Utilisation of lignite fly ash in oil sorption and energy saving during clinker production

Abstract The present study aims at developing an environmental application of lignite fly ash, which constitutes the main by-product of power production by lignite combustion and whose greater amount remains unutilised. In particular, its application in oil spill cleanup and the further utilisation of the resultant oilfly ash mixtures in energy saving during clinker production has been investigated. For the amelioration of the floating ability and the oil sorption capacity of lignite fly ash, the mixing with a cheap, light and porous agricultural by-product, such as sawdust, has been applied. The addition of 30-50% w/w sawdust results not only in amelioration of the behaviour of lignite fly ash when added to oil spill in marine environment, by contributing to better floating and total oil removal, but also in increase in its oil sorption capacity by up to 50-80%. The higher calorific value of the resultant oil-lignite fly ashsawdust mixtures rising up to that of oil and bituminous coal encourages their utilisation as alternative fuels in cement industry. The remaining after their combustion ash varies from 18 to 58% w/w and its chemical and mineralogical composition differentiates slightly from the initial one. Analyses showed that it is enriched in Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , reactive SiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , CaO, CaO f and SO 3 . An increase in phases, such as anhydrite, gehlenite, gismondine, portlandite, and a decrease in lime and calcite are observed. However, the change observed in its composition is not expected to change the composition of clinker produced

The implementation of the law 4509/2017 in the Forensic Department of the Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki

According to the Explanatory Memorandum of the law 4509/2017, a significant change is being made to the current institutional framework of Articles 69 and 70 of the ECHR concerning the penal treatment of mentally ill offenders, in order to ensure a high level of treatment for perpetrators with mental or intellectual disorder. In application of the law, it was examined in court the abolishment, maintenance or replacement of the treatment measure of 47 patients from the Department of Forensic Psychiatry in Thessaloniki. The results were compared with the previous status quo. In 22 cases, abolishment was ordered for the patients to be discharged and return to their parent's home or to Psychosocial Rehabilitation Units. In 11 of them, their stay was in direct violation of the law due to exceeding the cap as defined by the severity of the offense. However, 7 patients remain voluntarily in the Department, as no beds are available in reintegration structures. 13 patients who have committed homicide remain with the psychiatrist's agreement beyond the overrunning the ten years of treatment due to the severity of the disease or the risk for violent behavior. The Public Prosecutor has provided solutions in many cases and has appointed lawyers for all patients as prescribed by law. However, the judiciary remains cautious and the trend towards exhaustion of the limits is clear, despite the fact that their fears are not confirmed by international bibliographic data. The application of N 4509/2017 attempts to change the landscape for this particular group of patients and allows visions for de-institutionalization, elimination of the stigma and personalized treatment, despite any ambiguities or potential problems that may arise. However, as the predominant social viewpoint, shown by the media, treats the mentally ill as dangerous, any positive changes are doomed to fail. In addition, it is necessary to develop psychiatric services for the treatment of patients which will not only treat psychotic symptoms but also antisocial and aggressive behavior in general

Effect of limestone and dolomite tailings’ particle size on potentially toxic elements adsorption

The aim of the study is the investigation of potentially toxic elements adsorption on limestone, dolomite and marble particles of different size. As parameters, rock particle size, solution concentration, contact time and presence of other elements in the solution have been investigated. Four fractions with different particle size (−4mm + 1mm, −1mm + 315μm, −315μm + 90μm, <90μm) have been studied. Batch experiments have been carried out at 20, 60, 120 min from monoelement and competitive Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn solutions at concentrations 5, 100, 500 mg/L, whereas fixed bed conditions have also been applied. In lower concentrations, adsorption reaches equilibrium after 60 min. 15% difference in Pb adsorption and 15-30% in Zn adsorption has been observed depending on particle size. However, according to Taguchi method particle size has not proven a determinative parameter, so as to make grinding and/or sieving necessary for their further utilisation. Cd and Zn adsorption from a competitive solution is lower, whereas Cu and Pb adsorption is similar. Adsorption capacity of materials rises up to 0.03 mg Cd/g, 0.60 mg Cu/g, 0.03 mg Pb/g, 0.60 mg Zn/g. In fixed bed conditions more than 93% element is adsorbed, of which only 4% is leached

Self-immolation Suicide in Greece: A Forensic Psychiatric Autopsy Study between 2011 and 2019

Self-immolation is a rare suicide method in the developed countries of the western world (0.06–1%); however, it has relatively higher prevalence rates in the developing countries of Asia and Africa (6–57%). The present study aims to examine self-immolation suicides within the Greek mainland (Attiki, Thrace, and Peloponnese) over a period of 9 years (2011–2019) in order to investigate the phenomenon in the Greek population forensically, identify the characteristics and motivations of suicide victims, explore its associations to socio-cultural or psychiatric factors, and describe a fatal case of suicide by self-immolation that was partially recorded on camera. The medical files (autopsy reports) of cases performed at the Departments of Forensic Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Democritus University of Thrace, and the Forensic Service of Messinia—Peloponnese were retrospectively examined yielding 19 cases of suicides by self-immolation. A 3.7% prevalence of suicide by self-immolation among suicide fatalities within the Greek population was estimated. A distinctive feature of the Greek population regarding self-immolation was disclosed that it is being practiced predominantly by the elderly (mean age 2–3.5 decades higher than other countries). The phenomenon correlated strongly with poorly controlled mental disorders (mostly affective and adjustment disorders). Unlike other countries, there was no significant association with domestic or sexual violence, social or political protest, or religious issues. Therefore, the suicide victims preferred secluded or private outdoor locations (not public). Findings deriving from the examined variables localize Greek population culturally between the Western European and Asian African countries, but with its own idiosyncrasies. © 2020 American Academy of Forensic Science

Investigating the phenomenon of overkill in Greece: A forensic psychiatric autopsy study between 2005 and 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate overkill in the Greek population from a criminological and victimological point of view and explore possible correlations of the phenomenon with socio-cultural or psychiatric factors. Overall, 158 autopsies of overkill victims were identified throughout the 15-year records of the national forensic laboratories throughout the northern Greek mainland. The pattern that has emerged from the statistical results of the present study on the victims of overkill within the Greek borders was generally in line with global statistics on homicide victims, but also presented differences. The phenomenon correlated more with homicides in the context of mental disorders (within schizophrenia spectrum), other crimes (such as burglary) as well as domestic violence. Overall, males outnumbered females both as victims (approximately threefold) and as perpetrators in overkill homicide cases, but regarding domestic violence, the sad majority of overkill victims stood for females murdered with excessive violence by male relatives. Close female relatives (especially mothers and grandmothers) were also victimized by psychiatrically ill offenders. Female perpetrators tended to attack male individuals with whom they shared a relationship (intimate partners). An important finding was the fact that less than half the offenders’ population with major mental disorders were diagnosed at the time of the offense. Overkill victims were found, on average, to be older than average homicide victims, being probably associated with the entailed difference in the physical strength ratio between the victim and the perpetrator. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicin

What scans see when patients see defects: neuroimaging findings in body dysmorphic disorder

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by an individual’s preoccupation with a perceived defect in their appearance which to others may be barely noticeable or even completely unnoticed. It confers significant disturbances of everyday functioning in affected persons. The present review study provides an overview of neuroimaging findings on BDD. Literature on three platforms, PubMed, Google Scholar and PsycArticles of APA PsycNet, was searched for studies on patients with BBD compared with healthy controls (HCs), with a focus on neuroimaging findings. Out of an initial yield of 414 articles, 23 fulfilled inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Among the most remarkable findings were functional abnormalities in visual processing, frontostriatal and limbic systems, reduced global efficiency of White Matter (WM) connectivity, reduced cortical thickness in temporal and parietal lobes, and correlations between these neuroimaging findings and clinical variables such as symptom severity and degree of insight. Structural, volumetric and functional neuroimaging findings in BDD affected persons may help shed light on the pathophysiology and neurobiological underpinnings of this condition. Future studies should further investigate the use of imaging findings as potential prognostic biomarkers of treatment efficacy and disease outcome. Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press

Prevalence and Impact of Reformed and De Novo Anti-HLA Donor-Specific Antibodies in Liver Transplantation

Introduction: The prevalence and impact of pre-existing and de novo anti-HLA donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is still controversial. We investigated the prevalence of DSAs and their implication in the development of allograft dysfunction after OLT. Patients and Methods: A total of 65 liver transplant patients were tested for anti-HLA antibodies, with single antigen bead technology, before, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after transplantation, and thereafter annually, along with other risk factors. Sixteen out of 65 patients (24.6%) had circulating pre-existing anti-HLA antibodies, and 4 of them (25%) had DSAs. All patients positive for anti-HLA antibodies (100%) presented allograft dysfunction. Fourteen out of 65 patients (21.5%) had circulating de novo DSAs, and 12 out of 14 (85.7%) presented allograft dysfunction. The investigated risk factors for allograft dysfunction were: recipient and donor age, time on the waiting list, cold ischemia time, cytomegalovirus infection, immunosuppression regimen, de novo DSAs, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), direct bilirubin and total bilirubin peak post-transplant, and alkaline phosphatase. The multivariate analysis showed that de novo DSAs and time on the waiting list were independent risk factors for allograft dysfunction. Conclusion: Our results show that de novo DSAs are an independent risk factor for allograft dysfunction, along with time on the waiting list. © 2019 Elsevier Inc