ABSTRACT
The status of urban sewerage and stormwater drainage systems in ancient Greece is reviewed, based on the results of archaeological studies of the 20th century. Emphasis is given to the construction, operation, and management of sewerage and stormwater drainage systems during the Minoan period (2nd millennium B.C.). The achievements of this period in dealing with the hygienic and the functional requirements of palaces and cities, were so advanced that they can only be compared to modern urban water systems, developed in Europe and North America in the second half of the 19th century A.D. The advanced Minoan technologies were exported to all parts of Greece in later periods of the Greek civilization, i.e. in Mycenaean, Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods.
Subject(s)
Archaeology , Drainage, Sanitary/history , Waste Disposal, Fluid/history , Cities , Drainage, Sanitary/methods , Greece, Ancient , History, Ancient , Rain , Sewage , Waste Disposal, Fluid/methodsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We studied changes in pituitary response to GnRH during the luteal-follicular transition of the human menstrual cycle. DESIGN: Normally cycling women were investigated during two consecutive menstrual cycles. In each woman, GnRH tests were performed during the two LH surges and several times during the luteal-follicular transition. Data for analysis were available in all women on days -8, -6, -4, -2, -1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 in relation to the onset of second menstruation (day 1). PATIENTS: Five normally ovulating parous women were studied. MEASUREMENTS: Pituitary response to GnRH was calculated as the net increase in LH and FSH at 30 minutes (delta LH and delta FSH) above the basal value. RESULTS: delta LH and delta FSH showed a similar pattern of significant changes during the luteal-follicular transition. They decreased progressively from days -8 to 1 and increased on day 2. delta LH and delta FSH then decreased on days 3 and 4 and showed a further increase on days 5 and 7. In contrast to these changes, basal FSH levels increased from days -2 to 1 and remained high up to day 5, while basal LH levels showed a trend to increase only after the onset of menses. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the increase in basal FSH secretion during the luteal-follicular transition is GnRH independent. It is suggested that LH and FSH release under the stimulation by GnRH is regulated by a common mechanism.
