HYDROCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND GEOTHERMOMETRY APPLICATIONS OF HOT GROUNDWATER IN EDIPSOS AREA, NW EUBOEA (EVIA), GREECE

Στην περιοχή της Αιδηψού υπάρχει πληθώρα θερμών πηγών, σαν αποτέλεσμα των ενεργών τεκτονικών διεργασιών και της σχετικά πρόσφατης ηφαιστειότητας (ηφαιστειακό κέντρο Λιχάδων) της περιοχής. Στα πλαίσια της παρούσας μελέτης πραγματοποιήθηκε γεωχημική έρευνα των υπογείων θερμών νερών της περιοχής, με σκοπό να αξιολογηθεί το γεωθερμικό δυναμικό. Για τον σκοπό αυτό 12 δείγματα θερμών νερών συλλέχθηκαν και αναλύθηκαν με φασματοφωτομετρία για κύρια ιόντα και με AAS, ICP-OES και ICP-MS για κύρια στοιχεία και  χνοστοιχεία. Από την επεξεργασία των αποτελεσμάτων διαπιστώθηκε πως ο χημισμός των υπόγειων θερμών νερών της Αιδηψού ελέγχεται από 3 παράγοντες: α) μια βαθιά μαγματική πηγή, β) την χημική σύσταση των περιβαλλόντων πετρωμάτων (π.χ. υπερβασικά πετρώματα και ασβεστόλιθοι) και γ) το θαλασσινό νερό. Η εφαρμογή χημικών γεωθερμομέτρων πρέπει να γίνει με μεγάλη προσοχή στο εν λόγω πεδίο, εξαιτίας της χημικής σύστασης των θερμών νερών και κυρίως λόγω της μεγάλης συμμετοχής θαλασσινού νερού. Το πιο κατάλληλο χημικό γεωθερμόμετρο είναι του Na-K-Ca, βάσει του οποίου υπολογίστηκε ότι η θερμοκρασία ενός πιθανού γεωθερμικού ταμιευτήρα στην περιοχή μπορεί να φτάνει έως τους 160oC. Παρότι πολλές μελέτες έχον διεξαχθεί στην περιοχή, ακόμη παραμένουν αναπάντητα ερωτήματα σχετικά με υπόγεια κυκλοφορία του θερμού νερού, στα οποία μόνο ένα πρόγραμμα βαθιών γεωθερμικών γεωτρήσεων μπορεί να δώσει απαντήσεις.In Edipsos area many hot springs occur, as a result of both active tectonic of the area and recent volcanism (Lichades volcanic center). A geochemical study of Edipsos hot groundwaters was undertaken, in order to assess the hydrochemistry of hot springs from Edipsos and re-evaluate the geothermal situation of the area. For that purpose, 12 water samples were collected and analyzed by Spectrophotometry for the main ions and by AAS, ICP-OES and ICP-MS for major and trace elements. The interpretation of the analytical data showed that the geochemistry of Edipsos hot groundwaters is controlled by three factors i) a deep magmatic source, ii) the chemical composition of the local rocks (ultramafic and carbonates) and iii) sea water. The application of chemical geothermometers is problematic because of the chemical composition of the hot groundwaters and especially the high participation of the sea water. The temperature which derives from the use of Na-K-Ca geothermometer is greater than 160°C. Although, several studies have conducted in the area still remain unanswered questions concerning the underground circulation of the hot groundwater, in which only deep drilling data could give answers

HYDROCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE HOT GROUNDWATER OF AMPELIA AREA, EASTERN THESSALY, GREECE. A NEW AREA WITH GEOTHERMAL INTEREST

Η περιοχή της Αμπελίας είναι μια νέο-ανακαλυφθείσα περιοχή, η οποία παρουσιάζει γεωθερμικό ενδιαφέρον, χωρίς να παρουσιάσει επιφανειακές γεωθερμικές εκδηλώσεις. Εντοπίζεται στη λεκάνη των Φαρσάλων και ανήκει στο τεκτονικό βύθισμα του Ενιπέα. Η γεωθερμική ανωμαλία συνδέεται με τα ρήματα διεύθυνσης Α-Δ, που ελέγχουν την δημιουργία της κοιλάδας και τα διασταυρούμενα σε αυτά ρήγματα διεύθυνσης ΒΒΔ-ΝΝΑ. Οι θερμοκρασίες από τις βαθιές γεωτρήσεις (> 200 μ) κυμαίνονται από 20 έως 41oC. Η χημική σύσταση των δειγμάτων παρουσιάζει έντονες διαφοροποιήσεις. Τα περισσότερα δείγματα έχουν επηρεαστεί από κρύους επιφανειακούς υδροφόρους (υψηλές τιμές E.C. και NO3-). Τα πιο αντιπροσωπευτικά δείγματα με T > 30oC προέρχονται από βαθιές γεωτρήσεις που αναπτύσσονται και μέσα στο τεκτονισμένο κρυσταλλικό υπόβαθρο (ασβεστόλιθοι, φλύσχης, οφιολιθικά πετρώματα). Τα δείγματα αυτά παρουσιάζουν τις υψηλότερες τιμές pH (pH > 8) και τις χαμηλότερες τιμές E.C. Επίσης, παρουσιάζουν πολύ χαμηλές συγκεντρώσεις Ni και Cr, ενδεικτικό ότι δεν είναι σε επαφή με τα υπερβασικά πετρώματα των οφιολιθικών σχηματισμών. Βασιζόμενοι σε πυριτικά χημικά γεωθερμόμετρα και εστιάζοντας κυρίως στις τιμές των πιο αντιπροσωπευτικών δειγμάτων εκτιμάται ότι η θερμοκρασία ενός πιθανού γεωθερμικού ταμιευτήρα στην περιοχή πρέπει να κυμαίνεται από ~ 60 έως 100oC.Ampelia area is a newly discovered area with geothermal interest and no surface manifestations (hidden resource). It is located in Farsala basin and belongs to the Enipeas graben. The geothermal anomaly is related with the E-W trending faults, which mainly control the basin development and the NNW-SSE trending faults of the area. The temperature values from the deep water boreholes (>200m depth) range from 20 to 41oC. The chemical composition of the studied groundwater samples varies in all chemical parameters. Most of the samples have affected by shallow cold aquifers (high E.C. and NO3- values). The most representative samples (T > 30oC) are from the deepest boreholes (hydrochemical type Na-HCO3), which cut the fractured crystalline basement, i.e. limestones, flysch and ophiolitic rocks. They present the highest pH values (pH > 8) and the lowest E.C. compared with the rest of the samples. Their Ni and Cr concentrations are very low, indicating that the groundwater is notin contact with the ultramafic rocks from the ophiolite sequence. According to silica chemical geothermometers for the most representative samples, the expected temperature values of a potential geothermal reservoir range from ~ 60 to 100oC

Transforming urinary stone disease management by artificial intelligence-based methods: A comprehensive review

Objective: To provide a comprehensive review on the existing research and evi-dence regarding artificial intelligence (AI) applications in the assessment and management of urinary stone disease.Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases to identify publications about innovative concepts or supporting applica-tions of AI in the improvement of every medical procedure relating to stone disease. The terms "endourology", "artificial intelligence", "machine learning", and "urolithiasis"were used for searching eligible reports, while review articles, articles referring to automated procedures without AI application, and editorial comments were excluded from the final set of publica-tions. The search was conducted from January 2000 to September 2023 and included manu-scripts in the English language.Results: A total of 69 studies were identified. The main subjects were related to the detection of urinary stones, the prediction of the outcome of conservative or operative management, the optimization of operative procedures, and the elucidation of the relation of urinary stone chemistry with various factors.Conclusion: AI represents a useful tool that provides urologists with numerous amenities, which explains the fact that it has gained ground in the pursuit of stone disease management perfection. The effectiveness of diagnosis and therapy can be increased by using it as an alter-native or adjunct to the already existing data. However, little is known concerning the poten-tial of this vast field. Electronic patient records, containing big data, offer AI the opportunity to develop and analyze more precise and efficient diagnostic and treatment algorithms. Never-theless, the existing applications are not generalizable in real-life practice, and high-quality studies are needed to establish the integration of AI in the management of urinary stone dis-ease.CNN ; CNN

Choline transporter gene variation is associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

The neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) plays a critical role in brain circuits mediating motor control, attention, learning and memory. Cholinergic dysfunction is associated with multiple brain disorders including Alzheimer’s Disease, addiction, schizophrenia and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The presynaptic choline transporter (CHT, SLC5A7) is the major, rate-limiting determinant of ACh production in the brain and periphery and is consequently upregulated during tasks that require sustained attention. Given the contribution of central cholinergic circuits to the control of movement and attention, we hypothesized that functional CHT gene variants might impact risk for ADHD. We performed a case-control study, followed by family-based association tests on a separate cohort, of two purportedly functional CHT polymorphisms (coding variant Ile89Val (rs1013940) and a genomic SNP 3’ of the CHT gene (rs333229), affording both a replication sample and opportunities to reduce potential population stratification biases. Initial genotyping of pediatric ADHD subjects for two purportedly functional CHT alleles revealed a 2–3 fold elevation of the Val89 allele (n = 100; P = 0.02) relative to healthy controls, as well as a significant decrease of the 3’SNP minor allele in Caucasian male subjects (n = 60; P = 0.004). In family based association tests, we found significant overtransmission of the Val89 variant to children with a Combined subtype diagnosis (OR = 3.16; P = 0.01), with an increased Odds Ratio for a haplotype comprising both minor alleles. These studies show evidence of cholinergic deficits in ADHD, particularly for subjects with the Combined subtype, and, if replicated, may encourage further consideration of cholinergic agonist therapy in the disorder

Seawater-dominated, tectonically controlled and volcanic related geothermal systems: the case of the geothermal area in the northwest of the island of Euboea (Evia), Greece

The northwest of the island of Euboea is located in a back-arc geological position, at the western extremity of the North Anatolian Fault. In that area, several hot springs occur in three locations (Ilia, Gialtra, Aedipsos; including newly found offshore-springs) with temperatures up to 84 °C, depositing ore-grade thermogenic travertine. The geothermal system is seawater-dominated and under pressure, using the local fault systems and is related to the Plio-Pleistocene Lichades volcanic centre. The whole area could be characterized as the lateral tips of a major fault segment, with the presence of complex networks of additional fault systems leading to fault intersections. That conclusion is also supported by the travitonic data. The geothermal fluids are near neutral pH, sodium-chloride and their chemistry is controlled by: (i) high seawater participation, (ii) a deep magmatic source and (iii) chemical composition of the bedrocks. Based on all the available data, including drilling and temperature logging data, the bedrock hosting the upflow circulation of the geothermal fluid is not in hydraulic connection with cold aquifers or permeable geological formations of the area. The local metamorphic rock formations are impermeable and work as a geothermal cap. Also, Aedipsos’ vast deposit of thermogenic travertine probably acts as a second geothermal cap formation. However, at the same time, it presents serious thermal anomalies, since major geothermal fluid circulation has been identified inside its fractures. According to chemical geothermometers, the temperature of the geothermal reservoir is 140–164 °C. The typical geothermal gradients in the area are from 7.8 °C/100 m to 18.7 °C/100 m. In one case, an anomalous high geothermal gradient (53.9 °C/100 m) was found, most probably due to spatial shape diversity of the geothermal reservoir, a suggestion also supported by the estimated circulation depth of the geothermal fluid, which varies from area to area (~ 300–1800 m) and the fluid residence time (by 226Ra–222Rn method), which is around 80–100 years. © 2020, Geologische Vereinigung e.V. (GV)

Allogeneic anterior lens capsule transplantation (ALCT) for the management of HSV neurotrophic keratitis

Purpose: To report a case of allogeneic anterior lens capsule transplantation (ALCT) for the management of HSV neurotrophic epithelial keratitis. Observations: An 81-year-old man was referred to our department due to neurotrophic keratitis in the left eye that he had been suffering from over the past 3 months. He had recurrent episodes of HSV keratitis in the left eye over the past 3 years and despite multiple previous treatments, there was no improvement. At the time of presentation, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 20/200 in the right eye and no light perception (NLP) in the left eye. Slit-lamp examination revealed a corneal epithelial defect with underlying stromal thinning and concomitant scarring. An allogeneic anterior lens capsule (ALC) was placed over the epithelial defect to act as a biological dressing, anchored with a droplet of fibrin glue. A bandage contact lens (BCL) was placed over to prevent the slippage of the ALC. No intra or postoperative complications were observed. Two weeks later, the ALC was removed revealing complete epithelial healing, while two months later the epithelium remained completely healed with a significant reduction of corneal scarring. Conclusions and importance: Anterior Lens Capsule transplantation (ALCT) seems to be a promising new treatment option for the management of corneal neurotrophic keratitis