic changes in the SN and perinodal area offer an explanation about the possible mechanism of arrhythmia and sudden death in this population.     

The dynamic evolution of the Greek regional net fixed capital time series

This paper investigates the impact of different depreciation methods on the dynamic characteristics of the Greek regional net fixed capital series. Using annual data over the period from 1974 to 2006, Karpetis and Zikos (Int J Econ Res 11(2):333–354, 2014) constructed the series of nominal net fixed capital in the case of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece, applying four different depreciation methods of capital. In the context of the present analysis, these series were initially deflated, using the country’s G.D.P. deflator (2005 = 100), and subsequently were exploited to investigate their dynamic characteristics through estimation of the best fitted ARIMA(p,d,q) models and determination of the roots of the characteristic polynomials. The statistical findings reveal, firstly, the impact of the employed depreciation methods of capital on the evolutionary pattern (monotonic or sinusoidal) of the series and secondly, the slow convergence of the Greek regional net fixed capital towards its long-run equilibrium value.     

Acute carbon monoxide poisoning and alcohol intoxication: a rare condition that is complex to manage

Since the changeover in the gas used in domestic appliances, the prevalence of acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning has been dramatically reduced. In suicide attempts with car exhaust fumes lies the most common cause of the disorder. As a consequence, patients are more complex to manage as they often have other associated diagnoses such as substance use disorder, depressive disorder, or long-standing personality disorder. This report details such a case. The medical treatment was based on the carboxyhemoglobin (COHgb) levels at the time of admission. The patient developed permanent cognitive and functional deficits consistent with the observed brain scan changes. The author discusses the importance of an appropriate early diagnosis of the condition, the difficulties associated with it, and the validity of using the carboxyhemoglobin levels as a guide to treatment.     

A rapid method to detect dried saliva stains swabbed from human skin using fluorescence spectroscopy

Saliva on skin is important in forensic trace evidence. If areas where saliva is present can be outlined, this may lead to DNA analysis and identification. This study describes a rapid and non-destructive method to detect dried saliva on the surface of the skin by fluorescence spectroscopy. Eighty-two volunteers deposited samples of their own saliva on the skin of their ventral forearm. A control sample of water was deposited at three different sites on the contralateral arm. Saliva and water control were then allowed to air-dry. Swab samples were taken from dried saliva and control sites and were dissolved in 0.1M KCl solution. Emission spectra were obtained from the solution and were characterized by a principal maximum at 345-355nm with excitation at 282nm. The fluorescence emission intensity was greater than background readings obtained from the control swab site in 80 of 82 volunteers (approximately 97.6%). The fluorescence profile of saliva samples were similar to those obtained from aqueous samples of pure amylase and tryptophan, an endogenous fluorophore in alpha-amylase. The presence of an emission peak at 345-355nm with excitation at 282nm could provide a strong presumptive indication of saliva deposition.     

Labour Party: saved by the modernisers or modernised to be saved?

The paper treats politics as a complex process that embraces actual or potential interactions among constructed meanings of different social actors through various symbolic forms drawing on the specific socio‐historical, political context. These symbolic forms can take the form of various kinds from everyday linguistic utterances to complex images and texts. It is suggested that there is a strong interrelationship between ‘image’ and political discourse and their symbolic value grows as long as they come from consistent communication among all the social actors participating in the political process inside and outside of the political organisation. Two historical examples from the British political landscape—the Labour election defeat in 1987 and the Labour leadership election in 1994—are examined so as to draw some useful remarks concerning the limitations in drawing the line between ‘image’ and political discourse and among processes considered either internal or external of the party. Copyright © 2003 Henry Stewart Publications     

Sexual dimorphism of the hip joint in Greeks

The objective of the present study was to report our measurements of hip bones within the Greek population and review the possible implications of these differences in their health as well as in social life. For this purpose the remains of 100 male and 100 female pelvic and femoral bones were studied. The distance from the pubic tubercle to the anterior rim of the acetabulum, the acetabulum diameter between its rims, their ratio, the depth of the acetabulum, the diameter of the femoral head and the ratio between the femoral head and the diameter of the acetabulum were measured. It was found that in males, in comparison to the females, the distance from the pubic tubercle to the anterior rim of the acetabulum was smaller while the acetabulum diameter and its depth, the diameter of the femoral head and the ratio between femoral head and the acetabulum diameter were larger. The above differences reached strong statistical significance. Of the two ratios used only the first one reached statistical significance. Using this ratio alone offered the best discrimination rate of up to 99% and should be the preferred choice when available.