Impact on the Quality of Life When Living Close to a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant

The objective of the study was to investigate the impact on the quality of life of people living close to a municipal wastewater treatment plant. A case control study, including 235 inhabitants living within a 500 m radius by a municipal wastewater treatment plant (cases) and 97 inhabitants living in a different area (controls), was conducted. A standardized questionnaire was self-completed by the participants which examined the general health perception and the overall life satisfaction. Also, the concentration of airborne pathogenic microorganisms in aerosol samples collected around the wastewater treatment plant was investigated. Significant risk for symptoms such as headache, unusual tiredness, and concentration difficulties was recorded and an increased possibility for respiratory and skin diseases was reported. A high rate of the cases being irritable and moody was noticed. Significantly higher gastrointestinal symptoms were also reported among the cases in relation to the controls. The prevalence of pathogenic airborne microorganisms originating from the wastewater treatment plant was reported in high numbers in sampling points close to the wastewater treatment plant. More analytical epidemiological investigations are needed to determine the cause as well as the burden of the diseases to inhabitants living surrounding the wastewater treatment plant

International evidence-based recommendations on ultrasound-guided vascular access

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Applications of nanomaterials in semiconductors and superconductors

149 σ.Σε αυτή τη διπλωματική εργασία αναλύθηκαν οι εφαρμογές των νανοϋλικών σε ημιαγωγούς και υπεραγωγούς.Αναλύονται διεξοδικά τα υλικά που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν, οι μέθοδοι παρασκευής των νανοϋλικών καθώς επίσης και οι πρόσφατες εφαρμογές τους.Applications of nanomaterials to semiconductors and superconductors.It includes methods of manufacturing of nanomaterials and the current application in these fields.Βασιλική Α. Φράγκο

The genetic basis of craniofacial and dental abnormalities

The embryonic head development, including the formation of dental structures, is a complex and delicate process guided by specific genetic programs. Genetic changes and environmental factors can disturb the execution of these programs and result in abnormalities in orofacial and dental structures. Orofacial clefts and hypodontia/ oligodontia are examples of such abnormalities frequently seen in dental clinics. An insight into the mechanisms and genes involved in the formation of orofacial and dental structures has been gradually gained by genetic analysis of families and by the use of experimental vertebrate models such as the mouse and chick models. The development of novel clinical therapies for orofacial and dental pathological conditions depends very much on a detailed knowledge of the molecular and cellular processes that are involved in head formation

Developing a Design Framework for UMI Educational Scenarios

Ubiquitous learning (u-learning) is a new paradigm which is based on ubiquitous computing technology. The most significant role of ubiquitous computing technology in u-learning is to construct a ubiquitous learning environment which enables anyone to learn at anytime anyplace. Nonetheless the characteristics of u-learning are still unclear and being debated by the research community. Designing instructional tools that actually promote u-learning experiences is a cumbersome task in the sense of taking into consideration and combining a variety of complex, technological tools and characteristics of u-learning. This study describes the characteristics and design methodology of a UMI-Sci-Ed* Educational Scenario Template as a medium to organize and construct u-learning experiences based in a u-learning environment. It also presents a case study scenario, based on UMI Subject Matter Experts’ interaction with the predefined and designed Educational Scenario Components