Near future climate change projections with implications for the agricultural sector of three major Mediterranean islands

AbstractThe paper presents the analysis of a sub-set of high-resolution bias-adjusted simulations from the EURO-CORDEX initiative, in order to examine the changes in the mean climate and the extremes in three Mediterranean islands, namely, Sicily, Crete and Cyprus, in the near future (2031–2060) compared to the present climate (1971–2000), under two future scenarios, i.e. RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. The analysis entails commonly used climatic indices of interest related to the islands' agricultural sector. The results indicate robust increases for both the mean maximum and minimum temperatures on a seasonal basis, as well as for the temperature related extremes under both climate scenarios. On the contrary, the changes in precipitation are less pronounced as the changes in the seasonal precipitation are not found statistically significant for the three islands under both scenarios. The projected warming combined with the projected unchanged precipitation pattern in the future, especially in spring and summer, might expose the crops to conditions with a negative impact on the plants' phenology, leading to implications on crop production and quality. The results presented here might be the basis for the development of an adaptation strategy specifically targeted on the three islands but also replicable to other Mediterranean islands

Assessing climate change impacts on crops by adopting a set of crop performance indicators

AbstractThe impact of climate change on the agricultural systems of three major islands in the Mediterranean basin, namely Sicily, Crete and Cyprus, was evaluated using a suite of specifically calibrated crop models and the outputs of a regional circulation model for Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 downscaled to 12 km of resolution and tested for its effectiveness in reproducing the local meteorological data. The most important annual (wheat, barley, tomato and potato) and perennial (grapevine and olive tree) crops were selected to represent the agricultural systems of the islands. The same modelling framework was used to test the effectiveness of autonomous adaptation options, such as shifting sowing date and the use of varieties with different growing season length. The results highlighted that, on average, warmer temperatures advanced both anthesis and maturity of the selected crops, but at different magnitudes depending on the crop and the island. Winter crops (barley, wheat and potato) experienced the lowest impact in terms of yield loss with respect to the baseline, with even some positive effects, especially in Sicily where both wheat and barley showed a general increase of 9% as compared to the baseline, while potato increased up to + 17%. Amongst perennial crops, olive tree showed low variation under RCP 4.5, but on average increased by 7% under RCP 8.5 on the three islands. Climate change had a detrimental effect specifically on tomato (− 2% on average in RCP 8.5 and 4.5 on the three islands) and grapevine (− 7%). The use of different sowing dates, or different varieties, revealed that for winter crops early autumn sowing is still the best option for producing wheat and barley in future periods on the three islands under both future scenarios. For tomato and potato, advancing sowing date to early winter is a winning strategy that may even increase final yield (+ 9% for tomato and + 17% for potato, on average). For grapevine, the use of late varieties, while suffering the most from increasing temperatures and reduced rainfall (− 15%, on average), is still a valuable option to keep high yield levels with respect to earlier varieties, which even if showing some increases with respect to the baseline have a generally much lower production level. The same may be applied to olive tree although the production differences between late and early varieties are less evident and climate change exerts a favourable influence (+ 4 and + 3% for early and late varieties, respectively)

Risk evaluation and risk acceptance: part b, risk acceptance criteria in safety

135 σ.Παρουσίαση των κριτηρίων αποδοχής κοινωνικού και ατομικού ρίσκου. Έμφαση στο μαθηματικό υποβαθρο των κριτηρίων που εφαρμόζονται σήμερα,προβλήματα των χρησιμοποιύμενων κριτηρίων, προτάσεις για μελλοντικά κριτήρια.Presentation of the Risk Acceptance Criteria in use today. Particular emphasis in the mathematical background, shortcomings of the criteria in use and insights for future action.Γιάννης Δ. Γιαννακόπουλο

Wastewater treatment coupled to algal biomass production

Wastewater treatment is an indispensable part of modern societies and a key factor in terms of sustainability. Microalgae-based systems can significantly contribute to nutrient recovery and removal of contaminants from a broad range of wastewaters. The microalgal biomass that is concurrently produced can be further valorized into various bioproducts. In this chapter, wastewater treatment using microalgae is analyzed, presenting the bioavailable nutrients and describing different types of effluents used in microalgal systems. Furthermore, common inhibitors found in wastewaters are presented. The most suitable microalgae, the underlying microbial interactions as well as the most common photobioreactor types and cultivation modes are discussed and, finally, the prospects of the produced biomass are highlighted

Low-carbon footprint cements incorporating high volumes of bauxite residue

The use of large quantities of bauxite residue (BR) to produce two types of low-carbon cement (ferrobelitic and aluminoferrite) was studied in this project. These types of cement are of great interest for the industry because of the lower energy demand and CO2 footprint as well as the higher possible incorporation of by-products, compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). To produce the clinkers, BR was combined with limestone, clays and reagent chemicals in order to achieve a suitable raw meal chemistry. The goal was to keep BR addition constant at 50 wt% in all mixtures. The mineralogical phase formation at different burning temperatures was estimatedby means of thermodynamic calculations. Clinkers were produced at different temperatures, 1200, 1250 and 1300 °C, followed by rapid cooling by air. The obtained clinkers were mineralogically quantified by the Rietveld method using X-Ray diffraction analysis. Additionally, microstructural characterisation was performed using SEM-EDS. Hydration kinetics were also studied by isothermal calorimetry. The results show that BR quantities as high as 50 wt% can be used to produce reactive, and environmental friendly cement clinkers.status: publishe

Assessing the Efficacy of Cryptocurrency Applications’ Affiliate Marketing Process on Supply Chain Firms’ Website Visibility

Recent developments in blockchain technology have enabled the development of wallet applications for storing peoples’ cryptocurrency reserves. Cryptocurrency wallet applications could deploy affiliate marketing processes to increase the visibility of their products. From these affiliate marketing processes, supply chain firms in the air forwarding sector that seek to advertise their services to a larger audience could be benefited. This research examines whether affiliate marketing initials of cryptocurrency wallet applications affect their digital marketing efficiency, as well as whether air forwarding firms’ website visibility could be benefited from them. After collecting the required Web Analytic data, the authors performed statistical analysis (correlations and linear regressions), followed by Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM) macroanalysis and Hybrid Modeling (HM) microanalysis to assess the outcomes of cryptocurrency wallet applications’ affiliate marketing programs. Hence, from the deployed methodology, valuable insights arose. The first part of the produced outcomes concerns the effect of cryptocurrency wallet application affiliate marketing metrics on their digital marketing results. The increased implications of affiliate marketing metrics (referring domains, backlinks, etc.) decrease the number of pages their visitors see. Regarding the air forwarder firms’ website visibility, specific metrics (branded and referral traffic) were increased and others (social traffic) were decreased from the increment of cryptocurrency wallet application affiliate marketing metrics (backlinks, internal links, etc.). Supply chain firms, in the air forwarding sector, could have increased website visibility by deploying advertisements and affiliate marketing initiatives with cryptocurrency wallet organizations. Summing up, specific affiliate marketing metrics of cryptocurrency wallet applications are capable of significantly impacting their digital marketing performance and also constitute determinant factors of supply chain firms’ website visibility

Bauxite residue as main raw material in the production of calcium sulfo-ferroaluminate clinker

status: publishe

The effects of a single session of rhythmic movement program on selected biopsychological parameters in PD patients: a methodological approach

This is an accepted manuscript due to be published by MDPI in Medicina. The accepted manuscript may differ from the final published version.Abstract: The aim of the present study is to examine the acute effects of a specially designed musicokinetic (MSK) program for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) on a) anxiety levels b) select kinematic and kinetic parameters, and c) frontal cortex hemodynamic responses, during gait initiation and steady-state walking. Methods: this is a blind cross over randomized control trial (RCT) in which 13 volunteers with PD will attend a 45 min MSK program under the following conditions: a) synchronous learning format, and b) asynchronous remote video- based. Changes in gait biomechanics and frontal cortex hemodynamic responses will be examined using a 10-camera 3D motion analysis (Vicon T-series, Oxford, UK), and a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (f-NIRS - Portalite, Artinis, NL) system, respectively, while anxiety levels will be evaluated using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Expected results: Guided by the rules of music, where periodicity is distinct, our specially designed MSK program may eventually be beneficial in improving motor difficulties and, hence, reducing anxiety. The novelty of the presented design is the combined implementation of f-NIRS in parallel with 3D gait analysis, which until now, has yet to be evaluated in Parkinsonian patients following a MSK intervention. It is expected that the aforementioned intervention, through better rhythmicity, may improve the automatization of motor-control, gait kinematics and kinetics –supported by a decreased frontal cortex hemodynamic activity– which may be linked to reduced anxiety levels