The ISARM/South Eastern Europe (SEE) Programme: Sharing Data and Information

ABSTRACT Approximately 90% of the territory in South Eastern European (SEE) countries lies within shared water basins and therefore the effective management of transboundary waters is of particular importance for the region. Transboundary aquifer resources are also vital sources of freshwater. 65 Transboundary Aquifers (TA) were identified in the region in an inventory developed in 2007 by the UNESCO Chair and International Network of Water/Environment Centres for the Balkans (www.inweb.gr) at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in cooperation with UNESCO/IHP, as part of the UNESCO/ISARM worldwide initiative. TA in SEE, and especially those which are karstic, are highly vulnerable to pollution from different pressure factors (agriculture, industry, mining, sewage/waste disposal and tourism). In this paper, the WEB-based metadata inventory on transboundary aquifers in SEE (the Balkans) is described. This inventory is the first step towards implementing the UNESCO/ISARM (Internationally Shared Aquifer Resources Management) programme in the region. This programme uses a multidisciplinary methodological approach and is based on an effective cooperation mechanism between countries in order to reduce groundwater and ecosystem vulnerabilities and contribute to sustainable management of transboundary groundwater resources in the SEE region. Together with the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and other partners the cooperative project DiKTAS (Dinaric Karst Transboundary Aquifer System) was formulated specifically for the Dinaric region. The project preparation phase was completed in December 2009, and the FSP (Full Size Project) is expected to effectively start in 2010

Synaptic Defects in the Spinal and Neuromuscular Circuitry in a Mouse Model of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a major genetic cause of death in childhood characterized by marked muscle weakness. To investigate mechanisms underlying motor impairment in SMA, we examined the spinal and neuromuscular circuitry governing hindlimb ambulatory behavior in SMA model mice (SMNΔ7). In the neuromuscular circuitry, we found that nearly all neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in hindlimb muscles of SMNΔ7 mice remained fully innervated at the disease end stage and were capable of eliciting muscle contraction, despite a modest reduction in quantal content. In the spinal circuitry, we observed a ∼28% loss of synapses onto spinal motoneurons in the lateral column of lumbar segments 3–5, and a significant reduction in proprioceptive sensory neurons, which may contribute to the 50% reduction in vesicular glutamate transporter 1(VGLUT1)-positive synapses onto SMNΔ7 motoneurons. In addition, there was an increase in the association of activated microglia with SMNΔ7 motoneurons. Together, our results present a novel concept that synaptic defects occur at multiple levels of the spinal and neuromuscular circuitry in SMNΔ7 mice, and that proprioceptive spinal synapses could be a potential target for SMA therapy

Groundwater bodies in ecology and ecosystems

The symbiosis of two worlds, abiotic and biotic, requires a diffusible and active bridge between them, which is water. Furthermore, water takes part in photosynthesis in plants allowing biological organisms to transform inorganic materials into organic ones. The hydraulic connections between surface and ground waters ensure water availability and quality. These interactions have an important ecological significance. The transition zone between the two systems, known as an ecotone, ensures the smooth mutual contribution of the surface, hyporheic and ground water ecosystems. Finally the groundwater systems have their own "groundwater ecology". As every alteration to the natural environment, climatic change affects the ecosystems, modifying the water supply (precipitation) and ecosystems parameters; e.g., directly in the case of temperature and humidity, or indirectly in the case of pH, electric conductivity, redox potential, and carbon dioxide (CO2) entrainment

Assessment of morphometric parameters of Greek Rhone-type deltas. Hydrogeologic and environmental aspects

The morphometric characteristics and some features concerning the local conditions of three Rhone-type Greek deltas are considered, summarized and correlated. They both express the deltaic internal lithologic structure and the configuration of the coast lines and subaqueous profiles. Despite the existing differences, concerning the lithologic structure, the coastline shape and the subaqueous profile, the Rhone type deltas maintain their principal characters and their basic configuration of the deltaic prominence. The above-mentioned differences are mainly due to local conditions which, as epigenetic factors, affect the distribution of transported material and complete the classification and deposit action of marine mechanisms, mainly the wave action and sea currents. The totality of these factors determined the continental and subaqueous structure of the deltas, which is related to the environmental and hydrogeological aspects presented in this paper. The morphometric characteristics and some features concerning the local conditions of three Rhone-type Greek deltas are considered, summarized and correlated. They both express the deltaic internal lithologic structure and the configuration of the coast lines and subaqueous profiles. Despite the existing differences, concerning the lithologic structure, the coastline shape and the subaqueous profile, the Rhone type deltas maintain their principal characters and their basic configuration of the deltaic prominence. The above-mentioned differences are mainly due to local conditions which, as epigenetic factors, affect the distribution of transported material and complete the classification and deposit action of marine mechanisms, mainly the wave action and sea currents. The totality of these factors determined the continental and subaqueous structure of the deltas, which is related to the environmental and hydrogeological aspects presented in this paper