Seeking the factors to stimulate the users in coastal zones planning. Case study: Open discussions with mussel farmers in the Axios river (GR)

In the framework of an integrated coastal zone management, the involvement of users is required and “open discussions” is one of the techniques used for their participation. The authors used this technique during a project for the sustainable development of mussel-culture in the coastal zone of the Axios Delta. Open discussion contributed to the acceptance of the scientific results by the users of the aquatic environment (mussel-farmers) who addressed trade-offs in their own way. The majority of their arguments were incorporated in the formation of the management rules, presented in the final report of this project. The present paper summarizes this experience as well as the existing ways for the involvement of users in a decision planning process and demonstrates how open discussion is a prerequisite factor for the success of sustainable development planning in Greece

The effect of progesterone on the anesthetic and analgesic requirements for ovariohysterectomy in the dog

Η παρούσα μελέτη διερεύνησε την επίδραση της συγκέντρωσης της προγεστερόνης, είτε ενδογενούς κατά τον ωοθηκικό κύκλο και την κυοφορία, είτε εξωγενούς, καθώς και του ενεργού μεταβολίτη της αλλοπρεγνανολόνη, στις απαιτήσεις σε αναισθητικά και αναλγητικά φάρμακα και στην ένταση του μετεγχειρητικού πόνου για τη διεξαγωγή ωοθηκυστερεκτομής στον σκύλο. Περιελήφθησαν 150 υγιείς, θηλυκοί σκύλοι, οι οποίο προσκομίστηκαν στην Κλινική Ζώων Συντροφιάς του ΑΠΘ για ωοθηκυστερεκτομή και οι οποίοι κατανεμήθηκαν σε 6 ομάδες με βάση το στάδιο του ωοθηκικού κύκλου και την ενδεχόμενη ορμονική αγωγή που έλαβαν. Συγκεκριμένα, σχηματίστηκαν 6 ομάδες από ζώα στο στάδιο του ανοίστρου (ομάδα Α), ζώα σε άνοιστρο που έλαβαν προγεστερόνη ενδομυϊκώς (Απ), ζώα στο στάδιο του διοίστρου (Δ), ζώα σε δίοιστρο που έλαβαν υποδορίως αγλεπριστόνη (Δα), ζώα σε δίοιστρο που έλαβαν κάψουλες τριλοστάνης (Δτ) και ζώα σε κυοφορία 28-42 ημερών (Ε). Σε κάθε ζώο καταγράφηκαν οι απαιτήσεις σε προποφόλη για εγκατάσταση της γενικής αναισθησίας, οι απαιτήσεις σε ισοφλουράνιο για διατήρηση, οι απαιτήσεις σε επιπλέον αναλγητικά φάρμακα είτε διεγχειρητικά είτε μετεγχειρητικά και έγιναν μετεγχειρητικές εκτιμήσεις πόνου. Επίσης έγιναν αιμοληψίες σε συγκεκριμένες χρονικές στιγμές για ορμονολογικές αναλύσεις. Μετά τη στατιστική επεξεργασία των αποτελεσμάτων δε βρέθηκε στατιστικώς σημαντική διαφορά στις απαιτήσεις σε αναισθητικά ή σε αναλγητικά φάρμακα μεταξύ των ομάδων, ούτε στατιστικώς σημαντική συσχέτιση μεταξύ των απαιτήσεων αυτών και των συγκεντρώσεων στο αίμα της προγεστερόνης ή της αλλοπρεγνανολόνης, εκτός από 2 συσχετίσεις εντός συγκεκριμένων ομάδων. Συμπεραίνεται ότι οι συγκεντρώσεις προγεστερόνης ή αλλοπρεγνανολόνης στο αίμα δεν επηρεάζουν τις απαιτήσεις σε αναισθητικά ή αναλγητικά φάρμακα για τη διεξαγωγή ωοθηκυστερεκτομής στο σκύλο ή ότι ενδεχόμενη τέτοια επιρροή επικαλύπτεται από τη χορήγηση προαναισθητικής αγωγής και αναλγητικών φαρμάκων.The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of serum progesterone concentration, either endogenous, during the ovarian cycle and pregnancy, or exogenous, when administered during anestrus, and of its active metabolite allopregnanolone, on anesthetic and analgesic requirements, as well as post-operative pain intensity, for the performance of ovariohysterectomy in dogs. One hundred and fifty healthy female dogs, which were admitted to our clinic for elective ovariohysterectomy, were included in the present study. They were allocated to 6 groups according to the stage of the ovarian cycle and the corresponding serum progesterone co ncentration. The six groups consisted of dogs in anestrus (group A), in anestrus which received intramuscular progesterone injections prior to surgery (group Ap), dogs in diestrus (group D), in diestrus which received subcutaneous aglepristone injections prior to surgery (group Da), in diestrus which received oral trilostane prior to surgery (group Dt) and dogs in pregnancy of duration of 28-42 days (group P). Serum progesterone concentrations were measured in all dogs before and after any hormonal treatment and serum allopregnanolone concentrations were measured in selected dogs from all groups. The required dose of propofol for induction of anesthesia and the required isoflurane concentration for maintenance of anesthesia and the need for intraoperative fentanyl administration and extra postoperative pethidine analgesia were recorded. After statistical analysis, there were no significant differences between groups, regarding their anesthetic or analgesic requirements, that could be attributed to serum progesterone and/or allopregnanolone concentration. However, moderate correlations within certain groups were noted. Serum progesterone or allopregnanolone concentrations do not seem to have an effect on anesthetic and analgesic requirements for ovariohysterectomy in the dog or any potential effect is weak enough to be masked by the action of anesthetic premedication and/or analgesic and/or anaesthetic drugs used

PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON SEDIMENT CORE FROM THE TYRO BASIN

Η παρούσα εργασία παρουσιάζει τα προκαταρκτικά αποτελέσματα της ορυκτολογικής και μικροπαλαιοντολογικής ανάλυσης που πραγματοποιήθηκε σε δείγματα ιζημάτων από τον πυρήνα TYR05 που συλλέχθηκε από την ανοξική και υπεράλμυρη λεκάνη Τύρου στην ανατολική Μεσόγειο. Ο πυρήνας αποτελεί μία σύνθετη λιθοστρωματογραφική ακολουθία που αποδίδεται στο ισχυρό γεωδυναμικό καθεστώς της περιοχής. Οι συγκεντρώσεις πλαγκτονικών τρηματοφόρων παρουσιάζουν διακυμάνσεις οι οποίες συμπίπτουν με αλλαγές στη λιθολογία του πυρήνα. Η ορυκτολογική σύσταση των ιζημάτων δείχνει επίδραση από τους εβαπορίτες που δημιουργούνται στον πυθμένα της λεκάνης. Τα ορυκτά συστατικά σε σχέση με τις συγκεντρώσεις της μικροπανίδας δείχνουν ότι τα ιζήματα περιλαμβάνουν σαπροπηλικά στρώματα. Χρειάζονται επιπλέον αναλύσεις για τον ασφαλή προσδιορισμό των σαπροπηλικών αποθέσεων.The present paper summarizes the preliminary results of the mineralogical and micropaleontological analysis conducted on sediment samples from core TYR05 retrieved from the anoxic and hypersaline Tyro basin in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The core comprises a complex lithostratigraphic sequence attributed to the strong geodynamic regime of the area. The planktonic foraminifera associations present fluctuations which coincide with changes in the lithology of the core. The mineralogical composition of the sediments shows influence from the evaporites developed on the bottom of the basin. The mineral constituents in association to the microfauna assemblages suggest that the sediments include sapropelic layers. Further analyses are needed in order to determine safely the sapropelic deposits

Distribution of dissolved inorganic carbon and related parameters in the Thermaikos Gulf (Eastern Mediterranean)

Data on the distribution of dissolved inorganic carbon (measured as TCO2) and related parameters in the Thermaikos Gulf were obtained during May 1997. High TCO2 concentrations were recorded close to the bottom, especially in the northern part of the gulf, as a result of organic matter remineralisation. The positive relatively good correlation between TCO2 and both apparent oxygen utilisation (AOU) and phosphate at the last sampling depth confi rmed the regenerative origin of a large proportion of TCO2. The comparatively conservative behaviour of alkalinity, together with the relatively low value of the homogenous buffer factor β (β = ∂lnfCO2/∂lnTCO2) revealed that calcifi cation or carbonate dissolution takes place on a very small scale, simultaneously with the organic carbon production. The correlations between fCO2 and chlorophyll α, as well as AOU and the surface temperature, revealed that the carbon dioxide fi xation through the biological activity is the principal factor that modulates the variability of fCO2. A rough first estimate of the magnitude of the air-sea CO2 exchange and the potential role of the Thermaikos Gulf in the transfer of atmospheric CO2 was also obtained. The results showed that during May 1997, the Thermaikos Gulf acted as a weak sink for atmospheric CO2 at a rate of -0.60 - -1.43 mmol m-2 d-1, depending on which formula for the gas transfer velocity was used, and in accordance to recent reports regarding other temperate continental shelves. Extensive study of the dissolved inorganic carbon and related parameters, and continuous shipboard measurements of fCO2 a and fCO2 w during all seasons are necessary to safely quantify the role of the Thermaikos Gulf in the context of the coastal margins CO2 dynamics

Distribution of surficial sediments in the Southern Evoikos and Petalioi Gulfs, Greece

A series of 123 surficial sediment samples from the Southern Evoikos and Petalioi Gulfs was studied for grain-size properties, carbonate content and mineralogical composition. Distribution of the sediments revealed two sedimentary provinces. The first concerns the Southern Evoikos Gulf, characterised by silty sediments with relatively low carbonate content. Quartz, feldspars, micas, clay and carbonate minerals are the major mineralogical components of the sediments. These sediments are the result of the Asopos River supply during Holocene and they contribute to the formation of smooth bottom morphology. The second province concerns the Petalioi Gulf (Northern and Southern), where the surficial sediments are mainly sandy and characterised by very high carbonate content. Their mineralogical composition reflects the lithology of the drainage basin. Since the modern terrigenous solid supply is limited, these sediments are not considered as products of recent sedimentation, but older deposits (relict sands). Their presence at such depths is justified by sea-level fluctuations and their preservation is due to the low sedimentation rate in the Petalioi Gulf, in combination with the strong hydrodynamic status of the area

Cross-shore profile and coastline changes of a sandy beach in Pieria, Greece, based on measurements and numerical simulation

In the present work, the changes of cross-shore profile and the coastline of a sandy beach in Pieria, Greece, are studied by using topographic profiles, sediment analysis and a numerical simulation model. The work is motivated by the considerable erosion problems caused to an extended portion of the coast north of the studied area due to the construction of a craft shelter, and its scope is two-fold: to help in understanding the dynamics of the beach based on results of the field work and to proceed a step further, studying the responses of this beach by numerical simulation, utilizing the topographic and sediment field data and measured wave data. The study of the cross-shore profiles, as well as the sediment analysis of the samples obtained along the profiles, revealed the morphological features of the coast under study and provided information concerning the dynamic zones in each profile. The sediment grain size reduces from south to north, following the direction of the longshore currents generated in the area. The results of the numerical simulation concerning the coastline evolution are found to be in agreement with the qualitative estimations and visual observations of existing coastal changes to the broader area