Dietary assessment methods in epidemiological research: current state of the art and future prospects.

Self-reported dietary intake is assessed by methods of real-time recording (food diaries and the duplicate portion method) and methods of recall (dietary histories, food frequency questionnaires, and 24-hour dietary recalls). Being less labor intensive, recall methods are more frequently employed in nutritional epidemiological investigations. However, sources of error, which include the participants' inability to fully and accurately recall their intakes as well as limitations inherent in the food composition databases applied to convert the reported food consumption to energy and nutrient intakes, may limit the validity of the generated information.

Associations of Bullying and Cyberbullying With Substance Use and Sexual Risk Taking in Young Adults.

Purpose: This study aims at identifying the sex-stratified associations of involvement in traditional bullying during middle and high school years and in cyberbullying during college years with multiple health risk behaviors in undergraduate students.

Design: This cross-sectional analysis draws on the data of the second wave of the LATO study (Lifestyle & Attitudes in a Student Population) in Greece.

Methods: During November and December 2013, 812 second-year undergraduate students (mean age = 19.

The relationship between smoking and convivial, intimate and negative coping alcohol consumption in young adults.

Aims And Objectives: To explore the gender-specific associations of smoking with convivial, negative coping and intimate drinking contexts in young adults.

Background: Alcohol and cigarettes co-use is common and to be more effective in prevention activities, we need to understand the drinking contexts that facilitate their co-occurrence.

Design: Descriptive cross-sectional survey in the context of the LATO study (Lifestyle & Attitudes in a Student Population) in Greece.

Initial size of unilateral pleural effusion determines impact of thoracocentesis on oxygenation.

Background: There have been contradicting reports in the literature regarding the impact of pleural fluid aspiration on patients' oxygenation. The aim of this study was to assess the role of the initial size of effusion on post-drainage oxygenation.

Methods: We studied 122 patients, aged (mean±SD) 61.

Size-Tuning of WSe Flakes for High Efficiency Inverted Organic Solar Cells.

The development of large-scale production methods of two-dimensional (2D) crystals, with on-demand control of the area and thickness, is mandatory to fulfill the potential applications of such materials for photovoltaics. Inverted bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cell (OSC), which exploits a polymer-fullerene binary blend as the active material, is one potentially important application area for 2D crystals. A large ongoing effort is indeed currently devoted to the introduction of 2D crystals in the binary blend to improve the charge transport properties.

Maternal screening for early postnatal vulnerability.

Research has highlighted the wide impact of maternal mental health problems during and beyond the postpartum period and the public health role of community health professionals in early detection of women who may be at risk. This paper aims to describe, explore and test an a priori hypothesised conceptual model of postnatal experience, identifying the relationships between postnatal mental vulnerability and postnatal adjustment to maternal roles and attitudes, marital/partner-relationship and sense of coherence. Three validated self-report questionnaires (WAST, MAMA, SOC) measuring the variables of the encompassing framework and EPDS were administered in random order.

The effect of total knee arthroplasty on patients' balance and incidence of falls: a systematic review.

Purpose: Despite the high incidence of falls in patients with OA, few studies have explored whether falls risk is affected after patients undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to identify the extent of the effects of TKA on balance and incidence of falls by critically reviewing the available literature.

Methods: A systematic review of published literature sources was conducted up to March 2014.

A synthesis of radial growth patterns preceding tree mortality.

Tree mortality is a key factor influencing forest functions and dynamics, but our understanding of the mechanisms leading to mortality and the associated changes in tree growth rates are still limited. We compiled a new pan-continental tree-ring width database from sites where both dead and living trees were sampled (2970 dead and 4224 living trees from 190 sites, including 36 species), and compared early and recent growth rates between trees that died and those that survived a given mortality event. We observed a decrease in radial growth before death in ca.

Solution processed reduced graphene oxide electrodes for organic photovoltaics.

Since the isolation of free standing graphene in 2004, graphene research has experienced a phenomenal growth. Due to its exceptional electronic, optical and mechanical properties, graphene is believed to be the next wonder material for optoelectronics. The enhanced electrical conductivity, combined with its high transparency in the visible and near-infrared regions of the spectrum, enabled graphene to be an ideal low cost indium-tin oxide (ITO) substitute.

EMG activity of the serratus anterior and trapezius muscles during the different phases of the push-up plus exercise on different support surfaces and different hand positions.

[Purpose] The appropriate exercise prescription is crucial for achieving scapular stability and providing successful rehabilitation, and the Push-up Plus (PuP) exercise has an important role in shoulder rehabilitation. Consequently, this study examined the effect of support surface stability, hand positioning, and phase of exercise, on the trapezius and serratus anterior muscle contractions as well as on the EMG ratio of the upper/lower trapezius. [Subjects and Methods] Thirteen healthy male volunteers participated in this study.

Gender differences in the prevalence and clustering of multiple health risk behaviours in young adults.

Aims: To estimate the sex-stratified prevalence and clustering of 14 behavioural and metabolic health risk factors in emerging adulthood.

Background: The high prevalence and the clustering of risk factors multiply health consequences and increase the threat to the future health and quality of life of young adults.

Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Supercooling, ice nucleation and crystal growth: a systematic study in plant samples.

This paper presents an innovative technological platform which is based on infrared video recording and is used for monitoring multiple ice nucleation events and their interactions, as they happen in 96 well microplates. Thousands of freezing curves were obtained during this study and the following freezing parameters were measured: cooling rate, nucleation point, freezing point, solidus point, degree of supercooling, duration of dendritic phase and duration of crystal growth. We demonstrate the use of this platform in the detection of ice nuclei in plant samples.

Pulsatility Index quantification in the human precapillary arterioles of the eye.

The Pulsatility Index (PI) was quantified for the first time in the human conjunctival pre-capillary arterioles in vivo. In 30 arterioles with diameters ranging between 6 and 12μm, from 15 healthy humans, peak to peak velocity ranged from 0.2 up to 4.

Reference values for the incremental shuttle walk test in patients with cardiovascular disease entering exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation.

The incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) is used to assess functional capacity of patients entering cardiac rehabilitation. Factors such as age and sex account for a proportion of the variance in test performance in healthy individuals but there are no reference values for patients with cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to produce reference values for the ISWT.

Nursing student profiles and occurrence of early academic failure: Findings from an explorative European study.

Background: In the European context regulated by the Bologna Process principles, there is little evidence to date on the different profiles, if any, of nursing students enrolled in the 1st academic year and their academic outcomes.

Aims: To describe and compare the nursing student profiles and their academic outcomes at the end of the 1st year across European Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNS) courses.

Design: An exploratory multicentre cohort study involving five countries: Nursing students who were enrolled in nursing programmes for the academic year 2011/2012 in the participating BNS courses, willing to participate and regularly admitted to the 2nd academic year, were included in this study undertaken in 2013.

What is the effect of sensori-motor training on functional outcome and balance performance of patients' undergoing TKR? A systematic review.

Objectives: Total knee replacement (TKR) has a beneficial effect on patients' functional ability; however, incidence of falls and deficits on proprioception are not restored even 1-year after surgery. Early and intensive exercise post-TKR has received limited endorsement in the literature. The aim of this review was to systemically identify and critically appraise clinical studies investigating the effect of sensori-motor training on functional and balance performance in TKR patients.

Right Upper Lobe Shadow and Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica Confined to Right Main Bronchus: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a well documented benign entity of endoscopic interest. We describe a case of 76-year-old patient who presented with fever, cough, purulent sputum during the past four days, and presence of an ovoid shadow in right upper zone of his chest X-ray. Medical history included diagnosis of colon diverticuli identified by colonoscopy 3 months ago.

A systematic review of training interventions addressing sexual violence against marginalized at-risk groups of women.

Women from marginalized groups working in occupations such as domestic work are at increased risk for sexual violence. Scarce evidence exists about training interventions targeting such groups. The article aims to identify community and workplace-based training interventions aiming to increase capacity among marginalized at-risk women to deal with sexual violence.

Efficient ternary organic photovoltaics incorporating a graphene-based porphyrin molecule as a universal electron cascade material.

A graphene-based porphyrin molecule (GO-TPP) was synthesized by covalent linkage of graphene oxide (GO) with 5-(4-aminophenyl)-10,15,20-triphenyl porphyrin (TPP-NH2). The yielded graphene-based material is a donor-acceptor (D-A) molecule, exhibiting strong intermolecular interactions between the GO core (A) and the covalently anchored porphyrin molecule (D). To demonstrate the universal role of GO-TPP as an electron cascade material, ternary blend organic photovoltaics based on [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric-acid-methyl-ester (PC71BM) as an electron acceptor material and two different polymer donor materials, poly[N-9'-hepta-decanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(40,70-di-2-thienyl-20,10,30-benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT) and the highly efficient poly({4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-2,6-diyl}{3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl}) (PTB7), were fabricated.

High Electron Mobility Thin-Film Transistors Based on Solution-Processed Semiconducting Metal Oxide Heterojunctions and Quasi-Superlattices.

High mobility thin-film transistor technologies that can be implemented using simple and inexpensive fabrication methods are in great demand because of their applicability in a wide range of emerging optoelectronics. Here, a novel concept of thin-film transistors is reported that exploits the enhanced electron transport properties of low-dimensional polycrystalline heterojunctions and quasi-superlattices (QSLs) consisting of alternating layers of InO, GaO and ZnO grown by sequential spin casting of different precursors in air at low temperatures (180-200 °C). Optimized prototype QSL transistors exhibit band-like transport with electron mobilities approximately a tenfold greater (25-45 cm V s) than single oxide devices (typically 2-5 cm V s).

Caesarean deliveries in the Mother-Child (Rhea) cohort in Crete, Greece: almost as frequent as vaginal births and even more common in first-time mothers.

Background: Caesarean deliveries are on the increase in Greece and around the world. The objective of the present study was to assess the frequency of planned and emergency caesarean deliveries and their socio-demographic predictors in women with singleton pregnancies followed-up from early pregnancy to delivery.

Methods: The mother-child cohort in Crete examines a population sample of pregnant women recruited during one year beginning in February 2007.

Preliminary background indoor EMF measurements in Greece.

The main purpose of this work was to investigate the fluctuation of Greek indoor electromagnetic field (EMF) intensity values and identify peaks that might occur. The scientific interest is mainly focused on the bands of extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields and radiofrequency (RF) electric fields which have been suggested to be possibly carcinogenic to humans by the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR). Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) measurements were performed in a variety of indoor dwellings, in Attica and in the islands of Zakynthos and Lesvos.