ENVIRONMENTAL – HYDROGEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON THE CLAY DEPOSITS IN THE BROAD AREA OF MESOLOGGI – AITOLIKO LAGOONS

A hydrogeological study took place in the broader area of Mesologgi – Aitoliko lagoons (West Greece) aiming at the investigation of a) the hydrogeological conditions of the area as well as the surface and groundwater influences on the quality of the clay deposits found in the lagoons and b) the properties of the clay in order to be identified as “therapeutic peloids”. Due to their location, the clay deposits could be influenced and possibly polluted from the surface waters. The aquifer of the unconsolidated formations presents low hydraulic conductivity, while the carbonate aquifer is bounded from the foregoing aquifer and therefore the possibility of clay pollution from the groundwater is very limited. pH of the sediments showing neutral and alkaline values, limits the mobility of some pollutants. Seawater affects some of the clay samples, which present high electrical conductivity. Iron and manganese show also high concentrations, while some of trace elements such as Cd, Hg, Hf, Be, Ag present concentrations under the detection limit. Most of the organic material of the clay consists of humus and therefore they could be suitable for fangotherapy

COMBUSTION AND LEACHING BEHAVIOR OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN LIGNITE AND COMBUSTION BY-PRODUCTS FROM THE MUĞLA BASIN, SW TURKEY

The Muğla Basin is one of the most well-documented coal basins of Anatolia, SW Turkey. Previous studies mainly focused on coal geology, as well as on the environmental impacts from trace elements emitted into the atmosphere during coal combustion. However, the environmental impacts from coal utilization also include groundwater contamination from hazardous trace elements leached from exposed lignite stockpiles or ash disposal dumps. In the present study a comparative assessment of the combustion, as well as the leaching behaviour of trace elements from sixteen lignite, fly ash and bottom ash samples under various pH conditions is attempted. The samples were picked up from three regions in the Muğla Basin, namely, these of Yeniköy, Kemerköy and Yatağan. Proximate and ultimate analyses were performed on all samples. Quantitative mineralogical analysis was carried out using a Rietveld-based full pattern fitting technique. The elements Ag, As, B, Ba, Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hf, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, U, V and Zn were grouped according to their volatility during combustion and their leachability in the various types of samples. The pH of the leaching agent little affected the leaching trends of most elements and the mode of occurrence proved to be the major factor controlling primarily combustion and to a lesser extent leaching. The elements were classified into 7 classes with increasing environmental significance with Mo, Sr and V being the most potentially hazardous trace elements in the Muğla region

The adjustment and new identity of athletes with prosthetic limbs: A qualitative study

OBJECTIVE Exploration of the experience of engaging in parasports by people with prosthetic limbs. METHOD Thesample consisted of 8 Paralympic athletes. The main inclusion criteria were lower-limb amputation, a prosthetic implant,and professional involvement in sports. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews,and interpretative phenomenological analysis was used for data analysis. RESULTS Three super-ordinate themesand seven subthemes emerged from the qualitative analysis of the interview data. The first theme concernedlife before and after the amputation, the loss of able-bodiedness, and the establishment of physical disability,with subthemes including the resulting reactions, fears for the future, and the new dynamics and reshaping ofinterpersonal rela-tionships. The second theme reflected the transition from disability to artificial able-bodiedness,with subthemes including training in the use of the prosthetic limb, ambivalent interaction with the process ofprosthesis fitting and embodi-ment, the related sacrifices, and the beginning of involvement in parasports. Thethird theme concerned the new identity and new life, as these emerged through joining athletic teams with otherpeople with prosthetic limbs, and the acquisition of the athletic identity. The emergent subtheme was cognitiverestructuring, resulting in positive at-titudes towards the amputation, the prosthetic limb and participation inparasports. CONCLUSIONS Sports play a major role in the adjustment of amputees to prosthetic limb use, andtheir reevaluation of the amputation experi-ence. The loss of a lower limb continued to be an issue for allparticipants, but maintenance of physical and mental wellbeing, along with athletic achievements, the recognitiongained, the public acclaim received and the reputation and social acceptance that parasports provided, helped Paralympic athletes to become reconciled with the amputation and adjust to the use of the prosthetic limb

Ornithine Decarboxylase mRNA is Stabilized in an mTORC1-dependent Manner in Ras-transformed Cells

Upon Ras activation, ODC (ornithine decarboxylase) is markedly induced, and numerous studies suggest that ODC expression is controlled by Ras effector pathways. ODC is therefore a potential target in the treatment and prevention of Ras-driven tumours. In the present study we compared ODC mRNA translation profiles and stability in normal and Ras12V-transformed RIE-1 (rat intestinal epithelial) cells. While translation initiation of ODC increased modestly in Ras12V cells, ODC mRNA was stabilized 8-fold. Treatment with the specific mTORC1 [mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) complex 1] inhibitor rapamycin or siRNA (small interfering RNA) knockdown of mTOR destabilized the ODC mRNA, but rapamycin had only a minor effect on ODC translation initiation. Inhibition of mTORC1 also reduced the association of the mRNA-binding protein HuR with the ODC transcript. We have shown previously that HuR binding to the ODC 3′UTR (untranslated region) results in significant stabilization of the ODC mRNA, which contains several AU-rich regions within its 3′UTR that may act as regulatory sequences. Analysis of ODC 3′UTR deletion constructs suggests that cis-acting elements between base 1969 and base 2141 of the ODC mRNA act to stabilize the ODC transcript. These experiments thus define a novel mechanism of ODC synthesis control. Regulation of ODC mRNA decay could be an important means of limiting polyamine accumulation and subsequent tumour development

A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study to Evaluate a Technology Platform for the Assisted Living of People with Dementia and their Carers.

The use of telemedicine is becoming increasingly popular in assisting with the home management of People with Dementia (PwD) by offering services to the carers that may enhance their ability to care for their relative for longer. A computerized platform, ALADDIN, was evaluated in its usefulness to reduce carer burden and distress and to improve their quality of life, in an attempt to delay institutionalization of PwD. ALADDIN offers educational material about dementia to carers and provides the opportunity to contact other carers and clinicians. ALADDIN also facilitates remote monitoring of the PwD and their carers by the clinicians to enable speedy delivery of appropriate intervention. The ALADDIN platform was piloted at three European sites, and used by thirty carers of PwD living in the community (platform group). The platform group and a control group of thirty PwD and their carers were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The results showed a significant improvement in the quality of life of the carers in the platform group, with some reduction in carer burden and distress. The platform was useful in monitoring the patients and facilitating contact with other professionals. Access to and use of the ALADDIN platform was rated positively by carers and clinicians. The ALADDIN platform's usefulness and applicability for prolonging the home management of PwD are discussed

A global assessment of lake restoration in practice: new insights and future perspectives

•A global survey of 179 restoration practitioners spanning 65 countries identified the extent of stakeholder engagement as a key factor determining the success or failure of restoration projects. Lack of support across sectors and for funding, policy, monitoring, governance and knowledge assessment of pressures and their effects were most frequently cited as factors contributing to restoration failure. •The responses indicate that, although nutrient enrichment is perceived to be the primary issue for lakes globally, the impacts of climate change, hydrological modifications and invasive species are widely recognized as pervasive anthropogenic pressures of global importance. Practitioners recognized that the ecosystem services most impacted by these pressures were recreation and tourism, although in low income countries the provisioning service, aquaculture, was considered most impacted. Ecology-based and/or pressure-related restoration targets had been set for most restoration programs in our survey. However, the strength of the evidence underpinning these targets was often weak and the effects of climate change were rarely considered when setting targets. •The most effective and widely used restoration measures target nutrient loading (both catchment and in-lake) while hydrological modifications and the implementation of nature-based solutions are used to a lesser extent. Measures for the control of non-native invasive species are rarely applied and are viewed as being largely ineffective. •The results of the survey provide direction for future work. New and emerging pressures, singly and in combination, may require new approaches to lake restoration: for both setting restoration targets and devising restoration strategies. The future of lake restoration depends on joined-up thinking that better integrates science into policy and practice and, most importantly, ensures strong and inclusive stakeholder engagement and collaboration across multiple sectors

Post-transcriptional Regulation of NK Cell Activation

Natural killer (NK) cells play key roles in innate and adaptive immune defenses. NK cell responses are mediated by two major mechanisms: the direct cytolysis of target cells, and immune regulation by production of various cytokines. Many previous reports show that the complex NK cell activation process requires de novo gene expression regulated at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Specialized un-translated regions (UTR) of mRNAs are the main mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation. Analysis of post-transcriptional regulation is needed to clearly understand NK cell biology and, furthermore, harness the power of NK cells for therapeutic aims. This review summarizes the current understanding of mRNA metabolism during NK cell activation, focusing primarily on post-transcriptional regulation

Truncation of the Deubiquitinating Domain of CYLD in Myelomonocytic Cells Attenuates Inflammatory Responses

The cylindromatosis tumor suppressor (CYLD) is a deubiquitinating enzyme that has been implicated in various aspects of adaptive and innate immune responses. Nevertheless, the role of CYLD in the function of specific types of immune cells remains elusive. In this report we have used conditional gene targeting in mice to address the role of the deubiquitinating activity of CYLD in the myelomonocytic lineage. Truncation of the deubiquitinating domain of CYLD specifically in myelomonocytic cells impaired the development of lethal LPS-induced endotoxic shock and the accumulation of thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages. Our data establish CYLD as a regulator of monocyte-macrophage activation in response to inflammatory stimuli and identify it as a potential target for therapeutic intervention in relevant inflammatory disorders in humans